Optical Classification of IRAS Post-AGB Candidates

We present the first results of a survey carried out on a sample of optically bright post-AGB candidates selected from the IRAS Point Source Catalogue, many of them previously unidentified in the literature. The selection criteria are based on their characteristic far infrared colours. Low resolution spectroscopy of more than 150 sources has been obtained during 6 years. Our preliminary analysis confirms that most of the candidates observed are true post-AGB stars, some of them still strongly reddened. Some young planetary nebulae, a few young stellar objects and active galactic nuclei are also present in the sample. The distribution of post-AGB stars with different spectral types in the IRAS two-colour diagram and its evolutionary implications are briefly discussed. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Palaeomagnetism of Middle Ordovician Carbonate Sequence,Vaivara Sinimäed Area,Northeast Estonia,Baltica

The hill range of Vaivara Sinimäed in northeast Estonia consists of several narrow east- to northeast-trending glaciotectonic fold structures. The folds include tilted (dips 4–75°) Middle Ordovician (early Darriwilian) layered carbonate strata that were studied by mineralogical, palaeomagnetic, and rock magnetic methods in order to specify the postsedimentational history of the area and to obtain a better control over the palaeogeographic position of Baltica during the Ordovician. Mineralogical studies revealed that (titano)magnetite, hematite, and goethite are carriers of magnetization. Based on data from 5 sites that positively passed a DC tilt test, a south-easterly downward directed component A (D^ref = 154.6°± 15.3°, I^ref = 60.9°± 9.7°) was identified. The component is carried by (titano)magnetite, dates to the Middle Ordovician (Plat = 17.9°, Plon = 47.3°, K = 46.7, A95 = 11.3°), and places Baltica at mid-southerly latitudes. Observations suggest that in sites that do not pass the tilt test, the glaciotectonic event has caused some rotation of blocks around their vertical axis.     

The impact of interactive visualization on trade-off-based geospatial decision-making

In a previous work we developed GISwaps, a novel method for geospatial decision-making based on Even Swaps. In this paper, we present the results of an evaluation of a visualization framework integrated with this method, implemented within a decision support system. This evaluation is based on two different studies. In the quantitative study, 15 student participants used GISwaps with no visual features, and 15 participants used GISwaps with the integrated visual framework, as the tool in a solar farm site location case study. The results of the quantitative evaluation show positive impact of the visualization in terms of increased coherency in trade-offs. The results also show a statistically significant difference in average trade-off values between the groups, with users from the non-visual group setting on average 20% higher trade-off values compared with the users in the visual group. In the qualitative study, we had one expert in GIS, two experts in decision-making and two experts in solar energy as a focus user group. Data in this study were obtained by observations and semi-structured interviews with the participants. The impact of the visualization framework was assessed positively by all participants in the expert group.     

Distribution of wave crests in a non-Gaussian sea

The sea elevation at a fixed point is modelled as a quadratic form of a vector valued Gaussian process with arbitrary mean. With this model, saddlepoint methods are used to approximate the mean upcrossing intensity with which the sea level crosses upwards at a certain height. This estimated intensity is further used to determine the probability distribution of wave crests. The use of saddlepoint technique is particularly important here because it can approximate the crest distribution without the need to perform simulations or use fitted distributions. Several numerical examples are given, including two with measured data. In the cases of real data, the results obtained with the saddlepoint technique are also compared with the results obtained with well known methods commonly used in the industry.     

Locating suitable sites for the construction of subsurface dams using GIS

Subsurface dams constitute an affordable and effective method for the sustainable development and management of groundwater resources when constructed on suitable sites. Such dams have rarely been constructed in crystalline rock areas and to best of our knowledge, geographic information system (GIS) has never been used in any methodology for locating suitable sites for constructing these dams. This paper presents a new methodology to locate suitable sites for the construction of subsurface dams using GIS software supported by groundwater balance modelling in a study area Boda-Kalvsvik, Sweden. Groundwater resources were calculated based on digitized geological data and assumptions regarding stratigraphic layering taken from well archive data and geological maps. These estimates were then compared with future extractions for domestic water supply using a temporally dynamic water balance model. Suitability analyses for subsurface dams were based on calculated topographic wetness index (TWI) values and geological data, including stratigraphic information. Groundwater balance calculations indicated that many of the most populated areas were susceptible to frequent water supply shortages. Of the 34 sub-catchments within the study area: ten were over-extracted, nine did not have any water supply demand at all, one was self-sufficient and the remaining 14 were able to meet the water supply demand with surplus storage capacity. Six suitable sites for the construction of subsurface dams were suggested in the vicinity of the over-extracted sites based on suitability analysis and groundwater balance estimates. The new methodology shows encouraging results for regions with humid climate but having limited natural water storage capacities. The developed methodology can be used as a preliminary planning step for subsurface dam construction, establishing a base for more detailed field investigations.     

Experimental and modelling investigations of the biogeochemistry of gas production from low and intermediate level radioactive waste

The degradation of organic wastes and the corrosion of metallic wastes and steel containers in low and intermediate level radioactive waste (LLW/ILW) repositories are important processes that affect repository geochemistry and the speciation and transport of radionuclides. Gas is generated in association with these degradation processes and this has the potential to overpressure the repository, which can promote transport of groundwater and gas, and consequently radionuclide transport. Microbial activity plays an important role in organic degradation, corrosion and gas generation through the mediation of reduction–oxidation reactions.     

Forecasting near-surface ocean winds with Kalman filter techniques

In this paper a statistical forecasting model designed for bounded areas of near-surface ocean wind speeds is implemented.Dimension reduction is achieved by decomposing the covariance structure into one large-scale and one small-scale component using empirical orthogonal functions. The large-scale component is modelled with an AR process and forecasts are calculated by applying a Kalman filter.The model is suited for stable weather situations as for unsteady situations it requires more frequent wind information. From the prediction variance fields it is possible to identify where unexpected weather usually enters the area.     

IUE-spectra of the four interacting binary white dwarf stars: AM CVn,PG 1346+082, V803 Cen,AND GP com. A comparative study

This project is part of a world wide cooperation aimed at investigating properties of white dwarf stars to determine their constitution and evolution. The project is based on two recent developments:-The first is the discovery, of pulsational instabilities in some white dwarf stars, giving rise to non-radial pulsations which can be observed as flux modulations with low amplitude.-The second is to study the mass transfer between interacting binary white dwarf stars, which transports processed material from the interior of the donating star to the accretor. We present a study of four interacting binary white dwarf systems based on IUE spectra.Paper presented at the 11th European Regional Astronomical Meetings of the IAU on New Windows to the Universe, held 3–8 July, 1989, Tenerife Canary Islands, Spain.