Linking air-sea energy exchanges and European anchovy potential spawning ground

The physical and chemical processes of the sea greatly affect the reproductive biology of fishes, mainly influencing both the numbers of spawned eggs and the survivorship of early stages up to the recruitment period. In the central Mediterranean, the European anchovy constitutes one of the most important fishery resource. Because of its short living nature and of its recruitment variability, associated to high environmental variability, this small pelagic species undergo high interannual fluctuation in the biomass levels. Despite several efforts were addressed to characterize fishes spawning habitat from the oceanographic point of view, very few studies analyze the air-sea exchanges effects. To characterize the spawning habitat of these resources a specific technique (quotient rule analysis) was applied on air-sea heat fluxes, wind stress, sea surface temperature and turbulence data, collected in three oceanographic surveys during the summer period of 2004, 2005 and 2006. The results showed the existence of preferred values in the examined physical variables, associated to anchovy spawning areas. Namely, for heat fluxes the values were around −40 W/m², for wind stress 0.04–0.11 N/m2, for SST 23°C, and 300 − 500 m³s⁻³ for wind mixing. Despite the obtained results are preliminary, this is the first relevant analysis on the air-sea exchanges and their relationship with the fish biology of pelagic species.     

半干旱草原下垫面动量和感热总体输送系数参数化关系研究

本文利用锡林郭勒草原2008年春季近地层涡旋相关系统和铁塔的风、 温平均梯度观测资料, 分析了总体输送系数随梯度Richardson数的变化特征, 建立了动量总体输送系数随大气稳定度、近地层风速以及感热总体输送系数随大气稳定度和近地层气温的关系. 中性条件下, 半干旱草原植被下垫面动量总体输送系数与近地层大气动力状态之间存在明显的相互作用, 总体输送系数与近地面层风速之间满足二次曲线拟合关系; 风速较小时, 大气动力特征对地表粗糙度长度的改变不是很明显, 动量总体输送系数随气流增强而增大; 而当风速较大时, 强风速会使植被高度发生改变, 动量总体输送系数随气流增强而减小. 另外, 感热总体输送系数与近地层气温之间也存在二次曲线关系. 动量总体输送系数与近地层风速之间的关系、感热总体输送系数与近地层气温之间关系的建立为总体输送系数参数化提供了重要途径, 同时该方案避免了对动力学粗糙度长度和热力学粗糙度长度的求解. 关键词： 总体输送系数 参数化 湍流通量 相似性函数     

Preparation and performance of a perovskite-type tubular membrane for the partial oxidation of methane

Thin-walled (∼200 μm) tubular membranes intended for the catalytic partial oxidation of natural gas have been manufactured from La_0.6Sr_0.4Co_0.2Fe_0.8O_3−δ (LSCF) powders using viscous plastic processing technology. The perovskite-type powders were synthesised using various conventional and novel techniques. The tubes have been characterised using a custom-built gas analysis rig with on-line mass spectrometry. Porosity levels of the membranes were found to be very low (<0.5%) as calculated using a mass spectrometry leakage test. This was confirmed by microstructural analysis of polished cross-sections using SEM. The spontaneous oxygen flux across the tubular membranes was determined as a function of temperature. Oxygen permeation rates were found to range from 0.1 to 0.3 μmol cm⁻²s⁻¹ at 1273 K. Paper presented at the 9th EuroConference on Ionics, Ixia, Rhodes, Greece, Sept. 15 – 21, 2002.     

Transition probabilities for two-photon H(1s–2s) and He(11s–21s) transitions: A partial-closure approach

Transition amplitudes and transition probabilities for the two-photon 1s–2s transition in the hydrogen atom and 1¹ s–2¹ s transition in helium atom have been calculated using a partial-closure approach. The dominant term is calculated exactly and the remaining sum over intermediate states is calculated using a mean excitation energy. Our value of the transition amplitudes agree within 2% with the exact results for the hydrogen case. Our value of the transition probability for hydrogen is 8.50 s⁻¹ which is in good accord with its known value 8.226 s⁻¹. For helium, the photon energy distribution of the metastable 2¹ s state is in good agreement with the accurate values. The corresponding transition probability is 53.7 s⁻¹ which is in good agreement with the accurate value 51.3 s⁻¹.     

The sound speed in southern deepwater zone of the Caspian Sea,off Anzali Port

Sound velocity determination in seawater is a key component of modern hydrographic surveying; however, little data exists on sound velocity characteristics of the southern Caspian Sea. Hence, a study was undertaken in 2008 to examine the seasonal variability of sound speed in deep-waters of the South Caspian Sea near the Iranian coast. The seasonal cycle of seawater temperature and thermal stratification in the Caspian Sea water created a wide range of spatial and temporal changes of sound speed with relevant differences between shallow water (over the continental shelf) and deep-water area. The collected data showed that seasonal variations of the sound speed were most important in the upper 100 m water depth, while below this level that is in deepwater the changes were small. The maximum values of sound speed were observed at the surface in midsummer around 1517–1519 m s⁻¹ over the continental shelf while the speed of sound was about 1453 m s⁻¹ between 450–470 m depths with no major seasonal variations. Variations in vertical structure of the sound speed were in agreement with temperature changes, while effects of the salinity on the sound speed were little.     

Filler-matrix thermal boundary resistance of diamond-copper composite with high thermal conductivity

A composite material with a high thermal conductivity is obtained by capillary infiltration of copper into a bed of diamond particles of 400 μm size, the particles having been pre-coated with tungsten. The measured thermal conductivity of the composite decreases from 910 to 480 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹ when the coating thickness is increased from 110 to 470 nm. Calculations of the filler/matrix thermal boundary resistance R and the thermal conductivity of the coating layer λ _i using differential effective medium, Lichtenecker’s and Hashin’s models give similar numerical values of R and λ _i ≈ 1.5 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹. The minimal thickness of the coating h ∼ 100 nm necessary for ensuring production of a composite while maximizing its thermal conductivity, is of the same order as the free path of the heat carriers in diamond (phonons) and in copper (electrons). The heat conductance of the diamond/tungsten carbide coating/copper interface when h is of this thickness is estimated as (0.8–1) × 10⁸ W m⁻² K⁻¹ and is at the upper level of values characteristic for perfect dielectric/metal boundaries.     

Investigation of heat transfer from a lead heat carrier to a tube streamlined longitudinally

Results of experimental studies on the local characteristics of heat transfer from a lead heat carrier to the surface of a cooled tube in an annular gap are shown at control and alteration of oxygen admixture content under the conditions of power circuits with heavy liquid-metal heat-transfer agent. This work is aimed at obtaining the grounded formulas for engineering calculations of heat transfer surfaces. Investigations were carried out at the lead temperature of 400–500 °C, the average velocity of heat-transfer agent of 0.1–1.5 m/s, the range of Prandtl number of 0.0123–0.0211 and Peclet numbers of 500–7000. The heat flux changed within 50–160 kW/m². Controllable changing content of oxygen admixture changed from the value of thermodynamic activity of oxygen from 10⁻⁵-10⁰ to saturation and higher with deposition of lead oxides near the heat-transferring surface.     

Electrochemical properties of a proton conducting polymer

Electrochemical, optical and thermal characterisation of a proton conducting polymer system based on poly(2-acrylamido-2 methyl-propane-sulfonic acid) (Poly-AMPS) for use in electrochromic windows is reported. The polymer electrolyte has been obtained by cross-linking branched poly(ethylene imine) with the 2-acrylamido-2 methyl-propane-sulfonic acid. The conductivity of the poly-AMPS films is influenced by the water content in the membrane and can vary between 10⁻⁴ and 10⁻⁷ Ω⁻¹ cm⁻¹. A minimum activation energy of 17±3 kJ/mol is estimated by a simple Arrhenius model. Poly-AMPS is very sensitive to the humidity in the surroundings and electrochromic windows should be sealed if poly-AMPS is used. Temperatures above 45–50 °C give increasing cracks in the polymer and loss of adhesion to the electrode surface. Paper presented at the 4th Euroconference on Solid State Ionics, Renvyle, Galway, Ireland, Sept. 13–19, 1997     

About ionic conductivity/diffusion relationships in yttria doped zirconia

The values of the oxygen self-diffusion coefficients (measured using¹⁸O tracer) are compared to the ionic conductivity (measured by impedance spectroscopy) of 9.5 mol% yttria doped zirconia single crystals in the temperature range 240–800 °C in air. Electrical conductivity measurements in polycrystals, exhibiting a grain boundary contribution to the ionic conductivity, are furthermore discussed in the frame of a “brick/boundary model”. Paper presented at the 8th EuroConference on Ionics, Carvoeiro, Algarve, Portugal, Sept. 16–22, 2001.     

Circulation and heat exchanges of the Northern Adriatic in the winter season 1992/93

Summary The sea currents, temperature and conductivity were measured continuously at two stations and two depths of the eastern part of the Northern Adriatic during the winter season 1992/93. Meteorological elements were measured simultaneously at the two nearest meteorological stations on the Croatian coast (Rovinj, Pula). The sea level was also measured in that period at Rovinj. One severe bora storm was observed in the period of measurements. Qualitative good agreement between observed currents and velocities of the earlier developed models for the response of the Northern Adriatic to the bora and sirocco wind forcing has been shown. The sea currents on the Rovinj-Po transect are of the opposite direction to the bora wind because of tis spatial heterogeneity. The sea level observed at Rovinj station rose during the bora blows and it was much higher than what expected in the developed models. The response time of the currents to the bora forcing is computed by using correlation function between currents and wind. The heat exchanges on the sea-atmosphere surface are calculated. The correlation between same wind components and between total heat exchanges for two different stations was made. The sea temperature evolution calculated from meteorological data agrees well with what observed, especially for the Pula station. At the end of the measurement period the new dense water (σ_t=29.3 kg m⁻) was observed. We dedicate this article to the memory of colleague Antonio Michelato. D. Morožin is not employed at the Institute R. Boŝković.     

Observation results of relativistic electrons detected by Fengyun-1 satellite and analysis of relativistic electron enhancement (REE) events

The space particle component detector on Fengyun-1 satellite which works at the sun-synchronous orbit of about 870 km altitude has detected relativistic electrons for a long time. In comparison with the SAMPEX satellite observations during 1999–2004, the relativistic electron data from Fengyun-1 satellite from June 1999 to 2005 are used to analyze the relativistic electron enhancement (REE) events at the low earth orbit, and the possible correlation among REE events at the low earth orbit, high-speed solar wind and geomagnetic storms is discussed. The statistical result presents that 45 REE events are found in total during this time period, and the strong REE events with the maximum daily average flux > 400 cm⁻²·sr^t-1·s⁻¹ occur mostly during the transition period from solar maximum to solar minimum. Among these 45 REE events, four strong REE events last a longer time period from 26-to 51-day and correlate closely with high speed solar wind and strong geomagnetic storms. Meanwhile, several strong geomagnetic storms occur continuously before these REE events, and these continuous geomagnetic storms would be an important factor causing these long-lasting strong REE events. The correlation analysis for overall 45 events indicates that the strength of the REE events correlates with the solar wind speed and the strength of the geomagnetic storm, and the correlation for strong REE events is much stronger than that for weak REE events.     

Superionic conductors with tysonite structure: evidence for a distribution of motional correlation times from19F-NMR data

¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy was used to analyze the onset of the fluorine mobility in monocrystalline LaF₃. The method is sensitive to ionic exchange with correlation times in the range of 10⁻⁶ - 10⁻³s. For the temperature range between 240 K and 400 K the motion is restricted mainly to the sites in the F₁ sublattice and characterized by a strongly heterogeneous behavior which can be well described by a broad distribution of correlation times. The distribution of the correlation times and its variation with temperature reflects the potential energy landscape in the superionic state. The changes in the center position and width of the distribution with temperature differ from an Arrhenius law behavior. Ionic mobility on the microscopical scale, therefore, can not be considered a simple thermally activated process. Paper presented at the 3rd Euroconference on Solid State Ionics, Teulada, Sardinia, Italy, Sept. 15–22, 1996     

Development of a segmented fast neutron spectrometer

We discuss the development of a spectrometer based on full energy absorption using liquid scintillator doped with enriched ⁶Li. Of specific interest, the spectrometer is expected to have good pulse height resolution, estimated to lie in the range 10–15% for 14-MeV neutrons. It should be sensitive to flux rates from 10⁻⁶ cm⁻² s⁻¹ to 10⁶ cm⁻² s⁻¹ above a threshold of 500 keV in an uncorrelated γ background of up to 10⁴ s⁻¹. We have constructed a pilot version of the detector using undoped liquid scintillator, and we report its present status. The detector’s efficiency is determined by the volume of the scintillator (∼1.21) and is estimated to be 0.2–0.5% for 3-MeV neutrons. The good pulse height resolution is achieved by compensation of the nonlinear light yield of the scintillator due to the use of optically separated segments, which collect scintillations from each recoil proton separately. We demonstrate here the response of the detector to neutrons from a Pu-α-Be source, whose energies range up to 10 MeV. Initial testing indicates a low threshold (≈600 keV) and good spectral response after requiring a multiplicity of three segments. Such a spectrometer has applications for low-background experiments in fundamental physics research, characterizations of neutron flux in space, and the health physics community. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

The temperature and light intensity dependence of photorefraction in LiNbO3

In the paper the dependence of the photorefraction (PhR) in LiNbO₃ and LiNbO₃−Fe (0.1 wt%, 0.3wt%) crystals on light intensity (within 10¹⁶–10²³ quanta·cm⁻²·s⁻¹ at wavelengths 496.5 nm and 600 nm) and temperature (in the region 100–500 K) is studied. For all the crystals the limiting values of PhR are similar and atT=293 K Δn _sat ^lim ≈3·10⁻³. In LiNbO₃ the temperature dependence of PhR in the range 100–500 K requires to take into account at least two trapping centres.     

Primary solid state batteries

Low - cost, easily fabricated dry cells were constructed by gluing a composite conducting material or a metal sulphide on magnesium or aluminium foils, using a solid electrolyte made from polyvinyl - pyrolidone. Composite conducting materials consisted of polypyrrole and polyaniline incorporated into an inorganic or polymer matrix or cupric oxide incorporated into a styrene - butadiene copolymer matrix. The efficiency, energy densities and voltage values of the cells were in the range 0.5 – 18.3 mWh cm⁻³, 9 – 339 wh kg⁻¹ and 0.5 – 2.0 V, respectively. The energy densities of the cells were up to seventeen times more than the energy density of the PbO₂ -H₂SO₄ - Pb multiple charge / discharge system and up to ten times more than the energy density of the nickel / cadmium rechargeable cell. A dry cell composed solely from polymers was constructed with cell voltage 0.25 – 0.50 V and efficiency ranging from 0.07 to 0.13 mWh cm⁻³ ten times lower than other commercial cells. Paper presented at the 1st Euroconference on Solid State Ionics, Zakynthos, Greece, 11–18 Sept. 1994     

Interaction of muonium with oxygen on silica powder surfaces

Results of the first μSR studies using Merck FO Optipur silica powder, which contains paramagnetic impurities at the ppb level and has a surface area of 610±20 m²/g. are reported. Above 20 K, the transverse field muonium relaxation rate is roughly constant at 0.5 μs⁻¹. Upon the addition of oxygen at ppm levels, the relaxation rate increases linearly with O₂ concentration in the temperature range from 40–100 K yielding two-dimensional depolarization rate constants on the order of 10⁻⁴ cm² molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹. As the temperature is increased further, both oxygen and muonium desorb from the surface yielding a three-dimensional rate constants at 300 K of 3.1(3)×10–10⁻¹⁰ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, in agreement with the gas phase value. Longitudinal field measurements suggest that MuO₂ is formed and is able to spin exchange with other oxygen molecules.     

The project of a Tau-Charm Factory with Crab Waist in Novosibirsk

The project of a new-generation TCF is now under consideration in Novosibirsk. A novel approach of the Crab Waist collision scheme allows reaching a luminosity of 1–2 × 10³⁵ cm⁻² s⁻¹. The other features of the facility are as follows: variable energy from 3 GeV to 4.5 GeV (c.m.), electron beam polarization, flexible usage of damping and excitation wigglers to keep high luminosity for all energy levels, etc. We discuss some of the challenges and opportunities available with the development of the project. for the Novosibirsk Tau-Charm Factory team The text was submitted by the author in English.     

First experimental observations of neutron bursts under thunderstorm clouds near sea level

The connection of short-term neutron bursts near sea level with the electric and geomagnetic atmospheric fields during thunderstorms in 2009–2011 has been experimentally studied. The data from the cosmic-ray spectrograph named after Kuzmin, an electrostatic fluxmeter, and a three-component fluxgate magnetometer in Yakutsk have been analyzed. It has been shown that short-term (no longer than 4 min) neutron bursts are due to negative lightning discharges. The bursts are detected at the ground level 1–3 km below thunderstorm clouds. In this case, the neutron flux is about 4 × 10⁻³ cm⁻² s⁻¹. The minimum energy of the neutrons that are efficiently detected by the monitor is about 10 MeV. It has been found that short-term neutron bursts are detected when the electric field strength reaches a threshold value of −16 kV/m.     

The superconducting properties of YBa2(Cu1−xMx)3O7 for M=Zn and Ni

Transverse and zero-field μSR measurements were made on YBa₂(Cu_1−xNi_x)₃O_7−y withx=0.1 and 0.2, and YBa₂(Cu_1−x Zn _x )₃O_7−y withx=0.03, 0.06, 0.1, and 0.16, wherey≈0.1. Since doping may lead to magnetic ordering this was searched for with both zero and transverse field μSR, but no evidence was found over the temperature range studied: 10–100 K. However, depolarization rates as functions of temperature were obtained, and the low temperature values of these are σ=3.2 μs⁻¹.1.6μs⁻¹, and 1 μs⁻¹ forx=0.01, and 0.2 Ni, respectively, and σ=0.8 μs⁻¹, 0.75 μs⁻¹, 0.65 μs⁻¹, and 0.4 μs⁻¹ forx=0.03, 0.06, 0.1, and 0.16 Zn, respectively. Estimates for the effect of decreasing electron concentration for Zn are made, but these alone do not account for the drop in σ. Estimates for the effect of scattering on λ and hence σ are made. The reduction in σ for Ni dopant is in surprisingly good agreement with these estimates. For Zn the order of magnitude is correct, but the relative lack of further change in σ after the effect of the first 0.03 addition seems to imply a saturation of the effect of scattering.     

Self-diffusion of lithium,hydrogen, and oxygen ions in crystalline lithium hydroxide

The self-diffusion coefficients of ions of the three chemical elements forming lithium hydroxide have been determined by the crystal-crystal and crystal-gas isotope exchange method in the temperature range 500–720 K. Crystal samples with different isotope compositions have been grown by the Bridgman method from melts. The melting temperature is 743 ± 2 K. Original methods have been developed for high-precision measurements of the isotope ratios of all three elements, i.e., lithium (⁶Li/⁷Li), hydrogen (H/D), and oxygen (¹⁶O/¹⁸O), and their changes after diffusion annealings with the use of the same sample. The self-diffusion coefficients of lithium and hydrogen ions differ but by a factor of no more than 3–5; however, their values exceed those for oxygen by several orders of magnitude. In particular, at 670 K, they are equal to 6.0 × 10⁻⁹, 3.2 × 10⁻⁹, and 2.0 × 10⁻¹² cm² s⁻¹ for hydrogen, lithium, and oxygen, respectively. In the range 680–720 K, the self-diffusion coefficients of hydrogen and lithium increase sharply with increasing temperature to approximately 10⁻⁶ cm² s⁻¹. A probable mechanism of migration of protons and lithium ions in LiOH and the role played in this process by the oxygen ions with a lower mobility have been discussed.