Anticipated economic costs and benefits of ratification of the Kyoto Protocol by the State of Qatar

Abstract

Further ratification of the Kyoto Protocol by non-Annex 1 countries such as the State of Qatar will not affect the entrance into force of the Treaty; however, ratification remains an important decision due to other considerations, primarily the economic costs and benefits associated with ratification. As a member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Qatar's economic position is closely allied with revenue generated from its oil and natural gas resources. Qatar expects adverse impacts from implementing the Kyoto Protocol, though the estimated magnitude varies enormously with different models. Also, the impacts depend significantly on how the implementation is done; for example, the kind of policies that other countries use. Qatar is able to counter adverse impacts by exploiting its greater share of natural gas and developing energy-intensive industries that produce nonenergy goods such as steel, petrochemicals, and chemicals. Furthermore, it is clear that clauses in the Protocol can be developed to protect OPEC interests, and if Qatar does not ratify the Protocol, it will be excluded from the subsequent rule-making processes. On balance, there are benefits to ratifying the Treaty, and there is also a strong need for extensive further research.     

Seasonal characteristics of waves in the southeastern part of the Baltic Sea in 2008–2009

Presented are the characteristics of waves in the southeastern part of the Baltic Sea obtained from the results of continuous instrumental observations in 2008–2009 on the offshore oil-and-gas platform. Discussed are the conditions and prerequisites for the formation of extreme waves.     

Effect of ion temperature on arbitrary amplitude Kinetic Alfvén solitons in a plasma with a q-nonextensive electron velocity distribution

Taking into account of ion temperature effect, existence conditions of arbitrary amplitude solitary Kinetic Alfvén Waves (KAWs) in a plasma with q-nonextensive electrons are investigated by the conventional Sagdeev pseudo potential method. It is found that only solitons with density hump can exist, the amplitude of which depends sensitively on the parameter q, ion temperature ( \(\sigma= \frac{T_{i}}{T_{e}}\) ) and plasma β. There is an upper limit of solitary wave amplitude which decreases with increase of q, σ and β. The amplitude of solitary KAWs is found to increase with increase in ion temperature. The results obtained in the framework of Maxwellian distribution are reproduced when q→1.     

NanoSIMS analysis of organic carbon from the Tissint Martian meteorite: Evidence for the past existence of subsurface organic‐bearing fluids on Mars

Two petrographic settings of carbonaceous components, mainly filling open fractures and occasionally enclosed in shock‐melt veins, were found in the recently fallen Tissint Martian meteorite. The presence in shock‐melt veins and the deuterium enrichments (δD up to +1183‰) of these components clearly indicate a pristine Martian origin. The carbonaceous components are kerogen‐like, based on micro‐Raman spectra and multielemental ratios, and were probably deposited from fluids in shock‐induced fractures in the parent rock of Tissint. After precipitation of the organic matter, the rock experienced another severe shock event, producing the melt veins that encapsulated a part of the organic matter. The C isotopic compositions of the organic matter (δ¹³C = ?12.8 to ?33.1‰) are significantly lighter than Martian atmospheric CO₂ and carbonate, providing a tantalizing hint for a possible biotic process. Alternatively, the organic matter could be derived from carbonaceous chondrites, as insoluble organic matter from the latter has similar chemical and isotopic compositions. The presence of organic‐rich fluids that infiltrated rocks near the surface of Mars has significant implications for the study of Martian paleoenvironment and perhaps to search for possible ancient biological activities on Mars.     

Integral conservation laws in bimetric scalar-tensor theory

We have obtained covariant expressions for conserved 4-momentum and angular momentum in a gravitational field with matter within the framework of the bimetric scalar-tensor theory of gravitation. These quantities are represented as surface integrals, allowing us to calculate their values using only data in the asymptotic region far from the source.Translated from Astrofizika, Vol. 37, No. 1, pp. 167–173, January–March, 1994.     

Pan African layered diorite-tonalite-granodiorite from Sinai massif: an open system fractionation at a subduction zone

This paper reports on the occurrence of layered Pan African dioritetonalite-granodiorite (DTG) rocks. The layering is marked by alternation of melanocratic (M) layers (diorites and tonalites) and leucocratic (L) layers (tonalites and granodiorites). M-samples have cumulus biotite+hornblende+relict pyroxene+plagioclase+K-feldspars+magnetite+apatite, and have transitional calc-alkaline and metaluminous affinities. They were derived from subduction-related magma enriched in Rb, Ba, K and LREE and depleted in Sr and Nb. L-samples have cumulus plagioclase+hornblende. They are enriched in Sr and depleted in Rb, Ba, K, Nb and LREE. They have calc-alkaline and peraluminous affinites.
The formation of the rhythmic layers of DTG composition can be attributed to periodical replenishment of pulses of basic magma into a more evolved acidic magma chamber under open system conditions. Field relations, mineralogy and element concentration among the M- and L-layers indicate that at the subduction zone, the ascending magma was contaminated with lower crustal materials (marginal basin metasediments) which led to LILE-enrichment, Nb-depletion and transition from calc-alkaline to alkaline and from metaluminous to peraluminous affinities as well.     

Neutron stars in the bimetric Scalar-Tensor theory of gravitation. I. new solutions of the field equations

New solutions of the equations of the bimetric scalar-tensor theory of gravitation for neutron stars are found. In these solutions the scalar field is constant, φ = φ_φ, while the metric space-time tensor is determined by the equations of the general theory of relativity. The problem was to find a background metric corresponding to φ_φ. Solutions with a variable φ were studied earlier [M. R. Avakian, L. Sh. Grigorian, and A. A. Saharian, Astrofizika, 35, 121 (1991)] and are determined by the dimensionless parameter ζ of the theory. Differences between solutions with constant and variable ? are considerable for ¦ζ¦ ≤ 1.