Mössbauer spectroscopic and x-ray powder diffraction studies of synthetic micas on the join annite KFe3AlSi3O10(OH)2-phlogopite KMg3AlSi3O10(OH)2

Micas of the composition K(Fe_3–x Mg _x )AlSi₃ O₁₀(OH)₂ (x=0.6, 1.2, 1.8, 2.4 and 3.0, corresponding to ann₈₀phl₂₀, ann₆₀phl₄₀, ann₄₀phl₆₀, ann₂₀phl₈₀ and ann₀phl₁₀₀) were synthesized hydrothermally under controlled oxygen fugacity conditions. Lattice parameters a ₀ and b ₀ show a distinct linear decrease with increasing Mg content. With increasing ferric iron content a deviation from this linear trend is observed especially within iron rich samples. The tetrahedral rotation angle increases smoothly from 0° in annite to 9.1° in phlogopite. Mössbauer spectra show Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ on the octahedral M1 and M2 sites and partially also Fe³⁺ on the tetrahedral site. There is a smooth increase of the quadrupole splitting on both the M1 and the M2 site going from annite to phlogopite, probably due to changes in the lattice contribution to the electric field gradient, assuming a positive correlation between quadrupole splitting and distortion. Fe³⁺ contents, as determined by Mössbauer spectroscopy, versus oxygen fugacity shows that, depending on the composition of the micas, minimum amounts of Fe³⁺ are present. For ann₈₀phl₂₀ this minimum amount of Fe³⁺ is about 8% decreasing to about 1–2% Fe³⁺ for ann₂₀phl₈₀.The molar volume of each solid solution member has been estimated from the determined relations of the molar volume versus % Fe³⁺ contents, extrapolated back to 0% Fe³⁺. Plotting these volumes as a function of X_phl shows that negative excess volume occur in the annitephlogopite join, with the maximum deviation from ideality around X _phl=0.3. Margules volume parameters have been constrained as: Wv, AnnPhl=0.018±0.016 J/(bar.mol) and Wv, PhlAnn=-0.391±0.025 J(bar.mol) (three site basis).     

History and necessity: the evolution of soil conservation technology in a Jamaican farming system

The soil conservation campaigns that have been a prominent feature of Jamaican agricultural policy since the 1950s are frequently presented as having failed to ameliorate the problem of soil erosion in hillside agriculture. A case study of a small farming community in the Blue Mountains explores the development of the soil conservation practices currently employed by farmers. The use of trash barriers in carrot farming is described and the origins of this technology and its subsequent adaptation are considered. The study concludes that extension interventions and government policy have influenced the development of current soil conservation practices; practices which have their roots in indigenous techniques. Other factors such as the adaptation of trash barriers to suit local conditions and their importance in soil fertility management also play a role in their widespread use in the study area. The study demonstrates that to understand the process of technical change in farming communities, it is necessary to consider a range of factors, external and internal, technical and social, that have over time influenced farmers' decision making.     

CCD BV photometry of the old rich open cluster king 2

We present preliminary results of CCD BV photometry of the old open cluster King 2. The values obtained for the main parameters are:E(B-V)=0.31, (m-M)₀=13.78, metal content approximately solar, and age 6×10⁹ yr. From the comparison with synthetic colour-mgnitude diagrams generated by models with overshoot we try to answer the question whether or not convective elements generated in the core can penetrate into the surrounding stable zone (separated by a discontinuity of molecular weight).Paper presented at the 11th European Regional Astronomical Meetings of the IAU on New Windows to the Universe, held 3–8 July, 1989, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.     

A new method to determine the gravity field of small bodies from line-of-sight acceleration data

We present a new method to derive line-of-sight acceleration observables from spacecraft radio tracking data. The observables can be used to estimate the mass and gravity of a natural satellite as a spacecraft flyby. The corresponding observation model adapts to one-way and two/three-way tracking modes. As a test case for method validation and application, we estimated the mass and degree two gravity field for the Martian moon Phobos using simulated tracking data when the spacecraft Mars Express flew by Phobos on 2013 December 29. We have a few real tracking data during flyby and they will be used to confirm raw data simulation. The main purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the method of line-of-sight acceleration reduction from raw tracking data and the feasibility to estimate mass and gravity of a natural satellite using this type of observable. This novel method is potentially applicable to planet and asteroid gravity field studies combined with Doppler tracking data.     

A formation mechanism of magnetic elements in regions of mixed polarity

We present 2-D, fully compressible radiation-MHD simulations of the solar photospheric and subphotospheric layers that run for 2 hours of solar time starting from a magnetic configuration with mixed polarities. In the atmospheric layers the simulation reveals a correlation between field strength and inclination, with a nearly vertical strong-field magnetic component and a more horizontal weak-field component, in agreement with the observations. Our simulation also shows that magnetic flux is converted from one of these states to the other. In particular, magnetic flux sheets can also be formed when a new downflow lane starts due to granule fragmentation. The dynamics of the granulation and field-line reconnection are found to play a role in the initial stages of a magnetic element's formation. The simulation predicts that during or shortly after their formation magnetic elements could be associated with oppositely polarized flux at a small spatial scale.     

Optical closure of parameterized bio-optical relationships

An optical closure study on bio-optical relationships was carried out using radiative transfer model matrix operator method developed by Freie Universitt Berlin.As a case study,the optical closure of bio-optical relationships empirically parameterized with in situ data for the East China Sea was examined.Remote-sensing refl ectance(R rs)was computed from the inherent optical properties predicted by these biooptical relationships and compared with published in situ data.It was found that the simulated R rs was overestimated for turbid water.To achieve optical closure,bio-optical relationships for absorption and scattering coeffi cients for suspended particulate matter were adjusted.Furthermore,the results show that the Fournier and Forand phase functions obtained from the adjusted relationships perform better than the Petzold phase function.Therefore,before bio-optical relationships are used for a local sea area,the optical closure should be examined.     

MAP MAKING FOR PROFIT AND PLEASURE

Some of the economic and operational aspects of mapping are discussed, including the conditions that may offer air survey a competitive advantage over other methods. The financing of national mapping programmes around the world is increasingly market oriented, driven by the need to provide the end users with information that they can turn into sustainable economic growth and social progress. Despite these economic pressures, map makers seem to find their work more enjoyable and rewarding than most professionals.     

Wet tropospheric effects on precise relative GPS height determination

Summary Considerable interest has been generated recently in the use of the Global Positioning System (GPS) for precise height determination. A major error source in these measurements is the propagation delay due to atmospheric water vapour. In order to achieve the high precisions required for such applications as absolute sea-level monitoring improvement of wet delay modelling is necessary. Results from a GPS campaign show a significant correlation (0.91) between the variability of the wet delay measured using a water vapour radiometer (WVR) at the Onsala site and the absolute value of the residual error in the height determination of a 134 km baseline from Onsala to Jönköping. This correlation indicates that the atmosphericvariability as inferred from the WVR data includes information on the quality of the GPS height estimate. During periods of high atmospheric activity, e.g., during the passage of a weather front, the use of a six-parameter gradient model reduces the spread for the vertical coordinate from 40 mm to 20 mm (with standard deviations of 17 mm and 9 mm respectively) over the 134 km baseline (less than 1 × 10^–7) using 8 hour data spans on 11 different days over a six month period.