Searching for an intrinsic stellar population in compact high-velocity clouds

We are investigating the hypothesis that Compact High-Velocity Clouds (CHVCs) are the left-over building blocks of Local Group galaxies. To this end, we are searching for their embedded stellar populations using FORS at the VLT. The search is done with single-star photometry in V and I bands, which is sensitive to both, young and old, stellar populations. Five CHVCs of our sample have been observed so far down to I=24. We pointed the VLT towards the highest HI column density regions, as determined in Effelsberg radio data. In an alternate approach, we searched 2MASS public data towards those 5 CHVCs down to K=16. While the VLT data probe the central regions out to distance moduli of about 27, the 2MASS data are sensitive to a population of red giant stars to distance moduli of about 20. The 2MASS data, on the other hand, cover a much wider field of view than the VLT data (radius of 1 degree versus FORS field of 6.8 arcmin). We did not find a stellar population intrinsic to the CHVCs in either data. In this paper, we illustrate our search methods. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Results of a semi-implicit two-step method for the simulation of markedly nonlinear flow in coastal seas

Results of a numerical method for the simulation of nonlinear flow in coastal seas are presented. The method is based on a neutral semi-implicit scheme which is modified into a stability-enhancing two-step algorithm. By means of this method the simulation of highly nonlinear flow patterns is possible in a stable and economic way. Three examples of models of different North Sea coastal regions are discussed under certain aspects to demonstrate the reliability of the method.     

Optical absorption and electron spin resonance in blue and green natural beryl

A comparative study of blue and green beryl crystals (from the region of Governador Valadares, Minas Gerais, Brazil) using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and optical absorption (OA) spectroscopy is reported. The EPR spectra show that Fe³⁺ in blue beryl occupies a substitutional Al³⁺ site and in green beryl is localized in the structural channels between two O₆ planes. On the other hand the infrared spectra show that the alkali content in the blue beryl is mostly at substitutional and/or interstitial sites and in green beryl is mostly in the structural channels. The OA spectra show two types of Fe²⁺. Thermal treatments above 200° C in green beryl cause the reduction of Fe³⁺ into Fe²⁺ accompanied by a change of color to blue. The blue beryl color does not change on heating. The kinetics of the thermal conversion of Fe³⁺ into Fe²⁺ is composed of two first order processes; the first one has an activation energy ΔE ₁=0.30 eV and the second one has an activation energy ΔE ₂=0.46 eV.     

Trace-element distribution in an active hydrothermal system, Roosevelt hot springs thermal area, Utah

Chemical interaction of thermal fluids with reservoir rock in the Roosevelt Hot Springs thermal area, Utah, has resulted in the development of characteristic trace-element dispersion patterns. Multielement analyses of surface rock samples, soil samples and drill cuttings from deep exploration wells provide a three-dimensional perspective of chemical redistribution within this structurally-controlled hot-water geothermal system.Five distinctive elemental suites of chemical enrichment are recognized, each characteristic of a particular combination of physical and chemical conditions within the geothermal system. These are: (1) concentrations of As, Sb, Be, and Hg associated with siliceous material at locations of liquid discharge, fluid mixing or boiling; (2) concentrations of Mn, Ba, W, Be, Cu, Co, As, Sb and Hg in manganese and iron oxide deposits; (3) high concentrations of Hg in argillized rock near fumaroles and lower concentrations in a broad diffuse halo surrounding the thermal center; (4) concentrations of As in sulfides and Li in silicate alteration minerals immediately surrounding high-temperature fluid flow-controlling fractures; (5) deposits of CaCO₃ at depth where flashing of brine to steam has occurred due to pressure release. The geochemical enrichments are not, in general, widespread, pervasively developed zones of regular form and dimension as are typical in many ore-forming hydrothermal systems.As the geothermal system develops, changes and eventually declines through time, the chemical deposits are developed, remobilized or superimposed upon each other, thus preserving within the rocks a record of the history of the geothermal system. Recognition of trace-element distribution patterns during the exploration of a geothermal system may aid definition of the present geometry and interpretation of the history of the system.     

Analysis of Physical and Chemical Parameters for Discrimination of Water Origin in a Hydroelectric Reservoir

Seventeen physical and chemical parameters were obtained from a hydroelectric reservoir located in a tropical region in the south of Brazil. Multivariate Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Hierarchical Group Analysis (HGA) were used to identify the parameters discriminating the origin of water from the Tibagi and the Primeiro de Maio River, after it has passed the mixing region. The study was conducted during the dry and rainy seasons in July 2002 and February 2003 at three depths and three sampling sites located 0, 5, and 10 km away from the mixing region. The statistical methods showed to be appropriate for identifying the contribution of each tributary in the water mixing site of a complex water system. The most important discriminating parameter was the absorbance relation A(253 nm)/A(203 nm), followed by the concentrations of Fe(III), Mn(III), and Ni(II). An anthropogenic interference was found in the reservoir due to high Ni(II) and orthophosphate concentrations caused by a nearby town sewage discharge. The interference was more important during the dry periods due to the lower dispersion of the pollutants. Urgent initiatives should be taken from the state government to build treatment stations for the wastewater of the small cities around the Capivara hydroelectric reservoir to prevent the drinking water quality from deteriorating.     

Natural realgar and amorphous AsS oxidation kinetics

The oxidation rates of natural realgar and amorphous synthetic AsS by dissolved oxygen were evaluated using mixed flow reactors at pH 7.2 to 8.8 and dissolved oxygen contents of 5.9 to 16.5 ppm over a temperature range of 25 to 40°C. The ratios of As/S are stoichiometric for all amorphous AsS oxidation experiments except for two experiments conducted at pH ∼8.8. In these experiments, stoichiometric ratios of As/S were only observed in the early stages of AsS (am) oxidation whereas lower As/S ratios were observed during steady state. For realgar oxidation experiments, the As/S ratio is less than the stoichiometric ratio of realgar, ranging between 0.61 and 0.71. This nonstoichiometric release of As and S to solution indicates that realgar oxidation is more selective for S after the rates of oxidation become constant. All measured oxidation rates at 25°C can be described within experimental uncertainties as follows: Table 1

Rate Expression	Activation Energy (kJ/mol)
R(Realgar/As) = 10−9.63(±0.41)[DO]0.51(±0.08)[H+]−0.28(±0.05)	64.2 ± 9.8
R(Realgar/S) = 10−9.74(±0.35)[DO]0.54(±0.05)[H+]−0.31(±0.04)	62.2 ± 9.0
R(AsS(am)) = 10−13.65(±0.82)[DO]0.92(±0.08)[H+]−1.09(±0.10)	124 ± 18.8

Full-size table

     

Comparing the Correlative Holdridge Model to Mechanistic Biogeographical Models for Assessing Vegetation Distribution Response to Climatic Change

A well-established and widely used correlative climate-vegetation model (Holdridge Life Zone model) was compared to three mechanistic simulation models (BIOME2, Dynamic Global Phytogeography Model (DOLY), and Mapped Atmosphere-Plant-Soil System (MAPSS)) for the conterminous United States under contemporary climate and a set of future climates prescribed by three Global Circulation Model experiments. Output from the mechanistic models were from the Vegetation/Ecosystem Modeling and Analysis Project (VEMAP) intercomparison. Holdridge modeling approaches, using a Simple implementation (vegetation distribution based on biotemperature and precipitation alone) or a Full implementation (vegetation distribution based on biotemperature, precipitation, altitudinal region, latitudinal belt, and transitional vegetation zones), represented current potential natural U.S. vegetation poor to fair, respectively. The more sophisticated mechanistic models were superior at reproducing potential vegetation under current climate compared to Holdridge, although there was significant variability among these models. The Holdridge implementations generally showed similar or greater climate sensitivity with respect to spatial redistribution of vegetation compared to the mechanistic models run both with and without doubled CO₂ levels; however, the sensitivity of the Holdridge model depended on the implementation. Reduced sensitivity of the mechanistic models arises from direct (physiological) CO₂ effects and other compensating feedbacks not captured by the Holdridge model. The greater degree of physical realism in the mechanistic models makes them the model class of choice for climate impact assessment. However, under circumstances of limited data availability, computation resources, and access to mechanistic models and model expertise, simple correlational models such as Holdridge may be the only method that can be applied. The paper makes some recommendations on the use of the Holdridge model for impact assessment if it is the only available model.     

The exceptional Oder flood in summer 1997 — distribution patterns of the oder discharge in the Pomeranian Bight

The exceptional Oder flood in summer 1997 was a unique event in order to investigate the impacts on and the consequences for the ecosystem of the Baltic Sea of about 6.5 km³ additional water loaded with nutrients and contaminants and discharged within only 5 weeks. About 15 institutions participated in this investigation in both the Szczecin Lagoon and the Pomeranian Bight. The Baltic Sea Research Institute Warnemünde studied the water and nutrient inflow, the spreading of the Oder discharge, and the impact of the discharge on the ecosystem. The main topic of the presented investigations is a detailed study of the spatial and temporal spreading of the extreme river discharge in the Pomeranian Bight and the southern Baltic Sea by satellite data, ship observations and continuous buoy measurements as well as numerical modelling. The meteorological conditions were characterized by mainly easterly winds which guided the outflowing riverine water along the German coast into the Arkona Sea. The spatial and temporal development of the distribution patterns of the Oder discharge was monitored by about 80 Sea Surface Temperature (SST) images of NOAA satellites. Shipborne measurements showed that the vertical extent of the Oder plume ranged between 5 and 7 metres. The concentrations of inorganic nutrients, except higher silicate, were comparable to typical winter/early spring values (seasonal maximum) in this region. The high dilution effect of the flood water reduced the concentration of contaminants and thus, prevented a direct negative impact of trace metals and chlorinated organic compounds on the marine environment. Coupled physical-biochemical modelling in combination with SST-images demonstrated the temporal development and satellite data in the visible spectral range delivered the maximum extent of discharged river water into the southern Arkona Sea where a further western transport was limited by the upwelling region off Hiddensee. Thus, all detected effects of the Oder flood were confined to the Pomeranian Bight and the southern Arkona Sea, without long-term consequences for the ecosystem.     

Structural and isotopic microanalysis of presolar SiC from supernovae

Abstract– We report on the microstructure, crystallography, chemistry, and isotopic compositions of seven SiC X grains and two mainstream grains from the Murchison meteorite. TEM crystallographic analysis revealed that the X grains (approximately 3 μm) are composed of many small crystals (24–457 nm), while the similarly sized mainstream grains are composed of only a few crystals (0.5–1.7 μm). The difference in crystal size likely results from differences in their formation environments: the X grain crystals evidently formed under conditions of greater supersaturation and rapid growth compared to their mainstream counterparts. However, the same polytypes are observed in both mainstream and X grains. Six X grains and both mainstream grains are entirely the 3C‐SiC polytype and one X grain is an intergrowth of the 3C‐SiC and 2H‐SiC polytypes. EDXS measurements indicate relatively high Mg content in the X grains (≲5 atomic%), while Mg was undetectable in the mainstream grains. The high Mg content is probably from the decay of ²⁶Al into ²⁶Mg. Estimates of the ²⁶Al/²⁷Al ratios, which range from 0.44–0.67, were made from elemental Mg/Al ratios. This range is consistent with the ²⁶Al/²⁷Al ratios inferred from previous isotopic measurements of X grains. We also report the first direct observations of subgrains in X grains, including the first silicides [(Fe,Ni)_nSi_m]. Diffraction data do not match any previously observed presolar phases, but are a good fit to silicides, which are predicted stable SN condensates. Eight subgrains with highly variable Ni/Fe ratios (0.12–1.60) were observed in two X grains.     

Mobility of potentially harmful metals in latosols impacted by the municipal solid waste deposit of Londrina,Brazil

The contamination of soils by metals issuing from municipal solid waste (MSW) disposal in tropical environments has hardly been studied with regard to the particular problems associated with them, i.e., generally a high permeability of soils despite the abundance of clay, and the role of reactive Fe compounds. From a previous geotechnical and chemical survey, three latosol profiles differently affected by MSW leachates in the region of Londrina (Paraná, Brazil) were selected. The aims were to evaluate the extent of their contamination, to better understand the fate of potentially harmful metals in tropical soils and rank the determining factors. Samples between 0.5 and 7 m depth were analyzed for their physical, mineralogical and chemical properties, and their micro-morphology was described by optical and transmission electron microscopy. Two steps of a sequential extraction procedure helped to assess the mobility of elements and to better discriminate between metals originating from pedogenesis and issued from MSW. These combined approaches showed that exposed soil profiles have been impacted at various depths, down to 7 m, through increased metal content, especially enhanced mobility of Zn, Co, Mn, Cu and Fe, and through increased salinity and organic matter. The mobility of potentially harmful metals should decrease with pH, which significantly increased in some impacted horizons, but other factors can reverse this trend.