The βFeOOH to αFe2O3 phase transformation: Structural and magnetic phenomena

It is shown that under ambient atmospheric conditions heating causes the crystal structure of βFeOOH (synthetic akaganeite) to degenerate gradually into a quasi amorphous intermediate state, before the final phase transformation to αFe₂O₃ (hematite) takes place. Using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Mössbauer Spectroscopy, this amorphization process is monitored and the structural, morphological and magnetic features of the intermediate phase as a function of the isochronal heating temperature are discussed: the crystallites develop macropores on their surface, the adsorption capacity raises up to 10 percent of the initial mass, a third type of Fe³⁺ coordination, having an extremely large quadrupole splitting, is created and the Néel temperature, after an initial decrease, exhibits a sharp increase at higher heating temperatures. The magnetic behaviour of this intermediate phase at low temperatures and in high external fields suggests this antiferromagnet undergoes magnetic phase transitions (metamagnetism and spin flop) at unusually low critical fields.     

The vertical dimensions of Late Devensian glaciation on the mountains of Harris and southeast Lewis,Outer Hebrides,Scotland

On North Harris and southeast Lewis a weathering limit separates glacially-moulded bedrock on low ground from frost-shattered bedrock and blockfields on high plateaux. Analysis of the depths of horizontal stress-release joints demonstrates significant contrasts in bedrock weathering above and below this boundary, and the survival of gibbsite only in soils above the weathering limit indicates that it represents the upper limit of Late Devensian glacial erosion. The weathering limit declines regularly in altitude on either side of the former ice shed, and is therefore interpreted as a periglacial trimline defining the upper limit of a locally-nourished ice mass at its maximum extent, rather than a former thermal boundary between protective cold-based and erosive warm-based ice. Calculated basal shear stress values are consistent with this interpretation. The configuration of the trimline indicates that at the last glacial maximum the area supported an ice cap that achieved a maximum altitude of ca. 700 m above present sea level and declined in altitude to the west-northwest and east-southeast at an average gradient of ca. 20 m km^?1. Extrapolation of the dimensions of this ice cap suggests that it terminated ca. 7–10 km west of the present coast of Harris, and was confluent with mainland ice a short distance east of the present coastline.     

Laboratory simulation of diffusion in contaminated marine sediments

Wastes from offshore oil drilling activities are often discharged to the marine environment. Solid wastes that settle onto the bottom sediment may pose a health threat to marine organisms and eventually to man through the food chain. We need to understand their fate in order to predict the chemical concentration levels and life-times in the sediment and adjoining aquatic boundary layer. A laboratory simulation of selected in-bed processes that addresses contaminant leaching from the sediment is proposed. The process chosen for simulation in this study is the coupled desorption-diffusion of contaminants from the bed to the water column. A simple mathematical model of the process is also proposed. Preliminary results using organic chemicals for both the simulation and the model are presented. The results suggest that the experimental procedure represents a good way of estimating the diffusive leaching rates of hydrophobic compounds from contaminated sediments.     

Deglaciation of the Irish Sea Basin: a critique of the glaciomarine hypothesis

The glaciomarine model for deglaciation of the Irish Sea basin suggests that the weight of ice at the last glacial maximum was sufficient to raise relative sea‐levels far above their present height, destabilising the ice margin and causing rapid deglaciation. Glacigenic deposits throughout the basin have been interpreted as glaciomarine. The six main lines of evidence on which the hypothesis rests (sedimentology, deformation structures, delta deposits, marine fauna, amino‐acid ratios and radiocarbon dates) are reviewed critically. The sedimentological interpretation of many sections has been challenged and it is argued that subglacial sediments are common rather than rare and that there is widespread evidence of glaciotectonism. Density‐driven deformation associated with waterlain sediments is rare and occurs where water was ponded locally. Sand and gravel deposits interpreted as Gilbert‐type deltas are similarly the result of local ponding or occur where glaciers from different source areas uncoupled. They do not record past sea‐levels and the ad hoc theory of ‘piano‐key tectonics’ is not required to explain the irregular pattern of altitudes. The cold‐water foraminifers interpreted as in situ are regarded as reworked from Irish Sea sediments that accumulated during much of the late Quaternary, when the basin was cold and shallow with reduced salinities. Amino‐acid age estimates used in support of the glaciomarine model are regarded as unreliable. Radiocarbon dates from distinctive foraminiferal assemblages in northeast Ireland show that glaciomarine sediments do occur above present sea‐level, but they are restricted to low altitudes in the north of the basin and record a rise rather than a fall in sea‐level. It is suggested here that the oldest dates, around 17 000 yr BP, record the first Late Devensian (Weichselian) marine inundation above present sea‐level. This accords with the pattern but not the detail of recent models of sea‐level change. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Flow and transport modeling in the sea-breeze part II: Flow model application and pollutant transport

A modifiedE- non-hydrostatic model with non-equilibrium level 2.5 closure was applied to the flow and pollutant dynamics in the sea-breeze. The model predicts key observed characteristics of the sea-breeze, such as midday slowing of inland penetration, fast and deep inland penetration in late afternoon, and detachment of the sea-breeze from the feeding flow in early evening. In late evening when the turbulent mixing over the land subsides due to the surface cooling, a frontal density current is formed and the predicted structure is in good agreement with observations and laboratory experiments of density currents. Turbulent mixing over the land is a key parameter that controls midday slowing and late afternoon frontal development.The calculated thermal internal boundary layer and fumigation of an elevated line source show good agreement with observations and similarity theory. Calculations suggest that the residual plume aloft over the sea returns onshore at ground level during the afternoon sea-breeze and has a large impact on ground-level concentrations during the following day.     

LINKING SEDIMENT EXPOSURE WITH EFFECTS: MODELING TECHNIQUES, ORGANIC AVAILABILITY AND UPTAKE

1 INTRODUCTION Sediments are the ultimate sink for many hydrophobic contaminants and represent biologically important environmental habitats. Exposure of the sediment-associated contaminants is not only influenced by the fate and transport of sediment but also is influenced by a variety of physical, chemical, and biological processes that involve no net movement of sediments. These processes include pore water transport processes such as advection and diffusion, and sediment mixing process…