BVRI CCD-photometry of comparison stars in the fields of galaxies with active nuclei. IV

We report observations of 24 stars in the fields of the three Seyfert galaxies MCG +08-23-067, Mrk 817, and Mrk 290. The observations were made with a CCD array photometer in the BVRcIc bands. The V magnitudes of the observed stars ranged from 13.5 and 17.2. For stars of approximate magnitude 15, the typical photometric errors are 0.010, 0.011, 0.008 and 0.011 magnitude in the BVRI bands, respectively. The BVRI magnitudes of all these stars were not known previously. In the field of the galaxy Mrk 290 a star has been found that probably has a periodic brightness variation with P=1.518 days and the mean value V=14.80 and which may belong to the class of “spotted” stars. 14′x14′ charts are supplied for identifying the stars. These results can be used for differential photometry of active galactic nuclei in the BVRI bands. __________ Translated from Astrofizika, Vol. 51, No. 1, pp. 41–50 (February 2008).     

Atmospheric boundary layer over steep surface waves

Turbulent air-sea interactions coupled with the surface wave dynamics remain a challenging problem. The needs to include this kind of interaction into the coupled environmental, weather and climate models motivate the development of a simplified approximation of the complex and strongly nonlinear interaction processes. This study proposes a quasi-linear model of wind-wave coupling. It formulates the approach and derives the model equations. The model is verified through a set of laboratory (direct measurements of an airflow by the particle image velocimetry (PIV) technique) and numerical (a direct numerical simulation (DNS) technique) experiments. The experiments support the central model assumption that the flow velocity field averaged over an ensemble of turbulent fluctuations is smooth and does not demonstrate flow separation from the crests of the waves. The proposed quasi-linear model correctly recovers the measured characteristics of the turbulent boundary layer over the waved water surface.     

The paleoproterozoic vurechuaivench layered Pt-bearing pluton,Kola Peninsula: New results of the U-Pb (ID-TIMS,SHRIMP) dating of baddeleytte and zircon

The Vurechuaivench layered PGE-bearing pluton (VP) is located in the central part of the Kola Peninsula, at the southeastern contact of the Monchegorsk layered complex with the Paleoproterozoic Imandra-Varzuga rift structure. The VP is composed of gabbronorites with a layered horizon of intercalated gabbronorites and anorthosites, containing sulfide and PGE-bearing mineralization. The U-Pb (ID-TIMS) age of baddeleytte from gabbronorite of the ore zone (sample M-42) was determined on a Finningan MAT-262 (RPQ) seven-channel mass-spectrometer in the Laboratory of Geochronology at the Geological Institute, Kola Scientific Center, Russian Academy of Sciences. Zircons from anorthosites and gabbronorites of the ore zone (samples B-1 and B-2, respectively) were studied on a SHRIMP-II secondary-ionic microprobe in the Center of Isotopic Studies of the Federal State Unitary Enterprise VSEGEI (St. Petersburg). The reliable age of formation of various VP rocks was determined by single grains of accessory baddeleytte and zircon based on additional studies of sample M-42 (2498.2 ± 6.7 Ma) and new studies of samples B-1 and B-2 (2507.9 ± 6.6 and 2504.8.4 Ma). The identical U-Pb ages of anorthosites and gabbronorites from the ore reef indicate that anorthosites are a dependent phase and were formed along with gabbronorites during the intrachamber melt differentiation and crystallization.     

A study of strontium and cesium sorption-desorption on bentonites of different composition

Five bentonite samples of different compositions and geneses were saturated with Cs and Sr in the static regime. Desorption is examined during the filtration of distilled water through saturated samples. Both elements are firmly retained to most of the bentonite samples. The Cs and Sr desorption values were 12–20%, and 2.5–23%, respectively. Structural changes in the clay fraction of bentonites resulted from the sorption–desorption of Cs and Sr were studied by the method of X-ray diffraction.     

Cretaceous and Jurassic intrusions in Crimean Mountains: The first data of U–Pb (SIMS SHRIMP) dating

U–Pb geochronological studies of igneous rocks of the Crimean Mountains were carried out for the first time. The ages of magma crystallization determined for gabbro–dolerites of the Dzhidair and Pervomaiskii intrusions point to the injection of these rocks during the Middle Jurassic Aalenian–Bajocian stage of magmatism. The Berriasian–Valanginian and Aptian age of sill-like bodies within the mass of volcanogenic–sedimentary rocks presumes the necessity to reconsider the common notion of an exclusively Albian magmatic event during the Cretaceous. High-precision U–Pb dating of magma intrusions allowed us to verify the age of Middle Jurassic magmatism and to distinguish the new Early Cretaceous Berriasian–Valanginian magmatism stage of basic composition.     

Fragmentation of the “bag-breakup” type as a mechanism of the generation of sea spray at strong and hurricane winds

Experiments on generation mechanisms of sea water spray under hurricane wind were performed using shadow illumination high-speed video recording from several camera positions. Classification of fragmentation mechanism leading to generation of spray was conducted. Statistics of the events causing generation of spray was studied. A phenomenological model was developed based on the methods of statistical physics to describe the “bag-breakup” generation mechanism. The function of spray generation was conducted on this basis, which describes well the experimental data obtained under hurricane winds in the natural and laboratory conditions.     

Post-collisional melting of crustal sources: constraints from geochronology,petrology and Sr,Nd isotope geochemistry of the Variscan Sichevita and Poniasca granitoid plutons (South Carpathians,Romania)

The Sichevita and Poniasca plutons belong to an alignment of granites cutting across the metamorphic basement of the Getic Nappe in the South Carpathians. The present work provides SHRIMP age data for the zircon population from a Poniasca biotite diorite and geochemical analyses (major and trace elements, Sr–Nd isotopes) of representative rock types from the two intrusions grading from biotite diorite to biotite K-feldspar porphyritic monzogranite. U–Pb zircon data yielded 311 ± 2 Ma for the intrusion of the biotite diorite. Granites are mostly high-K leucogranites, and biotite diorites are magnesian, and calcic to calc-alkaline. Sr, and Nd isotope and trace element data (REE, Th, Ta, Cr, Ba and Rb) permit distinguishing five different groups of rocks corresponding to several magma batches: the Poniasca biotite diorite (P₁) shows a clear crustal character while the Poniasca granite (P₂) is more juvenile. Conversely, Sichevita biotite diorite (S₁), and a granite (S₂*) are more juvenile than the other Sichevita granites (S₂). Geochemical modelling of major elements and REE suggests that fractional crystallization can account for variations within P₁ and S₁ groups. Dehydration melting of a number of protoliths may be the source of these magma batches. The Variscan basement, a subduction accretion wedge, could correspond to such a heterogeneous source. The intrusion of the Sichevita–Poniasca plutons took place in the final stages of the Variscan orogeny, as is the case for a series of European granites around 310 Ma ago, especially in Bulgaria and in Iberia, no Alleghenian granitoids (late Carboniferous—early Permian times) being known in the Getic nappe. The geodynamical environment of Sichevita–Poniasca was typically post-collisional of the Variscan orogenic phase.