On the origin of the “kleine Kügelchen” called Chondrules

In this paper we investigate two major issues: (1) What are chondrules, and (2) why do they exist? We review the literature pertaining to each question and explore answers. We discuss the diversity of chondrules, especially with regard to their igneous textures and compositions. We review the constraints that have been placed experimentally on the thermal histories of chondrules and list those fundamental properties that all chondrule formation models must explain quantitatively in order to be considered predictive, quantitative models. We provide background on the three major classes of chondrule formation models currently being discussed, and scrutinize each with respect to how well they adhere to the experimental constraints placed on chondrule formation. Finally, we list several unresolved issues that are now or will soon be at the forefront of chondrule research.     

Lucinid clam influence on the biogeochemistry of the seagrass<Emphasis Type="Italic">Thalassia testudinum</Emphasis> sediments

Lucinid bivalves dominate the infauna of tropical seagrass sediments. While the effect of seagrass on lucinids has been studied, the reverse effect has largely been ignored. Lucinids can alter porewater chemistry (i.e., increase porewater nutrients by suspension feeding and decrease porewater sulfides by oxygen introduction and bacterial oxidation), which can potentially change seagrass productivity and growth morphology. To observe correlations between porewater chemistry and lucinid presence, a field survey and laboratory microcosm experiment were conducted. Survey sampling sites with lucinids had significantly lower sulfide and higher ammonium concentrations than sampling sites without lucinids. There was no difference in phosphate concentration among sampling sites. Both lucinid species used in the microcosm experiment (Ctena orbiculata andLucinesca nassula) significantly lowered sulfide concentrations in the sediment porewater. Microcosm and field survey results were incorporated into a sulfide budget. In seagrass sediments, lucinids remove 2–16% of the total sulfide produced. Sulfide is a major stressor to both plants and animals in Florida Bay sediments; this removal may be important to maintaining seagrass productivity and health. Oxygen introduction into sediments byC. orbiculata was estimated in a dye experiment.C. orbiculata were added to small tubes containing sieved mud and incubated in a bath of seawater with a Rhodamine WT. Rhodamine WT accumulation in the sediment was measured. A first order estimate showed that oxygen introduction can account for less than 5% ofC. orbiculata sulfide removal.     

Simulation of the molecular mass distributions of Si anions on the liquidus of the Na<Subscript>2</Subscript>O-SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> system with regard for the disproportionation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Q</Emphasis> structons

A new version of the STRUCTON (2009) computer model is proposed for the simulation of the molecular mass distributions (MMD) characterizing the diversity of anions in silicate melts depending on their polymerization and temperature. In contrast to earlier versions, the new version of the model accounts for disproportionation reactions of Q ⁿ species and makes use of their proportions in the statistical simulations of the origin of real Si-O complexes. The new potentialities of the STRUCTON program package are illustrated by its application to studying the structural-chemical characteristics of melts in the Na₂O-SiO₂ system along its liquidus line, including the points of eutectics and phase transitions at 0.333 ≤ $ N_{SiO_2 } $ N_{SiO_2 } < 0.500. This problem is solved with the use of a temperature-composition dependence of polymerization constants K _p ^Na in the Toop-Samis approximation. The variations in K _p ^Na were proved to be as large as three orders of magnitude due to both the temperature effect at a constant composition and the composition effect at a constant temperature. The results of the MMD simulations on the liquidus show that the concentration of the SiO₄⁴⁻ ion strongly decreases, and the proportion of chain species increases compared to those at a stochastic distribution. The concentration of the Si₂O₇⁶⁻ anion reaches its maximum (∼42%) at 40 mol % in the liquid, i.e., the composition of Na₆Si₂O₇. At $ N_{SiO_2 } $ N_{SiO_2 } > 0.40, this ion dominates over the SiO₄⁴⁻ monomer. More silicic melts with $ N_{SiO_2 } $ N_{SiO_2 } ≥ 0.45, are dominated by (Si _n O_3n )³ⁿ⁻ ring species, and the concentrations of these species are related as (Si₃O₉)⁶⁻ > (Si₄O₁₂)⁸⁻ > (Si₅O₁₅)¹⁰⁻. The maximum concentration of these flat rings also occurs near the composition of stoichiometric metasilicate with Si/O = 0.333. The comparison of the dependence of the average size of anions i _av and the average number of their species on depolymerization indicates that a change in the proportion of Q ⁿ species in melt at decreasing temperature results in structural restyling and an increase in the average size of Si-O complexes. The average number of anion species thereby decreases compared to that in a stochastic MMD. The results presented in this publication direct the progress in the thermodynamic theory of silicate melts to a new avenue that makes use of the capabilities and advantages of the ion-polymer model, the theory of associated solutions, spectroscopic data, and the experimental study of variations in oxide activities depending on composition and temperature.     

<Emphasis>H</Emphasis>ydrological variability of the <Emphasis>S</Emphasis>oummam watershed <Emphasis>(N</Emphasis>ortheastern <Emphasis>A</Emphasis>lgeria<Emphasis>)</Emphasis> and the possible links to climate fluctuations

The long-term variability of rainfall in the Soummam watershed (NE Algeria) has been analysed over the past 108 years using continuous wavelet method in order to identify the interannual modes controlling the rainfall variability. Statistical analyses of rainfall timeseries have shown its distribution following five periods of time, limited by a series of discontinuities around 1935, 1950, 1970 and 1990. The continuous wavelet transform have demonstrated different low frequency modes: 2–4, 4–8, 8–16 and 16–32 years.The annual band is expanded during the full study period with some pics around 1905, 1920–1935 and 1960; it shows a negative long-term trend, in particular since the period 1970–1990 when a major change has been identified. Then, the relationships between climate patterns of North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) and the hydrological variability in the frequency domain have been investigated; they have shown a mean explained variance of 40 and 24 %, respectively. Such variances are less obvious for the annual mode and increase for the interannual frequencies. The coherence suffer from high perturbations since the period 1970–1990 when the NAO (SOI) shifts from negative (positive) phases to positive (negative) ones. Such anomalies are responsible for significant changes of rainfall variability, emphasising the global warming effects.     

Characterisation of the antiferromagnetic transition of Cu<Subscript>2</Subscript>FeSnS<Subscript>4</Subscript>, the synthetic analogue of stannite

Magnetisation measurements were performed on the synthetic analogue of stannite, Cu₂FeSnS₄, in order to characterise the antiferromagnetic transition at low temperature, evidenced by Bernardini et al. (2000). Temperature and field dependence of the material were checked by means of static magnetisation measurements, carried out scanning the magnetic fields up to 12 T and temperatures in the range 1.4–20 K, while ac susceptibility data were collected at different frequencies ranging from 1.8 to 510 Hz. Both static and dynamic magnetisation data, performed above and below the Néel temperature, 6.1(2) K, confirm stannite to order antiferromagnetically at a long-range scale. Moreover, an increase of both the magnetic anisotropy and the exchange interaction, with respect to the Mn-analogue (Fries et al. 1997), has been observed.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">An Inconvenient Truth</Emphasis> and the scientists

An Inconvenient Truth provides an opportunity to examine the differences between scientific statements and the mixed statements made by politicians. The Gore movie is a powerful example of the latter. There are some inaccuracies and exaggerations in the film, but on the whole it represents mainstream scientific views on global warming. This essay looks into the state of the art of climate change research including its scientific underpinnings. Climate science is in a state of ‘normal science’ as discussed by Kuhn. There is a large body of scientists who are adherents to the paradigm and there does not appear to be any serious alternative at this time.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">An Inconvenient Truth</Emphasis>: the scientific argument

The movie An Inconvenient Truth is a powerful portrayal of global warming and its impacts. The main scientific argument presented in the movie is for the most part consistent with the weight of scientific evidence, but with some of the main points needing updating, correction, or qualification. The detailed argument relies almost entirely on past and current evidence and neglects almost all information that can be gained from computer models, perhaps because such information would be difficult for a lay audience to grasp, believe, or connect with emotionally. This places an undue weight on current events as signs of ongoing climate change: some such events are apparently not related at all to climate change, while for other specific events the role of global warming is difficult or impossible to establish.     

食盐析出实验对盐湖盆地沉积研究的启示

将物理模拟实验结果与地震、岩芯资料相结合,对东濮凹陷盐岩沉积的古地理位置、成因机制提出新的认识。研究认为:洼陷带的边缘、中央隆起带等浅水部位是盐岩沉积较早的部位,可以沉积厚度大、粒度小的单盐层,而靠近湖盆中心,矿物结晶时间充分,沉积的盐岩粒度大,单盐层厚度可大可小,甚至可以缺失,盐岩沉积的古地理位置受古盐度影响明显;盐湖盆地绝大多部分地区,湖水有一定深度时便已形成湖底盐层,湖水变浅时盐层已具备一定厚度,保证了其下部泥页岩的还原环境,盐岩沉积后基本保持了原有的构造形态,其上可以再次接受泥页岩沉积;湖盆边缘的渗滤带在湖水退去以后仍可以沉积盐岩,该处盐层最薄、粒度细小,下部地层常见氧化环境标志。     

Half‐a‐billion‐year‐old microscopic treasures—the Cambrian ‘Orsten’ fossils of Sweden

The creatures that gaze back at us through the binocular microscope are so uniquely well‐preserved and life‐like that had we not known better we would have thought that they were modern. Instead they are half‐a‐billion‐year‐old arthropods extracted from Cambrian rocks of Sweden. The microscopic fossils, colloquially known as the ‘Orsten’ fossils, are now world‐famous and basking in the light of the research catwalk since their discovery in the 1970s. These fossils have provided significant insight into the long lost Cambrian biotas and early animal evolution.     

Atomistic simulation of the structure and segregation to the (0001) and surfaces of Fe<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>

The segregation of ten isovalent impurities (Al³⁺ Cr³⁺, Eu³⁺, Gd³⁺, Ho³⁺, La³⁺, Lu³⁺, Nd³⁺, Tb³⁺, Y³⁺) to the and the (0001) surfaces of haematite (-Fe₂O₃) have been studied using atomistic simulation where the forces between the atoms are modelled using the Born model of solids. Segregation is found to be energetically favoured in virtually every case. The results for the surface show that the most favourable impurity surface concentration is 33.33%. The (0001) surface has two possible terminations, one terminated by iron atoms and the other by oxygen. No minimum is calculated for the Fe termination of the (0001) surface at low temperatures, but when the effect of raising the temperature is considered, an energy minimum is found, also at 33.33% impurity coverage. In contrast, the O terminated (0001) surface has a minimum in the segregation energy for between 16.67 and 33.33% depending on the cation being considered.     

Uncertainties in the estimation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">M</Emphasis><Subscript>max</Subscript>

In the present paper, the parameters affecting the uncertainties on the estimation of M _max have been investigated by exploring different methodologies being used in the analysis of seismicity catalogue and estimation of seismicity parameters. A critical issue to be addressed before any scientific analysis is to assess the quality, consistency, and homogeneity of the data. The empirical relationships between different magnitude scales have been used for conversions for homogenization of seismicity catalogues to be used for further seismic hazard assessment studies. An endeavour has been made to quantify the uncertainties due to magnitude conversions and the seismic hazard parameters are then estimated using different methods to consider the epistemic uncertainty in the process. The study area chosen is around Delhi. The b value and the magnitude of completeness for the four seismogenic sources considered around Delhi varied more than 40% using the three catalogues compiled based on different magnitude conversion relationships. The effect of the uncertainties has been then shown on the estimation of M _max and the probabilities of occurrence of different magnitudes. It has been emphasized to consider the uncertainties and their quantification to carry out seismic hazard assessment and in turn the seismic microzonation.     

Message from the Editor‐in‐Chief

正Dear Authors and Readers:First of all,on behalf of the new Editorial Board,I would like to express our sincere appreciation for your continuing support of our journal.This journal,founded in 1922,is the oldest geological journal in China.As the flagship journal of the Geological Society of China,it has become more and more influential in earth sciences in China and     

Message from the Editor‐in‐Chief

正Dear Authors and Readers:First of all,on behalf of the new Editorial Board,I would like to express our sincere appreciation for your continuing support of our journal.This journal,founded in 1922,is the oldest geological journal in China.As the flagship journal of the Geological Society of China,it has become more and more influential in earth sciences in China and     

Message from the Editor‐in‐Chief

正Dear Authors and Readers:First of all,on behalf of the new Editorial Board,I would like to express our sincere appreciation for your continuing support of our journal.This journal,founded in 1922,is the oldest geological journal in China.As the flagship journal of the Geological Society of China,it has become more and more influential in earth sciences in China and     

Building the ‘competitive city’: labour and Toronto’s bid to host the Olympic games

Toronto’s quest to host the Summer Olympic Games has dominated both contemporary planning discourse and practice. For some, the pursuit of the games embodies Toronto’s transformation into a ‘competitive’ global city. Relatively unexplored in this discourse are the contradictory roles that labour plays in contemporary urban development. I argue that the new labour geography can provide some interesting insights into such processes. Specifically, labour geographers have given workers with divergent interests greater agency in shaping economic landscapes and have noted the multi-scalar organisation of labour. The paper looks at the contradictory and conflicting positions held by different labour unions in Toronto toward the city’s bid to host the 2008 Olympics. The case study suggests that labour is an active agent in processes shaping contemporary Toronto and support the bid for complex reasons ranging from the promise of jobs to potential future organising opportunities.     

Message from the Editor‐in‐Chief

<正>Dear Authors and Readers:First of all,on behalf of the new Editorial Board,I would like to express our sincere appreciation for your continuing support of our journal.This journal,founded in 1922,is the oldest geological journal in China.As the flagship journal of the Geological Society of China,it has become more and more influential in earth sciences in China and beyond.The journal is now indexed by SCI,CA and more than 20 other databases,with an impact     

Message from the Editor‐in‐Chief

<正>Dear Authors and Readers:First of all,on behalf of the new Editorial Board,I would like to express our sincere appreciation for your continuing support of our journal.This journal,founded in 1922,is the oldest geological journal in China.As the flagship journal of the Geological Society of China,it has become more and more influential in earth sciences in China and beyond.The journal is now indexed by SCI,CA and more than 20 other databases,with an impact