The eccentric case of a fast-rotating,gravity-gradient-perturbed satellite attitude solution

A closed-form first-order perturbation solution for the attitude evolution of a triaxial space object in an elliptical orbit is presented. The solution, derived using the Lie–Deprit method, takes into account gravity-gradient torque and is facilitated by an assumption of fast rotation of the object. The formulation builds on the earlier implementation of Lara and Ferrer, which assumes a circular orbit. The previously presented work—which assumes spin about an object’s axis of maximum inertia—is further extended by the explicit presentation of the transformations required to apply the solution to an object spinning about its axis of minimum inertia. Additionally, several numerical analyses are presented to more completely assess the utility of the solution. These studies (1) validate the elliptical solution, (2) assess the impact of varying the small parameter of the perturbation procedure, (3) analyze the assumption of fast rotation, and (4) apply the solution to the common and important scenario of a tumbling rocket body.     

Paleolimnological studies of saline lakes

Salt water lakes are located in arid to semi-arid regions where evaporation rates exceed precipitation rates. As such, saline lakes are very sensitive to changes in their hydrological cycle. Research into the current limnology of saline lakes is expanding as population growth in these regions increases. Emerging concerns include water diversions, eutrophication, and toxic substances. Paleolimnological investigations of saline lakes are providing valuable new information on paleoclimate and paleohydrology. Such studies may allow for better predictions of the environmental consequences of global warming and for a better understanding of past climate change. Paleolimnological studies may also provide some insight to more recent, anthropogenic perturbations in the arid and semi-arid regions of the world.This publication is the introduction to a series of papers presented at the Conference on Sedimentary and Paleolimnological Records of Saline Lakes. The conference was held August 13–16, 1991 at the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada. Dr. Evans is serving as Guest Editor.     

Fossil mammoths from Santa Cruz Island, California

Mammoth remains on Santa Cruz Island, one of the four Northern Channel Islands of California, are very sparse, in marked contrast to those reported from Santa Rosa and San Miguel Islands of the same island group. A probable major reason for this scarcity is that Quaternary deposits are greatly restricted on Santa Cruz Island. It is proposed, contrary to popular opinion, that fossils found on Santa Cruz Island were derived from animals which died on the island, and were not transported there by humans. Reasons for this conclusion are that the size and geological context of the fossils are similar to those of the largest mammoth fossils of Santa Rosa Island, and that, in spite of extensive investigations by many persons, mammoth remains have not been found in middens, either on the islands or on the adjacent mainland.     

Seasonality of materials transport through a coastal freshwater marsh: Riverine versus tidal forcing

Transports of nitrate and suspended solids were measured six times from January 1984 until January 1985 in a small freshwater tidal bayou in south-central Louisiana. The bayou and adjacent marshes are influenced by Atchafalaya River discharges, tides, and coastal weather patterns. Large net ebb-directed water transports occurred in winter, spring, and summer, coincident with high river discharges, indicating riverine dominance. A very small net flood-directed water transport occurred in fall, indicating tidally dominated hydrology. Nitrate and suspended solids transports were net ebb-directed in all seasons, but were two orders of magnitude higher during high river flow. Exports changed as hydrology switched from river dominated to tidally dominated, and as concentrations of materials changed. Comparison of suspended solids and nitrate concentrations in the river and bayou shows that these materials were usually lower in the bayou, indicating retention by the marsh/aquatic system.     

XENON,OSMIUM, AND LEAD FORMED IN O-SHELLS AND C-SHELLS OF MASSIVE STARS

In this paper we show that the explosive products from O-shells of massive stars which contain ¹²⁴Xe with large overproduction factors do not contain any of the naturally occurring isotopes of Os and Pb. We show further that the explosive products from C-shells (explosive carbon burning) do contain Os and Pb along with Xe which is strongly enriched in r-Xe of anomalous isotopic composition. The composition of Os in this matter is probably s-like rather than r-like. Pb in this matter is enriched in ²⁰⁸Pb. The results and arguments of this paper have implications for studies of isotopic compositions of Xe, Os, and Pb in residues of the Allende and other carbonaceous chondrites.     

The Nazca Group of south-central Peru: Age,source, and regional volcanic and tectonic significance

The Nazca Group, exposed east of Nazca, Peru, consists of a lower part composed of conglomerate and finer-grained clastic strata and an upper part made up of at least seven ash-flow sheets (cooling units or ignimbrites), collectively known as the Nazca Tuff. These tuffs were erupted between about 22 and 18 m.y. ago from a vent area in the vicinity of Pampa Galeras now marked by a collapse caldera. The early Miocene age of the Nazca Tuff provides additional evidence for a major pulse of largely pyroclastic felsic volcanism throughout the central Andes during the early Miocene. Recognition of the Pampa Galeras caldera supports the idea that many of these rocks were erupted from vent areas of the collapse-caldera type located near the eastern margin of the Coastal batholith.The Nazca Group overlies a major erosional surface cut on the Coastal batholith and its envelope that can be traced southward to the Chilean border. This surface is a continuation of the post-Incaic erosional surface to the north, which is overlain by conglomerate and radiometrically dated volcanic rock of late Eocene age. The post-Incaic surface therefore represents a major episode of regional uplift and pedimentation that followed early Tertiary orogeny. The absence of volcanic rocks of late Eocene/early Oligocene age overlying the Coastal batholith near Nazca and in southern Peru may reflect a general absence of post-Incaic volcanism in this portion of the Andes possibly related to differences in the angle of subduction and/or restriction of volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks of this age to depositional basins east of the batholith.