Fractionation analysis of transport engine-generated soot particles with respect to hygroscopicity

Combustion-derived particles emitted by various transport engines are analyzed with respect to their morphology and composition. Soot particles collected behind an aircraft gas turbine engine combustor, in the diesel engine exhaust pipe, and at the end of ship pipe demonstrate heterogeneous morphological structures and different chemical identities. Individual particle analysis allows the characterization of emitted soot particles into three fractions, namely C-O, C-O-S, and Fe-C-O, with the dominant presence of chain soot agglomerates, irregular internally mixed soot, and particles of distinct morphology, respectively. The influence of oxygen and sulfur concentrations on the ability of soot to uptake water is proposed as a method for categorizing transport engine-generated particles. Categories of hydrophobic and hydrophilic particles within non-hygroscopic soots can be defined based on the amount of water uptake relative to several reference laboratory-made soots comparable to transport engine emissions. This method of characterizing hydrophobic/hydrophilic and hygroscopic soots in combustion emissions will help to determine the potential impacts of the combustion emissions on CCN/IN formation in the atmosphere.     

A warped m= 2 water maser disc in V778 Cyg?

The silicate carbon star V778 Cyg is a source of 22-GHz water maser emission which was recently resolved by MERLIN. Observations revealed an elongated     -like structure along which the velocities of the maser features show a linear dependence on the impact parameter. This is consistent with a doubly warped   m = 2  disc observed edge-on. Water masers and silicate dust emission (detected by the Infrared Astronomical Satellite and Infrared Space Observatory ) have a common origin in O-rich material and are likely to be co-located in the disc. We propose a detailed self-consistent model of a masing gas–dust disc around a companion to the carbon star in a binary system, which allows us to estimate the companion mass of  1.7 ± 0.1 M_⊙  , the disc radius of  40 ± 3  au and the distance between companions of ∼80 au. Using a dust–gas coupling model for water masing, we calculate the maser power self-consistently, accounting for both the gas and the dust energy balances. Comparing the simulation results with the observational data, we deduce the main physical parameters of the masing disc, such as the gas and dust temperatures and their densities. We also present an analysis of the stability of the disc.     

On the Sudden Depression of Radio Emission From Plasma Above a Fast-Moving Sunspot

We present a very rare case of unexpected depression of radio emission above a sunspot using solar observations from RATAN-600. The sunspot had a very high proper motion on the solar surface. The depression lasted for 5 days without significant changes in area or magnitude of magnetic field of the associated sunspot. The observations show that the depression cannot be explained by the absorption of the emission during its propagation through the overlying magnetosphere of the AR or through the cold and opaque matter of a prominence. The theoretical interpretation of the phenomenon is based on the hypothesis that the motion of the sunspot on the photosphere leads to the significant expanding of the magnetic loop originated at this sunspot. The extension of the twisted magnetic rope results in the loss of equilibrium of the system: the closed magnetic structure (the twisted magnetic loop) seems destined to transform into an open one. The only mechanism of plasma heating which would be `switched off' in such a non-equilibrium configuration is that based on the quasi-static topological relaxation of a force-free magnetic field towards a configuration of minimum energy. Relaxation of magnetic fields does not occur in a non-equilibrium state. As a consequence, the energy release in the twisted magnetic rope and the temperature of the plasma of the local radio source have to fall down abruptly. Thus, the discussed phenomenon argues in favor of the relaxation model of plasma heating.     

Influence of subdaily polar motion model on nutation offsets estimated by very long baseline interferometry

This paper studies the connection between the subdaily model for polar motion used in the processing of very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) observations and the estimated nutation offsets. By convention accepted by the International Earth Rotation Service, the subdaily model for polar motion recommended for routine processing of geodetic observations does not contain any daily retrograde terms due to their one-to-one correlation with the nutation. Nevertheless, for a 24-h VLBI solution a part of the signal contained in the polar motion given by the used subdaily model is numerically mistaken for a retrograde daily sidereal signal. This fictitious retrograde daily signal contributes to the estimated nutation, leading to systematic differences between the nutation offsets from VLBI solutions computed with different subdaily polar motion models. We demonstrate this effect using solutions for all suitable 24-h VLBI sessions over a time span of 11 years (2000–2011). By changing the amplitudes of one tidal term in the underlying subdaily model for polar motion and comparing the estimated parameters to the solutions computed with the unchanged subdaily model, the paper shows and explains theoretically the effects produced by the individual subdaily terms on the VLBI nutation estimates.     

Zinc-rich and copper-bearing amphiboles from sulfide-free ore occurrences of the Pelagonian Massif,Republic of North Macedonia

Mineralogy and Petrology - This paper describes specific features of isomorphism of unusual amphiboles containing up to 23 wt% ZnO and up to 1.3 wt% CuO from sulfide-free...     

Magnetic properties of the LL5 ordinary chondrite Chelyabinsk (fall of February 15, 2013)

Here we characterize the magnetic properties of the Chelyabinsk chondrite (LL5, S4, W0) and constrain the composition, concentration, grain size distribution, and mineral fabric of the meteorite's magnetic mineral assemblage. Data were collected from 10 to 1073 K and include measurements of low‐field magnetic susceptibility (χ₀), the anisotropy of χ₀, hysteresis loops, first‐order reversal curves, Mössbauer spectroscopy, and X‐ray microtomography. The REM and REM′ paleointensity protocols suggest that the only magnetizations recorded by the chondrite are components of the Earth's magnetic field acquired during entry into our planet's atmosphere. The Chelyabinsk chondrite consists of light and dark lithologies. Fragments of the light lithology show logχ₀ = 4.57 ± 0.09 (s.d.) (n = 135), while the dark lithology shows 4.65 ± 0.09 (n = 39) (where χ₀ is in 10^?9 m³ kg^?1). Thus, Chelyabinsk is three times more magnetic than the average LL5 fall, but is similar to a subgroup of metal‐rich LL5 chondrites (Paragould, Aldsworth, Bawku, Richmond) and L/LL5 chondrites (Glanerbrug, Knyahinya). The meteorite's room‐temperature magnetization is dominated by multidomain FeNi alloys taenite and kamacite (no tetrataenite is present). However, below approximately 75 K remanence is dominated by chromite. The metal contents of the light and dark lithologies are 3.7 and 4.1 wt%, respectively, and are based on values of saturation magnetization.     

Solubility and migration ability of rhodium in natural conditions: model experimental data

The contents of dissolved rhodium species in the near-neutral environments have been studied for the first time and data on the interaction of Rh with organic matters of natural waters and its sorption behavior during contact with the components of geochemical barriers were obtained. The solubility method was used to analyze the behavior of rhodium hydroxide in the Rh(OH)_x–H₂O and Rh(OH)_x–H₂O–FA (fulvic acids) systems. The possible contents of inorganic species of rhodium and its compounds with humic organic ligands were determined within the pH range typical of surface waters. The solubility of rhodium shows a twoorder- of magnitude increase in the presence of humic matters (FA). The sorption interaction of the soluble rhodium species with the main components of geochemical barriers such as iron oxyhydroxides (III), (including fulvic-acid modified ones), alumosilicates, and precipitates of humic acids in contact with natural waters was studied. It was revealed that rhodium has the high affinity to all studied materials; its species are sorbed by ferrihydrite within several hours. It is suggested that rhodium is mainly transferred as colloid with suspended particulate matters of waters and then is accumulated in bottom sediments. The differences revealed in the sorption behavior of Pt(IV), Pd(II) and Rh(III) may be used to predict the distribution of the considered platinum group elements between the components of ecosystems.     

Snow carrots after the Chelyabinsk event and model implications for highly porous solar system objects

After the catastrophic disruption of the Chelyabinsk meteoroid, small fragments formed funnels in the snow layer covering the ground. We constrain the pre‐impact characteristics of the fragments by simulating their atmospheric descent with the atmospheric entry model. Fragments resulting from catastrophic breakup may lose about 90% of their initial mass due to ablation and reach the snow vertically with a free‐fall velocity in the range of 30–90 m s^?1. The fall time of the fragments is much longer than their cooling time, and, as a consequence, fragments have the same temperature as the lower atmosphere, i.e., of about ?20 °C. Then, we use the shock physics code iSALE to model the penetration of fragments into fluffy snow, the formation of a funnel and a zone of denser snow lining its walls. We examine the influence of several material parameters of snow and present our best‐fit model by comparing funnel depth and funnel wall characteristics with observations. In addition, we suggest a viscous flow approximation to estimate funnel depth dependence on the meteorite mass. We discuss temperature gradient metamorphism as a possible mechanism which allows to fill the funnels with denser snow and to form the observed “snow carrots.” This natural experiment also helps us to calibrate the iSALE code for simulating impacts into highly porous matter in the solar system including tracks in the aerogel catchers of the Stardust mission and possible impact craters on the 67P/Churyumov‐Gerasimenko comet observed recently by the Rosetta mission.     

Variation in microbial biomass and community structure in sediments of peter the great bay (sea of japan/east sea), as estimated from fatty acid biomarkers

Variation in the microbial biomass and community structure found in sediment of heavily polluted bays and the adjacent unpolluted areas were examined using phospholipid fatty acid analysis. Total microbial biomass and microbial community structure were responding to environmental determinants, sediment grain size, depth of sediment, and pollution due to petroleum hydrocarbons. The marker fatty acids of microeukaryotes and prokaryotes - aerobic, anaerobic, and sulfate-reducing bacteria -were detected in sediments of the areas studied. Analysis of the fatty acid profiles revealed wide variations in the community structure in sediments, depending on the extent of pollution, sediment depth, and sediment grain size. The abundance of specific bacterial fatty acids points to the dominance of prokaryotic organisms, whose composition differed among the stations. Fatty acid distributions in sediments suggest the high contribution of aerobic bacteria. Sediments of polluted sites were significantly enriched with anaerobic bacteria in comparison with clean areas. The contribution of this bacterial group increased with the depth of sediments. Anaerobic bacteria were predominantly present in muddy sediments, as evidenced from the fatty acid profiles. Relatively high concentrations of marker fatty acids of sulfate-reducing bacteria were associated with organic pollution in this site. Specific fatty acids of microeukaryotes were more abundant in surface sediments than in deeper sediment layers. Among the microeukaryotes, diatoms were an important component. Significant amounts of bacterial biomass, the predominance of bacterial biomarker fatty acids with abundance of anaerobic and sulfate-reducing bacteria are indicative of a prokaryotic consortium responsive to organic pollution.