Oxygen and ozone in the early Earth's atmosphere     

V.M. Canuto  J.S. Levine  T.R. Augustsson  C.L. Imhoff 《Precambrian Research》1983,20(2-4)

The precise amount of O₂ and O₃ in the Earth's prebiological paleoatmosphere has been a topic of considerable discussion in the past. Since the photolysis of H₂O and CO₂, the prebiological mechanisms to produce O₂, depends on the ultraviolet (UV) flux from the Sun, a reliable quantification of the problem requires detailed knowledge of such flux. Using the most recent astronomical observation of young stars from the International Ultraviolet Explorer, as well as a detailed photochemical model of the paleoatmosphere, we find that the amount of O₂ in the prebiological paleoatmosphere may have been as much as 10⁶ times greater than previously estimated.Some of the implications of this new value are discussed.  相似文献   

A new estimate of volatile outgassing on Mars     

Joel S. Levine 《Icarus》1976,28(2):165-169

The presence of 28% argon on Mars as calculated by Levine and Riegler and indirectly inferred from Soviet Mars-6 lander data has important implications for the outgassing history of H₂O, CO₂, and N₂ on Mars. Even if the terrestrial volatile outgassing ratio is only approximately valid for Mars, then large quantities of H₂O [of the order of 10⁵ gcm^?2 (about 10⁸ more H₂O than is currently present in the Martian atmosphere)] and about 10⁴ gcm^?2 of CO₂ (about 10³ times more CO₂ than found at present in the Martian atmosphere) and some 450 gcm^?2 of N₂ may have outgassed over the history of Mars.  相似文献   

Physics of an active region loop system     

Randolph H. Levine  George L. Withbroe 《Solar physics》1977,51(1):83-101

The structure of the active region loops is investigated by the study of a loop complex which undergoes a dramatic evacuation of most of the mass it contains. The need for continual energy deposition in loops is emphasized by the apparent cessation of energy input to the loops studied and their subsequent behavior. Estimates are made of the energy necessary to form and to maintain the loops, and of the relative importance of radiation and thermal conduction as energy loss mechanisms. Models based on the observed EUV emission are used to place limits on the size of loops seen in various lines and on the density and temperature structure. We find that the cool cores of active region loops are likely to be no more than a few hundred kilometers in radius and that several such cool threads may be imbedded in a common hot outer sheath. The primary energy loss on a large scale is radiation with thermal conduction contributing to local disturbances. There is a tendency for the development of apparently unstable condensations or knots along the length of a loop. Higher resolution observations will be necessary to confirm some of our predictions.  相似文献   

Mapping and monitoring carbon stocks with satellite observations: a comparison of methods     

Scott J Goetz  Alessandro Baccini  Nadine T Laporte  Tracy Johns  Wayne Walker  Josef Kellndorfer  Richard A Houghton  Mindy Sun 《Carbon balance and management》2009,4(1):2-7

Mapping and monitoring carbon stocks in forested regions of the world, particularly the tropics, has attracted a great deal of attention in recent years as deforestation and forest degradation account for up to 30% of anthropogenic carbon emissions, and are now included in climate change negotiations. We review the potential for satellites to measure carbon stocks, specifically aboveground biomass (AGB), and provide an overview of a range of approaches that have been developed and used to map AGB across a diverse set of conditions and geographic areas. We provide a summary of types of remote sensing measurements relevant to mapping AGB, and assess the relative merits and limitations of each. We then provide an overview of traditional techniques of mapping AGB based on ascribing field measurements to vegetation or land cover type classes, and describe the merits and limitations of those relative to recent data mining algorithms used in the context of an approach based on direct utilization of remote sensing measurements, whether optical or lidar reflectance, or radar backscatter. We conclude that while satellite remote sensing has often been discounted as inadequate for the task, attempts to map AGB without satellite imagery are insufficient. Moreover, the direct remote sensing approach provided more coherent maps of AGB relative to traditional approaches. We demonstrate this with a case study focused on continental Africa and discuss the work in the context of reducing uncertainty for carbon monitoring and markets.  相似文献   

EUV structure of a small flare     

Randolph H. Levine 《Solar physics》1978,56(1):185-203

Observations of a small flare are presented using data from the Harvard spectroheliometer on Skylab. The event is discussed in terms of the magnetic structure of the active region as deduced from the EUV observations and from field line extrapolations. The role of emerging flux in the initial flare brightenings is emphasized. A detailed model of one loop is deduced using the EUV data. This self-consistent model indicates initial heating of the loop modelled near its top, and mass flow into the cool core of the loop, with matter preferentially concentrating in a few distinct knots along the loop. Implications for theories of the flare process are discussed.  相似文献   

Open magnetic fields and the solar cycle     

Randolph H. Levine 《Solar physics》1982,79(2):203-230

Models of open magnetic structures on the Sun are presented for periods near solar minimum (CR 1626–1634) and near solar maximum (CR 1668–1678). Together with previous models of open magnetic structures during the declining phase (CR 1601–1611) these calculations provide clues to the relations between open structures, coronal holes, and active regions at different times of the solar cycle. Near solar minimum the close relation between active regions and open structures does not exist. It is suggested that near solar minimum the systematic emergence of new flux with the proper polarity imbalance to maintain open magnetic structures may occur primarily at very small spatial scales. Near solar maximum the role of active regions in maintaining open structures and coronal holes is strong, with large active regions emerging in the proper location and orientation to maintain open structures longer than typical active region lifetimes. Although the use of He I 10830 Å spectroheliograms as a coronal hole indicator is shown to be subject to significant ambiguity, the agreement between calculated open structures and coronal holes determined from He I 10830 Å spectroheliograms is very good. The rotation properties of calculated open structures near solar maximum strongly suggest two classes of features: one that rotates differentially similar to sunspots and active regions and a separate class that rotates more rigidly, as was the case for single large coronal holes during Skylab.  相似文献   

Spatial distribution of large-scale solar magnetic fields and their relation to the interplanetary magnetic field     

Randolph H. Levine 《Solar physics》1979,62(2):277-303

The spatial organization of the observed photospheric magnetic field, as well as its relation to the polarity of the interplanetary field, have been studied using high resolution magnetograms from Kitt Peak National Observatory. Systematic patterns in the large scale field have been found to be due to contributions from both concentrated flux and more diffuse flux. It is not necessary to assume, as has often been done in previous studies, that there is a weak background solar magnetic field causing the large-scale patterns in the photosphere, although the existence of such a field cannot be excluded. The largest scale structures in the photosphere correspond to the expected pattern at the base of a warped heliomagnetic equator.The polarity of the photospheric field, determined on various spatial scales, correlates with the polarity of the interplanetary field, with the most significant correlation due to mid-latitude fields. However, because the interplanetary field is likely to be rooted in concentrated photospheric regions, rather than across an entire polarity region, both the strength and polarity of the field are important in determining the interplanetary field. Thus studies of the interplanetary field which are based on either instrumental or numerical averaging of fields in the solar photosphere are subject to serious inherent limitations.Analyses based on several spatial scales in the photosphere suggest that new flux in the interplanetary medium is often due to relatively small photospheric features which appear in the photosphere up to one month before they are manifest at the Earth. The evolution of the over-all photospheric pattern may be due to individual sub-patterns which have slightly different rotation properties and which alternate in their relative dominance of the interplanetary medium.  相似文献   

Evolution of photospheric magnetic field patterns during skylab     

Randolph H. Levine 《Solar physics》1977,54(2):327-341

The evolution of the photospheric magnetic field pattern over eleven solar rotations preceding a minimum of the activity cycle is shown to be characterized by abrupt changes of the dominant geometrical patterns of the field. These changes are associated with the onset and end of a sudden increase in the calculated total energy content of the field, which is otherwise decreasing through the period. The calculated geometrical rearrangements correspond in time to observed restructurings of the corona, the interplanetary field, and the solar rotation pattern.  相似文献   

A new approach for evaluating climate change communication     

Levine  Adam Seth  Kline  Reuben 《Climatic change》2017,142(1-2):301-309

Many scholars study when climate change communication increases citizen engagement. Yet, past work has largely used public opinion-based measures of engagement to evaluate alternative frames. In this paper, we argue for a new approach to evaluation, which is premised on research on the policy-making process showing that space on the political agenda and, ultimately, policy change are more likely to arise in response to changes in both public opinion and collective political action. Thus, we argue that alternative frames should be evaluated based on their consequences for both. This is especially critical given that frames can have divergent effects on attitudes and behavior. Using a combination of field and survey experiments, we apply our approach to evaluate two frames related to climate change risks. We find that they heighten people’s concern about climate change yet decrease their rate of political action to express that concern. Our results suggest caution with regard to these frames in particular and that, more generally, frames that might seem advantageous when examining public opinion may not be when political behavior is analyzed.

  相似文献   

Simulation of annual biogeochemical cycles of nutrient balance, phytoplankton bloom(s), and DO in Puget Sound using an unstructured grid model     

Tarang Khangaonkar  Brandon Sackmann  Wen Long  Teizeen Mohamedali  Mindy Roberts 《Ocean Dynamics》2012,62(9):1353-1379

Nutrient pollution from rivers, nonpoint source runoff, and nearly 100 wastewater discharges is a potential threat to the ecological health of Puget Sound with evidence of hypoxia in some basins. However, the relative contributions of loads entering Puget Sound from natural and anthropogenic sources, and the effects of exchange flow from the Pacific Ocean are not well understood. Development of a quantitative model of Puget Sound is thus presented to help improve our understanding of the annual biogeochemical cycles in this system using the unstructured grid Finite-Volume Coastal Ocean Model framework and the Integrated Compartment Model (CE-QUAL-ICM) water quality kinetics. Results based on 2006 data show that phytoplankton growth and die-off, succession between two species of algae, nutrient dynamics, and dissolved oxygen in Puget Sound are strongly tied to seasonal variation of temperature, solar radiation, and the annual exchange and flushing induced by upwelled Pacific Ocean waters. Concentrations in the mixed outflow surface layer occupying approximately 5–20?m of the upper water column show strong effects of eutrophication from natural and anthropogenic sources, spring and summer algae blooms, accompanied by depleted nutrients but high dissolved oxygen levels. The bottom layer reflects dissolved oxygen and nutrient concentrations of upwelled Pacific Ocean water modulated by mixing with biologically active surface outflow in the Strait of Juan de Fuca prior to entering Puget Sound over the Admiralty Inlet. The effect of reflux mixing at the Admiralty Inlet sill resulting in lower nutrient and higher dissolved oxygen levels in bottom waters of Puget Sound than the incoming upwelled Pacific Ocean water is reproduced. By late winter, with the reduction in algal activity, water column constituents of interest, were renewed and the system appeared to reset with cooler temperature, higher nutrient, and higher dissolved oxygen waters from the Pacific Ocean.  相似文献