Lower atmospheric temperature profile measurements using a Raman lidar

A Raman lidar system was used to measure the temperature profile of the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere. The system consists of a tripled Nd-YAG laser and a 1.5 meter diameter telescope. Two photomultipliers are used at the output of the telescope to allow for measurements at both the laser wavelength and at the Raman shifted wavelength due to atmospheric nitrogen. The signal from the photomultipliers is recorded as photon counts in 1 microsec bins. The results of a number of laser shots are summed together to provide atmospheric returns which have acceptable signal to noise characteristics. Measurements of the Raman nitrogen return were acquired up to an altitude in excess of 20 km. Temperature profiles were retrieved from the attenuation corrected Raman nitrogen return assuming the atmosphere to be in hydrostatic equilibrium and using the ideal gas law. Retrieved temperature profiles are shown compared with independent temperature measurements

The role of water vapor in climate. A strategic research plan for the proposed GEWEX water vapor project (GVaP)

The proposed GEWEX Water Vapor Project (GVaP) addresses fundamental deficiencies in the present understanding of moist atmospheric processes and the role of water vapor in the global hydrologic cycle and climate. Inadequate knowledge of the distribution of atmospheric water vapor and its transport is a major impediment to progress in achieving a fuller understanding of various hydrologic processes and a capability for reliable assessment of potential climatic change on global and regional scales. GVap will promote significant improvements in knowledge of atmospheric water vapor and moist processes as well as in present capabilities to model these processes on global and regional scales. GVaP complements a number of ongoing and planned programs focused on various aspects of the hydrologic cycle. The goal of GVaP is to improve understanding of the role of water vapor in meteorological, hydrological, and climatological processes through improved knowledge of water vapor and its variability on all scales. A detailed description of the GVaP is presented

Climate Change and the Mediterranean Southern Coasts

This chapter deals with climate change effects in the Mediterranean littoral of Morocco, which is one of the most vulnerable countries within the Mediterranean region, especially the low-lying areas located in the eastern, i.e., Nador and Saidia areas, and western parts, i.e., Tangier and Tetouan areas. The different aspects of climatic change characteristics and impacts are also analysed, including: sea level rise (SLR) trend in the Mediterranean littoral of Morocco; coastal erosion and flooding hazards; water management problems; and agricultural and tourist activities. It is established that appropriate vulnerability assessment and adaptation strategies to SLR and climate change are required at regional and national scale in Morocco, to improve the tools for correct coastal zone management

Coastal vulnerability in the Mediterranean sector between Fnideq and M’diq (North of Morocco)

This study assessed coastal vulnerability to erosion processes along a 24- km-long littoral with different levels of human occupation. An aerial photogram- metric flight and a Quickbird satellite image were used for mapping land uses and reconstructing coastal evolution from 1986 to 2003. Maximum erosion (- 2.48 myr−1) was recorded south of Marina Kabila port and maximum accretion (+2.25 myr−1) south of Marina Smir port. Erosion/accretion rates have been divided into five categories and land uses have been mapped and divided into three categories. Coastal vulnerability has been assessed by combining coastal trend with land-use categories: 10% of the littoral recorded “very high” vulner- ability, 29% recorded “high” vulnerability, and 61% of the investigated littoral presented “null” and “low” vulnerability. The “Imminent Collapse Zone”, i.e. the littoral zone threatened by imminent erosion, presented mean values of 10.34 m, with maximum and minimum values of 15.3 and 7.6 m, respectively. Several human structures and activities are located within the imminent collapse zone and consequently will be threatened by severe erosion in near future

Coastal Scenic Quality Assessment of Moroccan Mediterranean Beaches: A Tool for Proper Management

This paper focuses on the study of landscape quality of Moroccan Mediterranean coastal areas, with a view to distinguishing exceptional beaches with high scenic value. The main characteristics of 50 beaches along the studied coast were assessed using a coastal scenic evaluation system based on a set of 26 selected parameters, including physical (18) and human (8) parameters. Each parameter was examined via a five-point rating scale, ranging from presence/absence or poor quality (1) to excellent quality (5). A decision index (D) is afterward obtained and used to classify sites into five classes: Class I: D >= 0.85, which included 9 sites (18%); Class II: 0.85 > D >= 0.65, 10 sites (20%); Class III: 0.65 > D >= 0.40, 8 sites (16%); Class IV: 0.40 > D >= 0.00, 16 sites (32%); and Class V: D < 0.00, 7 sites (14%). The sites of Belyounech 2, Maresdar, El Hwad, and Dalya are the best examples of Class I and represent extremely attractive coastal landscapes. The sites of Ghandouri, Tangier Municipal, M'Diq, Martil, and Tangier Malabata are examples of degraded urban sites that are very unattractive due to high human pressures. Management efforts in Moroccan coastal landscapes can strengthen the control of human activities and improve the scenic value of the sites. Class II beaches, such as Mrisat, Souani, Taourirt, and Sfiha, could improve and upgrade to Class I through litter cleaning and a regular maintenance program. Using the same principle, Class III sites, such as Sidi Amer O Moussa and Sidi Driss, could improve and upgrade to Class II. Indeed, litter and sewage appear as the main factors of degradation of Moroccan coasts, and many excellent beaches are strongly affected by them. This should be a wakeup call to the Moroccan authorities to take urgent and appropriate management measures

Performance modeling of ultraviolet Raman lidar systems for daytime profiling of atmospheric water vapor

We describe preliminary results from a comprehensive computer model developed to guide optimization of a Raman lidar system for measuring daytime profiles of atmospheric water vapor, emphasizing an ultraviolet, solar-blind approach

Investigation of fennel protein extracts by shot-gun Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry

A rapid shot-gun method by Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS) is proposed for the characterization of fennel proteins. After enzymatic digestion with trypsin, few microliters of extract were analyzed by direct infusion in positive ion mode. A custom-made non-redundant fennel-specific proteome database was derived from the well-known NCBI database; additional proteins belonging to recognized allergenic sources (celery, carrot, parsley, birch, and mugwort) were also included in our database, since patients hypersensitive to these plants could also suffer from fennel allergy. The peptide sequence of each protein from that derived list was theoretically sequenced to produce calculated m/z lists of possible m/z ions after tryptic digestions. Then, by using a home-made Matlab algorithm, those lists were matched with the experimental FT-ICR mass spectrum of the fennel peptide mixture. Finally, Peptide Mass Fingerprint searches confirmed the presence of the matched proteins inside the fennel extract with a total of 70 proteins (61 fennel specific and 9 allergenic proteins)