The monosulfid solid solution in the FeNiS system: relationship to the earth's core on the basis of experimental high-pressure investigations

Experimental high-pressure results on phase stability, electrical conductivity and compression behavior up to 5 and 21 GPa respectively are used to calculate an isothermal equation of state for a monosulfid solid solution (MSS-composition) in the FeNiS system. The high-pressure relations in the range 1–8 GPa are very complex. A continuous electrical transition, from semiconducting to metallic, takes place at high pressures and temperatures and results in anomalous compression behavior at pressures in this region. No polymorphic transition from the NiAs-structure to another type could be observed; however, density increases by as much as 8.8%. Using compression values for pressure greater than 10 GPa, the bulk modulus, a zero-pressure density and a core density were calculated. Extrapolation for the conditions of the outer core yields a difference in the density of up to 20%, relative to seismological models.In a composition model with (Fe, Ni)+MSS, a MSS-content must be assumed to be in the range of 30–35 wt% at the core-mantle boundary (CMB) and 13–17 wt% at the inner-core boundary (ICB). That corresponds to a sulfur content of 10.8–13.3 wt% (CMB) and 4.9–6.5 wt% (ICB), respectively, the values increasing with increasing Ni content of the MSS-phase.     

A Shotgun Model for Gamma-Ray Bursts

We propose that gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are produced by a shower of heavy blobs running into circumstellar material at highly relativistic speeds. The gamma-ray emission is produced in the shocks these bullets drive into the surrounding medium. The short-term variability seen in GRBs is set by the slowing-down time of the bullets, while the overall duration of the burst is set by the lifetime of the central engine. A requirement of this model is that the ambient medium be dense, consistent with a strong stellar wind. The efficiency of the burst can be relatively high.     

Amorphous,hydrous, ferric phosphatic dermal granules in Molpadia (Holothuroidea): Physical and chemical characterization and ecologic implications of the bioinorganic fraction

The bioinorganic fraction of the dermal granules of Molpadia intermedia from a wide variety of habitats has been studied by chemical analysis, electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis, visible and infrared spectroscopy and magnetic susceptibility. It was found to have many similarities to polynuclear iron(III) proteins. Silica was found to be an integral component of the granules. The proportions of the major elements, P and Si, were found to vary with habitat as well as the minor elements, Ca and Mg, whereas the Fe content remained relatively constant. Models are proposed for the microstructure of the granules and the processes of their growth.     

A model for the υp -pressure function of cracked lunar rocks and some possible seismological consequences

Changes in wave velocity in rocks are mainly caused by pressure and depend on porosity and pore filling. For terrestrial and lunar rocks two formulae can be stated which are comparable with each other and the coefficients of which can be determined from wave velocity and uniaxial stress measurements. The behaviour of rocks may be compared with dynamic phenomena in the earth's crust, and in particular with pre-rupture phenomena (shocks, etc.) in seismic regions. The coefficient K₀ of imperfect bonds in rock increase with the number of shocks and brings about a decrease in wave velocity in seismic regions. The variations in wave velocity are connected with changes in electrical and thermal conductivity and with magnetic variations.     

Versuch einer meeresmorphologischen Deutung von Satelliten-Luftbildern

Zusammenfassung Während man schon seit einiger Zeit Satelliten-Luftbilder für Festlandsbereiche interpretierte, nahm man allgemein an, daß die Meere auf diesen Bildern von einem einheitlichen und undifferenzierten Schwarz wiedergegeben würden. Es stellte sich aber heraus, daß auf manchen Bildern im Bereich der Meere deutlich verschiedene Grautönungen zu erkennen sind, die die Vermutung aufkommen lassen, es könne hier ein primärer oder zumindest sekundärer Zusammenhang mit submarinen Strukturen bestehen und es müßten sich somit Satelliten-Luftbilder auch meeresmorphologisch auswerten lassen.Zur Prüfung dieser Möglichkeit wurden in der vorliegenden Arbeit aus einer Fülle von Aufnahmen 27 Satelliten-Luftbilder mit entsprechenden Seekarten und anderen Unterlagen verglichen. Es zeigten sich an einigen Stellen verblüffende Übereinstimmungen von gewissen Grautönungen mit bekannten submarinen Formen, während an vielen anderen Stellen zunächst nur unsichere Aussagen möglich sind. Vor allem läßt sich derzeit noch nicht entscheiden, ob und wieweit primäre oder sekundäre Zusammenhänge bestehen.Die zur Beurteilung der Satellitenbilder notwendigen technischen Angaben bezüglich des Aufnahme- und Übertragungsverfahrens werden kurz resumiert, ausführlicher wird darüber an anderen Stellen (vgl. Schrifttum) berichtet.Eine kritische Diskussion des Problems der Eindringtiefe von Licht in Wasser führte zu der Annahme, daß im Bereich des Sonnenreflexes größere Tiefen als bislang vermutet ausgeleuchtet werden und sich aus der Zusammenschau aus großer Höhe veränderte optische Bedingungen ergeben können, als wir sie gewohnt sind.Insgesamt sprechen die Ergebnisse dafür, daß die Aussagefähigkeit der Methode noch an technischen Mängeln und dergleichen leidet, im Prinzip aber doch neue Beiträge zur Ozeanographie erwarten läßt.

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Essay of an ocean-morphological interpretation of Satellite-air-Pictures

Summary While for some time, Satellite-air-Pictures have already been interpreted for evaluation in the continental sphere, it was generally assumed that the oceans in such pictures were shown in an uniform and undifferentiated black colour. However, it was concluded that on some of these photos, showing the oceans, greyish shades were clearly visible which fact led to the assumption that one is confronted here primarily or, at least, secondarily by a coherence with submarine structures and, therefore, Satellite-air-Photos could perhaps also be construed in an ocean-morphological way.In order to test such a possibility, 27 Satellite-air-Photos out of a lot of pictures have been compared with the respective sea-charts and other data. In some instances, amazing conformities of certain greyish hues with the known substratal forms got visible, while in many other spots, so far, only vague statements can be made. First of all, at this point, it cannot as yet be decided whether and how far a primary or secondary context exists.The necessary technical data for the evaluation of such Satellite-air-Photos, with reference to the receiving and transmitting procedures, will be summarized in short, yet reports in greater detail can be found in the comparable literature.A critical discussion of the problems of depth of light-penetration into the water led us to the assumption that in the sphere of sunreflexes greater depths than so far presumed can be reached and, by the synoptical view from enormous heights, completely changed optical conditions may result, than we are so far used until now.Altogether, the results prove that the capacity of this method is still suffering from technical shortcomings, principally however, new contributions to oceanography can be expected.

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Essai d'une exploitation des images par satellites pour la morphologie marine

Résumé Tandis que depuis quelque temps déjà on interprétait des images par satellites de zones continentales, il était admis en général que les mers, sur ces images, seraient rendues par un «noir» uniforme sans nuances. Mais en fait, sur plus d'une image, on peut reconnaître distinctement dans les zones maritimes diverses tonalités de gris qui donnent à penser qu'il pourrait y avoir là une relation de premier ou tout au moins de second ordre avec des structures sous-marines. Dans ces conditions des images par satellites devraient offrir un intérêt pour la morphologie marine.Afin de vérifier cette possibilité, dans la présente étude, on a comparé 27 images par satellites, tirées d'un grand nombre de prises de vues, avec les cartes marines correspondantes et d'autres documents. En quelques points apparuent des concordances surprenantes entre certains tons de gris et des formes sous-marines connues, tandis qu'en beaucoup d'autres endroits on ne peut encore rien préciser pour le moment. Avant tout, en l'état actuel des choses, on ne peut encore affirmer qu'il existe — et dans quelle mesure — des concordances d'ordre primaire ou secondaire.Les données techniques nécessaires pour l'appréciation des images par satellites en ce qui concerne les procédés de prises de vue et de transmission, sont résumées succinctement; elles sont traitées de façon plus détaillée ailleurs (voir bibliographie).Une discussion critique du problème de la profondeur de pénétration de la lumière dans l'eau, permet de supposer que dans la zone où pénètre la lumière solaire, des profondeurs plus grandes que celles admises jusqu'alors sont éclairées et aussi que de la «vue d'ensemble», de haute altitude, peuvent résulter des conditions optiques qui diffèrent de celles auxquelles nous sommes accoutumés.Dans l'ensemble les résultats montrent que les informations à attendre de la méthode, souffrent encore d'un insuffisance de moyens techniques et autres mais laisse entrevoir, en principe, de nouvelles contributions à l'océanographie.

     

Transformation of the absolute solar radiation data into the ‘International Practical Temperature Scale of 1968’

Corrections are given which transform the Tables of the solar radiation data (Labs and Neckel, 1968) into the International Practical Temperature Scale of 1968. Additionally, for the adjustment of the data of the true continuum and the corresponding line blanketing as well, the veiled line effect mentioned first by Carbon et al. (1968), but studied in more detail by Holweger (1970a), has been considered also.The corresponding corrections of the solar irradiance result in an improved value of the spectrophotometric solar constant: S = 1.947 cal cm^-2 min^-1 or 0.1358 W cm^-2. Two Tables presenting the highest (window-) intensities and the corrected irradiance data have been added.     

Modeling Modern and Late Pleistocene Glacio-Climatological Conditions in the North Chilean Andes (29–30 °)

An empirical-statistical climate-glacier model is used to reconstruct Late Pleistocene climate conditions in the south-central Andes of northern Chile (29–30° S). The model was tested using modern climate data and the results compare favorably with key glaciological features presentlyobserved in this area. Using several glaciers at 29° S as casestudies, the results suggest an increase in annual precipitation( P = 580 ± 150 mm, today 400 mm), and a reduction inannual mean temperature ( T = –5.7 ± 0.7 ° C).These data suggest full glacial LGM (Last Glacial Maximum) conditionsfor the maximum glacier advances at 29° S, a scenario that is asynchronous with the timing of maximum advances north of the Arid Diagonal (18–24° S) where late-glacial climate was moderately cold but very humid.The reconstructed case study glaciers at 29° S do not allow conclusions to be drawn about the seasonality of precipitation. However, comparison with regional paleodata suggests intensified westerly winter precipitation and a stable position for the northern boundary of the westerlies at 27° S. However, the meridional precipitation gradients were much steeper than today while the core area of the Arid Diagonal remained fixed between 25–27° S.     

Global Warming and Potential Changes in Fish Habitat in U.S. Streams

To project potential habitat changes of 57 fish species under global warming, their suitable thermal habitat at 764 stream gaging stations in the contiguous United States was studied. Global warming was specified by air temperature increases projected by the Canadian Centre of Climate Modelling General Circulation Model for a doubling of atmospheric CO₂. The aquatic thermal regime at each gaging station was related to air temperature using a nonlinear stream temperature/air temperature relationship.Suitable fish thermal habitat was assumed to be constrained by both maximum temperature and minimum temperature tolerances. For cold water fishes with a 0 °C lower temperature constraint, the number of stations with suitable thermal habitat under a 2×CO₂ climate scenario is projected to decrease by 36%, and for cool water fishes by 15%. These changes are associated with a northward shift of the range. For warm water fishes with a 2 °C lower temperature constraint, the potential number of stations with suitable thermal habitat is projected to increase by 31%.     

Solid-solute phase equilibria: From thermodynamic basis information to multicomponent systems

Solubility equilibria in aqueous media are a powerful source of information on Gibbs energy functions of pure ionic compounds and solid-solutions. Because solid-solid phase transformations and/or recrystallizations are often much slower than equilibration between solids and solutes, it is sometimes possible to obtain reliable data from measurements on metastable systems.Thermodynamic quantities of geochemically and industrially important sparingly soluble metal oxides, hydroxides, carbonates and sulfides have been determined by solubility techniques. Activity coefficient variations of the reacting species are either minimized by the method of constant ionic media, or else corrected for by using the Pitzer equations. Measurements carried out at various fixed ionic strengthsI may be used to calculate the value of the solubility constantK _s ⁰ at infinite dilution. Given the availability of Pitzer parameters of sufficient quality, values ofK _s ⁰ extrapolated by this method lead to accurate Gibbs energies of formation. Moreover, when Pitzer parameters are known up to saturation, solubilities of highly soluble salts can easily be exploited for the calculation of Gibbs functions.A consistent set of equilibrium constants for the homogeneous and heterogeneous reactions occurring in the systems under investigation is used in the general Gibbs energy minimizing program ChemSage. Master variables for the depiction of the pertinent solid-solute phase diagrams are deduced from generalized Gibbs-Duhem equations. Application of the resulting data to geochemical and industrial problems is discussed.