Pressure responses of portlandite and H–D isotope effects on pressure-induced phase transitions

The pressure responses of portlandite and the isotope effect on the phase transition were investigated at room temperature from single-crystal Raman and IR spectra and from powder X-ray diffraction using diamond anvil cells under quasi-hydrostatic conditions in a helium pressure-transmitting medium. Phase transformation and subsequent peak broadening (partial amorphization) observed from the Raman and IR spectra of Ca(OH)₂ occurred at lower pressures than those of Ca(OD)₂. In contrast, no isotope effect was found on the volume and axial compressions observed from powder X-ray diffraction patterns. X-ray diffraction lines attributable to the high-pressure phase remained up to 28.5 GPa, suggesting no total amorphization in a helium pressure medium within the examined pressure region. These results suggest that the H–D isotope effect is engendered in the local environment surrounding H(D) atoms. Moreover, the ratio of sample-to-methanol–ethanol pressure medium (i.e., packing density) in the sample chamber had a significant effect on the increase in the half widths of the diffraction lines, even at pressures below the hydrostatic limit of the pressure medium.     

Extinction curves flattened by reverse shocks in supernovae

We investigate the extinction curves of young galaxies in which dust is supplied from Type II supernovae (SNe II) and/or pair instability supernovae (PISNe). Since at high redshift ( z > 5), low-mass stars cannot be dominant sources for dust grains, SNe II and PISNe, whose progenitors are massive stars with short lifetimes, should govern the dust production. Here, we theoretically investigate the extinction curves of dust produced by SNe II and PISNe, taking into account reverse shock destruction induced by collision with ambient interstellar medium. We find that the extinction curve is sensitive to the ambient gas density around a SN, since the efficiency of reverse shock destruction strongly depends on it. The destruction is particularly efficient for small-sized grains, leading to a flat extinction curve in the optical and ultraviolet wavelengths. Such a large ambient density as   n _H≳ 1 cm⁻³  produces too flat an extinction curve to be consistent with the observed extinction curve for SDSS J1048+4637 at z = 6.2. Although the extinction curve is highly sensitive to the ambient density, the hypothesis that the dust is predominantly formed by SNe at z ∼ 6 is still allowed by the current observational constraints. For further quantification, the ambient density should be obtained by some other methods. Finally, we also discuss the importance of our results for observations of high- z galaxies, stressing a possibility of flat extinction curves.     

Pressure dependence of electrical conductivity of (Mg,Fe)SiO<Subscript>3</Subscript> ilmenite

The electrical conductivity of (Mg_0.93Fe_0.07)SiO₃ ilmenite was measured at temperatures of 500–1,200 K and pressures of 25–35 GPa in a Kawai-type multi-anvil apparatus equipped with sintered diamond anvils. In order to verify the reliability of this study, the electrical conductivity of (Mg_0.93Fe_0.07)SiO₃ perovskite was also measured at temperatures of 500–1,400 K and pressures of 30–35 GPa. The pressure calibration was carried out using in situ X-ray diffraction of MgO as pressure marker. The oxidation conditions of the samples were controlled by the Fe disk. The activation energy at zero pressure and activation volume for ilmenite are 0.82(6) eV and −1.5(2) cm³/mol, respectively. Those for perovskite were 0.5(1) eV and −0.4(4) cm³/mol, respectively, which are in agreement with the experimental results reported previously. It is concluded that ilmenite conductivity has a large pressure dependence in the investigated P–T range.     

Probabilistic estimates of recent changes in temperature: a multi-scale attribution analysis

The role of anthropogenic forcings in temperature changes during recent decades is investigated over a range of spatial scales. Changes in the annual mean surface temperature and also in the warmest night of the year, which has implications for human health, are considered. Distributions of regional trends with and without the effect of human activity are produced, using constraints from a global optimal detection analysis. Anthropogenic forcings are estimated to have more than doubled the likelihood of mean warming in all regions considered except central North America, where results are more model dependent. The likelihood of warming of the warmest night has also increased, but the estimated change is more uncertain. Inferences on sub-continental scales are indicative rather than definitive because of the absence of locally important forcings and processes in model simulations, as well as model biases. As model inconsistencies may impact regional analyses, a multi-model approach is essential.     

Assay of phosphatase activity and ATP biomass in tideland sediments and classification of the intertidal area using chemical values

Detailed studies of the phosphatase activity in the tidelands were examined including the localization of the phosphatase activities and the spatial distributions of the activity in the tidelands around Hiroshima Bay, the Aki-Bingo Open Sea and Isahaya Bay of Kyushu on the western side of Japan. The results indicate that the phosphatase activity of the sediment fraction accounts for 98% of the tideland activity. Furthermore, we classified 19 tidelands into four groups by a cluster analysis using two parameters: phosphatase activities and ATP (adenosine 5(')-triphosphate) biomass. The first group is a member of the tidelands located in areas remote from the cities. They have a low phosphatase activity and low ATP biomass and the seawater in the tideland is very clean. The second is a group with a low phosphatase activity and high ATP biomass. In the tidelands belonging to this group, large numbers of benthos and shellfish can be observed. The third group has a high phosphatase activity and a relatively low ATP biomass. The estuary tidelands located near Hiroshima City belong to the third group. The last one is tidelands with a high phosphatase activity and high ATP biomass. In this group, the ratio of the phosphatase activity to ATP biomass is relatively low. In the summer, we observed deterioration in the water quality and accumulation of sludge on the sea bottom in the tideland of the last group.Moreover, we employed a multiple regression analysis and proposed an equation to obtain the group number of the cluster analysis using the assayed values of the phosphatase activity and the ATP biomass.     

High-temperature and high-pressure equation of state for the hexagonal phase in the system NaAlSiO4 – MgAl2O4

Thermal equation of state of an Al-rich phase with Na_1.13Mg_1.51Al_4.47Si_1.62O₁₂ composition has been derived from in situ X-ray diffraction experiments using synchrotron radiation and a multianvil apparatus at pressures up to 24 GPa and temperatures up to 1,900 K. The Al-rich phase exhibited a hexagonal symmetry throughout the present pressure–temperature conditions and the refined unit-cell parameters at ambient condition were: a=8.729(1) Å, c=2.7695(5) Å, V ₀=182.77(6) Å³ (Z=1; formula weight=420.78 g/mol), yielding the zero-pressure density ρ₀=3.823(1) g/cm³ . A least-square fitting of the pressure-volume-temperature data based on Anderson’s pressure scale of gold (Anderson et al. in J Appl Phys 65:1534–543, 1989) to high-temperature Birch-Murnaghan equation of state yielded the isothermal bulk modulus K ₀=176(2) GPa, its pressure derivative K ₀ ^′ =4.9(3), temperature derivative (?K _T /?T) _P =?0.030(3) GPa K^?1 and thermal expansivity α(T)=3.36(6)×10^?5+7.2(1.9)×10^?9 T, while those values of K ₀=181.7(4) GPa, (?K _T /?T) _P =?0.020(2) GPa K^?1 and α(T)=3.28(7)×10^?5+3.0(9)×10^?9 T were obtained when K ₀ ^′ was assumed to be 4.0. The estimated bulk density of subducting MORB becomes denser with increasing depth as compared with earlier estimates (Ono et al. in Phys Chem Miner 29:527–531 2002; Vanpeteghem et al. in Phys Earth Planet Inter 138:223–230 2003; Guignot and Andrault in Phys Earth Planet Inter 143–44:107–128 2004), although the difference is insignificant (<0.6%) when the proportions of the hexagonal phase in the MORB compositions (～20%) are taken into account.     

Petrological variation of large-volume felsic magmas from Hakkoda-Towada caldera cluster: Implications for the origin of high-K felsic magmas in the Northeast Japan Arc

Abstract The Hakkoda‐Towada caldera cluster (HTCC) is a typical Late Cenozoic caldera cluster located in the northern part of the Northeast Japan Arc. The HTCC consists of five caldera volcanoes, active between 3.5 Ma and present time. The felsic magmas can be classified into high‐K (HK‐) type and medium‐ to low‐K (MLK‐) type based on their whole‐rock chemistry. The HK‐type magmas are characterized by higher K₂O and Rb contents and higher ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios than MLK‐type magmas. Both magmas cannot be derived from fractional crystallization of any basaltic magma in the HTCC. Assimilation‐fractional crystallization model calculations show that crustal assimilation is necessary for producing the felsic magmas, and HK‐type magmas are produced by higher degree of crustal assimilation with fractional crystallization than MLK‐type magmas. Although MLK‐type magmas were erupted throughout HTCC activity, HK‐type magmas were erupted only during the initial stage. The temporal variations of magma types suggest the large contribution of crustal components in the initial stage. A major volcanic hiatus of 3 my before the HTCC activity suggests a relatively cold crust in the initial stage. The cold crust probably promoted crustal assimilation and fractional crystallization, and caused the initial generation of HK‐type magmas. Subsequently, the repeated supply of mantle‐derived magmas raised temperature in the crust and formed relatively stable magma pathways. Such a later system produced MLK‐type magmas with lesser crustal components. The MLK‐type magmas are common and HK‐type magmas are exceptional during the Pliocene–Quaternary volcanism in the Northeast Japan Arc. This fact suggests that exceptional conditions are necessary for the production of HK‐type magmas. A relatively cold crust caused by a long volcanic hiatus (several million years) is considered as one of the probable conditions. Intensive crustal assimilation and fractional crystallization promoted by the cold crust may be necessary for the generation of highly evolved HK‐type felsic magmas.