Cygnus A

Cygnus A was the first hyper-active galaxy discovered, and it remains by far the closest of the ultra-luminous radio galaxies. As such, Cygnus A has played a fundamental role in the study of virtually all aspects of extreme activity in galaxies. We present a review of jet theory for powering the double-lobed radio emitting structures in powerful radio galaxies, followed by a review of observations of Cygnus A in the radio, optical, and X-ray relevant to testing various aspects of jet theory. Issues addressed include: jet structure from pc- to kpc-scales, jet stability, confinement, composition, and velocity, the double shock structure for the jet terminus and the origin of multiple radio hotspots, the nature of the filamentary structure in the radio lobes, and the hydrodynamic evolution of the radio lobes within a dense cluster atmosphere, including an analysis of pressure balance between the various gaseous components. Also discussed are relativistic particle acceleration and loss mechanisms in Cygnus A, as well as magnetic field strengths and geometries both within the radio source, and in the intracluster medium. We subsequently review the classification, cluster membership, and the emission components of the Cygnus A galaxy. The origin of the activity is discussed. Concentrating on the nuclear regions of the galaxy, we review the evidence for an obscured QSO, also given the constraints on the orientation of the radio source axis with respect to the sky plane. We present an overview of models of central engines in AGN and observations of Cygnus A which may be relevant to testing such models. We conclude with a brief section concerning the question of whether Cygnus A is representative of powerful high redshift radio galaxies. Received October 10, 1995     

Impact of missing flow on active inundation areas and transformation of parafluvial wetlands in Punarbhaba–Tangon river basin of Indo-Bangladesh

Punarbhaba river of Indo-Bangladesh has experienced hydro-ecological alteration after installation of Komardanga dam in 1992 and consequently wetland and inundation areas have undergone into transformation. The present work intends to explore the impact of flow attenuation on contemporary and upcoming flood extent and flood plain wetlands. In post-dam condition, average and maximum flows are attenuated by 36 and 41%, respectively, and as a result the active flood prone area is squeezed considerably by 39.72%. Average flood water depth is also reduced by 37.87% (4.45metre) after flow modification. Due to shrinkages of flood prone areas, wetland area is also reduced from 215.70 to 90.40 km² and larger part of the present wetland area is under stress and critical state. Predicted flood prone areas in next 25 years will be 328.91 km² and consequently 65.63 km² wetland areas may further be under hydro-ecological threats. Release of ecological flow is essential to restore and preserve the wetland.     

SAR图像海岸线检测的区域距离正则化几何主动轮廓模型

合成孔径雷达(SAR)卫星遥感图像可以极大地提高全国海岸线覆盖频率,然而受到海洋波浪所引起的随机海水表面粗糙度的影响,海岸目标与海水背景边界易混淆不清,因此本文提出了基于区域距离正则化几何主动轮廓模型(RDRGAC),引入距离正则项,解决重复初始化水平集函数为符号距离函数的问题,提高了算法收敛速度。此外,将区域面积项系数与SAR图像等效视数(ENL)建立非线性拟合关系,实现RDRGAC模型根据不同SAR遥感图像的自适应调整,改善海岸线自动提取精度。通过河北省北戴河和大连市金州湾SAR数据海岸线提取对比试验,验证了所提方法的有效性。     

微波兰被动遥感相关特性的数值模拟和实验对比

本文采用一层具有粗糙界面的连续随机介质模型，计算双站散射系数和后向散射系数，由互易性定理计算热发射率。数值模拟了植被在整个生长过程中后向散射和热发射的变化，以及它们的相关特征。理论结果与几种植被的主被动遥感实验数据作了比较和讨论，阐明了微波主被动遥感的一些相关的数值特征。     

泛北极地区多年冻土活动层厚度演变

深入理解泛北极地区多年冻土活动层厚度的演变, 对于全球碳通量模拟、气候变化预测及泛北极地区冻融风险评估具有重要意义。目前开展的泛北极地区多年冻土活动层厚度模拟与分析, 大多无法全覆盖或空间分辨率过低(25 km或是更大), 在景观尺度(公里级)上的多年冻土活动层厚度变化特征仍有待解析, 尤其是关键基础设施区的活动层厚度变化仍不清楚。本研究基于站点监测数据、MOD11B3地表温度数据、MCD12C1土地覆盖数据, 采用Stefan模型, 在公里级空间分辨率上模拟泛北极地区2001年—2017年多年冻土活动层厚度, 并解析泛北极地区及主要油气区多年冻土活动层厚度时空变化格局及主要原因。研究发现: 2001年—2017年泛北极地区约有78.4%的冻土区域多年冻土活动层厚度呈现增长趋势, 尽管全区多年平均的增长速率为0.22 cm/a (p<0.05), 但具有较强的时空差异性。显著增长区主要集中在加拿大西北部的落基山脉及劳伦琴高原一带以及俄罗斯中西伯利亚高原中部地区, 增加速率主要在0.5—1 cm/a;而减少区主要分布在加拿大的哈得孙湾沿岸平原、拉布拉多高原一带, 俄罗斯的东西伯利亚山地北部、中西伯利亚高原的北部、贝加尔湖以东区域和泰拉尔半岛一带。泛北极地区主要油气区多年冻土活动层厚度也以增加为主, 80%以上的油气区呈现增加趋势, 增长速率在0.1—0.7 cm/a。泛北极地区多年冻土活动层厚度变化与气温变化在空间上具有较好的一致性;积雪厚度与活动层厚度关系复杂;不同植被类型的多年冻土活动层厚度有所差异(林地>草地>稀树草原>灌丛), 且多年冻土活动层厚度变化与植被转化方向一致。该成果将有助于深入理解北半球高纬度多年冻土区冻融格局, 尤其可为冻土区的油气设施冻融风险识别与防控提供参考。     

Longshore drift estimation using fluorescent tracers: New insights from an experiment at Comporta Beach, Portugal

A fluorescent sand-tracer experiment was performed at Comporta Beach (Portugal) with the aim of acquiring longshore sediment transport data on a reflective beach, the optimization of field and laboratory tracer procedures and the improvement of the conceptual model used to support tracer data interpretation.

The field experiment was performed on a mesotidal reflective beach face in low energetic conditions (significant wave height between 0.4 and 0.5 m). Two different colour tracers (orange and blue) were injected at low tide and sampled in the two subsequent low tides using a high resolution 3D grid extending 450 m alongshore and 30 m cross-shore. Marked sand was detected using an automatic digital image processing system developed in the scope of the present experiment.

Results for the two colour tracers show a remarkable coherence, with high recovery rates attesting data validity. Sand tracer displayed a high advection velocity, but with distinct vertical distribution patterns in the two tides: in the first tide there was a clear decrease in tracer advection velocity with depth while in the second tide, the tracer exhibited an almost uniform vertical velocity distribution. This differing behaviour suggests that, in the first tide, the tracer had not reached equilibrium within the transport system, pointing to a considerable time lag between injection and complete mixing. This issue has important implications for the interpretation of tracer data, indicating that short term tracer experiments tend to overestimate transport rates. In this work, therefore, longshore estimates were based on tracer results obtained during the second tide.

The estimated total longshore transport rate at Comporta Beach was 2 × 10^− 3 m³/s, more than four times larger than predicted using standard empirical longshore formulas. This discrepancy, which results from the unusually large active moving layer observed during the experiment, confirms the idea that most common longshore transport equations under-estimate total sediment transport in plunging/surging waves.     

Cluster–subcluster mergers and the formation of narrow-angle tailed radio sources

We examine the ROSAT PSPC X-ray properties of a sample of 15 Abell clusters containing 23 narrow-angle tailed (NAT) radio galaxies. We find that clusters with NATs show a significantly higher level of substructure than a similar sample of radio-quiet clusters, indicating that NAT radio sources are preferentially located in dynamically complex systems. Also, the velocity distribution of the NAT galaxies is similar to that of other cluster members; these velocities are inadequate for producing the ram pressure necessary to bend the radio jets. We therefore propose a new model for NAT formation, in which NATs are associated with dynamically complex clusters undergoing merger events. The U -shaped NAT morphology is produced in part by the merger-induced bulk motion of the ICM bending the jets.     

Granule ripples in the Kumtagh Desert,China: Morphology,grain size and influencing factors

Granule ripples are found mainly in four regions of the Kumtagh Desert in China; they are characterized by an asymmetrical shape, with gentle lower slopes on both sides and abrupt crests. The ripples tend to be oriented perpendicular to the prevailing winds, except when they form near obstacles such as yardangs. The wavelengths (λ) range between 0·31 m and 26 m and heights (h) range from 0·015 m to 1 m. The relationship between wavelength and height can be described by a simple linear function, and the mean ripple index (λ/h) is about 20·4 for the study sites. The sediments are poorly sorted, with negative to very negative skewness at lee and stoss slopes and between‐ripple troughs, which confirms the ‘poured in’ and ‘shadow’ appearance described by previous researchers. The bimodal or trimodal distributions of grains (with modes of ?1·16φ, ?0·5φ and 3·16φ) and the enrichment of coarse particles at the ripple surface (with coarse granule contents ranging between 5·2% and 62·1%) indicate that the underlying layer is the original sediment source and that the granule ripples resist erosional processes. Although the impact of saltating particles and, consequently, the creep and reptation of coarse grains are responsible for granule ripple initiation at a micro‐scale, however, the characteristics of local sediments, wind regimes and topographical obstacles, as well as the feedbacks among bedform and airflow, more strongly affect the development and alignment of granule ripples at a macro‐scale.