Infrared Spectroscopy of Comet Hale-Bopp

High resolution (λ/δλ ∼ 20,000) spectra of comet C/1995 O1 (Hale-Bopp) in the 2–5 μm region were obtained during UT 2–5 March 1997 using CSHELL at the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility (IRTF) on Mauna Kea. The heliocentric and geocentric distances of the comet were ∼1.1 AU and ∼1.5 AU,respectively. We detected emission lines of the gas-phase molecules H₂O, ₄, C₂H₆, C₂H₂, HCN, and CO and derived absolute production rates and relative abundances for all species. We also used the 2-dimensional nature of the CSHELL data to investigate the spatial distribution of the molecules and find evidence that CO was derived at least partly from an extended source in the coma. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Offshore oil platforms and fouling communities in the southern Arabian Gulf (Abu Dhabi)

This study examined the fouling organisms on the legs of offshore oil platforms at two sites in the southern Arabian Gulf (offshore Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates). 100% of the metal structures was colonized by encrusting organisms. Both the number of individuals and the total biomass tended to decrease with depth. The total weight of dead shells always exceeded that of living organisms. Sessile filter feeders dominated the biomass, whereas small mobile forms had the largest number of individuals. The biomass at the deeper platform (22 m) was dominated by bivalves, barnacles and bryozoans, while polychaetes and amphipods had the greatest number of individuals. Biomass values here ranged from 1 g/0.1 m2 at 20 m to 147 g/0.1 m2 at 5 m; the corresponding individual numbers were 266 (20 m) and 11,814 indiv./0.1 m2 (5 m). The results at the shallower platform (11 m) differed in several respects: barnacles clearly dominated over bivalves, and sponges exceeded byrozoans, while total individual numbers fell due to a decline in polychaete dominance. Biomass values here ranged from 84 g/0.1 m2 at 10 m to 153 g/0.1 m2 at 0 m; the corresponding individual numbers were 695 (10 m) and 3,125 indiv./0.1 m2 (0 m). The potential role of such fouling communities on artificial structures in the Gulf is discussed.     

中天山马鞍桥石炭纪沉积特征及构造意义

出露于中天山马鞍桥、巴仑台北的石炭纪地层属于大塘阶晚期至威宁期碳酸盐和碎屑岩的混合沉积。沉积特征和微量元素标志显示该套地层主体为潮坪-泻湖相沉积,仅顶部为河湖相沉积。砂岩的元素地球化学特征以及骨架颗粒的百分含量均显示,该套地层的蚀源区为岛弧火山岩系和中酸性花岗岩系的中天山微板块。有足够的证据表明该套地层形成于中天山微板块与南天山弧后盆地碰撞的挤压背景,即前陆盆地中,构造和海平面变化是该套充填物的主要控制因素。     

Viscosity of a Teide phonolite in the welding interval

The viscosity of a natural phonolitic composition with variable amounts of H₂O has been experimentally determined. The starting materials were crystal-free phonolitic glasses from Montaña Blanca, situated within the Las Cañadas caldera of Teide. Dry phonolitic melt viscosities were determined using concentric cylinder viscometry in the low viscosity range. The glassy quench products of these runs were then hydrated by high pressure synthesis in a piston–cylinder apparatus to generate a suite of samples with water contents ranging from 0.02 to 3.75 wt%. Samples thus hydrated were quenched rapidly and prepared (cut and polished) for the determination of water contents by infrared spectroscopy before and after experimental viscometry. The viscosities of the melts (dry and hydrated) were determined at 1 bar using a micropenetration technique. Samples were stable under the measurement conditions up to 3.75 wt% H₂O. Homogeneity of water content was confirmed by infrared spectroscopy and total water contents were calculated using absorptivity coefficients for compositions extremely close to that investigated here. The variation of viscosity as a function of water content and temperature can be described in the high viscosity interval of relevance to many welding processes by the non-Arrhenian expression:

(1)

log₁₀ η=−5.900−0.286 ln (H₂O)+(10775.4−394.8(H₂O))/(T−148.7+21.65 ln (H₂O))

whereas the high viscosity range alone is adequately described by the Arrhenian expression

(2)

log₁₀ η=−10.622−0.738 ln (H₂O)+(17114.3−590.4(H₂O))×1/T

where η is the viscosity in Pa s, H₂O is the water content in wt% and T is the temperature in K.These results are particularly useful for the scaling of conditions extant during the welding of phonolitic products of Montaña Blanca. The welding of glassy phonolitic rocks is enhanced by the lower viscosity of these melts with respect to calcalkaline rhyolites. The ratio of viscosities of phonolitic to calcalkaline rhyolitic melts is a complex function of temperature and water content and reaches up to 10^4.5 at 0.1 wt% H₂O and 500°C. Abundant evidence of welding and remobilisation of pyroclastic and spatter products of Teide system volcanism are consistent with these experimental observations.     

Polar ionospheric responses to solar wind IMF changes

Auroral and airglow emissions over Eureka (89° CGM) during the 1997/98 winter show striking variations in relation to solar wind IMF changes. The period January 19 to 22, 1998, was chosen for detailed study, as the IMF was particularly strong and variable. During most of the period, B_z was northward and polar arcs were observed. Several overpasses by DMSP satellites during the four day period provided a clear picture of the particle precipitation producing the polar arcs. The spectral character of these events indicated excitation by electrons of average energy 300 to 500 eV. Only occasionally were electrons of average energy up to 1 keV observed and these appeared transitory from the ground optical data. It is noted that polar arcs appear after sudden changes in IMF B_y, suggesting IMF control over arc initiation. When B_y is positive there is arc motion from dawn to dusk, while B_y is negative the motion is consistently dusk to dawn. F-region (anti-sunward) convections were monitored through the period from 630.0 nm emissions. The convection speed was low (100/150 m/s) when B_z was northward but increased to 500 m/s after B_z turned southward on January 20.     

Trends in chemical composition of precipitation in Nanjing, China, during 1992–2003

In this study, variations of the chemical composition of precipitation in Nanjing, China, over a 12-year period (1992–2003) are presented. The average annual concentration of pH value was 5.15, ranging from 4.93 to 5.36, and there was no significant trend in the acidity of precipitation. SO₄²⁻, Cl⁻ and NO₃⁻ were the main anions, while Ca²⁺, NH₄⁺ and Mg²⁺ were the main cations. The concentrations of these main ions were very high compared to those reported in many other areas around the world. Most of the ions came from anthropogenic and crustal sources. High correlations were found among dust-derived cations Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺and K⁺, between Cl⁻ and SO₄²⁻, between Cl⁻ and NH₄⁺ and between acidic anions and dust-derived cations, such as SO₄²⁻ and Ca²⁺, SO₄²⁻ and K⁺, Cl⁻ and Ca²⁺, Cl⁻ and K⁺, F⁻ and Mg²⁺ and F⁻ and K⁺. A significant decreasing trend was observed in concentration of SO₄²⁻ because of the abatement strategies for SO₂ emissions and energy policy change, while a significant increasing trend was found in the contribution of NO₃⁻ to acidification due to the rapidly growing number of motor vehicles. A significant decreasing trend was found in dust-derived cation Ca²⁺ due to more stringent controls of industrial dust emissions and rapid urbanization reducing the amount of open land, while the contribution of NH₄⁺ to neutralization increased relatively.     

Global two dimensional chemistry model and simulation of atmospheric chemical composition

1.IntroductionAgreatchangehastakenplaceinglobalatmosphericchemicalcompositionbecauseofhumanactivitiessinceindustrialrevolution.Numericalsimulationisaneffectivetooltostudythechangeoftracegases.Inthelasttwentyyears,two--dimensionalchemical/transportmodelshavebeenextensivelydevelopedtosimulatethedistributionsoftracers(GidelandCrutzen,1983;Hough,1991;LawandPyle1993).Inordertopredictthefuturepossiblechangesofatmosphericspecies,itisnecessarytohaveabetterunderstandingofprocessessuchasemission,trans…     

2000年春季北京特大沙尘暴物理化学特性的分析

2000年春季北京频频发生沙尘天气,严重影响了北京市大气环境状况.对4月6日北京地区发生的特大沙尘暴化学元素成分的分析表明北京春季沙尘污染极为严重.沙尘暴期间,20种元素总质量浓度高达1536μg/m3,是1999年同期的31.4倍.即使沙尘暴过后,污染依然严重,元素总质量浓度仍高达338.7μg/m3,是1999年春季的7倍.研究还发现,沙尘暴期间来自远方的大粒子占了很大的比例,绝大多数的元素浓度在粒径大于16μm处出现一个非常高值,远高于其他谱段的浓度;在沙尘暴后及其他时间,还没有观测到这种谱分布.沙尘暴期间的粗粒子(d>2μm)数浓度是沙尘暴后的20倍以上,细粒子(d<2μm)的数浓度是沙尘暴后的7倍.     

腾冲火山岩矿物化学研究

通过电子探针分析,系统研究了腾冲火山岩１０５个造岩矿物的化学成分。研究表明：本区熔岩中的橄榄石为贵橄榄石兼少量透铁橄榄石,斜方石为古铜辉石兼紫苏辉石,单斜辉石为普通辉石兼少量 质透石,斜长石为拉长石兼部分中长石和少量更长石,角闪石为低铁普通角闪石,黑云母为钛铁黑云母为钛铁黑云母为钛铁黑云母兼富铁黑云母。