Dust tail streamers of a comet with rotating nucleus

Synthetic images of the dust tail are presented for a comet which has a rotating nucleus with one predominant dust source fixed to it. The images have been generated using a new computer model which, unlike similar models, allows for the study of dust tails caused by a rotating nucleus with an anisotropic distribution of sources.The dust tail is studied in the post-perihelion phase of a parabolic comet with a perihelion distance of 0.5 AU. One finds that in the case of a rotating nucleus with anisotropic emission characteristics streamers caused solely by the dynamics of the dust particles are forming in the dust tail even if there is no dependence between the solar irradiation angle of the source and the amount of dust emitted. If the dust emission depends on the solar irradiation angle of the dust source, then the brightest tail regions do not necessarily coincide with the synchrones for the times of maximum dust emission.As a consequence, a thorough analysis of streamer patterns in a cometary dust tail requires assumptions on the rotational state and the dust source distribution of the nucleus. Otherwise, it seems not possible to discern between streamers which are caused dynamically by nucleus rotation and others which reflect variations in the emission activity.     

The influence of the anomalous cosmic-ray component on the dynamics of the solar wind

It is well known that both the galactic and anomalous cosmic rays show positive intensity gradients in the outer heliosphere which are connected with corresponding pressure gradients. Due to an efficient dynamical coupling between the solar wind plasma and these highly energetic media by means of convected MHD turbulences, there exists a mutual interaction between these media. As one consequence of this scenario the enforced pressure gradients influence the distant solar wind expansion. Here we concentrate in our theoretical study on the interaction of the solar wind only with the anomalous cosmic-ray component. We use the standard two-fluid model in which the cosmic-ray fluid modifies the solar wind flow via the cosmic-ray pressure gradient. Then we derive numerical solutions in the following steps: first we calculate an aspherical pressure distribution for the anomalous cosmic rays, describing their diffusion in an unperturbed radial solar wind. Second, we then consider the perturbation of the solar wind flow due to these induced anomalous cosmic-ray pressure gradients. Within this context we especially take account of the action of a non-spherical geometry of the heliospheric shock which may lead to pronounced upwinddownwind asymmetries in the pressures and thereby in the resulting solar wind flows. As we can show in our model, which fits the available observational data, radial decelerations of the distant solar wind by between 5 to 11% are to be expected, however, the deviations of the bulk solar wind flow from the radialdirections are only slightly pronounced.     

Inclined K–Ar illite age spectra in brittle fault gouges: effects of fault reactivation and wall‐rock contamination

K–Ar clay fraction ages of brittle faults often vary with grain size, decreasing in the finer size fractions, producing an inclined age–grain‐size spectrum. K–Ar ages and mineralogical characterization of gouges from two normal faults in the Kongsberg silver mines, southern Norway, suggest that inclined spectra derived from brittle fault rocks reflect the mixing of inherited components with authigenic mineral phases. The ages of the coarsest and finest fractions constrain faulting at c. 260–270 Ma and reactivation around 200–210 Ma, respectively. This study demonstrates how wall‐rock contamination influences the K–Ar age of the coarsest size fractions and that authigenic illite and K‐feldspar can crystallize synkinematically under equivalent conditions and thus yield the same K–Ar ages.     

Methods for biological assessment of salt-loaded running waters - fundamentals, current positions and perspectives

Salinisation of running waters is a severe problem in many parts of the world. Monitoring and management of such waters require ecological methods which consider the hydrochemical effects of salinisation on the aquatic communities in order to set targets to protect habitats and biodiversity. Several bioassays have been developed for this purpose and are surveyed here. They are based on the salt sensitivity of the following groups of organisms: diatoms, ciliates and macroinvertebrates. In this paper experiences gained so far are also considered as well as practical applications originating from this research.     

Eh ph Diagrams for mn, fe, co, ni, cu and as Under Seawater Conditions: Application of two new Types of eh ph Diagrams to the Study of Specific Problems in Marine Geochemistry

E_H pH diagrams have been calculated using the PHREEQC programme in order to establish the predominance fields of Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu and As in bottom waters from the Angola Basin. Predominance fields are presented separately for both aquatic species and solid mineral phases in order to simplify interpretation of the data. The diagrams show significant differences from standard E_H pH diagrams for these elements calculated for freshwater at 25 °C and 1 bar which assume an element concentration of 10^-6 M. In particular, our diagrams show that Mn²⁺ and NiCO ₃ ⁰ are the predominant aquatic species for Mn and Ni in bottom seawater and FeOOH, Fe₂O₃, Fe₃O₄, CoFe₂O₄, CuFe₂O₄, CuFeO₂, and Ba₃ (AsO₄)₂ the predominant solid phases for Fe, Co, Cu and As, respectively. Mn and Ni are therefore undersaturated and Fe, Co, Cu and As supersaturated in bottom seawater from the Angola Basin. Neither rhodochrosite (MnCO₃) nor siderite (FeCO₃) can form in this marine environment in equilibrium with seawater. A mixed Mn-Ca carbonate is therefore formed within the pore waters of reducing sediments. The high Ni/Cu ratios in cobalt-rich manganese crusts formed adjacent to the oxygen minimum zone may be explained by the change from Cu²⁺ to CuCl ₃ ^2- as the dominant aquatic species of Cu in seawater at an E_H of +0.48 V.     

Nachweis von Industriechemikalien (HPS,BPS und SPS) im Oberflächenwasser

Occurrence of Industrial Chemicals (HPS, BPS, and SPS) in Surface Water The paper gives the results of water examinations for different phenylsulfonamides. Random samples taken every month between May 1999 and August 2000 from surface water out of the river Rhine (kilometer 838), the river Ruhr (Mülheim Styrum) and the river Emscher (Oberhausen center) were tested for the corrosion inhibiting agent 6‐[methyl(phenylsulfonyl)amino]‐hexanoic acid (HPS) as well as its metabolites 4‐[methyl‐(phenylsulfonyl)amino]‐butanoic acid (BPS) and sarkosin‐N‐(phenylsulfonyl) (SPS). Furthermore, the sewage plant effluents of two municipal wastewater treatment plants from the rural area were also included in the monitoring program. The analytical method includes solid‐phase extraction (SPE), a derivatization step as well as gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC‐MS). SPS is regularly found in all investigated surface waters, but only occasionally in the effluents of the two rural sewage plants. The median values for SPS amount to 0.09 μg/L in the river Rhine, 0.60 μg/L in the river Ruhr, and 0.70 μg/L in the river Emscher. BPS can only be found in the river Ruhr (median value: 0.08 μg/L) and in the river Emscher (median value: 0.41 μg/L). HPS was regularly found in a surface water for the first time. This substance can be detected in the Emscher through the whole measurement period. The median value for HPS amounts to 1.78 μg/L. Aditionally, the validation characteristics of an alternative analytical method including solid‐phase microextraction (SPME) is worked out. The fully automated process includes an on‐fiber methylation step and the GC‐MS. The repeatability standard deviation of the process amounts to RSD < 12%. Detection limits between 0.07 and 0.70 μg/L are achieved.     

Coronal holes and icosahedral symmetry

A new type of coordinates suitable to describe mass outflow out of coronal holes assuming symmetry under the icosahedral group is introduced.