A geomorphic analysis of Hale crater, Mars: The effects of impact into ice-rich crust

Hale crater, a 125 × 150 km impact crater located near the intersection of Uzboi Vallis and the northern rim of Argyre basin at 35.7°S, 323.6°E, is surrounded by channels that radiate from, incise, and transport material within Hale’s ejecta. The spatial and temporal relationship between the channels and Hale’s ejecta strongly suggests the impact event created or modified the channels and emplaced fluidized debris flow lobes over an extensive area (>200,000 km²). We estimate ∼10¹⁰ m³ of liquid water was required to form some of Hale’s smaller channels, a volume we propose was supplied by subsurface ice melted and mobilized by the Hale-forming impact. If 10% of the subsurface volume was ice, based on a conservative porosity estimate for the upper martian crust, 10¹² m³ of liquid water could have been present in the ejecta. We determine a crater-retention age of 1 Ga inside the primary cavity, providing a minimum age for Hale and a time at which we propose the subsurface was volatile-rich. Hale crater demonstrates the important role impacts may play in supplying liquid water to the martian surface: they are capable of producing fluvially-modified terrains that may be analogous to some landforms of Noachian Mars.     

Transverse Aeolian Ridges (TARs) on Mars II: Distributions, orientations, and ages

Transverse Aeolian Ridges (TARs), 10 m scale, ripple-like aeolian bedforms with simple morphology, are widespread on Mars but it is unknown what role they play in Mars’ wider sediment cycle. We present the results of a survey of all Mars Global Surveyor Narrow angle images in a pole-to-pole study area, 45° longitude wide.Following on from the classification scheme and preliminary surveys of Balme et al. (Balme, M.R., Berman, D.C., Bourke, M.C., Zimbelman, J.R. [2008a]. Geomorphology 101, 703-720) and Wilson and Zimbelman (Wilson, S.A., Zimbelman, J.R. [2004]. J. Geophys. Res. 109 (E10). doi:10.1029/2004JE002247) we searched more than 10,000 images, and found that over 2000 reveal at least 5% areal cover by TARs. The mean TAR areal cover in the study area is about 7% (3% in the northern hemisphere and 11% in the southern hemisphere) but TARs are not homogenously distributed - they are concentrated in the mid-low latitudes and almost absent poleward of 35°N and 55°S. We found no clear correlation between TAR distribution and any of thermal inertia, kilometer-scale roughness, or elevation. We did find that TARs are less common at extremes of elevation.We found that TARs are most common near the equator (especially in the vicinity of Meridiani Planum, in which area they have a distinctive “barchan-like” morphology) and in large southern-hemisphere impact craters. TARs in the equatorial band are usually associated with outcrops of layered terrain or steep slopes, hence their relative absence in the northern hemisphere. TARs in the southern hemisphere are most commonly associated with low albedo, intercrater dune fields. We speculate that the mid-latitude mantling terrain (e.g., Mustard, J.F., Cooper, C.D., Rifkin, M.K. [2001]. Nature 412, 411-414; Kreslavsky, M.A., Head, J.W. [2002]. J. Geophys. Res. 29 (15). doi:10.1029/2002GL015392) could also play a role in covering TARs or inhibiting saltation.We compared TAR distribution with general circulation model (GCM) climate data for both surface wind shear stress and wind direction. We performed GCM runs at various obliquity values to simulate the effects of changing obliquity on recent Mars climate. We found good general agreement between TAR orientation and GCM wind directions from present day obliquity conditions in many cases, but found no good correlation between wind shear stress and TAR distribution.We performed preliminary high resolution crater count studies of TARs in both equatorial and southern intracrater dunefield settings and compared these to superposition relationships between TARs and large dark dunes. Our results show that TARs near dunefield appear to be younger than TARs in the equatorial regions. We infer that active saltation from the large dunes keeps TARs active, but that TARs are not active under present day condition when distal to large dunes - perhaps supporting the interpretation that TARs are granule ripples.We conclude that local geology, rather than wind strength, controls TAR distribution, but that their orientation matches present-day regional wind patterns in most cases. We suggest that TARs are likely most (perhaps only) active today when they are proximal to large dark dune fields.     

Seismic response evaluation of the linked column frame system

The linked column frame (LCF) system is proposed as a seismic load resisting system that uses conventional components to limit seismic damage to relatively easily replaced elements. The LCF features a primary lateral system, denoted the linked column, which is made up of dual columns connected with replaceable links, and a secondary flexible moment frame system with beams having fully restrained connections at one end and simple connections at the other. The linked columns are designed to limit seismic forces and provide energy dissipation via link yielding, while preventing damage to the moment frame under certain earthquake hazard levels. A design procedure is proposed that ensures plastic hinges develop in the links of the linked columns at a significantly lower story drift than when plastic hinges develop in the moment frame beams. The large drift difference helps enable design of this system for two distinct performance states: rapid return to occupancy, where only link damage occurs and relatively simple link replacement is possible, and collapse prevention, where both the links and the beams of the moment frame may be damaged. A series of 3‐story, 6‐story, and 9‐story prototype LCF buildings were designed using the proposed design approach. Nonlinear models were developed for the designs with the link models validated using recent experimental results. The seismic response of these systems was investigated for ground motions representing various seismic hazard levels. Results show that the LCF system not only provides collapse prevention, but also has the capability of limiting economic loss by reducing structural damage and allowing for rapid return to occupancy following earthquakes with shorter return periods. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Optimized standard state and solution properties of minerals

 An internally consistent set of standard state and mixing properties has been derived for olivine, orthopyroxene, garnet, cordierite, and ilmenite in the system FeO-MgO-CaO-Al₂O₃-TiO₂-SiO₂-H₂O from analysis of relevant phase equilibrium and thermophysical data. Solubility of Al₂O₃ in orthopyroxene is accounted for in addition to Fe-Mg mixing. Added confidence in the retrieved properties stems from the representation within reasonable uncertainties of data for seven linearly dependent Fe-Mg exchange equilibria, as well as net transfer equilibria, among the above phases. Critical to successful analysis was the extension of the mathematical programming technique to include bulk composition constraints which force an observed assemblage of fixed composition to be stable at experimentally studied conditions. The final optimization reproduces the extremely tight constraints on endmember properties while invoking very simple macroscopic solution models that afford an excellent opportunity for extrapolation beyond the data considered in this study. Compatibility among the experimental data is improved markedly by incorporation of recently published C_p data on pyrope and forsterite. Electrochemical data defining the oxygen fugacity of Fe-Fa-Qz, Fa-Mt-Qz, and Mt-Hm allow excellent compatibility of almandine thermochemical properties derived from phase equilibrium data obtained at both reducing (Fe-Wst) and oxidizing (Hm-Mt) conditions. Analysis of the combined data involving endmembers and solid solutions removes many of the ambiguities in mixing property magnitudes that arise in analyses of more restricted sets of data. In addition, the consideration of the solid solution data allows further refinement of some endmember properties. Nonideal mixing parameters, although correlated, are well defined by the combination of experimental data, with GOlex>GIlmex>GGtex >GOpxex>GCdex, and 0.7<WOlG<4.1 kJ/atom of isomorphous Fe-Mg at 1000 K. Experiments defining the Al₂O₃ solubility of Opx in equilibrium with Gt and Cd+Qz define negative Fe-Al interactions that have an important effect on Fe-Mg partitioning in Opx. Applications of this data set to high-grade metamorphic rocks are described in a companion paper, published as part II of the present work. Received: 14 September 1994 / Accepted: 20 March 1996     

Evolution of a cloudy protogalaxy interacting with an early galactic wind and galaxy formation

We argue that a combined evidence from galactic and extragalactic studies suggests that a major star formation in giant galaxies is preceded by an evolutionary phase at which a strong galactic wind driven by the initial burst of star formation enriches the gaseous protogalaxy with metals and heats it up, so that the latter turns over from contraction to expansion. The result is the ejection of enriched material from the outer part of the protogalaxy into the intergalactic space, while the inner part, after a delay of about one to a few Gyr, finally contracts and cools down to form the galactic major stellar component (the hot model of galaxy formation). The paper presents a specific mechanism to produce a hot protogalaxy according to which an early galactic wind is imparting energy and momentum into a collapsing protogalaxy whose mass is contained mainly in clouds and only a small portion is in the intercloud gas that provides pressure confinement for the clouds. The model is then capable of accounting for the nearly equal mass and iron abundance in cluster giant galaxies and the intracluster gas provided the observationally plausible input parameters for giant galaxies and early galactic winds are adopted. It also predicts the formation of long-lived X-ray coronae with characteristics similar to those observed around giant ellipticals.The model specifies a characteristic length-scale that can be very naturally interpreted as a size for a stellar system to come; a very encouraging result is that it perfectly fits in with a typical size of giant ellipticals.     

Heat capacity of minerals in the system Na2O-K2O-CaO-MgO-FeO-Fe2O3-Al2O3-SiO2-TiO2-H2O-CO2: representation,estimation, and high temperature extrapolation

A revised equation is proposed to represent and extrapolate the heat capacity of minerals as a function of temperature: C _P=k₀+k₁ T ^–0.5+k₂ T ^–2+k₃ T ^–3 (where k₁, k₂0).This equation reproduces calorimetric data within the estimated precision of the measurements, and results in residuals for most minerals that are randomly distributed as a function of temperature. Regression residuals are generally slightly greater than those calculated with the five parameter equation proposed by Haas and Fisher (1976), but are significantly lower than those calculated with the three parameter equation of Maier and Kelley (1932).The revised equation ensures that heat capacity approaches the high temperature limit predicted by lattice vibrational theory (C _P=3R+²VT/). For 16 minerals for which and have been measured, the average C _Pat 3,000 K calculated with the theoretically derived equation ranges from 26.8±0.8 to 29.3±1.9 J/(afu·K) (afu = atoms per formula unit), depending on the assumed temperature dependence of . For 91 minerals for which calorimetric data above 400 K are available, the average C _Pat 3,000 K calculated with our equation is 28.3±2.0 J/(afu·K). This agreement suggests that heat capacity extrapolations should be reliable to considerably higher temperatures than those at which calorimetric data are available, so that thermodynamic calculations can be applied with confidence to a variety of high temperature petrologic problems.Available calorimetric data above 250 K are fit with the revised equation, and derived coefficients are presented for 99 minerals of geologic interest. The heat capacity of other minerals can be estimated (generally within 2%) by summation of tabulated oxide component C _Pcoefficients which were obtained by least squares regression of this data base.     

Lake Kinneret phytoplankton: Stability and variability during twenty years (1970–1989)

The general features of phytoplankton seasonal succession, abundance and distribution in Lake Kinneret, as based on observations from 1970 through 1989, are summarised. Throughout this period of observation, the large, thecate dinoflagellatePeridinium gatunense formed an annual, late winter to early spring bloom resulting in very high standing stock levels. The dominance of these dinoflagellates has a profound impact upon the lake ecosystem. In the summer and fall the phytoplankton assemblage consisted mainly of nanoplanktonic green and blue-green algae and diatoms. Picophytoplankton, mainly picocyanobacteria, were present in low numbers during the dinoflagellate bloom but reached maximum abundance (10⁵ cells · ml^–1) in the epilimnion during the summer and fall. Within a given year, chlorophyll concentrations correlated well with estimates of wet weight biomass, derived from microscope counts. However, interannual averages of chlorophyll did not correlate closely with those for wet weight biomass. Both wet weight biomass and chlorophyll standing stocks fluctuated more than 2 fold from 1970 through 1989 but no extreme, long-term, continuous trend of increase or decrease was observed. Thus, phytoplankton has remained relatively stable although there has been a significant rise in the levels of summer-fall biomass since 1981. The main factor responsible for this may have been increased available phosphorus; the abundance of phytoplankton did not show any clear, long-term relation to that of herbivorous zooplankton.     

Static cosmological solutions in wesson's 5D theory of gravitation

Assuming that the fifth dimension subspace in Wesson's gravitational theory is also homogeneous and isotropic like in the usual cosmological model, we find static solutions for the length's scale-factor, while other quantities of the theory may still vary, like masses, as in the static model of the conformally invariant theory of Hoyle and Narlikar.     

HyLogger-3, a visible to shortwave and thermal infrared reflectance spectrometer system for drill core logging: functional description

Australian Geological Surveys are the custodians of a major national asset in the form of historically drilled and archived drill cores of the top few kilometres of the continent acquired by government agencies and companies over many decades. The AuScope National Virtual Core Library (NVCL) component of the AuScope Earth Model comprises geological/rock samples, technology, people and database/delivery infrastructure located in six nationally distributed nodes and is aimed at extracting additional value from this asset. The technology components of the NVCL comprise an integrated suite of hardware (HyLogger-3) and software (TSG-Core) systems for the imaging and hyperspectral characterisation of drill cores in their original core trays and the interpretation of their contained oxide, carbonate, hydrous and anhydrous silicate mineralogy. The HyLogger-3 includes state-of-the-art Fourier Transform Spectrometers that continuously measure calibrated spectral reflectance from nominal 10 by 18 mm fields of view. These spectra are in turn passed through a series of automatic and semi-automatic pre-processing and mineralogical unmixing algorithms. These, along with numerous other tools in TSG-Core, output a variety of mineralogical and image products for use by scientists in many branches of the earth sciences. This paper provides a functional overview of the HyLogging hardware and software tools available in each of Australia's Geological Surveys.