1,658 research outputs found
Solar total irradiance in cycle 23
The apparently unusual behaviour of the TSI during the most recent minimum of
solar activity has been interpreted as evidence against solar surface magnetism
as the main driver of the secular change in the TSI. We test claims that the
evolution of the solar surface magnetic field does not reproduce the observed
TSI in cycle 23. We use sensitive, 60-minute averaged MDI magnetograms and
quasi-simultaneous continuum images as an input to our SATIRE-S model and
calculate the TSI variation over cycle 23, sampled roughly twice-monthly. The
computed TSI is then compared to the PMOD composite of TSI measurements and to
the data from two individual instruments, SORCE/TIM and UARS/ACRIM II, that
monitored the TSI during the declining phase of cycle 23 and over the previous
minimum in 1996, respectively. Excellent agreement is found between the trends
shown by the model and almost all sets of measurements. The only exception is
the early, i.e. 1996 to 1998, PMOD data. Whereas the agreement between the
model and the PMOD composite over the period 1999-2009 is almost perfect, the
modelled TSI shows a steeper increase between 1996 and 1999 than implied by the
PMOD composite. On the other hand, the steeper trend in the model agrees
remarkably well with the ACRIM II data. A closer look at the VIRGO data, that
make the basis of the PMOD composite after 1996, reveals that only one of the
two VIRGO instruments, the PMO6V, shows the shallower trend present in the
composite, whereas the DIARAD measurements indicate a steeper trend. We
conclude that (1) the sensitivity changes of the PMO6V radiometers within VIRGO
during the first two years have very likely not been correctly evaluated, and
that (2) the TSI variations over cycle 23 and the change in the TSI levels
between the minima in 1996 and 2008 are consistent with the solar surface
magnetism mechanism
Estimate solar contribution to the global surface warming using the ACRIM TSI satellite composite
We study, by using a wavelet decomposition methodology, the solar signature
on global surface temperature data using the ACRIM total solar irradiance
satellite composite by Willson and Mordvinov. These data present a
+0.047%/decade trend between minima during solar cycles 21-23 (1980-2002). We
estimate that the ACRIM upward trend might have minimally contributed
10-30% of the global surface temperature warming over the period
1980-2002
A look at ‘fishy drag’ and androgynous fashion: Exploring the border spaces beyond gender-normative deviance for the straight, cisgendered woman
This article seeks to re-explore and critique the current trend of androgyny in fashion and popular culture and the potential it may hold for gender-deviant dress and politics. In order to do this, it will discuss the way in which a popular version of male drag has monopolized a vision of gender subversion that has marginalized ‘straight’ cisgendered women’s transgressive challenge to gender norms. Although not misogynistic in itself, RuPaul’s Drag Race (Logo 2009–2017) brings to the surface the misogyny inherent in femininity – the performance underscores deeper asymmetrical power imbalances which are embedded in women’s daily lives. Recent unisex fashion collections with their subsequent campaigns have sought to address this imbalance; however, this is not a problem with an easy fix. This article looks at the way in which particular performers such as Grace Jones and Harnaam Kaur have ad(dressed) their gender resistance without camouflaging and thus losing sight of a feminist history of gender inequality which still strongly resonates
ACRIM-gap and total solar irradiance revisited: Is there a secular trend between 1986 and 1996?
A gap in the total solar irradiance (TSI) measurements between ACRIM-1 and
ACRIM-2 led to the ongoing debate on the presence or not of a secular trend
between the minima preceding cycles 22 (in 1986) and 23 (1996). It was recently
proposed to use the SATIRE model of solar irradiance variations to bridge this
gap. When doing this, it is important to use the appropriate SATIRE-based
reconstruction, which we do here, employing a reconstruction based on
magnetograms. The accuracy of this model on months to years timescales is
significantly higher than that of a model developed for long-term
reconstructions used by the ACRIM team for such an analysis. The constructed
`mixed' ACRIM - SATIRE composite shows no increase in the TSI from 1986 to
1996, in contrast to the ACRIM TSI composite.Comment: 4 figure
Landscape-Scale Effects of Supra-Seasonal Drought on Semi-Aquatic Snake Assemblages
Climate change is predicted to alter the frequency and intensity of precipitation events, placing stress on freshwater aquatic ecosystems and their associated wildlife. Thus, understanding interspecific variation in drought sensitivity and the repeatability of those responses across heterogeneous landscapes is critical. Semi-aquatic snakes serve important roles within aquatic ecosystems and several species are threatened. Yet, little is known about the effects of drought on semi-aquatic snake populations or assemblages. We systematically trapped 20 isolated wetlands in South Carolina before (2006) and after (2013) a multi-year supra-seasonal drought to determine drought-induced shifts in occupancy and detection for five semi-aquatic snake species. Our results confirm that supra-seasonal drought differentially affects semi-aquatic snake species across landscape scales. Specifically, site occupancy decreased dramatically following drought for banded watersnakes (Nerodia fasciata) (0.95 to 0.69) and Florida green watersnakes (Nerodia floridana) (0.32 to 0.05), but was relatively unchanged for black swamp snakes (Seminatrix pygaea), mudsnakes (Farancia abacura) and glossy crayfish snakes (Regina rigida). Species lacking adaptations that make them resistant or resilient to drought may become locally extirpated if climate change projections are realized or landscapes are degraded or fragmented in ways that prevent drought recovery
Nutritional values of wild fruits and consumption by migrant frugivorous birds.
Used 18 fruit species and 11 migrant frugivorous bird species in Illinois. The only seasonal trends in fruit traits were interspecific increases in absolute quantity of K and protein per fruit. Fruit energy content did not differ among species having bicolored vs. monochrome or small vs. large fruit displays. The fruit mass consumed was correlated best with dry pulp mass per fruit, providing significant positive correlations in 6 of 11 frugivorous species. Large fruit size relative to bill size did not appear to affect fruit consumption over the range of fruit sizes and bird species used. Because retained energy was correlated with mass consumed, the fruit pulp mass consumed was in most cases a good index of the energy obtained. Some significant differences occurred in digestive efficiency of a bird species eating different fruit species, and among different bird species eating a single fruit species, but no trends were apparent. Regurgitated seed generally spent less time in a bird than did defecated seeds, facilitating more rapid disposal of seed ballast. Smaller birds defecated only small seeds and regurgitated some small seeds as well as all large ones, whereas larger birds defecated all smaller seeds and many larger ones. Resultant seed shadows thus may depend upon both bird and seed size. -from Author
Polymer Bound Photobase Generators And Photoacid Generators For Pitch Division Lithography
The semiconductor industry is pursuing several process options that provide pathways to printing images smaller than the theoretical resolution limit of 193 nm projection scanners. These processes include double patterning, side wall deposition and pitch division. Pitch doubling lithography (PDL), the achievement of pitch division by addition of a photobase generator (PBG) to typical 193 nm resist formulations was recently presented. 1 Controlling the net acid concentration as a function of dose by incorporating both a photoacid generator (PAG) and a PBG in the resist formulation imparts a resist dissolution rate response modulation at twice the frequency of the aerial image. Simulation and patterning of 45 nm half pitch L/S patterns produced using a 90 nm half pitch mask were reported. 2 Pitch division was achieved, but the line edge roughness of the resulting images did not meet the current standard. To reduce line edge roughness, polymer bound PBGs and polymer bound PAGs were investigated in the PDL resist formulations. The synthesis, purification, analysis, and functional performance of various polymers containing PBG or PAG monomers are described herein. Both polymer bound PBG with monomeric PAG and polymer bound PAG with monomeric PBG showed a PDL response. The performance of the polymer bound formulations is compared to the same formulations with small molecule analogs of PAG and PBG.Chemical Engineerin
Photobase Generator Enabled Pitch Division: A Progress Report
Pitch division lithography (PDL) with a photobase generator (PBG) allows printing of grating images with twice the pitch of a mask. The proof-of-concept has been published in the previous paper[1, 2] and demonstrated by others[1]. Forty five nm half-pitch (HP) patterns were produced using a 90nm HP mask, but the image had line edge roughness (LER) that does not meet requirements. Efforts have been made to understand and improve the LER in this process. Challenges were summarized toward low LER and good performing pitch division. Simulations and analysis showed the necessity for an optical image that is uniform in the z direction in order for pitch division to be successful. Two-stage PBGs were designed for enhancement of resist chemical contrast. New pitch division resists with polymer-bound PAGs and PBGs, and various PBGs were tested. This paper focuses on analysis of the LER problems and efforts to improve patterning performance in pitch division lithography.Chemical Engineerin
Reconstructed and measured total solar irradiance: Is there a secular trend between 1978 and 2003?
Total solar irradiance reconstructed between 1978 and 2003 using solar
surface magnetic field distributions is compared with three composites of total
solar irradiance measurements. A good correspondence is found with the total
solar irradiance composite from PMOD/WRC, with no bias between the three
cycles. The agreement with the other composites (the ACRIM composite, mainly
based on the Active Cavity Radiometer Irradiance Monitors I, II & III, and the
IRMB composite from the Institut Royal Meteorologique Belgique) is
significantly poorer. In particular, a secular increase in the irradiance
exhibited by these composites is not present in the reconstructions. Hence any
secular trend in total solar irradiance between 1978 and 2003 is not due to
magnetic fields at the solar surface
Sparse aperture masking interferometry survey of transitional discs: Search for substellar-mass companions and asymmetries in their parent discs
This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from EDP Sciences via the DOI in this record.Context. Transitional discs are a class of circumstellar discs around young stars with extensive clearing of dusty material within their
inner regions on 10s of au scales. One of the primary candidates for this kind of clearing is the formation of planet(s) within the disc
that then accrete or clear their immediate area as they migrate through the disc.
Aims. The goal of this survey was to search for asymmetries in the brightness distribution around a selection of transitional disc
targets. We then aimed to determine whether these asymmetries trace dynamically-induced structures in the disc or the gap-opening
planets themselves.
Methods. Our sample included eight transitional discs. Using the Keck/NIRC2 instrument we utilised the Sparse Aperture Masking
(SAM) interferometry technique to search for asymmetries indicative of ongoing planet formation. We searched for close-in companions
using both model fitting and interferometric image reconstruction techniques. Using simulated data, we derived diagnostics that
helped us to distinguish between point sources and extended asymmetric disc emission. In addition, we investigated the degeneracy
between the contrast and separation that appear for marginally resolved companions.
Results. We found FP Tau to contain a previously unseen disc wall, and DM Tau, LkHα330, and TW Hya to contain an asymmetric
signal indicative of point source-like emission. We placed upper limits on the contrast of a companion in RXJ1842.9-3532 and
V2246 Oph. We ruled the asymmetry signal in RXJ1615.3-3255 and V2062 Oph to be false positives. In the cases where our data
indicated a potential companion we computed estimates for the value of McMË™
c and found values in the range of 10−5 − 10−3M2
J
yr−1
.
Conclusions. We found significant asymmetries in four targets. Of these, three were consistent with companions. We resolved a
previously unseen gap in the disc of FP Tau extending inwards from approximately 10 au.We acknowledge support from a STFC Rutherford Fellowship
and Grant (ST/J004030/1, ST/K003445/1), Marie Sklodowska-Curie CIG
grant (Ref. 618910), and Philip Leverhulme Prize (PLP-2013-110). We additionally
acknowledge support from NASA KPDA grants (JPL-1452321, 1474717,
1485953, 1496788). The authors wish to recognise and acknowledge the very
significant cultural role and reverence that the summit of Mauna Kea has always
had within the indigenous Hawaiian community. We are most fortunate to have
the opportunity to conduct observations from this mountain. Some of the data
presented herein were obtained at the W.M. Keck Observatory, which is operated
as a scientific partnership among the California Institute of Technology, the
University of California and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
The Observatory was made possible by the generous financial support of
the W.M. Keck Foundatio
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