http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gsf.2016.06.010

Galactic cosmic rays and solar protons ionize the present terrestrial atmosphere,and the air showers are simulated by well-tested Monte-Carlo simulations,such as PHITS code.We use the latest version of PHITS to evaluate the possible ionization of protoplanetary disks by galactic cosmic rays(GCRs),solar protons,and by supernova remnants.The attenuation length of GCR ionization is updated as 118 g cm~(-2),which is approximately 20% larger than the popular value.Hard and soft possible spectra of solar protons give comparable and 20% smaller attenuation lengths compared with those from standard GCR spectra,respectively,while the attenuation length is approximately 10% larger for supernova remnants.Further,all of the attenuation lengths become 10% larger in the compound gas of cosmic abundance,e.g.128 g cm~(-2) for GCRs,which can affect the minimum estimate of the size of dead zones in protoplanetary disks when the incident flux is unusually high.     

Trace element geochemistry and Sr-Nd characteristics of Mesoproterozoic mafic intrusive rocks from Rondonia, Brazil, SW Amazonian Craton： Petrogenetic and tectonic inferences

The Amazonian Craton comprises an Archean domain surrounded by four successively younger Proterozoic tectonic provinces. Within the Rio-Negro-Juruena province the Serra da Providencia Intrusive Suite （1.60 and 1.53 Ga） consists of A-type rapakivi gran- ites, charnockites and mangerites genetically associated with diabase dikes, gabbros and amphibolites. The original mafic melts were derived from a depleted mantle source （εN（T） ＋2.5 to ＋2.8;εSr（T） -12.1）. Underplated mafic magma induced melting of a short-lived felsic crust, thus originating coeval felsic-mafic magmatism in a conti- nental intraplate setting. The Colorado Complex, assigned to the Rondonian-San Ignacio province, comprises 1.35-1.36 Ga intrusive bimodal magmatism represented by monzonite gneisses associated with amphibolite, gabbro and metadiabase dikes intercalated with metasediments with detrital zircon that yield U- Pb ages of 1.35 to 1.42 Ga. Mafic samples dis- play juvenile signatures （εNd（T） 0.0 to ＋5.2; εSr（T） --5.0 to --30.7） and are less contaminated than the Serra da Previdencia and Nova Brasilandia ones. The generation of the basaltic magma is related to the subduction of an oceanic slab below the peridotite wedge （intraoceanic arc setting）. Fluids and/or small melts from the slab impregnated the mantle. The Nova Brasilandia Sequence （Sunsas-Aguapef province） comprises a metasedimentary sequence intruded by 1.10-1.02 Ga metadia- bases, gabbros, meta-gabbros, and amphibolites associated with granitic plutons （bimodal mag- matism）. The original tholeiitic magmas, derived from a depleted source （εNd（T） = ＋3.1 to ＋5.0）, in a proto-oceanic setting, underwent subsequent contamination by the host rocks, as indicated by the isotopic and trace element data.     

Public acceptance of the oceanic carbon sequestration

CO₂ ocean sequestration may be an effective option for mitigating global warming. There are risks associated with this process, particularly the local impact on deep-sea environments. Public acceptance is required for the implementation of this technology, even though the impacts have been proven to be trivial. In this study, a questionnaire survey was conducted to find the correlation between public acceptance of CO₂ sequestration and influential factors by covariance structure analysis. In addition, risk communication via the Internet was carried out. These analyses revealed that careful investigation of the target oceanic site and field experiments are important in gaining public acceptance of CO₂ sequestration.     

Effects of long-term sample preservation on flow cytometric analysis of natural populations of pico-and nanophytoplankton

The effects of long-term preservation on flow cytometric parameters of natural oceanic populations of pico-and nanophytoplankton have been examined. Populations collected at oligotrophic subtropical and subarctic locations in the North Pacific were fixed with glutaraldehyde and frozen in liquid nitrogen, according to Vaulot et al. (1989). During six months’ storage, chlorophyll red fluorescence declined in all the groups examined, while forward light scatter was enhanced in Synechococcus and Prochlorococcus, and weakened in nanoeucaryotes. Cell loss was not significant except for Synechococcus. Caution is required when analyzing flow cytometric data of samples stored for more than a month.     

Height variability from the MIROC – IPCC model for the 20th century compared to that of the TOPEX/POSEIDON altimeter

Planetary waves are key to large-scale dynamical adjustment in the global ocean as they transfer energy from the east to the west side of oceanic basins; they connect the forcing in the ocean interior with the variability at its boundaries; and they change the local heat content, thus coupling oceanic, atmospheric, and biological processes. Planetary waves, mostly of the first baroclinic mode, are observed as distinctive patterns in global time series of sea surface height anomaly (SSHA) and heat storage. The goal of this study is to compare and validate large-scale SSHA signals from coupled ocean-atmosphere general circulation Model for Interdisciplinary Research on Climate (MIROC) with TOPEX/POSEIDON satellite altimeter observations. The last decade of the models’ time series is selected for comparison with the altimeter data. The wave patterns are separated from the meso- and large-scale SSHA signals by digital filters calibrated to select the same spectral bands in both model and altimeter data. The band-wise comparison allows for an assessment of the model skill to simulate the dynamical components of the observed wave field. Comparisons regarding both the seasonal cycle and the Rossby wave field differ significantly among basins. When carried within the same basin, differences can occur between equal latitudes in opposite hemispheres. Furthermore, at some latitudes the MIROC reproduces biannual, annual and semiannual planetary waves with phase speeds and average amplitudes similar to those observed by the altimeter, but with significant differences in phase.     

High-West and Low-East Distribution Patterns of Chlorophyll a, Primary Productivity and Diatoms in the Subarctic North Pacific Surface Waters, Midwinter 1996

We have determined chlorophyll a (Chla) concentration, primary productivity, cell density and species composition of diatoms, and the number of microzooplankton at the surface in the subarctic North Pacific in January 1996. The wet weight of copepods obtained by vertical tows from 150 m to the surface was also measured during the cruise. Chla concentration and primary productivity tended to be higher in the region west of 180°, the western subarctic North Pacific (WSNP), than east of 180°, the eastern subarctic North Pacific (ESNP). The same results were observed for the total diatom cell densities and for the genera Thalassiosira and Denticulopsis. Significant linear relationships were observed between the Thalassiosira cell density and Chla concentration and primary productivity, indicating that Thalassiosira contributes to the high-WSNP and low-ESNP distribution patterns of Chla concentration and primary productivity. Moreover, naked ciliate abundance tended to be lower in the WSNP than in the ESNP, whereas copepod biomass showed an inverse trend. Significantly negative Spearman rank correlations were found between the Thalassiosira cell density and the number of naked ciliates and between the number of naked ciliates and the wet weight of copepods. These results indicate that copepod grazing indirectly controls Thalassiosira cell density via predation on the naked ciliates. We conclude that the high copepod biomass in the WSNP is a factor controlling the high-WSNP and low-ESNP Thalassiosira abundance and hence Chla concentration and primary productivity patterns.     

The Bar and Spiral Structure Legacy (BeSSeL) survey: Mapping the Milky Way with VLBI astrometry

Astrometric Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) observations of maser sources in the Milky Way are used to map the spiral structure of our galaxy and to determine fundamental parameters such as the rotation velocity (Θ₀) and curve and the distance to the Galactic center (R₀). Here, we present an update on our first results, implementing a recent change in the knowledge about the Solar motion. It seems unavoidable that the IAU recommended values for R₀ and Θ₀ need a substantial revision. In particular the combination of 8.5 kpc and 220 km s^–1 can be ruled out with high confidence. Combining the maser data with the distance to the Galactic center from stellar orbits and the proper motion of Sgr A* gives best values of R₀ = 8.3 ± 0.23 kpc and Θ₀ = 239 or 246±7 km s^–1, for Solar motions of V_⊙ = 12.23 and 5.25 km s^–1, respectively. Finally, we give an outlook to future observations in the Bar and Spiral Structure Legacy (BeSSeL) survey (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Observational studies of 12 DD Lacertae

Astrophysics and Space Science - Analysis of the radial velocity curves of 12 DD Lacertae showns that the primary period is decreasing and the secondary is almost constant, confirming the...     

Meteor Showers Originated from 73P/Schwassmann–Wachmann

The nucleus of the Comet 73P/Schwassmann–Wachmann had been split into many fragments at least past two returns. Since the related dense dust trail has been detected in the space infrared observation, the strong activity of the meteor shower is highly expected in the future. We applied the so-called dust-trail theory to this interesting object, and obtained several results on the future encounter with the dust trail. In this paper we introduce our results on the forecasts.     

Fracture Toughness Evaluation Based on Tension-softening Model and its Application to Hydraulic Fracturing

This paper discusses the applicability of the tension-softening model in the determination of the fracture toughness of rocks, where the fracture toughness evaluated based on the tension-softening model is compared with the crack growth resistance deduced from laboratory-scale hydraulic fracturing tests. It is generally accepted that the fracture process is dominated by the growth of a fracture process zone for most types of rocks. In this study, the J-integral based technique is employed to determine the fracture toughness of Iidate granite on the basis of the tension-softening model, where compact tension specimens of different dimensions were tested in order to examine the specimen size effect on the measured fracture toughness. It was shown that the tension-softening relation deduced from the J-integral based technique allowed us to determine the specimen size independent fracture toughness K_c of Iidate granite. Laboratory-scale hydraulic fracturing tests were performed on cubic specimens (up to a 10 m sized specimen), where cyclic pressurization was conducted using a rubber-made straddle packer to observe the extent of the hydraulically induced crack. The experimental results of pressure and crack length were then used to construct the crack growth resistance curve based on the stress intensity factor K. The crack growth resistance obtained from the hydraulic fracturing tests was observed to initially increase and then level off, giving a constant K value for a long crack extension stage. The plateau K value in the crack growth resistance curve was found to be in reasonable agreement with the fracture toughness K_c deduced from the tension-softening relation. It was demonstrated that the tension-softening model provides a useful tool to determine the appropriate fracture toughness of rocks, which may be applicable for the analysis of the process of large-scale crack extension in rock masses.