Interferometric Observation at Mid-Infrared Wave-lengths with MIDI

MIDI, the MID-Infrared Interferometricnterferometric Instrument for ESO's Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI), will be the first instrument for combining mid-infrared light directly in order to obtain angular resolution up to 10 mas (assuming a 200 m baseline) in a wavelength range from 8 to 13 μm. Currently in the phase of commissioning at Paranal, the start of its scientific operation is expected for summer 2003. Direct interferometry at thermal infrared wavelengths demands special requirements on the instrument and also on the procedures of preparation of data reduction. Hereafter MIDI's different observing modes are described and an example for an interferometric observation is given. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

MIDI – the 10 μm instrument on the VLTI

After more than five years of preparation, the mid-infrared interferometric instrument MIDI has been transported to Paranal where it will undergo testing and commissioning on theVery Large Telescope Interferometer VLTI from the end of 2002through large part of this year 2003. Thereafter it will be available as a user instrument to perform interferometric observations over the8 μm–13 μm wavelength range, with a spatial resolution of typically 20 milliarcsec, a spectral resolution of up to 250, and an anticipated point source sensitivity of N = 3–4 mag or 1–2.5 Jy for self –fringe tracking, which will be the only observing mode during the first months of operation. We describe the layout of the instrument, laboratory tests, and expected performance, both for broadband and spectrally resolved observing modes. We also briefly outline the planned guaranteed time observations. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Fast exhumation of the ultrahigh-pressure Alpe Arami garnet peridotite (Central Alps, Switzerland): constraints from geospeedometry and thermal modelling

Previous studies suggest that the metamorphic evolution of the ultrahigh‐pressure garnet peridotite from Alpe Arami was characterized by rapid subduction to a depth of c. 180 km with partial chemical equilibration at c. 5.9 Gpa/1180 °C and an initial stage of near‐isothermal decompression followed by enhanced cooling. In this study, average cooling rates were constrained by diffusion modelling on retrograde Fe–Mg zonation profiles across garnet porphyroclasts. Considering the effects of temperature, pressure and garnet bulk composition on the Fe–Mg interdiffusion coefficient, cooling rates of 380–1600 °C Myr^?1 for the interval from 1180 to 800 °C were obtained. Similar or even higher average cooling rates resulted from thermal modelling, whereby the characteristics of the calculated temperature‐time path depend on the shape and size of the hot peridotite body and the boundary conditions of the cooling process. The very high cooling rates obtained from both geospeedometry and thermal modelling imply extremely fast exhumation rates of c. 15 mm yr^?1 or more. These results agree with the range of exhumation rates (16–50 mm yr^?1) deduced from geochronological results. It is suggested that the Alpe Arami peridotite passively returned towards the surface as part of a buoyant sliver, caused as a consequence of slab breakoff.     

Bedform patterns, subglacial meltwater events, and Late Devensian ice sheet dynamics in north-central Ireland

Glacial bedform patterns and sediments deposited by the temperate and polythermal Late Devensian ice sheet in north-central Ireland record changes in the processes, location, and magnitude of subglacial meltwater throughout the last full glacial cycle (21–14 ¹⁴C kyear BP). Meltwater characteristics are related directly to basal ice thermal regime and ice dynamics, including ice velocity and shifts in the location of ice centres. Therefore, reconstructed meltwater characteristics may provide insight into wider controls on dynamic ice behaviour. A range of meltwater-related features are present across north-central Ireland. These include tunnel valleys, drumlin leeside sequences, eskers, and boulder lags. Other bedforms including Rogen moraines were modified by meltwater activity along ice streams. Meltwater was stored subglacially in two contrasting regions located beneath or near ice centres in north-central Ireland. (1) The Lough Erne Basin is developed in a lowland depression occupied partly by subglacial Rogen moraine ridges which were formed around the time of the last glacial maximum. Meltwater was stored between Rogen ridge crests and released by hydraulic jacking associated with drumlinisation (16.6 ¹⁴C kyear BP) and ice streaming (13.8 ¹⁴C kyear BP). (2) The Lough Neagh Basin occupies a similar lowland depression and was the location of an ice sheet centre throughout the last glacial cycle. No bedforms are present beneath or immediately surrounding Lough Neagh. A larger, more continuous meltwater lake existed in the Lough Neagh depression, probably sealed by a region of cold-based ice outside lake margins. Water escaped through regional-scale tunnel valleys, particularly the Poyntzpass channel which was active during the Carlingford ice readvance (Killard Stadial, correlated with Heinrich event 1 at 14.5 ¹⁴C kyear BP). Overall, reconstructed subglacial lake characteristics and drainage mechanisms are related closely to basal ice thermal regime and substrate relief (controlling lake geometry), and provide insight into controls on overall ice sheet dynamics.     

FRAME DESIGN OF REMOTE SENSING MONITORING FOR VOLCANIC ACTIVITIES IN CHANGBAI MOUNTAINS

Volcanic eruption is one of the most serious geological disasters, however, a host of facts have proven that the Changbai Mountains volcano is a modem dormant one and has ever erupted disastrously. With the rapid development of remote sensing technology, space monitoring of volcanic activities has already become possible, particularly in the application of thermal infrared remote sensing. The paper, through the detailed analysis of geothermal anomaly factors such as heat radiation, heat conduction and convection, depicts the monitoring principles by which volcano activities would be monitored efficiently and effectively. Reasons for abrupt geothermal anomaly are mainly analyzed, and transmission mechanism of geothermal anomaly in the volcanic regions is explained. Also, a variety of noises disturbing the transmission of normal geothermal anomaly are presented. Finally, some clues are given based on discussing thermal infrared remote sensing monitoring mechanism toward the volcanic areas.     

nhanced Destriping of Satellite Data of Ice Surface in Antarctica

This paper briefly reviews the cause of the striping and then develops a tapered (Chebwin & Kaiser) window finite impulse response (FIR) filter and a constrained least squares FIR filter by reason of the striping of ASTER satellite data . Both filters minimize the stripes in the visible data and simultaneously minimize any distortion in the filtered data. Finally, the results obtained by using these new filtering methods are quantitatively compared with those produced by other destriping methods.     

南海北部陆架区海域深水金线鱼的产卵场

根据 1997年 12月至 1999年 6月在南海北部陆架区海域进行的底拖网渔业资源调查的资料 ,统计分析了南海北部陆架区海域深水金线鱼性腺成熟期的组成及分布、季节性变化和水深变化规律。结果表明 ,南海北部陆架区海域深水金线鱼的产卵场位于广东沿海水深 6 0～ 15 0m海区 ,尤其是珠江口外海区的群体更为密集 ;该生殖群体的产卵期较长 ,且分布范围大 ,未见有显著性变化。     

THE MODELING OF BOLIDE TERMINAL EXPLOSIONS

The phenomenon of terminal thermal explosions of bolides is considered and mathematically modeled, using the mechanisms of ablation and fragmentation due to mechanical and thermal stresses. The definition and criterion of thermal explosions are given. An analytical solution is obtained for the model of ablating and mechanically fragmenting meteoroid motion in the atmosphere. Numerical calculations including the terminal stage of the motion are fulfilled for the Tunguska parameters. They demonstrated a very rapid energy loss, corresponding to the terminal flare and full mass loss, explaining the absence meteorites.