A contribution to the migration of gold in the biosphere of the humid mild zone

The content of gold in plants has been used as an indicator in the prospecting for gold. For this purpose non-destructive analytical methods have been developed. In the humid mild zone — where the process of weathering is of a kaolinitic character — there is practically no migration of gold, and consequently its increased content indicates the presence of a gold deposit.     

Die alten Gebirge der Provinz Buenos Aires

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Development of a Neural Network Algorithm for Retrieving Concentrations of Chlorophyll, Suspended Matter and Yellow Substance from Radiance Data of the Ocean Color and Temperature Scanner

An algorithm is presented to retrieve the concentrations of chlorophyll a, suspended pariclulate matter and yellow substance from normalized water-leaving radiances of the Ocean Color and Temperature Sensor (OCTS) of the Advanced Earth Observing Satellite (ADEOS). It is based on a neural network (NN) algorithm, which is used for the rapid inversion of a radiative transfer procedure with the goal of retrieving not only the concentrations of chlorophyll a but also the two other components that determine the water-leaving radiance spectrum. The NN algorithm was tested using the NASA's SeaBAM (SeaWiFS Bio-Optical Mini-Workshop) test data set and applied to ADEOS/OCTS data of the Northwest Pacific in the region off Sanriku, Japan. The root-mean-square error between chlorophyll a concentrations derived from the SeaBAM reflectance data and the chlorophyll a measurements is 0.62. The retrieved chlorophyll a concentrations of the OCTS data were compared with the corresponding distribution obtained by the standard OCTS algorithm. The concentrations and distribution patterns from both algorithms match for open ocean areas. Since there are no standard OCTS products available for yellow substance and suspended matter and no in situ measurements available for validation, the result of the retrieval by the NN for these two variables could only be assessed by a general knowledge of their concentrations and distribution patterns. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Astrophysical smooth particle hydrodynamics

The paper presents a detailed review of the smooth particle hydrodynamics (SPH) method with particular focus on its astrophysical applications. We start by introducing the basic ideas and concepts and thereby outline all ingredients that are necessary for a practical implementation of the method in a working SPH code. Much of SPH’s success relies on its excellent conservation properties and therefore the numerical conservation of physical invariants receives much attention throughout this review. The self-consistent derivation of the SPH equations from the Lagrangian of an ideal fluid is the common theme of the remainder of the text. We derive a modern, Newtonian SPH formulation from the Lagrangian of an ideal fluid. It accounts for changes of the local resolution lengths which result in corrective, so-called “grad-h-terms”. We extend this strategy to special relativity for which we derive the corresponding grad-h equation set. The variational approach is further applied to a general-relativistic fluid evolving in a fixed, curved background space-time. Particular care is taken to explicitly derive all relevant equations in a coherent way.     

The Scaling Behaviour of a Turbulent Kinetic Energy Closure Model for Stably Stratified Conditions

We investigate the scaling behaviour of a turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) closure model for stably stratified conditions. The mixing length scale for stable stratification is proportional to the ratio of the square root of the TKE and the local Brunt–Väisälä frequency, which is a commonly applied formulation. We analyze the scaling behaviour of our model in terms of traditional Monin–Obukov Similarity Theory and local scaling. From the model equations, we derive expressions for the stable limit behaviour of the flux–gradient relations and other scaling quantities. It turns out that the scaling behaviour depends on only a few model parameters and that the results obey local scaling theory. The analytical findings are illustrated with model simulations for the second GABLS intercomparison study. We also investigate solutions for the case in which an empirical correction function is used to express the eddy diffusivity for momentum as a function of the Richardson number (i.e. an increasing turbulent Prandtl number with stability). In this case, it seems that for certain parameter combinations the model cannot generate a steady-state solution. At the same time, its scaling behaviour becomes unrealistic. This shows that the inclusion of empirical correction functions may have large and undesired consequences for the model behaviour.     

Submarine landslides at the eastern Sunda margin: observations and tsunami impact assessment

Our analysis of new bathymetric data reveals six submarine landslides at the eastern Sunda margin between central Java and Sumba Island, Indonesia. Their volumes range between 1 km3 in the Java fore-arc basin up to 20 km3 at the trench off Sumba and Sumbawa. We estimate the potential hazard of each event by modeling the corresponding tsunami and its run-up on nearby coasts. Four slides are situated remarkably close to the epicenter of the 1977 tsunamigenic Sumba M _w  = 8.3 earthquake. However, comparison of documented tsunami run-up heights and arrival times with our modeling results neither allows us to confirm nor can we falsify the hypothesis that the earthquake triggered these submarine landslides.     

Boninites as windows into trace element mobility in subduction zones

Boninites are subduction-related rocks originating from re-melting of highly depleted mantle sources left after extraction of tholeiitic melts. Due to their depleted nature, the incompatible trace element inventory of boninites is virtually entirely inherited from slab components without a significant contribution from the refractory mantle wedge. Thus, boninites constitute an excellent window into processes controlling trace element mobilization at the slab-mantle wedge interface. In order to constrain the behaviour of trace elements in subduction zones with a special emphasis on high field strength elements, we analyzed low-Ca boninites and associated tholeiitic basalts from Cape Vogel, Papua New Guinea (PNG) and compare them with compositions of high-Ca boninites and associated tholeiitic basalts from Cyprus. High-precision HFSE (Nb, Ta, Zr, Hf, W) concentration data of the boninites and associated tholeiitic basalts were obtained by isotope dilution. Major, trace element, and Sr-Nd-Hf-Pb isotope compositions clearly document a significant contribution of slab-derived melts involved in the petrogenesis of the PNG boninites, whereas only fluid-like subduction components were involved in the petrogenesis of the PNG basalts and the Cyprus suite. Low-Ca boninites from PNG are derived from a more refractory mantle source (∼21% depletion) than the high-Ca boninites from Cyprus (∼11% depletion) and their respective tholeiitic precursors (<10% depletion). In agreement with the more depleted nature of their mantle source, boninites exhibit a significantly stronger overprint by slab components. High-precision HFSE data indicate that, in comparison to LILE, a somewhat lower but measurable mobilization of all investigated HFSE in both slab-derived fluids and melts is evident. Modelling calculations demonstrate that the subduction components dominate the LILE budget and also largely control LREE and HFSE abundances in the boninite sources. Notably, the increasing influence of slab-derived fluids results in a decrease of the negative Nb-Ta anomaly, most likely reflecting a similar mobility of Nb-Ta and LREE at higher pressures near the critical point of fluid-melt miscibility. Ratios of Zr/Hf and Nb/Ta in the melt-like slab components dominating in the sources of the PNG boninites were probably fractionated in equilibrium with garnet-amphibolitic mafic oceanic crust. HFSE ratios in the Cyprus boninites are best explained by dehydration of subducted pelagic sediments in the absence of Ti-rich phases such as rutile. Our results also confirm previous assertions that the mobility of HFSE decreases in the order Sb > W-Mo > Nb-Ta > Zr-Hf. Furthermore, Mo-W systematics may provide a potential novel tracer for the amount, composition and redox state of subducted pelagic sediments that contribute to the geochemical budget of intra-oceanic arc systems.     

Geology of the Selk crater region on Titan from Cassini VIMS observations

Observations of Titan obtained by the Cassini Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS) have revealed Selk crater, a geologically young, bright-rimmed, impact crater located ∼800 km north-northwest of the Huygens landing site. The crater rim-crest diameter is ∼90 km; its floor diameter is ∼60 km. A central pit/peak, 20-30 km in diameter, is seen; the ratio of the size of this feature to the crater diameter is consistent with similarly sized craters on Ganymede and Callisto, all of which are dome craters. The VIMS data, unfortunately, are not of sufficient resolution to detect such a dome. The inner rim of Selk crater is fluted, probably by eolian erosion, while the outer flank and presumed ejecta blanket appear dissected by drainages (particularly to the east), likely the result of fluvial erosion. Terracing is observed on the northern and western walls of Selk crater within a 10-15 km wide terrace zone identified in VIMS data; the terrace zone is bright in SAR data, consistent with it being a rough surface. The terrace zone is slightly wider than those observed on Ganymede and Callisto and may reflect differences in thermal structure and/or composition of the lithosphere. The polygonal appearance of the crater likely results from two preexisting planes of weakness (oriented at azimuths of 21° and 122° east of north). A unit of generally bright terrain that exhibits similar infrared-color variation and contrast to Selk crater extends east-southeast from the crater several hundred kilometers. We informally refer to this terrain as the Selk “bench.” Both Selk and the bench are surrounded by the infrared-dark Belet dune field. Hypotheses for the genesis of the optically bright terrain of the bench include: wind shadowing in the lee of Selk crater preventing the encroachment of dunes, impact-induced cryovolcanism, flow of a fluidized-ejecta blanket (similar to the bright crater outflows observed on Venus), and erosion of a streamlined upland formed in the lee of Selk crater by fluid flow. Vestigial circular outlines in this feature just east of Selk’s ejecta blanket suggest that this might be a remnant of an ancient, cratered crust. Evidently the southern margin of the feature has sufficient relief to prevent the encroachment of dunes from the Belet dune field. We conclude that this feature either represents a relatively high-viscosity, fluidized-ejecta flow (a class intermediate to ejecta blankets and long venusian-style ejecta flows) or a streamlined upland remnant that formed downstream from the crater by erosive fluid flow from the west-northwest.     

How to survive a Lunar night

In the frame of the recent worldwide activities of Lunar research, including various studies for surface stations, the aspect of longevity of such stations has been identified as a particular technical challenge. The reason for this lies in the long (about 14 days) and cold Lunar night during which it is non-trivial to keep spacecraft systems alive and sensitive equipment within an acceptable temperature range.The following paper analyzes and compares various concepts to survive Lunar night, both with and without radioisotope heater technology.The latter normally implies the use of highly toxic material (typically plutonium), which is politically problematic and a driver for cost and safety procedures.Concepts without radioisotope heating need to foresee special measures, like extremely efficient thermal insulation or sub-surface positioning of all temperature sensitive components.Special emphasis has been taken on the thermal analysis of a penetrator-type surface station. The relevant issues are discussed and results for day–night cycles are presented, assuming a typical set of engineering parameters. This concept appears to be the easiest to implement from a thermal point of view, if the use of radioisotope heaters has to be avoided.