An astrobiological perspective on Meridiani Planum

Sedimentary rocks exposed in the Meridiani Planum region of Mars record aqueous and eolian deposition in ancient dune and interdune playa-like environments that were arid, acidic, and oxidizing. On Earth, microbial populations have repeatedly adapted to low pH and both episodic and chronic water limitation, suggesting that, to a first approximation, the Meridiani plain may have been habitable during at least part of the interval when deposition and early diagenesis took place. On the other hand, the environmental conditions inferred for Meridiani deposition would have posed a challenge for prebiotic chemical reactions thought to have played a role in the origin of life on Earth. Orbital observations suggest that the combination of sulfate minerals and hematite found in Meridiani rocks may be unusual on the martian surface; however, there is reason to believe that acidity, aridity, and oxidizing conditions were broadly distributed on ancient Mars. When these conditions were established and how much environmental heterogeneity existed on early Mars remain to be determined. Because sulfates and iron oxides can preserve detailed geochemical records of environmental history as well as chemical, textural and microfossil signatures of biological activity, Meridiani Planum is an attractive candidate for Mars sample return.     

The influence of different rheological parameters on the surface deformation and stress field of the Aegean–Anatolian region

The Aegean–Anatolian region is characterised by an inhomogeneous deformation pattern with high strain rates and a high seismicity both at the boundaries and in the plate interior. This pattern is controlled by the geometry and rheology of the structural units involved and their tectonic setting. A numerical analysis with a finite-element model of the region is used to quantify the influence of different rheological parameters. Viscoelastic material behaviour is implemented for the mantle lithosphere, whereas the crust is modelled with an elastic–plastic rheology. The variation of the inelastic material properties (viscosity and plastic strength) quantifies the influence of these material parameters on the deformation, stress, and strain patterns. Comparison of the modelled results with geodetic and geophysical observations reveals that the viscosity of the mantle lithosphere is the key to explaining the inhomogeneous deformation pattern. The best-fit model yields a viscosity of 10²⁰ Pa s beneath Anatolia, whereas adjacent regions have viscosities between 10²¹ and 10²³ Pa s. The model also explains the intra-plate seismicity and the stress field as well as its partitioning into regions with strike-slip and normal faulting. The final model is in good agreement with seismological, geodetic, and geological observations. Local deviations can be tracked down to small-scale structures, which are not included in the model.     

Connection between the upper ionospheric region of VLF chorus occurrence and the plasmapause position

Summary The occurrence zone of the VLF chorus in the upper ionosphere appears at L-shells lower than plasmapause position L_pp; with increasing geomagnetic activity the spatial dimension of the zone diminishes, its upper boundary being shifted in correspondence with the plasmapause position, the lower remaining practically without change(L=2.0÷2.5). Calculations of propagation paths have shown that the similarity of the VLF chorus spectrum at different upper-ionospheric latitudes as well as the large spatial dimension of the zone of observation can be explained as special features in the propagation of VLF waves from an equatorial source, starting in the vicinity of the plasmapause with different initial normal angles.

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a umauu u ana amu L-, u L_pp (L_pp — nu nana); uu aum amumu nmam a am, nu aua am mmmuu uu nu nana, a u mam namuu u(L=2.0÷2.5). am mamu naam, m n¶rt;u nm a au uma u, ma a nmam ama a¶rt;u, m m mu anmau m amua umua, an amu nana, uu au au.

     

On the possibilities of observing ballistic plasma wave processes in the magnetosphere

Summary The conditions are studied under which ballistic effects of transmission of waves through opacity barriers can be observed in magnetospheric experiments on board satellites. The mechanism of this effect consists of the regeneration of the radiation beyond the barrier by resonance electrons, modulated by a quasimonochromatic wave incident and reflected from the barrier. Ballistic processes in continuously inhomogeneous plasma are studied. Detailed analysis has been carried out for a barrier with a parabolic density profile. Recommendations are presented as to experimental procedures in circumterrestrial space and data processing. The possibilities are studied of observing ballistic effects in the course of active space experiments with sources of intensive broadband turbulence such as beam of charged particles, injected into the magnetosphere.

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¶rt;a u, nu m ¶rt; nmu num aum na m a¶rt;am aumuu m n¶rt;u a namu, au m mum auu uu a a au mau, n¶rt;uau auamu , na¶rt;a a a u maa m . am aumuu n na¶rt;¶rt; na. ma u n¶rt; ¶rt; aa naauu nu nmmu. a ¶rt;auu n n¶rt;u numa nmam u n am ¶rt;a. ¶rt;am m a¶rt;u aumuu m ¶rt; amu uu num umuau umu un mmmu, mauu, a nu a amu umu aum.

     

Tertiary relief generations between the Vosges and the Hunsrück mountains

After a short discussion of the older theories the geomorphological evolution between the Vosges and the Hunsrück mountains is reconstructed by evaluating geological data, comparing with neighbouring regions and taking the palaeoclimate into account.By the end of the Eocence the vast peneplain between the Vosges and the Rhenish Shield was eroded and a scarpland developed between these Hercynian blocks. As a consequence of the vigorous uplift of the Vosges during the lower and middle Oligocene the region was tilted toward the N. At the same time the scarpland was at least partially buried under its own detritus, and on the sedimentary surface thus formed the present river network developed. Since the Rhenish Shield was low lying, the watercourses were able to make their way to the N or NE without difficulty.During the Miocence the landscape was once more worn down to another peneplian which covered large parts of the Paris Basin, the Rhenish Shield and the N Vosges. The analysis of remnants of this plain shows that they cannot be explained by Schmitthenner's theory on scarplands.Erosion caused by Pliocene uplift has dissected this peneplain, and during a tectonic lull a lower surface with flat landforms came into existence.I am indebted to the Geological and Geographical Institutes of the University of the Saarland for allowing me the use of their well-equipped libraries.     

Eine kritische Bemerkung zum Neumann-Spektrum des Seeganges

Zusammenfassung Es wird darauf hingewiesen, daß das Maximum in der von G. Neumann gegebenen Form des Energiespektrums des Seeganges bei verschiedenen Perioden liegt, je nachdem das Spektrum auf die Wellenperiode oder auf die Wellenfrequenz bezogen wird. Diese Schwierigkeit wird vermieden, wenn man in beiden Darstellungsformen die Perioden bzw. Frequenzen logarithmisch unterteilt. Die neue Form des Energiespektrums führt auf eine Beziehung für die Gesamtenergie des ausgereiften Seeganges pro Flächeneinheit der Meeresoberfläche, in der die Windgeschwindigkeit-abweichend von Neumann-mit der 4. Potenz eingeht. Abschließend wird versucht, die im Energiespektrum auftretende Konstante zu bestimmen.

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A critical note on Neumann's sea spectrum

Summary It is pointed out that the maximum of the energy spectrum of sea waves, as given by G. Neumann, occurs at different periods, depending on the spectrum being referred to the period or to the frequency of the waves. This difficulty will be avoided if in both types of representation the periods or the frequencies will be divided according to the logarithmic scale. The new form of the energy spectrum will permit to set up an equation representing the total energy of the fully developed sea per unit area of sea surface; in this equation the wind velocity — contrary to Neumann — is raised to the 4th power. In conclusion, the attempt is made to determine the constant occurring in the energy spectrum.

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Note critique sur le spectre de l'état de la mer d'après Neumann

Résumé On indique que le maximum du spectre d'énergie de la mer agitée, comme G. Neumann l'a fixé, se produit dans des périodes différentes suivant que le spectre est référé à la période ou à la fréquence des vagues. On peut éviter cette difficulté si l'on applique, suivant le cas, la subdivision logarithmique aux périodes ou aux fréquences de ces deux types de représentation. La nouvelle forme du spectre d'énergie permet d'établir une équation représentant l'énergie totale de l'agitation complètement développée de la mer référée à l'unité de superficie de la surface océanique. Dans cette équation la vitesse du vent — contrairement à Neumann — est élevée à la quatrième puissance. En conclusion, on essaie de déterminer la constante présente dans le spectre d'énergie.