GRACE gravity solutions validated by in-situ ocean bottom pressure in different regions of the global ocean

The GRACE satellite mission provides gravity field estimates of the Earth with unprecedented accuracy. Nevertheless,the realistic detection of oceanic mass redistribution remains challenging due to comparatively small signalamplitude, aliasing by tides and other short-term variability, and smoothing of small spatial scales. To verify thecapability of GRACE to measure oceanic mass variability, a validation with in-situ timeseries of Ocean BottomPressure (OBP) timeseries is essential.Here, different GRACE gravity fields provided by the GRACE Science Data System (CSR, GFZ, JPL), GRGS,ITG and others are compared with more than 140 timeseries of OBP sensors deployed throughout all oceans.The performance of the different GRACE products to capture oceanic mass variability is assessed by a weighedcorrelation analysis, taking into account the length and data quality of the in-situ time series. Both Gaussianfiltering and an ocean-model derived spatial pattern filtering method are used for the GRACE data, whereas forthe in-situ timeseries, different de-tiding and de-trending methods are applied to reduce aliasing and sensor drift.The analysis aims (a) to quantify the skill of different GRACE products and to quantify the advances made byrecent GRACE gravity field releases with improved data processing, and (b) to identify regions where GRACEperforms exceptionally well (e.g. high latitudes), and in which parts of the oceans GRACE fails to detect real OBPvariability. Spatial patterns related to the performance of GRACE may help to predict the quality of spacebornegravity measurements also for those oceanic regions where no in-situ data are available. This is critical for thefuture use of GRACE to remotely determine water mass redistribution in all oceans

A global Ocean Bottom Pressure data base as ground-truth reference for GRACE gravity field products

The GRACE satellite mission provides monthly estimates of the gravity field of the Earth. Differences between the monthly solutions are induced by mass redistribution on the Earth. Over the continents, the hydrological cycle represents the largest signals, which are readily observed by GRACE. Over the oceans, however, gravity field changes are about an order of magnitude smaller, close to the accuracy limits of the present GRACE solutions. Nevertheless, GRACE measurements may prove as an important tool to obtain integral estimates of water mass redistribution, sea level changes and geostrophic current variability. In order to validate and improve the gravity field products, GRACE is to be compared against ocean models and in-situ observations of Ocean Bottom Pressure (OBP). Time series of OBP sensors deployed by Alfred-Wegener-Institut in the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, as well as measurements from other locations of the global ocean are included in a OBP database that is currently under development at AWI, in close cooperation with Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory (POL, Liverpool). The mutual comparison of in-situ and ocean model data with different GRACE products provided by CSR, GFZ, GRGS, ITG and JPL will help to optimize data processing methods and corrections applied to GRACE, and to identify the performance of GRACE to detect oceanic mass flux variability in different regions of the global ocean

Antarctic marine mammals and ocean acoustics

Marine mammals rely on sound and hearing as their primary means of communication and sensing their world. Concerns that anthropogenic sound in the ocean could infer their sensing, cause stress or even damage their hearing physically rose a controversial discussion and triggered a worldwide boost in marine bioacoustic research. Innovative acoustic technologies and field methods are required to provide a basis for carefully designed and technically challenging research projects on free-ranging marine mammals, especially under the harsh environmental conditions of polar regions. The Ocean Acoustics group within the Marine Observing Systems section endeavors multidisciplinary research of environmental scientists, geophysicists, oceanographers, physicists, physiologists, and biologists to investigate the need and scope of mitigation measures for the effects of man-generated sound in the ocean, develop acoustic census techniques, explore marine mammal responses to various anthropogenic sounds, and study the vocal behaviour and hearing physiology of Antarctic marine mammals

The Utah Statesman, September 22, 2016

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/newspapers/1344/thumbnail.jp

Effects of socioeconomics on European starling (Sturnus vulgaris) abundance in Baltimore, Maryland

Title from PDF of title page (University of Missouri--Columbia, viewed on June 4, 2010).The entire thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file; a non-technical public abstract appears in the public.pdf file.Thesis advisor: Dr. Charles H. Nilon.M.S. University of Missouri--Columbia 2010.This study predicted avian species using the social area analysis approach, and census tract block group variables. By using European Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) as a focal species, I wished to determine what socioeconomic variables best predicted their abundance in Baltimore City, Maryland. During May through June 2005 - 2007, birds were counted at 132 bird census points in Baltimore City. Data was gathered from the 2000 United States census tract block groups that contained these bird census points. Socioeconomic variables from the census tract block groups were used in a principal components analysis (PCA) to reduce the number of correlated variables into a smaller number of uncorrelated variables. Regression was used to predict the probability of detection for starling abundance within those census tract block groups. The regression revealed a very complicated relationship between percent of the population that is black, with a bachelor's degree or higher, families with only a female in the household and children, and median year housing unit built. These variables were the best predictors of starling abundance in residential census tract block groups. Future research can apply this principle to other species of birds as well, to create a uniform method of predicting avian species in cities that can be collated and compared among other metropolitan areas.Includes bibliographical references

Individual variation in pup vocalizations and absence of behavioral signs of maternal vocal recognition in Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii)

Individually stereotyped vocalizations often play an important role in relocation of offspring in gregarious breeders. In phocids, mothers often alternate between foraging at sea and attending their pup. Pup calls are individually distinctive in various phocid species. However, experimental evidence for maternal recognition is rare. In this study, we recorded Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddellii) pup vocalizations at two whelping patches in Atka Bay, Antarctica, and explored individual vocal variation based on eight vocal parameters. Overall, 58% of calls were correctly classified according to individual. For males (n = 12) and females (n = 9), respectively, nine and seven individuals were correctly identified based on vocal parameters. To investigate whether mothers respond differently to calls of familiar vs. unfamiliar pups, we conducted playback experiments with 21 mothers. Maternal responses did not differ between playbacks of own, familiar, and unfamiliar pup calls. We suggest that Weddell seal pup calls may need to contain only a critical amount of individually distinct information because mothers and pups use a combination of sensory modalities for identification. However, it cannot be excluded that pup developmental factors and differing environmental factors between colonies affect pup acoustic behavior and the role of acoustic cues in the relocation process

Marine soundscape planning: Seeking acoustic niches for anthropogenic sound

Both marine mammals and hydroacoustic instruments employ underwater sound to communicate, navigate or infer information about the marine environment. Concurrent timing of acoustic activities using similar frequency regimes may result in (potentially mutual) interference of acoustic signals when both sources are within audible range of the recipient. While marine mammal fitness might be negatively impacted upon, both on individual and population level, hydroacoustic studies may generate low quality data or suffer data loss as a result of bioacoustic interference. This article pursues, in analogy to landscape planning, the concept of marine soundscape planning to reconcile potentially competing uses of acoustic space by managing the anthropogenic sound sources. We here present a conceptual framework exploring the potential of soundscape planning in reducing (mutual) acoustic interference between hydroacoustic instrumentation and marine mammals. The basis of this framework is formed by the various mechanisms by which acoustic niche formation (i.e., the partitioning of the acoustic space) occurs in species-rich communities that acoustically coexist while maintaining high fidelity (hi-fi) soundscapes, i.e., by acoustically partitioning the environment on the basis of time, space, frequency and signal structure. Hydroacoustic measurements often exhibit certain flexibility in their timing, and even instrument positioning, potentially offering the opportunity to minimize the ecological imprint of their operation. This study explores how the principle of acoustic niches could contribute to reduce potential (mutual) acoustic interference based on actual acoustic data from three recording locations in polar oceans. By employing marine soundscape planning strategies, entailing shifting the timing or position of hydroacoustic experiments, or adapting signal structure or frequency, we exemplify the potential efficacy of smart planning for four different hydroacoustic instrumentation types: multibeam echosounders, air guns, RAFOS (Ranging and Fixing of Sound) and tomographic sound sources

Significant Differences in Personality Styles of Securely and Insecurely Attached Psychotherapists: Data, Reflections and Implications

This is a contribution to the research on the therapist variable aiming to improve effectiveness of psychotherapy. It is shown that attachment styles shape personality styles of psychotherapists in a favorable or unfavorable manner. Data on personality (PSDI) and attachment (RSQ) styles was collected from 430 psychological psychotherapists of the DACH countries using an online survey. The 88 insecurely attached psychotherapists differed significantly from their 342 securely attached colleagues in 9 of 14 personality styles: They were - even though well within normal range - more paranoid, borderline, schizoid, dependent, negativistic, self-sacrificing, avoidant, and depressive, as well as less optimistic. This corresponds to results of other researchers. Data regarding their effectiveness was not available. It is argued that a secure attachment style predispose to be a good psychotherapist. Yet, insecurely attached psychotherapists possibly compensate their adverse traits through self-therapy, continuous education, and supervision