Interferometric calibrations and astronomical calibrators

This chapter gives some indications on the selection of suitable astronomical calibrators for interferometric observations. After an introduction to interferometric calibrations, we will focus on the criteria, steps and tools developed by ESO to prepare VLTI observations and to select calibrators. Although the tools described here are focused on VLTI, the problem of astronomical calibrators is the same for the other interferometers and can be approached in the same way.     

Evaluating the sulfur isotopic composition of biodegraded petroleum: The case of the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin

The sulfur isotopic composition (δ³⁴S) of petroleum is believed to be affected mainly by sulfur incorporation reactions into the sedimentary organic matter during the early diagenesis. However, secondary processes could affect the original δ³⁴S of oil under the effect of thermal maturity or of the microbial activity of biodegraded reservoirs. In this study, the different processes that may affect the δ³⁴S of in-reservoir oils were assessed based on the sulfur content and isotopes of a series of oil and core samples coming from various reservoirs of the Lower Cretaceous Mannville Group, Western Canada Sedimentary Basin (WCSB). Based on the molecular study, these samples appear to have reached various levels of maturity and biodegradation, ranging from 0 to 6.5 on the biodegradation scale of Peters and Moldowan. In addition, mixing of organic matter coming from different source rocks was identified based on the comparison with extensive correlation studies performed in the WCSB.Investigation of the δ³⁴S shows a trend that seems a priori correlated to the level of biodegradation. However, a careful interpretation of molecular and sulfur isotope data leads to the conclusion that the observed δ³⁴S variations have rather to be ascribed to contributions of oils generated by various source rocks. Alternatively, variations of δ³⁴S could neither be related to maturity differences nor to kinetic effects during organic sulfur compounds biodegradation. In the case of some specific core samples showing a common origin based on biomarker study, δ³⁴S variations might not be related to different sources but to secondary sulfur incorporation/exchange processes occurring within the reservoir. These processes would involve reduced sulfur species from bacterial sulfate reduction formed in situ or migrated into Mannville reservoirs. This hypothesis is supported by laboratory experiments showing sulfur exchange/incorporation under plausible conditions for shallow reservoirs.     

From spatial-continuous electrical resistivity measurements to the soil hydraulic functioning at the field scale

The aim of this article is to present a strategy to interpret the hydraulic functioning of a small field area by using measurements of the soil electrical resistivity. The spatial soil electrical resistivity was recorded at a high resolution on a 2 ha area by the MultiContinous Electrical Profiling (MuCEP) device at two dates. These apparent electrical resistivity measurements were firstly interpreted in terms of local electrical resistivity by 1D inverse modelling to estimate the real resistivity of the soil. These interpreted electrical resistivity data were then transformed into soil water content values and soil water potential values by the use of independent punctual data of water content and the use of the water retention curve determined by laboratory data. Our analysis has permitted us to describe the spatial variability and temporal evolution of the hydraulic functioning at high resolution from electrical resistivity data. The interpretation of the water content and matric potential maps demonstrated that some soil hydraulic processes, such as lateral overland flow, can occur in the studied zone. They would never have been detected by local measurements of soil characteristics or by the use of the soil map.     

Dust in Hydrogen-Poor Stellar Winds, from Theory to Observations

We review the nature of dust in hydrogen-deficient stellar winds, in particular cool, carbon-rich Wolf-Rayet (WC) stars, and present new observations of WC objects taken with the Short Wavelength Spectrometer on board of the ISO satellite. Predictions from theoretical models of grain precursor formation are also presented and future directions in both observational and theoretical studies are outlined. This revised version was published online in September 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Holocene environmental change at Lake Njulla (999 m a.s.l.), northern Sweden: a comparison with four small nearby lakes alongan altitudinal gradient

We assess Holocene environmental change at alpine Lake Njulla(68°22N, 18°42E, 999 m a.s.l.) innorthernmost Sweden using sedimentary remains of chironomid head capsules anddiatoms. We apply regional calibration sets to quantitatively reconstruct meanJuly air temperature (using chironomids and diatoms) and lake-water pH(using diatoms). Both chironomids and diatoms infer highest temperatures(1.7–2.3°C above present-day estimates, includinga correction for glacio-isostatic land up-lift by0.6°C) during the early Holocene (c.9,500–8,500 cal. yrs BP). Diatoms suggest a decreasing lake-waterpH trend (c. 0.6 pH units) since the early Holocene. Usingdetrended canonical correspondence analysis (DCCA), we compare the Holocenedevelopment of diatom communities in Lake Njulla with four other nearby lakes(Lake 850, Lake Tibetanus, Vuoskkujávri, Vuolep Njakajaure) locatedalong an altitudinal gradient. All five lakes show similar initial DCCA scoresafter deglaciation, suggesting that similar environmental processes such ashigh erosion rates and low light availability associated with high summertemperature appear to have regulated the diatom community, favouring highabundances of Fragilaria species. Subsequently, the diatomassemblages develop in a directional manner, but timing and scale ofdevelopment differ substantially between lakes. This is attributed primarily todifferences in the local geology, which is controlling the lake-waterpH. Imposed on the basic geological setting, site-specific processessuch as vegetation development, climate, hydrological setting andin-lake processes appear to control lake development in northernSweden.     

Fluid flow in cataclastic thrust fault zones in sandstones, Sub-Andean Zone, southern Bolivia

The Bolivian Sub-Andean Zone (SAZ) corresponds to a Neogene thrust system that affects an about 10-km thick Palaeozoic to Neogene siliciclastic succession. The analysis of macro and microstructures and cement distribution in thrust fault zones shows that they are sealed by quartz at depths >3 km, due to local silica transfer by pressure-solution/precipitation activated at temperatures >70–90 °C. At shallower depths, faults have remained open and could be preferential drains for lateral flow of carbonate-bearing fluids, as shown by the occurrence of carbonate cements in fractures and their host-sandstone. Due to decreasing burial, resulting from foothill erosion during fault activity, critically buried fault segments can be affected by non-quartz-sealed structures that post-date initial quartz-sealed structures. The integration of textural, fluid inclusion and isotopic data shows that carbonates precipitated at shallow depth (<3 km), low temperature (<80 °C) and relatively late during the thrusting history. Isotopic data also show that precipitation occurred from the mixing of gravity-driven meteoric water with deeper formation water bearing carbonate carbon derived from the maturation of hydrocarbon source rocks (Silurian and Devonian shales). The combined microstructural and isotopic analyses indicate that: (i) fluid flow in fault zones often occurred with successive pulses derived from different or evolving sources and probably related to episodic fault activity, and (ii) at a large-scale, the faults have a low transverse permeability and they separate thrust sheets with different fluid histories.     

Effect of the environment on the hydrochemical characteristics of an alluvial aquifer following an exceptional multiyear drought (Mediterranean seashore,herault, France): Part II— Climatology and agronomy

The hydrochemical evolution of an alluvial groundwater located along the Mediterranean seashore is analyzed with respect to its agricultural and climatic environment, including degree of saturation of the soil; types of cultures, chemical fertilizers and phytosanitary treatments; selective irrigations of the cultivated areas; precipitations. It is shown that the environmental effect on the groundwater's vulnerability depends on two groups of factors:

In-situ high-temperature Raman spectroscopic studies of aluminosilicate liquids

We have measured in-situ Raman spectra of aluminosilicate glasses and liquids with albite (NaAlSi₃ O₈) and anorthite (CaAl₂Si₂O₈) compositions at high temperatures, through their glass transition range up to 1700 and 2000 K, respectively. For these experiments, we have used a wire-loop heating device coupled with micro-Raman spectroscopy, in order to achieve effective spatial filtering of the extraneous thermal radiation. A major concern in this work is the development of methodology for reliably extracting the first and second order contributions to the Raman scattering spectra of aluminosilicate glasses and liquids from the high temperature experimental data, and analyzing these in terms of vibrational (anharmonic) and configurational changes. The changes in the first order Raman spectra with temperature are subtle. The principal low frequency band remains nearly constant with increasing temperature, indicating little change in the T-O-T angle, and that the angle bending vibration is quite harmonic. This is in contrast to vitreous SiO₂, studied previously. Above Tg, intensity changes in the 560–590 cm^?1 regions of both sets of spectra indicate configurational changes in the supercooled liquids, associated with formation of additional Al-O-Al linkages, or 3-membered (Al, Si)-containing rings. Additional intensity at 800 cm^?1 reflects also some rearrangement of the Si-O-Al network.     

Numerical modelling of direct current electrical resistivity for the characterisation of cracks in soils

Fractures or cracks in rocks and soils are thin planar features of high resistivity, embedded in a more conductive bulk volume. In soils, several processes, particularly swelling and shrinkage of clays, result in cracks and can regenerate macroporosity. Their detection and the assessment of their evolution necessitate the use of non-invasive techniques. Although cracks have a major influence on the electrical resistivity of bulk material their complete geometrical characterisation achieved through the use of electrical resistivity measurements remains difficult due to the lack of appropriate inversion models. An inversion model based on the method of moments (MoM) has been developed, and is presented here. Direct simulations demonstrate the model's ability to reconstruct real experimental data. The influence of various object parameters on the model's accuracy was tested, showing that the model is sensitive to all the geometric characteristics of a crack. The inversion of both simulated and experimental data has demonstrated the model's ability to calculate the initial position, width and depth of several different cracks.     

Variational coupling of Plinian column models and data: Application to El Chichón volcano

Many efforts have been done in the modelling of Plinian columns. However, until now, the inverse problem of the reconstruction of a Plinian event from observed data has been only roughly tackled. This paper discusses the efficient variational data assimilation (VDA) that manages the optimization iterate sequence by means of gradient computations. Theoretical developments of VDA are presented for both the Woods equations and a generic system allowing for the modelling of the Navier–Stokes equations. Two- and three-dimensional unsteady Plinian models being based on the latters, VDA could be clearly performed on their differentiable subset of equations.