Low-temperature crystal structures of stibnite implying orbital overlap of Sb 5s2 inert pair electrons

The crystal structure of stibnite [Sb₂S₃, Pnma, a=11.314(2), b=3.837(2), c=11.234(3) Å, V= 487.7(3) ų at 293 K] was refined in situ at 230, 173, and 128 K. It is a major characteristic of the structure that the Sb–S secondary bonds enclosing Sb 5s² inert lone-pair electrons at 293 K are significantly shorter than the corresponding sum of the Sb and S van der Waals radii. Concerning the temperature dependence, although both the polyhedral volume and the cation eccentricity of the two SbS₇ polyhedra exhibit continuous contractions with decreasing temperature, the sphericity values remain constant, indicating isotropic shrinkage. Consequently, the geometries of Sb 5s² inert lone-pair electrons and ligand atoms remain unchanged at low temperatures. This is because the crystal structure of stibnite at low temperature induces contraction with attractive interactions, which is called the orbital overlap between Sb 5s² inert lone-pair electrons and ligand orbitals to maintain the coordination environment. In this case, Sb 5s² lone-pair electrons are not inert, but active. Such orbital overlaps of inert lone-electron pairs can provide a reasonable explanation for shorter secondary bonds and lower band gap energy of the binary compounds containing heavy elements such as Sb, Te, Pb, and Bi, which are key factors in tracing the origins of color, luster, and semiconductivity of their minerals or compounds.     

GPS静态连续变位监测系统的应用——以四川雅安滑坡为例

GPS精密测量在火山监测等地壳变动、山体滑坡监测中起到了非常有效的作用,已被广泛使用。但是,以前多在土木测量中使用的器材在实际监测中有很多限制,包括传感器、电源、通信等,如不做成系统很难体现出利用价值。笔者成功地将在恶劣气候条件下也能实施监测的系统实用化,并利用连续监测,通过统计处理达到高精度的实时变位监测。目前,日本有超过380个此类系统在通信、电源、环境条件均非常恶劣的现场运行着。我们应用此系统对四川雅安多营滑坡进行连续位移监测,并通过因特网实现位移监测数据的实时传输。经过近一年的监测证明,此系统监测精度高、运行稳定可靠[1~4]。     

Examining the aerosol indirect effect over China using an SO2 emission inventory

The relationship between SO₂ emissions and the effective particle radius of low-level water clouds (r_e) over China was investigated to determine anthropogenic effects on clouds. Sulfur dioxide emission values were obtained from a statistical inventory, and r_e origins were retrieved by satellite remote sensing on a 0.5° grid. Comparisons between annual mean SO₂ emissions and r_e showed generally decreasing r_e values, explained by the Twomey effect. The existence of the Twomey effect is supported by comparisons with simulated aerosol optical depths. Results further suggest that clouds over land show sensitivity to the Twomey effect as well as clouds over the ocean.     

Volcanoes as possible indicators of tectonic stress orientation — Aleutians and Alaska

A new method for obtaining from volcanic surface features the orientations of the principal tectonic stresses is applied to Aleutian and Alaskan volcanoes. The underlying concept for this method is that flank eruptions for polygenetic volcanoes can be regarded as the result of a large-scale natural magmafracturing experiment. The method essentially relies on the recognition of the preferred orientation of radial and parallel dike swarms, primarily using the distribution of monogenetic craters including flank volcanoes. Since dikes tend to propagate in a direction normal to the minimum principal stress (T-axis), the method primarily yields the direction of the maximum horizontal compression (MHC) of regional origin. The direction of the MHC may correspond to either the maximum (P-axis) or intermediate (B-axis) principal stress.The direction of MHC obtained at 20 volcanoes in the Aleutian arc coincides well with the direction of convergence between the Pacific and North American plates. This result provides evidence that in the island arc the inferred direction of MHC is parallel to the maximum principal tectonic stress. In the back-arc region, general E-W trends of MHC are obtained from seven volcanic fields on islands on the Bering Sea shelf and the mainland coast of Alaska. These volcanic fields consist mostly of clusters of monogenetic volcanoes of alkali basalt. In the back-arc region, the trends of MHC may correspond to an E-W intermediate, a vertical maximum, and a N-S minimum principal stress.Implications for the tectonics of island arcs and back-arc regions are: (1) volcanic belts of some island arcs, including the Aleutian arc, are under compressional deviatoric stress in the direction of plate convergence. It is improbable that such arcs would split along the volcanic axis to form actively spreading marginal basins. (2) This compressional stress at the arc, probably generated by underthrusting, appears to be transmitted across the entire arc structure, but is apparently replaced within several hundred kilometers by a stress system characterized by horizontal extension (tensional deviatoric stress) in the back-arc region. (3) The volcanoes associated with these two stress systems differ in type (polygenetic vs. monogenetic) and in the chemistry of their magmas (andesitic vs. basaltic). These differences and the regional differences in orientation of the principal tectonic stresses suggest that the back-arc stress system has its own source at considerable depth beneath the crust.Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory Contribution No. 2503.     

Lattice dynamics of α-quartz including the effect of the width of the atomic electron distribution

On the basis of the polarizable-ion model (PIM) the effect of the width of the atomic electron distribution on the lattice dynamics of α-quartz was taken into account using the Birman method. The frequencies of optical mode, elastic constants and piezoelectric constants were reproduced using the parameters of this model (an effective charge z, a width parameter w, an electronic polarizability α, and force constants). The width parameter of oxygen atom was found to be about 0.59 Å, and the effective charge of the silicon atom 1.42 electron charges.     

Volcanoes as possible indicators of tectonic stress orientation — principle and proposal

A method is proposed for determining the orientation of average tectonic stress, using surface features indicating radial dike patterns of volcanoes. The approximate pattern of radial dikes is revealed by the distribution of sites of flank eruptions on the slope of polygenetic volcanoes. This conclusion is deduced from the understanding that flank eruptions are caused by the magma that laterally offshoots from the main polygenetic pipe conduit and that conduits of flank volcanoes are most probably fissure-shaped because most of them are monogenetic volcanoes. Radial dikes are more likely to develop in a direction normal to the minimum horizontal compression of the regional stress. Thus, the distribution of flank craters will be elongate in the direction of the maximum horizontal compression of the regional stress.The regional stress can sometimes be ascribed solely to the effect of the gravity rather than tectonic stress. When a number of independent polygenetic volcanoes dotted with more than several flank volcanoes, are distributed in a belt or over a broad area, it is possible to distinguish the tectonic stress from the direct gravitational effect by the regional uniformity in orientation of the zones of flank volcanoes. When the maximum compression of tectonic stress is horizontal, the trends of the zones of flank eruptions on polygenetic volcanoes are more or less linear and parallel, and at a high angle to the trend of the main volcanic belt.     

Tracing depositional consequences of environmental radionuclides (137Cs and 210Pb) in Slovenian forest soils

Depth distribution profiles of environmental radionuclides (¹³⁷Cs and ²¹⁰Pb) have been investigated in soil to elucidate the underlying environment of semi-natural temperate deciduous and/or coniferous forest soils in Slovenia (?irovski vrh, Idrija, Ko?evski Rog, Pohorie, Gori?nica and Rakitna). Surface enrichment of both nuclides was observed at all the sites investigated in this study, suggesting that the soils had undergone little natural or anthropogenic disturbance for at least the last several decades. Apparent annual burial rates of ¹³⁷Cs (0.1–0.2 cm y^??1) were estimated to be about 1.3 times higher than those of ²¹⁰Pb at individual sites of different lithology, which suggests strong affinity of ²¹⁰Pb to soil organic matter. Variability of the vertical distribution profiles of these nuclides depends not only on “in situ” pedology but also on geographical and meteorological conditions, especially precipitation and wind direction.     

Impact of El Niño events and climate regime shift on living resources in the western North Pacific

Features of El Niño events and their biological impacts in the western North Pacific are reviewed, focusing on interactions between ENSO and the East Asian monsoon. Impacts of El Niño on the climate in the Far East become evident as ‘cool summers and warm winters’. Effects of climate regime shift on ENSO activities, western boundary currents and upper-ocean stratification, as well as their biological consequences are summarized. These have been:

1. In the western equatorial Pacific, an eastward extension of the warm pool associated with El Niño events induces an eastward shift of main fishing grounds of skip jack and big eye tunas.

2. The surface salinity front in the North Equatorial Current region retreats southward, associated with El Niño events. This leads to a southward shift of the spawning ground of Japanese eel, which is responsible for a reduction in the transport of the larval eels to the Kuroshio and Japanese coastal region, causing poor recruitment.

3. Intensification of winter cooling and vertical mixing associated with La Niña (El Niño) events in the northern subtropical region of the western (central) North Pacific reduces surface chlorophyll concentration levels and larval feeding condition for both Japanese sardines and the autumn cohort of Neon squid during winter–early spring. The semi-decadal scale calm winter that occurred during the early 1970s triggered the first sharp increase of sardine stock around Japan.

4. A remarkable weakening of southward intrusion of the Oyashio off the east coast of Japan during 1988–91, resulted in a decrease in chlorophyll concentrations and mesozooplankton biomass in late spring–early summer of the Kuroshio-Oyashio transition region. Changes occurred in the dominant species of small pelagic fish, through successive recruitment failures of Japanese sardine.

Paleomagnetic stratigraphy and biostratigraphy of the Plio-Pleistocene in the Kinki district, Japan

The magnetostratigraphic subdivision of the Plio-Pleistocene series in the Kinki district around Osaka in southwest Japan, based on NRM measurements of volcanic ash beds, is correlated with biostratigraphic and paleoclimatic marker beds as well as past sea level oscillations. At least 10 high sea level stands occurred in the study area between about 1.5 and 0.27 million years ago, all associated with relative warming. A significant change in the composition of flora, from Metasequoia to Fagus dominated assemblages, was observed around the Jaramillo event.