<Emphasis Type="Italic">HST</Emphasis>-COS observations of the transiting extrasolar planetary system HD 209458b

We summarize results from deep spectroscopic observations of the HD 209458 planetary system, carried out with the Hubble Space Telescope—Cosmic Origins Spectrograph. Orbitally resolved observations are used to show that hot gas emission lines, arising only in the stellar atmosphere, are not variable, while lower ionizations species found in the upper atmosphere of the hot Jupiter HD 209458b absorb stellar photons during transit. For both C II and Si III, we find mean transit attenuation of ～8%. The firm detection of silicon is in direct conflict with previous low-resolution studies, which we attribute to long-term variability in the system. We also use these observations to search for auroral emission from the planet, detecting a statistically significant emission feature at 1582 Å that is consistent with H₂ photoexcited by stellar O I photons.     

Role of permeability barriers in alluvial hydromorphic palaeosols: The Eocene Pondaung Formation,Myanmar

This study examines the lateral distribution of hydromorphy in the fine‐grained alluvial deposits of the Eocene Pondaung Formation, central Myanmar. Through detailed outcrop analysis and using a combined sedimentological and pedological approach, this study proposes a reconstruction of Pondaung overbank floodplain palaeoenvironments. The variations of hydromorphic features in the different overbank sub‐environments are then discussed and used to build a model of hydromorphic variability in alluvial deposits. Two main architectural associations with distinctive lithofacies and pedogenic features were identified, corresponding to different sub‐environments: heterolithic deposits and extensive mudstone successions. The heterolithic deposits display variegated fine‐grained lithofacies and contain poorly developed palaeosols with gley and vertic features, which are interpreted to reflect a seasonal wetlands landscape, developed in actively aggrading avulsion belts. Extensive mudstone successions with Vertisols that locally exhibit mukkara‐style pseudogley features are interpreted to represent a distal open‐forested environment. The palaeosols of both sub‐environments display dense local hydromorphic variations they are also characterized by a gradual shift from gley‐dominated to pseudogley‐dominated features with increasing distance from the avulsion belt. The clay‐dominated lithology of the floodplain parent material, which forms numerous subsurface permeability barriers, is shown to have acted as a fundamental control in limiting water‐table dynamics in coarse‐grained parts of the succession, thereby favouring hydromorphic variability. Palaeosol sequences of the Pondaung Formation contrast with the soil‐landscape associations described in other studies and provide an alternative model with which to account for the hydromorphic variability in poorly drained, alluvial soils. The model proposed as an outcome of this study demonstrates that hydromorphic variations can be dramatic in floodplains where permeability barriers are numerous. Further, the model stresses the importance of undertaking detailed lateral palaeosol analyses prior to making interpretations regarding hydromorphic variability.     

Ecological characterization of toxic phytoplankton species (Dinophysis spp., Dinophyceae) in Slovenian mariculture areas (Gulf of Trieste, Adriatic Sea) and the implications for monitoring

Diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP) events are often registered in Slovenian mariculture areas (Gulf of Trieste, Adriatic Sea) and are related to the occurrence of Dinophysis spp. The annual dynamic of this genus and succession of the most important species were studied at two shellfish farms during monitoring fieldwork in the period 1995-2003. Results indicate that the Dinophysis genus maintains a relatively stable inter-annual dynamic at both sites. The Dinophysis community is characterized by two surface maxima in June and September, while in the middle layer only the autumn peak is pronounced (peak median 92 cells l(-1)). Occasional abundance maxima of around 2000 cells l(-1) in the surface layer indicate that potential outbursts of toxic species are less predictable than their seasonal dynamic. On the basis of multivariate analysis, Dinophysis sacculus was characterized as a typical late spring-early summer species, and Dinophysis caudata and Dinophysis fortii as autumn species. Correlation analysis revealed the influence of stratified conditions only on the most abundant species, D. sacculus. Ecological characteristics of the species were combined with shellfish safety requirements towards a more effective monitoring.     

Phylogeny of the Sepia officinalis species complex in the eastern Atlantic extends the known distribution of Sepia vermiculata across the Benguela upwelling region

Accurate species identification and biogeographic characterisation are fundamental for appropriate management of expanding cephalopod fisheries. This study addresses this topic within the common cuttlefish Sepia officinalis species complex (S. officinalis, S. hierredda and S. vermiculata), with an emphasis on occurrence in African waters. Tissue samples from the currently presumed distributions of S. vermiculata and S. hierredda (from South Africa and Ghana/Angola, respectively) were sequenced for the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and the cytochrome b (cytb) genes of the mitochondrial genome and then compared to existing S. officinalis sequences. Three highly divergent and reciprocally monophyletic clades, corresponding to S. officinalis, S. hierredda and S. vermiculata, were resolved, representing the first molecular confirmation of the distinct species status of S. hierredda and S. vermiculata. The sequences also revealed that, contrary to expectations based on presently published information, all samples from southern Angola were S. vermiculata. These results indicate that the range of S. vermiculata extends beyond the currently described northern limit and that S. hierredda and S. vermiculata may be indiscriminately harvested in Angolan waters. Finer-scale patterns within S. vermiculata phylogeography also indicate that the Benguela Current System and/or other environmental factors serve to isolate northern and southern stocks.     

Finite element analysis of three-dimensional groundwater flow problems

A numerical method is presented for analysing either steady state or transient three-dimensional groundwater flow problems. The governing equation is formulated in terms of the finite element process using the Galerkin approach, and cubic isoparametric elements are used to simulate the flow domain as these permit accurate modelling of curved boundaries. Particular attention is paid to the time dependent movement of the phreatic surface where an iterative technique based on the replacement of the original transient problem by a discrete number of steady state problems is used to effect a solution. Furthermore, in tracing the movement of the surface use is made of the element formulation theory in order to compute the normal to the boundary.The validity of the technique is first established by analysing a radially symmetrical problem for which an alternative analytical solution is available. Finally, a general three-dimensional flow system is studied for which there is no known analytical solution. It is shown that relatively few elements are required to yield practical solutions.     

塔里木板块西南缘晚侏罗世古地磁研究

塔里木板块西南缘托云、奥依塔格晚侏罗世古地磁研究,获得了托云地区特征磁化方向:Ds=1.5°,Is=50.8°;古地磁极:λ=81.0°,ψ=247.0°,古纬度31.5°N。奥依塔格地区特征磁化方向:Ds=118.4°,Is=55.9°;古地磁极:λ=4.9°,ψ=120.6°,古纬度=36.4°N。从古地磁结果认为:①托云和奥依塔格相对托云地区产生顺时针旋转;②这两个地区古纬度为31°～36°左右,与塔里木平均古纬度30°N是基本一致的,但与现在纬度差达8°～10°左右,造成纬度差主要原因是构造运动造成的;③塔里木晚侏罗世古地磁亦与华北、华南基本一致,说明晚侏罗世塔里木、华北、华南三板块已联合成一个整体,拼合成统一的中国大陆,其位于热带—亚热带古气候环境。     

阿尔金断裂带东段地表破裂分段研究

对活动断层进行正确的分段有助于我们对地震造成断层的发生、发展过程有一个正确的认识。阿尔金断裂带是青藏高原北部的巨型左旋走滑断裂带 ,将青藏高原和塔里木盆地两大构造单元截然分开。通过对阿尔金断裂带东部青崖子—宽滩山的Spot数字化卫星影像资料进行详细的分析 ,结合研究区内的断错地貌和前人的古地震研究成果 ,对阿尔金断裂带东段进行了地表破裂性分段。将阿尔金断裂带东段青崖子—宽滩山分为 3段 :青崖子—芦草湾为阿克塞破裂段 ;芦草湾—北祁连山逆断裂为疏勒河破裂段 ;北祁连山逆断裂—宽滩山为宽滩山破裂段。其中阿克塞破裂段的最后破裂时间晚于 (5 2 4± 0 4 0 )kaB .P .,疏勒河破裂段最后破裂时间早于 (6 97± 0 5 3)kaB .P .,而宽滩山段的最后破裂时间估计晚于 5kaB     

超高压变质作用不同阶段的流体变化：碧溪岭榴辉岩的氢、硼同位素分析

大别山碧溪岭榴辉岩中有三种含水矿物:多硅白云母、角闪石和黑云母,它们分别是超高压(UHP)阶段(即柯石英榴辉岩相阶段)或者石英榴辉岩相阶段、退变质后成合晶阶段和角闪岩相退变质阶段的产物,本文利用离子探针技术对它们进行了氢同位素和硼同位素的分析。三种矿物内部的同位素组成都是均一的,多硅白云母的δD为-105‰±9‰,δ~(11)B为-25.9‰±2.0‰;角闪石的δD为-100‰±9‰,δ~(11)B为-24.4‰±0.9‰;黑云母的δD为-65‰±4‰,δ~(11)B为-19.3‰±1.3‰。多硅白云母和角闪石的氢-硼同位素组成在误差范围内是相同的,而和黑云母则有明显的差别,这表明,从UHP阶段或者石英榴辉岩相阶段到随后的后成合晶阶段,变质流体是内部缓冲的,而在角闪岩相变质阶段,则有了外来流体的加入,这个流体是相对富集D和~(11)B的。碧溪岭榴辉岩矿物相对于其地壳原岩表现出低δ~(11)B的特征,说明俯冲过程中板块经历了强烈的脱硼。