Fe‐Mn systematics of type IIA chondrules in unequilibrated CO,CR, and ordinary chondrites

Abstract– We have examined Fe/Mn systematics of 34 type IIA chondrules in eight highly unequilibrated CO, CR, and ordinary chondrites using new data from this study and prior studies from our laboratory. Olivine grains from type IIA chondrules in CO chondrites and unequilibrated ordinary chondrites (UOC) have significantly different Fe/Mn ratios, with mean molar Fe/Mn = 99 and 44, respectively. Olivine analyses from both these chondrite groups show well‐defined trends in Mn versus Fe (afu) and molar Fe/Mn versus Fe/Mg diagrams. In general, type IIA chondrules in CR chondrites have properties intermediate between those in UOC and CO chondrites. In most UOC and CR type IIA chondrules, the Fe/Mn ratio of olivine decreases during crystallization, whereas in CO chondrites the Fe/Mn ratio does not appear to change. It is difficult to interpret the observed Fe/Mn trends in terms of differing moderately volatile element depletions inherited from precursor materials. Instead, we suggest that significant differences in the abundances of silicates and sulfides ± metals in the precursor material, as well as open‐system behavior during chondrule formation, were responsible for establishing the different Fe/Mn trends. Using Fe‐Mn‐Mg systematics, we are able to identify relict grains in type IIA chondrules, which could be derived from previous generations of chondrules, including chondrules from other chondrite groups, and possibly chondritic reservoirs that have not been sampled previously.     

Relationship between interplanetary field/plasma parameters with geomagnetic indices and their behavior during intense geomagnetic storms

This paper presents a correlative study between the peak values of geomagnetic activity indices (Dst, Kp, ap and AE) and the peak values of various interplanetary field (Bt, Bz, E and σ_B) and plasma (T, D, V, P and β) parameters along with their various products (BV, BzV and B²V) during intense geomagnetic storms (GMSs) for rising, maximum and decay phases as well as for complete solar cycle 23. The study leads to the conclusion that the peak values of different geomagnetic activity indices are in good correlation with Bt, Bz, σ_B, V, E, BV, BzV and B²V, therefore these parameters are most useful for predicting GMSs and substorms. These parameters are also reliable indicators of the strength of GMSs. We have also presented the lag/lead time analysis between the maximum of Dst and peak values of geomagnetic activity indices, various interplanetary field/plasma parameters for all GMSs. We have found that the average of peak values of geomagnetic activity indices and various field/plasma parameters are larger in decay phase compare to rising and maximum phases of cycle 23. Our analyses show that average values of lag/lead time lie in the ≈?4.00 h interval for Kp, ap and AE indices as well as for Bt, Bz, σ_B, E, D and P. For a more meaningful analysis we have also presented the above study for two different groups G1 (CME-driven GMSs) and G2 (CIR-driven GMSs) separately. Correlation coefficients between various interplanetary field/plasma parameters, their various products and geomagnetic activity indices for G1 and G2 groups show different nature. Three GMSs and associated solar sources observed during three different phases of this solar cycle have also been studied and it is found that GMSs are associated with large flares, halo CMEs and their active regions are close to the solar equator.     

The COVID-19 pandemic and global environmental change: Emerging research needs

The outbreak of COVID-19 raised numerous questions on the interactions between the occurrence of new infections, the environment, climate and health. The European Union requested the H2020 HERA project which aims at setting priorities in research on environment, climate and health, to identify relevant research needs regarding Covid-19. The emergence and spread of SARS-CoV-2 appears to be related to urbanization, habitat destruction, live animal trade, intensive livestock farming and global travel. The contribution of climate and air pollution requires additional studies. Importantly, the severity of COVID-19 depends on the interactions between the viral infection, ageing and chronic diseases such as metabolic, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases and obesity which are themselves influenced by environmental stressors. The mechanisms of these interactions deserve additional scrutiny. Both the pandemic and the social response to the disease have elicited an array of behavioural and societal changes that may remain long after the pandemic and that may have long term health effects including on mental health. Recovery plans are currently being discussed or implemented and the environmental and health impacts of those plans are not clearly foreseen. Clearly, COVID-19 will have a long-lasting impact on the environmental health field and will open new research perspectives and policy needs.     

Preparation and characterization of antibacterial silver/vermiculites and silver/montmorillonites

The reason for the preparation and characterization of the novel antibacterial silver/vermiculites (Ag/V) together with the silver/montmorillonites (Ag/M) was that the information on the vermiculite structure change and stability of Ag/V in water as well as its effect on bacteria are sporadic. The vermiculite (V), (Si_3.02Al_0.98)^IV (Mg_2.27Al_0.12Ti_0.07)^VI O₁₀(OH)₂ Ca_0.09Na_0.21K_0.50 from West China and montmorillonite (M), (Si_3.96Al_0.04)^IV (Al_1.20Mg_0.42Ti_0.02)^VI O₁₀ (OH)₂Ca_0.15Na_0.14K_0.08 from Ivan?ice (Czech Republic), fraction <0.4 μm were the starting clay materials for sample preparation. The samples V1 and M1 were prepared via reaction of the V and M with the 0.01 mol L⁻¹ AgNO₃ aqueous solution. The samples V2 and M2 were treated with the aqueous solution of AgNO₃ for two times. The cation exchange and reduced metallic silver on M1 and V1 evoked the specific surface area (SSA) diminution, the mean particle-size diameter extension and appearance of micropores with radius (<0.4 nm). Repeated silver cation exchange in M2 and V2 reduced particle size, increased slightly SSA and micropores with radius of 0.4-0.5 nm. Samples Ag/V and Ag/M showed higher content of pores with radius 0.5-1.0 nm than original V and M. The Ag concentration was found higher in Ag/V than in Ag/M and higher in repeatedly treated samples: 0.9 wt.% Ag in V1, 1.4 wt.% Ag in V2, 0.6 wt.% Ag in M1 and 1.0 wt.% Ag in M2. Vermiculite structure consisting of the hydrated interstratified phases and the mica-like phase changed to the cation-one-zero layer hydrate interstratification structure in V1 and to the random of two-one layer hydrate interstratifications in V2. Infrared and Mössbauer spectroscopy revealed no changes in the structure of the clay minerals that could be related directly to the sorption and crystallization of silver. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the silver nanoparticles size distribution was much narrower for the samples Ag/M than for Ag/V. The mean size of the Ag particles was between 40 and 50 nm. Although the Ag nanoparticles did not adhere sufficiently at the clay minerals surface and migrated moderately into water, all samples under study were approved to be effective inhibitors of the bacterial growth persisting for the whole testing period of 6 days. Silver/vermiculite was antimicrobial more efficient against Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa than silver/montmorillonite.     

Distribution of dissolved carbohydrates and uronic acids in a tropical estuary,India

Carbohydrates including uronic acids are among the active components of dissolved organic carbon, and play an important role in biogeochemical cycling of organic carbon in marine environments. In order to understand their distribution, concentrations of total dissolved carbohydrate (TCHO), dissolved polysaccharide (PCHO), dissolved monosaccharide (MCHO), and dissolved uronic acid (URA) were measured in the Mandovi estuary, west coast of India during the monsoon and premonsoon seasons. The estuary experienced nearly fresh water condition during the monsoon season and marine condition during the pre-monsoon season. Concentrations of TCHO, MCHO and URA ranged from 17.7 to 67.3 μM C, 4.1 to 15.5 μM C and 2.3 to 10.8 μM C, and their contribution to dissolved organic carbon (DOC) varied from ∼11 to 60%, 2.5 to 9.7%, and 1.8 to 5.3%, respectively. PCHO accounted for ∼52 to 92% of the TCHO. Generally, concentrations and yields of TCHO species were greater during the monsoon season. Phytoplankton abundance and bacterial cell numbers influenced the distribution of TCHO in the pre-monsoon season but not during the monsoon season. Transport of TCHO rich (11 to 60%) dissolved organic matter from the Mandovi estuary to the coastal waters during the monsoon season may affect ecosystem function by fueling biological activity of heterotrophic micro-organisms.     

Equatorial electrojet in east Brazil longitudes

This paper describes the morphology of the equatorial electrojet (EEJ) along 45°W longitude in east Brazil, where the ground magnetic (dip) equator is associated with the largest declination in the world. Daily range of the horizontal field (ΔH), as expected, was largest at the station in the chain closest to the dip equator, Sao Luiz (inclination −0.25°S). ΔZ was largest positive at Eusebio (inclination 9.34°S) and largest negative at Belem (inclination 7.06°N); both near the fringe of EEJ belt. ΔZ at Sao Luiz during the daytime was unexpectedly large negative in-spite of a small dip and also located south of the dip equator where ΔZ should be positive. Center of EEJ was found to be shifted southward of the dip equator by about 1° in latitude. During southern summer, ΔY started decreasing from 00 h and reached a minimum value in the afternoon, an abnormal feature not discussed for any station so far. The mid-day value of the direction of ΔH vector was 22°–24°W compared to the declination of 19°–21°W in the region.     

Temporal variation of solar flare index during solar cycles 21–24

The present investigation attempts to quantify the temporal variation of Solar Flare Index(SFI)with other activity indices during solar cycles 21-24 by using different techniques such as linear regression,correlation,cross-correlation with phase lag-lead,etc.Different Solar Activity Indices(SAI)considered in this present study are Sunspot Number(SSN),10.7 cm Solar Radio Flux(F10.7),Coronal Index(CI)and MgⅡCore-to-Wing Ratio(MgⅡ).The maximum cycle amplitude of SFI and considered SAI has a decreasing trend from solar cycle 22,and cycle 24 is the weakest solar cycle among all other cycles.The SFI with SSN,F10.7,CI and MgⅡshows hysteresis during all cycles except for solar cycle 22 where both paths for ascending and descending phases are intercepting each other,thereby representing a phase reversal.A positive hysteresis circulation exists between SFI and considered SAI during solar cycles 22 and 23,whereas a negative circulation exists in cycles 21 and 24.SFI has a high positive correlation with coefficient values of 0.92,0.94,0.84 and 0.81 for SSN,F10.7,CI and MgⅡrespectively.According to crosscorrelation analysis,SFI has a phase lag with considered SAI during an odd-number solar cycle(solar cycles21 and 23)but no phase lag/lead during an even-numbered solar cycle(solar cycles 22 and 24).However,the entire smoothed monthly average SFI data indicate an in-phase relationship with SSN,F10.7 and MgⅡ,and a one-month phase lag with CI.The presence of those above characteristics strongly confirms the outcomes of different research work with various solar indices and the highest correlation exists between SFI and SSN as well as F10.7 which establishes that SFI may be considered as one of the prime activity indices to interpret the characteristics of the Sun’s active region as well as for more accurate short-range or long-range forecasting of solar events.     

Crustal accretion and metamorphism of Mesoarchean granulites in Palghat-Cauvery Shear Zone,Southern India

This work provides unequivocal evidence of the existence of Mesoarchean granulite facies metamorphic event in the Palghat-Cauvery Shear Zone (PCSZ) of South India. Charnockite samples from two prominent hills at Kollaimalai (KM) and Pachchaimalai (PM) as well as from two quarries within the Bhavani Shear Zone (BSZ) have been analyzed for their Sm-Nd and Rb-Sr ages to investigate the existence or otherwise of the Archean granulite facies events within the PCSZ. The Rb-Sr whole-rock isochron ages for massive charnockites from both the hills appear to be contemporaneous at 2.9 Ga with the initial Sr isotopic ratios of 0.7012 and 0.7014, respectively. However, the Rb-Sr data for whole-rock samples of basic granulites from one of the quarries within the BSZ indicate open system behavior, while the charnockites from the other quarry have insufficient spread in ⁸⁷Rb/⁸⁶Sr ratios and do not yield any isochron. The Sm-Nd data, on the other hand, do not distinguish between the massive charnockite and the lowland charnockite and yield Depleted Mantle model ages in the range 2.98±0.3 Ga for all of them. The ɛ^T _CHUR for all of these rocks are highly positive. Both the Sr isotopic ratios and positive ɛ^T _CHUR values for these rocks strongly suggest a mantle source for all of them. An upper age limit of ∼3.28 Ga may be assigned to the crustal accretion of the protolith of all these rocks on the basis of their Nd model ages. The Rb-Sr isochron ages of 2.9 Ga for the two massifs could be the age of granulite facies metamorphism. Thus, the metamorphism in the KM and PM Hills took place within ∼100 Ma of crustal accretion of these rocks and probably was part of the same geological event of crust formation and metamorphism. The open system behavior with respect to Rb-Sr isotopes in the basic granulite from Bhavani is possibly due to the migration of Sr isotopes, triggered during the later shearing of these rocks.