Theoretical study of the Fraunhofer lines polarization: The case of Ca i 4227

The measurements by Brückner (1963) of the Ca i 4227 polarization at the Sun's limb provides us with a test for the theory of line polarization. Computations are developed taking into account: (a) the transfer polarization, due to the anisotropy of radiation field; (b) the depolarizing collisions acting in the wings. The magnetic field is not taken into account and the theory is not valid in the Doppler core. In the wings a very good fit is obtained, using appropriate source-functions fitting the observed profiles at the center of the disk, and from center to limb.     

Paleolimnological investigations of anthropogenic environmental change in Lake Tanganyika: IX. Summary of paleorecords of environmental change and catchment deforestation at Lake Tanganyika and impacts on the Lake Tanganyika ecosystem

Paleorecords from multiple indicators of environmental change provide evidence for the interactions between climate, human alteration of watersheds and lake ecosystem processes at Lake Tanganyika, Africa, a lake renowned for its extraordinary biodiversity, endemism and fisheries. This paper synthesizes geochronology, sedimentology, paleoecology, geochemistry and hydrology studies comparing the history of deltaic deposits from watersheds of various sizes and deforestation disturbance levels along the eastern coast of the lake in Tanzania and Burundi. Intersite differences are related to climate change, differences in the histories of forested vs. deforested watersheds, differences related to regional patterns of deforestation, and differences related to interactions of deforestation and climate effects. Climate change is linked to variations in sediment accumulation rates, charcoal accumulation, lake level and water chemistry, especially during the arid-humid fluctuations of the latter part of the Little Ice Age. Differences between forested and deforested watersheds are manifested by major increases in sediment accumulation rates in the latter (outside the range of climatically driven variability and for the last 40 years unprecedented in comparison with other records from the lake in the late Holocene), differences in eroded sediment and watershed stream composition, and compositional or diversity trends in lake faunal communities related to sediment inundation. Variability in regional patterns of deforestation is illustrated by the timing of transitions from numerous sedimentologic, paleoecologic and geochemical indicators. These data suggest that extensive watershed deforestation occurred as early as the late-18th to the early-19th centuries in the northern part of the Lake Tanganyika catchment, in the late-19th to early-20th centuries in the northern parts of modern-day Tanzania, and in the mid-20th century in central Tanzania. Rapid increases in sediment and charcoal accumulation rates, palynological and lake faunal changes occurred in the early-1960s. We interpret this to be the result of greatly enhanced flushing of sediments in previously deforested watersheds triggered by extraordinary rainfall in 1961/62. Regional differences in deforestation histories can be understood in light of the very different cultural and demographic histories of the northern and central parts of the lake shoreline. Incursion of slaving and ivory caravans from the Indian Ocean to the central coast of Lake Tanganyika by the early-19th century, with their attendant diseases, reduced human and elephant populations and therefore maintained forest cover in this region through the late-19th to early-20th centuries. In contrast, the northeastern portion of the lakeshore did not experience the effects of the caravan trades and consequently experienced high human population densities and widespread deforestation much earlier. These studies demonstrate the importance of paleolimnological data for making informed risk assessments of the potential effects of watershed deforestation on long-term lake ecosystem response in the Lake Tanganyika catchment. Differences in sediment yield and lake floor distribution of that yield, linked to factors such as watershed size, slope, and sediment retention, must be accounted for in management plans for both human occupation of currently forested watersheds and the development of future underwater reserves.     

Paleolimnological investigations of anthropogenic environmental change in Lake Tanganyika: II. Geochronologies and mass sedimentation rates based on <Superscript>14</Superscript>C and <Superscript>210</Superscript>Pb data

We established sediment geochronologies for cores from eight deltaic areas in Lake Tanganyika (the Lubulungu, Kabesi, Halembe, Malagarasi, Nyasanga/Kahama, Mwamgongo, Nyamusenyi, and Karonge/Kirasa River deltas), recording a range of watershed disturbance histories from the eastern margin of this African rift valley lake. Cores from currently disturbed sites on the central Tanzanian coast display remarkably uniform and low rates of sediment accumulation from the 18th century until the early 1960s, when a synchronous and dramatic rise in rates occurs. Through this same time interval sedimentation rates offshore from undisturbed Tanzanian watersheds either remain unchanged or decline. Further north, at disturbed sites along the northern Tanzania and Burundi coasts, the pattern of sedimentation rate increase is more complex. Although a mid-late 20th century increase is also evident in these sites, indications of earlier periods of increasing sediment erosion, dating from the mid-late 19th century, are also evident. Synchronous changes in sediment accumulation rates dating from the early 1960s may be the result of exceptionally wet years triggering an increase in the discharge of previously eroded and unconsolidated alluvium and stream/beach terrace deposits, previously accumulated in the deltas and stream valleys of impacted watersheds. Sedimentation rate impacts of deforestation on lake ecosystems are likely modulated by short-term climatic forcing events, which can impact the specific timing and location of sediment discharge to lakes.     

Spada: An Array of Spad Detectors For Astrophysical Applications

Astrophysical studies require accurate, sensitive and fast detectors to detect faint sources with high variability. Recently an array of Single Photon Avalanche Diodes (SPAD), SPADA, has been developed. This array is suitable for competitive adaptive optics operations and fast transient image acquisition at a fraction of the current cost of imaging arrays. The fabricated solid-state photon counters are rugged, easily integrated with the optics, free from readout noise, and have very fast frame rates (> 10 kHz, for visible corrections) with nanosecond electronic gating. In this paper, the following are described: the development of silicon monolithic arrays of 60 photon-counters, the detection electronics (based on integrated active quenching circuits for each pixel of the array), the real-time data-processing board implemented into FPGA and some aspects of the mechanical housing.     

Constraints on the Genesis of Potassium-rich Italian Volcanic Rocks from U/Th Disequilibrium

We present new U-series isotope, ⁸⁷Sr/ ⁸⁶Sr, ¹⁴³Nd/ ¹⁴⁴Nd andtrace element data for a set of mafic, K-rich rocks from volcanoesin Central–Southern Italy. These shoshonitic to ultrapotassiclavas display strongly depleted high field strength element(HSFE) abundances with respect to other incompatible trace elementstogether with high but variable ⁸⁷Sr/ ⁸⁶Sr and low but variable¹⁴³Nd/ ¹⁴⁴Nd values. Such characteristics are thought to bedue to addition of subducted crust of variable amount and compositionto their mantle sources prior to magma genesis. Rocks from thenorthernmost region (i.e. Tuscan Magmatic Province and NorthernRoman Magmatic Province) display (²³⁰Th/ ²³⁸U) activity ratiosclose to radioactive equilibrium, suggesting that metasomatismof their sources occurred before 400 ka and recent melting tookplace at shallow depths, in the absence of garnet. A ²³⁸U excessof up to 27% has been measured in rocks from the NeapolitanDistrict. The occurrence of significant U excesses is a featureof arc magmas, but is typically seen in depleted lavas ratherthan in highly enriched rocks such as these (20 ppm Th). Thissignature requires a recent addition of a U-rich component tothe already strongly enriched mantle wedge beneath this regionof Italy. We suggest that a supercritical liquid, from deeplysubducted carbonate-rich sediments of the still-active Ionianslab, is responsible for generating a high-U, low-Th component,which produces the observed disequilibria. A 30% ²³⁰Th excessmeasured in a single unaltered sample from the Lucanian MagmaticProvince, along with a less marked negative HFSE anomaly, suggeststhe contribution of a deeper, garnet-bearing component in thegenesis of these magmas, plausibly related to the upwellingof asthenospheric mantle around the corner of the Ionian slab. KEY WORDS: U/Th disequilibria; potassic and ultrapotassic rocks; subduction: metasomatism; mantle melting; Central and Southern Italy     

Isotope stratigraphy of Neoproterozoic cap carbonates in the Araras Group, Brazil

The Neoproterozoic carbonate sequence on the southeastern border of the Amazon Craton is divided into three lithostratigraphic units: a basal cap dolomite, an intermediate limestone, limestone-mudstone unit, and an upper dolarenite-dolorudite unit. Sections of the cap-carbonate were measured from the inner shelf to the outer shelf. Carbon isotope ratios (relative to PDB) vary between − 10.5 and − 1.7‰ in cap dolomite, and between − 5.4 and + 0.1‰ in laminated limestone and mud-limestone. Limestones and mud-limestones exhibit ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios ranging from 0.70740 to 0.70780. A comparative isotope stratigraphy between the inner-shelf and the middle-shelf basin shows differences in carbon isotope ratios: The cap dolomite and limestones have lower δ¹³C ratios on the border of the basin (inner shelf) than in the middle shelf of the basin. These lower values can be related to shallower environmental conditions and to a stronger influence of the continental border. The ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios are the same in both areas, and are consistent with seawater composition at around 600 Ma.