The Evershed Effect in Sunspots: A Theoretical Explanation

The siphon flow model, consisting in the simulation of a flow of gas moving along a thin magnetic flux tube and driven by the pressure drop between its footpoints, is proposed to explain the observational features of the Evershed effect, one of the longstanding problems in solar physics. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The construction of extreme compositions

If a geochemical compositional dataset X (n×p)is a realization of a physical mixing process, then each of its sample (row) vectors will approximately be a convex combination (mixture) of a fixed set of (l×p)extreme compositions termed endmembers. The kpoints in p-space corresponding to a specified set of k (klinearly independent endmember estimates associated with a p-variate (n×p)compositional dataset X,define the vertices of a (k–1)dimensional simplex H.The nestimated mixtures X (n×p)which together account for the systematic variation in the dataset X,should each be convex combinations of the kfixed endmember estimates. Accordingly,the npoints in p-space which represent these mixtures should be interior points of the simplex H.Otherwise, for each sample point which lies outside H,at least one of the mixture coefficients (endmember contributions) will be negative. The purpose of this paper is to describe procedures for expanding H in the situation that its vertices are not a set of extreme points for the set which represents the mixtures.     

Styles of volcano-induced deformation: numerical models of substratum flexure, spreading and extrusion

The gravitational deformation of volcanoes is largely controlled by ductile layers of substrata. Using numerical finite-element modelling we investigate the role of ductile layer thickness and viscosity on such deformation. To characterise the deformation we introduce two dimensionless ratios; Π_a (volcano radius/ductile layer thickness) and Π_b (viscosity of ductile substratum/failure strength of volcano). We find that the volcanic edifice spreads laterally when underlain by thin ductile layers (Π_a>1), while thicker ductile layers lead to inward flexure (Π_a<1). The deformation style is related to the switch from predominantly horizontal to vertical flow in the ductile layer with increasing thickness (increasing Π_a). Structures produced by lateral spreading include concentric thrust belts around the volcano base and radial normal faulting in the cone itself. In contrast, flexure on thick ductile substrata leads to concentric normal faults around the base and compression in the cone. In addition, we show that lower viscosities in the ductile layer (low Π_b) lead to faster rates of movement, and also affect the deformation style. Considering a thin ductile layer, if viscosity is high compared to the failure strength of the volcano (high Π_b) then deformation is coupled and spreading is produced. However, if the viscosity is low (low Π_b) substratum is effectively decoupled from the volcano and extrudes from underneath it. In this latter case evidence is likely to be found for basement compression, but corresponding spreading features in the volcano will be absent, as the cone is subject to a compressive stress regime similar to that produced by flexure. At volcanoes where basement extrusion is operating, high volcano stresses and outward substratum movement may combine to produce catastrophic sector collapse. An analysis of deformation features at a volcano can provide information about the type of basement below it, a useful tool for remote sensing and planetary geology. Also, knowledge of substratum geology can be used to predict styles of deformation operating at volcanoes, where features have not yet become well developed, or are obscured.     

Arsenite adsorption on galena (PbS) and sphalerite (ZnS)

Arsenite, As(III), sorption on galena (PbS) and sphalerite (ZnS) was investigated as a function of solution composition and characterized using X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). Adsorption conformed to a Langmuir isotherm except at the highest surface loadings, and it was not strongly affected by changes in ionic strength. Arsenite sorbed appreciably only at pH > ∼5 for PbS and pH ∼4.5 for ZnS, behavior distinct from its adsorption on other substrates. Arsenite adsorption on PbS and ZnS resulted in the conversion from As-O to As-S coordination. Arsenite does not adsorb through ligand-exchange of surface hydroxyl or sulfhydryl groups. Rather, it forms a polynuclear arsenic sulfide complex on ZnS and PbS consistent with the As₃S₃(SH)₃ trimer postulated by Helz et al. (1995) for sulfidic solutions. This complex was unstable in the presence of oxidizing agents and synchrotron light—it quickly converted to As(V), which was largely retained by the surface. These data illustrate the complexity of As(III) adsorption to even simple sulfide minerals.     

Future productivity and phenology changes in European grasslands for different warming levels: implications for grassland management and carbon balance

Background

Europe has warmed more than the global average (land and ocean) since pre-industrial times, and is also projected to continue to warm faster than the global average in the twenty-first century. According to the climate models ensemble projections for various climate scenarios, annual mean temperature of Europe for 2071–2100 is predicted to be 1–5.5 °C higher than that for 1971–2000. Climate change and elevated CO₂ concentration are anticipated to affect grassland management and livestock production in Europe. However, there has been little work done to quantify the European-wide response of grassland to future climate change. Here we applied ORCHIDEE-GM v2.2, a grid-based model for managed grassland, over European grassland to estimate the impacts of future global change.

Results

Increases in grassland productivity are simulated in response to future global change, which are mainly attributed to the simulated fertilization effect of rising CO₂. The results show significant phenology shifts, in particular an earlier winter-spring onset of grass growth over Europe. A longer growing season is projected over southern and southeastern Europe. In other regions, summer drought causes an earlier end to the growing season, overall reducing growing season length. Future global change allows an increase of management intensity with higher than current potential annual grass forage yield, grazing capacity and livestock density, and a shift in seasonal grazing capacity. We found a continual grassland soil carbon sink in Mediterranean, Alpine, North eastern, South eastern and Eastern regions under specific warming level (SWL) of 1.5 and 2 °C relative to pre-industrial climate. However, this carbon sink is found to saturate, and gradually turn to a carbon source at warming level reaching 3.5 °C.

Conclusions

This study provides a European-wide assessment of the future changes in productivity and phenology of grassland, and their consequences for the management intensity and the carbon balance. The simulated productivity increase in response to future global change enables an intensification of grassland management over Europe. However, the simulated increase in the interannual variability of grassland productivity over some regions may reduce the farmers’ ability to take advantage of the increased long-term mean productivity in the face of more frequent, and more severe drops of productivity in the future.

     

A design chart for the plastic collapse of corrugated cylinders under external pressure

The paper presents a theoretical and an experimental investigation into the plastic collapse of circular steel corrugated cylinders under external hydrostatic pressure. The experimental investigation gives a detailed study of 9 steel corrugated cylinders which were tested to destruction. Six of these cylinders failed by plastic non-symmetric bifurcation buckling and three failed by plastic axisymmetric deformation. The results of these tests were used, together with the results obtained from previous tests, to present a design chart for the plastic collapse of these vessels. The design chart was obtained by a semi-empirical approach, where the thinness ratios of the vessels were plotted against their plastic knockdown factors. The process of using the design chart is to calculate the theoretical elastic instability pressure for a perfect vessel by the finite element method and also to calculate the thinness ratio for this vessel. Using the appropriate value of the thinness ratio, the plastic knockdown factors are obtained from the design chart. To obtain the actual collapse pressure of the vessel, the theoretical elastic instability pressure for a perfect vessel is divided by the plastic knockdown factor. This work is of importance in ocean engineering. A large safety factor must also be introduced.     

Cellular iron contents of plankton during the Southern Ocean Iron Experiment (SOFeX)

Iron (Fe) availability limits phytoplankton biomass and production in large regions of the Southern Ocean and influences community composition and size structure, which may affect C export and other system-level functions. To improve our understanding of Fe partitioning within communities and the response of different components to fertilization, we assessed the cellular Fe contents of individual diatoms, autotrophic flagellates, and heterotrophic flagellates during the recent Southern Ocean Fe Experiment using synchrotron-based X-ray fluorescence (SXRF). Dual ⁵⁵Fe/¹⁴C radioisotope incubations were also conducted to estimate Fe:C ratios in size-fractionated plankton. Cellular Fe quotas determined by the two techniques were in close agreement when low amounts of ⁵⁵Fe (0.2 nM) were added, but ⁵⁵Fe additions of 2 nM resulted in 2–3-fold higher quotas. SXRF assessments of cellular Fe quotas (normalized to C) were generally in good agreement with prior bulk analyses of natural assemblages, but revealed compositional differences among protistan taxa not previously detected. Mean Fe:C ratios for diatoms, autotrophic flagellates, and heterotrophic flagellates from unfertilized waters were 6.0, 8.7, and 14.1 μmol mol C⁻¹, respectively. Smaller cells had higher Fe:C ratios than larger cells. Fertilization enhanced Fe quotas in all cell types, with mean Fe:C ratios increasing approximately 4-fold (from about 10 to about 40 μmol mol C⁻¹) after two Fe additions. This study provides some of the first measurements of Fe quotas in phytoplankton cells from natural communities and the first measurements of Fe quotas in natural protozoa.