Periodic Modulation of X-Ray Intensity from Coronal Loops – Heating by Resonant Absorption?

We have applied time-series analysis to sequences of coronal loop images obtained with the Yohkoh soft X-ray telescope (SXT). Using images obtained in fast-cadence mode ( t = 4 s), we have generated X-ray light curves and power spectra for multiple subregions of a number of coronal loops. Our analysis indicates that out of 544 spectra of loops which range in length L from 40 Mm to 150 Mm, there are 16 cases where the X-ray brightness is modulated periodically with 99.5% confidence. The periods range from 9.6 s to 61.6 s, and the amplitudes range from 0.4% to 1.8%. Our result is statistically significant at the 8 level.The observed periods can hardly be due to fluctuations in gas pressure: temperatures estimated from image ratios indicate sound speeds of 200–280 km s^-1, with loop crossing times of hundreds of seconds. On the other hand, the ratio 2 L/ yields velocities of 2–14 Mm s^-1: these overlap with published estimates of Alfvén speeds v _A in coronal loops, 3.5–37 Mm s^-1 (Schmelz et al., 1994). Now, in the context of coronal loop heating by resonant absorption of MHD waves, the period _g 2L/v _A plays a key role: loops which are oscillating in their global mode (with period _g) are maximally efficient at absorbing energy (Steinolfson and Davila, 1993). We suggest that the loops which we have found to be modulated periodically are oscillating in their global mode. With this interpretation, we find that the plasma beta in the loops lies in the range _p = 0.001–0.045. According to the oscillating loop model of Zaitsev and Stepanov (1989), loops with such _p values should be modulated with amplitudes of 1.1% or less: our data are consistent with at least the upper limit of this prediction.     

The Resource Management Act 1991 and the Practice of Environmental Governance in New Zealand: The Example of Lake Taupo

On 1 October 1991 the Resource Management Act 1991 came into force. The enactment of this legislation was supposed to herald the start of a brave new world in environmental governance in New Zealand. Since that time the Act has never been far from controversy in the popular press and in the academic literature. The paper briefly reviews the debates in the academic literature about the Act and argues that the debates could benefit from a theoretically informed analysis of the impact of the Act on specific environmental initiatives. This paper draws on the Lake Taupo Water Quality Project to illustrate how this type of analysis may uncover practical, relevant and interesting insights for law reform, policy making and practice hidden by conventional discourses on the Act.     

An approximate method for determining the stability of two-scale flow in the mantle

Summary An approximate method of calculating the stability of two-dimensional convection rolls to cross-roll disturbances is evaluated by comparison with the results from exact analyses and good agreement is obtained. In particular, investigation of the second mode of the disturbance provides a qualitative estimate of the terms excluded in making the approximation. We conclude that this approximate method, sensibly used, gives a good indication of the stability of rolls to cross-roll disturbances.Application of this method is made to convection rolls heated partially or wholly from within, and to rolls in the presence of a longitudinal shear flow. The approximation indicates that, at high Rayleigh Numbers, growth rates are underestimated and so the amount of shear calculated to stabilise longitudinal rolls is a lower bound. Our results suggest that two-dimensional rolls are unlikely to be a stable flow pattern beneath even the fastest moving plates.     

The depth of seismicity in the Kermanshah region of the Zagros Mountains (Iran)

A detailed microearthquake survey in a small region of the Zagros Mountains in Iran failed to detect any shocks whose depths were greater than 20 km. One third of the shocks in the same area have depths greater than 50 km when located using teleseismic observations. Because of poor azimuthal coverage and lack of local stations these teleseismic locations are probably in error. There is therefore no reliable seismic evidence for the existence of oceanic lithosphere beneath the Zagros fold belt.     

SEDIMENTARY CHARACTERISTICS AND CLIMATIC ANALYSIS OF EASTERLY DUST STORMS IN THE NEGEV (ISRAEL)

Sedimentary and meteorological characteristics of easterly dust storms causing severe damage in the Negev in November 1958 are analysed. Though the heavy storm originated in weather conditions outside of the affected area, the intense dustiness was of a more local nature. The sedimentological character of the dust indicates that the largest portion was of local origin, picked up by the turbulent current in the loess area of the northern Negev on its passage westward. Total quantity of sediment transported in the Beersheba Basin is estimated to be 10–20 million tons. The analysis of climatic data and of sedimentary characteristics of several other dust samples indicates that though severe dust storms can produce dramatic effects in transporting and deposition of aeolian dust, the rare occurrence of easterly dust storms does not make it likely that they were responsible for the import of aeolian sediments found in the northern Negev.     

Sedimentary basin formation with finite extension rates

Thinning of continental crust by rapid stretching of the lithosphere produces an initial subsidence and thermal anomaly. When stretching ceases, slow decay of the thermal anomaly produces subsidence (due to thermal contraction) on a time scale of approximately 60 Ma. The dependence of the heat flow and subsidence histories on the rate of extension is determined here using a time-dependent analytical model. Results are compared with the predictions of a simpler instantaneous stretching model and constraints on the use of the latter are provided in terms of the duration and amount of stretching. For most basins the simple model gives reasonably accurate results provided the duration of stretching is less than 20 Ma.     

Peat multi-proxy data from Männikjärve bog as indicators of late Holocene climate changes in Estonia

Sillasoo, Ü., Mauquoy, D., Blundell, A., Charman, D., Blaauw, M., Daniell, J. R. G., Toms, P., Newberry, J., Chambers, F M. & Karofeld, E. 2007 (January): Peat multi‐proxy data from Männikjärve bog as indicators of late Holocene climate changes in Estonia. Boreas, Vol. 36, pp. 20–37. Oslo. ISSN 0300–9483. As part of a wider project on European climate change over the past 4500 years, a 4.5‐m peat core was taken from a lawn microform on Männikjärve bog, Estonia. Several methods were used to yield proxy‐climate data: (i) a quadrat and leaf‐count method for plant macrofossil data, (ii) testate amoebae analysis, and (iii) colorimetric determination of peat humification. These data are provided with an exceptionally high resolution and precise chronology. Changes in bog surface wetness were inferred using Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA) and zonation of macrofossil data, particularly concerning the occurrence of Sphagnum balticum, and a transfer function for water‐table depth for testate amoebae data. Based on the results, periods of high bog surface wetness appear to have occurred at c. 3100,3010–2990,2300, 1750–1610, 1510, 1410, 1110, 540 and 310 cal. yr BP, during four longer periods between c. 3170 and 2850 cal. yr BP, 2450 and 2000 cal. yr BP, 1770 and 1530 cal. yr BP and in the period from 880 cal. yr BP until the present. In the period between 1770 and 1530 cal. yr BP, the extension or initiation of a hollow microtope occurred, which corresponds with other research results from Mannikjarve bog. This and other changes towards increasing bog surface wetness may be the responses to colder temperatures and the predominance of a more continental climate in the region, which favoured the development of bog micro‐depressions and a complex bog microtopography. Located in the border zone of oceanic and continental climatic sectors, in an area almost without land uplift, this study site may provide valuable information about changes in palaeohydrological and palaeoclimatological conditions in the northern parts of the eastern Baltic Sea region.     

上海城市建成环境对居民通勤方式选择的影响

伴随中国快速城市化与机动化进程,私人汽车拥有量不断增长,由此引起的交通拥堵和环境问题已成为制约中国城市可持续发展的难题。基于上海市区的居民通勤问卷调查数据,采用多项Logit模型检验了街道尺度城市建成环境对于居民通勤方式选择的影响,结果表明,在控制了其他因素后,提高居住地的人口密度、土地利用混合度与十字路口比重,可以减少小汽车通勤方式的选择,而就业地建成环境对居民通勤方式选择影响相对较弱;建成环境对通勤方式选择的影响会因个体的社会经济异质性而不同。这些结论为通过优化土地利用规划来优化居民通勤结构的城市交通和城市规划政策提供了启示。     

塔北哈拉哈塘地区奥陶系潜山岩溶储层发育特征及控制因素

哈拉哈塘地区奥陶系潜山岩溶缝洞型储层是哈拉哈塘油田的主力产层。通过对岩溶地质背景、区域构造分析,利用本区钻录井、薄片、岩芯等资料研究岩溶型储层特征,探讨储层分布规律及岩溶作用对储层的控制。结果表明哈拉哈塘地区奥陶系潜山岩溶储层的主体发育于一间房组和鹰山组。垂向上潜山区存在两套储层:上部表层岩溶带储层及下部径流溶蚀带储层。表层岩溶带储集类型主要为孔洞型和裂缝—孔洞型储层,主要受一间房组沉积末期的岩溶作用及桑塔木组沉积末期岩溶作用共同控制;径流溶蚀带储层类型主要为洞穴型、裂缝-孔洞型储层,岩溶缝洞系统以岩溶管道系统为主,储层形成受良里塔格期及桑塔木组沉积末期岩溶作用等多期岩溶作用控制。岩溶层组、岩溶作用期次、古地貌、古水系及断裂等控制了岩溶储层的分布发育,形成了复杂的缝洞体。