The Las Campanas/AAT rich cluster survey – I. Precision and reliability of the photometric catalogue

The Las Campanas Observatory and Anglo-Australian Telescope Rich Cluster Survey (LARCS) is a panoramic imaging and spectroscopic survey of an X-ray luminosity-selected sample of 21 clusters of galaxies at     . Charge-coupled device (CCD) imaging was obtained in B and R of typically 2° wide regions centred on the 21 clusters, and the galaxy sample selected from the imaging is being used for an on-going spectroscopic survey of the clusters with the 2dF spectrograph on the Anglo-Australian Telescope. This paper presents the reduction of the imaging data and the photometric analysis used in the survey. Based on an overlapping area of 12.3 deg² we compare the CCD-based LARCS catalogue with the photographic-based galaxy catalogue used for the input to the 2dF Galaxy Redshift Survey (2dFGRS) from the APM, to the completeness of the GRS/APM catalogue,     . This comparison confirms the reliability of the photometry across our mosaics and between the clusters in our survey. This comparison also provides useful information concerning the properties of the GRS/APM. The stellar contamination in the GRS/APM galaxy catalogue is confirmed as around     per cent, as originally estimated. However, using the superior sensitivity and spatial resolution in the LARCS survey evidence is found for four distinct populations of galaxies that are systematically omitted from the GRS/APM catalogue. The characteristics of the 'missing' galaxy populations are described, reasons for their absence examined and the impact they will have on the conclusions drawn from the 2dF Galaxy Redshift Survey are discussed.     

Confirming a population of hot-dust dominated, star-forming, ultraluminous galaxies at high redshift

We identify eight   z > 1  radio sources undetected at 850 μm but robustly detected at 70 μm, confirming that they represent ultraluminous infrared galaxies (ULIRGs) with hotter dust temperatures  (〈 T _d〉= 52 ± 10 K)  than submillimetre galaxies (SMGs) at similar luminosities and redshifts. These galaxies share many properties with SMGs: ultraviolet spectra consistent with starbursts, high stellar masses and radio luminosities. We can attribute their radio emission to star formation since high-resolution Multi-Element Radio Linked Interferometer Network (MERLIN) radio maps show extended emission regions (with characteristic radii of 2–3 kpc), which are unlikely to be generated by active galactic nucleus (AGN) activity. These observations provide the first direct confirmation of hot, dusty ULIRGs which are missed by current submillimetre surveys. They have significant implications for future observations from the Herschel Space Observatory and Submillimetre Common-User Bolometer Array 2 (SCUBA2), which will select high-redshift luminous galaxies with less selection biases.     

Observational limits to source confusion in the millimetre/submillimetre waveband

The first observations to detect a population of distant galaxies directly in the submillimetre waveband have recently been made using the new Submillimetre Common-User Bolometer Array (SCUBA) on the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT). The results indicate that a large number of distant galaxies are radiating strongly in this waveband. Here we discuss their significance for source confusion in future millimetre/submillimetre-wave observations of both distant galaxies and cosmic microwave background radiation (CMBR) anisotropies. Earlier estimates of such confusion involved significant extrapolation of the results of observations of galaxies at low redshifts; our new estimates do not, as they are derived from direct observations of distant galaxies in the submillimetre waveband. The results have important consequences for the design and operation of existing and proposed millimetre/submillimetre-wave telescopes: the Planck Surveyor survey will be confusion-limited at frequencies greater than 350 GHz, even in the absence of Galactic dust emission; a 1σ confusion noise limit of about 0.44 mJy beam⁻¹ is expected for the JCMT/SCUBA at a wavelength of 850 μm; and the subarcsecond resolution of large millimetre/submillimetre-wave interferometer arrays will be required in order to execute very deep galaxy surveys.     

Runoff responses at different watershed scales in semi arid region: exploration of a developed rainfall runoff model (Merguellil and Skhira watershed, Central Tunisia)

Understanding the hydrological response of small and large river basins is crucial for regional climate and hydrology studies. Also, rainfall space–time variability (Known in semi arid climate) has a major influence on hydrological dynamics. As consequent, we developed a software application (with MATLAB) in order to take into account the rainfall space-time variability, and that open a major prospects of studying hydrometeorological effects such scale effect and moving storms. In this context, in order to asses scale and dynamic rainy events effect in hydrologic modelling, this study focuses on instantaneous rainy data in central Tunisia (Merguellil and Skhira watershed): a rainfall runoff modelling was done to investigate basins responses and a developed geomorphology-based transfer function, was applied. A systematic hydro-meteorological analysis have been implemented to understand different types of variability and rainy fields dynamic, the relevance of rainfall network and scale effects. As result, two different behaviours of studied basins are detected. Responses of studied areas are much related to event dynamic (East/West and West/East) and hydrographs change according to event direction.     

Statistical distribution of rainy events characteristics and instantaneous hyetographs generation (Merguellil watershed in central Tunisia)

In semi-arid regions, variability of rainfall inputs is high at different time and space scales. Thus, intense and highly variable hydro-meteorological events, which generate both potential resource and hazards, are of major interest. The Merguellil watershed is characterized by a large majority of rainfall in the form of storms, particularly violent in spring and autumn. Storms of summer are short and violent and can be the origin of important floods. Due to the strong rainfall variability, precipitation and hydrological regime are very irregular. This is what led us to think of a detailed study of rainy events. It was founded that two statistical distributions of parameters characterizing events are dominated (log normal, exponential).Thus, our objective consists in studying, in its globality, the collected pluviographic data in order to make a synthesis and analysis which should make it possible the generation of fictitious events to better control the rainfall risk and to study the response of the watershed faces to several types of rainfall. As result, we obtained hyetographs of the height studied rain gauges. These hyetographs show several types of events that are well in conformity with the observed reality. This generation is an advantageous tool in terms of both its robustness and its performance. Its relevance is based on the analysis of the fine time structure of recorded rainfall events. It can be made over several years, and would permit us to avoid being constrained by sample size. Generating rainfall events provides extensive time-related rainfall data that are consistent at all time steps, and can be seen as solution, even partially, of data lack in hydrological study.     

The Boumerdes (Algeria) earthquake of May 21, 2003 (<Emphasis Type="Italic">M</Emphasis><Subscript>w</Subscript> = 6.8): Ground deformation and intensity

A destructive earthquake of magnitude M_w = 6.8 hit the region of Boumerdes and Algiers (Algeria) on May 21, 2003. This is among the strongest seismic events of the mediterranean region and the most important event in the capital Algiers since 1716. It caused a widespread damage in the epicentral region, claimed 2271 human lives, injured 10000, about 20000 housing units affected and left about 160000 homeless. The main shock was felt about 250 km far from the epicenter and triggered sea waves of 1–3 m in amplitude in Balearic islands (Spain). Based on field observations and press report an intensity IX (MSK scale) is attributed to the epicentral area. The main shock was followed by many aftershocks among them several are of magnitude greater than 5.0, which added panic to inhabitants. The main shock triggered ground deformation, particularly liquefaction whose features are in different forms and sizes and caused damage and collapse of roads. The focal mechanism determined by worldwide institutions yield a pure reverse faulting with a compressional axis striking NE-SW. The epicenter is located offshore about 7 km from the Boumerdes-Dellys coast. Field observations show 0.7 m of coseismic uplift of shoreline between Boudouaou and Dellys. This uplift is about a half of the extracted coseismic slip from the seismic moment. On the other hand there is no clear surface break onshore, confirming hence, that the causative active fault is offshore. However, the rupture may propagate onshore to the SE near the Boudouaou region where ground cracks showing reverse faulting are observed a long a corridor of about 1 km wide. These fissures may correspond to a diffuse coseismic deformation.     

Separation of the visible and dark matter in the Einstein ring LBG J213512.73−010143

We model the mass distribution in the recently discovered Einstein ring LBG J213512.73−010143 (the 'Cosmic Eye') using archival Hubble Space Telescope imaging. We reconstruct the mass density profile of the z = 0.73 lens and the surface brightness distribution of the z = 3.07 source and find that the observed ring is best fitted with a dual-component lens model consisting of a baryonic Sersic component nested within a dark matter halo. The dark matter halo has an inner slope of 1.42^+0.24_−0.22, consistent with cold dark matter simulations after allowing for baryon contraction. The baryonic component has a mass-to-light ratio of  1.71^+0.28_−0.38 M_⊙/L _{B ⊙}  which when evolved to the present day is in agreement with local ellipticals. Within the Einstein radius of 0.77 arcsec (5.6 kpc), the baryons account for 46 ± 11 per cent of the projected lens mass. External shear from a nearby foreground cluster is accurately predicted by the model. The reconstructed surface brightness distribution in the source plane clearly shows two peaks. Through a generalization of our lens inversion method, we conclude that the redshifts of both peaks are consistent with each other, suggesting that we are seeing structure within a single galaxy.