Sulfur concentration at sulfide saturation (SCSS) in magmatic silicate melts

The sulfur concentration in silicate melts at sulfide saturation (SCSS) was experimentally investigated in a temperature range from 1150 to 1450 °C and a pressure range from 500 MPa to 1 GPa in a piston-cylinder apparatus. The investigated melt compositions varied from rhyolitic to basaltic and water concentrations varied from 0 to ∼9 wt%. All experiments were saturated with FeS melt or pyrrhotite crystals. Temperature was confirmed to have a positive effect on the SCSS. Experimental oxygen fugacities were either near the carbon-carbon monoxide buffer or one log unit above the nickel-nickel oxide buffer, and found to positively affect the SCSS. Combining our results with data from the literature we constructed a model to predict the SCSS in melts ranging in composition from komatiitic to rhyolitic, with water concentrations from 0 to 9 wt%, at pressures from 1 bar to 9 GPa and oxygen fugacities between ∼2 log units below the fayalite-magnetite-quartz buffer to ∼2 log units above it. The coefficients were obtained by multiple linear regression of experimental data and the best model found for the prediction of the SCSS is:

     

Experimental characterization,design and modelling of the RBRL seismic‐isolation system for lightweight structures

The Rolling‐Ball Rubber‐Layer (RBRL) system was developed to enable seismic isolation of lightweight structures, such as special equipment or works of art, and is very versatile, a great range of equivalent natural frequencies and coefficients of damping being achievable through choice of the system parameters. The necessity to have a simple and effective design procedure has led to a new parametric experimentation at Tun Abdul Razak Research Centre (TARRC) on the rolling behaviour of the RBRL system and load–deflection behaviour of the recentering springs. The experimental results, together with theories for the rolling resistance of a loaded steel ball on a thin rubber layer and the lateral load–deflection behaviour of cylindrical rubber springs, are used to develop a general design method for the RBRL system, which allows the system to be tailored to the specific application. Sinusoidal test results are presented for the small‐deflection behaviour of the system, influenced by the presence of a viscoelastic depression on the rubber tracks beneath each ball, and an amplitude‐dependent time‐domain model is proposed, based on these results and on the steady‐state behaviour of the system. The model is validated through comparison with previously performed shaking‐table tests. Attention is here restricted to uniaxial behaviour. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Evaluation of the Global Mean Sea Level Budget between 1993 and 2014

Evaluating global mean sea level (GMSL) in terms of its components—mass and steric—is useful for both quantifying the accuracy of the measurements and understanding the processes that contribute to GMSL rise. In this paper, we review the GMSL budget over two periods—1993 to 2014 and 2005 to 2014—using multiple data sets of both total GMSL and the components (mass and steric). In addition to comparing linear trends, we also compare the level of agreement of the time series. For the longer period (1993–2014), we find closure in terms of the long-term trend but not for year-to-year variations, consistent with other studies. This is due to the lack of sufficient estimates of the amount of natural water mass cycling between the oceans and hydrosphere. For the more recent period (2005–2014), we find closure in both the long-term trend and for month-to-month variations. This is also consistent with previous studies.     

Gravel sources of knappable alibates silicified dolomite

Alibates silicified dolomite is one of the principal knappable lithic materials indigenous to the Southern High Plains. Prehistorically, this material was extensively quarried along the Canadian River in Potter County, Texas. Some of these quarries are preserved in what is now the Alibates National Monument. Archaeologists working in Oklahoma traditionally interpret artifacts of Alibates silicified dolomite as evidence for long distance trade. However, a survey of three transects across the Canadian's valley in western Oklahoma reveals the persistent, but minor, presence of Alibates clasts in gravel deposits. Thirty-nine gravel exposures yielded 1365 clasts of the dolomite. The abundance, size, shape, and knappability of this material is comparable to most flakes and implements found on western Oklahoma archaeological sites, especially those of prehistoric and protohistoric Plains Villagers. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Radial velocities of pulsating subdwarf B stars: KPD 2109+4401 and PB 8783

High-speed spectroscopy of two pulsating subdwarf B stars, KPD 2109+4401 and PB 8783, is presented. Radial motions are detected with the same frequencies as reported from photometric observations and with amplitudes of ∼2 km s⁻¹ in two or more independent modes. These represent the first direct observations of surface motion arising from multimode non-radial oscillations in subdwarf B stars. In the case of the sdB+F binary PB 8783, the velocities of both components are resolved; high-frequency oscillations are found only in the sdB star and not the F star. There also appears to be evidence for mutual motion of the binary components. If confirmed, it implies that the F-type companion is ≳1.2 times more massive than the sdB star, while the amplitude of the F-star acceleration over 4 h would constrain the orbital period to lie between 0.5 and 3.2 d.     

Photosynthetic responses of selected Antarctic plants to solar radiation in the southern maritime Antarctic

The effects of UV-B exclusion and enhancement of solar radiation on photosynthesis of the two phanerogams which occur in the maritime Antarctic, Deschampsia antarctica and Colobanthus quitensis , and the moss Sanionia uncinats were investigated. Data on air temperature and solar radiation illustrate a drastic seasonal variation. Daily O₃ column mean values and UV-B measured at ground level document the occurrence of the O₃"hole" in the spring of 1997, with a concomitant increase in UV-B. The grass, D. antarctica , exhibited a broad temperature optimum for photosynthesis between 10–25°C while photosynthesis did not saturate even at high irradiance. The high water use efficiencies measured in the grass may be one of the features explaining the presence of this species in the maritime Antarctic. The net photosynthesis response to intercellular CO₂ (A/c_i) for D. antarctica was typical of a C₃ plant. Exposure to a biologically effective UV-B irradiance of 0.74 W M^-2 did not result in any significant change in either the maximum rate of photosynthesis at saturating CO₂ and light, or in the initial carboxylation efficiency of Rubisco. (V_c,max). Furthermore while ambient (or enhanced) solar UV-B did not affect photochemical yield, measured in the field, of C. quitensis and D. antarctica , UV-B enhancement did affect negatively photochemical yield in S. uncinata . In D. antarctica plants, exposure to UV-B at low irradiances elicited increased flavonoid synthesis. The observed effects of UV-B enhancement on the moss (decreased photochemical yield) and the grass (increase in flavonoids) require further, separate investigation.     

Mercurian volcanism questioned

The Mariner 10 television team has argued that extensive plains on Mercury were formed by volcanism and compared them with the demonstrably lunar maria. I believe, however, that in stratigraphic relations, surface morphology, and albedo contrast, the Mercurian plains more closely resemble the lunar light plains. These lunar plains were interpreted as volcanic on the basis of data comparable to that available to the Mariner 10 investigators but have been shown by the Apollo missions to be of impact origin. The plains on Mercury might also be formed of impact materials, perhaps of impact melt or other basin ejecta that behaved more like a fluid when emplaced that did lunar basin ejecta.     

WELL FIELD CONTAMINATION NEAR BALD KNOB,ALLEGANY COUNTY,MARYLAND

A case study from Allegany County, Maryland illustrates that, in the absence of a baseline of water quantity and quality established prior to coal mining, resolution of conflicts is neither fully possible nor equitable.     

Temperature Dependence of Single-Crystal Spinel (MgAl2O4) Elastic Constants from 293 to 423°K Measured by Light-Sound Scattering in the Raman-Nath Region

Summary. The temperature dependence of single-crystal elastic constants of synthetic stoichiometric MgAl₂O₄ spinel has been measured by the light-sound scattering technique in the Raman-Nath region. The crystal is set into forced vibration by a single crystal LiNbO₃ transducer coupled to one crystal face. A He-Ne Laser beam is diffracted by the stress-induced birefringence inside the crystal. The diffraction angle is determined from the distance between two spots exposed on a photographic plate by the first order diffracted beams as measured by a microdensitometer. The sound wavelength inside the crystal is then inferred from the laser diffraction angle. Combining the sound wavelength with the measured transducer frequency, the velocity inside the crystal is determined typically to a precision of 0·05 per cent. In this method, the measurement of velocity is not dependent on either the determination of sample length or on phase shifts at sample-transducer interface. Velocities of four pure modes, L //[001], T //[001], L //[110], and T //[110]( P //[1 1 0] are measured in the temperature range between 293 and 423 °K. A linear temperature dependence is fit to the data by a least square method. Values obtained at 25 °C from this linear fit are
The temperature dependence of the adiabatic elastic constants and bulk and shear (VRH average) moduli is computed using the density and literature value of thermal expansion coefficient. Values obtained are:
A comparison with previous measurements by pulse superposition and ultrasonic interferometry methods is made. Disagreement, when present, is discussed in terms of the separate measuring techniques. Finally, the present method, with its possibility for further improvement, is evaluated as a new method to measure temperature and pressure dependence of elastic constants.