Reconstructing the IRAS Point Source Catalog Redshift Survey with a generalized PIZA

We study the influence of different magnetic boundary conditions on the generation of magnetic fields by turbulent convection. It is found that the structure and strength of the generated field in the vicinity of the boundary is strongly dependent on the choice of boundary conditions. In the convective interior, however, the solutions remain largely insensitive to the boundary conditions. In all cases the overall efficiency of the dynamo process remains high with a steady state magnetic energy density between 12 and 25 per cent of the turbulent kinetic energy, and peak field values exceeding the equipartition level. These results support the idea that the solar granulation may constitute a dynamo source for magnetic fields in the quiet photosphere.     

V792 Her=HD 155638: A totally eclipsing RS CVn binary

Photometry of HD 155638=V792 Her has been analyzed to determine the elements of this totally eclipsing RS CVn binary. The light variation outside eclipse was found to have a period of 27^d.07±0^d.07, which is slightly different from the 27^d.5384±0^d.0045 orbital period. Analysis of the eclipses was achieved by a modification of the Russell-Merrill technique. With the aid of radial velocity measures, absolute elements were obtained for the hot and cool stars, respectively;R _h=2.58R ,R _c=12.28R ,M _h=1.40M ,M _c=1.46M ,i=80^o.61 and velocity semi-amplitudesK _c=48.36 km s^–1±0.79 km s^–1, andK _h=50.50 km s^–1±0.33 km s^–1. The apparent magnitudes areV _h=9 ^m .73 andV _c=8 ^m .48. The distance to HD 155638 was estimated to be 310 parsecs.     

B0712+472: a new radio four-image gravitational lens

A new four-image gravitational lens system, B0712+472, has been discovered during the Cosmic Lens All-Sky Survey. This system consists of four flat-spectrum radio images that are also seen on a Hubble Space Telescope ( HST ) image, together with the lensing galaxy. We present MERLIN, VLA and VLBA maps and WHT spectra of the system as well as the HST images. The light distribution of the lensing galaxy is highly elongated and so too is the mass distribution deduced from modelling. We suggest a redshift of ∼1.33 for the lensed object; the lens redshift will require further investigation. The discovery of this new system further increases the ratio of four-image to two-image lens systems currently known, exacerbating problems of required ellipticity of matter distributions in lensing galaxies.     

EXPLORING SPATIAL FAMILIARITY*

Spatial familiarity is a natural language concept that has no well-defined technical interpretation. We explore here some possible dimensions of the concept, provide subjective measurements of the dimensions, and evaluate their independence. The four dimensions examined are locational knowledge, visual recognition, name identification, and interaction frequency. We suggest that both cognitive and behavioral dimensions are embedded in the concept of spatial familiarity and must be part of the meaning of the concept and of any attempt to make it operational.     

Rise of the Dormant: Simulated Disturbance Improves Culturable Abundance,Diversity, and Functions of Deep-Sea Bacteria of Central Indian Ocean Basin

The abundance of baroduric bacteria from nine sediment cores (0–10 cm below sea floor) was examined for their response to simulated benthic disturbance in the Central Indian basin (CIB). While the total counts of bacteria decreased from 10⁹ to 10⁶ g^?1 dry wt sediment, the average retrievable counts (CFU-colony forming units) improved by two orders of magnitude, i.e., from 10² 10⁴ g^?1 dry wt sediment. The baroduric retrievable forms were dominated by Acinetobacter and Moraxella sp before the disturbance. After the disturbance the generic diversity was represented by Staphylococcus sp, Enterobacter sp, Micrococcus sp, Coryneforms sp, and Pseudomonas sp in addition to Acinetobacter. These observations were corroborated by changes in enzymatic activities of the retrievable bacteria, which could lead to changes in the biochemical characteristics of the sediment. Thus the simulated disturbance brought about an increase in culturable abundance, taxonomic and functional diversity of deep-sea sediment of the CIB.     

An experimental study of partial melting and fractional crystallization on the HED parent body

We have performed an experimental and modeling study of the partial melting behavior of the HED parent body and of the fractional crystallization of liquids derived from its mantle. We estimated the mantle composition by assuming chondritic ratios of refractory lithophile elements, adjusting the Mg# and core size to match the density and moment of inertia of Vesta, and the compositions of Mg‐rich olivines found in diogenites. The liquidus of a mantle with Mg# (=100*[Mg/(Mg+Fe)]) 80 is ~1625 °C and, under equilibrium conditions, the melt crystallizes olivine alone until it is joined by orthopyroxene at 1350 °C. We synthesized the melt from our 1350 °C experiment and simulated its fractional crystallization path. Orthopyroxene crystallizes until it is replaced by pigeonite at 1200 °C. Liquids become eucritic and crystal assemblages resemble diogenites below 1250 °C. MELTS correctly predicts the olivine liquidus but overestimates the orthopyroxene liquidus by ~70 °C. Predicted melt compositions are in reasonable agreement with those generated experimentally. We used MELTS to determine that the range of mantle compositions that can produce eucritic liquids and diogenitic solids in a magma ocean model is Mg# 75–80 (with chondritic ratios of refractory elements). A mantle with Mg# ~ 70 can produce eucrites and diogenites through sequential partial melting.     

pH effects in the adsorption of heavy metal ions by clays

The amount of hydroxonium or hydroxyl ion sorbed by the sodium form of clays (kaolin, illite or montmorillonite) has been found to increase in proportion with the amount added (i.e., data fits a Boedeker type equation). The adsorptive capacities, and bonding strengths (as evaluated from Langmuir isotherm plots) varied with clay type and nature of the adsorbing species (values for OH^? being greater than for H⁺).The presence of clay suspensions reduced the pH required for total precipitation of heavy metal ions (e.g., Cu, Pb, Cd, Zn), as hydroxy species, and this behaviour has been re-examined in terms of observed pM, pOH relationships and the effect of ligand additions.     

Nonequilibrium Processes in the Solar Corona,Transition Region,Flares, and Solar Wind <Emphasis Type="Italic">(Invited Review)</Emphasis>

We review the presence and signatures of the non-equilibrium processes, both non-Maxwellian distributions and non-equilibrium ionization, in the solar transition region, corona, solar wind, and flares. Basic properties of the non-Maxwellian distributions are described together with their influence on the heat flux as well as on the rates of individual collisional processes and the resulting optically thin synthetic spectra. Constraints on the presence of high-energy electrons from observations are reviewed, including positive detection of non-Maxwellian distributions in the solar corona, transition region, flares, and wind. Occurrence of non-equilibrium ionization is reviewed as well, especially in connection to hydrodynamic and generalized collisional-radiative modeling. Predicted spectroscopic signatures of non-equilibrium ionization depending on the assumed plasma conditions are summarized. Finally, we discuss the future remote-sensing instrumentation that can be used for the detection of these non-equilibrium phenomena in various spectral ranges.     

Forthcoming events

Tropical cyclones (hurricanes and typhoons) produce high winds that can generate waves capable of damaging coral reefs. As cyclones frequently pass through northeast Australia's Great Barrier Reef (GBR), it is important to understand how the spatial distribution of reef damage changes over time. However, direct measurements of wave damage, or even wave heights or wind speeds, are rare within the GBR. An important factor in estimating whether cyclone damage was possible is the magnitude and duration of high‐energy wind and waves. Thus, before the spatio‐temporal dynamics of past cyclone damage can be modelled, it is necessary to reconstruct the spread, intensity, and duration of high‐energy conditions during individual cyclones. This was done every hour along the track taken by each of 85 cyclones that passed near the GBR from 1969 to 2003, by implementing a cyclone wind hindcasting model directly within a raster GIS using cyclone data available from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Three measures of cyclone energy (maximum wind speed—MAX, duration of gales—GALES, and continuous duration of gales—CGALES) were derived from these data. For three cyclones, where field data documenting actual reef damage from cyclone‐generated waves were available, the predictive ability of each measure was assessed statistically. All three performed better in predicting reef damage at sites surveyed along the high‐energy reef front than those surveyed along the more protected reef back. MAX performed best for cyclone Joy (r ² = 0.5), while CGALES performed best for cyclones Ivor (r ² = 0.23) and Justin (r ² = 0.48). Using thresholds for MAX and GALES obtained via comparison with field data of damage, it was possible to produce a preliminary prediction of the risk of wave damage across the GBR from each of the 85 cyclones. The results suggest that while up to two‐thirds of the GBR was at risk from some damage for 30–50% of the time series (～18 out of 35 years), only scattered areas of the region were at risk more frequently than that.