Comet Ikeya-Zhang rises for the NAM

A possible naked-eye comet that may have been important in early cometary theory is announced by D J Asher , M E Bailey , A Christou , J McFarland , M F Muir and P P Rafferty .
Early indications sugest that Comet C/2002 (Ikeya-Zhang), discovered on 1 February 2002, may brighten to naked-eye visibility in late March 2002. It has also been suggested that it may be identical to one of the brighter comets of the 16th or 17th centuries, namely C/1532 R1 or C/1661 C1. The first of these, observed for more than 100 days towards the end of 1532, played an important role in the development of cometary theory. The second, although identified by Halley as having an orbit similar to that of the comet C/1532 R1, was not seen on its predicted return in 1788/1789 and so was presumably unrelated. Here we present long-term orbital integrations of C/2002 C1 which suggest that it orginated from the Oort cloud, and will be ejected again, within ˜0.3 Myr. There is a chance of 10–20% that it will end its life by falling into the Sun during a Halley-type phase of cometary evolution. The discovery of Ikeya-Zhang so closeto perigee by two amateur astonomers highlights the need for surveys covering both hemispheres to discover long-period and intermediate-period comets on Earth-crossing orbits.     

Grigg-Skjellerup彗星新生离子激发低频电磁波性质

本文运用磁场的最小方差分析法和磁场-电子密度的相关分析法分析了欧洲空间局Giotto飞船对P／Grigg-Skjellerup（简称G-S）彗星弓激波附近磁场和电子能流的部分观测数据．结果表明彗星附近存在大量的频率靠近新生水族离子回旋频率的波动,它们是由彗星新生水族离子环流激发的低频左旋电磁波．波在近似平行于磁场方向传播,斜传播角小于15°．电子数据和磁场数据相关分析表明即使在离彗星很远的地方仍然存在压缩波．     

The main structure and tectonic features of the Chernorud-Mukhor site on the western shore of Lake Baikal from TEM and SP measurements

Transient electromagnetic (TEM), self-potential (SP) and geoelectrical mapping measurements were carried out at the Chernorud-Mukhor site in the Priolkhonje area on the western shore of the Lake Baikal. All measurements were made along several profiles across the main strike of the regional Primorsky fault. TEM measurements were carried out in a time range from a few tens of microseconds to several tens of milliseconds. The most important result of the 1D modelling of TEM soundings is the discovery of nearly horizontal boundaries that divide high resistive overlying and well conducting underlying rocks. The resistivity of the former is in the range from 100 Ωm to 1000 Ωm, while the resistivity of the latter varies from less than 1 Ωm to several tens of Ωm. This good conductive zone could also be verified by geoelectrical mapping using Schlumberger array (AB/2=100 m). Due to high conductivity of the underlying rocks only the upper boundary of the conductive layer could be determined by TEM soundings. A regional SP anomaly with amplitude of about −450 mV has also been observed above the low resistivity zone indicating the electron nature of its conductance. Geologically, the conductive zone is represented by a graphite-bearing layer within the region of archean rocks. Since that layer extends over a large area, it may be used as a key in studying structures and tectonics of the Priolkhonje area. A 1D TEM geoelectric section shows a wide, gently sloping syncline as a probable base structure of the Chernorud-Mukhor site. Neotectonic faults divide the syncline into vertically displaced blocks that form a wide complicated graben with a total amplitude of about 250 m.     

Toxicity of tributyltin in the marine mollusc Mytilus edulis

Our previous studies have demonstrated that tributyltin (TBT) is genotoxic to the early life stages of marine mussels and worms. Here, the toxicity of TBT to adult organisms was determined using a suite of biomarkers designed to detect cytotoxic, immunotoxic and genotoxic effects. Exposure of adult mussels, Mytilus edulis, to environmentally realistic concentrations of TBTO for 7 days resulted in a statistically significant decrease in cell viability at concentrations of 0.5 μg/l and above. TBT had no effect on phagocytic activity or antioxidant capacity (FRAP assay). There was a statistically significant increase in DNA damage detected using the comet and micronucleus assays between the controls and 0.5, 1 and 5 μg/l of TBTO (P > 0.0005). Furthermore there was a strong correlation between DNA strand breaks (comet assay) and formation of micronuclei (P = 0.0005; R² = 61.5%). Possible mechanisms by which TBT could damage DNA either directly or indirectly are discussed including the possibility that TBT is genotoxic due to its ability to disrupt calcium homeostasis.     

Sublimation-driven evolution of the local radius and the moment of inertia of short-period comets

This article is a continuation of the previous one considering the evolution of a long-period comet. The changes of the local radius and the moment of inertia as well as the orientation of the rotation axis are calculated. With reference to the previous model, the time-dependent orbital parameters are introduced. The procedure of sublimation-driven evolution is implemented to the comets 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, 9P/Tempel 1, and 81P/Wild. The inclination of the rotation axis of Comet Ch-G is calculated. The position of the rotation axis is a result of the best fit of the water production rate curve received from modelling to the observational water production rate curve. The method is verified through application to Comets 9P/Tempel 1 and 81P/Wild with well-known positions of the rotation axes. The best fit is for inclination of the rotation axis which is close to the position of the rotation axis with minimum energy (maximum of the moment of inertia). For the best fitted position of the rotation axis I = 90° and Φ = 60°, the largest decrease of radius was about 5.6 m in the northern polar region. The smallest decrease of radius, of about 0.3 m, was noticed on cometographic latitudes between 39° and 46°.     

公元180年甘肃表氏地震考

根据史料记载,各种地震目录均将东汉灵帝光和三年秋(公元180年)表氏地震震中定在甘肃省高台县西(39.4°N,99.5°E),震中烈度Ⅹ度,震级7(1/2).本文通过对历史地震资料的重新考证和表氏新旧县城遗址的实地考察,对公元180年表氏地震的震中位置作了如下修正:震前的表氏县城位于甘肃省肃南县明花区新墩子城,也应是震中所在地,其地理位置为39.6°N、99.3°E,精度2类;震后重建的县城在今骆驼城或草沟井城.通过对史料震害的认真分析,并将本次地震与两汉时期8次6(1/2)级以上地震及高台附近地区9次地震的地震参数、震害和波及范围进行对照,最终将震中烈度修正为Ⅸ—Ⅹ度,震级修正为7级.     

Mutation analysis of ras gene in the liver of European eel (Anguilla anguilla L.) exposed to benzo[a]pyrene

Ras is regarded as one of the most important genes involved in carcinogenesis. Such genes have been characterised in several fish species and the presence of ras mutations have already been described in fish populations from hydrocarbon contaminated areas and following experimental exposure to specific contaminants. The aims of this study were to evaluate the DNA integrity by comet assay, to isolate the normal ras gene of Anguilla anguilla and analyse for the presence of ras gene mutations or changes in gene expression levels induced after one month of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) experimental exposure. The A. anguilla ras cDNA isolated revealed a 189 amino acid protein and alignment with other vertebrate ras proteins revealed conservation of functionally important regions. Following experimental exposure to BaP, an increase in DNA damage was found by comet assay. However, no point mutations or changes in ras gene expression levels were detected when compared to control samples. In contrast to the majority of fish ras gene sequences, a high degree of polymorphic variation was detected in the A. anguilla ras gene.     

Comet assay for the detection of genotoxicity in blood cells of flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) exposed to sediments and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

To investigate the genotoxic effect of marine sediments on aquatic organism, sediment samples were collected from 13 sites along the coast of Gwangyang Bay (Korea). Concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sediments were determined and the relationship between exposure of flounder blood cells to sediment extracts and DNA single-strand breakage in the blood cells was examined using the comet assay. Levels of DNA damage were proportionally increased by exposure concentration and the highest sediment-associated DNA damage was observed at the station showing the highest PAHs contamination. DNA damage in blood cells exposed to five types of PAHs (benzo[a]pyrene, fluoranthene, anthracene, pyrene and phenanthrene) and in flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) exposed to benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) for 0, 2 and 4 days were assessed by measuring comet tail length. The tail lengths of five PAHs-exposed groups at 50 and 100 ppb were significantly different from the non-exposed group, and the genotoxic effect of BaP correlated with both concentration and duration of exposure. Throughout the study, significant differences in DNA breakage were recorded between cells exposed to sediment extracts or PAHs and non-exposed control. This study demonstrated the comet assay as a successful tool in monitoring contamination of marine sediments and assessing genotoxicity of PAHs in marine organisms, either in vitro or in vivo.     

Toxicity of tributyltin in the marine mollusc Mytilus edulis

Our previous studies have demonstrated that tributyltin (TBT) is genotoxic to the early life stages of marine mussels and worms. Here, the toxicity of TBT to adult organisms was determined using a suite of biomarkers designed to detect cytotoxic, immunotoxic and genotoxic effects. Exposure of adult mussels, Mytilus edulis, to environmentally realistic concentrations of TBTO for 7 days resulted in a statistically significant decrease in cell viability at concentrations of 0.5 μg/l and above. TBT had no effect on phagocytic activity or antioxidant capacity (FRAP assay). There was a statistically significant increase in DNA damage detected using the comet and micronucleus assays between the controls and 0.5, 1 and 5 μg/l of TBTO (P > 0.0005). Furthermore there was a strong correlation between DNA strand breaks (comet assay) and formation of micronuclei (P = 0.0005; R² = 61.5%). Possible mechanisms by which TBT could damage DNA either directly or indirectly are discussed including the possibility that TBT is genotoxic due to its ability to disrupt calcium homeostasis.     

The discovery of magnetohydrodynamic waves

The discovery of magnetohydrodynamic waves was a major breakthrough in plasma physics and its applications to space physics and fusion research. The waves were discovered by Hannes Alfvén and are therefore also called Alfvén Waves. The discovery was typical of Alfvén's outstanding ability to derive results of great generality from analysis of specific problems—in this case, the sunspots and the sunspot cycle. It was also typical of his electrodynamic approach to astrophysical problems. It took a long time before his discovery was generally accepted, partly because of the contemporary lack of means to verify the waves experimentally. The experimental verification of the magnetohydrodynamic waves came gradually many years later, beginning with experiments in liquid metals. It was not until the end of the 1950s that experiments were performed in plasmas. These clearly and conclusively demonstrated the existence and properties of magnetohydrodynamic waves, in excellent agreement with the theoretical prediction of Alfvén. The discovery of the magnetohydrodynamic waves opened a whole new field of physics—magnetohydrodynamics, which is of profound importance especially, but not only, in plasma physics. At the same time as the magnetohydrodynamic waves, Hannes Alfvén also discovered another magnetohydrodynamic concept, the frozen-in magnetic field.     

Geochemical evidence for the characteristic of the 1908 Tunguska explosion body in Siberia, Russia

Twenty-two peat samples collected at different depths of a core including the layer affected by the 1908 explosion in Tunguska area of Central Siberia, Russia, and three basalt samples collected near the site, are analyzed by ICP-MS. The concentrations of Pd, Ni, Co, ΣREE, Ti and Sr in the event layers are 4–35 times higher than the background values in the normal layers. The variation of Pd is closely related to Ni, Co and ΣREE in the event layers, but not to these elements in the normal layers. It indicates that these excess elements came from the same source, i.e. the Tunguska explosion body. In addition, the patterns of Cl-chondrite-normalized REE in the event layers ((La/Yb)_N ≈2–3) are much flatter than those in the normal layers ((La/Yb)_N ≈7–143), and differ from those in the three basalt samples. The concentrations of REE in the three basalt samples are tens times higher than those in the event layers. It may be inferred that these excess elements could not be produced by the contamination of the terrestrial material, but probably by the Tunguska explosion body. Additionally, the ratios of Ti/Ni and Sr/Co in the event layers are close to those in comet. It implies that the solid part of the explosion body was compositionally similar to carbonaceous chondrites (Cl) and more probably a small comet. In terms of the Pd excess fluxes in the explosion area, it can be estimated that the celestial body that exploded over Tunguska in 1908 weighed more than 10⁷ tons, corresponding to a radius of > 126 m.     

Sulfate reduction using methane in sediments beneath a bathyal “cold seep” giant clam community off Hatsushima Island, Sagami Bay, Japan

Two sandy sediment cores (Cores D227-120 and D380) were collected from inside a deep-sea giant clam (Calyptogena soyoae) community off Hatsushima Island, western Sagami Bay, central Japan (35°59.9′N, 139°13.6′E; 1160 m deep) and a muddy sediment core (Core D227-202) was obtained from outside the community by the submersibleShinkai 2000. The chloride concentration of the pore waters is constant vertically and sulfate reduction using sedimentary organic matter occurs in Core D227-202 (21 cm long). The chloride concentrations are lower by 7% at the 7.5–9 cm depth in Core D227-120 (9 cm long) and by 3% at the 11–12 cm depth in Core D380 (16 cm long) than those of the overlying bottom waters in the cores from inside of the community. Sulfate concentration decreases remarkably and dissolved inorganic carbon, alkalinity, ammonium-N, and hydrogen sulfide concentrations increase significantly with increasing depth in Core D380.δ³⁴S values of sulfate ions increase from +20.5 to +35.3‰ andδ¹³C values of dissolved inorganic carbon decrease drastically from −7.0 to −45‰ with increasing depth from the top to the bottom of the core, although theδ¹³C values of the organic carbon of the sediments are−23.7 ± 0.9‰ in Core D380. These results indicate that sulfate reduction using methane is active within the sediments just beneath the living clams and that the hydrogen sulfide produced can be used by endosymbiotic sulfur oxidizing bacteria living in the gills ofC. soyoae in the community.     

Three-dimensional inversion of airborne data with applications for detecting elongated subvertical bodies overlapped by an inhomogeneous conductive layer with topography

We propose the approach to 3D inversion of airborne electromagnetic data, which is intended for discovering subvertical bodies overlapped by essentially inhomogeneous conductive layers. The approach is based on the geometric inversion in which a geoelectrical medium is parameterized with the use of block structures. During the inversion, the coordinates of the borders between the blocks and the rows of the blocks as well as resistivities inside them are determined. In order to solve the forward problem of the airborne electromagnetic survey, we use the non-conforming optimized mesh with the hexahedral cells, which enables us to reduce the number of degrees of freedom and smoothly approximate the curved borders of a geological medium. For a more reliable discovery of subvertical objects, we propose to carry out 3D inversions at several rotations of block structures relative to the flight lines. The workability of this approach is demonstrated using the data which are synthesized for complex geoelectrical models with topography, inhomogeneous overlapping layers and target subvertical bodies oriented differently relative to the flight lines. The results of this investigation show that, in some way or other, the elongated subvertical object is discovered and its orientation (the direction of its long side) is defined at different rotations of block structures used in 3D inversions. However, the most accurate recovery of the subvertical object length is achieved when the direction of its long side almost coincides with the direction of one of the block structures axes. Thus, the block structures rotations allow not only more reliably discovering a target object in complex geoelectrical conditions, but also more exactly defining its orientation and length.     

Temporal and geographical trends in the genotoxic effects of marine sediments after accidental oil spill on the blood cells of striped beakperch (Oplegnathus fasciatus)

To determine the impact of genetic toxicity caused by the Hebei Spirit oil spill on December 7, 2007, we measured DNA damage in the blood cells of striped beakperch in vitro after exposure to extracts from sediments in the Taean area. The objective of this study was to investigate temporal changes of toxic effects caused by residual PAHs in the sediments up to 18 months after an oil spill. In conclusion, DNA damage had reduced over this 18-month period; that is, the sediments recovered quickly from the oil pollution. In addition, statistically significant correlations between PAHs and DNA damage were observed. Because the comet assay is sensitive to DNA damage induced by genotoxic substances from the polluted sediments, the comet assay can be considered a useful tool as a biomarker in investigating genetic toxicity in environmental monitoring and elucidating the recovery of oil pollution after oil spill as well.     

基于平均导数优化方法的VTI介质频率空间域正演

本文提出了一种新的基于平均导数优化方法(average-derivative optimal method,简称ADM)的二维VTI介质qP波波动方程频率空间域二阶9点格式,这种新算法将二维VTI介质qP波波动方程中中心空间导数项的差分近似表示为正交方向上3个网格点的加权平均形式.通过最小二乘优化方法求取空间导数项和加速度项的加权优化系数从而使数值频散达到极小化,每个波长所需要的网格点数在1%的误差范围内仅为3.57个网格点数,而VTI介质常规9点差分格式在相同的误差范围内则需要约12个网格点数,新方法的计算精度明显提高.复杂BP2007 2D VTI海洋标准模型数值模拟结果也验证了本文VTI介质9点ADM算法的有效性和准确性.     

Comets and climate

No connection between comets and climate has been proposed until now; here, we show that such a connection exists. We use a model to evaluate the shadowing effect due to cometary dust released by comet 1P/Halley in the inner solar system. We find that comet Halley has left a detectable fingerprint in the climate records of the last two millennia. The print shows up as a periodic cooling of the order of 0.08 °C. This temperature drop is comparable with other natural fluctuations. The finding will add a brick to our knowledge of the climate system and could allow to improve our predictive capacity of future climate.     

Astronomy in the garden wins RHS prize

The Spaced Out garden, sponsored by the RAS, won a Gold Medal from the Royal Horticultural Society at the Tatton Park Garden Show in August. It also provided a showcase for a model of the Philae Lander, part of ESA's Rosetta mission to comet 67 P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko and an unusual occasion for astronomy outreach.     

Mathematical expressions used in amino acid racemisation geochronology—A review

A variety of mathematical expressions that describe changes over time (t) in the extent of amino acid racemisation (AAR, expressed as the ratio of d- to l-amino acid isomers or epimers) have been used in Quaternary geochronology. The integrated rate equation was first used to estimate fossil age from D/L but its geochronological utility is disadvantaged by uncertainties regarding the conformity of AAR in fossil protein to apparent reversible first-order kinetics for the entire reaction history. ‘Non-linear’ models have subsequently been used to relate D/L to t. The logarithmic equation successfully applied to Atlantic Coastal Plain research has not achieved widespread application, perhaps due to the regional calibration required if sensitivity to temperature is to be modelled, or the difficulties encountered when extending the model to include fossils with D/L<0.1. Success producing a linear correlation between D/L transformed with a power function and t has seen this approach emerge as one of the most commonly applied in AAR geochronology in recent years. Like parabola curve fitting, which has been applied to trends in D/L versus t in a variety of fossils and geographic settings, power transformations may not be suitable for geochronological modelling during the latter stages of amino acid diagenesis. Several studies have demonstrated the utility of simple and contingent linear equations for relating D/L to t. Future research should aim to reduce reliance on independent calibration and explore the geochronological benefits of AAR in pools other than the total hydrolysable amino acids.     

Sea-floor fissures, biological communities and sediment fatty acids of the Northern Okushiri Ridge, Japan Sea: Implications for possible methane seepage

A biological community was discovered in the Northern Okushiri Ridge, northeastern Japan Sea. The community was closely associated with sea-floor fissures, and presumed to be supported by methanotrophic and/or thiotrophic bacterial production. Sediments inside of and in the vicinity of the fissures were collected, and the short-chain (C_9–20) sediment fatty acids were analyzed for amounts and compositions. The fatty acid compositions were compared with those from a known methane seep and a submarine volcano in the Sagami Bay, central Japan, and from a whale skeleton at the Torishima Seamount, northwestern Pacific Ocean. As a result, a close relationship between the sediments from the Northern Okushiri Ridge, the known methane-seep, and the whale skeleton was found. This finding represents the first discovery of methane seepage and associated biological communities in the Japan Sea. This also supports the hypothesis that the eastern margin of the northern Japan Sea is at the early stage of new subduction.     

3D FD resistivity modelling and sensitivity analyses applied to a highly resistive phonolitic body

A highly resistive phonolitic body near Sainerholz / Westerwald in Germany has been investigated for geological mapping using vertical electrical soundings in a Schlumberger configuration. Because of its explicitly three-dimensional shape, conventional 1D and 2D interpretation techniques are not applicable. Therefore, a new 3D finite-difference forward modelling algorithm has been applied to acquire information about its subsurface structure and to explain the observed data. This investigation focuses on two exposed soundings: one located near the centre of the body and the other close to its rim. For the interpretation, data from electromagnetic measurements on the lateral extension of the body are additionally taken into account as well as geological a priori information. A possible 3D conductivity model is presented and evidence for its validity is discussed using model studies and sensitivity analyses. The latter are carried out using a newly developed 3D FD sensitivity modelling code with which the total subsurface response can be decomposed. This permits the determination of the resolution of model parameters, indicating the contribution of different parts of the model to the overall response. The results emphasize the feasibility of 3D forward modelling in practice.