Worst cases for an one-hop high frequency link

The characterisation of a HF channel by means of monthly electron density profiles can be complemented with a detailed study of radio propagation «worst cases» on situations with extremes conditions of radiopropagation for a given period. These «worst cases» correspond to conditions that can be identified by means of cumulative distributions of the key parameter f0F2. In this paper, the main parameters of the HF channel: time delay, apogee, elevation angle and transmission frequency with mean and extreme conditions are analysed. The method used to characterise the ionospheric channel is based on ray-tracing techniques

Measurements and estimation of the columnar optical depth of tropospheric aerosols in the UV spectral region

International audienceWe report values of the columnar tropospheric aerosol optical depth at UV wavelengths based on experimental measurements of the direct spectral irradiances carried out by a commercial spectroradiometer (Li1800 of Licor company) covering the range from 300?1100 nm at two stations with different climate characteristics in Spain. The first station is located in a rural site in north central Spain with continental climate. The data extend from March to the end of October of 1995. The other station is a coastal site in the Gulf of Cádiz (southwest Spain) of maritime climate type. This study is mainly focused on the capability of estimating aerosol optical depth values in the UV region based on the extracted information in the visible and near infrared ranges. A first method has been used based on the Ångström turbidity parameters. However, since this method requires detailed spectral information, a second method has also been used, based on the correlation between wavelengths. A correlation has been established between the experimental aerosol optical depth values at 350 nm and 500 nm wavelengths. Although the type of aerosol seems to be the key factor that determines the quality of these estimations, the evaluation of the associated error is necessary to know the behaviour of these estimations in each area of study

On the sub-micron aerosol size distribution in a coastal-rural site at El Arenosillo Station (SW – Spain)

This study focuses on the analysis of the sub-micron aerosol characteristics at El Arenosillo Station, a rural and coastal environment in South-western Spain between 1 August 2004 and 31 July 2006 (594 days). The mean total concentration (<i>N</i><sub>T</sub>) was 8660 cm<sup>−3</sup> and the mean concentrations in the nucleation (<i>N</i><sub>NUC</sub>), Aitken (<i>N</i><sub>AIT</sub>) and accumulation (<i>N</i><sub>ACC</sub>) particle size ranges were 2830 cm<sup>−3</sup>, 4110 cm<sup>−3</sup> and 1720 cm<sup>−3</sup>, respectively. Median size distribution was characterised by a single-modal fit, with a geometric diameter, median number concentration and geometric standard deviation of 60 nm, 5390 cm<sup>−3</sup> and 2.31, respectively. Characterisation of primary emissions, secondary particle formation, changes to meteorology and long-term transport has been necessary to understand the seasonal and annual variability of the total and modal particle concentration. Number concentrations exhibited a diurnal pattern with maximum concentrations around noon. This was governed by the concentrations of the nucleation and Aitken modes during the warm seasons and only by the nucleation mode during the cold seasons. Similar monthly mean total concentrations were observed throughout the year due to a clear inverse variation between the monthly mean <i>N</i><sub>NUC</sub> and <i>N</i><sub>ACC</sub>. It was related to the impact of desert dust and continental air masses on the monthly mean particle levels. These air masses were associated with high values of <i>N</i><sub>ACC</sub> which suppressed the new particle formation (decreasing <i>N</i><sub>NUC</sub>). Each day was classified according to a land breeze flow or a synoptic pattern influence. The median size distribution for desert dust and continental aerosol was dominated by the Aitken and accumulation modes, and marine air masses were dominated by the nucleation and Aitken modes. Particles moved offshore due to the land breeze and had an impact on the particle burden at noon, especially when the wind was blowing from the NW sector in the morning during summer time. This increased <i>N</i><sub>NUC</sub> and <i>N</i><sub>AIT</sub> by factors of 3.1 and 2.4, respectively. Nucleation events with the typical "banana" shape were characterised by a mean particle nucleation rate of 0.74 cm<sup>−3</sup> s<sup>−1</sup>, a mean growth rate of 1.96 nm h<sup>−1</sup> and a mean total duration of 9.25 h (starting at 10:55 GMT and ending at 20:10 GMT). They were observed for 48 days. Other nucleation events were identified as those produced by the emissions from the industrial areas located at a distance of 35 km. They were observed for 42 days. Both nucleation events were strongly linked to the marine air mass origin

Maximum entropy niche-based modelling of seasonal changes in little bustard (Tetrax tetrax) distribution

P. 17-29The effects of habitat fragmentation on species may change seasonally mainly due to variations in resource availability and biotic interactions. In critical periods, such as winter, when the importance of intraspecific competition diminish, species may relax their environmental requirements widening their ecological niche to exploit the scarcer trophic resources more efficiently in comparison with spring. Those variations in niche width may implicate seasonal expansions/retractions in species distribution. In this sense, an integrated knowledge on the spatial arrangement of breeding and wintering suitable patches is essential to infer seasonal movements (migratory connectivity). This paper shows that little bustard environmental preferences were more predictable and complex (controlled by a larger number of environmental factors) in spring than in winter, when potential distribution and ecological niche width were slightly larger. In spring, habitat variables (i.e. percentage of dry crops and pasturelands and altitude) ruled species’ distribution; while, winter pattern was driven by mixed criteria, based on both habitat and climate (i.e. percentage of dry crops and wastelands and winter rainfall). Suitable patches were more connected across spatial scales in winter than in spring, i.e. landscape was perceived as less fragmented. The overlap between potential breeding and wintering distribution areas was high. In fact, most of the predicted wintering areas coincided or showed high connectedness with predicted breeding patches. Conversely, there were significant breeding patches that were predicted with low suitability, showing little connectedness with potential winter areas. Spring habitat was a better predictor of little bustard’s wintering range than vice versa, which has clear management implications (preserving breeding sites closer to wintering areas ensures the conservation of a larger proportion of the total distribution range). This is an example of how predictive large-scale modeling procedures can contribute to the optimization of land management aimed at species conservation.S

Response of steppe birds to various levels of farming intensity and of modification of the agricultural landscape: a comparative analysis of their effects on population density and habitat selection in the Little and Great Bustards (Tetrax tetrax and Otis tarda)

We review the main studies on habitat selection at the scale of agrarian substrate by two non-passerine birds typical of Iberian and Mediterranean cereal farmland, the Little Bustard Tetrax tetrax and the Great Bustard Otis tarda. For each species and at each study site, we analyse the influence of landscape composition and degree of agrarian intensification on population density and pattern of agrarian substrate selection. Neither landscape composition nor intensification level showed any significant effect on population density, although landscape diversity was positively co-related with little bustard population density. The pattern of agrarian substrate selection was unaffected by landscape composition or agrarian intensification in either species, while the type of substrate itself was the only variable affecting such pattern in both of them. We discuss the implications of these results for the conservation of both speciesNous présentons ici une synthèse des principaux travaux sur la sélection de l'habitat en plaine cultivée par l'Outarde canepetière Tetrax tetrax et l'Outarde barbue Otis tarda, oiseaux non passeriformes inféodés aux paysages agricoles céréaliers ibériques et méditerranéens. Pour chacune de ces deux espèces et pour chaque site d'étude, nous analysons l'influence de la composition du paysage agricole ainsi que celle du degré d'intensification de l'agriculture sur les densités de population et le patron de sélection de couverture agraire. La composition et le degré d'intensification du paysage agricole, mesurés respectivement par des indices de culture et d'intensification, ne montrent aucun effet significatif sur les densités de population de ces deux espèces, bien que, pour l'Outarde canepetière, il existe une relation positive significative entre la densité de population et la diversité des cultures. Chez les deux espèces étudiées, ni la composition du paysage, ni le degré d'intensification rencontré sur les différents sites d'étude n'ont d'effet significatif sur le patron de sélection de couverture agraire. Les causes possibles des résultats observés et leurs implications pour la conservation sont discutées

On the sub-micron aerosol size distribution in a coastal-rural site at El Arenosillo Station (SW – Spain)

This study focuses on the analysis of the sub-micron aerosol characteristics at El Arenosillo Station, a rural and coastal environment in South-western Spain between 1 August 2004 and 31 July 2006 (594 days). The mean total concentration (NT) was 8660 cm−3 and the mean concentrations in the nucleation (NNUC), Aitken (NAIT) and accumulation (NACC) particle size ranges were 2830 cm−3, 4110 cm−3 and 1720 cm−3, respectively. Median size distribution was characterised by a single-modal fit, with a geometric diameter, median number concentration and geometric standard deviation of 60 nm, 5390 cm−3 and 2.31, respectively. Characterisation of primary emissions, secondary particle formation, changes to meteorology and long-term transport has been necessary to understand the seasonal and annual variability of the total and modal particle concentration. Number concentrations exhibited a diurnal pattern with maximum concentrations around noon. This was governed by the concentrations of the nucleation and Aitken modes during the warm seasons and only by the nucleation mode during the cold seasons. Similar monthly mean total concentrations were observed throughout the year due to a clear inverse variation between the monthly mean NNUC and NACC. It was related to the impact of desert dust and continental air masses on the monthly mean particle levels. These air masses were associated with high values of NACC which suppressed the new particle formation (decreasing NNUC). Each day was classified according to a land breeze flow or a synoptic pattern influence. The median size distribution for desert dust and continental aerosol was dominated by the Aitken and accumulation modes, and marine air masses were dominated by the nucleation and Aitken modes. Particles moved offshore due to the land breeze and had an impact on the particle burden at noon, especially when the wind was blowing from the NW sector in the morning during summer time. This increased NNUC and NAIT by factors of 3.1 and 2.4, respectively. Nucleation events with the typical "banana" shape were characterised by a mean particle nucleation rate of 0.74 cm−3 s−1, a mean growth rate of 1.96 nm h−1 and a mean total duration of 9.25 h (starting at 10:55 GMT and ending at 20:10 GMT). They were observed for 48 days. Other nucleation events were identified as those produced by the emissions from the industrial areas located at a distance of 35 km. They were observed for 42 days. Both nucleation events were strongly linked to the marine air mass origin