Interannual and decadal variability in zooplankton communities of the southeast Bering Sea shelf

The southeastern Bering Sea shelf ecosystem is an important fishing ground for fin- and shellfish, and is the summer foraging grounds for many planktivorous seabirds and marine mammals. In 1997 and 1998, Northern Hemisphere climate anomalies affected the physical and biological environment of the southeastern Bering Sea shelf. The resulting anomalous conditions provided a valuable opportunity to examine how longer-term climate change might affect this productive ecosystem. We compared historical and recent zooplankton biomass and species composition data for the southeastern Bering Sea shelf to examine whether or not there was a response to the atmosphere–ocean–ice anomalies of 1997 and 1998. Summer zooplankton biomass (1954–1994) over the southeastern shelf did not exhibit a decline as previously reported for oceanic stations. In addition, zooplankton biomass in 1997 and 1998 was not appreciably different from other years in the time series. Spring concentrations of numerically abundant copepods (Acartia spp., Calanus marshallae, and Pseudocalanus spp.), however, were significantly higher during 1994–1998 than 1980–1981; spring concentrations of Metridia pacifica and Neocalanus spp. were not consistently different between the two time periods. Neocalanus spp. was the only taxon to have consistent differences in stage composition between the two time periods—CV copepodites were much more prevalent in May of the 1990s than early 1980s. Since relatively high zooplankton concentrations were observed prior to 1997, we do not attribute the high concentrations observed in the summers of 1997 and 1998 directly to the acute climate anomalies. With the present data it is not possible to distinguish between increased production (control from below) and decreased predation (control from above) to explain the recent increase in concentrations of the species examined.     

Circumstellar dust and variability of carbon stars

A sample of 35 variable carbon stars has been considered. The stellar temperatures, radii, absolute luminosities, masses, and mass loss rates have been estimated. Then the spherical circumstellar dust shells around the analysed stars are discussed and the differences in the infrared properties between semi-regular, irregular, and long-period variables are indicated.     

The past in dust: current trends and future directions in Pleistocene geoarcheology of European loess

Loess is a main archive of Pleistocene landscapes and environments and therefore has an important connection to the preservation and interpretation of Paleolithic sites. In Europe, anthropogenic sites have been found in loess because of past local occupation. At one extreme, sites are well preserved with minimal disturbance often accompanied by embedded proxies to estimate ecological parameters. On the other hand, loess deposits have undergone post-depositional alterations such as weathering, pedogenesis or bioturbation due to changing environmental conditions or other disturbances that obscure anthropogenic sites. We outline the current state of research and connections between Paleolithic archeology and loess research while introducing a series of subsequent regional case studies as part of a special issue. We also make recommendations for future work to incorporate a wider variety of methods to create more robust inferences on hominin and environmental evolution and their connections.     

On the Structure of the Perseus Cluster of Galaxies

The investigation of the distribution of number densities and radial velocities in the Perseus cluster led us to the conclusion that this cluster possesses dominant substructures. This result is in agreement with a corresponding result for the Hydra-I cluster and with former conclusions of different authors that substructures are a typical phenomenon for a high percentage of all clusters of galaxies. The complex of the Perseus cluster has a diameter of 60–80 minutes of arc.     

Density and Radial Velocity Strucutre of the Hydra I Cluster of Galaxies

The investigation of the distributions of number densities, radial velocities and morphological types in the Hydra I cluster led us to the conclusion that this cluster possesses dominant substructures. This result is in agreement with former conclusions of different authors that substructures are a typical phenomenon for a high percentage of all clusters of galaxies. The galaxies inside the radius 60 from the cluster centre giv ea mean cluster redshift 3332±102 km/s and a velocity dispersion 679 ± 87 km/s.     

Essential properties of the cD galaxy in Abell 1795 — II. Radio structure

We consider current problems connected with the evolution of central dominant (cD) galaxies in clusters. In the second part of this series, internal properties of the cD galaxy — in particular its radio structure — are related to the appropriate ones of the cluster. The observations point to an earlier jet ejection along the major axis of the galaxy and a following change of the jet axis. From the existence of “hot-spot” like regions in different directions it is suggested that the radio engine would have to be intermittent with a relatively short period. Alternatively to the intermittent ejection scenario, the radio morphology of 4C 26.42 can be explained in the frame of the “standard” beam or jet model. The radio structure of 4C 26.42 being an inversion-symmetric configuration, which is probably due to galactic cannibalism, could be interpreted as a transition at the inner hot spots (at about 1 kpc) from supersonic, stable Fanaroff-Riley type II jets to subsonic, unstable FR I type structures (“plumes”). A quantitative investigation of the two scenarios for jet interaction with the surroudning interstellar/intercluster medium in 4C 26.42 gives parameter values in reasonable agreement with the ones discussed in the literature for related objects.     

Essential properties of the cD galaxy in Abell 1795 — I. General optical and X-ray structure,dynamics and formation

We investigate current problems connected with the formation of cD galaxies. The subject of the present paper is to compare internal properties of the cD galaxy Zw162010 with cluster properties of Abell 1795. This consideration is a first attempt to find commonly valid essential correlations between peculiarities of brightest cluster members as structures and active phenomena and global cluster properties as for instance galaxy populations and concentration degrees. The colours, the X-ray emission, and the velocity of the cD galaxy are used to discuss the obvious influence of the environment on the evolution of the active nucleus. In a second paper (Kirchner et al. 1992) the radio structure is used to investigate the influence of the surrounding cluster medium onto the development of the active nucleus. Furtheron, various jet ejection scenarios will be quantitatively examined.     

Impacts of Present and Future Climate Change and Climate Variability on Agriculture in the Temperate Regions: North America

The potential impact of climate variability and climate change on agricultural production in the United States and Canada varies generally by latitude. Largest reductions are projected in southern crop areas due to increased temperatures and reduced water availability. A longer growing season and projected increases in CO₂ may enhance crop yields in northern growing areas. Major factors in these scenarios analyzes are increased drought tendencies and more extreme weather events, both of which are detrimental to agriculture. Increasing competition for water between agriculture and non-agricultural users also focuses attention on water management issues. Agriculture also has impact on the greenhouse gas balance. Forests and soils are natural sinks for CO₂. Removal of forests and changes in land use, associated with the conversion from rural to urban domains, alters these natural sinks. Agricultural livestock and rice cultivation are leading contributors to methane emission into the atmosphere. The application of fertilizers is also a significant contributor to nitrous oxide emission into the atmosphere. Thus, efficient management strategies in agriculture can play an important role in managing the sources and sinks of greenhouse gases. Forest and land management can be effective tools in mitigating the greenhouse effect.     

Transmissivity of solar radiation through crowns of single urban trees—application for outdoor thermal comfort modelling

Trees play an important role in mitigating heat stress on hot summer days, mainly due to their ability to provide shade. However, an important issue is also the reduction of solar radiation caused by trees in winter, in particular at high latitudes. In this study, we examine the transmissivity of total and direct solar radiation through crowns of single street trees in Göteborg, Sweden. One coniferous and four deciduous trees of species common in northern European cities were selected for case study. Radiation measurements were conducted on nine clear days in 2011–2012 in foliated and leafless tree conditions using two sunshine pyranometers—one located in shade of a tree and the other one on the roof of an adjacent building. The measurements showed a significant reduction of total and direct shortwave radiation in the shade of the studied trees, both foliated and leafless. Average transmissivity of direct solar radiation through the foliated and defoliated tree crowns ranged from 1.3 to 5.3 % and from 40.2 to 51.9 %, respectively. The results confirm the potential of a single urban tree to reduce heat stress in urban environment. However, the relatively low transmissivity through defoliated trees should be considered while planning street trees in high latitude cities, where the solar access in winter is limited. The results were used for parameterisation of SOLWEIG model for a better estimation of the mean radiant temperature (T_mrt). Measured values of transmissivity of solar radiation through both foliated and leafless trees were found to improve the model performance.