Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Stratospheric aerosol optical depth observed by the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment II: Decay of the El Chichon and Ruiz volcanic perturbations

The decay of the El Chichon perturbation to the optical depth of stratospheric aerosols at 1.02 μm, 0.525 μm, and 0.453 μm is calculated from the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment II (SAGE II) data set for the period December 1984 to December 1988. It is found that the perturbed optical depths at middle and higher latitudes of both hemispheres exhibited an exponential decay superimposed by a seasonal oscillation with maximum and minimum occurring in local winter and local summer, respectively. Microphysical processes and variation of the tropopause height alone cannot explain this seasonal change of optical depth. The magnitudes of the exponential component at higher latitudes were, in general, larger than those at lower latitudes. For optical depths in tropical regions, the seasonal oscillations were small and were disturbed by the eruption of Nevado del Ruiz on November 13, 1985. The increase in ratio of optical depth at 0.525 μm to that at 1.02 μm from about 2.0 at the beginning of 1985 to about 3.5 at the end of 1988 indicates the average size of aerosol particles in the stratosphere is diminishing since the eruption of El Chichon. The l/e folding time for El Chichon decay derived from the SAGE II data set is in reasonably good agreement with those derived by other methods.
Rubisco Adaptation Is More Limited by Phylogenetic Constraint Than by Catalytic Trade-off

RuBisCO assimilates CO2 to form the sugars that fuel life on earth. Correlations between RuBisCO kinetic traits across species have led to the proposition that RuBisCO adaptation is constrained by catalytic trade-offs. However, these analyses did not consider the phylogenetic context of the enzymes that were analysed. Thus, it is possible that the observed correlations between RuBisCO kinetic traits are an artefact of the presence of phylogenetic signal in RuBisCO kinetics and the phylogenetic relationship between the species that were sampled. Here, we conducted a phylogenetically resolved analysis of RuBisCO kinetics and show that there is significant phylogenetic signal in all carboxylase kinetic traits, and significant phylogenetic signal in the Michaelis constant for O2 in species that conduct C3 photosynthesis. When accounting for this phylogenetic non-independence between enzymes, we show that the catalytic trade-off between carboxylase turnover and the Michaelis constant for CO2 is weak (~30 % dependency) and that the correlations between all other RuBisCO kinetic traits are either not-significant or marginal (<9 % dependency). Finally, we demonstrate that phylogenetic constraints have limited RuBisCO evolution to a greater extent than catalytic trade-offs. Thus, RuBisCO adaptation in angiosperms is predominantly limited by phylogenetic constraint (most likely caused by a slow rate of molecular evolution) and a partial trade-off between carboxylase turnover and the Michaelis constant for CO2.
Celebrating fifty years of NASA and Earth observations from space. Part II: Land-use and land-cover change science

Since its inception, Geocarto International has published a vast number of research papers on remote sensing of land-use and land-cover in many parts of our globe. A recent US National Academy of Sciences report (2007) on Earth Observations from Space has concluded that the advent of satellite data has revolutionized our ability to characterize global land cover and monitor land use patterns by offering a synoptic view as well as consistent methodology for global mapping at various scales. This is truly a remarkable achievement. From early success in measuring agricultural land-cover using Landsat, to use of Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) data in the nineties and now to high resolution commercial satellite data, the science of land-use and land-cover has made substantial progress. Use of these efforts in decision-making tools such as Famine Early Warning System Network based upon remote sensing and other information for arid countries is an example of societal benefits from the work of countless scientists in these areas. We anticipate more benefits from the free availability of epochal global orthorectified Landsat data for the 1990s, 2000s and beyond. We congratulate the research scientists and engineers at universities and other institutions, and management leadership and professionals at NASA and other space agencies involved in land-use and land-cover change science for playing a critical role in assessing global changes in the land-uses. In this issue, Kawakubo et al. use spectral linear mixing model and region classification to map land use and vegetation cover in an indigenous area within Mato Grosso in Brazil. Morton and Yuan use US census data with remote sensing data to analyse population dynamics while Lang et al. discuss combined objectbased classification and interpretation for quantitative assessment of parcels and biotopes. Vadrevu and Badarinath have assessed the spatial patterns of fire events, while Badarinath et al. analysed emissions from grassland burning in a national park in India. These and other papers make this issue an interesting read. We invite you to send us your feedback.
Three months of continuous monitoring of atmospheric water vapor with a network of Global Positioning System receivers

Three months of continuous data from the Global Positioning System (GPS) using 20 sites in Sweden and 5 sites in Finland have been used to estimate the integrated amount of atmospheric water vapor. The quality of the data has been assessed by comparisons with a microwave radiometer (water vapor radiometer (WVR)) at the Onsala Space Observatory and with data from four different radiosonde stations. We found the agreement in integrated water vapor (IWV) between the GPS estimates and the radiometer data to be 1–2 kg/m2 in terms of daily root-mean-square (rms) differences. A major part of these rms differences were caused by a bias between the data sets. This bias (WVR-GPS) varied from day to day between −1.0 and +2.5kg/m2 with a mean value of +1.3kg/m2. Comparisons with radiosonde data showed rms differences around or slightly above 2kg/m2 for each station using the entire 3 month data set. Also here the GPS estimates were, on the average, below the radiosonde results. We show that the radomes used to protect the GPS antennas are likely to cause a large part of the observed bias. Spatial structure functions were calculated by using the GPS and the radiosonde data. An overall consistency between the GPS-based and the radiosonde-based structure functions indicates that the spatial correlations between the GPS estimates are not affected by the estimation process used in the GPS data analysis.
Selection in Northern Ireland: from 1947 Act to 1989 Order

Abstract Alone of the regions of the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland has retained a selective system of secondary education for the great majority of pupils. In setting up such a system in the 1940s, the Ministry of Education's professed intention was that all children capable of benefiting from a grammar school education should, regardless of parental income, have access to such a school. Two criteria for evaluating the selective system on its own terms are, therefore, social justice and accuracy in identifying able pupils at age 11 and it is on these terms that it is judged here. The article draws on government statistics and research findings from a period of nearly 40 years, and in particular on investigations by the Northern Ireland Council for Educational Research (NICER). These include a longitudinal study of some 3000 pupils between the ages of 12 and 18, who transferred in 1975 and an assessment of the predictive accuracy of the ‘Transfer grades’ awarded to a l‐in‐15 sample of the pupils who tra.
Evaluation of digital channel network derivation methods in a glaciated subalpine catchment

The digital elevation model (DEM) has become an essential tool for an increasing array of mountain runoff analyses, particularly the derivation and mapping of stream channel networks. This study examines how well commonly applied DEM‐based channel derivation methods at different spatial resolutions can represent the channel network for a glaciated Rocky Mountain headwater catchment. The specific objectives are to (1) examine how differences in gridded DEM resolution affect spatially distributed values of local slope, specific contributing area, and topographic wetness index derived from both eight and infinite directional flow algorithms, (2) map the actual stream channel network to examine the influence of surface variables on channel initiation, and (3) assess accuracy of DEM‐derived networks compared with the field surveyed network. Results show that for the same contributing area threshold, increasing grid cell size leads to increased channelization of modeled networks. A plot of local slope versus contributing area reveals a negative relationship similar to that of prior studies in un‐glaciated areas but with breaks in slope at contributing areas that are too small to represent thresholds for channelization. Field survey results and evaluation of DEM‐derived channel networks suggest that channel network formation is not clearly related to surface topographic variables at Loch Vale. Digitally derived channel networks do not accurately predict low order channel locations, but approximations of the channel network with drainage density and headward extent of channelization similar to the observed network can be derived with both a 1 m and 10 m DEM using a contributing area threshold of approximately 4x104 m2. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fisheries policies impacts consideration towards the development of rural coastal areas

The current study aims to examine the effectiveness of fisheries policies and specifically of the Greek Operational Programme for Fisheries, 2007-13. In specific, aims to examine and assess possible impacts generated, in the regional economy of Voreio and Notio Aigaio from its four axis, with particularity to the forth one. For this a regional Input-Output model was built in order to capture direct and indirect impacts in terms of output, employment and income. Results indicate that the dynamics of the fisheries sector in the regional economy are very weak and along with the continuous shrinking of the sector, leads to the necessity of supporting alternative vocational activities for the development of coastal rural areas. Though, results indicate that the funds attributed to such policies are very small, resulting in very weak generated impacts in the regional economy. And thus it is not expected current policies to seriously affect the development of such regions through the promotion of alternative to fishing activities.
Perception of flood hazard in countries of the North Sea region of Europe

Floods are natural phenomena and flood hazards cannot be eliminated. Thus it is necessary to learn living with this hazard. Floods represent a threat only with respect to human society, giving humans a central role: through location and through perception. Adequate perception of flood hazard is one of the premises to lower the vulnerability of the society and is an important element of non-structural measures for reducing flood risk. Public perception of flood hazard is essential for decision-making at all steps of flood risk assessment. The results of an investigation of the perception of flood hazard in five countries of the North Sea region of Europe are presented. 4000 Europeans living in flood-prone areas have been involved in the study. Stratified polls and focus groups were used as investigation tools. The study revealed many similarities in the perception of flood hazard among Europeans, such as limited interest in flood hazard, passiveness and reluctant attitude towards moving, while, for example, reckoning on flooding of their own houses differed between countries. The collected information offered a necessary background to streamline flood hazard information to laymen as well as for the second phase of the study, namely a search for consensus between public and authorities about what level of risk is tolerable.
A miR-SNP of the XPO5 gene is associated with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer

Objectives MicroRNA (miRNA)-related single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in miRNA processing machinery genes can affect cancer risk, treatment efficacy, and patient prognosis. A miR-SNP of rs11077 located in the 3′ untranslated region (3′ UTR) of the miRNA processing machinery gene XPO5 was examined in 112 advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients to evaluate its association with cancer outcome. Materials and methods The miR-SNP was genotyped with ligase detection reaction method. Survival curves were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and multivariate survival analysis was performed using a Cox proportional hazards model. Results The AC genotype of rs11077, which carries C or A allele, was significantly associated with a better chemotherapy response (P = 0.001). In addition, rs11077 was independently associated with overall survival in advanced NSCLC patients through multivariate analysis (relative risk 0.457; 95% confidence interval: 0.251–0.831; P = 0.010). Conclusion rs11077 was associated with chemotherapy response and survival of advanced NSCLC patients. The analysis of miR-SNPs in miRNA processing machinery genes can help identify patient subgroups that are at high risk for poor disease outcomes.
Faulting mechanism and complexity of the November 23, 1980, Campania-Lucania Earthquake, inferred from surface observations

The lack of a well-recognized relation between large earthquakes and their surface effects in Italy has motivated the detailed reconstruction of the surface expression of the 1980 Campania-Lucania normal faulting event (Ms = 6.9). Instrumental investigations showed that it was a complex event, composed of four or more subevents occurring within 40 s of the origin time. This earthquake was the first in Italian history, and among the few in the Mediterranean basin, to produce sizable and coherent surface faulting. On the basis of field work we reconstructed three main strands which together form a 38-km-long, northwest trending fault scarp. Leveling observations have been used together with field observations to describe the faulting model; geological and geodetic estimates of the focal parameters inferred for each subevent have been compared with similar estimates on the basis of instrumental observations. A good consistency is found between the different models of the 1980 earthquake, with respect to both the magnitude and the geometry of the subevents. The total moment inferred from surface observations is comparable with that computed using long-period waveform modeling and strong motion accelerograms and is 30% lower than the moment tensor inversion estimate. Much effort has been put into understanding the coseismic deformation-surface topography interaction. Observations of back-dipping scarps which tend to reverse the present topography indicate the young age of the presently active tectonic regime. The variability of the surface faulting and the diversion of parts of the scarp from the main trend have been interpreted in terms of intrinsic fragmentation of the characteristic earthquake-generating 1980 segment; gaps in the scarp height and changes in the fault trend and relation to topography have been identified with persisting “relaxation geometric barriers,” which have been found coincident with the actual rupture initiation sites. The peculiarities of the 1980 earthquake and the youthfulness of its tectonic framework illustrate the first stages of landscape development in a tectonically active region. A correct understanding of this process in well-monitored regions is essential to recognize long-term surface features related to large earthquakes of the past and therefore to provide robust estimates for seismic hazard analyses.
Classification of 3D rough surfaces using color and gradient information recovered by color photometric stereo

Directional effects of illumination make difficult classification of rough 3D surfaces as their appearance may change dramatically, especially when a surface has variable albedo. One way of circumventing the problem is to separate the local shape and albedo information prior to classification. We do it by means of Colour Photometric Stereo, which produces 5 descriptors for each surface patch: two gradient components, and three colour components. This information is illumination-invariant, and can be used as an input for a suitable classification scheme. We proceed to classify a collection of surfaces by matching their colour histograms and multidimensional co-occurrence matrices of shape descriptors.
Retrieval of volcanic ash and ice cloud physical properties together with gas concentration from IASI measurements using the AVL model

Observation and tracking of volcanic aerosols are important for preventing possible aviation hazards and determining the influence of aerosols on climate. The useful information primary includes the concentration, particle size and altitude of aerosol load. Moreover, volcanic eruptions are usually accompanied by strong emissions of SO2 and enhanced concentrations of H2O in the atmosphere. Volcanic ash particles can also catalyze the formation of ice clouds by serving as cloud nuclei. Hyperspectral infrared sounders, such as IASI (Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer), have proven to be powerful tools for capturing volcanic aerosol and ice cloud signatures and enhanced volcanic gas concentrations. Information on atmospheric constituents is extracted from such hyperspectral measurements with the help of radiative transfer (RT) codes capable of solving both direct and inverse RT problems. We will demonstrate the retrieval of aerosol and ice cloud physical properties together with gas concentration fr.
Geosat and advanced very high resolution radiometer observations of oceanic planetary waves adjacent to the Hawaiian Islands

Geosat observations of the central North Pacific Ocean show westward propagating mesoscale features with length scales (>500 km), time scales (105–155 days), and observed zonal phase speeds commensurate with those of nearly nondispersive baroclinic Rossby waves. Advanced very high resolution radiometer-derived sea surface temperatures observed during April 1988 showed a cusp-shaped pattern north of the Hawaiian Islands congruent with concurrent Geosat-derived sea level height anomalies. It is believed that the cusp-shaped pattern is the surface manifestation of a baroclinic Rossby wave. The observed wavelength of the cusp-shaped pattern was 560 km. It had an observed meridional extent (horizontal amplitude) of 200–300 km and an inferred zonal propagation speed of 0.052 m s−1. The westward propagating sea level height structure was observed to amplify as it approached 150°W reaching amplitudes of 0.06–0.08 m in the vicinity of the cusp-shaped feature. These waves are believed to be locally forced by the topography, either as the result of eastward flow over the submerged island ridge or as a result of baroclinic instability during periods of westward flow.
Longitudinal Profile of Trends in Salinity in the River Murray

Statistical analyses have been performed on series of electrical conductivity (EC) measurements taken over the past 16 years from 8 stations on the River Murray to assess changes in salinity along the river and trends over time. Below Euston, N.S. W. , salinity has generally increased over time, although the log-linear trends were statistically significant at only three stations: Red Cliffs, Morgan and Mannum. The increase in EC of over 1% p.a. at Red Cliffs was partly removed when it passed to Merbein, and we attribute this to the Lake Hawthorn salinity interception scheme. Both Morgan and Mannum showed increases of over 2% p.a. , confirming the results of our earlier analysis of chloride data from Morgan, and current levels there are close to the desirable limit of 800 µS/cm. Thus major adverse effects can be anticipated if the rate of increase over the last 16 years is allowed to continue.
Palaeowaters in European coastal aquifers — the goals and main conclusions of the PALAEAUX project

Abstract The PALAEAUX project has brought together up-to-date geochemical, isotopic and hydrogeological information on coastal groundwaters across Europe in a transect from the Baltic to the Canary Islands. These data have been interpreted in relation to past climatic and environmental conditions, as well as extending and challenging concepts about the evolution of groundwater near the present day coastlines. Groundwater movement beyond the present coastline as well as emplacement on shore to greater depths (up to 500 m) than allowed by the present-day flow regime has occurred, hence offshore freshwater reserves are inferred in some coastal areas. The main attributes of palaeowaters, in terms of water quality, are their high bacterial purity, total mineralization that is often less than that of modern waters and being demonstrably free of anthropogenic chemicals. However, in the Mediterranean coastal areas, lower recharge leads to higher salinity conditions in both palaeo- and modern waters. Freshwater of high quality originating from different climatic conditions to the present day, when the sea level was much lower, is found at depth beneath the present-day coastline in several countries. Recharge is shown to have been more or less continuous during the past 100 ka, even beneath the ice, as demonstrated by groundwaters from Estonia, having δO values of c. −22%o. However, elsewhere (UK and Belgium) an age gap can be recognized indicating that no recharge took place at the time of the last glacial maximum. Devensian recharge temperatures (soil air temperatures) were some 6°C colder across Europe than at the present day. The development of aquifers in Europe during the past 50–100 a, by abstraction from boreholes, has generally disturbed flow systems that have evolved over varying geological timescales, especially those derived from the Late Pleistocene and Holocene. Hydrogeophysical logging has demonstrated time and quality stratified aquifers resulting in mixed waters being produced on pumping. A range of specific indicators, including 3H, 3H/3He, 85Kr, chlorofluoro-carbons and pollutants, have been used to recognize the extent to which waters from the modern (industrial) era have penetrated into the aquifers, often replacing the natural palaeogroundwaters. In the coastal regions, many problems for management are identified, including issues relating to quantity and quality of water, seasonal demand, pollution risks and ecosystem damage, requiring a new look at legislation.
Stabilization Points in Carrying Capacity: Population Growth and Migrations

This study focuses on stabilization points in carrying capacity. Using simulations based upon well-known mathematical approaches in theoretical ecology, one calculates carrying capacity out of trends in demographic development. It is an alternative to most of approaches in Archaeology and Anthropology concerning potential resources and cost of labor. Finally, this approach is also useful for analysis of migrations and site catchments.