The future sea-level rise contribution of Greenland's glaciers and ice caps

in Environmental Research Letters (2013), 8(025005), 14

We calculate the future sea-level rise contribution from the surface mass balance of all of Greenland's glaciers and ice caps (GICs, ~90 000 km2) using a simplified energy balance model which is driven by ... [more ▼]

We calculate the future sea-level rise contribution from the surface mass balance of all of Greenland's glaciers and ice caps (GICs, ~90 000 km2) using a simplified energy balance model which is driven by three future climate scenarios from the regional climate models HIRHAM5, RACMO2 and MAR. Glacier extent and surface elevation are modified during the mass balance model runs according to a glacier retreat parameterization. Mass balance and glacier surface change are both calculated on a 250 m resolution digital elevation model yielding a high level of detail and ensuring that important feedback mechanisms are considered. The mass loss of all GICs by 2098 is calculated to be 2016 ± 129 Gt (HIRHAM5 forcing), 2584 ± 109 Gt (RACMO2) and 3907 ± 108 Gt (MAR). This corresponds to a total contribution to sea-level rise of 5.8 ± 0.4, 7.4 ± 0.3 and 11.2 ± 0.3 mm, respectively. Sensitivity experiments suggest that mass loss could be higher by 20–30% if a strong lowering of the surface albedo were to take place in the future. It is shown that the sea-level rise contribution from the north-easterly regions of Greenland is reduced by increasing precipitation while mass loss in the southern half of Greenland is dominated by steadily decreasing summer mass balances. In addition we observe glaciers in the north-eastern part of Greenland changing their characteristics towards greater activity and mass turnover. [less ▲]

Changes of soil structure and earthworm community under different agricultural management

Conference (2013, April 11)

Relationship between the Synthesis of Prussian Blue Pigments, Their Color, Physical Properties, and Their Behavior in Paint Layers

in Journal of Physical Chemistry A (2013), 117(19), 96939712

Prussian blue pigments, highly insoluble mixed-valence iron(III) hexacyanoferrate(II) complexes of typical stoichiometry Fe4III[FeII(CN)6]3·xH2O or KFeIII[FeII(CN)6]·xH2O, have been used as pigments in ... [more ▼]

Prussian blue pigments, highly insoluble mixed-valence iron(III) hexacyanoferrate(II) complexes of typical stoichiometry Fe4III[FeII(CN)6]3·xH2O or KFeIII[FeII(CN)6]·xH2O, have been used as pigments in oil paintings and watercolors for 300 years. For poorly understood reasons, these pigments often fade with time. Although the preparation methods have been recognized since the mid-eighteenth century as a contributory factor in the fading of the pigment, the spectral and physical properties of Prussian blue that vary with the type of synthesis were not precisely identified. Several Prussian blue pigments have been prepared by different methods and characterized by thermogravimetric analyses, high-energy powder X-ray diffraction, atomic absorption and flame emission, UV–visible, iron-57 Mössbauer, iron K-edge X-ray absorption, and Raman spectroscopy. The type of synthesis influences the hue, tinting strength, and hiding power properties of the Prussian blue pigments. Two major features appear to be strongly dependent on the preparative methods, the particle size and the local disorder. Both a nitrogen atmosphere and an intermediate aging step of the Berlin white, Fe2II[FeII(CN)6], during the synthesis are required to obtain a highly colored pigment through the optimization of particle size, minimization in the perturbations to the FeII–CN–FeIII intervalence electron transfer pathway, and the minimization of disordered vacancies. The potassium containing Prussian blue structure has been revisited. It can be described with the Pm3m space group, where approximately one-quarter of the [FeII(CN)6]4– sites are vacant and where the potassium cation is located at a zeolitic-like position inside the lattice cavities. The degree of ordering of the [FeII(CN)6]4– vacancies in all Prussian blues was quantified using atomic pair distribution analysis, an ordering that is consistent with the iron K-edge X-ray absorption spectra. The presence of strain in the crystals is observed by both powder X-ray diffraction and Mössbauer spectroscopy. The structural similarity between the alkali-free, improperly referred to as “insoluble”, and the alkali containing, “soluble”, Prussian blues may explain why the two varieties are almost undistinguishable by spectroscopic techniques. [less ▲]

Les ruminants sont des émetteurs importants de gaz à effet de serre : que faire pour les atténuer ?

Scientific conference (2013, April 10)

Occupational activity and cognitive reserve: implications in terms of prevention of cognitive aging and Alzheimer’s disease

in Clinical Interventions in Aging (2013), 8

This paper investigates the relationship between the concept of activity (including both professional and nonprofessional) and cognitive functioning among older European individuals. In this research, we ... [more ▼]

This paper investigates the relationship between the concept of activity (including both professional and nonprofessional) and cognitive functioning among older European individuals. In this research, we used data collected during the first wave of SHARE (Survey on Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe), and a measurement approach known as stochastic frontier analysis, derived from the economic literature. SHARE includes a large population (n . 25,000) geographically distributed across Europe, and analyzes several dimensions simultaneously, including physical and mental health activity. The main advantages of stochastic frontier analysis are that it allows estimation of parametric function relating cognitive scores and driving factors at the boundary and disentangles frontier noise and distance to frontier components, as well as testing the effect of potential factors on these distances simultaneously. The analysis reveals that all activities are positively related to cognitive functioning in elderly people. Our results are discussed in terms of prevention of cognitive aging and Alzheimer’s disease, and regarding the potential impact that some retirement programs might have on cognitive functioning in individuals across Europe. [less ▲]

Dynamic Stall and Stall Flutter Simulations for a 2D Airfoil Using Viscous-Inviscid Coupling

in Proceedings of the 54th AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics and Materials Conference (2013, April 10)

An interactive boundary layer model has been developed and coupled with a pitch plunge airfoil in 2d in order to solve the unsteady flow around the airfoil when undergoing light dynamic stall. The ... [more ▼]

An interactive boundary layer model has been developed and coupled with a pitch plunge airfoil in 2d in order to solve the unsteady flow around the airfoil when undergoing light dynamic stall. The inviscid problem is solved by means of a panel method, by the discretization of the airfoil into vortex panels. The boundary layer is solved in a mixed manner, starting the solution in a direct way by imposing the external velocity and continuing it in an inverse way by imposing the displacement thickness. The solution of the boundary layer equations is carried out using a finite volume scheme. Viscous-inviscid coupling is preformed through the imposition of a permeation velocity on the skin panels of the airfoil and the addition of a free wake at each separation point. [less ▲]

Validation of the Structural-Thermal-Model of the Small Earth Observation Satellite Flying Laptop

Poster (2013, April 10)

Thorough thermal design and testing is compulsory for every satellite mission. A well-known thermal behavior of the entire satellite system is therefore indispensable and needs to be verified during the ... [more ▼]

Thorough thermal design and testing is compulsory for every satellite mission. A well-known thermal behavior of the entire satellite system is therefore indispensable and needs to be verified during the spacecraft development. A Structural-Thermal-Model (STM) was constructed for the Flying Laptop, a satellite currently being developed at the Institute of Space Systems (IRS) of the University of Stuttgart, which enables the validation of mechanical and thermal simulations for the satellite’s Flight-Model. The STM was vibration and thermal-vacuum tested at the Centre Spatial Liège (CSL). This paper will de-scribe the design and construction of the STM as well as the facilities and test equipment used for the tests. Conclusions will be drawn from the actual test results. [less ▲]

On women’s bodies. Religion and female circumcision in Egypt

Scientific conference (2013, April 10)

Among discourses about female circumcision, frequent are those which attribute it to religious beliefs, in particular Islamic ones. An ethnographic research conducted in Egypt, lead me to deconstruct such ... [more ▼]

Among discourses about female circumcision, frequent are those which attribute it to religious beliefs, in particular Islamic ones. An ethnographic research conducted in Egypt, lead me to deconstruct such simplistic association, in order to explore how we can (and if is it possible to) consider such a practice as a performing of religion on women’s bodies. In fact, in the context considered, first of all not only the Islamic religion is called into question, but also the Christian one; secondly, social dynamics are deeply intertwined with spiritual beliefs. In this framework, female circumcision has a precise role in the definition of the healthy sexuality of the couple and in the maintaining of the very same social order insofar it reflects a cosmic one. As a matter of fact, on the one hand religion is functional to legitimize a practice exerted upon women’s bodies which is perceived as essential to regulate social interactions, in the domestic context as well as in the public space. On the other hand, discourses and acts promoting and abandonment of female circumcision rely they themselves on religious precepts. These complex dynamics need to be deeply explored, in order to produce a wider knowledge about a controversial practice. The aim of my paper is to give voice to the literature on the subject and to the social actors involved in my ethnographic experience, among which several women themselves, so as to highlight in which ways religion (Islamic and Christian ones) and the practice of female circumcision are connected. [less ▲]

Measurements of hydrogen cyanide (HCN) and acetylene (C2H2) from the Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI)

in Atmospheric Measurement Techniques (2013), 6

Hydrogen cyanide (HCN) and acetylene (C2H2) are ubiquitous atmospheric trace gases with medium lifetime, which are frequently used as indicators of combustion sources and as tracers for atmospheric ... [more ▼]

Hydrogen cyanide (HCN) and acetylene (C2H2) are ubiquitous atmospheric trace gases with medium lifetime, which are frequently used as indicators of combustion sources and as tracers for atmospheric transport and chemistry. Because of their weak infrared absorption, overlapped by the CO2 Q branch near 720 cm−1, nadir sounders have up to now failed to measure these gases routinely. Taking into account CO2 line mixing, we provide for the first time extensive measurements of HCN and C2H2 total columns at Reunion Island (21° S, 55° E) and Jungfraujoch (46° N, 8° E) in 2009–2010 using observations from the Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI). A first order comparison with local ground-based Fourier transform InfraRed (FTIR) measurements has been carried out allowing tests of seasonal consistency which is reasonably captured, except for HCN at Jungfraujoch. The IASI data shows a greater tendency to high C2H2 values. We also examine a nonspecific biomass burning plume over austral Africa and show that the emission ratios with respect to CO agree with previously reported values. [less ▲]

Evolution of methanol (CH3OH) above the Jungfraujoch station (46.5°N) : Variability, seasonal modulation and long-term trend.

Poster (2013, April 09)

Methanol (CH3OH) is the second most abundant organic compound in the Earth’s atmosphere with concentrations close to a few ppbv, after methane, despite a short lifetime of a few days (Jacob et al., 2005 ... [more ▼]

Methanol (CH3OH) is the second most abundant organic compound in the Earth’s atmosphere with concentrations close to a few ppbv, after methane, despite a short lifetime of a few days (Jacob et al., 2005). Natural sources of CH3OH include plant growth, oceans, decomposition of plant matter, oxidation of methane and other VOCs,. . . while anthropogenic sources are from vehicles, industry,. . . biomass burning completes the emission budget. The main sink is the oxidation by hydroxyl radical, leading to the formation of carbon monoxide (CO) and formaldehyde (H2CO). The retrieval of methanol is very challenging due to the presence of strong absorption of ozone and its isotopologues in addition to water vapour and carbon dioxide in the region of the selected strong nu8 band of CH3OH. First retrievals from satellite observations using the Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment infrared Fourier Transform Spectrometer (ACE-FTS) on board the SCISAT satellite have been performed by Dufour et al. (2007 and references therein) using a spectral interval going from 995.5 to 1008.3 cm-1. In 2009, first retrievals from a ground-based FTS, using spectra recorded at Kitt Peak (31.9°N) and a window going from 992 to 999 cm-1 have been reported by Rinsland et al. (2009), followed by Vigouroux et al. (2012 and references therein) who used yet another spectral interval going from 1029 to 1037cm-1. From those former retrieval strategies and also considering the Mahieu et al. (2012) contribution, we redefined our spectral intervals to maximize the information content. Indeed, our first window, starting from 992 to 1008.3 cm-1, is issued from the merge of Rinsland et al. and Dufour et al. windows while our second, going from 1029 to 1037 cm-1, is the one used by Vigouroux et al.With this new combination of windows, we were able to enlarge the range of zenith angles providing robust results while maintaining good correlation between our two windows; this also resulted in an improvement of the fitting residuals and of the information content. We used the 2008 HITRAN compilation (Rothman et al., 2009) for spectroscopic parameters. However, systematic residuals still remain in the 1033 cm-1 region which are attributed to unsatisfactory line parameters for methanol. New cross sections recorded at the Molecular Spectroscopy Facility of the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (Harrison et al. 2012) and calibrated in intensity by using the reference spectra from the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) IR database will be tested as soon as converted into pseudolines. In this work, we will present the first long-term time series of methanol total columns, resulting from the implementation of our new retrieval strategy. All retrievals have been performed with the SFIT2 algorithm (v 3.91) (Rinsland et al., 1998) using a series of about 7 000 spectra recorded between 1995 and 2012, with zenith angles between 60 and 85°. These solar absorption observations have been recorded with a high-resolution FTIR Bruker 120HR instrument, at the high altitude station of the Jungfraujoch (46.5°N, 8°E, 3580 m asl), within the framework of the Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change (NDACC, visit http://www.ndacc.org). [less ▲]