Catalogue of large alluvial fans in martian impact craters

We conducted a systematic, global survey using Thermal Emission Imaging System Infrared (THEMIS IR) coverage (∼100 m/pixel) to search for large alluvial fans in impact craters on Mars. Our survey has focused on large fans (apron areas greater than ∼40 km², usually located in craters greater than 20 km in diameter) due to the resolution of the THEMIS images and Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA) coverage. We find that the host craters are found to have a distinctive diameter range from 30-150 km. The fans generally cluster in three geographic areas—southern Margaritifer Terra, southwestern Terra Sabaea, and southwestern Tyrrhena Terra, however several outliers do exist. The alluvial fans do not form in a particular orientation along the crater rim nor are they associated with the location of current high rim topography. Fan area magnitude and variability increase with crater diameter while fan concavity magnitude and variability increase with decreasing crater diameter. Smaller fan aprons in general have higher, more variable concavity. The source of the water forming these fans is uncertain given the challenges of accommodating the global distribution pattern and formation patterns within the craters.     

The effect of the HO2+NO reaction rate constant on one-dimensional model calculations of stratospheric ozone perturbations

With the aid of a one-dimensional steady-state, stratospheric model we have calculated ozone changes coused by atmosphric injections of NO_x, N₂O and chlorofluoromethanes. Adopting the fast rate constant, for the reaction HO₂+NO»OH+NO₂ measured by Howard and Evenson, we calculate much smaller perturbations of the ozone layer by NO_x and N₂O additions than previously estimated, but about two times larger ozone reductions as a result of continued emissions of chlorofluoromethanes, CF₂Cl₂ and CFCl₃.The model results are sensitive to adopted values for the rate coefficients for the reactions HO₂+O₃»OH+2O₂ and OH+HO₂»H₂O+O₂ and the eddy diffusion profile near the tropopause. More accurate assessments of ozone perturbations require the development of photochemical models that incorporate meteorological processes in more than one dimension.     

Hydrogeologic Evaluation Of Fracture Permeability In Crystalline Basement Aquifers Of Uganda

Throughout Africa, many communities rely on fractured crystalline basement rocks of Precambrian age as the primary source of water supply. The hydrogeology of these aquifers is often poorly understood, and boreholes are frequently sited and designed with little appreciation of the local fracture system. This is especially true in Uganda, where the role of fractures in determining well yield and relative importance of deep and shallow fracture zones have been a continous source of debate since a major national well drilling program was initiated over ten years ago. Recent studies in Uganda have attempted to resolve outstanding hydrogeological questions through the implementation of one of the most comprehensive borehole fracture studies ever undertaken in continental Africa. During the study, 233 packer tests were carried out at 22 sites. Six of the sites, together with a further 16, were subjected to constant yield recovery tests. One well was tested before and after the deployment of yield-enhancing hydraulic fracturing techniques to investigate its effectiveness. Study results reveal the presence of an extremely poor aquifer with little transmissive capability. Across the study area, the hydraulic conductivity of the bedrock average <10^-7 m/s; the majority of transmissivity values are less than 1 m²/d. Packer tests show that fractures occur throughout the depth of well, but are usually very few in number and often exhibit a relatively low permeability. Most wells relied on a single permeable zone for most of their water. In approximately half of the boreholes tested, the most permeable zone was found to occur at the top of the uncased section, just below the regolith. No relationship was found between the distribution of boreholes with shallow, intermediate or deep, high yielding fracture zones and physiographic features. Neither was any relationship observed between hydraulic conductivity and depth within the upper 60 meters of rock tested. Notably, however, no fracture zones more permeable than 10^-5 m/s were found below a depth 57m, and it is suggested that a depth of approximately 60m below ground level may represent the effective base of aquifer. Packer tests performed in a hydraulically fractured borehole confirmed increases in borehole transmissivity by a factor of about 3. The tests were also able to show where improvement in hydraulic conductivity was being achieved. Résumé. Estimation de la perméabilité de fractures dans les aquifères du socle cristallin en Ouganda. Partout en Afrique, les ressources en eau de nombreuses communautés proviennent pour l'essentiel des roches cristallines fracturées d'âge précambrien. L'hydrogéologie de ces aquifères est souvent mal connue; fréquemment, l'implantation des forages s'appuie sur une connaissance bien faible du dispositif local de fracturation. C'est particulièrement vrai en Ouganda, où le rôle de la fracturation dans la détermination du débit des puits et l'importance relative des zones de fractures superficielle et profonde sont le sujet de discussions permanentes depuis le lancement, il y a 10 ans, du programme de forages. Les études récentes en Ouganda ont tenté de répondre aux principales questions concernant l'hydrogéologie en réalisant l'une des études les plus complètes sur la fracturation dans les forages jamais entreprises en Afrique centrale. Cette étude s'appuie sur 233 tests avec packer menés sur 22 sites. Six de ces sites, puis 16 autres ont été soumis à des tests de rabattement à débit constant, puis à l'étude de la remontée. Un puits a été testé avant et après un développement par fracturation hydraulique pour déterminer l'efficacité de la méthode. Les résultats obtenus montrent l'existence d'un aquifère très rédiut à faible transmissivité. Dans la région étudiée, la conductivité hydraulique du socle est en moyenne infériur à 10^щ m/s; la majorité des valeurs de transmissivité sont inférieures à 1 m²/j. Les tests avec packers montrent que les fractures sont présentes tout au long du puits, mais qu'elles sont en général très peu nombreuses et présentent une faible perméabilité. L'essentiel de la ressource de la plupart des puits provient d'une zone perméable unique. Dans près de la moitié des puits testés, la zone la plus perméable a été recoupée au sommet de la partie non tubée, juste sous le régolite. Il n'existe aucune relation entre la physiographie et la répartition des puits selon la position superficielle, intermédiaire ou profonde des fractures productrices. Il n'a pas été non plus observé de relation entre la conductivité hydraulique et la profondeur, dans la tranche de roche testée des 60 m supérieurs. Toutefois, aucune zone fracturée présentant une perméabilité meilleure que 10^ч m/s n'a été trouvée au-dessous de 57 m, ce qui permet de supposer que la base réelle de l'aquifère est à environ 60 m sous la surface du sol. Les tests avec packers effectués dans le forage développé par fracturation hydraulique montrent une amélioration de la transmissivité d'un facteur 3. Les tests ont aussi montré où s'était produite l'amélioration de la conductivité hydraulique.     

What is a wave-dominated coast?

During the past decade or so, various coasts have been designated as wave-dominated or tide-dominated. Typically there is an association made between coastal morphology and the dominant process that operates on the coast in question. Most authors consider long, smooth, barrier coasts with few inlets and poorly developed ebb deltas as “wave-dominated”. These coasts are associated with microtidal ranges. Conversely, mesotidal coasts tend to develop short, drumstick-shaped barriers with well-developed ebb deltas. They are considered as tide-dominated barriers. Such generalizations may be restricted to coasts with moderate wave energy although this is commonly not stated.

Exceptions to these stated generalizations are so numerous that wave energy and tidal prism must also be included in characterizing coasts. The relative effects of waves and tides are of extreme importance. It is possible to have wave-dominated coasts with virtually any tidal range and it is likewise possible to have tide-dominated coasts even with very small ranges. The overprint of tidal prism will also produce tide-dominated morphology on coasts with microtidal ranges.     

Changes in lead and zinc lability during weathering-induced acidification of desert mine tailings: Coupling chemical and micro-scale analyses

Desert mine tailings may accumulate toxic metals in the near surface centimeters because of low water through-flux rates. Along with other constraints, metal toxicity precludes natural plant colonization even over decadal time scales. Since unconsolidated particles can be subjected to transport by wind and water erosion, potentially resulting in direct human and ecosystem exposure, there is a need to know how the lability and form of metals change in the tailings weathering environment. A combination of chemical extractions, X-ray diffraction, micro-X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, and micro-Raman spectroscopy were employed to study Pb and Zn contamination in surficial arid mine tailings from the Arizona Klondyke State Superfund Site. Initial site characterization indicated a wide range in pH (2.5–8.0) in the surficial tailings pile. Ligand-promoted (DTPA) extractions, used to assess plant-available metal pools, showed decreasing available Zn and Mn with progressive tailings acidification. Aluminum shows the inverse trend, and Pb and Fe show more complex pH dependence. Since the tailings derive from a common source and parent mineralogy, it is presumed that variations in pH and “bio-available” metal concentrations result from associated variation in particle–scale geochemistry. Four sub-samples, ranging in pH from 2.6 to 5.4, were subjected to further characterization to elucidate micro-scale controls on metal mobility. With acidification, total Pb (ranging from 5 to 13 g kg⁻¹) was increasingly associated with Fe and S in plumbojarosite aggregates. For Zn, both total (0.4–6 g kg⁻¹) and labile fractions decreased with decreasing pH. Zinc was found to be primarily associated with the secondary Mn phases manjiroite and chalcophanite. The results suggest that progressive tailings acidification diminishes the overall lability of the total Pb and Zn pools.     

Numerical study of tides in Ontario Lacus,a hydrocarbon lake on the surface of the Saturnian moon Titan

In the context of the emergence of extra-terrestrial oceanography, we adapted an existing oceanographic model, SLIM (www.climate.be/slim), to the conditions of Titan, a moon of Saturn. The tidal response of the largest southern lake at Titan’s surface, namely Ontario Lacus, is simulated. SLIM solves the 2D, depth-averaged shallow water equations on an unstructured mesh using the discontinuous Galerkin finite element method, which allows for high spatial resolution wherever needed. The impact of the wind forcing, the bathymetry, and the bottom friction is also discussed. The predicted maximum tidal range is about 0.56 m in the southern part of the lake, which is more than twice as large as the previous estimates (see Tokano, Ocean Dyn 60:(4) 803–817 10.1007/s10236-010-0285-3 (Tokano 2010)). The patterns and magnitude of the current are also markedly different from those of previous studies: the tidal motion is not aligned with the major axis of the lake and the speed is larger nearshore. Indeed, the main tidal component rotates clockwise in an exact period of one Titan day and the tidal currents can reach 0.046 ms ^?1 close to the shores depending on the geometry and the bathymetry. Except for these specific nearshore regions, the current speed is less than 0.02 ms ^?1. Circular patterns can be observed offshore, their rotational direction and size varying along the day.     

Precipitation of iron,manganese, zinc,and copper on clean,ceramic surfaces in a stream draining a polymetallic sulfide deposit

Acid-cleaned ceramic plates placed upstream and downstream from a Cu-Zn-Pb sulfide deposit (Magruder mine) developed a precipitate of Fe-Mn oxides in a 36-day period. Copper and Zn concentrations on the coated surface, normalized to surface area and ratios with Fe and/or Mn, are distinctly anomalous for a distance of 2 km downstream from the mine.The major source of metals in the coatings is interpreted to be groundwater percolating into the stream bed. Anomalous concentrations of Cu and Zn in groundwater from the Magruder mine area, due to oxidation of sulfide minerals, probably accounts for the anomaly identified on the ceramic plates.     

Isotope-ratio-monitoring gas chromatography-mass spectrometry: methods for isotopic calibration

In trial analyses of a series of n-alkanes, precise determinations of 13C contents were based on isotopic standards introduced by five different techniques and results were compared. Specifically, organic-compound standards were coinjected with the analytes and carried through chromatography and combustion with them; or CO2 was supplied from a conventional inlet and mixed with the analyte in the ion source, or CO2 was supplied from an auxiliary mixing volume and transmitted to the source without interruption of the analyte stream. Additionally, two techniques were investigated in which the analyte stream was diverted and CO2 standards were placed on a near-zero background. All methods provided accurate results. Where applicable, methods not involving interruption of the analyte stream provided the highest performance (sigma = 0.00006 at.% 13C or 0.06% for 250 pmol C as CO2 reaching the ion source), but great care was required. Techniques involving diversion of the analyte stream were immune to interference from coeluting sample components and still provided high precision (0.0001 < or = sigma < or = 0.0002 at.% or 0.1 < or = sigma < or = 0.2%).