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The Iceland and Greenland Seas are a crucial region for the climate system, being the headwaters of the lower limb of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation. Investigating the atmosphere–ocean–ice processes in this region often necessitates the use of meteorological reanalyses—a representation of the atmospheric state based on the assimilation of observations into a numerical weather prediction system. Knowing the quality of reanalysis products is vital for their proper use. Here we evaluate the surface‐layer meteorology and surface turbulent fluxes in winter and spring for the latest reanalysis from the European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts, i.e., ERA5. In situ observations from a meteorological buoy, a research vessel, and a research aircraft during the Iceland–Greenland Seas Project provide unparalleled coverage of this climatically important region. The observations are independent of ERA5. They allow a comprehensive evaluation of the surface meteorology and fluxes of these subpolar seas and, for the first time, a specific focus on the marginal ice zone. Over the ice‐free ocean, ERA5 generally compares well to the observations of surface‐layer meteorology and turbulent fluxes. However, over the marginal ice zone, the correspondence is noticeably less accurate: for example, the root‐mean‐square errors are significantly higher for surface temperature, wind speed, and surface sensible heat flux. The primary reason for the difference in reanalysis quality is an overly smooth sea‐ice distribution in the surface boundary conditions used in ERA5. Particularly over the marginal ice zone, unrepresented variability and uncertainties in how to parameterize surface exchange compromise the quality of the reanalyses. A parallel evaluation of higher‐resolution forecast fields from the Met Office's Unified Model corroborates these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data on the high-pressure melting temperatures of metals is of great interest in several fields of physics including geophysics. Measuring melt curves is difficult but can be performed in static experiments (with laser-heated diamond-anvil cells, for instance) or dynamically (i.e., using shock experiments). However, at the present time, both experimental and theoretical results for the melt curve of lead are at too much variance to be considered definitive. As a result, we decided to perform a series of shock experiments designed to provide a measurement of the melt curve of lead up to about 50 GPa in pressure. At the same time, we developed and fielded a reflectivity diagnostic, and conducted measurements on tin as well. The results show that the melt curve of lead is somewhat higher than the one previously obtained with static compression and heating techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CASE REPORT A 12-month-old female Labrador was presented for an absent opening to the right external ear canal. Computed tomography (CT) confirmed a stenotic blind-ending right vertical ear canal and a hypoattenuating fluid-filled right external ear canal and tympanic bulla. Reconstructive surgery was performed to reestablish a patent external auditory meatus. Followup CT 4 weeks post operatively revealed a patent right external ear canal. The external ear canal opening was 50% of the diameter of the clinically normal ear and there was a marked reduction in the fluid within the tympanic bulla. CONCLUSION Functional and cosmetic results were excellent 6 months after surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]