Microzooplankton herbivory in the Ross Sea, Antarctica

Microplankton abundances and phytoplankton mortality rates were determined at six stations during four cruises spanning three seasons in the Ross Sea polynya, Antarctica (early spring, Oct.–Nov. 1996; mid-late summer, Jan.–Feb. 1997; fall, Apr. 1997; mid-late spring, Nov.–Dec. 1997). Rates of microzooplankton herbivory were measured using a modified dilution technique, as well as by examining the rate of disappearance of phytoplankton (chlorophyll) in samples incubated in the dark (i.e. grazing in the absence of phytoplankton growth). Strong seasonal cycles of phytoplankton and microzooplankton abundance were observed during the study. Microzooplankton abundance varied by more than three orders of magnitude during the four cruises, and was positively correlated with phytoplankton biomass over the entire data set. Nevertheless, microzooplankton grazing was insufficient to impact significantly phytoplankton standing stocks during most of the experiments performed in this perenially cold environment. Only thirteen out of a total of 51 experiments yielded phytoplankton mortality rates that were significantly different from zero. The highest mortality rate observed in this study (0.26 d⁻¹) was modest compared with maximal rates that have been observed in temperate and tropical ecosystems. Results from twenty experiments examining the rate of decrease of phytoplankton biomass during incubations in the dark agreed quite well with the results of the dilution experiments performed at the same time. The range of mortality rates for the dark incubations was −0.09–0.06 d⁻¹, and the average was essentially zero (−0.01 d⁻¹). That is, chlorophyll concentration was virtually unchanged in samples incubated in the dark for 3 d. A number of factors appeared to contribute to the very low rates of microbial herbivory observed, including low water temperature, and the size and taxonomic composition of the phytoplankton assemblage. Based on our results we conclude that the seasonal, massive phytoplankton blooms observed in the Ross Sea are due, in part, to low rates of removal by microbial herbivores.     

Polarimetry of Centaurs (2060) Chiron, (5145) Pholus and (10199) Chariklo

Results of the first polarimetric observations of Centaurs (5145) Pholus and (10199) Chariklo, and new observations of (2060) Chiron are presented together with the estimates of their absolute magnitudes. Observations were carried out at the 8 m ESO Very Large Telescope in 2007-2008. They revealed noticeable negative polarization in the phase-angle range 0.5-4.4° with a minimum varying from −1% to −2.1% in the R band. All three objects show diverse polarization phase-angle behaviour, each distinctly different from that of transneptunian objects. We found evidence of surface heterogeneity for Chariklo while Chiron and Pholus appear to have rather homogeneous surfaces. Polarization phase behaviours of Chiron and Pholus are significantly different from any other Solar System bodies studied so far. A shift of negative polarization minima toward small phase angles seems to be a characteristic feature of polarization properties of Centaurs. Presence of a small amount of water frost on a dark surface is considered as one of the possible ways to explain these properties.     

Composition of cometary dust from polarization spectra

The wavelength dependence of the polarization (“polarization spectra”) of cometary dust is discussed. It is shown that, in the case of large phase angles, the wavelength dependence of the polarization is mainly controlled by the complex refractive index of the particle material, whereas the spectral dependence of the intensity is also sensitive to the size of the particles. This suggests that observations of “polarization spectra” may determine the composition of cometary dust. An attempt is made to find the composition of the cometary dust material by comparing the observed polarimetric data with laboratory measurements of complex refractive indices of possible cometary constituents. Silicates, graphite, metals, organics, water ice and their mixtures are considered. It is shown that astronomical silicate must be the most abundant constituent of cometary dust in the range of heliocentric distances from 0.8 to 1.8 AU, whereas the volume fraction of pure graphite or pure metals is less then 1%. A substance similar to that of F-type asteroids may be present in comets. There is evidence for an organic material that is being destroyed between heliocentric distances of 0.8–1.8 AU.     

Geochemical and isotopic (Sr, U) variations of lake waters in the Ol’khon Region, Siberia, Russia: Origin and paleoenvironmental implications

The geochemical study of springs and lake waters from the Ol’khon Region, Siberia, confirms the strong chemical variability of these water samples, more particularly regarding their salinity. Such variability does not result from a simple mixing process between surface freshwaters and deeper saline waters. The variability, observed at the scale of a few square kilometers, would preferentially result from a secondary concentration processes (evaporation and/or cryogenesis) of lake waters of variable intensity from one lake to another. The U-disequilibria data suggest that the duration of the secondary process is certainly an important parameter to be considered to account for the variable salinity of these lakes. The data indicate that the lakes, however modest in size, could be as old as several ky, confirming therefore that the lake sedimentary deposits could represent relevant paleoenvironmental recorders for the last thousands years.     

Polarimetry in Planetary Science—A Step Forward with the VLT and a Need for the ELTs

We present a brief review of polarimetric measurements of solar system objects, both linear and circular, obtained with the FORS1 instrument at the Very Large Telescope VLT over the past years. A number of first and new results have been obtained by using this unique observing mode at an 8 m class telescope, among them polarimetry of faint planetary bodies like near-Earth asteroids, Kuiper Belt objects and cometary nuclei, spectropolarimetry of cometary coma material and of the Earthshine of the Moon (in order to verify that life exists on Earth!). We outline the science cases for planetary polarimetry at a future Extremely Large Telescope ELT and provide high level requirements for polarimetric equipment to be used at the ELTs for the study of the science cases described.     

Circular polarization in comets: Observations of Comet C/1999 S4 (LINEAR) and tentative interpretation

Comet C/1999 S4 (LINEAR) was exceptional in many respects. Its nucleus underwent multiple fragmentations culminating in the complete disruption around July 20, 2000. We present circular polarization measurements along the cuts through the coma and nucleus of the comet during three separate observing runs, in June 28-July 2, July 8-9, and July 21-22, 2000. The circular polarization was detected at a rather high level, up to 0.8%. The left-handed as well as right-handed polarization was observed over the coma with the left circularly polarized light systematically observed in the sunward part of the coma. During our observations the phase angle of the comet varied from 61 up to 122°, which allowed us to reveal variations of circular polarization with the phase angle. Correlation between the degree of circular polarization, visual magnitude, water production rate, and linear polarization of Comet C/1999 S4 (LINEAR) during its final fragmentation in July 2000 was found. The mechanisms that may produce circular polarization in comets and specifically in Comet C/1999 S4 (LINEAR) are discussed and some tentative interpretation is presented.     

Possible application of circular polarization for remote sensing of cosmic bodies

Phase dependences of circular polarization were obtained with a precision Stokes polarimeter designed and constructed at the Main Astronomical Observatory of AS Ukraine. A study was made of dielectric and metallic powders with grains of diameter 10–100 m. Metallic powders were found to produce an essential circular polarization - up to 3%, just as dielectric powders did not show circular polarization values more than 0.05% Change of circular polarization with phase angle V is greatly depended on surface structure. Loose powders give phase curves with the same sign of circular polarization everywhere and with maximum at large phase angles V > 120 . Measurements of compacted powders show curves which change the sign repeatedly and have additional maxima, including a maximum at small phase angles V < 40 . A theory was created which considers a circular polarization as a result of multiple reflections of light from particulate surface. The theory provides reasonable good fit to the experimental data. It was concluded that measurements of circular polarization can be used to find metals in surface material of cosmic bodies (especially asteroids) and to determine characteristics of surface structure, in particular, to establish presence of regolith on metal-rich bodies.