Estimation of surface latent heat fluxes from IRS-P4/MSMR satellite data

The brightness temperatures of the Microwave sensor MSMR (Multichannel Scanning Microwave Radiometer) launched in May 1999 onboard Indian Oceansat-1 IRS-P4 are used to develop a direct retrieval method for latent heat flux by multivariate regression technique. The MSMR measures the microwave radiances at 8 channels at frequencies of 6.6, 10.7, 18 and 21 GHz at both vertical and horizontal polarizations. It is found that the surface LHF (Latent Heat Flux) is sensitive to all the channels. The coefficients were derived using the National Centre for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) reanalysis data of three months: July, September, November of 1999. The NCEP daily analyzed latent heat fluxes and brightness temperatures observed by MSMR were used to derive the coefficients. Validity of the derived coefficients was checked within situ observations over the Indian Ocean and with NCEP analyzed LHF for global points. The LHF derived directly from the MSMR brightness temperature (Tb) yielded an accuracy of 35 watt/m². LHF was also computed by applying bulk formula using the geophysical parameters extracted from MSMR. In this case the errors were higher apparently due to the errors involved in derivation of the geophysical parameters.     

Rain rate measurements over global oceans from IRS-P4 MSMR

In this paper rain estimation capability of MSMR is explored. MSMR brightness temperature data of six channels corresponding to three frequencies of 10, 18 and 21 GHz are colocated with the TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI) derived rain rates to find a new empirical algorithm for rain rate by multiple regression. Multiple correlation analysis involving various combinations of channels in linear and non-linear forms and rain rate from TMI is carried out, and thus the best possible algorithm for rain rate measurement was identified which involved V and H polarized brightness temperature measurements at 10 and 18 GHz channels. This algorithm explained about 82 per cent correlation (r) with rain rate, and 1.61 mm h^-1 of error of estimation. Further, this algorithm is used for generating global average rain rate map for two contrasting months of August (2000) and January (2001) of northern and southern hemispheric summers, respectively. MSMR derived monthly averaged rain rates are compared with similar estimates from TRMM Precipitation Radar (PR), and it was found that MSMR derived rain rates match well, quantitatively and qualitatively, with that from PR.     

On the validity of time-predictable model for earthquake generation in north-east India

North-east India is seismically very active and has experienced many widelydistributed shallow, large earthquakes. Earthquake generation model for the region was studied using seismicity data [(1906–1984) prepared by National Geophysical Data Centre (NGDC), Boulder Colorado, USA]. For establishing statistical relations surface wave magnitudes (M _s≥5·5) have been considered. In the region four seismogenic sources have been identified which show the occurrences of atleast three earthquakes of magnitude 5·5≤M _s≤7·5 giving two repeat times. It is observed that the time interval between the two consecutive main shock depends on the preceding main shock magnitude (M _p) and not on the following main shock magnitude (M _f) revealing the validity of time predictable model for the region. Linear relation between logarithm of repeat time (T) and preceding main shock magnitude (M _p) is established in the form of logT=cM _p+a. The values ofc anda are estimated to be 0–36 and 1–23, respectively. The relation may be used for seismic hazard evaluation in the region.     

In situ high-temperature powder X-ray diffraction study on the spinel solid solutions (Mg1?xMnx)Cr2O4

Using a conventional high-T furnace, the solid solutions between magnesiochromite and manganochromite, (Mg_1−x Mn _x )Cr₂O₄ with x = 0.00, 0.19, 0.44, 0.61, 0.77 and 1.00, were synthesized at 1,473 K for 48 h in open air. The ambient powder X-ray diffraction data suggest that the V–x relationship of the spinels does not show significant deviation from the Vegard’s law. In situ high-T powder X-ray diffraction measurements were taken up to 1,273 K at ambient pressure. For the investigated temperature range, the unit-cell parameters of the spinels increase smoothly with temperature increment, indicating no sign of cation redistribution between the tetrahedral and octahedral sites. The V–T data were fitted with a polynomial expression for the volumetric thermal expansion coefficient (a_T = a₀ + a₁ T + a₂ T ^{- 2} \alpha_{T} = a_{0} + a_{1} T + a_{2} T^{ - 2} ), which yielded insignificant a ₂ values. The effect of the composition on a ₀ is adequately described by the equation a ₀ = [17.7(8) − 2.4(1) × x] 10⁻⁶ K⁻¹, whereas that on a ₁ by the equation a ₁ = [8.6(9) + 2.1(11) × x] 10⁻⁹ K⁻².     

The structure of SrTiOGeO4 and its solid solution with CaTiOGeO4

Solid solubility and structural phase transitions in (Ca _x Sr_1-x )TiOGeO₄have been studied by means of in situ high temperature X-ray powder diffraction. The displacive A2/a–P2₁/a phase transition analogous to titanite has been followed across the solid solution. Strain analysis indicates a transition temperature of T _c=594 ± 10 K for SrTiOGeO₄ and the additional occurrence of an isosymmetric anomaly at T _i =800 ± 25 K, in analogy to the isomorphous compound CaTiOGeO₄. Lattice parameters as a function of temperature and composition have been determined by X-ray powder diffraction between room temperature and a maximum temperature of 1123 K. The e ₁₁ and e ₁₃ components dominate the strain tensor. All compositions across the solid solution exhibit close to tricritical phase transitions P2₁/a–A2/a. The critical temperature remains almost unaffected by substitution of Sr for Ca, but the magnitude of the spontaneous strain drops significantly with even small amounts of Sr present.     

Evaluation of brightness temperature from a forward model of ground-based microwave radiometer

Ground-based microwave radiometers are getting great attention in recent years due to their capability to profile the temperature and humidity at high temporal and vertical resolution in the lower troposphere. The process of retrieving these parameters from the measurements of radiometric brightness temperature (T _B ) includes the inversion algorithm, which uses the back ground information from a forward model. In the present study, an algorithm development and evaluation of this forward model for a ground-based microwave radiometer, being developed by Society for Applied Microwave Electronics Engineering and Research (SAMEER) of India, is presented. Initially, the analysis of absorption coefficient and weighting function at different frequencies was made to select the channels. Further the range of variation of T _B for these selected channels for the year 2011, over the two stations Mumbai and Delhi is discussed. Finally the comparison between forward-model simulated T _B s and radiometer measured T _B s at Mahabaleshwar (73.66 ^°E and 17.93^°N) is done to evaluate the model. There is good agreement between model simulations and radiometer observations, which suggests that these forward model simulations can be used as background for inversion models for retrieving the temperature and humidity profiles.     

Effect of incorporation of iron and aluminum on the thermoelastic properties of magnesium silicate perovskite

In situ X-ray diffraction measurements of Fe- and Al-bearing MgSiO₃-rich perovskite (FeAl-Pv), which was synthesized from a natural orthopyroxene, were performed at pressures of 19–32 GPa and temperatures of 300–1,500 K using a combination of a Kawai-type apparatus with eight sintered-diamond anvils and synchrotron radiation. Two runs were performed using a high-pressure cell with two sample chambers, and both MgSiO₃ perovskite (Mg-Pv) and FeAl-Pv were synthesized simultaneously in the same cell. Thus we were able to measure specific volumes (V/V ₀) of Mg-Pv and FeAl-Pv at the same P−T conditions. At all the measurement conditions, values of the specific volume of FeAl-Pv are consistent with those of Mg-Pv within 2 Standard Deviation, strongly suggesting that effect of incorporation of iron and aluminum on the thermoelastic properties of magnesium silicate perovskite is undetectable in this composition, pressure, and temperature range. Two additional runs were performed using a high-pressure cell that has one sample chamber and unit-cell volumes of FeAl-Pv were measured at pressures and temperatures up to 32 GPa and 1,500 K, respectively. All the unit-cell volume data of FeAl-Pv perovskite were fitted to the high temperature Birch–Murnaghan equation of state and a complete set of thermoelastic parameters of this perovskite was determined with an assumption of K′ _300,0 = 4. The determined parameters are K _300,0 = 243(3) GPa, (∂K _T,0/∂T) _P = −0.030(8) GPa/K, a ₀ = 2.78(18) × 10⁻⁵ K⁻¹, and b ₀ = 0.88(28) × 10⁻⁸ K⁻², where a ₀ and b ₀ are the coefficients of the following expression describing the zero-pressure thermal expansion: α _T,0 = a ₀ + b ₀ T. The equation-of-state parameters of FeAl-Pv are in good agreement with those of MgSiO₃ perovskite at the conditions corresponding to the uppermost part of the lower mantle.     

Elasticity of TiO2 rutile to 1800 K

The ambient pressure elastic properties of single-crystal TiO₂ rutile are reported from room temperature (RT) to 1800 K, extending by more than 1200 oK the maximum temperature for which rutile elasticity data are available. The magnitudes of the temperature derivatives decrease with increasing temperature for five of the six adiabatic elastic moduli (C _ij ). At RT, we find (units, GPa): C ₁₁=268(1); C ₃₃=484(2); C ₄₄=123.8(2); C ₆₆=190.2(5); C ₂₃=147(1); and C ₁₂=175(1). The temperature derivatives (units, GPa K⁻¹) at RT are: (∂C ₁₁/∂T) _P =−0.042(5); (∂C ₃₃/∂T) _P =−0.087(6); (∂C ₄₄/∂T) _P =−0.0187(2); (∂C ₆₆/∂T) _P =−0.067(2); (∂C ₂₃/∂T) _P =−0.025; and (∂C ₁₂/∂T) _P −0.048(5). The values for K _S (adiabatic bulk modulus) and μ (isotropic shear modulus) and their temperature derivatives are K _S =212(1) GPa; μ=113(1) GPa; (∂K _S /∂T) _P =−0.040(4) GPa K⁻¹; and (∂μ/∂T) _P =−0.018(1) GPa K⁻¹. We calculate several dimensionless parameters over a large temperature range using our new data. The unusually high values for the Anderson-Gròneisen parameters at room temperature decrease with increasing temperature. At high T, however, these parameters are still well above those for most other oxides. We also find that for TiO₂, anharmonicity, as evidenced by a non-zero value of [∂ln (K _T )/∂lnV] _T , is insignificant at high T, implying that for the TiO₂ analogue of stishovite, thermal pressure is independent of volume (or pressure). Systematic relations indicate that ∂² K _S /∂T∂P is as high as 7×10⁻⁴ K⁻¹ for rutile, whereas ∂²μ/∂T∂P is an order of magnitude less. Received: 19 September 1997 / Revised, accepted: 27 February 1998     

Diagenetic effects on the well yield of dolomite aquifers in Slovenia

Diagenetic effects upon the hydraulic parameters of dolomite aquifers were examined. Results indicate that dolomites affected only by late (burial) diagenesis are economically more interesting to exploit than those formed first by early and then also affected by late diagenesis, as the values of most studied hydraulic parameters (transmissivity, specific capacity, linearized specific capacity and maximum yields) are higher in the former group. Data were collected from the hydrogeological reports of 298 wells in dolomites from Permian to Cretaceous age in Slovenia, classified in a relational hydrogeological database and analyzed by statistical methods. The studied parameters are hydraulic conductivity K, transmissivity T, specific capacity q (=Q/s), linearized specific capacity Ql (=q/d) and maximum yields Q _max. Values of the studied parameters are distributed log-normally according to most normality tests and span several orders of magnitude. Statistical tests show significant differences between the “late” and “early + late” groups for parameters q, Ql and T, and non-significant differences for K and Q _max.     

Behavior of epidote at high pressure and high temperature: a powder diffraction study up to 10 GPa and 1,200 K

The thermo-elastic behavior of a natural epidote [Ca_1.925 Fe_0.745Al_2.265Ti_0.004Si_3.037O₁₂(OH)] has been investigated up to 1,200 K (at 0.0001 GPa) and 10 GPa (at 298 K) by means of in situ synchrotron powder diffraction. No phase transition has been observed within the temperature and pressure range investigated. P–V data fitted with a third-order Birch–Murnaghan equation of state (BM-EoS) give V ₀ = 458.8(1)ų, K _T0 = 111(3) GPa, and K′ = 7.6(7). The confidence ellipse from the variance–covariance matrix of K _T0 and K′ from the least-square procedure is strongly elongated with negative slope. The evolution of the “Eulerian finite strain” vs “normalized stress” yields Fe(0) = 114(1) GPa as intercept values, and the slope of the regression line gives K′ = 7.0(4). The evolution of the lattice parameters with pressure is slightly anisotropic. The elastic parameters calculated with a linearized BM-EoS are: a ₀ = 8.8877(7) Å, K _T0(a) = 117(2) GPa, and K′(a) = 3.7(4) for the a-axis; b ₀ = 5.6271(7) Å, K _T0(b) = 126(3) GPa, and K′(b) = 12(1) for the b-axis; and c ₀ = 10.1527(7) Å, K _T0(c) = 90(1) GPa, and K’(c) = 8.1(4) for the c-axis [K _T0(a):K _T0(b):K _T0(c) = 1.30:1.40:1]. The β angle decreases with pressure, β_P(°) = β_P0 −0.0286(9)P +0.00134(9)P ² (P in GPa). The evolution of axial and volume thermal expansion coefficient, α, with T was described by the polynomial function: α(T) = α₀ + α₁ T ^−1/2. The refined parameters for epidote are: α₀ = 5.1(2) × 10⁻⁵ K⁻¹ and α₁ = −5.1(6) × 10⁻⁴ K^1/2 for the unit-cell volume, α₀(a) = 1.21(7) × 10⁻⁵ K⁻¹ and α₁(a) = −1.2(2) × 10⁻⁴ K^1/2 for the a-axis, α₀(b) = 1.88(7) × 10⁻⁵ K⁻¹ and α₁(b) = −1.7(2) × 10⁻⁴ K^1/2 for the b-axis, and α₀(c) = 2.14(9) × 10⁻⁵ K⁻¹ and α₁(c) = −2.0(2) × 10⁻⁴ K^1/2 for the c-axis. The thermo-elastic anisotropy can be described, at a first approximation, by α₀(a): α₀(b): α₀(c) = 1 : 1.55 : 1.77. The β angle increases continuously with T, with β_T(°) = β_T0 + 2.5(1) × 10⁻⁴ T + 1.3(7) × 10⁻⁸ T ². A comparison between the thermo-elastic parameters of epidote and clinozoisite is carried out.     

Solid solutions between lead fluorapatite and lead fluorvanadate apatite: compressibility determined by using a diamond-anvil cell coupled with synchrotron X-ray diffraction

The synthetic solid solutions between lead fluorapatite and lead fluorvanadate apatite, Pb₁₀[(PO₄)_6−x (VO₄) _x ]F₂ with x equal to 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, were compressed up to about 9 GPa at ambient temperature by using a diamond-anvil cell coupled with synchrotron X-ray radiation. A second-order Birch–Murnaghan equation of state was used to fit the data. As the substitution of the PO₄ ³⁻ cations by the VO₄ ³⁻ cations progresses, the isothermal bulk modulus steadily decreases, with a maximum reduction of about 16% (from 68.4(16) GPa for Pb₁₀(PO₄)₆F₂ to 57.2(28) GPa for Pb₁₀(VO₄)₆F₂). For the entire composition range, the a-axis dimension remains more compressible than the c-axis dimension, with the ratio of the axial bulk moduli (K _T−c :K _T−a ) larger than 1. The ratio of K _T−c to K _T−a increases from about 1.04(4) to 1.23(14) as the composition parameter x increases from 0 to 6, suggesting that the apatite solid solutions Pb₁₀[(PO₄)_6−x (VO₄) _x ]F₂ become more elastically anisotropic.     

Assimilation of IRS-P4 (MSMR) meteorological data in the NCMRWF global data assimilation system

Oceansat-1 was successfully launched by India in 1999, with two payloads, namely Multi-frequency Scanning Microwave Radiometer (MSMR) and Ocean Color Monitor (OCM) to study the biological and physical parameters of the ocean. The MSMR sensor is configured as an eight-channel radiometer using four frequencies with dual polarization. The MSMR data at 75 km resolution from the Oceansat-I have been assimilated in the National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF) data assimilation forecast system. The operational analysis and forecast system at NCMRWF is based on a T80L18 global spectral model and Spectral Statistical Interpolation (SSI) scheme for data analysis. The impact of the MSMR data is seen globally, however it is significant over the oceanic region where conventional data are rare. The dry-nature of the control analyses have been removed by utilizing the MSMR data. Therefore, the total precipitable water data from MSMR has been identified as a very crucial parameter in this study. The impact of surface wind speed from MSMR is to increase easterlies over the tropical Indian Ocean. Shifting of the positions of westerly troughs and ridges in the south Indian Ocean has contributed to reduction of temperature to around 30‡S.     

Melting of iron–silicon alloy up to the core–mantle boundary pressure: implications to the thermal structure of the Earth’s core

The melting temperature of Fe–18 wt% Si alloy was determined up to 119 GPa based on a change of laser heating efficiency and the texture of the recovered samples in the laser-heated diamond anvil cell experiments. We have also investigated the subsolidus phase relations of Fe–18 wt% Si alloy by the in-situ X-ray diffraction method and confirmed that the bcc phase is stable at least up to 57 GPa and high temperature. The melting curve of the alloy was fitted by the Simon’s equation, P(GPa)/a = (T _m(K)/T ₀) ^c , with parameters, T ₀ = 1,473 K, a = 3.5 ± 1.1 GPa, and c = 4.5 ± 0.4. The melting temperature of bcc Fe–18 wt% Si alloy is comparable with that of pure iron in the pressure range of this work. The melting temperature of Fe–18 wt% Si alloy is estimated to be 3,300–3,500 K at 135 GPa, and 4,000–4,200 K at around 330 GPa, which may provide the lower bound of the temperatures at the core–mantle boundary and the inner core–outer core boundary if the light element in the core is silicon.     

Octahedral cation ordering in olivine at high temperature. II: an in situ neutron powder diffraction study on synthetic MgFeSiO4 (Fa50)

 The partitioning of Fe and Mg between the M1 and M2 octahedral sites of olivine has been investigated by in situ time-of-flight neutron powder diffraction. The degree of M-cation order was determined from direct measurements of site occupancies in a synthetic sample of Fo50Fa50 heated to 1250 °C at the Fe-FeO oxygen buffer. Fe shows slight preference for M1 at temperatures below about 600 °C, progressively disordering on heating to this temperature. Above 630 °C, the temperature at which site preferences cross over (T _cr), Fe preferentially occupies M2, becoming progressively more ordered into M2 on increasing temperature. The cation-ordering behaviour is discussed in relation to the temperature dependence of the M1 and M2 site geometries, and it is suggested that vibrational entropy, crystal field effects and changes in bond characteristics play a part in the cross-over of partitioning behaviour. The temperature dependence of site ordering is modelled using a Landau expansion of the free energy of ordering of the type ΔG = −hQ + gTQ +  (T − T _c)Q ² +  Q ⁴, with a/h = 0.00406 K⁻¹, b/h = 2.3, T _c = 572 K and g/h = 0.00106 K⁻¹. These results suggest that the high-temperature ordering behaviour across the forsterite-fayalite join will have a bearing on the activity-composition relations of this important rock-forming mineral, and indicate that Fe-Mg olivine solid solutions become less ideal as temperature increases. Received: 12 August 1999 / Accepted: 25 April 2000     

Analysis of an oasis microclimate in China’s hyperarid zone

The microclimate of a desert oasis in China’s hyperarid zone was monitored, analysed and compared to that of nearby forested lands. Factors associated with differences in photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) between clear, cloudy and dust storm days are discussed. Desert oases were shown to fulfill ecological functions such as altering solar radiation, adjusting near-ground and land surface temperatures, reducing temperature differences, lowering wind velocity, and increasing soil and atmospheric humidity. Total solar radiation within the oasis was roughly half that above the forest canopy. During the growing season, air temperatures in Populus euphratica Olivier and Tamarix ramosissima Ledeb. woodlands were, on average, 1.62 and 0.83°C lower, respectively, than that in surrounding woodlands. The greater the forest cover, the greater was the difference in temperature. Air temperature was higher at the upper storey than that at the lower storey of the community, i.e., air temperature increased with increasing height above the soil surface. During the growing season, relative humidity was higher in woodlands than in surrounding areas: relative humidity in P. euphratica and T. ramosissima woodlands were, on average, 8.5 and 4.2% higher, respectively, than that in the surrounding area. Mean wind velocity in the P. euphratica forest land was 0.33 m/s, 2.31 m/s lower than that in the surrounding area. On dust storm days PAR and total radiation, Q, were significantly lower than that on cloudy or clear days. Their ratio, η _Q  = PAR/Q, was larger and much more variable on dust storm days than that on clear or cloudy days.     

A thermodynamic analysis of the system LiAlSiO4-NaAlSiO4-Al2O3-SiO2-H2O based on new heat capacity, thermal expansion, and compressibility data for selected phases

Heat capacity, thermal expansion, and compressibility data have been obtained for a number of selected phases of the system NaAlSiO₄-LiAlSiO₄-Al₂O₃-SiO₂-H₂O. All C _p measurements have been executed by DSC in the temperature range 133–823 K. The data for T ≥ 223 K have been fitted to the function C _p (T) = a + cT ⁻² + dT ^−0.5 + fT ⁻³, the fit parameters being The thermal expansion data (up to 525 °C) have been fitted to the function V ⁰(T) = V ⁰(T) [1 + v ₁ (T−T ⁰) + v ₂ (T−T ⁰)²], with T ⁰ = 298.15 K. The room-temperature compressibility data (up to 6 GPa) have been smoothed by the Murnaghan equation of state. The resulting parameters are These data, along with other phase property and reaction reversal data from the literature, have been simultaneously processed by the Bayes method to derive an internally consistent thermodynamic dataset (see Tables 6 and 7) for the NaAlSiO₄-LiAlSiO₄-Al₂O₃-SiO₂-H₂O quinary. Phase diagrams generated from this dataset are compatible with cookeite-, ephesite-, and paragonite-bearing assemblages observed in metabauxites and common metasediments. Phase diagrams obtained from the same database are also in agreement with the cookeite-free, petalite-, spodumene-, eucryptite-, and bikitaite-bearing assemblages known to develop in the subsolidus phase of recrystallization of␣lithium-bearing pegmatites. It is gratifying to note that the cookeite phase relations predicted earlier by Vidal and Goffé (1991) in the context of the system Li₂O-Al₂O₃-SiO₂-H₂O agree with our results in a general way. Received: 19 May 1998 / Accepted: 25 June 1998     

The thermoelastic behavior of clintonite up to 10?GPa and 1,000°C

The thermoelastic behavior of a natural clintonite-1M [with composition: Ca_1.01(Mg_2.29Al_0.59Fe_0.12)_Σ3.00(Si_1.20Al_2.80)_Σ4.00O₁₀(OH)₂] has been investigated up to 10 GPa (at room temperature) and up to 960°C (at room pressure) by means of in situ synchrotron single-crystal and powder diffraction, respectively. No evidence of phase transition has been observed within the pressure and temperature range investigated. P–V data fitted with an isothermal third-order Birch–Murnaghan equation of state (BM-EoS) give V ₀ = 457.1(2) ?³, K _T0 = 76(3)GPa, and K′ = 10.6(15). The evolution of the “Eulerian finite strain” versus “normalized stress” shows a linear positive trend. The linear regression yields Fe(0) = 76(3) GPa as intercept value, and the slope of the regression line leads to a K′ value of 10.6(8). The evolution of the lattice parameters with pressure is significantly anisotropic [β(a) = 1/3K _T0(a) = 0.0023(1) GPa⁻¹; β(b) = 1/3K _T0(b) = 0.0018(1) GPa⁻¹; β(c) = 1/K _T0(c) = 0.0072(3) GPa⁻¹]. The β-angle increases in response to the applied P, with: β_P = β₀ + 0.033(4)P (P in GPa). The structure refinements of clintonite up to 10.1 GPa show that, under hydrostatic pressure, the structure rearranges by compressing mainly isotropically the inter-layer Ca-polyhedron. The bulk modulus of the Ca-polyhedron, described using a second-order BM-EoS, is K _T0(Ca-polyhedron) = 41(2) GPa. The compression of the bond distances between calcium and the basal oxygens of the tetrahedral sheet leads, in turn, to an increase in the ditrigonal distortion of the tetrahedral ring, with ∂α/∂P ≈ 0.1°/GPa within the P-range investigated. The Mg-rich octahedra appear to compress in response to the applied pressure, whereas the tetrahedron appears to behave as a rigid unit. The evolution of axial and volume thermal expansion coefficient α with temperature was described by the polynomial α(T) = α₀ + α₁ T ^−1/2. The refined parameters for clintonite are as follows: α₀ = 2.78(4) 10⁻⁵°C⁻¹ and α₁ = −4.4(6) 10⁻⁵°C^1/2 for the unit-cell volume; α₀(a) = 1.01(2) 10⁻⁵°C⁻¹ and α₁(a) = −1.8(3) 10⁻⁵°C^1/2 for the a-axis; α₀(b) = 1.07(1) 10⁻⁵°C⁻¹ and α₁(b) = −2.3(2) 10⁻⁵°C^1/2 for the b-axis; and α₀(c) = 0.64(2) 10⁻⁵°C⁻¹ and α₁(c) = −7.3(30) 10⁻⁶°C^1/2for the c-axis. The β-angle appears to be almost constant within the given T-range. No structure collapsing in response to the T-induced dehydroxylation was found up to 960°C. The HP- and HT-data of this study show that in clintonite, the most and the less expandable directions do not correspond to the most and the less compressible directions, respectively. A comparison between the thermoelastic parameters of clintonite and those of true micas was carried out.     

High temperature structural and thermoelastic behaviour of mantle orthopyroxene: an in situ neutron powder diffraction study

The temperature induced structural evolution and thermoelastic behaviour of a natural (Pbca) orthopyroxene (Opx), with chemical formula ^M2(Mg_0.856Ca_0.025Fe²⁺ _0.119) ^M1(Mg_0.957Fe²⁺ _0.011Fe³⁺ _0.016Cr_0.011Al_0.005)Al_0.032Si_1.968O₆, from a suite of high pressure ultramafic nodules of mantle origin, have been investigated by in-situ neutron powder diffraction at several temperatures starting from 1,200°C down to 150°C. Unit-cell parameter variations as a function of T show no phase transition within this temperature range. The volume thermal expansion coefficient, α = V ⁻¹(∂V/∂T) _P0, varies linearly with T. The axial thermal expansion coefficients, α_j = l _j⁻¹(∂l _j/∂T)_P0, increase non-linearly with T. The principal Lagrangian unit-strain coefficients (ɛ//a, ɛ//b, ɛ//c), increase continuously with T. However, the orientation of the unit-strain ellipsoid appears to change with T. With decreasing T, the values of the unit-strain coefficients along the b and c axes tend to converge. The orientation at ΔT = 1,080°C is maintained down to the lowest temperature (150°C). The two non-equivalent tetrahedral chains, TA _n OA_3n and TB _n OB_3n , are kinked differently. At room-T, the TB _n OB_3n chain is more strongly kinked by about 23° than the TA _n OA_3n chain. With increasing T, the difference decreases by 3° for the TB _n OB_3n chain. The intersite cation exchange reaction between M1 and M2 (Mg²⁺ and Fe²⁺) shows a slight residual order at 1,200°C followed by reordering with decreasing temperature although seemingly not with a definite progressive trend. At the lowest temperature reached (150°C), reordering has occurred with the same value of partitioning coefficient K _D as that before heating. The absence of the expected phase transition is most likely due to the presence of minor amounts of Fe³⁺, Al, Ca and Cr which must play a crucial role on the thermoelastic behaviour and phase stability fields in natural Opx, with consequent important petrologic and geological implications.     

A study of turbulent characteristics of atmospheric boundary layer over monsoon trough region using Kytoon and Doppler sodar

As a part of the MONTBLEX-90 observational programme, Kytoon and Doppler sodar observations were taken at Kharagpur. These data are analysed to study the turbulent characteristics of the atmospheric boundary layer in terms of stability, temperature structure function (C _T ² ) and velocity structure function (C _v ² ).C _T ² follows aZ ^−4/3 law on most of the days, whereas the variation ofC _V ² is not systematic.C _V ² andC _T ² values are found to vary between 10⁻⁵−10⁻¹ m^4/3s⁻² and 10⁻⁵−10⁻²°C² m^−2/3 respectively.     

Thermodynamics of arsenates,selenites, and sulfates in the oxidation zone of sulfide ores: Part III: Eh-pH diagrams of the Me-As-H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O systems (Me = Co,Ni, Fe,Cu, Zn,Pb) at 25°C

The behavior of arsenic at the Earth’s surface and nearby at low temperatures and pressures depends mainly on the redox potential and the acidity-alkalinity of the crystallization media. These parameters determine the migration of arsenic compounds and their precipitation as various solid phases. Understanding the mechanism of arsenic’s behavior under surface conditions, which is important for solving environmental problems, is an urgent task of contemporary mineralogy and geochemistry. The activities of the components in natural waters beyond the zones of natural (oxidation zones) and man-made contamination with arsenic (a _ΣAs = 3 × 10⁻⁸, a _ΣFe = 10⁻⁵, a _ΣCu = 10⁻⁷, a _ΣZn = 5 × 10⁻⁷, a _ΣCo = 10⁻⁸, a _ΣNi = 6 × 10⁻⁸, a _ΣPb = 10⁻⁸) and in waters formed in the oxidation zone (a _ΣSe = 10⁻³, a _ΣFe = 10⁻², a _ΣCu = 10⁻², a _ΣZn = 5 × 10⁻², a _ΣCo = 10⁻³, a _ΣNi = 10⁻², a _ΣPb = 10⁻⁴) have been estimated. Eh-pH diagrams were calculated and plotted using the Geochemist’s Workbench (GMB 7.0) software package. The database comprises the thermodynamic parameters of 46 elements, 47 main particles, 48 redox pairs, 551 particles in solution, 624 solid phases, and 10 gases. The Eh-pH diagrams of the Me-As-H₂O systems (Me = Co, Ni, Fe, Cu, Zn, Pb) were plotted for the average contents of these elements in the underground water and for their higher contents in the oxidation zones of sulfide deposits. The formation of Co, Ni, Fe, Cu, Zn, and Pb arsenates at the surface is discussed.