The condensation origin of zoned metal grains in Queen Alexandra Range 94411: Implications for the formation of the Bencubbin‐like chondrites

Abstract— Thermodynamic analysis of the compositional profiles across large chemically‐zoned Fe, Ni metal grains in the Bencubbin‐like chondrite Queen Alexandra Range (QUE) 94411 suggests that these grains formed by non‐equilibrium gas‐solid condensation under variable oxidizing conditions, isolation degree, and Cr depletion factors. The oxidizing conditions must have resulted from the complete vaporization of nebular regions with enhanced dust/gas ratios (～ 10–40 × solar). Because the origin of each of the metal grains studied requires different condensation parameters (dust/gas ratio, isolation degree, and Cr depletion factor), a high degree of heterogeneity in the formation region of the Bencubbin‐like chondrite metal is required. To preserve compositional zoning of the metal grains and prevent their melting and sulfidization, the grains must have been removed from the hot condensation region into cold regions where the accretion of the Bencubbin‐like asteroidal body took place.     

Exospheric zonal winds between 540 and 620 km from the orbit of Explorer 24

Data on the variation of the orbital inclination of the balloon satellite Explorer 24 (1964-76A) from 1964 to 1968 have been used to determine zonal winds between 540 and 620 km. In this height region the effect of zonal winds on the orbital inclination may become very small compared to other perturbations like accelerations due to the geopotential, lunisolar gravitation and the solar radiation pressure. It is demonstrated especially that the solar radiation pressure may become the most significant force changing the orbital inclination. The diurnal mean zonal winds derived from Explorer 24 point to an exospheric rotation rate which is about 6–10% less than the rotation rate of the Earth in the analyzed height region. Since the possible errors of the data analysis are of a similar order of magnitude, it can not be excluded that the exosphere corotates with the Earth. Furthermore, a local time dependence of the zonal winds could be detected. The diurnal varitation of the zonal wind is shown to be in good agreement with the theoretical model of Blum and Harris. Our results are discussed and compared with all previous investigations of orbital inclination changes of satellites above 350 km.     

IMPLICATIONS OF POIKILITIC TEXTURES IN LL-GROUP CHONDRITES

Lithic fragments in LL-group chondrites commonly have poikilitic textures, in part or in whole, where mainly olivine is enclosed by orthopyroxene. Partially poikilitic fragments also have grano-blastic areas and anhedral olivine larger than the olivine enclosed by pyroxene. In analogy to lunar poikilitic rocks and lithic fragments, poikilitic lithic fragments in LL-group chondrites, i.e., meteorites which are highly brecciated due to repeated impacts, are also interpreted as being related to impact events on meteorite parent bodies where melting and reheating of protolith occurred. Compositional characteristics of minerals in certain fragments, such as highly-unequilibrated clinopyroxene (CaO, 14.5 to 17.3 wt %; Al₂O₃, 6.7%) and relatively high CaO (0.70 to 2.5 wt %) in orthopyroxene in a Ngawi fragment, seem to indicate a melt origin. However, as in the lunar case, it is difficult to decide whether the meteoritic poikilitic textures resulted from complete or partial melting or largely by solid-state recrystallization, although the large olivines that may be relict crystals appear to indicate that at least partial melting was involved. In all probability, all three processes are responsible for the poikilitic textures in chondrites, since temperature regimes produced by impact processes are likely to range widely. These interpretations may also apply to the poikilitic-textured Shaw chondrite, L-group, which may owe its poikilitic texture to impact partial-melting processes while in the parent body regolith.     

中国黄海西岸海陆风循环结构研究

陆海风是由于海陆表面之间的比热容不同而导致的昼夜热量分布差异,从而在海岸附近引发的大气中尺度循环系统.本文利用多普勒风激光雷达Windcube100s首次对黄海西海岸的海陆风的循环结构进行了观测研究.在2018年8月31日至9月28日观测期间发现,海陆风发展高度一般在700 m至1300 m.海陆风转化持续的时间为6小时至8小时.在425m高度,海风水平风速出现最大值,平均为5.6 m s-1.陆风最大水平风速出现在370m,约为4.5 m s-1.最大风切变指数在1300m处,为2.84;在陆风向海风转换过程中,最大风切变指数在700m处,为1.28.在同一高度上,风切变指数在海风盛行和陆风盛行时的差值范围为0.2-3.6,风切变能反映出海陆风的发展高度.     

Surface cracks—geomorphological indicators for late Quaternary halotectonic movements in Northern Germany

Loading and unloading effects of the Scandinavian Ice Sheet triggered halotectonic movements in Northern Germany. We present newly detected geomorphological features—termed surface cracks—which indicate a relation between ice sheet-induced salt movement and surface processes. As a part of the Central European Basin System, numerous Zechstein salt structures are abundant in the North German Basin. On the basis of high-resolution digital terrain data, more than 160 surface cracks were mapped in Northern Germany, which were grouped into 30 clusters. Almost all of the surface cracks occur above the top regions of Zechstein salt structures. The surface cracks can be several kilometres long, up to more than 20 m deep and more than 100 m wide. The comparison of the shape of the salt structures and the orientation of the cracks reveals a geometric dependency, indicating that the cracks preferably occur near the crest margins of the salt structures. Furthermore, 3D seismic data from two sites show that subsurface faults originating from salt movement exist beneath the surface cracks. We interpret the cracks as surface ruptures due to ice sheet-induced halotectonic movements. The cracks occur in a variety of Quaternary sediments and landforms. This indicates that widespread halokinetic movements occurred in the region after the last (Weichselian) deglaciation and likely before the thawing of the permafrost, possibly in a time frame from c. 30–20 ka until c. 15 ka.     

Brixenbach research catchment: Quantification of runoff process proportions in a small Alpine catchment depending on soil moisture states and precipitation characteristics

The Brixenbach valley is a small Alpine torrent catchment (9.2 km², 820–1950 m a.s.l., 47.45°, 12.26°) in Tyrol, Austria. Intensive hydrological research in the catchment since more than 12 years, including a hydrogeological survey, pedological and land use mapping, measurements of precipitation, runoff, soil moisture and infiltration as well as the conduction of rainfall simulations, has contributed to understand the hydrological response of the catchment, its subcatchments and specific sites. The paper presents a synthesis of the research in form of runoff process maps for different soil moisture states and precipitation characteristics, derived with the aid of a newly developed Soil-hydrological model. These maps clearly visualize the differing runoff reaction of different subcatchments. The pasture dominated areas produce high surface flow rates during short precipitation events (1 h, 86 mm) with high rainfall intensity, whilst the forested areas often develop shallow subsurface flow. Dry preconditions lead to a slight reduction of surface flow, long rainfall events (24 h, 170 mm) to a dominance of deep subsurface flow and percolation.     

Fault gouge analyses: K–Ar illite dating,clay mineralogy and tectonic significance—a study from the Sierras Pampeanas,Argentina

We introduce a method for the detailed interpretation of K–Ar illite fine-fraction ages of fault gouges from non-sedimentary host rocks. Ages are cross-evaluated with several independent parameters, e.g. illite crystallinity, illite polytype quantification, grain size, mineralogical observations, K–Ar muscovite and biotite host-rock cooling ages as well as low-temperature thermochronological data (AFT, AHe, ZHe). This interpretation approach is applied to a regional study in order to constrain the ‘deformation path’ of the Eastern Sierras Pampeanas in NW Argentina. In the course of this study, a large number of gouge-bearing fault zones were systematically sampled and analysed. Obtained K–Ar illite fine-fraction ages range from Devonian to Cretaceous times, documenting a long-lasting brittle fault activity in this region. Ages >320 Ma are synchronous with a period of intra-Carboniferous compressional tectonism, whereas Permo-Triassic ages are contemporaneous to a flat-slab subduction episode of the Farallon plate beneath the South American plate. Middle to Late Permian and Early Triassic ages as well as Early Jurassic to Middle Cretaceous ages correlate with extensional tectonics in this region. Additionally, K–Ar illite ages reveal a propagation of brittle deformation from north to south in the Sierras de Córdoba and San Luis. Data integrity and consistency with other chronometers and geological evidence show that the here suggested interpretation is valid and can provide a powerful tool to evaluate cooling and deformation histories. Despite of that, we could show that the reliability of fault gouge data strongly depends on the regional cooling.     

Quantification of methane emission from bacterial mat sites at Quepos Slide offshore Costa Rica

Seafloor methane emission from the Quepos Slide on the submarine segment of the Costa Rica fore-arc margin was estimated by extrapolating flux measurements from individual seeps to the total area covered by bacterial mats. This approach is based on the combination of detailed mapping to determine the abundance of seeps and the application of a numerical model to estimate the amount of benthic methane fluxes. Model results suggest that the majority of the studied seeps transport rather limited amount of methane (on average: ~177 μmol cm^?2 a^?1) into the water column due to moderate upward advection, allowing for intense anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM; on average: 53 % of the methane flux is consumed). Depth-integrated AOM rates (56–1,538 μmol CH₄ cm^?2 a^?1) are comparable with values reported from other active seep sites. The overall amount of dissolved methane released into the water column from the entire area covered by bacterial mats on the Quepos Slide is estimated to be about 0.28 × 10⁶ mol a^?1. This conservative estimate which relies on rather accurate determinations of seafloor methane fluxes emphasizes the potential importance of submarine slides as sites of natural methane seepage; however, at present the global extent of methane seepage from submarine slides is largely unknown.