Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2002. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Available also from UMI Company.

Thesis (Masters) -- California Institute of Technology, 1933. / Title from home page (viewed 04/28/10). Includes bibliographic references.

The Arizona Monsoon Boundary is defined as the boundary separating two distinctly different air masses over Mexico, the southwestern United States, and the adjacent Pacific during the summer. The structure and dynamics of this boundary are examined by cross-sectional analysis using three different data sources: (1) a time-height cross section, constructed using radiosonde observations, at the time the boundary initially passed through Tucson in 1984; (2) a composite cross section through the boundary, constructed from the Fleet Numerical Oceanography Center analysis; and (3) a cross section through the boundary using high-resolution fields of temperature, moisture, and geopotential height obtained from the VISSR Atmospheric Sounder (VAS). All three cross sections showed similar structure. In some respects, the Arizona monsoon boundary resembles a mid-latitude front with a distinct and relatively sharp air mass change across the boundary, forced almost entirely by confluence. A direct ageostrophic circulation is produced by this forcing, giving weak ascent on the warm, moist side of the boundary. The gradients and flow associated with the composite boundary are weaker, by a factor of four, than those associated with strong mid-latitude fronts. However, the VAS cross section suggests that, at times, the strength of the boundary approaches that of middle-latitude fronts. The wind shear suggested by the composite boundary ought to be unstable to baroclinic or barotropic processes. Disturbances developing along the boundary have been observed. One example of such a disturbance is examined using GOES imagery, lightning strike data, cloud track winds, and VAS data. Satellite images show the disturbance resembling a mid-latitude occluded cyclone, with an apparent low pressure center over northern Baja California and front-like cloud features extending eastward and southward from the low. Lightning strike data show convective activity occurring along the front-like features. Wind data indicate the presence of a cyclonic circulation south of San Diego along the Baja California coast. Cross sections using VAS data suggest that barotropic and baroclinic energy sources are present and suggest the front-like nature of the cloud feature extending southward from the low pressure center. Additionally, a second disturbance that eventually interacted with the monsoon boundary is briefly examined using satellite imagery.

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The laser geodetic satellites Lageos and Starlette exhibit residual orbital motion with an unexplained seasonal component. In addition, recognized polar motion excitation sources do not account for a large portion of observed polar motion. It is hypothesized that air and ocean mass redistribution is the primary source of seasonal perturbations in satellite motion, and that wind-driven ocean mass redistribution is a major source for polar motion excitation. Average monthly variations in zonal spherical harmonic geopotential coefficients are estimated from NMC air pressure for 1958 through 1973, and from variations in continental water storage predicted by a global hydrologic model. These coefficients are used to predict average monthly perturbations in the longitude of the ascending node ([Omega]) for Lageos and Starlette, and in the eccentricity vector ([Psi]) for Starlette. WMO monthly air pressures and twice-daily Navy sea level pressures are used to predict time series of [Omega] and [Psi] perturbations for Lageos during 1976 through 1985, and for Starlette during 1980 through 1983. In addition, the Hellerman and Rosenstein wind stress field for world oceans and the Gill-Niiler bottom pressure equation are used to estimate annual and semi-annual ocean mass redistribution, and to predict polar motion excitation vectors and Lageos [Omega] perturbations. Comparison of predicted [Omega] and [Psi] perturbations with observed Lageos and Starlette behavior indicate that air pressure may be responsible for much of the unmodeled seasonal variation in the Earth's geopotential. In contrast, the water storage contribution is very small. Year-to-year variability in the observed Lageos and Starlette [Omega] times series is well matched by predicted perturbations. Even after the removal of annual and semi-annual components, significant coherence remains between predicted and observed [Omega] time series for both Lageos and Starlette at periods of less than one year. Comparison of predicted polar motion with ILS observations suggest that the effect of ocean mass redistribution is significant, and second only to air pressure in magnitude. Lageos [Omega] perturbations predicted from ocean mass redistribution indicate that non-isostatic sea level fluctuations should be readily observable by satellite laser ranging. / text

Orientador: Sandra Elisa Contir Pitton / Banca: Ari Menardi Junior / Banca: Lucy Marion Calderini Philadelpho Machado / Resumo: O trabalho científico em questão buscou de um modo claro, unir todas as nuances relevantes ao tema proposto, mesclando Geografia, Medicina e Direito, numa redação coesa e enriquecida com dados estatísticos e muita discussão teórica. Inicialmente, discutiu-se questões preliminares da Geografia da Saúde, pontuando observações terminológicas e metodológicas, consagrando assim uma ruptura institucional com antigas formas de produção científica. Num segundo plano, destacou-se a qualidade de vida como de difícil constatação qualitativa ou quantitativa, verificando-se a saúde como um de seus indicadores de grande importância. Neste contexto, procurou-se nos dados coletados, sublimar as doenças mais corriqueiras, com influência internacional, que tivessem vínculos com atitudes omissivas ou comissivas de Estados independentes e de notoriedade indispensável à boa qualidade de vida, ou com a própria sobrevivência humana. Emergiu a questão do ar como objeto de estudo, levantando cientificamente a circulação das massas de ar e, por conseguinte, o caminhar das impurezas aéreas, causadoras e catalisadoras das doenças respiratórias. Isto posto, verificou-se que o tema possuía grande inserção na questão da soberania de Estados independentes, tendo sido de suma importância discorrer sobre a gênese do Estado moderno e assim, discutir nas considerações finais, sobre as necessidades institucionais para que se garanta a soberania, respeitando o planeta como um grande Sistema. / Abstract: This scientific work aimed at clearly putting together all the relevant nuances considering the proposed issue, mixing up Geography, Medicine and Laws, in a cohesive writing enriched by statistical data and lots of oral discussion. At the beginning the preliminary questions like the Geography of Health were discussed, pointing out terminological and methodological observations, therefore obtaining an institutional breakup with the old forms of scientific production. In a second phase, the quality of life was shown to be of difficult qualitative and quantitative verification, health being one of its most important indicators. In such context, we tried to point out from the collected data, the most common deceases with international influences, which had to do with negligent or wrong attitudes by independent states and of high significance to the quality of life or to human survival. Then the issue of the air as an object of study arose, scientifically studying the circulation of masses of air and therefore the trips of air impurities, which cause respiratory deceases. Afterwards we could realize both that the issue was of great value towards the question of the sovereignty of independent states and that the discussion on the genesis of the modern state was highly important, which led us to the final considerations about the institutional needs for the sovereignty to be guaranteed, respecting the planet as a great System. / Mestre

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:27:51Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2009-10-23Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:36:22Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 reginatto_rm_me_rcla.pdf: 6179266 bytes, checksum: b72d6385da3f3404c5162e241fe85718 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / O trabalho científico em questão buscou de um modo claro, unir todas as nuances relevantes ao tema proposto, mesclando Geografia, Medicina e Direito, numa redação coesa e enriquecida com dados estatísticos e muita discussão teórica. Inicialmente, discutiu-se questões preliminares da Geografia da Saúde, pontuando observações terminológicas e metodológicas, consagrando assim uma ruptura institucional com antigas formas de produção científica. Num segundo plano, destacou-se a qualidade de vida como de difícil constatação qualitativa ou quantitativa, verificando-se a saúde como um de seus indicadores de grande importância. Neste contexto, procurou-se nos dados coletados, sublimar as doenças mais corriqueiras, com influência internacional, que tivessem vínculos com atitudes omissivas ou comissivas de Estados independentes e de notoriedade indispensável à boa qualidade de vida, ou com a própria sobrevivência humana. Emergiu a questão do ar como objeto de estudo, levantando cientificamente a circulação das massas de ar e, por conseguinte, o caminhar das impurezas aéreas, causadoras e catalisadoras das doenças respiratórias. Isto posto, verificou-se que o tema possuía grande inserção na questão da soberania de Estados independentes, tendo sido de suma importância discorrer sobre a gênese do Estado moderno e assim, discutir nas considerações finais, sobre as necessidades institucionais para que se garanta a soberania, respeitando o planeta como um grande Sistema. / This scientific work aimed at clearly putting together all the relevant nuances considering the proposed issue, mixing up Geography, Medicine and Laws, in a cohesive writing enriched by statistical data and lots of oral discussion. At the beginning the preliminary questions like the Geography of Health were discussed, pointing out terminological and methodological observations, therefore obtaining an institutional breakup with the old forms of scientific production. In a second phase, the quality of life was shown to be of difficult qualitative and quantitative verification, health being one of its most important indicators. In such context, we tried to point out from the collected data, the most common deceases with international influences, which had to do with negligent or wrong attitudes by independent states and of high significance to the quality of life or to human survival. Then the issue of the air as an object of study arose, scientifically studying the circulation of masses of air and therefore the trips of air impurities, which cause respiratory deceases. Afterwards we could realize both that the issue was of great value towards the question of the sovereignty of independent states and that the discussion on the genesis of the modern state was highly important, which led us to the final considerations about the institutional needs for the sovereignty to be guaranteed, respecting the planet as a great System.