Latitudinal distribution of water vapour over the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal using Bhaskara-II SAMIR data

The main purpose of the present work is to establish the reliability of the SAMIR-derived water vapour (WV) data over the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal for the entire 18-month from January 1982 to June 1983 period of the in-orbit operation of the SAMIR system. The average latitudinal distributions of WV over the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal for different months, derived from the SAMJR data were found to be broadly consistent with the climatological data on WV from the coastal and island radiosonde stations. A significant latitudinal gradient in WV has been found during the northern winter months (Dec-Feb) with the highest value of 4-5 gm/cm2 near the equator and thc lowest value of about 2 gm/cm2 at about 20oN over the Indian seas. This gradient gradually decreases during the subsequent months and almost vanishes during the southwest monsoon months (Jun-Sep) when the WV has nearly uniform value of 4-5 gm/cm2 in the entire latitude range from the equator to 20oN over the Indian seas. Finally, it has been found that WV values over the Bay of Bengal are generally higher than those over the Arabian Sea at co-latitudinal positions. The implications of this result are discussed in the light of other considerations.

A continent-wide high genetic load in African buffalo revealed by clines in the frequency of deleterious alleles, genetic hitchhiking and linkage disequilibrium

A high genetic load can negatively affect population viability and increase susceptibility to diseases and other environmental stressors. Prior microsatellite studies of two African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) populations in South Africa indicated substantial genome-wide genetic load due to high-frequency occurrence of deleterious alleles. The occurrence of these alleles, which negatively affect male body condition and bovine tuberculosis resistance, throughout most of the buffalo’s range were evaluated in this study. Using available microsatellite data (2–17 microsatellite loci) for 1676 animals from 34 localities (from 25°S to 5°N), we uncovered continent-wide frequency clines of microsatellite alleles associated with the aforementioned male traits. Frequencies decreased over a south-to-north latitude range (average per-locus Pearson r = -0.22). The frequency clines coincided with a multilocus-heterozygosity cline (adjusted R2 = 0.84), showing up to a 16% decrease in southern Africa compared to East Africa. Furthermore, continent-wide linkage disequilibrium (LD) at five linked locus pairs was detected, characterized by a high fraction of positive interlocus associations (0.66, 95% CI: 0.53, 0.77) between male-deleterious-trait-associated alleles. Our findings suggest continent-wide and genome-wide selection of male-deleterious alleles driven by an earlier observed sex-chromosomal meiotic drive system, resulting in frequency clines, reduced heterozygosity due to hitchhiking effects and extensive LD due to male-deleterious alleles co-occurring in haplotypes. The selection pressures involved must be high to prevent destruction of allele-frequency clines and haplotypes by LD decay. Since most buffalo populations are stable, these results indicate that natural mammal populations, depending on their genetic background, can withstand a high genetic load.

Utilization of Gravity Satellite Data to Imaging Subsurface Conditions, Case Study: Lake Toba, North Sumatera

The purpose of this study is to utilize satellite gravity data for free to interpret subsurface conditions. The data can be obtained from the topex site with a latitude range is +/-80,738. The author tries to interpret the gravity data for Lake Toba, North Sumatra. The area is attractive because it has a sizeable geological object in the form of a large lake and a fault called the Sumatran fault. This gravity data is processed like ordinary gravity processing so that Complete Bouguer Anomaly (CBA) is obtained, then regional-residual separation is carried out using a moving average. From CBA, it can be seen that there are two closures just below Lake Toba. There are two possible chambers under Lake Toba, namely the central and southern parts. In addition, it is also clear that the lineament of the Sumatran fault is also visible, as well as three other lineaments which may be faults that are not identified from the surface. So, we can take advantage of this free gravity satellite data for interpretation of sizeable geological objects that can be applied to other areas. It is helpful to know the general picture of regional geology before conducting a more detailed survey.

100Identification of a latitude gradient in the prevalence of Primary Biliary Cholangitis in Australia

Background Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is an autoimmune destructive condition of the gall bladder, with environmental factors like sun exposure implicated in its aetiology, similar to multiple sclerosis. PBC prevalence varies significantly and appears to have a positive latitudinal gradient. To determine whether there was a latitudinal gradient of PBC prevalence in Australia using two methods of prevalence estimation: private pathology anti-mitochondrial antibody (AMA) results, the primary diagnostic test for PBC, and ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) prescriptions, the sole pharmacological treatment for PBC. Methods We investigated the latitudinal variation in PBC prevalence across the states and territories of Australia (latitudinal range 18.0° to 42.7°S) using pathology-based (private pathology AMA results search (three of the major private pathology companies in Australia which cover 77% of all private pathology testing) and PBC-specific prescription databases (prescriptions for UDCA). Results Pathology-based PBC prevalence was significantly increased with latitude, such that the postcodes in the highest quintile of latitude (encompassing the south coastal areas of the Australian mainland and insular Tasmania (latitude range -37.75 to -42.72)) had 1.83-times higher frequencies than those in the lowest quintile (encompassing tropical and southern Queensland (latitude range -18.02 to -27.59). Analogous results were seen for state-based UDCA prescriptions, being 2.31-times higher in Tasmania than Queensland. Conclusions We have found for the first time that the prevalence of PBC significantly varies with latitude in Australia. While the most immediate mediating factors underlying this association would be ultraviolet radiation and vitamin D levels, studies to substantiate this mechanism are needed. Key messages In line with some other autoimmune conditions, PBC shows a significant positive latitudinal gradient, with nearly 2-times higher prevalence in the southernmost state than the northernmost.

An efficient algorithm for solving the constellation-to-ground region coverage problem based on longitude strip division

Aiming at the constellation-to-ground region coverage problem, an efficient solution method called the longitude strip method is proposed. By dividing the ground region into several longitude strips, the latitude range of each strip is computed according to the region. Similarly, concerning the coverage area of the satellite, the latitude range of each strip is also calculated. On this basis, the coverage rate can be obtained by comprehensive statistics. Additionally, the upper and lower bounds for problems of continuous coverage and accumulative coverage are solved. Numerical simulation experiments show the proposed algorithm has higher accuracy and it is also efficient in resolving the ground area with arbitrary shapes.

The Impact of Land-Ocean Contrast on The Seasonal To Decadal Variability of The Northern Hemisphere Jet Stream

Seasonal to decadal variations in Northern Hemisphere jet stream latitude and speed over land (Eurasia, North America) and oceanic (North Atlantic, North Pacific) regions are presented for the period 1871 – 2011 from the Twentieth Century Reanalysis dataset. Significant regional differences are seen on seasonal to decadal timescales. The ocean acts to reduce the seasonal jet latitude range from 20° over Eurasia to 10° over the North Atlantic where the ocean meridional heat transport is greatest. The mean jet latitude range is at a minimum in winter (DJF), along the western boundary of the North Pacific and North Atlantic, where the land-sea contrast and SST gradients are strongest. The 141-year trends in jet latitude and speed show differences on a regional basis. The North Atlantic has significant increasing jet latitude trends in all seasons, up to 3° in winter. Eurasia has significant increasing trends in winter and summer, however, no increase is seen across the North Pacific or North America. Jet speed shows significant increases evident in winter (up to 4.7ms -1 ), spring and autumn over the North Atlantic, Eurasia and North America however, over the North Pacific no increase is observed. Long term trends are generally overlaid by multidecadal variability, particularly evident in the North Pacific, where 20-year variability in jet latitude and jet speed are seen, associated with the Pacific Decadal Oscillation which explains 50% of the winter variance in jet latitude since 1940. Northern hemisphere jet variability and trends differ on a regional basis (North Atlantic, North Pacific, Eurasia and America) on seasonal to decadal timescales, indicating different mechanisms are influencing the jet latitude and speed. It is important that the differing regional trends and mechanisms are incorporated into climate models and predictions.

Weakening and warming of the European Slope Current since the late 1990s attributed to basin-scale density changes

Oceanic influences on shelf seas are mediated by flow along and across continental slopes, with consequences for regional hydrography and ecosystems. Here we present evidence for the variable North Atlantic influence on European shelf seas over the last four decades, using ocean analysis and reanalysis products, and an eddy-resolving ocean model hindcast. To first order, flows oriented along isobaths at the continental slope are related to the poleward increase of density in the adjacent deep ocean that supports a geostrophic inflow towards the slope. In the North Atlantic, this density gradient and associated inflow has undergone substantial, sometimes abrupt, changes in recent decades. Inflow in the range 10–15 Sv is identified with eastward transport in temperature classes at 30° W, in the latitude range 45–60° N. Associated with major subpolar warming around 1997, a cool and fresh branch of the Atlantic inflow was substantially reduced, while a warm and more saline inflow branch strengthened, with respective changes of the order 5 Sv. Total inflow fell from ~ 15 Sv pre-1997 to ~ 10 Sv post-1997. In the model hindcast, particle tracking is used to trace the origins of poleward flows along the continental slope to the west of Ireland and Scotland, before and after 1997. Backtracking particles up to 4 years, a range of subtropical and subpolar pathways is identified from a statistical perspective. In broad terms, cold, fresh waters of subpolar provenance were replaced by warm, saline waters, of subtropical provenance. These changes have major implications for the downstream shelf regions that are strongly influenced by Atlantic inflow, the northern North Sea in particular, where “subtropicalization” of ecosystems has already been observed since the late 1990s.

On the clouds and ammonia in Jupiter’s upper troposphere from Juno JIRAM reflectivity observations

ABSTRACT We analyse spectra measured by the Jovian Infrared Auroral Mapper (JIRAM, a payload element of the NASA Juno mission) in the 3150–4910 cm−1 (2.0–3.2 μm) range during the perijiove passage of 2016 August. Despite modelling uncertainties, the quality and the relative uniformity of the data set allow us to determine several parameters characterizing the Jupiter’s upper troposphere in the latitude range of 35°S–30°N. Ammonia relative humidity at 500 millibars varies between 5 per cent to supersaturation beyond 100 per cent for about 3 per cent of the processed spectra. Ammonia appears depleted over belts and relatively enhanced over zones. Local variations of ammonia, arguably associated with local dynamics, are found to occur in several locations on the planet (Oval BA, South Equatorial Belt). Cloud altitude, defined as the level where aerosol opacity reaches unit value at 3650 cm−1 (2.74 μm), is maximum over the Great Red Spot (>20 km above the 1 bar level) and the zones (15 km), while it decreases over the belts and towards higher latitudes. The aerosol opacity scale height suggests more compact clouds over zones and more diffuse clouds over belts. The integrated opacity of clouds above the 1.3-bar pressure level is found to be minimum in regions where thermal emission of the deeper atmosphere is maximum. The opacity of tropospheric haze above the 200-mbar level also increases over zones. Our results are consistent with a Hadley-type circulation scheme previously proposed in literature for belts and zones, with clear hemisphere asymmetries in cloud and haze.

Jupiter's Zonal Vorticity Profile Observed by JunoCam

<p>We derive Jupiter's zonal vorticity profile from JunoCam images, with Juno's polar orbit allowing the observation of latitudes that are difficult to observe from Earth or from equatorial flybys.  We identify cyclonic local vorticity maxima near 77.9°, 65.6°, 59.3°, 50.9°, 42.4°, and 34.3°S planetocentric at a resolution of ~1°, based on analyzing selected JunoCam image pairs taken during the 16 Juno perijove flybys 15-30. We identify zonal anticyclonic local vorticity maxima near 80.7°, 73.8°, 62.1°, 56.4°, 46.9°, 38.0°, and 30.7°S.  These results agree with the known zonal wind profile below 64°S, and reveal novel structure further south, including a prominent cyclonic band centered near 66°S. The anticyclonic vorticity maximum near 73.8°S represents a broad and skewed fluctuating anticyclonic band between ~69.0° and ~76.5°S, and is hence poorly defined. This band may even split temporarily into two or three bands.  The cyclonic vorticity maximum near 77.9°S appears to be fairly stable during these flybys, probably representing irregular cyclonic structures in the region. The area between ~82° and 90°S is relatively small and close to the terminator, resulting in poor statistics, but generally shows a strongly cyclonic mean vorticity, representing the well-known circumpolar cyclone cluster.</p><p>The latitude range between ~30°S and ~85°S was particularly well observed, allowing observation periods lasting several hours. For each considered perijove we selected a pair of images separated by about 30 - 60 minutes. We derived high-passed and contrast-normalized south polar equidistant azimuthal maps of Jupiter's cloud tops. They were used to derive maps of local rotation at a resolution of ~1° latitude by stereo-corresponding Monte-Carlo-distributed and Gauss-weighted round tiles for each image pair considered. Only the rotation portion of the stereo correspondence between tiles was used to sample the vorticity maps. For each image pair, we rendered ~40 vorticity maps with different Monte-Carlo runs. The standard deviation of the resulting statistics provided a criterion to define a valid area of the mean vorticity map. Averaging vorticities along circles centered on the south pole returned a zonal vorticity profile for each of the perijoves considered. Averaging the resulting zonal vorticity profiles built the basis for a discussion of the mean profile.</p><p>JunoCam also images the northern hemisphere, at higher resolution but with coverage restricted to a briefer time span and smaller area due to the nature of Juno's elliptical orbit, which will restrict our ability to obtain zonal vorticity profiles.</p>

Study on Stratospheric Carbonyl Sulfide Transport and Chemistry using ‘Age of Air’

<p>Carbonyl sulfide (OCS or COS) is the longest lived and the most abundant reduced sulfur gas in the atmosphere. As chemical loss of OCS in the troposphere is slow, it can reach the stratosphere, where it is  photochemically oxidized and converted to stratospheric sulfate aerosol, being the largest source thereof in times of volcanic quiescence. Chemistry transport models show that OCS conversion occurs mainly in the ‘tropical pipe’ region, while along the lower branch of Brewer-Dobson circulation (BDC), OCS is passively transported without significant chemical loss. The OCS depleted air is transported along the upper branch of BDC and descends again at high latitudes. Using the distinct characteristics of  ‘age of air’ in the upper and lower branches of the BDC, this picture of OCS transport and especially the role of the ‘tropical pipe’ as the main region of OCS conversion can be supported by looking at the relationship between age spectra and OCS mixing ratios.</p><p>In this study, we will investigate the relation of OCS mixing ratios and mean age of air as well as mass fractions of air with different transit times using satellite-based measurements from MIPAS (Michelson Interferometer for Passive Atmospheric Sounding) and ACE-FTS (Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment - infrared Fourier Transform Spectrometer), and age spectra of air from CLaMS (Chemical Lagrangian Model of the Stratosphere).</p><p>In addition to satellite data analysis, we will investigate the distribution of OCS in the UTLS (upper troposphere and lower stratosphere) region and its relation to the age spectra using high-resolution in-situ observations of OCS. This unique dataset was obtained during the SOUTHTRAC mission in autumn 2019 by AMICA (Airborne Mid-Infrared Cavity enhanced Absorption spectrometer) on board the HALO (High Altitude Long Range) research aircraft. Flights from the main  campaign base in Río Grande, Argentina (53.8S, 67.7W) covered a wide latitude range from 48° N to 70° S, even reaching the southern polar vortex where aged air masses having descended from high altitudes are typically found.</p><p>Our analysis of both satellite and in-situ data generally supports the established picture of OCS conversion in the ‘tropical pipe’.</p>