Modification of Jupiter’s stratosphere three weeks after the 2009 impact

Infrared spectroscopy sensitive to thermal emission from Jupiter’s stratosphere reveals effects persisting 23 days after the impact of a body in late July 2009. Measurements obtained on 2009 August 11 UT at the impact latitude of 56°S (planetocentric), using the Goddard Heterodyne Instrument for Planetary Wind and Composition mounted on the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility, reveal increased ethane abundance and the effects of aerosol opacity. An interval of reduced thermal continuum emission at 11.744 μm is measured ∼60-80° towards planetary east of the impact site, estimated to be at 305° longitude (System III). Retrieved stratospheric ethane mole fraction in the near vicinity of the impact site is enhanced by up to ∼60% relative to quiescent regions at this latitude. Thermal continuum emission at the impact site, and somewhat west of it, is significantly enhanced in the same spectra that retrieve enhanced ethane mole fraction. Assuming that the enhanced continuum brightness near the impact site results from thermalized aerosol debris blocking contribution from the continuum formed in the upper troposphere and indicating the local temperature, then continuum emission by a haze layer can be approximated by an opaque surface inserted at the 45-60 mbar pressure level in the stratosphere in an unperturbed thermal profile, setting an upper limit on the pressure and therefore a lower limit on the altitude of the top of the impact debris at this time. The reduced continuum brightness east of the impact site can be modeled by an opaque surface near the cold tropopause, which is consistent with a lower altitude of ejecta/impactor-formed opacity. The physical extent of the observed region of reduced continuum implies a minimum average velocity of 21 m/s transporting material prograde (planetary east) from the impact.     

Evidence for paleolakes in Erythraea Fossa, Mars: Implications for an ancient hydrological cycle

There is now widespread agreement that the surface of Mars underwent some degree of fluvial modification, but there is not yet full understanding of its surface hydrological cycle and the nature of standing bodies of water, rivers, and precipitation that affected its surface. In this paper we explore Erythraea Fossa (31.5 W, 27.3 S), a graben adjacent to Holden crater, which exhibits strong evidence that it once housed a chain of three lakes, had overland water flow, and was subject to precipitation. The inlet valley, outlet valley, and fan morphologies in the paleolakes are used to qualitatively discern the hydrologic history of the paleolakes; based on topography constraints, the three basins combined once held 56 km³ of water. Depositional features within the basins that change with drainage area and nearby valleys that start near drainage divides indicate that the paleolakes may have been fed by precipitation driven runoff. This suggests the presence of an atmosphere, at least locally, that was capable of supporting a hydrological cycle.     

The Utopia/Isidis overlap: Possible conduit for mud volcanism on Mars

The largest areal concentration of pitted cones on Mars is located in the southwest section of Utopia basin. This particular area of pitted cones has been attributed to mud volcanism; several factors may have facilitated extensive mud volcanism at this location. The concentration of pitted cones is located where Utopia basin intersects Isidis basin; both features are multi-ring impact basins. On Earth, seismic investigations have shown that the outer rings of the Chicxulub multi-ring impact basin extend to the Mohorovi?i? discontinuity (Moho). If this is true on Mars as well, the fractures could act as conduits for water from Utopia Planitia, the site of a large, putative water body. It has been shown that methane can be generated at the mantle on Earth. On Mars this possible source of methane could combine with the infiltrated water to generate clathrates. While methane is not currently being released at the location of the pitted cones it could have been in the past. Three locations of methane release have been observed on Mars, two of which are located on the same outer ring of Isidis basin that intersects the pitted cone population. The area of Utopia basin that contains the large population of pitted cones is adjacent to the highland/lowland boundary where extensive deposition would have occurred. Extensive deposition combined with the potential for methane release may have contributed to the large population of pitted cones in this area of the Utopia basin.     

Excitation of the oxygen nightglow on the terrestrial planets

A scheme of excitation, quenching, and energy transfer processes in the oxygen nightglow on the Earth, Venus, and Mars has been developed based on the observed nightglow intensities and vertical profiles, measured reaction rate coefficients, and photochemical models of the nighttime atmospheres of the Venus and Mars. The scheme involves improved radiative lifetimes of some band systems, calculated yields of the seven electronic states of O₂ in termolecular association, and rate coefficients of seven processes of electronic quenching of the Herzberg states of O₂, which are evaluated by fitting to the nightglow observations. Electronic quenching of the vibrationally excited Herzberg states by O₂ and N₂ in the Earth's nightglow is a quarter of total collisional removal of the O₂(A, A′) states and a dominant branch for the O₂(c) state. The scheme supports the conclusion by Steadman and Thrush (1994) that the green line is excited by energy transfer from the O₂(A³Σ_u⁺, v≥6) molecules, and the inferred rate coefficient of this transfer is 1.5×10⁻¹¹ cm³ s⁻¹. The O₂ bands at 762 nm and 1.27 μm are excited directly, by quenching of the Herzberg states, and by energy transfer from the O₂(⁵Π_g) state. Quenching of the O₂ band at 762 nm excites the band at 1.27 μm as well. Effective yield of the O₂(a¹Δ_g) state in termolecular association on Venus and Mars is ∼0.7. Quantitative assessments of all these processes have been made. A possible reaction of O₂(c¹Σ_u⁻)+CO is a very minor branch of recombination of CO₂ on Venus and Mars. Night airglow on Mars is calculated for typical conditions of the nighttime atmosphere. The calculated vertical intensity of the O₂ band at 1.27 μm is 13 kR, far below the recently reported detections.     

The photometric periods of the nova-like cataclysmic variable LQ Pegasi (PG 2133+115)

We present a time-resolved differential photometric study and time series analysis of the nova-like cataclysmic variable star LQ Peg. We discover three periodicities in the photometry, one with a period of 3.42 ± 0.03 h, and another with a period of 56.8 ± 0.01 h. We interpret these to be the apsidal superhump and precessional periods of the accretion disk, respectively, and predict that the orbital period of LQ Peg is 3.22 ± 0.03 h. The third periodicity, with a period of 41.3 ± 0.01 h, we interpret to be the nodal precessional period of the accretion disk. We also report a flare that lasted four minutes and had an energy in visible light of (1.2 ± 0.3) × 10³⁶ ergs, or 10^4-5 times more energetic than the largest solar flares, comparable to the most energetic visible-light stellar flares known. We calculate the absolute magnitude of LQ Peg to be M_J = 4.78 ± 0.54, and its distance to be 800 ± 200 pc.     

British National Report to the International Cartographic Association for the Period 2011-2015

In recent years, the concepts of usability, user experience, and user-centricity have gained in interest. Digital applications, developed in line with criteria related to these approaches, ask for a deeper understanding of users and their requirements. But, even though there is a wide range of methods available, the creation of user-centric applications with good usability and user experience still poses great challenges for developers. This is also true for web maps, i.e. web map applications, which today are ubiquitous on the Internet. They have evolved into an important information and communication tool and address users who do not possess any specific knowledge of Geoinformatics (GI) or Cartography. Despite the efforts made to meet the requirements and preferences of laymen, these users still often face problems when dealing with web map applications. This refers to aspects of design, content, and functionality. Here, participatory design, which is well-known in the field of Software and Web Engineering, might provide a suitable means. By engaging users directly and actively in the application development process, developers are able to gain a profound understanding of the users and their needs. However, there are several open questions regarding the use of participatory design for designing and implementing web map applications: What does the use of participatory design in web map development processes look like in detail? How and to what degree can users be involved in the development processes? Which added values exist? These questions are addressed by the project YouthMap 5020, whose main goal it was to create a prototype youth-centric web map for the Austrian city of Salzburg (zip code 5020). Applying the approach of participatory design, about 120 teenage pupils from several local schools were involved in all kinds of tasks related to the phases of generating the youth-centric Salzburg web city map. Experience and knowledge gained thereby allowed elaborating recommendations generally useful for generating youth-centric web map applications.     

Simulation and spatio-temporal disaggregation of multi-site rainfall data for urban drainage applications

Abstract

For urban drainage and urban flood modelling applications, fine spatial and temporal rainfall resolution is required. Simulation methods are developed to overcome the problem of data limitations. Although temporal resolution higher than 10–20 minutes is not well suited for detailed rainfall—runoff modelling for urban drainage networks, in the absence of monitored data, longer time intervals can be used for master planning or similar purposes. A methodology is presented for temporal disaggregation and spatial distribution of hourly rainfall fields, tested on observations for a 10-year period at 16 raingauges in the urban catchment of Dalmuir (UK). Daily rainfall time series are simulated with a generalized linear model (GLM). Next, using a single-site disaggregation model, the daily data of the central gauge in the catchment are downscaled to an hourly time scale. This hourly pattern is then applied linearly in space to disaggregate the daily data into hourly rainfall at all sites. Finally, the spatial rainfall field is obtained using inverse distance weighting (IDW) to interpolate the data over the whole catchment. Results are satisfactory: at individual sites within the region the simulated data preserve properties that match the observed statistics to an acceptable level for practical purposes.     

A generalized two-disk dynamo model

Abstract

A generalized two-disk dynamo model is considered that includes mechanical friction; this model is intended to simulate in its broad character the behavior of the geodynamo. Fixed points, limit cycles and chaotic attractors are located for different input parameters of the model. The chaotic regimes are of several kinds as are the “routes to chaos”. Several approximate models, helpful for studying the dynamo are discussed. A number of essential differences from the well-known Rikitake dynamo are demonstrated.     

Electro‐Fenton Treatment of Photographic Processing Wastewater

In this work, the treatment of photographic processing wastewaters (PPW) by electro‐Fenton process has been investigated. The Influence of operating conditions on kinetics and efficiency of electro‐Fenton process has been evaluated using carbon felt cathode and platinium (Pt) or boron‐doped diamond (BDD) anode. The results of electro‐Fenton treatment of PPW have shown that nearly complete removal of total phenols was obtained for all combinations with pseudo‐first rate constants of 0.07, 0.012, and 0.018/min for carbon felt/Pt, carbon felt/BDD and Pt/BDD cathode/anode combinations, respectively. The combination of carbon felt cathode with BDD anode achieved the highest total organic carbon (TOC) removal of 90%, while it did not exeed 40% for carbon felt/Pt combination. Increasing current intensity and Fe²⁺ dose enhances the efficiency of electro‐Fenton process. However, increasing pH decreases TOC removal during the treatment of PPW by electro‐Fenton process. The highest efficiency of electro‐Fenton process using BDD anode can be explained by the contribution of direct and indirect oxidation routes in the degradation mechanism of organics including (i) oxidation via hydroxyl radicals generated from the catalytic decomposition of H₂O₂ and from water discharge on BDD anode, (ii) direct oxidation of certain organic compounds on BDD anode, and (iii) mediated oxidation with inorganic oxidants electrogenerated from anodic oxidation of supporting salts.     

南极普里兹湾碳循环研究进展

普里兹湾是南大洋碳循环研究典型代表海区,也是中国历次南大洋考察的重点调查区域。从初级生产力、营养盐、叶绿素、海-气CO₂通量、真光层颗粒有机碳（POC）输出通量,净群落生产力（NCP）等方面综合阐述了其碳循环特征。生物泵运转效率和海冰过程是碳吸收的主要控制因素。普里兹湾总体上可以从陆坡划界,分为湾内和湾外两大部分。两者碳循环特征差异显著。湾内碳循环过程活跃,是南大洋夏季的高生产力区域。湾外则表现出高营养盐、低叶绿素（HNLC）特征,初步认为存在Fe限制。总体上,溶解有机碳（DOC）、POC、营养盐、叶绿素、二氧化碳分压（pCO₂）等存在从湾内向湾外随纬度递增或递减的规律。海冰消长对碳循环过程影响剧烈。夏季融冰造成的冰藻释放、水体垂直稳定性增加是提高生物生产力的首要原因。总体上普里兹湾的碳循环受各种生物、物理过程及其耦合作用控制,对南大洋碳循环机制研究有重要意义。