The occultation of κ geminorum by Eros

The predictions and observations of the occultation of κ Gem by Eros on January 24, 1975, are described. At least eight positive and several critical negative observations were made in western New England. The paucity of observations on the western side of the track makes the analysis somewhat ambiguous, but a circular cross section of diameter up to 23 km gives a good fit to most of the available data. Consideration of a crucial, unconfirmed negative observation indicates that an elliptical solution 17 by 7 km (with the long axis in the direction of motion of the “shadow” of Eros) may be preferable, but this does not represent the positive observations so satisfactorily. The ellipse was therefore distorted into a more irregular shape about 20 km long and 7 km wide, rounded on one long side and flattened on the other. Both this irregular shape and the ellipse yield geometric albedos near 0.5, which is considerably higher than has been derived for most other planets or satellites lacking an atmosphere. The albedo that corresponds to the circular solution (0.1) is less than the polarimetric albedo of 0.21 for Eros. It is suggested either that the circle should be warped into an ellipse of dimensions 21 by 13 km, or, if some weight is given to the critical negative observation and the westernmost positive observation, that the profile is a kind of dumbbell.     

Effect of earth media on the seismic motion of embedded rigid structures

A finite element analysis is performed to determine the influence of the choice of a constitutive model for the earth medium upon the response to seismic waves of an embedded rigid structure. The seismic forcing function is characterized by Rayleigh waves with amplitude parameters adjusted to provide identical free-field motion at a surface reference point for one particular sand represented with elastic, plastic and viscoelastic models. Within the limitations of the analysis, the result is that the steady-state rigid body motions of the embedded structure are essentially identical for these constitutive relations and, consequently, it is appropriate to use an elastic representation for the earth medium.     

Atmospheric expansion through Joule heating by horizontal electric fields

Incoherent scatter measurements made along a magnetic field line into aurora during a period of high electric field in the recovery phase of a substorm show (1) considerably increased electron densities well above the normal F-region maximum, and (2) field-aligned plasma drifts that increase with altitude. A model invoking atmospheric expansion through Joule heating by the horizontal electric field driving the auroral electrojet is used to explain the observations. From this study it is concluded that during magnetically disturbed periods (1) Joule heating by the auroral electrojet raises the neutral temperature and density in the auroral zone ionosphere at F-region heights, (2) ionization formed by the aurora is transported upward by the expanding atmosphere, at times producing an appreciable increase in lower exospheric plasma densities on the field lines containing the aurora, and (3) combined satellite, radar, and optical observations during periods of aurora and high electric field could provide measured F-region collision frequencies.     

The behaviour of dissolved arsenic in the estuary of the River Beaulieu

The chemical forms and distribution of dissolved arsenic species in the estuary of the River Beaulieu (Hampshire, U.K.) are reported. ‘Inorganic arsenic (V)’ in both the marine and riverine estuary inputs are in true solution, passing through ultrafiltration membranes having a nominal molecular weight cut-off of 500 daltons. Extensive removal of dissolved ‘inorganic arsenic (V)’ is apparent from the distribution of arsenic in the estuary, with laboratory mixing experiments indicating that removal is favoured in the low salinity region. ‘Inorganic arsenic (III)’ and methylated arsenic species account for up to 41% and 70% of the dissolved arsenic, respectively, but are only found during the warmer months when water temperatures exceed ca. 12°C.     

Joint NANCAY RADIOHELIOGRAPH AND LASCO OBSERVATIONS OF CORONAL MASS EJECTIONS – II. The 9 July 1996 Event

The development of a coronal mass ejection on 9 July 1996 has been analyzed by comparing the observations of the LASCO/SOHO coronagraphs with those of the Nancay radioheliograph. The spatial and temporal evolution of the associated radioburst is complex and involves a long-duration continuum. The analysis of the time sequence of the radio continuum reveals the existence of distinct phases associated with distinct reconnection processes and magnetic restructuring of the corona. Electrons are accelerated in association with these reconnection processes. An excellent spatial association is found between the position and extension of the radio source and the CME seen by LASCO. Furthermore, it is shown that the topology and evolution of the source of the radio continuum involve successive interactions between two systems of loops. These successive interactions lead to magnetic reconnection, then to a large scale coronal restructuring. Thus electrons of coronal origin may have access to the interplanetary medium in a large range of heliographic latitudes as revealed by the Ulysses observations.     

Post-Palaeozoic evolution of weathered landsurfaces in Uganda by tectonically controlled deep weathering and stripping

A model for the evolution of weathered landsurfaces in Uganda is developed using available geotectonic, climatic, sedimentological and chronological data. The model demonstrates the pivotal role of tectonic uplift in inducing cycles of stripping, and tectonic quiescence for cycles of deep weathering. It is able to account for the development of key landforms, such as inselbergs and duricrust-capped plateaux, which previous hypotheses of landscape evolution that are based on climatic or eustatic controls are unable to explain. Development of the Ugandan landscape is traced back to the Permian. Following late Palaeozoic glaciation, a trend towards warmer and more humid climates through the Mesozoic enabled deep weathering of the Jurassic/mid-Cretaceous surface in Uganda during a period of prolonged tectonic quiescence. Uplift associated with the opening South Atlantic Ocean terminated this cycle and instigated a cycle of stripping between the mid-Cretaceous and early Miocene. Deep weathering on the succeeding Miocene to recent (African) surface has occurred from Miocene to present but has been interrupted in the areas adjacent to the western rift where development of a new drainage base level has prompted cycles of stripping in the Miocene and Pleistocene.     

Atmospheric effects in the remote sensing of phytoplankton pigments

We investigate the accuracy with which relevant atmospheric parameters must be estimated to derive phytoplankton pigment concentrations (chlorophyll a plus phaeophytin a ) of a given accuracy from measurements of the ocean's apparent spectral radiance at satellite altitudes. The analysis is limited to an instrument having the characteristics of the Coastal Zone Color Scanner scheduled to orbit the Earth on NIMBUS-G. A phytoplankton pigment algorithm is developed which relates the pigment concentration (C) to the three ratios of upwelling radiance just beneath the sea surface which can be formed from the wavelengths () 440, 520 and 550 nm. The pigment algorithm explains from 94 to 98% of the variance in log₁₀ C over three orders of magnitude in pigment concentration. This is combined with solutions to the radiative transfer equation to simulate the ocean's apparent spectral radiance at satellite altitudes as a function of C and the optical properties of the aerosol, the optical depth of which is assumed to be proportioned to ^-n . A specific atmospheric correction algorithm, based on the assumption that the ocean is totally absorbing at 670 nm, is then applied to the simulated spectral radiance, from which the pigment concentration is derived. Comparison between the true and derived values of C show that: (1) n is considerably more important than the actual aerosol optical thickness; (2) for C 0299-1 0.2 g l^-1 acceptable concentrations can be determined as long as n is not overestimated; (3) as C increases, the accuracy with which n must be estimated, for a given relative accuracy in C, also increases; and (4) for C greater than about 0.5 g 1^-1, the radiance at 440 nm becomes essentially useless in determining C. The computations also suggest that if separate pigment algorithms are used for C 1gl^-1 and C 1 gl^-1, accuracies considerably better than ±± in log C can be obtained for C 1 g l^-1 with only a coarse estimate of n, while for C 10 gl^-1, this accuracy can be achieved only with very good estimates of n.Contribution No. 387 from the NOAA/ERL Pacific Environmental Laboratory.On leave from Department of Physics, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida.     

Compositions of Formosan basalts and aspects of their petrogeneses

Twenty-three basalts from northwestern Formosa were analyzed for Si, Ti, Al, Fe, Mg, Ca, Na, K, Rb, Sr, Hf, Co, Sc, Cr, Th, and 7 REE. Formosan alkalic basalts are generally similar to most alkalic basalts, and Formosan tholeiites are somewhat similar to island arc and continental tholeiites in terms of trends in K/Rb, Rb/Sr, K/Sr, and Ca/Sr ratios. Compared to most submarine tholeiites, Formosan tholeiites are enriched in Rb relative to K and Sr, and enriched in Sr relative to K and Ca. Both types of Formosan basalts show, relative to chondritic proportions, enrichments in light REE which smoothly decrease through the heavy REE. Their REE patterns are similar to those observed in Dogo-Oki alkalic basalts, Hawaiian basalts, and Deccan Plateau basalt, but differ strikingly from those of Japanese tholeiites and oceanic ridge basalts. These relationships and contrasts suggest that Formosan basalts originated in a plagioclase-free portion of the upper mantle and at greater depths that did Japanese tholeiites and oceanic ridge basalts.