High-pressure minerals in mafic microgranular enclaves: evidences for co-mingling between lamprophyric and syenitic magmas at mantle conditions

Mafic microgranular enclaves, composed of diopside and rare magnesium biotite phenocrysts in a groundmass of diopside, biotite, apatite, Fe-Ti-oxides, and alkali feldspar, are associated with Neoproterozoic Piquiri potassic syenite in southern Brazil. Co-genetic mica and clinopyroxene cumulates present inclusions of pyrope-rich garnet in diopside phenocrysts. Textural evidence, as well as the chemical and mineralogical composition, suggest that enclaves crystallized from a lamprophyric magma and co-mingled with the host syenitic magma. The contrasting temperature between both magmas and the consequent chilling was important for the preservation of some early-crystallized minerals in the mafic magma. Diopside groundmass grains contain micro-inclusions of K-rich augite and phlogopite, and some clinopyroxene phenocrysts and elongate groundmass crystals have potassium-rich cores. The pyrope-rich garnet have high #mg number (67–68), with appreciable amounts of Na₂O and K₂O comparable to pyrope synthesized at 5 GPa. The extremely high K₂O contents of K-rich augite micro-inclusions suggest non-equilibrium with the parental magma, whereas the other K-rich clinopyroxenes are similar to K-clinopyroxenes produced at 5–6 GPa. K-clinopyroxene and garnet in mafic microgranular enclaves suggest that lamprophyric magma started its crystallization at upper mantle conditions, and chilled clinopyroxenes with measurable amounts of K₂O are taken as evidence that co-mingling began still at mantle pressures.     

Equilibrium data and process design for adsorption of disperse dyes onto Alunite

Adsorption of disperse dyes from aqueous solutions onto calcined alunite has been investigated to assess the possibility of using alunite for removing disperse dyes from aqueous solutions. The effects of particle size, adsorbent mass, initial pH and temperature of the dye solution on the adsorption capacities have been evaluated. Acidic pH was favorable for the adsorption of all dyes: Disperse Blue 56 (DB56), Disperse Red 74 (DR74) and Disperse Yellow 119 (DY119). The experimental data were correlated reasonably well by the Langmuir isotherm and the isotherm parameters (K_L and a_L) have been calculated. The adsorption capacities were found to be 498, 525 and 500 mg of dye per g of calcined alunite for DB56, DR74 and DY119, respectively. The single-stage batch adsorber design of the adsorption of disperse dyes onto alunite has been studied based on the Langmuir isotherm equation.     

The impact of heat waves on surface urban heat island and local economy in Cluj-Napoca city,Romania

The association between heat waves and the urban heat island effect can increase the impact on environment and society inducing biophysical hazards. Heat stress and their associated public health problems are among the most frequent. This paper explores the heat waves impact on surface urban heat island and on the local economy loss during three heat periods in Cluj-Napoca city in the summer of 2015. The heat wave events were identified based on daily maximum temperature, and they were divided into three classes considering the intensity threshold: moderate heat waves (daily maximum temperature exceeding the 90th percentile), severe heat waves (daily maximum temperature over the 95th percentile), and extremely severe heat waves (daily maximum temperature exceeding the 98th percentile). The minimum length of an event was of minimum three consecutive days. The surface urban heat island was detected based on land surface temperature derived from Landsat 8 thermal infrared data, while the economic impact was estimated based on data on work force structure and work productivity in Cluj-Napoca derived from the data released by Eurostat, National Bank of Romania, and National Institute of Statistics. The results indicate that the intensity and spatial extension of surface urban heat island could be governed by the magnitude of the heat wave event, but due to the low number of satellite images available, we should consider this information only as preliminary results. Thermal infrared remote sensing has proven to be a very efficient method to study surface urban heat island, due to the fact that the synoptic conditions associated with heat wave events usually favor cloud free image. The resolution of the OLI_TIRS sensor provided good results for a mid-extension city, but the low revisiting time is still a drawback. The potential economic loss was calculated for the working days during heat waves and the estimated loss reached more than 2.5 mil. EUR for each heat wave day at city scale, cumulating more than 38 mil. EUR for the three cases considered.     

镍锗尖晶石位错域的高温蠕变实验研究

利用人工合成的多晶材料研究了镍锗尖晶石在位错域的高温蠕变性质.多晶材料的颗粒尺寸约8μm.单轴压缩试件为圆柱状,使用气体介质围压筒.常压蠕变试验过程中,围压为300MPa,温度为1373—1523K,应力在55—330MPa范围内.从实验结果得出了镍锗尖晶石在位错域的流动律,应力指数n=29±01,表明流动的微观机制为位错蠕变.与其他尖晶石进行对比可以发现一个力学同构群,虽然在正尖晶石和反尖晶石之间存在一定的差异.在位错蠕变域,尖晶石与橄榄石归一化的强度类似.由于尖晶石的剪切模量比橄榄石高50%,其实际强度也比橄榄石高.将橄榄石和尖晶石的蠕变数据外推到地球内部条件时,由于其高应力指数,橄榄石则有可能比尖晶石的强度高.     

The climate and bioclimate of Bursa (Turkey) from the perspective of tourism

Climate is an important resource for tourism and an equally important element that needs to be included in tourism promotions. This study reveals Bursa’s bioclimatological conditions. These conditions were identified by using physiologically equivalent temperature and a Climate–Tourism–Information–Scheme over 10-day periods and analyzing the mean thermal perception values that emerged. Evaluating bioclimatic conditions and meteorological parameters such as air temperature, duration of sunshine, number of wet days, amount of precipitation, and wind from the perspective of tourism will help people choose the best holiday times depending on their individual needs and circumstances.     

Theoretical and numerical studies of the Vishniac instability in supernova remnants

Vishniac instability has been theoretically studied in supernova remnants where it is supposed to explain the fragmentation of the interstellar medium. However its role is not fully demonstrated in these astrophysical objects. Conditions and assumptions required for the instability growth are explained in detail in the present paper. In addition the HYDRO-MUSCL hydrodynamic code has been used to simulate this instability in order to compare the numerical growth rate with the Vishniac analytical solution.     

Choosing the coherent integration time for Kalman filter-based carrier-phase tracking of GNSS signals

Carrier phase–based positioning using Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals can provide centimeter-level accuracy; however, to do so requires robust, continuous tracking of the phase of the received signal. The phase-locked loop is typically the weakest link in GNSS signal processing, with frequent cycle slips and loss of lock occurring at lower signal-to-noise ratios. One way to improve the signal-to-noise ratio is to increase the coherent integration time; however doing so reduces the loop update rate, thereby degrading performance. This paper investigates this trade-off between sensitivity and loop update rate by investigation of the Kalman filter-based tracking loop. It is shown that it is possible to choose an optimal integration time for a given application. A relatively straightforward procedure is given to determine this optimal value. The results are confirmed through real-time kinematic processing of live satellite signals.     

The Baraza Slide: model and dynamics

The Baraza Slide is located in the northwestern Alboran Sea, western Mediterranean region, between 590 and 830?m water depth, and its morphology, seismic facies and sedimentary structure are analyzed based on multibeam bathymetry and very high to medium resolution single-channel seismic records. During the Pleistocene and Late Quaternary this landslide has undergone repeated slope failures characterized by a succession of two main types of mass movement, the first of the mass-flow type and the second of the slide type. This study also reveals that the western sector of this landslide could still be active. The relatively high slope gradients, a sedimentary column characterized by the presence of under consolidated layers and earthquake shaking related to tectonic activity on the margin are the factors governing the genesis and post-mobility behavior of the Baraza mass movement. The recognition and analysis of these factors suggest that the Baraza Slide should be considered as a geo-hazard in the tectonically active Alboran Sea.     

GIS-based mapping for marine geohazards in seabed fluid leakage areas (Gulf of Cadiz, Spain)

This paper applies, for the first time in offshore deepwater, a method based on geographic information systems for seafloor susceptibility assessment as a first approach to marine geohazard mapping in fluid leakage areas (slope instabilities, gas escapes, seabed collapses, pockmarks, etc.). The assessment was carried out in a known seabed fluid-flow province located on the Iberian margin of the Gulf of C??diz, Spain. The method (based on statistical bivariate analysis) creates a susceptibility map that defines the likelihood of occurrence of seafloor features related to fluid flow: crater-like depressions and submarine landslides. It is based on the statistical index (Wi) method (Van Westen in Statistical landslide hazard analysis. ILWIS 2.1 for Windows application guide. ITC Publication, Enschede, pp 73?C84, 1997), in which Wi is a function of the cartographic density of seafloor features on ??factor maps??. The factors selected monitor the seafloor??s capability to store and transfer hydrocarbon gases and gravitational instability triggers: geology-lithology, gas hydrate stability zone thickness (temperature, pressure?Cwater depth and geothermal gradient), occurrence of diapirs, proximity to faults or lineaments, and slope angle of the seafloor. Results show that the occurrence of seafloor features related to fluid flow is highest where the factors ??gas source and storage?? and ??pathways of fluid escape?? converge. This means that they are particularly abundant over diapirs in contourite deposits, in the vicinity of faults, and inside theoretical gas hydrate stability fields thinned by warm undercurrents. Furthermore, the submarine landslides located on the Palaeozoic-Toarcian basement are not related to fluid leakage. This methodology provides helpful information for hazard mitigation in regional selection of potential drill sites, deep-water construction sites or pipeline routes. It is an easily applied and useful tool for taking the first step in risk assessment on a regional scale for vast areas where fluid leakage may be present, the geological model is known, and the geologically hazardous features have already been mapped.     

A comparison of climatological observing windows and their impact on detecting daily temperature extrema

Climatological observing window (COW) is defined as a time frame over which continuous or extreme air temperature measurements are collected. A 24-h time interval, ending at 00UTC or shifted to end at 06UTC, has been associated with difficulties in characterizing daily temperature extrema. A fixed 24-h COW used to obtain the temperature minima leads to potential misidentification due to fragmentation of “nighttime” into two subsequent nighttime periods due to the time discretization interval. The correct identification of air temperature extrema is achievable using a COW that identifies daily minimum over a single nighttime period and maximum over a single daytime period, as determined by sunrise and sunset. Due to a common absence of hourly air temperature observations, the accuracy of the mean temperature estimation is dependent on the accuracy of determination of diurnal air temperature extrema. Qualitative and quantitative criteria were used to examine the impact of the COW on detecting daily air temperature extrema. The timing of the 24-h observing window occasionally affects the determination of daily extrema through a mischaracterization of the diurnal minima and by extension can lead to errors in determining daily mean temperature. Hourly air temperature data for the time period from year 1987 to 2014, obtained from Toronto Buttonville Municipal Airport weather station, were used in analysis of COW impacts on detection of daily temperature extrema and calculation of annual temperature averages based on such extrema.