Development of the Emulsion Chamber Detector for Space Observations

The emulsion chamber detector on board the “ShiJian-8” satellite is the first one in China designed especially for observing in space the highenergy electrons and γ-rays. In this paper, the principle of the detector design, the method of data processing and the preliminary results of observations are introduced. The design lifetime of the detector is 15 days on the orbit, and the energy range of detectable particles is 100GeV∼5TeV.     

High-time resolution AMS C data sets for Lake Baikal and Lake Hovsgol sediment cores: Changes in radiocarbon age and sedimentation rates during the transition from the last glacial to the Holocene

High-time resolution ¹⁴C dating of Lake Baikal sediment cores indicates negative and positive anomalies of calculated linear sedimentation rate (LSR; 1.1 and 35.6 cm/ka, respectively) during the period of climate transition from the last glacial to Holocene. The timing of the Lake Baikal apparent LSR anomalies is consistent with that of the changes in the atmospheric radiocarbon concentration (Δ¹⁴C) during Younger Dryas rapid cooling event. ¹⁴C dating of lipids in the Lake Baikal surface sediments revealed that the sources of sedimentary lipids were different in each basin. In the Northern Basin of Lake Baikal, the ¹⁴C age of total lipids from the surface sediment (4.0 ¹⁴C ka) was found to be older than that of TOC (1.6 ¹⁴C ka). By contrast, the ¹⁴C age of total lipids in the Southern Basin was younger than that of the TOC by ca. 0.7–3.0 ka.In the Lake Hovsgol sediment cores, ages of the main lithologic boundaries during the last glacial–interglacial transition were estimated based on new ¹⁴C data sets. TOC concentration in the cores started to rapidly increase at 13.8 ± 0.3 ¹⁴C ka at the base of the basinwide finely laminated layer deposited during Bølling/Allerød. The base of the layer diatomaceous mud corresponds to the end of Younger Dryas event (10.6 ± 0.1 ¹⁴C ka).     

A mathematical model of trace element and isotopic behavior during simultaneous assimilation and imperfect fractional crystallization

The process of coupled assimilation and fractional crystallization (AFC) is one of the most popular petrogenetic concepts that explains magmatic differentiation. Conventional geochemical models for this process assume that crystals are removed instantaneously from the magma body as they are produced; however, recent advances in isotopic microanalysis have clarified that the crystals are suspended within the magma body for a certain period, affecting the whole-rock composition in response to the intra-grain isotopic zoning. This study develops a mass balance model for simultaneous assimilation and imperfect fractional crystallization (AIFC) to describe the effects of suspended crystals on the path of magma evolution. The mass balance differential equations for the liquid and suspended crystals are solved simultaneously. The analytical solution of the AIFC equations gives a quantitative account of the evolution paths of trace elements and isotopes within bulk crystals, liquid, and magma (crystals plus liquid). The chemical path of the magma differs markedly from that predicted by the conventional AFC model.     

空间乳胶室探测器的研制

"实践八号"乳胶室探测器是我国首次用于空间观测高能电子及伽玛射线的乳胶 室探测器.介绍"实践八号"乳胶室探测器的设计原理、数据分析方法、设计过程和初步 观测结果等."实践八号"乳胶室探测器空间观测时间为15天,可探测的粒子能量范围为 100GeV～5TeV.     

A Portable Membrane Contactor Sampler for Analysis of Noble Gases in Groundwater

To enable a wider use of dissolved noble gas concentrations and isotope ratios in groundwater studies, we have developed an efficient and portable sampling device using a commercially available membrane contactor. The device separates dissolved gases from a stream of water and collects them in a small copper tube (6 mm in diameter and 100 mm in length with two pinch‐off clamps) for noble gas analysis by mass spectrometry. We have examined the performance of the sampler using a tank of homogeneous water prepared in the laboratory and by field testing. We find that our sampling device can extract heavier noble gases (Ar, Kr, and Xe) more efficiently than the lighter ones (He and Ne). An extraction time of about 60 min at a flow rate of 3 L/min is sufficient for all noble gases extracted in the sampler to attain equilibrium with the dissolved phase. The extracted gas sample did not indicate fractionation of helium (³He/⁴He) isotopes or other noble gas isotopes. Field performance of the sampling device was tested using a groundwater well in Vienna and results were in excellent agreement with those obtained from the conventional copper tube sampling method.     

A new method of evaluating the mineralization of particulate and dissolved photoassimilated organic matter

A new method of evaluating the rate of mineralization of photoassimilated organic matter is described. This method enables us to compare the rate of direct mineralization of particulate organic carbon (POC) to CO₂ with the rate of solubilization of photoassimilated organic carbon followed by the mineralization of the resultant dissolved organic carbon (DOC) under the same conditions. The direct mineralization of photoassimilated carbon from POC to CO₂ is a more significant process compared with the mineralization of extracellular released organic carbon. The first-order rate coefficients range from 0.132 to 0.434 day^–1 for direct mineralization and 0.034 to 0.189 day^–1 for solubilization.     

Numerical experiment for strontium-90 and cesium-137 in the Japan Sea

A numerical experiment is carried out to reproduce distribution of concentration of ⁹⁰Sr and ¹³⁷Cs, estimate their total amount and verify their source in the Japan Sea. Model results are in good agreement with observational findings in the Japan Sea expeditions between 1997 and 2002 by the Japan Atomic Energy Agency. Vertical profiles of the concentration of ⁹⁰Sr and ¹³⁷Cs show exponential decreases with depth from the sea surface to the sea bottom. From the model and observational results, it is suggested that the concentration of ⁹⁰Sr and ¹³⁷Cs in the surface layer is approximately in the range of 1.0–1.5 Bq/m³ and 2.0–2.5 Bq/m3, respectively. On the other hand, it is found that the concentration in the intermediate and deep layer is higher than that observed in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, suggesting active winter convection in the Japan Sea. The total amount of ⁹⁰Sr and ¹³⁷Cs in the seawater is evaluated to be 1.34 × 10¹⁵ Bq and 2.02 × 10¹⁵ Bq, respectively, in the numerical experiment, which demonstrates an estimation by observational data obtained in the Japan Sea expeditions. The total amount of ⁹⁰Sr and ¹³⁷Cs changed during the second half of 20th century corresponding to deposition at the sea surface with the maximums of 4.86 × 10¹⁵ Bq for ⁹⁰Sr and 7.33 × 10¹⁵ Bq for ¹³⁷Cs, respectively, in the mid-1960s. The numerical experiment suggests that the main source of ⁹⁰Sr and ¹³⁷Cs has been global fallout, although there have been some potential sources in the Japan Sea.     

近岸波生流数值计算的一种新方法

运用Hardy-Cross法的基本原理建立了一种波生流计算的数值模型.本方法在维持计算稳定性方面表现出色,解决了以往的计算方法所存在的计算不稳定的根本缺陷,但是运用这一方法进行实际问题计算时还明显存在计算收敛缓慢的现象,对此,在探讨计算收敛原因的基础上,提出了同心矩形回路补正、粗网格计算初始值等对策.运用这些对策成功地提高了计算的效率和精度.最后通过计算例验证表明,运用本方法既能有效地维持计算的稳定,又能有效地解决局部缓和法所固有的计算效率低的问题,从而为研究和预测海岸工程对地形及环境变化影响问题提供了合理、实用的方法.     

A new method to detect viable bacteria in natural seawater using 16SrRNA oligonucleotide probe

Fluorescent oligonucleotide probes were used to detectVibrio cholerae directly under epifluorescence microscope. The probe which is complementary to the specific 16SrRNA sequence ofVibrio cholerae was labelled with Texas-Red, whereas the universal probe was labelled with Fluorescein. These probes allowed the distinctionVibrio cholerae from other eubacteria under the same microscopic field. In order to detect and enumerate specific bacteria in natural seawater, this method was combined with the direct viable count (DVC) technique. The combined method increased intracellular rRNA levels in the sample, and made it possible to detect the target bacteria with the specific gene probe. The applicability of this new method was confirmed both for the laboratory mixed culture system and natural seawater.