Brown Tones Research Articles

Canopy Light Reflectance and Remote Sensing of Shin Oak (Quercus havardii) and Associated Vegetation

Shin oak is a deciduous shrub that forms dense stands of brush on sandy soils in rangeland areas of the Rolling and High Plains of Texas. Plant canopy reflectance measurements made on shin oak showed that it had both low visible (0.63- to 0.69-μm waveband) and nearinfrared (0.76- to 0.90-μm waveband) reflectance values, a characteristic generally not shared by associated plant species or mixtures of species. The low reflectance values of shin oak caused it to have dark-red, reddish-brown, or brown image tones on color-infrared photographic, videographic, and SPOT satellite images that made it distinguishable from associated vegetation and other land use features. The optimum time to remotely distinguish this noxious shrub is during the mature phenological stage from June to September. Computer-based image analyses of video and satellite images showed that shin oak populations could be quantified. This technique can permit “percent land area” estimates of shin oak on rangelands. The aerial imagery is useful for detecting shin oak on smaller rangeland areas, whereas the satellite imagery is applicable in mapping large areas of shin oak distribution.

Adaptive variation of pelage color within and between species of the subterranean mole rat (Spalax ehrenbergi) in Israel

Color notations of dorsal pelage were analyzed in 451 adult subterranean mole rats, comprising 19 populations and 4 chromosomal species (2n=52, 54, 58 and 60) of the Spalax ehrenbergi superspecies in Israel. In addition, the color notations of soil samples from the collection sites were measured. In an attempt to evaluate the degree of correlation between pelage color of mole rats and the local soil color, each color was compared both macro- and microgeographically. The macrogeographic comparisons were among populations of the 4 chromosomal species, and the microgeographic comparisons were among pairs of geographically neighboring subpopulations which occur under similar climatic conditions but differ in soil type and color. The results indicate that 1. no differences in pelage color notation exist between the sexes; 2. pelage of mole rats is generally characterized by an over-all grayish color, but its shades vary regionally and locally in accordance with varying soil color; 3. a positive correlation was found between pelage and local soil colors in the macrogeographic analysis and this correlation was verified in a microgeographic comparison; 4. specimens from populations of the northern chromosomal species (2n=52, 54) mainly inhabit terra rossa and basalt soils, respectively, with reddish brown tones, and they tend to have a more reddish shade, whereas animals from the central species (2n=58), which inhabits mainly dark soils including alluvial clays, terra rossa and brown rendzina and the souther species 2n=60, which occurs mainly in light soil types such as pale rendzina, sandy loams and loess, tend to have a more yellowish shade. The general appearance of specimens from 2n=58 was dark gray while that of 2n=60 specimens was light gray; 5. mole rats living in xeric environments (particularly 2n=60, but also 2n=54) are lighter than those which live in mesic environments (2n=52, 58). The results support the conclusion that pelage color of strictly subterranean mole rats is subject to selection pressures of overground predation of disharmonious types with their background soil color. The possibility that the pelage color variation and patterns also contributes to better thermoregulation while mole rats are above ground is discussed.

The 'Mona Lisa' of Nimrud

During the month of April 1952 we were digging the deepest levels of a brick-lined well which had been found a year previously within the chamber NN of the North West Palace of Aššur-naṣir-pal. Below the two hundred and forty-fifth course, at about 18 metres (60 feet) down from the well-head, we were struggling to bail out the water faster than it was surging up. Indeed, we only succeeded in getting down to bedrock, 25·4 metres or 331 courses from the top, by working continuously all day, and then again, after a respite at sunset, by the light of hurricane lamps from midnight for six hours until dawn.In the deeper levels many objects which had been cast into the well when Calah was sacked at the end of the seventh century B.C. began to appear. As each drum-load of precious sludge was ready to be hauled to the surface we realised that any one of them might hold a king's ransom. At last it happened. The foreman announced that ‘a lady has been found,’ and before our eyes we saw this ivory head emerge from the deep waters where it had lain, immersed in mud, for more than 2,500 years. Carefully we wiped away the thick coat of slime that partly concealed her face, her hair and her crown. What we beheld was a thing of beauty still radiant with life. The warm brown tones of the natural ivory, set against the dark black tresses of hair that framed the head, combined with the soft rounded curves of the face to give an extraordinary impression of life. The slightly parted lips appeared to have a light reddish tint; the black pupils of the eyes were encased in dark lids; the crown, fillets and stand were of a rather darker brown than the face. Originally crown and base must have been decorated with ivory studs of which only two now remained.

Method of Making Population Density Map by Landform Division and Accumulated Result

Intending to make a population density map based on the natural regional unit instead of the administrative one of Shi (city) and Machi (town) and Mura (village), we divide the territory of Japan into landform divisions and calculate the population density by each landform division. As for the elements which will be useful for establishing the natural regional units, we have to consider climate, soil, vegetation etc.. However, in case of Japan which belongs to the Circurn Pacific Orogenic Zone and whose lands are divided into many pieces of block mountains and small planes, landform should be considered having the first priority as the base of population distribution and suitable to represent the detailed regional differences of population distribution. Establishment of landform division The whole land is classified as following landform areas based on its morphology and developmental mechanism. mountain : mountain, volcano, hill land flat land : piedmont gentle slope, volcanic flank, upland, lowland When one kind of landform area is too large, we divide it into minor landform units according to the difference of form and construction material such as fan, delta, peat-bog or sand dune in lowland area, and maturely dissected mountain or elevated peneplain in mountain area. The areas of each landform unit is measured by using planimeter on the map of 1:200, 000 and decided by giving the necessary corrections. Calculation of population of landform unit Population of each landform unit is readjusted from the population of Shi, Machi and Mura illustrated in the population census. When the administrative unit is completely included in one landform unit, its population is simply tabulated, but when it extends over two or more landform units, its population is divided into each landform unit basing upon the number of dots found on the population map 1. Urban population The urban podulation living in the urban agglomerations with area of 0.25km2 or more is excluded in the tabulation of population of landform unit, because it spreads over the boundary of urban agglomeration and makes the population density of the whole unit up too high. The population of urban agglomeration is estimated by multiplying the definite coefficient as following classification getting from sampling to the total population of Shi, Ku (ward) and Machi. 1) Five major Shi 2) Shi with inhabitants of more than 100, 000 or established before 1940 except the five major Shi 3) Other Shi 4) Machi 2) and 3) are subdivided into two according to the area of urban agglomeration and population growth caused by amalgamation of Shi, Machi and Mura from 1950 to 1955. Map and appendix (See Fig. 1 and Table 1) The scale of the map is 1:800, 000 and the map covers the whole of Japan. There are three sheets in one set with 7 colors including boundaries of landform divisions, symbols of the kinds of landf orms and index number of landform units. Population density is presented in the map in grades from yellow, tan to dark brown tone by shading method. The situation and size of urban agglomeration are presented according to its size in its physical shape or definite round shape in brownish red. The base map which includes contour lines, limits of water body, administrative boundaries, settlements and place names are doubly printed in grey color. The appendix includes index number of landform divisions, place names, areas, number of inhabitants and population density, These were published as population census of Japan 1955, population maps of Japan 3. Population density by landform devision in JapanPopulation density by landform division of whole Japan and each district are shown in Table 2 and Table 3. Mountains and Volcanoes which occupy 61% of the whole land are almost low density areas, especially in a volcanic area.

En flintsmedie på Fornæs

En flintsmedie på Fornæs

Jade; A Comprehensive Bibliography

Nephrite is a silicate of calcium and magnesium, often containing small amounts of iron and is one of the amphibole group of minerals. It is distinguished by its structure, which is characteristically fibrous, and of such fine grain that the individual fibers are hardly visible. The fibers are variously arranged, parallel to each other, curved, twisted, fan-shaped, interlocked and felted in complicated fashion. Since the hardness is 6.5, and specific gravity close to 3, it fuses with some difficulty to a greenish glass and is not decomposed by hydrochloric acid. Nephrite is found abundantly on the west coast of South Island in New Zealand, where it occurs as boulders and sometimes as nodules and veins in serpentine and talcose rocks. Specimens appear also in New Caledonia and in some of the other Pacific Islands. Siberia has yielded very fine dark green nephrite, notably from the neighborhood of the Alibert Graphite Mine, near Batugol, Lake Baikal. Quarries in Karakash and Yarkand River valleys, Turkestan, have furnished much of the nephrite used by the Chinese. Switzerland, Alaska and British Columbia also yield pure nephrite. Jadeite is a silicate of aluminium and sodium, usually containing small quantities of iron, calcium and magnesium and is one of the pyrozene group of minerals. It has a vitreous luster, varying from translucent to opaque, and occurs very rarely in distinct crystals, but usually massive and closely compact. With a hardness of about 7 and specific gravity of approximately 3.3, it fuses readily to a clear glass and is not decomposed by hydrochloric acid until after having been fused. The chief supply of jadite, including the precious emerald green fei-ts'ui, comes from Burma, where it has been found in the several tributaries of the Irrawaddy River, and at Taumaw, Hweka and Mamon. It also occurs in Turkestan where nephrite is found, and other Asiatic localities. The most productive deposits appear to be in Belurtag, the jade mountain of the Chinese, on the upper waters of the Tishab River, near Yarkand. It is mined by Kachins and shipped to the lapidaries in Peking, Canton and Shoochow, the chief centers of the jade industry today. The finest jade carvings were made in the imperial ateliers at Peking. Objects of jadeite are common in Mexico, Central America and in the northern part of South America. At the time of the Spanish conquest of Mexico amulets of green stone were highly vener. ated, and it is believed that jadeite was one of the stones prized under the name of chalchihuitl. Chloromelanite may be regarded as a variety of jadeite rich in iron, often containing as much as ten per cent. It is spinach-green or dark green in color and has a specific gravity of 3.4. It occurs in the Cyclops Mountains in New Guinea, where natives make hatchets and agricultural implements from it. Celts made from this mineral were found in the dolmens of France and in certain ancient Swiss lake-dwellings. Jadeite and nephrite have so strong a resemblance to each other that their true identity must be ascertained by microscopic examination and chemical analyses. Their differentiation becomes more difficult when the two substances occur in the same specimen, the nephrite having been formed from the jadeite by a gradual alteration of its chemical and physical constitution. Jade minerals are white when pure, but in nature they are more often variously colored. A partial jade spectrum is given by John Goette in Jade Lore (1937). Their range is from white to black through varying shades of green, yellow and red. Black jade nephrite, which is rare, contains chromic iron. Usually it is of dull color with whitish toned flecking. Red and brown tones in jade are due to inclusions of iron pyrites. Yellow jade, which is also quite rare, often has a light greenish tinge. The shades of green vary from