Resik: A Bent Crystal X-ray Spectrometer for Studies of Solar Coronal Plasma Composition

We describe the RESIK (REntgenovsky Spektrometr s Izognutymi Kristalami) instrument, consisting of two double-channel X-ray spectrometers, designed to observe solar active region and flare plasmas. RESIK is one of the instruments making up the scientific payload of the Russian CORONAS-F solar mission. The uncollimated spectrometer uses two silicon and two quartz bent crystals observing flare, active region and coronal spectra in four wavelength bands with a resolving power (/ ) of 1000. The wavelength coverage, 3.3–6.1 Å, includes emission lines of Si, S, Cl, Ar, and K and in the third diffraction order, the wavelength range includes He-like Fe lines (1.85 Å) and Ni lines (1.55 Å) with dielectronic satellites, emitted during intense, hot flares. The instrument is believed to be the best calibrated space-borne crystal spectrometer flown to date. The spectrometer dynamically adjusts the data gathering intervals from 1 s to 5 minutes, depending on the level of solar X-ray emission at the time of observation. The principal aims of RESIK are the measurements of relative and absolute element abundances in the emitting plasma and the temperature distribution of plasma (differential emission measure) over the temperature interval 3 and 50 MK. This paper summarizes the scientific objectives of RESIK and describes the design, characteristics, and performance of the instrument.     

Proton microprobe for chemical dating of monazite

Although quantitative chemical analysis by proton microprobe has become an established technique, it has been rarely applied to problems in the earth sciences. The method, having lower detection limit (better than 10 ppm for U, Th and Pb) and higher spatial resolution than electron microprobe (typically 1 μm vs 3 μm), can be successfully used in geology. Here, we present a procedure for the chemical dating of monazite, (REE)PO₄, by proton microprobe. The procedure is compared with electron probe microanalysis technique (EPMA).     

Sulphidizing reactions in the flotation of oxidized copper minerals,I. Chemical factors in the sulphidization of copper oxide

The rate and extent of the heterogeneous reaction that takes place between dissolved sodium sulphide and synthetic tenorite is studied for a wide range of sodium sulphide to copper oxide ratios. Besides the sulphidization with the formation of a copper-sulphide layer, a substantial oxidation of sulphide ions takes place at the surface of the solid. The extent of both types of reactions is quantitized by combining specific analytical methods.The results are discussed in terms of possible mechanisms and of their implications in the sulphidization process applied in the flotation of oxidized copper ores.     

SphinX soft X-ray spectrophotometer: Science objectives, design and performance

The goals and construction details of a new design Polish-led X-ray spectrophotometer are described. The instrument is aimed to observe emission from entire solar corona and is placed as a separate block within the Russian TESIS X- and EUV complex aboard the CORONAS-PHOTON solar orbiting observatory. SphinX uses silicon PIN diode detectors for high time resolution measurements of the solar spectra in the range 0.8–15 keV. Its spectral resolution allows for discerning more than hundred separate energy bands in this range. The instrument dynamic range extends two orders of magnitude below and above these representative for GOES. The relative and absolute accuracy of spectral measurements is expected to be better than few percent, as follows from extensive ground laboratory calibrations.     

Long-Term Ozone Changes Over the Northern Hemisphere Mid-Latitudes for the 1979–2012 Period

Abstract

The solar backscattered ultraviolet (SBUV/SBUV-2) merged ozone datasets, version 8.6, including column ozone and ozone profiles for the 1979–2012 period are examined for the 35°N–60°N zonal belt in the northern hemisphere mid-latitudes and four sub-regions: central Europe, continental Europe, North America, and East Asia. The residual long-term patterns for total ozone and ozone profiles are extracted by smoothing the time series of differences between the original and the modelled ozone time series. Modelled ozone is obtained using the standard trend model accounting for ozone variability due to changes in stratospheric halogens and various dynamical factors commonly used in previous ozone trend analyses. Since about 2005 spring and summer total ozone in the troposphere and lower stratosphere has decreased in some regions (central and continental Europe, North America, and the 35°N–60°N zonal belt) compared with modelled ozone. The negative departure from modelled ozone in 2010 is approximately 2–3% of the overall 1979–2012 monthly mean level. It seems that this decrease is a result of yet unknown dynamical processes rather than to chemical destruction because the differences have a longitudinal structure, and total ozone in the upper stratosphere still follows changes in stratospheric halogen loading.     

The role of neotectonics and glaciation on terrace formation along the Nysa K odzka River in the Sudeten Mountains (southwestern Poland)

The Nysa K odzka river drainage basin in the Sudeten Mts., SW Poland, preserves a complex late Cainozoic succession that includes eight fluvial series or terraces and deposits from two glacial episodes as well as local volcanic rocks, slope deposits and loess. Fluvial sedimentation took place during the Late Pliocene and from the early Middle Pleistocene (Cromerian), with a long erosion phase (gap) during the Early Pleistocene. Fluvial series are dated to the Late Pliocene, Cromerian, Holsteinian, late Saalian/Eemian, Weichselian, and the Holocene. Glacial deposits represent the early Elsterian and early Saalian stages. Almost all these stratigraphic units have been observed in all geomorphic zones of the river: the mountainous K odzko Basin, the Bardo Mts. (Bardo gorge) and in the mountain foreland. The main phase of tectonic uplift and strong erosion was during the Early Pleistocene. Minor uplift is documented also during the post-early Saalian and probably the post-Elsterian. The post-early Saalian and post-Elstrian uplift phases are probably due to glacio-isostatic rebound. The Quaternary terrace sequence was formed due to base-level changes, epigenetic erosion after glaciations and neotectonic movements. The Cromerian fluvial deposits/terraces do not indicate tectonic influence at all. All other Quaternary terraces indicate clear divergence, and the post-early Saalian terraces also show fault scarps. The fluvial pattern remained stable, once formed during the Pliocene, with only minor changes along the uplifted block along the Bardo gorge, inferring an antecedent origin for the Bardo gorge. Only during the post-glacial times, have epigenetic incisions slightly modified the valley.     

Variations in sediment yield over the advance and retreat of a calving glacier, Laguna San Rafael, North Patagonian Icefield

Bathymetric and sub-bottom acoustic data were collected in Laguna San Rafael, Chile, to determine sediment yields during the Little Ice Age advance and subsequent retreat of San Rafael Glacier. The sediment volumes and subaqueous landforms imaged are used to interpret the proglacial dynamics and estimate erosion rates from a temperate tidewater glacier over a complete advance-retreat cycle. Sediment yields from San Rafael Glacier averaged 2.7 × 10⁷ m³/a since the end of the Little Ice Age, circa AD 1898, corresponding to average basin-wide erosion rates of 23 ± 9 mm/a; the highest erosion rates, 68 ± 23 mm/a, occurred at the start of the retreat phase, and have since been steadily decreasing. Erosion rates were much lower during glacial advance, averaging at most 7 mm/a, than during retreat. Such large glacial sediment yields over two centuries of advance and retreat suggest that the contribution of sediments stored subglacially cannot account for much of the sediment being delivered to the terminus today. The detailed sub-bottom information of a proglacial lagoon yields important clues as to the timing of erosion, deposition and transfer of glacigenic sediments from orogens to the continental shelves, and the influence of glacier dynamics on this process.     

Sulphidizing reactions in the flotation of oxidized copper minerals,II. Role of the adsorption and oxidation of sodium sulphide in the flotation of chrysocolla and malachite

The rate of consumption of sulphide in the sulphidizing reactions of malachite and chrysocolla has been measured. The oxidation of sulphide ions at the surface of sulphidized chrysocolla was shown to take place. The influence of thiosulphate anions on the xanthate flotation of sulphidized malachite and chrysocolla was investigated and it was shown to depress the flotation of chrysocolla strongly.The result suggest, that the presence of thiosulphate as a product of simultaneous oxidation can be one of the reasons for the more difficult flotation of sulphidized chrysocolla.     

Site formation processes in loess areas: A case study from moravany-žakovska,western slovakia

The site of Moravany-Žakovska in western Slovakia is situated in a loessic terrain and is dated to the end of the Late Glacial Maximum. This article shows the importance of analyzing the 0.01-0.1 mm fraction to interpret the sedimentological environment and a number of measured anthropogenic indices, such as burnt quartz grains, charcoal, radiolarite chips, microflakes, and microfragments of bone. Analysis of the profile of the site through time reveals the relationship between occupational levels and phases of slope wash that occurred during wetter climatic episodes; these are separated by phases of aeolian sedimentation. At the same time, analysis of anthropogenic indices in this size fraction permitted the identification of occupational levels, including those not recorded by macrofinds. Analysis of anthropogenic indices in horizontal exposures enabled the identification of latent settlement structures such as hearths, areas of radiolarite processing, zones where mineral dyes were prepared, and other structures not recorded by macrofinds.