A six-square-degree survey for Pleiades low-mass stars and brown dwarfs

We present the results of a six-square-degree Pleiades survey in I and Z , which is photometrically complete to approximately I _KP=19.2 ( I _Cou=19.6 in the Pleiades). We remove non-cluster contamination on the basis of proper motions and infrared photometry, and present 339 candidate cluster members, 30 of which are fainter than I _KP=17.5, and are thus strong brown-dwarf candidates.     

X-ray source populations in the region of the open clusters NGC 6633 and IC 4756

Using deep exposures (∼10⁵ s) with the ROSAT High Resolution Imager, we have performed flux-limited surveys for X-ray sources in the vicinity of the Hyades-age open stellar clusters NGC 6633 and IC 4756, detecting 31 and 13 sources, respectively. Our primary aim is to search for so-far unrecognized cluster members. We propose identifications or classifications (cluster member, field star, extragalactic field object) for the X-ray sources, based on published membership lists, and on X-ray:optical flux ratios and optical colour–magnitude diagrams. Results of simulating the expected X-ray-emitting source populations are compared with the ROSAT measurements and with the expected capabilities of the XMM mission. The simulations provide a novel method of comparing the activity levels of NGC 6633 and IC 4756 with that of the Hyades. The measurements and simulations confirm that cluster members are the major class of X-ray emitter in these fields at flux levels     (0.1–2.4 keV), contributing ∼40 per cent of the total X-ray sources. We find six possible new members in NGC 6633 and four candidates in IC 4756; all require further observation to establish membership probability.     

Evolution and stratigraphic architecture of marine slope gully complexes: Monterey Formation (Miocene), Gaviota Beach,California

Three small headlands in the sea cliffs west of Gaviota Beach, California, are the remnant fill of three discrete submarine gullies incised into the late Miocene submarine slope environment. These promontories provide excellent, three-dimensional exposure of the gully fill in outcrop, permitting documentation of their complex internal stratigraphic architecture. Detailed study of these exposures elucidates the sedimentologic processes that occur in the filling of slope gullies, guides interpretation of the acoustic records of otherwise unsampled modern gully systems on continental slopes, and provides insight into the heterogeneity that may characterize slope gully petroleum reservoirs.     

The functional roles of marine sponges

Despite the wide range of functional roles performed by marine sponges they are still poorly represented in many research, monitoring and conservation programmes. The aim of this review is to examine recent developments in our understanding of sponge functional roles in tropical, temperate and polar ecosystems. Functions have been categorised into three areas: (a) impacts on substrate (including bioerosion, reef creation, and substrate stabilisation, consolidation and regeneration); (b) bentho-pelagic coupling (including carbon cycling, silicon cycling, oxygen depletion and nitrogen cycling); and (c) associations with other organisms (facilitating primary production, secondary production, provision of microhabitat, enhanced predation protection, survival success, range expansions and camouflage though association with sponges, sponges as a settlement substrate, disrupting near-boundary and reef level flow regimes, sponges as agents of biological disturbance, sponges as releasers of chemicals and sponges as tools for other organisms). The importance of sponges on substrate, sponge bentho-pelagic coupling, and sponge interactions and associations is described. Although the scientific evidence strongly supports the significance and widespread nature of these functional roles sponges still remain underappreciated in marine systems.     

Distribution, habitat use and ecology of deepwater Anemones (Actiniaria) in the Gulf of Mexico

The distribution of deepwater Actiniaria is poorly known. Rarely are these organisms identified to family, as this requires both well-preserved specimens and taxonomic expertise. Ecological information is similarly lacking. From the results of a comprehensive surveying program in the deep Gulf of Mexico, we report the occurrence of nine species of Actiniaria. For the most abundant four of these, we plot distributions and discuss habitat use, morphological variation, and feeding strategies. Actiniaria in the Gulf appear to have broad, basin-wide distributions with little depth preference. Faunal biomass is highest in the NE Gulf within submarine canyons or at the base of slope escarpments. Attachment mode is mostly opportunistic on various types of hard substrata, including trash. Sediment-dwelling forms are very abundant at an organically rich site within a large submarine canyon.     

西藏南部羊卓雍措地区晚侏罗世维美组沉积特征及环境演化

通过沉积岩石学、岩相学、粒度分析等研究方法,对维美组沉积特征、沉积环境及演化提出新的认识和探讨。晚侏罗世维美组主要为一套陆源碎屑物质沉积,沉积期共经历4个沉积旋回,每个沉积旋回的岩石组合大致为含砾石英砂岩-中、粗粒石英砂岩-细粒石英砂岩(长石石英砂岩)-粉砂岩(泥岩、页岩),由底到顶粒度变细,层厚减薄。识别出6种岩相类别:含砾石英砂岩、石英砂岩、长石石英砂岩、泥质粉砂岩、薄层页岩-泥岩互层;发现平行层理、水平层理、粒序层理和重荷模等沉积构造;识别出陆棚、滨岸和陆棚下切河道3类沉积相,其中陆棚相包括内陆棚和外陆棚亚相,滨岸相包括近滨上部和近滨下部亚相;陆棚下切河道充填结构大致为:下部河道砂砾岩层,中部不等粒长石砂岩、杂砂岩层,上部细粒石英砂岩、泥岩层。综合来看,维美组沉积环境为位于克拉通边缘上浅海环境,沉积物质及沉积序列受海平面升降变化影响显著,主要形成于全球海平面下降之后上升的阶段。     

丽江古都塘锰矿

古都塘锰矿床由晚二叠世海底基性火山喷发及含锰喷气活动提供主要锰质来源，在海底槽形洼地内沉积形成的海相沉积锰矿床，并叠加了表生氧化富集作用。矿体赋存于二叠统猴子坡组（P2ho）灰岩夹层中，严格受层位、岩性控制。     

火山构造组合研究和地质填图方法 ——以福建闽清测区1∶5万区域地质调查为例

闽清测区 1∶5万区调在运用火山岩双重填图法过程中 ,进一步改进了工作方法和程序 ,深化了火山地质研究 ,取得了显著成果。本区调工作以遥感地质为先导 ,在填图中从调查单个火山构造扩展到多个、多种火山构造组合叠置关系及火山群体的研究。从而填制出火山构造面貌清楚 ,具有较强立体感的古火山地质图 ,全面反映了不同时期 (阶段 )火山作用特点、演化规律及火山岩相的分布特征 ,合理地建立起火山岩地层格架。     

New spectroscopic classifications of 35 chemically peculiar candidate stars

The chemically peculiar (CP) stars of the upper main sequence are perfect tracers for several astrophysical processes. Their study especially in open clusters further helps to establish their evolutionary status. The latter is most important to understand the origin and evolution of the CP phenomenon, i.e. the connection between diffusion and a stellar magnetic field. There are two important topics, we cover with this paper. First of all, we investigate the reliability of the CCD Δa photometry for fainter objects in open clusters. The latter method is able to detect CP stars very efficiently, but still a spectroscopic verification is needed to verify the photometric candidates. On the other hand, already published spectral classifications on the basis of photographic plates and prism technology have tobe tested with modern instruments. Classification resolution spectroscopy is presented for thirty five bona‐fide CP candidates. Twenty six of them are located within the boundaries of fourteen open clusters, for which we also investigated their membership probabilities. Apart from five objects, they seem tobe members of the respective clusters. The objects were classified in the framework of a refined Morgan‐Keenan system with the extension of well established CP star spectra. We confirm the CP nature of all but one target. The results of Δa photometry and the spectral classifications are in excellent agreement. For the cluster members we find a continuous sequence of CP stars from 10 to 850 Myr, the whole range of investigated cluster ages (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Identifying star clusters in a field: A comparison of different algorithms

Star clusters are often hard to find, as they may lie in a dense field of background objects or, because in the case of embedded clusters, they are surrounded by a more dispersed population of young stars. This paper discusses four algorithms that have been developed to identify clusters as stellar density enhancements in a field, namely stellar density maps from star counts, the nearest neighbour method and the Voronoi tessellation, and the separation of minimum spanning trees. These methods are tested and compared to each other by applying them to artificial clusters of different sizes and morphologies. While distinct centrally concentrated clusters are detected by all methods, clusters with low overdensity or highly hierarchical structure are only reliably detected by methods with inherent smoothing (star counts and nearest neighbour method). Furthermore, the algorithms differ strongly in computation time and additional parameters they provide. Therefore, the method to choose primarily depends on the size and character of the investigated area and the purpose of the study (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)