Pyramidal structures on Mars

Triangular and polygonal pyramid like structures have been observed on the martian surface. Located in the east central portion of Elysium Quadrangle (MC-15), these features are visible on the Mariner 9 photographs, B frames MTVS 4205-3 DAS 07794853 and MTVS 4296-24 DAS 12985882. The structures cast triangular and polygonal shadows. Steep-sided volcanic cones and impact craters occur only a few kilometers away. The mean diameter of the triangular pyramidal structures at the base is approximately 3.0 km, and the mean diameter of the polygonal structures is approximately 6.0 km.The observed Martian structures tend to line up suggesting joint or fault control. However, they do not appear to be controlled by the visible faults. The structures appear to be either wind-faceted volcanic cones and blocks or solidified blocks which have been rotated in semiconsolidated lava.     

Linking Individual and Collective Agency for Enhancing Community Resilience in Northern Ghana

This article aims to explore the relationship between individual adaptive actions and enhancement of community resilience to climate change as a communal objective. It proposes to pay attention to the concept of reflexivity as the primary individual capacity to link adaptive actions and community resilience. Drawing on the field research conducted in northern Ghana in 2015, this article specifically examines life histories of four small farmers and shows that they individually take adaptive actions and reflect on these actions. However, little opportunity exists for them to systematically communicate the reflections with others to learn from their experiences, nurture collective agency and enhance community resilience. The article concludes by outlining new strategies needed to facilitate the communication in particular cultural and policy contexts.     

Book Review

The aim of this book is to present techniques for the study of motion of solar system objects in highly eccentric orbits. Instead of using the usual anomalies (mean, true, eccentric), the authors define and use a new kind of anomaly, the elliptic anomaly.In this way, it is possible, in a theory using perturbation series expansions, to make the ratio: (accuracy)/(number of needed terms), higher than in the classical techniques. The book consists of six chapters. The first chapter deals with the elliptic anomaly in the two-body problem and the second chapter presents the general technique to construct first-order perturbation theory in elliptic function expansions. The next three chapters deal with applications of the new technique to artificial satellites and asteroids, in highly eccentric orbits. The last chapter describes the basic algorithms of the theory.The tools developed in the book demand the use of computer algebra, which is implemented by means of Mathematica 3.0.The book is well written and the new technique is clearly presented and related to the existing techniques, making it useful to all those who use analytical or semi-analytical methods for the study of highly eccentric motion. Celestial Mechanics at High Eccentricities, Gordon and Breach Publishers, US$95, GBP 59, EUR 79, ISBN 90-5699-212-0     

The Discovery of the Chemical Composition - Kinematics Connection in the 1950's

This paper reviews the recognition that kinematic characteristics of stars are related to their spectroscopic appearance on low and intermediate dispersion spectra. These differences result from the differences in the abundances of metals as determined from high dispersion spectra. Presumably, these abundance differences reflect differences in age. The high-velocity carbon stars share the molecular peculiarities of the high-velocity oxygen giants but, because of the greater strength of the bands of carbon-containing molecules, exhibit them to a greater degree. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Late Pleistocene and early Holocene ecological response of Lake El Trébol (Patagonia, Argentina) to environmental changes

Stratigraphy of Lake El Trébol (41°S 71°W, 758 m a.s.l.) described from an 11 m long sediment core provided a continuous record of patecenvironmental changes occurred during the last 14,000 years in southern South America east of the Andes. Located in an ecotonal area within a strong humidity gradient, this lake offers a unique opportunity to develop paleolimnological studies. Using a geochemical approach that includes elemental analysis, bulk organic matter, major nutrients and pigments combined with chironomids and pollen analysis, three zones were identified in the sedimentary record of this take. The oldest one (between 680 and 1,100 cm) corresponds to the late Glacial period. During that time, clayish laminated sediments were formed in a proglacial environment. Low organic matter, biogenic silica and nitrogen contents and the absence of pigments, pollen and chironomids characterise this period. At the end of this period, ca. 14,000 yr BP, a sharp increase in phosphorus concentrations predates major changes in limnological parameters. The transition zone (between 560 and 680 cm) is related to major changes in the drainage system that started soon after ca. 14,000 yr BP and continued to ca. 10,500 yr BP. The chemical composition of the sediments was affected by an increase in physical weathering mechanisms almost coincident with the increase in the regional volcanic activity that produced suspended volcanic detritus. The increase of mainly coarser detritical components may indicate a reorganisation of the fluvial system by that time. Simultaneously, an increase in the productivity of the lake accompanied by a gradual replacement of open vegetation with Nothofagus, Poaceae and Ericaceae, by Nothofagusforest, was observed. In the last zone (between 0 and 560 cm) the productivity of Lake El Trébol achieves maximum values. The trends in geochemical and biological indicators observed at Lake El Trébol can be up to some extent, correlated to those registered in Lake Mascardi. The results support earlier paleoctimatic scenarios from southern South America.     

Petrology and microstructure of distal impact ejecta from the Flinders Ranges,Australia

Abstract— The Acraman impact ejecta from Bunyeroo Gorge in the central Flinders Ranges consist of clast-bearing and sandy sublayers set in a shale host rock. A calculated transient crater diameter for the Acraman impact of at least 34 km was obtained from average thicknesses and estimated distances of the ejecta from the impact in the Gawler Ranges. The ejecta contain numerous grains of quartz and zircon that display impact-produced features, including one or more sets of decorated planar deformation features. There is also much unshocked material incorporated in the ejecta layer. The coarse-grained ejecta layer embedded within fine-grained sediments allowed easy passage for diagenetic fluids that produced a porous honeycomb structure in the clays and enhanced the content of elements such as Cu, Pb, Zn, and U. The clay fraction of the ejecta layers consists of vermiculite and kaolinite, probably formed from alteration and weathering of glassy components. It appears that quartz and zircon grains are the only remnants unaltered by diagenetic processes.     

Tectonic setting of the Azores Plateau deduced from a OBS survey

The studies of Azores seismicity generally show shocks with either normal faulting or right-lateral strike-slip along the ESE direction, compatible with a eastward relative motion of the Eurasian (EU) relative to the African (AF) plate. However, the 1 January 1980 earthquake was interpreted as a clear left-lateral strike-slip shock along the N150E direction. This pattern is difficult to explain in terms of the relative motion between the EU, AF and North American (NA) plates: all available models for the present day movement of this triple junction fail to explain the regional variability in the stress conditions of the area. Here we present data from a 34-day long Ocean Bottom Seismograph array deployment. We show that the seismicity is distributed along a band aligned with the island chain itself, and is concentrated along several faults with an approximate N150E strike, cutting the Azores plateau in all the area covered by the OBS network. The combination of these new results with other geophysical data permits us to conclude that the tectonic setting of the Azores plateau is characterised by the existence of two sets of faults, in the N120E and N150E directions, defining several crustal blocks, whose relative motion accommodates the interaction of the three megaplates. The deformation of these tectonic blocks is probably driven by the shear between the EU and AF plates. This model explains well the spatial variability of the stress conditions in the Azores domain, the combination of dextral and sinistral strike slip mechanisms and the observed seismotectonics of the Azores islands.     

Dispersion and recruitment of crab larvae in the Chesapeake Bay plume: Physical and biological controls

As part of the Microbial Exchanges and Coupling in Coastal Atlantic Systems (MECCAS) Project, crab larvae were collected in the shelf waters off Chesapeake Bay in June and August 1985 and April 1986. We conducted hydrographic (temperature, salinity, nutrients) and biological (chlorophyll, copepods) mapping in conjunction with Eulerian and Lagrangian time studies of the vertical distribution of crab larvae in the Chesapeake Bay plume. These abundance estimates are used with current meter records and drifter trajectories to infer mechanisms of larval crab dispersion to the shelf waters and recruitment back into Chesapeake Bay. The highest numbers of crab larvae were usually associated with the Chesapeake Bay plume, suggesting that it was the dominant source of crab larvae to shelf waters. Patches of crab larvae also were found in the higher salinity shelf waters, and possibly were remnants of previous plume discharge events. The distribution of crab larvae in the shelf waters changed on 1–2 d time scales as a consequence of both variations in the discharge rate of the Chesapeake Bay plume and local wind-driven currents. Downwelling-favorable winds (NW) intensified the coastal jet and confined the plume and crab larvae along the coast. In April during a downwelling event (when northwesterly winds predominated), crab zoeae were transported southward along the coast at speeds that at times exceeded 168 km d⁻¹. During June and August the upwelling-favorable winds (S, SW) opposed the anticyclonic turn of the plume and, via Ekman circulation, forced the plume and crab larvae to spread seaward. Plume velocities during these conditions generally were less than 48 km d⁻¹. The recruitment of crab larvae to Chesapeake Bay is facilitated in late summer by the dominance of southerly winds, which can reverse the southward flow of shelf waters. Periodic downwelling-favorable winds can result in surface waters and crab larvae moving toward the entrance of Chesapeake Bay. Approximately 27% of the larval crabs spend at least part of the day in bottom waters, which have a residual drift toward the bay mouth. There appears to be a variety of physical transport mechanisms that can enhance the recruitment of crab larvae into Chesapeake Bay.     

From London to Liverpool: Evidence for a Limehouse–Reid porcelain connection based on the analysis of sherds from the Brownlow Hill (ca. 1755–1767) factory site

The diversity of Brownlow Hill porcelains of the W^m Reid & Co. era is due to the remarkably wide range in the composition of their pastes and glazes and inferred firing conditions relative to the initial vitrification temperature. Sixteen of 21 analyzed sherds from the factory site are bone‐ash wares that display large variations in their bulk chemical composition. The remaining samples have silicious‐aluminous (akin to “stone china” sensu Richard Pococke in 1750) and silicious‐aluminous‐calcic (“S‐A‐C”) compositions that resemble Limehouse (London) and Pomona (Staffordshire) porcelains produced during the 1740s. The mineralogy of the Brownlow Hill S‐A‐C sherds suggests firing at a relatively high temperature (T_max approaching 1400°C, based on relations on the SiO₂‐Al₂O₃‐CaO phase diagram), thereby obscuring the identity of some of the ingredients (e.g., the source of CaO) used in their manufacture. Limehouse and Brownlow Hill may have been linked through the activities of William Ball, who is mentioned in connection with both factories, or indirectly via former Limehouse staff later employed at the Pomona factory, located not far from a W^m Reid & Co. branch factory in Shelton, Stoke‐on‐Trent. In terms of a time line, knowledge of these pastes appears to have spread first from London to Staffordshire, and then to Liverpool. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Was the M<Subscript>w</Subscript> 7.5 1952 Kern County,California, earthquake induced (or triggered)?

Several recent studies have presented evidence that significant induced earthquakes occurred in a number of oil-producing regions during the early and mid-twentieth century related to either production or wastewater injection. We consider whether the 21 July 1952 M_w 7.5 Kern County earthquake might have been induced by production in the Wheeler Ridge oil field. The mainshock, which was not preceded by any significant foreshocks, occurred 98 days after the initial production of oil in Eocene strata at depths reaching 3 km, within ~1 km of the White Wolf fault (WWF). Based on this spatial and temporal proximity, we explore a potential causal relationship between the earthquake and oil production. While production would have normally be expected to have reduced pore pressure, inhibiting failure on the WWF, we present an analytical model based on industry stratigraphic data and best estimates of parameters whereby an impermeable splay fault adjacent to the main WWF could plausibly have blocked direct pore pressure effects, allowing the poroelastic stress change associated with production to destabilize the WWF, promoting initial failure. This proof-of-concept model can also account for the 98-day delay between the onset of production and the earthquake. While the earthquake clearly released stored tectonic stress, any initial perturbation on or near a major fault system can trigger a larger rupture. Our proposed mechanism provides an explanation for why significant earthquakes are not commonly induced by production in proximity to major faults.