The effect of Antarctic O3 decline on night airglow intensity of Na5893Å, O5577Å, OH emissions and its correlation with total solar flare numbers

The paper presents the effect of O₃ depletion on different night airglow emission lines. Calculations based on chemical kinetics show that the airglow intensity of Na5893Å, O5577Å and OH band emissions will also be affected due to the depletion of O₃ concentration. Intensity of Na5893Å is calculated theoretically for Halley Bay (76° S,27° W), British Antarctic Survey Station, during the period 1973 to 1984. It is concluded from the covariation of different emission lines that O5577Å and OH emissions also follow the same trend of variation. A study has been made to find the correlation between the depletion of O₃ concentration and total solar flare numbers. Important results are as follows:

Some consequences of a steady thermal moon

The Moon is represented as an inhomogeneous spherical body in a steady thermal state. Radioactive heat sources are supposed distributed in a manner which is consistent both with the total measured heat flux near the surface and with the broad seismic evidence. Surface concentrations of uranium and thorium are those suggested by the study of Apollo 11 samples. The resultant internal temperature profile allows the details of Sonett's electrical conductivity profile to be understood if it is accepted that the Moon was not cold 4.5 × 10⁹ yr ago. It would appear further that at least one of the maria was formed by the impact of planetesimals.     

The null distribution of sample serial correlation coefficient

 The null distribution of the lag-k sample serial correlation coefficient (r _k , k=1,2,3) was investigated by Monte Carlo simulation. For a time series with normal, exponential, Pearson 3, EV1 (Gumbel), or generalized Pareto (GP) distribution type, the null distribution of its r _k can be approximated by the normal distribution with mean −1/(n−k) and variance 1/(n−1). But for a time series with the lognormal, EV2 or EV3 (Weibull) distribution type, the null distribution of r _k is skewed distributed. In such cases, a simulation technique is suggested to construct percentile confidence intervals at a given significance level.     

Variation of stream temperature among mesoscale habitats within stream reaches: southern Appalachians

Stream mesoscale habitats have systematic topographic relationships to hyporheic flow patterns, which may create predictable temperature variation between mesoscale habitat types. We investigated whether systematic differences in temperature metrics occurred between mesoscale habitats within reaches of small streams tributary to the upper Little Tennessee River, southern Appalachians. Surface water temperature was recorded over three or four mid‐summer days in four mesoscale habitat types: riffle, main riffle, pool and alcove in 44 stream segments (sites). Temperature metrics were calculated for each mesoscale habitat relative to the mean value of the metric over the stream: Δ maximum temperature, Δ average maximum temperature and Δ maximum daily variation and also for each site: standard deviation of the maximum temperature and average diurnal variation (ADV). Sites were categorized as fully or partially forested. Pool tailouts had statistically significantly lower Δ maximum temperature and Δ average maximum temperature than riffle tailouts in partially forested sites, although differences were small. This was the opposite of what was expected in the presence of hyporheic exchange, indicating hyporheic exchange is not a dominant driver of mesoscale habitat temperatures at these sites. Temperature differences between mesoscale habitat units were small and unlikely to have ecological significance. We also evaluated relationships between stream temperature and riparian condition, watershed % impervious surfaces, watershed % non‐forested and elevation. ADV and standard deviation of the maximum temperature were significantly higher in partially forested sites, indicating that partially forested sites have greater temperature ranges and spatial variation of maximum temperatures. ADV decreased with elevation and increased with % impervious surfaces. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Solubilities of some hydrous REE phosphates with implications for diagenesis and sea water concentrations

Solubility product determinations suggest that the hydrous phosphates of the rare earths, REPO₄ · $\text{xH}{}_2\text{O}$, are important in controlling the sea water REE concentrations. Two of these solids, rhabdophane, (P6₂22) and “hydrous xenotime”, (14₁/amd), have been synthesized at 100°C via the acid hydrolysis of the respective REE pyrophosphate. The solubility products at infinite dilution were determined to be $\text{pK}{}^0\text{= 24.5}$, (La at 25°C); 26.0, (Pr at 100°C); 25.7, (Nd at 100°C): and 25.5, (Er at 100°C). On the basis of calculations involving the reaction of RE³⁺ with apatite to form the hydrous phosphate, the lanthanum concentration in sea water is predicted to be about 140 pmol/L. Laboratory experiments support the hypothesis that apatite is a substrate for reactions with dissolved REE.     

The influence of subsurface moisture on rill system evolution

Rill development studies have focused almost exclusively on surface erosion processes and critical threshold hydraulic conditions. Characteristic rill features, such as arcuate headcuts and knickpoints, are morphologically similar to the ‘theatre-headed’ valleys which have been associated with ‘sapping’ processes at various scales. This paper reports on laboratory experiments designed to identify linkages between surface flow hydraulics, subsurface moisture conditions and rill development. Experiments were carried out in a 16·57 m² flume under simulated rainfall with soil samples up to 0·15 m depth in which moisture conditions were monitored by miniature time-domain reflectometer probes. Tests showed complex responses in which some rill incision reflected surface flow conditions, but major rill system development with markedly enhanced sediment yield was closely associated with high soil moisture contents. It was not possible to measure seepage forces directly, but calculation and observation indicate that these were less important than reduction in soil strength with saturation, which resulted in increased effective runoff erosivity. This caused concentrated undercutting along the water table at rill walls, while slightly stronger surface layers above the water table formed microscarps. These retreated along the water table into interrill surfaces, producing residual pediment transport slopes. The microscarps eventually disappeared when the water table reached the surface, eliminating differential soil strength. The experiments showed complex relationships between surface and subsurface erosional processes in evolving rill systems, strongly influenced by soil moisture dynamics. The very small topographic and hydraulic head amplitudes indicate that seepage forces and ‘sapping’ were minimal. The dominant effect of soil moisture was reduction of soil strength with saturation, and increased runoff entrainment. Experimental conditions were not unusual, either for agricultural fields or natural hillslopes, and the intricate interrelationship of surface and subsurface erosion processes observed is probably not uncommon. Attempts to link specific morphologic features at rill scale to dominance of surface or subsurface processes alone are therefore unlikely to be successful or reliable. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The role of stratification in the deoxygenation of Mobile Bay and adjacent shelf bottom waters

Oxygen depletion in the shallow bottom waters of Mobile Bay, Alabama, and in adjacent nearshore and continental shelf waters, is shown to be directly related to the intensity of water column stratification. Low winds speeds are coincidental with the onset of water column stratification and the occurrence of hypoxic events. Hourly, daily, and seasonal changes in the relationship between percent oxygen saturation or oxygen concentration in the bottom waters and surface-bottom density differences indicate that the oxidized materials are recently formed, and not relic or overwintering carbon sources. The influence of density structure (water column stratification) in other oxygen-depleted coastal water masses is compared to Mobile Bay.     

<Superscript>57</Superscript>Fe Mössbauer measurements and electronic structure calculations on natural lawsonites

Three natural lawsonites from Syke Rock, Mendocino Co., Reed Ranch, Marin Co., and Blake Gardens, Sonoma Co., all from the Coast Range Region in California, were studied by ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy, electron microprobe analysis, and X-ray powder diffraction. The samples contain about 0.6, 1.0, and 1.4 wt% of total iron oxide, respectively. ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectra are consistent with the assumption that high-spin Fe³⁺ substitutes for Al in the octahedrally coordinated site. The Mössbauer spectrum of lawsonite from Syke Rock exhibits a second doublet with ⁵⁷Fe hyperfine parameters typical for octahedrally coordinated high-spin Fe²⁺. Electronic structure calculations in the local spin density approximation yield quadrupole splittings for Fe³⁺ in quantitative agreement with experiment indicating, however, that substitution of Al by Fe³⁺ must be accompanied by local distortion around the octahedral site. Model calculations also reproduce the room temperature hyperfine parameters of ferrous high-spin iron assuming the substitution of Ca by Fe²⁺. However, it cannot be excluded that Fe²⁺ may occupy a more asymmetric site within the microstructural cavity occupied by Ca and a H₂O molecule.