On the Origin of the Tektites

The conclusion that tektite falls were restricted in time to an earlier era in Earth history is supported by all known facts, in particular, by the results of critical examinations of various reported falls, including 2 australite falls described not long ago by the late Dr. E. S. Simpson. On the contrary, if the tektites originate as “lunar impactites,” as Dr. H. H. Nininger has recently suggested, it seems evident that they would have continued to fall onto the Earth right up to the present time. Furthermore, the probability that the distribution of “lunar impactite” falls over the Earth's surface would exhibit the alinement along 3 great circles, which is characteristic of all known tektite deposits, is vanishingly small.     

Holocene hydrological changes in south-western Mediterranean as recorded by lake-level fluctuations at Lago Preola,a coastal lake in southern Sicily,Italy

This paper presents a high-resolution lake-level record for the Holocene at Lago Preola (Sicily, southern Italy) based on a specific sedimentological approach, with a chronology derived from AMS radiocarbon dates. It gives evidence of three major successive palaeohydrological periods, with (1) a pronounced dryness during the early Holocene until ca 10300 cal BP, (2) a highstand from ca 10300 to 4500 cal BP, and (3) a marked lowstand from 4500 cal BP to present. Large amplitude lake-level fluctuations characterise two transition phases at ca 10300–9000 and 6400–4500 cal BP. Period 2 was interrupted between 8300 and 7000 cal BP by a dry phase that was punctuated to ca 7300 cal BP by the deposition of a tephra from neighbouring Pantelleria Island. Comparisons of the Preola record with other palaeohydrological records along north–south and west–east transects in the Mediterranean show contrasting patterns of hydrological changes: north (south) of around 40°N latitude, the records highlight a mid-Holocene period characterised by lake-level minima (maxima). Humid mid-Holocene conditions over the Mediterranean south of 40°N were probably linked to a strong weakening of the Hadley cell circulation and of monsoon winds. We suggest that the maximum of humidity in the Mediterranean during the mid-Holocene was characterised by humid winters to the north of 40°N and humid summers to the south. On a multi-centennial scale, the high-resolution palaeohydrological reconstructions in the central Mediterranean area reveal a strong climate reversal around 4500–4000 cal BP, with contrasting changes in the hydrological cycle. In addition to seasonal and inter-hemispherical changes related to orbital forcing, this major oscillation might be related to non-linear responses of the climatic system to the gradual decrease in summer insolation at northern latitudes. Another major climate oscillation around 7500–7000 cal BP may have resulted from the combined effects of (1) a strong rate of change in insolation, and (2) variations in solar activity. Finally, comparisons of the Preola lake-level record with Sicilian pollen records suggest a strong influence of moisture availability on vegetation development in Sicily. Very dry early Holocene conditions probably prevented the expansion of coastal evergreen forests, while decreasing moisture availability since the onset of the late Holocene may have exacerbated effects of intensive land-use.     

Of sand and mud: Sedimentological criteria for identifying the turbidity maximum zone in a tidally influenced river

The thickness and lateral distribution of sand and mud beds and bedsets on channel bars from the tidally influenced Fraser River, British Columbia, Canada, are quantitatively assessed. Fifty‐six vibracores totalling ca 114 m of vertical section are used to tabulate bed thicknesses. Statistical calculations are undertaken for nine channel bars ranging from the freshwater and tidal zone, to the sustained brackish water and tidal zone. The data reveal that thickness trends can be organized into three groups that broadly correspond to time‐averaged hydrodynamic and salinity conditions in the various distributary channels. Thick sand beds (up to 30 cm) and thin mud beds (up to 5 cm) characterize the freshwater tidal zone. The tidal and freshwater to brackish‐water transition zone comprises thin sands (up to 10 cm) and thicker muds (up to 19 cm), and the sustained brackish water tidal zone consists of thin muds (up to 6 cm) with relatively thicker sands (up to 25 cm). The results suggest that the locus of mud deposition occurs in the tidal freshwater to brackish‐water zone, probably reflecting mud flocculation and deposition at the turbidity maximum. Landward of the turbidity maximum, mud deposition is linked to tidal influence (tidal backwater effect and reverse eddy currents on channel margins) as mud beds thin in the landward direction. These results support the hypothesis that mud deposition is greatest at the turbidity maximum and decreases in both the seaward and landward direction. This study also showcases that mud‐bed thicknesses are greatest towards the turbidity maximum and thin in both the landward and seaward direction. In the rock record, the apex of mud deposition probably marks the position of the palaeo‐turbidity maximum.     

Wind-induced salt-wedge intrusion in the Tiber river mouth (Rome–Central Italy)

The wind effect on river water quality was illustrated by means of thermohaline measurements carried out in the Tiber River in May 2012. The survey was carried out using a boat, in stations located in the two Tiber branches: Fiumara Grande and Traiano Canal. Thermohaline variables (salinity and temperature) were used to describe the water-type patterns and to define the salt-wedge position. Although the river flow rate was rather high, saltwater intrusion happened. Wind data suggested that the more probable cause of salt-wedge intrusion was the wind action. Especially wind speeds higher than 4 m/s are able to dominate the sea current at surface layers, determining an increase in the sea level. Therefore, westerly winds determined a seawater inflow in the river mouths.     

Exploring the use of alternative groundwater models to understand the hydrogeological flow processes in an alluvial context (Tiber River, Rome, Italy)

The first step of the application of a groundwater model to a specific site is the identification of the conceptual model. In this paper, a methodology to compare different conceptual models is proposed. Such a method consists in the parallel run of simple groundwater models, based on different conceptual models and in the evaluation of each model fitting. The case study proposed to illustrate this approach belongs to the alluvial series of the Tiber River (Rome, Italy).     

Titan's corona: The contribution of exothermic chemistry

The contribution of exothermic ion and neutral chemistry to Titan's corona is studied. The production rates for fast neutrals N₂, CH₄, H, H₂, ³CH₂, CH₃, C₂H₄, C₂H₅, C₂H₆, N(⁴S), NH, and HCN are determined using a coupled ion and neutral model of Titan's upper atmosphere. After production, the formation of the suprathermal particles is modeled using a two-stream simulation, as they travel simultaneously through a thermal mixture of N₂, CH₄, and H₂. The resulting suprathermal fluxes, hot density profiles, and energy distributions are compared to the N₂ and CH₄ INMS exospheric data presented in [De La Haye, V., Waite Jr., J.H., Johnson, R.E., Yelle, R.V., Cravens, T.E., Luhmann, J.G., Kasprzak, W.T., Gell, D.A., Magee, B., Leblanc, F., Michael, M., Jurac, S., Robertson, I.P., 2007. J. Geophys. Res., doi:10.1029/2006JA012222, in press], and are found insufficient for producing the suprathermal populations measured. Global losses of nitrogen atoms and carbon atoms in all forms due to exothermic chemistry are estimated to be and .     

Diagnostics,deterioration and provenance of stone materials from the Jefferson Page tomb (Non-Catholic Cemetery of Rome,Italy)

The monumental tomb of Jefferson Page, an officer in the American Navy, was built in 1899 and is located in the Non-Catholic Cemetery of Rome (Italy). This study presents complementary diagnostic studies characterizing the stone of the tomb and the weathering and decay phenomena it has undergone. The monument is made of a single type of whitish marble, variously veined and often covered with black patinas. Petrographic, isotopic and LA-ICP-MS analyses attribute the marble to the Carrara district. SEM/EDS and microbiological analyses indicate that the black patinas are due to cyanobacterial autotrophic and fungin heterotrophic colonization. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy revealed the presence of organic material on some portions of the tomb, due to undocumented restoration carried out with a mixture of marble powder and a polyester resin.     

Postface et résumés

Sans résumé     

1961-2012年6-8月内蒙古降水异常及环流特征分析

利用内蒙古自治区100个站1961-2012年6-8月各月降水量资料,以降水距平百分率划分了单站和全区各月的多、少雨年份,分析了6-8月全区多雨和少雨站点百分率变化特征。针对异常多雨和少雨年份,探讨了同期北半球欧亚地区大气环流的分布特征。结果表明：8月降水存在减少趋势,6月和7月则主要表现为阶段性多（少）雨,且少雨年多于多雨年。在多雨月份,100hPa高度场上,欧亚中高纬度呈径向环流分布,极涡较弱。其中,6月为两槽一脊型,内蒙古位于高压脊区前部,7、8月为两脊一槽型,内蒙古位于高压脊区后部;500 hPa高度场上,6月,亚洲区主要表现为变形场,内蒙古处于锋生区,或是亚洲中高纬度环流为两脊一槽型,内蒙古处于两高之间的宽广低槽中, 7月、8月欧亚中高纬度环流主要表现为东高西低,内蒙古自治区位于低压槽区中;850hPa流场图上内蒙古为气旋性切变区域或为风场辐合区域控制。在少雨月份,100hPa和500hPa高度场上,欧亚中高纬度呈纬向环流分布,极涡较强,内蒙古位于南亚高压北边的正距平区域;850hPa流场图上表现为弱的风场特征,无明显的水汽输送。