Structure and energy transfer of unstable hot star winds

Due to the instability of the radiation line force, the winds of hot, luminous stars should show a pronounced time-dependence resulting from the nonlinear growth of initially small perturbations. Following the method of Owocki, Castor & Rybicki (1988), we describe the time-dependent wind structure obtained with an independently developed code. Under the central assumption ofisothermality, our results are in very good agreement with the ones by Owocki et al. We find that the response of the wind to periodic base perturbations remains largely periodic, at least up tor 2...3R _* , with no clear evidence of stochastic behaviour.In order to test the foregoing assumption of isothermality and to compute the X-ray emission from models of structured winds, we have also incorporated theenergy equation into our simulations. We encountered the numerical problem that all radiative cooling zones collapse because of the oscillatory thermal instability (cf. Langer et al. 1981). We present a method to hinder this collapse by changing the cooling function at low temperatures. The resulting wind showsresolved cooling zones; but, for a supergiant wind relatively close to the star (r 10R _* ), the macroscopic wind structure is very similar to isothermal calculations. Most of the hot material is caused by shell-shell collisions.     

新疆地区夏季平流层低层风场特征分析及数值模拟

利用2017年6—8月的FNL再分析资料分析了新疆地区夏季平流层低层风场的时空演变特征，开展了平流层低层风场的高分辨率数值模拟和检验。结果表明：新疆地区夏季平流层纬向风随时间的变化存在经向差异，同时准零风层开始和结束的时间也存在经向差异，准零风层开始时间南部地区早于北部地区，而准零风层结束时间则相反。整个夏季新疆地区上空的准零风层处于70～40 hPa之间，其高度随时间呈先降低而后升高的变化趋势。准零风层数值模拟结果表明，模拟的准零风层参数与探空资料分析结果相比二者存在一致的变化趋势，准零风层起始高度的平均绝对误差为467 m，该高度对应的风速均方根误差为1.75 m/s。     

A comparative error analysis of manual versus automated methods of data acquisition for algebraic strain estimation

This paper presents a statistical analysis of the algebraic strain estimation algorithm of Shimamoto and Ikeda [Shimamoto, T., Ikeda, Y., 1976. A simple algebraic method for strain estimation from deformed eillipsoidal objects: 1. Basic theory. Tectonophysics 36, 315–337]. It is argued that the error in their strain estimation procedure can be quantified using an expected discrepancy measure. An analysis of this measure demonstrates that the error is inversely proportional to the number of clasts used. The paper also examines the role of measurement error, in particular that incurred under (i) a moment based and (ii) manual data acquisition methods. Detailed analysis of these two acquisition methods shows that in both cases, the effect of measurement error on the expected discrepancy is small relative to the effect of the sample size (number of objects). Given their relative speed advantage, this result favours the use of automated measurement methods even if they incur more measurement error on individual objects. Validation of these results is carried out by means of a simulation study, as well as by reference to studies appearing in previous literature. The results are also applied to obtain an upper bound on the error of strain estimation for various studies published in the literature on strain analysis.     

Improved reliability in the interpretation of geochemical measurements by the quantification of uncertainty from sampling

All geochemical measurements require the taking of field samples, but the uncertainty that this process causes is often ignored when assessing the reliability of the interpretation, of the geochemistry or the health implications. Recently devised methods for the estimation, optimisation and reduction of this uncertainty have been evaluated by their application to the investigation of contaminated land. Uncertainty of measurement caused by primary sampling has been estimated for a range of six different contaminated land site investigations, using an increasingly recognized procedure. These site investigations were selected to reflect a wide range of different sizes, contaminants （organic and metals）, previous land uses （e.g. tin mining, railway sidings and gas works）, intended future use （housing to nature reserves） and routinely applied sampling methods. The results showed that the uncertainty on measurements was substantial, ranging from 25% to 186% of the concentration values at the different sites. Sampling was identified as the dominant source of the uncertainty （〉70% of measurement uncertainty） in most cases. The fitness-for-purpose of the measurements was judged using the optimized contaminated land investigation （OCLI） method. This identifies the optimal level of uncertainty that reduces to overall financial loss caused by the measurement procedures and the misclassification of the contamination, caused by the uncertainty. Generally the uncertainty of the actual measurements made in these different site investigations was found to be sub-optimal, and too large by a factor of approximately two. The uncertainty is usually limited by the sampling, but this can be reduced by increasing the sample mass by a factor of 4 （predicted by sampling theory）. It is concluded that knowing the value of the uncertainty enables the interpretation to be made more reliable, and that sampling is the main factor limiting most investigations. This new approach quantifies this problem for the first time, and allows sampling procedures to be critically evaluated, and modified, to improve the reliability of the geochemical assessment.     

Threshold velocity for wind erosion: the effects of porous fences

Porous fence is a kind of artificial windbreak that has many practical applications. The threshold wind velocities at different distances downwind from porous fences were measured and the corresponding characteristics of particle movement observed to assess their shelter effect. It is found that the fence’s porosity is the key factor that determines the resulting shelter effect. The area near a fence can be typically classified into five regions, each with a different mode of particle movement. Dense fences, and especially solid fences, favor the accumulation of sand upwind of the fences. Fences with porosities of 0.3–0.4 produce the maximum threshold wind velocity; those with porosities of 0.3–0.6 (depending on the fence height) provide the maximum effective shelter distance. It is confirmed that the fence porosities of 0.3–0.4 that have been proposed for practical application in previous research are the most effective for abating wind erosion.     

Net Energy Payback and CO2 Emissions from Three Midwestern Wind Farms: An Update

This paper updates a life-cycle net energy analysis and carbon dioxide emissions analysis of three Midwestern utility-scale wind systems. Both the Energy Payback Ratio (EPR) and CO₂ analysis results provide useful data for policy discussions regarding an efficient and low-carbon energy mix. The EPR is the amount of electrical energy produced for the lifetime of the power plant divided by the total amount of energy required to procure and transport the materials, build, operate, and decommission the power plants. The CO₂ analysis for each power plant was calculated from the life-cycle energy input data. A previous study also analyzed coal and nuclear fission power plants. At the time of that study, two of the three wind systems had less than a full year of generation data to project the life-cycle energy production. This study updates the analysis of three wind systems with an additional four to eight years of operating data. The EPR for the utility-scale wind systems ranges from a low of 11 for a two-turbine system in Wisconsin to 28 for a 143-turbine system in southwestern Minnesota. The EPR is 11 for coal, 25 for fission with gas centrifuge enriched uranium and 7 for gaseous diffusion enriched uranium. The normalized CO₂ emissions, in tonnes of CO₂ per GW_eh, ranges from 14 to 33 for the wind systems, 974 for coal, and 10 and 34 for nuclear fission using gas centrifuge and gaseous diffusion enriched uranium, respectively.     

Comparison of magnetic parameters with vehicular Br levels in urban roadside soils

Chemical methods are generally chosen to monitor soil pollution but magnetic measurements proved to yield additional information at low cost and less time consumption. In this investigation, the novel use of rapid and non-destructive magnetic measurements to characterize Br levels in Xuzhou (China) urban roadside soils was reported. X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) was used to quantify Br in the soil samples. Data from 21 roadside soil samples confirm Br contamination, with a mean level of 4.36 mg kg⁻¹ and a range of 2.4–8.7 mg kg⁻¹. These values are higher than that of unpolluted soils in Xuzhou that averages 1.1 mg kg⁻¹. Hierarchical clustering analysis shows Br in Xuzhou roadside soils is mainly from road traffic. Clear correlations between Br levels and simple magnetic parameters [mass specific susceptibility (χ _LF), susceptibility of anhysteretic remanent magnetization (χ _ARM), saturation isothermal remanence (SIRM)] are observed. The present study shows that these three magnetic parameters can be used as a proxy for Br levels in Xuzhou urban roadside soils.     

圆形标志中心子像素定位方法的研究与实现

采用回光反射材料制作圆形回光反射标志，经摄影后得到标志的“准二值影像”；对标志的椭圆影像进行亚像素边缘提取，经最小二乘椭圆拟合后得到标志中心的子像素级位置。试验表明，可以达到0．02像素的定位精度。     

中国大陆科学钻探主孔声发射法现今地应力状态的确定

对中国大陆科学钻探主孔的岩心进行了声发射测量,确定了301～1531m深度的最大主应力。并与钻孔崩落法(深度1269～1655m)测量结果进行了对比,结果表明,声发射测量所得测值基本上落在钻孔崩落法测值的趋势线上,两种方法所得结果一致,说明测量结果可信。测量结果表明科学钻探主孔地应力大小随深度增加,在浅部301m最大主应力为13.4MPa,在深部1655m为55.2MPa。随深度的增加率为0.0279MPa/m。最大主应力方向为N54°±3.3°E,且方向不随深度变化。