Synthetic Spectra of Long-Period Variables: A First Comparison with ISO Observations

Exploratory synthetic spectra were computed for carbon-rich long-period variables. We used dynamic model atmospheres of Höfner &; Dorfi (1997) and calculated partial pressures, absorption- and scattering coefficients as input for the spectral synthesis code of Jørgensen et al. (1992). First ISO SWS-observations of the carbon-Mira T Dra are compared with our synthetic spectra.     

The effect of iron availability on the regulation of inorganic carbon acquisition in the coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi and the significance of cellular compartmentation for stable carbon isotope fractionation

Iron is limiting phytoplankton productivity in large parts of today’s oceans, the so-called HNLC (high nutrient low chlorophyll) areas. It is a key component in photosynthesis during which inorganic carbon fixation in most phytoplankton species is sustained by so-called carbon concentrating mechanisms (CCMs). Here we investigate CCM regulation in the coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi in response to varying degrees of iron limitation by means of membrane-inlet mass spectrometry. Compared to iron replete conditions rates of both active CO₂ and uptake were markedly reduced under iron limitation leading to significantly diminished growth rates. Moreover, there was a concomitant decrease in CCM efficiency, reflected in an increased CO₂ loss from the cell in relation to carbon fixation. Under such conditions higher values for carbon isotope fractionation (?_p) would be expected. However, direct measurements of ?_p showed that carbon isotope fractionation was insensitive to changes in growth rates and CCM activity. This can be explained by concomitant changes in internal DIC fluxes in and out of the chloroplast as demonstrated with a simple cell model comprising two compartments. Thus, carbon isotope fractionation reflects the ability of phytoplankton to actively control their inorganic carbon acquisition depending on environmental conditions. The insensitivity of carbon isotope fractionation to changes in the availability of iron could be of interest for paleoreconstructions in the HNLC areas of today’s oceans.     

The birth of the Paratethys during the Early Oligocene: From Tethys to an ancient Black Sea analogue?

Deeper water black shales, overlain by coccolith-bearing marlstones representing the incipient Paratethys (example: Early Oligocene; Austrian Molasse Basin), have sedimentary characteristics similar to those of the Holocene Black Sea since 7500 years bp. Framboid pyrite size, biomarker and C–N-isotope data additionally indicate that isolation of the Paratethys resulted in Black Sea-type characteristics during nannoplankton zone NP 23.In contrast to the estuarine circulation across the Bosphorus since 7500 years bp, marine conditions prevailed in the incipient Paratethys during NP 21/22. Nitrogen was fixed and low organic carbon accumulation rates prevailed. In both settings a vertical density water-column stratification was accompanied by photic zone anoxia, and by anaerobic methane oxidation in the Paratethys. In the Paratethys increased run off, starting in NP 22, led to estuarine circulation during NP 23. During this period cyclic blooms of calcareous nannoplankton resulted in high calcite accumulation rates which diluted the coeval clay sedimentation. Similar sedimentary features in the Black Sea and the Paratethys during the earliest Oligocene are result from opposite paleoceanographic developments, both leading to estuarine circulation patterns. In the Black Sea, permanent photic zone anoxic conditions were established 7500 years bp in response to the first invasion of saline Mediterranean waters into the former freshwater lake. In contrast, brackish surface water in the Paratethys resulted from nutrient-rich freshwater diluting the marine water body.     

ISO Observations of Symbiotic Stars

A number of symbiotic stars have been observed with ISO. In addition to a number of emission lines, SWS observations of the symbiotic novae RR Tel and V1016 Cyg reveal prominent, broad 10 & 18 μm silicate dust features. The 10 μm features are similar to the crystalline silicate profiles seen in classical novae. There is some evidence that the silicate brightness in V1016 Cyg varies with Mira-component phase. However, the silicate feature in RR Tel also showed some variation even though observations were made at very similar Mira-component phases. PHT observations of S-type symbiotic stars show the IR emission to be dominated by the red-giant component. However, an excess in the PHT-P filters from 10 to 15 μm is evident in all the stars, and there may be a broad 3.2 μm absorption feature or a broad 3.8 μm emission feature. At this time we have no adequate physical explanations for any of these features. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Particle saturation of the outer zone: A nonlinear model

Properties of the steady state and transient behavior of geomagnetically trapped radiation are analyzed by means of phenomenological equations that concisely summarize the operative dynamical processes. The equations provide for a realistic coupling between electromagnetic wave energy, particle intensity, and pitch-angle anisotropy in the context of the outer zone. Applications include magnetospheric enforcement of a limit on stably trapped particle flux. the smooth transition between weak pitch-angle diffusion and strong diffusion, parasitic particle precipitation by natural and man-made radio signals, natural and artificial injections of trapped radiation, and the consequences of magnetospheric cold-plasma injection.     

Zur Kristallstruktur des Noseans,Na8[SO4(Si6Al6O24)]1

Zusammenfassung Die Struktur des Noseans wurde mit dreidimensionalen Daten verfeinert. Hierbei ist die Verteilung der SO₄-Gruppen, der Na-Atome sowie die Position der SO₄-Sauerstoffe besonders berücksichtigt worden.Da eine Reihe von Reflexen diffuse Streaks aufweisen, deren Intensität sich durch Tempern merklich verringert, wurden die Daten eines getemperten Kristalls gesammelt. Es konnte nur der geordnete Teil der Struktur erfaßt werden, da ausschließlich die Peak-Intensitäten der Hauptreflexe der Messung zugrunde lagen.Es ergab sich, daß die Na-Atome wahrscheinlich zwei Möglichkeiten der Anordnung innerhalb der Struktur einnehmen und die Sauerstoffe der SO₄-Gruppe eine Reihe energetisch ähnlicher Plätze besetzen.Die verfeinerten Atomparameter werden mitgeteilt.

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Summary The structure of nosean (noselite) has been refined on the basis of 3-dimensional X-ray data with special interest in the SO₄-group distribution and the atomic positions of Na-ions and SO₄-oxygens.Some reflections show diffuse streaks that markedly can be weakened by heat treatment. The peak intensities of a heated crystal were measured and gave the ordered part of the structure.There probably exist two arrangements of the Na-ions and several equivalent configurations of the SO₄-oxygens.The refined values of the atomic parameters are given.

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Mit 4 Textabbildungen

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Herrn Professor Dr.F. Machatschki zum 70. Geburtstag gewidmet     

Model Atmospheres of AGB Stars: Dynamics, Molecules and Dust

The atmospheres and circumstellar envelopes of AGB stars are characterized by complex physical phenomena like shock waves caused by stellar pulsation or formation of molecules and dust which often lead to a heavy mass loss and have a strong influence on IR properties as observed by ISO. To allow a physical interpretation of various observations we have constructed improved dynamical model atmospheres of long-period variables. In this contribution we mainly investigate the dependence of the atmospheric structure and its variability on stellar pulsation, molecular opacities and time-dependent dust formation. IR spectra resulting from our models are discussed in detail by Loidl et al. (1997b) and compared to ISO-SWS spectra obtained by Hron et al. (1997). This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

A comparison of shelf observation platforms for assimilation in an eddy-resolving ocean model

An assessment of the likely benefits of assimilating in situ temperature (T) and salinity (S) observations from repeat glider transects and surface velocity observations from high-frequency radar arrays into an eddy-resolving ocean model is presented. The deployment of new shelf observation platforms around Australia is being undertaken through the Australian Integrated Marine Observing System program. In this study, various options for an observing system along the coast of New South Wales, Australia, are assessed for their benefits to an ocean forecast and reanalysis system. The forecast system considered here uses ensemble optimal interpolation (EnOI) for data assimilation. Using error estimates from the EnOI scheme, estimates of the theoretical analysis errors are calculated for different observing systems that include a range of remotely sensed and in situ observations. The results demonstrate that if HF radar observations are assimilated along with the standard components of the global ocean observing system, the analysis errors are likely to reduce by as much as 80% for velocity and 60% for T, S and sea-level in the vicinity of the observations. Owing to the relatively short along-shore decorrelation length-scales for T and S near the shelf, the glider observations are likely to provide the forecast system with a more modest gain.