VSOP Space VLBI observations of Pearson-Readhead survey sources

The VSOP Space VLBI mission uses the HALCA spacecraft, launched from Japan in February 1997, in conjunction with ground radio observatories around the world to create a high resolution radio-wavelength imaging facility. We are using this unique facility to observe a sub-sample of Pearson-Readhead Survey sources at 4.8 GHz to determine core brightness temperatures and pc-scale jet properties. We will highlight one of the sources that has been observed using a combination of the HALCA spacecraft and the EVN, 1642+690, and describe the preliminary brightness temperature distribution for the sub-sample, based on all data analyzed to date.     

Climate-driven trends in mean and high flows from a network of reference stations in Ireland

Abstract

This paper introduces a reference hydrometric network for Ireland and examines the derived flow archive for evidence of climate-driven trends in mean and high river flows. The Mann-Kendall and Theil-Sen tests are applied to eight hydroclimatic indicators for fixed and variable (start and end date) records. Spatial coherence and similarities of trends with rainfall suggest they are climate driven; however, large temporal variability makes it difficult to discern widely-expected anthropogenic climate change signals at this point in time. Trends in summer mean flows and recent winter means are at odds with those expected for anthropogenic climate change. High-flow indicators show strong and persistent positive trends, are less affected by variability and may provide earlier climate change signals than mean flows. The results highlight the caution required in using fixed periods of record for trend analysis, recognizing the trade-off between record length, network density and geographic coverage.

Editor Z.W. Kundzewicz; Associate editor H. Lins

Citation Murphy, C., Harrigan, S., Hall, J., and Wilby, R.L., 2013. Climate-driven trends in mean and high flows from a network of reference stations in Ireland. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 58 (4), 755–772.     

The NEAR‐Shoemaker x‐ray/gamma‐ray spectrometer experiment: Overview and lessons learned

Abstract— The near‐Earth asteroid rendezvous (NEAR)‐Shoemaker remote‐sensing x‐ray/gamma‐ray spectrometer (XGRS) completed more than a year of operation in orbit and on the surface of 433 Eros. Elemental compositions for a number of regions on the surface of Eros have been derived from analyses of the characteristic x‐ray and gamma‐ray emission spectra. The NEAR XGRS detection system was included as part of the interplanetary network (IPN) for the detection and localization of gamma‐ray bursts (GRBs). Preliminary results for both the elemental composition of the surface of Eros and the detection of GRBs have been obtained. In addition to the science results, the design and operation of the NEAR XGRS is considered. Significant information important for the design of future remote sensing XGRS systems has been obtained and evaluated. We focus on four factors that became particularly critical during NEAR: (1) overall spacecraft design, (2) selection of materials, (3) increase of the signal‐to‐noise ratio and (4) knowledge of the incident solar x‐ray spectrum.     

Estimation of surface chlorophyll on an exposed mudflat using digital colour-infrared (CIR) photography

The usefulness of field-based digital Colour-InfraRed (CIR) photography to quantify concentrations of chlorophyll on the surface of exposed mudflats is investigated. Multiple images, each 626 mm by 467 mm, were acquired during Austral summertime using a Duncantech three-band CIR camera from two areas of mudflat in the upper reaches of Sydney Harbour. Sediment samples were obtained from within the field of view of the camera and their chlorophyll concentration was estimated spectrophotometrically. After the camera images were normalised to compensate for the effects of variations in the intensity of downwelling solar radiation, chlorophyll was estimated for each 0.9 mm square pixel using a suite of five different vegetation indices. Regression analysis was used to determine the strength of the relationship between the index values and the estimates of chlorophyll from the in situ samples. Indices constructed from near-infrared and red bands were found to have the strongest relationships with in situ chlorophyll estimates (R² ranging from 0.28 to 0.79) and indices derived from near-infrared and green bands the weakest (R² ranging from 0.16 to 0.22). The vegetation indices highlighted complex small-scale variability in chlorophyll distribution that was not evident in the original camera images. These findings indicate that field-based CIR photography will provide a useful tool for the non-destructive determination of benthic chlorophyll.     

Non-axial planar cleavage and Caledonian sinistral transpression in eastern Ireland

Transected F₁ fold structures in eastern Ireland are associated with subhorizontal stretching in the S₁, cleavage whereas axial planar cleavage contains a vertical elongation direction. This suggests that the non-axial planar cleavage was influenced by a distributed strike-slip ductile shear. A major NE-SW trending F₁ syncline is described in which the minor F₁ folds show systematic variations in cleavage transection parameters. On the steep limb of the major syncline the cleavage transects the minor F₁ folds in a consistently clockwise sense, whereas on the normal limb anticlockwise transected folds are seen. Axial planar cleavage occurs at the core of the major syncline. Fold profile analysis indicates that the buckling of the layers began before the initiation of the cleavage. Open, parallel folds at the major synclinal hinge zone are progressively ‘flattened’ on the steep limb towards a major D₁ sinistral transcurrent fault. The angular transection, A, attains a maximum of 15° clockwise which diminishes to <5° at higher strains adjacent to the major fault. Incremental fibre growth in pressure shadows show a two-stage tectonic strain superposition of vertical pure shear followed by sinistral transcurrent simple shear during the development of the clockwise transecting cleavage. Anticlockwise transected folds were influenced by local dextral strike-slip on the southern margins of a rigid terrane. As a regional feature, the clockwise transection is explained by a sinistral transpressive deformation of end-Silurian age.     

A theoretical study of downward H+ field-aligned velocities at mid-latitudes

This paper examines the magnitude of downward H⁺ field-aligned velocities at mid-latitudes. For the isothermal, collisionless, steady-state case an analytical form is derived for the critical temperature, below which the plasma temperature must lie for there to be a possibility of supersonic H⁺ flow. Some simple equations are presented which yield velocity profiles and an aid to the understanding of energy distribution in the H⁺ gas. Very little gravitational potential energy is converted to kinetic energy. For the general case the situation is far more complicated, but we note in particular the importance of the O⁺ contribution to the electrostatic field. For the simpler case the flow is always subsonic regardless of the plasma temperature and it appears unlikely that supersonic flow will occur in the more general case.     

Orogenesis and Basin Development: U-Pb Detrital Zircon Age Constraints on Evolution of the Late Paleozoic St. Marys Basin, Central Mainland Nova Scotia

The St. Marys Basin, along the southern flank of the composite Late Paleozoic Magdalen Basin in the Canadian Appalachians and along the Avalon-Meguma terrane boundary, contains Late Devonian-Early Carboniferous continental clastic rocks of the Horton Group that were deposited in fluvial and lacustrine environments after the peak of the Acadian orogeny. SHRIMP II (Geological Survey of Canada) data on approximately 100 detrital zircons from three samples of Horton Group rocks from the St. Marys Basin show that most of the zircons have been involved in a multistage history, recycled from clastic rocks in the adjacent Meguma and Avalonian terranes. Although there is a minor contribution from Early Silurian (411 Ma) and Late Devonian suites (ca. 380-370 Ma), Neoproterozoic (ca. 700-550 Ma) and Paleoproterozoic (ca. 2.0-2.2 Ga) zircon populations predominate, with a minor contribution from ca. 1.0-, 1.2-, and 1.8-Ga zircons. Published U-Pb single-zircon analyses on clastic sedimentary rocks indicate that the Meguma and Avalon terranes have different populations of detrital zircons, sourced from discrete portions (Amazonian and West African cratons) of the ancient Gondwanan margin. Both terranes contain Neoproterozoic and Late Archean populations. The SHRIMP data, in conjunction with published sedimentological and geochemical data, indicate that the Horton Group basin-fill sediments are largely the result of rapid uplift and erosion of Meguma terrane metasedimentary and granitoid rocks immediately to the south of the St. Marys Basin during the waning stages of the Acadian orogeny. Regional syntheses indicate that this uplift occurred before and during deposition and was a consequence of dextral ramping of the Meguma terrane over the Avalon terrane along the southern flank of the Magdalen Basin.     

Polycyclic musks in green-lipped mussels (Perna viridis) from Hong Kong

Six polycyclic musk compounds [Cashmeran (DPMI), Celestolide (ADBI), Phantolide (AHMI), Traseolide (ATII), Tonalide (AHTN), and Galaxolide (HHCB)] were analysed in marine green-lipped mussels (Perna viridis) from Hong Kong. ADBI, HHCB and AHTN were detected in almost all samples, while AHMI, ATII and DPMI were not detected. Concentrations of ADBI, HHCB and AHTN in mussels ranged from below detection limit-0.0743 (mean: 0.0246), 0.247-6.08 (mean: 1.15) and 0.0591-0.738 (mean: 0.190)mg/kg lipid weight, respectively. Mussels from two sampling sites in central Victoria Harbour contained the highest total polycyclic musk levels, suggesting that these waters are heavily influenced by domestic sewage. Concentrations of HHCB and AHTN detected in the mussel samples were the second highest and the highest levels, respectively, compared to global concentrations. A preliminary risk assessment indicated that HHCB and AHTN in mussels pose little or no threat to the health of shellfish consumers. Nevertheless, more comprehensive studies are required to further assess the ecological and human health risks associated with polycyclic musks.