Seasonal and Inter-Annual Variability of Wind-Driven Upwelling near the East Coast of Sakhalin Island Based on QuikSCAT/SeaWinds Scatterometer Data

Izvestiya, Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics - In this paper, seasonal and interannual upwelling variability in the Sea of Okhotsk off the eastern coast of Sakhalin Island based on wind data obtained...     

Degradation and Metamorphic Differentiation of the Keweenawan Tholeiitic Lavas of Northern Michigan, U.S.A.

The Portage Lake Lava Series of the Keweenaw Peninsula, northernMichigan, is composed of over 5000 m of tholeiitic lava flows.Chemical and petrologic study of thin undifferentiated flowsfrom this sequence shows that the bulk of the flows are olivinetholeiites; highly ironenriched tholeiites comprise up to 10per cent of the volume. In addition, a few small rhyolitic intrusives,exceedingly rich in alkalis, are exposed in the region. Duringburial the amygdular tops of each flow acted as channelwaysfor migrating fluids during a regional metamorphic event thatproduced a progressive sequence of secondary phases within theflow tops. In the upper part of the stratigraphic section, laumontite,analcime, albite, and chlorite dominate assemblages characteristicof the zeolite facies. Stratigraphically deeper. flow tops arecharacterized by metamorphic assemblages of the prehnite-pumpellyitefacies. Within the higher rank facies, rocks along fractureshave been transformed to calcium-rich monomineralic domains(metadomains) of epidote or pumpellyite. These metadomains gradeoutward through incompletely reconstituted rocks containingalbitized feldspars, and finally, in flow centers, to basaltdisplaying few signs of mineralogical readjustment. Extremechemical disparity exists within the altered flow tops, particularlywith respect to calcium and sodium content. Calculations revealthat bulk compositions of metamorphically adjusted flow topsare similar to unaltered basalts. Thus, the chemical variationdisplayed by the metamorphic rock types resulted from localizedmetamorphic differentiation. The Keweenawan sequence displays progressive dehydration fromthe top to the base of the stratigraphic section. At the topchlorite (H₂O = 12 per cent) and pumpellyite (H₂O = 6 per cent)metadomains formed by dehydration. The fact that most of theserocks were hydrated strongly suggests that fluid pressures wereless than total pressures during the metamorphic event. In rocksundergoing hydration in the uper part of the stratigraphic section,therefore, water pressures decreased away from channelways.As a result, the most hydrous rock types formed in these regions.Conversely, in rock undergoing dehydration water pressures increasedaway from channelwasys, so that the most dehydrated rocks formedin such regions. Water content of an individual rock is dependenton both position in the stratigraphic pile and position withrespect to fluid channelways.     

On the formation of element carbon during decomposition of CaCO3 at High P-T parameters under reducing conditions

This work presents data on the experimental study of CaCO₃ stability (3.0–5.5 GPa; 1300–1400°C) under reducing conditions modeling the presence of metallic iron. It is established that CaCO₃ is stable at the above P-T parameters under reducing conditions (in the presence of metallic Ti). CaCO₃ decomposed only when it chemically interacted with iron, forming Ca-ferrites and releasing solid carbon in the form of graphite in the closed system (in sealed Pt-ampoules).     

Tectonically driven fluid flow and associated low-grade metamorphism during the Alpine compression in the eastern Iberian Chain (Spain)

Fluid inclusions and clay mineralogy of the Permo-Triassic rocks from the Espina and Espadà Ranges (SE Iberian Chain, Spain) have been investigated to establish their relationship with hydrothermal fluid circulation during the Alpine Orogeny. Primary fluid inclusions in quartz-filled tension gashes in Permo-Triassic sandstones reveal maximum temperatures around 230 °C and very constant salinities of 8.5% wt. eq. NaCl. Secondary fluid inclusions found in quartz from the Santonian Ba–Cu–Hg deposits show similar compositional and thermodynamic characteristics, denoting an Alpine recrystallization. Clay mineral composition of Permo-Triassic mudrocks is characterized by pyrophyillite, indicating low-grade metamorphic conditions. Field observations and experimental data suggest that the crystallization of quartz in tension gashes, the formation of secondary fluid inclusions and the development of the metamorphism are contemporaneous and related to fluid circulation during the Alpine compression. Fluid flow took place along the Hercynian fault system that was reactivated during the Mesozoic rift stage and inverted during the Alpine deformation.     

On the rotational energy distributions of reactive, non-polar species in the interstellar medium

A basic model for the formation of non-equilibrium rotational energy distributions is described for reactive, homo-polar diatomic molecules and ions in the interstellar medium. Kinetic models were constructed to calculate the rotational populations of $\mathrm{C}_{2}^{+}$ under the conditions it would experience in the diffuse interstellar medium. As the non-polar ion reacts with molecular hydrogen, but not atomic hydrogen, the thermalization of a hot nascent rotational population will be arrested by chemical reaction when the H₂ density begins to be significant. Populations that deviate strongly from the local thermodynamic equilibrium are predicted for $\mathrm{C}_{2}^{+}$ in environments where it may be detectable. Consequences of this are discussed and a new optical spectrum is calculated.     

Physicomechanical properties and gravitational deformation of metallic asteroids

A review is given of the mineralogical and chemical composition of iron meteorites and the problems associated with their origin. A detailed discussion is presented of the physical and mechanical properties of iron meteorites and their dependence on the structure, chemical composition, and temperature. Iron meteorites are shown to characterize, with no distortions, the physical and mechanical properties of their parent bodies (metallic asteroids). The population of M-type asteroids and the main characteristics of the identified metallic asteroids are examined. Compared with iron meteorites, metallic asteroids have a different shape and are not fragments of larger metallic parent bodies. The estimates for the current deviatoric stress in metallic asteroids show that, since their formation, asteroids have not been heated to over 600°C and certainly have not been subjected to partial or complete melting. An empirical dependence is found of the critical dimensions of small metallic objects (which allow for gravitational deformation) on the yield strength at temperatures below 300 K. It is shown that the physical and mechanical data are also a strong argument against the hypothesis of the origin of iron meteorites and metallic asteroids from the iron core of a differentiated parent body.     

Two nearby M dwarf binaries from the Two Micron All Sky Survey

We report the discovery of two binary M dwarf systems in the immediate solar neighbourhood using the Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS). The first is an M6.5 companion to the nearby G star HD 86728 (Gl 376). The known properties of HD 86728 indicate that the M dwarf (Gl 376B) is old, metal-rich and only 14.9 parsec away. The M dwarf is highly active, with both H α and X-ray emission. Thus, Gl 376B offers the opportunity to study an old, bright, active M dwarf with known metallicity, age and luminosity. We show that it is probable that Gl 376B is itself an unresolved pair. The other system consists of an M6.5 and an M8 dwarf with 14.5 arcsec separation. We estimate a distance of ∼16 parsec for this very low-mass pair. Stronger activity is observed in the M6.5 dwarf, supporting evidence that chromospheric activity is weakening near the hydrogen-burning limit.     

The 'off' state of GX 339–4

We report BeppoSAX and optical observations of the black hole candidate GX 339–4 during its X-ray 'off' state in 1999. The broad-band (0.8–50 keV) X-ray emission can be fitted by a single power law with spectral index, α ∼1.6. The observed luminosity is 6.6×10³³ erg s⁻¹ in the 0.5–10 keV band, which is at the higher end of the flux distribution of black hole soft X-ray transients in quiescence, comparable to that seen in GS 2023+338 and 4U 1630–47. An optical observation just before the BeppoSAX observation shows the source to be very faint at these wavelengths as well ( B =20.1, V =19.2). By comparing with previously reported 'off' and low states (LS), we conclude that the 'off' state is actually an extension of the LS, i.e. an LS at lower intensities. We propose that accretion models such as the advection-dominated accretion flows are able to explain the observed properties in such a state.     

The star formation histories of two northern LMC fields

Ground-based UBV photometry of two fields in the northern disc of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) is presented. A distance modulus of ( m − M )₀=18.41±0.04 and an extinction of A _V =0.30±0.05 have been calculated for these fields. The measurable star formation history of the LMC began no more than 12 Gyr ago with a strong star‐forming episode with [Fe/H]=−1.63±0.10 that accounted for approximately half (by mass) of the total star formation of the LMC in the first 3 Gyr. The data do not give accurate star formation rates during intermediate ages, but there appears to have been a recent increase in the star formation rate in these fields, beginning approximately 2.5 Gyr ago, with the current metallicity in the region being [Fe/H]=−0.38±0.10. The two fields have had very similar star formation rates until 200 Myr ago, at which point one shows a large increase.