Prediction of satellite orbits contraction due to diurnally varying oblate atmosphere and altitude-dependent scale height using KS canonical elements

A new non-singular analytical theory for the motion of near-Earth satellite orbits with the air drag effect is developed in terms of uniformly regular KS canonical elements. Diurnally varying oblate atmosphere is considered with variation in density scale height dependent on altitude. The series expansion method is utilized to generate the analytical solutions and terms up to fourth-order terms in eccentricity and c (a small parameter dependent on the flattening of the atmosphere) are retained. Only two of the nine equations are solved analytically to compute the state vector and change in energy at the end of each revolution, due to symmetry in the equations of motion. The important drag perturbed orbital parameters: semi-major axis and eccentricity are obtained up to 500 revolutions, with the present analytical theory and by numerical integration over a wide range of perigee height, eccentricity and inclination. The differences between the two are found to be very less. A comparison between the theories generated with terms up to third- and fourth-order terms in c and e shows an improvement in the computation of the orbital parameters semi-major axis and eccentricity, up to 9%. The theory can be effectively used for the re-entry of the near-Earth objects, which mainly decay due to atmospheric drag.     

Potential of radiotelescopes for atmospheric line observations: I. Observation principles and transmission curves for selected sites

Existing and planned radiotelescopes working in the millimetre (mm) and sub-millimetre wavelengths range provide the possibility to be used for atmospheric line observations. To scrutinize this potential, we outline the differences and similarities in technical equipment and observing techniques between ground-based aeronomy mm-wave radiometers and radiotelescopes. Comprehensive tables summarizing the technical characteristics of existing and future (sub)-mm radiotelescopes are given. The advantages and disadvantages using radiotelescopes for atmospheric line observations are discussed. In view of the importance of exploring the sub-mm and far-infrared wavelengths range for astronomical observations and atmospheric sciences, we present model calculations of the atmospheric transmission for selected telescope sites (DOME-C/Antarctica, ALMA/Chajnantor, JCMT and CSO on Mauna Kea/Hawaii, KOSMA/Swiss Alpes) for frequencies between 0 and 2000 GHz () and typical atmospheric conditions using the forward model MOLIERE (version 5). For the DOME-C site, the transmission over a larger range of up to 10 THz () is calculated in order to demonstrate the quality of an Earth-bound site for mid-IR observations. All results are available on a dedicated webpage.     

Exploring the Effects of Microscale Structural Heterogeneity of Forest Canopies Using Large-Eddy Simulations

The Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS)-based Forest Large-Eddy Simulation (RAFLES), developed and evaluated here, is used to explore the effects of three-dimensional canopy heterogeneity, at the individual tree scale, on the statistical properties of turbulence most pertinent to mass and momentum transfer. In RAFLES, the canopy interacts with air by exerting a drag force, by restricting the open volume and apertures available for flow (i.e. finite porosity), and by acting as a heterogeneous source of heat and moisture. The first and second statistical moments of the velocity and flux profiles computed by RAFLES are compared with turbulent velocity and scalar flux measurements collected during spring and winter days. The observations were made at a meteorological tower situated within a southern hardwood canopy at the Duke Forest site, near Durham, North Carolina, U.S.A. Each of the days analyzed is characterized by distinct regimes of atmospheric stability and canopy foliage distribution conditions. RAFLES results agreed with the 30-min averaged flow statistics profiles measured at this single tower. Following this intercomparison, two case studies are numerically considered representing end-members of foliage and midday atmospheric stability conditions: one representing the winter season with strong winds above a sparse canopy and a slightly unstable boundary layer; the other representing the spring season with a dense canopy, calm conditions, and a strongly convective boundary layer. In each case, results from the control canopy, simulating the observed heterogeneous canopy structure at the Duke Forest hardwood stand, are compared with a test case that also includes heterogeneity commensurate in scale to tree-fall gaps. The effects of such tree-scale canopy heterogeneity on the flow are explored at three levels pertinent to biosphere-atmosphere exchange. The first level (zero-dimensional) considers the effects of such heterogeneity on the common representation of the canopy via length scales such as the zero-plane displacement, the aerodynamic roughness length, the surface-layer depth, and the eddy-penetration depth. The second level (one-dimensional) considers the normalized horizontally-averaged profiles of the first and second moments of the flow to assess how tree-scale heterogeneities disturb the entire planar-averaged profiles from their canonical (and well-studied planar-homogeneous) values inside the canopy and in the surface layer. The third level (three-dimensional) considers the effects of such tree-scale heterogeneities on the spatial variability of the ejection-sweep cycle and its propagation to momentum and mass fluxes. From these comparisons, it is shown that such microscale heterogeneity leads to increased spatial correlations between attributes of the ejection-sweep cycle and measures of canopy heterogeneity, resulting in correlated spatial heterogeneity in fluxes. This heterogeneity persisted up to four times the mean height of the canopy (h _c ) for some variables. Interestingly, this estimate is in agreement with the working definition of the thickness of the canopy roughness sublayer (2h _c –5h _c ).     

Dew and rain water collection in the Dalmatian Coast, Croatia

Passive dew harvesting and rainwater collection requires a very small financial investment but can exploit a free, clean (outside urban/industrial zones) and inexhaustible source of water. This study investigates the relative contributions of dew and rain water in the Mediterranean Dalmatian coast and islands of Croatia, with emphasis on the dry summer season. In addition, we evaluate the utility of transforming abandoned roof rain collectors (“impluviums”) to collect dew water too. Two sites were chosen, an exposed open site on the coast favourable to dew formation (Zadar) and a less favourable site in a cirque of mountains in Komiža (Vis Island). Between July 1, 2003 and October 31, 2006, dew was collected two or three times per day on a 1 m² inclined (30°) test dew condenser, together with standard meteorological data (air temperature and relative humidity, cloud cover, windspeed and direction). Maximum yields were 0.41 mm in Zadar and 0.6 mm in Komiža. The mean yearly cumulative dew yields were found to be 20 mm (Zadar) and 9.3 mm (Komiža). Because of its physical setting, Komiža represents a poor location for dew collection. However, during the dry season (May to October), monthly cumulative dew water yield can represent up to 38% of water collected by rainfall. In both July 2003 and 2006, dew water represented about 120% of the monthly cumulative rain water. Refurbishing the abandoned impluviums to permit dew collection could then provide useful supplementary water, especially during the dry season. As an example, the 1300 m² impluvium at Podšpilje near Komiža could provide, in addition to rain water, 14,000 L dew water per year.     

New evidence for a glacioeustatic influence on deep water circulation, bottom water ventilation and primary productivity in the South China Sea

We provide new evidence for the development of a stable estuarine circulation characterized by stagnating water bodies, nutrient recycling and increased primary productivity in the South China Sea (SCS) during glacial intervals. This circulation was caused by the closure of the shallow and narrow straits connecting the SCS in the south and west. Our main evidence is derived from newly measured Mn concentrations and Mn/Al ratios in two sediment cores from the northern and southeastern SCS covering the last 500 ky. Concentrations and Mn/Al ratios of the redox sensitive element Mn show clear glacial–interglacial cycles with maxima during interglacial periods and minima during glacial periods. These cycles indicate ventilation cycles of the bottom water, and are connected to the glacial–interglacial changes in sea level. In contrast, total organic carbon (TOC) concentrations display an opposite pattern with pronounced maxima during glacial times, especially in the southern part of the basin. The variations in TOC can be ascribed to two factors. Firstly, variations in primary productivity are controlled by variations in the intensity of the winter monsoon. Secondly to the degree of preservation of TOC controlled by variations in ventilation, which in turn is ultimately controlled by sea level. Consequently, variations in TOC represent a superimposition of primarily sea level influenced preservation control and winter monsoon driven variations in primary productivity intensity. The decrease in Mn correspond to times when sea level dropped 40–60 m below the present level. The larger amplitude of the variations in TOC and Mn in the southern part of the basin compared to the northern site suggest that oxygen depletion and nutrient recycling was stronger in the parts of the basin situated the furthest away from the only remaining opening to the open Pacific, the Luzon Strait.     

欧亚中高纬春季地表感热异常与长江中下游夏季降水的可能联系

利用国家气候中心提供的中国区域753站降水观测资料、ECMWF逐月地表感热通量再分析资料和NECP/NCAR再分析资料,讨论了欧亚大陆中高纬春季地表感热异常与长江中下游夏季降水之间的联系及其相关的物理机制。分析发现欧亚大陆中高纬春季地表感热异常与长江中下游地区夏季降水存在显著的正相关:感热偏强期,长江中下游夏季降水偏多;感热偏弱期,长江中下游夏季降水偏少。春季感热异常偏强时,夏季东亚副热带西风急流主体位置偏东、强度偏强、范围偏大,长江中下游地区主要受辐合上升气流控制,水汽输送条件好,降水异常偏多。而春季感热偏弱时,情况大致相反,则夏季降水异常偏少。研究表明欧亚大陆中高纬春季地表感热通量异常变化对我国长江中下游夏季降水预测具有一定的指示意义。     

GasBenchⅡ顶空瓶内空气背景对<100μg碳酸盐中碳氧同位素在线测定的影响及校正方法初探

较为系统地研究了在特定排空时间下GasBenchⅡ顶空瓶内背景CO2的量和同位素组成变化,并检查了该空白CO2组分对碳酸盐C、O同位素在线测定的影响。结果发现,由于排空时间较短所导致的顶空瓶内剩余的空气CO2或由于排空方法不当所导致的外部空气少量回流都会对小样品量(100μg)碳酸盐C、O同位素测定结果产生显著影响。其影响程度取决于空白CO2的量和空白CO2与碳酸盐样品之间C、O同位素的差别大小。由此,对小样品量碳酸盐C、O同位素的测定结果进行了空白校正。当碳酸盐样品质量在20~100μg,校正后δ13C和δ18O值的标准偏差分别小于0.12‰和0.13‰,这证明了该空白校正方法的可行性。由于顶空瓶中空白CO2的量很小,所以对痕量CO2的量、δ13C和δ18O测定值的测定会存在一定波动,这对碳酸盐δ13C和δ18O校正值产生小于0.2‰的不确定度。采用准确测定的实验室空气CO2的δ13C和δ18O值则会大大减少该不确定度的影响。     

多层湍流大气相位屏的数值模拟

高分辨图像重建技术可以有效消除湍流大气的影响,重建目标的接近望远镜衍射极限的图像。但是当目标的视场角比较大时,大气—望远镜综合系统不再是线性空不变的,给图像重建带来新的困难,它是大气性质中的一个重要特性,对大气相位屏的模拟应该满足这一特性。提出了一种可以模拟等晕区效应的多层大气相位屏的数值模拟方法,这种方法可以应用于等晕区对高分辨统计重建方法的影响的研究中。利用该数值模拟方法模拟了5″和8″的双星的斑点图,用斑点干涉术对模拟的双星进行了重建,并与实测的双星的斑点干涉术重建结果进行了比较。比较结果表明该数值模拟方法所产生的等晕区效应与实际的等晕区效应相似。     

大气对532nm激光影响在漫反射激光测距中的应用

激光光束在大气中的传输是与大气特征有关的,如大气湍流、大气散射与吸收,而且激光测距的回波除了与距离有关外,其回波数及精度也与大气特征相关。漫反射激光测距的目标是低轨空间碎片,在一定反射截面的条件下,应用一定功率的激光进行地面靶板漫反射测距试验,以确定多少功率的激光器可实现空间碎片的漫反射测距,这时地面靶的距离选取应该具有代表性,它代表了在一定斜程下穿过整个大气层的效应。通过对大气湍流和大气衰减对激光传输的影响进行分析,理论上计算出在低轨目标为400km时,漫反射激光测距试验地面靶的水平距离该取多远时才能代表在一定斜程下穿过400km大气层的效应,从而为漫反射激光测距试验地面靶距离的选取提供参考依据。     

副矿物微量元素地球化学特征在成岩成矿作用研究中的应用

文中较系统地介绍了国外近年来基于矿物合成和激光原位定量分析测试技术发展的副矿物,重点是锆石,其次是金红石、石榴石、榍石及磷灰石等微量元素地球化学特征在成岩成矿温度、氧逸度、源区物质等方面的研究成果。这些成果是在不同温度、压力及体系成分条件下合成的矿物,结合自然界岩石相关副矿物成分分析,获得了副矿物中微量元素含量与形成温度、压力、氧逸度等之间存在严格线性关系,建立了定量计算公式,并给出了这些温度计、氧逸度等计算公式的适用范围。根据广泛用于同位素定年的锆石受变质和热液蚀变而出现复杂年龄譜,文中还介绍了用锆石微量和稀土元素地球化学特点,结合近年来在这方面的研究成果,探讨了Th/U比值识别锆石成因存在的问题,介绍了稀土元素组成识别锆石成因的原理和应用。