Variation in upwelling intensity along the NorthWest Iberian Peninsula (Galicia)

Thermohaline variables were simultaneously measured, July 17, 2000, at four Galician rias under favourable upwelling conditions to analyse upwelling intensity. The intensity of coastal upwelling is shown to be strongly dependent on the wind pattern. The maximum amplitudes of wind stress were observed at the western coast (0.30 Nm^-2) with southward direction (favourable to upwelling) and these are shown to be related to low temperature (12°C) and high salinity (35.8) in the estuaries mouth. From Cape Finisterre to Cape Estaca de Bares the wind stress showed a lower magnitude (0.05-0.10 Nm^-2) with a direction oblique to the coast. The temperature showed an increase (14°C) and the salinity a decrease (35.4) because the lower upwelling intensity at this part of the coast. The observed decrease in upwelling from south to north is not an isolated event, since the measured wind conditions are persistent during summer months, at least in the period with available QuikSCAT data (1999-2004).     

改进的钢筋混凝土结构双参数地震破坏模型

本文在分析现有结构地震破坏模型的基础下，提出了一种改进掇参数地震破坏模型。文中采用三线退化型恢复力模型对实际钢筋混凝土结构在实际地震作用下的变形与累积耗能，极限变形与极限滞回耗能进行了分析，通过模型计算的破损结果与实际在结果的对比，研究了模型参数，从而建立了钢筋混凝土结构的双参数地震破坏模型。     

过量酸性铬蓝K隐色光度法测定铜的研究

在pH 4.0的微酸性介质中,酸性铬蓝K同Cu~(2+)形成稳定的红色络合物,用H_2O_2为隐色剂可以隐去过量显色剂的颜色,消除高色度背景的影响。络合物的最大吸收波长为540nm,摩尔吸光系数为1.6×10~4L·mol~(-1)·cm~(-1),Cu量在0～1.4μg/ml范围服从比尔定律。方法已应用于测定矿样中的Cu。     

New M-Type Variables in Galactic Dark Clouds

The results of the spectral classification of newly discovered M-type variables obtained as part of an H-alpha survey of Galactic dark cloud regions are presented. The survey was carried out with the 40 Schmidt camera of Byurakan Observatory, and the spectra of the variable stars for the classification were obtained with the Observatory's 2.6-m telescope. The observational material allowed register of late M-type variables as well as their brightness variations. Among the 97 newly discovered M-type stars, 22 show brightness variations. The results of the spectral classification of these new variables show that 21 out of 22 are red giants, and in all probability they are Mira Ceti type long period variables.     

New method for in situ characterization of loose material for landslide mapping purpose

The assessment of grain size distribution and plasticity of loose geological material, during in situ geological investigations, is not obvious. Visual appreciation allows an approximative quantification of the coarse granulometric fractions, but not of the fine ones. Field soils determination methods suggested until now, are visual and tactile tests leading to a very rough estimate, which is only qualitative and not very reproducible. The new proposed field test (GEOLEP method) allows a quick quantification of the fine fraction of loose material. It allows the determination of the sand fraction (fine and medium grained sands) as well as the methylene blue value of the samples. The necessary equipment to perform this test is light and compact and the time needed to analyze one sample is approximately 15 min. Thus it is also possible to carry out numerous measurements in one day. The calibrations were carried out on a selection of 13 natural samples, chosen for their representativeness of the typical alpine quaternary deposits. The results obtained with GEOLEP method are relevant compared with standardized laboratory tests; the obtained correlation indexes are of 73% for the comparison with laboratory stain test results and of 89% with a laboratory method using a similar procedure than the field test. The correlation we performed with Atterberg's limits tests shows that a rough approximation of plasticity index can also be obtained (R² = 75%). This method thus brings a new tool which should allow taking into account the lithological factor (by some quantitative and representative variables) in a reliable way for the evaluation of landslide hazards.     

A review on reflective remote sensing and data assimilation techniques for enhanced agroecosystem modeling

During the last 50 years, the management of agroecosystems has been undergoing major changes to meet the growing demand for food, timber, fibre and fuel. As a result of this intensified use, the ecological status of many agroecosystems has been severely deteriorated. Modeling the behavior of agroecosystems is, therefore, of great help since it allows the definition of management strategies that maximize (crop) production while minimizing the environmental impacts. Remote sensing can support such modeling by offering information on the spatial and temporal variation of important canopy state variables which would be very difficult to obtain otherwise.In this paper, we present an overview of different methods that can be used to derive biophysical and biochemical canopy state variables from optical remote sensing data in the VNIR-SWIR regions. The overview is based on an extensive literature review where both statistical–empirical and physically based methods are discussed. Subsequently, the prevailing techniques of assimilating remote sensing data into agroecosystem models are outlined. The increasing complexity of data assimilation methods and of models describing agroecosystem functioning has significantly increased computational demands. For this reason, we include a short section on the potential of parallel processing to deal with the complex and computationally intensive algorithms described in the preceding sections.The studied literature reveals that many valuable techniques have been developed both for the retrieval of canopy state variables from reflective remote sensing data as for assimilating the retrieved variables in agroecosystem models. However, for agroecosystem modeling and remote sensing data assimilation to be commonly employed on a global operational basis, emphasis will have to be put on bridging the mismatch between data availability and accuracy on one hand, and model and user requirements on the other. This could be achieved by integrating imagery with different spatial, temporal, spectral, and angular resolutions, and the fusion of optical data with data of different origin, such as LIDAR and radar/microwave.     

An averaging method to study the motion of lunar artificial satellites I: Disturbing Function

We describe a semi-analytical averaging method aimed at the computation of the motion of an artificial satellite of the Moon. In this paper, the first of the two part study, we expand the disturbing function with respect to the small parameters. In particular, a semi-analytic theory of the motion of the Moon around the Earth and the libration of the lunar equatorial plane using different reference frames are introduced. The second part of this article shows that the choice of the canonical Poincaré variables lead to equations in closed form without singularities in e = 0 or I = 0. We introduce new expressions that are sufficiently compact to be used for the study of any artificial satellite. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Stream overflow and dwarf nova eruptions

We consider the effects of accretion stream overflow on the viscous dynamics of accretion discs in dwarf novae. If the stream from the secondary star is geometrically thick enough, some fraction of its material can flow over and under the disc. The mass and specific angular momentum of the stream are then deposited not only at the point of collision with the outer disc, but also at those radii in the inner disc with geometric heights that are large enough to intercept the residual stream, or near the radius where the disc has the same specific angular momentum as the stream. The overflowing stream can alter the behaviour of heating fronts and cooling fronts in the disc. If the mass fraction of the overflowing stream is of order tens of per cent, the deposition of mass in the inner parts of the disc is sufficient to change the character of the eruption light curves significantly.     

TRIFFID Photometry of Globular Cluster Cores — I. Photometric Techniques and Variable Stars in M15

The Galway/DIAS Image Sharpening Camera, TRIFFID, has been used to make observations in two colours of the centre of the post-core-collapse globular cluster M15. We present here our analysis of the photometry in B over two seasons. We have combined the complementary qualities of the HST 's high astrometric precision and TRIFFID's extended coverage and photometric precision, to perform crowded-field photometry in the innermost region of M15. Our technique virtually eliminates the problem of extreme crowding which has hitherto hampered studies of the variable star populations in globular cluster cores, and thereby provides an extension of the HST 's capability. Candidate variables detected with the HST have been confirmed and monitored over longer periods. We show that most of these are RR Lyrae stars, and that one is a short-period Type II Cepheid (the third to be discovered in M15). Our photometric study also produced evidence of a similar number of new variables. These also appear to be RR Lyrae stars, except for a possible eclipsing system. Further data from an upgraded version of TRIFFID have recently been obtained to help to refine the light curves of all these objects.     

Spectroscopic observations of the eclipsing polar MN Hya (RX J0929–24)

We present low–medium resolution optical spectroscopy of the eclipsing AM Her system MN Hya (RX J0929–24). We determine the magnetic field strength at the primary accretion region of the white dwarf to be 42 MG from the spacing of cyclotron features visible during π ∼ 0.4–0.7. From spectra taken during the eclipse we find that the secondary has an M3–4 spectral type. Combined with the eclipse photometry of Sekiguchi, Nakada &38; Bassett and an estimate of the interstellar extinction we find a distance of ∼300–700 pc. We find unusual line variations at π ∼ 0.9: Hα is seen in absorption and emission. This is at the same point in the orbital phase at which a prominent absorption dip is seen in soft X-rays.