The effects of intensive rainfalls (flash floods) on the development on the landforms in the K?szeg Mountains (Hungary)

The effects of the intensive rainfall episodes in the years 2009 and 2010 in the K?szeg Mountains were investigated. Channel profiles were constructed at various times during these periods, which were used to describe the channel changes. We measured the length of the incised and filled sections on multiple occasions. We could establish the degree and the direction of the changes using this data. The sediment veneer that developed in the area of K?szeg town was mapped and its conditions of development were examined. The erosion and accumulation landforms developed during these years were classified and described. These forms are the following: rills, gullies, alluvial fans and sediment veneer. We distinguished and characterised those which had previously formed, but they were changed or increased (the channels). We established the conditions under which the sediment veneer can develop, furthermore those conditions which can increase the chance of the formation of this landform. These conditions are the following: the high density of roads in the catchment areas of valleys leading to settlements, the great thickness of superficial deposit, and the steep slope of the surface of the catchment area. We created theoretical classification of the morphological environment where the development of sediment veneer may happen and identified settlements with structures which promote or prevent the development of the sediment veneer. We determined the probability of the development of the sediment veneer at some settlements in K?szeg, and suggestions have been given to decrease the chance of the development of this sediment veneer.     

Dissolution kinetics as a function of the Gibbs free energy of reaction: An experimental study based on albite feldspar

Here we report on an experimental investigation of the relation between the dissolution rate of albite feldspar and the Gibbs free energy of reaction, ΔG_r. The experiments were carried out in a continuously stirred flow-through reactor at 150 °C and pH_(150 °C) 9.2. The dissolution rates R are based on steady-state Si and Al concentrations and sample mass loss. The overall relation between ΔG_r and R was determined over a free energy range of −150 < ΔG_r < −15.6 kJ mol⁻¹. The data define a continuous and highly non-linear, sigmoidal relation between R and ΔG_r that is characterized by three distinct free energy regions. The region furthest from equilibrium, delimited by −150 < ΔG_r < −70 kJ mol⁻¹, represents an extensive dissolution rate plateau with an average rate . In this free energy range the rates of dissolution are constant and independent of ΔG_r, as well as [Si] and [Al]. The free energy range delimited by −70 ? ΔG_r ? −25 kJ mol⁻¹, referred to as the ‘transition equilibrium’ region, is characterized by a sharp decrease in dissolution rates with increasing ΔG_r, indicating a very strong inverse dependence of the rates on free energy. Dissolution nearest equilibrium, defined by ΔG_r > −25 kJ mol⁻¹, represents the ‘near equilibrium’ region where the rates decrease as chemical equilibrium is approached, but with a much weaker dependence on ΔG_r. The lowest rate measured in this study, R = 6.2 × 10⁻¹¹ mol m⁻² s⁻¹ at ΔG_r = −16.3 kJ mol⁻¹, is more than two orders of magnitude slower than the plateau rate. The data have been fitted to a rate equation (adapted from Burch et al. [Burch, T. E., Nagy, K. L., Lasaga, A. C., 1993. Free energy dependence of albite dissolution kinetics at 80 °C and pH 8.8. Chem. Geol.105, 137-162]) that represents the sum of two parallel reactions

R=k₁[1-exp(-ng^m₁)]+k₂[1-exp(-g)]^m₂,     

Kimmeridgian protoglobigerinids (Foraminifera) from Crussol (SE France)

A detailed investigation of the protoglobigerinids from the Kimmeridgian section of the Montagne de Crussol, SE France is presented. This monotonous succession of predominantly carbonate beds represents peri-platform hemipelagic deposits, well dated by ammonites. Three species were determined in thin sections and in isolated forms after extraction by acetolysis. Favusella? parva (Kuznetsova) is the most common species occurring in almost the entire succession from the Orthosphinctes to the Beckeri zones. Favusella hoterivica (Subbotina) has been retrieved less frequently from the Platynota to the Beckeri zones, and it is its oldest occurrence. The rare Globuligerina bathoniana (Pazdrowa) occurs only in the Late Kimmeridgian. Based on our study and the review of the literature a palaeogeographical map was plotted, showing that most of the protoglobigerinid occurrences are in deep water facies of the northern margin and central part of the Tethys. These records demonstrate the presence of Globuligerina bathoniana, G. oxfordiana (Grigelis), Favusella hoterivica, F.? parva and Compactogerina stellapolaris (Grigelis) in the Kimmeridgian.     

The SAURON project – VII. Integral-field absorption and emission-line kinematics of 24 spiral galaxy bulges

We present observations of the stellar and gas kinematics for a representative sample of 24 Sa galaxies obtained with our custom-built integral-field spectrograph SAURON operating on the William Herschel Telescope. The data have been homogeneously reduced and analysed by means of a dedicated pipeline. All resulting data cubes were spatially binned to a minimum mean signal-to-noise ratio of 60 per spatial and spectral resolution element. Our maps typically cover the bulge-dominated region. We find a significant fraction of kinematically decoupled components (12/24), many of them displaying central velocity dispersion minima. They are mostly aligned and co-rotating with the main body of the galaxies, and are usually associated with dust discs and rings detected in unsharp-masked images. Almost all the galaxies in the sample (22/24) contain significant amounts of ionized gas which, in general, is accompanied by the presence of dust. The kinematics of the ionized gas are consistent with circular rotation in a disc co-rotating with respect to the stars. The distribution of mean misalignments between the stellar and gaseous angular momenta in the sample suggests that the gas has an internal origin. The [O  iii ]/Hβ ratio is usually very low, indicative of current star formation, and shows various morphologies (ring-like structures, alignments with dust lanes or amorphous shapes). The star formation rates (SFRs) in the sample are comparable with that of normal disc galaxies. Low gas velocity dispersion values appear to be linked to regions of intense star formation activity. We interpret this result as stars being formed from dynamically cold gas in those regions. In the case of NGC 5953, the data suggest that we are witnessing the formation of a kinematically decoupled component from cold gas being acquired during the ongoing interaction with NGC 5954.     

Using weak lensing to find halo masses

Since the strength of weak gravitational lensing is proportional to the mass along the line of sight, it might be possible to use lensing data to find the masses of individual dark matter clusters. Unfortunately, the effect on the lensing field of other matter along the line of sight is substantial. We investigate to what extent we can correct for these projection effects if we have additional information about the most massive halos along the line of sight from deep optical data. We do this by calculating the contributions of these line-of-sight halos to the lensing field and then subtracting off this effect. Three different approaches are used to calculate these contributions: the first approach uses the exact mass distribution of the line-of-sight halos, the second assumes the masses are known and uses the NFW model and the third approach uses richness as an estimator for mass and then also assumes the NFW model. We find that, whichever approach we take, unless we know the masses and positions of line-of-sight halos down to a very low mass, we can only correct for a small part of the line-of-sight projection. We conclude that if we try to use lensing data to find individual cluster masses, there is an error of about 15–20% due to line-of-sight projection that cannot be corrected for.     

Time to market in the CDM: variation over project characteristics and time

Not only is the carbon market inundated with Certified Emissions Reductions (CERs) issued by successful projects, it is also littered with failed projects, that is, projects that either fail to be registered under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) or projects that have been successfully registered but fail to issue CERs. By relying on a novel application of survival analysis in the context of the CDM, this article shows that half of all projects that start the Global Stakeholder Process fail to issue CERs, while the other half have a median time to market of four years. Furthermore, it is shown that some of the best projects, in terms of being additional, are those that are least likely to make it to market, whereas some of the worst projects, in terms of not being additional, are the ones that are most likely to make it to market. This presents a fundamental challenge for the CDM and future offset schemes that rely on the same design as the CDM. In contrast with previous studies, it is shown that, when project characteristics are controlled for, not all durations measured along the CDM project cycle have increased over time.

Policy relevance

This article develops a novel method for analysing durations measured along the CDM project cycle that avoids the biases of previous studies, and corrects for some misconceptions of what the delays faced by CDM projects are and how these delays have changed over time. Developing an understanding of the delays is important in order not to draw the wrong lessons from the CDM experience. As the leading example of an offset scheme, both in terms of geographical scope and sectoral coverage, and some would say institutional complexity, the CDM serves as a benchmark and reference for all future offset schemes, among others, for the New Market Mechanisms (NMMs) and the Chinese domestic offset programme. While the NMMs are still very much in development, China has announced that it will rely on the methodologies and procedures developed under the CDM for generating offsets for their regional carbon trading schemes.     

New Data on the Mineralogy of Chromite from the Nuggihalli Schist Belt, Western Dharwar Craton, Karnataka, India: Petrogenetic Implications

The occurrence of rhythmic layering of chromite and host serpentinites in the deformed layered igneous complexes has been noticed in the Nuggihalli schist belt (NSB) in the western Dharwar craton, Karnataka, South India. For this study, the chromitite rock samples were collected from Jambur, Tagadur, Bhakatarhalli, Ranganbetta and Byrapur in the NSB. Petrography and ore microscopic studies on chromite show intense cataclasis and alteration to ferritchromite. The ferritchromite compositions are characterized by higher Cr number (Cr/[Cr+Al]) (0.68–0.98) and lower Mg number (Mg/[Mg+Fe]) (0.33–0.82) ratios in ferritchromite compared to that of parent chromite. The formation process for the ferritchromite is thought to be related to the exchange of Mg, Al, Cr, and Fe between the chromite, surrounding silicates (serpentines, chlorites), and fluid during serpentinization.