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Tropical cyclone momentum and energy fluxes
(Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2001)
Many modeling studies of tropical cyclones use the bulk aerodynamic formulae to determine angular momentum and enthalpy fluxes at the sea surface. These results show that the intensification of a hurricane is very sensitive ...
Structural, thermal, and geomorphic evolution of the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau
(Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2001)
The eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau adjacent to and north of the Sichuan Basin poses a fundamental geodynamic problem; the topography of eastern Tibet apparently developed in the absence of significant shortening of ...
Relating size and spectral reflectance properties of S-type asteroids
(Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2001)
The spectral slopes of 701 S-type asteroids have been statistically shown to depend on asteroid size. The spectral reflectance data were taken during the second phase of the Small Main-belt Asteroid Spectroscopic Survey. ...
Nonlocalized faulting in a thick lithosphere : application to lunar contraction
(Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2001)
We reexamine the longstanding hypothesis that lunar contraction is constrained by the lack of a visible global system of compressive faults. We model the lunar lithosphere as a layered elastic medium that fails according ...
Isentropic diagnostics of mid-latitude circulation and transport
(Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2001)
This thesis examines the mid-latitude circulation and tracer transport using zonal average isentropic diagnostics. The Underworld (i.e. the region roughly below the 300K-isentrope) is targeted by our research. Currently, ...
Stellar occultation lightcurve modeling for elliptical occulting bodies
(Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2001)
We present a new method of calculating model lightcurves for stellar occultations by the Jovian planets. We model the occulting planet as a three-dimensional body of non-zero ellipticity, and define two ellipses of ...
The production of non-methane hydrocarbons by marine plankton
(Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2001)
The oceans are a small source of non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHC), a suite of volatile organics whose chemical destruction mechanism by reaction with hydroxyl radical can significantly affect the oxidation capacity of the ...
Determination and interpretation of earthquake source locations in Sichuan Province, China
(Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2001)
This thesis involves locating and interpreting earthquakes from the Sichuan Province, China. The main contributions of this research are: successfully fitting the travel time data of three explosions to a two-layer crust ...
The use of satellite remote sensing to determine land water runoff
(Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2001)
The purpose of this study is to estimate land water runoff from satellite measurements of net radiation at the top of the atmosphere by invoking columnar atmospheric water and energy balance. Land water runoff is an important ...
Extensional evolution of the central East Greenland Caledonides
(Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2001)
This thesis addresses the complexity of both syn- and post-orogenic extension in the overriding plate during Caledonian continental collision through field and laboratory investigations in the central East Greenland ...