Report to cross sections related to plasma-planetary atmosphere interaction processes

As a recent trend, the continuous increase of new technologies for space observations of new missions to Mars, Venus, and Titan, has stimulated vigorous experimental and theoretical studies on the collision process induced by interactions between plasma and planetary atmosphere. In order to facilitate the comprehension of these processes, this brief paper chose a collection of cross section data not always easily accessible. With the purpose of making a useful collection of such data we have collected both experimental and theoretical estimate for most of the expected collisions processes.     

Mid-Paleocene event at Gabal Nezzazat,Sinai, Egypt: planktonic foraminiferal biostratigraphy,mineralogy and geochemistry

The Qreiya Beds that record the ‘mid-Paleocene event’ at Gabal Nezzazat occur within the Igorina albeari (P3b) Zone and constitute part of a 14-m thick shale succession that ranges in age from Early to Late Paleocene. They are composed of four alternating dark grey and brown shale beds, which are thinly laminated, phosphatic, organic-rich and extremely sulphidic. They are characterized by distinct enrichment and high peak anomalies in chalcophiles (Zn, Co, Ni, Cu and Pb) and organic association elements (V and Cr), especially within the brown organic-rich beds. It is concluded that these elements are incorporated into the phosphatic debris, sulphides and organic matter. In contrast, the grey beds are enriched in clay minerals and quartz. Clay mineral assemblages indicate alternating periods of warm/humid climate (high kaolinite) and dry climate (low kaolinite) during the formation of the grey and brown beds, respectively. The sediments of the Qreiya Beds yield lithological, biotic, geochemical and mineralogical data indicative of suboxic/anoxic marine environments as a result of high productivity and/or upwelling. The top metre of the succession below the Qreiya Beds is characterized by a progressive change from faunas dominated by praemurcurids to faunas dominated by Morozovilids, and by a progressive upward decrease in δ¹³C_carb and δ¹⁸O_carb values. The foraminiferal faunal change may reflect shallowing and warming preceding deposition of the Qreiya Beds. The change in isotopic values is inferred to be the result of surface weathering, fluvial input and diagenesis with no evidence of any primary change that could support presence of a hyperthermal event.     

Pollution Transport in the Southwest Pacific

The impacts of long range transport of pollutants from anthropogenic and natural sources play a major role in atmospheric chemistry and may have an impact on global climate change. Although atmospheric transport in the Northern Hemisphere is recognised as an essential feature on aglohalscale, longrange transport in the Southern Hemisphere may have important regional implications.     

Effect of wave amplitude on turbulent flow in a wavy channel by direct numerical simulation

The present study numerically investigates the characteristics of three-dimensional turbulent flow in a wavy channel. For the purpose of a careful observation of the effect of the wave amplitude on the turbulent flow, numerical simulations are performed at a various range of the wave amplitude to wavelength ratio (0.01?α/λ?0.05), where the wavelength is fixed with the same value of the mean channel height (H). The immersed boundary method is used to handle the wavy surface in a rectangular grid system, using the finite volume method. The Reynolds number (Re=U_bH/ν) based on the bulk velocity (U_b) is fixed at 6760. The present computational results for a wavy surface are well compared with those of references. When α/λ=0.02, the small recirculating flow occurs near the trough at the instant, but the mean reverse flow is not observed. In the mean flow field, the reverse flow appears from α/λ=0.03 among the wave amplitude considered in this study. The domain of the mean reverse flow defined by the locations of separation and reattachment depends strongly on the wave amplitude. The pressure drag coefficient augments with increasing the wave amplitude. The friction drag coefficient shows the increase and decrease behavior according to the wave amplitude. The quantitative information about the flow variables such as the distribution of pressure and shear stress on the wavy surface is highlighted.     

The estimation of acid dissociation constants in seawater media from potentionmetric titrations with strong base. I. The ionic product of water — Kw

The various assumptions implicit in the calculation of acid dissociation constants (based on ionic medium standard states) from potentiometric titrations using a cell with liquid junction (i.e. a pH measuring cell) have been examined. It was concluded that results can be obtained having an accuracy commensurate with the experimental precision. It has been shown that although the precise composition of the medium is a function of the hydrogen ion concentration (because of the protolytic nature of some of the ions in the media, e.g., sulphate and fluoride), the effect of such variations in the medium composition can be compensated for when defining the activity of hydrogen ion on an ionic medium standard state by defining the concentration of hydrogen ion as:

where β_HSO4 and β_HF are the relevant association constants and S_T and F_T are the total concentrations of sulphate and fluoride, respectively.This approach was used to obtain values for the ionic product of water (K_W) in artificial seawater media at various temperatures and ionic strengths. These were fitted to give the equation (molal concentration units):

$\text{pK}{}_{\mathrm{w}}\text{=}\text{3441.0}\text{T}\text{+2.256-0.7091}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{(}\text{rms deviation 0.01}\text{)}$

where I is the formal ionic strength of the artificial seawater medium and T is the absolute temperature. The values obtained are in reasonable agreement with those found by previous workers.     

Agglutinated abyssal foraminifers of the equatorial pacific

The quantitative study of the distribution and taxonomic composition of recent living and dead (without plasma) benthic foraminifers revealed three foraminiferal assemblages in the bottom sediments of the Pacific Ocean at depths of 3350 to 4981 m. The assemblage dominated by the epibenthic Lagenammina difflugiformis, Reophax dentaliniformis, and Saccorhiza ramosa occupies the slopes of underwater hills. The assemblage with a high share of the infaunal Cribrostomoides subglobosum, C. nitidum, and Ammobaculites agglutinans is registered on the abyssal plateau. The assemblage with a significant proportion of the large Astrorhiza and Reophax species, which are characterized by an active way of life, populates gentle slopes and narrow depressions with potentially strong bottom currents.     

Radon-rich waters in Russia

In radon mineral curative waters, according to Russian mineral water classification, the radon concentration should be greater than 185 Bq/l. There are about 30 mineral waters with high levels of radon in Russia. Radon-rich waters have high therapeutic effects. It is proven that natural background radiation stimulates the human immune system. Radon is a natural radioactive gas that has no taste, smell or color. Radon-222 is one of the heaviest elements in the zero groups of inert gases. It is a gaseous radioactive element. All radon isotopes are -emitters while the transformation of its decay products is accompanied by the emitting of -or -particles. The main products of radon decay are short-lived isotopes Po, Pb, Bi, and TL. Belonging to the uranium and thorium decay chain, radon isotopes form directly during the decay of radium isotopes. Therefore the radon concentration depends upon the concentration of its parent's isotope in water and rocks washed by it as well as upon the amount of radon emanation. Loose rocks or rocks with a great number of cracks are characterized by higher radon concentration (zones of tectonic disturbance, weathering crusts, etc.).Crystalline rocks usually have higher uranium concentrations than the average bedrock. Examples of rock types, which often have enhanced uranium concentration >5% ppm U includes the following: granites, syenites, pegmatite, acid volcanic rocks and acid gneisses. In the earth's crust radon migrates either in a gaseous or dissolved state. It can go to the surface without any chemical reaction. Formation of the radon-rich therapeutics waters of Russia has been analyzed, and most of them are genetically connected to crystalline acid rocks that have exceeded uranium-radium mineralization. The radon content in Russia reaches more than 8,000 Bq/l. Radon-rich waters of this type occur in the Altai, Karelia, St Petersburg and Trans-Baikal regions. Another type is connected to geodynamic activity of regions and secondary radioactivity. A well-known example of radon-rich waters of the second type is Pyatigorsk in the North Caucasus. Mixing confined carbon dioxide-hydrogen sulfide water and unconfined groundwater forms radon waters. The radon concentration is 1,170–2,430 Bq/l. The occurrence of radon-rich water deposits in other regions of Russia is described. Further investigation of the radon content in other geological environments will contribute to the environmental safety as well as to the solution to many genetic, hydrogeochronological, paleoreconstructive and prediction problems in hydrogeology.     

Two-Dimensional Periodic Waves in an Inviscid Continuously Stratified Fluid

Izvestiya, Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics - In this paper we study the propagation of two-dimensional periodic waves in an inviscid continuously stratified fluid with a free surface in the...     

A new magneto-hydrostatic theory of sunspots

The structure of a stationary sunspot of circular shape is considered. Schluter-Temesvary theory, based on the similarity assumption is criticized. It is shown that this theory does not describe the observed inclination of magnetic field lines in a sunspot. A new assumption is proposed taking into account field lines which return to the photosphere. On the basis of this assumption, the main equation of the new theory is obtained and the results compare well with observations.The National Center for Atmospheric Research is sponsored by the National Science Foundation.