Determination of shear strength of conglomerates using a caterpillar D9 ripper and comparison with alternative methods

Summary A method of determining shear strength in Gila Conglomerates at Inspiration Mine (now Cyprus Miami Mine), Arizona, using Caterpillar D9H and D9L rippers is described. The results are compared with data obtained using laboratory direct shear tests — both large and small scale, back analysis and boulder modelling. The significance of scale, particularly relating to boulder size is discussed.     

Long-term evolution of the aerosol debris cloud produced by the 2009 impact on Jupiter

We present a study of the long-term evolution of the cloud of aerosols produced in the atmosphere of Jupiter by the impact of an object on 19 July 2009 (Sánchez-Lavega, A. et al. [2010]. Astrophys. J. 715, L155-L159). The work is based on images obtained during 5 months from the impact to 31 December 2009 taken in visible continuum wavelengths and from 20 July 2009 to 28 May 2010 taken in near-infrared deep hydrogen-methane absorption bands at 2.1-2.3 μm. The impact cloud expanded zonally from ∼5000 km (July 19) to 225,000 km (29 October, about 180° in longitude), remaining meridionally localized within a latitude band from 53.5°S to 61.5°S planetographic latitude. During the first two months after its formation the site showed heterogeneous structure with 500-1000 km sized embedded spots. Later the reflectivity of the debris field became more homogeneous due to clump mergers. The cloud was mainly dispersed in longitude by the dominant zonal winds and their meridional shear, during the initial stages, localized motions may have been induced by thermal perturbation caused by the impact’s energy deposition. The tracking of individual spots within the impact cloud shows that the westward jet at 56.5°S latitude increases its eastward velocity with altitude above the tropopause by 5-10 m s⁻¹. The corresponding vertical wind shear is low, about 1 m s⁻¹ per scale height in agreement with previous thermal wind estimations. We found evidence for discrete localized meridional motions with speeds of 1-2 m s⁻¹. Two numerical models are used to simulate the observed cloud dispersion. One is a pure advection of the aerosols by the winds and their shears. The other uses the EPIC code, a nonlinear calculation of the evolution of the potential vorticity field generated by a heat pulse that simulates the impact. Both models reproduce the observed global structure of the cloud and the dominant zonal dispersion of the aerosols, but not the details of the cloud morphology. The reflectivity of the impact cloud decreased exponentially with a characteristic timescale of 15 days; we can explain this behavior with a radiative transfer model of the cloud optical depth coupled to an advection model of the cloud dispersion by the wind shears. The expected sedimentation time in the stratosphere (altitude levels 5-100 mbar) for the small aerosol particles forming the cloud is 45-200 days, thus aerosols were removed vertically over the long term following their zonal dispersion. No evidence of the cloud was detected 10 months after the impact.     

On helium-like 1s2l−1snl′ transitions in solar flare spectra

Expected wavelengths and intensities are computed for 1s2l–1snl transitions in helium-like ions of the abundant elements from oxygen to iron, under coronal conditions. Probable observations of some of these lines, in the spectra of solar flares, are discussed and attention is called to a possible reversal of singlet and triplet intensities as compared to laboratory observations.     

The fast variable maser source IRAS 05338-0624

A new OH maser was detected in January 2008 toward the infrared source IRAS 05338-0624 in the dark cloud L1641N. The observations were carried out on the Nan cay Radio Telescope (France) in the 1667 and 1665 MHz OH lines. In the spectra of both lines, thermal OH emission from the surrounding molecular cloud is present at radial velocities V _LSR = 6–9 km/s. In addition, a narrow maser feature is present in both lines at V _LSR = 2 km/s in the profiles obtained on January 7, 2008; the peak flux densities at 1667 and 1665 MHz are 1.5 and 0.4 Jy, respectively. No OH maser emission was detected in February–July 2008. Then, a maser feature was again observed in the 1665 MHz line on August 20, 2008, at the same velocity as in January, V _LSR = 2 km/s, with a peak flux density of 0.4 Jy. No 1667 MHz counterpart was observed with an upper limit of ～0.1 Jy. Emission in both OH lines was again absent on September 18. The source was also observed in the H₂O line at λ = 1.35 cm on the 22-m radio telescope of the Pushchino Radio Astronomy Observatory (Russia) on February 7 and 13, 2008. In both cases, a maser feature was detected at V _LSR = 9 km/s, with peak flux densities of 35 and 15 Jy, respectively. After the its apparent absence in April, H₂O maser emission reappeared on May 14, 2008, at V _LSR = 7 km/s with a flux density of about 15 Jy. The history of previous observations of the object in the OH and H₂O lines is traced. The maser displays strong and rapid flux variability in the lines of both molecules, as is typical of young low-luminosity stellar objects at early stages of their evolution.     

Density gradients in Galactic ultra-compact H ii regions

We have used recent radiative transfer solutions for cavity-centred shells to investigate the prevalence of density gradients in Galactic ultra-compact H  ii regions. We find that an analysis of 5 and 1.4 GHz data, taken from the recent compilation of Giveon et al., implies that ∼76 per cent of sources may have appreciable density gradients. It would also seem that the central cavities of these sources must be relatively small, with radii no greater than ∼20 per cent of those of the outer shells. The remainder of these sources are presumably homogenous, have much larger cavities, or possess reverse density gradients (densities which increase with increasing radius). A good fraction of the H  ii regions also appear to have high brightness temperatures, implying mean electron temperatures  〈 T _e〉  of the order of  ≈1.3 × 10⁴ K  . This value is higher than has been determined for other such sources.     

中国南方海相含油气保存单元的层次划分与综合评价

以最近十年中国南方的海相新区油气勘探评价成果为依托 ,以油气成藏和整体封闭保存体系评价为核心 ,在渝东—湘鄂西、中下扬子和滇黔桂三大区域划分出 9个有利区块 5 1个含油气保存单元 ,并将其归纳为四个层次。综合评价认为 ,方西和石柱保存单元具有较好的整体封存体系 ,属持续性含油气保存单元 ,为首选勘探目标 ;江汉盆地南部、句容—海安区块、南鄱阳坳陷、楚雄盆地东北部具备或基本具备整体封存条件 ,属于沉积重建型含油气保存单元 ,通过精细勘探可望获得商业性油气流 ;楚雄盆地西北部、南盘江坳陷、十万大山盆地和渝东—湘鄂西地区利川复向斜由于晚期强烈构造改造而仅存在部分封存体系 ,需要攻关探索 ;思茅、渝东—湘鄂西地区的花果坪和桑植—石门地区已失去整体封闭保存条件 ,仅局部存在封存体系 ,地质条件高度复杂 ,勘探风险甚高。     

PHASE DISTORTION DUE TO ABSORPTION IN SEISMOGRAMS AND VSP*

Absorption of seismic energy in the earth reduces amplitudes and changes phases of the propagating seismic waves. Amplitudes are usually recovered according to an estimated exponential decay curve, while phase distortions are generally disregarded. Therefore, accurate processing of seismic data requires a careful investigation of the relationship between absorption and phases. In this paper a procedure is suggested to achieve this goal, and some related topics are worked out. A method is outlined for computing synthetic seismograms and vertical seismic profiles with phase distortion due to absorption. The algorithm works in the frequency domain, and it provides for absorption according to the usual model of exponential decay of amplitude with distance. The absorption coefficient is a linear function of frequency and is related to the quality factor Q of the rocks. Complex seismic velocities are introduced and minimum-phase delay due to absorption is assumed for all cases considered. Methods for estimating Q profiles from seismic well surveys and seismic data are described. Comparison between field and synthetic data shows the effectiveness and benefits of the procedure. Some applications of the method to phase distortion recovery and wavelet processing are presented.     

Hα Photometry of Two Contact Binaries

We carried out optical and Hα photometry of two contact binaries (V861 Herculis, EQ Tauri). The light curve modeling revealed stellar spots in both contact systems and strong Hα excess in the position of the observed stellar spots. A correlation was found between the V−R and R−H_α colour indices of V861 Her.     

ENCORE: the effect of nutrient enrichment on coral reefs. Synthesis of results and conclusions

Coral reef degradation resulting from nutrient enrichment of coastal waters is of increasing global concern. Although effects of nutrients on coral reef organisms have been demonstrated in the laboratory, there is little direct evidence of nutrient effects on coral reef biota in situ. The ENCORE experiment investigated responses of coral reef organisms and processes to controlled additions of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (N) and/or phosphorus (P) on an offshore reef (One Tree Island) at the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. A multi-disciplinary team assessed a variety of factors focusing on nutrient dynamics and biotic responses. A controlled and replicated experiment was conducted over two years using twelve small patch reefs ponded at low tide by a coral rim. Treatments included three control reefs (no nutrient addition) and three + N reefs (NH4Cl added), three + P reefs (KH2PO4 added), and three + N + P reefs. Nutrients were added as pulses at each low tide (ca twice per day) by remotely operated units. There were two phases of nutrient additions. During the initial, low-loading phase of the experiment nutrient pulses (mean dose = 11.5 microM NH4+; 2.3 microM PO4(-3)) rapidly declined, reaching near-background levels (mean = 0.9 microM NH4+; 0.5 microM PO4(-3)) within 2-3 h. A variety of biotic processes, assessed over a year during this initial nutrient loading phase, were not significantly affected, with the exception of coral reproduction, which was affected in all nutrient treatments. In Acropora longicyathus and A. aspera, fewer successfully developed embryos were formed, and in A. longicyathus fertilization rates and lipid levels decreased. In the second, high-loading, phase of ENCORE an increased nutrient dosage (mean dose = 36.2 microM NH4+; 5.1 microM PO4(-3)) declining to means of 11.3 microM NH4+ and 2.4 microM PO4(-3) at the end of low tide) was used for a further year, and a variety of significant biotic responses occurred. Encrusting algae incorporated virtually none of the added nutrients. Organisms containing endosymbiotic zooxanthellae (corals and giant clams) assimilated dissolved nutrients rapidly and were responsive to added nutrients. Coral mortality, not detected during the initial low-loading phase, became evident with increased nutrient dosage, particularly in Pocillopora damicornis. Nitrogen additions stunted coral growth, and phosphorus additions had a variable effect. Coral calcification rate and linear extension increased in the presence of added phosphorus but skeletal density was reduced, making corals more susceptible to breakage. Settlement of all coral larvae was reduced in nitrogen treatments, yet settlement of larvae from brooded species was enhanced in phosphorus treatments. Recruitment of stomatopods, benthic crustaceans living in coral rubble, was reduced in nitrogen and nitrogen plus phosphorus treatments. Grazing rates and reproductive effort of various fish species were not affected by the nutrient treatments. Microbial nitrogen transformations in sediments were responsive to nutrient loading with nitrogen fixation significantly increased in phosphorus treatments and denitrification increased in all treatments to which nitrogen had been added. Rates of bioerosion and grazing showed no significant effects of added nutrients. ENCORE has shown that reef organisms and processes investigated in situ were impacted by elevated nutrients. Impacts were dependent on dose level, whether nitrogen and/or phosphorus were elevated and were often species-specific. The impacts were generally sub-lethal and subtle and the treated reefs at the end of the experiment were visually similar to control reefs. Rapid nutrient uptake indicates that nutrient concentrations alone are not adequate to assess nutrient condition of reefs. Sensitive and quantifiable biological indicators need to be developed for coral reef ecosystems. The potential bioindicators identified in ENCORE should be tested in future research on coral reef/nutrient interactions. Synergistic and cumulative effects of elevated nutrients and other environmental parameters, comparative studies of intact vs. disturbed reefs, offshore vs. inshore reefs, or the ability of a nutrient-stressed reef to respond to natural disturbances require elucidation. An expanded understanding of coral reef responses to anthropogenic impacts is necessary, particularly regarding the subtle, sub-lethal effects detected in the ENCORE studies.