Frequency of hyperbolic and interstellar meteoroids

Hyperbolic meteor orbits from the catalog of 64,650 meteors observed by the multistation video meteor network located in Japan (SonotaCo 2009) have been investigated with the aim of determining the relation between the frequency of hyperbolic and interstellar meteors. The proportion of hyperbolic meteors in the data decreased significantly (from 11.58% to 3.28%) after a selection of quality orbits, which shows its dependence on the quality of observations. Initially, the hyperbolic orbits were searched for meteors unbound due to planetary perturbation. It was determined that 22 meteors from the 7489 hyperbolic orbits in the catalog (and 2 from the selection of the orbits with the highest quality) had had a close encounter with a planet, none of which, however, produced essential changes in their orbits. Similarly, the fraction of hyperbolic orbits in the data, which could be hyperbolic by reason of a meteor's interstellar origin, was determined to be at most 3.9 × 10^?2. From the statistical point of view, the vast majority of hyperbolic meteors in the database have definitely been caused by inaccuracy in the velocity determination. This fact does not necessarily assume great measurement errors, since, especially near the parabolic limit, a small error in the value of the heliocentric velocity of a meteor can create an artificial hyperbolic orbit that does not really exist. The results show that the remaining 96% of meteoroids with apparent hyperbolic orbits belong to the solar system meteoroid population. This is also supported by their high abundance (about 50%) among the meteor showers.     

Curved shape reconstruction using multiple hypothesis tracking

Panoramic sweeps produced by a scanning range sensor often defy interpretation using conventional line-of-sight models, particularly when the environment contains curved, specularly reflective surfaces. Combining multiple scans from different vantage points provides geometric constraints necessary to solve this problem, but not without introducing new difficulties. Existing multiple scan implementations, for the most part, ignore the data correspondence issue. The multiple hypothesis tracking (MHT) algorithm explicitly deals with data correspondence. Given canonical observations extracted from raw scans, the MHT applies multiple behavior models to explain their evolution from one scan to the next. This technique identifies different topological features in the world to which it assigns the corresponding measurements. We apply the algorithm to real sonar scans generated specifically for this investigation. The experiments consist of interrogating a variety of two-dimensional prismatic objects, standing on end in a 1.2-m-deep freshwater tank, from multiple vantage points using a 1.25 MHz profiling sonar system. The results reflect the validity of the algorithm under the initial assumptions and its gradual performance degradation when these assumptions fail to characterize the environment adequately. We close with recommendations that detail extending the approach to handle more natural underwater settings     

Foraminiferal changes and geochemical profiles across the Cenomanian/Turonian boundary in central and south-east Poland

Two sections of the Upper Cenomanian and Lower Turonian in central and south-east Poland were investigated for foraminifers, CaCO₃content, carbon content insoluble in HCl (C_org) and in the carbonates (C_carb), carbon and oxygen isotopic composition of bulk-rock carbonates and elemental abundances. The Cenomanian/Turonian boundary interval is characterized by the appearance of more marly facies, a δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O stable isotope anomaly, a considerable increase in C_org content and decrease in C_carb content and substantial changes in the foraminiferal assemblages. A major carbon stable isotope excursion with a shift of +2 (PDB) occurs in the lowermost Whiteinella archaeocretacea Zone. The late Cenomanian δ¹³C anomaly is associated with heavy δ¹⁸O values. The peak value of δ¹³C corresponds to the minima in P/B ratio and in diversity of foraminiferal assemblages. A late Cenomanian anoxic event is thought to be responsible for changes in foraminiferal assemblages. However, elemental abundance analyses do not show changes in the concentrations of trace elements. This may be explained by the long distance between studied area and a source of enrichment which was probably located in the western hemisphere.     

Bi-melt formation and gold scavenging from hydrothermal fluids: An experimental study

The role of polymetallic melts in scavenging ore components has recently been highlighted in the context of fluid-poor metamorphosed ore deposits. In contrast, the role of polymetallic melts in systems dominated by hydrothermal fluids remains poorly understood. Using a simple Au-Bi model system, we explored experimentally whether such polymetallic melts can precipitate directly from a hydrothermal fluid, and investigated the ability of these melts to scavenge Au from the solution. The experiments were conducted in custom-built flow-through reactors, designed to reproduce a hydrothermal system where melt components are dissolved at one stage along the flow path (e.g., Bi was dissolved by placing Bi-minerals along the fluid path), whereas melt precipitation was caused further along the flow path by fluid-rock interaction. Bi-rich melts were readily obtained by reaction with pyrrhotite, graphite or amorphous FeS. When Au was added to the system, Bi-Au melts with compositions consistent with the Au-Bi phase diagram were obtained. In the case of fluid reaction with pyrrhotite, epitaxial replacement of pyrrhotite by magnetite was observed, with textures consistent with an interface-coupled dissolution-reprecipitation reaction (ICDRR). In this case, the metallic melt precipitated as blebs that were localized at the replacement front or within the porous magnetite.Direct fractionation of Bi-Au melts from a hydrothermal fluid, or precipitation of a Bi-melt followed by partitioning of Au from ambient fluid, offer new pathways to the enrichment of minor ore components such as Au, without requiring fluid saturation with respect to a Au mineral. This mechanism can explain the strong geochemical affinity recognized between Au and low-melting point chalcophile elements such as Bi in many gold deposits. Examples of deposits where such a model may be applicable include orogenic gold deposits and gold skarns. Contrary to models involving migration of polymetallic melts to explain element remobilization, only small quantities (ppm) of polymetallic melts are required to affect the Au endowment of a deposit via interaction with a hydrothermal fluid. The experiments also show that micro-environments can play a critical role in controlling melt occurrences. For example, reaction fronts developing via ICDR reactions can promote melt formation as observed during the replacement of pyrrhotite by magnetite. The associated transient porosity creates space for the melt and promotes melt-fluid exchanges whereas the reaction front provides local geochemical conditions favorable to melt precipitation (e.g., reduced, low aH₂S(aq), and catalytic surface).     

Methodology for assessing the usability of earth observation-based data for disaster management

The year 2010 through 2011 witnessed a number of disasters such as floods in Pakistan and Eastern Europe and earthquakes in Chile, China and Haiti. In response, earth observation (EO) data, geographic information science (GIS) technologies and services were used to provide information before, during and after the disaster occurred. However, use of EO for disaster management still faces a number of challenges due to the lack of common established standards for producing disaster products, the lack of coordination between a large number of suppliers leading to a large collection of datasets on websites of coordinating agencies and the lack of an established framework for monitoring and authenticating the level of quality and reliability of the products delivered to the targeted users. Assessing the quality of such products is a challenge to any potential user of such datasets. The methodology presented here integrates the role of EO expert and targeted end-user into one model where the first phase involves the expert and the second phase the end-user. The expert handles the technical and expertise aspect of EO data by rating the level of conformance of a product to the parameters of a ??quality information template?? (QIT), and the end-user explores various rated datasets and sets preferences for decision-making based on this QIT. The end-user has the possibility of accessing the product through an interactive web platform. The preferences set are used for weighing and ranking for the combination of the potential datasets and the task to be performed.     

Hydrologic Versus Biogeochemical Controls of Denitrification in Tidal Freshwater Wetlands

Tidal freshwater wetlands (TFW) alter nitrogen concentrations in river water, but the role of these processes on a river’s downstream nitrogen delivery is poorly understood. We examined spatial and temporal patterns in denitrification in TFW of four rivers in North Carolina, USA and evaluated the relative importance of denitrification rate and inundation on ecosystem-scale N₂ efflux. An empirical model of TFW denitrification was developed to predict N₂ efflux using a digital topographic model of the TFW, a time series of water level measurements, and a range of denitrification rates. Additionally, a magnitude-frequency analysis was performed to investigate the relative importance of storm events on decadal patterns in N₂ efflux. Spatially, inundation patterns exerted more influence on N₂ efflux than did the range of denitrification rate used. Temporal variability in N₂ efflux was greatest in the lower half of the tidal rivers (near the saline estuary) where inundation dynamics exerted more influence on N₂ efflux than denitrification rate. N₂ efflux was highest in the upper half of the rivers following storm runoff, and under these conditions variation in denitrification rate had a larger effect on N₂ efflux than variability in inundation. The frequency-magnitude analysis predicted that most N₂ efflux occurred during low flow periods when tidal dynamics, not storm events, affected TFW inundation. Tidal hydrology and riparian topography are as important as denitrification rate in calculating nitrogen loss in TFW; we present a simple empirical model that links nitrogen transport in rivers with loss due to denitrification in TFW.     

Geostatistical Assessment of Ice Content Distribution Within the Glacier Bonnard

The Glacier Bonnard is a rock glacier located in the State of Valais, Switzerland. It overhangs a settlement and its slow downward constant creep constitutes an environmental hazard. It is therefore important to understand the glacier’s internal structure, particularly in terms of ice content, in order to evaluate its current global dynamic and future evolution. Following preliminary geophysical investigations, several boreholes have been drilled to measure the thickness of the glaciated mass and the vertical distribution of lithology and ice content. These new data are helpful in assessing the amount of ice within the Glacier Bonnard. Two geostatistical modeling approaches are considered: a direct modeling of ice content and an indirect approach linking together lithology and ice content by the use of the plurigaussian algorithm. Comparisons between these approaches are made in terms of ice content prediction and of global ice mass within the sampled area; they underline the benefit of the geostatistical modeling and particularly the advantages of the indirect approach.     

Galactic clusters with associated Cepheid variables – VII. Berkeley 58 and CG Cassiopeiae

Photoelectric, photographic and CCD UBV photometry, spectroscopic observations and star counts are presented for the open cluster Berkeley 58 to examine a possible association with the 4.37 d Cepheid CG Cas. The cluster is difficult to separate from the early-type stars belonging to the Perseus spiral arm, in which it is located, but has reasonably well-defined parameters: an evolutionary age of ∼10⁸ yr, a mean reddening of   E ( B − V ) (B0) = 0.70 ± 0.03  s.e. and a distance of  3.03 ± 0.17 kpc ( V ₀− M _V = 12.40 ± 0.12  s.d.). CG Cas is a likely cluster coronal member on the basis of radial velocity, and its period increase of  +0.170 ± 0.014 s yr⁻¹  and large light amplitude describe a Cepheid in the third crossing of the instability strip lying slightly blueward of strip centre. Its inferred reddening and luminosity are   E ( B − V ) = 0.64 ± 0.02  s.e. and  〈 M _V 〉=−3.06 ± 0.12  . A possible K supergiant may also be a cluster member.     

Ultraviolet spectroscopic observations of coronal streamers in the SOHO era

Measurements made with the Ultraviolet Coronagraph Spectrometer (UVCS) on the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory can be used to determine physical parameters in the solar corona such as hydrogen and ion kinetic temperatures, electron densities, and absolute elemental abundances. Hydrogen and ion outflow velocities can be determined by combining the UV spectroscopic measurements with white light polarized brightness measurements. These combined measurements can be used to reveal physical characteristics of coronal streamers. To date we have studied plasma properties, such as the variation of plasma outflows in quiescent streamers, primarily in classic helmet streamers at solar minimum. Out-flows have not been observed in the centers of coronal streamers suggesting that these are closed magnetic field regions. We propose to study all of the coronal streamers in the UVCS synoptic dataset in order to investigate different types of streamers and their long-term evolution.     

The Lyrid Meteor Stream: Orbit and Structure

A filamentary structure in the Lyrid meteor stream based on photographic orbits available in the IAU Meteor database is identified and studied. About 17 Lyrids are found in the database and the stream mean orbit is derived. The shower radiant is compact, of a size 2° × 1.5°. Applying a stricter limiting value for the Southworth-Hawkins D-criterion, two distinct filaments in the stream, on a short and a long period orbit, are separated. To confirm their consistency as filaments, their orbital evolution over 5,000 years is investigated.