55 research outputs found
The Sun's position in the sky
We express the position of the Sun in the sky as a function of time and the
observer's geographic coordinates. Our method is based on applying rotation
matrices to vectors describing points on the celestial sphere. We also derive
direct expressions, as functions of date of the year and geographic latitude,
for the duration of daylight, the maximum and minimum altitudes of the Sun, and
the cardinal directions to sunrise and sunset. We discuss how to account for
the eccentricity of the earth's orbit, the precessions of the equinoxes and the
perihelion, the size of the solar disk, and atmospheric refraction. We
illustrate these results by computing the dates of "Manhattanhenge" (when
sunset aligns with the east-west streets on the main traffic grid for
Manhattan, in New York City), by plotting the altitude of the Sun over
representative cities as a function of time, and by showing plots ("analemmas")
for the position of the Sun in the sky at a given hour of the day.Comment: 19 pages, 16 figures. v3: Replaced to match published version and to
re-package Mathematica notebook as an ancillary fil
Weak-Field Gravity of Revolving Circular Cosmic Strings
A weak-field solution of Einstein's equations is constructed. It is generated
by a circular cosmic string revolving in its plane about the centre of the
circle. (The revolution is introduced to prevent the string from collapsing.)
This solution exhibits a conical singularity, and the corresponding deficit
angle is the same as for a straight string of the same linear energy density,
irrespective of the angular velocity of the string.Comment: 13 pages, LaTe
The cost of mitigation revisited
Estimates of economic implications of climate policy are important inputs into policy-making. Despite care to contextualize quantitative assessments of mitigation costs, one strong view outside academic climate economics is that achieving Paris Agreement goals implies sizable macroeconomic losses. Here, we argue that this notion results from unwarranted simplification or omission of the complexities of quantifying mitigation costs, which generates ambiguity in communication and interpretation. We synthesize key factors influencing mitigation cost estimates to guide interpretation of estimates, for example from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and suggest ways to improve the underlying models. We propose alternatives for the scenario design framework, the framing of mitigation costs and the methods used to derive them, to better inform public debate and policy
Coherent methods in the X-ray sciences
X-ray sources are developing rapidly and their coherent output is growing
extremely rapidly. The increased coherent flux from modern X-ray sources is
being matched with an associated rapid development in experimental methods.
This article reviews the literature describing the ideas that utilise the
increased brilliance from modern X-ray sources. It explores how ideas in
coherent X-ray science are leading to developments in other areas, and vice
versa. The article describes measurements of coherence properties and uses this
discussion as a base from which to describe partially-coherent diffraction and
X-ray phase contrast imaging, with its applications in materials science,
engineering and medicine. Coherent diffraction imaging methods are reviewed
along with associated experiments in materials science. Proposals for
experiments to be performed with the new X-ray free-electron-lasers are briefly
discussed. The literature on X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy is described
and the features it has in common with other coherent X-ray methods are
identified. Many of the ideas used in the coherent X-ray literature have their
origins in the optical and electron communities and these connections are
explored. A review of the areas in which ideas from coherent X-ray methods are
contributing to methods for the neutron, electron and optical communities is
presented.Comment: A review articel accepted by Advances in Physics. 158 pages, 29
figures, 3 table
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Seasonal migration and homing of channel catfish in the lower Wisconsin River, Wisconsin
A multiyear tag and recapture study was conducted to determine whether channelcatfish (Icalurus punctatus) were migratory and if they had strong homing tendencies. Over10,000 channel catfish were tagged from the lower Wisconsin River and adjacent waters of theupper Mississippi River during the 3-year sampling period. Data on movements were obtainedfrom study recaptures and through tag returns and harvest information provided by sport anglersand commercial fishers. Channel catfish occupied relatively small home ranges during summer,migrated downstream to the upper Mississippi River in autumn, then migrated back up theWisconsin River in spring to spawn and to occupy the same summer home sites they had used inprevious summers. Fish size was a factor in the degree of fidelity to summer home sites, withlarger fish showing greater fidelity
Model-based assessments for long-term climate strategies
Many countries are formulating a long-term climate strategy to be submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change by 2020. Model-based, multi-disciplinary assessments can be a key ingredient for informing policy makers and engaging stakeholders in this process
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