An extreme event between the Little Ice Age and the 20th century: the snow avalanche cycle of 1888 in the Asturian Massif (Northern Spain)

Between the late Little Ice Age (LIA) cold stage and the early 20th century warmer scenario, a transitional regime characterized by an unstable climatic pattern generated a series of climate extremes affecting mid-latitude mountainous areas, as the Asturian Massif. There, the 1888 snow avalanche cycle appears as the most significant event, standing out among the rest of avalanche cycles recorded in this area during the 1800-2015 period both in terms of the number of damaging avalanches and damages caused by them. Among the factors that explain this event stands out the orographic precipitation phenomenon; the interaction of a cold and wet air mass originating from the North Atlantic with the relief of the Massif, which led to extraordinary snow thicknesses (>2 m) at very low altitudes (500 m a.s.l.), especially in the north-facing, Asturian versant of the Cantabrian Mountains. This allowed the triggering of avalanches in slopes gentler and in lower altitudes than usual, covering longer distances; consequently, avalanches reached more easily the settlements, generally placed at the bottom of the valley or in middle slope positions. The greater impact on the settlements, which suffered 84% of the damages, was the cause of this episode’s high socioeconomic impact (29 people dead, 34 injured, 123 heads of cattle dead, 124 buildings destroyed). These events occurred at a time when the mountain villages were highly populated and subjected to intense exploitation, coinciding with the development of new communication infrastructures in the upper parts of the Massif. Therefore, the 1888 episode constitutes a good example of both the impact of hydrometeorological events in mountain environments under high demographic pressure, and of climate extremes involved in a transition period from cold to warmer weather conditions.Entre la Pequeña Edad de Hielo (PEH) y las primeras décadas del siglo XX, un régimen de transición climática caracterizado por su inestabilidad generó una serie de eventos extremos que afectaron a las zonas montañosas de latitudes medias, como el Macizo Asturiano. Allí, el ciclo de aludes de 1888 fue el acontecimiento más significativo, destacando entre el resto de ciclos de avalanchas registrados en esta área entre 1800 y 2015 tanto por el número de avalanchas dañinas que se registraron como por los daños que estas causaron. Entre los factores que explican este acontecimiento destaca el fenómeno de las precipitaciones orográficas; la interacción de una masa de aire frío y húmedo (procedente del Atlántico Norte) con el relieve del Macizo, condujo a espesores de nieve extraordinarios (> 2 m) a muy bajas altitudes (500 m s.n.m.), especialmente en la vertiente asturiana (orientada al norte). Esto permitió el desencadenamiento de avalanchas en pendientes más suaves y a altitudes más bajas de lo habitual, cubriendo distancias más largas que en otros episodios. En consecuencia, estas avalanchas alcanzaron más fácilmente los asentamientos, tradicionalmente situados en el fondo del valle o en posiciones de media ladera. El mayor impacto en los asentamientos, que sufrieron el 84% de los daños, fue la causa del alto coste socioeconómico de este episodio (29 personas muertas, 34 heridas, 123 cabezas de ganado muertas, 124 edificios destruidos). Estos acontecimientos ocurrieron en un momento en que los núcleos de montaña estaban muy poblados y sometidos a una intensa explotación, coincidiendo además con el desarrollo de nuevas infraestructuras de comunicación en las partes altas del Macizo. Por lo tanto, el episodio de 1888 constituye un buen ejemplo tanto del impacto de los eventos hidrometeorológicos en ambientes montañosos bajo alta presión demográfica, como de los eventos extremos propios de un período de transición de condiciones climáticas frías a más cálidas.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Nuevas faunas de roedores del Mioceno medio y del Mio-Plioceno en la cuenca del Cabriel (Valencia, España)

Five new localities with micromammal remains have been located in the Cabriel Basin. These localities are situated in the eastern area of the Cabriel Basin, in the Juan Vich ravine, where the oldest deposits of this basin crop out. The localities JV2, JV3 and JV6 are of Middle Miocene age, JVTLI1 of Middle Miocene or Late Miocene age and JVTS1 of Late Miocene or Early Pliocene age. The beginning of the sedimentary history of the basin was attributed to Late Turolian (Late Miocene). The new sedimentary record from the Juan Vich ravine and the mammalian findings extend the stratigraphic and paleontological knowledge of the Basin.Cinco nuevas localidades con restos de micromamíferos han sido localizadas en la cuenca del Cabriel. Estas localidades se sitúan en el sector este, en el conocido como barranco de Juan Vich, donde afloran los depósitos más antiguos de esta cuenca. Las localidades JV2, JV3 et JV6 son del Mioceno medio, del Mioceno medio o superior JVTLI1 y del Mioceno superior o Plioceno inferior JVTS1. El inicio de la sedimentación en esta cuenca se había datado en el Turoliense. El registro sedimentario del barranco de Juan Vich y la fauna de mamíferos hallada en él, amplían el conocimiento estratigráfico y paleontológico de esta cuenca

Physical interpretation of NUT solution

We show that the well-known NUT solution can be correctly interpreted as describing the exterior field of two counter-rotating semi-infinite sources possessing negative masses and infinite angular momenta which are attached to the poles of a static finite rod of positive mass.Comment: 7 pages, 1 figure, submitted to Classical and Quantum Gravit

Recovering star formation histories: Integrated-light analyses vs stellar colour-magnitude diagrams

Accurate star formation histories (SFHs) of galaxies are fundamental for understanding the build-up of their stellar content. However, the most accurate SFHs - those obtained from colour-magnitude diagrams (CMDs) of resolved stars reaching the oldest main sequence turnoffs (oMSTO) - are presently limited to a few systems in the Local Group. It is therefore crucial to determine the reliability and range of applicability of SFHs derived from integrated light spectroscopy, as this affects our understanding of unresolved galaxies from low to high redshift. To evaluate the reliability of current full spectral fitting techniques in deriving SFHs from integrated light spectroscopy by comparing SFHs from integrated spectra to those obtained from deep CMDs of resolved stars. We have obtained a high signal--to--noise (S/N $\sim$ 36.3 per \AA) integrated spectrum of a field in the bar of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) using EFOSC2 at the 3.6 meter telescope at La Silla Observatory. For this same field, resolved stellar data reaching the oMSTO are available. We have compared the star formation rate (SFR) as a function of time and the age-metallicity relation (AMR) obtained from the integrated spectrum using {\tt STECKMAP}, and the CMD using the IAC-star/MinnIAC/IAC-pop set of routines. For the sake of completeness we also use and discuss other synthesis codes ({\tt STARLIGHT} and {\tt ULySS}) to derive the SFR and AMR from the integrated LMC spectrum. We find very good agreement (average differences $\sim$ 4.1 $\%$) between the SFR(t) and the AMR obtained using {\tt STECKMAP} on the integrated light spectrum, and the CMD analysis. {\tt STECKMAP} minimizes the impact of the age-metallicity degeneracy and has the advantage of preferring smooth solutions to recover complex SFHs by means of a penalized $\chi^2$. [abridged]Comment: 23 pages, 24 figures. Accepted for publication in A&A (6 Sep 2015

Comparative pan-genome analysis of Piscirickettsia salmonis reveals genomic divergences within genogroups

Indexación: Scopus.Piscirickettsia salmonis is the etiological agent of salmonid rickettsial septicemia, a disease that seriously affects the salmonid industry. Despite efforts to genomically characterize P. salmonis, functional information on the life cycle, pathogenesis mechanisms, diagnosis, treatment, and control of this fish pathogen remain lacking. To address this knowledge gap, the present study conducted an in silico pan-genome analysis of 19 P. salmonis strains from distinct geographic locations and genogroups. Results revealed an expected open pan-genome of 3,463 genes and a core-genome of 1,732 genes. Two marked genogroups were identified, as confirmed by phylogenetic and phylogenomic relationships to the LF-89 and EM-90 reference strains, as well as by assessments of genomic structures. Different structural configurations were found for the six identified copies of the ribosomal operon in the P. salmonis genome, indicating translocation throughout the genetic material. Chromosomal divergences in genomic localization and quantity of genetic cassettes were also found for the Dot/Icm type IVB secretion system. To determine divergences between core-genomes, additional pan-genome descriptions were compiled for the so-termed LF and EM genogroups. Open pan-genomes composed of 2,924 and 2,778 genes and core-genomes composed of 2,170 and 2,228 genes were respectively found for the LF and EM genogroups. The core-genomes were functionally annotated using the Gene Ontology, KEGG, and Virulence Factor databases, revealing the presence of several shared groups of genes related to basic function of intracellular survival and bacterial pathogenesis. Additionally, the specific pan-genomes for the LF and EM genogroups were defined, resulting in the identification of 148 and 273 exclusive proteins, respectively. Notably, specific virulence factors linked to adherence, colonization, invasion factors, and endotoxins were established. The obtained data suggest that these genes could be directly associated with inter-genogroup differences in pathogenesis and host-pathogen interactions, information that could be useful in designing novel strategies for diagnosing and controlling P. salmonis infection. © 2017 Nourdin-Galindo, Sánchez, Molina, Espinoza-Rojas, Oliver, Ruiz, Vargas-Chacoff, Cárcamo, Figueroa, Mancilla, Maracaja-Coutinho and Yañez.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2017.00459/ful

Early transformation of the Mediterranean Outflow Water (MOW) in the Gulf Of Cádiz, SW Iberian Peninsula: pathways, mixing and temporal variability.

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