bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On the scaling characteristics of observed and simulated spatial soil moisture fields
Authors: Gebremichael M. , Rigon R. , Bertoldi G. , Over T. M.
Published: April 2010

Abstract. By providing continuous high-resolution simulations of soil moisture fields, distributed hydrologic models could be powerful tools to advance the scientific community's understanding of the space-time variability and scaling characteristics of soil moisture fields. However, in order to use the soil moisture simulations from hydrologic models with confidence, it is important to understand whether the models are able to represent in a reliable way the processes regulating soil moisture variability. In this study, a comparison of the scaling characteristics of spatial soil moisture fields derived from a set of microwave radiometer observations from the Southern Great Plains 1997 experiment and corresponding simulations using the distributed hydrologic model GEOtop is performed through the use of generalized variograms. Microwave observations and model simulations are in agreement with respect to suggesting the existence of a scale-invariance property in the variograms of spatial soil moisture fields, and indicating that the scaling characteristics vary with changes in the spatial average soil water content. However, observations and simulations give contradictory results regarding the relationship between the scaling parameters (i.e. spatial organization) and average soil water content. The drying process increased the spatial correlation of the microwave observations at both short and long separation distances while increasing the rate of decay of correlation with distance. The effect of drying on the spatial correlation of the model simulations was more complex, depending on the storm and the simulation examined, but for the largest storm in the simulation most similar to the observations, drying increased the long-range correlation but decreased the short-range. This is an indication that model simulations, while reproducing correctly the total streamflow at the outlet of the watershed, may not accurately reproduce the runoff production mechanisms. Consideration of the scaling characteristics of spatial soil moisture fields can therefore serve as a more intensive means for validating distributed hydrologic models, compared to the traditional approach of only comparing the streamflow hydrographs.
Nonlinear long-wave deformation and runup in a basin of varying depth
Authors: Didenkulova I.
Published: April 2010

Abstract. Nonlinear transformation and runup of long waves of finite amplitude in a basin of variable depth is analyzed in the framework of 1-D nonlinear shallow-water theory. The basin depth is slowly varied far offshore and joins a plane beach near the shore. A small-amplitude linear sinusoidal incident wave is assumed. The wave dynamics far offshore can be described with the use of asymptotic methods based on two parameters: bottom slope and wave amplitude. An analytical solution allows the calculation of increasing wave height, steepness and spectral amplitudes during wave propagation from the initial wave characteristics and bottom profile. Three special types of bottom profile (beach of constant slope, and convex and concave beach profiles) are considered in detail within this approach. The wave runup on a plane beach is described in the framework of the Carrier-Greenspan approach with initial data, which come from wave deformation in a basin of slowly varying depth. The dependence of the maximum runup height and the condition of a wave breaking are analyzed in relation to wave parameters in deep water.
Plasma waves above the ion cyclotron frequency in the solar wind: a review on observations
Authors: Briand C.
Published: April 2010

Abstract. Since the very beginning of the space venture, discrepancies between hydrodynamic models and observations have raised the attention to the kinetic effects taking place in the interplanetary medium. After discussing some of these constraints, a review on the state of the art knowledge on the waves in the range fci<f<fpe (fci – about 10−1 Hz – is the ion cyclotron frequency, and fpe – a few 10 kHz – the electron plasma frequency) observed in the free solar wind, i.e., not magnetically connected to the Earth's bow shock, is addressed.
On the ionospheric coupling of auroral electric fields
Authors: Marklund G. T.
Published: April 2010

Abstract. The quasi-static coupling of high-altitude potential structures and electric fields to the ionosphere is discussed with particular focus on the downward field-aligned current (FAC) region. Results are presented from a preliminary analysis of a selection of electric field events observed by Cluster above the acceleration region. The degree of coupling is here estimated as the ratio between the magnetic field-aligned potential drop, ΔΦII, as inferred from the characteristic energy of upward ion (electron) beams for the upward (downward) current region and the high-altitude perpendicular (to B) potential, ΔΦbot, as calculated by integrating the perpendicular electric field across the structure. For upward currents, the coupling can be expressed analytically, using the linear current-voltage relation, as outlined by Weimer et al. (1985). This gives a scale size dependent coupling where structures are coupled (decoupled) above (below) a critical scale size. For downward currents, the current-voltage relation is highly non-linear which complicates the understanding of how the coupling works. Results from this experimental study indicate that small-scale structures are decoupled, similar to small-scale structures in the upward current region. There are, however, exceptions to this rule as illustrated by Cluster results of small-scale intense electric fields, correlated with downward currents, indicating a perfect coupling between the ionosphere and Cluster altitude.
Nonlinear electron acoustic structures generated on the high-potential side of a double layer
Authors: Pottelette R. , Berthomier M.
Published: April 2010

Abstract. High-time resolution measurements of the electron distribution function performed in the auroral upward current region reveals a large asymmetry between the low- and high-potential sides of a double-layer. The latter side is characterized by a large enhancement of a locally trapped electron population which corresponds to a significant part (~up to 30%) of the total electron density. As compared to the background hot electron population, this trapped component has a very cold temperature in the direction parallel to the static magnetic field. Accordingly, the differential drift between the trapped and background hot electron populations generates high frequency electron acoustic waves in a direction quasi-parallel to the magnetic field. The density of the trapped electron population can be deduced from the frequency where the electron acoustic spectrum maximizes. In the auroral midcavity region, the electron acoustic waves may be modulated by an additional turbulence generated in the ion acoustic range thanks to the presence of a pre-accelerated ion beam located on the high-potential side of the double layer. Electron holes characterized by bipolar pulses in the electric field are sometimes detected in correlation with these electron acoustic wave packets.
The interaction of free Rossby waves with semi-transparent equatorial waveguide – wave-mean flow interaction
Authors: Reznik G. M. , Zeitlin V.
Published: April 2010

Abstract. Nonlinear interactions of the barotropic Rossby waves propagating across the equator with trapped baroclinic Rossby or Yanai modes and mean zonal flow are studied within the two-layer model of the atmosphere, or the ocean. It is shown that the equatorial waveguide with a mean current acts as a resonator and responds to barotropic waves with certain wavenumbers by making the trapped baroclinic modes grow. At the same time the equatorial waveguide produces the barotropic response which, via nonlinear interaction with the mean equatorial current and with the trapped waves, leads to the saturation of the growing modes. The excited baroclinic waves can reach significant amplitudes depending on the magnitude of the mean current. In the absence of spatial modulation the nonlinear saturation of thus excited waves is described by forced Landau-type equation with one or two attracting equilibrium solutions. In the latter case the spatial modulation of the baroclinic waves is expected to lead to the formation of characteristic domain-wall defects. The evolution of the envelopes of the trapped Rossby waves is governed by driven Ginzburg-Landau equation, while the envelopes of the Yanai waves obey the "first-order" forced Ginzburg-Landau equation. The envelopes of short baroclinic Rossby waves obey the damped-driven nonlinear Schrodinger equation well studied in the literature.
Energy considerations in accelerating rapid shear granular flows
Authors: Pudasaini S. P. , Domnik B.
Published: April 2010

Abstract. We present a complete expression for the total energy associated with a rapid frictional granular shear flow down an inclined surface. This expression reduces to the often used energy for a non-accelerating flow of an isotropic, ideal fluid in a horizontal channel, or to the energy for a vertically falling mass. We utilize thickness-averaged mass and momentum conservation laws written in a slope-defined coordinate system. Both the enhanced gravity and friction are taken into account in addition to the bulk motion and deformation. The total energy of the flow at a given spatial position and time is defined as the sum of four energy components: the kinetic energy, gravity, pressure and the friction energy. Total energy is conserved for stationary flow, but for non-stationary flow the non-conservative force induced by the free-surface gradient means that energy is not conserved. Simulations and experimental results are used to sketch the total energy of non-stationary flows. Comparison between the total energy and the sum of the kinetic and pressure energy shows that the contribution due to gravity acceleration and frictional resistance can be of the same order of magnitude, and that the geometric deformation plays an important role in the total energy budget of the cascading mass. Relative importance of the different constituents in the total energy expression is explored. We also introduce an extended Froude number that takes into account the apparent potential energy induced by gravity and pressure.
A weakly nonlinear model for multi-modal evolution of wind-generated long internal waves in a closed basin
Authors: Sakai T. , Redekopp L. G.
Published: April 2010

Abstract. A weakly nonlinear evolution model that accounts for multi-modal interaction in a small, continuously stratified lake of variable depth is derived. In particular, an evolution model for the first two vertical modes in a lake that is subject to wind stress forcing is numerically simulated. Defining modal energies, energy transfer between the first and the second vertical modes is calculated for several different forms of the density stratification. Modal energy transfer mainly occurs during reflection of mode-one waves at the vertical end walls, and it is shown that the amount of energy transfer from the first to the second mode is greatly dependent on the shape of the stratification profile. Also, the initial modal energy partition at the wind setup is shown to depend significantly on the penetration depth of the internal shear stress induced by the wind stress, especially if the stress distribution extends into the upper levels of the metalimnion.
Information theoretic measures of dependence, compactness, and non-gaussianity for multivariate probability distributions
Authors: Monahan A. H. , DelSole T.
Published: April 2010

Abstract. A basic task of exploratory data analysis is the characterisation of "structure" in multivariate datasets. For bivariate Gaussian distributions, natural measures of dependence (the predictive relationship between individual variables) and compactness (the degree of concentration of the probability density function (pdf) around a low-dimensional axis) are respectively provided by ordinary least-squares regression and Principal Component Analysis. This study considers general measures of structure for non-Gaussian distributions and demonstrates that these can be defined in terms of the information theoretic "distance" (as measured by relative entropy) between the given pdf and an appropriate "unstructured" pdf. The measure of dependence, mutual information, is well-known; it is shown that this is not a useful measure of compactness because it is not invariant under an orthogonal rotation of the variables. An appropriate rotationally invariant compactness measure is defined and shown to reduce to the equivalent PCA measure for bivariate Gaussian distributions. This compactness measure is shown to be naturally related to a standard information theoretic measure of non-Gaussianity. Finally, straightforward geometric interpretations of each of these measures in terms of "effective volume" of the pdf are presented.
Wave turbulence in magnetized plasmas
Authors: Galtier S.
Published: April 2010

Abstract. The paper reviews the recent progress on wave turbulence for magnetized plasmas (MHD, Hall MHD and electron MHD) in the incompressible and compressible cases. The emphasis is made on homogeneous and anisotropic turbulence which usually provides the best theoretical framework to investigate space and laboratory plasmas. The solar wind and the coronal heating problems are presented as two examples of application of anisotropic wave turbulence. The most important results of wave turbulence are reported and discussed in the context of natural and simulated magnetized plasmas. Important issues and possible spurious interpretations are also discussed.
Nonlinear analysis of drainage systems to examine surface deformation: an example from Potwar Plateau (Northern Pakistan)
Authors: Shahzad F. , Mahmood S. A. , Gloaguen R.
Published: April 2010

Abstract. We devise a procedure in order to characterize the relative vulnerability of the Earth's surface to tectonic deformation using the geometrical characteristics of drainage systems. The present study focuses on the nonlinear analysis of drainage networks extracted from Digital Elevation Models in order to localize areas strongly influenced by tectonics. We test this approach on the Potwar Plateau in northern Pakistan. This area is regularly affected by damaging earthquakes. Conventional studies cannot pinpoint the zones at risk, as the whole region is characterized by a sparse and diffuse seismicity. Our approach is based on the fact that rivers tend to linearize under tectonic forcing. Thus, the low fractal dimensions of the Swan, Indus and Jehlum Rivers are attributed to neotectonic activity. A detailed textural analysis is carried out to investigate the linearization, heterogeneity and connectivity of the drainage patterns. These textural aspects are quantified using the fractal dimension, as well as lacunarity and succolarity analysis. These three methods are complimentary in nature, i.e. objects with similar fractal dimensions can be distinguished further with lacunarity and/or succolarity analysis. We generate maps of fractal dimensions, lacunarity and succolarity values using a sliding window of 2.5 arc minutes by 2.5 arc minutes (2.5'×2.5'). These maps are then interpreted in terms of land surface vulnerability to tectonics. This approach allowed us to localize several zones where the drainage system is highly structurally controlled on the Potwar Plateau. The region located between Muree and Muzaffarabad is found to be prone to destructive events whereas the area westward from the Indus seems relatively unaffected. We conclude that a nonlinear analysis of the drainage system is an efficient additional tool to locate areas likely to be affected by massive destructing events affecting the Earth's surface and therefore threaten human activities.
The role of mesoscale eddies time and length scales on phytoplankton production
Authors: Pérez-Muñuzuri V. , Huhn F.
Published: April 2010

Abstract. Horizontal mixing has been found to play a crucial role in the development of spatial plankton structures in the ocean. We study the influence of time and length scales of two different horizontal two-dimensional (2-D) flows on the growth of a single phytoplankton patch. To that end, we use a coupled model consisting of a standard three component ecological NPZ model and a flow model able to mimic the mesoscale structures observed in the ocean. Two hydrodynamic flow models are used: a flow based on Gaussian correlated noise, for which the Eulerian length and time scales can be easily controlled, and a multiscale velocity field derived from altimetry data in the North Atlantic ocean. We find the optimal time and length scales for the Gaussian flow model favouring the plankton spread. These results are used for an analysis of a more realistic altimetry flow. We discuss the findings in terms of the time scale of the NPZ model, the qualitative interaction of the flow with the reaction front and a Finite-Time Lyapunov Exponent analysis.
Estimating the diffusive heat flux across a stable interface forced by convective motions
Authors: Chemel C. , Staquet C. , Chollet J.-P.
Published: April 2010

Abstract. Entrainment at the top of the convectively-driven boundary layer (CBL) is revisited using data from a high-resolution large-eddy simulation (LES). In the range of values of the bulk Richardson number RiB studied here (about 15–25), the entrainment process is mainly driven by the scouring of the interfacial layer (IL) by convective cells. We estimate the length and time scales associated with these convective cells by computing one-dimensional wavenumber and frequency kinetic energy spectra. Using a Taylor assumption, based upon transport by the convective cells, we show that the frequency and wavenumber spectra follow the Kolmogorov law in the inertial range, with the multiplicative constant being in good agreement with previous measurements in the atmosphere. We next focus on the heat flux at the top of the CBL, , which is parameterized in classical closure models for the entrainment rate we at the interface. We show that can be computed exactly using the method proposed by Winters et al. (1995), from which the values of a turbulent diffusivity across the IL can be inferred. These values are recovered by tracking particles within the IL using a Lagrangian stochastic model coupled with the LES. The relative difference between the Eulerian and Lagrangian values of is found to be lower than 10%. A simple expression of we as a function of is also proposed. Our results are finally used to assess the validity of the classical "first-order'' model for we. We find that, when RiB is varied, the values for we derived from the "first-order'' model with the exact computation of agree to better than 10% with those computed directly from the LES (using its definition). The simple expression we propose appears to provide a reliable estimate of we for the largest values of RiB only.
The effect of volatile bubble growth rate on the periodic dynamics of shallow volcanic systems
Authors: L'Heureux I.
Published: April 2010

Abstract. Many volcanic eruptions exhibit periodic behavior. For instance, periodic ground inflations and deflations in proximity to a volcano are the consequences of periodic overpressure variations in the magma conduit and periodic magma flow rate. The period varies from a few hours to many years, depending on the volcano parameters. On the other hand, volatile components exsolve from an ascending magma by forming bubbles. The strong dependence of the melt viscosity with the volatile concentration generates a positive feedback on the magma flow. We consider here the effect of the growth of volatile bubbles on the dynamics of a magmatic flow in a shallow volcanic system. Various expressions for the bubble growth rate are treated, thus generalizing previous work. In particular, a growth rate law derived from a recent many-bubble theory is considered. It is seen that, for a range of flow rate values at the base of the magma conduit, the system undergoes a Hopf bifurcation. Periodic solutions compatible with the observations are generated. This work shows that measurements of volcanic activity have the potential to test various bubble growth models in magmatic systems.
Inversion of 2-D DC resistivity data using rapid optimization and minimal complexity neural network
Authors: Singh U. K. , Tiwari R. K. , Singh S. B.
Published: April 2010

Abstract. The backpropagation (BP) artificial neural network (ANN) technique of optimization based on steepest descent algorithm is known to be inept for its poor performance and does not ensure global convergence. Nonlinear and complex DC resistivity data require efficient ANN model and more intensive optimization procedures for better results and interpretations. Improvements in the computational ANN modeling process are described with the goals of enhancing the optimization process and reducing ANN model complexity. Well-established optimization methods, such as Radial basis algorithm (RBA) and Levenberg-Marquardt algorithms (LMA) have frequently been used to deal with complexity and nonlinearity in such complex geophysical records. We examined here the efficiency of trained LMA and RB networks by using 2-D synthetic resistivity data and then finally applied to the actual field vertical electrical resistivity sounding (VES) data collected from the Puga Valley, Jammu and Kashmir, India. The resulting ANN reconstruction resistivity results are compared with the result of existing inversion approaches, which are in good agreement. The depths and resistivity structures obtained by the ANN methods also correlate well with the known drilling results and geologic boundaries. The application of the above ANN algorithms proves to be robust and could be used for fast estimation of resistive structures for other complex earth model also.
Shannon information of the geomagnetic field for the past 7000 years
Authors: De Santis A. , Qamili E.
Published: April 2010

Abstract. The present behaviour of the geomagnetic field as expressed by the International Geomagnetic Reference Field (IGRF) deserves special attention when compared with that shown over the past few thousands of years by two paleomagnetic/archeomagnetic models, CALS3K and CALS7K. The application of the Information theory in terms of Shannon Information and K-entropy to these models shows characteristics of an instable geomagnetic field. Although the result is mitigated when we correct the CALS7K model for its typical spectral damping, the present geomagnetic field as represented by IGRF is still rather distinct, at least for the past 4000 years, a result that is further confirmed by the CALS3K model. This is consistent with a significant global critical state started at around 1750, and still present, characterised by significant decays of the geomagnetic dipole, energy and Shannon information and high K-entropy. The details of how these characteristics may develop are not clear, since the present state could move toward an excursion or a geomagnetic polarity reversal, but we cannot exclude the possibility that the "critical" behaviour will become again more "normal", stopping the apparent trend of the recent geomagnetic field decay.
The l1/2 law and multifractal topography: theory and analysis
Authors: Lovejoy S. , Lavallée D. , Schertzer D. , Ladoy P.
Published: April 2010

Abstract. Over wide ranges of scale, orographic processes have no obvious scale; this has provided the justification for both deterministic and monofractal scaling models of the earth's topography. These models predict that differences in altitude (Δh) vary with horizontal separation (l) as Δh ≈ lH. The scaling exponent has been estimated theoretically and empirically to have the value H=1/2. Scale invariant nonlinear processes are now known to generally give rise to multifractals and we have recently empirically shown that topography is indeed a special kind of theoretically predicted "universal" multifractal. In this paper we provide a multifractal generalization of the l1/2 law, and propose two distinct multifractal models, each leading via dimensional arguments to the exponent 1/2. The first, for ocean bathymetry assumes that the orographic dynamics are dominated by heat fluxes from the earth's mantle, whereas the second - for continental topography - is based on tectonic movement and gravity. We test these ideas empirically on digital elevation models of Deadman's Butte, Wyoming.
Dynamical segmentation and rupture patterns in a "toy" slider-block model for earthquakes
Authors: Rundle J. B. , Klein W.
Published: April 2010

Abstract. Lattice models for earthquakes have been shown to capture some of the dynamical properties possessed by natural fault systems. These properties include: 1) a scaling (power low) region in the curve representing event frequency as a function of magnitude and area; and 2) space-time clustering of events. To understand the physical origin of these and other effects, we examine the simplest kind of "toy" slider block model. We obtain results indicating that this model displays several additional kinds of phenomena seen in real earthquake faults, even though "realistic" physics is missing from the model. Asperity-like slip distributions in this model arise from strong elastic coupling, rather than the spatially heterogeneous frictional strength often inferred for real faults. Simulation results indicate that "characteristic" earthquakes can be produced as a consequence of the nonlinear dynamics. Thus segmentation on faults may be a result of the nonlinear dynamics as well as being due to geometric properties of fault systems. These conclusions may be modified when more "realistic" physics is added to the model, although the presence of dynamical effects in the toy model calculations similar to those observed in nature demonstrates alternative possibilities for the origin of these effects.
The quasi-static approximation of the spring-slider motion
Authors: Belardinelli M. E. , Belardinelli E.
Published: April 2010

Abstract. The spring-slider is a simple dynamical system consisting in a massive block sliding with friction and pulled through a spring at a given velocity. Understanding the block motion is fundamental for studying more complex phenomena of frictional sliding, such as the seismogenic fault motion. We analyze the dynamical properties of the system, subject to rate- and state-dependent friction laws and forced at a constant load velocity. In particular we study the limits within which the quasi-static model can be used. The latter model approximates the complete model of the system without taking into account the inertia effects. The system parameters are here found to be grouped into three characteristic times of the three dynamics present in the complete model. A necessary condition for the quasi-static approximation to hold is that the characteristic time of the inertial equation is much smaller than the other two characteristic times. We have studied a modification of one of the classical forms of the rate- and state-dependent friction laws. Subsequently we have developed a linear analysis in the neighbourhood of the equilibrium point of the system. For the quasi-static model we rigorously found, by means of a nonlinear analysis, a supercritical Hopf bifurcation, a dynamical property of the complete model. The classical form of the friction laws can be obtained as a particular case of the one we considered, but fails to preserve the Hopf bifurcation in the quasi-static approximation. We conclude that to have a good quasi-static approximation of the system, even in nonlinear conditions, the form of the friction laws considered is a critical factor.
Nonlinear quenching of current fluctuations in a self-exciting homopolar dynamo
Authors: Hide R.
Published: April 2010

Abstract. In the interpretation of geomagnetic polarity reversals with their highly variable frequency over geological time it is necessary, as with other irregularly fluctuating geophysical phenomena, to consider the relative importance of forced contributions associated with changing boundary conditions and of free contributions characteristic of the behaviour of nonlinear systems operating under fixed boundary conditions.  New evidence -albeit indirect- in favour of the likely predominance of forced contributions is provided by the discovery reported here of the possibility of complete quenching by nonlineax effects of current fluctuations in a self-exciting homopolar dynamo with its single Faraday disk driven into rotation with angular speed y(τ) (where τ denotes time) by a steady applied couple.  The armature of an electric motor connected in series with the coil of the dynamo is driven into rotation' with angular speed z(τ) by a torque xf (x) due to Lorentz forces associated with the electric current x(τ) in the system (just as certain parts of the spectrum of eddies within the liquid outer core are generated largely by Lorentz forces associated with currents generated by the self-exciting magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) geodynamo).   The discovery is based on bifurcation analysis supported by computational studies of the following (mathematically novel) autonomous set of nonlinear ordinary differential equations: dx/dt = x(y - 1) - βzf(x), dy/dt = α(1 - x²) - κy, dz/dt = xf (x) -λz,          where f (x) = 1 - ε + εσx, in cases when the dimensionless parameters (α, β, κ, λ, σ) are all positive and 0 ≤ ε ≤ 1. Within those regions of (α, β, κ, λ, σ) parameter space where the applied couple, as measured by α, is strong enough for persistent dynamo action (i.e. x ≠ 0) to occur at all, there are in general extensive regions where x(τ) exhibits large amplitude regular or irregular (chaotic) fluctuations.  But these fluctuating régimes shrink in size as increases from zero, and they disappear altogether when ε = 1, leaving only steady régimes of dynamo action.
Size-frequency distribution of earthquakes in hierarchically organized load-transfer models
Authors: Gómez J. B. , Pacheco A. F.
Published: April 2010

Abstract. Large hierarchically organized sets of elements (simulating asperities in a fault) are loaded to the point of complete failure. The fracture thresholds of individual elements are stochastically distributed, and the hierarchical structure for load-transfer is of the fractal-tree type. During the breakdown process there occur bursts (earthquakes) of several elements breaking simultaneously at a given load. Using Monte Carlo simulations we compute the frequency of bursts versus their size. This shows a gross power-law behaviour superimposed by a wavy pattern closely related to the coordination number of the fractal tree used for the load-transfer structure.
A fractal model for the sea state bias in radar altimetry
Authors: Bar D. E. , Agnon Y.
Published: April 2010

Abstract. The Kirchhoff approximation is used to determine the sea state bias in radar altimetry. A weakly nonlinear model of the sea waves is used to derive the joint moments of two different points separated by a distance R; the bias moment is formulated, and found for power law spectra. The method provides a consistent analysis of the sea state bias and avoids the need to truncate the high frequency tail of power-law wave spectra. The model exhibits dependence of the "electromagnetic bias" on the radar frequency, an effect observed in field experiments.
Evidence of structured Brownian dynamics from temperature time series analysis
Authors: Pasini A. , Pelino V. , Potestà S.
Published: April 2010

Abstract. An analysis of time series of monthly mean temperatures ranging from 1895 to 1989 is performed through application of Singular Spectrum Analysis (SSA) to data of several places in the USA. A common dynamics in the reconstructed spaces is obtained, with the evidence of a non-trivial and structured coupling of two Brownian motions, resembling the so-called Lévy flights. The idea that these two correlated functions are related to the zonal and eddy components of the atmospheric motions is suggested.
The role of nonlinear Landau damping and the bounced motion of protons in the formation of dissipative structures in the solar wind plasma
Authors: Prakash M. , Diamond P. H.
Published: April 2010

Abstract. The present work examines the effects arising from the nonlinear Landau damping and the bounced motion of protons (trapped in the mirror geometry of the geomagnetic field) in the formation of nonlinear Alfvénic structures. These structures are observed at distances 1-5AU in the solar wind plasma (with ß ~ 1). The dynamics of formation of these structures can be understood using kinetic nonlinear Schrodinger (KNLS) model. The structures emerge due to balance of nonlinear steepening (of large amplitude Alfvén waves) by the linear Landau damping of ion-acoustic modes in a finite ß solar wind plasma. The ion-acoustic mode is driven nonlinearly by the large amplitude Alfvén waves. At the large amplitudes of Alfvén wave, the effects due to nonlinear Landau damping become important. These nonlinear effects are incorporated into the KNLS model by modifying the heat flux dissipation coefficient parallel to the ambient magnetic field. The effects arising from the bounced motion (of mirroring protons) are studied using a one-dimensional Vlasov equation. The bounced motion of the protons can lead to growth of the ion-acoustic mode, propagating in the mirror geometry of the geomagnetic field. The significance of these studies in the formation of dissipative quasistationary structures observed in solar wind plasma is discussed.
Interaction dynamics of electrostatic solitary waves
Authors: Krasovsky V. L. , Matsumoto H. , Omura Y.
Published: April 2010

Abstract. Interaction of nonlinear electrostatic pulses associated with electron phase density holes moving in a collisionless plasma is studied. An elementary event of the interaction is analyzed on the basis of the energy balance in the system consisting of two electrostatic solitary waves. It is established that an intrinsic property of the system is a specific irreversibility caused by a nonadiabatic modification of the internal structure of the holes and their effective heating in the process of the interaction. This dynamical irreversibility is closely connected with phase mixing of the trapped electrons comprising the holes and oscillating in the varying self-consistent potential wells. As a consequence of the irreversibility, the "collisions" of the solitary waves should be treated as "inelastic" ones. This explains the general tendency to the merging of the phase density holes frequently observed in numerical simulation and to corresponding coupling of the solitary waves.
Technical approach for the design of a high-resolution spectral model on a sphere: Application to decaying turbulence
Authors: Ishioka K. , Yamada M. , Hayashi Y.-Y. , Yoden S.
Published: April 2010

Abstract. Several technical suggestions to construct a high-resolution spectral model on a sphere (the T682 barotropic model) are presented and their implementation of FORTRAN77 libraries is provided as a free software package ISPACK (http://www.gfd-dennou.org/arch/ispack/). A test experiment on decaying turbulence is conducted to demonstrate the ability of the model.
Numerical simulation of ion dynamics in the magnetotail magnetic turbulence: On collisionless conductivity
Authors: Greco A. , Veltri P. , Zimbardo G. , Taktakishvilli A. L. , Zelenyi L. M.
Published: April 2010

Abstract. The ion dynamics in the distant Earth's magnetotail is studied in the case that a cross tail electric field and reconnection parity magnetic turbulence are present in the neutral sheet. A test particle simulation is performed for the ions, and moments of the ion distribution function are obtained as a function of the magnetic fluctuation level, δB/B0, and of the value of the cross tail electric field, Ey. It is found that magnetic turbulence can split the current carrying region into a double current sheet, in agreement with inferences from observations in the distant magnetotail. The problem of ion conductivity is addressed by varying the value of the cross tail electric field from zero to the observed one: we find that Ohm's law is not enforced, and that a non local, system dependent conductivity is necessary to describe the ion response to the electric field. Also, it appears that the relation between current and electric field may be nonlinear.
Self-organization of spatio-temporal earthquake clusters
Authors: Hainzl S. , Zöller G. , Kurths J.
Published: April 2010

Abstract. Cellular automaton versions of the Burridge-Knopoff model have been shown to reproduce the power law distribution of event sizes; that is, the Gutenberg-Richter law. However, they have failed to reproduce the occurrence of foreshock and aftershock sequences correlated with large earthquakes. We show that in the case of partial stress recovery due to transient creep occurring subsequently to earthquakes in the crust, such spring-block systems self-organize into a statistically stationary state characterized by a power law distribution of fracture sizes as well as by foreshocks and aftershocks accompanying large events. In particular, the increase of foreshock and the decrease of aftershock activity can be described by, aside from a prefactor, the same Omori law. The exponent of the Omori law depends on the relaxation time and on the spatial scale of transient creep. Further investigations concerning the number of aftershocks, the temporal variation of aftershock magnitudes, and the waiting time distribution support the conclusion that this model, even "more realistic" physics in missed, captures in some ways the origin of the size distribution as well as spatio-temporal clustering of earthquakes.
Searching for chaotic deterministic features in laboratory water surface waves
Authors: Joelson M. , Dudok de Wit Th. , Dussouillez Ph. , Ramamonjiarisoa A.
Published: April 2010

Abstract. The dynamic evolution of laboratory water surface waves has been studied within the framework of dynamical systems with the aim to identify stochastic or deterministic nonlinear features. Three different regimes are considered: pure wind waves, pure mechanical waves and mixed (wind and mechanical) waves. These three regimes show different dynamics. The results on wind waves do not clearly support the recently proposed idea that a deterministic Stokes-like component dominate the evolution of such waves; they are more appropriately described by a similarity-like approach that includes a random character. Cubic resonant interactions are clearly identified in pure mechanical waves using tricoherence functions. However, detailed aspects of the interactions do not fully agree with existing theoretical models. Finally, a deterministic motion is observed in mixed waves, which therefore are best described by a low dimensional nonlinear deterministic process.
Generation of second mode solitary waves by the interaction of a first mode soliton with a sill
Authors: Vlasenko V. I. , Hutter K.
Published: April 2010

Abstract. Results of an experimental and theoretical study of the interaction of a first mode internal solitary wave with a localised bottom topography (sill) are presented. Laboratory experiments have been performed in a 10m long and 0.33m wide channel filled with a stratified fluid. The interface between the two layers (fresh and salt water) is diffuse and has a finite thickness. Soliton-type disturbances of the interface having characteristics of the first baroclinic mode are generated at one channel end. They move along the channel and encounter an underwater obstacle (sill) in the middle of the channel, where they break into reflected and transmitted waves. Two types of internal waves are produced by the interaction: a fast first mode internal soliton and a slower (by a factor of approximately 3) second mode soliton-like wave. A numerical model, based on the two-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations in the Boussinesq approximation, is used tore produce the laboratory experiment. The detailed analysis of the horizontal and vertical structures of transmitted and reflected waves showed that the fast reflected and transmitted waves observed in the experiment can be interpreted as a first mode internal solitary wave whose characteristics are very close to those of the K-dV solitons. It is also demonstrated that the slow speed waves, generated during the interaction behind the first fast wave have vertical and horizontal structures very close to the second mode internal K-dV solitons.
Formation of vortex clusters on a sphere
Authors: Pavlov V. , Buisine D. , Goncharov V.
Published: April 2010

Abstract. This paper applies the Hamiltonian Approach (HA) to two-dimensional motions of incompressible fluid in curvi-linear coordinates, in particular on a sphere. The HA has been used to formulate governing equations of motion and to interpret the evolution of a system consisting of N localized two-dimensional vortices on a sphere. If the number of vortices N is large,  N ~ 102 - 103 , a small number of vortex collective structures (clusters) is formed. The surprise is that a quasi-final state does not correspond to completely disorganized distribution of vorticity. Numerical analysis has been carried out for initial conditions taken in the form of a few axisymmetric chains of point vortices distributed initially in fixed latitudes. The scheme of Runge-Kutta of 4th order has been used for simulating an evolution of resulting flows. The numerical analysis shows that the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability appears immediately formating initial disorganized structures which are developed and finally "bursted". The system evolves to a few separated vortex "spots" which exist sufficiently for a long time.
New types of stable nonlinear whistler waveguides
Authors: Zaliznyak Yu. A. , Davydova T. A. , Yakimenko A. I.
Published: April 2010

Abstract. The stationary self-focusing of whistler waves with frequencies near half of the electron-cyclotron frequency in the ionospheric plasma is considered in the framework of a two-dimensional generalized nonlinear Schrödinger equation including fourth-order dispersion effects and nonlinearity saturation. New types of soliton-like (with zero topological charge) and vortex-like nonlinear waveguides are found, and their stability confirmed both analytically and numerically.
Methods to describe barotropic vortices by global fields and vortex characteristics
Authors: Früh W.-G.
Published: April 2010

Abstract. Results from an experimental study of vortices in a rotating shear layer are presented. The data are in the form of maps of the instantaneous horizontal velocity field obtained by a particle tracking technique. Two fundamentally different methods to analyse time series of these velocity fields are presented and compared. One technique is the empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis, and the other method describes the flow field in terms of a few individual localised vortices. The flows discussed here are time-dependent two-vortex flows, which could either be described as a global mode 2 or as a collection of four unequal vortices. The results show that, while EOF analysis is a very powerful tool to detect fairly regular travelling modes or stationary features, it cannot detect local dynamics. The vortex identification technique is very good at detecting local structures and events but cannot put them into the context of a global flow structure. The comparison of the techniques shows indications that the time-dependence found in the system for low mode numbers could arise from an interaction of the large scale, global-mode flow with a local mechanism of vortex generation and shedding at a solid boundary.
Contraction of westward-travelling nonlocal modons due to the vorticity filament emission
Authors: Berson D. , Kizner Z.
Published: April 2010

Abstract. Long-term evolution of westward-travelling non-local modons on the β-plane, i.e. dipolar vortices imbedded in slowly damping Rossby wave fields, is studied numerically. In the framework of the nondivergent (barotropic) model, two stages of the evolution are observed. At the first stage (for about 30 synoptic periods), the parameters and the form of the vortex practically remain constant, whereas at the second stage, vorticity filaments are emitted. Due to the filamentation, the vortex core contracts, the potential vorticity peaks of the vortex pair get closer, and the modon speeds up. In the divergent (equivalent-barotropic) model, nonlocal modons and the Lamb modon (that has no wave field outside the dipolar core) evolve much more slowly, essentially preserving the initial shape and propagation speed until about 100 synoptic periods.
On the cascade mechanism of short surface wave modulation
Authors: Charnotskii M. , Naugolnykh K. , Ostrovsky L. , Smirnov A.
Published: April 2010

Abstract. Modulation of short surface ripples by long surface or internal waves by a cascade mechanism is considered. At the first stage, the orbital velocity of the long wave (LW) adiabatically modulates an intermediate length nonlinear gravity wave (GW), which generates a bound (parasitic) capillary wave (CW) near its crest in a wide spatial frequency band. Due to strong dependence of the CW amplitude on that of the GW, the resulting ripple modulation by LW can be strong. Adiabatic modulation at the first stage is calculated for an arbitrarily strong LW current. The CWs are calculated based on the Lonquet-Higgins theory, in the framework of a steady periodic solution, which proves to be sufficient for the cases considered. Theoretical results are compared with data from laboratory experiments. A discussion of related sea clutter data is given in the conclusion.
Using modern time series analysis techniques to predict ENSO events from the SOI time series
Authors: Salisbury J. I. , Wimbush M.
Published: April 2010

Abstract. We analyze the monthly 1866-2000 Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) data to determine: 1) whether the SOI data are sufficiently noise-free that useful predictions can be made from them, and 2) in particular, whether future ENSO events can be predicted from the SOI data.  The "Hilbert-EMD" technique is used to aid the analysis. This new frequency-time algorithm, based on the Hilbert transform, may be applied to time series for which the conventional assumptions of linearity and stationarity may not apply.With the aid of the EMD procedure, a cleaner representation of ENSO dynamics is obtained from the SOI data. A polynomial function is then used to predict SOI values. Using only the data from January 1866 through December 1996, this prediction correctly indicated a warm event in 1997-1998 and a cold event in 1999. Using all the data (through December 2000), this prediction shows no strong ENSO events (positive or negative) during the time period January 2001 through December 2004.
A basing of the diffusion approximation derivation for the four-wave kinetic integral and properties of the approximation
Authors: Polnikov V. G.
Published: April 2010

Abstract. A basing of the diffusion approximation derivation for the Hasselmann kinetic integral describing nonlinear interactions of gravity waves in deep water is discussed. It is shown that the diffusion approximation containing the second derivatives of a wave spectrum in a frequency and angle (or in wave vector components) is resulting from a step-by-step analytical integration of the sixfold Hasselmann integral without involving the quasi-locality hypothesis for nonlinear interactions among waves. A singularity analysis of the integrand expression gives evidence that the approximation mentioned above is the small scattering angle approximation, in fact, as it was shown for the first time by Hasselmann and Hasselmann (1981). But, in difference to their result, here it is shown that in the course of diffusion approximation derivation one may obtain the final result as a combination of terms with the first, second, and so on derivatives. Thus, the final kind of approximation can be limited by terms with the second derivatives only, as it was proposed in Zakharov and Pushkarev (1999). For this version of diffusion approximation, a numerical testing of the approximation properties was carried out. The testing results give a basis to use this approximation in a wave modelling practice.