2,562 research outputs found

    How does the terrestrial carbon exchange respond to inter-annual climatic variations? : A quantification based on atmospheric CO2 data

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    The response of the terrestrial net ecosystem exchange (NEE) of CO2 to climate variations and trends may crucially determine the future climate trajectory. Here we directly quantify this response on inter-annual timescales by building a linear regression of inter-annual NEE anomalies against observed air temperature anomalies into an atmospheric inverse calculation based on long-term atmospheric CO2 observations. This allows us to estimate the sensitivity of NEE to inter-annual variations in temperature (seen as a climate proxy) resolved in space and with season. As this sensitivity comprises both direct temperature effects and the effects of other climate variables co-varying with temperature, we interpret it as "inter-annual climate sensitivity". We find distinct seasonal patterns of this sensitivity in the northern extratropics that are consistent with the expected seasonal responses of photosynthesis, respiration, and fire. Within uncertainties, these sensitivity patterns are consistent with independent inferences from eddy covariance data. On large spatial scales, northern extratropical and tropical interannual NEE variations inferred from the NEE-T regression are very similar to the estimates of an atmospheric inversion with explicit inter-annual degrees of freedom. The results of this study offer a way to benchmark ecosystem process models in more detail than existing effective global climate sensitivities. The results can also be used to gap-fill or extrapolate observational records or to separate inter-annual variations from longer-term trends.Peer reviewe

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    History of El Nino impacts on the global carbon cycle 1957-2017 : a quantification from atmospheric CO2 data

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    Interannual variations in the large-scale net ecosystem exchange (NEE) of CO2 between the terrestrial biosphere and the atmosphere were estimated for 1957-2017 from sustained measurements of atmospheric CO2 mixing ratios. As the observations are sparse in the early decades, available records were combined into a 'quasi-homogeneous' dataset based on similarity in their signals, to minimize spurious variations from beginning or ending data records. During El Nino events, CO2 is anomalously released from the tropical band, and a few months later also in the northern extratropical band. This behaviour can approximately be represented by a linear relationship of the NEE anomalies and local air temperature anomalies, with sensitivity coefficients depending on geographical location and season. The apparent climate sensitivity of global total NEE against variations in pan-tropically averaged annual air temperature slowly changed over time during the 1957-2017 period, first increasing (though less strongly than in previous studies) but then decreasing again. However, only part of this change can be attributed to actual changes in local physiological or ecosystem processes, the rest probably arising from shifts in the geographical area of dominating temperature variations. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'The impact of the 2015/2016 El Nino on the terrestrial tropical carbon cycle: patterns, mechanisms and implications'.Peer reviewe

    The European carbon cycle response to heat and drought as seen from atmospheric CO(2)data for 1999-2018

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    In 2018, central and northern parts of Europe experienced heat and drought conditions over many months from spring to autumn, strongly affecting both natural ecosystems and crops. Besides their impact on nature and society, events like this can be used to study the impact of climate variations on the terrestrial carbon cycle, which is an important determinant of the future climate trajectory. Here, variations in the regional net ecosystem exchange (NEE) of CO(2)between terrestrial ecosystems and the atmosphere were quantified from measurements of atmospheric CO(2)mole fractions. Over Europe, several observational records have been maintained since at least 1999, giving us the opportunity to assess the 2018 anomaly in the context of at least two decades of variations, including the strong climate anomaly in 2003. In addition to an atmospheric inversion with temporally explicitly estimated anomalies, we use an inversion based on empirical statistical relations between anomalies in the local NEE and anomalies in local climate conditions. For our analysis period 1999-2018, we find that higher-than-usual NEE in hot and dry summers may tend to arise in Central Europe from enhanced ecosystem respiration due to the elevated temperatures, and in Southern Europe from reduced photosynthesis due to the reduced water availability. Despite concerns in the literature, the level of agreement between regression-based NEE anomalies and temporally explicitly estimated anomalies indicates that the atmospheric CO(2)measurements from the relatively dense European station network do provide information about the year-to-year variations of Europe's carbon sources and sinks, at least in summer. This article is part of the theme issue 'Impacts of the 2018 severe drought and heatwave in Europe: from site to continental scale'.Peer reviewe

    Identification. The missing link between joint attention and imitation

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    In this paper we outline our hypothesis that human intersubjective engagement entails identifying with other people. We tested a prediction derived from this hypothesis that concerned the relation between a component of joint attention and a specific form of imitation. The empirical investigation involved “blind” ratings of videotapes from a recent study in which we tested matched children with and without autism for their propensity to imitate the self-/other-orientated aspects of another person's actions. The results were in keeping with three a priori predictions, as follows: (a) children with autism contrasted with control participants in spending more time looking at the objects acted upon and less time looking at the tester; (b) participants with autism showed fewer “sharing” looks toward the tester, and although they also showed fewer “checking” and “orientating” looks, they were specifically less likely to show any sharing looks; and, critically, (c) within each group, individual differences in sharing looks (only) were associated with imitation of self–other orientation. We suggest that the propensity to adopt the bodily anchored psychological stance of another person is essential to certain forms of joint attention and imitation, and that a weak tendency to identify with others is pivotal for the developmental psychopathology of autism

    Проект парогазовой ТЭЦ с противодавленческими турбинами

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    Дипломный проект 86страниц, 5рисунков, 10таблиц, 10 источников, 1 приложение, 7 листов графического материала, ТЕПЛОВАЯ СХЕМА, ПАРОГАЗОВАЯ УСТАНОВКА, КОТЕЛ-УТИЛИЗАТОР, ПАРОВАЯ ТУРБИНА СХЕМА КИП и А. Объектом исследования является парогазовый энергоблок. Цель работы – проект парогазового энергоблока. В процессе работы выполнен расчет тепловой схемы расчетный для проектирования отопления режим. режим, проектирование котла-утилизатора, технико-экономические расчеты. В результате выполнения работы показаны преимущества парогазового энергоблока на базе высокотемпературной газотурбинной установки SGT-800, проект позволяет повысить КПД энергоблока в сравнении с традиционными паросиловыми установками. Технико-экономические расчеты показали быструю окупаемость проекта и низкую себестоимость электроэнергии. Пояснительная записка выполнена в текстовом редакторе Microsoft Of- fice Word 2007, чертежи в графических редакторах Компас.Graduation project 86stranits, 5risunkov, 10tablits 10 sources 1 annex, 7 sheets of graphic material, Thermal circuit, combined cycle gas turbine, heat recovery boiler, steam turbine and instrumentation A. SCHEME The object of the research is combined-cycle unit. Objective - combined cycle power project. In the process, calculated the thermal circuit current mode for heating design. mode, design recovery boiler, technical and economic calculations. As a result of the work shows the benefits of combined cycle gas turbine power on the basis of high-temperature gas turbine SGT-800 installation, the project improves the power efficiency compared to conventional steam power plants. Technical and economic calculations have shown a rapid return on the project and the low cost of electricity. The explanatory note is made in the text editor Microsoft Of- fice Word 2007 drawing in the graphic editors Compass

    Experimental evaluation of confidence interval procedures in sequential steady-state simulation

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    Sequential analysis of simulation output is generally accepted as the most efficient way for securing representativeness of samples of collected observations. In this scenario a simulation experiment is stopped when the relative precision of estimates, defined as the relative width of confidence intervals at an assumed confidence level, reaches the required level. This paper deals with the statistical correctness of the methods proposed for estimating confidence intervals for mean values in sequential steady-state stochastic simulation. We formulate basic rules that should be followed in proper experimental analysis of coverage of different steadystate interval estimators. Our main argument is that such analysis should be done sequentially. The numerical results of our preliminary coverage analysis of the method of Spectral Analysis (SA/HW) and Nonoverlapping Batch Means are presented, and compared with those obtained by traditional, non-sequential approaches

    Easily Regenerated Readily Deployable Absorbent for Heavy Metal Removal from Contaminated Water

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    Although clean and abundant water is the keystone of thriving communities, increasing demand and volatile climate patterns are depleting rivers and aquifers. Moreover, the quality of such water sources is threatened by noxious contaminants, of which heavy metals represents an area of growing concern. Recently, graphene oxide (GO) has been suggested as an adsorbent; however, a support is desirable to ensure a high surface area and an immobile phase. Herein, we described the preparation and characterization of a supported-epoxidized carbon nanotube (SENT) via the growth of multi walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) onto a quartz substrate. Subsequent epoxidation provides sufficient functionality to enable adsorbent of heavy metals (Cd2+, Co2+, Cu2+, Hg2+, Ni2+, and Pb2+) from aqueous solution with initial concentrations (60–6000 ppm) chosen to simulate high industrial wastewater contamination. The SENT adsorption efficiency is >99.4% for all metals and the saturation concentration is significantly greater than observed for either GO or acid treated MWNTs. The SENT adsorbent may be readily regenerated under mild conditions using a globally available household chemical, vinegar. 1 g of SENT has the potential to treat 83,000 L of contaminated water down to WHO limits which would be sufficient for 11,000 people

    Transformer models for electromagnetic transient studies with particular reference to HVdc transmission.

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    In this thesis a formulation for incorporating general magnetic equivalent circuits in electromagnetic transient programs is presented. The formulation is applied to create new single-phase, and the first three-limb three-phase PSCAD-EMTDC program transformer models. The new models proposed are validated with laboratory, factory, and field data. Problems associated with magnetically independent phase representations of three-limb three-phase transformers are discussed. Considerable differences are shown in the behaviour of three-phase bank and three-limb three-phase transformers, particularly for the case of in-rush studies. The new transformer models arc applied to: the first intervalidation of the Harmonic Domain Analysis program with the widely accepted PSCAD-EMTDC program, investigating the division of magnetising current harmonics between transformer windings, and the development of a new means to reduce HVdc converter dc side harmonics; the smoothing transformer. The first set of field measurements from a group connected generator HVdc converter station are presented. A PSCAD-EMTDC model for the group connection is validated with the field data and used to investigate the transient behaviour of three-phase bank and three-limb three-phase converter transformers. Considerable differences are shown in the case of a single-phase ground fault

    Electronic structure of warm dense copper studied by ultrafast x-ray absorption spectroscopy

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    We use time-resolved x-ray absorption spectroscopy to investigate the unoccupied electronic density of states of warm dense copper that is produced isochorically through the absorption of an ultrafast optical pulse. The temperature of the superheated electron-hole plasma, which ranges from 4000 to 10 000 K, was determined by comparing the measured x-ray absorption spectrum with a simulation. The electronic structure of warm dense copper is adequately described with the high temperature electronic density of state calculated by the density functional theory. The dynamics of the electron temperature is consistent with a two-temperature model, while a temperature-dependent electron-phonon coupling parameter is necessary
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