The spectral hardening associated with the westward travelling surge

Photometer recordings of auroral emissions from N⁺₂ and OI have demonstrated that the ratios between the emissions show a characteristic plateau just prior to the passage of a westward travelling surge. The plateau may be interpreted as a temporary (approx. 1 min) cessation in the spectral hardening of the precipitating particles associated with the surge. The characteristic energy of the plateau is about one keV above the level prior to the beginning of the surge. The results have been interpreted in terms of an instability that is switched on during the time of the plateau and then turned off when the electron density is increased above a certain limit.     

Rb-Sr dating of alteration events in granitoids

Veins and other effects of low-grade metamorphism are often found in igneous rocks. A method for dating such veins is proposed. It is based on the presence of Ca-bearing, Rb-free minerals in the veins and their aureoles. The method is applicable if five conditions are satisfied. The effects of low-grade metamorphism on Rb-Sr dating of the emplacement (extrusion) age are also studied. Veins and their aureoles in granitoid rocks from Central Sweden are used as a working example. Two groups of vein ages were found, 1600-1500 Ma and 1250-1100 Ma, which coincide with the two known periods of tensional movements in the region. The ratio ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr in the aureoles and their neighbourhood at the time of vein formation (Sr(a)) shows several different patterns. One with constant Sr(a), independent of the distance to the vein, indicates complete homogenization at the time of alteration. Another shows an increase in Sr(a) close to the vein, indicating that it was rejuvenated. Furthermore, the Sr ratio might determine whether an alteration effect could be of deuteric origin or not: deuteric effects should be characterized by a Sr(a) value equal to the initial Sr-isotope ratio.     

Contaminated soils and sediments associated with Zn ore metallurgy near the São Francisco River,Minas Gerais (Brazil)

Draining through industrial areas of the Minas Gerais mining state (Brazil), some tributaries of the São Francisco River constitute a potential environmental hazard for this great river and threaten the quality of the regional soils for agriculture and other activities. Extensive geochemistry and mineralogy of sediments, soils and alluvial plains from six selected areas within the Consciência drainage basin close to an important Zn-extraction plant, have been carried out. In this report, detailed mineralogy of those samples and supporting geochemical data are discussed, taking into account their specific climactic and environmental context. Petrographic and electron microprobe characterization of the sand-grained fraction of these materials was complemented by XRD on their finer fraction: the main contaminant minerals are willemite (one of the Zn ores used in the industrial plant) and jarosite, though their contents are quite variable in the studied areas and also with depth; minor amounts of Zn-, Pb-, Cd-, and Mn-bearing mineral phases are also frequent, usually as inclusions in willemite or in polycrystalline clasts, or adsorbed on the finer materials, such as clay minerals and associated Fe-hydroxides. Mineralogical contamination is responsible for high metal contents in the soils and sediments of the areas closer to the plant (e.g. Zn ? 2000 mg kg^?1 and Cd ? 20 mg kg^?1, which are the Intervention Values for Industrial Areas) and the greatest contamination risks are related to the more labile phases that circulate throughout the alluvial plains, the shallow sediments and the stream bed. Monitoring the mineral/chemical contamination and its extent also constitutes a useful basis for future proposals to remediate and recover this industrial area in order to decrease medium- and long-term negative impacts of metal contamination on the local and downstream environments.     

Crystal structure of meteoritic schreibersites: determination of absolute structure

Minerals of the schreibersite–nickelphosphide series (Fe,Ni)₃P crystallize in the non-centrosymmetric space group . As a consequence, they can possess two different spatial arrangements of the constituting atoms within the unit cell, related by the inversion symmetry operation. Here, we present the crystal structure refinements from single crystal X-ray diffraction data for schreibersite grains from iron meteorites Acuña, Carlton, Hex River Mts. (three different crystals), Odessa (two different crystals), Sikhote Alin, and Toluca aiming for the determination of the absolute structure of the examined crystals. The crystals studied cover the composition range from ~58 mol% to ~80 mol% Fe₃P end-member. Unit-cell parameter a and volume of the unit cell V, as well as certain topological structural parameters tightly correlate with Fe₃P content. Unit-cell parameter c, on the other hand, does not show such strong correlation. Eight of the nine crystal structure refinements allowed unambiguous absolute structure assignment. The single crystal extracted from Toluca is, however, of poor quality and consequently the structure refinement did not provide as good results as the rest of the materials. Also, this crystal has only weak inversion distinguishing power to provide unequivocal absolute structure determination. Six of the eight unambiguous absolute structure determinations indicated inverted atomic arrangement compared to that reported in earlier structure refinements (here called standard). Only two grains, one taken from Odessa iron and the other from the Hex River Mts. meteorite, reveal the dominance of standard crystal structure setting.     

Field experiments on wave propagation and vibration isolation by using wave barriers

In this paper, the obtained results from the experimental studies describe the basic characteristics of wave propagation and ability of possible measures to reduce the impact of soil vibrations on structural response for both active and passive isolation cases. A series of field tests on the foundation vibrations generated by electrodynamic shaker are performed to examine the screening efficiency of open and in-filled trench barriers which are constructed for full-scale measurement. From field measurements of amplitude with and without the barrier, the amplitude reduction ratio is estimated at different points of interest. Wave propagating characteristics and frequency-dependent screening effects of the wave barriers are investigated according to various isolation material stiffnesses. The remarkable outcomes from these experimental studies can be briefly generalized as follows: backfilled trench with softer material than soil is more effective for the passive isolation than the active one. The reduction effects of wave barriers depend on the frequency of vibration source for both passive and active isolation cases. In-situ measurements confirm that vibration screening systems using open or in-filled trench barriers can be applied as a reduction measure for soil vibrations due to a moving load which is considered as stationary wave source in this problem.     

An integrated geophysical study of arsenic contaminated area in the peninsular Thailand

Geophysical surveys were carried out in an arsenic contaminated area, in the Ron Phibun District in southern Thailand. Here, tin and associated minerals, i.e. arsenopyrite and pyrite, have been extracted from granites and natural processes and the mining activities led to arsenic contamination in the environment. Electrical resistivity and self-potential (SP) were used to define the distribution of arsenic contamination in the groundwater. Resistivities of 25–100 Ωm and a positive SP anomaly of 66.0 mV were observed in an area where the arsenic content in auger water at 3.5–5.0 m depths was high, 0.5–5.0 mg/l. Integrated interpretation of resistivity, seismic refraction, GPR and gravity data gave a clear image of subsurface shallow structures (< 30 m depths). There was a good correlation between the resistivity and the gravity data. A subsurface rise was found, which possibly acts as a naturally buried dam, separating a high-contaminated area from a low contaminated area.     

Mapping and clustering the adoption of carbon pricing policies: what polities price carbon and why?

Carbon pricing, including carbon taxes and emissions trading, has been adopted by different kinds of polities worldwide. Yet, beyond the increasing adoption over time, little is known about what polities – countries as well as sub- and supranational entities – adopt carbon pricing and why. This paper explores patterns of adoption (both implemented policies and those scheduled to be) through cluster analysis, with the purpose of investigating factors that could explain polities’ decisions to adopt carbon pricing. The study contributes empirically by studying carbon taxes and emissions trading together and by ordering the polities adopting carbon pricing into clusters. It also contributes theoretically, by exploring constellations of variables that drive the adoption of carbon pricing within individual clusters. We investigated 66 adopted policies of carbon pricing, which were divided into five clusters: early adopters, North-American subnational entities, Chinese pilot provinces, second-wave developed polities, and second-wave developing polities. The analysis indicates that the reasons for adopting carbon pricing have shifted over time. While international factors (climate commitments or influences from polities within the same region) are increasingly salient, domestic factors (including crises and income levels) were more important for the early adopters.

Key policy insights

• Carbon pricing has become a global mainstream policy instrument.

• Economic and fiscal crises provide windows of opportunity for promoting carbon pricing.

• The international climate regime can support the adoption of carbon pricing through mitigation commitments and international financial and technical assistance.

• Learning between polities from the same region is a useful tool for promoting carbon pricing.

• Carbon intensive economies tend to prefer emissions trading over carbon taxes.