Radio emission regions in pulsars

We study the concept of radius-to-frequency mapping using a geometrical method for the estimation of pulsar emission altitudes. The semi-empirical relationship proposed by Kijak &38; Gil is examined over three decades of radio frequency. It is argued that the emission region in a millisecond pulsar occupies the magnetosphere over a distance of up to about 30 per cent of the light-cylinder radius, and that in a normal pulsar occupies up to approximately 10 per cent of the light-cylinder radius.     

Micro-topographic change on calcarenites,grand Cayman Island,West Indies

Changes in micro-topography, as a result of varying erosion rates, have been monitored on a calcarenite ridge on Grand Cayman Island, West Indies, using a traversing model of the micro-erosion meter. Erosion takes place through the solution of a calcitic cement and ‘solutional disintegration’ results in a rapid change of micro-relief. Where a protective crust is present, surface lowering is slower and also more uniform; thus the original relative relief is maintained.     

湖泊水位资料与模型模拟恢复的6000年前全球湿润状况的对比研究

本项研究是ＰＭＩＰ（ＰａｌａｅｏｃｌｉｍａｔｅＭｏｄｅｌｉｎｇＩｎｔｅｒｃｏｍｐａｒｉｓｏｎＰｒｏｊｅｃｔ）国际合作项目中有关模型模拟与观测资料对比的一部分。模型试验对象是６０００ｙｒ．ＢＰ的全球湿润状况。模拟试验以检测太阳辐射变化对全球大尺度气候系统的影响为主要目的。观测资料是利用地质证据恢复的古湖泊水位变化,实际上是某一地区的有效降水（降水减蒸发）的变化。通过两者的比较发现,所有模拟试验均能重现６０００ｙｒ．ＢＰ在亚洲南部与非洲北部的湿润环境,从而证实了因太阳辐射变化导致的亚洲与非洲季风的增强。但模拟的季风增强无论是强度还是范围均小于地质记录。原因很可能是模拟试验中下垫面特征用“现代”的来处理。模拟试验对北半球夏季辐射增加造成的西风带北移及由此引起的中纬度地区的气候变化不够成功。绝大多数模拟对受洋流与海温影响较大的地区是失败的。主要原因可能是所有ＰＭＩＰ中的模拟试验都未考虑海洋的作用。     

陆面生态过程的一维数值模拟

建立了一个研究大气、植被、土壤相互作用的传播模式。模式是由多层大气模式、多层土壤模式和植被模式通过界面上能量、水汽传输平衡方程耦合而成。对植被和土壤的不同性质,进行了一系列的数值试验。结果表明,不同的植被覆盖以及降水等因子会对大气、植被、地表界面上能量、水汽传输以及热状态产生显著的影响。此模式还可以耦合进中尺度模式用以研究非均匀区域陆面过程和大气的相互作用。     

小麦出苗至抽穗期土壤湿度预报及喷灌量计算

以黑龙江省８５０农场的资料进行分析,５至６月份小麦出苗、拔节至抽穗阶段,经常出现干旱,是需水关键期,对产量影响极大。所以利用麦田土壤湿度资料,建立经验公式,对土壤墒情进行预测预报,从而获得最佳喷灌时间及喷灌量,为节约用水、计划用水提供了可靠依据。     

广武新灌区春小麦土壤水分变化规律研究

通过对广武新灌区春小麦土壤水分的垂直变化、季节变化和时空变化的研究,将广武新灌区０～１００ｃｍ土层划分为活跃层、贮水层、阻隔层和无效水分层,为寻找新灌区节水途径奠定了基础。     

Computational microstructure modeling to estimate progressive moisture damage behavior of asphaltic paving mixtures

This paper presents a computational microstructure model to estimate the progressive moisture damage of multiphase asphaltic paving mixtures. Moisture damage because of water transport is incorporated with mechanical loading through a finite element method. To simulate nonlinear damage evolution in the mixtures, the model includes Fickian moisture diffusion, a cohesive zone model to simulate the gradual fracture process, and a degradation characteristic function to represent the reduction of material properties because of moisture infiltration. With the model developed, various parametric analyses are conducted to investigate how each model parameter affects the material‐specific moisture damage mechanism and damage resistance potential of the mixtures. Analysis results clearly demonstrate the significance of physical and mechanical properties of mixture components and geometric characteristics of microstructure for the better design of asphaltic paving mixtures and roadway structures. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Evaluation of an empirical orthogonal function–based method to downscale soil moisture patterns based on topographical attributes

Soil moisture influences many hydrologic applications including agriculture, land management and flood prediction. Most remote‐sensing methods that estimate soil moisture produce coarse resolution patterns, so methods are required to downscale such patterns to the resolutions required by these applications (e.g. 10‐ to 30‐m grid cells). At such resolutions, topography is known to affect soil moisture patterns. Although methods have been proposed to downscale soil moisture based on topography, they usually require the availability of past high‐resolution soil moisture patterns from the application region. The objective of this article is to determine whether a single topographic‐based downscaling method can be used at multiple locations without relying on detailed local observations. The evaluated downscaling method is developed on the basis of empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis of space–time soil moisture data at a reference catchment. The most important EOFs are then estimated from topographic attributes, and the associated expansion coefficients are estimated on the basis of the spatial‐average soil moisture. To test the portability of this EOF‐based method, it is developed separately using four data sets (Tarrawarra, Tarrawarra 2, Cache la Poudre and Satellite Station), and the relationships that are derived from these data sets to estimate the EOFs and expansion coefficients are compared. In addition, each of these downscaling methods is applied not only for the catchment where it was developed but also to the other three catchments. The results suggest that the EOF downscaling method performs well for the location where it is developed, but its performance degrades when applied to other catchments. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Development of a continuous soil moisture accounting procedure for curve number methodology and its behaviour with different evapotranspiration methods

The curve number (CN) method is widely used for rainfall–runoff modelling in continuous hydrologic simulation models. A sound continuous soil moisture accounting procedure is necessary for models using the CN method. For shallow soils and soils with low storage, the existing methods have limitations in their ability to reproduce the observed runoff. Therefore, a simple one‐parameter model based on the Soil Conservation Society CN procedure is developed for use in continuous hydrologic simulation. The sensitivity of the model parameter to runoff predictions was also analysed. In addition, the behaviour of the procedure developed and the existing continuous soil moisture accounting procedure used in hydrologic models, in combination with Penman–Monteith and Hargreaves evapotranspiration (ET) methods was also analysed. The new CN methodology, its behaviour and the sensitivity of the depletion coefficient (model parameter) were tested in four United States Geological Survey defined eight‐digit watersheds in different water resources regions of the USA using the SWAT model. In addition to easy parameterization for calibration, the one‐parameter model developed performed adequately in predicting runoff. When tested for shallow soils, the parameter is found to be very sensitive to surface runoff and subsurface flow and less sensitive to ET. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Using XMM-Newton to measure the spectrum of the Vela pulsar and its phase variation

We report on our analysis of two XMM-Newton observations of the Vela pulsar performed in December 2000 (total exposure time: 96.5 ks). We succeeded in resolving the pulsar spectrum from the surrounding bright nebular emission taking advantage both of the accurate calibration of the EPIC point spread function and of the Chandra/HRC surface brightness map of the nebula. This made it possible to assess to pulsar spectral shape disentangling its thermal and non-thermal components. Exploiting the photon harvest, we have also been able to perform a phase-resolved study of the pulsar emission.