On the possibility of using metal unblanketed model atmospheres for analysis of population II stars

A comparison between model atmosphere grids with and without metal blanketing has been performed in the low-temperature range (T _eff=6000 K to 10000 K) and for different metal contents (logA=0, –1, –2;A=scaled solar abundance). ForA10^–1 andT _eff7000 K, the Johnson colour indicesU-B andB-V, together with the Strömgrenu-b, b-y and the bolometric correction (BC) are little affected by metal blanketing ( mag<0 _. ^m 04). On the other hand, the trend of the physical quantities and them ₁ andc ₁ colour indices reflect the inadequateness of the models even withA=10^–2 andT _eff=9500 K, where hydrogen line blanketing is expected to dominate. This fact discourages once and for all the use of metal unblanketed atmospheres other than for comparison of colour indices or the calculation of bolometric corrections for Population II A-F spectral types.     

Distribution of macrobenthic assemblages along a marine gradient in Mediterranean eutrophic coastal lagoons

Coastal lagoons can be characterised by strong environmental changes along the outer marine‐inner brackish gradient, which are reflected in the patterns of distribution of organisms and composition of assemblages. Close to the sea the assemblages are dominated by marine animals, while in the innermost confined areas, there would be estuarine taxa and organisms typical of organically‐enriched areas. During the last decades, human impact has been severe in these habitats and has often profoundly altered the distribution of animals and plants along the gradient. In this study we have analysed the distribution of macrofauna along the outer marine‐inner brackish gradient in five Italian lagoons, affected by severe human disturbance on the Adriatic, Tyrrhenian and Sardinian coasts. We aimed to measure changes in the composition of assemblages according to the distance from the sea, consistent among lagoons and time, after the occurrence of eutrophication, repeated distrophic crisis and other human interventions. We considered existing data from campaigns done during 1994, 1995 and 1999. We arranged different datasets according to the available data, in order to measure the spatial distribution of macrofauna genera with distance from the sea and through time. Analyses showed differences among assemblages related to the gradient. Nevertheless, the species characterizing the assemblages were all typical of organically‐enriched areas, which testified to an impoverishment of diversity and functioning of all these systems.     

Cooling by grains and H2 in collapsing clouds of different metallicities

Computations of the cooling by grains and by H₂ molecules are carried out and applied to different stages of cloud collapse during the isothermal phase. Clouds of 10⁶ M of different metallicites are considered, with the purpose of obtaining a relation between metallicity and importance of grain cooling relative to H₂ cooling. Our results show that grain cooling dominates over H₂ cooling for metallicities [M/H] > -4.0, in the absence of external UV field.     

The heterogeneous formation of N2O over bulk condensed phases in the presence of SO2 at high humidities

In view of the uncertainty of the origin of the secular increase of N₂O, we studied heterogeneous processes that contribute to formation of N₂O in an environment that comes as close as possible to exhaust conditions containing NO and SO₂, among other constituents. The N₂O formation was followed using electron capture gas chromatography (ECD-GC). The other reactants and intermediates (SO₂, NO, NO₂ and HONO) were monitored using gas phase UV-VIS absorption spectroscopy. Experiments were conducted at 298 and 368 K as well as at dry and high humidity (approaching 100% rh) conditions. There is a significant heterogeneous rate of N ₂ O formation at conditions that mimic an exhaust plume from combustion processes.The simultaneous presence of NO, SO₂, O₂ in the gas phase and condensed phase water, either in the bulk liquid or adsorbed state has been confirmed to be necessary for the production of significant levels of N₂O. The stoichiometry of the overall reaction is: 2 NO+SO₂+H₂O N₂O+H₂SO₄. The maximum rate of N₂O formation occurred at the beginning of the reaction and scales with the surface area of the condensed phase and is independent of its volume. A significant rate of N₂O formation at 368 K at 100% rh was also observed in the absence of a bulk substrate. The diffusion of both gas and liquid phase reactants is not rate limiting as the reaction kenetics is dominated by the rate ofN₂O formation under the experimental conditions used in this work. The simultaneous presence of high humidity (90–100% rh at 368 K) and bulk condensed phase results in the maximum rate and final yield of N₂O approaching 60% and 100% conversion after one hour in the presence of amorphous carbon and fly-ash, respectively.Work performed in partial fulfillment of the requirements of Dr ès Sciences at EPFL.     

The unusual star V439 Cyg

V439 Cyg, a strange star belonging to the Berkeley 87 cluster, changed its spectrum in the last decades from a late type to an early type. The present spectral type is (O9.5-B0) with narrow H and H emission lines and broad, partially filled-in, Balmer absorption lines, at shorter wavelengths, very similar to those of several X-ray sources. An extremely strong IR excess (5812 Jy at 60 m) and the anomalous reddening of the star render the case of V439 Cyg one of the most exciting theoretical puzzle of the astrophysics.Paper presented at the 11 th European Regional Astronomical Meetings of the IAU on New Windows to the Universe, held 3–8 July, 1989, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.     

A non-parametric bivariate entropy estimator for spatial processes

In this paper, entropy is presented as an alternative measure to characterize the bivariate distribution of a stationary spatial process. This non-parametric estimator attempts to quantify the concept of spatial ordering, and it provides a measure of how Gaussian the experimental bivariate distribution is. The concept of entropy is explained and the classical definition presented, along with some important results. In particular, the reader is reminded that, for a known mean and covariance, the bivariate Gaussian distribution maximizes entropy. A relative entropy estimator is introduced in order to measure departure of an experimental bivariate distribution from the bivariate Gaussian. Two case studies are presented as examples.     

The Italian Astrophysical Observatory in Antarctica: OASI

OASI (Infrared and Sub-mm Antarctic Observatory) is the first large telescope permanently installed in Antarctica. It is located close to the Italian Base in Antarctica (Terra Nova Bay Station, latitude: 74.39 S, longitude: 164.09 E). The OASI first light was received in December 1990 when the wobbling secondary mirror was mounted. The telescope is planned to be an open facility which can operate in the wavelengths range between 350 m and 3mm. The sky coverage from OASI goes down to a declination of about-35° for a 24 hours/day observing time.     

Geomorphology of desert sand dunes: A review of recent progress

Through the 1980s and 1990s studies of the geomorphology of desert sand dunes were dominated by field studies of wind flow and sand flow over individual dunes. Alongside these there were some attempts numerically to model dune development as well as some wind tunnel studies that investigated wind flow over dunes. As developments with equipment allowed, field measurements became more sophisticated. However, by the mid-1990s it was clear that even these more complex measurements were still unable to explain the mechanisms by which sand is entrained and transported. Most importantly, the attempt to measure the stresses imposed by the wind on the sand surface proved impossible, and the use of shear (or friction) velocity as a surrogate for shear stress also failed to deliver. At the same time it has become apparent that turbulent structures in the flow may be as or more important in explaining sand flux. In a development paralleled in fluvial geomorphology, aeolian geomorphologists have attempted to measure and model turbulent structures over dunes. Progress has recently been made through the use of more complex numerical models based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Some of the modelling work has also suggested that notions of dune ‘equilibrium’ form may not be particularly helpful. This range of recent developments has not meant that field studies are now redundant. For linear dunes careful observations of individual dunes have provided important data about how the dunes develop but in this particular field some progress has been made through ground-penetrating radar images of the internal structure of the dunes.

The paradigm for studies of desert dune geomorphology for several decades has been that good quality empirical data about wind flow and sand flux will enable us to understand how dunes are created and maintain their form. At least some of the difficulty in the past arose from the plethora of undirected data generated by largely inductive field studies. More recently, attention has shifted–although not completely–to modelling approaches, and very considerable progress has been made in developing models of dune development. It is clear, however, that the models will continue to require accurate field observations in order for us to be able to develop a clear understanding of desert sand dune geomorphology.     

Speleoseismology: A critical perspective

Speleoseismology is the investigation of earthquake records in caves. Traces can be seen in broken speleothems, growth anomalies in speleothems, cave sediment deformation structures, displacements along fractures and bedding plane slip, incasion (rock fall) and co-seismic fault displacements. Where earthquake origins can be proven, these traces constitute important archives of local and even regional earthquake activity. However, other processes that can generate the same or very similar deformation features have to be excluded before cave damage can be interpreted as earthquake induced. Most sensitive and therefore most valuable for the tracing of strong earthquake shocks in caves are long and slender speleothems, such as soda straws, and deposits of well-bedded, water-saturated silty sand infillings, particularly in caves close to the earth's surface. Less easily proven is a co-seismic origin of an incasion and other forms of cave damage. The loads and creep movements of sediment and ice fillings in caves can cause severe damage to speleothems which have been frequently misinterpreted as evidence of earthquakes. For the dating of events in geological archives, it is important to demonstrate that such events happened at approximately the same time, i.e. within the error bars of the dating methods. A robust earthquake explanation for cave damage can only be achieved by the adoption of appropriate methods of direct dating of deformation events in cave archives combined with correlation of events in other geological archives outside caves, such as the deformation of lake and flood-plain deposits, locations of rock falls and active fault displacements.