Ice crystal shape effects on solar radiative properties of Arctic mixed-phase clouds—Dependence on microphysical properties

Based on 1-year cloud measurements with radar and microwave radiometer broadband solar radiative transfer simulations were performed to quantify the impact of different ice crystal shapes of Arctic mixed-phase clouds on their radiative properties (reflectance, transmittance and absorptance). The ice crystal shape effects were investigated as a function of microphysical cloud properties (ice volume fraction f_i, ice and liquid water content IWC and LWC, mean particle diameter D_m^I and D_m^W of ice/water particle number size distributions, NSDs).The required NSDs were statistically derived from radar data. The NSD was composed of a liquid and a solid mode defined by LWC, D_m^W (water mode) and IWC, D_m^I (ice mode). It was found that the ratio of D_m^I and D_m^W determines the magnitude of the shape effect. For mixed-phase clouds with D_m^I ≤ 27 μm a significant shape effect was obtained. The shape effect was almost insensitive with regard to the solar zenith angle, but highly sensitive to the ice volume fraction of the mixed-phase cloud. For mixed-phase clouds containing small ice crystals (D_m^I ≤ 27 μm) and high ice volume fractions (f_i > 0.5) crystal shape is crucial. The largest shape effects were observed assuming aggregates and columns. If the IWC was conserved the shape effect reaches values up to 0.23 in cloud reflectance and transmittance. If the ice mode NSD was kept constant only a small shape effect was quantified (≤ 0.04).     

Major and trace elements in German bottled water,their regional distribution,and accordance with national and international standards

The market for mineral water has been growing steadily over the last few years. Germany is the country with the highest number of bottled mineral water brands (908 bottled water samples from 502 wells/brands were analyzed). The per capita consumption of mineral water in Germany in 2003 was 129 L. A wide range of values of one to seven orders of magnitude was determined for 71 elements in the bottled water samples analyzed by ICP-QMS, ICP-AES, IC, titration, photometric, conductometric and potentiometric methods. A comparison of the element concentrations and the legal limits for both bottled and tap water (EU, Germany, US EPA, WHO) shows that only 70% of the 908 mineral water samples fulfill the German and EU drinking water (i.e., tap water) regulations for all parameters (not including pH) for which action levels are defined. Nearly 5% of the bottled water samples not fulfill the German and EU regulations for mineral and table water. Comparison of our results with the current German and European action levels for mineral and table water shows that only 42 of the bottled water samples exceed the limits for one or more of the following elements: arsenic, nitrate, nitrite, manganese, nickel and barium concentrations. Ten of the bottled water samples contain uranium concentrations above the 10 μg/L recommended limit.     

(Na,Ca)(Ti3+,Mg)Si2O6-clinopyroxenes at high pressure: influence of cation substitution on elastic behavior and phase transition

A compressional study of (Na,Ca)(Ti³⁺,Mg)Si₂O₆-clinopyroxenes was carried out at high pressures between 10⁻⁴ and 10.2 GPa using in situ single-crystal X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and optical absorption spectroscopy. Compressional discontinuities accompanied by structural changes, in particular, the appearance of two distinct Ti³⁺–Ti³⁺ distances within the octahedral chains at 4.37 GPa, provide evidence for the occurrence of a phase transition in NaTi³⁺Si₂O₆. Equation-of-state parameters are K ₀ = 115.9(7) GPa with K′ = −0.9(3) and K ₀ = 102.7(8) GPa with K′ = 4.08(5) for the low- and high-pressure range, respectively. The transition involves a C2/c–P [`1] \overline{1} symmetry change, which can be confirmed by the occurrence of new modes in Raman spectra. Since no significant discontinuity in the evolution of the unit-cell volume with pressure has been observed, the transition appears to be second-order in character. The influence of the coupled substitution Na⁺Ti³⁺↔Ca²⁺Mg²⁺ on the static compression behavior and the structural stability has been investigated using a sample of the intermediate composition (Na_0.54Ca_0.46)(Mg_0.46Ti_0.54)Si₂O₆. No evidence for a deviation from continuous compression behavior has been found, neither in lattice parameter nor in structural data and the fit of a third-order Birch–Murnaghan equation-of-state to the pressure–volume data yields a bulk modulus of K ₀ = 109.1(5) GPa and K′ = 5.02(13). Raman and polarized absorption spectra have been compared to NaTiSi₂O₆ and reveal major similarities. The main driving force for the phase transition in NaTi³⁺Si₂O₆ is the localization of the Ti³⁺ d-electron and the accompanying distortion, which is suppressed in the (Na,Ca)(Ti³⁺,Mg)Si₂O₆-clinopyroxene.     

Plasma Jet Experiments Using LULI 2000 Laser Facility

We present experiments performed with the LULI2000 nanosecond laser facility. We generated plasma jets by using specific designed target. The main measured quantities related to the jet such as its propagation velocity, temperature and emissive radius evolution are presented. We also performed analytical work, which explains the jet evolution in some cases.     

Book reviews

Pure and Applied Geophysics -     

Carbon isotope geochemistry of the Precambrian Lomagundi carbonate province,Rhodesia

Carbon isotope measurements carried out on 67 dolomite samples from the Middle Precambrian Lomagundi Group (Rhodesia) have yielded a δ¹³C mean of +8.2 ± 2.6%. vs PDB. With the outcrop of these dolomites extending over a distance of almost 300 km, the Lomagundi dolomite faces is likely to represent the largest isotopically anomalous sedimentary carbonate province ever recorded. It is concluded that the anomalous carbonates formed in a closed basin whose δ¹³C level had been substantially increased as a result of a preferential removal (within sedimentary organics) of the light carbon isotope.     

Coupling among the terrestrial sulfur,carbon and oxygen cycles: numerical modeling based on revised Phanerozoic carbon isotope record

Numerical modeling of the terrestrial oxygen budget based on the revised δ¹³C_carb record by Veizeret al. (1980) has shown that total photosynthetic oxygen has varied between ±7% and ±10% of its average reservoir size (～3.2 × 10²² g) during the last 800 myr as a result of oscillations of the sedimentary reservoir of organic carbon. Calculated curves of oxygen evolution display a distinct minimum in the Early Paleozoic framed by two maxima in the Latest Proterozoic and the Mesozoic. The sympathetic relationship observed between the curves of total oxygen evolution and respective functions for the partial reservoir of sulfate-bound oxygen suggests that the O₂ required for an additional conversion of sulfide to sulfate was most probably provided by excess burial of organic carbon, the results of the modeling thus adding credence to current interpretations proposed for the negative correlation between the secular ${}^{13}\text{C}{}^{12}\text{C}$ and ${}^{34}\text{S}{}^{32}\text{S}$ trends.