Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1967. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Diferentes escalas espaciais, nas quais diferentes fatores variam, podem ser importantes em estudos da biodiversidade. Estrutura e dinâmica de comunidades marinhas epifaunais variam com a latitude, mas como essa variação muda ao longo do tempo é pouco estudada. Investigamos como a estrutura de assembleias de cnidários bentônicos em portos varia temporalmente em uma latitude tropical e uma subtropical e devido a fatores locais. No Brasil, estudamos recrutamento ao longo de quatro trimestres em duas áreas portuárias (Pecém a 3°32′S e Ilhabela a 23°46′S), e ao longo de dois anos em Ilhabela. Verificamos que (1) a riqueza de espécies segue o gradiente latitudinal, com assembleias de cnidários bentônicos mais ricas no Pecém, o local mais tropical; (2) a composição das assembleias varia muito ao longo do tempo, mas é mais constante na latitude tropical e parece ser uma consequência de maior variação sazonal da temperatura na latitude subtropical; (3) as abundâncias dos membros das assembleias de Ilhabela não são sazonalmente definidas; (4) cada local possui diferentes táxons que são mais importantes na estrutura da assembleia; (5) as assembleias em Ilhabela estão estruturadas conforme o microhabitat, interações bióticas e tempo de submersão. Este estudo destaca a importância da perspectiva temporal no entendimento da dinâmica de comunidades, contribui com o entendimento da importância da escala na determinação de padrões em comunidades marinhas e de como impactos humanos no ambiente dificultam a interpretação e previsão de padrões em comunidades / A variety of spatial scales, in which different factors vary, can be important in studies of biodiversity. Structure and dynamics of marine epifaunal communities are known to vary latitudinally, but how that variation changes over time is relatively unstudied. Here we investigate how the structure of fouling assemblages of cnidarians in harbors varies temporally at a tropical and a subtropical latitude and due to local factors. In Brazil, we studied recruitment during four 3 month periods in two harbors (tropical Pecém at 3°32′S and subtropical Ilhabela at 23°46′S) and over two years at Ilhabela. We found that (1) species richness follows a latitudinal gradient with more speciose benthic cnidarian assemblages at tropical Pecém; (2) composition of the assemblages varies widely over time, while being more constant at the tropical latitude and seems to be a consequence of greater seasonal variation in temperature at the subtropical latitude; (3) abundance of members of the assemblages at Ilhabela are not seasonally defined; (4) each site has different taxa that are more important in assemblage structure; (5) assemblages at Ilhabela are structured by microhabitat, biotic interactions and time of submersion. This study highlights the importance of a temporal perspective in understanding community dynamics, contributes to the understanding of the importance of scale in determining patterns of marine communities and how human impacts difficult interpretation and prediction of community patterns

Diferentes escalas espaciais, nas quais diferentes fatores variam, podem ser importantes em estudos da biodiversidade. Estrutura e dinâmica de comunidades marinhas epifaunais variam com a latitude, mas como essa variação muda ao longo do tempo é pouco estudada. Investigamos como a estrutura de assembleias de cnidários bentônicos em portos varia temporalmente em uma latitude tropical e uma subtropical e devido a fatores locais. No Brasil, estudamos recrutamento ao longo de quatro trimestres em duas áreas portuárias (Pecém a 3°32′S e Ilhabela a 23°46′S), e ao longo de dois anos em Ilhabela. Verificamos que (1) a riqueza de espécies segue o gradiente latitudinal, com assembleias de cnidários bentônicos mais ricas no Pecém, o local mais tropical; (2) a composição das assembleias varia muito ao longo do tempo, mas é mais constante na latitude tropical e parece ser uma consequência de maior variação sazonal da temperatura na latitude subtropical; (3) as abundâncias dos membros das assembleias de Ilhabela não são sazonalmente definidas; (4) cada local possui diferentes táxons que são mais importantes na estrutura da assembleia; (5) as assembleias em Ilhabela estão estruturadas conforme o microhabitat, interações bióticas e tempo de submersão. Este estudo destaca a importância da perspectiva temporal no entendimento da dinâmica de comunidades, contribui com o entendimento da importância da escala na determinação de padrões em comunidades marinhas e de como impactos humanos no ambiente dificultam a interpretação e previsão de padrões em comunidades / A variety of spatial scales, in which different factors vary, can be important in studies of biodiversity. Structure and dynamics of marine epifaunal communities are known to vary latitudinally, but how that variation changes over time is relatively unstudied. Here we investigate how the structure of fouling assemblages of cnidarians in harbors varies temporally at a tropical and a subtropical latitude and due to local factors. In Brazil, we studied recruitment during four 3 month periods in two harbors (tropical Pecém at 3°32′S and subtropical Ilhabela at 23°46′S) and over two years at Ilhabela. We found that (1) species richness follows a latitudinal gradient with more speciose benthic cnidarian assemblages at tropical Pecém; (2) composition of the assemblages varies widely over time, while being more constant at the tropical latitude and seems to be a consequence of greater seasonal variation in temperature at the subtropical latitude; (3) abundance of members of the assemblages at Ilhabela are not seasonally defined; (4) each site has different taxa that are more important in assemblage structure; (5) assemblages at Ilhabela are structured by microhabitat, biotic interactions and time of submersion. This study highlights the importance of a temporal perspective in understanding community dynamics, contributes to the understanding of the importance of scale in determining patterns of marine communities and how human impacts difficult interpretation and prediction of community patterns

Total electron content (TEC) data measured from ground-based GPS receivers is compared to HF backscatter from ionospheric irregularities obtained by Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN) radars.  We present the first observations of a recurrent region of anomalous enhanced TEC at mid-latitudes over North America and attempt to characterize its frequency of occurrence.  Next, we examine the relationship of convection electric fields to the formation of a polar cap tongue of ionization (TOI) from mid-latitude plumes of storm enhanced density (SED) during a geomagnetic storm on 26 September 2011.  A channel of high density F region plasma was transported from the dayside ionosphere and into the polar cap by enhanced convection electric fields extending to mid-latitudes.  After the solar wind IMF conditions quieted and the dayside convection electric fields retreated to higher latitudes, an SED was observed extending to, but not entering, the dayside cusp region.  The source mechanism (enhanced electric fields) previously drawing the plasma from mid-latitudes and into the polar cap was no longer active, resulting in a fossil feature which persisted for several hours as it elongated in magnetic local time. Finally, we discuss ground surface effects on the HF backscatter observed by four SuperDARN radars. Monthly ground scatter occurrence rates are calculated for comparison with Arctic sea ice boundaries derived from satellite observations, showing reduced backscatter from regions covered by ice. / Master of Science

First time ionospheric refractive index values have been determined at mid latitudes using frequency switched SuperDARN plasma convection velocity estimates. Previous works have found a disparity between high latitude SuperDARN plasma convection velocities and those made by other devices. It was noted that the scattering volume’s refractive index was being neglected when estimating plasma convection velocities, meaning a correction factor was needed in order to more accurately reflect other measurements. Later work proposed a solution which implemented frequency switching in SuperDARN radars and determined a single correction factor based off of many years of data. We present case study driven research which applies the principles of these previous works to mid latitudes in an attempt to determine the refractive effect in mid latitude SuperDARN plasma convection velocity data by examining frequency switched quiet time ionospheric scatter. It was found that the 1/2 hop ionospheric scatter exhibited little to no measurable refractive effect (n ∼ 1), while the 11/2 hop ionospheric scatter tended to exhibit measurable refractive effects (n ∼ 0.7). This is then expanded to a storm-time 1/2 hop ionospheric scatter case study. It was again found that the refractive effects were nearly negligible (n ∼ 1), indicating that the 1/2 hop plasma convection velocities reported by mid latitude SuperDARN radars only require a very small correction factor, if any at all. / Master of Science

No description available.

The purpose of this thesis is to examine the effects of magnetic activity on the low latitude F-region thermospheric winds. The F-region (120-1600 km) is a partially ionized medium where O+ and O are the major ion and neutral species, respectively. The thermospheric winds at these altitudes are driven primarily by pressure gradient forces resulting from the solar heating during the day and cooling at night. For this study, we use measured Fabry-Perot Interferometer (FPD winds at Arequipa (16.5°S, 71.5°W) and measured FPI and Incoherent Scatter Radar (ISR) winds at Arecibo (18.6°N, 66.8°W). Previous wind studies at Arequipa and Arecibo concentrated on the climatological wind patterns highlighting solar cycle effects and seasonal variations; however, these studies did not address the effects of magnetically disturbed conditions on the seasonal averaged winds. To properly investigate storm time effects on the neutral winds, we must first investigate solar cycle effects on the seasonal averages during magnetically quiet (Kp < 3) conditions. This study will include a detailed analysis of solar cycle effects on the seasonally averaged winds for Arequipa and Arecibo. In addition to the wind averages, we used cubic splines to fit the average wind profiles and to provide better comparisons with modeled results. We also performed a study on the airglow emission heights using both Jicamarca and Arecibo electron density profiles. This established the height which we will use to compare our experimental data with the model winds. To investigate magnetic activity effects on the FPI and ISR winds, we used three magnetic activity cases which cover all storm time scenarios. These magnetic activity cases are the extended quiet, short-term disturbed, and extended disturbed conditions. The first case, the extended quiet, is the condition where the previous and short term magnetic activity is quiet (12 hour Kp ≤ 3 and the Kp ≤ 3). The short-term disturbed case is defined for the condition where the previous magnetic activity is quiet (12 hour Kp ≤ 3) and then becomes disturbed (Kp ≤ 3). Last, we considered the case where previous and short-term magnetic activity are disturbed (12 hour Kp ≤ 3 and the Kp ≤ 3). Our last objective is to use our data to validate the predictions from the Thermosphere/Ionosphere General Circulation model (TIGCM93) and the Horizontal Wind Model (HWM93). This study should further our understanding of the physical processes which produce the low latitude quiet and disturbed winds. The TIGCM93 is a first principal model and the HWM93 is an empirical model based on ground-based and satellite measurements. The main advantage of using the TIGCM93 is the ease of studying the dynamics of ionospheric phenomena by simply changing various model inputs, while the HWM93 allows us a comparison between our experimental wind data sets with the established climatology of the winds over Arequipa and Arecibo.

In this thesis, the features of electric field signatures of narrow bipolar pulses (NBPs) generated by cloud flashes are investigated and their effects on wireless communication systems are studied. A handful amount of NBPs (14.5%) have been observed to occur as part of cloud-to-ground flashes in South Malaysia. Occurrence of NBPs in Sweden has been reported for the first time in this thesis. The electric field waveform characteristics of NBPs as part of cloud-to-ground flashes were similar to isolated NBPs found in Sweden and South Malaysia and also to those isolated NBPs reported by previous studies from various geographical areas. This is a strong indication that their breakdown mechanisms are similar at any latitudes regardless of geographical areas. A comparative study on the occurrence of NBPs and other forms of lightning flashes across various geographical areas ranging from northern regions to the tropics is presented. As the latitude decreased from Uppsala, Sweden (59.8°N) to South Malaysia (1.5°N), the percentage of NBP emissions relative to the total number of lightning flashes increased significantly from 0.13% to 12%. Occurrences of positive NBPs were more common than negative NBPs at all observed latitudes. However, as latitudes decreased, the negative NBP emissions increased significantly from 20% (Sweden) to 45% (South Malaysia). Factors involving mixed-phase region elevations and vertical extents of thundercloud tops are invoked to explain the observed results. These factors are fundamentally latitude dependent. In this thesis, the interaction between microwave radiations emitted by cloud-to-ground and cloud flashes events and bits transmission in wireless communication networks are also presented. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time such effects are investigated in the literature. Narrow bipolar pulses were found to be the strongest source of interference that interfered with the bits transmission.

Submitted by Everaldo Pereira (pereira.evera@gmail.com) on 2017-02-18T19:04:57Z No. of bitstreams: 1 TESE - VANESSA ALMEIDA - 2011.pdf: 30971255 bytes, checksum: a69c965a3edaa0a8d53d09b8186a347a (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-02-18T19:04:57Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 TESE - VANESSA ALMEIDA - 2011.pdf: 30971255 bytes, checksum: a69c965a3edaa0a8d53d09b8186a347a (MD5) / Os padrões biogeográficos das espécies e suas associações são determinados pela interação de todas as variáveis ambientais. No Brasil, apesar dos briozoários marinhos se apresentarem amplamente distribuídos, possíveis padrões de distribuição geográfica destes organismos com base na influência integrada de parâmetros abióticos não tem sido investigados. Neste sentido, a presente pesquisa verificou todos os registros de espécies de briozoários na plataforma continental da Bahia (12º-18º10’ S) presentes em amostras de sedimento superficial, com o objetivo de reconhecer a distribuição em função da latitude e correlacionar os resultados obtidos com a variação dos parâmetros ambientais regionais. A fauna de briozoários da Bahia foi representada por 126 táxons, 76 gêneros e 52 famílias. A análise da distribuição latitudinal das famílias de briozoários da Bahia revelou a formação de seis diferentes grupos ao longo da plataforma continental: grupo 1, formado por famílias com limite norte, entre Subaúma e Salvador (12º a 13º S); grupo 2, constituído por família com limite sul, entre Prado e Nova Viçosa (17º a 18º10’ S); grupo 3, representado por famílias com limites ao norte (Subaúma a Salvador, 12º a 13º S) e ao sul (Ilhéus a Nova Viçosa, 14º50 a 18º10’ S); grupo 4, famílias com distribuição concentrada em uma zona intermediária, entre Salvador e Ilhéus (13º a 14º50’ S); grupo 5, famílias com distribuição descontínua; grupo 6, inclui famílias com distribuição ampla, entre Subaúma e Nova Viçosa (12º a 18º10’ S). A formação dos diferentes grupos parece refletir à atuação integrada dos fatores ambientais que regem a dinâmica da área, sobretudo com alterações nos parâmetros sedimentares e variações nas feições oceanográficas. A alteração da composição da fauna em torno de 15º S revela a possibilidade de que a variação da cobertura sedimentar constitui o parâmetro ambiental mais relevante no controle da diversidade. Logo, o desenvolvimento da briofauna da costa da Bahia parece estar relacionado principalmente à presença de substrato adequado para fixação da larva e desenvolvimento das colônias. De acordo as características descritas em trabalhos anteriores este substrato corresponde a cascalhos e areias biogênicos que predominam nas plataformas média e externa. A avaliação da composição da fauna no trecho entre 15º e 15º10’ S, entre as cidades de Olivença e Una, revela os maiores valores de diversidade nas plataformas média e externa, associado ao cascalho e areia biogênica. Os menores valores de diversidade encontram-se na plataforma interna onde foi assinalada a presença das espécies Cupuladria monotrema (Busk, 1884) e Discoporella umbellata (Defrance, 1823), típicas de sedimentos inconsolidados. Neste trecho as algas calcárias incrustantes representam o principal suporte utilizado pela fauna de briozoários. A avaliação da distribuição geográfica no Brasil das famílias de briozoários encontradas na Bahia indicou a formação de dois grandes grupos: (1) dez famílias limitadas até 21º S no Estado do Espírito Santo e (2) quarenta e uma famílias com ampla distribuição desde a região nordeste até o Estado do Rio Grande do Sul. A presença do primeiro grupo indicou a influência da temperatura e do substrato disponível na distribuição dos briozoários, e, por conseguinte, concordou com a proposta de Palacio (1982) do término da Província Tropical em torno de 21º S. O limite de distribuição das famílias Didymosellidae e Monoporellidae entre 13º44’ S e 21º S indicou a presença de uma subzona transicional, além do limite da Província Tropical, corroborando resultado semelhante em estudo anterior com ostrácodes (Ostracoda). O limite norte desta subzona pode ser associado à variabilidade ambiental a partir da porção central da plataforma continental baiana, e o limite sul à mudança da temperatura das águas e da cobertura sedimentar. A avaliação da distribuição mundial das espécies de briozoários do Brasil e da Bahia revelou que latitudinalmente a fauna é formada em sua maioria por representantes tropicais e subtropicais. Longitudinalmente a maioria das espécies é encontrada no Atlântico noroeste, Pacífico leste, Atlântico leste (África oeste tropical e Mediterrâneo) e na região indopacífica / ABSTRACT - The biogeographic patterns of species and their associations are determined by the interaction of all environmental variables. In Brazil, despite the fact that marine bryozoans are widely distributed, the possible geographical patterns of these organisms based on the integrated influence of abiotic parameters have not been investigated. The present research analyzed all records of species of bryozoans present in sediment samples collected in the continental shelf of Bahia (12º-18º10' S), with the aim of recognizing the distribution as a function of latitude, and trying to associate the results observed with the regional variation of environmental parameters. The bryozoan fauna of Bahia was represented by 126 taxons, 76 genera and 52 families. The analysis of the latitudinal distribution of bryozoan families of Bahia revealed the formation of six different groups along the continental shelf: group 1, consisting of families with northern boundary between Subaúma and Salvador (12º to 13º S); group 2, consisting of family with the southern boundary, between Prado and Nova Viçosa (17º to 18º10' S); group 3, represented by families with limits to the north (between Subaúma to Salvador, 12o to 13o S) and south (Ilhéus to Nova Viçosa, 14º50’ to 18º10' S); group 4, families with concentrated distribution in an intermediate zone (between Salvador and Ilhéus - 13º to 14º50' S); group 5, families with discontinuous distribution; group 6, includes families present throughout the area, among the locations of Subaúma and Nova Viçosa (12º to 18º10' S). The formation of various groups seem to reflect the integrated influence of the environmental factors governing the dynamics of the area, mainly with changes in sedimentary parameters and variations in oceanographic features.The change in the composition of the fauna around 15° S reveals the possibility that the variation of the sedimentary cover is the most important environmental parameter in controlling diversity. Thus the development of the fauna of bryozoans the coast of Bahia may be related mainly to the presence of suitable substrate for attachment of the larva and development of the colonies. According the characteristics described in previous studies this substrate corresponds to biogenic sands and gravels that predominate in the middle and external shelf. The evaluation of the composition of the fauna between the cities of Olivença and Una (15o to 15º10' S), indicated the highest values of diversity in the middle and external shelf, associated with the biogenic gravel and sand. The lowest values of diversity are in the inner shelf where it was indicated the presence of Cupuladria monotrema (Busk, 1884) and Discoporella umbellata (Defrance, 1823). In this area, the encrusting coralline algae were the main substrate used by the fauna of bryozoans. The assessment of the geographical distribution in Brazil for the families of bryozoans found in Bahia indicated the formation of two major groups: (1) ten families with the southern limit of distribution in the State of Espirito Santo (21º S) and (2) forty-one families with a wide distribution from the northeast to the State of Rio Grande do Sul. The presence of the first group indicated the influence of temperature and substrate availability in the distribution of bryozoans, and therefore agree with the hypothesis proposed by Palacio (1982) regarding the expiration of the Province Tropical around 21º S. The limit distribution of families Didymosellidae and Monoporellidae between 13º44' S and 21º S indicated the presence of a transitional subzone beyond the southern limits of the Province Tropical and confirming a similar result in previous study with ostracods (Ostracoda). The northern boundary of this subdivision may be linked to environmental variability from the central portion of the continental shelf of Bahia, and the southern boundary to change in water temperature and sediment cover. Analysis on the overall distribution of species of bryozoans of the Brazil and Bahia revealed that the fauna is composed mostly of representatives tropical and subtropical regions, while, in a longitudinal perspective most of the species is found in the northwestern Atlantic, eastern Pacific, Atlantic East (west tropical Africa and Mediterranean) and the indo-pacific region.

The Sub-Auroral Polarization Stream (SAPS) is a narrow, intense and persistent westward (sunward) ionospheric convection flow channel observed equatorward of the auroral electron precipitation boundary, predominantly on the nightside. Previous studies have identified disturbed-time SAPS to be a geomagnetic activity dependent phenomenon, which exhibits average pre-midnight and post-midnight velocities of 1000 m/s and 400 m/s respectively. Numerous studies have reported even narrower and more intense westward plasma flows called SAIDs to be embedded within SAPS channels, especially during substorm recovery phases. Quiet-time SAPS studies, although relatively few, have shown these SAPS to be associated with much weaker velocities and to be influenced by substorm intensifications. However, these studies have been limited in their ability to make simultaneous measurements of SAPS flow velocities over many hours of MLT. The recent expansion of SuperDARN radars to middle latitudes facilitates unprecedented large-scale observations of SAPS over 10 hours of MLT with high temporal and spatial resolution. In this thesis, we first examine the spatial and temporal dynamics of one quiet-time SAPS event, using the mid-latitude SuperDARN radars. The SAPS was identified as elevated flows lying equatorward of the auroral electron precipitation boundary specified by the NOAA POES satellites. We demonstrate the L-shell fitting technique to analyze the dynamics in the strength and direction of the two-dimensional SAPS flow velocities at three separate magnetic longitudes. The quiet-time SAPS event thus examined lasted for over 4 hours in UT and extended over 10 hours of MLT, as is commonly observed for disturbed-time SAPS. However, the decrease in SAPS peak latitudes and peak velocities with MLT and MLon respectively, observed for disturbed-time SAPS, was not observed for this event. We also find the dynamics of the enhancements in the quiet-time SAPS peak velocities, to correlate well with that of substorm intensifications identified using the CARISMA magnetometers. We then identify numerous such conjunctions between quiet-time SAPS and substorms to infer that quiettime SAPS were almost always associated with substorms and their durations were well bounded by that of the substorms for most cases. Next, we extend this analysis over to a statistical study of quiet-time and disturbed-time SAPS events identified over two years. From this study, we find quiet-time SAPS to occur between the relatively narrow nightside MLT range of [18, 4] whereas disturbed-time SAPS was found to occur between the broader nightside MLT range of [15, 5]. We also find the occurrence percentage of quiet-time SAPS to be at its highest between the narrow latitude range of 60-66⁰, while disturbed-time SAPS was observed to occur within a much broader latitude range of 55-66⁰. Finally, the calibration and validation of a control card used in the SuperDARN radar transmitters, is discussed. / Master of Science