Constraints on dark matter physics from dwarf galaxies through galaxy cluster haloes

One of the predictions of the standard cold dark matter model is that dark haloes have centrally divergent density profiles. An extensive body of rotation curve observations of dwarf and low surface brightness galaxies shows the dark haloes of those systems to be characterized by soft constant-density central cores. Several physical processes have been proposed to produce soft cores in dark haloes, each one with different scaling properties. With the aim of discriminating among them we have examined the rotation curves of dark-matter-dominated dwarf and low surface brightness galaxies and the inner mass profiles of two clusters of galaxies lacking a central cD galaxy and with evidence of soft cores in the centre. The core radii and central densities of these haloes scale in a well-defined manner with the depth of their potential wells, as measured through the maximum circular velocity. As a result of our analysis we identify self-interacting cold dark matter as a viable solution to the core problem, where a non-singular isothermal core is formed in the halo centre surrounded by a Navarro, Frenk & White profile in the outer parts. We show that this particular physical situation predicts core radii in agreement with observations. Furthermore, using the observed scalings, we derive an expression for the minimum cross-section ( σ ) which has an explicit dependence with the halo dispersion velocity ( v ). If m _x is the mass of the dark matter particle: σ m _x ≈4×10⁻²⁵ (100 km s⁻¹  v ⁻¹) cm² GeV⁻¹.     

H αfiltergram observations of ellerman bombs and its magnetic reconnection model

From theH filtergram observations obtained at Ganyu station, identification and statistic works made for Ellerman bombs, it is found that they often occur in the superpenumbra area of a mature sunspot. We suggest a plasmoid model to account for the basic properties of a typical bomb: lifetime 11 min, diameter 5 × 10⁷ cm, accompanying jet velocity 40 km/s, total energy 10²⁷ erg,Te 10⁴ K. First, a numerical simulation is made to prove that plasmoids can be lifted from the solar convective zone by magnetic buoyancy. Between the plasmoid and its surroundings a strong current sheet builds up in which a peculiar MHD (with plasma ponderamotive force) - resistive instability takes place. After the magnetic reconnection has begun, a local explosive instability ensues whose growth rate is so high that it allows the exhaustion of the high temperature particles from the sheet in a short period. In this way, the temperature of a bomb may be kept unchanged or only rise slightly.     

Analytical simulation of the dynamic compressive strength of a granite using the sliding crack model

A sliding crack model is employed to simulate rock strength under dynamic compression. It is assumed that the growth and nucleation of a sliding crack array presented results in the shear fault failure and dominate the mechanical properties of rock material. The pseudo‐tractions method is used to calculate the stress intensity factor of the sliding crack array under compression. With the utilization of a dynamic crack growth criterion, the growth of the sliding crack array is studied and the simulated strengths of a granite under dynamic compression are correspondingly obtained. It is concluded that the simulated rock strengths increase with increasing strain rates at different confining pressures, and the rising rates have a trend to decrease with increasing confining pressures. It is also indicated that the simulated rock strengths increase with increment of confining pressure at different strain rates, and the rising rates are almost identical at different strain rates. The simulation results are validated by the experimental data for the granite. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synchronous climate anomalies in the western North Pacific and North Atlantic regions during the last 14,000 years

A peat cellulose δ¹⁸O record spanning around 14,000 years from the Hani peat mire in northeastern China reveals several abrupt temperature anomalies in the period from the last deglaciation through the Holocene. The timing of these anomalies coincides well with the notable cooling events recorded respectively using the GISP2 ice core and ice-rafted sediment of the North Atlantic Ocean, such as the Older Dryas, Inter-Allerød, Younger Dryas, and the nine ice-rafted debris events. The results demonstrate that this repeating pattern of abrupt temperature deterioration is not limited to the North Atlantic area at high latitude but also exists in the western North Pacific region at middle latitude. The synchronous temperature anomalies possibly are resulted from the joint effects of meltwater discharge into the North Atlantic Ocean and reduced solar activity. In the period from around 8600 to 8200 cal. yrs BP the Hani peat record shows a broad δ¹⁸O peak that may reflect compound climate signals resulting from the two kinds of forcing factors: the temperature drop related to reduced solar activity at around 8600–8250 cal. yrs BP, and the temperature anomaly attributed to the meltwater effect at around 8220 ± 70 cal. yrs BP. This result may provide palaeo-temperature evidence for existence of the sharp “8.2 k” event in the western North Pacific region. In addition, our results have revealed that in the period from the last deglaciation through the Holocene the synchronous temperature anomalies before and after the “8.2 k” event seem to be related to meltwater outflow and reduced solar activity, respectively. It is important that the all temperature anomalies—whether because of reduced solar activity in the late Holocene or from meltwater discharge in the early Holocene—are accompanied by an abrupt decline in the Indian Ocean summer monsoon and abrupt strengthening of the East Asian summer monsoon. It is likely that reduced solar activity and meltwater outflow appear to modulate Earth system changes in the same direction. The influences could be compounded. Reduced solar activity and meltwater outburst both appear to act as triggers for occurrence of the El Niño phenomenon in the equatorial Pacific Ocean, which may result in broad teleconnections between the temperature anomaly in the Northern Hemisphere and abrupt variation of the Asian monsoon.     

A distributed approach for estimating catchment evapotranspiration: comparison of the combination equation and the complementary relationship approaches

In large river basins, there may be considerable variations in both climate and land use across the region. The evapotranspiration that occurs over a basin may be drastically different from one part of the region to another. The potential influence of these variations in evapotranspiration estimated for the catchment is weakened by using a spatially based distributed hydrological model in such a study. Areal evapotranspiration is estimated by means of approaches requiring only meteorological data: the combination equation (CE) model and the complementary relationship approach—the complementary relationship areal evapotranspiration (CRAE) and advection–aridity (AA) models. The capability of three models to estimate the evapotranspiration of catchments with complex topography and land‐use classification is investigated, and the models are applied to two catchments with different characteristics and scales for several representative years. Daily, monthly, and annual evapotranspiration are estimated with different accuracy. The result shows that the modified CE model may underestimate the evapotranspiration in some cases. The CRAE and AA models seem to be two kinds of effective alternatives for estimating catchment evapotranspiration. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The fossil vertebrates from Lano (Basque Country, Spain); new evidence on the composition and affinities of the Late Cretaceous continental faunas of Europe

A newly discovered fossil locality at Lano (Basque Country) has yielded a vertebrate assemblage of probably Maastrichtian age comprising fishes, amphibians, reptiles and mammals. It considerably enlarges our knowledge of the Late Cretaceous continental faunas of Europe, hitherto based on a much less complete record. Some taxa are recorded for the first time in Europe, and the fauna also contains the oldest known representatives of some groups (amphisbaenians, salamandrids). The Lan assemblage reveals an original fauna comprising both forms related to Asian and North American groups and elements with Gondwanan affinities.     

Heat flow and depth to a possible internal ocean on Triton

The Raz Fossae, a pair of ≈15-km wide trough en echelon interpreted as grabens, can be used to propose an estimation of the depth to the brittle-ductile transition on Triton. This estimation may in turn give an idea of the thermal state of Triton's icy lithosphere when these features formed. Given the young age of its surface, the conclusions obtained could be roughly applicable to the present state of this satellite of Neptune. Considering water or ammonia dihydrate as possible components of the lithosphere and a feasible range of strain rates, it was estimated that surface heat flow is greater than that inferred from radiogenic heating, especially for a lithosphere dominated by water. Also, an internal ocean could lie at a depth of only ∼20 km beneath the surface. The presence over the surface of an insulating layer of ice of low thermal conductivity (e.g., nitrogen) or of regolith would only substantially alter these estimates if the effective surface temperature were considerably higher than the observed value of 38 K.