Local And Global Diffusion Along Resonant Lines in Discrete Quasi-integrable Dynamical Systems

We detect and measure diffusion along resonances in a quasi-integrable symplectic map for different values of the perturbation parameter. As in a previously studied Hamiltonian case (Lega et al., 2003) results agree with the prediction of the Nekhoroshev theorem. Moreover, for values of the perturbation parameter slightly below the critical value of the transition between Nekhoroshev and Chirikov regime we have also found a diffusion of some orbits along macroscopic portions of the phase space. Such a diffusion follows in a spectacular way the peculiar structure of resonant lines.     

靖远地区大厚度黄土地基浸水湿陷过程及土中竖向应力特征试验研究

为了研究靖远大厚度黄土在浸水条件下的水分入渗规律和自重湿陷变形特征,在中兰铁路沿线的靖远北站黄土自重湿陷场地进行了不打注水孔的现场浸水试验,监测并分析了地表及地下湿陷变形、试坑周围裂缝、含水率和土中竖向应力变化情况,对水分扩散规律、自重湿陷特性和土中竖向应力变化规律进行了研究,并对地区修正系数β0值和浸润角进行了探讨。结果表明：体积含水率变化分为浸水稳定（2个）、快速增加（1个）和缓慢增加（1个）共4个阶段;浸水过程中,水分在21m处竖向入渗加快、径向扩散减缓,湿润峰最终形态呈现为椭圆状。根据探井和钻孔含水率测试结果,推算出浸润角最大为41°。该场地黄土自重湿陷过程历经剧烈湿陷、缓慢湿陷和固结稳定3个阶段。试验结束时共计发展了13圈环状裂缝,裂缝最远处距试坑边缘26m。根据室内试验和现场测试结果,建议地区修正系数沿土层深度进行修正,0～10m内β0值取1.05,10～27 m内β0值取0.95。在地表至21 m深度范围内,地基土浸水饱和且湿陷充分,土中竖向应力沿深度呈线性增加,土中竖向应力接近饱和自重应力,21m以下的地基土未能充分湿陷,土中竖向应力逐渐减小。该研究成果可应用于中兰铁路...     

Spatial and temporal trends in information technology outsourcing

Over the last two decades information technology (IT) outsourcing has grown dramatically, and has emerged as a strategic choice for firms searching for ways to control their costs and maintain a competitive edge. The mechanisms driving its growth are not fully understood though. In this research, we employ an approach that focuses on geographic, temporal, and industrial proximity in a mechanism that identifies the process underlying the diffusion of IT outsourcing across firms within the U.S from 2000 to 2010. We focus on the role that firm location plays in the diffusion process, and use space-time clustering techniques from the epidemiology literature to understand the diffusion process. We identify 38 space-time clusters based on IT outsourcing announcement data and the locations of firm headquarters among U.S.-based firms. When supplemented with additional information, such as type of services outsourced, the metropolitan area of the headquarters, and related industry information; the results offer insights into various types of diffusion processes that have been identified in the literature but have not been documented to date in the empirical manner that we have been able to do.     

Element spots in Ap and Hg‐Mn stars from current‐driven diffusion

The stars of the middle main sequence often have spot‐like chemical structures at their surfaces. We consider the diffusion process caused by electric currents that can lead to the formation of such chemical spots. Diffusion is considered using the partial momentum equations derived by the Chapman‐Enskog method. We argue that diffusion caused by electric currents can substantially change the surface chemistry of stars and form spotted chemical structures even in a relatively weak magnetic field. The considered mechanism can be responsible for a formation of element spots in Hg‐Mn and Ap‐stars. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Long‐term annual surface heat and water balances over Canada and the United States South of 60°N: Reconciliation of precipitation,run‐off and temperature fields

Abstract

The analysis compares the observed field of run‐off (assumed correct) with adjusted precipitation over North America (as amended by den Hartog and LeDrew over Canada) and derives the principal hydroclimatological ratios for each five‐degree latitude‐longitude square. The amended precipitation field yields values of the Budyko dry ness index close to values suggested by the vegetation distribution. The Priestley‐Taylor parameter, α, lies between unity (equilibrium) and potential (1.26) values over much of humid North America, but exceeds these values in the northwest Pacific squares, where advective heating may be the cause. Other regions of strong seasonal advective heating (e.g. the Great Plains) do not appear to influence the distribution strongly. A weighted convective forcing temperature is derived, varying from 298 K in the extreme south to below 285 K in the north. This function (and the Bowen ratio) achieve improbable values in northern Labrador‐ Ungava. The precipitation, run‐off and net radiation régimes appear still to be out of balance in these squares. An adjustment of either precipitation or net radiation by about a tenth corrects the imbalance, but the method is not capable of deciding which field (or both) is in error. Over the rest of the continent the adjusted precipitation field now appears to be in balance with observed run‐off and temperature distributions.     

一维热扩散湖模式在太湖的应用研究

利用在太湖获得的2010年8月11-28日的观测资料研究了一维热扩散湖模式在太湖的适用性,通过对比模拟进一步研究了影响太湖湖表温度模拟的主要因子。该湖模式对太湖最初的模拟结果并不理想,模拟的湖表面温度与观测有较大的系统性偏差,温度的日变化幅度与观测相比也偏小。通过分析该模式对太湖的模拟效果不理想的可能原因,针对太湖的生态环境和污染情况,设计了18个测试参数的敏感性试验,从敏感性试验的结果分析得到,适用于太湖的、依赖于湖泊类型的3个参数应做如下修改:消光系数（η₀）应放大3倍,湖泊表层吸收的太阳辐射系数（β）应取0.8,粗糙长度（z₀）采用公式计算得到。用新得到的适用于太湖的3个参数,模拟得到的结果与最初的模拟结果和观测资料对比,发现采用新的参数后,模拟结果比最初的模拟结果有了很大的改进,模拟的湖表温度基本接近观测,模拟的湖水垂直剖面时间序列图也跟观测吻合得较好,随之的感热、潜热通量的模拟也都与观测接近。最后,对输入湖模式的主要大气参量（太阳辐射、2 m气温及风场）±10%的误差引起的模式模拟的湖表面温度误差进行分析,结果表明该湖模式对大气强迫场的误差敏感度不高;相比之下,模拟结果对风场敏感性最小,对辐射和气温的敏感度相当。     

US institutional pathways to clean coal and shale gas: lessons for China

China's 12th Five-Year Plan (2011–2015) envisages that shale gas and coal will be central to its energy future. However, for China to meet the energy security and climate change objectives set out in its 12th Five-Year Plan it will be reliant on the widespread commercial deployment of two key technologies; hydraulic fracturing combined with horizontal drilling for shale gas, and carbon capture and storage (CCS) for coal. China is moving to acquire these technologies through technology transfer and diffusion from the US, but progress has been slow, and neither is currently available in China on a commercial scale. Drawing on interviews in the US and China, this article argues that China's expectation of technology from the US may well be disappointed because of factors unique to the US institutional environment that have made the development of fracking technology possible and hinder the development of CCS technology at a commercial scale.

Policy relevance

If China is to meet the energy security and climate change objectives set out in its 12th Five-Year Plan it will be reliant on the widespread commercial deployment of fracking and clean coal technologies. While China expects to acquire these technologies via technology transfer and diffusion from the US, progress has been slow. Because of factors unique to the US institutional environment the availability of both technologies on a commercial scale in China is unlikely in the coming years. As a result, Chinese policy makers would be well-advised not to count on these technologies to meet their energy and climate goals.     

Experimental Radar Studies of Anisotropic Diffusion of High Altitude Meteor Trails

At altitudes above 93 km in the atmosphere, magnetic and electric fields can affect the modes and rates of non-turbulent diffusion of ionized meteor trails. Anisotropic diffusion is expected. Most theories of anisotropic diffusion, and indeed most experimental studies, have concentrated on the effects of the magnetic field in producing this anisotropy, and different rates of expansion are expected in directions parallel to and perpendicular to the magnetic field lines. In this study, we use interferometric meteor radars to investigate the dependence of the ambipolar diffusion coefficient on viewing direction relative to the magnetic field, and show that the dependence is at best weak when daily averages are used. We then demonstrate that the reason for this effect is that the positions of maximum and minimum diffusion rates varies as a function of time of day, and that daily averaging masks the anisotropy. One possibility to account for the observations is that this strong diurnal variation is a consequence of the electric fields in the upper atmosphere, which are often tidally driven. An alternative possibility is a diurnal cycle in mean meteor entrance speeds. We lean towards the first hypothesis, but both possibilities are discussed. We demonstrate our results with data from several sites, but particularly using the Clovar radar near London, Ontario, Canada.     

REVIEWS OF GEOGRAPHIC SOFTWARE

Geographic Software Reviewed in this article: THE DIFFUSION GAME . Christopher J. Lovelock and Charles B. Weinberg . MAPIT . Raymond J. Kalush , Jr . SIMODEL . Peter A. Williams and A. Stewart Fotheringham . WEATHER FRONTS . P. C. Moyer . WORLD DYNAMICS . Mark Lewis Baldwin     

On the Fréchet differentiability of the one-dimensional magnetotellurics problem

Summary. This paper proves that, subject to certain assumptions, the one-dimensional magnetotelluric response function and the associated electric fields are Fréchet differentiable with respect to the conductivity function. The flaw in the proof offered by an earlier author is explained.