Active phase of a substorm as a chain of two types of reconnection: In the closed plasma sheet and in the open tail lobes

The maps of the field-aligned current (FAC) density distribution in the ionosphere obtained by the TIM-2 magnetogram inversion technique are used to investigate the August 27, 2001 substorm. The open magnetic flux Ψ and intensity J of the substorm current wedge (SCW) have been determined with a step of 1–5 min. The substorm onsets are divided into two types, PSR (plasma sheet reconnection) and TLR (tail lobe reconnection). The fast expansion tailward of the PSR region is described as the transition from PSR to PSR+TLR. Assuming that the SCW FACs flow down into the ionosphere from the edges of the disruption region of the cross-tail dawn-dusk current, several parameters of the disruption region have been estimated. The disrupted magnetic field has been found to be ∼5% of the undisrupted one for PSR and ∼95% for PSR+TLR. The disturbance power Q for PSR is an order of magnitude lower than that for PSR+TLR. The abrupt growth of Q during the transition from PSR to PSR+TLR is observed over the entire SCW area from its near-Earth part to the midtail and distant tail.     

Observations of PC5 pulsations near field-aligned current regions

Examples of long period Pc5 magnetic field pulsations near field-aligned current (FAC) regions in the high-latitude magnetosphere, observed by INTERBALL-Auroral satellite during January 11, April 11 and June 28, 1997 are shown. Identification of corresponding magnetosphere regions and subregions is provided by electrons and protons in the energy-range of 0.01–100 keV measured simultaneously onboard the spacecraft. The examined Pc5 pulsations reveal a compressional character. A fairly good correlation is demonstrated between these ULF Pc5 waves and the consecutive injection of magnetosheath low energy protons. The ULF Pc5 wave occurrence is observed in both upward and downward FACs.     

The concentration and composition of polyaromatic hydrocarbons in small rivers in the drainage area of the eastern Gulf of Finland

The results of examining the concentrations of 16 major polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are given. The examined samples were taken in the territory of Leningrad province and in the eastern Gulf of Finland in different seasons. Two seasonal natural profiles of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were constructed, conventionally, for the spring and the autumn. The dominating effect on the formation of the profile of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons is exerted by pyrogenous pollution sources in winter and petrogenic pollution sources in summer.     

Intercomparison of the total storage deficit index (TSDI) over two Canadian Prairie catchments

Retrieval of the terrestrial moisture storage dataset from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellite remote sensing system is possible when the catchment of interest is of large spatial scale. These dataset are of paramount importance for the estimation of the total storage deficit index (TSDI), which enables the characterization of a particular drought event from the perspective of the terrestrial moisture storage over that catchment. Incidentally, the GRACE gravity signal over the 13,000 km² Upper Assiniboine River Basin on the drought-prone Canadian Prairie is so poor therefore making the computation of the total storage deficit index for this basin infeasible. Consequently, the estimation of the terrestrial moisture storage from other reliable sources becomes imperative in order to enable the computation of the TSDI over this basin.This study explores the utilization of the Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) model, a physically based, spatially distributed hydrologic model to simulate the total moisture storage over the Upper Assiniboine River Basin which was then employed in the estimation of the TSDI over this basin for subsequent characterization of the recent Prairie-wide drought. Interestingly, the temporal patterns in the computed TSDI from the VIC model reveal a strong resemblance with the same drought characterization undertaken over the larger adjacent Saskatchewan River Basin, which was accomplished utilizing terrestrial moisture storage from the GRACE-based approach. Additionally, these independent techniques employed in the characterization of the last Prairie drought over the two adjacently situated basins resulted in similar drought severity classification from the standpoint of the total moisture storage deficits over these basins. This study has therefore shown that in the computation of the total storage deficit index over small-scale catchments during anomalous climatic conditions that propagate extreme dryness through the terrestrial hydrologic systems, simulations of the total water storage from a structurally sound model such as the VIC model could be resourceful for the computation of the monthly total storage deficit index if no constraint is placed on the availability of accurate meteorological forcing.     

Petromagnetic features of sediments at the Mesozoic-Cenozoic boundary: Results from the Gams section

The paper continues a cycle of petromagnetic investigations of epicontinental deposits at the Mesozoic-Cenozoic (K/T) boundary and is devoted to the study of the Gams section (Austria). Using thermomagnetic analysis, the following magnetic phases are identified: goethite (T _C = 90–150°C), hemoilmenite (T _C = 200?300°C), metallic nickel (T _C = 350–360°C), magnetite and titanomagnetite (T _C = 550–610°C), Fe-Ni alloy (T _C = 640–660°C), and metallic iron (T _C = 740–770°C). Their concentrations are determined from M(T). In all samples, ensembles of magnetic grains have similar coercivity spectra and are characterized by a high coercivity. An exception is the lower coercivity of the boundary clay layer due to grains of metallic nickel and iron. With rare exceptions, the studied sediments are anisotropic and generally possess a magnetic foliation, which indicates a terrigenous accumulation of magnetic minerals. Many samples of sandy-clayey rocks have an inverse magnetic fabric associated with the presence of acicular goethite. The values of paramagnetic and diamagnetic components in the deposits are calculated. According to the results obtained, the K/T boundary is marked by a sharp increase in the concentration of Fe hydroxides. The distribution of titanomagnetite reflects its dispersal during eruptive activity, which is better expressed in the Maastrichtian and at the base of the layer J. The along-section distribution of metallic iron, most likely of cosmic origin, is rather uniformly chaotic. The presence of nickel, most probably of impact origin, is a particularly local phenomenon as yet. The K/T boundary is not directly related to an impact event.     

Carbon accumulation, nitrogen and phosphorus use efficiency of Sophora davidii seedlings in response to nitrogen supply and water stress

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to explore whether additional nitrogen (N) supply could enhance carbon (C) accumulation, and phosphorus (P) use efficiency (NUE_P) of Sophora davidii seedlings under dry conditions. Two-month-old seedlings were subjected to a completely randomized design with three water (80, 40 and 20% water field capacity (FC)) and three N supply (N0: 0, Nl: 92 and Nh: 184 mg N kg⁻¹ soil) regimes. Water stress decreased C, N and P accumulation, NUE_P, N and P uptake efficiency (NUtE_N and NUtE_P) regardless of N supply. The S. davidii seedlings exhibited strong responses to N supply, but the responses were not consistent with the various N supply levels. Nl increased C, N and P accumulation, and improved NUE_P, NUtE_N and NUtE_P in the same water treatment. In contrast, Nh did few or even depress effects on C, N and P accumulation, and NUE_P, although NUtE_N and NUtE_P increased with Nh in the same water treatment. Even so, NUE_N decreased with increase of N supply in the same water treatment. The results suggested that appropriate or low N supply should be recommended for S. davidii seedling establishment in dry environment by improving C accumulation and NUE_P.     

Landscape,development, technology and drivers: The geography of drownings associated with automobiles in Texas floods, 1950–2004

More than 200 people have died in automobiles that have encountered flooded roadways in Texas from 1950 to 2004. This study examines the geographical processes that create flood hazards associated with automobile travel to discern the most important factors in their genesis. A database of drowning cases caused by motorists' interactions with flooded roadways in Texas was compiled for the study period. We examine the circumstances and spatial patterns of these events by addressing the following questions: where have motorists drowned? How did rates and spatial patterns of accidents change over the study period? To the extent that we can determine, what were the characteristics of the roads, the drivers, and the landscapes when and where deaths occurred? What factors appear to explain the temporal and spatial distributions of hazard? We conclude that roadway familiarity might have emboldened drivers to attempt to surmount water rushing across a road, that time of day was clearly an important characteristic of the accidents, and that roadway characteristics and sex and age of the drivers seem not to be key contributing factors. The most important factors, however, are associated with growth: increases in population and increased automobile registrations drive the propensity for increased automobile-flood hazards.     

塔里木盆地下古生界白云石微区REE配分特征及其成因研究

利用LA-ICP-MS分析手段, 对塔里木盆地下古生界不同类型白云石进行了微区REE分析, 并利用标准海水对白云石REE含量进行了标准化处理(SWN, Sea Water Normalized). 总体上看, 白云石SREE多低于20 ppm (1 ppm=1 mg/g), 绝大多数样品REESWN配分特征类似, 表现为轻稀土富集, 重稀土曲线平缓, Ce正异常明显, 说明它们具有类似的白云岩化流体来源, 即海水来源. 根据白云石成因与成岩特征, 将白云石分为准同生白云石与成岩(改造)白云石两大类, 各自具有不同的REE配分特点: (1) 准同生白云石具有最高的REE含量(大于20 ppm), 且其边部REE含量明显低于核部. 高的REE含量记录了浓缩海水与灰质沉积物相互作用而发生白云岩化的过程, 低REE含量的白云石边缘乃是后期成岩过程中较淡的孔隙流体对其改造的结果. (2) 成岩(改造)白云石又可细分为4类: a) 埋藏白云石, 其REE含量低于准同生白云石, 但高于灰岩, 且边部REE含量高于核部, 说明浓度较高的孔隙流体交代早期灰岩而形成; b) 孔隙充填白云石, 产于白云岩较大孔隙/洞中, 与基质白云石具有类似的REESWN配分特征, Eu异常不明显, 说明白云岩化流体源自成岩流体; c) 重结晶白云石, REE含量普遍较低, 说明重结晶过程中伴随有REE的流失; d) 热液改造充填白云石, REE含量最低, 并具有明显的Eu正异常, 反映其形成与热液活动有关, 并且伴随着REE的大量流失. 因此, 不同类型白云石REE含量变化与配分特征, 较好地记录了它们形成的原始条件与后期变化过程, 是深入研究白云石成因与成岩演化的良好示踪标志.     

The territory of Georgia and surrounding countries in the Upper Cretaceous: paleomagnetic data

Paleomagnetic researches of the Upper Cretaceous rocks, collected from 24 cross-sections (530 samples) of Georgia have shown that only nine samples are suitable for the paleotectonic problem to be solved. The method of thermomagnetic cleaning was used for the paleomagnetic directions of these rocks to be determined. Magnetic-mineralogical data and the tests of paleomagnetic accuracy have proved the ancient age of the stable part of the natural remnant magnetization (NRM) that is close to the initial one. The study results have demonstrated that the position of the areas studied in the Upper Cretaceous time was located 11°–18° southward from their modern latitudinal position; the distance between structures of the Great Caucasus and Trans-Caucasus was 10°–14°. The wide variations of the paleoinclinations are connected with the local turns of tectonic blocks     

Magnetic properties of the boundary layer at the Cretaceous/Tertiary boundary in the Gams section,Eastern Alps,Austria

The paper is concerned with the detailed sectional petromagnetic study of boundary clay in four 1A, 1B, 2A, and 2B Gams sections (in Austria). The composition of basic magnetic minerals in the boundary clay of all sections is similar. They are composed of iron hydroxides, hemoilmenite, titanomagnetite, magnetite, hematite, and iron. The difference is the presence in the Gams-1 section of metallic nickel, which is absent in the Gams-2 section, and the presence in the latter of iron sulfides of the pyrite type. Grains of titanomagnetite and ilmenite, connected with volcanic activity, are nonuniformly distributed in the boundary layer, which indicates their irregular precipitation in time. The ensemble of magnetic grains is characterized by high coercitivity. The boundary layer is characterized by an increased content of iron hydroxides. This effect is a global phenomenon and is irrelevant to the local physicogeographical conditions. Such a characteristic of impact events as the particles of metallic iron is almost absent in the boundary layer.