The Villalbeto de la Peña meteorite fall: I. Fireball energy,meteorite recovery,strewn field,and petrography

Abstract— An impressive daylight fireball was observed from Spain, Portugal, and the south of France at 16h46m45s UTC on January 4, 2004. The meteoroid penetrated into the atmosphere, generating shock waves that reached the ground and produced audible booms. The associated airwave was recorded at a seismic station located 90 km north of the fireball trajectory in Spain, and at an infrasound station in France located 750 km north‐east of the fireball. The absolute magnitude of the bolide has been determined to be ?18 ± 1 from a casual video record. The energy released in the atmosphere determined from photometric, seismic, and infrasound data was about 0.02 kilotons (kt). A massive fragmentation occurred at a height of 28 ± 0.2 km, resulting in a meteorite strewn field of 20 × 6 km. The first meteorite specimen was found on January 11, 2004, near the village of Villalbeto de la Peña, in northern Palencia (Spain). To date, about 4.6 kg of meteorite mass have been recovered during several recovery campaigns. The meteorite is a moderately shocked (S4) L6 ordinary chondrite with a cosmic‐ray‐exposure age of 48 ± 5 Ma. Radioisotope analysis shows that the original body had a mass of 760 ± 150 kg, which is in agreement with the estimated mass obtained from photometric and seismic measurements.     

Measurement of the Sunyaev–Zel'dovich increment in massive galaxy clusters

We have detected the Sunyaev–Zel'dovich (SZ) increment at 850 μm in two galaxy clusters (Cl 0016+16 and MS 1054.4−0321) using the Submillimetre Common User Bolometer Array (SCUBA) on the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope. Fits to the isothermal β model yield a central Compton y parameter of  (2.2 ± 0.7) × 10⁻⁴  and a central 850-μm flux of  Δ I ₀= 2.2 ± 0.7 mJy beam⁻¹  in Cl 0016. This can be combined with decrement measurements to infer   y = (2.38 ±^0.36_0.34) × 10⁻⁴  and   v _pec= 400±¹⁹⁰⁰₁₄₀₀ km s⁻¹  . In MS 1054 we find a peak 850-μm flux of  Δ I ₀= 2.0 ± 1.0 mJy beam⁻¹  and   y = (2.0 ± 1.0) × 10⁻⁴  . To be successful such measurements require large chop throws and non-standard data analysis techniques. In particular, the 450-μm data are used to remove atmospheric variations in the 850-μm data. An explicit annular model is fit to the SCUBA difference data in order to extract the radial profile, and separately fit to the model differences to minimize the effect of correlations induced by our scanning strategy. We have demonstrated that with sufficient care, SCUBA can be used to measure the SZ increment in massive, compact galaxy clusters.     

Impacts of Land Process on the Onset and Evolution of Asian Summer Monsoon in the NCEP Climate Forecast System

Impacts of land models and initial land conditions(ICs) on the Asian summer monsoon,especially its onset,were investigated using the NCEP Climate Forecast System(CFS).Two land models,the Oregon State University(OSU) land model and the NCEP,OSU,Air Force,and Hydrologic Research Laboratory(Noah) land model,were used to get parallel experiments.The experiments also used land ICs from the NCEP/Department of Energy(DOE) Global Reanalysis 2(GR2) and the Global Land Data Assimilation System(GLDAS).Previous studies have demonstrated that,a systematic weak bias appears in the modeled monsoon,and this bias may be related to a cold bias over the Asian land mass.Results of the current study show that replacement of the OSU land model by the Noah land model improved the model’s cold bias and produced improved monsoon precipitation and circulation patterns.The CFS predicted monsoon with greater proficiency in El Nin o years,compared to La Nin a years,and the Noah model performed better than the OSU model in monsoon predictions for individual years.These improvements occurred not only in relation to monsoon onset in late spring but also to monsoon intensity in summer.Our analysis of the monsoon features over the India peninsula,the Indo-China peninsula,and the South Chinese Sea indicates different degrees of improvement.Furthermore,a change in the land models led to more remarkable improvement in monsoon prediction than did a change from the GR2 land ICs to the GLDAS land ICs.     

Net, actual, and potential sediment-water interface NH4 fluxes in the northern Gulf of Mexico (NGOMEX): Evidence for NH4 limitation of microbial dynamics

A new approach, combining ¹⁵NH₄⁺ isotope dilution and continuous-flow techniques, provided estimates of “actual” and “net” NH₄⁺ flux and sediment NH₄⁺ demand (SAD) at the sediment-water interface (SWI) of sites in the northern Gulf of Mexico (NGOMEX). The sites included a hypoxic site (C6), two sites with intermediate oxygen levels (B7 and F5), and a normoxic site (CT). Control cores without isotope addition and other cores from the same site treated with ¹⁵NH₄⁺ labeled overflowing water differentiated between net and actual regeneration flux and actual vs. potential uptake flux of NH₄⁺. Experiments were conducted in 2008 before (July) and after (September) two successive hurricanes (Gustav and Ike) and in January and August, 2009. Actual regeneration was significantly higher than net flux at most sites. Net flux did not differ significantly in most sites/dates, but the actual regeneration, and the actual and potential uptake, showed temporal and spatial variation; the flux at the hypoxic site was more active than non-hypoxic sites. SAD, the difference between potential and actual NH₄⁺ uptake flux, was higher at the hypoxic site than at non-hypoxic sites before and after the hurricanes in 2008 and during the hypoxia season in 2009. SAD related negatively to bottom water DO values. Conclusions: (1) net flux often underestimated actual regeneration, (2) hurricane activity decreased N dynamics, and (3) microbial N limitation status at the hypoxic site related to NH₄⁺ removal processes that were independent of oxygen (e.g., anaerobic heterotrophic uptake or anammox). These results indicate a rather consistent NH₄⁺ demand at the SWI during the hypoxic season and suggest that reduced nitrogen may limit microbial dynamics in the region.     

Geochemistry of hydrothermal fluids from the PACMANUS, Northeast Pual and Vienna Woods hydrothermal fields, Manus Basin, Papua New Guinea

Processes controlling the composition of seafloor hydrothermal fluids in silicic back-arc or near-arc crustal settings remain poorly constrained despite growing evidence for extensive magmatic-hydrothermal activity in such environments. We conducted a survey of vent fluid compositions from two contrasting sites in the Manus back-arc basin, Papua New Guinea, to examine the influence of variations in host rock composition and magmatic inputs (both a function of arc proximity) on hydrothermal fluid chemistry. Fluid samples were collected from felsic-hosted hydrothermal vent fields located on Pual Ridge (PACMANUS and Northeast (NE) Pual) near the active New Britain Arc and a basalt-hosted vent field (Vienna Woods) located farther from the arc on the Manus Spreading Center. Vienna Woods fluids were characterized by relatively uniform endmember temperatures (273-285 °C) and major element compositions, low dissolved CO₂ concentrations (4.4 mmol/kg) and high measured pH (4.2-4.9 at 25 °C). Temperatures and compositions were highly variable at PACMANUS/NE Pual and a large, newly discovered vent area (Fenway) was observed to be vigorously venting boiling (358 °C) fluid. All PACMANUS fluids are characterized by negative δD_H2O values, in contrast to positive values at Vienna Woods, suggesting substantial magmatic water input to circulating fluids at Pual Ridge. Low measured pH (25 °C) values (∼2.6-2.7), high endmember CO₂ (up to 274 mmol/kg) and negative δ³⁴S_H2S values (down to −2.7‰) in some vent fluids are also consistent with degassing of acid-volatile species from evolved magma. Dissolved CO₂ at PACMANUS is more enriched in ¹³C (−4.1‰ to −2.3‰) than Vienna Woods (−5.2‰ to −5.7‰), suggesting a contribution of slab-derived carbon. The mobile elements (e.g. Li, K, Rb, Cs and B) are also greatly enriched in PACMANUS fluids reflecting increased abundances in the crust there relative to the Manus Spreading Center. Variations in alkali and dissolved gas abundances with Cl at PACMANUS and NE Pual suggest that phase separation has affected fluid chemistry despite the low temperatures of many vents. In further contrast to Vienna Woods, substantial modification of PACMANUS/NE Pual fluids has taken place as a result of seawater ingress into the upflow zone. Consistently high measured Mg concentrations as well as trends of increasingly non-conservative SO₄ behavior, decreasing endmember Ca/Cl and Sr/Cl ratios with increased Mg indicate extensive subsurface anhydrite deposition is occurring as a result of subsurface seawater entrainment. Decreased pH and endmember Fe/Mn ratios in higher Mg fluids indicate that the associated mixing/cooling gives rise to sulfide deposition and secondary acidity production. Several low temperature (?80 °C) fluids at PACMANUS/NE Pual also show evidence for anhydrite dissolution and water-rock interaction (fixation of B) subsequent to seawater entrainment. Hence, the evolution of fluid compositions at Pual Ridge reflects the cumulative effects of water/rock interaction, admixing and reaction of fluids exsolved from silicic magma, phase separation/segregation and seawater ingress into upflow zones.     

Radio-continuum study of the nearby Sculptor group Galaxies. Part 2: NGC 55 at λ=20, 13, 6 and 3 cm

A series of new radio-continuum (λ=20, 13, 6 and 3 cm) mosaic images focused on the NGC 55 galactic system were produced using archived observational data from the Australia Telescope Compact Array. These new images are both very sensitive (down to rms=33 μJy) and feature high angular resolution (down to <4″). Using these newly created images, 66 previously unidentified discrete sources are identified. Of these sources, 46 were classified as background sources, 11 as H?ii regions and 6 as supernova remnant candidates. This relatively low number of SNR candidates detected coupled with the low number of large H?ii regions is consistent with the estimated low star formation rate of the galaxy at 0.06 M _⊙?year^?1. Our spectral index map shows that the core of galaxy appears to have a shallow spectral index between α=?0.2 and ?0.4. This indicates that the core of the galaxy is a region of high thermal radiation output.     

Geomorphological control on boulder transport and coastal erosion before,during and after an extreme extra‐tropical cyclone

Extreme wave events in coastal zones are principal drivers of geomorphic change. Evidence of boulder entrainment and erosional impact during storms is increasing. However, there is currently poor time coupling between pre‐ and post‐storm measurements of coastal boulder deposits. Importantly there are no data reporting shore platform erosion, boulder entrainment and/or boulder transport during storm events – rock coast dynamics during storm events are currently unexplored. Here, we use high‐resolution (daily) field data to measure and characterize coastal boulder transport before, during and after the extreme Northeast Atlantic extra‐tropical cyclone Johanna in March 2008. Forty‐eight limestone fine‐medium boulders (n = 46) and coarse cobbles (n = 2) were tracked daily over a 0.1 km² intertidal area during this multi‐day storm. Boulders were repeatedly entrained, transported and deposited, and in some cases broken down (n = 1) or quarried (n = 3), during the most intense days of the storm. Eighty‐one percent (n = 39) of boulders were located at both the start and end of the storm. Of these, 92% were entrained where entrainment patterns were closely aligned to wave parameters. These data firmly demonstrate rock coasts are dynamic and vulnerable under storm conditions. No statistically significant relationship was found between boulder size (mass) and net transport distance. Graphical analyses suggest that boulder size limits the maximum longshore transport distance but that for the majority of boulders lying under this threshold, other factors influence transport distance. Paired analysis of 20 similar sized and shaped boulders in different morphogenic zones demonstrates that geomorphological control affects entrainment and transport distance – where net transport distances were up to 39 times less where geomorphological control was greatest. These results have important implications for understanding and for accurately measuring and modelling boulder entrainment and transport. Coastal managers require these data for assessing erosion risk. © 2016 The Authors. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.     

The Berduc L6 chondrite fall: Meteorite characterization,trajectory, and orbital elements

Abstract– The fall of the Berduc meteorite took place on April 7, 2008, at 01 h 02 min 28 s ± 1 s UTC. A daylight fireball was witnessed by hundreds of people from Argentina and Uruguay, and also recorded by an infrasound array in Paraguay. From the available data, the fireball trajectory and radiant have been reconstructed with moderate accuracy. The modeled trajectory was tested to fit the infrasound and strewn field data. From the computed apparent radiant α = 87 ± 2° and δ = ?11 ± 2° and taking into account a range of plausible initial velocities, we obtained a range of orbital solutions. All of them suggest that the progenitor meteoroid originated from the main asteroid belt and followed an orbit of low inclination. Based on petrography, mineral chemistry, magnetic susceptibility, and bulk chemistry, the Berduc meteorite is classified as an L6 ordinary chondrite.     

Heavy metals in surface sediments of Waiwhetu Stream,Lower Hutt,New Zealand

Abstract

Surface sediment samples (60 μm‐2 mm, and < 60 μm fractions) from the Waiwhetu Stream, Lower Hutt City, New Zealand, were leached with dilute HCl to remove the mobile heavy‐metal fraction. Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Zn, Al, Fe, and Mn analyses of the leachates show that sediments of the upper reaches area of the stream are generally uncontaminated. In contrast, sediments in the lower reaches area are highly contaminated, despite clean‐up measures in the late 1970s. Lead and Zn are the most significantly enriched metals with concentrations over 1000 mg kg^?1 adjacent to some drains. In the polluted zone, metals originate from either upward remobilisation from underlying sediment (contaminated in the early 1960s and 70s) or more recent industrial spillages. Similar trends exhibited by Cd, Cu, Cr, Zn, Pb, and Al indicate that a proportion of the metal enrichment downstream probably results from a naturally higher clay content of sediments near the mouth of the stream. Fe and Mn show reverse trends to the other metals, indicating that a high proportion of these two metals occurs in substrate different to that of the other metals. The orange brick‐coloured sediments of the upper reaches of the stream indicate oxides upstream; the black sediments in the lower reaches indicate sulphides downstream.     

Regional studies of dolomites and their included fluids: recognizing multiple chemically distinct fluids during the complex diagenetic history of Lower Carboniferous (Mississippian) rocks of the Irish Zn-Pb ore field

This study provides a regional framework within which studies of ore-related dolomite and dolomite cements may be placed. Fluid inclusion data indicate the presence of three distinct fluids following early dolomitization: 1) a ubiquitous low-temperature, higher salinity fluid found in saddle dolomite; 2) a low-temperature, lower salinity fluid limited to sub-Waulsortian and Waulsortian carbonates; and 3) a higher temperature, lower salinity fluid found in Waulsortian and supra-Waulsortian rocks. Similar fluids have been reported in ore-associated minerals and postmineralization dolomite (Type 1) and in ore-stage carbonates and sphalerite (Types 2 and 3). The halogen geochemistry of included fluids indicates genesis from evaporated seawater. Type 1 fluids are enriched in chloride relative to bromide, reflecting a component of salinity derived via dissolution of halite or from dehydration of seawater. These data suggest that dolomitization and mineralization of Mississippian rocks in the Midlands requires both regionally extensive and localized fluid flow.