Spectroscopy of candidate metal-deficient galaxies with the 6-m telescope

We present the first results of our program of search for the most metal-deficient blue compact galaxies (BCGs) carried out with the 6-m Special Astrophysical Observatory telescope. The results of spectrophotometry are presented and discussed for ten galaxies from the Case and Hamburg/SAO surveys. The selection of candidates, observations, and data reduction are described in detail. For all the galaxies studied, we measured the intensity of the [O III] λ4363 Å emission line, which allows us to properly determine the temperatures of H II regions and to deduce elemental abundances. We measured the intensities of all the detected emission lines in H II regions of the galaxies under study and determined the abundances of oxygen and neon in them and in some of these galaxies, of other elements (N, S, He, Ar, and Fe). The oxygen abundance log (O/H)+12 in six galaxies was derived with an error ≤0.1 dex. Six of the ten galaxies studied turned out to be metal-poor with an oxygen abundance ≤1/10 of its solar value [i.e., 12+log(O/H)≤7.92]. HS 0837+4717 with 12+log(O/H) ≤7.7 is one of the most metal-poor galaxies in this sample and one of the candidates for young galaxies. Low-contrast, broad emission components of the nebular [O III]λ4959 and 5007 Å lines were detected in its spectrum, suggesting high velocities of gas motions in this galaxy.     

Formation rates of Subantarctic mode water and Antarctic intermediate water within the South Pacific

The formation of Subantarctic Mode Water (SAMW) and Antarctic Intermediate Water (AAIW) significantly contributes to the total uptake and storage of anthropogenic gases, such as CO₂ and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), within the world's oceans. SAMW and AAIW formation rates in the South Pacific are quantified based on CFC-12 inventories using hydrographic data from WOCE, CLIVAR, and data collected in the austral winter of 2005. This study documents the first wintertime observations of CFC-11 and CFC-12 saturations with respect to the 2005 atmosphere in the formation region of the southeast Pacific for SAMW and AAIW. SAMW is 94% and 95% saturated for CFC-11 and CFC-12, respectively, and AAIW is 60% saturated for both CFC-11 and CFC-12. SAMW is defined from the Subantarctic Front to the equator between potential densities 26.80-27.06 kg m⁻³, and AAIW is defined from the Polar Front to 20°N between potential densities 27.06-27.40 kg m⁻³. CFC-12 inventories are 16.0×10⁶ moles for SAMW and 8.7×10⁶ moles for AAIW, corresponding to formation rates of 7.3±2.1 Sv for SAMW and 5.8±1.7 Sv for AAIW circulating within the South Pacific. Inter-ocean transports of SAMW from the South Pacific to the South Atlantic are estimated to be 4.4±0.6 Sv. Thus, the total formation of SAMW in the South Pacific is approximately 11.7±2.2 Sv. These formation rates represent the average formation rates over the major period of CFC input, from 1970 to 2005. The CFC-12 inventory maps provide direct evidence for two areas of formation of SAMW, one in the southeast Pacific and one in the central Pacific. Furthermore, eddies in the central Pacific containing high CFC concentrations may contribute to SAMW and to a lesser extent AAIW formation. These CFC-derived rates provide a baseline with which to compare past and future formation rates of SAMW and AAIW.     

Latitudinal variation of air sea fluxes in the western Indian ocean during austral summer and fall

Daily and zonal (latitudinal belt) averages of heat and momentum fluxes were computed using bulk aerodynamic formulae, from the meteorological parameters measured onboard M. S. Thuleland during the sixth Indian scientific expedition to Antarctica (26th November, 1986 to 22nd March, 1987). Both estimates showed significant variations, the momentum flux showing the largest variation. The maximum values of sensible and latent heat fluxes were observed over the 30°–40° S and 10°–20° S zones during the southern summer and fall respectively while the minimum values of latent heat flux were observed in the 60°–70° S zone for both seasons. The sensible heat flux minimum was observed in the 50°°60° S and 60°–70° S zones for summer and fall, respectively. Higher momentum flux values over the 40°–50° S zone in summer shifted to the 50°–60° S zone during fall.     

The role of the thermal convection of fluids in the formation of unconformity-type uranium deposits: the Athabasca Basin,Canada

In the global production of uranium, ~18% belong to the unconformity-type Canadian deposits localized in the Athabasca Basin. These deposits, which are unique in terms of their ore quality, were primarily studied by Canadian and French scientists. They have elaborated the diagenetic–hydrothermal hypothesis of ore formation, which suggests that (1) the deposits were formed within a sedimentary basin near an unconformity surface dividing the folded Archean–Proterozoic metamorphic basement and a gently dipping sedimentary cover, which is not affected by metamorphism; (2) the spatial accommodation of the deposits is controlled by the rejuvenated faults in the basement at their exit into the overlying sedimentary sequence; the ore bodies are localized above and below the unconformity surface; (3) the occurrence of graphite-bearing rocks is an important factor in controlling the local structural mineralization; (4) the ore bodies are the products of uranium precipitation on a reducing barrier. The mechanism that drives the circulation of ore-forming hydrothermal solutions has remained one of the main unclear questions in the general genetic concept. The ore was deposited above the surface of the unconformity due to the upflow discharge of the solution from the fault zones into the overlying conglomerate and sandstone. The ore formation below this surface is a result of the downflow migration of the solutions along the fault zones from sandstone into the basement rocks. A thermal convective system with the conjugated convection cells in the basement and sedimentary fill of the basin may be a possible explanation of why the hydrotherms circulate in the opposite directions. The results of our computations in the model setting of the free thermal convection of fluids are consistent with the conceptual reasoning about the conditions of the formation of unique uranium deposits in the Athabasca Basin. The calculated rates of the focused solution circulation through the fault zones in the upflow and downflow branches of a convection cell allow us to evaluate the time of ore formation up to the first hundreds of thousands years.     

Petrological considerations for the demineralization of Rajmahal coals with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas mendocina</Emphasis> B6-1

The present study entails the results of the petrological coniderations for demineralization of Rajmahal Gondwana coals with Psudomonas mendocina B6-1. Inertinite group macerals are the dominant constituents of these coals, followed by vitrinite group, while liptinite occurs in low concentration. The amount of Mineral matter is moderately high. The concentration of major, minor and trace elements is high when compared with Clarke values. After the treatment of these coals with Pseudomonas mendocina strain B6-1, a significant reduction in the elemental content of oxygen, hydrogen and sulphur was observed. A gradual reduction of pyrite phase due to bioleaching was identified and its signatures were reflected in the XRD spectra and FTIR absorption bands. Over 5 % reduction in the ash content and decrease of major, minor and trace element to variable degrees were also noticed. Fe, As, and Ca positively correlate with the ash removal percentage indicating that the samples with high concentration of these elements were prone to demineralization with Pseudomonas mendocina strain B6-1 whereas Ni, Zn, Cr and Cu, negatively correlate with the ash removal percentage and shows that their enrichment impeded the process of demineralization. With increasing concentration of vitrinite the removal of major/minor/trace elements also increased which is attributed to the possible association of these elements with the mineral matter occurring as superficial mounting and superficial blanketing over the vitrinite macerals. This could facilitate the bacterial access to the elements to act upon and remove it to the variable extent. Some minerals occur intergrown with inertinites causing restricted bacterial action owing to the nonexposure of the mineral particles and less surface area available to the bacteria for bioleaching. Sulfur removal strongly relates with increase in inertinite content and decrease in liptinite content. This appears that sulfur associated with liptinites have shown difficult removal condition. The maximum removal of the trace elements like Cd, Cu, Co, Zn and Pb was observed from the ‘banded dull coal’ samples of the Rajmahal basin while maximum removal of major/minor elements like Fe, Ca and Mg was noticed from the ‘banded bright coal’ samples. However, maximum removal of Mn and As was also observed in the samples of ‘banded coal’.     

Underground Temperature Measurements as a Tool for Volcanic Activity Monitoring in the Island of Tenerife, Canary Islands

The spatial distribution of groundwater temperatures in the volcanic island of Tenerife, Canary Islands, has been inferred through measurements of water temperatures collected in the vast network of wells and subhorizontal tunnels, locally called “galleries,” which constitutes the main water supply of the island. The spatial coverage of the network of galleries allows us to reach from depth almost any geological feature of the island. The complex spatial distribution of temperatures in the interior of Tenerife is the result of the complex geological evolution of the island. Groundwater temperatures are greatly affected by groundwater flow and are considerably warmer in those galleries located in areas where water circulation is reduced due to the low permeability of materials and/or to the low infiltration rate of cooling meteoric water. In this sense, groundwater temperature should be characterized in quiescent conditions (background level), in order to facilitate monitoring changes in heat flow, such as those induced by ascending gases expected with an increase in volcanic activity.     

Origin of uranium and rare earth minerals in bone detritus from rare metal deposits

In order to ascertain the forms in which uranium is present in ores of the Melovoe rare metal sedimentary deposit of uranium and rare earth minerals (South Mangyshlak), we investigated a series of typical ore samples that were collected earlier; both the uranium content and the total content of rare earth metals in them lay within 0.1–0.3%. The study was carried out by analytical electron microscopy using transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, electron microdiffraction, and microprobing. It was ascertained that both uranium and rare earth elements are present in ore mostly associated with biogenic phosphate in the form of natural minerals, such as uraninite, ningyoite, coffinite, autenite, and churchite. Iron hydroxides and graphitized organic matter are present in some samples. It is assumed that the co-occurrence of uranium and rare earth elements, which is nontypical for the sedimentary process, resulted from secondary epigenetic processes and alternation of reducing and oxidizing environmental conditions.     

TV system for navigation and guidance

A TV system for navigation and guidance (TVSNG) has been designed for solving the navigation and scientific tasks of the Phobos-Grunt mission. It consists of two narrow-angle and two wide-angle television cameras. Each camera has a built-in processor for the real-time processing of received images. The program of TVSNG observations includes three modes: Imaging of Stars, Sequential Imaging, and Landing. The first two modes will be used to calibrate the TVSNG against the stars, to take images of Phobos and Mars, and to detect the dust rings of Mars. In the Landing mode, the height and velocity components of the spacecraft during the landing on Phobos will be measured, and an autonomous selection of the landing site will be made.     

Differentiation for High-Precision GPS Velocity and Acceleration Determination

Accurate estimates of the velocity and acceleration of a platform are often needed in high dynamic positioning, airborne gravimetry, and geophysics. In turn, differentiation of GPS signals is a crucial process for obtaining these estimates. It is important in the measurement domain where, for example, the phase measurements are used along with their instantaneous derivative (Doppler) to estimate position and velocity. It is also important in postprocessing, where acceleration is usually estimated by differentiating estimates of position and velocity. Various methods of differentiating a signal can have very different effects on the resulting derivative, and their suitability varies from situation to situation. These comments set the stage for the investigations in this article. The objective is twofold: (1) to carry out a comprehensive study of possible differentiation methods, characterizing each in the frequency domain; and (2) to use real data to demonstrate each of these methods in both of the measurement and position domains, in conditions of variable, high, or unknown dynamics. Examples are given using real GPS data in both the measurement domain and in the position and velocity domain. The appropriate differentiator is used in several cases of varying dynamics to derive a Doppler signal from carrier phase measurements (rather than using the raw Doppler generated by the receiver). In the statistic case, it is seen that the accuracy of velocity estimates can be improved from 4.0 mm/s to 0.7 mm/s by using the correct filter. In conditions of medium dynamics experienced in an airborne gravity survey, it is demonstrated that accelerations as the 2–4 mGal level (1 mGal = 0.00001 m/s²) can be obtained at the required filtering periods. Finally, a precision motion table is used to show that when using the correct filter, velocity estimates under high dynamics can be improved by an order of magnitude to 27.0 mm/s. ? 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.