A new multidimensional scaling technique based upon associations of triple objects—Pijk and its application to the analysis of geochemical data

A new multidimensional scaling (MS) technique, referred to as the Pijk model, is formulated on the basis of associations among triple objects (samples or variables), instead of pairs of objects as used in the usual MS methods, such as factor analysis. The computational scheme provided for this method is the reduction of an original problem to a standard eigenvalue-eigenvector problem. The major goal of the technique is simplification and reduction of data structures and the rescaling of original objects into a new and reduced space, so that patterns and relations of the original objects can be conventiently examined in two-dimensional “factor” plots. The Pïjk method is illustrated and tested by using a set of geochemical data related to the epithermal gold and silver vein deposits in the Walker Lake quadrangle of Nevada and California. The characteristics of element associations suggested in the Pijk analysis are consistent with field observations. A preliminary comparison between the new method and the ordinary factor analysis also is made on the basis of the same data set. Results are encouraging in that analysis by the Pijk model captures triple-object associations that might be missed by the ordinary factor analysis which considers only pair-variable correlations     

Effects of shape and spin on the tidal disruption of P/Shoemaker-Levy 9

I derive an approximate criterion for the tidal disruption of a rubble pile body as it passes close to a planet (or the sun): % MathType!MTEF!2!1!+-% feaafiart1ev1aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn% hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqtubsr% 4rNCHbGeaGqiVu0Je9sqqrpepC0xbbL8F4rqqrFfpeea0xe9Lq-Jc9% vqaqpepm0xbba9pwe9Q8fs0-yqaqpepae9pg0FirpepeKkFr0xfr-x% fr-xb9adbaqaaeGaciGaaiaabeqaamaabaabaaGcbaGaeqyWdi3aaS% baaSqaaiaacogaaeqaaOGaeyisIS7aamWaaeaacaaIYaGaeqyWdihd% caWGWbGccaGGDbWaaeWaaeaadaWcaaqaaiaadkfamiaadchaaOqaai% aadkhaaaaacaGLOaGaayzkaaWaaWbaaSqabeaacaaIZaaaaOGaey4k% aSYaaeWaaeaadaWcaaqaaiabeM8a3bqaaiabeM8a3XGaaGimaaaaaO% GaayjkaiaawMcaamaaCaaaleqabaGaaGOmaaaaaOGaay5waiaaw2fa% amaabmaabaWaaSaaaeaacaWGHbaabaGaamOyaaaaaiaawIcacaGLPa% aacaGGSaaaaa!5229!\[\rho _c \approx \left[ {2\rho p]\left( {\frac{{Rp}}{r}} \right)^3 + \left( {\frac{\omega }{{\omega 0}}} \right)^2 } \right]\left( {\frac{a}{b}} \right),\] where _c is the critical density below which the body will be disrupted, _p is the density of the planet (or sun), R _p is the radius of the planet, r is the periapse distance, is the rotation frequency of the body, ₀ is the surface orbit frequency about a body of unit density, and a/b is the axis ratio of the body, considered as a prolate ellipsoid. For P/Shoemaker Levy 9, in its passage close to Jupiter in 1992, this expression suggests that the critical density is ~1.2 for a spherical, non-spinning nucleus, but could be >2.5 for a 2:1 elongate body with a typical rotation period of ~10 hours.     

Evolution of permafrost in Northeast China since the Late Pleistocene

In Northeast China, permafrost advanced and retreated several times under the influences of fluctuating paleo-climates and paleo-environments since the Late Pleistocene. During the last 60 years, many new data were obtained and studies were conducted on the evolution of permafrost in Northeast China, but so far no systematic summary and review have been made. Based on sedimentary sequences, remains of past permafrost, paleo-flora and-fauna records, and dating data, permafrost evolution since the Late Pleistocene has been analyzed and reconstructed in this paper. Paleo-temperatures reconstructed from the remains of past permafrost and those from paleo-flora and-fauna are compared, and thus the southern limit of permafrost(SLP) in each climate period is inferred by the relationship of the permafrost distribution and the mean annual air/ground temperatures(MAAT/MAGT). Thus, the evolutionary history of permafrost is here divided into five stages:(1) the Late Pleistocene(Last Glaciation, or LG)(65 to 10–8.5 ka), the Last Glaciation Maximum(LGM, 21–13 ka) in particular, the coldest period in the latest history with a cooling of about 6~10 ?C, characterized by extensive occurrences of glaciation, flourishing Mammathas-Coelodonta Faunal Complex(MCFC), widespread aeolian deposits, and significant sea level lowering, and permafrost greatly expanded southwards almost to the coastal plains(37?N–41?N);(2) the Holocene Megathermal Period(HMP, 8.5–7.0 to 4.0–3.0 ka), 3~5 ?C warmer than today, permafrost retreated to about 52°N;(3) the Late Holocene Cold Period(Neoglaciation)(4.0–3.0 to 1.0–0.5 ka), a cooling of 1~3 ?C, some earlier thawed permafrost was refrozen or attached, and the SLP invaded southwards to 46?N;(4) the Little Ice Age(LIA, 500 to 100–150 a), the latest cold period with significant permafrost expansion; and(5) climate warming since the last century, during which Northeast China has undergone extensive permafrost degradation. The frequent and substantial expansions and retreats of permafrost have greatly impacted cold-region environments in Northeast China. North of the SLP during the HMP, or in the present continuous permafrost zone, the existing permafrost was largely formed during the LG and was later overlapped by the permafrost formed in the Neoglaciation. To the south, it was formed in the Neoglaciation. However, many aspects of permafrost evolution still await further investigations, such as data integration, numerical reconstruction, and merging of Chinese permafrost history with those of bordering regions as well as collaboration with related disciplines. Of these, studieson the evolution and degradation of permafrost during the past 150 years and its hydrological, ecological, and environmental impacts should be prioritized.     

Relationship between the oceanic geoid and the structure of the oceanic lithosphere

Data from the GEOS 3 and SEASAT Satellites have provided a very accurate geoid map over the oceans. Broad bathymetric features in the oceans such as oceanic swells and plateaus are fully compensated. For these features it can be shown that the geoid anomalies due to the density structure of the lithosphere are proportional to the first moment of the density distribution. Deepening of the ocean basins is attributed to thermal isostasy. The thickness of the oceanic lithosphere increases with age due to the loss of heat to the sea floor. Bathymetry and the geoid provide constraints on the extent of this heat loss. Offsets in the geoid across major fracture zones can also be used to constrain this problem. Geoid-bathymetry correlations show that the Hawaiian and Bermuda swells and the Cape Verde Rise are probably due to lithospheric thinning. A similar correlation for the Walvis Ridge and Agulhas Plateau indicates that these features are probably due to an anomalously light mantle lithosphere.     

Suspended matter in the Caribbean Sea: A gravimetric analysis

Total suspended matter in the water column of the Caribbean was determined quantitatively by means of filtration through 0.45 μ membrane filters. Results show that prior values obtained by centrifuging methods are too low, and that the existence of a nepheloid layer cannot be gravimetrically demonstrated in the Caribbean.     

Restoration of oiled mussel beds in Prince William Sound, Alaska

Natural loss of hydrocarbons was often low from mussel (Mytilus trossulus) beds (which were typically not cleaned after the Exxon Valdez oil spill), thus this habitat remained a long-term source of oil. Consequently, experimental restoration of nine contaminated beds was attempted in 1994; mussels were removed, contaminated surface sediment was replaced (33 metric tons), and original mussels were returned. Hydrocarbon concentrations and mussel populations were monitored for 5 years thereafter. Post-restoration mussel population fluctuations were indistinguishable from regional changes. Increased short-term oil loss was apparent, but long-term (5 year) improvement was equivocal and difficult to distinguish from natural losses. By 1999, oil concentrations in mussels were typically at baseline levels in restored and oiled reference beds; concentrations in replaced sediment were elevated in one third of restored beds, indicating recontamination from underlying or surrounding sediment. Our results suggest mussel relocation is feasible but suggest oil might more effectively be removed from sediment mechanically or chemically than manually.