A new Lower Triassic (Induan) Jerus Limestone locality in northwest Pahang,Peninsular Malaysia: Conodont fauna,depositional and tectonic settings

Limestones exposed north of Raub, Pahang, Malaysia, and sandwiched between the Bentong‐Raub Suture Zone and the westernmost margin of the Sukhothai Arc terrane, yield a late Dienerian (late Induan) conodont fauna. The co‐occurrence of Neospathodus dieneri Sweet (morphotypes 1, 2 and 3) and Neospathodus pakistanensis Sweet represents the Neospathodus dieneri morphotype 3 sub‐zone of the Neospathodus dieneri Zone. The sampled limestones are interpreted as the northwards extension of the Jerus Limestone which crops out near Cheroh and Jerus villages, significantly extending the known outcrop of the Jerus Limestone northwards. The Jerus Limestone is interpreted as hemipelagic and formed in a foredeep or forearc setting on top of the accretionary complex formed by eastwards subduction of the Palaeo‐Tethys during the Lower to Middle Triassic.     

Observations of three slow glitches in the spin rate of the pulsar B1822−09

Three slow glitches in the rotation rate of the pulsar B1822−09 were revealed over the 1995–2004 interval. The slow glitches observed are characterized by a gradual increase in the rotation frequency with a long time-scale of several months, accompanied by a rapid decrease in the magnitude of the frequency first derivative by ∼1–2 per cent of the initial value and subsequent exponential increase back to its initial value on the same time-scale. The cumulative fractional increase in the pulsar rotation rate for the three glitches amounts to  Δν/ν₀∼ 7 × 10⁻⁸  .     

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water,mussels (Brachidontes sp., Tagelus sp.) and fish (Odontesthes sp.) from Bahía Blanca Estuary,Argentina

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), one of the major groups of anthropogenic environmental pollutants, were firstly identified and measured in coastal waters, native mussels and fish of an industrialized South American estuary.     

Landsat TM/ETM+与HJ-1A/B CCD数据自动相对辐射处理及精度验证

全球地表覆盖遥感制图与关键技术研究项目要求对两个基准年度(2000年,2010年)的全球覆盖30 m分辨率遥感数据进行辐射处理,转换到地表反射率,数据以Landsat TM/ETM+为主,HJ-1A/B CCD数据为补充。海量数据中有些不适宜进行绝对大气校正,为了保证全球覆盖,对这些数据设计开发了一套自动的相对辐射处理及精度验证流程算法,利用相邻数据重叠区域进行相对辐射校正的方式,将数据由Oigital Number(DN)值直接转换为地表反射率,精度验证以MODIS地表反射率产品MOD09GA作为参考,比较对应波段数据的相对一致性,算法采用了图像分块处理技术及OpenMP加速技术提高效率,实际应用结果表明该算法流程可以满足项目对辐射处理精度、速度及自动化程度的要求。     

Optimal filters for the construction of the ensemble pulsar time

An algorithm of the ensemble pulsar time based on the optimal Wiener filtration method has been constructed. This algorithm allows the separation of the contributions to the post-fit pulsar timing residuals of the atomic clock and the pulsar itself. Filters were designed using the cross- and auto-covariance functions of the timing residuals. The method has been applied to the timing data of millisecond pulsars PSR B1855+09 and B1937+21 and allowed the filtering out of the atomic-scale component from the pulsar data. Direct comparison of the terrestrial time TT(BIPM06) and the ensemble pulsar time PT_ens revealed that the fractional instability of TT(BIPM06)−PT_ens is equal to  σ _z = (0.8 ± 1.9) × 10⁻¹⁵  . Based on the  σ _z   statistics of TT(BIPM06)−PT_ens, a new limit of the energy density of the gravitational wave background was calculated to be equal to  Ω_g h ²∼ 3 × 10⁻⁹  .     

The impact of climate change on U. K. river flows: A preliminary comparison of two generations of probabilistic climate projections

The impacts of climate change on future river flows are a growing concern. Typically, impacts are simulated by driving hydrological models with climate model ensemble data. The U.K. Climate Projections 2009 (UKCP09) provided probabilistic projections, enabling a risk-based approach to decision-making under climate change. Recently, an update was released—UKCP18—so there is a need for information on how impacts may differ. The probabilistic projections from UKCP18 and UKCP09 are here applied using the change factor method with catchment-based hydrological modelling for 10 catchments across England. Projections of changes in median, mean, high, and low flows are made for the 2050s, using the A1B emissions scenario from UKCP09 and UKCP18 as well as the RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 emissions scenarios from UCKP18. The results show that, in all catchments for all flow measures, the central estimate of change under UKCP18 is similar to that from UKCP09 (A1B emissions). However, the probabilistic uncertainty ranges from UKCP18 are, in all cases, greater than from UKCP09, despite UKCP18 having a smaller ensemble size than UKCP09. Although there are differences between the central estimates of change using UKCP18 RCP4.5, RCP8.5 and A1B emissions, there is considerable overlap in the uncertainty ranges. The results suggest that existing assessments of hydrological impacts remain relevant, though it will be necessary to evaluate sensitive decisions using the latest projections. The analysis will aid development of advice to users of current guidance based on UKCP09 and help make decisions about the prioritization of further hydrological impacts work using UKCP18, which should also apply other products from UKCP18 like the 12-km regional data.     

基于遥感数据的江苏省水稻收获期时空分析研究

本研究基于2001—2020年中分辨率成像光谱仪遥感产品,使用谐波分析重建完整作物生长过程植被指数变化曲线,对江苏省范围内水稻种植区域的收获期进行提取。同时利用Sen趋势分析与相关分析方法,研究水稻收获期时空动态变化趋势与影响因子。结果表明:利用谐波分析方法能够较好地重建作物生长期生理参数变化曲线,滤波值与原始值线性相关系数达到0.8;水稻收获期分布在9月中旬到12月上旬之间,2010年之后,10月中下旬之后占比增加,达到50%以上;部分地区水稻收获期呈现延迟趋势,南京北部、扬州、盐城北部地区为3 d·a^-1及以上,泰州、南通等地区保持稳定,趋势绝对值低于1 d·a^-1;9—11月降水日数与降水量均对水稻收获期有影响,10月降水量与收获期存在负相关,10、11月降水日数与收获期存在正相关。本研究的基于遥感的水稻收获期提取方法为大范围的水稻农业物候信息提取提供参考。     

On the maximum amplitude and coherence of the kilohertz quasi-periodic oscillations in low-mass X-ray binaries

I study the behaviour of the maximum rms fractional amplitude, r _max, and the maximum coherence, Q _max, of the kilohertz quasi-periodic oscillations (kHz QPOs) in a dozen low-mass X-ray binaries. I find that (i) the maximum rms amplitudes of the lower- and upper-kHz QPOs,   r ^ℓ_max  and   r ^u_max  , respectively, decrease more or less exponentially with increasing luminosity of the source; (ii) the maximum coherence of the lower-kHz QPO,   Q ^ℓ_max  , first increases and then decreases exponentially with luminosity, at a faster rate than both   r ^ℓ_max  and   r ^u_max  ; (iii) the maximum coherence of the upper-kHz QPO,   Q ^u_max  , is more or less independent of luminosity; and (iv) r _max and Q _max show the opposite behaviour with hardness of the source, consistent with the fact that there is a general anticorrelation between luminosity and spectral hardness in these sources. Both r _max and Q _max in the sample of sources, and the rms amplitude and coherence of the kHz QPOs in individual sources show a similar behaviour with hardness. This similarity argues against the interpretation that the drop of coherence and rms amplitude of the lower-kHz QPO at high QPO frequencies in individual sources is a signature of the innermost stable circular orbit around a neutron star. I discuss possible interpretations of these results in terms of the modulation mechanisms that may be responsible for the observed variability.     

Comparison of drought projections using two UK weather generators

Abstract

Possible changes in drought under future climate scenarios may pose unprecedented challenges for water resources, as well as other environmental and societal issues, and need assessment to quantify their associated risk. Two weather generators, based upon (a) the Neyman-Scott Rectangular Pulses (NSRP) model as implemented by the United Kingdom Climate Projections 09 (UKCP09) study, and (b) the generalized linear model (GLM) approach, are used to investigate potential variations in drought conditions for six catchments in the UK under climate projections. The results show that both weather generators provide rainfall simulations having satisfactory monthly statistics. However, the rainfall series from the UKCP09 weather generators lack inter-annual variability, whereas the GLM simulations, which include non-stationary global circulation model (GCM) outputs as driving variables, seem to have a more appropriate representation of the observed drought conditions. For drought projections in the 2080s, the UKCP09 simulations provide repetitive patterns without much temporal variation, similar to the results in the control period. This study suggests that for the drought index considered here (a 3-month drought severity index) the GLM approach appears to be a more appropriate model for drought study on inter-annual scales in comparison with the UKCP09 weather generator.

Editor D. Koutsoyiannis

Citation Chun, K.P., Wheater, H.S., and Onof, C., 2013. Comparison of drought projections using two UK weather generators. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 58 (2), 295–309.     

Pulsar slow glitches in a solid quark star model

A series of five unusual slow glitches of the radio pulsar B1822–09 (PSR J1825–0935) was observed between 1995 and 2005. This is a phenomenon that is understood in a solid quark star model, and reasonable parameters for slow glitches are given in this paper. We propose that, because of increasing shear stress as the pulsar spins down, a slow glitch may occur, beginning with the collapse of a superficial layer of the quark star. This layer of material turns to viscous fluid at first, the viscosity of which helps to deplete the energy released from both the accumulated elastic energy and the gravitation potential. There is then a slow glitch. Numerical calculations show that the slow glitches that have been observed could be reproduced if the effective coefficient of viscosity is ∼10² cm² s⁻¹ and the initial velocity of the superficial layer is of the order of 10⁻¹⁰ cm s⁻¹ in the coordinate rotating frame of the star.