37 research outputs found

    The SPTPoL extended cluster survey

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    We describe the observations and resultant galaxy cluster catalog from the 2770 deg2 SPTpol Extended Cluster Survey (SPT-ECS). Clusters are identified via the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (SZ) effect and confirmed with a combination of archival and targeted follow-up data, making particular use of data from the Dark Energy Survey (DES). With incomplete follow-up we have confirmed as clusters 244 of 266 candidates at a detection significance ξ ≥ 5 and an additional 204 systems at 4 4 threshold, and 10% of their measured SZ flux. We associate SZ-selected clusters, from both SPT-ECS and the SPT-SZ survey, with clusters from the DES redMaPPer sample, and we find an offset distribution between the SZ center and central galaxy in general agreement with previous work, though with a larger fraction of clusters with significant offsets. Adopting a fixed Planck-like cosmology, we measure the optical richness-SZ mass (l - M) relation and find it to be 28% shallower than that from a weak-lensing analysis of the DES data-a difference significant at the 4σ level-with the relations intersecting at λ = 60. The SPT-ECS cluster sample will be particularly useful for studying the evolution of massive clusters and, in combination with DES lensing observations and the SPT-SZ cluster sample, will be an important component of future cosmological analyses

    Detection of CMB-cluster lensing using polarization data from SPTpol

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    We report the first detection of gravitational lensing due to galaxy clusters using only the polarization of the cosmic microwave background (CMB). The lensing signal is obtained using a new estimator that extracts the lensing dipole signature from stacked images formed by rotating the cluster-centered Stokes Q U map cutouts along the direction of the locally measured background CMB polarization gradient. Using data from the SPTpol 500     deg 2 survey at the locations of roughly 18 000 clusters with richness λ ≥ 10 from the Dark Energy Survey (DES) Year-3 full galaxy cluster catalog, we detect lensing at 4.8 σ . The mean stacked mass of the selected sample is found to be ( 1.43 ± 0.40 ) × 10 14 M ⊙ which is in good agreement with optical weak lensing based estimates using DES data and CMB-lensing based estimates using SPTpol temperature data. This measurement is a key first step for cluster cosmology with future low-noise CMB surveys, like CMB-S4, for which CMB polarization will be the primary channel for cluster lensing measurements

    Pedotransfer functions to predict water retention for soils of the humid tropics: a review

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    Produtividade agrícola de cultivares de cana-de-açúcar em diferentes solos e épocas de colheita<A NAME="TOP1"></A> Productivity of sugarcane cultivars in different soils and harvesting periods

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    A cultura da cana-de-açúcar é destaque no cenário agrícola do Brasil, sendo cultivada em vários tipos de ambiente (associação de clima e solo). O estudo das respostas dos diferentes cultivares em cada ambiente de produção auxilia a maximizar a exploração econômica da cultura. Neste contexto, três experimentos em blocos completos casualizados com quatro repetições foram delineados para determinar as produtividades de colmos e a pol % cana de nove cultivares de cana-de-açúcar em dois solos: Planossolo mesotrófico textura arenosa/média (PL) e Podzólico Vermelho Amarelo mesotrófico textura arenosa/média (PV). Os cultivares foram colhidas em três épocas: maio, agosto e outubro de 1997. As produtividades de colmos foram superiores (P<0,01) no PV. Os cultivares de cana-de-açúcar estudadas neste trabalho apresentaram comportamentos de produtividade agrícola e maturação variados nos dois ambientes de desenvolvimento estudados, em consequência das diferentes condições hídricas entre os solos, o que enfatiza o papel do ambiente na produtividade de colmos e maturação de cultivares da cana-de-açúcar.<br>Sugarcane is of prime importance in Brazilian agriculture, being cultivated over a range of environments (climate and soil). Studying cultivars responses in different environments helps to improve and maximize the crop economic output. In this context, three experiments were performed in a 9x2 randomized block design with four replicates to assess differences in stalk and the percentage of sucrose of nine sugarcane cultivars growing in two soils, Tipic Kandiaqult (PL) and Arenic Kandiudult (PV). The cultivars were harvested during three months (May, August and October/1997). Overall the PV soil permitted higher stalk productivities (P<0.01). The sugarcane cultivars studied in this work showed different stalk produtivities and ripening degrees in the studied environments, which related to the water holding capacities in the two soils, emphasizing the role of environment on stalk and potential sugar productivities

    The role of conservation agriculture in sustainable agriculture

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    The paper focuses on conservation agriculture (CA), defined as minimal soil disturbance (no-till, NT) and permanent soil cover (mulch) combined with rotations, as a more sustainable cultivation system for the future. Cultivation and tillage play an important role in agriculture. The benefits of tillage in agriculture are explored before introducing conservation tillage (CT), a practice that was borne out of the American dust bowl of the 1930s. The paper then describes the benefits of CA, a suggested improvement on CT, where NT, mulch and rotations significantly improve soil properties and other biotic factors. The paper concludes that CA is a more sustainable and environmentally friendly management system for cultivating crops. Case studies from the rice–wheat areas of the Indo-Gangetic Plains of South Asia and the irrigated maize–wheat systems of Northwest Mexico are used to describe how CA practices have been used in these two environments to raise production sustainably and profitably. Benefits in terms of greenhouse gas emissions and their effect on global warming are also discussed. The paper concludes that agriculture in the next decade will have to sustainably produce more food from less land through more efficient use of natural resources and with minimal impact on the environment in order to meet growing population demands. Promoting and adopting CA management systems can help meet this goal
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