Characterizing the severe turbulence environments associated with commercial aviation accidents. A real-time turbulence model (RTTM) designed for the operational prediction of hazardous aviation turbulence environments

Summary In this paper, we will focus on the real-time prediction of environments that are predisposed to producing moderate-severe (hazardous) aviation turbulence. We will describe the numerical model and its postprocessing system that is designed for said prediction of environments predisposed to severe aviation turbulence as well as presenting numerous examples of its utility. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that simple hydrostatic precursor circulations organize regions of preferred wave breaking and turbulence at the nonhydrostatic scales of motion. This will be demonstrated with a hydrostatic numerical modeling system, which can be run in real time on a very inexpensive university computer workstation employing simple forecast indices. The forecast system is designed to efficiently support forecasters who are directing research aircraft to measure the environment immediately surrounding turbulence. The numerical model is MASS version 5.13, which is integrated over three different grid matrices in real-time on a university workstation in support of NASA-Langley’s B-757 turbulence research flight missions. The model horizontal resolutions are 60, 30, and 15 km and the grids are centered over the region of operational NASA-Langley B-757 turbulence flight missions. The postprocessing system includes several turbulence-related products including four turbulence forecasting indices, winds, streamlines, turbulence kinetic energy, and Richardson numbers. Additionally there are convective products including precipitation, cloud height, cloud mass fluxes, lifted index, and K-index. Furthermore, soundings, sounding parameters, and Froude number plots are also provided. The horizontal cross section plot products are provided from 16,000–46,000 feet in 2,000 feet intervals. Products are available every three hours at the 60 and 30 km grid interval and every 1.5 hours at the 15 km grid interval. The model is initialized from the NWS ETA analyses and integrated two times a day.     

Chondrules in H3 chondrites: textures,compositions and origins

Major and minor element bulk compositions of 90 individual chondrules and 16 compound chondrule sets in unequilibrated (type 3) H-group chondrites were determined in polished thin sections by broad beam electron probe analysis and the chondrules were classified petrographically into six textural types (barred olivine, porphyritic olivine, porphyritic pyroxene, barred pyroxene, radiating pyroxene, fine-grained). Although analyses of individual chondrules scatter widely, the mean composition of each textural type (except barred pyroxene) is rather distinct, as verified by discriminant function analysis. Al₂O₃, TiO₂ and Na₃O are correlated in chondrules, but Al₂O₃ and CaO do not correlate. Compound chondrule sets were found to consist almost entirely of chondrules or partial chondrules of similar texture and composition.The data suggest that composition played a conspicuous role in producing the observed textures of chondrules, though other factors such as cooling rates and degrees of supercooling prior to nucleation were also important. If compound chondrules formed and joined when they were still molten or plastic, then the data suggest that chondrules of each textural type could have formed together in space or time. The correlation of Al₂O₃ and TiO₂ with Na₂O and not with CaO appears to rule out formation of chondrules by direct equilibrium condensation from the nebula. We conclude that the most reasonable model for formation of the majority of chondrules is that they originated from mixtures of differing fractions of high-, intermediate- and low-temperature nebular condensates that underwent melting in space. A small percentage of chondrules might have formed by impacts in meteorite parent-body regoliths.     

The NO2 Absorption Spectrum. IV: The 200–400 nm Region at 220 K

Previous experiments in the 400–500 nm region (Coquart et al., 1995) have been extended to the 200–400 nm region to determine the absorption cross-sections of NO₂ at 220 K. The NO₂ and N₂O₄ cross-sections are obtained simultaneously from a calculation applied to the data resulting from measurements at low pressures. A comparison between the NO₂ cross-sections at 220 K and at ambient temperature shows that the low temperature cross-sections are generally lower, except in the region of the absorption peaks. Comparisons are also made with previous data at temperature close to 220 K.     

Sm−Nd dating of multiple garnet growth events in an arc-continent collision zone,northwestern U.S. Cordillera

Integrated petrologic and Sm–Nd isotopic studies in garnet amphibolites along the Salmon River suture zone, western Idaho, delineate two periods of amphibolite grade metamorphism separated by at least 16 million years. In one amphibolite,P–T studies indicate a single stage of metamorphism with final equilibration at 600°C and 8–9 kbar. The Sm–Nd isotopic compositions of plagioclase, apatite, hornblende, and garnet define a precise, 8-point isochron of 128±3 Ma (MSWD=1.2) interpreted as mineral growth at the metamorphic peak. A⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age for this hornblende indicates cooling through 525°C at 119±2 Ma. In a nearby amphibolite, garnets with a two-stage growth history consist of inclusion-rich cores surrounded by discontinuous, inclusion-free overgrowths. Temporal constraints for core and overgrowth development were derived from Sm–Nd garnet — whole rock pairs in which the garnet fractions consist of varying proportions of inclusion-free to inclusion-bearing fragments. Three garnet fractions with apparent ages of 144, 141, and 136 Ma are thought to represent mixtures between late Jurassic (pre-144 Ma) inherited radiogenic components preserved within garnet cores and early Cretaceous (128 Ma) garnet overgrowths. These observations confirm the resilience of garnet to diffusive exchange of trace elements during polymetamorphism at amphibolite facies conditions. Our geochronologic results show that metamorphism of arc-derived rocks in western Idaho was episodic and significantly older than in arc rocks along the eastern margin of the Wrangellian Superterrane in British Columbia and Alaska. The pre-144 Ma event may be an expression of the late Jurassic amalgamation of marginal oceanic arc-related terranes (e.g., Olds Ferry, Baker, Wallowa) during the initial phases of their collision with North American rocks. Peak metamorphism at 128 Ma reflects tectonic burial along the leading edge of the Wallowa arc terrane during its final penetration and suturing to cratonic North America.     

Characterizing the severe turbulence environments associated with commercial aviation accidents. Part 2: Hydrostatic mesoscale numerical simulations of supergradient wind flow and streamwise ageostrophic frontogenesis

Summary Simulation experiments reveal key processes that organize a hydrostatic environment conducive to severe turbulence. The paradigm requires the juxtaposition of the entrance region of a curved jet streak, which is highly subgeostrophic, with the entrance region of a straight jet streak, which is highly supergeostrophic. The wind and mass fields become misphased as the entrance regions converge, resulting in significant spatial variation of inertial forcing, centripetal forcing, as well as along and cross-stream pressure gradient forcing over a meso- scale region. Maxima of these forces are misphased where the two dissimilar jet streaks converge and geostrophic balance is disrupted. Velocity divergence within the subgeostrophic region of largest upstream-directed pressure gradient force and velocity convergence near the region of largest downstream-directed centripetal/inertial-advective forcing act to produce a mesoscale front due to spatially varying confluent flow flanked by zones of increasing velocity divergence. This results in frontogenesis as well as the along-stream divergence of cyclonic and convergence of cyclonic ageostrophic vertical vorticity. The nonuniform centripetally forced mesoscale front becomes the locus of large gradients of ageostrophic vertical vorticity along an overturning isentrope. This region becomes favorable for streamwise vorticity gradient formation enhancing the environment for the organization of horizontal vortex tubes in the presence of buoyant forcing. This is because the mesoscale convergence of vertical vorticity on an overturning isentropic surface creates vertical rotation for the development of horizontal vorticity in regions where isentropic surfaces overturn. Vorticity, shear, and buoyancy are focused in one location by this front thus favoring an environment favorable for microvortex formation leading to turbulence.     

Characterizing the severe turbulence environments associated with commercial aviation accidents. Part 1: A 44-case study synoptic observational analyses

Summary In this paper, we describe the results of 44 case study analyses of synoptic scale data sets that define the atmospheric structure prior to the development of accident-producing turbulence. First, the 44 case studies are categorized as a function of the location, altitude, time of year, time of day, and turbulence environment, i.e., in clear air, cloudiness, convection, near mountains, or in the proximity of deep convection. It is noteworthy that this later category was much more ubiquitous than was anticipated. Second, NCEP Reanalysis data sets as well as both visible and infrared satellite imagery are employed to diagnose predictor fields associated with the synoptic-scale environment preceding severe turbulence. These predictor fields are calculated based on jet stream configuration, kinematic, dynamical, and thermodynamic analyses of the synoptic-scale atmosphere.The results of these analyses indicate a prevalence of severe accident-producing turbulence within the entrance region of the polar or subtropical jet stream at the synoptic-scale. Typically, there is a region of flow curvature located just upstream within the jet entrance region, convection is present within 100km of the accident, the vertical motion is upward typically within the curved entrance region, absolute vorticity is low, the vertical wind shear is increasing with time, and horizontal cold air advection is substantial. Not all of the 44-case studies conform to this entrance region paradigm. However, most do and the most consistent predictor of severe turbulence is upstream curvature in the synoptic-scale flow. Nearby convection is the second most ubiquitous predictor field. Upward vertical motion, low absolute vorticity, and horizontal cold air advection are all typical predictors in case studies occurring both within the entrance and exit regions of the polar or subtropical jet stream.Current affiliation: USDA/Forest Service, North Central Research Station, East Lansing, MI 48823.     

Metamorphism of the H-group chondrites: implications from compositional and textural trends in chondrules

Major and minor element bulk compositions of 373 individual chondrules from 18 H3 to H6 chondrites were determined in polished thin sections by broad-beam electron probe analysis. Bulk chondrule FeO and Al₂O₃ increase and TiO₂ and Cr₂O₃ decrease with increasing petrologic type; normative fayalite, albite and plagioclase increase through the petrologic sequence. Chondrule diameters correlate with phenocryst sizes in porphyritic chondrules of type 3 chondrites, but this correlation is diminished in the higher petrologic types. Furthermore, for a given chondrule diameter, phenocryst sizes are larger in the higher petrologic types. We attribute most compositional trends in chondrules through the petrologic sequence to diffusion and equilibration among chondrules and between chondrules and matrix in response to increasing degrees of thermal metamorphism. Increased phenocryst sizes in the higher petrologic types are probably the result of grain growth during metamorphism.We suggest that H-group chondrites formed by accretion of high-temperature (chondrules) and low-temperature (matrix) materials. Parent materials of each of the petrologic types resembled type 3 chondrites, but had slight compositional differences (e.g. volatiles, rare gases, total iron) inherited during accretion. These differences were predominantly functions of decreasing temperature in the nebula as accretion progressed. Internal reheating of the parent materials to different temperatures and (probably) for different times, as a function of depth in the parent body, caused compositional equilibration, grain coarsening, and reduction of FeO to Fe° by carbon.     

Alien cyanobacteria Anabaena bergii var. limnetica Couté et Preisig from Lithuania: Some aspects of taxonomy, ecology and distribution

The anthropogenic eutrophication of surface waters and the global climate warming promoted some bloom-forming tropical cyanobacteria, including Anabaena, distribution northwards. Anabaena bergii var. limnetica was for the first time recorded in Lithuania from the hypertrophic Lake Gineitišk?s in 2008. It developed when the water temperature reached its annual maximum (July–August); its highest biomass (0.26 mg L⁻¹) was reached at the end of July. Akinetes formation started in the middle of August. The morphological variability of A. bergii var. limnetica morphospecies is presented. The morphological, ecological differences and distribution of A. bergii var. limnetica and the related morphospecies A. bergii, A. bergii f. minor, Anabaena minderi are discussed.     

Geochemical study of pottery sherds from an archaeological site near Mošnje (Slovenia)

This study is a geochemical analytical approach to the characterization of pottery samples from an archaeological site near Mo?nje (Slovenia). Inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry and statistical analyses were used to determine detailed geochemical properties of the pottery sherds and to identify potentially individual groups among the samples studied. The geochemical results indicated the existence of four major groups of the pottery sherds: the first and second groups are assembled from eight samples, all generally characterized by their high CaO and TOT/C content; the third group comprised the samples with the highest SiO₂ concentrations; and the fourth group is represented by the samples K3, K5 and K13. The principal component analysis and cluster analysis validated the existing groups and revealed a high degree of chemical similarity between these groups. The geochemical and statistical data confirmed the archaeologists’ hypothesis and interpretation of a similar origin/alteration of source material/probable local ceramic production for the majority of the pottery sherds; the imported origin of samples K3 and K13 was recognized, while sample K5 had been intentionally imported as a sample for comparative purposes.