On the identification of Ar x and Ar xiv in the solar corona and the origin of the unidentified coronal lines

A study of theZ-dependence of the² P intervals of 2s ²2p and 2s ²2p ⁵, aided by recent observational results, confirms the identification in the coronal spectrum of λ 4412 with Arxiv, and of λ 5533.4 with Arx. It is further shown that transitions from metastable levels in the configurations 3s ²3p ^k 3d, withk=3, 4 and 5, of Fexi,x, ix, and Nixiii, xiii, xi can well account for the remaining unidentified coronal lines.     

Seasonal dynamics of a cyanobacteria-dominated microbial community in surface sediments of a shallow,eutrophic lake

The seasonal variation of microbial biomass and activity in the surface sediments (0–10 cm) of the shallow, eutrophic Lake Vallentunasjön was followed during one year. OverwinteringMicrocystis colonies dominated the microbial community during all seasons, constituting 60–90% of the total microbial biomass. Expressed on an areal basis, the benthic biomass was, throughout the year, larger than or similar to the planktonic biomass during the peak of the summer bloom, indicating an ability of the colonies to survive in the sediments for extended periods. Abundance of other, non-photosynthetic bacteria varied in the range 3.0–15.5 · 10¹⁰ cells g^–1 d. w. over the year with minimum values in summer and maximum values in autumn in connection with the sedimentation of theMicrocystis bloom. A substantial part of the non-photosynthetic bacteria, up to circa 40%, was associated with the mucilage of healthyMicrocystis colonies. Bacterial production (³H-thymidine incorporation) appeared to be strongly temperature dependent and less influenced by the seasonal sedimentation pattern. Our data indicate an increasing proportion of non-growing cells in autumn and winter. Biomass-bound phosphorus constituted a significant portion, circa 10%, of the phosphorus content in Lake Vallentunasjön sediments. This pool has normally been overlooked in studies on phosphorus dynamics in lake sediments. Different mechanisms whereby organic phosphorus can be released from the sediments are discussed.     

A closure study of sub-micrometer aerosol particle hygroscopic behaviour

The hygroscopic properties of sub-micrometer aerosol particles were studied in connection with a ground-based cloud experiment at Great Dun Fell, in northern England in 1995. Hygroscopic diameter growth factors were measured with a Tandem Differential Mobility Analyser (TDMA) for dry particle diameters between 35 and 265 nm at one of the sites upwind of the orographic cloud. An external mixture consisting of three groups of particles, each with different hygroscopic properties, was observed. These particle groups were denoted less-hygroscopic, more-hygroscopic and sea spray particles and had average diameter growth factors of 1.11–1.15, 1.38–1.69 and 2.08–2.21 respectively when taken from a dry state to a relative humidity of 90%. Average growth factors increased with dry particle size. A bimodal hygroscopic behaviour was observed for 74–87% of the cases depending on particle size. Parallel measurements of dry sub-micrometer particle number size distributions were performed with a Differential Mobility Particle Sizer (DMPS). The inorganic ion aerosol composition was determined by means of ion chromatography analysis of samples collected with Berner-type low pressure cascade impactors at ambient conditions. The number of ions collected on each impactor stage was predicted from the size distribution and hygroscopic growth data by means of a model of hygroscopic behaviour assuming that only the inorganic substances interacted with the ambient water vapour. The predicted ion number concentration was compared with the actual number of all positive and negative ions collected on the various impactor stages. For the impactor stage which collected particles with aerodynamic diameters between 0.17–0.53 μm at ambient relative humidity, and for which all pertinent data was available for the hygroscopic closure study, the predicted ion concentrations agreed with the measured values within the combined measurement and model uncertainties for all cases but one. For this impactor sampling occasion, the predicted ion concentration was significantly higher than the measured. The air mass in which this sample was taken had undergone extensive photochemical activity which had probably produced hygroscopically active material other than inorganic ions, such as organic oxygenated substances.     

Dissociation of hydrogen sulphide in seawater and comparison of pH scales

The protonization constant of HS^? (K₁₂) has been determined potentiometrically (glass electrode) at atmospheric pressure in synthetic seawater in the salinity range 2.5–40‰ at 5 and 25°C and in NaCl solutions in the formal ionic strength of 0.1–0.8 M at 5 and 25°C. The difference between synthetic seawater and an NaCl solution with the same formal ionic strength can be explained in terms of the complexation of H⁺ by sulphate in seawater. These results can be used to compare the pH scales suggested by Hansson (1973c) and Bates (1975). Furthermore, comparison between the present values of K₁₂ and those of Goldhaber and Kaplan (1975) makes it possible to compare the conventional pH scale with Hansson's titration pH scale. The conditional protonization constant of HS^? in seawater of different salinities can be used to modify the Gran plots (Hansson and Jagner, 1973) for alkalinity measurements in anoxic seawater. Ion-pair formation between HS^? and Mg²⁺ or Ca²⁺ seems to be very weak.     

α-process Elements in the Galaxy: A Possible GAIA Contribution

The sensitivity of stellar spectra to α/Fe abundance changes is investigated with the aim to be detected photometrically and employed for the scientific goals of the GAIA mission. A grid of plane parallel, line blanketed, flux constant, LTE model atmospheres with different [α/Fe] ratios was calculated. As a first step, the modeled stellar energy fluxes for solar-type stars and giants were computed and intercompared. The spectral sensitivity to α/Fe abundance changes is noticeable and has to be taken into account when selecting photometric filters for GAIA. The Ca II H and K lines and Mg I b triplet are the most sensitive direct indicators ofα/Fe abundance changes. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

On the origin of the hot ions in the disturbed dayside magnetosphere

On the basis of observations in the dayside magnetosphere of the O⁺ and H⁺ ion densities as function of radial distance under fairly undisturbed and under storm conditions it is argued that acceleration of the hot magnetospheric ions of ionospheric origin cannot be limited to the outer parts of the field tubes. The extraction process seems to work below 1000 km altitude in storm conditions and to have a fairly small extension in altitude. The acceleration mechanism(s) do(es) not affect only one ion species. Variation in the altitude of the extraction of ionospheric ions is the most likely reason for the observed variations in the n(O⁺)/n(H⁺) ratio. Extraction of ionospheric ions into the magnetosphere does not seem to be a main cause of the storm time density decrease of the ionosphere.     

Ring current protons in the upper atmosphere within the plasmasphere

keV protons observed by the ESRO 1A satellite in the upper atmosphere equatorward of the main precipitation zone are described and discussed. The protons are highly anisotropic (empty loss cone) between the low-latitude boundary of the main precipitation zone and approximately L=4 during quiet and moderately disturbed conditions (K_p=0?4). Between L=4 and L=2.7 the proton flux is generally enhanced compared to that at L values somewhat above 4 and only moderately anisotropic. Substorms push the outer main precipitation zone equatorwards, but the boundaries of the innermost, moderately anisotropic region (at L=2.7 and L=4) move only when strong magnetic storms compress the plasmasphere to within L=4. It is suggested that the moderately anisotropic zone is caused by the ion-cyclotron instability for which the growth rate may have a broad maximum between about L=2.7 and L=4. For proton energies in the keV range the instability is excited only in regions with cold plasma densities above several hundred ions per cubic centimeter. It is finally concluded that the observations of low-latitude proton precipitation lend further support to the mechanism of ion-cyclotron instability as the cause of proton pitch angle diffusion, as proposed by Cornwall et al. (1970).     

Temperature correction of electrical conductivity values

For a number of applications in geoscience, electrical conductivity of water is often used as a collective measure of the concentration of dissolved solids. A method for temperature correction of electrical conductivity data based on regression analysis of the actual temperature/conductivity relationship of a number of water samples from natural streams is presented. It is shown that the generally used formulae for temperature correction give corrected results that deviate considerably from the values determined by actual measurements. The error increases with decreasing water temperature and may result in data that deviate by as much as 20 per cent from the true values. The implications are thus especially important for measurements of solute loads and concentrations during periods of low stream water tetaperatures e.g. during snowmelt.     

A proterozoic subduction zone in southern Sweden

Optical microscopy and chemical analyses for major and trace elements have been performed on 27 Proterozoic metavolcanics from southern Sweden. The metavolcanics and associated metasediments are part of a large arced structure around a vast region with granitic batholiths.The compositional data show that the rocks are altered basalts and andesites and the Si, Ti, Zr and Cr relations demonstrate that almost half of the metabasalts are in accordance with present day arc volcanics and that another large fraction represents ocean floor tholeiites. These relations suggest that major plate tectonic processes occurred already during the Proterozoic in southern Sweden and that during these processes arc volcanics and ocean floor basalts were mixed at a subduction zone.     

Stability of the calcium sulphate ion pair at the ionic strength of seawater by potentiometry

The stability of the ion pair CaSO₄ was determined from measurement of the change in calcium ion activity with medium composition at constant ionic strength. A calcium selective PVC-matrix liquid membrane electrode was used to monitor the calcium ion activity. All measurements were performed at 1 atm, 25 ± 0.1°C and 0.7 M formal ionic strength. The evaluation of the stability constant depends on the degree of complexation between calcium and chloride and between sodium and sulphate. The dependence of K_CaSO4, on K_NaSO4 and K_CaCl can be described by the following relations:K_CaSO4=17.7 K_CaCl+16.5 (K_NaSO4=1.8)K_CaSO4=18.8 K_CaCl+17.3 (K_NaSO4=2) for K_CaCl=0–1A value of K_CaSO4=25.4 is suggested.