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At least 757 records · Page 42

Simulation of the thermospheric tides by use of the NCAR thermospheric general circulation model

Numerical calculations of the thermospheric tidal winds and temperatures at equinox are presented. The calculations were made using the National Center for Atmospheric Research Thermospheric General Circulation Model (TGCM), which includes the effects of viscosity, conductivity, diffusion, ion drag, winds, and temperature gradients. The thermospheric diurnal and semidiurnal tides are excited in situ by solar heating and by ion-neutral momentum coupling. The semidiurnal tidal calculations also include the effects of upward propagating waves generated by heating in the lower atmosphere. This semidiurnal propagating component is modeled by use of the classical tidal perturbations as lower boundary conditions. The model is tuned by adjusting the propagating tidal forcing term until calculated semidiurnal wind and temperature fields best approximate incoherent scatter observations. The tidal TGCM results are consistent with previous theoretical work and successfully reproduce high altitude temperature and meridional velocity data, but they give significantly lower magnitudes for velocities and temperatures near 160 km than are seen by observations.

Fensen, C. G.↗

Diurnal tides in the Arctic Ocean

A 2D numerical model with a space grid of about 14 km is applied to calculate diurnal tidal constituents K(1) and O(1) in the Arctic Ocean. Calculated corange and cotidal charts show that along the continental slope, local regions of increased sea level amplitude, highly variable phase and enhanced currents occur. It is shown that in these local regions, shelf waves (topographic waves) of tidal origin are generated. In the Arctic Ocean and Northern Atlantic Ocean more than 30 regions of enhanced currents are identified. To prove the near-resonant interaction of the diurnal tides with the local bottom topography, the natural periods of oscillations for all regions have been calculated. The flux of energy averaged over the tidal period depicts the gyres of semitrapped energy, suggesting that the shelf waves are partially trapped over the irregularities of the bottom topography. It is shown that the occurrence of near-resonance phenomenon changes the energy flow in the tidal waves. First, the flux of energy from the astronomical sources is amplified in the shelf wave regions, and afterwards the tidal energy is strongly dissipated in the same regions.

Kowalik, Z.↗

Cold, warm, and hot gas in the late-stage merger NGC 7252

We present the first observations of the neutral hydrogen distribution and x-ray emission in the prototypical merger remnant NGC 7252, the 'Atoms-for-Peace' galaxy. These data are supplemented by accurate B and R surface photometry, reaching a limit of mu(sub B) = 26.5 mag/sq arcsec, and images taken through a narrow-band H alpha filter. We find all of the 2 x 10(exp 9)/sq h solar mass of atomic gas to be restricted to the outer, tidal regions of this system (H(sub zero) = 100 h km/s/Mpc). By contrast, the molecular gas traced by the (12)CO(1 approaches zero) map of Wang et al. (1992) is confined to an inner rotating disk of radius 7 seconds and has an H alpha counterpart. The gap between the atomic and molecular gas distributions is filled in by diffuse H alpha emission and perhaps by x-ray emission. The velocity field of the atomic gas in the tidal tails indicates that they are swinging through space in the same sense as the rotation of the inner gas disk. The H I at the apparent base of the northwestern tail seems to be falling back toward the main body of the galaxy, yet there is no H I associated with this main stellar body: This suggests ongoing efficient conversion of the atomic gas into other phases in this region. The H alpha velocity anomalies previously found in the remnant body may be produced in part by the combination of tail-related, noncircular motions and the inner gas-disk rotation. Both tidal tails have bluer B-R colors than the main body of the remnant, with the bluest regions coinciding with peaks in the gas column density. Each tail contains one giant H II region near the end of its optical light distribution. These H II regions are associated with large concentrations of gas and stars that approach the sizes and gas contents of dwarf galaxies. The H I extends beyond the end of the optical tails and reaches projected distances of 62/h kpc east and 120/h kpc northwest from the center. We discuss the possible relevance of these data to : (1) the transformation of merged spirals into ellipticls; (2) the generation of ripples by returning tidal material; and (3) the formation of bound stellar systems from tidally torn material.

Hibbard, J. E.↗

A Global Ocean Tide Model From TOPEX/POSEIDON Altimetry: GOT99.2

Goddard Ocean Tide model GOT99.2 is a new solution for the amplitudes and phases of the global oceanic tides, based on over six years of sea-surface height measurements by the TOPEX/POSEIDON satellite altimeter. Comparison with deep-ocean tide-gauge measurements show that this new tidal solution is an improvement over previous global models, with accuracies for the main semidiurnal lunar constituent M2 now below 1.5 cm (deep water only). The new solution benefits from use of prior hydrodynamic models, several in shallow and inland seas as well as the global finite-element model FES94.1. This report describes some of the data processing details involved in handling the altimetry, and it provides a comprehensive set of global cotidal charts of the resulting solutions. Various derived tidal charts are also provided, including tidal loading deformation charts, tidal gravimetric charts, and tidal current velocity (or transport) charts. Finally, low-degree spherical harmonic coefficients are computed by numerical quadrature and are tabulated for the major short-period tides; these are useful for a variety of geodetic and geophysical purposes, especially in combination with similar estimates from satellite laser ranging.

Ray, Richard D.↗

Estimation of Non-Seasonal Oceanic Mass Redistribution and its Geodynamic Effects from the Topex/Poseidon Observation

Mass redistribution in terms of angular momentum will change the Earth's rotation under the conservation of angular momentum. It also changes the external gravitational field according to Newton's gravitational law. These small geodynamic variations can be measured very accurately by modem space geodetic techniques. We report on new estimates of the oceanic tidal angular momentum and hence the tidal variations in the Earth's rotation rate and polar motion. These are deduced from the new tidal solutions GOT99 and TPXO.3, plus M2 and Mf estimates (with error bars) from TPXO.4a. Comparisons with observed diurnal/semidiurnal tidal variations are generally similar to previous model estimates. Comparisons of models and observations of Mf polar motion are confused, with neither models nor observations agreeing among themselves or with each other. Part of this is caused by differences in Mf currents; model TPXO.4 shows current-intensive Rossby modes along western boundaries of major basins, which are indeed expected on theoretical grounds. Unfortunately, there are no reliable in situ observations of Mf currents useful for comparing models. On non-tidal oceanic mass redistribution we compute the principal components of the multi-year T/P sea surface height (SSH) field using EOF (empirical orthogonal functions) taking into consideration of the latitude-dependent area weighting. Emphasis is placed upon non-seasonal and interannual oscillations on regional scales, including ENSO and the North Atlantic Oscillation. Steric corrections to the observed SSH due to sea surface temperature changes (which has no geodynamic effects) is now under study using POCM ocean model output.

Chao, Benjamin F.↗

Mantle Q at Period 12.4 Hours: New Estimates from Satellite Tracking and Altimetry

The most convincing estimates of mantle Q at periods of many hours have historically come from extrapolating seismic and free-oscillation estimates via some assumed frequency dependence, sometimes contrained by estimates from the Chandler Wobble. At the semidiurnal tidal period, direct estimates of Q have been difficult to obtain because of the dominating signals of the ocean tides, which account for more than 95!k of the tidal energy dissipation. But knowledge of the ocean tides has been rapidly improving, primarily owing to satellite altimetry, and in 1996 we reported (NATURE, 381, 595-7) an estimate of solid-earth tidal energy dissipation and mantle Q based on combining satellite altimeter measurements with tracking observations of tidally induced satellite orbit perturbations. Tidal estimates from both reveal a small systematic difference in the quadrature component of the degree-2, order-2 spherical harmonic coefficients, which we attribute to a small lag in the earth's body tide. The formalism accounts for this lag in both the altimeter and tracking solutions and also accounts for a very small contribution from the lunar atmospheric tide. Since this original report, both altimeter and tracking estimates have improved. Recent solutions for the body-tide lag at the M2 period are 0.20 +/- 0.09 degrees, implying an energy dissipation of 100 +/- 50 gigawatts and a solid-earth Q of 300. Further new solutions will be discussed, as will the prospects for significantly reducing error bars and for obtaining estimates from other tides in the diurnal band.

Ray, Richard D.↗

Three-Dimensional Simulations of Mantle Convection in Io

Io has very high surface heat flow and an abundance of volcanic activity, which are thought to be driven by nonuniform tidal heating in its interior. This nonuniform heat is transported to the base of the lithosphere by very vigorous convection in Io's silicate mantle, the form of which is presumably responsible for the distribution of surface features such as volcanoes and mountains. We here present three-dimensional spherical calculations of mantle convection in Io, in order to ascertain the likely form of this convection and the resulting distribution of heat flow at the surface and core-mantle boundary. Different models of tidal dissipation are considered: the endmember scenarios (identified by M. N. Ross and G. Schubert) of dissipation in the entire mantle, or dissipation in a thin (approximately 100-km-thick) asthenosphere, as well as the 'preferred' distribution of M. N. Ross et al. comprising 1/3 mantle and 2/3 asthenosphere heating. The thermal structure of Io's mantle and asthenosphere is found to be strongly dependent on tidal heating mode, as well as whether the mantle-asthenosphere boundary is permeable or impermeable. Results indicate a large-scale flow pattern dominated by the distribution of tidal heating, with superimposed small-scale asthenospheric instabilities that become more pronounced with increasing Rayleigh number. These small-scale instabilities spread out the surface heat flux, resulting in smaller heat flux variations with increasing Rayleigh number. Scaled to Io's Rayleigh number of O(10(exp 12)) variations of order a few percent are expected. This small but significant variation in surface heat flux may be compatible with the observed distributions of volcanic centers and mountains, which appear fairly uniform at first sight but display a discernible distribution when suitably processed. The observed distribution of volcanic centers is similar to the asthenosphere heating distribution, implying that most of the tidal heating in Io occurs in an asthenosphere.

Tackley, Paul J.↗

Hawaii Ocean Mixing Experiment: Program Summary

It is becoming apparent that insufficient mixing occurs in the pelagic ocean to maintain the large scale thermohaline circulation. Observed mixing rates fall a factor of ten short of classical indices such as Munk's "Abyssal Recipe." The growing suspicion is that most of the mixing in the sea occurs near topography. Exciting recent observations by Polzin et al., among others, fuel this speculation. If topographic mixing is indeed important, it must be acknowledged that its geographic distribution, both laterally and vertically, is presently unknown. The vertical distribution of mixing plays a critical role in the Stommel Arons model of the ocean interior circulation. In recent numerical studies, Samelson demonstrates the extreme sensitivity of flow in the abyssal ocean to the spatial distribution of mixing. We propose to study the topographic mixing problem through an integrated program of modeling and observation. We focus on tidally forced mixing as the global energetics of this process have received (and are receiving) considerable study. Also, the well defined frequency of the forcing and the unique geometry of tidal scattering serve to focus the experiment design. The Hawaiian Ridge is selected as a study site. Strong interaction between the barotropic tide and the Ridge is known to take place. The goals of the Hawaiian Ocean Mixing Experiment (HOME) are to quantify the rate of tidal energy loss to mixing at the Ridge and to identify the mechanisms by which energy is lost and mixing generated. We are challenged to develop a sufficiently comprehensive picture that results can be generalized from Hawaii to the global ocean. To achieve these goals, investigators from five institutions have designed HOME, a program of historic data analysis, modeling and field observation. The Analysis and Modeling efforts support the design of the field experiments. As the program progresses, a global model of the barotropic (depth independent) tide, and two models of the baroclinic (depth varying) tide, all validated with near-Ridge data, will be applied, to reveal the mechanisms of tidal energy conversion along the Ridge, and allow spatial and temporal integration of the rate of conversion. Field experiments include a survey to identify "hot spots" of enhanced mixing and barotropic to baroclinic conversion, a Nearfield study identifying the dominant mechanisms responsible for topographic mixing, and a Farfield program which quantifies the barotropic energy flux convergence at the Ridge and the flux divergence associated with low mode baroclinic waves radiation. The difference is a measure of the tidal power available for mixing at the Ridge. Field work is planned from years 2000 through 2002, with analysis and modeling efforts extending through early 2006. If successful, HOME will yield an understanding of the dominant topographic mixing processes applicable throughout the global ocean. It will advance understanding of two central problems in ocean science, the maintenance of the abyssal stratification, and the dissipation of the tides. HOME data will be used to improve the parameterization of dissipation in models which presently assimilate TOPEX-POSEIDON observations. The improved understanding of the dynamics and spatial distribution of mixing processes will benefit future long-term programs such as CLIVAR.

Ray, Richard D.↗

Analysis of Salinity Intrusion in the San Francisco Bay-Delta using a GA- Optimized Neural Net, and Application of the Model to Prediction in the Elkhorn Slough Habitat

The San Francisco Bay Delta is a large hydrodynamic complex that incorporates the Sacramento and San Joaquin Estuaries, the Burman Marsh, and the San Francisco Bay proper. Competition exists for the use of this extensive water system both from the fisheries industry, the agricultural industry, and from the marine and estuarine animal species within the Delta. As tidal fluctuations occur, more saline water pushes upstream allowing fish to migrate beyond the Burman Marsh for breeding and habitat occupation. However, the agriculture industry does not want extensive salinity intrusion to impact water quality for human and plant consumption. The balance is regulated by pumping stations located alone the estuaries and reservoirs whereby flushing of fresh water keeps the saline intrusion at bay. The pumping schedule is driven by data collected at various locations within the Bay Delta and by numerical models that predict the salinity intrusion as part of a larger model of the system. The Interagency Ecological Program (IEP) for the San Francisco Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin Estuary collects, monitors, and archives the data, and the Department of Water Resources provides a numerical model simulation (DSM2) from which predictions are made that drive the pumping schedule. A problem with this procedure is that the numerical simulation takes roughly 16 hours to complete a C:~ prediction. We have created a neural net, optimized with a genetic algorithm, that takes as input the archived data from multiple stations and predicts stage, salinity, and flow at the Carquinez Straits (at the downstream end of the Burman Marsh). This model seems to be robust in its predictions and operates much faster than the current numerical DSM2 model. Because the system is strongly tidal driven, we used both Principal Component Analysis and Fast Fourier Transforms to discover dominant features within the IEP data. We then filtered out the dominant tidal forcing to discover non-primary tidal effects, and used this to enhance the neural network by mapping input-output relationships in a more efficient manner. Furthermore, the neural network implicitly incorporates both the hydrodynamic and water quality models into a single predictive system. Although our model has not yet been enhanced to demonstrate improve pumping schedules, it has the possibility to support better decision-making procedures that may then be implemented by State agencies if desired. Our intention is now to use this model in the smaller Elkhorn Slough complex near Monterey Bay where no such hydrodynamic model currently exists. At the Elkhorn Slough, we are fusing the neural net model of tidally-driven flow with in situ flow data and airborne and satellite remote sensation data. These further constrain the behavior of the model in predicting the longer-term health and future of this vital estuary.

Thompson, David E.↗

The IERS Special Bureau for Tides

The Global Geophysical Fluids Center of the International Earth Rotation Service (IERS) comprises 8 special bureaus, one of which is the Special Bureau for Tides. Its purpose is to facilitate studies related to tidal effects in earth rotation. To that end it collects various relevant datasets and distributes them, primarily through its website at bowie.gsfc.nasa.gov/ggfc/tides. Example datasets include tabulations of tidal variations in angular momentum and in earth rotation as estimated from numerical ocean tide models and from meteorological reanalysis products. The web site also features an interactive tidal prediction "machine" which generates tidal predictions (e.g., of UT1) from lists of harmonic constants. The Special Bureau relies on the tidal and earth-rotation communities to build and enlarge its datasets; further contributions from this community are most welcome.

Ray, Richard D.↗

The Tethered Moon

A reasonable initial condition on Earth after the Moonforming impact is that it begins as a hot global magma ocean1,2. We therefore begin our study with the mantle as a liquid ocean with a surface temperature on the order of 3000- 4000 K at a time some 100-1000 years after the impact, by which point we can hope that early transients have settled down. A 2nd initial condition is a substantial atmosphere, 100-1000 bars of H2O and CO2, supplemented by smaller amounts of CO, H2, N2, various sulfur-containing gases, and a suite of geochemical volatiles evaporated from the magma. Third, we start the Moon with its current mass at the relevant Roche limit. The 4th initial condition is the angular momentum of the Earth-Moon system. Canonical models hold this constant, whilst some recent models begin with considerably more angular momentum than is present today. Here we present a ruthlessly simplified model of Earth's cooling magmasphere based on a full-featured atmosphere and including tidal heating by the newborn Moon. Thermal blanketing by H2O-CO2 atmospheres slows cooling of a magma ocean. Geochemical volatiles - chiefly S, Na, and Cl - raise the opacity of the magma ocean's atmosphere and slow cooling still more. We assume a uniform mantle with a single internal (potential) temperature and a global viscosity. The important "freezing point" is the sharp rheological transition between a fluid carrying suspended crystals and a solid matrix through which fluids percolate. Most tidal heating takes place at this "freezing point" in a gel that is both pliable and viscous. Parameterized convection links the cooling rate to the temperature and heat generation inside the Earth. Tidal heating is a major effect. Tidal dissipation in the magma ocean is described by viscosity. The Moon is entwined with Earth by the negative feedback between thermal blanketing and tidal heating that comes from the temperature-dependent viscosity of the magma ocean. Because of this feedback, the rate that the Moon's orbit evolves is limited by the modest radiative cooling rate of Earth's atmosphere, which in effect tethers the Moon to the Earth. Consequently the Moon's orbit evolves orders of magnitude more slowly than in conventional models. Slow orbital evolution promotes capture by orbital resonances that may have been important in the Earth-Moon system

Earth-Moon system↗

Solar Migrating Diurnal Tide in the Upper Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere from SD-WACCM-X, Aura/MLS, and TIMED/SABER

Solar heating on the rotating Earth is a fundamental forcing of atmospheric tidal waves. The migrating diurnal tide, propagating from the troposphere to the upper mesosphere and lower thermosphere, is a large global disturbance that drives most of the daily variations in dynamics, thermal structures, chemistry, as well as atmospheric compositions. In this study, we present a comprehensive analysis of the (1,1) propagating diurnal tides derived from multi-year MLS and SABER observations, to characterize and better understand interannual and long-term tidal variability in the upper atmosphere. Although the (1,1) tide is driven by the solar heating, its interannual variations are largely determined by the internal variability of Earth’s climate system. The tidal amplitudes derived from MLS and SABER data agree well with each other in terms of monthly climatology and interannual variations, showing a consistent seasonal cycle and modulations from the Quasi Biennial Oscillation (QBO). The Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition (EEMD) analysis, employed to extract the low frequency variations, also reveals an ENSO-like (42 months) influence on tidal amplitudes in the upper mesosphere. While their (1,1) tidal amplitudes are less affected by the solar cycle, the mean mixing ratio of carbon monoxide (CO) and ozone (O3) is significantly modulated by the 11-year solar cycle due to their UV-dependent photochemistry.

mesosphere↗

The formation of Enceladus' Tiger Stripe Fractures from eccentricity tides

Enceladus has a young, tectonically active south polar region, which is erupting material from a prominent set of fractures called Tiger Stripes. No comparable activity is observed at the north pole, which is heavily cratered with limited tectonism. Given the many lines of evidence supporting a global ocean under Enceladus' icy shell, the reason for the dichotomy in geologic activity is unclear. We model the formation of the Tiger Stripes as tidally-driven fractures and examine the magnitudes of tidal stresses with different ice shell structures in order to explore whether and how tidal stress might explain Enceladus' distribution of tectonic activity. We find that eccentricity-driven tidal stresses would produce fractures of nearly identical orientations to the observed Tiger Stripe Fractures and that a 10-km difference in ice shell thickness between the north and south poles can result in substantially different tidal stress magnitudes, providing a natural explanation for the hemispheric dichotomy in tectonic activity on Enceladus. Finally, we synthesize these results with Enceladus' global geologic record to offer insight into the evolution of this enigmatic moon.

Alyssa RoseRhoden↗

Vertical Coupling by Solar Semidiurnal Tides in the Thermosphere From ICON/MIGHTI Measurements

Wind measurements from the Michelson Interferometer for Global High-resolution Ther-23mospheric Imaging (MIGHTI) instrument on the Ionospheric CONnections (ICON) mis-24sion provide new insights into the semidiurnal tidal spectrum in the thermosphere, cov-25ering latitudes 9◦S-39◦N and altitudes 100-280 km altitude throughout 2020. Latitude26versus day of year (DOY) variability of solar semidiurnal tides SE2, S0, SW1, SW2, SW327and SW4 at 250 km are presented for the first time, and evaluated relative to similar re-28sults at 106 km. Using daytime-only data, height versus latitude and height versus DOY29variability of SE2, S0, SW1. SW3 and SW4 amplitudes and phases are depicted for the30first time, revealing the effects of a dissipative thermosphere on the vertical evolutions31of these tidal structures. SW2 is absent from these depictions due to potential aliasing32by zonal mean winds. The above results are considered in light of the Climatological Tidal33Model of the Thermosphere (CTMT), which is based on fits to tidal winds and temper-34atures from the Thermosphere-Ionosphere-Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics (TIMED)35mission between 80 and 120 km during 2002-2008, and extrapolated to an altitude of 40036km based on modeled tidal structures propagating in a dissipative thermosphere, but with-37out in-situ sources of excitation due to tide-tide or tide-ion drag nonlinear interactions.38On the basis of comparisons with the CTMT and other characteristics revealed in the39MIGHTI tidal structures, it is concluded that in-situ sources exist for S0, SW1, SW2 and40SW3 in the thermosphere above about 200 km.

Jeffrey M Forbes↗

TEAMER Technical Support for Aquantis (Materials) (Final Report)

The Aquantis Tidal Power Tug is a unique synthesis of best-available technologies and materials configured as a novel spar vessel to create an optimal platform for tidal stream energy conversion. The Power Tug utilizes an upstream-facing horizontal, 2-bladed rotor. To drive down capital costs and extend life, Aquantis proposes to employ new materials for the blades that are both less expensive than current state-of-the-art materials and are potentially better suited for survival in a submerged, seawater environment. Coupons from a novel geopolymer material will be tested in a load frame to characterize material properties. The Requestor is requesting technical assistance for evaluating mechanical properties of a novel geopolymer material for application in tidal stream energy conversion systems. This work will establish characteristic properties of a geopolymer material under dry and saturated conditions through material coupon testing. Material coupons will be tested to characterize properties including: a) Tensile strength, b) Compression strength, c) Flexural strength, d) Modulus of elasticity, e) Fatigue strength at varying load levels. The types of material tests performed will be guided by characteristics required to validate material properties for use in full-scale structures. Characterization of material properties that consider the demands of a full-scale structure is a necessary step in research and development that can enable the use of geopolymer materials in tidal stream energy conversion systems.

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER↗

Lab Collaboration Project (LCP) for Marine Energy: Quantifying Collision Risk for Fish and Turbines Final Technical Report (Task 10)

A persistent environmental concern for the widespread deployment of tidal turbines is the potential for fish and marine mammals to collide with rotating blades (Copping et al. 2016, Copping and Hemery 2020). This is a consequence of well-documented bird and bat mortalities around wind turbines (Smallwood 2007, Thompson et al. 2017), as well as fish mortality at conventional hydropower dams (Pracheil et al. 2016) and tidal barrages (Dadswell and Rulifson 1994). However, unlike hydropower dams or barrages, tidal turbines do not involve structures that channel all flow through the turbines. Similarly, while functionally similar to wind turbines, tidal turbines often operate at lower relative velocities and, depending on the end-use application, may be significantly smaller than utility-scale wind turbines. Both of these factors reduce the likelihood and severity of collision, but the knowledge base on this topic remains limited.

13 HYDRO ENERGY↗

Integrating Tide‐Driven Wetland Soil Redox and Biogeochemical Interactions Into a Land Surface Model

Abstract Redox processes, aqueous and solid‐phase chemistry, and pH dynamics are key drivers of subsurface biogeochemical cycling and methanogenesis in terrestrial and wetland ecosystems but are typically not included in terrestrial carbon cycle models. These omissions may introduce errors when simulating systems where redox interactions and pH fluctuations are important, such as wetlands where saturation of soils can produce anoxic conditions and coastal systems where sulfate inputs from seawater can influence biogeochemistry. Integrating cycling of redox‐sensitive elements could therefore allow models to better represent key elements of carbon cycling and greenhouse gas production. We describe a model framework that couples the Energy Exascale Earth System Model (E3SM) Land Model (ELM) with PFLOTRAN biogeochemistry, allowing geochemical processes and redox interactions to be integrated with land surface model simulations. We implemented a reaction network including aerobic decomposition, fermentation, sulfate reduction, sulfide oxidation, methanogenesis, and methanotrophy as well as pH dynamics along with iron oxide and iron sulfide mineral precipitation and dissolution. We simulated biogeochemical cycling in tidal wetlands subject to either saltwater or freshwater inputs driven by tidal hydrological dynamics. In simulations with saltwater tidal inputs, sulfate reduction led to accumulation of sulfide, higher dissolved inorganic carbon concentrations, lower dissolved organic carbon concentrations, and lower methane emissions than simulations with freshwater tidal inputs. Model simulations compared well with measured porewater concentrations and surface gas emissions from coastal wetlands in the Northeastern United States. These results demonstrate how simulating geochemical reaction networks can improve land surface model simulations of subsurface biogeochemistry and carbon cycling.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Controlled breathing protocols probe human autonomic cardiovascular rhythms

The purpose of this study was to determine how breathing protocols requiring varying degrees of control affect cardiovascular dynamics. We measured inspiratory volume, end-tidal CO2, R-R interval, and arterial pressure spectral power in 10 volunteers who followed the following 5 breathing protocols: 1) uncontrolled breathing for 5 min; 2) stepwise frequency breathing (at 0.3, 0.25, 0.2, 0.15, 0.1, and 0.05 Hz for 2 min each); 3) stepwise frequency breathing as above, but with prescribed tidal volumes; 4) random-frequency breathing (approximately 0.5-0.05 Hz) for 6 min; and 5) fixed-frequency breathing (0.25 Hz) for 5 min. During stepwise breathing, R-R interval and arterial pressure spectral power increased as breathing frequency decreased. Control of inspired volume reduced R-R interval spectral power during 0.1 Hz breathing (P < 0.05). Stepwise and random-breathing protocols yielded comparable coherence and transfer functions between respiration and R-R intervals and systolic pressure and R-R intervals. Random- and fixed-frequency breathing reduced end-tidal CO2 modestly (P < 0.05). Our data suggest that stringent tidal volume control attenuates low-frequency R-R interval oscillations and that fixed- and random-rate breathing may decrease CO2 chemoreceptor stimulation. We conclude that autonomic rhythms measured during different breathing protocols have much in common but that a stepwise protocol without stringent control of inspired volume may allow for the most efficient assessment of short-term respiratory-mediated autonomic oscillations.

Non-NASA Center↗