7,044 research outputs found

    Challenges of Documenting Historic Water Systems Integrating Open-Source Water Data With Archaeological Datasets in Utah

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    Geospatial research in archaeology often relies on datasets previously collected by other archaeologists or third-party groups, such as state or federal government entities. This article discusses our work with geospatial datasets for identifying, documenting, and evaluating prehistoric and historic water features in the western United States. As part of a project on water heritage and long-term views on water management, our research has involved aggregating spatial data from an array of open access and semi-open access sources. Here, we consider the challenges of working with such datasets, including outdated or disorganized information, and fragmentary data. Based on our experiences, we recommend best practices: (1) locating relevant data and creating a data organization method for working with spatial data, (2) addressing data integrity, (3) integrating datasets in systematic ways across research cohorts, and (4) improving data accessibility

    A Sr-Rich Star on the Main Sequence of Omega Centauri

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    Abundance ratios relative to iron for carbon, nitrogen, strontium and barium are presented for a metal-rich main sequence star ([Fe/H]=--0.74) in the globular cluster omega Centauri. This star, designated 2015448, shows depleted carbon and solar nitrogen, but more interestingly, shows an enhanced abundance ratio of strontium [Sr/Fe] ~ 1.6 dex, while the barium abundance ratio is [Ba/Fe]<0.6 dex. At this metallicity one usually sees strontium and barium abundance ratios that are roughly equal. Possible formation scenarios of this peculiar object are considered.Comment: 13 pages, 3 figures. Accepted to ApJ

    The frequency and properties of young tidal dwarf galaxies in nearby gas-rich groups

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    We present high-resolution Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) HI observations and deep Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT) optical imaging of two galaxy groups: NGC 4725/47 and NGC 3166/9. These data are part of a multi-wavelength unbiased survey of the gas-rich dwarf galaxy populations in three nearby interacting galaxy groups. The NGC 4725/47 group hosts two tidal knots and one dIrr. Both tidal knots are located within a prominent HI tidal tail, appear to have sufficient mass (M_gas~10^8 M_sol) to evolve into long-lived tidal dwarf galaxies (TDGs) and are fairly young in age. The NGC 3166/9 group contains a TDG candidate, AGC 208457, at least three dIrrs and four HI knots. Deep CFHT imaging confirms that the optical component of AGC 208457 is bluer -- with a 0.28 mag g-r colour -- and a few Gyr younger than its purported parent galaxies. Combining the results for these groups with those from the NGC 871/6/7 group reported earlier, we find that the HI properties, estimated stellar ages and baryonic content of the gas-rich dwarfs clearly distinguish tidal features from their classical counterparts. We optimistically identify four potentially long-lived tidal objects associated to three separate pairs of interacting galaxies, implying that TDGs are not readily produced during interaction events as suggested by some recent simulations. The tidal objects examined in this survey also appear to have a wider variety of properties than TDGs of similar mass formed in current simulations of interacting galaxies, which could be the result of pre- or post-formation environmental influences.Comment: 18 pages, 14 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA

    The NIRSPEC Brown Dwarf Spectroscopic Survey. I. Low-Resolution Near-Infrared Spectra

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    We present the first results of a near-infrared (0.96-2.31 micron) spectroscopic survey of M, L, and T dwarfs obtained with NIRSPEC on the Keck II telescope. Our new survey has a resolving power of R = 2000 and is comprised of two major data sets: 53 J-band (1.14-1.36 micron) spectra covering all spectral types from M6 to T8 with at least two members in each spectral subclass (wherever possible), and 25 flux-calibrated spectra from 1.14 to 2.31 microns for most spectral classes between M6 and T8. Sixteen of these 25 objects have additional spectral coverage from 0.96-1.14 microns to provide overlap with optical spectra. Spectral flux ratio indexes for prominent molecular bands are derived and equivalent widths (EWs) for several atomic lines are measured. We find that a combination of four H2O and two CH4 band strengths can be used for spectral classification. Weak (EW~1-2 angstrom) atomic lines of Al I and Ca I disappear at the boundary between M and L types.Comment: 60 pages, 25 figures. To appear in the Astrophysical Journal Vol 596. Received 2003 March 31; accepted 2003 June 20. Web site at http://www.astro.ucla.edu/~mclean/BDSSarchiv

    Validation of electron density profiles derived from oblique ionograms over the United Kingdom

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    Inversion algorithms are available to derive the vertical electron density profile at the midpoint of an oblique sounder path. The techniques open up the possibility of monitoring the ionosphere at otherwise inaccessible locations, such as over sea or inhospitable terrain. A new method of monitoring the ionosphere based on radio tomography can be used to create two-dimensional images of electron density. The results in this paper compare midpoint profiles derived from oblique ionograms with corresponding profiles obtained from tomographic images of electron density and from a vertical ionospheric sounder. The comparisons illustrate the oblique sounder inversion technique and its inherent limitations. The results provide useful information on the complementary nature of the separate ionospheric measurement techniques and have implications for the use of these measurements as inputs to real-time ionospheric models

    A Unified Near Infrared Spectral Classification Scheme for T Dwarfs

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    A revised near infrared classification scheme for T dwarfs is presented, based on and superseding prior schemes developed by Burgasser et al. and Geballe et al., and defined following the precepts of the MK Process. Drawing from two large spectroscopic libraries of T dwarfs identified largely in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and the Two Micron All Sky Survey, nine primary spectral standards and five alternate standards spanning spectral types T0 to T8 are identified that match criteria of spectral character, brightness, absence of a resolved companion and accessibility from both northern and southern hemispheres. The classification of T dwarfs is formally made by the direct comparison of near infrared spectral data of equivalent resolution to the spectra of these standards. Alternately, we have redefined five key spectral indices measuring the strengths of the major H2_2O and CH4_4 bands in the 1-2.5 micron region that may be used as a proxy to direct spectral comparison. Two methods of determining T spectral type using these indices are outlined and yield equivalent results. These classifications are also equivalent to those from prior schemes, implying that no revision of existing spectral type trends is required. The one-dimensional scheme presented here provides a first step toward the observational characterization of the lowest luminosity brown dwarfs currently known. Future extensions to incorporate spectral variations arising from differences in photospheric dust content, gravity and metallicity are briefly discussed. A compendium of all currently known T dwarfs with updated classifications is presented.Comment: 52 pages, 11 figures; accepted for publication to Ap
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