Penetration tracks in aerogel produced by Al2O3 spheres

Abstract— We conducted impact experiments into SiO₂‐based aerogel of uniform density (0.02 g cm^?3) with spherical corundum projectiles. The highly refractory nature and mechanical strength of corundum minimizes projectile deformation and continuous mass loss by ablation that might have affected earlier experiments with soda‐lime glass (SLG) impactors into aerogel targets. We find that corundum is a vastly superior penetrator producing tracks a factor of 2.5 longer, yet similar in diameter to those made by SLG. At velocities <4 km s^?1 a cylindrical “cavity” forms, largely by melting of aerogel. The diameter and length of this cavity increase with velocity and impactor size, and its volume dominates total track volume. A continuously tapering, exceptionally long and slender “stylus” emerges from this cavity and makes up some 80–90% of the total track length; this stylus is characterized by solid‐state deformations. Tracks formed below 4 km s^?1 lack the molten cavity and consist only of a stylus. Projectile residues recovered from a track's terminus substantially resemble the initial impactors at V > 4 km s^?1, yet they display two distinct surfaces at higher velocities, such as a blunt, forward face and a well‐preserved, hemispherical trailing side; a pronounced, circumferential ridge of compressed and molten aerogel separates these two surfaces. Stringers and patches of melt flow towards the impactor's rear where they accumulate in a characteristic melt tip. SEM‐EDS analyses indicate the presence of Al in these melts at velocities as low as 5.2 km s^?1, indicating that the melting point of corundum (2054 °C) was exceeded. The thermal model of aerogel impact by Anderson and Cherne (2008) suggests actual aerogel temperatures <5000 K at comparable conditions. We therefore propose that projectile melting occurs predominantly at those surfaces that are in contact with this very hot aerogel, at the expense of viscous heating and associated ablation. Exposure to superheated aerogel may be viewed as extreme form of “flash heating.” This seems consistent with observations from the Stardust mission to comet Wild 2, such as relatively pristine interiors of rather large, terminal particles, yet total melting of most fine‐grained dust components.     

In situ characterization of serpentinites from forearc mantle wedges: Timing of serpentinization and behavior of fluid-mobile elements in subduction zones

The Tso Morari serpentinites in the Ladakh area, northwest Himalaya, originated from the forearc mantle overlying the northward subducting Neo-Tethys lithosphere and the margin of the Indian continent. The serpentinites are characterized by high concentration of fluid-mobile elements (FME: As, Sb, B, Li, and U) compared to ophiolitic or abyssal serpentinites. The Pb isotopic compositions of serpentinites show influence of the subducted Indian continental lithosphere. Trace element concentrations of antigorite determined in situ with Laser Ablation High Resolution Inductively Coupled Mass Spectrometer (LA-HR-ICP-MS) show high contents of FME including Pb, in contrast to the spatially associated iron oxides. Rare earth elements (REE) and compatible elements, such as Sc and Co, remained immobile during the hydration, allowing the identification of the primary minerals (olivine or orthopyroxene) from which serpentine formed. Serpentinized olivine displays higher Sb and As concentrations (up to 1000 × PM) than serpentinized orthopyroxenes that are enriched in Pb, Cs and Li (2 to up to 10 × PM).We propose that the observed FME distribution in two types of serpentine reflect the differential incorporation of FME during the downward movement of the serpentinite along the subduction plane. At temperature lower than 400 °C, at shallow depths, olivine is preferentially serpentinized and incorporates elements that are fluid soluble at low temperatures, such as Sb and As. Above 400 °C, orthopyroxene is hydrated and incorporates Pb, Cs, Li and possibly Ba. Boron and U are incorporated in both types of serpentine suggesting that they are released from slabs at temperatures around 300–400 °C. The serpentine acts as a sink for water, but also for FME and transports them to deeper and hotter levels in the mantle, down to the isotherm 600–650 °C where dehydration occurs.     

Role of the ocean in controlling atmospheric CO2 concentration in the course of global glaciations

Responses of ocean circulation and ocean carbon cycle in the course of a global glaciation from the present Earth conditions are investigated by using a coupled climate-biogeochemical model. We investigate steady states of the climate system under colder conditions induced by a reduction of solar constant from the present condition. A globally ice-covered solution is obtained under the solar constant of 92.2% of the present value. We found that because almost all of sea water reaches the frozen point, the ocean stratification is maintained not by temperature but by salinity just before the global glaciation (at the solar constant of 92.3%). It is demonstrated that the ocean circulation is driven not by the surface cooling but by the surface freshwater forcing associated with formation and melting of sea ice. As a result, the deep ocean is ventilated exclusively by deep water formation in southern high latitudes where sea ice production takes place much more massively than northern high latitudes. We also found that atmospheric CO₂ concentration decreases through the ocean carbon cycle. This reduction is explained primarily by an increase of solubility of CO₂ due to a decrease of sea surface temperature, whereas the export production weakens by 30% just before the global glaciation. In order to investigate the conditions for the atmospheric CO₂ reduction to cause global glaciations, we also conduct a series of simulations in which the total amount of carbon in the atmosphere?Cocean system is reduced from the present condition. Under the present solar constant, the results show that the global glaciation takes place when the total carbon decreases to be 70% of the present-day value. Just before the glaciation, weathering rate becomes very small (almost 10% of the present value) and the organic carbon burial declines due to weakened biological productivity. Therefore, outgoing carbon flux from the atmosphere?Cocean system significantly decreases. This suggests the atmosphere?Cocean system has strong negative feedback loops against decline of the total carbon content. The results obtained here imply that some processes outside the atmosphere?Cocean feedback loops may be required to cause global glaciations.     

Search for TeV Gamma-Rays from 3EG J1234-1318 with the Cangaroo-II Telescope

We observed 3EG J1234-1318 with the CANGAROO-II telescope in March, 2002. This source is a steady unidentified EGRET gamma-ray source at high Galactic latitude which has been associated with a dynamically merging clusters of galaxies, and is therefore a candidate TeV source. TeV gamma-ray emission is also expected as a result of large-scale cosmological structure formation. We here report the resulting upper limit on the TeV gamma-ray emission from 3EG J1234-1318. For the CANGAROO Collaboration.     

苏鲁超高压变质带胡家林超镁铁质岩成因及构造意义

胡家林超镁铁质杂岩体产于苏鲁超高压变质带中部,纯橄岩和(石榴)单斜辉石岩呈不连续透镜体产于蛇纹石化橄榄岩中。纯橄岩遭受了部分蛇纹石化(烧失量=6.6%～13.2%),全岩富集强相容元素(Ni、Cr、Co)和Ir族PGE(IPGE;Ir、Os、Ru)及高IPGE/PPGE值,亏损Al、Ti、V,具高Mg~#橄榄石(Fo=91.7～92.4)和高Cr~#(0.68～0.76)尖晶石。纯橄岩高耐熔地球化学及矿物化学特征和古老的大陆岩石圈地幔相一致,表明其原岩来源于弧前地幔,代表了华北克拉通古老的大陆岩石圈地幔残留。(石榴)单斜辉石岩全岩呈相对低含量的强相容元素(Cr、Ni、Co)和IPGE,高含量的Al、Ti、V和流体迁移元素(Sr、Pb和Ba),球粒陨石标准化REE配分图呈明显"上凸"型,具低Mg~#橄榄石(Fo=76.6～76.8)和低Al_2O_3(2.76%)和高SiO_2(54.56%～56.87%)的单斜辉石。全岩组成和矿物化学表明其原岩为俯冲带内超镁铁质火成堆晶岩,最初岩浆由地幔岩高程度部分熔融的熔体和俯冲带中富H_2O流体和/或熔体构成。(石榴)单斜辉石岩原岩曾被地幔流带入扬子大陆俯冲板片和上覆地幔楔之间的俯冲通道,经历了超高压变质作用和生成大量石榴石。(石榴)单斜辉石岩在折返过程中,与大陆岩石圈地幔楔剥离的蛇纹石化橄榄岩及纯橄岩相结合,形成超镁铁质杂岩体,整体被低密度的俯冲板片(主要由花岗质片麻岩和变质沉积岩组成)裹挟,折返至地壳浅部。     

Measurement of evaporation from the forest floor in a deciduous forest throughout the year using microlysimeter and closed‐chamber systems

Evaporation from the forest floor (E_FF) in a deciduous broadleaf forest was measured using microlysimeter and closed‐chamber systems. The microlysimeter was used at six points in the experimental basin, and measurements gave different E_FF values at different points. This could be attributed to the local photoenvironment of each sampling point, rather than to litter conditions, if the spatial variation in air temperature (Ta) or vapour pressure deficit (VPD) at the forest floor was small within this basin. A detachable microlysimeter measured condensation in the litter layer during the night, indicating that the litter layer, as well as the mulch layer, played a role in preventing evaporation from the soil layer. The closed‐chamber system made it possible to continuously measure long‐term E_FF. E_FF was closely related to VPD; even during the night, when solar radiation was zero, E_FF amounted to 14·0% of the daily E_FF. The daily E_FF was 0·20 ± 0·13 mm day^?1 during the study period, with two seasonal peaks: in late spring (0·31 mm day^?1 in April) and early fall (0·22 mm day^?1 in September). The former peak has been reported from two deciduous forests in Japan and is strongly related to the solar radiation reaching the forest floor when the trees are dormant. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY IN JAPAN*

A regret frequently expressed at International Geographical Congresses concerns the lack of summary information about the nature of geographic research in the host country. During a discussion of this point with members of the Association of Japanese Geographers, the idea of publishing a series of reports on various aspects of Japanese research surfaced. The concept was later enthusiastically supported by the United States National Committee for the International Geographical Union. This first report, “Historical Geography in Japan,” has been modified for the benefit of the English-speaking readers of THE PROFESSIONAL GEOGRAPHER. Although the reports will be of particular interest to those planning to attend the 1980 IGC in Tokyo, they should prove of general interest as well.—H. Jesse Walker, Member, U.S. National Committee, IGU.     

Teshima pyroclastics: Onset of characteristic Setouchi magmatism induced by slab melting at 14.8 Ma

Ar-Ar ages, and petrographical and geochemical characteristics of pyroclastics and an overlying lava from Teshima Island, southwest Japan are presented. Although previous geological and age data suggested Teshima pyroclastics were products of magmatism > 3 my prior to lava flows of Setouchi volcanic rocks generated in association with southward migration of the southwest Japan arc sliver during opening of the Sea of Japan backarc basin at ~ 15 Ma, the present results led to the conclusion that a sequence of Setouchi volcanism, induced by slab melting and subsequent melt-mantle reactions, produced both pyroclastics and lava at 14.6–14.8 Ma. This age is oldest among those reported so far and may represent the timing of onset of characteristic Setouchi magmatism immediately posterior to and hence as a result of the mega-tectonic event including rotation of the southwest Japan arc sliver.     

An atomic level study of rhenium and radiogenic osmium in molybdenite

Local atomic structures of Re and radiogenic Os in molybdenite from the Onganja mine, Namibia, were examined using X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS). Rhenium L_III-edge X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) show that the oxidation state of Re, the interatomic distances between Re and the neighboring atoms, and the coordination number of Re to S are very similar to those of Mo in molybdenite. The results confirm that Re is present as Re(IV) in the Mo site in molybdenite.Measurement of L_III-edge XANES and EXAFS of a minor concentration (8.55 ppm) of radiogenic Os was accomplished in fluorescence mode by removing the interfering X-rays from Re and other elements using a crystal analyzer system. The data indicate that the oxidation state of radiogenic Os is Os(III) and Os(IV) and clearly different from Os(II) in natural sulfide minerals, such as OsS₂ (erlichmanite). XANES data also suggest that radiogenic Os does not form a secondary Os phase, such as OsS₂ or Os metal, in molybdenite.EXAFS of radiogenic Os was successfully simulated assuming that Os is present in the Mo site in molybdenite. The data are consistent with the XANES data; Os does not form Os phases in molybdenite. The EXAFS simulation showed that the interatomic distance between Os and S is 2.27 Å, which is 0.12 Å smaller than the distances of Re-S and Mo-S (2.39 Å) in molybdenite. Similar valences and ionic sizes of Re and Mo in molybdenite support the fact that large amounts of Re can be incorporated into the Mo site as has been observed in previous studies, whereas the different properties of Os compared to Mo and Re suggested here support much lower abundance of common Os in molybdenite. This makes molybdenite an ideal mineral for the Re-Os geochronometer as shown in many studies. However, the shorter distance between radiogenic Os and S compared to those of Re-S and Mo-S in molybdenite suggests that the radiogenic Os has a smaller ionic size than Re(IV) and Mo(IV). Furthermore, Os may be partly present as Os(III). Smaller and lower charge Os can diffuse faster than larger and higher charge Re in molybdenite at a given set of conditions. Hence, our study provides an atomic-level explanation for the high mobility of Os compared to Re, which has been suggested by earlier workers using laser ablation ICP-MS.