Spatial measurements of stream baseflow,a relevant method for aquifer characterization and permeability evaluation. Application to a hard‐rock aquifer,the Oman ophiolite

The structure, functioning and hydrodynamic properties of aquifers can be determined from an analysis of the spatial variability of baseflow in the streams with which they are associated. Such analyses are based on simple low‐cost measurements. Through interpreting the hydrological profiles (Q = f(A)) it is possible to locate the aquifer(s) linked to the stream network and to determine the type of interrelated flow, i.e. whether the stream drains or feeds the aquifer. Using an analytical solution developed for situations with a positive linear relationship, i.e. where the baseflow increases linearly with increasing catchment size, it is also possible to estimate the permeability of the aquifer(s) concerned at catchment scale. Applied to the hard‐rock aquifers of the Oman ophiolite, this method shows that the ‘gabbro’ aquifer is more permeable than the ‘peridotite’ aquifer. As a consequence the streams drain the peridotites and ‘leak’ into the gabbro. The hydrological profiles within the peridotite are linear and positive, and indicate homogeneity in the hydrodynamic properties of these formations at the kilometre scale. The permeability of the peridotite is estimated at 5 · 10^?7 to 5 · 10^?8 m/s. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Numerical Modeling of the Largest Terrestrial Meteorite Craters

Multi-ring impact basins have been found on the surfaces of almost all planetary bodies in the Solar system with solid crusts. The details of their formation mechanism are still unclear. We present results of our numerical modeling of the formation of the largest known terrestrial impact craters. The geological and geophysical data on these structures accumulated over many decades are used to place constraints on the parameters of available numerical models with a dual purpose: (i) to choose parameters in available mechanical models for the crustal response of planetary bodies to a large impact and (ii) to use numerical modeling to refine the possible range of original diameters and the morphology of partially eroded terrestrial craters. We present numerical modeling results for the Vredefort, Sudbury, Chicxulub, and Popigai impact craters and compare these results with available geological and geophysical information.     

Earth rotation in the hipparcos reference frame

New determination of the Earth orientation parameters (EOP), based on optical astrometry observations since the beginning of the century, is now under preparation by the Working group established by Commission 19 of the IAU. The Hipparcos catalog is to define the celestial reference frame in which the new series of EOP are to be described, The novelties of the prepared solution are the higher resolution (5 days) and more parameters estimated from the solution (celestial pole offsets, rheological parameters of the Earth, certain instrumental constants). The mathematical model of the solution is described, and the results based on the observations made with 46 instruments at 29 observatories and a preliminary Hipparcos catalog are presented.     

Possible meteoroid streams associated with (69230) Hermes and 2002 SY50

The orbits of (69230) Hermes and 2002 SY₅₀ are similar and the Earth approaches both of them twice: at the end of October the local orbital minimum distances are smaller than 0.007 AU, and at the end of April the distances are smaller than 0.04 AU. This gives us opportunities to observe the meteors associated with these asteroids. Using the geocentric parameters of the orbital close encounters (the theoretical radiants) and our D _N distance function (Valsecchi et al. Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 304 (1999) 743), we searched for meteoroids originated by Hermes and 2002 SY₅₀. A search among 1830 good quality photographic meteors gave negative results: we found no meteor dynamically similar to Hermes or 2002 SY₅₀. In a second search, done in a set of 62150 radio meteors, we applied two methods (M1, M2) and in both cases we found two streams; the streams found with the M1 method had 43 and 30 members, those found with the M2 method had 39 and 14 members. However, these results do not look convincing, due to the small number of common members in the corresponding streams. We therefore conclude that amongst the IAU meteors used in our search there are no compact streams associated with Hermes and 2002 SY₅₀.     

A measurement of the 362 GHz absorption line of Mars atmospheric H2O2

The 362.156 GHz absorption spectrum of H₂O₂ in the Mars atmosphere was observed on September 4 of 2003, employing the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT) sub-millimeter facility on Mauna Kea, Hawaii. Radiative transfer analysis of this line absorption yields an average volume mixing ratio of 18±0.4 ppbv within the lower (0-30 km) Mars atmosphere, in general accordance with standard photochemical models (e.g., Nair et al., 1994, Icarus 111, 124-150). Our derived H₂O₂ abundance is roughly three times greater than the upper limit retrieved by Encrenaz et al. (2002, Astron. Astrophys. 396, 1037-1044) from infrared spectroscopy, although part of this discrepancy may result from the different solar longitudes (L_s) of observation. Aphelion-to-perihelion thermal forcing of the global Mars hygropause generates substantial (>200%) increases in HO_x abundances above ∼10 km altitudes between the L_s=112° period of the Encrenaz et al. upper limit measurement and the current L_s=250° period of detection (Clancy and Nair, 1996, J. Geophys. Res. 101, 12785-12590). The observed H₂O₂ line absorption weakens arguments for non-standard homogeneous (Encrenaz et al., 2002, Astron. Astrophys. 396, 1037-1044) or heterogeneous (Krasnopolsky, 2003a, J. Geophys. Res. 108; 2003b, Icarus 165, 315-325) chemistry, which have been advocated partly on the basis of infrared (8 μm) non-detections for Mars H₂O₂. Observation of Mars H₂O₂ also represents the first measurement of a key catalytic specie in a planetary atmosphere other than our own.     

The search for exsolved ferromagnesian olivines: A meteoritic survey

Abstract— Olivine grains from selected meteorites (the Springwater pallasite, the Lowicz mesosiderite, the ALH 84025 brachinite, the Krymka LL3 chondrite, and the Calcalong Creek lunar meteorite) and terrestrial rocks (San Carlos forsterite and Rockport fayalite) were studied by optical microscopy and high-precision electron microprobe analysis. Detailed microprobe traverses revealed regular igneous zoning in the Krymka and Calcalong Creek olivines. Traverses across the San Carlos forsterite grain are flat and display no chemical variations larger than the 2σ range of counting error (±0.2 mol% Fa). Traverses across olivine grains in the ALH 84025, Lowicz, and Springwater meteorites show regular patterns of periodic or wavy chemical variations well exceeding the 2σ uncertainty range. However, no lamellar structure was seen in backscattered electron images. It is suggested that the periodic chemical variations may be due to spinodal decomposition of primary, more or less homogeneous grains. I conclude that the absence of earlier reports of such variations simply means that olivine grains in equilibrated meteorites have not been examined closely enough to detect them.     

Long-Term Changes of Polar Activity of the Sun

We discuss long-time changes of polar activity of the Sun using the new observational data sets in the optical range during 1872–2001. A study of the secular and cycle variations of the magnetic activity at the high-latitude regions is the main goal that includes polar magnetic field reversals during 1872–2001 and secular changes of the duration of polar activity cycles. The secular increase of the area of polar zones during the minimum activity in the last 120 years and as consequence a decrease of coronal temperature of the Sun in the high-latitude zones during the last 50 years. Correlation between the polar cycles of Caii-K bright points with the Wolf sunspot numbers cycles, W(t), and the 22-year polar magnetic cycles of Caii-K bright points at the high latitudes during 1905–1995 is discussed.     

On the stability of particular solutions of the singly averaged Hill problem

We consider the particular solutions of the evolutionary system of equations in elements that correspond to planar and spatial circular orbits of the singly averaged Hill problem. We analyze the stability of planar and spatial circular orbits to inclination and eccentricity, respectively. We construct the instability regions of both particular solutions in the plane of parameters of the problem.