Limits On Planets Around Pulsating White Dwarf Stars

We present limits on planetary companions to pulsating white dwarf stars. A subset of these stars exhibit extreme stability in the period and phase of some of their pulsation modes; a planet can be detected around such a star by searching for periodic variations in the arrival time of these pulsations. We present limits on companions greater than a few Jupiter masses around a sample of 15 white dwarf stars as part of an ongoing survey. One star shows a variation in arrival time consistent with a 2M(J) planet in a 4.5 yr orbit. We discuss other possible explanations for the observed signal and conclude that a planet is the most plausible explanation based on the data available.NASA Origins NAG5-13094Astronom

Vegetation phenology in Greenland and links to cryospheric change

Recent greening of vegetation across the Arctic is associated with warming temperatures, hydrologic change and shorter snow-covered periods. Here we investigated trends for a subset of arctic vegetation on the island of Greenland. Vegetation in Greenland is unique due to its close proximity to the Greenland Ice Sheet and its proportionally large connection to the Greenlandic population through the hunting of grazing animals. The aim of this study was to determine whether or not longer snow-free periods (SFPs) were causing Greenlandic vegetation to dry out and become less productive. If vegetation was drying out, a subsequent aim of the study was to determine how widespread the drying was across Greenland. We utilized a 15-year time-series obtained by the MODerate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) to analyze the Greenland vegetation by deriving descriptors cor- responding with the SFP, the number of cumulative growing degree-days and the time-integrated Normalized Difference Vegetation Index. While the productivity of most vegetated areas increased in response to longer growing periods, there were localized regions that exhibited signs consistent with the drying hypothesis. In these areas, vegetation productivity decreased in response to longer SFPs and more accumulated growing degree-days.</p

Detecting subsidence-induced impacts from longwall coalmining on wine grape ('Vitus vinifera') yields: A case study from the Hunter Valley

This thesis examines the impacts associated with active, longwall mining-induced subsidence on the yield of wine grape vines ('Vitis vinifera') in vineyards located in the Broke-Fordwich region of the Hunter Valley. As longwall mining has a distinctive, systematic impact upon surface topography, the question is posed whether or not vine yields are similarly impacted. A series of null hypotheses were developed and tested using data collected at multiple scales. The analysis of vineyard block scale, vineyard scale, and regional scale data over a five-year period revealed that there was no clear evidence of systematic and significant mining induced impacts upon overall vine yields. Instead, vine biophysical responses to climatic factors appeared to best account for the apparent 'negative' trends observed in the pre- and post-mining periods. This suggests that where present, mining-induced subsidence impacts are likely to be localized and site specific rather than systematic

Geothermal Heating and its Influence on the Meridional Overturning Circulation

The effect of geothermal heating on the meridional overturning circulation is examined using an idealized, coarse-resolution ocean general circulation model. This heating is parameterized as a spatially uniform heat flux of 50 mW m-2 through the (flat) ocean floor, in contrast with previous studies that have considered an isolated hotspot or a series of plumes along the mid-Atlantic ridge. The equilibrated response is largely advective: a deep perturbation of the meridional overturning cell on the order of several Sv is produced, connecting with an upper-level circulation at high latitudes, allowing the additional heat to be released to the atmosphere. Risingmotion in the perturbation deep cell is concentrated near the equator. The upward penetration of this cell is limited by the thermocline, analogous to the role of the stratosphere in limiting the upward penetration of convective plumes in the atmosphere. The magnitude of the advective response is inversely proportional to the deep stratification; with a weaker background meridional overturning circulation and a less stratified abyss, the overturning maximum of the perturbation deep cell is increased. This advective response also cools the low-latitude thermocline. The qualitative behavior is similar in both a single hemisphere and double hemisphere configuration.The anomalous circulation driven by geothermal fluxes is more substantial than previously thought. We are able to understand the structure and strength of the response in the idealized geometry and further extend these ideas to explain the results of Adcroft et al. [2001], where the impact of geothermal heating was examined using a global configuration

The MultiSite Spectroscopic Telescope campaign: 2m spectroscopy of the V361 Hya variable PG1605+072

We present results and analysis for the 2m spectroscopic part of the MultiSite Spectroscopic Telescope (MSST) campaign undertaken in May/June 2002. The goal of the project was to observe the pulsating subdwarf B star PG1605+072 simultaneously in velocity and photometry and to resolve as many of the >50 known modes as possible, which will allow a detailed asteroseismological analysis. We have obtained over 150 hours of spectroscopy, leading to an unprecedented noise level of only 207m/s. We report here the detection of 20 frequencies in velocity, with two more likely just below our detection threshold. In particular, we detect 6 linear combinations, making PG1605+072 only the second star known to show such frequencies in velocity. We investigate the phases of these combinations and their parent modes and find relationships between them that cannot be easily understood based on current theory. These observations, when combined with our simultaneous photometry, should allow asteroseismology of this most complicated of sdB pulsators.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in A&A; Figure 1 at lower resolution than accepted versio