Distances from auroral zones to the magnetic and geographic equators

Distance from auroral zone is a fundamental parameter in studies of disturbances produced in the thermosphere and ionosphere through the action of the solar wind. Calculations showing the great variation of the distances of the auroral “zones” from the magnetic equator and geographic equator are presented in diagrams. An auroral zone proximity index is proposed for use in correlative studies of upper atmosphere and of ionospheric disturbances.     

Measuring Polar-Angle Errors in Imaged Helioseismology

A sixteen-day sequence of GONG full-disk Dopplergrams was computer-rotated by plus and minus 1° with respect to the midpoint of the equator to produce two additional data sets simulating errors in the instrumental alignment with the rotation axis. The unrotated and two rotated data sets were then reduced to produce tables of mode linewidths and line-peak powers. The line characteristics of the two rotated sets were compared to the unrotated set for 20 l 120. It was found that the linewidths increased as much as 55% and the line-peak powers decreased as much as 17%, with increasing l. These results are in good agreement with an earlier model (Kennedy, 1997). Differential linewidths studies indicated that the GONG instrument-network rotation-axis alignment was within 0.048° ± 0.040° during the period of the observation.     

Interplanetary scintillation observations of interaction regions in the solar wind

Co-rotating interaction regions (CIRs) between fast and slow streams of plasma are a prominent feature of the solar wind. Measurements of interplanetary scintillation (IPS) using the three widely separated antennas of the EISCAT facility have been used to detect the compression regions at the leading edges of interaction regions and to determine the location and velocity of the structure. Observations show that interaction regions have developed as close to the Sun as 25–30 solar radii, a result supported by theoretical modelling which shows that the conditions needed for CIRs to develop exist inside 30 solar radii.     

Post-collisional volcanism in a sinking slab setting—crustal anatectic origin of pyroxene-andesite magma, Caldear Volcanic Group, Neogene Alborán volcanic province, southeastern Spain

Caldear Volcanic Group (CVG), a stratigraphically well defined, calc-alkaline rock complex within S^a de Gata in the eastern part of the Alpine Betic mountain chain, S Spain, consists of three distinct formations: Hernández pyroxene andesites, Bujo hornblende-bearing pyroxene andesites and Viuda hornblende-bearing pyroxene dacites–rhyolites. The letter rock formation may have developed through crystal fractionation of mainly plagioclase and pyroxenes, however there is no direct relation between two formations. CVG has a domainal structure with a northeastern domain where Hernández formation is overlain by Bujo formation while Viuda formation is absent, and a southwestern domain where Viuda formation forms the only fractionate after Hernández formation. Hernández parent magma is thought generated through crustal anatexis by dehydration melting of a predominantly amphibolitic source rock complex which was formed by metamorphism from c. 500 Ma volcano-sedimentary parent material. The domainal structure of CVG is explained by compositional variation within this protogenetic complex. Single crystal U–Pb ages of c. 500 Ma to 1800 Ma for inherited zircon support the presence of clastic material of Proterozoic derivation within the original volcano-sedimentary complex. Regional study of syn-collisional rock formations (Alpine nappe complexes) indicate that the collisional tectonic stage in the Betic-Rif orogenic belt took place rather early (25–30 Ma?) and was followed by a stage of rapid regional rock uplift, fast cooling (c. 500°C/my) and extensional tectonics in the period 22–17 Ma. This later tectonic stage was set into motion by slab break-off which set the stage for a high temperature regime in the overlying lithosphere, providing the framework for the crustal melting and magma production responsible for the calc-alkaline rocks of Alborán volcanic province. Miocene zircon with ages ranging from c. 17 to 11 Ma indicate a rather protracted magmatic development prior to eruption at c. 11 Ma. Post-collisional character of Caldear Volcanic Group thus seems well established.     

Selective Depletions and the Abundances of Molecules Used to Study Star Formation

We have investigated the dependences of the fractional abundances of a number of species on the selective depletions of elemental carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and sulphur, as well as metals. Of the most commonly observed species, HCO₊ is the one having the fractional abundance that is least sensitive to the selective elemental depletions and for this reason is a particularly appropriate species to study in efforts to diagnose collapse dynamics in star formation from the analysis of infall signatures in spectral line profiles. We suggest that a combination of molecules could be the focus of observations aimed at the investigation of collapse dynamics. Comparisons of the profiles of spectral features of these species would also give insight into the behaviours of the selective depletions of the different elements in the infalling gas.     

Progressive development of quartz fabrics in a shear zone from Monte Mucrone,Sesia-Lanzo Zone,Italian Alps

Quartz c-axis fabrics are described from a shear zone in a jadeite — garnet bearing meta-granite from Monte Mucrone, in the Sesia-Lanzo Zone of the western Italian Alps. Quartz blebs in the meta-granitoid are progressively deformed into cigar shaped lenses, and are recrystallized. Fabrics measured from individual blebs show considerable variation resulting from an initial orientation effect, and are not very enlightening. A synoptic diagram, however, has a pole-free area which can be correlated with the extension direction, and an asymmetry which is consistent with the known sense of shear operating in the zone.Although the technique of preparing synoptic diagrams is rather painstaking, its use is advocated for complex fabric situations, as it may allow partial removal of problems associated with non-random initial orientation distributions.     

The charge distribution on interstellar grains—The effect of induced charge

A calculation of the equilibrium charge acquired by interstellar grains is given, which takes account of polarization charges that are induced in a grain by incident ions and electrons.Both metal and dielectric grains are considered and photoionization of the latter grains by UV radiation is taken into account where necessary. It is found that the inclusion of the polarization charges in the calculation is only important in gas clouds where the mean charge on a grain is low (<1e); that is, for HI regions and dense molecular clouds. In such clouds, the effect of the polarization charges is to increase the amount of negative charge acquired by a grain. A discussion is given concerning the validity of the classical electrostatic theory employed in the paper for small grains of radius 10^–6 cm, and some astrophysical consequences of the modification of the grain charge by polarization effects are considered.     

Stability of mid-latitude snowpacks on Mars

Christensen [2003. Nature 422, 45-48] suggested that runoff from melting snowpacks on martian slopes might be responsible for carving gullies. He also suggested that snowpacks currently exist on Mars, for example on the walls of Dao Valles (approximately 33° S). Such snowpacks were presumably formed during the last obliquity cycle, which occurred about 70,000 years ago. In this paper we investigate a specific scenario under conditions we believe are favorable for snowpack melting. We model the rate at which a snowpack located at 33° S on a poleward-facing slope sublimates and melts on Mars, as well as the temperature profile within the snowpack. Our model includes the energy and mass balance of a snowpack experiencing diurnal variations in insolation. Our results indicate that a dirty snowpack would quickly sublimate and melt under current martian climate conditions. For example a 1 m thick dusty snowpack of moderate density (550 kg/m³) and albedo (0.39) would sublimate in less than two seasons, producing a small amount of meltwater runoff. Similarly, a cleaner snowpack (albedo 0.53) would disappear in less than 9 seasons. These results suggest that the putative snowpack almost certainly could not have survived for 70,000 years. For most of the parameter settings snowpack interior temperatures at this latitude and slope do reach the melting point. Under most conditions melting occurs when the snowpack is less than 10 cm thick. The modeled snowpack will not melt if it is covered by a 1 cm dust lag. In general, these findings raise interesting possibilities regarding gully formation, but perhaps mostly during a past climate regime when snowfall was expected to have occurred. If there currently are exposed snowpacks on martian mid-latitude slopes, then these ice sheets cannot last long. Hence they might be time variable features on Mars and should be searched for.