The space density of low-redshift active galactic nuclei

We present a new determination of the optical luminosity function (OLF) of active galactic nuclei (AGN) at low redshifts ( z <0.15) based on Hubble Space Telescope ( HST ) observations of X-ray-selected AGN. The HST observations have allowed us to derive a true nuclear luminosity function for these AGN. The resulting OLF illustrates a two power-law form similar to that derived for quasi‐stellar objects (QSOs) at higher redshifts. At bright magnitudes, M _B <−20, the OLF derived here exhibits good agreement with that derived from the Hamburg/European Southern Observatory (ESO) QSO survey. However, the single power-law form for the OLF derived from the Hamburg/ESO survey is strongly ruled out by our data at M _B >−20. Although the estimate of the OLF is best fitted by a power-law slope at M _B <−20.5 that is flatter than the slope of the OLF derived at z >0.35, the binned estimate of the low-redshift OLF is still consistent with an extrapolation of the z >0.35 OLF based on pure luminosity evolution.     

Stable isotope constraints on the origin of the Cabo de Creus garnet-tourmaline pegmatites,Massif des Alberes,Eastern Pyrenees,Spain

Pegmatite dyke swarms are exposed within the easternmost Pyrenees at Cabo de Creus. These dykes were emplaced into high-grade metamorphosed sedimentary strata of Cambro-Ordovician age, but lack obvious field relationship to Hercynian intrusive rocks. Together with structural and geochemical data, equilibrium oxygen isotope fractionations at temperatures of ≈ 600°C, the lack of obvious subsolidus exchange, and the H- and O-isotopic signatures of water in equilibrium with pegmatite mica and quartz are interpreted to indicate a derivation from anatexis of a metapelitic source at shallow crustal levels.     

Grain misorientations in partially molten olivine aggregates: an electron backscatter diffraction study

In polycrystalline aggregates of olivine with mean grain sizes above 35 μm plus a low basaltic melt fraction, both wetted and melt-free grain boundaries are observed after equilibration times at high pressures and temperatures of between 15 and 25 days. In order to assess a possible dependence of the wetting behaviour on the relative orientation of neighbouring grains, a SEM based technique, electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), is used to determine grain orientations. From the grain orientations relative orientations of neighbouring grains are calculated, which are expressed as misorientation axis/angle pairs. The distribution of misorientation angles and axes of melt-free grain boundaries differ significantly from a purely random distribution, whereas those of wetted grain boundaries are statistically indistinguishable from the random distribution. The relative orientation of two neighbouring grains therefore influences the character of their common grain boundary. However, no clustering towards special (coincident site lattice) misorientation axes is observed, with the inference that the energy differences between special and general misorientations are too small to lead to the development of preferred misorientations during grain growth. Received: 8 December 1997 / Revised, accepted: 6 April 1998     

Intercomparison of Formaldehyde Measurements in Clean and Polluted Atmospheres

Three different techniques used tomeasure atmospheric formaldehyde were compared duringa field campaign carried out at a clean maritime siteon the West coast of Ireland. Two spectroscopictechniques Differential Optical AbsorptionSpectroscopy (DOAS) and Tunable Diode Laser AbsorptionSpectroscopy (TDLAS), together with a glass coil/Hantzschreaction/fluorescence technique, wereemployed for measurements of atmospheric formaldehydeof the order of a few hundred pptv. The betteragreement was observed between the fluorescence andDOAS instruments.Two DOAS instruments were compared to the glasscoil/Hantzsch reaction/fluorescence technique at asemi-polluted site on the North Norfolk coast, U.K.,where concentrations of formaldehyde were observed atlevels up to 4 ppbv. A very good agreement wasobserved between the two instruments.The glass coil/Hantzsch reaction/fluorescence and theTDLAS instruments were also deployed simultaneously inorder to measure indoor air inside a mobile laboratorylocated at the Imperial College Silwood Park site nearAscot, U.K. The doors of the mobile laboratory wereleft open in order to obtain the backgroundformaldehyde concentrations. Closing them afterwardsallowed us to observe the increase in concentrationsas a result of indoor emissions. The agreement betweenthe two instruments was outstanding (correlationcoefficient was 99%).The results from this study showed that of the fourinstruments included in this intercomparison the glasscoil/Hantzsch reaction/fluorescence technique provedthe most suitable for continuous measurements offormaldehyde in the background atmosphere.     

Solar-Cycle-Related Variations in the Solar Differential Rotation and Meridional Flow: A Comparison

We have analysed a large set of sunspot group data (1874 – 2004) and find that the meridional flow strongly varies with the phase of the solar cycle, and the variation is quite different in the northern and the southern hemispheres. We also find the existence of considerable cycle-to-cycle variation in the meridional velocity, and about a 11-year difference between the phases of the corresponding variations in the northern and the southern hemispheres. In addition, our analysis also indicates the following: (i) the existence of a considerable difference (about 180^°) between the phases of the solar-cycle variations in the latitude-gradient terms of the northern and the southern hemispheres’ rotations; (ii) the existence of correlation (good in the northern hemisphere and weak in the southern hemisphere) between the mean solar-cycle variations of meridional flow and the latitude-gradient term of solar rotation; (iii) in the northern hemisphere, the cycle-to-cycle variation of the mean meridional velocity leads that of the equatorial rotation rate by about 11 years, and the corresponding variations have approximately the same phase in the southern hemisphere; and (iv) the directions of the mean meridional velocity is largely toward the pole in the longer sunspot cycles and largely toward the equator in the shorter cycles.     

Geochemical subdivision and correlation of clay-rich beds in Turonian sediments of northern Germany

Thin, clay-rich beds form a key component of the lithostratigraphic scheme established for Middle and Upper Turonian sediments in northern Germany. Previously, using limited petrographic evidence, clay-rich beds across much of this region have been classified as either containing altered volcanic ash (bentonites) or detrital clays. This paper demonstrates that the use of rare-earth element (REE) data enables a rapid and reliable subdivision of clay-rich beds into those composed of bentonitic clays and those composed of detrital clays. Application of this method to the Lower Saxony region of northern Germany demonstrates that four bentonites (T_C T_di, T_e and T_f) and a number of detrital beds can be reliably identified and correlated. Three beds previously proposed to be bentonites are reinterpreted as being composed of detrital clays (T_o, T_D2 and T_G) and a revision of the stratigraphic nomenclature is proposed. Analysis of clay-rich beds from the Munster Basin demonstrates that it is possible to correlate individual bentonites and detrital beds between Lower Saxony and the Miinster Basin, and between shallow and deep water facies.     

Echelle spectroscopy of narrow line regions of Seyfert galaxies

Preliminary results of spectroscopic studies of selected Seyfert galaxies employing a new Cassegrain echelle spectrograph completed at ESO are presented. Subjects reported are the asymmetric profiles of narrow emission lines, spatial variation of narrow emission line profiles, and the interstellar absorption lines.Paper presented at the IAU Third Asian-Pacific Regional Meeting, held in Kyoto, Japan, between 30 September–6 October, 1984.     

Colloidally separated samples from Allende residues: Noble gases,carbon and an ESCA-study

A non-colloidal fraction separated by physical means from an $\text{HF}\text{HCl}$-resistant residue of the Allende carbonaceous meteorite exhibits a ratio of isotopically “normal” (Q-type) xenon to “anomalous” xenon (X-type) that is ~4 times larger than usually observed. Coincidentally this fraction contains carbon that is isotopically heavier by ~10%. than bulk Allende residue samples. ESCA analyses of companion colloidal separates show that the major portion of the S contained in our $\text{HF}\text{HCl}$-residues is elemental rather than a sulfide. They also confirm earlier observations that no elementally distinct surface coating is present, in accord with the absence of a surface-sited sulfur-bearing gas carrier, and that the oxygen content is increased after etching with nitric acid. For these separates noble gas data coupled with the ESCA data for nitrogen and the isotopic data for carbon point to the existence of heterogeneities among the noble gas-, carbon- and nitrogen-bearing phases and, thus, preservation of discrete components from the variety of source regions (or production mechanisms, or both) sampled by the Allende parent body. In sharp contrast to the success of physical and chemical methods in yielding samples in which one of the major noble gas components predominates to an extraordinary degree over the other, carbon isotopic compositions that have been inferred for the respective carrier phases in these same samples are strongly contradictory. Mass and isotope balance considerations lead us to conclude that a major fraction of the carbonaceous matter in Allende is noble-gas-poor, a result that could be confirmed by direct isolation of a sample, the carbon in which is dominated by this variety; and for that reason no simple relationship is discernable yet between observed isotopic compositions and either major noble gas component. Similar ambiguities may exist for nitrogen. The possible relationship between carbon-rich phases in ureilites and carbonaceous chondrites is considered.     

Effects of turbidity caused by nutrient loading on benthic dynamics

The benthic response to nutrient loading of the water column was determined in the transition from early to mid-summer in a semi-enclosed, shallow estuarine ecosystem of the Baltic Sea. The procedure involved the inoculation of an in situ mesocosm with nitrogen and phosphorus to induce hypertrophic conditions, and comparison of this treated compartment with an untreated control. Sediment activity was assessed as oxygen turn-over, and measured in the laboratory with a simulated in situ polarographic flow-through method. Nutrient addition induced the development of pelagic organisms, particularly phytoplankton and protozoa, which resulted in turbidity within the water column. The latter appeared to depress benthic primary productivity. On the other hand, the greater organic matter load, upon sedimenting, caused increased biological respiration of the sediment. Chemical oxygen demand was unaffected by the increased organic matter input.