Polarization and brightness opposition effects for the E-type Asteroid 64 Angelina

We present new polarimetric and photometric observations of the high-albedo Asteroid 64 Angelina in the UBVRI wavebands at phase angles ranging from 0.43° to 13.02° during oppositions in 1995, 1999, and 2000/2001. The polarization opposition effect has been observed in the form of a sharp peak of negative polarization with amplitude of about −0.4% centered at αmin≈1.8°, which is superimposed on the regular negative polarization branch. The amplitude of the polarization opposition effect appears to be apparition-dependent. Our photometric data confirm the early detected by Harris et al. [1989. Phase relations of high-albedo asteroids: The unusual opposition brightening of 44 Nysa and 64 Angelina. Icarus 81, 365-374] of a very strong and unusually narrow opposition spike, i.e., brightness opposition effect, for Angelina. Thus, 64 Angelina is the first asteroid for which both the polarization opposition effect and the brightness opposition effect have been detected. We observed that the polarization opposition effect as well as the regular negative polarization branch depends on the wavelength of scattered light, but in different manners. In addition, the colors B-V and V-R show little phase-angle dependence, while the color U-B increases with increasing phase angle, thus indicating that the amplitude of the brightness opposition effect is larger in the U band and almost the same in the B, V, and R bands. It appears that all colors indices begin to increase with decreasing phase angle to zero. The composite lightcurve computed with a period of 8.752 h has amplitude of 0.13 magnitude.     

Nonlinear excitation of small-scale Alfvén waves by fast waves and plasma heating in the solar atmosphere

We study a nonlinear mechanism for the excitation of kinetic Alfvén waves (KAWs) by fast magneto-acoustic waves (FWs) in the solar atmosphere. Our focus is on the excitation of KAWs that have very small wavelengths in the direction perpendicular to the background magnetic field. Because of their small perpendicular length scales, these waves are very efficient in the energy exchange with plasmas and other waves. We show that the nonlinear coupling of the energy of the finite-amplitude FWs to the small-scale KAWs can be much faster than other dissipation mechanisms for fast wave, such as electron viscous damping, Landau damping, and modulational instability. The nonlinear damping of the FWs due to decay FW = KAW + KAW places a limit on the amplitude of the magnetic field in the fast waves in the solar corona and solar-wind at the level B/B ₀∼10⁻². In turn, the nonlinearly excited small-scale KAWs undergo strong dissipation due to resistive or Landau damping and can provide coronal and solar-wind heating. The transient coronal heating observed by Yohkoh and SOHO may be produced by the kinetic Alfvén waves that are excited by parametric decay of fast waves propagating from the reconnection sites.     

Conditions of magmatic crystallization of Na-bearing majoritic garnets in the earth mantle: Evidence from experimental and natural data

Results of experimental study at 7.0–8.5 GPa and 1300–1900°C of the systems pyrope Mg₃Al₂Si₃O₁₂ (Prp)-Na₂MgSi₅O₁₂ (NaGrt) modeling solid solutions of Na-bearing garnets, Prp-jadeite NaAlSi₂O₆ (Jd) in a simplified mode demonstrating melting relations of Na-rich eclogite, and Prp-Na₂CO₃ are presented. Prp-Na₂MgSi₅O₁₂ join is a pseudobinary that results from the decomposition of NaGrt on to coesite and Na-pyroxene. Synthesized garnets are characterized by Na admixture (>0.32 wt % Na₂O) and excess Si (3.05–3.15 f.u.). Maximal Na₂O concentrations (1.5 wt % Na₂O) are reached on the solidus of the system at 8.5 GPa. Clear correlation between Na and Si was established in synthesized garnets; this provides evidence for heterovalent isomorphism of the Mg + Al → Na + Si type with the appearance of Na₂MgSi₅O₁₂ component as a mechanism of such garnet formation. The Prp-Jd join is also pseudobinary that results from the formation of two series of solid solutions: (1) garnet (Prp-NaGrt-majorite) and (2) pyroxene (Jd-clinoenstatite-Eskola molecule), and the appearance of kyanite at the solidus of the system, where garnets with the highest Na₂O contents (>0.8 wt %) are formed. In spite of quite a wide field of garnet crystallization (20–100 mol % Prp), garnets with significant sodium concentration (>0.3 wt % Na₂O) are formed in a Jd-rich part of the system (20–50 mol % Prp). In the Prp-Na₂CO₃ system at 8.5 GPa garnet crystallizes in a wide range of starting compositions as a liquidus mineral containing up to 0.9 wt % Na₂O. Our experiments demonstrate that melt alkalinity, as well as PT-parameters control the crystallization of Na-bearing majoritic garnets. The results obtained provide evidence for the fact that the majority of natural diamonds with inclusions of Na-bearing majoritic garnets containing <0.4 wt % Na₂O were formed in alkaline silicate (carbonate-silicate) melts at a pressure of <7 GPa. Only a small portion of garnets with higher sodium concentrations (>1 wt % Na₂O) could be formed at a pressure of >8.5 GPa. 1 This article was translated by the authors.     

The northern sea route as an element of the ICZM system in the Arctic: problems and perspectives

Characteristics of the current state of transportation problems along the Northern Sea Route are given. The required ice data necessary to guarantee the safety of navigation are discussed. A variety of developing transportation prospects along the Northern Sea Route, including international aspects, are disputed. Effective economic alternatives of the Northern Sea Route under the conditions of the current Russian economic crisis are analyzed.     

Tropical cyclone early warnings for the regions of the Southern Hemisphere: strengthening resilience to tropical cyclones in small island developing states and least developed countries

Tropical cyclones (TCs) affect countries in the Southern Hemisphere (SH) tropics every year causing significant humanitarian impacts and much damage to the natural environment. To reduce TC impacts on societies, early warning systems (EWS) are used to communicate the risk to the public. In 1999, the Climate Change and Southern Hemisphere Tropical Cyclones International Initiative (CCSHTCII) was established to enhance EWS for TCs in SH countries, with particular focus on support for small island developing states and least developed countries to provide effective public early warnings of TC risk. In this paper, recent activities of the CCSHTCII to strengthen TC EWS are presented. Using TC best track data from the SH TC historical data archive, the impact of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on inter-annual and spatial variability of TC activity is examined. TC-ENSO relationships in the SH are analysed and used as a scientific basis for the production of TC season outlooks. Communication of TC early warnings through TC season outlooks is described, and recommendations for improving outlooks are provided.

     

Approximate traveltime inversion in downhole microseismic monitoring

In downhole microseismic monitoring, accurate event location relies on the accuracy of the velocity model. The model can be estimated along with event locations. Anisotropic models are important to get accurate event locations. Taking anisotropy into account makes it possible to use additional data – two S-wave arrivals generated due to shear-wave splitting. However, anisotropic ray tracing requires iterative procedures for computing group velocities, which may become unstable around caustics. As a result, anisotropic kinematic inversion may become time consuming. In this paper, we explore the idea of using simplified ray tracing to locate events and estimate medium parameters. In the simplified ray-tracing algorithm, the group velocity is assumed to be equal to phase velocity in both magnitude and direction. This assumption makes the ray-tracing algorithm five times faster compared to ray tracing based on exact equations. We present a set of tests showing that given perforation-shot data, one can use inversion based on simplified ray-tracing even for moderate-to-strong anisotropic models. When there are no perforation shots, event-location errors may become too large for moderately anisotropic media.     

Geothermal Model of the Fore-Yenisey Sedimentary Basin―Transitional Structure between the Ancient Siberian Platform and the Young West Siberian Plate

Results of the investigation into the geothermal regime of the Fore-Yenisey sedimentary basin, formed during the collision and subsidence of the Kas-Turukhan microcontinent and the western margin of the Siberian craton in the late Neoproterozoic and early Paleozoic are reported. It was established that the structural and geothermal conditions of the upper Precambrian–Paleozoic sections are similar to those in the western regions of the Siberian platform and are characterized by rather low geothermal gradients (12.5–25.5 °С/km). In the western parts of the basin, formation temperatures in the uppermost pre-Jurassic sediments are 50°С–85°С, decreasing eastward to 30°С–55°С. For the first time, the detailed geothermal model of the basin sedimentary fill was developed. This model allows predictions of the geothermal conditions of Earth’s interior.     

Reflected waves in finely layered tilted orthorhombic media

Upscaling in seismics is a homogenization of finely layered media in the zero-frequency limit. An upscaling technique for arbitrary anisotropic layers has been developed by Schoenberg and Muir. Applying this technique to a stack of layers of orthorhombic (ORT) symmetry whose vertical symmetry planes are aligned, results in an effective homogeneous layer with orthorhombic symmetry. If the symmetry planes in a horizontal orthorhombic layer are rotated with respect to vertical, the medium is referred to as tilted orthorhombic (TOR) medium, and the stack composed of TOR layers in zero-frequency limit will produce an effective medium of a lower symmetry than orthorhombic. We consider a P-wave that propagates through a stack of thin TOR layers, then it is reflected (preserving the mode) at some interface below the stack, and then propagates back through the same stack. We propose to use a special modified medium for the upscaling in case of this sequential down- and up-propagation: each TOR layer in the stack is replaced by two identical TOR layers whose tilt angles have the opposite algebraic sign. In this modified medium, one-way propagation of a seismic wave (any wave mode) is equivalent to propagation of a pure-mode reflection in the original medium. We apply this idea to study the contribution from an individual layer from the stack and show how the approach can be applied to a stack of TOR layers. To demonstrate the applicability of the model, we use well log data for the upscaling. The model we propose for the upscaling can be used in well-seismic ties to correct the effective parameters obtained from well log data for the presence of tilt, if latter is confirmed by additional measurements (for example, borehole imaging).     

Experimental study of eclogite melting with participation of the H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O-CO<Subscript>2</Subscript>-KCl fluid at 5 GPa

In order to model the processes of formation of the highly alkaline (potassic) melts during the partial melting of the eclogite nodules in kimberlites, experiments on the melting of the model and natural eclogites in presence of the H₂O-CO₂ and H₂O-CO₂-KCl fluids at 5 GPa and 1200 and 1300°C are performed. A comparative analysis of the phase relations in the systems with H₂O-CO₂ and H₂O-CO₂-KCl demonstrate that KCl in the fluid equilibrated with eclogites intensifies their melting. It is related to both high Cl concentration in the forming silicate melt (2.0–5.5 wt %) and its enrichment in K₂O owing to the K-Na exchange reactions with the immiscible chloride melt. Because of these reactions, the K₂O/Cl ratio in the melts increases with the KCl content in the system and reaches 2.5–3.5 in the silicate melts coexisting with the immiscible chloride liquid. However, the ratio KCl/(H₂O + CO₂ + KCl) in the fluid does not influence on the ratio K₂O/Cl in the melts. Thus, the solubility KCl in the melts, apparently, does not depend on presence of the H₂O-CO₂ fluid, at least, within the concentration range used in the experiments (up to 20 wt %). The experiments show that the deliberated chloride liquid is necessary to form the potassium-rich chlorine-bearing silicate melts during the eclogite melting. It corresponds to the KCl content in the system above 5 wt %.     

Paragenetic relations of diamond with silicate and carbonate minerals in the carbonatite-diamond system: Experiments at 8.5 GPa

Phase relations of diamond and syngenetic minerals were experimentally investigated in the multicomponent system natural carbonatite-diamond at a pressure of 8.5 GPa and temperatures of 1300–1800°C (within the thermodynamic stability field of diamond). Under such conditions, the natural carbonatite of the Chagatai complex (Uzbekistan) acquires the mineralogy of Ca-rich eclogites (grospydites). The melting phase diagram of this system (syngenesis diagram) was constructed; an important element of this diagram is the diamond solubility curve in completely miscible carbonate-silicate melts (solubility values are 15–18 wt % C). The diamond solubility curve divides the phase diagram into two fields corresponding to (1) phase relations involving diamond-undersaturated melts-solutions of carbon with garnet as a liquidus phase (region of diamond dissolution) and (2) phase relations with diamond-saturated melts-solutions with diamond as a liquidus phase (region of diamond crystallization). During a temperature decrease in the region of diamond crystallization from carbonate-silicate melts, the crystallization of diamond is accompanied by the sequential formation of the following phase assemblages: diamond + garnet + melt, diamond + garnet + clinopyroxene + melt, and diamond + garnet + clinopyroxene + carbonate + melt, and the subsolidus assemblage diamond + garnet + clinopyroxene + carbonate is eventually formed. This is indicative of the paragenetic nature of silicate and carbonate minerals co-crystallizing with diamond and corresponding primary inclusions trapped by the growing diamond. A physicochemical mechanism was proposed for the formation of diamond in carbonate-silicate melts. The obtained results were used to analyze the physicochemical behavior of a natural diamond-forming magma chamber.