A comprehensive study of reported high-metallicity giant H ii regions – I. Detailed abundance analysis

We present long-slit observations in the optical and near-infrared of 14 H  ii regions in the spiral galaxies NGC 628, 925, 1232 and 1637, all of them reported to have solar or oversolar abundances according to empirical calibrations. For seven of the observed regions, ion-weighted temperatures from optical forbidden auroral to nebular line ratios are obtained and, for six of them, the oxygen abundances derived by standard methods turn out to be significantly lower than solar. The other one, named CDT1 in NGC 1232, shows an oxygen abundance of     , and constitutes, to the best of our knowledge, the first high-metallicity H  ii region for which accurate line temperatures, and hence elemental abundances, have been derived.
For the rest of the regions no line temperature measurements could be made, and the metallicity has been determined by means of both detailed photoionization modelling and the sulphur abundance parameter S ₂₃. Only one of these regions shows values of O ₂₃ and S ₂₃ implying a solar or oversolar metallicity.
According to our analysis, only two of the observed regions can therefore be considered as of high metallicity. These two fit the trends previously found in other high-metallicity H  ii regions, i.e., N/O and S/O abundance ratios seem to be higher and lower than solar respectively.     

Bounds on the complex conductivity of geophysical mixtures

Following previous work on bounds for complex dielectrics, bounds on the complex conductivity of a mixture of two isotropic components can be developed which are independent of any special assumption concerning the geometry of the mixture. If certain broad restrictions are assumed, such as isotropy of the mixture, then the bounds can be made more restrictive. These bounds reveal the range of the induced polarization response which can be caused by a mixture of two materials of known complex conductivity. The bounds can also be generalized for spectral responses. The bounds are conservative lithologically in the sense that many of the special models corresponding to boundary responses have lithological counterparts. The chief use for the given bounds is to gain insight into the nature of the induced polarization response. It is also possible to use the bounds to estimate the volume fractions of the components. We illustrate how this is done for the case of a general anisotropic medium.     

Population increase impacts the climate,using the sensitive Arctic as an example

The global population during the last 100 years has increased from 2 to 7.7 billion, causing an increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. In order to see how population increase is directly related to physical variables of the climate, this Perspective article places observations and scenarios of climate change into context and puts forth a statistical modeling study on how the sensitive Arctic climate responds to the increasing population. The relationships between population, Arctic sea-ice extent (SIE), and surface air temperature (SAT) are very strong, with the increasing population explaining 96% of the decreasing SIE and about 80% of the increasing SAT in the Arctic. Our projection for the SIE using the population as a “proxy predictor” for a projected population of 10 billion people on the Earth in 2100, yields a SIE of 9.30 and 8.21 million km² for a linear and squared relationship, respectively, indicating no “tipping point” for the annual ice extent in this century. This adds another dimension to climate understanding for the public at large using population as a proxy variable, instead of the more abstract CO₂ parameter. This also indicates that it is important to attempt to limit the ongoing increase in population, which is the main cause of the greenhouse gas emissions, in addition to reducing per capita emissions by an exponential increase in implementing renewable energy, a formidable challenge in this century.     

On the geomagnetic effect of the solar eclipse of 1961, February 15th at Genova

Summary The geomagnetic records obtained at Genova during the eclipse of February 15th, 1961 are quantitatively interpreted with the aim of separating the eclipse effect. Using the ionospheric observations also made at Genova, the result is well confirmed by the calculations carried out applying both theChapman-model and theVolland-scheme for estimating the geomagnetic effect as originated by the changes of the current system flowing in theE-layer.This report belongs to a set of investigations on geophysical effects of the solar eclipse of February 15th, 1961 carried out by the «Istituto Geofisico, Università di Genova», and made possible through a financial support of the «Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche».     

Freezing characteristics of a highway subgrade

Temperature and moisture variations were experimentally investigated for the subgrade of the Astana-Burabai Highway, located in the northern region of Kazakhstan.Temperature and moisture were measured by means of specially manufactured sensors,including an element for temperature measurement based on the effect of thermal resistance and an element for moisture measurement through diamagnetic permeability.It was determined that the long-term average depth of frost penetration was 237 cm.In the upper part of the subgrade with 1 m of thickness,the average duration of a frozen condition decreases toward the bottom from 131 days to 117 days,with an average rate of 0.133 day/cm.The unfrozen water content decreases with the negative temperature reduction.In the case of high values of initial moisture (12%~22%),the unfrozen water content does not depend on the initial moisture;and it decreases under the power law,with reduction of negative temperature.In the case of the lowest values of moisture (9%~12%),the unfrozen water content depends also on negative temperature;but its values are considerably lower.     

The Messinian salinity crisis in Cyprus: a further step towards a new stratigraphic framework for Eastern Mediterranean

A revised stratigraphic framework for the Messinian succession of Cyprus is proposed demonstrating that the three‐stage model for the Messinian salinity crisis recently established for the Western Mediterranean also applies to the Eastern Mediterranean, at least for its marginal basins. This analysis is based on a multidisciplinary study of the Messinian evaporites and associated deposits exposed in the Polemi, Pissouri, Maroni/Psematismenos and Mesaoria basins. Here, we document for the first time that the base of the unit usually referred to the ‘Lower Evaporites’ in Cyprus does not actually correspond to the onset of the Messinian salinity crisis. The basal surface of this unit rather corresponds to a regional‐scale unconformity, locally associated with an angular discordance, and is related to the erosion and resedimentation of primary evaporites deposited during the first stage of the Messinian salinity crisis. This evidence suggests that the ‘Lower Evaporites’ of the southern basins of Cyprus actually belong to the second stage of the Messinian salinity crisis; they can be thus ascribed to the Resedimented Lower Gypsum unit that was deposited between 5.6 and 5.5 Ma and is possibly coeval to the halite deposited in the northern Mesaoria basin. Primary, in situ evaporites of the first stage of the Messinian salinity crisis were not preserved in Cyprus basins. Conversely, shallow‐water primary evaporites deposited during the third stage of the Messinian salinity crisis are well preserved; these deposits can be regarded as the equivalent of the Upper Gypsum of Sicily. Our study documents that the Messinian stratigraphy shows many similarities between the Western and Eastern Mediterranean marginal basins, implying a common and likely coeval development of the Messinian salinity crisis. This could be reflected also in intermediate and deep‐water basins; we infer that the Lower Evaporites seismic unit in the deep Eastern Mediterranean basins could well be mainly composed of clastic evaporites and that its base could correspond to the Messinian erosional surface.     

Latent sprawl,divided Mediterranean landscapes: urban growth,swimming pools,and the socio-spatial structure of Athens,Greece

Although Mediterranean cities have inherent differences on a local scale, together they offer a kaleidoscopic overview of distinctive morphologies and patterns of socio-spatial segregation. In this study, we explore the distribution of residential swimming pools as indicators of the use of land and water at the metropolitan scale, in relation to recent changes in the socio-spatial structure of a large Mediterranean city (Athens, Greece). Our results indicate a polarized spatial distribution of swimming pools, still considered a luxury affordable only for a minor segment of the Greek population. The analysis highlights the spatial linkages between concentration of residential pools, class segregation and low-density settlements, indicating that the socio-spatial structure of Athens remains characterized by persistent disparities between rich and poor neighborhoods. Comparison with another Mediterranean city (Barcelona) demonstrates the peculiarity of Athens’ recent development as reflected in the fragmented and polarized urban structure. The study provides an alternative reading of recent Mediterranean urban growth by considering pools as a “landmark” for urban sprawl, producing contested landscapes of localized social segregation.     

Debris flows of 28 June 2014 near the Arshan village (Siberia,Republic of Buryatia,Russia)

On 28 June 2014, high intensity rainfall resulted in seven simultaneous debris flows going down the slopes of the Tunka Ridge in the vicinity of Arshan village, which is a balneological and alpine resort (51° 54′ 31″ N, 102° 25′ 44″ E). The debris flows caused one life loss and several injuries, 112 buildings were damaged, and 15 were completely destroyed. The total volume of the transported deposits amounted to 3?×?10⁶ m³. Debris flows’ formation began with the failure of weak sediments in the hanging cirques. Similar phenomena had not been recorded in the study area for over 40 years. The article presents a complete picture of the event and analysis of geological, geomorphological, and meteorological conditions for debris flows formation, for which extreme local rainfall was the major cause.