Dust in the solar system and in extra-solar planetary systems

Among the observed circumstellar dust envelopes a certain population, planetary debris disks, is ascribed to systems with optically thin dust disks and low gas content. These systems contain planetesimals and possibly planets and are believed to be systems that are most similar to our solar system in an early evolutionary stage. Planetary debris disks have been identified in large numbers by a brightness excess in the near-infrared, mid-infrared and/or submillimetre range of their stellar spectral energy distributions. In some cases, spatially resolved observations are possible and reveal complex spatial structures. Acting forces and physical processes are similar to those in the solar system dust cloud, but the observational approach is obviously quite different: overall spatial distributions for systems of different ages for the planetary debris disks, as opposed to detailed local information in the case of the solar system. Comparison with the processes of dust formation and evolution observed in the solar system therefore helps understand the planetary debris disks. In this paper, we review our present knowledge of observations, acting forces, and major physical interactions of the dust in the solar system and in similar extra-solar planetary systems.     

Observations of Solar Type II bursts at frequencies 10–30 MHz

We present the results of radio telescope UTR-2 observations of solar Type II radio bursts in the 10–30 MHz frequency range. These events possess a fine structure consisting of fast drift sub-bursts similar to Type III bursts. The frequency drift rate of the Type II bursts at decameter wavelengths is smaller than 0.1 MHz s^–1. One of these bursts with herringbone structure has a wave-like backbone that almost does not drift. The features of the observed bursts are discussed.     

Groundwater calcrete deposits in Australia some observations from Western Australia

Groundwater calcretes are a non‐pedogenic form of calcrete occurring in broad fossil drainage systems. In Australia, they only occur north of about latitude 30°S and their formation requires arid conditions with very high potential evaporation as well as the periodic recharge of groundwater systems. They are linear, tabular limestone bodies, averaging about 10 m thick, occurring at or close to the surface and forming gentle mounds. The most extensive are located in the centre of the zone of distribution, where the climatic conditions are optimal, and are of the order of 100 km by 10 km. Some groundwater calcretes are fossil and strongly dissected, others are modern and still in process of formation.

A model of carbonate precepitation below the water table, i.e. in the phreatic zone, resulting in continuous calcrete growth, accounts for their morphology, their textures and the apparently inverted stratigraphy suggested by carbon‐14 dating. In areas of maximum growth, small anticlines develop which have structures engendered by both shear and concentric folding due to upward growth pressure.     

Phenocryst-hosted melt inclusions record stalling of magma during ascent in the conduit and upper magma reservoir prior to vulcanian explosions, Soufrière Hills volcano, Montserrat, West Indies

The mechanics of explosive eruptions influence magma ascent pathways. Vulcanian explosions involve a stop–start mechanism that recurs on various timescales, evacuating the uppermost portions of the conduit. During the repose time between explosions, magma rises from depth and refills the conduit and stalls until the overpressure is sufficient to generate another explosion. We have analyzed major elements, Cl, S, H₂O, and CO₂ in plagioclase-hosted melt inclusions, sampled from pumice erupted during four vulcanian events at Soufrière Hills volcano, Montserrat, to determine melt compositions prior to eruption. Using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, we measured values up to 6.7 wt.% H₂O and 80 ppm CO₂. Of 42 melt inclusions, 81 % cluster between 2.8 and 5.4 wt.% H₂O (57 to 173 MPa or 2–7 km), suggesting lower conduit to upper magma reservoir conditions. We propose two models to explain the magmatic conditions prior to eruption. In Model 1, melt inclusions were trapped during crystal growth in magma that was stalled in the lower conduit to upper magma reservoir, and during trapping, the magma was undergoing closed-system degassing with up to 1 wt.% free vapor. This model can explain the melt inclusions with higher H₂O contents since these have sampled the upper parts of the magma reservoir. However, the model cannot explain the melt inclusions with lower H₂O because the timescale for plagioclase crystallization and melt inclusion entrapment is longer than the magma residence time in the conduit. In Model 2, melt inclusions were originally trapped at deeper levels of the magma chamber, but then lost hydrogen by diffusion through the plagioclase host during periodic stalling of the magma in the lower conduit system. In this second scenario, which we favor, the melt inclusions record re-equilibration depths within the lower conduit to upper magma reservoir.     

Phase reddening on near-Earth asteroids: Implications for mineralogical analysis,space weathering and taxonomic classification

Phase reddening is an effect that produces an increase of the spectral slope and variations in the strength of the absorption bands as the phase angle increases. In order to understand its effect on spectroscopic observations of asteroids, we have analyzed the visible and near-infrared spectra (0.45–2.5 μm) of 12 near-Earth asteroids observed at different phase angles. All these asteroids are classified as either S-complex or Q-type asteroids. In addition, we have acquired laboratory spectra of three different types of ordinary chondrites at phase angles ranging from 13° to 120°. We have found that both, asteroid and meteorite spectra show an increase in band depths with increasing phase angle. In the case of the asteroids the Band I depth increases in the range of ～2° < g < 70° and the Band II depth increases in the range of ～2° < g < 55°. Using this information we have derived equations that can be used to correct the effect of phase reddening in the band depths. Of the three meteorite samples, the (olivine-rich) LL6 ordinary chondrite is the most affected by phase reddening. The studied ordinary chondrites have their maximum spectral contrast of Band I depths at a phase angle of ～60°, followed by a decrease between 60° and 120° phase angle. The Band II depths of these samples have their maximum spectral contrast at phase angles of 30–60° which then gradually decreases to 120° phase angle. The spectral slope of the ordinary chondrites spectra shows a significant increase with increasing phase angle for g > 30°. Variations in band centers and band area ratio (BAR) values were also found, however they seems to have no significant impact on the mineralogical analysis. Our study showed that the increase in spectral slope caused by phase reddening is comparable to certain degree of space weathering. In particular, an increase in phase angle in the range of 30–120° will produce a reddening of the reflectance spectra equivalent to exposure times of ～0.1 × 10⁶–1.3 × 10⁶ years at about 1 AU from the Sun. This increase in spectral slope due to phase reddening is also comparable to the effects caused by the addition of different fractions of SMFe. Furthermore, we found that under some circumstances phase reddening could lead to an ambiguous taxonomic classification of asteroids.