Spectroscopic binaries near the North Galactic Pole paper 6: BD 33° 2206

Photoelectric radial-velocity measurements have confirmed O. C. Wilson’s finding that BD 33° 2206, the secondary star in the wide visual binary ADS 8470, is a spectroscopic binary. It has an eccentric orbit with a period of 100 days. Its γ-velocity is close to the constant radial velocity of the visual primary, confirming the physical association of the stars.     

Application of horizontal-to-vertical (H/V) Fourier spectral ratio for analysis of site effect on rock (NEHRP-class B) sites in Taiwan

The frequency-dependent amplification for rock (NEHRP-class B) sites was studied using earthquake ground-motion database collected in Taiwan during implementation of the Taiwan Strong Motion Instrumentation Program. The database used includes several hundred records from earthquakes of M_L 4.0–7.3 occurred between 1993 and 2004. The characteristics of amplification were evaluated using the well-known technique of horizontal-to-vertical Fourier spectral ratio (H/V) of the S-wave phase [Lermo J, Chavez-Garcia FJ. Site effect evaluation using spectral ratios with only one station. Bull Seism Soc Am 1993;83:1574–94]. The study allows us to analyze peculiarities of rock sites amplification in Northern and Eastern Taiwan. It was suggested to divide the NEHRP-class B site amplification into four types based on frequency of maximum amplification and the shape of amplification function. The applicability of the technique was also checked for a few stiff and soft soil sites (NEHRP-classes D and E).     

Classification of forest land attributes using multi-source remotely sensed data

The aim of the study was to (1) examine the classification of forest land using airborne laser scanning (ALS) data, satellite images and sample plots of the Finnish National Forest Inventory (NFI) as training data and to (2) identify best performing metrics for classifying forest land attributes. Six different schemes of forest land classification were studied: land use/land cover (LU/LC) classification using both national classes and FAO (Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations) classes, main type, site type, peat land type and drainage status. Special interest was to test different ALS-based surface metrics in classification of forest land attributes. Field data consisted of 828 NFI plots collected in 2008–2012 in southern Finland and remotely sensed data was from summer 2010. Multinomial logistic regression was used as the classification method. Classification of LU/LC classes were highly accurate (kappa-values 0.90 and 0.91) but also the classification of site type, peat land type and drainage status succeeded moderately well (kappa-values 0.51, 0.69 and 0.52). ALS-based surface metrics were found to be the most important predictor variables in classification of LU/LC class, main type and drainage status. In best classification models of forest site types both spectral metrics from satellite data and point cloud metrics from ALS were used. In turn, in the classification of peat land types ALS point cloud metrics played the most important role. Results indicated that the prediction of site type and forest land category could be incorporated into stand level forest management inventory system in Finland.     

Geomorphological site classification for the Fujian province

Geomorphological classification of the Fujian province was done based on remote-sensing imaging, digital elevation maps, and slope gradient data acquired by ArcGIS 9.2. The engineering geological units in the Fujian province were divided into five types by the geomorphologic shape and genesis. The relationship among geomorphological type, engineering geological unit, and site category was determined using engineering geological data and site category data. Then, after making a preliminary site classification adjusted by drill hole data, the site was classified into four types: I₀, I₁, II, and III according to site classification standards of equivalent shear-wave velocity and overburden thickness. The results showed that the site categories in the Fujian province mainly consist of type II, which accounts for 85.26 % of the land area. The percentage of I₀ was the smallest, which accounts for only 2.44 % of the total area.     

X-ray binary unified analysis: pulse/RV application to Vela X1: GP Velorum

A procedure for simultaneous analysis of multiple kinds of observations is developed for binaries that contain X-ray pulsars. A wide variety of observation types might be included, although we consider only velocity: pulse and light: velocity: pulse cases at present. The model operates with equipotentials and can accommodate non-synchronous rotation and eccentric orbits. The duration condition imposed by observed X-ray eclipses is incorporated as an embedded constraint, so that only solutions consistent with the eclipse duration are found. Relations needed for the method of differential corrections in least-squares solutions are specified, and we apply the Marquardt scheme for improvement of solution convergence. Parameters of Vela X1: GP Velorum are obtained from seven combinations of pulse and radial velocity data. The estimated masses are thereby put into some perspective, especially for the neutron star. The mass of the supergiant ( m  sin³  i ) now ranges only ±5 per cent from the mean of seven results, although the uncertainty in i makes the actual mass range larger. We discuss the determinacy of certain parameters and their historical consistency. For example, the systemic radial velocity differs among spectroscopic data sets by more than 20 km s⁻¹. We show that, contrary to published assertions, the orbital inclinations of high-mass X-ray binaries are essentially indeterminable by the usual methods, although lower limits to inclination may be meaningful for some examples.     

BHαBAR: big Hα kinematical sample of barred spiral galaxies – I. Fabry–Perot observations of 21 galaxies

We present the Hα gas kinematics of 21 representative barred spiral galaxies belonging to the BHαBAR sample. The galaxies were observed with FaNTOmM, a Fabry–Perot integral-field spectrometer, on three different telescopes. The three-dimensional data cubes were processed through a robust pipeline with the aim of providing the most homogeneous and accurate data set possible useful for further analysis. The data cubes were spatially binned to a constant signal-to-noise ratio, typically around 7. Maps of the monochromatic Hα emission line and of the velocity field were generated and the kinematical parameters were derived for the whole sample using tilted-ring models. The photometrical and kinematical parameters (position angle of the major axis, inclination, systemic velocity and kinematical centre) are in relative good agreement, except perhaps for the later-type spirals.