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Earth ovens are a ubiquitous feature of eastern North America, used throughout many cultures and periods, leaving a highly visible signature of habitational life. This study focusses on one of the four uniquely outsized earth ovens from the center of a woodhenge at Hopewell Mound Group, the type site of the Hopewell culture. Cleaned of artifacts and fire-cracked rock, this feature required specialized analysis to shed light on its function: macrobotanical methods of seed identification and wood charcoal analysis along with phytolith and soil micromorphological analysis. These analyses create a holistic picture of the earth oven, the woodhenge, and the nature of feasting and ritual at Hopewell Mound Group, along with a snapshot of the paleoenvironment. Results show ritual use of ash wood (Fraxinus sp.), Eastern Agricultural Complex seeds seasonally timed with a summer solstice ritual, and grass leaf phytoliths deposited deeper than the surrounding natural strata. Feasting at this site seems to be focused on feeding large numbers of people, as opposed to a small set of competitive elites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The temperature trend in the mesosphere and lower-thermosphere (MLT) region can be regarded as an indicator of climate change. Using temperature profiles measured by the Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry (SABER) instrument during 2002–2023 and binning them based on the yaw cycle, we obtain a continuous dataset with a wide local time coverage at 50° S–80° N or 80° S–50° N. The seasonal change in temperature, caused by the forward drift in the SABER yaw cycle, is removed using the climatological temperature of the Naval Research Laboratory's Mass Spectrometer Incoherent Scatter Radar model (MSIS2.0). The corrected temperature without any waves is regarded as the mean temperature. At 50° S–50° N, the cooling trends in the mean temperature are significant in the MLT region and are in agreement with previous studies. The novel finding is that the cooling trends of ≥ l2 K per decade exhibit seasonal symmetry and reach peaks of ≥ 6 K per decade at high latitudes around the summer solstice. Moreover, there are warming trends of 1–2.5 K per decade at an altitude range of 10 -2 –10 -3 hPa , specifically at latitudes higher than 55° N in October and December and at latitudes higher than 55° S in April and August. Over the past 22 years, the mesopause temperature (altitude) in the northern summer polar region has been ∼ 5–11 K (∼ 1 km) colder (lower) than that in the corresponding southern region. The trends in the mesopause temperature are dependent on latitudes and months, but they are negative at most latitudes and reach larger magnitudes at high latitudes. These results indicate that the temperature in the high-latitude MLT region is more sensitive to dynamic changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the processes controlling pore closure are broadly understood, the physical mechanisms driving the associated elemental fractionation remains ambiguous. Previous studies have shown that the pore closure process leads to a depletion in small-sized molecules (e.g. H2 , O2 , Ar, Ne, He) in ice core bubbles relative to larger-sized molecules like N2. This size-dependent fractionation, identified using ice core δ(O2/N2) records, exhibits a clear anti-correlation with local summer solstice insolation, making δ(O2/N2) a valuable ice core dating tool. Mechanisms controlling this relationship are attributed to the physical properties of deep firn. In this study, we compile δ(O2/N2) records from 15 polar ice cores and show a new additional link between δ(O2/N2) and local surface temperature and/or accumulation rate. Using the Crocus snowpack model, we perform sensitivity tests to identify the response of near-surface snow properties to changes in insolation intensity, accumulation rate, and air temperature. These tests support a mechanism linked to firn grain size, such that the larger the grain size for a given density, the stronger the pore closure fractionation and, hence, the lower the δ(O2/N2) values archived in the ice. Based on both snowpack model outputs and data compilation, our findings suggest that local accumulation rate and temperature should be considered when interpreting δ(O2/N2) as a local insolation proxy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies on solar electric vehicles (EVs) have focused on calculating the power generation in a specific environment without discussing its practical utility. To expand the awareness of the utility of solar EVs, their potential should be evaluated by considering the operation methods of users. This study investigated the photovoltaic (PV) potential of an EV integrated with PV modules while driving on an expressway. Tunnel and shadow areas were identified to determine unpowered areas on the expressway. The PVWatts model was used to evaluate the PV potential by the time of the year. For a single vehicle traveling at 60 km/h on the Donghae expressway section during both the summer and winter solstices, the amount of power generation is within 0.208–0.317 kWh, corresponding to 0.94–1.43% of the electricity consumed for driving. Furthermore, this study assumed that office workers commute on the Donghae expressway. Under the scenario considering the time of operation (traveling to and from work and parking at work) and the shading ratio, the rechargeable amount was more than 10% of the electricity consumption. The results showed that solar roofs are potential charging supplements for EV batteries. This study can provide the efficacy and optimal operation method of solar EVs for commuters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work investigates seasonal and interhemispheric variations of the afternoon auroral responses to the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) By effects. The auroral observations are adopted from the global ultraviolet imager instrument on board the Thermosphere Ionosphere Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics (TIMED) satellite during 2002–2007. The results show that in both summer and winter solstices, the stronger afternoon auroral intensity is associated with negative IMF By (By < 0) in the northern hemisphere, and with By > 0 in the southern hemisphere. This suggests stronger contributions from the upward field‐aligned currents (FACs), which can be induced by the By‐associated north‐south oriented electric field and the By‐associated flow shear in the ionosphere. In addition, the strongest afternoon aurora occurs in summer in each hemisphere. In summer, the absolute difference between the auroral peak intensity under the two By polarities is greater and occurs earlier than in winter, which may be related to changes in FACs and conductivity from winter to summer. Differently, in equinoxes stronger auroral intensity favors By conditions associated with more frequent occurrence of southward IMF Bz, such as By < 0 and By > 0 conditions in March and in September, respectively. Therefore, in equinoxes the effects of the favorable By, which were seen in solstices, are masked. We suggest that these are caused by the Russell‐McPherron effect, which leads to more southward Bz conditions, resulting in more energy deposited and subsequent stronger aurora in polar ionosphere. These results contribute to our deeper understanding of the asymmetrical phenomena in the Earth's magnetosphere‐ionosphere induced by IMF By. Plain Language Summary: Aurora is mainly controlled by coupling among the solar wind, magnetosphere and ionosphere. The afternoon aurora can vary with the change of the north‐south components (positive‐negative Bz) and east‐west components (positive‐negative By) of interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). Generally, compared with northward Bz, stronger afternoon aurora occurs when Bz is southward. It also has By orientation preference from case studies and statistics. In this study, quantitative and statistical analysis was performed on the afternoon aurora. We confirmed that in summer and winter of the northern hemisphere, the afternoon auroral intensity is stronger for negative By than that for positive By, while the opposite trend, that is, the stronger afternoon aurora under positive By, occurs in the southern hemisphere. This hemispheric change of the afternoon auroral response to By is most probably associated with the resultant field‐aligned currents. However, the afternoon auroral intensity is stronger for negative By in both hemispheres in March and is stronger for positive By in both hemispheres in September. In each equinox, the stronger afternoon auroral intensity prefers the By orientation that is associated with greater occurrence frequency of southward Bz. Key Points: In summer and winter solstices, the afternoon auroral responses to By polarities are opposite between the northern and southern hemispheresThe absolute difference in auroral peak intensity between different By polarities is greater and occurs earlier in summer than in winterIn equinoxes, stronger afternoon auroral intensity is mostly associated with the Russell‐McPherron effect, regardless of the hemisphere [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the health-related weighted ultraviolet radiation (UVR) due to the total ozone content (TOC) and the aerosol optical depth (AOD) changes. Clear-sky Ultraviolet Index (UVI), daily doses, and exposure times for erythema induction (Dery and Tery) and vitamin D synthesis (DvitD and TvitD) were computed by a radiative transfer estimator. TOC and AOD data were provided by six Earth System Models (ESMs) from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6). For projections, we consider four Shared Socioeconomic Pathways scenarios—SSPs (SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, SSP3-7.0, and SSP5-8.5)—and two time-slices (near: 2041–2060 and far future: 2081–2100). UVR projections showed pronounced changes for the summer hemispheres in the far future. TOC increases in mid- and high latitudes of the Southern Hemisphere caused decreases in UVR at the summer solstice. However, projections did not indicate sun-safe exposure conditions in South America, Australia, and Southern Africa. On the contrary, exposure around solar noon from 10 to 20 min will still be sufficient to induce erythema in skin type III individuals throughout this century. In southern Argentina and Chile, the UVR insufficiency for vitamin D synthesis at solar noon in skin type III remains the same during this century at the winter solstice. In the Northern Hemisphere, UVI and Dery at the summer solstice should remain high (UVI ≥ 8; Dery ~ 7.0 kJ m−2) in highly populated locations. Above 45 °N, UVR levels cannot be enough to synthesize vitamin D in skin type III during the boreal winter. Our results show that climate change will affect human health through excess or lack of solar UVR availability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The domestic donkey (Equus asinus), like the horse (Equus caballus), is a short-day, seasonally polyestrous animal with an endogenous circannual reproduction rhythm. The main seasonal changes (winter–summer) significantly influence the development of the internal rhythm, which is directly controlled by melatonin. However, very little is known about the development of melatonin concentrations in donkey blood plasma. This study confirmed the circannual and circadian rhythms of the domestic donkey. It can be established that the lowest blood plasma melatonin concentration is typical in the Northern Hemisphere during the summer solstice. The significantly strongest melatonin production can be observed during the night of the winter solstice. The blood plasma melatonin concentration does not change as pregnancy progresses. The aim of this study is to obtain a more complete picture of blood plasma melatonin concentrations in the donkey mares. To this purpose, sampling and statistical processing were carried out in such a way that allowed the researchers to establish the annual and daily rhythms. Based on human observations, according to the hypothesis of the authors, the blood plasma melatonin concentration of pregnant individuals rises during the late gestational period, before parturition. To confirm this, the melatonin concentrations of pregnant and non-pregnant jennies were monitored and compared. In regard to the circannual rhythm, the significantly lowest midnight melatonin value (27.67 pg mL–1) was typical for the summer solstice. Under consideration of circadian changes, a significantly strongest melatonin production (45.16 pg mL–1) was observed on the night of the winter solstice (p < 0.001). Considering gestational age, the blood plasma melatonin concentration (around 38 pg mL–1) does not change as gestation progresses (p = 0.136). The results obtained in this studied population of the domestic ass usefully expand the little knowledge previously gathered about the development of the blood plasma melatonin concentrations of this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Feng Lu,1,&ast; Yangyang Wang,2,&ast; Fangyu Miao,3 Chengzhou Han,2 Xiangming Meng2 1Department of Emergency Medicine, Affiliated Huishan Hospital of Xinglin College, Nantong University, Wuxi Huishan District People’s Hospital, Wuxi, 214187, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Otolaryngology, Affiliated Huishan Hospital of Xinglin College, Nantong University, Wuxi Huishan District People’s Hospital, Wuxi, 214187, People’s Republic of China; 3Information Centre, Affiliated Huishan Hospital of Xinglin College, Nantong University, Wuxi Huishan District People’s Hospital, Wuxi, 214187, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Xiangming Meng, Department of Otolaryngology, Affiliated Huishan Hospital of Xinglin College, Nantong University, Wuxi Huishan District People’s Hospital, 2 Zhanqian North Road, Luoshe Town, Huishan District, Wuxi, 214187, People’s Republic of China, Email xiangming_meng@hotmail.comPurpose: This study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics of acute epiglottitis (AE) patients in East China and examine the correlation between the incidence of AE and the 24 solar terms (24 STs).Methods: A retrospective, observational study was conducted on patients diagnosed with AE between January 2014 and December 2021 at a single-center medical institution in East China. The clinical characteristics of patients with AE and their correlation with the 24 STs were investigated.Results: A total of 287 patients with AE were included in this study, among which there were 179 males (62.37%) and 108 females (37.63%), with a mean age of 47.79 ± 13.83 years (range 16– 87 years). Of these patients, 100 (34.84%) had at least one comorbidity and the most common comorbidities were hypertension, smoking and type 2 diabetes. The duration of hospitalization was 3 days (IQR, 1– 16 days). All patients, except for one who required tracheal intubation, were cured with intravenous antibiotic administration and the combined use of corticosteroids. The incidence of AE showed significant fluctuations between the 24 STs and the highest number of cases occurred during the Summer solstice (24 cases, 8.36%).Conclusion: The incidence of AE was seen to increase annually in this study. The main features of AE are sore throat, dysphagia, odynophagia and fever, which may be accompanied by inflammation in surrounding areas. A clear correlation exists between the incidence of AE and the fluctuations within the 24 STs, notably with the peak incidence observed during the Summer solstice, which approximately corresponds to June 21 to July 7 in the Gregorian calendar.Keywords: acute epiglottitis, 24 solar terms, seasonal variations, incidence, summer solstice

Unearthed in 1987 from the Neolithic site in a village called Lingjiatan in Anhui Province, China, a Jade Tortoise and a Jade Tablet are believed to be components of a set of divination tools that retain both astronomical and cosmological meaning. On the basis of the works by previous scholars, this paper aims to study this special set of jade artifacts from a syncretic point of view. After a verification of the previous researchers' opinions that the eight arrows carved in the central position of the Jade Tablet represent the Eight Cardinal Directions while the four arrows carved at its four conners represent the rising and setting positions of the Sun at the March and December Solstices. I argue that the five pairs of round holes on the Tablet's two short sides may represent the five pairs of the horizontal positions of sunrise and sunset corresponding to the later Eight Festivals in the Chinese calendar, i.e. the Beginning of Spring, the Spring Equinox, the Beginning of Summer, the Summer Solstice, Beginning of Autumn, Autumn Equinox, Beginning of Winter, and Winter Solstice. Together with the other twelve round holes on the two long sides of the same Tablet, they might have been used by the residents of the Lingjiatan site as a date-counting device related to the Eight Festivals in a year. Put together as a unified set, the Jade Tortoise and the Jade Tablet indicate an early model of the cosmos, reflecting the image of space and time in the minds of the residents of the site, which made the set a 'standard model' of the other tortoise-divination tools unearthed at the same site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Tibetan Plateau (TP) serves not only as the "water tower" of Asia but also as an important source in the global atmospheric dust cycle. While our knowledge of modern dust activity and its impacts and interactions with climate change in the TP has greatly advanced in the past decades, the emission, transport, and deposition of dust on the geological time scale remains unclear. This study analyzed a 7.6‐m thick sedimentary sequence consisting of loess and sand from the Yarlung Tsangpo River (YTR) valley in the southern TP. The sequence chronology was established using nineteen K‐feldspar post‐infrared infrared stimulated luminescence (pIRIR) ages, which ranged from 47.11 ± 1.95 to 116.65 ± 5.55 ka in a general stratigraphical order. The dust sedimentation rate and sorting coefficient of grain size were used to reflect dust activity and near‐surface wind, respectively. The results indicated that dust activity in the southern TP is mainly regulated by the near‐surface wind intensity and follows the variation pattern of precession, although the waxing and waning of mountain glaciers also affect the amplitude of dust activity. This pattern is not consistent with the Greenland dust record, which follows the variation pattern of obliquity. Therefore, dust accumulation in the southern TP is concluded to be primarily controlled by the South Asian winter monsoon (SAWM) forced by precession, whereas dust accumulation in Greenland is closely related to the intensity of the high‐level westerlies forced by obliquity. Plain Language Summary: TP serves as an important source in the global atmospheric dust cycle, but the emission, transport, and deposition of dust in the geological time scale remain poorly understood. This study presents a Late Pleistocene record of dust activity based on a 7.6‐m thick sedimentary sequence from the YTR valley in southern TP. The results indicated that dust activity in southern TP is primarily regulated by the near‐surface wind intensity and follows the variation pattern of precession. When precession is large, the Northern Hemisphere's summer solstice is located at the aphelion, resulting in a lower Northern Hemisphere summer insolation (NHSI). Lower NHSI reduces winter temperature in the Northern Hemisphere, thereby increasing the temperature difference between the Indian Ocean and the TP. Consequently, wind over the YTR valley is strengthened, and the dust activity increases. Moreover, the variation amplitude of dust activity was revealed to be also affected by the waxing and waning of mountain glaciers. Dust accumulation was found to be asynchronous between the southern TP and Greenland. This asynchronous phenomenon is assumed to be related to the differential response of orbital parameters between the high‐level westerlies and near‐surface wind in southern TP. Key Points: Closely spaced luminescence dating for Late Pleistocene loess in the southern Tibetan Plateau is presentedDust activity follows the variation pattern of precession, despite mountain glaciers also affecting dust activity amplitudeAsynchronous variations of dust accumulation in the southern Tibetan Plateau and Greenland during the Late Pleistocene [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polar mesospheric cloud (PMC) data obtained from the Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere (AIM)/Cloud Imaging and Particle Size (CIPS) experiment and Himawari-8/Advanced Himawari Imager (AHI) observations are analyzed for multi-year climatology and interannual variations. Linkages between PMCs, mesospheric temperature, and water vapor (H2O) are further investigated with data from the Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS). Our analysis shows that PMC onset date and occurrence rate are strongly dependent on the atmospheric environment, i.e., the underlying seasonal behavior of temperature and water vapor. Upper-mesospheric dehydration by PMCs is evident in the MLS water vapor observations. The spatial patterns of the depleted water vapor correspond to the PMC occurrence region over the Arctic and Antarctic during the days after the summer solstice. The year-to-year variabilities in PMC occurrence rates and onset dates are highly correlated with mesospheric temperature and H2O. They show quasi-quadrennial oscillation (QQO) with 4–5-year periods, particularly in the southern hemisphere (SH). The combined influence of mesospheric cooling and the mesospheric H2O increase provides favorable conditions for PMC formation. The global increase in mesospheric H2O during the last decade may explain the increased PMC occurrence in the northern hemisphere (NH). Although mesospheric temperature and H2O exhibit a strong 11-year variation, little solar cycle signatures are found in the PMC occurrence during 2007–2021. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The work deals with the simulation and optimization of a tracking mechanism used to increase the efficiency of photovoltaic (PV) systems. The proposed solar tracker is one with two degrees of freedom (so called dual-axis, or bi-axial), of the equatorial/polar type. The actuation of the tracking system is carried out with two linear actuators, one for each of the two movements. The study is carried out using a virtual prototyping platform that integrates, into a mechatronic concept, the commercial software packages ADAMS and EASY5. The optimization process is approached from three points of view, which target the mechanical device, the control system, and the bi-axial tracking program. All these optimization processes positively influence, in a specific way, the energy efficiency of the tracking system, which was comprehensively evaluated considering the data specific to the longest light-day of the year (i.e., summer solstice), where a net energy gain of 58.66% (by reference to the equivalent fixed system) was obtained. Similar numerical simulations corresponding to several representative days of the year have revealed that the annual net energy gain is around 42%, which fully justifies the use of the proposed tracking system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increase of antenna aperture and frequency, the influence of solar heat on its performance becomes more and more serious. In this paper, the thermal model of the 110 m aperture radio telescope to be built in Xinjiang is established to study its temperature field characteristics on the summer solstice. The results are as follows: during the day, the highest temperature of the main reflector can reach 42.86 ∘ C, which appears at 14 o'clock, and the temperature of the legs also reaches the peak of 41.74 ∘ C at the same time. The horizontal temperature difference of the back frame will exceed 1 ∘ C at 5, 18, and 19.5 o'clock, the antenna pointing performance will be greatly affected. The temperature field at night is also not uniform, and the temperature difference of the pitching structure is significantly higher than that of other components, with the maximum temperature difference of 6.42 ∘ C. Through the method of numerical simulation and test, it is proved that the wall thickness difference of components is the main reason for the large temperature difference at night. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban transportation is pivotal in facilitating citizen mobility, and within this sphere, the thermal comfort experienced at bus stops significantly impacts pedestrians' well-being. This research delves into the analysis of direct sun glare at bus stops utilizing Mobile Laser Scanning (MLS) point clouds. Solar angles are calculated to evaluate sun rays, focusing particularly on the summer solstice, and considering the integration of trees to alleviate direct sun glare. The methodological approach comprises four stages: 1) Semantic segmentation of the bus stop environment, 2) Sun glare analysis, 3) Sun glare analysis integrating trees, and 4) Subsoil investigation with Ground-Penetrating Radar (GPR). Various algorithms, including DBSCAN and filters for height, width, and intensity, are employed to classify different elements contained in the bus stop. Sun rays are then derived based on sun angles, identifying intersections with street elements and vertical structures like bus stops or facades. Subsequently, these intersections are recalculated, incorporating trees in the bus stop vicinity. Finally, GPR is utilized to assess the viability of adding trees. Three bus stops in Vigo, Spain, serve as the focal points of analysis. The study delineates specific time intervals when sun rays either encounter new vegetation obstacles or remain unobstructed. While both small and large trees show potential in reducing sun glare, larger trees notably exhibit greater effectiveness in blocking sun glare for extended periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The temperature trend in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT) region can be regarded as an indicator of climate change. Using temperature profiles measured by the Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry (SABER) instrument during 2002–2023 and binning them based on yaw cycle, we get continuous dataset with wide local time coverage at 50° S–80° N or 80° S–50° N. The seasonal change of temperature, caused by the forward drift of SABER yaw cycle, is removed by using the climatological temperature of MSIS2.0. The corrected temperature without any waves and is regarded as the mean temperature. At 50° S–50° N, the cooling trends of the mean temperature are significant in the MLT region and are in agreement with previous studies. The novel finding is that the cooling trends of ≥2 K/decade exhibit seasonal symmetric and reach peaks of ≥6 K/decade at highest latitudes around the summer solstice. Moreover, there are warming trends of 1–2.5 K/decade at pressure height range of 10-2–10-3 hPa, specifically at latitudes higher than 55° N in October and December and at latitudes higher than 55° S in April and August. The mesopause temperature (height) in the northern summer polar region is colder (lower) than that in the southern counterpart by ~5–11 K (~1 km) over the past 22 years. The trends of the mesopause temperature are dependent on latitudes and months. But they are negative at most latitudes and reach larger magnitudes at highest latitudes. These results indicate that the temperature in high latitude MLT region is more sensitive to dynamic changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Processes controlling pore closure are broadly understood yet defining the physical mechanisms controlling associated elemental fractionation remains ambiguous. Previous studies have shown that the pore closure process leads to a decrease in concentration of small-size molecules (e.g., H2, O2, Ar, Ne, He) in the trapped bubbles. Ice core δ(O2/N2) records – the ratio of O2 to N2 molecules in bubbles trapped in ice cores relative to the atmosphere – are therefore depleted owing to this O2 loss and show a clear link with local summer solstice insolation making it a useful dating tool. In this study, we compile δ(O2/N2) records from 14 polar ice cores and show a new link between δ(O2/N2) and local surface temperature and/or accumulation rate, in addition to the influence of the summer solstice insolation. We argue that both local climate-driven and insolation forcings are linked to the modulation of snow physical properties near the surface. Using the Crocus snowpack model, we perform sensitivity tests to identify the response of near-surface snow properties to changes in insolation, accumulation rate, and air temperature. These tests support a mechanisms linked to snow grain size, such that the larger the grain size for a given density, the stronger the pore closure fractionation, and hence, lower δ(O2/N2) values. Our findings suggest that local accumulation rate and temperature should be considered when interpreting δ(O2/N2) as an insolation proxy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on ethnographic, environmental and iconographic information, linked to the “land snail” Scutalus spp., the ritual context of a funerary nature is addressed, to which the representations of this molusk in Mochica ceramics are associated: both the colecction scenes, combat and mountain sacrifice, as the designs of snails, hybrid animals, among others. Representations of snails can be located on the summer and winter solstices, as well as -exceptionally- when El Niño/Southern Oscillation occurs. The mollusk can be considered a metaphor for water and regeneration, and its morphology develops the symbol of the spiral in three dimensions, replicated in architectural models with a spiral ramp, as well as in the exceptional case of a Mochica ceremonial well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Viking sailors ruled the North Atlantic Ocean for about three hundred years. Their main sailing route was the 60° 21' 55" latitude between Norway and Greenland. Although they did not have a magnetic compass, in sunshine they used a sun-compass to determine the geographical north (solar Viking navigation: SVN). It has been hypothesized that when the Sun was invisible, Viking navigators determined the direction of polarization of skylight with sunstones (dichroic/birefringent crystals), and then estimated the geographical north using the sun-compass (sky-polarimetric Viking navigation: SPVN). Many details of the hypothetical SPVN have been thoroughly revealed in psychophysical laboratory and planetarium experiments. Combining these results with measured celestial polarization patterns, the success of SPVN was obtained as functions of sailing, meteorological and navigation parameters (sunstone type, sailing date, navigation periodicity, night sailing, cloudiness conditions). What was so far lacking in this experimental and computational archeological approach is the study of the success of SVN and a combined navigation using solar cues in sunshine (SVN) and sky polarization at invisible Sun (SPVN), the latter being the most realistic method. In this work we determine the success of the sole SVN and the combined SVN-SPVN relative to the mere SPVN for three navigator types (determining the intended sailing direction with large, medium or small frequencies) at spring equinox and summer solstice, with and without night sailing. We found that to maximize the sailing success, navigators had to choose different navigation methods depending on the navigation frequency. Using sky polarization with very frequent navigation, resulted in the highest chance to survive a three-week voyage from Norway to Greenland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New measurements from the Arctic ± 40 days around the summer solstice show reflected sunlight from north of 80°N decreases 20–35%. Arctic sea ice coverage decreases 7–9% over this same time period (as reported by the NSIDC) implying Arctic sea ice albedo decreases in addition to the sea ice receding. Similar Antarctic measurements provide a baseline to which Arctic measurements are compared. The Antarctic reflected sunlight south of 80°S is up to 30% larger than the Arctic reflectance and is symmetric around the solstice implying constant Antarctic reflectivity. Arctic reflected sunlight 20 days after solstice is > 100W/m2 less than Antarctic reflected sunlight. For perspective, this is enough heat to melt > 1 mm/hour of ice. This finding should be compared with climate models and in reanalysis data sets to further quantify sea ice albedo's role in Arctic Amplification. The measurements were made with previously unpublished pixelated radiometers on Global Positioning System satellites from 2014 to 2019. The GPS orbits give each radiometer instantaneous and continuous views of 37% of the Earth, two daily full views of the Arctic and Antarctic. Furthermore, the GPS constellation gives full-time full-Earth coverage that may provide data that complements existing limited field of view instruments that provide a less synoptic Earth view. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Populations of Platorchestia platensis were collected throughout the annual season at Indian Point (N.B., Canada), then acclimated (wrack or driftwood) and oxygen uptake measurements were made on individuals at standard temperature (approx. 19°C) and lighting conditions (12 : 12-hour light : dark). P. platensis reduces resting rate (= standard metabolic rate, SMR) and growth and reproduction cease (diapause) during the colder months. SMR and growth begin increasing when the warm season starts towards the end of March at Indian Point. Wrack-acclimated P. platensis SMR peaks near the summer solstice in June and a month later for driftwood-acclimated populations. The SMR of wrack-acclimated P. platensis at 45°N begins dropping, following the June peak, towards a period of overwintering dormancy (= diapause) to be reached near the vernal equinox in September. Wrack-acclimated populations of P. platensis in winter maintain their inverse metabolic relationship with size. During winter in driftwood-acclimated populations, the relationship with weight is lost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetotelluric (MT) transfer functions, which carry information about the subsurface resistivity distribution, remain constant over time in geologically stable regions. However, recent results indicate the presence of significant seasonal changes in tipper/induction arrows irrespective of the geological processes. We have obtained the annual and seasonal variations in induction vectors at six observatories located in different geographical (island, inland, and coastal areas) and tectonic (cratonic, and passive/convergent margins) settings in India. Based on a 30-day period of data, the tipper/induction vectors are estimated by using 1-min magnetic variation data for 2 years at each site for a period range of 4–150 min. The average tipper amplitude variations range from 0.2 to 0.3 at coastal sites, from 0.1 to 0.2 at island sites, and < 0.1 at inland sites. The seasonal pattern at low-latitude sites is greatest at the summer solstice and smallest at the winter solstice, whereas at equatorial sites it is greatest at the winter solstice/autumnal equinox and smallest at the summer solstice. At low-latitude and equatorial sites, seasonal variation in the direction of the induction vectors is at the sharp conductivity contrast periods. The varying ranges of the seasonality of tipper amplitude and direction variations at different geological regimes are due to the interaction of the source field with the conductivity structure and the lateral changes in the conductivity around the particular site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accurate distribution of solar energy on indoor walls is the basis of simulating the indoor thermal environment, and its specific distribution changes all the time due to the influence of solar azimuth and altitude angle. By analyzing the assumptions of each model, the existing solar energy distribution models are eight kinds in all and are divided into three categories. The solar radiation models in TRNSYS, EnergyPlus, and Airpak software all use the absorption-weighted area ratio method, which assumes that a single interior surface is a whole, but the detailed assumptions of the models used in the three software are different. In the Radiosity-irradiation method, the indoor surfaces are discretized into small surfaces for calculation. The calculation accuracy of solar radiation distribution indoors can be controlled by the number of discrete small surfaces. The Radiosity-irradiation method is implemented by using Matlab software programming in this paper. Through the numerical calculation and analysis of typical cases, the solar distribution results of the absorption-weighted area ratio method and the Radiosity-irradiation method all show the asymmetry. The asymmetrical ratio of direct solar radiation varies during the time between 7.96–9.89, and the minimum turns up at 11:30 in the summer solstice. The asymmetrical ratio of diffuse solar radiation is 3.23 constantly. The asymmetrical ratio of total solar energy is mainly influenced by the direct and diffuse solar feat gain and its value changes in the range from 3.4 to 4.45 in the summer solstice. Calculation comparison and error analysis on the solar radiation models used in TRNSYS, EnergyPlus, and Airpak software are conducted. There are significant errors in the simulation results of all three software. TRNSYS has the highest error among the three software as its results do not change over time. For EnergyPlus, the distribution ratio of floor 1 is too large. Airpak has the smallest error, but the solar radiation distribution ratios of the indoor surfaces near the south glazing facade are underrated, especially the indoor surfaces that have not been exposed to direct solar radiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current research applies an energy-based design model to improve performance in existing modern buildings, in Rio de Janeiro, from the 1940's, improving these buildings' shading systems. This article proposes a methodology tested through a case study, the Nova Cintra building. The methodology starts by analysing the original shading system performance, regarding insolation, illuminance and air temperature. Using these results, proposes two computacional methods to improve performance: (1) a combinatorial modelling process, recombining the existing shading systems positions in the building's north façade; and (2) a transformation process, using parametric and algorithmic–parametric modelling, to improve the existing shading systems performance. Both processes use optimization algorithms. The results of these modelling and optimization methods are compared with the results of the original system and suggests an improvement between 111.1% and 590.4% for insolation; between 360.9% and 84.4% for illuminance; and between 2.9% and 3.0% for air temperature, considering winter and summer solstices. This improvement aims at reducing the buildings' energy consumption and foresees the production of renewable energy from solar harvesting, to mitigate climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coupling of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) with the Earth's magnetic field can result in spectacular auroral displays, including substorms. An important feature of substorms is the westward electrojet that is routinely monitored by the AL index, based on ground magnetometer measurements. Recent research shows that, during periods of significant dipole tilt, the value of the AL index is strongly modulated by the dawn‐dusk (or y) component of the IMF (By): the AL index is stronger for By > 0 than By < 0 during negative dipole tilt (Northern Hemisphere winter). Kubyshkina et al. (2023, https://doi.org/10.1029/2022ja031275) argued that this By dependence of the AL index is not really caused by IMF By but by the component along the Sun‐Earth line (x axis)—namely IMF Bx, which is strongly anticorrelated with By. Here we provide strong evidence that the By dependence of the AL index is indeed much stronger than the suggested Bx dependence. In fact, the analysis of Kubyshkina et al. (2023, https://doi.org/10.1029/2022ja031275) provided similar evidence. We also note that the physical mechanism proposed by Kubyshkina et al. (2023, https://doi.org/10.1029/2022ja031275) to explain the suggested Bx dependence is contradicted by observations. However, we cannot completely rule out its existence. Plain Language Summary: The most important driver controlling magnetospheric activity, such as displays of aurora and disturbances in the terrestrial magnetic field is the north‐south directed z component of the magnetic field in solar wind. Recent research has shown that during winter and summer solstices the magnetospheric activity is significantly modulated also by the dawn‐dusk y component, which is statistically correlated with the Sun‐Earth directed x component, due to the well‐known geometry of the magnetic field in solar wind. It is therefore challenging to separate the effects of y and x components. Here we show that magnetospheric activity is strongly modulated by the y component, but not by the x component, contrary to Kubyshkina et al. (2023, https://doi.org/10.1029/2022ja031275), who argued that the opposite is true. Key Points: The interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) Bx component does not significantly modulate the AL index as proposed by Kubyshkina et al. (2023, https://doi.org/10.1029/2022ja031275)The AL index is strongly modulated by IMF By during periods of large dipole tilt [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A meta-analysis of a large dataset of wood cell formation observations from several tree species in the Northern Hemisphere suggests that the 5th of June is favorable for cell division and enlargement, while the summer solstice promotes cell wall thickening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of ANIAV: Revista de Investigación en Artes Visuales is the property of Universidad Politecnica de Valencia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The knowledge of solar deposit is very necessary in sizing and proper operation of any system powered by solar energy. Solar radiation data are used in the design development, construction, as well as in the solar energy systems performance evaluation, but also for the construction of buildings with a view to better thermal insulation adapted to the geographical location. According to the summer solstice 2022 occasion, in this work the measure of the earth radius is proposed using ''Eratosthenes method''. For this, three fundamental conditions have been taken for the correct application in our calculations. Which cities to choose? When to make the measurements? And what precautions to take? This document may be beneficial for students and the public [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Temple of Apollo in Didyma, located on the Aegean coast of southwestern Turkey, is not aligned towards the cardinal directions: GPS measurements and satellite imagery indicate that the azimuth of the temple is 55.117°. Lack of prominent geological features in the surrounding landscape raise the idea of a probable celestial orientation. Various orientation studies have suggested bright stars of Gemini, sunrise direction during the summer solstice or the heliacal rising direction of Cygnus and Lyra during the winter solstice as potential vantage directions, and we propose that the temple is aligned towards the heliacal rising direction of Castor (a Geminorum). During the Hellenistic period Castor's heliacal rise also coincided with the summer solstice, and we believe this alignment serves calendrical and symbolic purposes. We rest our case on astronomical computations, classical texts, archaeological evidence and the unique architectural plan of the temple. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the book Symbolism of the Summer Solstice: Comparative Readings, Iosefina Blazsani-Batto approaches, through a comparative perspective, a theme with wide resonances in Romanian folkloric mythology, but also in the universal one, taken up by many historians of religions, exegetes and, last but not least, writers. The wide area of research reflects the author's desire to document as well as possible the scholarly approach to the theme and to give secondary importance to field sources, as well as to imaginative elaborations of them. The research, especially through its various hermeneutic possibilities, is a meritorious achievement which, complemented by the author's constant preoccupation with this field, offers a textually illustrated field of analysis of the subject, both in terms of theory (ethnography) and folklore and literature.

A hundred years after the original excavation in Koumasa, a correction of the orientations of the minoan tholoi was observed and documented in 2012. This north-east orientation can largely be understood as an adaptation to the local landscape, which is characterized by a hill directly to the east; a noteworthy fact for one of the largest ensembles of tholoi. The chosen orientation is clearly connected with receiving the direct morning sunlight in the summer months, as noted by the author for various dates throughout observations spanning a multiyear period. This light received through the narrow entrance reaches deep into the tholoi for a narrow timespan due to the rising mountain and the orientation. Most characteristic, however, is the exact orientation of Tholos E to the summer solstice sunrise, a phenomenon whose importance is enforced by the way its interior is lit on this occurrence, with the light reaching almost to the back of the tholos, a display noticeable today. A similar but less centered arrangement is seen for Tholos A. In this paper the measured data will be presented, as well as an interpretation framework for the significance of light in the tholoi as a driving force for this ad hoc implementation in Koumasa, backed by suggested sociological factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Fine Arts: Architecture & Urban Planning is the property of University of Tehran, College of Fine Arts and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Stratum Plus Journal is the property of P.P. Stratum plus and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

According to the European Union, buildings account for 40% of overall energy use and 36% of CO2 emissions, with existing energy-inefficient buildings the main source of losses. Efforts to enhance the thermal comfortability of users in buildings can result in overheating if not appropriately designed, which in turn could lead to health issues as well as continual emission of greenhouse gases. To provide further insights into this dilemma and contribute to improving energy-efficient building designs, we undertake a new modeling technique encompassing a complete analysis of the existing building 3D model as well as solar radiation behavior on buildings. The technique involves 3D building information modeling (3D BIM) that is reconstructed using computer-aided design (CAD). Ladybug and Honeybee plugins for Grasshopper for Rhino are then used to evaluate environmental and building performance using the energy plus weather (EPW) file of Wuhan city, China, as a case study. An assessment of 'with' and 'without' built architectural surroundings contexts is also carried out in relation to summer and winter solstices. An overall change of approximately 29.56% is observed between 'with' and 'without' surrounding contexts, which suggests that both have a significant influence on the solar potential of individual buildings. Investigation of internal and external thermal energy consumption behaviors in relation to building comfort lead us to suggest an optimized smart solution which is validated using our case study site in Wuhan. Our findings suggest that the building energy lifespan can be increased while reducing environmental consequences if an estimated 50% of monthly energy savings are made. The findings of this study provide useful insights for decision-makers, engineers, and designers of energy-efficient buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring the countermeasures for natural wind pressure in mines with zonal ventilation system with diagonal branches is of great significance for the safe and efficient production of such mines. In this study, we took Wudong Coal Mine as the research object. First, we explored the distribution law of the natural wind pressure (NWP) in the mine through field measurement. Second, we quantitatively analyzed the branches sensitive to NWP based on the theory for determination of key NWP influencing area in combination with the on-site measurement data. At last, we designed the scheme to control NWP from the perspectives of increasing overall resistance, forming pressure difference between the north and south areas and reducing the sensitivity of sensitive branches, and on-site implemented the scheme. Our research and on-site implementation results showed that the +400 m main rail tunnel and the 400–425 uphill rail are NWP sensitive branches. The mechanical wind pressure weakens the sensitivity of the +400 m main rail tunnel to NWP in the vernal equinox, summer solstice, and winter solstice, but enhances the sensitivity of the +400 m main rail tunnel to NWP in autumnal equinox and the sensitivity of the 400–450 uphill rail to NWP over the year. The greater the wind resistance is, the more obvious the effect. After adjusting the mine ventilation system according to the designed scheme, the adverse impacts of NWP on Wudong Coal Mine were effectively relieved, ensuring the safe and efficient production of the mine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A multicritique denotes to employing a number of criticisms in identifying the extent of the textuality of a certain work of art applying the different theories on a particular literary genre. This study delves on the three paired-off textualities of Francisco Sionil Jose's The God Stealer, The Refugee, and The Forest with the penworks of Nicomedes "Nick" Joaquin's May Day Eve, Summer Solstice, and Three Generations, which focus on the theories of signified reality or mimesis, the writer's presence or expressivist, the structural element or objectivist and the readers signified human experience or readers-response theory. Findings confirm that the penworks of Sionil Jose and Nick Joaquin signify parallel realities which clearly inform the readers that a literary work of art is indeed an imitation from the reality of life, and therefore should be appreciated and read. That some stories are also reflections of the author's lives, family, education and environment which should be understood well especially in doing an analysis. Likewise, formalism theory takes an important part in the reader's comprehension since it deals with the structure of the parts of a particular genre. Similarly, readers-response is equally important since it gives the reader the freedom to give his reaction as to how a genre influences his/her thoughts and feelings. Based on the findings, it is concluded that the chosen four theories of literature are important in comprehending and analyzing a certain literary genre, be it a fiction, short story, or drama and from precise analysis of students translational researches may formulated either by the faculty or students which could be used as additional instruction materials in the classroom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper argues that the positions of select stones at Stonehenge reveal a lunar calendar which is integrated with a solar calendar, and that this was intentionally included in the design of the monument. In particular, the analysis shows that Stone 11, which is half the size of the others, is pivotal in both the lunar and solar timelines. Further, it is argued that this stone also marked the midwinter sunrise, its shadow making contact with Bluestone 40 similar to the way in which the Heel Stone indicates midsummer sunrise by its shadow falling upon the Altar Stone [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the end of the 3rd century BC the Greek polymath Eratosthenes of Cyrene made the most famous estimation of the Earth's perimeter. For this he made use of the fact that the cities of Alexandria and Syene were approximately on the same meridian (same longitude), as well as the fact that on of the summer solstice (in the northern hemisphere) the Sun, at noon, is directly overhead in Syene. In the present work we generalized, in an approximate way, the method of Eratosthenes for the case which the localities are separated both in latitude and longitude. Furthermore, in the proposed model, it is not necessary to have the Sun, at local noon, directly overhead in any city. We carried out three experiments, that is, we worked with three pairs of cities: Goiânia and Juiz de Fora, Goiânia and Maraú and Goiânia and Bragança Paulista. We hope that the article will be used by teachers of Physics, Astronomy, Geography and/or Mathematics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

I created her through wool felting, trance states, and prayer. Dry needle felting is a practice which involves sculpting wool using a barbed needle in a rhythmic motion which often puts me into a trance state. This art form is in the ancient European women's folk tradition of creating dolls from wool and other natural materials as the material nexus of earthly, cosmic, and human emergent creative magics. [Extracted from the article]

The Earth's revolution is modified by changes in inclination of its rotation axis. Its trajectory is not closed and the equinoxes drift. Changes in polar motion and revolution are coupled through the Liouville–Euler equations. Milanković (1920) argued that the shortest precession period of solstices is 20,700 years: the summer solstice in one hemisphere takes place alternately every 11,000 year at perihelion and at aphelion. Milanković assumed that the planetary distances to the Sun and the solar ephemerids are constant. There are now observations that allow one to drop these assumptions. We have submitted the time series for the Earth's pole of rotation, global mean surface temperature and ephemeris to iterative Singular Spectrum Analysis. iSSA extracts from each a trend a 1 year and a 60 year component. Both the apparent drift of solstices of Earth around the Sun and the global mean temperature exhibit a strong 60 year oscillation. We monitor the precession of the Earth's elliptical orbit using the positions of the solstices as a function of Sun–Earth distance. The "fixed dates" of solstices actually drift. Comparing the time evolution of the winter and summer solstices positions of the rotation pole and the first iSSA component (trend) of the temperature allows one to recognize some common features. A basic equation from Milankovic links the derivative of heat received at a given location on Earth to solar insolation, known functions of the location coordinates, solar declination and hour angle, with an inverse square dependence on the Sun–Earth distance. We have translated the drift of solstices as a function of distance to the Sun into the geometrical insolation theory of Milanković. Shifting the inverse square of the 60 year iSSA drift of solstices by 15 years with respect to the first derivative of the 60 year iSSA trend of temperature, that is exactly a quadrature in time, puts the two curves in quasi-exact superimposition. The probability of a chance coincidence appears very low. Correlation does not imply causality when there is no accompanying model. Here, Milankovic's equation can be considered as a model that is widely accepted. This paper identifies a case of agreement between observations and a mathematical formulation, a case in which an element of global surface temperature could be caused by changes in the Earth's rotation axis. It extends the range of Milankovic cycles and resulting global temperature variations to shorter periods (1–100 year range), with a major role for the 60-year oscillation). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Repetitive observations (direct measurements) of seasonal kinetics of xylogenesis and simulations (proxy data) with tree growth models are the two main approaches available to assess tree-ring growth and development. Both have drawbacks: short cover period for observations; limited accuracy of simulations depending on input data for models. We proposed an implementation of both approaches on the same trees to find ways for compensation. Cell numbers at subsequent xylogenesis stages were observed for Pinus sylvestris L. over five seasons in moisture-deficient habitats of Southern Siberia. The Vaganov–Shashkin model was parameterized for species and soil-landscape conditions to fit local tree-ring width chronologies (R = 0.56–0.73). Seasonal kinetics variables were then compared among themselves and with the simulated environmentally driven growth rate. The number of cells in the cambial and cell enlargement zone closely followed the curve of the 15-day moving average of the simulated growth rate (R = 0.56–0.87 at one site and R = 0.78–0.89 after shifting rate curve forward by 17–20 days at another site). The maximum number of cambium cells, which occurred within three weeks of the summer solstice, was found to be positively related with the number of tracheids in the complete tree ring (R2 = 0.12–0.75 for individual seasons and 0.49 for total dataset), making it a promising short-term forecast variable for tree radial growth and productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Kirkuk University Journal for Scientific Studies is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)