3,860 research outputs found
The tropical response to extratropical thermal forcing in an idealized GCM: The importance of radiative feedbacks and convective parameterization
The response of tropical precipitation to extratropical thermal forcing is reexamined using an idealized moist atmospheric GCM that has no water vapor or cloud feedbacks, simplifying the analysis while retaining the aquaplanet configuration coupled to a slab ocean from the authors' previous study. As in earlier studies, tropical precipitation in response to high-latitude forcing is skewed toward the warmed hemisphere. Comparisons with a comprehensive GCM in an identical aquaplanet, mixed-layer framework reveal that the tropical responses tend to be much larger in the comprehensive GCM as a result of positive cloud and water vapor feedbacks that amplify the imposed extratropical thermal forcing. The magnitude of the tropical precipitation response in the idealized model is sensitive to convection scheme parameters. This sensitivity as well as the tropical precipitation response can be understood from a simple theory with two ingredients: the changes in poleward energy fluxes are predicted using a onedimensional energy balance model and a measure of the "total gross moist stability" [??m, which is defined as the total (mean plus eddy) atmospheric energy transport per unit mass transport] of the model tropics converts the energy flux change into a mass flux and a moisture flux change. The idealized model produces a low level of compensation of about 25% between the imposed oceanic flux and the resulting response in the atmospheric energy transport in the tropics regardless of the convection scheme parameter. Because Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory Atmospheric Model 2 (AM2) with prescribed clouds and water vapor exhibits a similarly low level of compensation, it is argued that roughly 25% of the compensation is dynamically controlled through eddy energy fluxes. The sensitivity of the tropical response to the convection scheme in the idealized model results from different values of ??m: smaller ??m leads to larger tropical precipitation changes for the same response in the energy transport.open624
Delayed four- and six-wave mixing in a coherently prepared atomic ensemble
We report on the simultaneous observation, by delayed Bragg diffraction, of
four- and six-wave mixing processes in a coherently prepared atomic ensemble
consisting of cold cesium atoms. For each diffracted order, we observe
different temporal pulse shapes and dependencies with the intensities of the
exciting fields, evidencing the different mechanisms involved in each process.
The various observations are well described by a simplified analytical theory,
which considers the atomic system as an ensemble of three-level atoms in
{\Lambda} configuration
P-P Total Cross Sections at VHE from Accelerator Data
Comparison of P-P total cross-sections estimations at very high energies -
from accelerators and cosmic rays - shows a disagreement amounting to more than
10 %, a discrepancy which is beyond statistical errors. Here we use a
phenomenological model based on the Multiple-Diffraction approach to
successfully describe data at accelerator energies. The predictions of the
model are compared with data On the basis of regression analysis we determine
confident error bands, analyzing the sensitivity of our predictions to the
employed data for extrapolation. : using data at 546 and 1.8 TeV, our
extrapolations for p-p total cross-sections are only compatible with the Akeno
cosmic ray data, predicting a slower rise with energy than other cosmic ray
results and other extrapolation methods. We discuss our results within the
context of constraints in the light of future accelerator and cosmic ray
experimental results.Comment: 26 pages aqnd 11 figure
Extratropical forcing and tropical rainfall distribution: energetics framework and ocean Ekman advection
Intense tropical rainfall occurs in a narrow belt near the equator, called the inter-tropical convergence zone (ITCZ). In the past decade, the atmospheric energy budget has been used to explain changes in the zonal-mean ITCZ position. The energetics framework provides a mechanism for extratropics-to-tropics teleconnections, which have been postulated from paleoclimate records. In atmosphere models coupled with a motionless slab ocean, the ITCZ shifts toward the warmed hemisphere in order for the Hadley circulation to transport energy toward the colder hemisphere. However, recent studies using fully coupled models show that tropical rainfall can be rather insensitive to extratropical forcing when ocean dynamics is included. Here, we explore the effect of meridional Ekman heat advection while neglecting the upwelling effect on the ITCZ response to prescribed extratropical thermal forcing. The tropical component of Ekman advection is a negative feedback that partially compensates the prescribed forcing, whereas the extratropical component is a positive feedback that amplifies the prescribed forcing. Overall, the tropical negative feedback dominates over the extratropical positive feedback. Thus, including Ekman advection reduces the need for atmospheric energy transport, dampening the ITCZ response. We propose to build a hierarchy of ocean models to systematically explore the full dynamical response of the coupled climate system
Oxidation resistance of graphene-coated Cu and Cu/Ni alloy
The ability to protect refined metals from reactive environments is vital to
many industrial and academic applications. Current solutions, however,
typically introduce several negative effects, including increased thickness and
changes in the metal physical properties. In this paper, we demonstrate for the
first time the ability of graphene films grown by chemical vapor deposition to
protect the surface of the metallic growth substrates of Cu and Cu/Ni alloy
from air oxidation. SEM, Raman spectroscopy, and XPS studies show that the
metal surface is well protected from oxidation even after heating at 200
\degree C in air for up to 4 hours. Our work further shows that graphene
provides effective resistance against hydrogen peroxide. This protection method
offers significant advantages and can be used on any metal that catalyzes
graphene growth
Effect of Na content and hydration on the excitation spectrum of the cobaltite Na_xCoO_2 yH_2O
We report on a Raman scattering study on the superconducting cobaltite
as function of Na content and hydration (x1/3,
3/4 and y0, 2/3, 4/3). The observed phonon scattering and scattering
continua are analyzed in terms of lattice strain due to the structural misfit
and disorder. Hydration, due to the intercalation of one or two layers,
releases a part of this strain. Our Raman data suggest a connection between
disorder on the partly occupied Na sites, the split off of the level
from the other states of and superconductivity.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures, for further information see
http://www.peter-lemmens.d
Miniature Pneumatic Curling Rubber Actuator Generating Bidirectional Motion with One Air-Supply Tube
Soft actuators driven by pneumatic pressure are promising actuators for mechanical systems in medical, biological, agriculture, welfare fields and so on, because they can ensure high safety for fragile objects from their low mechanical impedance. In this study, a new rubber pneumatic actuator made from silicone rubber was developed. Composed of one chamber and one air-supply tube, it can generate curling motion in two directions by using positive and negative pneumatic pressure. The rubber actuator, for generating bidirectional motion, was designed to achieve an efficient shape by nonlinear finite element method analysis, and was fabricated by a molding and rubber bonding process using excimer light. The fabricated actuator was able to generate curling motion in two directions successfully. The displacement and force characteristics of the actuator were measured by using a motion capture system and a load cell. As an example application of the actuator, a robotic soft hand with three actuators was constructed and its effectiveness was confirmed by experiments
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