A global hybrid coupled model based on atmosphere-SST feedbacks

A global hybrid coupled model is developed, with the aim of studying the effects of ocean-atmosphere feedbacks on the stability of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation. The model includes a global ocean general circulation model and a statistical atmosphere model. The statistical atmosphere model is based on linear regressions of data from a fully coupled climate model on sea surface temperature both locally and hemispherically averaged, being the footprint of Atlantic meridional overturning variability. It provides dynamic boundary conditions to the ocean model for heat, freshwater and wind-stress. A basic but consistent representation of ocean-atmosphere feedbacks is captured in the hybrid coupled model and it is more than 10 times faster than the fully coupled climate model. The hybrid coupled model reaches a steady state with a climate close to the one of the fully coupled climate model, and the two models also have a similar response (collapse) of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation to a freshwater hosing applied in the northern North Atlantic.     

Morphological and geochemical analysis of the Laguna Blanca/Zapaleri obsidian source in the Atacama Puna

This paper describes a large obsidian deposit located along the southern banks of Laguna Blanca, on the eastern slope of the Jarellón volcanic caldera near the Chilean–Bolivian border. The obsidian at this site occurs in flows or sheets of deflated black or reddish to brown pebbles, redeposited on the shores of a lake. Blocks of obsidian are only found around the caldera rim. Here we analyze the shape of the obsidian pebbles and their geochemistry, comparing them with previously published data. The results indicate that the geochemical composition of the samples strongly matches previous analyses of obsidian from cultural contexts. This obsidian source was one of the most important sites of obsidian procurement since at least the Formative Period in the Atacama Puna region. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Petrogenesis of a basalt-comendite-pantellerite rock suite: the Boseti Volcanic Complex (Main Ethiopian Rift)

Petrological and geochemical data for basic (alkali basalts and hawaiites) and silicic peralkaline rocks, plus rare intermediate products (mugearites and benmoreites) from the Pleistocene Boseti volcanic complex (Main Ethiopian Rift, East Africa) are reported in this work. The basalts are slightly alkaline or transitional, have peaks at Ba and Nb in the mantle-normalized diagrams and relatively low ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr (0.7039–0.7044). The silicic rocks (pantellerites and comendites) are rich in sanidine and anorthoclase, with mafic phases being represented by fayalite-rich olivine, opaque oxides, aenigmatite and slightly Na-rich ferroaugite (ferrohedenbergite). These rocks were generated after prolonged fractional crystallization process (up to 90–95 %) starting from basaltic parent magmas at shallow depths and fO₂ conditions near the QFM buffer. The apparent Daly Gap between mafic and evolved Boseti rocks is explained with a model involving the silicic products filling upper crustal magma chambers and erupted preferentially with respect to basic and intermediate products. Evolved liquids could have been the only magmas which filled the uppermost magma reservoirs in the crust, thus giving time to evolve towards Rb-, Zr- and Nb-rich peralkaline rhyolites in broadly closed systems.     

Sedimentary processes on the Wilkes Land continental rise reflect changes in glacial dynamic and bottom water flow

Four sediment cores were analysed in order to determine the sedimentary processes associated with the channel-ridge depositional system that characterise the George V Land continental margin on the Wilkes Land. The sedimentary record indicates that the WEGA channel was a dynamic turbiditic system up to M.I.S. 11. After this time, the channel became a lower-energy environment with sediments delivered to the channel through high-density bottom waters that we identify to be the high salinity shelf waters (HSSW) forming on the shelf area. The HSSW entrains the fine-grained sediments of the shelf area and deliver them to the continental rise. The biostratigraphy and facies of the sediments within the WEGA channel indicate that the HSSW down flow was active also during last glacial. The change from a turbiditic system to a low-energy bottom current system within the WEGA channel likely reflects a different ice-flow pattern, with ice-sheet reaching the continental shelf edge only within the ice trough (ice stream).     

Short-Range Atmospheric Dispersion of Carbon Dioxide

We present a numerical study aimed at quantifying the effects of concentration-dependent density on the spread of a seeping plume of CO₂ into the atmosphere such as could arise from a leaking geologic carbon sequestration site. Results of numerical models can be used to supplement field monitoring estimates of CO₂ seepage flux by modelling transport and dispersion between the source emission and concentration-measurement points. We focus on modelling CO₂ seepage dispersion over relatively short distances where density effects are likely to be important. We model dense gas dispersion using the steady-state Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations with density dependence in the gravity term. Results for a two-dimensional system show that a density dependence emerges at higher fluxes than prior estimates. A universal scaling relation is derived that allows estimation of the flux from concentrations measured downwind and vice versa.     

Seasonal temperatures over Italy and their relationship with low-frequency atmospheric circulation patterns

An analysis of Italian seasonal temperatures from 1961 to 2006 was carried out, using homogenized data from 49 synoptic stations well distributed throughout Italy. The results show remarkable differences among seasons. Stationarity characterizes winter series, except for Northern Italy (where a warming trend from 1961 is identified); a positive trend over the entire period is recognized for spring series. Summer series are marked by a negative trend until 1981 and by a positive trend afterwards; finally, autumn series show a warming starting from 1970. The relationship between seasonal temperatures and four teleconnection patterns (North Atlantic Oscillation, East Atlantic Pattern, Scandinavian Pattern and Arctic Oscillation) influencing European climate was investigated through Spearman rank correlation and composites. Among the results, the strong linear correlation with the East Atlantic Pattern in all seasons but autumn is remarkable; moreover, the explained variance varies between 31.9% and 50.4% (leaving out autumn). Besides these four atmospheric patterns the role of other factors (e.g. soil moisture) is not dealt with, but their importance and the need for more investigation is pointed out.     

A Europe–South America network for climate change assessment and impact studies

The goal of the CLARIS project was to build an integrated European–South American network dedicated to promote common research strategies to observe and predict climate changes and their consequent socio-economic impacts taking into account the climate and societal peculiarities of South America. Reaching that goal placed the present network as a privileged advisor to contribute to the design of adaptation strategies in a region strongly affected by and dependent on climate variability (e.g. agriculture, health, hydro-electricity). Building the CLARIS network required fulfilling the following three objectives: (1) The first objective of CLARIS was to set up and favour the technical transfer and expertise in earth system and regional climate modelling between Europe and South America together with the providing of a list of climate data (observed and simulated) required for model validations; (2) The second objective of CLARIS was to facilitate the exchange of observed and simulated climate data between the climate research groups and to create a South American high-quality climate database for studies in extreme events and long-term climate trends; (3) Finally, the third objective of CLARIS was to strengthen the communication between climate researchers and stakeholders, and to demonstrate the feasibility of using climate information in the decision-making process.     

Extended time weather forecasts contributes to agricultural productivity estimates

Weather conditions in critical periods of the vegetative crop development influence crop productivity, thus being a basic parameter for crop forecast. Reliable extended period weather forecasts may contribute to improve the estimation of agricultural productivity. The production of soybean plays an important role in the Brazilian economy, because this country is ranked among the largest producers of soybeans in the world. This culture can be significantly affected by water conditions, depending on the intensity of water deficit. This work explores the role of extended period weather forecasts for estimating soybean productivity in the southern part of Brazil, Passo Fundo, and Londrina (State of Rio Grande do Sul and Paraná, respectively) in the 2005/2006 harvest. The goal was to investigate the possible contribution of precipitation forecasts as a substitute for the use of climatological data on crop forecasts. The results suggest that the use of meteorological forecasts generate more reliable productivity estimates during the growth period than those generated only through climatological information.     

The Distribution of Energy Perturbations at Planetary Close Encounters

Öpiks theory of close encounters allows us to deduce an analytic expression for the distribution of energy perturbations at close encounters between small bodies and planets. The derivation of this expression highlights a simple geometric structure in the plane containing the planet and perpendicular to the unperturbed planetocentric velocity vector. The analytic formulation reproduces well the results of the numerical integrations that first pointed out the asymmetries in the distribution of energy perturbations.     

Air and water entrapment in the vicinity of the water table

A laboratory tank was used to study entrapment of water in coarse sand lenses above the water table and of air in coarse sand lenses below the water table. Monitoring of these experiments involved a combination of visual inspection, measurement of moisture content, and measurement of air/water pressure. The medium consisted of coarse sand lenses with various degrees of vertical connectivity embedded within a fine sand matrix. Experiments were performed under conditions of both drainage (from a fully saturated medium) and imbibition. Observations during drainage included: (1) water was trapped in the coarse sand zones above the water table at heights significantly greater than anticipated from consideration of capillary rise in the coarse sand; (2) rapid drainage of these same coarse zones occurred when air penetrated into these zones through the surrounding fine sands; and (3) prior to the time of penetration of the coarse sand by air, water pressure in the coarse zone dropped significantly below atmospheric pressure. Observations during imbibition included: (1) entrapment of air within coarse sands below the water table, (2) the pore fluids in these zones varied spatially from predominantly air to predominantly water, and (3) pressure in the trapped air phase was significantly greater than pressure in the water phase in the surrounding fine sand. Overall, these results demonstrated significant sensitivity to the geometry of the coarse sand inclusions, particularly the vertical connectivity of the coarse sand lens.