Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Rain in Calming the Sea

Abstract The effect of rain in damping surface waves appears to be significant in the estimation of wind speed from the backscatter of radar signal from the sea surface. The radar backscatter depends on the small-scale roughness of the sea surface. This is modified by the generation of capillary and gravity-capillary ripples by raindrops and by the increased damping of the wavelengths of 10-cm scale. The phenomenon is also important in wave generation and wave breaking, since in both cases the short wavelengths play a key role. A laboratory experiment has been performed to investigate the damping of water waves by rain in the absence of wind. Rain of intensity of 300 mm h−1 falls on mechanically generated progressive waves. The wave amplitude is measured before the wave enters and after it exits the rain section of a tank 2.35 m long. On the assumption of exponential damping, it is found that the effect of rain can be described by an eddy viscosity νE ≈ 0.3 cm2 s−1. The major part of the damping is attrib.
Recent surges on Blomstrandbreen, Comfortlessbreen and Nathorstbreen, Svalbard

Very few glaciers in Svalbard are known to have shown more than one recorded surge (Hagen and others, 1993). A decreasing frequency of glacier surges in Svalbard was suggested by Dowdeswell and others (1995). Recent observations indicated a different situation and several new surges have been observed based on new interpretation and evidence (Sund and others, 2009). These results also showed that geometric changes were present several years prior to a visible indication of a surge following the pattern of previous descriptions. The surge progress of three glaciers is described here (Fig. 1): Blomstrandbreen (1) is a 80 km tidewater glacier draining into Kongsfjorden. The glacier is known to have surged around 1960 (Hagen and others, 1993). Comfortlessbreen (2) is 60 km and partly a tidewater glacier draining to Engelskbukta south of Ny-Ålesund. Sund and others (2009) reported a surge and advance of the glacier seen from 2006. Until then it had been unclear whether this was a surge-type glacier or not. The tidewater glacier system in the inner part of Van Keulenfjorden (3) is, due to former retreat, currently divided into two main branches: the Nathorstbreen glacier system (NGS) and Liestølbreen–Doktorbreen. Liestøl (1977) suggested a maximum glacier extension by 1870 probably caused by a surge, which was 20 km further out of the fjord than the situation in late 2008. Croot’s (1988) interpretation of moraine patterns also suggests several glaciers in the inner part of Van Keulenfjorden have undergone surges, though no years are specified. NGS consists of several glaciers. Dobrowolskibreen, the icefield Ljosfonn, Polakkbreen and Zawadzkibreen are the most important, converging into Nathorstbreen and draining into the head of the fjord. Altogether they constituted an area of 390 km in 2008. Results from Sund and others (2009) showed the development of NGS through different stages resulting in a progressive advance of the terminus during winter 2008/09. These preliminary observations will be completed in future work, including a more detailed analysis of the surges.
Progressive development of block‐in‐matrix fabric in a shale‐dominated shear zone: Insights from the Bobbio Tectonic Window (Northern Apennines, Italy)

Block‐in‐matrix is a common fabric characterizing highly deformed to apparently chaotic rocks originated by sedimentary, tectonic and mud‐diapiric processes, in many exposed orogenic belts. A true mélange originates when this fabric is associated with mixing of rocks of different ages and provenance, as that characterizing the main décollement shear zone developed between the highly allochthonous Ligurian nappe and its substratum of foredeep deposits at the margins of the Bobbio Tectonic Window (Trebbia Valley, Northern Apennines). Mixing of rocks by both mass transport processes and synsedimentary thrusting occurs at the front and tectonic erosion at the base of the nappe during its emplacement. Evidence of polyphased deformations, spanning from liquefaction‐related and hydroplastic structures, to pseudo‐hydrofracturing features and mineralized veining, have been recognized within the marginal portions and along the sheared contacts of blocks encased within a scaly matrix. Crosscutting relationships testify a progressive deformation involving a transition from mesoscopic ductile to brittle conditions with the significant contribution of fluid overpressure. A novel evolutionary scheme for block‐in‐matrix fabric development is here proposed, involving the progressive dismembering of already highly deformed units, originally developed in non‐ to poorly lithified conditions, through a generalized simple shearing achieved during the evolution of the shear zone, coupled with strain hardening due to tectonic compaction, synkinematic diagenesis and fluid expulsion.
Emplacement age of post-tectonic granites in southern Guinea (West Africa) and the peninsular Florida subsurface: Implications for origins of southern Appalachian exotic terranes

The Coyah Granite of Guinea intruded western portions of the Rokelide orogen following a tectonothermal event at ca. 550 Ma. It records a biotite-muscovite plus whole-rock Rb-Sr isochron age of 533 ± 7 m.y. (MSWD = 1.6) which is interpreted to closely date crystallization. The Osceola Granite represents a major lithotectonic element in the pre-Cretaceous crystalline basement of peninsular Florida. Five biotite concentrates from cuttings recovered from four wells penetrating the pluton record 40Ar/39Ar plateau ages ranging between 527.4 ± 1.9 m.y. and 534.6 ± 2.0 m.y. Petrographic characteristics of the four samples suggest relatively rapid post-magmatic cooling, and the plateau ages are interpreted to closely date emplacement of the pluton. Similarities in age and petrographic characteristics combine to suggest that the Coyah and Osceola Granites were initially part of a sequence of plutons emplaced along the northwestern margin of the Gondwana continent. Portions of this terrane amalgamated with Laurentia during late Paleozoic assembly of Pangea. Various exotic lithotectonic terranes which had previously accreted (or were at least proximal) to the North American Craton were transported to their present structural position in the southern-central Appalachian orogen during this collision.
Increasing rate of movement with time between California and the Pacific Plate: From Delgada Submarine Fan source areas

Changes in the percentages of clay minerals and coarse fraction minerals with depth in Deep Sea Drilling Project cores from Delgada submarine fan suggest that the rate of motion between California and the Pacific plate has increased with time during the past 15 m.y. The major changes in mineralogy indicate changes in provenance. The times of these changes found in fan sediment and palcogeographic lithologic reconstructions of California demon- strate an increase in rate of motion from about 3.0 cm/yr 15 m.y. ago to 6.5 cmfyr at preent. During the time interval of 4-9 m.y. ago the data suggest a rate of motion of 4.5 cm/yr. Rates of motion between lithospheric plates are of major concern in determining the quan- titative nature of the dynamic earth system. Spreading centers as plate boundaries have been emphasized in the study of rates of motion. Rates of movement in these areas are usually calculated from the apparent age of basement rock, as deduced from the geomagnetic time scale of Heirtzler et al. (1968), and the dis- tance between rocks of different deduced ages. Studies of the SaN Andreas fault, a transform fault plate boundary, have considered move- ment between the Pacific and the American plates primarly in terms of a constant rate of motion with time (Dickinson and Grantz, 1968; Atwater, 1970; Hayes and Pitman, 1970). Such an extrapolation of a constant rate of motion with time was necessary because of poorly understood dynamics of a transform fault plate boundary and magnetic anomalies representing only the last 4 m.y. of history between these two plates (Anderson, 1971; Larson et al., 1968). Possibilities of variable rates of motion with time are discussed by Atwater (1970), Dickinson et al. (1972), and Hein (1973). Hu.f)- man (1972), working within the San Andreas fault zone and therefore not necessarily mea- suring total relative motion between the Pacific and the American plates, suggests a change in the rate of motion of the San Andreas fault sometime in the last 22 m.y. Larson (1972), from a study of the Gulf of California and from the results of previous studies, suggests a signifi- cant change in motion of these two plates 10 m.y. ago. Frerichs and Shive (1971) speculate about episodic movement on spreading centers with an increase in spreading rate 10 m.y. ago, although they are not concerned specifically with the American and Pacific plates. Talwani et al. (1971) provide concrete evidence, from distribution of sediment, of an increase in spreading rate at 10 m.y. B.P. in the North Atlantic. This paper concerns a method by which the history of relative movement can be determined between California and the Pacific
Dispersion in tracer flow in fractured geothermal systems

Interpretation of tracer tests is commonly based on the analysis of flow through a porous medium. In geothermal reservoirs however the principal permeability arises from fractures, and a porous medium approach is not applicable. The dispersion of tracer material flowing in a fracture is shown to be dominated by molecular diffusion across the fracture - a mechanism known as Taylor dispersion. For typical values of reservoir parameters, this transverse diffusion will obliterate any transverse tracer concentration gradients caused by the velocity profile across the fracture. The effective dispersivity is found to be a function of fracture aperture, mean flow velocity and molecular diffusivity, and is orders of magnitude greater than for porous medium flow. Typically Peclet numbers are anticipated to lie between orders 1 and 100, and field results confirm this range.
A REVIEW OF EVIDENCE ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF IRELAND'S RURAL ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION SCHEME (REPS)

Abstract:Since its inception in 1994, there has been strong demand for evidence of the environmental effectiveness of the Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS), which has paid farmers in the Republic of Ireland over €3 billion up to 2010. A variety of research projects have been undertaken that investigate the environmental effects of REPS through an examination of either specific environmental measures or specific geographical areas. A review of available publications has confirmed the absence of a comprehensive, national-scale study of the environmental impacts of REPS. For this reason, there is insufficient evidence with which to judge the environmental effectiveness of the national-scale implementation of the whole scheme. For some specific measures, however, sufficient evidence is available to inform an objective assessment in some cases, and to help learn how to improve environmental effectiveness in most cases. The majority of the REPS payments are now dedicated to biodiversity objectives. Thus, biodiversity measures and options should be a priority for any national-scale environmental assessment of the scheme. Such a study would help identify the environmental benefits of REPS, the specific elements of REPS that are performing adequately, and those elements that are in need of improvement. Given the considerable overlap between REPS measures and options and those included in the 2010 Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS), the assessment of REPS measures could also be used to inform the likely environmental performance of the AEOS.
Peroxyacyl Nitrates at Southern California Mountain Forest Locations

Ambient levels of the peroxyacyl nitrates [RC(O)OONO 2 ] PAN (R=CH 3 ) and PPN (R=C 2 H 6 ) have been measured at two southern California mountain forest locations impacted by urban photochemical smog. The highest levels recorded were 22 ppb for PAN and 4.3 ppb for PPN; 24-h averages were 2-10 ppb for PAN and 0.261. 7 ppb for PPN. PPN and PAN were highly correlated, with PPN/PAN ratios of 0.28 (August-October 1989), 0.18 (August-September 1990), and 0.14 and 0.19 (August-September 1991)
Geodynamics of the Tarim Basin and the Tian Shan in central Asia

The India‐Asia collision has caused crustal thickening in Tibet by at least a factor of 2. In the last 20–30 Myr of this collision the Tian Shan mountain range has also been reactivated. The Tarim Basin, however, shows little internal deformation. We describe a series of numerical experiments which constrain the effective lithospheric strength parameters of the Tarim Basin and the Tian Shan in the context of a thin viscous sheet model. We use a finite element representation of the thin viscous sheet model to approximate the deformation field in the India‐Asia collision and compare model crustal thickness distributions with that inferred from a local isostatic model of topography. The experiments show that a strong Tarim Basin, while undergoing little internal deformation, transfers strain to the Tian Shan, producing significant crustal thickening in the Tian Shan region. Based only on diagnostic parameters such as the maximum thickening in the Tian Shan and the minimum in the Tarim Basin, the principal features of the topography can be approximately reproduced using models in which either the Tarim Basin is strong, or the Tian Shan is weak, or both. For a rheological model in which the stress versus strain‐rate exponent is n = 3 the strength coefficient for the strong Tarim Basin model, VTarim is between about 1.7 and 2. For the weak Tian Shan model the relative strength coefficient VTian is between about 0.65 and 0.75. If both strong Tarim and weak Tian Shan are included, there is a trade‐off between the required values of VTarim and VTian and the shape of the predicted crustal thickness profiles better matches the observed profiles. The steep topographic slope on the southern margin of the Tarim Basin requires that it is anomalously strong, while the rapid decrease of topographic height to the north of the Tian Shan requires that it is anomalously weak. Similar conclusions are obtained with a rheological model based on n = 10. Simplified rheological models of the lithosphere show that the variations in lithospheric strength may be explained by changes to the Moho temperature of the order of 10° to 30°C.
The impacts of the PNA and NAO on annual maximum snowpack over southern Canada during 1979–2009

The Pacific/North American pattern (PNA) and North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) are two of the most important atmospheric low‐frequency variability modes modulating interannual anomalies of snowpacks in North America. However, the quantitative degree to which the PNA and NAO affect the annual maximum snow water equivalent (SWEmax), a quantity directly relevant to the ground snow load calculation in National Building Code of Canada, remains unknown. This study explores the relationship of the winter PNA and NAO to the Canadian SWEmax anomalies and potential changes associated with atmospheric circulation patterns. Significant correlations are identified in eastern and western Canada, where climatological mean values are largest due to the high frequency of snow storm occurrence. The regions in Canada where SWEmax anomalies are influenced by the PNA and NAO experienced a significant change from pre‐1998 to post‐1998. This change is consistent with the observed changes in annual maximum snow depth and the winter atmospheric circulations during 1979–2009. Copyright © 2012 Royal Meteorological Society
Spatial and temporal variations in summer precipitation in Japanese mountain areas

We examined spatial and temporal variations in precipitation measured during summer season between 1976 and 2007 for 28 stations located in mountain areas across Japan using the amount of precipitation (Pr), the mean depth of precipitation events (η), and the inverse of the mean interval times (λ). We obtained positive correlations between the period mean Pr (Pr) and the period mean η ($\overline{\eta}$) and between Pr and the period mean λ ($\overline{\lambda}$) for the 28 stations. Pr was more strongly related to $\overline{\eta}$ than to $\overline{\lambda}$, indicating the spatial variations in Pr that are primarily related to the variations in $\overline{\eta}$. In addition, Pr was more strongly related to η than to λ for most stations on the basis of data for 1976–2007, indicating that the year‐to‐year variations in Pr are primarily related to η. We also examined temporal trends in Pr, η and λ for 1976–2007 and found no systematic trends for 23 of the 28 stations, suggesting long‐term trends that are not common in mountain areas of Japan. The relationships between Pr and $\overline{\eta}$ and between Pr and η presented in this study enable us to generate a temporal precipitation distribution pattern based on only Pr and Pr data, respectively. Furthermore, probabilistic stochastic hydrological models require precipitation characteristics as input; thus, this study contributes to the determination of hydrological cycles and their possible future changes in Japanese mountain areas and therefore to water resource management. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Parsimonious Bayesian Factor Analysis when the Number of Factors is Unknown

We introduce a new and general set of identifiability conditions for factor models which handles the ordering problem associated with current common practice. In addition, the new class of parsimonious Bayesian factor analysis leads to a factor loading matrix representation which is an intuitive and easy to implement factor selection scheme. We argue that the structuring the factor loadings matrix is in concordance with recent trends in applied factor analysis. Our MCMC scheme for posterior inference makes several improvements over the existing alternatives while outlining various strategies for conditional posterior inference in a factor selection scenario. Four applications, two based on synthetic data and two based on well known real data, are introduced to illustrate the applicability and generality of the new class of parsimonious factor models, as well as to highlight features of the proposed sampling schemes.
Guidelines for preventing the transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in health-care facilities, 1994. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Acknowledgments Drafts of this document have been reviewed by leaders of numerous medical, scientific, public health, and labor organizations and others expert in tuberculosis, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, infection control, hospital epidemiology, microbiology, ventilation, industrial hygiene, nursing, dental practice, or emergency medical services. We thank the many organizations and individuals for their thoughtful comments, suggestions, and assistance.
Comparison of coarse particulate organic matter retention in meandering and straightened sections of a third‐order New Zealand stream

Four types of coarse particulate organic matter (CPOM), 100 mm and 200 mm lengths of wooden dowel, paper strips and Eucalyptus leaves, were released in either straightened or naturally meandering sections of a third‐order stream in lower North Island, New Zealand. The distance travelled until retained and the fate of each CPOM type were recorded over a range of discharges (0.10–0.77 m3 s−1) in stream sections with differing riparian characteristics (forest, willow and pasture). In meanders, CPOM travelled a shorter distance until retention and a higher proportion of released CPOM was retained compared to straightened reaches. CPOM travelled further until retention in pasture sections. Snags (vegetation and debris) were more important than rocks and eddies as retention structures, but more items were trapped by eddies in straightened reaches than in meanders. Leafy CPOM (paper strips and Eucalyptus) were retained more than wooden dowels, with paper strips behaving in a similar fashion to Eucalyptus leaves. Longer dowels were retained more than shorter ones. Changes to the channel form of this stream have significantly affected the rate and nature of CPOM retention which in turn could impact on stream ecosystem structure and productivity. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Facies analysis of a Pliocene river‐dominated deltaic succession (Siena Basin, Italy): Implications for the formation and infilling of terminal distributary channels

The recent recognition and description of terminal distributary channels in ancient delta‐front deposits have led to important progress when it comes to understanding: delta construction processes; the plan‐view shapes of both modern and ancient river‐dominated deltas; and sediment dispersal within deltas. Deltaic deposits fed by terminal distributary channels can be observed in the extensive outcrops (approximately up to 300 m wide and 50 to 70 m thick) in the central sector of the Pliocene Siena Basin in Tuscany, Italy. Stratigraphic constraints indicate that the deposition occurred in relatively shallow marine settings, was not affected by tidal effects and was influenced only locally by wave action. As a consequence, these rock exposures provide an opportunity to investigate the facies assemblage of an ancient delta complex, which was built up almost exclusively as the result of river‐related processes. The studied deltaic succession is composed of vertically stacked parasequence‐like units, which are invariably characterized by the lack of coarse‐grained distributary channel deposits at the top and an extensive network of terminal distributary channels that controlled the deltaic deposition. These deposits were interpreted previously as deep‐water turbidites. This study provides new elements for the correct distinction between hyperpycnal‐dominated delta fronts and basinal turbidite deposits. The terminal distributary channel facies documented in this study are more complex than those investigated in previous research. The channels are often passively filled during abandonment phases, and not just due to the aggradation and lateral/upstream migration of mouth bars, as classically proposed. Moreover, the frequent occurrence of mudstone beds just above the basal channel scours may be indicative of an abandonment phase after the channel incision, and before its infilling, with subsequent implications for the formational and infilling mechanisms of terminal distributary channels. Furthermore, the channel fills are often the result of alternating depositional and erosional phases, leading to a complex stratigraphic arrangement.