The STAGES view of red spirals and dusty red galaxies: mass-dependent quenching of star formation in cluster infall

We investigate the properties of optically passive spirals and dusty red galaxies in the A901/2 cluster complex at redshift ∼0.17 using rest-frame near-ultraviolet–optical spectral energy distributions, 24-μm infrared data and Hubble Space Telescope morphologies from the STAGES data set. The cluster sample is based on COMBO-17 redshifts with an rms precision of  σ _cz ≈ 2000 km s⁻¹  . We find that 'dusty red galaxies' and 'optically passive spirals' in A901/2 are largely the same phenomenon, and that they form stars at a substantial rate, which is only four times lower than that in blue spirals at fixed mass. This star formation is more obscured than in blue galaxies and its optical signatures are weak. They appear predominantly in the stellar mass range of  log  M _*/M_⊙=[10, 11]  where they constitute over half of the star-forming galaxies in the cluster; they are thus a vital ingredient for understanding the overall picture of star formation quenching in clusters. We find that the mean specific star formation rate (SFR) of star-forming galaxies in the cluster is clearly lower than in the field, in contrast to the specific SFR properties of blue galaxies alone, which appear similar in cluster and field. Such a rich red spiral population is best explained if quenching is a slow process and morphological transformation is delayed even more. At  log  M _*/M_⊙ < 10  , such galaxies are rare, suggesting that their quenching is fast and accompanied by morphological change. We note that edge-on spirals play a minor role; despite being dust reddened they form only a small fraction of spirals independent of environment.     

A search for amino acids and nucleobases in the Martian meteorite Roberts Massif 04262 using liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry

The investigation into whether Mars contains signatures of past or present life is of great interest to science and society. Amino acids and nucleobases are compounds that are essential for all known life on Earth and are excellent target molecules in the search for potential Martian biomarkers or prebiotic chemistry. Martian meteorites represent the only samples from Mars that can be studied directly in the laboratory on Earth. Here, we analyzed the amino acid and nucleobase content of the shergottite Roberts Massif (RBT) 04262 using liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry. We did not detect any nucleobases above our detection limit in formic acid extracts; however, we did measure a suite of protein and nonprotein amino acids in hot‐water extracts with high relative abundances of β‐alanine and γ‐amino‐n‐butyric acid. The presence of only low (to absent) levels of several proteinogenic amino acids and a lack of nucleobases suggest that this meteorite fragment is fairly uncontaminated with respect to these common biological compounds. The distribution of straight‐chained amine‐terminal n‐ω‐amino acids in RBT 04262 resembled those previously measured in thermally altered carbonaceous meteorites (Burton et al. 2012; Chan et al. 2012). A carbon isotope ratio of ?24‰ ± 6‰ for β‐alanine in RBT 04262 is in the range of reduced organic carbon previously measured in Martian meteorites (Steele et al. 2012). The presence of n‐ω‐amino acids may be due to a high temperature Fischer‐Tropsch‐type synthesis during igneous processing on Mars or impact ejection of the meteorites from Mars, but more experimental data are needed to support these hypotheses.     

Two types of extremely short lasting decimetric bursts and their possible relation to processes in solar magnetic traps

High resolution spectral observations between 500 MHz and 550 MHz on 1972 October 25, revealed an emission event of special interest. The main feature was bursts with a single frequency duration of about 0.09 s and with a bandwidth of the same order of magnitude as the band covered by the spectrograph. The bursts occurred in showers' which lasted for one or two minutes and which were separated by quiet intervals of roughly the same length. Frequently the activity assumed a periodic nature. Periods between 0.1 s and 0.3 s were found. The most remarkable feature of the records was a very large number of bursts with the same duration as the wide band bursts, but showing a bandwidth of a mere 1–2 MHz.The wide band bursts may be plasma waves excited by proton streams trapped in coronal magnetic fields and the narrow band bursts may possibly be explained as perpendicular electrostatic electron cyclotron waves.     

Flow patterns of lobate debris aprons and lineated valley fill north of Ismeniae Fossae, Mars: Evidence for extensive mid-latitude glaciation in the Late Amazonian

A variety of Late Amazonian landforms on Mars have been attributed to the dynamics of ice-related processes. Evidence for large-scale, mid-latitude glacial episodes existing within the last 100 million to 1 billion years on Mars has been presented from analyses of lobate debris aprons (LDA) and lineated valley fill (LVF) in the northern and southern mid-latitudes. We test the glacial hypothesis for LDA and LVF along the dichotomy boundary in the northern mid-latitudes by examining the morphological characteristics of LDA and LVF surrounding two large plateaus, proximal massifs, and the dichotomy boundary escarpment north of Ismeniae Fossae (centered at 45.3°N and 39.2°E). Lineations and flow directions within LDA and LVF were mapped using images from the Context (CTX) camera, the Thermal Emission Imaging Spectrometer (THEMIS), and the High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC). Flow directions were then compared to topographic contours derived from the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA) to determine the down-gradient components of LDA and LVF flow. Observations indicate that flow patterns emerge from numerous alcoves within the plateau walls, are integrated over distances of up to tens of kilometers, and have down-gradient flow directions. Smaller lobes confined within alcoves and superposed on the main LDA and LVF represent a later, less extensive glacial phase. Crater size-frequency distributions of LDA and LVF suggest a minimum (youngest) age of 100 Ma. The presence of ring-mold crater morphologies is suggestive that LDA and LVF are formed of near-surface ice-rich bodies. From these observations, we interpret LDA and LVF within our study region to result from formerly active debris-covered glacial flow, consistent with similar observations in the northern mid-latitudes of Mars. Glacial flow was likely initiated from the accumulation and compaction of snow and ice on plateaus and in alcoves within the plateau walls as volatiles were mobilized to the mid-latitudes during higher obliquity excursions. Together with similar analyses elsewhere along the dichotomy boundary, these observations suggest that multiple glacial episodes occurred in the Late Amazonian and that LDA and LVF represent significant reservoirs of non-polar ice sequestered below a surface lag for hundreds of millions of years.     

TEMPORAL TRENDS IN SOIL PRODUCTIVITY EVALUATIONS*

Studies of soil productivity must compensate for the effects of temporal trends in order to examine the pattern of crop yields along spatial gradients. An analysis of the published yield estimates for 30 soils in 233 counties, however, did not find consistent yield increases over the past three decades. On the contrary, the yield estimates for many soils were markedly uniform since 1972. The uniformity appears to have two causes: the acknowledged difficulty of making yield estimates in a time of increasing variability in soil and crop management, both within and between regions, and surveyors' awareness of data stored in a national soils data base. The effect is to cast doubt on soil productivity data reported in county soil surveys published between 1973 and 1988.     

AN EVALUATION OF SAS/GRAPH SOFTWARE FOR COMPUTER CARTOGRAPHY1

The SAS® computer software system, widely used and respected for its capabilities in statistical analysis and data base management, now includes a new set of graphic and cartographic procedures called SAS GRAPH?. We have used these cartographic procedures in research on mapping ethno-cultural census data from metropolitan areas in Ontario and in undergraduate and graduate courses in computer cartography. On the basis of that experience, we describe and evaluate SAS/GRAPH'S cartographic capabilities and illustrate with maps drawn by various devices.     

The dark matter environment of the Abell 901/902 supercluster: a weak lensing analysis of the HST STAGES survey

We present a high-resolution dark matter reconstruction of the   z = 0.165  Abell 901/902 supercluster from a weak lensing analysis of the Hubble Space Telescope STAGES survey. We detect the four main structures of the supercluster at high significance, resolving substructure within and between the clusters. We find that the distribution of dark matter is well traced by the cluster galaxies, with the brightest cluster galaxies marking out the strongest peaks in the dark matter distribution. We also find a significant extension of the dark matter distribution of Abell 901a in the direction of an infalling X-ray group Abell 901α. We present mass, mass-to-light and mass-to-stellar mass ratio measurements of the structures and substructures that we detect. We find no evidence for variation of the mass-to-light and mass-to-stellar mass ratio between the different clusters. We compare our space-based lensing analysis with an earlier ground-based lensing analysis of the supercluster to demonstrate the importance of space-based imaging for future weak lensing dark matter 'observations'.     

Geochronology of upper Tertiary volcanic activity in the Andes of north Chile

25 new K-Ar data are presented for Upper Cenozoic andesites and ignimbrites from the Andes of north Chile between 20° 30 S and 22° 30 S. The original simple volcanic stratigraphy of andesites overlying ignimbrites has been refined. A more complicated stratigraphy, with some andesites predating the ignimbrites, is described. The sequence and timing of volcanic events differ along the length of the north Chilean Andes. Ages of the earliest widespread ignimbrite eruptions range from 21 m. y. to 10 m. y., in different segments of the volcanic chain. The existence of two large acid extrusives of Quaternary age suggests that generation of acid magmas has continued until recently.

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Zusammenfassung 25 neue K-Ar-Daten von känozoischen Andesiten und Ignimbriten der nordchilenischen Anden zwischen 20° 30 S und 22° 30 S werden vorgestellt. Die ursprünglich einfache Stratigraphie — Andesite überlagern Ignimbrite — wurde verfeinert, und eine komplexere Stratigraphie, bei der einige Andesite älter sind als die Ignimbrite, wird beschrieben. Die Reihenfolge und der zeitliche Ablauf vulkanischer Tätigkeit sind in den nordchilenischen Anden komplex. Die ältesten ausgedehnten Ignimbritdecken reichen in den verschiedenen Abschnitten der Vulkanzone von 21 bis 10 Mio. Jahre. Das Vorhandensein von zwei großen sauren quartären Extrusionszyklen läßt vermuten, daß die Bildung von sauren Magmen bis in die Gegenwart andauerte.

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Resumen Se presentan 25 nuevas edades radiométricas de lavas y ignimbritas Cenozoicas de los Andes del Norte Chileno, entre los meridianos 20° 30 S y 22° 30 S. La estratigrafía primera de las rocas volcanicas (las lavas sobre las ignimbritas) se ha refinado. Se describe una estratigrafia mas complicada, en que algunas lavas antedatan las ignimbritas. La sucesión y las edades de los eventos volcanicos diferen a lo largo de los Andes del Norte Chileno. Las edades de las erupciones mas tempranas y extensivas varian entre 21 M. a. y 10 M. a. en segmentas diferentes de la zona volcanica. La existencia de dos grandes derrames acidos de edad cuaternaria sugere que la producción de magmas acidas continuó hasta el tiempo reciente.

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Résumé On présente 25 valeurs nouvelles sur l'âge radiométrique des andésites et des ignimbrites du Cénozoïque supérieur des Andes du nord du Chili entre les latitudes 20° 30 et 22° 30 S. L'ancienne stratigraphie simplifiée où les andésites surmontent les ignimbrites a été révisée, et remplacée par une stratigraphie plus compliquée où quelques andéseites précèdent les ignimbrites. La succession et la chronologie des éruptions volcaniques diffèrent le long des Andes du nord du Chili. Dans les différentes parties de la chaîne volcanique, l'âge des premières grandes eruptions d'ignimbrites varie entre 21 et 10 M. a. La présence de deux grandes coulées acides d'âge quaternaire permet de supposer que des magmas acides continuent à se former.

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