Towards incorporating a turbulent magnetic field in an accreting black hole model

A model proposed by Melia & Ruffert to evaluate the spectrum and radiation flux for accretion on to a black hole makes use of the 'equipartition assumption' in which the magnetic, turbulent and gravitational energy densities are assumed to be in approximate equilibrium for distances below the accretion radius, where Bondi–Hoyle infall begins. As a consequence, the mechanism for the dissipation of the magnetic field and the resulting effect on the flow of the accreting gas have not been treated quantitatively. Here we examine alternative approaches for modelling the dissipation of magnetic fields and turbulent flow to see how these may be incorporated into the model. The results of our study should be immediately applicable to the ever-improving measurements of the spectrum and size of the massive black hole at our Galactic Centre, in particular producing a more accurate estimate of its mass. Combined with greatly refined kinematic studies of this region, our work may constrain the dark matter concentration in the nucleus of our Galaxy.     

A DIAGNOSTIC ANALYSIS OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE FLUXES AND METEOROLOGICAL ELEMENTS OVER TROPICAL WESTERN PACIFIC

Through the use of the hourly wind, air temperature and humidity, sea surface temperature data measured on board the observing vessel Moana Wave and buoy in the warm pool of western Pacific during the IOP of TOGA COARE, we compute the fluxes over sea surface and analyze the characteristics of the variation ofthe latent heat flux with sea surface temperature. During weak rather than strong wind periods a maximum valueof latent heat flux appears at some points of SST, which is caused mainly by the variations of wind, then by the humidity difference between air and sea and the transfer coefficient with SAT. Using correlation analysis. we also analyze the relationship between the fluxes and meteorological elements during weak wind periods. wester lywind burst periods, and convective disturbed periods etc. The main conclusions are that the latent heat flux ismainly determined by wind, sensible heat flux by the potential temperature difference between air and sea and the momentum flux by wind. The precipitation affects the sensible heat flux through the potential temperature difference and wind.     

Probing solar convection

In the solar convection zone, acoustic waves are scattered by turbulent sound speed fluctuations. In this paper the scattering of waves by convective cells is treated using Rytov's technique. Particular care is taken to include diffraction effects, which are important, especially for high-degree modes that are confined to the surface layers of the Sun. The scattering leads to damping of the waves and causes a phase shift. Damping manifests itself in the width of the spectral peak of p-mode eigenfrequencies. The contribution of scattering to the linewidths is estimated and the sensitivity of the results to the assumed spectrum of the turbulence is studied. Finally, the theoretical predictions are compared with recently measured linewidths of high-degree modes.     

静止均匀环境中气泡射流特性的研究——数学模型及试验资料的分析(Ⅰ)

已往对气泡射流的理论研究,主要集中在半经验和积分模型方面,对流动结构揭示很少。给出了气-液两相流两方程湍流模型。为了加深对气泡射流规律的理解和为数值计算建立对比基础,提出了一组参考量,对Sun和Faeth的试验资料进行了整理。     

Modelling Vegetation-Atmosphere Co2 Exchange By A Coupled Eulerian-Langrangian Approach

A Eulerian-Lagrangian canopy microclimate model wasdeveloped with the aim of discerning physical frombiophysical controls of CO₂ and H₂O fluxes. The model couples radiation attenuation with mass,energy, and momentum exchange at different canopylevels. A unique feature of the model is its abilityto combine higher order Eulerian closure approachesthat compute velocity statistics with Lagrangianscalar dispersion approaches within the canopy volume. Explicit accounting for within-canopy CO₂,H₂O, and heat storage is resolved by consideringnon-steadiness in mean scalar concentration andtemperature. A seven-day experiment was conducted inAugust 1998 to investigate whether the proposedmodel can reproduce temporal evolution of scalar(CO₂, H₂O and heat) fluxes, sources andsinks, and concentration profiles within and above auniform 15-year old pine forest. The modelreproduced well the measured depth-averaged canopy surfacetemperature, CO₂ and H₂O concentrationprofiles within the canopy volume, CO₂ storageflux, net radiation above the canopy, and heat andmass fluxes above the canopy, as well as the velocitystatistics near the canopy-atmosphere interface. Implications for scaling measured leaf-levelbiophysical functions to ecosystem scale are alsodiscussed.     

关于海面湍流通量参数化的两种方案试验

本文对海气间湍流通量计算的参数化进行了两个方案的试验。第一个是对气候模式ＣＣＭ３中的计算方案作了改进,用半解析的计算方法代替纯迭代的方法,减少了计算量而达到相同精度。第二个是用Ｂｒｕｔｓａｅｒｔ提出的廓线函数计算海面通量,达到了当前最精确模式相同的精度。这二种方案均可用于大气模式或用于由实测气象资料求通量。     

A study of phase-steepened Alfvén waves in a high-speed stream at 0.29 AU

This work performs a search of phase-steepened Alfvén waves under a priori ideal conditions: a high-speed solar wind stream observed in one of the closest approaches to the Sun by any spacecraft (Helios 2). Five potential candidates were initially found following procedures established in earlier work. The observed cases exhibited arc-like or elliptical polarizations, and the rotational discontinuities that formed the abrupt wave edges were found at either the leading or the trailing part. The consideration of some additional specific parameters (mainly related to the relative orientation between mean magnetic field, wave and discontinuity) has been suggested here for an ultimate and proper identification of this kind of phenomenon. After the inclusion of these calculations in our analysis, even fewer cases than the five originals remain. It is suggested that optimum conditions for the detection rather than just for the existence of these events have to be reconsidered.     

The ALFA Laser and Analysis Tools

The optimal performance of adaptive optics systems can only be maintainedif the wavefront reference is bright and compact.Experience has shown that both of these important criteria are remarkablydifficult to achieve with laser guide stars. This contribution gives an account of the methods by which ALFAattempts to reach them.First, the production of a high quality, high power laser beam isdescribed.However, this quality is unavoidably compromised along the path to thelaunch telescope.In order to rectify this, a new set of diagnostic tools which monitorthe quality of the out-going beam has been installed, and these arealso described.Lastly, we outline a number of possible modifications on which we areworking.If successful, these may allow a substantial improvement in the beamquality.     

Turbulent eddy viscosity and large-scale convection in the Sun

It is suggested here that the laminar character of the large-scale deep convective flows appearing in numerical simulations of the convective envelope of the Sun arises from the effect of turbulent eddy viscosity. Previously, M. Schwarzschild suggested the same idea to explain the observed surface granulation in the Sun.     

A field study of turbulence and sediment dynamics over subaqueous dunes with flow separation

This study examines flow, turbulence and sand suspension over large dunes in Canoe Pass, a distributary channel of the Fraser River delta, Canada. Dune morphology is characterized by a symmetrical shape and steep leeside slopes over 30°. Velocity was measured with an electromagnetic current meter and suspended sand concentration with four optical backscatter (OBS) probes. The general patterns of time-averaged velocity and sand suspension are consistent with previous studies, including an increase in mean velocity and decrease in turbulence intensity and sand concentration with height above the bed, reversed flow with high turbulence intensity and high sand concentrations in the leeside flow separation zone and an increase in near-bed velocity and sand concentration along the stoss side of the dune. Frequency spectra of near-bed velocity and OBS records from leeside separation zones are composed of two distinct frequencies, providing field confirmation of scale relations based on flume experiments. The low-frequency spectral signal probably results from wake flapping and the high-frequency signal from vortex shedding. The wake-flapping frequency predominates outside the separation zone and is linked to turbulent structures that suspend sand. Predictions from a depth-scale Strouhal Law show good agreement with measured wake-flapping frequencies. Cross-correlations of OBS records reveal that turbulent sand suspension structures advect downstream at 23–25° above the horizontal. These advection angles are similar to coherent flow structures measured in flumes and to sand suspension structures visualized over large dunes in the field.