564 research outputs found
Upper bounds for the eigenvalues of Hessian equations
We prove some upper bounds for the Dirichlet eigenvalues of a class of fully
nonlinear elliptic equations, namely the Hessian equationsComment: 15 pages, 1 figur
Sobolev Regularity for Monge-Ampere Type Equations
In this note we prove that, if the cost function satisfies some necessary structural conditions and the densities are bounded away from zero and infinity, then strictly c-convex potentials arising in optimal transportation belong to W2,1+\u3baloc for some \u3ba>0. This generalizes some recents results concerning the regularity of strictly convex Alexandrov solutions of the Monge-Amp\`ere equation with right hand side bounded away from zero and infinity
Collapsing Shells and the Isoperimetric Inequality for Black Holes
Recent results of Trudinger on Isoperimetric Inequalities for non-convex
bodies are applied to the gravitational collapse of a lightlike shell of matter
to form a black hole. Using some integral identities for co-dimension two
surfaces in Minkowski spacetime, the area of the apparent horizon is shown
to be bounded above in terms of the mass by the , which is
consistent with the Cosmic Censorship Hypothesis. The results hold in four
spacetime dimensions and above.Comment: 16 pages plain TE
Local and global behaviour of nonlinear equations with natural growth terms
This paper concerns a study of the pointwise behaviour of positive solutions
to certain quasi-linear elliptic equations with natural growth terms, under
minimal regularity assumptions on the underlying coefficients. Our primary
results consist of optimal pointwise estimates for positive solutions of such
equations in terms of two local Wolff's potentials.Comment: In memory of Professor Nigel Kalto
Two problems related to prescribed curvature measures
Existence of convex body with prescribed generalized curvature measures is
discussed, this result is obtained by making use of Guan-Li-Li's innovative
techniques. In surprise, that methods has also brought us to promote
Ivochkina's estimates for prescribed curvature equation in \cite{I1, I}.Comment: 12 pages, Corrected typo
Coupling carbon allocation with leaf and root phenology predicts tree-grass partitioning along a savanna rainfall gradient
© Author(s) 2016. The relative complexity of the mechanisms underlying savanna ecosystem dynamics, in comparison to other biomes such as temperate and tropical forests, challenges the representation of such dynamics in ecosystem and Earth system models. A realistic representation of processes governing carbon allocation and phenology for the two defining elements of savanna vegetation (namely trees and grasses) may be a key to understanding variations in tree-grass partitioning in time and space across the savanna biome worldwide. Here we present a new approach for modelling coupled phenology and carbon allocation, applied to competing tree and grass plant functional types. The approach accounts for a temporal shift between assimilation and growth, mediated by a labile carbohydrate store. This is combined with a method to maximize long-term net primary production (NPP) by optimally partitioning plant growth between fine roots and (leaves + stem). The computational efficiency of the analytic method used here allows it to be uniquely and readily applied at regional scale, as required, for example, within the framework of a global biogeochemical model. We demonstrate the approach by encoding it in a new simple carbon-water cycle model that we call HAVANA (Hydrology and Vegetation-dynamics Algorithm for Northern Australia), coupled to the existing POP (Population Orders Physiology) model for tree demography and disturbance-mediated heterogeneity. HAVANA-POP is calibrated using monthly remotely sensed fraction of absorbed photosynthetically active radiation (fPAR) and eddy-covariance-based estimates of carbon and water fluxes at five tower sites along the North Australian Tropical Transect (NATT), which is characterized by large gradients in rainfall and wildfire disturbance. The calibrated model replicates observed gradients of fPAR, tree leaf area index, basal area, and foliage projective cover along the NATT. The model behaviour emerges from complex feedbacks between the plant physiology and vegetation dynamics, mediated by shifting above- versus below-ground resources, and not from imposed hypotheses about the controls on tree-grass co-existence. Results support the hypothesis that resource limitation is a stronger determinant of tree cover than disturbance in Australian savannas
On the Regularity of Optimal Transportation Potentials on Round Spheres
In this paper the regularity of optimal transportation potentials defined on
round spheres is investigated. Specifically, this research generalises the
calculations done by Loeper, where he showed that the strong (A3) condition of
Trudinger and Wang is satisfied on the round sphere, when the cost-function is
the geodesic distance squared. In order to generalise Loeper's calculation to a
broader class of cost-functions, the (A3) condition is reformulated via a
stereographic projection that maps charts of the sphere into Euclidean space.
This reformulation subsequently allows one to verify the (A3) condition for any
case where the cost-fuction of the associated optimal transportation problem
can be expressed as a function of the geodesic distance between points on a
round sphere. With this, several examples of such cost-functions are then
analysed to see whether or not they satisfy this (A3) condition.Comment: 24 pages, 4 figure
Harnack inequality and regularity for degenerate quasilinear elliptic equations
We prove Harnack inequality and local regularity results for weak solutions
of a quasilinear degenerate equation in divergence form under natural growth
conditions. The degeneracy is given by a suitable power of a strong
weight. Regularity results are achieved under minimal assumptions on the
coefficients and, as an application, we prove local estimates
for solutions of a degenerate equation in non divergence form
Low atmospheric CO2 levels during the Little Ice Age due to cooling-induced terrestrial uptake
Low atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration during the Little Ice Age has been used to derive the global carbon cycle sensitivity to temperature. Recent evidence confirms earlier indications that the low CO2 was caused by increased terrestrial carbon storage. It remains unknown whether the terrestrial biosphere responded to temperature variations, or there was vegetation re-growth on abandoned farmland. Here we present a global numerical simulation of atmospheric carbonyl sulfide concentrations in the pre-industrial period. Carbonyl sulfide concentration is linked to changes in gross primary production and shows a positive anomaly during the Little Ice Age. We show that a decrease in gross primary production and a larger decrease in ecosystem respiration is the most likely explanation for the decrease in atmospheric CO2 and increase in atmospheric carbonyl sulfide concentrations. Therefore, temperature change, not vegetation re-growth, was the main cause of the increased terrestrial carbon storage. We address the inconsistency between ice-core CO2 records from different sites measuring CO2 and δ13CO2 in ice from Dronning Maud Land (Antarctica). Our interpretation allows us to derive the temperature sensitivity of pre-industrial CO2 fluxes for the terrestrial biosphere (γL = -10 to -90 Pg C K-1), implying a positive climate feedback and providing a benchmark to reduce model uncertainties
Coupling carbon allocation with leaf and root phenology predicts tree-grass partitioning along a savanna rainfall gradient
Abstract. The relative complexity of the mechanisms underlying savanna ecosystem dynamics, in comparison to other biomes such as temperate and tropical forests, challenges the representation of such dynamics in ecosystem and Earth system models. A realistic representation of processes governing carbon allocation and phenology for the two defining elements of savanna vegetation (namely trees and grasses) may be a key to understanding variations in tree/grass partitioning in time and space across the savanna biome worldwide. Here we present a new approach for modelling coupled phenology and carbon allocation, applied to competing tree and grass plant functional types. The approach accounts for a temporal shift between assimilation and growth, mediated by a labile carbohydrate store. This is combined with a method to maximise long-term net primary production (NPP) by optimally partitioning plant growth between fine roots and (leaves + stem). The computational efficiency of the analytic method used here allows it to be uniquely and readily applied at regional scale, as required, for example, within the framework of a global biogeochemical model. We demonstrate the approach by encoding it in a new simple carbon/water cycle model that we call HAVANA (Hydrology and Vegetation-dynamics Algorithm for Northern Australia), coupled to the existing POP (Population Orders Physiology) model for tree demography and disturbance-mediated heterogeneity. HAVANA-POP is calibrated using monthly remotely-sensed fraction of absorbed photosynthetically active radiation (fPAR) and eddy-covariance-based estimates of carbon and water fluxes at 5 tower sites along the Northern Australian Tropical Transect (NATT), which is characterized by large gradients in rainfall and wildfire disturbance. The calibrated model replicates observed gradients of fPAR, tree leaf area index, basal area and foliage projective cover along the NATT. The model behaviour emerges from complex feed-backs between the plant physiology and vegetation dynamics, mediated by shifting above- vs. below-ground resources, and not from imposed hypotheses about the controls on tree/grass co-existence. Results support the hypothesis that resource limitation is a stronger determinant of tree cover than disturbance in Australian savannas. </jats:p
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