Creating an isotopically similar Earth–Moon system with correct angular momentum from a giant impact

The giant impact hypothesis is the dominant theory explaining the formation of our Moon. However, the inability to produce an isotopically similar Earth–Moon system with correct angular momentum has cast a shadow on its validity. Computer-generated impacts have been successful in producing virtual systems that possess many of the observed physical properties. However, addressing the isotopic similarities between the Earth and Moon coupled with correct angular momentum has proven to be challenging. Equilibration and evection resonance have been proposed as means of reconciling the models. In the summer of 2013, the Royal Society called a meeting solely to discuss the formation of the Moon. In this meeting, evection resonance and equilibration were both questioned as viable means of removing the deficiencies from giant impact models. The main concerns were that models were multi-staged and too complex. We present here initial impact conditions that produce an isotopically similar Earth–Moon system with correct angular momentum. This is done in a single-staged simulation. The initial parameters are straightforward and the results evolve solely from the impact. This was accomplished by colliding two roughly half-Earth-sized impactors, rotating in approximately the same plane in a high-energy, off-centered impact, where both impactors spin into the collision.     

Design Experience of a Demonstrator Descent Vehicle Introducing Aeroelastic Deployable Structural Elements to Space Engineering

The development project of a prototype demonstrator for a descent vehicle and the possibilities of descent from orbit using aero-elastic braking devices deployable in space and in the atmosphere is considered. The project was carried out jointly by the Lavochkin Scientific Production Association and the Moscow Aviation Institute teams in 2013–2015. The results are evaluated for both the project itself and the cooperation of the two organizations.     

南海南部次表层叶绿素a质量浓度最大值及其影响因子*

文章分析了2013年南海南部4个季节航次的叶绿素a (Chl a)调查数据, 结果显示: 150m以浅水柱Chl a质量浓度均值分别为早春0.14mg•m^-3、初夏0.12mg•m^-3、初秋0.18mg•m^-3、初冬0.16mg•m^-3。早春和初夏偏低的原因与早春风速小, 初夏水温高, 不利于水体的垂直混合, 限制了深层海水中丰富的营养盐向上层水体补充有关。4个季节中海水次表层Chl a质量浓度最大值层(SCML)均出现在50m和75m, 这两个水层的Chl a质量浓度差异小, 季节变化不大, 平均值变化范围分别为0.24~0.26mg•m^-3和0.22~0.26mg•m^-3。受混合层深度和温跃层上界深度的共同影响, 50m水层Chl a质量浓度主要受制于深层富营养盐海水的向上补充, 75m水层Chl a质量浓度受水温的影响明显。     

Simulating the Propagation of Infrasonic Waves and Estimating the Energy of the Chelyabinsk Meteoroid Explosion Observed on February 15, 2013

Results obtained from simulating the propagation of infrasonic waves from the Chelyabinsk meteoroid explosion observed on February 15, 2013, are given. The pseudodifferential parabolic equation (PDPE) method has been used for calculations. Data on infrasonic waves recorded at the IS31 station (Aktyubinsk, Kazakhstan), located 542.7 km from the likely location of the explosion, have been analyzed. Six infrasonic arrivals (isolated clearly defined pulse signals) were recorded. It is shown that the first “fast” arrival (F) corresponds to the propagation of infrasound in a surface acoustic waveguide. The rest of the arrivals (T1–T5) are thermospheric. The agreement between the results of calculations based on the PDPE method and experimental data is satisfactory. The energy E of the explosion has been estimated using two methods. One of these methods is based on the law of conservation of the acoustic pulse I, which is a product of the wave profile area S/2 of the signal under analysis and the distance to its source E _I [kt] = 1.38 × 10^–10 (I [kg/s])^1.482. The other method is based on the relation between the energy of explosion and the dominant period T of recorded signal E _T [kt] = 1.02 × (T [s]²/σ)^3/2, where σ is the dimensionless distance determining the degree of nonlinear effects during the propagation of sound along ray trajectories. According to the data, the explosion energy E _I,T ranges from 1.87 to 32 kt TNT.     

广盐性鱼类渗透压适应性与生理可塑性机制研究

拥有强大的渗透压调节能力对广盐性鱼类的生存至关重要。目前,关于鱼类渗透压调节机制已有不少研究,但均存在较大的局限性。本文从广盐性鱼类渗透压信号转导机制、渗透胁迫的细胞调控机制、渗透调控的内分泌调节机制和无机离子通道和转运蛋白介导的渗透调控等方面对广盐性鱼类的渗透压适应性和生理可塑性机制进行分析,以期从分子、细胞、通路和生理等层次初步探索广盐性鱼类盐度胁迫后的可塑性表型变化和不同盐度条件下的应答机制,为广盐性鱼类的渗透压调节机制的深入研究奠定基础。对广盐性鱼类渗透压适应性与生理可塑性机制研究,有助于研究其环境适应机理,促进野生鱼种的人工化养殖以及新品种的育种从而提高经济效益、社会效益和生态效益,对促进水产养殖学进步以及养殖业的发展具有重要意义,同时,为研究广盐性鱼类的渗透压调节机制开辟新的研究方向。     

大亚湾浮游植物粒级结构对温排水和营养盐输入的响应*

大亚湾核电站温排水对其邻近海域的生态效应日益突出。文章结合现场调查和室内模拟实验, 研究了夏季和冬季大亚湾海域沿温排水温度梯度的浮游植物粒径结构特征, 探讨了营养物质的输入可能对其产生的影响, 以期深入了解浮游植物对升温以及富营养化作用的响应机制。结果表明, 适温条件对浮游植物的生长起促进作用, 在极高温(36.0℃)环境下则产生抑制作用, 在排水口邻近高温区夏季和冬季浮游植物叶绿素a含量均呈较低分布。交互模拟实验发现不同季节浮游植物对于温度和营养盐的敏感性存在差异, 夏季营养盐对浮游植物生长的促进作用比温度明显, 冬季温度的作用则更为显著。现场观测和模拟实验均显示, 水温升高和营养盐加富均可造成小粒级浮游植物 (<20μm)所占比例的增加; 因此, 升温和营养盐输入均可能导致浮游植物粒级结构呈小型化趋势, 并对食物网能量流动与物质循环、生态系统的结构稳定性以及海洋渔业的产量造成潜在影响。     

Daily-Seasonal Variation in the Number of Remotely Observed,Pulsed, ULF Electromagnetic Earthquakes and the Spatial Distribution of Their Generation Zones on the Earth’s Surface

Geomagnetism and Aeronomy - Based on data from long-term observations at two geophysical observatories, Borok and College, distantly spaced in latitude and longitude, the results of remote...     

Three-dimensional finite element simulation of fracture propagation in rock specimens with pre-existing fissure(s) under compression and their strength analysis

A FORTRAN program, consistent with the commercially available finite element (FE) code ABAQUS, is developed based on a three-dimensional (3D) linear elastic brittle damage constitutive model with two damage criteria. To consider the heterogeneity of rock, the developed FORTRAN program is used to set the stiffness and strength properties of each element of the FE model following a Weibull distribution function. The reliability of the program is assessed against available experimental results for granite cylindrical specimens with a throughgoing, flat and inclined fissure. The calibration procedure of the material parameters is explained in detail, and it is shown that the compressive to tensile strength ratio can have a substantial influence on the failure response of the specimens. Numerical simulations are conducted for models with different levels of heterogeneity. The results show a smaller load bearing capacity for models with less homogeneity, representing gradual coalescence of fully damaged elements forming throughout the models during loading. The maximum load bearing capacity is studied for various combinations of inclination angles of two centrally aligned, throughgoing and flat fissures of equal length embedded in cylindrical models under uniaxial and multiaxial loading conditions. The key role of the compressive to tensile strength ratio is highlighted by repeating certain simulations with a lower compressive to tensile strength ratio. It is proven that the peak loads of the rock models with sufficiently small compressive to tensile strength ratios containing two throughgoing fissures of equal length are similar, provided that the minimum inclination angles of the models are the same. The results are presented and discussed with respect to the existing experimental findings in the literature, suggesting that the numerical model applied in this study can provide useful insight into the failure behaviour of rock-like materials.     

High-frequency monitoring of hydrological and biogeochemical fluxes in forested catchments of southern Chile

The variability of rainfall-dependent streamflow at catchment scale modulates many ecosystem processes in wet temperate forests. Runoff in small mountain catchments is characterized by a quick response to rainfall pulses which affects biogeochemical fluxes to all downstream systems. In wet-temperate climates, water erosion is the most important natural factor driving downstream soil and nutrient losses from upland ecosystems. Most hydrochemical studies have focused on water flux measurements at hourly scales, along with weekly or monthly samples for water chemistry. Here, we assessed how water and element flows from broad-leaved, evergreen forested catchments in southwestern South America, are influenced by different successional stages, quantifying runoff, sediment transport and nutrient fluxes during hourly rainfall events of different intensities. Hydrograph comparisons among different successional stages indicated that forested catchments differed in their responses to high intensity rainfall, with greater runoff in areas covered by secondary forests (SF), compared to old-growth forest cover (OG) and dense scrub vegetation (CH). Further, throughfall water was greatly nutrient enriched for all forest types. Suspended sediment loads varied between successional stages. SF catchments exported 455 kg of sediments per ha, followed by OG with 91 kg/ha and CH with 14 kg/ha, corresponding to 11 rainfall events measured from December 2013 to April 2014. Total nitrogen (TN) and phosphorus (TP) concentrations in stream water also varied with rainfall intensity. In seven rainfall events sampled during the study period, CH catchments exported less nutrients (46 kg/ha TN and 7 kg/ha TP) than SF catchments (718 kg/ha TN and 107 kg/ha TP), while OG catchments exported intermediate sediment loads (201 kg/ha TN and 23 kg/ha TP). Further, we found significant effects of successional stage attributes (vegetation structure and soil physical properties) and catchment morphometry on runoff and sediment concentrations, and greater nutrients retention in OG and CH catchments. We conclude that in these southern hemisphere, broad-leaved evergreen temperate forests, hydrological processes are driven by multiple interacting phenomena, including climate, vegetation, soils, topography, and disturbance history.