Quantitative Morphology Of C/1995 O1 (Hale–Bopp) In February – April 1997

Extensive widefield CCD direct imaging of C/1995 O1 (Hale-Bopp) at UBVRI was carried out at Hoher List Observatory with the 1.06 m telescope (field of view 20′ × 20′) and at Potsdam Observatory with the 0.70 m telescope (field of view 8′ × 8′). The corresponding spatial resolution is 850–1000 km pix^-1and 525–590 km pix^-1, respectively. The data covers 25 nights from February 20 to April 21, 1997. In order to quantify the various features in the apparent inner coma we introduce a new tomographic method that minimizes the morphological bias caused by image processing. The tomographic analysis leads to quantitative maps refering to the position and intensity of the dust ejections for each image frame. Variability and periodicity within the inner coma can be thoroughly deduced due to various sets of consecutive nights in the observation period mentioned above. The results are compared with applications of adaptive Laplace filtering. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

An 'outside-in' outburst of Aql X–1

We present optical spectroscopy and optical and infrared photometry of the neutron star soft X-ray transient Aql X–1 during its X-ray outburst of 1997 August. By modelling the X-ray, optical and IR light curves, we find a 3-d delay between the IR and X-ray rise times, analogous to the UV–optical delay seen in dwarf novae outbursts and black hole X-ray transients. We interpret this delay as the signature of an 'outside-in' outburst, in which a thermal instability in the outer disc propagates inward. This outburst is the first of this type definitively identified in a neutron star X-ray transient.     

Mathematical Modelling and Accuracy Testing of Spot Level 1B Stereopairs

During a project concerned with DEM generation using SPOT stereoscopic imagery, difficulties were experienced when using Level 1B stereopairs for the task. This paper presents a mathematical solution to overcome this problem which has been implemented at the University of Glasgow. Results are included from experimental tests which were carried out over a test field in Jordan using this solution. These tests used five SPOT Level 1B stereopairs together with a single SPOT Level 1A stereopair for comparative purposes. The residual errors at the ground control points and independent check points are given and show that a satisfactory solution was achieved.     

L1估计的分布及统计性质

推导了Ｌ１估计的密度函数,讨论了Ｌ１估计的统计性质,证明Ｌ１估计是无偏估计,同时还证明Ｌ１估计优于ＬＳ估计。     

天山乌鲁木齐河源1号冰川物质平衡对气候变化的敏感性研究

应用度日物质平衡模式对天山乌鲁木齐河源１号冰川物质平衡及平衡线高度对气候变化的敏感性进行了研究．结果表明,位于大陆性气候区且具有暖季补给特征的乌鲁木齐河源１号冰川物质平衡对气候变化的敏感性要小于海洋性冰川,升温１℃或增加２０％的降水可引起平衡线上升８１ｍ或下降３１ｍ．此外,气温与降水在物质平衡形成过程中的作用是不同的,气温引起物质平衡剖面以旋转方式变化,而降水可导致其平移方式的响应．若未来升温２℃时,即使降水增加３０％,１号冰川向负平衡变化仍然不能得到遏制．     

正12面体框架构型（RDFC）—立方格子与五次旋转对称轴共存的几何构型

本文提出一个既具有五次旋转的20面体点群（Ih,5m3）也显示由5个共轭立方格子表征的三维平移周期性的几何构型──正12面体框架构型（RDFC）所对20面体相原子结构进行了诠释,同时也诠释了1981年发现的20面体相（Ⅰ相）的电子衍射图（EDPs）和高分辨电子显微象。     

Platinum-Group Element Geochemical Certified Reference Materials (GPt1-7)

Unlike the situation for other elements, few reference materials certified for the platinum-group elements are currently available. Therefore, the GPt1-7 series of PGE geochemical CRMs, prepared by the IGGE, represent an important addition and comprise a range of matrix types, including a soil, stream sediment, Mg-rich ultramafic rock, Fe-rich ultramafic rock, platinoid ore depleted in Cu, Ni and Fe, and a chromitite. The concentration of PGE in these samples ranges over 4-5 orders of magnitude and the samples were shown to have good homogeneity as assessed by a variance test. Analytical methods based on different principles were used in sample certification, including several fire assay and wet chemical procedures used for decomposition and preconcentration. Certified values for the elements Pt, Pd, Os, Ru, Ir, Rh and Au were determined by AAS, catalytic colourimetry (COL), catalytic polarography (POL), atomic emission spectrometry (AES), ICP-MS and NAA. Recently, the GPt1-7 samples were approved as national primary CRMs by the State Bureau of Technical Supervision of China.     

On the nature of the Galactic nebula We 1–12

In 1977, Weinberger published a list of 12 new extended possible planetary nebulae (PNe). Whereas, because of their characteristic morphology and/or the presence of a blue central star, almost all of them could easily be suspected to be genuine planetary nebulae, one object (No. 12) captivated because of its unusually bright central star. This find prompted Kaler & Feibelman to question the PN nature of this object (We 1–12) on the basis of IUE spectra. A definite conclusion could, however, not be drawn by them; thus, until now, the real nature of We 1–12 remained unsolved. For the first time, a spectral investigation of both the central star and the nebula is presented in this paper. It definitely shows that this intriguing object is an (isolated) H  ii region and its central star, as previously assumed, is an early B star which serves as the ionizing source. We 1–12, a part of which is coincident with a weak IRAS point source, is at a distance of 2–2.6 kpc and is reddened by E ( B − V )=0.6–0.8 mag.     

Contrasting patterns of precipitation seasonality during the Holocene in the south‐ and north‐central Mediterranean

Pollen‐based quantitative estimates of seasonal precipitation from Lake Pergusa and lake‐level data from Lake Preola in Sicily (southern Italy) allow three successive periods to be distinguished within the Holocene: an early Holocene period before ca. 9800 cal a BP with rather dry climate conditions in winter and summer, a mid‐Holocene period between ca. 9800 and 4500 cal a BP with maximum winter and summer wetness, and a late Holocene period after 4500 cal a BP with declining winter and summer wetness. This evolution observed in the south‐central Mediterranean shows strong similarities to that recognized in the eastern Mediterranean. But, it contrasts with that reconstructed in north‐central Italy, where the mid‐Holocene appears to be characterized by a winter (summer) precipitation maximum (minimum), while the late Holocene coincided with a decrease (increase) in winter (summer) precipitation. Maximum precipitation at ca. 10 000–4500 cal a BP may have resulted from (i) increased local convection in response to a Holocene insolation maximum at 10 000 cal a BP and then (ii) the gradual weakening of the Hadley cell activity, which allowed the winter rainy westerlies to reach the Mediterranean area more frequently. After 4500 cal a BP, changes in precipitation seasonality may reflect non‐linear responses to orbitally driven insolation decrease in addition to seasonal and inter‐hemispheric changes of insolation. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.