The retrieval of cloud microphysical properties using satellite measurements and an in situ database

By combining AVHRR data from the NOAA satellites with information from a database of in situ measurements, large-scale maps can be generated of the microphysical parameters most immediately significant for the modelling of global circulation and climate. From the satellite data, the clouds can be classified into cumuliform, stratiform and cirrus classes and then into further sub-classes by cloud top temperature. At the same time a database of in situ measurements made by research aircraft is classified into the same sub-classes and a statistical analysis is used to derive relationships between the sub-classes and the cloud microphysical properties. These two analyses are then linked to give estimates of the microphysical properties of the satellite observed clouds. Examples are given of the application of this technique to derive maps of the probability of occurrence of precipitating clouds and of precipitating water content derived from a case study within the International Cirrus Experiment (ICE) held in 1989 over the North Sea.     

莱州湾地区10万年以来沉积环境变化

本文用热释光测年和地球化学标志法研究了莱州湾地区沉积环境的变化。石英的375℃热释光峰作为测年基础。岩芯样品的测定结果、反映了自全新世(1.2万年)至晚更新世(11万年)地层的年代特点。实验中来用了Sr/Ba、Rb、Mn/Fe和CaO作为地球化学标志,所得数据经Sheppard方程和Fisher判别处理。在得到的沉积环境变化曲线和大洋δ~(18)O曲线对比中可以看出,本区在十万年以来出现过三次海陆相地层变化序列,其中在距今11—7万年和深度为43.5—60m处,在距今4.6—2.1万年和深度为23—35m处,以及在距今1.1—0.6万年和深度为8—11m处出现过三次海相地层,分别与沧州、献县和黄骅海侵事件相应,并同时受到全球气候变化的控制。     

Multispectral thermal infrared mapping of the 1 October 1988 Kupaianaha flow field,Kilauea volcano,Hawaii

Multispectral thermal infrared radiance measurements of the Kupaianaha flow field were acquired with the NASA airborne Thermal Infrared Multispectral Scanner (TIMS) on the morning of 1 October 1988. The TIMS data were used to map both the temperature and emissivity of the surface of the flow field. The temperature map depicted the underground storage and transport of lava. The presence of molten lava in a tube or tumulus resulted in surface temperatures that were at least 10° C above ambient. The temperature map also clearly defined the boundaries of hydrothermal plumes which resulted from the entry of lava into the ocean. The emissivity map revealed the boundaries between individual flow units within the Kupaianaha field. In general, the emissivity of the flows varied systematically with age but the relationship between age and emissivity was not unique. Distinct spectral anomalies, indicative of silica-rich surface materials, were mapped near fumaroles and ocean entry sites. This apparent enrichment in silica may have resulted from an acid-induced leaching of cations from the surfaces of glassy flows. Such incipient alteration may have been the cause for virtually all of the emissivity variations observed on the flow field, the spectral anomalies representing areas where the acid attack was most intense.     

赣东北元古代蛇绿岩Sm—Nd同位素年龄及地质意义

江南古陆东南缘赣东北弋阳—德兴—婺源一线有一条蛇绿岩带,普遍认为它是二个一级大地构造单元的分界线,形成于元古代。推断蛇绿混杂岩是元古代古洋壳俯冲时被挤上来的碎片;也有人认为它是中生代二大古陆之间的缝合线。Sm-Nd矿物等时线给出1034±16Ma(MSWD=1.0)的同位素年龄,它符合元古代缝合带的观点,而不利于中生代缝合带。     

Water balance components estimation under scenarios of land cover change in the Vea catchment,West Africa

ABSTRACT

The need for a detailed investigation of the Vea catchment water balance components cannot be overemphasized due to its accelerated land-cover dynamics and the associated impacts on the hydrological processes. This study assessed the possible consequences of land-use change scenarios (i.e. business as usual, BAU, and afforestation for the year 2025) compared to the 2016 baseline on the Vea catchment’s water balance components using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model. The data used include daily climate and discharge, soil and land use/land cover maps. The results indicate that the mean annual water yield may increase by 9.1% under the BAU scenario but decrease by 2.7% under the afforestation scenario; actual evapotranspiration would decrease under BAU but increase under afforestation; and groundwater recharge may increase under both scenarios but would be more pronounced under the afforestation scenario. These outcomes highlight the significance of land-cover dynamics in water resource management and planning at the catchment.     

Nonlinear dissipation of Alfvén waves

Alfvén waves are generated easily in many cosmic plasmas, but they possess no linear damping mechanism since they are not compressive. The most prominent nonlinear damping occurs when one Alfvén wave decays into another plus a slow magnetosonic wave, or two Alfvén waves combine into one fast magnetosonic wave; the resulting magnetosonic waves can then be dissipated. The nonlinear coupling rates are presented, with special emphasis on the astrophysically important case of sound speed Alfvén speed. Streaming cosmic rays generate Alfvén waves moving in the direction of streaming, but they reabsorb the backward moving waves then produced by wave decay. The possible steady states for this system of cosmic rays and Alfvén waves turn out to be highly restricted.Supported by NSF grant GP-15218.     

Polarization measurements of solar type III radio bursts at 25.3 MHz

We report the results of 1966, 1968, and 1969 polarization measurements of solar type III radio noise bursts made by recording the output of two orthogonally polarized receiving channels and subsequent digital processing of selected data. The processed data yield total intensity, degree of polarization, ellipticity, and polarization ellipse orientation at 1 second intervals. The measurements are made in a 100 Hz bandwith to minimize the influence of the propagating medium on the measurements. The mean degree of polarization was found to be about 65% in contrast to previous studies which indicated that type III events were more weakly polarized. By assuming that type III bursts are flare related we study the polarization characteristics of type III bursts as a function of the solar longitude of the related flares. The relation between type III event polarization characteristics and flare importance is also investigated. The significance of polarization measurements in studies of solar radio events is pointed out and suggestions for further theoretical research are given.     

An overview of toxicant identification in sediments and dredged materials

The identification of toxicants affecting aquatic benthic systems is critical to sound assessment and management of our nation's waterways. Identification of toxicants can be useful in designing effective sediment remediation plans and reasonable options for sediment disposal. Knowledge of which contaminants affect benthic systems allows managers to link pollution to specific dischargers and prevent further release of toxicant(s). In addition, identification of major causes of toxicity in sediments may guide programs such as those developing environmental sediment guidelines and registering pesticides, while knowledge of the causes of toxicity which drive ecological changes such as shifts in benthic community structure would be useful in performing ecological risk assessments. To this end, the US Environmental Protection Agency has developed tools (toxicity identification and evaluation (TIE) methods) that allow investigators to characterize and identify chemicals causing acute toxicity in sediments and dredged materials. To date, most sediment TIEs have been performed on interstitial waters. Preliminary evidence from the use of interstitial water TIEs reveals certain patterns in causes of sediment toxicity. First, among all sediments tested, there is no one predominant cause of toxicity; metals, organics, and ammonia play approximately equal roles in causing toxicity. Second, within a single sediment there are multiple causes of toxicity detected; not just one chemical class is active. Third, the role of ammonia is very prominent in these interstitial waters. Finally, if sediments are divided into marine or freshwater, TIEs perforMed on interstitial waters from freshwater sediments indicate a variety of toxicants in fairly equal proportions, while TIEs performed on interstitial waters from marine sediments have identified only ammonia and organics as toxicants, with metals playing a minor role. Preliminary evidence from whole sediment TIEs indicates that organic compounds play a major role in the toxicity of marine sediments, with almost no evidence for either metal or ammonia toxicity. However, interpretation of these results may be skewed because only a small number of interstitial water (n = 13) and whole sediment (n = 5) TIEs have been completed. These trends may change as more data are collected.     

喀喇沁玻基橄辉岩中的磷酸盐质熔体及磷灰石

磷酸盐在本文讨论的坡基橄辉岩中以多种形式产生,有早期结晶的磷灰石斑晶;有熔离的磷酸盐质熔浆液滴;也有晚期穿入橄榄石斑晶的磷酸盐质细脉,表明元素磷活跃在岩浆演化的每一个阶段。磷酸盐质熔浆液滴的存在,说明磷酸盐质熔体可能是由于岩浆的熔离作用而形成的。沿着橄榄石晶格生长石出现的磷酸盐质玻璃细脉则进一步证实地幔中含磷流体不但存在,而且具有很强的活动性。