The transfer of polarized radiation in spectral lines: Formalism and solutions in simple cases

A general treatment of the transfer of polarized radiation in spectral lines assuming a Rayleigh phase function and a general law of frequency redistribution is derived. It is shown how nine families of coupled integral equations for the moments of the radiation field arise which are necessary to fully describe the state of polarization of the emergent radiation from a plane-parallel, semi-infinite atmosphere. The special case of angle independent redistribution functions is derived from the general formalism, and it is shown how the nine families of integral equations reduce to the six linearly independent integral equations derived by Collins (1972). To serve as a test of the formulation, solutions for isothermal atmospheres are given.     

The magnetic field of an infinite plane current sheet uniform except for two circular insertions of different uniform conductivities

Summary. The electrical system of currents excited by a uniform electric field of arbitrary direction in an infinite plane sheet of uniform conductivity except for two non-overlapping circular areas is obtained analytically. Using the method introduced by Ashour, the magnetic field of the system is also obtained. The components of this additional field are expressed as line integrals which are suitable for computation. The results reduce, in the special case of one insertion, to those obtained earlier by Ashour & Chapman.
As an illustration, numerical results are obtained for the special case of two equal insertions of zero conductivity.
The analysis and results obtained are useful in estimating the modification of the currents flowing in an ocean and their magnetic field by two islands.     

EVIDENCE OF HIGH COSMIC DUST CONCENTRATIONS IN LATE PLEISTOCENE POLAR ICE (20,000–14,000 YEARS BP)

Dust filtered from the lower portion of the Camp Century ice core (77°10'N, 61°08'W) has been analyzed for the presence of the cosmic dust indicators iridium and nickel using the neutron activation analysis technique. This study was carried out to test the hypothesis that the climatic change toward the end of the Last Ice Age was triggered by an incursion of nebular material into the Solar System. The analytical results are consistent with this hypothesis. Concentrations of Ir and Ni in the ice were one to two orders of magnitude higher during the latter portion of the Last Ice Age (19,700-14,200 years BP) as compared with current levels. Ir and Ni levels in 6 out of 8 samples suggest a total cosmic dust influx rate of about 0.5?3 times 10⁷ tons/yr to the Earth's surface as compared with about 1?7 x× 10⁵ tons/yr for the current influx. Elemental concentrations in 6 of the 8 dust samples ranged from 6? 96 ppb for Ir and < 60 to 3200 ppm for Ni. It is concluded that a major fraction of this invading dust would have been of submicron size in which case the concentration of light scattering particles would have been sufficient to significantly alter the light transmission properties of the Solar System and substantially affect the Earth's climate. These results mark the first time that cosmic dust deposition rates have been estimated for prehistoric times using the polar ice record.     

CO2 transfer between the upper mantle and the atmosphere: temporary storage in the lower continental crust

The CO₂ atmospheric content has shown large variations over geological times. High contents (up to one order of magnitude more than present-day values) ultimately correspond to discrete episodes of mantle degassing, either juvenile, or subduction-related (carbon recycling). A number of arguments (e.g. the continuous volume increase of carbonate-bearing sediments with time) suggest that, throughout the Earth's history, juvenile CO₂ has formed a major contribution to the global carbon budget of the Earth.
The absence of a direct relationship between major volcanic episodes and the average CO₂ atmospheric content suggests that volcanoes might not be the only way by which mantle CO₂ is transported to the surface. It is proposed that large quantities of juvenile CO₂ could temporarily be stored in the lower continental crust during major episodes of granulite formation. These are primarily caused by magmatic underplating and they result in a vertical accretion of the crust by accumulation of CO₂-bearing, mantle-derived magmas. Most of the CO₂ migrates through the crust during post-metamorphic evolution and isostatic restoration of the normal continental thickness. However, large quantities of CO₂ can still be present in some areas, notably as high-density fluids enclosed in minerals.     

Stable isotope geochemistry and structural elements of the Sabina region (Central Apennines, Italy)

Various tectonic features are present in the Meso-Cenozoic basin units of the Sabina region (Central Apennines, Italy): Mio-Pliocene northeasterly verging thrusts are followed by Plio-Pleistocene, N-S oriented right-lateral strike-slip faults. Stable isotope geochemistry and examination of meso- and microstructures show that strain conditions differed through the course of tectonic history. Carbon and oxygen isotope analyses of the calate-filled extensional fractures, the sigmoidal veins present between stylolitic cleavage surfaces, and fault plane surfaces with differing motion, demonstrate those different geneses.
The "C/'" C of the older calcite-filling fractures (present both in the thrust and the strike-slip systems) suggests a deposition from shallow, fresh water circulation. Furthermore, the calcite fill of en echelon systems, that occur in the southernmost Plio-Pleistocene units, is clearly the result of a more recent, right-lateral strike-slip movement, connected with shallow water circulation within Mesozoic limestones.
The sigmoidal vein fills are derived from solid-state pressure solution processes which were the result of strike-slip movement. The deformation pattern related to the older thrust system is similar, but less intense; this also demonstrates general recrystallization processes in a closed system.
This suggests that the total shortening of the deformed sections is lower than that obtained on the basis of solution on stylolitic planes, because a sigruficant volume of dissolved carbonates remained in the system.
Stable isotope analysis also confirms that the deformational history of strongly cleaved rocks in the Sabina region took place in two phases and that extensional fractures formed before stylolithic planes, as suggested by structural and field observations.     

MAP MAKING FOR PROFIT AND PLEASURE

Some of the economic and operational aspects of mapping are discussed, including the conditions that may offer air survey a competitive advantage over other methods. The financing of national mapping programmes around the world is increasingly market oriented, driven by the need to provide the end users with information that they can turn into sustainable economic growth and social progress. Despite these economic pressures, map makers seem to find their work more enjoyable and rewarding than most professionals.     

No major thermal event on the mid-Cretaceous Côte d'Ivoire–Ghana Transform Margin

Transient mid-Cretaceous thermal uplift induced by lateral heating from passing oceanic lithosphere is often invoked as a mechanism for the formation of the Côte d'Ivoire–Ghana basement ridge in the Equatorial Atlantic. This heating event should have affected mid-Cretaceous sedimentary rocks along the ridge. However, organic maturity and clay mineral data on the thermal evolution of these rocks suggest that burial temperatures did not exceed 80 °C and that palaeo–geothermal gradients are not anomalous. Optical petrography and the stratigraphic pattern of temperature-sensitive parameters indicate that higher palaeotemperature estimates are related to admixtures of preheated, detrital organic and inorganic matter. Erosion brought the sediments to their present shallow burial depths. Lack of evidence for significant thermal alteration implies that either thermal exchange between oceanic and continental lithosphere along the Côte d'Ivoire–Ghana Transform Margin was negligible, or that lateral heating by oceanic lithosphere was not strong enough to affect the sedimentary cover of the basement ridge.     

Astrometry from space: GAIA and planet detection

The proposed baseline GAIA mission will be able to detect the astrometric signature of Jupiter-size planets around of the order of a million stars, using either global or narrow-angle astrometry. If the mission can realize the higher astrometric accuracy that photon statistics allows for bright stars, lower-mass planets (from Earth size to ten times larger) can be found around ten to a few hundred stars.