On the assimilation of total-ozone satellite data

A two-dimensional model for advection and data assimilation of total-ozone data has been developed. The Assimilation Model KNMI (AMK) is a global model describing the transport of the column amounts of ozone, by a wind field at a single pressure level, assuming that total ozone behaves as a passive tracer. In this study, ozone column amounts measured by the TIROS Operational Vertical Sounder (TOVS) instrument on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) polar satellites and wind fields from the Meteorological Archive and Retrieval System (MARS) archives at ECMWF have been used. By means of the AMK, the incomplete space-time distribution of the TOVS measurements is filled in and global total-ozone maps at any given time can be obtained. The choice of wind field to be used for transporting column amounts of ozone is extensively discussed. It is shown that the 200-hPa wind field is the optimal single-pressure-level wind field for advecting total ozone. Assimilated ozone fields are the basic information for research on atmospheric chemistry and dynamics, but are also important for the validation of ozone measurements.     

Late Quaternary glacier and sea-ice history of northern Wijdefjorden,Svalbard

The deglaciation history and Holocene environmental evolution of northern Wijdefjorden, Svalbard, are reconstructed using sediment cores and acoustic data (multibeam swath bathymetry and sub-bottom profiler data). Results reveal that the fjord mouth was deglaciated prior to 14.5±0.3 cal. ka BP and deglaciation occurred stepwise. Biomarker analyses show rapid variations in water temperature and sea ice cover during the deglaciation, and cold conditions during the Younger Dryas, followed by minimum sea ice cover throughout the Early Holocene, until c. 7 cal. ka BP. Most of the glaciers in Wijdefjorden had retreated onto land by c. 7.6±0.2 cal. ka BP. Subsequently, the sea-ice extent increased and remained high throughout the last part of the Holocene. We interpret a high Late Holocene sediment accumulation rate in the northernmost core to reflect increased sediment flux to the site from the outlet of the adjacent lake Femmilsjøen, related to glacier growth in the Femmilsjøen catchment area. Furthermore, increased sea ice cover, lower water temperatures and the re-occurrence of ice-rafted debris indicate increased local glacier activity and overall cooler conditions in Wijdefjorden after c. 0.5 cal. ka BP. We summarize our findings in a conceptual model for the depositional environment in northern Wijdefjorden from the Late Weichselian until present.     

Fine structure in solar microwave bursts

We have designed and constructed a new multi-channel radio spectrograph for the study of short-lived structures in solar microwave bursts. It measured the integrated flux over the whole solar disc in two circular polarizations at 36 frequencies between 4 and 8 GHz, with a time constant of 0.5 ms. We have analyzed all 119 recorded bursts observed in 1981 and 1983. We focused our attention on events with a lifetime of less than 1 s. Fine structure occurs in about 30% of the observed bursts, and can be as rich in detail as in bursts observed at lower frequencies. We found at least four different classes of events. In one event neither bandwidth nor time resolution of the receiver appear to be sufficient to resolve the fine structure. The bulk of the drifts is found to be towards higher frequencies. Periodic flux variations were found in two cases.     

Dynamic Holocene glacial history of St. Jonsfjorden,Svalbard

Evidence of a dynamic Holocene glacial history is preserved in the terrestrial and marine archives of St. Jonsfjorden, a small fjord‐system on the west coast of Spitsbergen, Svalbard. High‐resolution, remotely sensed imagery from marine and terrestrial environments was used to construct geomorphological maps that highlight an intricate glacial history of the entire fjord‐system. The geomorphology and stratigraphy indicate an early Holocene local glacier advance constrained to the Lateglacial–early Holocene transition. Identification and ¹⁴C dating of the thermophilous bivalve mollusc Modiolus modiolus to 10.0±0.12 cal. ka BP suggest a rapid northward migration of the species shortly after deglaciation. Further evidence enhances the understanding of the onset and subsequent climax of the Neoglacial‐Little Ice Age in inner St. Jonsfjorden. The present‐day terminus of Osbornebreen, the dominating glacier system in St. Jonsfjorden, is located over 8.5 km up‐fjord from its Neoglacial maximum extent. Cross‐cutting relationships suggest subsequent advances of all the smaller glaciers in the area following the break‐up of Osbornebreen. Glacial deposits, landforms and their cross‐cutting relationships observed in both terrestrial and marine settings imply a complex and highly dynamic environment through the later part of the Holocene.     

Radio,X-ray,and optical observations of the flare of June 13, 1980, at 6h22m UT

A subflare of importance Sf was observed on June 13, 1980 simultaneously by instruments aboard the Solar Maximum Mission (SMM) and various ground based observatories. We describe and compare different kinds of observations, with emphasis on the Hard X-Ray Imaging Spectrometer (HXIS) images and spectra, and on the one-dimensional microwave images with high time and spatial resolution, obtained with the Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope (WSRT). The fast electrons causing the X-ray and microwave impulsive bursts had a common acceleration source, but the burst were produced at the opposite footpoints of the loops involved, with microwaves emitted near to a sunspot penumbra. The flare (of a ‘compact’ type) was probably triggered by an emerging flux, and two possible interpretations of this process are briefly discussed.

     

Identifying the Origin of Anomalous High Tropospheric Ozone in the Ozonesonde Data at Uccle by Comparison with Nearby De Bilt

Abstract

The ozonesonde stations at Uccle (Belgium) and De Bilt (Netherlands), separated by only 175?km, offer a unique opportunity to test the influence of different ozonesonde types and different correction strategies, as well as to detect the presence of inhomogeneities in the ozonesonde time series resulting from changes in sounding equipment (solution, radiosonde, ozonesonde, interface, sounding software, etc.). In particular, we highlight a 2.5 year period (beginning of 2007 to mid-2009) of anomalous high tropospheric ozone values measured by ozonesondes at Uccle and compare these with the observations from De Bilt. Because the ozone deviations are only observed in the free troposphere where ozone concentrations are relatively low, and not in the boundary layer or the stratosphere, this issue is directly related to the sensitivity of ozonesondes. Therefore, the effect of every instrumental change, even though small, during this 2.5 year anomalous period is analyzed considering a change in the radiosounding equipment, different ozonesonde batches, operational differences at the stations, differences on ascent and descent during the anomalous period; an environmental cause is also examined. Unfortunately, one single, specific cause for the observed high tropospheric ozone values at Uccle could not be identified. There are two explanations consistent with the observations and not ruled out by the analysis here: 1) the majority of the ozonesondes used at Uccle between March 2007 and August 2009 needed longer conditioning of their sensors and, therefore, behaved more accurately at low ozone concentrations during their descent or when used a second time, and 2) an environmental origin arising from a local difference in the air mass between Uccle and De Bilt and between the ascent and descent.     

Stratigraphic and geochemical evidence for the depositional environment of the early archaean isua supracrustal belt,southern west greenland

The highly deformed c. 3800 Ma Isua supracrustal belt is a fragment of a more extensive Early Archaean sedimentary and volcanic succession intruded by and tectonically intercalated with tonalitic and granitic Amftsoq gneisses in the period 3800-3600 Ma. The supracrustal rocks recrystallised under amphibolite facies conditions between 3800 and 3600 Ma, in the Late Archaean and locally at c. 1800 Ma. Layered sequences of rock of sedimentary and probable volcanic origin form over 50% of the belt. Bodies of high MgAl basic rocks and ultramafic rocks were intruded into the layered sequences prior to isoclinal folding and intrusion of Amitsoq gneisses. The layered rocks which are < 1 km thick are divided into two sequences, that are in faulted contact with each other. The way-up of these sequences has been determined from facing-directions of locally-preserved graded layering in felsic metasediments at several localities. The overall upwards change in sedimentary succession is interpreted as showing change from dominantly basic to dominantly felsic volcanism which provided the major clastic component of the sediments. Clastic sedimentation took place against a background of chemical sedimentation, shown by interlayers of banded iron formation, metachert and calc-silicate rocks throughout the sequences. The felsic rocks locally preserve graded bedding and possible conglomerate structures, indicating deposition from turbidite flows and possibly as debris flows. Nodules in the felsic rocks contain structures interpreted as fiammé. There is an irregular enrichment in K₂O/Na₂O in many of the felsic rocks at constant SiO₂ and Al₂O₃ content, interpreted as owing to alteration of original andesitic to dacitic volcanic rocks. Banded iron formations locally contain conglomeratic structures suggesting sedimentary reworking, possibly under shallow water conditions. Lithological and geochemical characters of the clastic components of the supracrustal sequences are consistent with derivation from felsic and basic volcanic rocks and do not require a continental source.