Ureilite smelting

Abstract— Ureilites containing homogeneous Fo₇₆ olivine cores in intimate co-existence with graphite must have recrystallized at pressures of at least ～100 bars to suppress smelting of the fayalite component of the olivine to Fe metal. Smelting of olivine and pyroxene-saturated magmatic liquids produces orthopyroxene-without-olivine crystalline derivatives unlike those in ureilites. Thus the Mg# compositional variation within the ureilite suite, which is commonly attributed to partial smelting, cannot plausibly be produced by assemblages rich in liquid. In situ smelting of graphitic olivine + pigeonite crystal mushes can produce the correct crystal assemblage, but fails to provide a plausible account for the removal of metal from ureilites or for the correlation of Mg# with Δ¹⁷O. Even if Mg# and Δ¹⁷O variations are established in the nebula, ureilite recrystallization with graphite must have occurred at pressures greater than the minima we have experimentally established, corresponding to parent objects not less than ～100 km in radius.     

CHROMOSPHERIC AND CORONAL STRUCTURE OF POLAR PLUMES – I. Magnetic Structure and Radiative Energy Balance

The Multi-Spectral Solar Telescope Array (MSSTA), a rocket-borne solar observatory, was successfully launched from White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, on May 13, 1991 at 19:05 UT. The telescope systems onboard the MSSTA obtained several full disk solar images in narrow bandpasses centered around strong soft X-ray, EUV, and FUV emission lines. Each telescope was designed to be sensitive to the coronal plasmas at a particular temperature, for seven temperatures ranging from 20000 K to 4000000 K. We report here on the images obtained during the initial flight of the MSSTA, and on the chromospheric and coronal structure of polar plumes observed over both poles of the Sun. We have also co-aligned the MSSTA images with Kitt Peak magnetograms taken on the same day. We are able to positively identify the magnetic structures underlying the polar plumes we analyze as unipolar. We discuss the plume observations and present a radiative energy balance model derived from them.     

A High-Resolution Solar Telescope Using Dark-Lens Diffractive Optics

A telescope based upon dark-lens diffractive optics would be a uniquely new instrument for solar astronomy. The image formation process in such a telescope gives an intrinsically higher resolving power and a greatly reduced image intensity compared to that of refracting or reflecting optical systems of similar lens dimension. This low image intensity would be an advantage for solar observations made using a very large imaging element. After a brief overview of the history of solar instrument development, a quantitative evaluation of the dark-lens diffracting solar telescope concept is presented, showing the potential of this imaging method to meet or even to exceed the most demanding resolution goals currently being considered for future space-borne solar telescopes.     

Wave diffraction and near-trapping by a multi-column gravity-based structure

This paper is concerned with the diffraction of water waves by offshore structures, with the ultimate aim of proposing tools for guiding airgap design. The diffraction of monochromatic waves by an array of four bottom mounted cylinders and a gravity-based structure is studied in detail using linear and second order theory. The phenomenon of near-trapping is investigated, allowing guidelines for airgap design to be established. When contemplating airgap design, however, it is crucially important that consideration is given to the largest waves in a sea state. Therefore, in this study a design wave, called NewWave, is proposed as a realistic model for large ocean waves and is used as the incident wave field in the wave-structure diffraction analysis.     

Dynamic adaptive policy pathways: A method for crafting robust decisions for a deeply uncertain world

A new paradigm for planning under conditions of deep uncertainty has emerged in the literature. According to this paradigm, a planner should create a strategic vision of the future, commit to short-term actions, and establish a framework to guide future actions. A plan that embodies these ideas allows for its dynamic adaptation over time to meet changing circumstances. We propose a method for decisionmaking under uncertain global and regional changes called ‘Dynamic Adaptive Policy Pathways’. We base our approach on two complementary approaches for designing adaptive plans: ‘Adaptive Policymaking’ and ‘Adaptation Pathways’. Adaptive Policymaking is a theoretical approach describing a planning process with different types of actions (e.g. ‘mitigating actions’ and ‘hedging actions’) and signposts to monitor to see if adaptation is needed. In contrast, Adaptation Pathways provides an analytical approach for exploring and sequencing a set of possible actions based on alternative external developments over time. We illustrate the Dynamic Adaptive Policy Pathways approach by producing an adaptive plan for long-term water management of the Rhine Delta in the Netherlands that takes into account the deep uncertainties about the future arising from social, political, technological, economic, and climate changes. The results suggest that it is worthwhile to further test and use the approach.     

Kinematics and performance of maneuvering control surfaces in teleost fishes

Many fishes routinely exploit resources in high-energy marine habitats of interest to ocean engineers, including rocky coasts and coral reefs. How fishes modulate fin motions to correct perturbations to the preferred heading or to maneuver in complex structure should interest both biologists and ocean engineers. These fin motions are reviewed in order to generate simple models of causal relationships between fin design, motion, and maneuvering performance. The available data on maneuvering performance in fishes is reviewed to compare to the simple models, to identify gaps in our knowledge, and to outline a research program to address these gaps more effectively.     

Structure, function, and neural control of pectoral fins in fishes

Fin-based propulsion systems perform well for both high-speed cruising and high maneuverability in fishes, making them good models for propulsors of autonomous underwater vehicles. Labriform locomotion in fishes is actuated by oscillation of the paired pectoral fins. Here, we present recent research on fin structure, fin motion, and neural control in fishes to outline important future directions for this field and to assist engineers in attempting biomimicry of maneuverable fin-based locomotion in shallow surge zones. Three areas of structure and function are discussed in this review: 1) the anatomical structure of the fin blade, skeleton, and muscles that drive fin motion; 2) the rowing and flapping motions that fins undergo for propulsion in fishes; and 3) the neuroanatomy, neural circuitry, and electrical muscle activity that are characteristic of pectoral fins. Research on fin biomechanics, muscle physiology and neural control is important to the comparative biology of locomotion in fishes and application of fin function for aid in aquatic vehicle design. Recommendations are made regarding fin propulsor designs based on the fin shape, activation pattern, and motion. Research on neural control of fins is a key piece in the puzzle for a complete understanding of comparative fin function and may provide important principles for engineers designing control systems for fin-like propulsors.     

Mapping and monitoring carbon stocks with satellite observations: a comparison of methods

Mapping and monitoring carbon stocks in forested regions of the world, particularly the tropics, has attracted a great deal of attention in recent years as deforestation and forest degradation account for up to 30% of anthropogenic carbon emissions, and are now included in climate change negotiations. We review the potential for satellites to measure carbon stocks, specifically aboveground biomass (AGB), and provide an overview of a range of approaches that have been developed and used to map AGB across a diverse set of conditions and geographic areas. We provide a summary of types of remote sensing measurements relevant to mapping AGB, and assess the relative merits and limitations of each. We then provide an overview of traditional techniques of mapping AGB based on ascribing field measurements to vegetation or land cover type classes, and describe the merits and limitations of those relative to recent data mining algorithms used in the context of an approach based on direct utilization of remote sensing measurements, whether optical or lidar reflectance, or radar backscatter. We conclude that while satellite remote sensing has often been discounted as inadequate for the task, attempts to map AGB without satellite imagery are insufficient. Moreover, the direct remote sensing approach provided more coherent maps of AGB relative to traditional approaches. We demonstrate this with a case study focused on continental Africa and discuss the work in the context of reducing uncertainty for carbon monitoring and markets.     

On the stability of close binaries in hierarchical three-body systems

The Hill-type stability (cf. closure of the zero-velocity curves in the circular restricted three-body problem) of general hierarchical three-body systems is examined analytically in the case where the total mass of the binary is small in comparison to the mass of the external body (e.g. systems of the type Planet-Satellite-Sun, Planet-Planet-Star, etc.). This is compared with results derived by Szebehely, Markellos and Roy in the Planet-Satellite-Sun case of the circular restricted three-body problem. It is demonstrated how the Hill-type stability is affected by the sense of revolution of the binary, i.e. corotational or contrarotational, and the mass ratio within the binary. The effect of the difference in longitudes of the bodies in their orbits is also examined.