Results of statistical analysis of primary components concentrations in bulk chemical composition of ordinary chondrite groups

We used two different methods of statistical analysis—cluster analysis and principal component analysis—to analyze the concentrations of principal chemical components (Si, Mg, Ca, Fe, Ni) and Co in ordinary chondrites. The analysis is based predominantly on published data (metadata). In total, chemical composition data from 646 ordinary chondrites were used in the statistical analysis. The aim of this analysis was to establish whether it would be possible or not to distinguish H, L, and LL chondrites based on the concentrations of major elements and Co in their bulk chemical compositions. It was also important to determine what conclusions such an analysis could enable to draw about matter differentiation in the formation environments of primordial parent bodies of particular ordinary chondrite groups (H, L, and LL). Another aim of the statistical analysis was to determine whether the distribution of Fe and Ni (with Co admixtures) is independent of petrographic types within particular groups of chondrites. This is of crucial importance for determining the distribution of FeNi(Co) ore occurrences in potential extraterrestrial deposits on modern asteroids—the sources of ordinary chondrites. The obtained results of statistical analyses confirmed that a clear-cut distinction between particular groups of ordinary chondrites is only possible for group H, while distinguishing L chondrites from LL chondrites is not always obvious. The results of the statistical analyses relating to the question of the possible existence of several primordial parent bodies (formation environments) of each group of ordinary chondrites are consistent with the results of contemporary astronomical spectroscopy research. What is particularly interesting is obtaining indications of the existence of common formation environments of the matter of L and LL chondrites, possibly on a few primordial parent bodies. The statistical analyses indicate that there is no correlation between the concentration of principal chemical components and the petrographic type of ordinary chondrites. This proves homogenous distributions of these elements within the parent bodies of each group of ordinary chondrites. Hence, the distribution of these elements in individual present-day asteroids is also homogenous.     

Where will widening occur in an outwash braidplain? A new approach to detecting controls on fluvial lateral erosion in a glacierized catchment (north-western Spitsbergen,Svalbard)

The dynamics of fluvial system evolution depend on fluvial processes and their driving forces associated with climatic variations, which affect changes in the morphology of river channels and floodplains. Neither channel slope and morphology, nor the properties of fluvial sediment have previously been considered as determinants of active braidplain widening on outwash plains (formed from valley/alpine glaciers and confined by pre-existing topography) in the High Arctic region and in the forefields of retreating glaciers. Factors determining widening of braidplain activity of the Waldemar River outwash (north-western Spitsbergen, Svalbard) were analysed on the basis of geomorphological, sedimentological, glaciological and meteorological research, and indicate significant multiple correlations between meltwater discharge, precipitation, braidplain width, morphology of the braided channel and the textural features of braidplain deposits. The capability of multivariate adaptive regression splines to detect these relationships was described, and threshold values were identified. The results indicate that the rate of active braidplain widening is proportional to the meltwater outflow in proglacial rivers, which can decrease despite a growing rate of glacial ablation. A proposed model enables us to predict zones of braidplain prone to widening activity in the High Arctic (humid) outwash fans and plains as well as fans developed in arid intermountain basins. The necessary conditions to activate braidplain widening processes were (1) spatial changes in the outwash feeding system due to glacier terminus retreat and (2) crossing the thresholds in passive factors (S and d₅₀) controlling lateral erosion intensity. As a result, the braidplain reached a new dynamic equilibrium, in which high-magnitude–low-frequency extreme meltwater discharges were of particular importance in terms of braidplain dynamics and are the dominant controls on the pattern of distributary channels.     

A conceptual framework for multi-regional climate change assessments for international market systems with long-term investments

A conceptual framework for climate change assessments of international market systems that involve long-term investments is proposed. The framework is a hybrid of dynamic and static modeling. Dynamic modeling is used for those system components for which temporally continuous modeling is possible, while fixed time slices are used for other system components where it can be assumed that underlying assumptions are held constant within the time slices but allowed to vary between slices. An important component of the framework is the assessment of the “metauncertainty” arising from the structural uncertainties of a linked sequence of climate, production, trade and decision-making models. The impetus for proposing the framework is the paucity of industry-wide assessments for market systems with multiple production regions and long-term capital investments that are vulnerable to climate variations and change, especially climate extremes. The proposed framework is pragmatic, eschewing the ideal for the tractable. Even so, numerous implementation challenges are expected, which are illustrated using an example industry. The conceptual framework is offered as a starting point for further discussions of strategies and approaches for climate change impact, vulnerability and adaptation assessments for international market systems.     

The influence of atmospheric circulation on the occurrence of hail in the North German Lowlands

The atmospheric circulation and thermal conditions in the troposphere were analysed to identify the situations which are conductive to hail development in the North German Lowlands. They were established on the basis of the data obtained from the US National Center for Environmental Prediction/US National Center for Atmospheric Research Reanalysis database, and they included sea level pressure, 500 hPa geopotential height, the temperature at 850 and 500 hPa and HYSPLIT backward trajectories model. Daily information about hail occurrence in 16 selected stations was received from Deutscher Wetterdienst database and it covered the years 1951–2010. It was found that hail in the studied area was connected with large negative anomalies of the sea level pressure over Scandinavia and, consequently, the northwestern direction of air mass influx. In some cases, hail was associated with the northern influx, with strong negative anomalies of the temperature, and with positive anomalies of the temperature during the southern influx of air masses.     

Assessing discharge periodicity in mountain catchments using classified environmental conditions (Tatra Mountains,Poland)

The periodicity of a river expressed in cycles of various lengths (monthly,seasonal,multiannual) is a result of climatic factors and overiapping environmental c...     

Lattice deformation of blue halite from Zechstein evaporite basin: Kłodawa Salt Mine,Central Poland

Outcrops of natural blue and purple halite crystals have been found in K?odawa (Poland) salt deposit originating from the Permian (Zechstein) salt formation within tectonic zones. Field works carried out on various levels of K?odawa Salt Mine indicated differences both in intensity of the hue and in the size of the outcrops. Their occurrence was connected with the presence of epigenetic sediments rich in potassium. For the samples of blue halite, an optical anisotropy (birefringence) was observed for both standard mineralogical thin sections and thick plates, indicating a deviation from cubic symmetry. The blue colouration of the halites, described by ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, is due to the presence of colour centres. The colour centres have been recently identified as: F, R₁ (F₃), R₂ (F₃), M and plasmons (Wese?ucha-Birczyńska et al., Vib Spectrosc 60:124–128, 2012). The trace amount of impurities detected in the blue halites by means of scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and micro-X-ray fluorescence techniques were connected mainly with solid inclusions such as K _x Na_(1???x)Cl, KMgCl₃·6H₂O, KCl, orthorhombic sulphur, quartz and some other phases like pyrite. Crystallographic data obtained by X-ray diffraction experiments for the single crystals of the halite from K?odawa with different saturation of blue or purple colours, as well as for natural colourless halite, revealed lowering of space-group symmetry to monoclinic, orthorhombic, trigonal, tetragonal or even triclinic systems while the space group typical for pure NaCl is Fm-3m.     

3D numerical models of magnetic field evolution in galaxies interacting with the ICM

A fully three-dimensional (3D) MHD model is applied to simulate the evolution of large-scale magnetic field in galaxies interacting with the intra-cluster medium (ICM). As the model input we use a time dependent velocity field of gas clouds (HI) resulting from 3D N-body sticky-particle model of a galaxy. These clouds are affected by ram pressure due to their rapid motion through the ICM. The gas evolves in an analytically given gravitational potential which includes a dark matter halo, a disk, and a bulge component. We found that due to the interaction with the ICM the resultant magnetic field correctly reproduces the observed structures of the magnetic field forming peculiar spiral arms and magnetic features widely observed in cluster spiral galaxies. This revised version was published online in September 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Toxicity Assessment by Microtox® in Sediments,Pore Waters and Sediment Saline Elutriates in the Gulf of Gdansk (Baltic Sea)

The toxicity of sediments in the Gulf of Gdansk is analyzed in relation to the chemical composition of interstitial and near‐bottom waters, and sediment properties. The toxicity of sediments, pore waters and saline elutriates is determined by using the Microtox® test based on changes in light production of the luminescent bacteria Vibrio fischeri. The results indicate considerable toxicity in the majority of examined sediments. Since the sediment elutriates and pore waters are toxic in some cases, the total toxicity of the sediments is likely to be due to both sediment‐bound and water soluble substances. The sediment toxicity is related to the percentage contribution of the fine fraction of sediments. A significant correlation between the toxicity of the sediments and the black carbon content implies anthropogenic contamination. The toxicity of the sediments is seen to increase with the increase of hydrogen sulfide concentration in pore waters. The ammonia in pore waters was found not to be responsible for the toxicity of the sediments.