Magnetic measurements of coronal holes during 1975–1980

Photospheric magnetic fluxes and average field strengths have been measured beneath 33 coronal holes observed on 63 occasions during 1975–1980. The principal result is that low-latitude holes contained 3 times more flux near sunspot maximum than near minimum despite the fact that their sizes were essentially the same. Average magnetic field strengths ranged from 3–36 G near sunspot maximum compared to 1–7 G near minimum. Evidently the low-latitude coronal holes received a proportion of the extra flux that was available at low latitudes near sunspot maximum.Visiting Astronomer, KPNO.Operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under contract with the National Science Foundation.     

Motions in solar magnetic tubes

Three independent observations by rocket, Skylab, and OSO-8 have all indicated the presence of steady downflows of the order of a few kilometers per second in the solar transition region overlying the chromospheric network. Using density estimates at these heights from traditional transition region models, we find that the downward mass fluxes associated with these velocities are comparable with the estimated upward mass flux in spicules, originating in the same regions. Since both observations and theoretical calculations show that the solar wind can accept only a small fraction of the upward spicule flux, we suggest that the downflow represents spicular material returning to the chromosphere after being heated to coronal temperatures. In this context, the differential velocity measurement of Cushman and Rense is interpreted as indicating a difference in downflow speeds rather than a difference in expansion speeds.Moreover, the enthalpy flux associated with the downflow of coronal material into these regions is shown by various estimates to exceed the inward heat flow expected by thermal conduction and it may constitute the dominant energy source for the transition region. Simplified analytical models are used to explore the nature of the transition region overlying the supergranulation boundaries, under the assumption that the thermal structure results from a balance of the downward convection of enthalpy and radiative losses. Models based upon these considerations are shown to be consistent with the observed emission measures.The National Center for Atmospheric Research is sponsored by the National Science Foundation.     

Rotation rates of small magnetic features from two- and one-dimensional cross-correlation analyses

We present results of an analysis of 628 high-resolution magnetograms taken daily with the NSO Vacuum Telescope on Kitt Peak from 1975 to 1991. Motions in longitude on the solar surface are determined by a two-dimensional cross-correlation analysis of consecutive day pairs. We find that the measured rotation rate of small magnetic features, i.e., excluding active regions, is in excellent agreement with the results of the previous one-dimensional analysis of the same data (Komm, Howard, and Harvey, 1993). The polynomial fits show magnetic torsional oscillations, i.e., a more rigid rotation during cycle maximum and a more differential rotation during cycle minimum, but with smaller amplitudes than the one-dimensional analysis. The full width at half maximum of the cross-correlations is almost constant over latitude which shows that the active regions are effectively excluded. The agreement between the one- and two-dimensional cross-correlation analyses shows that the two different techniques are consistent and that the large-scale motions can be divided into rotational and meridional components that are not affected by each other.Operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. under cooperative agreementOperated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. under cooperative agreement     

Logistic analysis of channel pattern thresholds: meandering, braiding, and incising

A large and geographically diverse data set consisting of meandering, braiding, incising, and post-incision equilibrium streams was used in conjunction with logistic regression analysis to develop a probabilistic approach to predicting thresholds of channel pattern and instability. An energy-based index was developed for estimating the risk of channel instability associated with specific stream power relative to sedimentary characteristics. The strong significance of the 74 statistical models examined suggests that logistic regression analysis is an appropriate and effective technique for associating basic hydraulic data with various channel forms. The probabilistic diagrams resulting from these analyses depict a more realistic assessment of the uncertainty associated with previously identified thresholds of channel form and instability and provide a means of gauging channel sensitivity to changes in controlling variables.     

Novel prebiotic model systems: interactions of nucleosides and nucleotides with aqueous micellar sodium dodecanoate

The partition coefficients, K-values, of adenosine, guanosine, cytidine, uridine, 5¹-adenylic acid (AMP), 5¹-guanylic acid (GMP), 5¹-cytidylic acid (CMP), and 5¹-uridylic acid (UMP) between water and aqueous sodium dodecanoate has been determined by gel filtration on Sephadex G-25. Below the critical micelle concentration of the surfactant, K-values for all nucleotides and nucleosides are similar. Differential uptake of the four nucleotides and nucleosides is observed, however, by micellar sodium dodecanoate. K-values for adenosine, AMP; guanosine, GMP; cytidine, CMP; and uridine, UMP are 6.16·10³, 9.52·10³; 12.0·10³, 14.6·10³; 19.6·10³, 19.6·10³, 34.2·10³ and 40.3·10³. Similar K-values for corresponding pairs of nucleotides and nucleosides imply that the predominant interaction is between the pyrimidine or purine rings of the substrates and the charged Stern layer of the surfactant. Prebiotic significance of these results is discussed.     

Far-infrared photometry of Titan and Iapetus

Titan was observed in four broad passbands between 35 and 150 μm. The brightness temperature in this interval is roughly constant at 76 ± 3°K. Integrating Titan's spectrum from 5 to 150 μm yields an effective temperature of 86 ± 3°K. Both the bright and dark hemispheres of Iapetus were observed in one broadband filter with λ_e ～ 66 μm. The brightness temperatures for these two sides of Iapetus are 96 ± 9°K and 114 ± 10°K, respectively. The bright-side Bond albedo is calculated to be 0.61_?0.22^+0.16.     

A design procedure for embedded anchors

A procedure is proposed for the design of vertically embedded plate/fluke anchors subjected to uplift loading. Anchor capacities and displacements are determined having due regard to the useful life of the system and the safety factors employed can be evaluated, if thought appropriate, by means of a probabilistic technique. Finally, the applicability of the method is demonstrated by a number of worked examples.     

Rain water-aerosol trace metal relationships at cap ferrat: A coastal site in the Western Mediterranean

The factors controlling the distributions of the trace metals Al, Co, Ni, Cu and Pb in a series of 25 individual rain water samples collected at Cap Ferrat, a site on the Western Mediterranean coast, are interpreted in relation to aerosols taken simultaneously at the same site. The trace metal chemistry and pH of the rain waters are constrained by the scavenged aerosols, which are composed of a mixture of urban-dominated (European) and crust-dominated (Saharan) components. Thus, the pH values of the rain waters, which range between 3.95 to 6.77, reflect the type of aerosol scavenged from the air; urban-dominated aerosol components giving rise to acidic rains, and crust-dominated aerosol resulting in neutral to basic rains. The average solubilities of the trace metals in the rain waters increase in the order Al (17%), Co (36%), Ni (53%), Pb (65%) and Cu (76%). The paniculate ↔ dissolved speciation of the non-crust-dominated metals Cu and Pb varies with pH, being more soluble at lower pH values, and exhibits the classical pH ‘adsorption edge’. However, the pH of rain can vary during an individual rain event in response to the sequential scavenging of crust-dominated and urban-dominated aerosol components. As a result, the solubility of non-crust-dominated trace metals, such as Pb, can also vary sequentially during an individual rain event; the maximum solubility being related to a ‘dip’ in pH associated with the scavenging of urban-rich aerosol components, followed by a return to the initial pH as the pH-influencing components are exhausted. Data from the present study therefore indicate that the pH-controlled trace metal solubility relationship reported for individual rain events can also occur sequentially in the same event. The particulate material in the rain waters does not contain the relatively high concentrations of Ni, Cu and Pb found in the parent aerosols, and its composition approaches that of crust-dominated aerosols transported to the Mediterranean. Data from the present study, together with those for other Western European coastal locations, indicate that there is a Pb-Cu fractionation between aerosols and rainwaters which results in a significantly greater fraction of the aerosol Pb, relative to Cu, escaping precipitation scavenging in the coastal zone and so becoming available for long-range atmospheric transport.