Near-ultraviolet observation of four bright Mn stars

Near-ultraviolet spectra, obtained with the ESRO TD-1A/S59 experiment, of the four Mn stars β Tau, γ Crv, α And, and μ Lep and six normal stars are compared. The normal stars show good agreement with synthetic spectra. The Mn stars have spectra which become hotter at shorter wavelengths. They also show strong Mnii lines and weak Mgii lines. A time-variation for Tiii λ 2828 was noted in γ Crv and α And.     

Trojans in Stable Chaotic Motion

The orbits of 13 Trojan asteroids have been calculated numerically in the model of the outer solar system for a time interval of 100 million years. For these asteroids Milani et al. (1997) determined Lyapunov times less than 100 000 years and introduced the notion "asteroids in stable chaotic motion". We studied the dynamical behavior of these Trojan asteroids (except the asteroid Thersites which escaped after 26 million years) within 11 time intervals - i.e. subintervals of the whole time - by means of: (1) a numerical frequency analysis (2) the root mean square (r.m.s.) of the orbital elements and (3) the proper elements. For each time interval we compared the root mean squares of the orbital elements (a, e and i) with the corresponding proper element. It turned out that the variations of the proper elements e_p in the different time intervals are correlated with the corresponding r.m.s.(e); this is not the case for sin I_p with r.m.s.(i). This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Stellar atmospheric velocity fields: The Beta Cephei variables γ Peg and β Cep

The shape parameters of a number of selected ultraviolet lines in BUSS-spectra of the Beta Cephei stars Peg and Cep have been analyzed to determine the principal parameters of the atmospheric velocity field. We find for both stars a fairly high value (5 km s^–1) for the microturbulent line-of-sight velocity component, which confirms an earlier result based on lower resolution UV spectra. Macroturbulent and rotational velocities are virtually zero in the atmosphere of Peg; for Cep we findv _rotsini=40 km s^–1.On leave from Akita University, Akita, Japan.     

Drift theory of charged particles in electric and magnetic fields

In this paper we review the drift theory of charged particles in electric and magnetic fields. No new physical interpretations are added to this classical topic, but through an alternative, simplified derivation of the guiding centre velocity, several complexities are eliminated and possible misconceptions of the theory are clarified. It is shown that:

1. The curvature/gradient drift velocity in the magnetic field, averaged over a particle distribution function is to lowest order in the direction of?×B/B ², while the average particle velocity is in the direction ofB×? P withP the scalar particle pressure.
2. These drift directions are correct for first-order expansions of the particle distribution function, and only second-order or higher expansions change these directions.
3. The?×B/B ² drift, which is the standard gradient plus curvature drift, and which is usually considered as a ‘single particle’ drift, need not be ‘reconciled’ with theB×? P, or ‘macroscopic, collective’ drift, as is often asserted in the literature. They are in fact related per definition and we show how.
4. When viewed in fixed momentum intervals (p,p+dp), the so-called Compton-Getting factor enters into the electric field (E×B)/B ² drift term.
5. The results are independent of the scale length of variation ofE andB, in contrast to existing drift theory. We discuss the implications of this result for three important cases.

     

Non-basaltic asteroidal magmatism during the earliest stages of solar system evolution: A view from Antarctic achondrites Graves Nunatak 06128 and 06129

The recently recovered paired Antarctic achondrites Graves Nunatak 06128 and 06129 (GRA) are meteorites that represent unique high-temperature asteroidal processes that are identified in only a few other meteorites. The GRA meteorites contain high abundances of sodic plagioclase, relatively Fe-rich pyroxenes and olivine, abundant phosphates, and low temperature alteration. They represent products of very early planetesimal melting (4565.9 ± 0.3 Ma) of an unsampled geochemical reservoir from an asteroid that has characteristics similar to the brachinite parent body. The magmatism represented by these meteorites is contrary to the commonly held belief that the earliest stages of melting on all planetary bodies during the first 2-30 Ma of solar system history were fundamentally basaltic in nature. These sodic plagioclase-rich rocks represent a series of early asteroidal high-temperature processes: (stage 1) melting and partial extraction of a low-temperature Fe-Ni-S melt, (stage 2) small degrees of disequilibrium partial melting of a sodium- or alkali-rich chondritic parent body with additional incorporation of Fe-Ni-S melt that was not fully extracted during stage 1, (stage 3) volatile-enhanced rapid extraction and emplacement of the Na-rich, high-normative plagioclase melt, (stage 4) final emplacement and accumulation of plagioclase and phosphates, (stage 5) subsolidus reequilibration of lithology between 962 and 600 °C at an fO₂ of IW to IW + 1.1, and (stage 6) replacement of merrillite and pyroxene by Cl-apatite resulting from the interaction between magmatic minerals and a Cl-rich fluid/residuum melt. The subsolidus events started as early as 4561.1 Ma and may have continued for upwards of 144 million years.The existence of assemblages similar to GRA on several other planetary bodies with different geochemical characteristics (ureilite, winonaites, IAB irons) implies that this type of early asteroidal melting was not rare. Whereas, eucrites and angrites represent extensive melting of a parent body with low concentrations of moderately-volatile elements, GRA represents low-degrees of melting of a parent body with chondritic abundances of moderately volatile elements. The interpretation of the low-temperature mineral assemblage is somewhat ambiguous. Textural features suggest multiple episodes of alteration. The earliest stage follows the interaction of magmatic assemblages with a Cl-rich fluid. The last episode of alteration appears to cross-cut the fusion crust and earlier stages of alteration. Stable isotopic measurements of the alteration can be interpreted as indicating that an extraterrestrial volatile component was preserved in GRA.     

Petrogenetic relationships between diogenites and olivine diogenites: Implications for magmatism on the HED parent body

Diogenites are orthopyroxenites and harzburgites that are petrogenetically associated with basaltic magmatism linked to the earliest stages of asteroidal melting on the parent body for the howardite-eucrite-diogenite (HED) meteorites. There are several models proposed for their origin: (1) accumulation of orthopyroxene (OPX) + chromite (CHR) ± olivine (OL) during the crystallization of a magma ocean during the initial stages of asteroidal differentiation, (2) accumulation of OPX + CHR ± OL during the crystallization of compositionally distinct basaltic magmas emplaced into the crust of the HED parent body, and (3) the orthopyroxenites formed by the crystallization of basaltic magmas within the HED parent body crust, whereas the harzburgites represent the mantle of the HED parent body. Although OL and OPX experienced varying degrees of subsolidus reequilibration (1100-700 °C), their minor and trace element characteristics appear to partially preserve magmatic signatures that provide insights into distinguishing among different models for the origin of diogenites. The OPX exhibits a continuous and very systematic variation in incompatible elements such as Al, Ti, Zr, Y, and Yb. Polymict diogenites (i.e. Roda, EET 79002) can contain distinct lithologies with both different incompatible element characteristics and different model abundances of OL. There appears to be no relationship between the appearance and abundance of OL and the incompatible element characteristics of the OPX. The OL exhibits a range in Mg# and systematic variations Ni, Co, Ni/Co, and Mn. For examples, low Ni/Co appears to be closely associated with the harzburgites and Ni and Mn exhibit a negative correlation. Surprisingly, incompatible element concentrations in OPX are not negatively correlated to Ni concentrations in OL. The continuous nature of the minor and trace element characteristics of the OPX and OL is consistent with the all the diogenite lithologies forming through a single process such as crystallization within a magma ocean or a series of layered intrusions. Further, the range in incompatible element variability in the OPX, the Ni and Co systematics in the OL, and the association of distinctly different lithologies within polymict diogenites are most consistent with the diogenites representing lithologies from diverse layered intrusions. Alternatively, they may represent crystallization products of a magma ocean much more complex than has been thus far proposed (i.e. multiple MOs). There are some distinct differences between diogenites and the OL-rich achondrite QUE 93148 that was also analyzed during this study. These differences (such as Ni/Co in OL, estimated conditions of f_O2) suggest that QUE 93148 is closely related to main-group pallasites rather than the parent bodies for the HED meteorites.     

Investigation of the impact of dynamic factors on Cb cloud development in Saudi Arabia

Changes are analyzed of a Cb cloud characteristics due to its merging with feeder clouds, on the data on a long-living Cb cloud in Saudi Arabia on July 4, 2008. Continuous radar and satellite observations of the cloud are carried out during 6 h. The Cb cloud development is also numerically simulated using a nonstationary 1½ model. It is found that the processes of Cb cloud merging with feeder clouds developing in its vicinities affect significantly the Cb cloud development. This impact demonstrates itself in longer duration of the Cb cloud life span, increasing top height, reflectivity, precipitation duration and intensity. Modification of the feeder clouds can accelerate their development, which eventually can affect notably the Cb cloud.     

Dominance of Tilapia mossambica,an introduced fish species,in three Puerto Rican estuaries

We compared species presence, abundance, and size characteristics of fish in three brackish, coastal marshes at Humacao, Roosevelt Roads, and Boqueron, Puerto Rico, in February and March 1988. The three marsh ecosystems were similar with respect to the presence of large expanses of open water bordered by emergent vegetation, creeks, and mangroves, and all had some recreational use. We sampled fish using gill nets. Tilapia (Oreochromis) mossambica were the most abundant fish, accounting for 55–79% of the samples at all three marshes. Overall, tilapia were both the largest (North Lagoon) and the smallest (Frontera Creek) at Humacao. Tilapia were most common in open lagoons rather than creeks or bays (except for Mandri Creek), and their distribution seemed unrelated to salinity. Tarpon (Megalops atlantica) were more abundant at low salinities, whereas other fish were more abundant at higher salinities.     

Aspects of the statistical analysis of marine ore deposits

Geostatistical analyses employed in the prospecting and for exploration of marine mineral resources, must be aimed at particular problems and goals. The quality of navigation, sampling, mining technology and the profitability of the project strongly influence such analyses. The studies presented here, have two main objectives, namely, to estimate the reserves of manganese nodules and to determine in what order the explored areas should be mined. Several geostatistical methods were used. These were designed partly to supplement one another, but mostly to create a sequence of analytical steps which could be applied to any typical marine exploration project.

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Zusammenfassung Sollen im Rahmen von Prospektions- und Explorationsvorhaben auf marine Rohstoffe geostatistische Untersuchungen durchgeführt werden, so haben sich diese an den speziellen Problemen und Zielsetzungen zu orientieren. Dabei spielen Fragen der Navigation, der Probennahme, der Förderungstechnik und der Wirtschaftlichkeit eine wichtige Rolle. Im vorliegenden Falle war das Ziel der Untersuchungen nach der Schätzung der Vorräte an Mangan-Knollen die Erstellung einer Rangordnung der Explorations-Areale für den Abbau. Hierzu wurden verschiedene Verfahren der Geostatistik eingesetzt, die sich zum Teil gegenseitig zu ergänzen haben, im Großen gesehen jedoch eine Methoden-Folge bilden, die als typisch für Explorations-Projekte auf marine Rohstoffe angesehen werden kann.