CRRES/Ground-based multi-instrument observations of an interval of substorm activity

Observations are presented of data taken during a 3-h interval in which five clear substorm onsets/intensifications took place. During this interval ground-based data from the EISCAT incoherent scatter radar, a digital CCD all sky camera, and an extensive array of magnetometers were recorded. In addition data from the CRRES and DMSP spacecraft, whose footprints passed over Scandinavia very close to most of the ground-based instrumentation, are available. The locations and movements of the substorm current system in latitude and longitude, determined from ground and spacecraft magnetic field data, have been correlated with the locations and propagation of increased particle precipitation in the E-region at EISCAT, increased particle fluxes measured by CRRES and DMSP, with auroral luminosity and with ionospheric convection velocities. The onsets and propagation of the injection of magnetospheric particle populations and auroral luminosity have been compared. CRRES was within or very close to the substorm expansion phase onset sector during the interval. The onset region was observed at low latitudes on the ground, and has been confirmed to map back to within L=7 in the magnetotail. The active region was then observed to propagate tailward and poleward. Delays between the magnetic signature of the substorm field aligned currents and field dipolarisation have been measured. The observations support a near-Earth plasma instability mechanism for substorm expansion phase onset.     

热带大气10～20天振荡的大气环流模式数值模拟

利用大气环流模式对热带大气10～20天振荡进行了数值模拟研究，其结果同观测资料分析基本一致。模式资料的功率谱及动能的分析表明，10～20天振荡确实比30～60天振荡更突出地存在于热带大气中。同热带大气30～60天振荡的结构有些不同，对于在热带10～20天振荡，除纬向1波外，纬向2波也很明显；流动的斜压结构特征欠佳；系统以较快速度沿赤道西移。暖SST事件对热带大气10～20天振荡的影响也进行了模拟，对结果的比较分析表明，暖STT将使10～20天大气振荡减弱，使其结构更趋正压性。     

Overstrength of dowelled CLT connections under monotonic and cyclic loading

This paper presents an evaluation of overstrength based on an experimental study on dowelled connections in Cross Laminated Timber (CLT). Connection overstrength needs to be well understood in order to ensure that ductile system behaviour and energy dissipation can be achieved under seismic loading. Overstrength is defined as the difference between the code-based strength, using characteristic material strengths, and the 95th percentile of the true strength distribution. Many aspects contribute to total connection overstrength, which makes its definition challenging. In this study, half-hole embedment tests were performed on CLT to establish embedment strength properties and three point bending tests were performed to determine the fastener yield moment. Different connection layouts, making use of mild steel dowels and an internal steel plate, were tested under monotonic and cyclic loading to evaluate theoretically determined overstrength values and study the influence of cyclic loading on overstrength. Experimental results were compared with strength predictions from code provisions and analytical models for ductile response under monotonic loading. It was found that cyclic loading does not significantly influence overstrength for connections that respond in a mixed-mode ductile way indicating that in future more expedient monotonic test campaigns could be used. This work also provides further experimental data and theoretical considerations necessary for the estimation of a generally applicable overstrength factor for dowelled CLT connections.     

Changing climate, changing process: implications for salt transportation and weathering within building sandstones in the UK

Salt weathering is a crucial process that brings about a change in stone, from the scale of landscapes to stone outcrops and natural building stone façades. It is acknowledged that salt weathering is controlled by fluctuations in temperature and moisture, where repeated oscillations in these parameters can cause re-crystallisation, hydration/de-hydration of salts, bringing about stone surface loss in the form of, for example, granular disaggregation, scaling, and multiple flaking. However, this ‘traditional’ view of how salt weathering proceeds may need to be re-evaluated in the light of current and future climatic trends. Indeed, there is considerable scope for the investigation of consequences of climate change on geomorphological processes in general. Building on contemporary research on the ‘deep wetting’ of natural building stones, it is proposed that (as stone may be wetter for longer), ion diffusion may become a more prominent mechanism for the mixing of molecular constituents, and a shift in focus from physical damage to chemical change is suggested. Data from ion diffusion cell experiments are presented for three different sandstone types, demonstrating that salts may diffuse through porous stone relatively rapidly (in comparison to, for example, dense concrete). Pore water from stones undergoing diffusion experiments was extracted and analysed. Factors controlling ion diffusion relating to ‘time of wetness’ within stones are discussed, (continued saturation, connectivity of pores, mineralogy, behaviour of salts, sedimentary structure), and potential changes in system dynamics as a result of climate change are addressed. System inputs may change in terms of increased moisture input, translating into a greater depth of wetting front. Salts are likely to be ‘stored’ differently in stones, with salt being in solution for longer periods (during prolonged winter wetness). This has myriad implications in terms of the movement of ions by diffusion and the potential for chemical change in the stone (especially in more mobile constituents), leading to a weakening of the stone matrix/grain boundary cementing. The ‘output’ may be mobilisation and precipitation of elements leading to, for example, uneven cementing in the stone. This reduced strength of the stone, or compromised ability of the stone to absorb stress, is likely to make crystallisation a more efficacious mechanism of decay when it does occur. Thus, a delay in the onset of crystallisation while stonework is wet does not preclude exaggerated or accelerated material loss when it finally happens.     

Petrographic constraints on the formation of silica-rich igneous rims around chondrules in CR chondrites

In the CR (Renazzo-like) chondrite group, many chondrules have successive igneous rim (IR) layers, with an outer layer that contains a silica mineral and/or silica-rich glass (silica-rich igneous rims, SIRs). Models for SIR formation include (1) accretion of Si-rich dust onto solid chondrule surfaces, followed by heating and cooling and (2) condensation of SiO_(gas) onto the surface of partially molten chondrules. We evaluate these models, based on a petrographic study of five Antarctic CR chondrites that have undergone minimal secondary alteration. We obtained electron microprobe analyses of minerals and glass with quantitative wavelength-dispersive spectroscopy mapping, and identified silica polymorphs with Raman spectroscopy. Common SIRs contain silica, low-Ca pyroxene, Ca-rich pyroxene, Fe,Ni metal, ± glass ± plagioclase ± rare olivine. We also describe near-monomineralic SIRs where a narrow zone of cristobalite occurs at the outer edge of the chondrule. All crystalline silica is cristobalite, except for one SIR that consists of tridymite. Some rims contain silica-rich glass (>80 wt% SiO₂) but no silica mineral. Features such as sharp interfaces and compositional boundaries between chondrules and SIRs indicate that SIRs were formed from solid precursors. Consideration of the stability fields of silica polymorphs and computed liquidus temperatures indicates that SIRs were heated to >1500°C for limited time periods, followed by rapid cooling, similar to conditions for chondrule formation. We infer that in the CR chondrule formation region, the same heating mechanism was repeated multiple times while the chemical composition of the nebular gas evolved to highly fractionated silica-rich compositions.     

Elemental composition of individual chondrules from ordinary chondrites

Sequential non-destructive neutron activation analysis was used to determine the bulk abundance of Fe, Al, Na, Mn, Or, Sc, Co and Ir in approximately 300 individual chondrules from 16 chondrites representing the H (3–5), L4 and LL(3–6) compositional and petrologic classes. For some of the chondrules, Si, Ni, Ca and V were also determined. The histograms indicate that the most probable abundances for lithophilic elements, except Cr, are enriched in the chondrules, while the siderophilic elements are depleted in the chondrules compared to the whole chondrite. Some of the abundance populations, such as Al and Fe, appear to be multimodal. Systematic variations in the composition of the chondrules with increasing petrologic type were observed; most consistent are an increasing Na-Al and Cr-Al correlation, a decreasing Na-Mn correlation, increasing Na abundance and decreasing Na and Mn dispersions among chondrules. The systematic compositional variations with increasing petrologic type are consistent with an increasing approach to equilibrium between chondrules and matrix.Observed elemental correlations are generally consistent with mineralogical controls expected on the basis of geochemical affinities suggested by the mineral assemblages present in the chondrules. However, a prevalent Al-Ir correlation was observed, and is most pronounced for a group of chondrules belonging to a population high in Al. A Sc-Ir correlation was observed. Also, an anti-correlation between chondrule masses and Al (and Ir for some chondrules) content of the chondrules was observed. These correlations are attributed to a fractionation during condensation or chondrule formation and cannot be attributed to classical geochemical similarities i.e. these correlations result from a cosmochemical fractionation. From the compositional evidence, it is suggested that there may be two mechanisms for chondrule production. Some high Al chondrules which exhibit the Al-Ir correlation are believed to be remelted primitive high-temperature aggregates. The elemental composition of the chondrules from the lower Al abundance population is consistent with a preferential remelting of pre-existing silicates.