On the Behavior of the Stable Boundary Layer and the Role of Initial Conditions

Previous studies of the stable atmospheric boundary layer using techniques of nonlinear dynamical systems (MCNIDER et al., 1995) have shown that the equations support multiple solutions in certain parameter spaces. When geostrophic speed is used as a bifurcation parameter, two stable equilibria are found—a warm solution corresponding to the high-wind regime where the surface layer of the atmosphere stays coupled to the outer layer, and a cold solution corresponding to the low-wind, decoupled case. Between the stable equilibria is an unstable region where multiple solutions exist. The bifurcation diagram is a classic S shape with the foldback region showing the multiple solutions. These studies were carried out using a simple two-layer model of the atmosphere with a fairly complete surface energy budget. This allowed the dynamical analysis to be carried out on a coupled set of four ordinary differential equations. The present paper extends this work by examining additional bifurcation parameters and, more importantly, analyzing a set of partial differential equations with full vertical dependence. Simple mathematical representations of classical problems in dynamical analysis often exhibit interesting behavior, such as multiple solutions, that is not retained in the behavior of more complete representations. In the present case the S-shaped bifurcation diagram remains with only slight variations from the two-layer model. For the parameter space in the foldback region, the evolution of the boundary layer may be dramatically affected by the initial conditions at sunset. An eigenvalue analysis carried out to determine whether the system might support pure limit-cycle behavior showed that purely complex eigenvalues are not found. Thus, any cyclic behavior is likely to be transient.     

Solar soft X-ray flare spectra from OSO-4

Solar flare spectral data, covering the wavelength range 0.7–8.5 Å, are derived from the NRL Bragg crystal spectrometers aboard OSO-4. A detailed analysis of the soft X-ray spectra for the 3b flare of 16 November 1967 (2140 UT) is presented, and it is found that electron temperatures derived from continua and emission lines are compatible with a two or more component plasma, differing in temperature by 6–10 × 10⁶K.     

Collisional excitation of metastable oxygen O(D) atoms through the B∑u channel of O2

Pectroscopic data on the shifts and widths of the energy levels of molecular oxygen have been used in the empirical construction of a diabatic potential matrix that characterizes the interactions of the B³∑⁻_u state with the ⁵Π_u, 2³∑⁺_u, ³Π_u and ¹Π_u states. The diabatic potential matrix is u theory formulation to calculate the cross-sections for the excitation of O(¹D) atoms in collisions of two O(³P) atoms. Total cross-sections are obtained by adding the excitation from the ³Π_g, channel. The rate coefficient for quenching of O(¹D) by O(³P) is evaluated as a function of temperature. The values conflict with a recent analysis of the emission of the oxygen red line in the upper atmosphere.     

The Cosmic Origins Spectrograph: on-orbit instrument performance

The Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS) was installed in the Hubble Space Telescope in May, 2009 as part of Servicing Mission 4 to provide high sensitivity, medium and low resolution spectroscopy at far- and near-ultraviolet wavelengths (FUV, NUV). COS is the most sensitive FUV/NUV spectrograph flown to date, spanning the wavelength range from 900 Å to 3200 Å with peak effective area approaching 3000 cm². This paper describes instrument design, the results of the Servicing Mission Orbital Verification (SMOV), and the ongoing performance monitoring program.     

江西铜坑嶂钼矿和红山铜矿含矿斑岩锆石U-Pb定年及其地质意义

江西铜坑嶂钼矿和红山铜矿是在武夷山成矿带中最近发现的两个斑岩型矿床。本文利用LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb定年方法对铜坑嶂花岗斑岩和红山含矿花岗斑岩分别进行了年代学研究,获得铜坑嶂岩体中花岗斑岩的锆石年龄为138±1Ma,代表斑岩体侵位的年龄;红山矿区含矿斑岩的锆石年龄,分作两期,分别为99Ma和49Ma,两期不同的年龄可能代表了两期热事件。研究表明,铜坑嶂钼矿的成岩成矿时代均发生在白垩纪,其岩浆作用与成矿作用基本吻合。综合前人资料,认为铜坑嶂钼矿区的斑岩和红山铜矿区的斑岩可能分别形成于大陆弧后伸展带和岩石圈伸展环境。     

Contaminant migration at two low-level radioactive waste sites in arid western United States – A review

 Contamination of the unsaturated zone and ground water at the Beatty, Nevada and Richland, Washington low-level radioactive waste sites shows that pathways exist for rapid lateral and vertical migration of contaminants through unconsolidated clastic sediments that comprise the 100 m-thick unsaturated zones of those arid disposal sites. Disposal of liquid wastes at the Beatty site until 1975 may have contributed to rapid migration of contaminants, but negligible amounts of liquid wastes reportedly were disposed at the Richland LLRW site and similar problems of contaminant migration exist. Pathways for vertical migration in the unsaturated zone include fractures and, at Richland, clastic dikes; lateral migration pathways likely are facies-controlled. Disturbance of the disposal sites contributed to increased infiltration of the unlined waste trenches after closure; simulations that used Beatty sample data show dramatic increases in recharge with disturbances necessary to develop the site. Because neither an arid climate nor presence of a thick unsaturated zone offer effective barriers to ground-water contamination, reliance on those factors at proposed sites such as Ward Valley, California and elsewhere is unwarranted. Received: 4 February 1998 · Accepted: 4 May 1998     

U–Pb (zircon) and geochemical constraints on the age,origin, and evolution of Paleozoic arc magmas in the Oyu Tolgoi porphyry Cu–Au district,southern Mongolia

Uranium–Pb (zircon) ages are linked with geochemical data for porphyry intrusions associated with giant porphyry Cu–Au systems at Oyu Tolgoi to place those rocks within the petrochemical framework of Devonian and Carboniferous rocks of southern Mongolia. In this part of the Gurvansayhan terrane within the Central Asian Orogenic Belt, the transition from Devonian tholeiitic marine rocks to unconformably overlying Carboniferous calc-alkaline subaerial to shallow marine volcanic rocks reflects volcanic arc thickening and maturation. Radiogenic Nd and Pb isotopic compositions (ε_Nd(t) range from + 3.1 to + 7.5 and ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb values for feldspars range from 17.97 to 18.72), as well as low high-field strength element (HFSE) contents of most rocks (mafic rocks typically have < 1.5% TiO₂) are consistent with magma derivation from depleted mantle in an intra-oceanic volcanic arc. The Late Devonian and Carboniferous felsic rocks are dominantly medium- to high-K calc-alkaline and characterized by a decrease in Sr/Y ratios through time, with the Carboniferous rocks being more felsic than those of Devonian age. Porphyry Cu–Au related intrusions were emplaced in the Late Devonian during the transition from tholeiitic to calc-alkaline arc magmatism. Uranium–Pb (zircon) geochronology indicates that the Late Devonian pre- to syn-mineral quartz monzodiorite intrusions associated with the porphyry Cu–Au deposits are ~ 372 Ma, whereas granodiorite intrusions that post-date major shortening and are associated with less well-developed porphyry Cu–Au mineralization are ~ 366 Ma. Trace element geochemistry of zircons in the Late Devonian intrusions associated with the porphyry Cu–Au systems contain distinct Th/U and Yb/Gd ratios, as well as Hf and Y concentrations that reflect mixing of magma of distinct compositions. These characteristics are missing in the unmineralized Carboniferous intrusions. High Sr/Y and evidence for magma mixing in syn- to late-mineral intrusions distinguish the Late Devonian rocks associated with giant Cu–Au deposits from younger magmatic suites in the district.     

The Auroral Station in Adventdalen, Svalbard

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