bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The ‘Multicultural’ Mill
Authors: Lockhart Charles , Wildavsky Aaron
Published: January 2009

An argument has been made for identifying Mill as an individualistic thinker. Certainly,A System of Logic(1843) develops views, such as methodological individualism and a conception of the ‘art of life’, which portray persons as having unique essences that, when supported by autonomous choices with respect to life experiments, reveal their individuality. These views are at least loosely applied in later works.Principles of Political Economy(1848) treats economic aspects of social life frequently in terms consistent with those of classical economists for whom the self-interested actions of individuals achieve economic growth.On Liberty(1859), the flagship volume in this view, and, less centrally,The Subjection of Women(1869) provide impressive testimony for an individualistic way of life in terms of its contributions to social progress.Considerations on Representative Government(1861) examines means for institutionalizing an individualistic way of life. AndUtilitarianism(1863) provides a basis for justifying an individualistic view of this social programme: more satisfaction of individual desires. But such an account, Mill's own assessment notwithstanding, would be unsatisfactory.
Was Mill a Utilitarian?
Authors: Coope Christopher Miles
Published: January 2009

Mill was receptive to all sorts of ideas, both plausible and implausible, which did not fit well with utilitarianism. He was, for example, inclined to think of equality, not just pleasure, as ‘good in itself’. He was able to think of himself as a utilitarian only by grossly expanding that notion to cover any doctrine which did not entirely rely, without the possibility of further explanation, on ‘intuition’ or God's commands. It is even doubtful whether he was a consequentialist in any sense. Mill's account of moral obligation is not a maximizing, nor even a satisficing, one. And the account emphasizes the place of supererogation. There is no suggestion in Mill that one is obliged to do something merely because a teaching to that effect would be felicific. Far from there being an obligation to maximize, it would sometimes bewrongmerely to make Pareto-improvements. Sympathetically understood, the account of obligation in Mill is more or less the same as one finds in Hobbes, with his theorems ‘for the preservation of men in multitudes’.
Hypocrisy and Consequentialism
Authors: Soifer Eldon , Szabados Béla
Published: January 2009

Consequentialism has trouble explaining why hypocrisy is a term of moral condem-nation, largely because hypocrites often try to deceive others about their own selfishness through the useof words or deeds which themselves have good consequences. We argue that consequentialist attempts to deal with the problem by separating the evaluation of agent and action, or by the directevaluation of dispositions, or by focusing on long-term consequences such as reliability and erosion of trust, all prove inadequate to the challenge. We go on to argue, however, that a version of consequentialism which values the fulfilment of desires, rather than mental states, is able to explain why hypocrisy is generally wrong, and indeed can do so better than its Kantian rivals.
Public Service Utilitarianism as a Role Responsibility
Authors: Goodin Robert E.
Published: January 2009

Elsewhere I have defended utilitarianism as a philosophy peculiarly well suited to the conduct of public affairs, on grounds of the peculiar tasks and instruments confronting public officials. Here I add another plank to that defence of ‘utilitarianism as a public philosophy’, focusing on the peculiar role responsibilities of people serving in public capacities. Such ‘public service utilitarianism’ is incumbent not only upon public officials but also upon individuals in their capacities as citizens and voters. I close with reflections on how best to evoke appreciation of these utilitarian role responsibilities from officials and electors alike.
Membrane transporters and folate homeostasis: intestinal absorption and transport into systemic compartments and tissues
Authors: Zhao Rongbao , Matherly Larry H. , Goldman I. David
Published: January 2009

Members of the family of B9 vitamins are commonly known as folates. They are derived entirely from dietary sources and are key one-carbon donors required for de novo nucleotide and methionine synthesis. These highly hydrophilic molecules use several genetically distinct and functionally diverse transport systems to enter cells: the reduced folate carrier, the proton-coupled folate transporter and the folate receptors. Each plays a unique role in mediating folate transport across epithelia and into systemic tissues. The mechanism of intestinal folate absorption was recently uncovered, revealing the genetic basis for the autosomal recessive disorder hereditary folate malabsorption, which results from loss-of-function mutations in the proton-coupled folate transporter gene. It is therefore now possible to piece together how these folate transporters contribute, both individually and collectively, to folate homeostasis in humans. This review focuses on the physiological roles of the major folate transporters, with a brief consideration of their impact on the pharmacological activities of antifolates.
DIVISION I / WORKING GROUP ASTROMETRY BY SMALL GROUND-BASED TELESCOPES
Authors: Thuillot William , Stavinschi Magdalena , Andrei Alexander H. , Arlot Jean-Eudes , Assafin Marcelo , Bazey N. , Gontcharov George A. , Gumerov Rustem , Wenjing Jin , Haro Jose L. Muinos , Niarchos Panayiotis , Osório Jose Pereira , Pascu Dan , Pauwels Thierry , Pinigin Gennadiy I. , Prostyuk Y. , Pugliano A. , Rafferty Theodore J. , Russell Jane L. , Rylkov Vladimir V. , Sanchez M. Luisa , Shulga Alexander A. , Souchay Jean , Tang Zhenghong , Teixeira Ramachrisna , Upgren Arthur R. , van Altena William F. , Martins Roberto Vieira , Zacharias Norbert
Published: January 2009

At the IAU XXVI General Assembly in 2006, the Division I decided to create the Working Group on Astrometry by Small Ground-Based Telescopes (WG-ASGBT). Its scientic goals are to foster the follow-up of small bodies detected by the large surveys including the NEOs; to set-up a dedicated observation network for the follow-up of objects which will be detected by Gaia; to contribute to the observation campaigns of the mutual events of natural satellites, stellar occultations, and binary asteroids; and to encourage teaching astrometry for the next generation. The present report gives the main activities carried out in these areas with small telescopes (diameter less than 2m).
DIVISION I-III / WORKING GROUP NATURAL PLANETARY SATELLITES
Authors: Arlot Jean-Eudes , Aksnes Kaare , Blanco Carlo , Emelianov Nikolaj V. , Jacobson Robert A. , Krasinsky George A. , Lieske Jay H. , Pascu Dan , Rapaport Michel , Sôma Mitsuru , Seidelmann P. Kenneth , Taylor Donald B. , Viera-Martins Roberto , Williams Gareth V.
Published: January 2009

The main goal of the Working Group was to gather astrometric observations made during the triennum as well as old observations not yet published in the data base. The WG encouraged the making of new observations. A Spring School was organized in China in order to teach the observational techniques of natural satellites to students and young astronomers. New theoretical models of the motion of the satellites and fit of the current models to new observations were used in order to make ephemerides of all the planetary satellites with tools useful for observations such as configurations. These ephemerides named MULTISAT are available at  or at .
DIVISION III: PLANETARY SYSTEMS SCIENCES
Authors: Bowell Edward L. G. , Meech Karen J. , Williams Iwan P. , Boss Alan P. , Consolmagno Guy J. , Courtin Régis , Fernández Julio A. , Gustafson Bo Å. S. , Huebner Walter F. , Levasseur-Regourd Anny-Chantal , Marov Mikhail Ya. , Mayor Michel , Schulz Rita M. , Spurný Pavel , Valsecchi Giovanni B. , Watanabe Jun-ichi , Williams Iwan P. , Witt Adolf N.
Published: January 2009

Division III's activities focus on a broad range of astronomical research on bodies in the solar system (excluding the Sun), on extrasolar planets, and on the search for life in the Universe.
COMMISSION 16: PHYSICAL STUDY OF PLANETS AND SATELLITES
Authors: Courtin Régis , McGrath Melissa A. , Consolmagno Guy J. , Blanco Carlo , Ksanfomality Leonid V. , Lara Luisa M. , Morrison David , Spencer John R. , Tejfel Victor G.
Published: January 2009

This report is divided in four parts: the first part summarizes the activities of the Commission between September 2006 and June 2008; the second part reports on recent advances in the physical study of planets and satellites. However, instead of attempting to cover the large body of new knowledge gathered over the last three years, we have chosen to highlight just a few exciting results – on Mercury, the exploration of unchartered terrains with ground-based imaging and a new measurement of its libration parameters, some spectacular findings from the Cassini mission inside the Saturnian system, and the results of methane-band spectrophotometric monitoring of Saturn over the last 13 years; the third part summarizes future plans now being drawn by the various space agencies for the exploration of planets and satellites in the solar system; the last part tries to project the activities of the Commission over the period June 2008–August 2009, and to express a few thoughts concerning the future developments in the field, and the role of the Commission therein.
COMMISSION 20: POSITIONS AND MOTIONS OF MINOR PLANETS, COMETS AND SATELLITES
Authors: Fernández Julio A. , Yoshikawa Makoto , Valsecchi Giovanni B. , Chesley Steven R. , Chernetenko Yulia A. , Gilmore Alan C. , Lazzaro Daniela , Muinonen Karri , Pravec Petr , Spahr Timothy B. , Tholen David J. , Tichá Jana , Zhu Jin
Published: January 2009

Commission 20 has been involved in the discussion on discovery credit rules of solar system objects (mainly concerned with asteroids) in particular with the role played by dynamicists in recovering objects by linking their orbits with previous apparitions. A working group was set up to discuss the issue that was integrated by professional astronomers as well as amateurs. There was some exchange of opinions and conflicting views, but the trend of the majority was to keep the discovery credit for the discoverer whose observations led to the object's principal designation, as expressed in the MPC existing rules (see ), considering only exceptionally credit for dynamicists when linkage of different apparitions led to the recovery of a lost object. The precise definition of non-trivial linkage should be worked out, and for the time being, the idea is to keep the existing MPC rules and, if necessary, to improve them, rather than starting a new set of rules.
COMMISSION 51: BIOASTRONOMY
Authors: Boss Alan P. , Irvine William M. , Meech Karen J. , Cosmovici Cristiano B. , Ehrenfreund Pascale F. , Latham David W. , Morrison David , Udry Stephane
Published: January 2009

Bioastronomy: Search for Extraterrestrial Life was established as Commission 51 of the IAU in 1982. The objectives of the commission included: the search for planets around other stars; the search for radio transmissions, intentional or unintentional, of extraterrestrial origin; the search for biologically relevant interstellar molecules and the study of their formation processes; detection methods for potential spectroscopic evidence of biological activity; the coordination of efforts in all these areas at the international level and the establishment of collaborative programs with other international scientific societies with related interests. In 2006, Commission 51 was renamed simply Bioastronomy at the IAU General Assembly in Prague, and approved for the next six years, the default extension for an IAU Commission.
COMMISSION 53: EXTRASOLAR PLANETS
Authors: Mayor Michel , Boss Alan P. , Butler Paul R. , Hubbard William B. , Ianna Philip A. , Kürster Martin , Lissauer Jack J. , Meech Karen J. , Mignard François , Penny Alan J. , Quirrenbach Andreas , Tarter Jill C. , Vidal-Madjar Alfred
Published: January 2009

Commission 53 on Extrasolar Planets was created at the 2006 Prague General Assembly of the IAU, in recognition of the outburst of astronomical progress in the field of extrasolar planet discovery, characterization, and theoretical work that has occurred since the discovery of the pulsar planets in 1992 and the discovery of the first planet in orbit around a solar-type star in 1995. Commission 53 is the logical successor to the IAU Working Group on Extrasolar Planets WG-ESP, which ended its six years of existence in August 2006. The founding president of Commission 53 is Michael Mayor, in honor of his seminal contributions to this new field of astronomy. The vice-president is Alan Boss, the former chair of the WG-ESP, and the members of the Commission 53 Organizing Committee are the other former members of the WG-ESP.
DIVISION III / SERVICE MINOR PLANET CENTER
Authors: Spahr Timothy B. , Williams Gareth V. , Marsden Brian G.
Published: January 2009

The activity of the Minor Planet Center continued generally to increase during the two triennia covered by this report, principally because of the continuing success of the surveys for near-earth objects. Chief among these has been the Lincoln (Laboratory) Near-Earth Asteroid Research Project, or LINEAR, which is credited with the discovery of slightly more than half of all the minor planets that have been numbered, although since 2005 the Catalina Sky Survey and Mount Lemmon Survey in Arizona and the Siding Spring Survey in New South Wales (all three of which, together with the long-lasting Spacewatch Survey, are operated from the University of Arizona) have come to dominate the field. The total number of observations of minor planets in the MPC's files more than doubled from 14.1 million in mid-2002 to 30.9 million in mid-2005, with almost another doubling, to 55.4 million, in mid-2008.
DIVISION IV: STARS
Authors: Spite Monique , Corbally Christopher J. , Dravins Dainis , Allen Christine , d'Antona Francesca , Giridhar Sunetra , Landstreet John D. , Parthasarathy Mudumba
Published: January 2009

IAU Division IV organizes astronomers studying the characteristics, interior and atmospheric structure, and evolution of stars of all masses, ages, and chemical compositions.
DIVISION VIII / WORKING GROUP SUPERNOVA
Authors: Hillebrandt Wolfgang , Schmidt Brian P. , Baron Edward , Benetti Stefano , Blinnikov Sergey I. , Blinnikov Sergey I. , Branch David R. , Cappellaro Enrico , Filippenko Alexei V. , Fransson Claes , Garnavich Peter M. , Green Daniel W. E. , Goobar Ariel M. , Hamuy Mario , Hauschildt Peter H. , Kirshner Robert P. , Leibundgut Bruno , Lennon Daniel J. , Lentz Eric J. , Lundqvist Peter , McGraw Robert , Mazzali Paolo A. , Meikle W. Peter S. , Mezzacappa Anthony , Niemeyer Jens C. , Nomoto Ken'ichi , Pain Reynald , Panagia Nino , Patat Ferdinando , Phillips Mark M. , Pian Elena , Pignata Guiliano , Podsiadlowski Philipp , Ruiz-Lapuente María Pilar , Sadler Elaine M. , Schmidt Brian P. , Shull Peter O. , Spyromilio Jason , Suntzeff Nicholas B. , Thielemann Friedrich-Karl , Tout Christopher , Trimble Virginia L. , Truran James W. , Tsvetkov Dmitry Yu. , Turatto Massimo , della Valle Massimo , Van Dyk Schuyler , Voges Wolfgang H. , Walton Nicholas A. , Wang Lifan , Wheeler J. Craig , Weiler Kurt W. , Whitelock Patricia A. , Woosley Stanford E. , Yamaoka Hitoshi , Zhao Gang
Published: January 2009

The Supernova Working Group was re-established at the IAU XXV General Assembly in Sydney, 21 July 2003, sponsored by Commissions 28 (Galaxies) and 47 (Cosmology). Here we report on some of its activities since 2005.
DIVISION IX: OPTICAL AND INFRARED TECHNIQUES
Authors: Kudritzki Rolf-Peter , Quirrenbach Andreas , Sterken Christiaan L. , Burton Michael G. , Cui Xiangqun , Cullum Martin , Dennefeld Michel , Martinez Peter , Perrin Guy S. , Tokovinin Andrei A. , Torres Guillermo , Udry Stephane
Published: January 2009

Division IX provides a forum for astronomers engaged in the planning, development, construction, and calibration of optical and infrared telescopes and instrumentation, as well as observational procedures including data processing.
COMMISSION 30: RADIAL VELOCITIES
Authors: Udry Stephane , Torres Guillermo , Nordström Birgitta , Fekel Francis C. , Freeman Kenneth C. , Glushkova Elena V. , Marcy Geoffrey W. , Nordström Birgitta , Mathieu Robert D. , Pourbaix Dimitri , Turon Catherine , Zwitter Tomaz
Published: January 2009

This three-year period has seen considerable activity in the Commission, with a wide range of applications of radial velocities as well as a significant push toward higher precision. The latter has been driven in large part by the exciting research on extrasolar planets. This field is now on the verge of detecting Earth-mass bodies around nearby stars, as demonstrated by recent work summarized below, and radial velocities continue to play a central role.
DIVISION IX / COMMISSION 30 / WORKING GROUP CATALOG OF ORBITAL ELEMENTS OF SPECTROSCOPIC BINARIES
Authors: Pourbaix Dimitri , Young Andrew T. , Batten Alan H. , Fekel Francis C. , Hartkopf William I. , Levato Hugo , Morrell Nidia I. , Tokovinin Andrei A. , Torres Guillermo , Udry Stepane
Published: January 2009

The SB9 Working Group of Commission 30 aims at compiling the 9th Catalogue of Orbits of Spectroscopic Binaries. By definition, this is a never ending task as orbits of newly discovered systems keep appearing in the literature. Despite this, the working group tries to catch up with the delay as nothing was done in between 1989 when the 8th catalogue by Batten et al. and 2000 when the WG was settled. In 2006, at its business meeting, the WG decided to focus on the completeness of systems rather than on completeness of orbits. If the latter is a valuable objective, only the former is useful to any statistical investigation of spectroscopic binaries.
INTER-DIVISION IX-X WORKING GROUP ENCOURAGING THE INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF ANTARCTIC ASTRONOMY
Authors: Burton Michael , Abia Carlos A. , Carlstrom John E. , du Foresto Vincent Coudé , Cui Xiangqun , Gurovich Sebastián , Ichikawa Takashi , Lloyd James P. , McCaughrean Mark J. , Tosti Gino , Zinnecker Hans
Published: January 2009

Two major astronomical experiments are underway at the US Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. The first is the South Pole Telescope, a 10m sub-millimetre telescope designed to measure primary and secondary anisotropies in the CMBR, with the aim of placing constraints on the equation of state for dark energy. The second is the IceCube neutrino observatory, which will be a cubic kilometre array designed to image sources of high energy neutrinos.
DIVISION XII / COMMISSION 14 / WORKING GROUP SOLIDS AND THEIR SURFACES
Authors: Vidali Gianfranco
Published: January 2009

In the last decade there has been a tremendous increase of interest in studying processes occurring on IS dust. In part this is due to the availability of ground-based and space-borne high quality instruments which have been used to detect molecules in diverse astrophysical environments, from protoplanetary disks to hot cores and dense clouds. It has also been recognized that IS dust has an important role in the formation of molecules, from molecular hydrogen to methanol. Therefore, it is necessary not to study only properties of dust, but also understand how atoms and molecules interact with and on dust.
COMMISSION 41: HISTORY OF ASTRONOMY
Authors: Il-Seong Nha , Ruggles Clive L. N. , Gurshtein Alexander A. , Kochhar Rajesh K. , DeVorkin David H. , de Jong Teije , Nakamura Tsuko , Orchiston Wayne , Videira Antonio A. P. , Warner Brian
Published: January 2009

Commission 41 of the International Astronomical Union deals with all aspects of astronomical history and heritage from ancient sky knowledge to developments in modern astronomy that have occurred within living memory. It encourages and supports research in the history of astronomy and related fields such as archaeoastronomy and is also concerned with the identification, documentation and preservation of vital aspects of our astronomical heritage such as sites, artifacts, instruments and archives. Commission 41 is one of the largest Commissions in the Union, and is a member of Division XII on Union-Wide Activities.
DIVISION XII / COMMISSION 41 / WORKING GROUP HISTORICAL INSTRUMENTS
Authors: Pigatto Luisa , Il-Seong Nha , Hamel Jürgen , Johnson Kevin , Kochhar Rajesh K. , Nakamura Tsuko , Orchiston Wayne , Pettersen Bjørn R. , Schechner Sara J. , Yunli Shi
Published: January 2009

The Historical Instruments Working Group (WG-HI) and Commission 41 started planning an interdisciplinary conference titled Astronomy and its instruments before and after Galileo since January 2007. This conference, as an IYA2009 initiative, aims “to highlight mankind's path toward an improved knowledge of the sky using mathematical and mechanical tools as well as monuments and buildings, giving rise, in doing so, to scientific astronomy”. Commission 46 and Commission 55 also support this conference, to be held on the Isle of San Servolo, Venice (Italy), 27 September – 3 October 2009. As a fact of history, it was in Venice that Galileo was advised and got material (glass) to make his telescope, and in Venice he presented an working instrument to Venetian Doge in August 1609. The conference is co-sponsored by IAU as a Joint Symposium with the INAF – Astronomical Observatory of Padova, Italy.
COMMISSION 50: PROTECTION OF EXISTING AND POTENTIAL OBSERVATORY SITES
Authors: Wainscoat Richard J. , Smith Malcolm G. , Blanco Carlo , Crawford David L. , Metaxa Margarita , Sullivan Woodruff T.
Published: January 2009

The activities of the Commission have continued to focus on controlling unwanted light and radio emissions at observatory sites, monitoring of conditions at observatory sites, and education and outreach. Commission members have been active in securing new legislation in several locations to further the protection of observatory sites.
Health Psychology at the International Congress of Psychology in Berlin, Germany, 2008
Authors: Schwarzer Ralf , Richert Jana
Published: January 2009

Abstract. The worldwide increasing popularity of health psychology is illustrated by an analysis of data gathered at the International Congress of Psychology (ICP) in Berlin, 2008. The first analysis deals with the topics of interest that participants had stated when registering online for the congress. Out of 26 topics, health psychology obtained rank 9. The second analysis deals with the primary category in which abstracts were classified. Out of 6,252 abstracts, 10.65% were assigned to health psychology as the primary domain of research. These congress-based data may complement previous bibliometric data that attest to the increasing importance of health psychology.
A long‐duration narrowband Pc5 pulsation
Authors: Sarris T. , Li X. , Singer H. J.
Published: January 2009

We report on a rare event of a narrowband ULF magnetospheric pulsation that is observed at geosynchronous orbit over five consecutive days in the recovery period of a magnetospheric storm, with frequencies ranging from 5 to 9 mHz. The pulsation displays distinctive localization, being observed over several hours of local time in the noon and postnoon sectors during successive passes of GOES‐8 and GOES‐9. Geotail, which is traversing the outer magnetosphere a couple of RE farther out from geosynchronous orbit at the time the pulsations are observed, shows no distinct narrowband fluctuation in the magnetic field, excluding oscillations in the solar wind as a possible source of the pulsations. On the ground, several of the IMAGE magnetometers observe pulsations with similar spectral characteristics. By performing a phase cross‐spectrogram analysis on measurements from adjacent and latitudinally aligned ground stations we estimate the azimuthal mode number m of the pulsation, which we find to range between 20 and 55. Phase difference calculations indicate an eastward phase propagation of these pulsations. Density measurements from LANL spacecraft at geosynchronous orbit show evidence of a plasmasphere refilling process that is slower than usual, possibly associated with the observed slow frequency decrease and the unusually long lasting of the pulsations.
Revised dates of large earthquakes along the Carrizo section of the San Andreas Fault, California, since A.D. 1310 ± 30
Authors: Akciz Sinan O. , Grant Ludwig Lisa , Arrowsmith J Ramon
Published: January 2009

Precise knowledge of the age and magnitude of past earthquakes is essential for characterizing models of earthquake recurrence and key to forecasting future earthquakes. We present 28 new radiocarbon analyses that refine the chronology of the last five earthquakes at the Bidart Fan site along the Carrizo section of the south central San Andreas Fault, which last ruptured during the Fort Tejon earthquake in A.D. 1857. The new data show that the penultimate earthquake in the Carrizo Plain occurred not earlier than A.D. 1640 and the modeled 95th percentile ranges of the three earlier earthquakes (and their mean) are A.D. 1540–1630 (1585), A.D. 1360–1425 (1393), and A.D. 1280–1340 (1310), indicating an average time interval of 137 ± 44 years between large earthquakes since A.D. 1310 ± 30. A robust earthquake recurrence model of the Carrizo section will require even more well‐dated earthquakes for thorough characterization. However, these new data imply that since A.D. 1310 ± 30, the Carrizo section has failed more regularly and more often than previously thought.
Indian Ocean circulation and climate variability
Authors: Schott Friedrich A. , Xie Shang‐Ping , McCreary Julian P.
Published: January 2009

In recent years, the Indian Ocean (IO) has been discovered to have a much larger impact on climate variability than previously thought. This paper reviews climate phenomena and processes in which the IO is, or appears to be, actively involved. We begin with an update of the IO mean circulation and monsoon system. It is followed by reviews of ocean/atmosphere phenomenon at intraseasonal, interannual, and longer time scales. Much of our review addresses the two important types of interannual variability in the IO, El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the recently identified Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD). IOD events are often triggered by ENSO but can also occur independently, subject to eastern tropical preconditioning. Over the past decades, IO sea surface temperatures and heat content have been increasing, and model studies suggest significant roles of decadal trends in both the Walker circulation and the Southern Annular Mode. Prediction of IO climate variability is still at the experimental stage, with varied success. Essential requirements for better predictions are improved models and enhanced observations.
Fluxes of CH4 and CO2 from soil and termite mounds in south Sudanian savanna of Burkina Faso (West Africa)
Authors: Brümmer Christian , Papen Hans , Wassmann Reiner , Brüggemann Nicolas
Published: January 2009

The contribution of West African savanna ecosystems to global greenhouse gas budgets is highly uncertain. In this study we quantified soil‐atmosphere CH4 and CO2 fluxes in the southwest of Burkina Faso from June to September 2005 and from April to September 2006 at four different agricultural fields planted with sorghum (n = 2), cotton, and peanut and at a natural savanna site with termite (Cubitermes fungifaber) mounds. During the rainy season both CH4 uptake and CH4 emission were observed in the savanna, which was on average a CH4 source of 2.79 and 2.28 kg CH4‐C ha−1 a−1 in 2005 and 2006, respectively. The crop sites were an average CH4 sink of −0.67 and −0.70 kg CH4‐C ha−1 a−1 in the 2 years, without significant seasonal variation. Mean annual soil respiration ranged between 3.86 and 5.82 t CO2‐C ha−1 a−1 in the savanna and between 2.50 and 4.51 t CO2‐C ha−1 a−1 at the crop sites. CH4 emission from termite mounds was 2 orders of magnitude higher than soil CH4 emissions, whereas termite CO2 emissions were of the same order of magnitude as soil CO2 emissions. Termite CH4 and CO2 release in the savanna contributed 8.8% and 0.4% to the total soil CH4 and CO2 emissions, respectively. At the crop sites, where termite mounds had been almost completely removed because of land use change, termite fluxes were insignificant. Mound density‐based upscaling of termite CH4 fluxes resulted in a global termite CH4 source of 0.9 Tg a−1, which corresponds to 0.15% of the total global CH4 budget of 582 Tg a−1, hence significantly lower than those obtained previously by biomass‐based calculations. This study emphasizes that land use change, which is of high relevance in this region, has particularly affected soil CH4 fluxes in the past and might still do so in the future.
Three differentiation stages of a single magma at Piton de la Fournaise volcano (Reunion hot spot)
Authors: Famin Vincent , Welsch Benoît , Okumura Satoshi , Bachèlery Patrick , Nakashima Satoru
Published: January 2009

We present major element and volatile concentration analyses in melt and gas inclusions from two recent picrite eruptions (February 2005 and December 2005) at Piton de la Fournaise volcano (La Reunion Island, Indian Ocean). Combined with literature data, our new data show that the large variability of major element compositions in Piton de la Fournaise lavas may be explained by three depth‐dependent differentiation stages of a single transitional parental magma (9–11 wt% MgO; 0.5–0.8 wt% K2O, and 10–12 wt% CaO). The deepest differentiation (>7.5 km) is controlled by the fractional crystallization of clinopyroxene + plagioclase and yields gabbros and basalts enriched in K and depleted in Ca relative to the parental magma. In a shallower storage zone (<2.5 km), differentiation of the transitional parental magma is dominated by the fractionation/accumulation of Fo83–85 olivine phenocrysts, yielding Mg‐poor basalts at the top of the reservoir and picrites at the base. In cooling dykes and subsurface pockets (<0.6 km), Mg‐poor basalts may themselves evolve into more differentiated melts by clinopyroxene + plagioclase fractionation. The incorporation of dunitic xenocrysts or other xenoliths is not necessary to explain the major element chemical diversity of the volcano. The same superposition of differentiation mechanisms may occur at similar depths in other shield volcanoes.
Radiance assimilation shows promise for snowpack characterization
Authors: Durand Michael , Kim Edward J. , Margulis Steven A.
Published: January 2009

We demonstrate an ensemble‐based radiance assimilation methodology for estimating snow depth and snow grain size using ground‐based passive microwave (PM) radiance observations at 18.7 and 36.5 GHz. A land surface model (LSM) was used to develop a prior estimate of the snowpack states, and a radiative transfer model was used to relate the modeled states to the observations within a data assimilation scheme. Snow depth bias was −53.3 cm prior to the assimilation, and −7.3 cm after the assimilation. Snow depth estimated by a non‐assimilation‐based retrieval algorithm using the same PM observations had a bias of −18.3 cm. Our results suggest that assimilation of PM radiance observations into LSMs shows promise for snowpack characterization, with the potential for improved results over products from instantaneous (“snapshot”) retrieval algorithms or the assimilation of those retrievals into LSMs.
Cassini imaging of Titan's high‐latitude lakes, clouds, and south‐polar surface changes
Authors: Turtle E. P. , Perry J. E. , McEwen A. S. , DelGenio A. D. , Barbara J. , West R. A. , Dawson D. D. , Porco C. C.
Published: January 2009

Cassini's Imaging Science Subsystem (ISS) has been observing Titan since April 2004, compiling a nearly global surface map and monitoring the surface and atmosphere for activity. Early images of the south‐polar region revealed numerous dark surface features and contemporaneous convective cloud systems, suggesting the presence of hydrocarbon lakes similar to those later detected at Titan's North Pole. Intriguingly, repeated south‐polar imaging by ISS revealed differences consistent with ponding of hydrocarbon liquids on the surface due to precipitation from a large storm. More recent ISS images of high northern latitudes illustrate the full extents (>500,000 km2) of hydrocarbon seas, sections of which have been observed by Cassini's RADAR. These observations demonstrate dynamic processes at work on Titan and that the poles harbor liquid‐hydrocarbon reservoirs, the extents of which differ from pole to pole and which may be coupled to seasonally varying circulation.
Diurnal to interannual variation in the raindrop size distribution over Palau in the western tropical Pacific
Authors: Ushiyama Tomoki , Krishna Reddy K. , Kubota Hisayuki , Yasunaga Kazuaki , Shirooka Ryuichi
Published: January 2009

We used a three‐year dataset from an impact disdrometer to study the diurnal to interannual variation of the raindrop size distribution (DSD) over Palau in the Western Pacific warm pool. The DSD variability was primarily seasonal, with a secondary contribution due to the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle. We did not find evidence of a diurnal cycle. In the seasonal cycle, mean drop diameters tended to increase during the westerly monsoon period. Within this period, drop diameters generally increased during the El Niño year and decreased during the La Niña year. However, within the easterly monsoon period, they generally increased in the winter following La Niña, and decreased in the winter following El Niño. The amplitude of the seasonal variation in mean drop diameter was approximately the same as that in Singapore and Sumatra, and about one third of that in India.
Pitch‐angle distribution evolution of energetic electrons in the inner radiation belt and slot region during the 2003 Halloween storm
Authors: Xiao Fuliang , Zong Qiu‐Gang , Chen Liangxu
Published: January 2009

In this study, we report dynamic evolutions of 30–500 keV energetic electrons (in flux and pitch‐angle distribution) in the radiation belt region with 1.6 < L < 6.2. Those evolutions were observed by the IES instrument on board the Polar spacecraft during the Halloween storm period on October 31, 2003 when the radiation belt was strongly distorted. This injection of energetic electrons into the slot region may be associated with the plasmapause movement and Hiss/Chorus enhancement. This flux enhancement is possibly associated with convective transport from the plasma sheet, enhanced radial diffusion and local wave‐particle interaction acceleration. By adopting a fitting parameter of loss time τL we solved the bounce‐averaged pitch angle diffusion equation driven by field‐aligned whistler‐mode waves (including chorus and hiss). We show that pitch‐angle scattering can account for the pitch‐angle distribution evolution in 30–500 keV electrons in the innermost radiation belt near L = 1.7 (as observed by Polar satellite) and the slot region 2 < L < 3. In particular, simulated results indicate that the loss‐cone region is almost empty, and outside the loss‐cone region both flux and anisotropy of energetic electrons are reduced with the gyroresonant time. The obtained time scale for the pitch‐angle distribution evolution is found to be approximately tens of hours, consistent with observation.
Scale‐dependent angle of alignment between velocity and magnetic field fluctuations in solar wind turbulence
Authors: Podesta J. J. , Chandran B. D. G. , Bhattacharjee A. , Roberts D. A. , Goldstein M. L.
Published: January 2009

Under certain conditions, freely decaying magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence evolves in such a way that velocity and magnetic field fluctuations δv and δB approach a state of alignment in which δv ∝ δB. This process is called dynamic alignment. Boldyrev has suggested that a similar kind of alignment process occurs as energy cascades from large to small scales through the inertial range in strong incompressible MHD turbulence. In this study, plasma and magnetic field data from the Wind spacecraft, data acquired in the ecliptic plane near 1 AU, are employed to investigate the angle θ(τ) between velocity and magnetic field fluctuations in the solar wind as a function of the time scale τ of the fluctuations and to look for the scaling relation 〈θ(τ)〉 ∼ τ1/4 predicted by Boldyrev. We find that the angle 〈θ(τ)〉 appears to scale like a power law at large inertial range scales, but then deviates from power law behavior at medium to small inertial range scales. We also find that small errors in the velocity vector measurements can lead to large errors in the angle measurements at small time scales. As a result, we cannot rule out the possibility that the observed deviations from power law behavior arise from errors in the velocity measurements. When we fit the data from 2 × 103 s to 2 × 104 s with a power law of the form 〈θ(τ)〉 ∝ τp, our best fit values for p are in the range 0.27–0.36.
Dynamical property of storm time subauroral rapid flows as a manifestation of complex structures of the plasma pressure in the inner magnetosphere
Authors: Ebihara Y. , Nishitani N. , Kikuchi T. , Ogawa T. , Hosokawa K. , Fok M.‐C. , Thomsen M. F.
Published: January 2009

During the intense magnetic storm of 15 December 2006, the midlatitude Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN) Hokkaido radar observed a dynamical character of rapid, westward flows at 50–56 magnetic latitude. The simulation that couples the inner magnetosphere and the subauroral ionosphere was performed using a realistic boundary condition of the hot ion distribution determined from four Los Alamos National Laboratory satellites at 6.6 RE. The following results are obtained using the simulation: (1) In general, morphology of the azimuthal component of the simulated ionospheric plasma flow is consistent with that known as the subauroral polarization stream (SAPS), (2) an increase in the hot ion density in the plasma sheet results in the temporal reduction and subsequent intensification of the rapid flow at certain subauroral latitudes with a delay of ∼40 min, and (3) influence of the plasma sheet temperature on the rapid flow is not evident. The simulated line‐of‐sight velocity is compared with that obtained by the SuperDARN Hokkaido radar. Agreement between them is found in terms of the temporal and spatial variations of the rapid flows as well as the flow velocity. It is suggested that the dynamical character of the subauroral plasma flow is a direct manifestation of the plasma pressure distribution in the inner magnetosphere (the ring current) especially during the magnetic storm.
Mechanisms for the variability of dense water pathways in the Nordic Seas
Authors: Käse Rolf H. , Serra Nuno , Köhl Armin , Stammer Detlef
Published: January 2009

Interannual changes in simulated flow fields of the Nordic Seas are analyzed with respect to their dynamic causes and consequences regarding the flow of dense water from the Nordic Seas into the subpolar North Atlantic across the Greenland‐Iceland‐Scotland Ridge. The simple case of pure density‐driven outflow with closed northern boundaries shows that dense water mainly originates in the northern Lofoten Basin and flows southward in three branches, namely along the Norwegian continental slope, along the Mohn and Jan Mayen Ridges, and a weak current along the east Greenland continental slope. Adding variable exchange through Fram Strait shows a strengthening of the most western branch and strong recirculations that may reverse the other two branches. For this case, we find in‐phase modulation of the Denmark Strait overflow (DSO) by a changing Fram Strait supply and a Faroe‐Shetland transport that is in opposite phase. The scaling of this relation provides a potential explanation of recently observed DSO changes. However, details of the changes in the simulated pathways suggest, in accord with the size of the prescribed varying Fram Strait supply, basin‐wide wind stress curl and local convection, which feeds water from different source regions into the outflow pathways, as the primary cause for the upstream flow field reorganizations.
Three‐dimensional hindcast simulation of internal soliton propagation in the Asian Seas International Acoustics Experiment area
Authors: Shen Colin Y. , Evans Thomas E. , Oba Roger M. , Finette Steven
Published: January 2009

Internal solitary waves referred to as solitons are common occurrences in the South China Sea. The Asian Seas International Acoustics Experiment (ASIAEX) experiment was carried out in April‐May 2001 to perform measurements on these solitons, which are often highly energetic, having isopycnal displacements well over 100 m and phase speeds greater than 2.5 m/s. Of particular interest is the interaction of a soliton with the sloping shelf bottom that occurs as the soliton shoals to water depths less than its wave height. Observations during the experiment show that at such shallow depths, a soliton undergoes strong refraction and transformation. In this article, we present hindcast simulation of a particular soliton observed during the experiment, using a fully nonlinear, nonhydrostatic, three‐dimensional model and the actual bathymetry from the ASIAEX area. The computation begins with the soliton at a distance about 100 km from the shelf and obtains the propagation and evolution of the soliton over the shelf‐slope. The three‐dimensional hindcast is able to reproduce the refraction of the soliton propagation observed during the experiment as well as the propagation speed and direction in the range observed. The final nonlinear transformation of the soliton from symmetrical to skewed elongated waveform is also obtained in the model consistent with the observations. The hindcast simulation reveals that the relative position of soliton's vorticity core to the local water depth is a crucial indicator of the onset of transformation and formation of elevation waves.
Seasonal response of Asian monsoonal climate to the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation
Authors: Wang Yanming , Li Shuanglin , Luo Dehai
Published: January 2009

The influence of the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) on Asian monsoonal climate in all four seasons is investigated by comprehensive observational analyses and ensemble experiments with atmospheric general circulation models (AGCMs). Three AGCMs are forced by prescribed climatological seasonal cycle of sea surface temperature (SST) or with additional SST anomalies representing the warmth phase of the AMO. The results in both the observations and the models consistently suggest that the warm AMO phase gives rise to elevated air temperatures in East Asia and northern India but decreased air temperatures in much of central‐southern India in all four seasons. This positive AMO anomaly also causes more rainfall in central and southern India in every season, particularly in summer and fall. In contrast, the sign of AMO influences on East Asian rainfall is season‐dependent: in southeastern China, it induces increased rainfall in summer but suppressed rainfall in autumn. It is suggested that these AMO influences are realized by warming Eurasian middle and upper troposphere in all four seasons, resulting in weakened Asian winter monsoons but enhanced summer monsoons. Furthermore, the formation of the troposphere heating anomaly may be related to the wave guidance mechanism associated with the Asian upper jet.
Effects of Hillslope Thermokarst in Northern Alaska
Authors: Gooseff Michael N. , Balser Andrew , Bowden William B. , Jones Jeremy B.
Published: January 2009

Permafrost thawing is increasing in the Arctic and sub‐Arctic [Osterkamp and Romanovsky, 1996; Osterkamp, 2007] in response to climate warming [Hassol, 2004]. One consequence of thawing permafrost is the development of thermokarst (physical depression of ground surface) because of reduced support of overlying soil [Jorgenson et al., 2006]. Thermokarst lakes, for example, result from changes to surface energy balance, which drive permafrost thaw locally, such that a topographic depression develops and captures water, forming a lake or pond. Climate warming of the past several decades is expected to increase the occurrence of thermokarst. For example, Agafonov et al. [2004] have noted that the rate of expansion of a single thermokarst depression in western Siberia has increased in the latter half of the twentieth century, coincident with increasing air temperature and precipitation during the thaw season.
Counselman Receives 2008 Charles A. Whitten Medal
Authors: Shapiro Irwin , Ford Peter G. , Counselman Charles C.
Published: January 2009

Charles C. Counselman III was awarded the 2008 Charles A. Whitten Medal at the AGU Fall Meeting Honors Ceremony, held 17 December 2008 in San Francisco, Calif. The medal is for “outstanding achievements in research on the form and dynamics of the Earth and planets.”
Retinoids synergize with insulin to induce hepaticGckexpression
Authors: Chen Guoxun , Zhang Yan , Lu Danhong , Li Nan-qian , Ross A. Catharine
Published: January 2009

Hepatic GK (glucokinase) plays a key role in maintaining glucose homoeostasis. Many stimuli regulate GK activity by controlling its gene transcription. We hypothesized that endogenous lipophilic molecules modulate hepatic Gck expression. Lipophilic molecules were extracted from rat livers, saponified and re-constituted as an LE (lipophilic extract). LE synergized with insulin to induce primary hepatocyte, but not β-cell, Gck expression in an SREBP-1c (sterol-regulatory-element-binding protein-1c)-independent manner. The dramatic induction of Gck mRNA resulted in a significant increase in GK activity. Subsequently, the active molecules were identified as retinol and retinal by MS after the purification of the active LE fractions. Retinoids synergized with insulin to induce Gck expression by the activation of both RAR [RA (retinoic acid) receptor] and RXR (retinoid X receptor). Inhibition of RAR activation completely abolished the effect of retinal. The hepatic GK specific activity and Gck mRNA levels of Zucker lean rats fed with a VAD [VA (vitamin A)-deficient] diet were significantly lower than those of rats fed with VAS (VA-sufficient) diet. Additionally, the hepatic Gck mRNA expression of Sprague–Dawley rats fed with a VAD diet was lower than that of rats fed with VA-marginal, -adequate or -supplemented diets. The reduced expression of Gck mRNA was increased after an intraperitoneal dose of RA in VAD rats. Furthermore, an intravenous injection of RA rapidly raised hepatic Gck expression in rats fed with a VAS control diet. Understanding the underlying mechanism that mediates the synergy may be helpful for developing a treatment strategy for patients with diabetes.