Long-term variations of the location of the upper boundary of the hydrogen-sulphide zone in the Black Sea

We analyze the dependence of climatic variations of the location of the upper boundary of the hydrogen-sulphide zone in the Black Sea on the variations of the sea level and various types of atmospheric circulation (according to A.A. Girs). It is discovered that the level of correlation between the indicated parameters is high and that the corresponding plots are in good qualitative agreement. The accumulated results enable us to make an assumption that there exists an 80–100-yr cycle of variation of all analyzed parameters and that the long-term variations of the location of the upper boundary of the hydrogen-sulphide zone can be regarded as a manifestation of global climatic variations. Translated by Peter V. Malyshev and Dmitry V. Malyshev     

Relative microbial activity and mineralization associated with water masses in the lower Cook Inlet,Alaska

A study of the microbial uptake and respiration (mineralization) of radioactive glutamic acid was made in 141 surface water samples in the Cook Inlet, Alaska during three sampling periods (October, 1976; April, 1977; and November, 1977). The rate at which the test substrate was incorporated into cell material plus that respired as CO₂ was used to calculate the relative microbial activity. A northern water mass with salinities less than 31 showed high rates of relative microbial activity but low mineralization rates as indicated by respiration of¹⁴CO₂. The reverse pattern was seen in the water mass (salinity higher than 31) to the south which was more typical of coastal water. These data suggest that the organic nutrients in these two water masses are quite different either qualitatively or quantitatively. This study illustrates how the observed measurement of relative microbial activity might be helpful in defining specific water masses.(The publication of this article was unintentionally delayed owing to a fault in secretarial routine.)Published as Technical Paper No. 6009, Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station.     

Motions in the field of two rotating magnetic dipoles. III: Zero-velocity curves and surfaces

The zero-velocity curves and surfaces created by two parallel or antiparallel magnetic dipoles moving on concentric circles are computed. It is found that for all combinations of values of the mass parameter µ and the ratio of the magnitudes of the magnetic moments of the two dipoles, there exist closed regions inside of which charged particles are permanently trapped.     

Intrinsic orbital coordinates on a Hamiltonian surface

A reversible dynamical system with two degrees-of-freedom is reduced to a second-order, Hamiltonian system under a change of independent variable. In certain circumstances, the reduced order system may be integrated following an orthogonal curvilinear transformation from Cartesian x,y to intrinsic orbital coordinates , . Solutions for the orbit position and true time variables are expressed by: % MathType!MTEF!2!1!+- % feaafeart1ev1aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn % hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqtubsr % 4rNCHbGeaGGipm0dc9vqaqpepu0xbbG8F4rqqrFfpeea0xe9Lq-Jc9 % vqaqpepm0xbba9pwe9Q8fs0-yqaqpepae9pg0FirpepeKkFr0xfr-x % fr-xb9adbaqaaeGaciGaaiaabeqaamaabaabaaGcbaGaamiEaiabg2 % da9iaadAgacaGGOaGaeqOVdGNaaiilaiabeE7aOjaacMcacaGGSaGa % aeiiaiaadMhacqGH9aqpcaWGNbGaaiikaiabe67a4jaacYcacqaH3o % aAcaGGPaGaaiilaiaabccacaWGKbGaamiDaiabg2da9iabgglaXoaa % dmaabaWaaSaaaeaacaWGibWaa0baaKqaahaacqaH+oaEaeaacaqGYa % aaaOGaam4raiabgUcaRiaadIeadaqhaaqcbaCaaiabeE7aObqaaiaa % ikdaaaGccaWGfbaabaGaaGOmaiaacIcacaWGibGaey4kaSIaamyvai % aacMcaaaaacaGLBbGaayzxaaWaaWbaaSqabKqaGhaacaaIXaGaai4l % aiaaikdaaaGccaWGKbGaeqiXdqhaaa!6498! \[ x = f(\xi ,\eta ),{\rm{ }}y = g(\xi ,\eta ),{\rm{ }}dt = \pm \left[ {\frac{{_\xi ^{\rm{2}} {\ie} + _\eta ^2 }}{{2( + U)}}} \righ \]1446 1040 where U is the potential function, and z is the new independent variable. The functions f, g may be expressed by quadratures when the metric coefficients {\er},{\ie} are specified. Two second-order, partial differential equations specify {\er}, {\ie} and Hamiltonian {\tH}. Auxiliary conditions are needed because the solutions are underdetermined. For example, both sets of curvilinear coordinate lines are orbits when certain dynamical compatibility conditions between U and {\ie} (or {\er}) are satisfied. Alternatively, when orbits cross the parametric curves, the auxiliary condition {\er} = {\ie} specifies a conformal transformation, and the partial differential equation for {\tH} may be reduced to an ordinary differential equation for the orbit curve. In either case, integrability is guaranteed for Lionville dynamical systems. Specific applications are presented to illustrate direct solution for the orbit (e.g., two fixed centers) and inverse solution for the potential.     

The University of Durham Southern Hemisphere VHE gamma ray telescope

The design of very high energy (VHE) gamma ray telescopes is discussed and it is shown that a triple-mirror telescope operating in threefold fast coincidence provides an effective instrument. The design, construction and operation of a large VHE gamma ray telescope with an energy threshold of 300 GeV (at the zenith) and incorporating several novel features is described. The use of a coincidence guard ring technique is shown to result in the rejection of about 50% of the off-source (proton) events which form a high background and limit the sensitivity of such telescopes.     

Studies on post-flare loop prominence of 1981 April 27

By use of the H observations of the Astrophysical Observatory in Catania, Italy and the Purple Mountain Observatory in Nanking, China as well as hard X-ray and gamma-ray burst data from the Solar Maximum Mission (SMM) Gamma-Ray Spectrometer (GRS), a major eruptive loop prominence was studied during the limb solar flare event of 1981 April 27.Our preliminary analysis shows that there seems to exist a second abrupt energy release for this event, almost 20 min after the end of the impulsive phase of the flare. This energy release is probably associated with the rapidity in upward motion or activation of the loop prominence.A possible candidate for such a process could be the reconnection of the old magnetic field with a newly emerging magnetic field.A theoretical gross estimate for the energy release and particle acceleration has also been made in this work. It appears that the proposed model for charged particle acceleration is very efficient.     

Application of a new evolutionary model for stellar populations to photometric maps of M32

We have developed a new model of evolutionary synthesis of stellar population, from a working cyclical approximation to a general solution for the mass and time dependence of the birth function of stars. The general solution enables us to introduce a functionG(t): the ratio of gas injected into a defined region to that which forms stars in the same time interval, at timet. This function, by relating directly the output of dying stars with the formation of the next generation, allows us to make analytical approximations (in the absence of more accurate numerical information) to the macroscopic evolution of stellar populations in a well-defined zone of a galaxy.The model has been initially applied to 4 zones of the dwarf elliptical M32 (NGC 221) where, usingU, B, V from the literature, and our own photometric maps inJ andK, we obtained the following results: (a) Star formation in the most recent 10⁸ years is lower by a factor 3–4 in a zone 68 arc sec (200 pc) from the nucleus than in the nuclear zone. (b) The metallicity appears to be a little lower in a zone diametrically away from the parent galaxy M31 than in a zone towards M31 at the same galactocentric distance (c) TheM/L ratio is a factor 2 higher at 200 pc from the nucleus towards M31, than in the nuclear zone. (d) A high concentration of mass is evident in the nuclear zone. (e) The estimated age of all the zones is of the same order,1.5×10¹⁰ yr.     

The ionization mechanism in low level emission galaxy nuclei: Shocks

We analyze the emission component of galaxy nuclei at very low intensity levels (W(H)2Å). This emission level is considerably lower than that of classical LINERS like NGC 1052. We have access to weaker emission lines by averaging spectra with similar line ratios for H [NII], and [SII]. From the resulting spectrum for very low level emission nuclei, the [SII] 6717, 6731/[SIII] 9069, 9532 line ratio criterion (Diazet al., 1985a) unambiguously shows that shock-wave heating is the mechanism responsible for the ionization in such objects.     

Radiometry of near-earth asteroids

We report 10 micrometers infrared photometry for 22 Aten, Apollo, and Amor asteroids. Thermal models are used to derive the corresponding radiometric albedos and diameters. Several of these asteroids appear to have surfaces of relatively high thermal inertia due to the exposure of bare rock or a coarse regolith. The Apollo asteroid 3103, 1982 BB, is recognized as class E. The Jupiter-crossing Amor asteroid 3552, 1983 SA, is confirmed as class D, but low albedos remain rare for near-Earth asteroids.     

The UV spectrum of the binary system SZ Psc

In this paper we study the far-UV as well as the UV spectrum of the spectroscopic binary system SZ Psc in the wavelength ranges 1235–1950 Å and 2710–3090 Å, respectively, from spectra obtained with the International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE). The UV spectrum of SZ Psc is mainly an emission spectrum. The short wavelength region includes emission lines formed from the low chromosphere to the transition region (e.g., Siiv,Civ, andNv) and also a deep and broad absorption line of Feii.The Mgii[1] resonance doublet at about 2800 Å presents a P Cygni profile and a multiple structure with two emission and two absorption satellite components. We also present the emission measure diagram in the temperature region 4.4T _e <53.