Another look at theR-modes

Possible oscillation modes for a rotating star are listed. The only assumption made is that oscillations are adiabatic and that rotation is uniform. It is found that two modes not present for non-rotating stars are possible. Oscillation frequencies of these modes are rather different from those given in the literature for so-calledr-modes.     

The Nyquist frequency for irregularly spaced time-series: a calculation formula

Eyer & Bartholdi showed that the Nyquist frequency of irregularly sampled time-series can be very high. In this paper, a calculation formula for the Nyquist frequency is presented. In practice there is an upper limit of 0.5/Δ on this frequency, where Δ is the best accuracy with which time is recorded.     

The Pleistocene palaeoenvironment and stratigraphy of Flatey island (northern Iceland): a preliminary assessment based on palynomorphs

For the first time, palynological data (pollen, spores and dinoflagellate cysts) from Pleistocene outcrop and core deposits from Flatey, off northern Iceland, are presented. The study provides a reconnaissance stratigraphical assessment of the deposits, the correlation between the Pleistocene of Flatey and the well‐known Tjörnes section on the mainland, and the reconstruction of the Pleistocene palaeoenvironment. The preservation of the assemblages is poor to moderate, whereas the diversity and richness are moderate to high. The pollen and spores indicate vegetation composed mainly of sedges and heath, comparable to the vegetation in the Tjörnes area during deposition of the Pleistocene Breidavík Group. Analysis of dinoflagellate cyst assemblages from an outcrop sample allowed their assignment to the Lower Pleistocene dinoflagellate cyst zone DAZ5, previously defined in the Tjörnes section. A core sample yielded a dinoflagellate cyst assemblage unknown from the Tjörnes area. The dinoflagellate cyst data combined with the palaeomagnetic record, the radiometric dating of lavas, and the position of the diamictites and tuff layers allowed refinement of the previously proposed stratigraphical correlations between the Tjörnes area and the Flatey core. The deposition of the sequence from the Flatey core took place during the Matuyama, i.e. between 2.59 and 0.78 Ma, and several hiatuses are postulated. The Lower Pleistocene dinoflagellate cyst assemblages from the outcrop sample bear similarities to those recovered from fully marine subsurface samples on the northern shelf of Iceland within the Polar Front realm. Similar oceanographical conditions influenced by the Irminger Current and the East Icelandic Current can be inferred for Early Pleistocene times.     

The rapidly pulsating sdO star, SDSS J160043.6+074802.9

A spectroscopic analysis of Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) J160043.6+074802.9, a binary system containing a pulsating subdwarf-O (sdO) star with a late-type companion, yields   T _eff= 70 000 ± 5000 K  and  log  g = 5.25 ± 0.30  , together with a most likely type of K3 V for the secondary star. We compare our results with atmospheric parameters derived by Fontaine et al. and in the context of existing evolution models for sdO stars. New and more extensive photometry is also presented which recovers most, but not all, frequencies found in an earlier paper. Therefore, it seems probable that some pulsation modes have variable amplitudes. A non-adiabatic pulsation analysis of uniform metallicity sdO models show those having  log  g > 5.3  to be more likely to be unstable and capable of driving pulsation in the observed frequency range.     

Abundance and size distribution of transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) in a coccolithophorid bloom in the northern Bay of Biscay

The distribution of transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) was investigated during a coccolithophorid bloom in the northern Bay of Biscay (North Atlantic Ocean) in early June 2006. MODIS chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) and reflectance images before and during the cruise were used to localize areas of important biological activity and high reflectance (HR). TEP profiles along the continental margin, determined using microscopic (TEP_micro) and colorimetric (TEP_color) methods, showed abundant (6.1×10⁶–4.4×10⁷ L^?1) and relatively small (0.5–20 μm) particles, leading to a low total volume fraction (0.05–2.2 ppm) of TEP_micro and similar vertical profiles of TEP_color. Estimates of carbon content in TEP (TEP-C) derived from the microscopic approach yielded surface concentration of 1.50 μmol C L^?1. The contribution of TEP-C to particulate organic carbon (POC) was estimated to be 12% (molar C ratio) during this survey. Our results suggest that TEP formation is a probable first step to rapid and efficient export of C during declining coccolithophorid blooms.