164 research outputs found
Internet as an Instrument to Transmit Theoretical Knowledge
The problem of transmitting theoretical knowledge and the role of the Internet in it require the solution due to the existing modernization of theoretical knowledge transmission process. The objective of this research is to define the role of the Internet in transmitting theoretical knowledge as it is the extremely important resource of the modern society. According to the carried out analysis of the problem and its solution the information technology is not only the mean that accumulates the volumes of knowledge, but also the tool of its social use, forms of social activity by way of social and information technology. As a result, using method of the methodological analysis in combination with competency-based approach we revealed that the Internet as a diachronic way of transmitting knowledge and experience is characterized by a polyagentity and interdisciplinarity
About the various contributions in Venus rotation rate and LOD
% context heading (optional) {Thanks to the Venus Express Mission, new data
on the properties of Venus could be obtained in particular concerning its
rotation.} % aims heading (mandatory) {In view of these upcoming results, the
purpose of this paper is to determine and compare the major physical processes
influencing the rotation of Venus, and more particularly the angular rotation
rate.} % methods heading (mandatory) {Applying models already used for the
Earth, the effect of the triaxiality of a rigid Venus on its period of rotation
are computed. Then the variations of Venus rotation caused by the elasticity,
the atmosphere and the core of the planet are evaluated.} % results heading
(mandatory) {Although the largest irregularities of the rotation rate of the
Earth at short time scales are caused by its atmosphere and elastic
deformations, we show that the Venus ones are dominated by the tidal torque
exerted by the Sun on its solid body. Indeed, as Venus has a slow rotation,
these effects have a large amplitude of 2 minutes of time (mn). These
variations of the rotation rate are larger than the one induced by atmospheric
wind variations that can reach 25-50 seconds of time (s), depending on the
simulation used. The variations due to the core effects which vary with its
size between 3 and 20s are smaller. Compared to these effects, the influence of
the elastic deformation cause by the zonal tidal potential is negligible.} %
conclusions heading (optional), leave it empty if necessary {As the variations
of the rotation of Venus reported here are of the order 3mn peak to peak, they
should influence past, present and future observations providing further
constraints on the planet internal structure and atmosphere.}Comment: 12 pages, 10 figures, Accepted in A&
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A comparative analysis of Simplified General Circulation Models of the atmosphere of Venus
Within the context of a working group supported by ISSI (Bern, Switzerland), we have made an intercomparison work between Global Circulation Models using simpli?ed parameterizations for radiative forcing and other physical processes. Even with similar schemes and parameters, the different GCMs produce different circulations, illustrating interesting differences between dynamical model cores
Titan's lakes chemical composition: sources of uncertainties and variability
Between 2004 and 2007 the instruments of the CASSINI spacecraft discovered
hydrocarbon lakes in the polar regions of Titan. We have developed a
lake-atmosphere equilibrium model allowing the determination of the chemical
composition of these liquid areas. The model is based on uncertain
thermodynamic data and precipitation rates of organic species predicted to be
present in the lakes and seas that are subject to spatial and temporal
variations. Here we explore and discuss the influence of these uncertainties
and variations. The errors and uncertainties relevant to thermodynamic data are
simulated via Monte-Carlo simulations. Global Circulation Models (GCM) are also
employed in order to investigate the possibility of chemical asymmetry between
the south and the north poles, due to differences in precipitation rates. We
find that mole fractions of compounds in the liquid phase have a high
sensitivity to thermodynamic data used as inputs, in particular molar volumes
and enthalpies of vaporization. When we combine all considered uncertainties,
the ranges of obtained mole fractions are rather large (up to ~8500%) but the
distributions of values are narrow. The relative standard deviations remain
between 10% and ~300% depending on the compound considered. Compared to other
sources of uncertainties and variability, deviation caused by surface pressure
variations are clearly negligible, remaining of the order of a few percent up
to ~20%. Moreover no significant difference is found between the composition of
lakes located in north and south poles. Because the theory of regular solutions
employed here is sensitive to thermodynamic data and is not suitable for polar
molecules such as HCN and CH3CN, our work strongly underlines the need for
experimental simulations and the improvement of Titan's atmospheric models.Comment: Accepted in Planetary and Space Scienc
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The latest (version 4.3) Mars Climate Database
Introduction: The Mars Climate Database (MCD) is a database of meteorological fields derived from General Circulation Model (GCM) numerical simulations of the Martian atmosphere and validated using available observational data. The MCD includes complementary post-processing schemes such as high spatial resolution interpolation of environmental data and means of reconstructing the variability thereof. The GCM is developed at Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique du CNRS (Paris, France) [1,2] in collaboration with the Open University (UK), the Oxford University (UK) and the Instituto de Astrofisica de Andalucia (Spain) with support from the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Centre National
d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES)
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Modeling the martian atmosphere with the LMD global climate model
Introduction: For several years we have been developing a 3D Global Climate Model (GCM) for Mars derived from the models used on Earth for weather forecasting or climate changes studies [1]. The purpose of such a project is ambitious: we wish to build a 'Mars simulator' based only on physical equations, with no tailor-made forcing, but able to reproduce all the available observations of the Martian climate (temperatures, winds, but also clouds, dust, ices, chemical species, etc...).
The GCM is constantly evolving, thanks to a contnuous collaboration between several teams based in France (LMD, SA), the UK (The Open University, University of Oxford) and Spain (Instituto de Astrofisica de Andalucia), and with the support of ESA and CNES.
We are currently working on an improved version of the model. Several new parametrisation are included in the heart of the model (radiative transfer, surface and subsurface processes, dynamics) and the applications of the GCM are in contnuous development (Water, dust, CO2, radon cycles, photochemistry, thermosphere, ionosphere, etc...
Methane storms as a driver of Titan's dune orientation
Titan's equatorial regions are covered by eastward propagating linear dunes.
This direction is opposite to mean surface winds simulated by Global Climate
Models (GCMs), which are oriented westward at these latitudes, similar to trade
winds on Earth. Different hypotheses have been proposed to address this
apparent contradiction, involving Saturn's gravitational tides, large scale
topography or wind statistics, but none of them can explain a global eastward
dune propagation in the equatorial band. Here we analyse the impact of
equinoctial tropical methane storms developing in the superrotating atmosphere
(i.e. the eastward winds at high altitude) on Titan's dune orientation. Using
mesoscale simulations of convective methane clouds with a GCM wind profile
featuring superrotation, we show that Titan's storms should produce fast
eastward gust fronts above the surface. Such gusts dominate the aeolian
transport, allowing dunes to extend eastward. This analysis therefore suggests
a coupling between superrotation, tropical methane storms and dune formation on
Titan. Furthermore, together with GCM predictions and analogies to some
terrestrial dune fields, this work provides a general framework explaining
several major features of Titan's dunes: linear shape, eastward propagation and
poleward divergence, and implies an equatorial origin of Titan's dune sand.Comment: Published online on Nature Geoscience on 13 April 201
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Weakly forced atmospheric GCMs : lessons from model comparisons
Even when forced with mostly identical physical parametrizations, general circulation models (GCMs) of Venus produce significant dispersion in the simulated zonal wind fields and meridional circulations. Horizontal resolution, lower boundary layer parametrization and initial state are among the most sensitive aspects, and consistent trends are not obtained between models (or even by the same model at varying resolution).
When comparing simplified temperature forcing with realistic radiative transfer in the LMD Venus GCM, it is also clear that the description of this forcing is critical to understand the meridional circulation, and therefore the dynamical cycle of angular momentum in this sensitive atmosphere.
The role of numerical aspects is also obvious in the case of Titan, another weakly forced atmosphere in superrotation. Modeling Titan’s stratospheric superrotation has proved difficult, and recent GCM successes highlight that our ability to model these processes correctly is highly sensitive to numerical aspects, especially horizontal dissipation.
These studies show us that modelers need to keep humble and aware of the difficulty to assess robust behaviour with only one GCM. Intercomparison of different GCMs is a useful way to identify robust interpretations from model-dependent aspects
Large Stationary Gravity Waves: A Game Changer for Venus' Science
No abstract availabl
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