Numerical study of M2 internal tide generation and propagation in the Luzon Strait

Based on the z-coordinate ocean model HAMSOM,we introduced the internal-tide viscosity term and applied the model to numerically investigate the M2 internal tide generation and propagation in the Luzon Strait (LS).The results show that (1) in the upper 250 m depth,at the thermocline,the maximum amplitude of the generated internal tides in the LS can reach 40 m;(2) the major internal tides are generated to the northwest of Itbayat Island,the southwest of Batan Island and the northwest of the Babuyan Islands;(3) during the propagation the baroclinic energy scattering and reflection is obvious,which exists under the effect of the specific topography in the South China Sea (SCS);(4) the westward-propagating internal tides are divided into two branches entering the SCS.While passing through 118 E,the major branch is divided into two branches again.The strongest internal tides in the LS are generated to the northwest of Itbayat Island and propagate northeastward to the Pacific.However,to the east of 122 E,most of the internal tides propagate southeastward to the Pacific as a beam.     

Arsenic Speciation in Lichens and in Coarse and Fine Airborne Particulate Matter by HPLC–UV–HG–AFS

A three-step sequential extraction procedure with Milli-Q, CaCl₂ and H₃PO₄ was applied for extraction of arsenic species in lichen transplants and airborne particulate matter (fine and coarse fractions). The samples used in this work were collected in 1994–1995 near coal-fired power plants. Both transplant lichens and airborne particulate matter were submitted to the same environment simultaneously. Arsenic species identification and quantification was performed by HPLC–UV–HG–AFS. Inorganic forms of arsenic (arsenite and arsenate) were present in significant amounts in most of the samples. Only in lichens also organic forms of arsenic (monomethyl arsonic acid and dimethyl arsinic acid) were identified which may indicate biotransformation of inorganic arsenic.     

The influence of the surroundings on the morphology of galaxies

The characteristics of galaxies within galaxy groups are investigated as a function of the surroundings. It is shown that the relative number of the galaxies with different morphological type is correlated with the number of members within the group, but the fraction of E+S0 galaxies does not depend on the mean-pairwise distance between the galaxies, the density of the luminous matter as well as the velocity dispersion in the group.     

Zur Geologie der Danakil-Senke

Geological and geophysical investigations in the Northern part of Afar-Region were carried out by a group of scientists in 1967 and 1968. The Afar-structure is framed by the Ethiopian Highland in the West, the Somali Plateau in the South and the Danakil horst in the E. Its northern part is occupied by the NNW trending Danakil Depression (Danakil Graben), a branch of the NW trending Red Sea-Graben. The block mosaic border land in the West as well as the Danakil Alps consist of basement overlain by unfolded Mesozoic strata. Within the Afar Depression the pre-Tertiary formations are covered by limnic-fluviatile — in upper portions marine — sediments, Miocene and Pliocene in age, thickening towards the centre of the Depression. These basin fillings indicate a major phase of rift faulting prior to and during their deposition. Marginal extensions of these “Danakil-Formation” on both flanks of the Depression accompany the structural borders of the Danakil Graben, coinciding with the “outer rift structural margin” (Mohr 1967). Evaporites occupy the deepest part of the structure, “the inner Danakil Graben”, downfaulted or opened by major rift movements during Pliocene. A NW trending fault zone cutting through the flat plain north of Dallol covered by gypsum beds, seems to form the Eastern margin of the inner Danakil Graben. In its southeastern prolongation the fault and fissure system of the Amarti Volcanic Range is situated. Still active rift faulting during Quaternary caused the present topographic form of the region. These movements were followed by a marine ingression. Its sediments (Zariga-Formation, 14 C Modell ages 25 000–34 000 y) ring the depression and pass into gypsum beds towards the centre of the basin. The deepest parts of the Depression are hidden beneath the Afrera-Formation (14 C Modell ages 5800 y) framing the Lake Assale/Bakili and the Lake Afrera (soft limestones, clay and gypsum beds). The rift-forming movements in the northern Afar were accompanied by strong volcanic activity. Besides different igneous rocks intruding the pre-Tertiary and Tertiary strata of the rift margin, extensive basaltic lava flows intercalate and locally underly the Danakil-Formation. Potassium-argon age determinations on these “Afar Basalts” yielded Miocene to Pliocene age. In the southern area of the Danakil Graben the Upper Tertiary sedimentary basin fillings are replaced by “Afar Basalts” (plateau-forming flood basalt) flows. They are succeeded by scoriaceous fissure alkali-olivine-basalts and their differentiated lavas forming huge volcanoes aligned parallel to the rift structures. The Central Volcanic Range (Erta Ale volcanic chain) marking the central part of the Danakil Graben, remains active today. Besides the basaltic activity, numerous huge volcanoes display rhyolitic rocks with strong alkaline affinity.     

Measuring the Physical Properties of the Solar Corona: Results from SUMER/SOHO and TRACE

Using SUMER observations taken above the limb of a quiet region we derive electron temperatures, emission measures, and absolute elemental abundances. This analysis, which uses recently published ionization balance calculations and the latest solar photospheric abundances, indicates that the low-FIP elements are enriched by a factor of 2.3±0.7 in the corona, which is smaller than some previous measurements. TRACE observations of this region yield systematically lower temperatures and emission measures.     

Solubilities of some hydrous REE phosphates with implications for diagenesis and sea water concentrations

Solubility product determinations suggest that the hydrous phosphates of the rare earths, REPO₄ · $\text{xH}{}_2\text{O}$, are important in controlling the sea water REE concentrations. Two of these solids, rhabdophane, (P6₂22) and “hydrous xenotime”, (14₁/amd), have been synthesized at 100°C via the acid hydrolysis of the respective REE pyrophosphate. The solubility products at infinite dilution were determined to be $\text{pK}{}^0\text{= 24.5}$, (La at 25°C); 26.0, (Pr at 100°C); 25.7, (Nd at 100°C): and 25.5, (Er at 100°C). On the basis of calculations involving the reaction of RE³⁺ with apatite to form the hydrous phosphate, the lanthanum concentration in sea water is predicted to be about 140 pmol/L. Laboratory experiments support the hypothesis that apatite is a substrate for reactions with dissolved REE.     

Secular resonances: New results

We integrated numerically, in the frame of the four body problem Sun-Jupiter-Saturn-asteroid the orbit of the asteroid 1974 MA, an Earth-crosser, which is located in a region where three resonances overlap: the two secular resonances ₅ and ₁₆ and the mean motion resonance 5/1. The numerical integration yields a qualitative orbital evolution of this particular region.     

The solar abundance of thorium and lead

Two new Th ii lines have been identified in the spectrum of the solar photosphere. The abundance derived from these lines together with the previously known Th ii line at 4019 Å, is log _Th = 0.85 ± 0.20 in the log _H = 12.00 scale. Analysis of three Pb i lines in the photospheric spectrum resulted in an abundance of log _pb = 1.90 ± 0.10. The solar Th/Pb ratio is: _Th/ _Pb = 0.09 _-0.005 ^0.09 .