Paleocratering of the Moon: Review of post-Apollo data

As a result of the dating of lunar samples, we are in a position to utilize the lunar surface as a recorder of environmental conditions in the Earth-Moon neighborhood in the past. Plots of crater density vs rock age at different lunar landing sites can be used to date unexplored lunar provinces. These plots also demonstrate evolution in the population of planetesimals that struck the Moon. Prior to 4.1 aeons ago, the cratering rate on the Moon was at least 10³ times the present rate, and the rate declined with a half-life less than 8×10⁷ yr. During the interval from 4.1 to 3.2 aeons ago, the number of planetesimals showed an exponential decay with a half-life about 3×10⁸ yr, corresponding to sweep-up of particles from solar orbits somewhat similar to those of Apollo asteroids. A more nearly constant cratering rate applied in the last three aeons. These data indicate that the Moon displays at least the final stages of an ancient accretion process; they also set certain conditions on possible capture processes relating to the Moon's origin. Pre-Apollo expectations that the Moon would provide a Rosetta Stone for interpreting solar system history and planet formation thus appear justified.Paper given at Philadelphia meeting of American Association for Advancement of Science, December, 1971.     

Structure of the Earth’s circumsolar dust ring

Interplanetary dust particles from comets and asteroids pervade the Solar System and become temporarily trapped into orbital resonances with Earth, leading to a circumsolar dust ring. Using the unique vantage point of the Spitzer Space Telescope from its Earth-trailing solar orbit, we have measured for the first time the azimuthal structure of the Earth’s resonant dust ring. There is a relative paucity of particles within 0.1 AU of the Earth, followed by an enhancement in a cloud that is centered 0.2 AU behind Earth with a width of 0.08 AU along the Earth’s orbit. The North ecliptic pole is ∼3% brighter at 8 μm wavelength when viewed from inside the enhancement. The presence of azimuthal asymmetries in debris disks around other stars is considered strong evidence for planets. By measuring the properties of the Earth’s resonant ring, we can provide “ground truth” to models for interactions of planets and debris disks, possibly leading to improved predictions for detectability of life-bearing planets. The low amplitude of the azimuthal asymmetry in the Earth’s circumsolar ring suggests significant contributions to the zodiacal light from particles that are large (>30 μm) or have large orbital eccentricity that makes capture into mean motion resonances inefficient.     

Identification of Atlantic water inflow on the north Svalbard shelf during the Holocene

Nordaustlandet is located in the northeastern part of the Svalbard archipelago, within the northernmost reach of the West Spitsbergen Current. This current transports Atlantic water to the Arctic Ocean along the western and northern Svalbard margins. This region is well-suited for reconstructing the history of changing Atlantic water inflow to the Arctic Ocean. We studied the marine sediment core HH12-04-GC from Rijpfjorden. Benthic foraminiferal assemblages and sedimentological data are combined to reconstruct the palaeoenvironment of the fjord from the end of the last local deglaciation to the late Holocene. The local deglaciation, between 11.3 and 10.6 cal ka bp , was dominated by active glacier calving processes, associated with a strong inflow of Atlantic water. This led to the establishment of glaciomarine conditions. The Holocene was initially characterised by a relatively stable and warm environment associated with a strong contribution of Atlantic water. Glaciomarine influence progressively decreases after 9.7 cal ka bp and the Atlantic water contribution increases. The late Holocene displayed a similar environment to today, with the influence of glaciomarine conditions and limited Atlantic water inflow. These results confirm that Atlantic water inflows made a continuous contribution to northern Nordaustlandet throughout the postglacial period.     

The use of7LiOH-impregnated filters for the collection of acidic gases and analysis by instrumental neutron activation analysis

A simple system was designed using⁷LiOH-impregnated filters to collect acidic gases from ambient air and from highly concentrated volcanic plumes or gas streams. These filters were developed for analysis using instrumental neutron activation analysis, but other analytical techniques could be used as well. The sampling system was designed to use a series of 1–3 M⁷LiOH-impregnated filters to collect high concentrations of acidic gases found in gas plumes of active volcanoes. The filters are quantitative for SO₂ and the halide acids when sufficient base is present to neutralize the acidic species. Extremely high concentrations of SO₂ may not be collected quantitatively since SO₂ is a relatively weak Lewis acid compared to the halide acids. The acidic oxides of Sb, As, and Se were also collected quantitatively. A particle filter preceded the impregnated filters in order to remove particles from the fumes. This system has proven effective under difficult sampling conditions and, since it is portable and light weight, it could be used for many volcanological applications where high levels of acidic gaseous phase species need to be collected.     

Archaea,the tree of life,and cellular evolution in eukaryotes

The early history of life harbours many unresolved evolutionary questions, none more important than the genomic origin and cellular evolution of eukaryotes. An issue central to eukaryote origin concerns the position of eukaryotes in the tree of life and the relationship of the host lineage that acquired the mitochondrion some two billion years ago to lineages of modern-day archaea. Recent analyses indicate that the host lineage branches within the Archaea, prompting the search for novel archaeal lineages that can improve our understanding of the cellular evolution of eukaryotes. Here we give a brief review of the studies on Archaea, the tree of life and the cellular evolution of eukaryotes, which is followed by an overview of recent progress fueled by new genomic technologies and recent status of archaeal research in China. Future directions for the study of early evolution are considered.     

Submarine groundwater discharge and benthic biogeochemical zonation in the Huanghe River Estuary

Submarine groundwater discharge(SGD) has received increasing attention by studies on coastal areas; however,its effects on biogeochemical zonation have not been investigated to date. The Huanghe River Estuary(HRE) is a world class river estuary with high turbidity, and heavy human regulation. This study investigated how SGD is related to the benthic biogeochemistry of the HRE. Based on the distribution of several parameters(e.g., salinity,temperature, dissolved oxygen(DO) levels, p H, radium iso...     

Brønsted reactions on oxide mineral surfaces and the temperature-dependence of their dissolution rates

The pH-dependence of oxide dissolution rates is controlled by Brønsted acid-base reactions at the mineral surface. These reactions are rapid but depend explicitly on temperature, as do the subsequent slow rates of bond hydrolysis. The net result is that dissolution rates vary in a complicated fashion with temperature and solution pH. The enthalpy changes of acid-base reactions on oxide materials are sufficiently similar, however, that general statements can be made about their contribution. The enthalpy changes from proton adsorption to a hydroxyl functional group (SOH), or to a deprotonated functional group (SO ^–), are generally exothermic. The enthalpy changes become increasingly endothermic, however, as charge accumulates on the mineral surface and the charged species interact electrostatically. The result is that mineral dissolution rates are least sensitive to temperature, as measured with an Arrhenius-like rate law, at pH conditions near the Point of Zero Net Proton Charge.     

Using Spatial Statistics to Examine the Pattern of Urban Land Development in Halifax–Dartmouth

This article examines the locational patterns of population and employment and the resultant changes in urban form in the Halifax–Dartmouth region between 1970 and 1996. The article employs the univariate and bivariate K function to measure spatial dependence or clustering within and between the classes of residential and commercial land parcels. The results of the K function estimates suggest that residential land parcels cluster together, commercial land parcels cluster together, and residential and commercial land parcels have become more clustered over time. Evidence of clustering provides insight into the changing urban form of the region and possible multinucleation.