Chemistry-climate model SOCOL: a validation of the present-day climatology

In this paper we document 'SOCOL', a new chemistry-climate model, which has been ported for regular PCs and shows good wall-clock performance. An extensive validation of the model results against present-day climate data obtained from observations and assimilation data sets shows that the model describes the climatological state of the atmosphere for the late 1990s with reasonable accuracy. The model has a significant temperature bias only in the upper stratosphere and near the tropopause at high latitudes. The latter is the result of the rather low vertical resolution of the model near the tropopause. The former can be attributed to a crude representation of radiation heating in the middle atmosphere. A comparison of the simulated and observed link between the tropical stratospheric structure and the strength of the polar vortex shows that in general, both observations and simulations reveal a higher temperature and ozone mixing ratio in the lower tropical stratosphere for the case with stronger Polar night jet (PNJ) and slower Brewer-Dobson circulation as predicted by theoretical studies

Creation of Favourable Conditions for Introducing Hydrogen Fuel in Russia

The paper presents the key problems that hinder the introduction of new fuel for Russian automobile manufacturers. By analyzing the energy market, as well as trends and forecasts of crude oil and petroleum product prices, it proposes the necessary steps for the Government, along with oil producers and automakers, to gradually convert motor vehicles to hydrogen fuel and, therefore, to occupy a high-potential niche in the energy market. The recommended steps are assumed to be applicable not only to this specific case - introduction of hydrogen to the Russian market - but also to any other alternative fuel in a country with the similar or superior national economy

The role of mental models in citizen science

An increasing number of citizen science projects involve citizens on levels of participation that go beyond data collection and entail the co-creation of research questions and methods as well as the project pathway. The success of such projects depends on the establishment of shared knowledge, a task that can be especially challenging in citizen science that focuses on complex societal issues and the so-called wicked problems. We suggest that this challenge can be addressed through a deeper engagement with research on mental models—cognitive representations of external reality that largely define human thinking, decision-making and behaviour. Moreover, particular emphasis should be placed on the effective co-creation of shared mental models, whereby design thinking could provide valuable methodologies and tools. The objective of the workshop “Mental Models in Citizen Science” was to dive into mental model theory and design thinking toolbox and explore their potential for citizen science. This paper provides an overview of the workshop activities and insights and proposes a research agenda shaped around mental models and their role in citizen science

Scattering Theory for Jacobi Operators with Steplike Quasi-Periodic Background

We develop direct and inverse scattering theory for Jacobi operators with steplike quasi-periodic finite-gap background in the same isospectral class. We derive the corresponding Gel'fand-Levitan-Marchenko equation and find minimal scattering data which determine the perturbed operator uniquely. In addition, we show how the transmission coefficients can be reconstructed from the eigenvalues and one of the reflection coefficients.Comment: 14 page

Azimuthal modulation of the event rate of cosmic ray extensive air showers by the geomagnetic field

The Earth's magnetic field effect on the azimuthal distribution of extensive air showers (EAS) of cosmic rays has been evaluated using a bulk of the Yakutsk array data. The uniform azimuthal distribution of the EAS event rate is rejected at the significance level 10^(-14). Amplitude of the first harmonics of observed distribution depends on zenith angle as A1=0.2*sin^2(theta) and is almost independent of the primary energy; the phase coincides with the magnetic meridian. Basing upon the value of measured effect, the correction factor has been derived for the particle density depending on a geomagnetic parameter of a shower.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures in ps file

Spectrum of cosmic rays, produced in supernova remnants

Nonlinear kinetic theory of cosmic ray (CR) acceleration in supernova remnants is employed to calculate CR spectra. The magnetic field in SNRs is assumed to be significantly amplified by the efficiently accelerating nuclear CR component. It is shown that the calculated CR spectra agree in a satisfactory way with the existing measurements up to the energy $10^{17}$ eV. The power law spectrum of protons extends up to the energy $3\times 10^{15}$ eV with a subsequent exponential cutoff. It gives a natural explanation for the observed knee in the Galactic CR spectrum. The maximum energy of the accelerated nuclei is proportional to their charge number $Z$. Therefore the break in the Galactic CR spectrum is the result of the contribution of progressively heavier species in the overall CR spectrum so that at $10^{17}$ eV the CR spectrum is dominated by iron group nuclei. It is shown that this component plus a suitably chosen extragalactic CR component can give a consistent description for the entire Galactic CR spectrum.Comment: 4 pages with emulateapj, 3 figures, accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal Letter