Ab initio crystal structure and elasticity of tuite, γ-Ca<Subscript>3</Subscript>(PO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>, with implications for trace element partitioning in the lower mantle

Tuite forms by the breakdown of apatite at high pressure and is thus expected to play a role in extending the phosphorus cycle beyond the stability field of apatite and into the lower mantle. With its large, high-coordination cation sites, tuite is thought to be able to dissolve large quantities of incompatible elements such as rare earth elements, Sr, Th, and U, and is potentially an important mantle reservoir for these elements. In this paper, ab initio calculations of the structure and elasticity of tuite to lower mantle pressure are presented and used to probe trace element incorporation. The calculated zero-pressure volumes of the M1 and M2 cation sites were 50.23 and 36.61 Å³, while the corresponding bulk moduli K ₀ are 116.1 and 94.2 GPa, significantly lower than the 234.1 GPa calculated for the M site of CaSiO₃ perovskite (cpv), another likely host for incompatible elements in the mantle. The partitioning of impurities between tuite and cpv is investigated using a lattice strain model, parameterized by the ab initio calculations, to calculate isovalent substitution energies across a range of pressures and impurity sizes. Additionally, energies of strontium and barium defects in tuite are compared with those of equivalent defects in cpv, and it is found that both elements will partition strongly from cpv into tuite.     

THE COMPOSITION OF THE CHASSIGNY METEORITE

Spark source mass spectrometric analysis of the Chassigny meteorite has given the following data (in ppm): Rb 0.4, Sr 7.2, Y 0.64, Zr 1.5, Nb 0.32, Ba 7.1, La 0.39, Ce 1.12, Pr 0.13, Nd 0.54, Sm 0.11, Eu 0.038, Gd 0.11, Tb 0.02, Dy 0.12, Ho 0.03, Er 0.09, Yb 0.10, Pb 1.0, Th 0.057, U 0.021. These data, in conjunction with major element composition and mineralogical and textural features, indicate that this meteorite is an olivinerich cumulate, possibly genetically related to the nakhlites.     

The distribution of Fe2+ and Fe3+ in iron-bearing tourmalines: A Mössbauer study

Summary Room-temperature Mössbauer spectra of five iron-bearing tourmalines were measured and analyzed. The Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺ ratio and the iron occupancy of the Y and Z positions could be assigned to all samples, with the help of two previously well characterized samples, from Mexico and Madagascar. Ferric or ferrous ions or both partially occupy the Z as well as the Y octahedra. This fact of observation is interpreted as the chemical response, during crystal growth, to the requirement of size matching for the edge-sharing Y and Z oxygen octahedra. It accounts for the inexistence of solid solution between the Mg and (Li, Al) tourmalines.

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Die Verteilung von Fe²⁺ und Fe³⁺ in eisenhaltigen Turmalinen: Eine Mössbauer-Untersuchung

Zusammenfassung Mössbauer-Spektren von fünf eisenhaltigen Turmalinen wurden gemessen und analysiert. Das Verhältnis Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺ und die Eisenverteilung konnten mit Hilfe von zwei gut identifizierten Turmalin-Kristallen von Mexiko und Madagascar für die Y-und Z-Lagen aller Exemplare bestimmt werden. Zweiwertiges sowie dreiwertiges Eisen findet sich sowohl in der Z-als auch in der Y-Lage. Da sich die Y-und Z-Oktaeder in einer gemeinsamen Kante treffen, wird diese Beobachtung als chemische Antwort des Kristalles auf die erforderte Größenanpassung der Y-und Z-Oktaeder während seines Wachstums erklärt. Die Abwesenheit der festen Lösung zwischen Dravit und Elbait kann somit erklärt werden.

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With 4 Figures     

Numerical simulation of dynamic soil–structure interaction in shaking table testing

This paper provides an insight into the numerical simulation of soil–structure interaction (SSI) phenomena studied in a shaking table facility. The shaking table test is purposely designed to confirm the ability of the numerical substructure technique to simulate the SSI phenomenon. A model foundation–structure system with strong SSI potential is embedded in a dry bed of sand deposited within a purpose designed shaking-table soil container. The experimental system is subjected to a strong ground motion. The numerical simulation of the complete soil–foundation–structure system is conducted in the linear viscoelastic domain using the substructure approach. The matching of the experimental and numerical responses in both frequency and in time domain is satisfying. Many important aspects of SSI that are apparent in the experiment are captured by the numerical simulation. Furthermore, the numerical modelling is shown to be adequate for practical engineering design purposes.     

Shades of green in local authority policy-making: a regional case study

Summary Local authorities have been seen as an important agent in the development of more sustainable economies. This paper explores the level and form of 'greening' taking place amongst local authorities in the Midland region of the UK. Particular attention is paid to intra-regional variations in environmental policy-making.     

Geostatistical interpolation of SLC-off Landsat ETM+ images

The scan-line corrector (SLC) for the Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) sensor, on board the Landsat 7 satellite, failed permanently in 2003. The consequence of the SLC failure (or SLC-off) is that about 20% of the pixels in an ETM+ image are not scanned. We aim to develop a geostatistical method that estimates the missing values. Our rationale is to collect three cloud-free images for a particular Landsat scene, taken within a few weeks of each other: the middle image is the target whose un-scanned locations we wish to estimate; the earlier and later images are used as secondary information. We visit each un-scanned location in the target image and, for each reflectance band in turn, predict the missing value with cokriging (resorting to kriging when there is not enough local secondary information to justify cokriging). For three Landsat scenes in different bio-regions of Queensland, Australia, we compared the performance of geostatistical interpolation with image compositing. Geostatistics was a generally superior estimator. In contrast to compositing, geostatistics was able to estimate accurately values at all un-scanned locations, and was able to quantify the variance associated with each prediction. SLC-off images interpolated with geostatistics were visually sensible, although changes in land-use from pixel to pixel affected adversely the accuracy of prediction. The primary disadvantage of geostatistics was its relatively slow computing speed. We recommend the geostatistical method over compositing, but, if speed takes priority over statistical rigour, a hybrid technique–whereby composites are corrected to the local means and variances of the bands in the target image, and any un-estimable locations are interpolated geostatistically–is an adequate compromise.     

River Dog: Re‐imagining and re‐representing the environment and de‐idealising the rural in New Zealand film

The depiction of pristine countryside in New Zealand film has engendered a cultural disconnection with the environmental stories within the landscape. In this essay, we briefly examined the meaning of rural New Zealand landscape and its role in film. This research was done in part by making a short documentary, River Dog, a film about the rural New Zealand landscape. The character, plot and underlying message of River Dog were framed within visually relevant archetypes to form a constructive environmental message. Here, we examined River Dog's use of empathetic storytelling, an approach used to communicate an environmental issue without promulgating science or politics.     

Assessing climate change impacts,sea level rise and storm surge risk in port cities: a case study on Copenhagen

This study illustrates a methodology to assess the economic impacts of climate change at a city scale and benefits of adaptation, taking the case of sea level rise and storm surge risk in the city of Copenhagen, capital of Denmark. The approach is a simplified catastrophe risk assessment, to calculate the direct costs of storm surges under scenarios of sea level rise, coupled to an economic input–output (IO) model. The output is a risk assessment of the direct and indirect economic impacts of storm surge under climate change, including, for example, production and job losses and reconstruction duration, and the benefits of investment in upgraded sea defences. The simplified catastrophe risk assessment entails a statistical analysis of storm surge characteristics, geographical-information analysis of population and asset exposure combined with aggregated vulnerability information. For the city of Copenhagen, it is found that in absence of adaptation, sea level rise would significantly increase flood risks. Results call for the introduction of adaptation in long-term urban planning, as one part of a comprehensive strategy to manage the implications of climate change in the city. Mitigation policies can also aid adaptation by limiting the pace of future sea level rise.