Vertical profiles of temperature trends

No abstract availabl

Observation and integrated Earth-system science: a roadmap for 2016–2025

This report is the response to a request by the Committee on Space Research of the International Council for Science to prepare a roadmap on observation and integrated Earth-system science for the coming ten years. Its focus is on the combined use of observations and modelling to address the functioning, predictability and projected evolution of interacting components of the Earth system on timescales out to a century or so. It discusses how observations support integrated Earth-system science and its applications, and identifies planned enhancements to the contributing observing systems and other requirements for observations and their processing. All types of observation are considered, but emphasis is placed on those made from space. The origins and development of the integrated view of the Earth system are outlined, noting the interactions between the main components that lead to requirements for integrated science and modelling, and for the observations that guide and support them. What constitutes an Earth-system model is discussed. Summaries are given of key cycles within the Earth system. The nature of Earth observation and the arrangements for international coordination essential for effective operation of global observing systems are introduced. Instances are given of present types of observation, what is already on the roadmap for 2016–2025 and some of the issues to be faced. Observations that are organised on a systematic basis and observations that are made for process understanding and model development, or other research or demonstration purposes, are covered. Specific accounts are given for many of the variables of the Earth system. The current status and prospects for Earth-system modelling are summarized. The evolution towards applying Earth-system models for environmental monitoring and prediction as well as for climate simulation and projection is outlined. General aspects of the improvement of models, whether through refining the representations of processes that are already incorporated or through adding new processes or components, are discussed. Some important elements of Earth-system models are considered more fully. Data assimilation is discussed not only because it uses observations and models to generate datasets for monitoring the Earth system and for initiating and evaluating predictions, in particular through reanalysis, but also because of the feedback it provides on the quality of both the observations and the models employed. Inverse methods for surface-flux or model-parameter estimation are also covered. Reviews are given of the way observations and the processed datasets based on them are used for evaluating models, and of the combined use of observations and models for monitoring and interpreting the behaviour of the Earth system and for predicting and projecting its future. A set of concluding discussions covers general developmental needs, requirements for continuity of space-based observing systems, further long-term requirements for observations and other data, technological advances and data challenges, and the importance of enhanced international co-operation

Designing the climate observing system of the future

© The Author(s), 2018. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. The definitive version was published in Earth's Future 6 (2018): 80–102, doi:10.1002/2017EF000627.Climate observations are needed to address a large range of important societal issues including sea level rise, droughts, floods, extreme heat events, food security, and freshwater availability in the coming decades. Past, targeted investments in specific climate questions have resulted in tremendous improvements in issues important to human health, security, and infrastructure. However, the current climate observing system was not planned in a comprehensive, focused manner required to adequately address the full range of climate needs. A potential approach to planning the observing system of the future is presented in this article. First, this article proposes that priority be given to the most critical needs as identified within the World Climate Research Program as Grand Challenges. These currently include seven important topics: melting ice and global consequences; clouds, circulation and climate sensitivity; carbon feedbacks in the climate system; understanding and predicting weather and climate extremes; water for the food baskets of the world; regional sea-level change and coastal impacts; and near-term climate prediction. For each Grand Challenge, observations are needed for long-term monitoring, process studies and forecasting capabilities. Second, objective evaluations of proposed observing systems, including satellites, ground-based and in situ observations as well as potentially new, unidentified observational approaches, can quantify the ability to address these climate priorities. And third, investments in effective climate observations will be economically important as they will offer a magnified return on investment that justifies a far greater development of observations to serve society's needs

Improving our fundamental understanding of the role of aerosol−cloud interactions in the climate system

The effect of an increase in atmospheric aerosol concentrations on the distribution and radiative properties of Earth’s clouds is the most uncertain component of the overall global radiative forcing from preindustrial time. General circulation models (GCMs) are the tool for predicting future climate, but the treatment of aerosols, clouds, and aerosol−cloud radiative effects carries large uncertainties that directly affect GCM predictions, such as climate sensitivity. Predictions are hampered by the large range of scales of interaction between various components that need to be captured. Observation systems (remote sensing, in situ) are increasingly being used to constrain predictions, but significant challenges exist, to some extent because of the large range of scales and the fact that the various measuring systems tend to address different scales. Fine-scale models represent clouds, aerosols, and aerosol−cloud interactions with high fidelity but do not include interactions with the larger scale and are therefore limited from a climatic point of view. We suggest strategies for improving estimates of aerosol−cloud relationships in climate models, for new remote sensing and in situ measurements, and for quantifying and reducing model uncertainty

Earth Virtualization Engines (EVE)

To manage Earth in the Anthropocene, new tools, new institutions, and new forms of international cooperation will be required. Earth Virtualization Engines is proposed as an international federation of centers of excellence to empower all people to respond to the immense and urgent challenges posed by climate change

Analysis of T-2 Toxin in Feed and Animal Specimens

123 p.Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1982.A gas liquid chromatographic method was developed for the determination of T-2 toxin in feeds. The T-2 toxin was extracted from feeds with aqueous methanol. A zinc acetate and aluminum chloride solution was used to denature and precipitate proteinaceous compounds, plant pigments and other extraneous materials. The T-2 toxin was selectively partitioned into the benzene fraction, which was washed with 1% potassium hydroxide to remove acidic compounds. Other extraneous materials were removed by silica gel column chromatography using acetonitrile as an elutant. The acetonitrile was removed by evaporation and heptafluorobutyryl imidazole (HFBI) was added to form esters of the toxin. The esters were separated on a 2% OV-1, 6ft. glass column and quantitated with a Nickel-63 electron capture detector. The absolute recovery of the T-2 toxin spiked at concentrations between 0.5-7.0 ug/g was 100.62 + 10.24%. The proposed method could detect 0.1 ug/g in mixed feeds.T-2 toxin was selectively partitioned from plasma and urine into the benzene fraction. Extraneous materials were removed by silica gel column chromatography. Heptafluorobutyryl imidazole (HFBI) was added to the toxin to form esters. The HFBI derived T-2 esters were separated on a 2% OV-1 gas chrom Q 6 ft. glass column and quantitated with a Nickel-63 electron capture detector. HT-2 toxin was used as an internal standard. Recoveries of T-2 toxin from plasma and urine fortified with 0.1-3.0 ug toxin/ml ranged from 89-98% and 91-99% respectively. The proposed method could detect 0.01 ug toxin/ml in plasma and urine.U of I OnlyRestricted to the U of I community idenfinitely during batch ingest of legacy ETD

Corrosion of Stirred Electrochemical Nano-Crystalline Hydroxyapatite (HA) Coatings on Ti6Al4V

Ti6Al4V substrates were electrochemically deposited with nano-crystalline hydroxyapatite (HA) from aqueous electrolytes. Cathodic HA coatings were obtained when the electrolyte was stirred using ultrasonic vibration. Two current densities of 20 mA/cm2 and 50 mA/cm2 were employed. Polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were the techniques used to estimate the corrosion of coatings in simulated body fluid (SBF). The results indicate good corrosion resistance for the coating obtained at 50 mA/cm2 from ultrasonic stirring of the electrolyte

Morbidity profile of elderly outpatients attending selected sub-district Siddha health facilities in Tamil Nadu, India

Background: Recently, under National Health Mission alternate systems of Medicine are mainstreamed in public health care system. Effective action plan generation, logistic arrangement and roll out of these alternate systems of Medicine needs understanding on profile of morbidities among attendees who come to these facilities. Objectives: This study was planned to report profile of morbidities, age and sex differentials in specific morbidities among geriatric attendees in secondary level siddha health facilities. Materials and Methods: A facility based cross sectional study was conducted among elderly person (60 years and above) attending Siddha outpatient department (OPD) from two of the randomly selected sub district level siddha facilities in Erode district, Tamil Nadu, India. Information on socio-demographic variables like age, gender, education and clinical profile (diagnosis) were collected from records already maintained in the siddha OPD. Morbidities were summarized in terms of proportions based on age and gender. Age and sex specific differentials on specific morbidities were compared using 'z' test. Results: Of 2710 patients who visited these two siddha facilities during the reference period, 763 (28.1%) patients were elderly. Arthritis (45.2%), neuritis (8.8%), diabetes (6.6%), bronchial asthma (5.2%), hemiplegia (3.7%) were the top five morbidities diagnosed and treated among elderly attending the siddha OPD. There was a predilection towards elderly male for morbidities such as bronchial asthma and hemiplegia compared to elderly female. Similarly, higher proportions of lumbar spondylosis, hypertension and fungal skin diseases were reported among aged 80 years or more compared to elderly aged 60-79 years. Conclusion: Elderly constitute more than one fourth of outpatients load from siddha health facilities. Degenerative diseases like arthritis and non-communicable diseases were the common morbidities in this age group. Geriatric clinics and mobile clinics under siddha system may help in improving health care services

Effect of Machining Process Parameters and Number of Pass on Compaction Behaviour of Commercially Pure Aluminium Chips Consolidated by Equal Channel Angular Pressing (ECAP) Using Response Surface Methodology

This work investigates the compaction behaviour of commercial pure aluminium chips (CP Al) produced during a machining operation and subsequently consolidated by Equal Channel Angular Pressing (ECAP). Empirical models were developed to describe the relative density and hardness of the compacted product of ECAP as functions of the initial machining input parameters including cutting edge angle (CA), depth of cut (DOC) and then the number of consolidation pass during ECAP. The models were developed utilizing response surface methodology (RSM) based on data from a central composite face centred factorial design of experiments approach. The models were then validated by using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The effect of input parameters on the relative density and hardness of the ECAP consolidated samples are presented and discussed including details as regards to the mechanical and microstructural properties. An optimum set of input parameters are identified and presented where the best relative density and hardness are demonstrated