13,118 research outputs found
Linear Sensitivity of Helioseismic Travel Times to Local Flows
Time-distance helioseismology is a technique for measuring the time for waves
to travel from one point on the solar surface to another. These wave travel
times are affected by advection by subsurface flows. Inferences of plasma flows
based on observed travel times depend critically on the ability to accurately
model the effects of subsurface flows on time-distance measurements. We present
a Born approximation based computation of the sensitivity of time distance
travel times to weak, steady, inhomogeneous subsurface flows. Three sensitivity
functions are obtained, one for each component of the 3D vector flow. We show
that the depth sensitivity of travel times to horizontally uniform flows is
given approximately by the kinetic energy density of the oscillation modes
which contribute to the travel times. For flows with strong depth dependence,
the Born approximation can give substantially different results than the ray
approximation.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figure
Numerical simulations of multiple scattering of the mode by flux tubes
We use numerial simulations to study the absorption and phase shift of
surface-gravity waves caused by groups of magnetic flux tubes. The dependence
of the scattering coefficients with the distance between the tubes and their
positions is analyzed for several cases with two or three flux tubes embedded
in a quiet Sun atmosphere. The results are compared with those obtained
neglecting completely or partially multiple scattering effects. We show that
multiple scattering has a significant impact on the absorption measurements and
tends to reduce the phase shift. We also consider more general cases of
ensembles of randomly distributed flux tubes, and we have evaluated the effects
on the scattering measurements of changing the number of tubes included in the
bundle and the average distance between flux tubes. We find that for the
longest wavelength incoming waves multiple scattering enhances the absorption,
and its efficiency increases with the number of flux tubes and the reduction of
the distance between them.Comment: Accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journa
Evaluation of the capability of local helioseismology to discern between monolithic and spaghetti sunspot models
The helioseismic properties of the wave scattering generated by monolithic
and spaghetti sunspots are analyzed by means of numerical simulations. In these
computations, an incident f or p1 mode travels through the sunspot model, which
produces absorption and phase shift of the waves. The scattering is studied by
inspecting the wavefield, computing travel-time shifts, and performing
Fourier-Hankel analysis. The comparison between the results obtained for both
sunspot models reveals that the differences in the absorption coefficient can
be detected above noise level. The spaghetti model produces an steep increase
of the phase shift with the degree of the mode at short wavelengths, while
mode-mixing is more efficient for the monolithic model. These results provide a
clue for what to look for in solar observations to discern the constitution of
sunspots between the proposed monolithic and spaghetti models.Comment: Accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journa
F-mode sensitivity kernels for flows
We compute f-mode sensitivity kernels for flows. Using a two-dimensional
model, the scattered wavefield is calculated in the first Born approximation.
We test the correctness of the kernels by comparing an exact solution (constant
flow), a solution linearized in the flow, and the total integral of the kernel.
In practice, the linear approximation is acceptable for flows as large as about
400 m/s.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures. Proceedings of SOHO18/GONG 2006/HELAS I. Beyond
the Spherical Sun: A new era of helio- and asteroseismology. Sheffield,
England. August, 200
Spatially resolved vertical vorticity in solar supergranulation using helioseismology and local correlation tracking
Flow vorticity is a fundamental property of turbulent convection in rotating
systems. Solar supergranules exhibit a preferred sense of rotation, which
depends on the hemisphere. This is due to the Coriolis force acting on the
diverging horizontal flows. We aim to spatially resolve the vertical flow
vorticity of the average supergranule at different latitudes, both for outflow
and inflow regions. To measure the vertical vorticity, we use two independent
techniques: time-distance helioseismology (TD) and local correlation tracking
of granules in intensity images (LCT) using data from the Helioseismic and
Magnetic Imager (HMI) onboard the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). Both maps
are corrected for center-to-limb systematic errors. We find that 8-h TD and LCT
maps of vertical vorticity are highly correlated at large spatial scales.
Associated with the average supergranule outflow, we find tangential (vortical)
flows that reach about 10 m/s in the clockwise direction at 40{\deg} latitude.
In average inflow regions, the tangential flow reaches the same magnitude, but
in the anti-clockwise direction. These tangential velocities are much smaller
than the radial (diverging) flow component (300 m/s for the average outflow and
200 m/s for the average inflow). The results for TD and LCT as measured from
HMI are in excellent agreement for latitudes between 60{\deg} and 60{\deg}.
From HMI LCT, we measure the vorticity peak of the average supergranule to have
a full width at half maximum of about 13 Mm for outflows and 8 Mm for inflows.
This is larger than the spatial resolution of the LCT measurements (about 3
Mm). On the other hand, the vorticity peak in outflows is about half the value
measured at inflows (e.g. 4/(10^6 s) clockwise compared to 8/(10^6 s)
anti-clockwise at 40{\deg} latitude). Results from MDI/SOHO obtained in 2010
are biased compared to the HMI/SDO results for the same period.Comment: 12 pages, 13 figures (plus appendix), accepted for publication in A&
Estimating Price Paths for Residential Real Estate
Several approaches have been used to estimate and adjust for price movements in residential real estate; however, weaknesses remain in current systems. This paper incorporates a different way of measuring temporal price patterns. The method involves a time series model, an approach not previously employed when estimating real estate price movements. Using illustrative data, it is indicated that the proposed technique is likely more accurate than current procedures. The method also represents a significant adaptation of standard time series models. For the task at hand, the new model is arguably preferable to these more standard versions.
Improving the Equity-Efficiency Trade-Off: Mandatory Savings Accounts for Social Insurance.
In the modern welfare state a substantial part of an individual’s tax bill is transferred back to the same individual taxpayer in the form of social transfers. This provides a rationale for financing part of social insurance through mandatory savings accounts. We analyze the behavioral and welfare effects of compulsory savings accounts in an intertemporal model with uncertainty, endogenous involuntary unemployment and retirement decisions, credit constraints, and heterogeneous agents. We show that the introduction of (early) retirement and unemployment accounts generates a Pareto improvement by enabling the government to provide lifetime income insurance and liquidity insurance ina more effcient manner.
Optimal Taxation and Social Insurance in a Lifetime Perspective
Advances in information technology have improved the administrative feasibility of redistribution based on lifetime earnings recorded at the time of retirement. We study optimal lifetime income taxation and social insurance in an economy in which redistributive taxation and social insurance serve to insure (ex ante) against skill heterogeneity as well as disability risk. Optimal disability benefits rise with previous earnings so that public transfers depend not only on current earnings but also on earnings in the past. Hence, lifetime taxation rather than annual taxation is optimal. The optimal tax-transfer system does not provide full disability insurance. By offering imperfect insurance and structuring disability benefits so as to enable workers to insure against disability by working harder, social insurance is designed to offset the distortionary impact of the redistributive labor income tax on labor supply.optimal lifetime income taxation; optimal social insurance
Small and medium agility dogs alter their kinematics when the distance between hurdles differs
There is currently a lack of research examining the health and welfare implications for competitive agility dogs. The aim of this study was to examine if jump kinematics and apparent joint angles in medium (351 mm - 430 mm to the withers) and small (< 350 mm to the withers) agility dogs altered when distances between consecutive upright hurdles differ. Dogs ran a course of nine hurdles; three set at 3.6 m apart; three at 4 m apart and three at 5 m apart. Both medium (P=0.044) and small (P=0.006) dogs landed closer to the hurdle when consecutive hurdles were set at 3.6 m apart, with small dogs jumping slower at this distance (P=0.006). Results indicate that jump kinematics, but not apparent joint angles, alter when the spacing between hurdles differs. These findings may have implications for the health and welfare of agility dogs and should be used to inform future changes to rules and regulations
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