Constraining the surface properties of Saturn's icy moons, using Cassini/CIRS emissivity spectra

We have conducted a search for emissivity features in the thermal infrared spectrum of the icy satellites of Saturn, Phoebe, Iapetus, Enceladus, Tethys, and Hyperion, observed by the Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS) on board the Cassini spacecraft. Despite the heterogeneity of the composition of these bodies depicted by Earth-based and Cassini/VIMS observations, the CIRS spectra of all satellites are undistinguishable from black-body spectra, with no detectable emissivity feature. However, several materials, which have been detected on the surface of the same bodies, present emissivity features in the analyzed spectral range. In particular, water ice presents features with sufficient contrast to be detected by CIRS. Here we study the physical causes of the absence of features by simulating the effects of intimate mixtures using models of directional emissivity for optically thick surfaces for different particle sizes and abundances, and porosities. The simulations include a set of materials detected on the Phoebe's surface, like water ice, hydrated silicates, and organics. We find that featureless spectra can be produced in three scenarios: (1) ice particles with large sizes, (2) mixtures of ices dominated by dark contaminants, and (3) small particles with large porosity. Constraints imposed by the NIR spectra of the satellites favors the latter scenario as the more likely explanation to the absence of emissivity features on the icy satellites of Saturn.     

List of papers from other journals

List of papers from other journals     

An incentive mechanism for reducing emissions from conversion of intact and non-intact forests

This paper presents a new accounting mechanism in the context of the UNFCCC issue on reducing emissions from deforestation in developing countries, including technical options for determining baselines of forest conversions. This proposal builds on the recent scientific achievements related to the estimation of tropical deforestation rates and to the assessment of ‘intact’ forest areas. The distinction between ‘intact’ and ‘non intact’ forests used here arises from experience with satellite-based deforestation measurements and allows accounting for carbon losses from forest degradation. The proposed accounting system would use forest area conversion rates as input data. An optimal technical solution to set baselines would be to use historical average figures during the time period from 1990 to 2005. The system introduces two different schemes to account for preserved carbon: one for countries with high forest conversion rates where the desired outcome would be a reduction in their rates, and another for countries with low rates. A ‘global’ baseline rate would be used to discriminate between these two country categories (high and low rates). For the hypothetical accounting period 2013–2017 and considering 72% of the total tropical forest domain for which data are available, the scenario of a 10% reduction of the high rates and of the preservation of low rates would result in approximately 1.6 billion tCO₂ of avoided emissions. The resulting benefits of this reduction would be shared between those high-rate countries which reduced deforestation and those low-rate countries which did not increase their deforestation over an agreed threshold (e.g., half of “global” baseline rate).     

Stream-scanning laser system, electric sensing counter and settling grain size analysis: a comparison using reference materials and marine sediments

Surface and deep-sea core sediments and two sets of standards were measured by three different techniques — Galai Cis-1 laser system, Coulter Counter TA II, and Micromeritics SediGraph 5000D — in order to compare the Galai results with the other two. The differences between the three types of measuring device turned out to be greater in sediments than in standards, and were attributed to the physical properties, shape, density and composition of the particles (complexity of the matrix). Comparison of moment statistics showed that the Galai determines coarser grain sizes than the Coulter and finer than the SediGraph, particularly as regards analysis of surface sediments. The relationships between Galai and SediGraph were estimated using analysis of variation/residuals within individual intervals. The analysis showed a higher variability of residuals for the coarser fractions (8–16 μm and 16–32 μm) with respect to the finer (2–4 μm and 4–8 μm) fractions. The <2 μm SediGraph fraction, with a cut-off at 0.49 μm, showed good correspondence with the <2.5 μm Galai analysis.     

Integrated Management of Forest Ecosystem Services: An Optimization Model Based on Multi-objective Analysis and Metaheuristic Approach

The goal of this research was to implement an optimization model that allows definition of best management strategies in the forest sector. The case study is depicted in a coniferous stand (silver fir—Abies alba Mill.) of Tuscany (central Italy). Four ecosystem services were quantified from biophysical (timber produced, carbon stored, ecosystem diversity, recreational function) and economic (total economic value of the above parameters) perspective. The indicators are aggregated through a multi-objective approach (compromise programming). In the framework of forest seen as complex adaptive systems, different management strategies can lead to emergent reaction of forest functions. Due to nonlinear and non-continuous interactions as well as to the presence of feedbacks and loops among environmental and socioeconomic forest components, results are optimized by means of differential evolution and particle swarm algorithm. The genetic algorithm was applied to minimize the distance from ideal point. The best value of the decision variable (rotation period) was defined for different scenarios based on compensatory level of criteria, constraints and presence/absence of forest thinning. Conflicting trends and trade-offs are highlighted when different criteria were optimized. Among outputs, thinning intervention seems to reduce the performance of several criteria in the study area. Strengths and weaknesses of the model as well as potential future improvements are finally discussed.

     

Characterisation of Apatites as Potential Uranium Reference Materials for Fission‐track Dating by LA‐ICP‐MS

We report homogeneity tests on large natural apatite crystals to evaluate their potential as U reference materials for apatite fission‐track (AFT) thermochronology by laser ablation‐inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry (LA‐ICP‐MS). The homogeneity tests include the measurements of major element concentrations by electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), whereas for U concentration, isotope dilution (ID) ICP‐MS and laser ablation (LA) ICP‐MS were employed. Two apatite crystals are potential reference materials for LA‐ICP‐MS analysis: a 1 cm³ fraction of a Durango crystal (7.5 μg g^?1 U) and a 1 cm³ Mud Tank crystal (6.9 μg g^?1 U). The relative standard deviation (1 RSD) of the U concentration determined by ID‐ICP‐MS of both apatite crystals was ≤ 1.5%, whereas 1 RSD for the LA‐ICP‐MS results was better than 4%, providing sufficient homogeneity for fission‐track dating. The results on the U homogeneity for two different apatite samples are an important step towards establishing in situ dating routines for AFT analysis by LA‐ICP‐MS.     

The Th/La and Sm/La conundrum of the Tethyan realm lamproites

The Oligocene–Pleistocene Tethyan Realm Lamproites, from the Mediterranean to Himalayas, have a clear subduction-related signature and represent one of the most exotic and rare ultrapotassic mantle-derived magmas. They share the major element and mineralogical characteristics of the lamproite clan rocks, but clearly define a distinct subgroup with respect to within-plate lamproites on the basis of a number of key trace element ratios and radiogenic isotopes. The most striking characteristic of the Tethyan Realm Lamproites is the positive correlation between Th/La (up to > 1.5) and Sm/La (up to > 0.3), which is opposite to what observed in subduction-related magmas worldwide and cannot be reconciled with typical slab recycling processes. The geochemical conundrum of the Tethyan Realm Lamproites requires a component with high Sm/La and Th/La (hence named SALATHO), in addition to a normal K₂O–rich sediment melt component (with low Th/La and Sm/La). The Pb isotope composition of the Tethyan Realm Lamproites also displays a mixing array from a normal sediment melt component to a high ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁶Pb and low ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb end-member that can be reconciled with the SALATHO component. This end-member requires a history of high time-integrated κ? (²³²Th/²³⁸U) and low time-integrated μ (²³⁸U/²⁰⁴Pb) and ought to be older than some hundreds of million years.We propose a multi-stage process for the formation of the mantle sources of the Tethyan Realm Lamproites related to the tectonic mélange domains (i.e. chaotic mixture of depleted peridotite, basalt, and sediment) accreted to the Eurasia plate during the collisional events of the northward drifting continental slivers from Gondwana. In a first stage, the mélange domains experienced high P and low T metamorphism with segregation and stabilisation of lawsonite and zoisite/epidote veins, which potentially match the geochemical characteristics required by the SALATHO component. Successively, the subduction of the Neotethys and Alpine Tethys oceanic plates produced normal K₂O-rich sediment melts that migrated through the mantle wedge and metasomatised the depleted lithospheric mantle blocks within the chaotic mélange, forming a clinopyroxene–phlogopite vein network. Eventually, the Tertiary orogenic belt collapses triggered the onset of low-degree melting of the low-solidus fractions within the mélange domains, producing lamproitic magmas.