Preliminary data on chemical changes in the Aral Sea during low-level periods from the last 9000 years

The withdrawal of the Aral Sea tributaries (Amu and Syr Daria) for cultures has led to significant falls of its level and an important increase in its salinity. During the Holocene, a succession of low and high water inputs occurred. Silty deposits correspond to the high levels and carbonates to the low levels. This study makes a distinction between the Syr Daria and the Amu Daria water inputs during low-level periods by using mineralogical and chemical compositions of the carbonates deposits. Waters from the Syr Daria are more sulphatic and have a low iron content in comparison with that of the Amu Daria. The Syr Daria was the major tributary around 7500, 4956 and 970 yr?BP, whereas around 6200 and 3610 yr?BP, inflow also from the Amu Daria is observed. To cite this article: L. Le Callonnec et al., C. R. Geoscience 337 (2005).     

Visual extinction towards the Omega Nebula (M17) and the ionization of nitrogen in the nebula

We estimate the absolute intensity of the Hα emission line in M17 based on spectroscopic observations with the 70 cm telescope of the Fesenkov Astrophysical Institute and the 1.25 m telescope of the Sternberg Astronomical Institute’s Crimean Laboratory. The visual extinction, A _v , is derived for about 250 regions in the nebula via a comparison of the optical (Hα) and radio (21 cm continuum) emissions. The A _v values for the eastern, optically bright, part of the nebula are 2–6^m. For the western part, which is covered by a dark cloud, the extinction is A _v = 7?14.5^m. We derived I(Hα)/I([NII] λ6584) ratios and estimated the degree of ionization of nitrogen in the nebula; we find that most nitrogen is in the [NIII] state.     

Adsorption of REE(III)-humate complexes onto MnO2: Experimental evidence for cerium anomaly and lanthanide tetrad effect suppression

Experiments were conducted to evaluate the impact of organic complexation on the development of Ce anomalies and the lanthanide tetrad effect during the adsorption of rare-earth elements (REE) onto MnO₂. Two types of aqueous solutions—NaCl and NaNO₃—were tested at pH 5 and 7.5. Time-series experiments indicate that a steady-state is reached within less than 10 h when REE occur as free inorganic species, whereas steady state is not reached before 10 d when REE occur as REE-humate complexes. The distribution coefficients (K_d^REE) between suspended MnO₂ and solution show no or only very weak positive Ce anomaly or lanthanide tetrad effect when REE occur as humate complexes, unlike the results obtained in experiments with REE occurring as free inorganic species. Monitoring of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations show that log K_d^REE_organic/K_d^DOC ratios are close to 1.0, implying that the REE and humate remain bound to each other upon adsorption. Most likely, the Ce anomaly reduction/suppression in the organic experiments arises from a combination of two processes: (i) inability of MnO₂ to oxidize Ce(III) because of shielding of MnO₂ surfaces by humate molecules and (ii) Ce(IV) cannot be preferentially removed from solution due to quantitative complexation of the REE by organic matter. We suggest that the lack of lanthanide tetrad effect arises because the adsorption of REE-humate complexes onto MnO₂ occurs dominantly via the humate side of the complexes (anionic adsorption), thereby preventing expression of the differences in Racah parameters for 4f electron repulsion between REE and the oxide surface. The results presented here explain why, despite the development of strongly oxidizing conditions and the presence of MnO₂ in the aquifer, no (or insignificant) negative Ce anomalies are observed in organic-rich waters. The present study demonstrates experimentally that the Ce anomaly cannot be used as a reliable proxy of redox conditions in organic-rich waters or in precipitates formed at equilibrium with organic-rich waters.     

Discrete element model for crack propagation in brittle materials

We propose a discrete element model for brittle rupture. The material consists of a bidimensional set of closed‐packed particles in contact. We explore the isotropic elastic behavior of this regular structure to derive a rupture criterion compatible to continuum mechanics. We introduce a classical criterion of mixed mode crack propagation based on the value of the stress intensity factors, obtained by the analysis of two adjacent contacts near a crack tip. Hence, the toughness becomes a direct parameter of the model, without any calibration procedure. We verify the consistency of the formulation as well as its convergence by comparison with theoretical solutions of tensile cracks, a pre‐cracked beam, and an inclined crack under biaxial stress. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Segmentation and kinematics of the North America‐Caribbean plate boundary offshore Hispaniola

We explored the submarine portions of the Enriquillo–Plantain Garden Fault zone (EPGFZ) and the Septentrional–Oriente Fault zone (SOFZ) along the Northern Caribbean plate boundary using high‐resolution multibeam echo‐sounding and shallow seismic reflection. The bathymetric data shed light on poorly documented or previously unknown submarine fault zones running over 200 km between Haiti and Jamaica (EPGFZ) and 300 km between the Dominican Republic and Cuba (SOFZ). The primary plate‐boundary structures are a series of strike‐slip fault segments associated with pressure ridges, restraining bends, step overs and dogleg offsets indicating very active tectonics. Several distinct segments 50–100 km long cut across pre‐existing structures inherited from former tectonic regimes or bypass recent morphologies formed under the current strike‐slip regime. Along the most recent trace of the SOFZ, we measured a strike‐slip offset of 16.5 km, which indicates steady activity for the past ~1.8 Ma if its current GPS‐derived motion of 9.8 ± 2 mm a^?1 has remained stable during the entire Quaternary.     

Modeling a Shore Profile Formed by Storm Cycle Impact

Oceanology - A model is developed for predicting the sand shore profile formed by storm event impact. The model takes into account the cumulative effect of elementary processes responsible for...