The role of sticky interstellar organic material in the formation of asteroids

Abstract— Collision experiments and measurements of viscoelastic properties were performed involving an interstellar organic material analogue to investigate the growth of organic grains in the protosolar nebula. The organic material was found to be stickiest at a radius of between 2.3 and 3.0 AU, with a maximum sticking velocity of 5 m s^?1 for millimeter‐size organic grains. This stickiness is considered to have resulted in the very rapid coagulation of organic grain aggregates and subsequent formation of planetesimals in the early stage of the turbulent accretion disk. The planetesimals formed in this region appear to be represent achondrite parent bodies. In contrast, the formation of planetesimals at <2.1 and >3.0 AU begins with the establishment of a passive disk because silicate and ice grains are not as sticky as organic grains.     

Geoarchaeological investigation of lithic resources in the central Mesa Verde region,Colorado, USA

An important question in Southwestern archaeological research is how social and economic ties between prehistoric groups changed through time. The chemical and mineralogical matching of stone tools and ceramics to source areas is one approach to addressing this question. Here we challenge the assumption that igneous rocks used for manufacturing stone tools and ceramics in the Mesa Verde region of Colorado were originally derived from the Chuska Mountains of New Mexico. Recent geological surveys suggest that small igneous features present in and around Mesa Verde National Park and Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Park contain similar lithologies and may represent a local source. We systematically visited seven of these igneous exposures and nine downstream gravel deposits, looking for geological sources and quarry sites matching the lithology of analyzed debitage from this region. Our results suggest that the ancestral Puebloans could have procured such igneous rocks as aphanitic minette and trachybasalt pottery temper from local areas. Because the trachybasalt is usually thought to have been imported from the Chuska Mountains, this discovery may require a revision of interpreted trade networks based on pottery temper and lithic raw material distinctions. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

海洋生物-光学算法研究──南黄海叶绿素浓度的估算

根据１９９５年９月中日合作南黄海现场观测资料，对南黄海生物－光学算法进行研究。首先对南黄海现场多光谱反射比数据进行因子分析，解反射比协方差矩阵的特征问题；解出特征值和对应的特征向量，求出主因子，然后建立叶绿素α对主因子的多元线性回归方程，并对算法进行回报和预报检验。计算结果表明，该算法具有较高精度，同时也显示出天气条件对估算精度产生较大影响。     

Twelve centuries of blooming dates of the cherry blossoms at the city of Kyoto and its own vicinity

Summary Blooming dates of the cherry blossoms at the city of Kyoto (old capital of Japan) and its own vicinity are given in chronological order extending over twelve centuries. Examination of this documentary evidence in Japan shows a long period from 11th century until 14th century colder than the average, while the years since have been characterized by earlier blooming even though there is a definite sequence of fluctuation between late and early.     

A spectroscopic study of the microorganism model of interstellar grains

The microorganism model of interstellar grains is investigated by spectroscopy from the infrared (IR), visible to the ultraviolet (UV) wave regions.E. coli, yeast and spores ofBacillus subtilis exhibit absorption bands at =3.1 and 9.7 m; they also exhibit several absorptions at 68 m which are in agreement with the observed IS extinction curves.To obtain the extinction curves in the visible and UV regions, dry films of microorganism are prepared on a MgF₂ plate or synthesized quartz plate and their spectra measured. In the wavelength region 190400 nm, conventional spectrophotometers are adopted for the measurement. The extinction curve of the film ofE. coli is similar to the observed IS curve.For the wave-range 100<<400 nm, a vacuum UV spectrometer is adopted to avoid absorptions due to O₂ in the atmosphere. The extinction spectra by this method are in agreement with the result obtained by the conventional method where comparison is possible. The extinction curves ofE. coli and yeast are such that they incrase towards the short wavelength and exhibit a peak at -190 nm, which is different from the well-known IS peak at =220 nm. It remains to be seen whether interstellar low temperatures (1040 K) can shift the peak position in the extinction curve of biochemical materials.     

Strontium isotopic and chemical variations of the granitic rocks in the Tsukuba district,Japan

Initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios, major and trace element compositions have been determined for the Paleogene granitic rocks in the Tsukuba district, Japan. Isotopic ages strongly suggest that the granitic rocks (seven units) were continuously emplaced and solidified during a short time interval. Initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios for seven granitic units vary from 0.7082 to 0.7132, while sedimentary and metasedimentary country rocks have ratios at the time of granitic magma emplacement ranging from 0.7149 to 0.7298. Continuous linear arrays for the granitic rocks in the diagrams of initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios versus some chemical parameters can be explained by either of following two processes. One is the assimilation — fractional crystallization (AFC) process between the parental magma (SiO₂ of 68% and initial ratio of 0.7078) and sedimentary country rocks, and the other is magma mixing process between above parental magma and sediment derived acidic magma (melt) (SiO₂ of 75%). The high initial ratios (0.7078–0.7098) for basic rocks such as gabbro or diorite in the Tsukuba district and the similar characteristics observed in the rocks of Ryoke belt (SW Japan) suggest that the parental magma had the same source region as the basic rocks, probably the lower crustal source.     

Amino acids derived from Titan tholins

An organic heteropolymer (Titan tholin) was produced by continuous dc discharge through a 0.9 N2/0.1 CH4 gas mixture at 0.2 mbar pressure, roughly simulating the cloudtop atmosphere of Titan. Treatment of this tholin with 6N HCl yielded 16 amino acids by gas chromatography after derivatization of N-trifluroacetyl isopropyl esters on two different capillary columns. Identifications were confirmed by GC/MS. Glycine, aspartic acid, and alpha- and beta-alanine were produced in greatest abundance; the total yield of amino acids was approximately 10(-2), approximately equal to the yield of urea. The presence of "nonbiological" amino acids, the absence of serine, and the fact that the amino acids are racemic within experimental error together indicate that these molecules are not due to microbial or other contamination, but are derived from the tholin. In addition to the HCN, HC2CN, and (CN)2 found by Voyager, nitriles and aminonitriles should be sought in the Titanian atmosphere and, eventually, amino acids on the surface. These results suggest that episodes of liquid water in the past or future of Titan might lead to major further steps in prebiological organic chemistry on that body.     

The anticyclonic eddies just south of jet stream

Summary The importance of the hydrodynamic instability for the formation of anticyclonic eddies just south of westerly jet stream in the middle latitudes is pointed out. Finally, the author would like to call attention for his earlier works on dynamic instability in 1941.

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Zusammenfassung Die Bedeutung der hydrodynamischen Instabilität für die Bildung antizyklonaler Wirbel direkt südlich des westlichen Freistrahlstromes in mittleren Breiten wird dargelegt. Ferner macht der Verfasser auf seine früheren Untersuchungen von 1941 über dynamische Instabilität aufmerksam.

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Résumé L'auteur montre l'importance de l'instabilité hydrodynamique pour la formation de tourbillons anticycloniques immédiatement au Sud du courant d'Ouest (jet stream) aux latitudes moyennes. Il rappelle ensuite ses précédentes recherches de 1941 sur l'instabilité dynamique.

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With 2 figures.     

Phugoid motion of whirlwinds in the atmosphere

Summary The movements of whirlwinds are discussed along the line of the phugoid theory, and it is concluded that the path of whirlwinds has the shape of a trochoid.     

Optical constants of organic tholins produced in a simulated Titanian atmosphere: From soft x-ray to microwave frequencies

As part of a continuing series of experiments on the production of dark reddish organic solids, called tholins, by irradiation of cosmically abundant reducing gases, the synthesis from a simulated Titanian atmosphere of a tholin with a visible reflection spectrum similar to that of the high altitude aerosols responsible for the albedo and reddish color of Titan has been reported Sagan and Khare, 1981, Sagan and Khare, 1982, Orig. Life. 12, 280) and [C. Sagan, B. N. Khare, and J. Lewis, in press. In Saturn (M. S. Matthews and T. Gehrels, Eds.), Univ. of Arizona Press, Tucson]. The determination of the real (n) and imaginary (k) parts of the complex refractive index of thin films of such tholin prepared by continuous D.C. discharge through a 0.9 N₂/0.1 CH₄ gas mixture at 0.2 mb are reported. For $\text{250}\text{A}\text{?}\text{≤ γ ≤ 1000 μ}\text{m}\text{, n}\text{and}\text{k}$ have been determined from a combination of transmittance, specular reflectance, interferometric, Brewster angle, and ellipsometric polarization measurements; experimental uncertainties in n are estimated to be ±0.5, and in k ± 30%. Values of n(?1.65) and k (?0.004 to 0.08) in the visible range are consistent with deductions made by ground-based and spacecraft observations of Titan. Maximum values of k (?0.8) are near 1000 Å, and minimum values (?4 × 10^?4) are near 1.5 μm. Many infrared absorption features are present in k(γ), including the 4.6-μm nitrile band.