Noble gases in D’Orbigny, Sahara 99555 and D’Orbigny glass—Evidence for early planetary processing on the angrite parent body

We analyzed the spallogenic, trapped, fissiogenic and radiogenic noble gas components in various bulk samples of the angrites D’Orbigny and Sahara 99555 as well as in glass separates of D’Orbigny. The D’Orbigny glass samples show hints of solar-like noble gases, as deduced from the trapped elemental and Ne isotopic compositions; the bulk samples do not contain detectable amounts of trapped gases. These observations indicate that D’Orbigny experienced a complex history shortly after its formation 4.56 Ga ago. The glass of D’Orbigny most likely represents magma that rose from the interior of the angrite parent body (APB) and was quenched near the surface. Hence, the APB may contain—similar to the interior of Earth and Mars—solar noble gases. This would call into question the suggested trapping mechanism for solar noble gases in the Earth and Mars, which involves the solution of early atmospheres into magma oceans, due to the APB’s inability to retain a primordial atmosphere. The first detection of—possibly parentless—radiogenic excess ¹²⁹Xe and solar noble gases in the glass of D’Orbigny indicates that the interior of APB degassed to a lesser degree than the outer regions. Therefore primordially trapped, fossil ¹²⁹I was kept. The APB was not completely devolatilized. Sahara 99555 yields a cosmic-ray exposure age of 6.8 ± 0.3 Ma, while D’Orbigny was exposed to cosmic rays for 11.9 ± 1.2 Ma. Both ages are different than those found in the other angrites. Hence, the angrites analyzed so far sampled surface material from the APB that was ejected in at least five events. In contrast to the bulk sample, the D’Orbigny glass separates yield concordant ages of only 3.0 ± 1.1 Ma, apparently suggesting a pre-exposure of the host material. However, such a scenario is unlikely, due to very similar Mn-Cr ages found in the bulk and glass of D’Orbigny. Most likely, this discrepancy is the result of additional, secondary gas-free glass. Such glass might have been formed during the meteorite’s entry into the Earth’s atmosphere. Isotopically anomalous Xe due to the decay of ²⁴⁷Cm has not been found. The presence of ²⁴⁷Cm in glass of D’Orbigny has been suggested based on Pb isotope constraints.     

Analyse de sensibilité globale du modèle CATHY aux propriétés hydrodynamiques du sol d’un micro-bassin agricole drainé

Résumé

Une étude d’analyse de sensibilité globale d’une application du modèle hydrologique CATHY (CATchment HYdrology) sur un bassin sous influence de drains agricoles a été réalisée en utilisant les méthodes Morris, FAST99 (Fourier Amplitude Sensitivity Test) et Sobol2002. Ces analyses ont permis d’identifier les paramètres les plus sensibles sur : (a) l’écoulement aux drains et (b) les flux sortant du micro-bassin agricole Bras d’Henri (Québec, Canada). Des 24 paramètres évalués par la méthode de Morris, les neuf et huit paramètres ayant été respectivement très influents sur les deux variables de sortie, ont été analysés par les méthodes FAST99 et Sobol2002. Il s’ensuit que la conductivité hydraulique horizontale à saturation dans les couches sous les drains est la propriété hydrodynamique la plus influente sur les deux variables de sortie. Cette étude démontre que des efforts devraient être portés sur la caractérisation de l’anisotropie du sol, car celle-ci n’est pas à négliger lors d’une modélisation hydrologique tridimensionnelle.

Editeur Z.W. Kundzewicz     

Analisi periodale delle serie dei livelli marini di Trieste e Venezia

Riassunto Alle due serie di livelli medi, quella cinquantennale di Trieste e quella settantennale di Venezia, si applica l'analisi periodale secondo il metodoVercelli. Si ottengono onde componenti di anni 22, 11,3, 8, 5,5, 4, 3, 2. Le onde corrispondenti delle due località sono in buon accordo di fase. Le ampiezze delle componenti di Venezia sono leggermente maggiori di quelle di Trieste. L'asse medio del diagramma di Trieste presenta una salita di 11 cm in 52 anni, quello di Venezia di 15 cm in 70 anni.

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Summary To the series of yearly values of the mean heights of the sea-level for the ports of Trieste and Venice has been applied the periodal analysis after the method ofVercelli. From this are derived component waves almost-persistent and almost-periodical of 22, 11,3, 8, 5,5, 4, 3, 2 years. The mean axis shows the following variations for every ten years: an ascent of 2 cm in the port of Trieste and of 2.5 cm in the port of Venice.

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Zusammenfassung Es wird dieVercelli Periodalanalyse an den zwei Reihen, eine 50- eine 70jährige, von jährlichen mittleren Wasserständen bezüglich der Hafen von Triest und Venedig angewendet. Man erhält Komponentwellen die Perioden von 22-11,3-8-5,5-4-3-2 Jahren haben. Die entsprechenden Wellen der zwei Lokalitäten sind in einer guten Uebereinstimmung der Phase. Die Amplituden der Komponentwellen von Venedig sind etwas grösser als diejenigen von Triest. Die mittlere Achse stellt einen Aufstieg dar, welche für ein Jahrzehnt 2 cm für Triest und 2,5 für Venedig beträgt.

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Lavoro eseguito con il contributo del Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche.     

Modelling of natural and synthetic polyelectrolyte interactions in natural waters by using SIT, Pitzer and Ion Pairing approaches

In this paper SIT and Pitzer models are used for the first time to describe the interactions of natural and synthetic polyelectrolytes in natural waters. Measurements were made potentiometrically at 25 °C in single electrolyte media, such as Et₄NI and NaCl (for fulvic acid 0.1 < I /mol L^− 1 < 0.75), and in a multi-component medium simulating the composition of natural waters at a wide range of salinities (for fulvic and alginic acids: 5 < S < 45) with particular reference to sea water [Synthetic Sea Water for Equilibrium studies, SSWE]. In order to simplify calculations, SSWE was considered to be a “single salt” BA, with cation B and anion A representing all the major cations (Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺) and anions (Cl⁻, SO₄²⁻) in natural sea water, respectively. The ion pair formation model was also applied to fulvate and alginate in artificial sea water by examining the interaction of polyanions with the single sea water cation. Results were compared with those obtained from previous speciation studies of synthetic polyelectrolytes (polyacrylic and polymethacrylic acids of different molecular weights). Results indicate that the SIT, Pitzer and Ion Pairing formation models used in studies of low molecular weight electrolytes may also be applied to polyelctrolytes with a few simple adjustments.     

Andamento diurno,stagionale ed annuo della visbillità nel Golfo di Trieste

Riassunto Dalle osservazioni di visibilità verso il mare, eseguite giornalmente a Trieste alle ore 8, 14 e 19, nel ventennio 1931–1950, si deducono le medie mensili, stagionali e annue. La visibilità risulta massima alle ore 14 e nei mesi estivi. Il valore medio annuo è 6.5 del codice internazionale, la visibilità è di 15.000 m ed è classificata mediocre-buona. Nel ventennio l'andamento medio annuo risulta leggermente crescente.

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Summary From the visibility-observations towards the sea, effectuated every day at 8^h, 14^h and 19^h, during the period of twenty years (1931–1950), the monthly and annual mean values are calculated. The visibility results maximum at 14^h of the summer months. The mean annual value is 6.5 of the International Codex, the visibility is 15.000 m and it is classified middle-good. In the twenty years 1931–1950, the mean annual going results lightly increasing.

     

The Madden–Julian oscillation in ECHAM4 coupled and uncoupled general circulation models

The Madden-Julian oscillation (MJO) dominates tropical variability on timescales of 30–70 days. During the boreal winter/spring, it is manifested as an eastward propagating disturbance, with a strong convective signature over the eastern hemisphere. The space–time structure of the MJO is analyzed using simulations with the ECHAM4 atmospheric general circulation model run with observed monthly mean sea-surface temperatures (SSTs), and coupled to three different ocean models. The coherence of the eastward propagation of MJO convection is sensitive to the ocean model to which ECHAM4 is coupled. For ECHAM4/OPYC and ECHO-G, models for which ~100 years of daily data is available, Monte Carlo sampling indicates that their metrics of eastward propagation are different at the 1% significance level. The flux-adjusted coupled simulations, ECHAM4/OPYC and ECHO-G, maintain a more realistic mean-state, and have a more realistic MJO simulation than the nonadjusted scale interaction experiment (SINTEX) coupled runs. The SINTEX model exhibits a cold bias in Indian Ocean and tropical West Pacific Ocean sea-surface temperature of ~0.5°C. This cold bias affects the distribution of time-mean convection over the tropical eastern hemisphere. Furthermore, the eastward propagation of MJO convection in this model is not as coherent as in the two models that used flux adjustment or when compared to an integration of ECHAM4 with prescribed observed SST. This result suggests that simulating a realistic basic state is at least as important as air–sea interaction for organizing the MJO. While all of the coupled models simulate the warm (cold) SST anomalies that precede (succeed) the MJO convection, the interaction of the components of the net surface heat flux that lead to these anomalies are different over the Indian Ocean. The ECHAM4/OPYC model in which the atmospheric model is run at a horizontal resolution of T42, has eastward propagating zonal wind anomalies and latent heat flux anomalies. However, the integrations with ECHO-G and SINTEX, which used T30 atmospheres, produce westward propagation of the latent heat flux anomalies, contrary to reanalysis. It is suggested that the differing ability of the models to represent the near-surface westerlies over the Indian Ocean is related to the different horizontal resolutions of the atmospheric model employed.     

Kinematic evolution of thrusts wedge and erratic line length balancing: insights from deformed sandbox models

Kinematic evolution of fold-thrust structures has been investigated by analogue models that include syntectonic sedimentation. Different decollement dips and basement thicknesses produced different wedge geometries and propagating characteristics. A model with one decollement level was characterized by a closely spaced thrust system during early stages of shortening as compared to the late stages. The frequency of fault nucleation was rapid during the early stages of deformation. Conversely, the frequency of fault nucleation was low and thrust spacing was significantly wider in a model with two decollement levels. Individual faults became locked at steep dips and deformation stepped forward as a new fault nucleated in-sequence in front of the older locked structure. Once the thrust system was established up to 27 % overall shortening, an overlying bed was introduced to simulate syntectonic deformation. Model sand wedge did not grow self similarly but rather its length and height increased episodically with deformation. Restoration of deformed models show that layer parallel shortening accommodated for approximately half of the total model shortening across the multilayers. Calculated error in apparent layer shortening from the restored layers revealed a direct relation with depth of the layers in the models. The experimental results are comparable to a natural example from the Northern Apennines fold-and-thrust belts.     

The definition of potential infiltration areas in Guaratinguetá watershed, Paraíba do Sul Basin, Southeastern Brazil: an integrated approach using physical and land-use elements

This work describes the methodological approach used for mapping the potential infiltration areas of the Guaratinguetá watershed (160?km²), situated in Southeastern Brazil. The method is considered a qualitative approach, which takes into account thematic maps (geology, pedology, geomorphology, and land use/land cover) and the precipitation spatial distribution. A group of experts in Earth Sciences and Geotechnical Engineering has applied an infiltration potential scale factor that ranges from 5 (highest influence) to 1 (lowest influence). The final infiltration map was produced using several ArcGIS^? tools. The results showed that the most suitable (very high) infiltration areas represent only around 7% of the watershed area, which are associated with smooth and gentle hills, fluvial Tertiary sediments and yellow oxisols. However, growing impacts caused by land farming and urban developments require urgent planning for this region. Areas with high to moderate capacity of infiltration represent around 56% of the watershed and are found in the domain of igneous-metamorphic rocks associated with steep hill-slopes and relatively well-preserved forest fragments. This region requires a land-use strategy, such as reforestation programs, in order to increase the infiltration capacity of the watershed.     

Standard candles from the Gaia perspective

The ESA Gaia mission will bring a new era to the domain of standard candles. Progresses in this domain will be achieved thanks to unprecedented astrometric precision, whole-sky coverage and the combination of photometric, spectrophotometric and spectroscopic measurements. The fundamental outcome of the mission will be the Gaia catalogue produced by the Gaia Data Analysis and Processing Consortium (DPAC), which will contain a variable source classification and specific properties for stars of specific variability types. We review what will be produced for Cepheids, RR Lyrae, Long Period Variable stars and eclipsing binaries.