Temperature Dependence of Single-Crystal Spinel (MgAl2O4) Elastic Constants from 293 to 423°K Measured by Light-Sound Scattering in the Raman-Nath Region

Summary. The temperature dependence of single-crystal elastic constants of synthetic stoichiometric MgAl₂O₄ spinel has been measured by the light-sound scattering technique in the Raman-Nath region. The crystal is set into forced vibration by a single crystal LiNbO₃ transducer coupled to one crystal face. A He-Ne Laser beam is diffracted by the stress-induced birefringence inside the crystal. The diffraction angle is determined from the distance between two spots exposed on a photographic plate by the first order diffracted beams as measured by a microdensitometer. The sound wavelength inside the crystal is then inferred from the laser diffraction angle. Combining the sound wavelength with the measured transducer frequency, the velocity inside the crystal is determined typically to a precision of 0·05 per cent. In this method, the measurement of velocity is not dependent on either the determination of sample length or on phase shifts at sample-transducer interface. Velocities of four pure modes, L //[001], T //[001], L //[110], and T //[110]( P //[1 1 0] are measured in the temperature range between 293 and 423 °K. A linear temperature dependence is fit to the data by a least square method. Values obtained at 25 °C from this linear fit are
The temperature dependence of the adiabatic elastic constants and bulk and shear (VRH average) moduli is computed using the density and literature value of thermal expansion coefficient. Values obtained are:
A comparison with previous measurements by pulse superposition and ultrasonic interferometry methods is made. Disagreement, when present, is discussed in terms of the separate measuring techniques. Finally, the present method, with its possibility for further improvement, is evaluated as a new method to measure temperature and pressure dependence of elastic constants.     

Some newly discovered coronal emission lines from high altitude infrared observations of the 7 March, 1970, solar eclipse

A survey of the infrared coronal spectrum between 1 and 3 was made from a high altitude aircraft during the 7 March, 1970, solar eclipse. The observations were made with a Fourier transform spectrometer and were confined to the outer chromosphere and inner corona. In addition to well known chromospheric lines of Hi and Hei, nine additional lines were seen. Evidence is presented for the tentative assignment of these lines to forbidden transitions in highly ionized atoms of magnesium, aluminum, silicon, sulphur, and chromium.     

Electrons > 40 ke V and protons > 500 ke V of solar origin

Following many solar flares, electrons with kinetic energy > 40 keV appear in interplanetary space. There are two classes of such electrons: prompt electrons which arrive within an hour of the flare and delayed electrons which arrive about a day following the flare. The promptly arriving electrons are found to be of two types: Simple (S) events are associated with solar flares which occur in the absence of large area Type I radio noise storm and the complex (C) events resulting from flares beneath these large radio noise regions. The propagation of energetic solar flare electrons to the earth is best described in terms of cones of propagation. In the S-events the cones have about 30° opening angle whereas in the C-type events the cones open to about 90° full angle. Outside the boundaries of these cones the electron flux is much reduced. Within the cones there is a net streaming of the electrons away from the sun. Solar flare electron fluxes do not show filamentary structure even at times when protons from the same flare do. This suggests that the electrons are injected into the interplanetary field from regions distinct from the proton injection region. The delayed solar electron events are accompanied by large fluxes of protons > 500 keV. These events are sometimes closely related to a sudden commencement.     

Scientific applications of downhole measurements in the ocean basins

Abstract The well logging activity of the Ocean Drilling Programme, which deploys the most technically advanced suite of downhole measurements available for routine use, is providing new opportunities for advancement in marine geoscience. Particular examples are cited of the application of wireline data to problems associated with global environmental changes, crust/ mantle interactions, crustal fluid circulation in the context of a global geochemical budget, lithospheric stress and deformation, and evolutionary processes in oceanic communities. Further technological developments will expand the scientific role of downhole measurements still further, especially in terms of the integration of geophysical data at different scales of measurement, and the interpretation of these data in accordance with; global scientific themes.     

Late Quaternary vegetation and fire history in the northernmost Nothofagus forest region: Mallín Vaca Lauquen,Neuquén Province,Argentina

The last 16 000 cal. a of vegetation, fire and limnological history are described from the steppe‐forest ecotone in the northernmost Nothofagus forest region east of the Andes (Mallín Vaca Lauquen, Neuquén Province, Argentina, latitude 36° 51.336′ S, longitude 71° 02.538′ W). Between 16 000 and 14 800 cal. a BP, scrub steppe with substantial open ground expanded in formerly glaciated valleys, whereas Nothofagus–Prumnopitys andina woodland covered mountain slopes. The site was a relatively deep and unproductive small lake at this time. After 14 800 cal. a BP, both steppe and woodland vegetation became denser, indicating increased moisture and temperatures, although not to present levels. The lake was still relatively deep and dystrophic, but became more alkaline by 10 000 cal. a BP. Between 8900 and 5500 cal. a BP, conditions were markedly drier than before; a Cyperaceae marsh developed and disturbance taxa increased. After 5500 cal. a BP, moisture increased but varied greatly, as evidenced by fluctuating water levels and high fire activity from 5500 to 4400 cal. a BP and from 2300 to 1000 cal. a BP. Human activity, in terms of forest clearance and livestock grazing, is documented in the uppermost levels. The evidence of high environmental variability in the middle and late Holocene is consistent with the onset or strengthening of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation, but differences in the timing of fire activity among sites on the west and east sides of the Andes suggest that fuel conditions were important in determining the local occurrence of fire. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A model for coupled sulfate reduction and methane oxidation in the sediments of Saanich Inlet

A methane-sulfate coupled reaction diffusion model has been developed to describe the inverse relationship commonly observed between methane and sulfate concentrations in the pore waters of anoxic marine sediments. The sediment column was divided into two zones; an upper zone where diagenetic reaction rates are limited by the concentration of oxidizable organic matter and a lower zone in which reaction rates are limited by the concentration of oxidizing agent—sulfate. For each zone differential equations describing the distribution of methane and sulfate were derived. The boundary conditions used to solve these equations resulted in a set of four coupled equations. When fit to data from Saanich Inlet (B.C., Canada) and Skan Bay (Alaska) the model not only reproduces the observed methane and sulfate pore water concentration profiles but also accurately predicts the methane oxidation and sulfate reduction rates. Maximum methane oxidation rates occur at the transition boundary from the upper to the lower layer. In Saanich Inlet sediments from 23 to 40% of the downward sulfate flux is consumed in methane oxidation while in Skan Bay this value is only about 12%.     

The abundance and distribution of the toxic dinoflagellate,Gonyaulax tamarensis,in Long Island estuaries

The distribution and abundance of motile cells of the toxic dinoflagellateGonyaulax tamarensis Lebour were monitored in estuarine waters of Long Island, a region with no previous history of shellfish toxicity. The population distribution was patchy, with the species detected in 40% of 115 estuaries examined during the spring bloom season. More detailed studies in four estuaries indicated that the dinoflagellate was most abundant in the headwater regions, with concentrations falling to undetectable levels at the mouths.G. tamarensis cell concentrations did not exceed 10⁵ cells per 1 and often remained an order of magnitude lower. In several instances, population growth and accumulation ceased under seemingly favorable environmental and nutritional conditions.     

Foliage temperature increases in water hyacinth caused by atmospheric CO2 enrichment

Summary Atmospheric CO₂ enrichment tends to induce partial stomatal closure in most higher plants. This phenomenon reduces per-unit-leaf-area plant transpirational water loss rates, which in turn leads to higher plant temperatures. Working in the field with water hyacinths maintained in open-top, clear-plastic wall, CO₂ -enrichment chambers at Phoenix, Arizona, we have quantified this relationship for a plant species which has been shown previously to react like most land plants in this regard. Our results indicate that in some parts of the world this non-greenhouse mechanism for surface temperature change may play an important role in determining future climate. Under sunlit and well-watered conditions conducive to active growth, for instance, we found water hyacinth foliage temperatures to increase by 2.7 K in response to a 300 to 600 ppm doubling of the atmospheric CO₂ concentration.

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Erhöhungen der Blattemperatur von Wasserhyazinthen durch atmosphärische CO₂-Anreicherung

Zusammenfassung Erhöhter CO₂ -Gehalt neigt dazu, teilweises Schließen der Spaltöffnungen höherer Pflanzen zu verursachen. Das reduziert den Wasserverlust durch Transpiration und führt zu höheren Pflanzentemperaturen. Bei Feldarbeiten an Wasserhyazinthen in oben offenen Klarplastikkammern mit CO₂ -Anreicherung bei Phoenix, Arizona wurde diese Beziehung für eine Pflanzenart quantifiziert, die sich in diesem Zusammenhang den meisten Landpflanzen als ähnlich erwiesen hat. Die Ergebnisse liegen nahe, daß dieser, vom Glashauseffekt unabhängige, Mechanismus der änderung der Oberflächemtemperatur in einigen Teilen der Welt eine bedeutende Rolle bei der Bestimmung des zukünftigen Klimas spielen könnte. Es konnte z.B. unter für das Wachstum günstigen Strahlungs- und Wasserverhältnissen eine Erhöhung der Blattemperatur der Wasserhyazinthen um 2,7 K durch eine Verdoppelung der atmosphärischen CO₂ -Konzentration von 300 auf 600 ppm nachgewiesen werden.

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Contribution from th Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture.

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With 3 Figures     

Ionic diffusion in naturally-occurring aqueous solutions: transition-state models that use either empirical expressions or statistically-derived relationships to predict mutual diffusion coefficients in the concentrated-solution regions of 8 binary systems

Mutual diffusion coefficients for the systems NaCl-H₂O, KCl-H₂O, CaCl₂-H₂O, SrCl₂-H₂O, BaCl₂-H₂O, MgCl₂-H₂O, Na₂SO₄-H₂O, and MgSO₄-H₂O are computed using a model that postulates exchanges between ions and water molecules. Limiting ionic equivalent conductances, a solution-density function, and a mean ionic activity-coefficient function are required as input. A region of changing solution structure extends up to concentrations ranging from about 0.01 molar in MgCl₂-H₂O to about 0.2 molar in KCl-H₂O. In the remaining concentration range to saturation, a single expression in each system containing one variable parameter can be fitted empirically to reproduce selected sets of experimentally measured D^v₁₂ with maximum errors for individual compositions ranging from about 0.25% in KCl-H₂O and Na₂SO₄-H₂O to about 4% in MgCl₂-H₂O. The experimentally measured D^v₁₂ can be reproduced with errors comparable to those of the empirical fits by further postulating that individual ion-water molecule exchanges are coupled to yield hydrated neutral exchange complexes (the activated complexes), and defining probability expressions that describe the following exchanges: Ba²⁺ + 2Cl^? for 3H₂O, 2Ca²⁺ + 4Cl^? for 6H₂O, 2Sr²⁺ + 4Cl^? for 6H₂O, Na⁺ + Cl^? for 3H₂O, 2K⁺ + 2Cl^? for 5H₂O, NaSO^?₄ + Na⁺ for 5H₂O, Mg²⁺ + SO^2?₄ (+MgSO⁰₄) for 4H₂O, and MgCl⁺ + Cl^? for 2H₂O. This calculation also contains one variable parameter. Solute transport between exchange sites is by movement of ions, except for the ion-pair contribution indicated in parentheses.     

Subsurface Venting of Vapors Emanating from Hydrocarbon Product on Ground Water

The results of an API-sponsored pilot-scale subsurface venting system study are presented. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of forced venting techniques in controlling and removing hydrocarbon vapors from a subsurface formation. Both qualitative and quantitative sampling and analytical procedures were developed to measure hydrocarbon vapors extracted from the soil. Vapor recovery and equivalent liquid product recovery rates were measured at each test cell evacuation rate.
Two identical test cells were installed. Each cell contained 16 vapor monitoring probes spaced at distances from 4 to 44 feet from a vapor extraction (vacuum) well. Each cell was also configured with two air inlet wells to allow atmospheric air to enter the subsurface formation. The vapor monitoring probes were installed at three discrete elevations above the capillary zone. In situ vapor samples were obtained periodically from these probes to measure changes in vapor concentration and composition while extracting vapors from the vacuum well at three different flow rates (18.5 scfm, 22.5 scfm and 39.8 scfm). In situ vapor samples were analyzed using a portable gas chromatograph to quantify and speciate the vapors. Vacuum levels were also measured at each vapor sampling probe and at the vacuum well.
The soil venting techniques evaluated during this study offer an alternative approach for controlling and eliminating spilled or leaked hydrocarbons from sand or gravel formations of high porosity and moderate permeability. These techniques may also be used to augment conventional liquid recovery methods. The data collected during this study will be useful in optimizing subsurface venting systems for removing and controlling hydrocarbon vapors in soil. Study results indicate pulsed venting techniques may offer a cost-effective means of controlling or eliminating hydrocarbon vapors in soil.