Galaxies as complex systems

... all for the want of a nail. English nursery rhyme Feedback is the essential property of multiphase models for the evolution of galaxies. In this review, we stress the generic behavior of toy models to highlight those features that are inevitable consequences of assumptions in the current catalog of galactic evolution calculations. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

VLBI观测频率转换效应的模拟试验(英文)

本文利用一个相对VLBI观测者的新工具，通过使用多个高斯分量模拟所得到的数据，估计了在5GHz和1．6GHz之间频率切模的效率．基于对所获得的结果图的分析，得到有关频率切模技术的结论以及建议．     

Solving Kepler’s equation using implicit functions

A new approach to solve Kepler’s equation based on the use of implicit functions is proposed here. First, new upper and lower bounds are derived for two ranges of mean anomaly. These upper and lower bounds initialize a two-step procedure involving the solution of two implicit functions. These two implicit functions, which are non-rational (polynomial) Bézier functions, can be linear or quadratic, depending on the derivatives of the initial bound values. These are new initial bounds that have been compared and proven more accurate than Serafin’s bounds. The procedure reaches machine error accuracy with no more that one quadratic and one linear iterations, experienced in the “tough range”, where the eccentricity is close to one and the mean anomaly to zero. The proposed method is particularly suitable for space-based applications with limited computational capability.     

Magnetic Fields in Star-Forming Regions: Theoretical Aspects

We review the basic theoretical elements leading to our current understanding of the role of magnetic fields in the process of star formation. In particular, we concentrate on: (i) the relevance of the mass-to-flux ratio for the stability of molecular clouds; (ii) the consequences of magnetic flux leakage for the evolution of cloud cores; (iii) the phase of anisotropic dynamical collapse following the formation of strongly peaked density distributions; (iv) the mechanism of magnetic braking as a possible solution to the angular momentum problem in star formation.     

The Piànico tephra: an early Middle Pleistocene record of intraplate volcanism in the Mediterranean

ABSTRACT Distal tephra are a valuable record of the volcano-tectonic evolution of an area under study. Here, we document the case of the Early Middle Pleistocene rhyolitic tephra of Piànico, discovered in the Southern Italian Alps. The geochemical characteristics of Piànico are unique among the distal tephra outcropping in Italy and indicate an intraplate volcanism at the source. The alkali composition and trace elements show a striking resemblance with the rhyolitic complex of the Euganean Hills, located 170 km from Piànico. However, these rhyolites are much older (Oligocene). Alternatively, the source of this intraplate volcanic episode could be located in the southern Tyrrhenian Sea.     

Chemical and isotopic assessment in volcanic thermal waters: Cases of Ischia (Italy) and São Miguel (Azores,Portugal)

Isotopic fractionation of ¹⁰B/¹¹B provides a sound tool for identifying hydrogeochemical processes in complex areas, owing to its ability to discriminate between various scenarios. In addition, the occurrence of boron as a minor element in areas of active volcanism allows its use in comparison with concentrations of other conservative or non‐conservative ions. This allows the detection of water mixtures of diverse origin and temperature, deep or shallow, including fresh water, seawater and even brines. This tool was applied in studies of the volcanic islands of Ischia and São Miguel, across widely differing geographical and climatic contexts. Five groups of waters have been identified in Ischia Island: marine, transition, hot carbonated, cold carbonated and fresh waters. For São Miguel Island the identified groups are cold carbonic, hot carbonic, boiling and acidic boiling waters. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Limitations of chemical dating of monazite

Instrumental and spectral characteristics germane to chemical dating of monazite have been tested using the Cameca SX-100 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Statistical analysis demonstrates that, for trace element analysis, equal counting time on peak and background is required for optimal statistical precision, thus rendering impractical the procedure of fitting the entire spectrum to obtain background values. Energy shifts require shifting the detector voltage window between peak and background positions, and it is concluded that the differential auto PHA mode works optimally for this.Analyses of Pb-free phosphates, silicates, and oxides are used to measure spectral interferences with the PbM_α peak and background positions. Backgrounds were modeled using both linear and exponential fits. It was found that the difference in background counts using the two fits varies with each of the five spectrometers examined, and that the high-pressure (3 bar) detectors show larger differences in exponential vs. linear peak-minus-background (P-B) values than the low-pressure (1 bar) detectors. In addition, every spectrometer requires a unique correction for every major element in monazite. An analytical protocol is presented that incorporates these results. This protocol was applied to several monazite standards to determine inter-spectrometer variability, and spectrometer reproducibility from session to session. It was found that the difference in composition (and age) between spectrometers on identical spots exceeds the 2 sigma standard error of the mean of composition (or age) on either spectrometer. This means that (a) additional sources of error beyond the counting statistics exist between spectrometers; (b) the precision of microprobe ages cannot be continuously improved by additional counting; and (c) the minimum realistic precision is on the order of ± 2–3% for monazites with around 1500–2000 ppm total Pb, or an additional absolute uncertainty of 20–50 ppm Pb.     

Geophysical investigation of a mineral groundwater resource in Turkey

The hydrogeological conditions in Uludag (Nilufer River catchment, Bursa, Turkey) were assessed, using time-domain electromagnetic soundings, electrical resistivity and induced polarisation tomography, to detect the most promising zones for new water-well siting, in order to increase the quantity of water for bottling. The hydrogeological model is quite complex: deep mineral and thermal water rises from a main vertical fault which separates two lithological complexes. The highly mineralised (deep) water is naturally mixed with low mineralised water at a shallow depth, 30–40 m; the mixed mineral water is found in some surface springs and shallow wells, while the highly mineralised water is found at depth in some unused deep wells located close to the main fault. All the water points (springs and wells) are located inside a “mineral water belt” on the north side of the Nilufer River. The geophysical survey confirmed the hydrogeological model and highlighted four promising zones for well siting (zones with very low electrical resistivity and high induced polarisation anomalies, corresponding to the main water-bearing faults). One of the geophysical anomalies, the furthest from the exploited sources, was verified by means of a test well; the drilling results have confirmed the water mixing model.     

Coastal Phytoplankton Do Not Rest in Winter

The climatology and interannual variability of winter phytoplankton was analyzed at the Long Term Ecological Research Station MareChiara (LTER-MC, Gulf of Naples, Mediterranean Sea) using data collected from 1985 to 2006. Background winter chlorophyll values (0.2–0.5 μg chl a dm⁻³) were associated with the dominance of flagellates, dinoflagellates, and coccolithophores. Winter biomass increases (<5.47 μg chl a dm⁻³) were often recorded until 2000, generally in association with low-salinity surface waters (37.3–37.9). These blooms were most often caused by colonial diatoms such as Chaetoceros spp., Thalassiosira spp., and Leptocylindrus danicus. In recent years, we observed more modest and sporadic winter biomass increases, mainly caused by small flagellates and small non-colonial diatoms. The resulting negative chl a trend over the time series was associated with positive surface salinity and negative nutrient trends. Physical and meteorological conditions apparently exert a strict control on winter blooms, hence significant changes in winter productivity can be foreseen under different climatic scenarios.     

Soiling of limestone in an urban environment characterized by heavy vehicular exhaust emissions

The inorganic and organic chemical composition of weathering sulphate patinas on the limestone walls of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, UK, have been analysed by FT-IR spectroscopy, pyrolysis gas-chromatography/mass spectrometry and scanning electron microscopy. The College location is characterized by heavy vehicular exhaust emissions including those from diesel powered public transport vehicles due to its proximity to the main Cambridge coach station. A complex mixture of gaseous and particulate air pollutants are found deposited in the weathering patinas including organic compounds (such as PAHs), which represent markers for present-day vehicular pollution. Slight differences in composition between patinas collected at different heights on the building facades with, in particular, more evidence for a biogenic overprint in samples collected at roof level as opposed to ground (street) level are found. Analytical results confirm how building stones in urban areas acted in the past and still do today as passive repositories for any kind of gaseous and particulate air pollutant present in the surrounding atmosphere; accordingly, weathering patinas are slowly changing their composition to accommodate new classes of present-day air pollutants.