Evidence That Sea State Bias is Different for Ascending and Descending Tracks

Jason-1 and TOPEX/Poseidon (T/P) measured sea-surface heights (SSHs) are compared for five regions during the verification tandem phase. The five regions are of similar latitude and spatial extent and include the Gulf of Mexico, Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, and locations in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans away from land. In all five regions, a bias, defined as Jason SSH—TOPEX-B SSH, exists that is different for ascending and descending tracks. For example, in the Gulf of Mexico the bias for ascending tracks was -0.13 cm and the bias for descending tracks was 2.19 cm. In the Arabian Sea the bias for ascending tracks was -2.45 cm and the bias for descending tracks was -1.31 cm. The bias was found to depend on track orientation and significant wave height (SWH), indicating an error in the sea state bias (SSB) model for one or both altimeters. The bias in all five regions can be significantly reduced by calculating separate corrections for ascending and descending tracks in each region as a function of SWH. The correction is calculated by fitting a second-order polynomial to the bias as a function of SWH separately for ascending and descending tracks. An additional constraint is required to properly apply the correction, and we chose to minimize the sum of the TOPEX-B and Jason-1 root-mean-square (rms) crossover differences to be consistent with present SSB models. Application of this constraint shows that the correction, though consistent within each region, is different for each region and that each satellite contributes to the bias. One potential source that may account for a portion of the difference in bias is the leakage in the wave forms in TOPEX-B due to differing altitude rates for ascending and descending tracks. Global SSB models could be improved by separating the tracks into ascenders and descenders and calculating a separate SSB model for each track.     

Carolina Thunder Revisited: Toward a Transcultural View of Winston Cup Racing*

Almost three decades ago, cultural geographer Richard Pillsbury documented the national expansion of NASCAR and what he considered the erosion of major‐league stock car racing as a unique southern tradition. This claim is reassessed in light of recent research, leading us to suggest that the sport is actually “transcultural” in nature. It is influenced simultaneously by tradition and transition, as well as regional and national forces. In revisiting Pillsbury's seminal work, we document major changes and continuities in Winston Cup racing and briefly examine two North Carolina cases that provide contradictory views on the current relationship between the sport and the American South. North Wilkesboro illustrates how the changing geography of track locations can devalue and demoralize places associated with the tradition of southern stock car racing. The greater Charlotte area demonstrates that the South remains an important part of NASCAR, serving as a gathering place and “knowledge community” for drivers, racing teams, and fans from across the country. In addition to advancing research in the geography of sport and popular culture, the article encourages readers to think critically about regional cultures and their relationship to the forces of nationalization.     

Crystallization environment of Kazakhstan microdiamond: evidence from nanometric inclusions and mineral associations

Nanometric solid inclusions in diamond incorporated in garnet and zircon from felsic gneiss of the Kokchetav massif, Kazakhstan, have been examined utilizing electron microscopy and focused ion beam techniques. Host garnet and zircon contain numerous pockets of multiple inclusions, which consist of 1–3 diamond crystals intergrown with quartz, phengite, phlogopite, albite, K‐feldspar, rutile, apatite, titanite, biotite, chlorite and graphite in various combinations. Recalculation of the average chemical composition of the entrapped fluid represented by multiple inclusion pockets indicates that such fluid contained a low wt% of SiO₂, suggesting a relatively low‐temperature fluid rather than a melt. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the diamond contains abundant nanocrystalline inclusions of oxides, rare carbonates and silicates. Within the 15 diamond crystals studied, abundant inclusions were found of SiO₂, TiO₂, Fe_xO_y, Cr₂O₃, ZrSiO₄, and single grains of Th_xO_y, BaSO₄, MgCO₃, FeCr₂O₄ and a stoichiometric Fe‐rich pyroxene. The diversity of trace elements within inclusions of essentially the same stoichiometry suggests that the Kokchetav diamond crystallized from a fluid containing variable amounts of Si, Fe, Ti, Cr, Zr, Ba, Mg and Th and other minor components such as K, Na, P, S, Pb, Zn, Nb, Al, Ca, Cl. Most of the components in crystals included in diamond appear to have their origin in the subducted metasediments, but some of them probably originate from the mantle. It is concluded that Kokchetav diamond most likely crystallized from a COH‐rich multicomponent supercritical fluid at a relatively low temperature (hence the apparently low content of rock‐forming elements), and that the diversity of major and minor components suggests interactions between subducted metasediments and mantle components.     

First complementary observations by ionospheric tomography, the EISCAT Svalbard radar and the CUTLASS HF radar

Experimental results are presented from ionospheric tomography, the EISCAT Svalbard radar and the CUTLASS HF radar. Tomographic measurements on 10 October 1996, showing a narrow, field-aligned enhancement in electron density in the post-noon sector of the dayside auroral zone, are related to a temporal increase in the plasma concentration observed by the incoherent scatter radar in the region where the HF radar indicated a low velocity sunwards convection. The results demonstrate the complementary nature of these three instruments for polar-cap ionospheric studies.     

The oxygen isotopic composition and temperature of Southern Ocean bottom waters during the last glacial maximum

We provide two new determinations of the oxygen isotopic composition of seawater during the last glacial maximum (LGM). High-resolution oxygen isotopic measurements were made on interstitial waters from Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Sites 1168 and 1170 in the southeast Indian Ocean sector of the Southern Ocean. We use a diffusion-advection numerical model to calculate the glacial-interglacial change in bottom-water δ¹⁸O_sw from the pore water δ¹⁸O profiles; the first such determinations from this part of the oceans. Statistical analyses of the model runs indicate that Circumpolar Deep Water (CDW) δ¹⁸O_sw changed by 1.0-1.1±0.15‰ since the last glacial maximum (LGM). Our results are consistent with a previous calculation from a South Atlantic Southern Ocean location (ODP Site 1093) also situated within CDW. The new values determined in this study, together with previous estimates, are converging on a global average Δδ¹⁸O_sw of 1.0-1.1‰.Using the calculated bottom-water δ¹⁸O_sw, we have extracted the temperature component from the benthic foraminiferal δ¹⁸O record at Sites 1168 and 1170. Since the LGM, bottom waters at these two sites warmed by 2.6 and 1.9°C, respectively. The absolute temperature estimates for the LGM (−0.5°C [Θ=−0.6°C] at Site 1168 and −0.2°C [Θ=−0.4°C] at Site 1170) are slightly warmer than those reported from previous studies using the same technique, but are consistent with more homogenous deep-ocean temperatures during the LGM relative to the modern.     

Influence of colloidal silica grout on liquefaction potential and cyclic undrained behavior of loose sand

Cyclic triaxial tests were performed to investigate the influence of colloidal silica grout on the deformation properties of saturated loose sand. Distinctly different deformation properties were observed between grouted and ungrouted samples. Untreated samples developed very little axial strain prior to the onset of liquefaction. However, once liquefaction was triggered, large strains occurred rapidly and the samples collapsed within a few additional loading cycles. In contrast, grouted sand samples experienced very little strain during cyclic loading. Additionally, the strain accumulated uniformly throughout loading rather than rapidly prior to collapse and the samples never collapsed. Cyclic triaxial tests were done on samples stabilized with colloidal silica at concentrations of 5, 10, 15, and 20%. In general, samples stabilized with higher concentrations of colloidal silica experienced very little strain during cyclic loading. Sands stabilized with lower concentrations tolerated cyclic loading well, but experienced slightly more strain. Thus, treatment with colloidal silica grout significantly increased the deformation resistance of loose sand to cyclic loading.     

Nepheline-bearing rocks from the Poohbah Lake complex,Ontario: Malignites and Malignites

Malignites from the Poohbah Lake complex of northwestern Ontario, Canada are melanocratic cumulates. Cumulus pyroxene and apatite are poikilitically enclosed in a groundmass of large plates of intercumulus orthoclase and nepheline. Nepheline-feldspar fingerprint-like intergrowths occur. Nephelines are commonly zeolitized and pyroxenes altered to aggregates of biotite and/or garnet by deuteric alteration. Pyroxenes are weakly zoned from Di₇₁ Hd¹⁸Ac₁₁ to Di₆₃Hd₂₂Ac₁₅, and are similar to the least evolved pyroxenes of other alkaline rocks. Nephelines all have compositions within the Morozewicz-Buerger convergence field and feldspars have a limited compositional range from Or⁸⁸ to Or⁹⁵. Perthites are absent.Inconsistancies in the usage of the terms malignite and juvite are discussed and it is considered that a non-genetic petrographic classification of nepheline syenites leads to the obscuration of a group of potassic nepheline syenites, characterized by the presence of nepheline plus orthoclase which are typically associated with saturated to over-saturated alkaline rocks, contain pseudo-leucite or nepheline-orthoclase intergrowths, are emplaced in mobile belts and are not associated with rocks of the ijolite-carbonatite suite.A genetic classification of nepheline syenites is suggested and it is proposed that; (1) mafic-rich nepheline syenites be referred to as mela-nepheline syenites (sensu lato) rather than as malignites; (2) the term malignite be used for magmatic potassic nepheline syenites characterised by the presence of nepheline plus a single potassium-rich feldspar (orthoclase or microcline) and devoid of exsolution perthite under subsolvus conditions; (3) the metasomatic malignites and juvites of ijolite-carbonatite complexes be referred to as varieties of fenites.     

Copper-nickel-enriched ferromanganese nodules and associated crusts from the Bauer Basin,northwest Nazca plate

Analysis of a suite of ferromanganese nodules and crusts from the dredge Y73-3-22D in the Bauer Deep (13°40′S, 102°08′W) shows distinct differences between the nodules and crusts. Ultra-slow-scan X-ray diffraction shows that the nodules are more enriched in todorokite while the crusts are more enriched in δ MnO₂. Both have phillipsite and smectite as accessory minerals as well as minor amounts of apatite, barite, and quartz. Chemical analyses show that the nodules also have higher abundances of Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Ba, while crusts are more enriched in Fe, Co, and Ca. We suggest that normal authigenic precipitation of ferromanganese oxyhydroxides from seawater controls the mineralogy and chemistry of the crusts, while nodule mineralogy and chemistry are governed by small-scale diagenetic reactions in the sediment. Todorokite may form because iron in the Fe-Mn oxyhydroxide material dispersed in the sediment reacts with amorphous silica to form iron-rich smectites. The remaining oxyhydroxide material recrystallizes as todorokite.     

Primary, agpaitic and deuteric stages in the evolution of accessory Sr, REE, Ba and Nb-mineralization in nepheline-syenite pegmatites at Pegmatite Peak, Bearpaw Mts, Montana

Summary The pegmatites at Pegmatite Peak (Bearpaw Mts., Montana) crystallized from an evolved fraction of nepheline-syenitic melt enriched in Sr, Ba, light REE and Nb. These rocks are composed essentially of microcline (up to 1.1 wt.% Na₂O and 1.0 wt.% BaO), altered nepheline (replaced by analcime, zeolites, muscovite and gibbsite), and prismatic aegirine set in an aggregate of fibrous and radial aegirine. The early accessory assemblage includes Mg-Fe mica, rutile, zircon, titaniferous magnetite and thorite. Precipitation of these phases was followed by crystallization of a plethora of rare minerals enriched in Sr, Ba, light REE and Nb. Three major stages are distinguished in the evolution of this mineralization: primary, agpaitic and deuteric. Primary repositories for Sr, REE and Nb included betafite, loparite-(Ce), crichtonite and ilmenite-group minerals. Betafite (Ta-poor, REE- and Th-rich) is present in very minor amounts and did not contribute significantly to the sequestration of incompatible elements from the nepheline-syenite melt. Loparite-(Ce) evolved predominantly by depletion in Sr and Ca and enrichment in Nb, Na and REE, i.e. from strontian niobian loparite (up to 22.0 wt.% SrO) to niobian loparite (up to 17.6 wt.% Nb₂O₅). Crichtonite contains minor Na, Ca and K, lacks detectable Ba and REE, and is unusually enriched in Mn (7.0–13.6 wt.% MnO). The ilmenite-group minerals evolved from manganoan ilmenite to ferroan pyrophanite, and have relatively low Nb contents ( 0.9 wt.% Nb₂O₅). During the agpaitic stage, the major repositories for incompatible elements were silicates, including lamprophyllite, titanite and chevkinite-group minerals. Lamprophyllite is generally poor in Ba, and contains relatively minor Ca and K; only few small crystals exhibit rims of barytolamprophyllite with up to 26.3 wt.% BaO. Titanite is devoid of Al and depleted in Fe, but significantly enriched in Nb, Sr, REE and Na: up to 6.4, 4.5, 4.4. and 2.9 wt.% oxides, respectively. The chemical complexity of titanite suggests involvement of several substitution mechanisms: Ca²⁺+Ti⁴⁺Na¹⁺+Nb⁵⁺, Ca² Sr²⁺, 2Ca²⁺Na¹⁺+REE³⁺, and Ca t++OZ-~--Nal+ + (OH)^1–. Chevkinite group minerals evolved from Sr-rich (strontiochevkinite) to REE-rich compositions [chevkinite-(Ce)]. Strontiochevkinite from Pegmatite Peak is compositionally similar to the type material from Sarambi, and has high ZrO₂ (up to 7.8 wt.%) and low FeOT ( 2.5 wt.%) contents. During the final stages of formation of the pegmatites, a deuteric F-bearing fluid enriched in Sr and REE precipitated carbonates and minor phosphates confined to fractures and cavities in the rock. In this youngest assemblage of minerals, ancylite-(Ce) is the most common Sr-REE host. Some discrete crystals of ancylite show significant enrichment in Th (up to 6.0 wt.% ThO₂). Ancylite-(Ce) and bastnaesite associated with metaloparite and TiO₂ (anatase?) comprise a replacement assemblage after primary loparite. The typical replacement pattern includes a loparite core with locally developed metaloparite, surrounded by a bastnaesite-anatase intermediate zone and an ancylite rim. Fluorapatite is rare, and has very high Sr, Na and REE contents, up to 21.4, 2.6 and 12.9 wt.% oxides, respectively. Compositionally, this mineral corresponds to the solid solution series between fluorapatite and belovite-(Ce). At this stage, hollandite-group minerals became a minor host for Ba; they demonstrate the evolutionary trend from priderite (5.2 wt. % K₂O, 7.4 wt. % BaO) to Ba-Fe hollandite (19.2–21.4 wt. % BaO). Thus, the evolution of Sr, REE, Ba and Nb mineralization was a complex, multi-stage process, and involved primary crystallization, re-equilibration phenomena and late-stage deuteric alteration.

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Die primäre, agpaitische und deuterische Hauptphase in der Entwicklung der akzessorischen Sr, REE, Ba und Nb-Mineralisation in den nephelinsyenitischen Pegmatiten von Pegmatite Peak, Bearpaw Mts., Montana

Zusammenfassung Die Pegmatite von Pegmatite Peak (Bearpaw Mts., Montana) sind aus dem Restdifferentiat einer nephelinsyenitischen Schmelze, die an Sr, Ba, leichten SEE und Nb angereichert war, auskristallisiert. Diese Gesteine bestehen hauptsächlich aus Mikroklin (max. 1.1 Gew.% Na₂O und max. 1.0 Gew.% BaO), alteriertem Nephelin (verdrängt durch Analcim, Zeolithe, Muscovit und Gibbsit) und prismatischem Agirin, welcher von einem Aggregat aus fasrigem und strahligem Ägirin umgeben ist. Als frühe akzessorische Mineralien sind Mg-Fe Glimmer, Rutil, Zirkon, titanführender Magnetit und Thorit auskristallisiert. Anschließend bildete sich eine Vielzahl seltener, Sr-, Ba, leichter SEE- und Nb-reicher Mineralien aus. In den Proben von Pegmatite Peak sind drei Hauptphasen in der Entwicklung der akzessorischen Sr-, Ba-, SEE- und Nb-Mineralisation zu unterscheiden: eine primäre, eine agpaitische und eine deuterische. Primär wurden Sr, SEE und Nb in Betafit, Loparit-(Ce), Crichtonit und Mineralien der Ilmenitgruppe eingebaut. Betafit (Ta-arm, SEE- und Th-reich) ist ein sehr seltenes Mineral in den Pegmatiten, und hat die inkompatiblen Elemente nur unbedeutend konzentriert. Loparit-(Ce) entsteht im wesentlichen durch den Austausch von Sr und Ca durch Nb, Na und SEE; d.h. durch Umwandlung von strontium- und niobhältigem Loparit ( 22.0 Gew.% SrO) zu niobhältigem Loparit ( 17.6 Gew.% Nb₂O₅). Crichtonit enthält eine geringe Menge Na, Ca und K, ist ohne feststellbare SEE und Ba und ist gewönlich Mn-reich (7.0-13.6 Gew.% MnO). Mineralien der Ilmenitgruppe entwickeln sich von manganfiihrendem Ilmenit hin zu eisenführendem Pyrophanit und haben relativ niedrige Nb-Gehalte ( 0.9 Gew.% Nb₂O₅). Während der agpaitischen Phase waren Silikate wie Lamprophyllit, Titanit und Mineralien der Tscheffkinitgruppe die wichtigsten Träger von inkompatiblen Elementen. Lamprophyllit ist generell Ba-arm und ist durch relativ niedrige Ca- und K-Gehalte charakterisiert. Nur wenige kleine Kristalle zeigen barytolamprophyllitische Ränder (< 26.3 Gew.% BaO). Fe ist im Titanit (Al-frei) abgereichert während Nb, Sr, SEE und Na (jeweils max. 6.4, 4.5, 4.4 und 2.9 Gew.% Oxid) angereichert wurden. Die chemische Zusammensetzung des Titanits kann durch mehrere Substituierungen erklärt werden: Ca l++Ti4+~Nal+-I-Nbs+, Ca²⁺ Sr²⁺, 2Ca²⁺ Na¹⁺+REE³⁺, und Ca²⁺ +O2^– Na¹⁺ +(OH)^1–. Mineralien der Tscheffkinitgruppe entwickeln sich aus Sr-reichen (Strontiotscheffkinit) hin zu SEE-reichen Gliedern [Tscheffkinit-(Ce)]. Strontiotscheffkinit von Pegmatite Peak mit hohem ZrO₂-(< 7.8 Gew.%) und niedrigem FeOT-Gehalt (< 2.5 Gew.%) hat eine ähnliche Zusammensetzung wie der Holotyp von Sarambi. Während der letzten Phasen der Bildung der Pegmatite brachte ein deuterisches, F-haltiges, Sr- und SEE-reiches Fluid Karbonate und in geringer Mengen Phosphate in Spalten und Hohlräumen im Gestein zur Ausfällung. Ankylit-(Ce) ist das häufigste Sr- und SEE-führende Mineral dieser jüngsten Mineralassoziation. Manche einzelne Ankylitkristalle zeigen eine bedeutende Anreicherung von Th (< 6.0 Gew.% ThO₂). Ankylit, Bastnäsit, Metaloparit und TiO₂ (Anatas?) ersetzten den ursprünglichen Loparit. Typische Verdrängungen zeigen sich als Körner mit loparitischen Kernen, welche örtlich mit Metaloparit verwachsen sind, weiters einer Bastnäsit-Anatas Zwischenzone und einem ankylitischen Rand. Fluorapatit ist hier ein seltenes Mineral und hat sehr hohe Sr-, Na- und SEE-Gehalte (jeweils 21.4, 2.6 und 12.9 Gew.% Oxid). Von der chemischen Zusammensetzung aus gesehen gehört dieses Mineral zur Fluoapatit-Belovit-(Ce)-Mischkristallreiche. Während der deuterischen Phase dienten die Mineralien der Hollanditgruppe untergeordnet als Träger für Ba; sie legen die Entwicklung von Priderit (5.2 Gew.% K20, 7.4 Gew.% BaO) zu Ba-Fe-Hollandit (19.2–21.4 Gew.% BaO). Somit ist die Entwicklung der Sr-, SEE-, Ba- und Nb-Mineralisation ein komplexer mehrphasiger Prozeß und umfaßt die primäre Kristallisation, Reäquilibrierungsphänomene und eine späte deuterische Alteration.