9,588 research outputs found
Potential uses for bracken (Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn) in organic agrculture
Bracken is a weed species due to its toxic nature and adverse effects on agriculture and ecology. This poster reviews research into historical uses for fronds and litter harvested as part of organically approved control methods. The use of bracken as an over winter mulch reduced losses of nitrogen and potassium from bare soil and maintained soil temperatures. Bracken litter was found to be a viable biofuel, with a calorific value comparable to wood and low ash and alkali metal contents. The contents of frond ash were investigated, with high concentrations of potassium found giving them a value as organic fertiliser. The addition of frond ash to soil significantly increased clover growth and number of nodules. The addition of frond ash to soil significantly increased the yield of saleable main crop potatoes. These finding have shown that bracken has a value especially within organic agriculture
Dynamic Power Spectral Analysis of Solar Measurements from Photospheric, Chromospheric, and Coronal Sources
An important aspect in the power spectral analysis of solar variability is the quasistationary and quasiperiodic nature of solar periodicities. In other words, the frequency, phase, and amplitude of solar periodicities vary on time scales ranging from active region lifetimes to solar cycle time scales. Here, researchers employ a dynamic, or running, power spectral density analysis to determine many periodicities and their time-varying nature in the projected area of active sunspot groups (S sub act). The Solar Maximum Mission/Active Cavity Radiometer Irradiance Monitor (SMM/ACRIM) total solar irradiance (S), the Nimbus-7 MgII center-to-wing ratio (R (MgII sub c/w)), the Ottawa 10.7 cm flux (F sub 10.7), and the GOES background x ray flux (X sub b) for the maximum, descending, and minimum portions of solar cycle 21 (i.e., 1980 to 1986) are used. The technique dramatically illustrates several previously unrecognized periodicities. For example, a relatively stable period at about 51 days has been found in those indices which are related to emerging magnetic fields. The majority of solar periodicities, particularly around 27, 150 and 300 days, are quasiperiodic because they vary in amplitude and frequency throughout the solar cycle. Finally, it is shown that there are clear differences between the power spectral densities of solar measurements from photospheric, chromospheric, and coronal sources
Anomalous vortex ring velocities induced by thermally-excited Kelvin waves and counterflow effects in superfluids
Dynamical counterflow effects on vortex evolution under the truncated
Gross-Pitaevskii equation are investigated. Standard longitudinal mutual
friction effects are produced and a dilatation of vortex rings is obtained at
large counterflow. A strong temperature-dependent anomalous slowdown of vortex
rings is observed and attributed to the presence of thermally exited Kelvin
waves. This generic effect of finite-temperature superfluids is estimated using
energy equipartition and orders of magnitude are given for weakly interacting
Bose-Einstein condensates and superfluid
Stationary and non-stationary fluid flow of a Bose-Einstein condensate through a penetrable barrier
We experimentally study the fluid flow induced by a broad, penetrable barrier
moving through an elongated dilute gaseous Bose-Einstein condensate. The
barrier is created by a laser beam swept through the condensate, and the
resulting dipole potential can be either attractive or repulsive. We examine
both cases and find regimes of stable and unstable fluid flow: At slow speeds
of the barrier, the fluid flow is stationary due to the superfluidity of the
condensate. At intermediate speeds, we observe a non-stationary regime in which
the condensate gets filled with dark solitons. At faster speeds, soliton
formation completely ceases and a remarkable absence of excitation in the
condensate is seen again.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Fluctuations of the vortex line density in turbulent flows of quantum fluids
We present an analytical study of fluctuations of the Vortex Line Density
(VLD) in turbulent
flows of quantum fluids. Two cases are considered. The first one is the
counterflowing (Vinen) turbulence, where the vortex lines are disordered, and
the evolution of quantity obeys the Vinen equation. The second
case is the quasi-classic turbulence, where vortex lines are believed to form
the so called vortex bundles, and their dynamics is described by the HVBK
equations. The latter case, is of a special interest, since a number of recent
experiments demonstrate the dependence for spectrum VLD,
instead of law, typical for spectrum of vorticity. In
nonstationary situation, in particular, in the fluctuating turbulent flow there
is a retardation between the instantaneous value of the normal velocity and the
quantity . This retardation tends to decrease in the accordance
with the inner dynamics, which has a relaxation character. In both cases the
relaxation dynamics of VLD is related to fluctuations of the relative velocity,
however if for the Vinen case the rate of temporal change for
is directly depends on , for the HVBK dynamics it
depends on . As a result, for the
disordered case the spectrum coincides with the spectrum . In the
case of the bundle arrangement, the spectrum of the VLD varies (at different
temperatures) from to dependencies. This
conclusion may serve as a basis for the experimental determination of what kind
of the turbulence is implemented in different types of generation.Comment: 8 pages, 29 reference
Restoration of eucalypt grassy woodland: effects of experimental interventions on ground-layer vegetation
We report on the effects of broad-scale restoration treatments on the ground layer of eucalypt grassy woodland in south-eastern Australia. The experiment was conducted in two conservation reserves from which livestock grazing had previously been removed. Changes in biomass, species diversity, ground-cover attributes and life-form were analysed over a 4-year period in relation to the following experimental interventions: (1) reduced kangaroo density, (2) addition of coarse woody debris and (3) fire (a single burn). Reducing kangaroo density doubled total biomass in one reserve, but no effects on exotic biomass, species counts or ground cover attributes were observed. Coarse woody debris also promoted biomass, particularly exotic annual forbs, as well as plant diversity in one of the reserves. The single burn reduced biomass, but changed little else. Overall, we found the main driver of change to be the favourable growth seasons that had followed a period of drought. This resulted in biomass increasing by 67%, (mostly owing to the growth of perennial native grasses), whereas overall native species counts increased by 18%, and exotic species declined by 20% over the 4-year observation period. Strategic management of grazing pressure, use of fire where biomass has accumulated and placement of coarse woody debris in areas of persistent erosion will contribute to improvements in soil and vegetation condition, and gains in biodiversity, in the future.Funding and in-kind logistic support for this project was
provided by the ACT Government as part of an Australian Research
Council Linkage Grant (LP0561817; LP110100126). Drafts of the
manuscript were read by Saul Cunningham and Ben Macdonald
NIMBUS-7 SBUV (Solar Backscatter Ultraviolet) observations of solar UV spectral irradiance variations caused by solar rotation and active-region evolution for the period November 7, 1978 - November 1, 1980
Observations of temporal variations of the solar UV spectral irradiance over several days to a few weeks in the 160-400 nm wavelength range are presented. Larger 28-day variations and a second episode of 13-day variations occurred during the second year of measurements. The thirteen day periodicity is not a harmonic of the 28-day periodicity. The 13-day periodicity dominates certain episodes of solar activity while others are dominated by 28-day periods accompanied by a week 14-day harmonic. Techniques for removing noise and long-term trends are described. Time series analysis results are presented for the Si II lines near 182 nm, the Al I continuum in the 190 nm to 205 nm range, the Mg I continuum in the 210 nm to 250 nm range, the MgII H & K lines at 280 nm, the Mg I line at 285 nm, and the Ca II K & H lines at 393 and 397 nm
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