Cyclical Spectral and Photometric Variations of the Apparently Single Wolf-Rayet Star WR 134

Evidence is presented for the existence of a 2.3 day periodicity in the line-profile changes of the apparently singleWolf-Rayet star WR 134. This cyclical variability may be induced either by the presence of an orbiting collapsed companion, or by the rotational modulation of a largely inhomogeneous outflow. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

中国大陆现今垂直形变特征的初步探讨

利用GPS观测资料进行大范围的垂直形变特征研究是本文研究的重点。通过网络工程基准站和基本站的GPS观测资料，绘制了中国大陆的垂直速率等值线图像，并对中国大陆垂直运动特征进行了定性的分析，结果表明：中国大陆垂直运动在70％以上的区域表现为沉降运动，在青藏高原和除北京外的整个华北块体及燕山块体的垂直运动表现为隆升的趋势。中国大陆西北和东南、西南和东北的整体垂直运动呈一种斜对称状态。对基于GPS观测所得的等值线图与基于水观测所得的等值线图进行了比较，比较结果显示，除了华南块体外，二者在整体趋势上比较一致。     

Charged dust in the outer planetary magnetospheres

In this paper we consider the dynamics of the electrostatic disruption products of fragile interplanetary dust aggregates which are initially electrically charged on entering the Jovian plasmasphere. On account of their large specific charges, these small dust fragments are strongly effected both by the Lorentz electric force as well as by the polarization electric force resulting from the corotation of the Jovian plasmasphere. The detailed orbits of these charged dust fragments, which are shown to be confined to the equatorial plane, are computed for various launch angles. It is established that the fragments with radii typically around 1 are magneto-gravitationally trapped within the plasma sphere due to the velocity induced oscillation of their surface potentials. The spatial distribution of these fragments are evaluated and the time evolution of the distributions followed. On this basis it is argued that the distribution of micrometeoroid dust within the Jovian magnetospheres, observed by the Pioneer 10 and the recent Voyager spacecraft, is a result of this magneto-gravitational trapping and subsequent orbital evolution of these charged dust fragments. Our discussion includes both the sudden increase, by over an order of magnitude, of the micrometeoroid dust flux at about 30R _J observed by Pioneer 10, and the thin inner dust ring recently observed by the Voyaer spacecraft. The observed brightness asymmetries between the leading and trailing sides of the Galilean satellites appears to be a natural consequence of the impact geometries of these charged dust grains with the satellite surfaces.     

Is correlation dimension a reliable proxy for the number of dominant influencing variables for modeling risk of arsenic contamination in groundwater?

The correlation dimension (CD) of a time series provides information on the number of dominant variables present in the evolution of the underlying system dynamics. In this study, we explore, using logistic regression (LR), possible physical connections between the CD and the mathematical modeling of risk of arsenic contamination in groundwater. Our database comprises a large-scale arsenic survey conducted in Bangladesh. Following the recommendation by Hossain and Sivakumar (Stoch Environ Res Risk Assess 20(1–2):66–76, 2006), who reported CD values ranging from 8 to 11 for this database, 11 variables are considered herein as indicators of the aquifer’s geochemical regime with potential influence on the arsenic concentration in groundwater. A total of 2,048 possible combinations of influencing variables are considered as candidate LR risk models to delineate the impact of the number of variables on the prediction accuracy of the model. We find that the uncertainty associated with prediction of wells as safe and unsafe by LR risk model declines systematically as the total number of influencing variables increases from 7 to 11. The sensitivity of the mean predictive performance also increases noticeably for this range. The consistent reduction in predictive uncertainty coupled with the increased sensitivity of the mean predictive behavior within the universal sample space exemplify the ability of CD to function as a proxy for the number of dominant influencing variables. Such a rapid proxy, based on non-linear dynamic concepts, appears to have considerable merit for application in current management strategies on arsenic contamination in developing countries, where both time and resources are very limited.     

Spectral energy distribution modelling of southern candidate massive protostars using the Bayesian inference method

Concatenating data from the millimetre regime to the infrared, we have performed spectral energy distribution (SED) modelling for 227 of the 405 millimetre continuum sources of Hill et al. which are thought to contain young massive stars in the earliest stages of their formation. Three main parameters are extracted from the fits: temperature, mass and luminosity. The method employed was the Bayesian inference, which allows a statistically probable range of suitable values for each parameter to be drawn for each individual protostellar candidate. This is the first application of this method to massive star formation.
The cumulative distribution plots of the SED modelled parameters in this work indicate that collectively, the sources without methanol maser and/or radio continuum associations (MM-only cores) display similar characteristics to those of high-mass star formation regions. Attributing significance to the marginal distinctions between the MM-only cores and the high-mass star formation sample, we draw hypotheses regarding the nature of the MM-only cores, including the possibility that the population itself comprises different types of source, and discuss their role in the formation scenarios of massive star formation. In addition, we discuss the usefulness and limitations of SED modelling and its application to the field. From this work, it is clear that within the valid parameter ranges, SEDs utilising current far-infrared data cannot be used to determine the evolution of massive protostars or massive young stellar objects.     

Laboratory Study of Air Sparging: Air Flow Visualization

Laboratory flow visualization experiments, using glass beads as the porous medium, were conducted to study air sparging, an innovative technology for subsurface contaminant remediation. The purpose of these experiments was to observe how air flows through saturated porous media and to obtain a basic understanding of air plume formation and medium heterogeneity effects. The experiments indicate that air flow occurring in discrete, stable channels is the most probable flow behavior in medium to fine grained water saturated porous media and that medium heterogeneity plays an important role in the development of air channels. Several simulated scales of heterogeneities, from pore to field, have been studied. The results suggest that air channel formation is sensitive to the various scales of heterogeneities. Site-specific hydrogeologic settings have to be carefully reviewed before air sparging is applied to remediate sites contaminated by volatile organic compounds.     

Mesozoic regolith and palaeolandscape features in southeastern Australia: Significance for interpretations of denudation and highland evolution

The long‐term survival of regolith and landscape features of Mesozoic origins in southeastern Australia is supported by the sedimentary record, pre‐volcanic remnants, oxygen‐isotope signatures of secondary minerals, and the associated geomorphological context. The recognition of these ancient landscape remnants reflects the establishment of a major paradigm in Australian landscape studies after early interpretations emphasised a predominantly Late Cenozoic landscape history. The Mesozoic regolith and landscape remnants constrain interpretations of the evolution of the highlands in this region, indicating that Late Mesozoic and Cenozoic denudation did not extend beyond the complete removal of Mesozoic landscape features. Apatite fission track thermochronology interpretations invoke kilometre‐scale denudation levels across the southeastern highlands during the mid‐Cretaceous, which at first may appear contradictory to the geomorphological evidence of restricted denudation. Rather than necessarily being mutually exclusive interpretations, possible scenarios allowing for the preservation of Mesozoic palaeosurfaces along with kilometre‐scale denudation in the mid‐Cretaceous include: (i) exhumation of palaeosurfaces from beneath a thick sedimentary cover; (ii) truncation of formerly more extensive weathering profiles; and (iii) local‐scale variations in denudation. Local‐scale variations in denudation may not have been detected in previous studies due to dangers associated with overextending regional extrapolations and interpretations, as well as a tendency for the field basis of the different denudation models to emphasise different parts of the landscape. Field studies from areas where there has been localised deep incision into Mesozoic landscape remnants highlight the problem. Geomorphological studies have tended to emphasise areas of relative stability, featuring the preservation of regolith materials and the associated long‐term landscape record. In contrast, apatite fission track thermochronology interpretations may tend to emphasise a regional thermal history related to maximum denudation. Local variations in denudation leading to the preservation of Mesozoic palaeosurfaces have mainly been facilitated by localised lithological and structural controls on stream base‐levels and knickpoints, tectonic setting, and sedimentary and volcanic burial. When palaeolandscape interpretations are considered at the local scale, arguments proposing long‐term stability based on palaeolandscape remnants and apatite fission track thermochronology interpretations of large‐scale denudation may therefore not necessarily be contradictory.