Snow and regolith albedo variations using CRISM data at McMurdo crater,Mars

The cryosphere component provides the most reliable and insightful indications of any planet’s climate dynamics.Using data from the Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars(CRISM),we develop a novel approach to determining the broadband Visible and Near Infrared(VNIR)albedo of the Martian surface.This study focuses on albedo changes in the McMurdo crater,part of Mars’s south polar layer deposits.We compare seasonal and interannual variations of the McMurdo surface albedo before,during,and after the Global Dust Storm(GDS)of Martian Year(MY)34.As the seasons progressed from spring to summer,the mean albedo in MY 32 and 34 plunged by over 40%,by about 35%in MY 33,and by slightly more than 30%in MY 35.Compared interannually,however,mean albedo values within both seasons(spring and summer)exhibited no significant differences in those same years.Notably,interannual albedo difference maps reveal albedo variation of more than±0.3 in certain regions of the crater.Considering only snow-covered pixels,interannual albedo differences suggest that Mars dust had a pervasive impact on Mars’s cryosphere.Variations in maximum and minimum albedo values as high as 0.5 were observed,depending upon differences in the dust levels in Martian snow/ice.The maximum and the minimum snow albedo values were lowest in MY 34,indicating the effect of the intense dust storm event that year.The average snow albedo decreased from 0.45 in MY 32 to 0.40 in MY 33 and to 0.33 in MY 34,and then rose back to 0.40 in MY 35.This trajectory suggests a temporary deposition of dust,partially reversed after the GDS by self-cleaning mechanisms(local aeolian process and CO_(2)sublimation/deposition cycle).

Spatial variability of soil hydraulic and physical properties in erosive sloping agricultural fields

It is essential to minimize soil quality degradation in sloping agricultural fields through stabilization and improvement of soil hydraulic properties using sustainable soil management.This study aimed to analyze the impact of different tillage practices,including conventional tillage(CT),minimum tillage(MT),and zero tillage(ZT),on soil hydraulic conductivity in a sloping agricultural field under maizeewheat rotation.The results showed that the highest runoff volume(257.40 m3),runoff coefficient(42.84%),and soil loss(11.3 t)were observed when the CT treatment was applied.In contrast,the lowest runoff volume(67.95 m3),runoff coefficient(11.35%),and soil loss(1.05 t)were observed when the ZT treatment was adopted.The soil organic carbon and aggregate mean weight diameter were found to be significantly greater(with mean values of 0.79%and 1.19 mm,respectively)with the ZT treatment than with the CT treatment.With the tilled treatments(CT and MT),substantial changes in the saturated soil hydraulic conductivity(ks),near-saturated soil hydraulic conductivity(k),and water-conducting porosity(ε)were observed between two crop seasons.These three soil parameters were significantly higher in the period after maize harvesting than in the wheat growing period.In contrast,no significant difference in these soil parameters was found when the untilled treatment(ZT)was carried out.With regard to the slope positions,ks,k,andεshowed different behaviors under different treatments.The toe slope position showed significantly lower ks andεvalues than the summit and middle slope positions.Of the evaluated tillage practices,ZT was found to be the most promising means to improve the soil hydro-physical properties and effectively reduce surface runoff and soil erosion.

Impact of surface Albedo on Martian photochemistry

Solar energy is the primary driving force behind a planet’s climate system,and surface albedo plays a key role in determining the energy budget of the planet.Coupling the Snow,Ice,and Aerosol Radiation(SNICAR)with the Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique(LMD)Mars General Circulation Model(MGCM)to create a new coupled model leads to an approximately 4%drop in the net CO2 ice deposition on Mars.Newly simulated surface albedo affects the concentration of gaseous species in the Martian atmosphere(condensation-sublimation cycle).The new set-up also impacts the solar energy available in the atmosphere.These two effects together lead to subsequent and significant changes in other chemical species in the Martian atmosphere.Compared with results of the MGCM model alone,in the new coupled model CO2(gas)and O3 show a drop of about 1.17%and 8.59%in their respective concentrations,while H2O(vapor)and CO show an increase of about 13.63%and 0.56%in their respective concentrations.Among trace species,OH shows a maximum increase of about 29.44%,while the maximum drop of 11.5%is observed in the O concentration.Photochemically neutral species such as Ar and N2 remain unaffected by the albedo changes.

长兄如父之印度版

2美国式的"长兄如父"让我们看到了大哥哥的担当,让人感动。而印度版"长兄如父"的责任更是非比寻常地沉重,的确是沉甸甸的。我们来听听一位印度长兄的心声吧。我是家里三个子女中年纪最大的。我有一个妹妹,比我小三岁。我们小时候一起玩耍欢笑,开开心心。不过我俩一旦闹起矛盾,如果她哭了,即使不是我的错,我父亲也会叫我善待她。我们在印度长大时,父母总是提醒我说,照顾好妹妹是我的责任。

Near-saturated soil hydraulic conductivity and pore characteristics as influenced by conventional and conservation tillage practices in North-West Himalayan region,India

Tillage plays an important role in modifying soil hydraulic properties.The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of conservation tillage practices in a maize-wheat cropping system on nearsaturated soil hydraulic properties and pore characteristics in the North-West Himalayan region,India.Three treatments viz.conventional tillage(CT),minimum tillage(MT),and zero tillage(ZT)were evaluated in terms of field saturated hydraulic conductivity(ks),unsaturated hydraulic conductivity k(h),the inverse of capillary length(a),flow-weighted mean pore radius(r0),numbers of pores per square meter(n0)and water-conducting macroporosity(Ɛ).The above hydraulic conductivity and pore characteristics were derived from steady-state water flux(q)measured using hood infiltrometer at 0,1,and3 cm pressure head for each treatment after seven years of establishment of this tillage experiment.Results revealed significantly(p<0.05)higher values of ks,k(h),a,andƐin ZT as compared with CT.MT had intermediate values.Higher a values suggested a greater gravity-dominated flow under ZT and MT as compared with CT.Analysis of r0 values indicated better connectivity of pores in ZT and MT as compared with CT.Macropore flow suggested that on average pore radii,>0.50 mm conducted about 63.60,68.01,and 75.97%of total flow(at 0 cm pressure head)in the corresponding water-conducting macroporosity of 0.00030,0.00044,and 0.00069%of soil volume under CT,MT,and ZT,respectively.Overall,zero-tillage based agriculture system was found to improve near-saturated soil hydraulic properties.