Ti-in-zircon thermometry applied to contrasting Archean metamorphic and igneous systems

Ti-in-zircon thermometry with SHRIMP II multi-collector has been applied to two well-documented Archean igneous and metamorphic samples from southern West Greenland. Zircons from 2.71 Ga partial melt segregation G03/38 formed in a small (< 1 m³), closed system within a mafic rock under high pressure granulite facies conditions. Results of 14 Ti analyses present a mean apparent zircon crystallization temperature of 679 ± 11 °C, underestimating independent garnet-clinopyroxene thermometry by 20–50 °C but consistent with reduced a_TiO2 in this system. 36 spot analysis on 15 zircons from 3.81 Ga meta-tonalite G97/18, with an estimated magmatic temperature > 1000 °C, yield a low-temperature focused normal distribution with a mean of 683 ± 32 °C, further demonstrated by high resolution Ti mapping of two individual grains. This distribution is interpreted to represent the temperature of the residual magma at zircon saturation, late in the crystallization history of the tonalite. Hypothetically, Ti-in-zircon thermometry on Eoarchaean detrital zircons sourced from such a high temperature tonalite would present a low-temperature biased image of the host magma, which could be misconstrued as being a minimum melt granite. Multiple analyses from individual zircons can yield complex Ti distributions and associated apparent temperature patterns, reflecting cooling history and local chemical environments in large magma chambers. In addition to inclusions and crystal imperfections, which can yield apparent high temperature anomalies, zircon surfaces can also record extreme (> 1000 °C) apparent Ti temperatures. In our studies these were traced to ⁴⁹Ti (or a molecular isobaric interference) contamination derived from the double sided adhesive tape used in sample preparation, and should not be assigned geological significance.     

Temporal analysis of Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) performance based on remotely sensed precipitation products

No study has systematically evaluated streamflow modelling between monthly and daily time scales. This study examines streamflow from seven watersheds across the USA where five different precipitation products were used as primary input into the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) to generate simulated streamflow. Time scales examined include monthly, dekad (10 days), pentad (5 days), triad (3 days), and daily. The seven basins studied are the San Pedro (Arizona), Cimarron (north‐central Oklahoma), mid‐Nueces (south Texas), mid‐Rio Grande (south Texas and northern Mexico), Yocano (northern Mississippi), Alapaha (south Georgia), and mid‐St. Francis (eastern Arkansas). The precipitation products used to drive simulations include rain gauge, NWS Multisensor Precipitation Estimator, Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission (TRMM), Multi‐Satellite Precipitation Analysis, TRMM 3B42‐V6, and Climate Prediction Center Morphing Method (CMORPH). Understanding how streamflow varies at sub‐monthly time scales is important because there are a host of hydrological applications such a flood forecast guidance and reservoir inflow forecasts that reside in a temporal domain between monthly and daily time scales. The major finding of this study is the quantification of a strong positive correlation between performance metrics and time step at which model performance deteriorates. Better performing simulations, with higher Nash–Sutcliffe values of 0.80 and above can support modeling at finer time scales to at least daily and perhaps beyond into the sub‐daily realm. These findings are significant in that they clearly document the ability of SWAT to support modeling at sub‐monthly time steps, which is beyond the capability for which SWAT was initially designed. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The pace of Holocene vegetation change – testing for synchronous developments

Mid to high latitude forest ecosystems have undergone several major compositional changes during the Holocene. The temporal and spatial patterns of these vegetation changes hold potential information to their causes and triggers. Here we test the hypothesis that the timing of vegetation change was synchronous on a sub-continental scale, which implies a common trigger or a step-like change in climate parameters. Pollen diagrams from selected European regions were statistically divided into assemblage zones and the temporal pattern of the zone boundaries analysed. The results show that the temporal pattern of vegetation change was significantly different from random. Times of change cluster around 8.2, 4.8, 3.7, and 1.2 ka, while times of higher than average stability were found around 2.1 and 5.1 ka. Compositional changes linked to the expansion of Corylus avellana and Alnus glutinosa centre around 10.6 and 9.5 ka, respectively. A climatic trigger initiating these changes may have occurred 0.5 to 1 ka earlier, respectively. The synchronous expansion of C. avellana and A. glutinosa exemplify that dispersal is not necessarily followed by population expansion. The partly synchronous, partly random expansion of A. glutinosa in adjacent European regions exemplifies that sudden synchronous population expansions are not species specific traits but vary regionally.     

A new specimen of Ichthyosaurus communis from Dorset,UK, and its bearing on the stratigraphical range of the species

This paper describes a new ichthyosaur specimen from the Stonebarrow Marls Member (Charmouth Mudstone Formation) of Charmouth, Dorset. It is substantially complete and various characters of the skull (snout ratios and basioccipital morphology) and appendicular skeleton (the number of digits on the hind paddle, which can be used to infer the number of digits on the front paddle) indicate that the specimen is referable to Ichthyosaurus communis. This provides the first direct evidence for the presence of I. communis in the Pliensbachian, extending the stratigraphic range of the species. The specimen also preserves a probable gullet content, which demonstrates that fish formed part of the diet of this individual.     

Evaluating a nonionic surfactant as a tool to improve water availability in irrigated cotton

Nonionic surfactants have been well researched in turf grass environments as a tool to ameliorate water‐repellant conditions. However, few studies have evaluated the risks and benefits of nonionic surfactant applications in row‐crop agricultural systems. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of a nonionic surfactant on cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) production on a Faceville loamy sand (fine, kaolinitic thermic Typic Kandiudult) in the coastal plain region of Georgia. The experiment consisted of two components: (1) on‐site rainfall simulation and (2) agronomic cotton field trials. Treatments were designed to test the impact of rate and frequency of surfactant applications using six combinations of application rates and timings. For the rainfall simulation component, only the control (0·0 L ha^?1) and high rate (0·51 L ha^?1) of surfactant applications were evaluated. During the field trial, soil water content, cotton stand counts, and yield were measured. Rainfall simulations showed that the addition of surfactant increased runoff, decreased infiltration, and promoted surface sealing. Despite the demonstrated potential for water loss, agronomic field trials showed that crop yields were not significantly different between surfactant‐treated and untreated plots. No differences in soil water content were observed between treatments at 5 and 15 cm depths; however, soil water content was significantly higher in untreated control plots at the 30 cm depth. Data demonstrate the need for clarification of soil physical/chemical properties and surfactant interactions that may lend themselves to the creation of surface seals and how these seals impact soil/water conservation and crop yield. Published in 2009 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Precession of the isolated neutron star PSR B1828−11

Stairs, Lyne & Shemar have found that the arrival-time residuals from PSR B1828−11 vary periodically with a period ≈500 d. This behaviour can be accounted for by precession of the radio pulsar, an interpretation that is reinforced by the detection of variations in its pulse profile on the same time-scale. Here, we model the period residuals from PSR B1828−11 in terms of precession of a triaxial rigid body. We include two contributions to the residuals: (i) the geometric effect, which arises because the times at which the pulsar emission beam points towards the observer varies with precession phase; and (ii) the spin-down contribution, which arises from any dependence of the spin-down torque acting on the pulsar on the angle between its spin     and magnetic     axes. We use the data to probe numerous properties of the pulsar, most notably its shape, and the dependence of its spin-down torque on     , for which we assume the sum of a spin-aligned component (with a weight  1 − a   ) and a dipolar component perpendicular to the magnetic beam axis (weight a ), rather than the vacuum dipole torque  ( a = 1)  . We find that a variety of shapes are consistent with the residuals, with a slight statistical preference for a prolate star. Moreover, a range of torque possibilities fit the data equally well, with no strong preference for the vacuum model. In the case of a prolate star, we find evidence for an angle-dependent spin-down torque. Our results show that the combination of geometrical and spin-down effects associated with precession can account for the principal features of the timing behaviour of PSR B1828−11, without fine tuning of the parameters.     

Precession as a probe of the neutron star interior

Strong evidence that some neutron stars precess (nutate) with long periods (∼1 yr) challenges our current understanding of the neutron star interior. I describe how neutron star precession can be used to constrain the state of the interior in a new way. I argue that the standard picture of the outer core, in which superfluid neutrons coexist with type II, superconducting protons, requires revision. One possible resolution is that the protons are not type II, but type I. Another possibility is that the neutrons are normal in the outer core. I conclude with a brief discussion of the implications for detectable gravitational wave emission from millisecond pulsars. Much of the work described here was supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant AST-00098728.     

A 421-d activity cycle in the BeX recurrent transient A0538–66 from MACHO monitoring

We present a ∼5-yr optical light curve of the recurrent Be/X-ray transient A0538–66 obtained as a by-product of the MACHO Project. These data reveal both a long-term modulation at P =420.8±0.8 d and a short-term modulation at 16.6510±0.0022 d which, within errors, confirms the previously found orbital period. Furthermore, the orbital activity is only seen at certain phases of the 421-d cycle, suggesting that the long-term modulation is related to variations in the Be star envelope.     

Shock features in iron-nickel metal and troilite of L-group ordinary chondrites

Abstract— Shock metamorphic features in opaque minerals (FeNi metal and troilite) of 22 L chondrites have been studied petrographically and geochemically in an attempt to establish a connection between the present silicate-based shock classification scheme (Stöffler et al., 1991) and the peak-shock and postshock thermal history recorded in these minerals. Unshocked to weakly shocked (S1–S3) L chondrites contain FeNi metal and troilite that display textures related to normal, slow cooling. They may also contain rare disequilibrium shock features, which suggest localized departures from equilibrium shock conditions. Above shock stage S3, selected melting of FeNi metal and troilite produces melt droplets whose composition and abundance correspond to the maximum equilibrium shock state achieved by the sample. At these higher shock levels, the abundance of other shock-induced features, such as polycrystalline kamacite, sheared and fizzed troilite, coarse-grained pearlitic plessite, polycrystalline troilite, and polymineralic melt veins serve as textural criteria that can be used to establish peak-shock conditions. Minimum postshock temperatures obtained from analyses of plessite components show a systematic increase in temperature with an increase in shock stage, thereby providing additional information about the postshock thermal histories of L chondrites. At the highest shock levels recorded in L chondrites (S6 and above), melting and chemical homogenization of FeNi metal produces flattened Ni profiles that may partially to completely obscure any evidence for an earlier, slow-cooling history. All of these features serve as aids for shock classifying L chondrites as well as for quantifying minimum peak temperatures that resulted during shock metamorphism.