Rio de la Plata estuarine system: Relationship between river flow and frontal variability

This paper deals with the application of SeaWIFS images to characterize spatial and temporal variability of fronts in the Rio de la Plata estuarine system over the period 2000–2003. We aim to depict the relationship between river outflow and variability of fronts’ loci on monthly to ENSO-related timescales and the influence of the winds along Rio de la Plata (axial winds) on the abrupt changes in frontal dynamics over synoptic timescales. During the studied period both La Niña (July 1999–June 2000) and El Niño (April 2002–May 2003) events induced significant displacements of fronts. Three distinct fronts were analyzed between river, estuarine, coastal and marine waters of the Rio de la Plata: Main Turbidity Front, Main Marine Front, and Secondary Marine Front. Their number, location and separation seem to be mainly related to river outflow and second, to fresh (>8 m/s) axial winds. During low discharge periods (i.e. summer time and/or La Niña events) these winds induce abrupt changes in the location of fronts (100–200 km) and greater separation between them over synoptic timescale, whereas during high river discharge or ENSO years some of the variability of fronts location is explained by the river’s outflow fluctuations, especially by the high variability of the River Uruguay discharge.     

What we have not learned from the troubles with the Hubble

The Hubble space-based telescope is a great tribute to our progress in space. The ability to place an optical telescope at a significant distance from the Earth's surface, away from the interference of the planet's unsteady atmosphere, have already paid off by producing magnificent records of astronomical activities in the depths of outer space. In the past the problems with the alignment of the Hubble's optics were blamed on the manufacturers of it's optical components. The hastily set investigation concluded that the problem is a spherical aberration of the primary mirror (the primary mirror is said to be 2 microns too flat at the edges). It is suggested that the real culprit is the Parker Effect. Since the time of Galileo Galilei, all telescopes were built, aligned, and used on the Earth's surface. Hubble is the first telescope to be built and aligned on Earth for use in space. Because of this we have to consider the fundamental differences between the alignment of surface-based and space-based telescopes. For those who missed our article “The Parker Effect and Navigation in Space” published in the January issue. The Parker Effect describes the result of interaction between inertial bodies (anything that has mass) and non-inertial media (light or other E/M fields)     

Estimates of disturbances of space vehicle orbits in the upper ionosphere prior to strong earthquakes

Estimates of drag characteristics of the space vehicles with orbit heights of 450–540 and 700–900 km before and after strong (with a magnitude M ≥ 6.5) crust earthquakes of 2000–2006 are presented. The method of estimation of seismic orbital effects is presented using as an example the small Mozhaets-4 spacecraft. Two weeks prior to earthquakes, variations in the drag of low-orbital spacecraft increase. 3–6 days prior to strong crust earthquakes with epicenters on the land, the drag of low-orbit spacecraft in the upper atmosphere increases. The effect of increased viscosity of the neutral component of the atmosphere at spacecraft heights 3–6 days prior to strong crust earthquakes is consistent with the results of studies of disturbances in the ionization density variations in the ionospheric F region prior to earthquakes. No anomalies are found in the day of the earthquake. In the future, it is proposed to use elements of space debris for diagnostics of seismic orbital effects and disturbances of the upper atmosphere.     

Using sunshine for elementary space science education: A model for IHY scientist–teacher partnerships

An elementary science education professional development partnership between Culver City Unified School District teachers and UCLA has been formed. The project was designed to assist teachers to comfortably present introductory space science concepts, to support them in their efforts, and to aid them in encouraging their students to develop inquiry skills related to space sciences. The project encourages teacher use of observational science techniques in their classrooms, the use of NASA solar mission images and enhanced use of astronomical observation to facilitate discovery learning. The integrated approach of the project has fostered collegial learning activities among the participating teachers and offered them opportunities for continued renewal and professional development of teacher competencies in astronomy and space science. The activities used in the classroom were developed by others, classroom tested, and specifically address National Science Education and California Science Content Standards. These activities have been sustained through on-going collaboration between the scientist and the teachers, a summer Research Experience for Teachers program, and on-going, grade-specific, district-sponsored workshops. Assessment of the value of the program is done by the school district and is used to continuously improve each workshop and program component. Culver City (California) Unified School District is a small urban school district located on the Westside of Los Angeles. This paper describes the program and the plans for incorporating IHY-themed science into the classroom.     

Controlling factors of Region 2 field-aligned current and its relationship to the ring current: Model results

One essential component of magnetosphere and ionosphere coupling is the closure of the ring current through Region 2 field-aligned current (FAC). Using the Comprehensive Ring Current Model (CRCM), which includes magnetosphere and ionosphere coupling by solving the kinetic equation of ring current particles and the closure of the electric currents between the two regions, we have investigated the effects of high latitude potential, ionospheric conductivity, plasma sheet density and different magnetic field models on the development of Region 2 field-aligned currents, and the relationship between R2 FACs and the ring current. It is shown that an increase in high latitude potential, ionospheric conductivity or plasma sheet density generally results in an increase in Region 2 FACs’ intensity, but R2 FACs display different local time and latitudinal distributions for changes in each parameter due to the different mechanisms involved. Our simulation results show that the magnetic field configuration of the inner magnetosphere is also an important factor in the development of Region 2 field-aligned current. More numerical experiments and observational results are needed in further our understanding of the complex relationship of the two current systems.     

Hypothesis-test-based landcover change detection using multi-temporal satellite images – A comparative study

Remote sensing images and technologies have been widely applied to environmental monitoring, in particular landuse/landcover classification and change detection. However, the uncertainties involved in such applications have not been fully addressed. In this paper two hypothesis-test-based change detection methods, namely the bivariate joint distribution method and the conditional distribution method, are proposed to tackle the uncertainties in change detection by making decisions based on the desired level of significance. Both methods require a data set of class-dependent no-change pixels to form the basis for class-dependent hypothesis test. Using an exemplar study area in central Taiwan, performance of the proposed methods are shown to be significantly superior to two other commonly applied methods (the post-classification comparison and the image differencing methods) in terms of the overall change detection accuracies. The conditional distribution method takes into consideration the correlation between digital numbers of the pre- and post-images and the effect of the known pre-image digital number on the range of the post-image digital number, and therefore yields the highest change detection accuracy. It is also demonstrated that the class-dependent change detection is crucial for accurate landuse/landcover change detection.     

Design calculation of superlight piston-engined aircraft flight characteristics

Algorithms for determining fixed-pitch propeller parameters and some flight characteristics of a superlight aircraft at the early stage of designing are described.     

Martian jumping rover equipped with electroactive polymer actuators: A preliminary study

This paper presents results of a preliminary study of feasibility for the application of electroactive polymer (EAP) based actuators to a robotic locomotion system, intended by the European Space Agency (ESA) to operate on the surface of Mars. The system is conceived as an elastic spherical rover, exploiting wind propulsion for surface motion, while adopting an active mechanism for vertical jumping over obstacles. The use of polymeric electromechanical devices is envisaged in order to provide actuation to such a jumping mechanism. Among the available EAP technologies, new contractile linear actuators based on dielectric elastomers arc proposed in this study as suitable devices and two potential solutions concerning their use are designed, modeled, and evaluated via numerical simulations. The best solution reveals interesting simulated performances, enabling jumping of obstacle heights corresponding to more than 7% of the diameter of the rover     

Soft X-ray characteristics of white dwarfs observed by EXOSAT

EXOSAT has observed 19 hot white dwarfs with alleged strong soft X-ray emission. Positive detection of a large fraction of this sample was obtained, among these practically all hot DA dwarfs. High-resolution spectral data, acquired with the 500 1/mm grating spectrometer, indicates no traces of He in the atmosphere of HZ43, i.e. n(He)/n(H) ? 10^?5 at a photospheric temperature of 60000 K (log g = 8). In contrast, the hot DA1 dwarf Feige 24 shows the presence of an appreciable He-abundance (n(He)/n(H) ? 10^?3); however no simple homogeneously mixed H/He atmosphere can explain the observed spectral shape.