In situ observation of penetration process in silica aerogel: Deceleration mechanism of hard spherical projectiles

A large number of cometary dust particles were captured with low-density silica aerogels by NASA’s Stardust Mission. Knowledge of the details of the capture mechanism of hypervelocity particles in silica aerogel is needed in order to correctly derive the original particle features from impact tracks. However, the mechanism has not been fully understood yet. We shot hard spherical projectiles of several different materials into silica aerogel of density 60 mg cm⁻³ and observed their penetration processes using an image converter or a high-speed video camera. In order to observe the deceleration of projectiles clearly, we carried out impact experiments at two velocity ranges; ∼4 km s⁻¹ and ∼200 m s⁻¹. From the movies we took, it was indicated that the projectiles were decelerated by hydrodynamic force which was proportional to v² (v: projectile velocity) during the faster penetration process (∼4 km s⁻¹) and they were merely overcoming the aerogel crushing strength during the slower penetration process (∼200 m s⁻¹). We applied these deceleration mechanisms for whole capture process to calculate the track length. Our model well explains the track length in the experimental data set by Burchell et al. (Burchell, M.J., Creighton, J.A., Cole, M.J., Mann, J., Kearsley, A.T. [2001]. Meteorit. Planet. Sci. 36, 209-221).     

Review of measurements of dust movements on the Moon during Apollo

This is the first review of 3 Apollo experiments, which made the only direct measurements of dust on the lunar surface: (i) minimalist matchbox-sized 270 g Dust Detector Experiments (DDEs) of Apollo 11, 12, 14 and 15, produced 30 million Lunar Day measurements 21 July 1969–30 September, 1977; (ii) Thermal Degradation Samples (TDS) of Apollo 14, sprinkled with dust, photographed, taken back to Earth into quarantine and lost; and (iii) the 7.5 kg Lunar Ejecta and Meteoroids (LEAM) experiment of Apollo 17, whose original tapes and plots are lost. LEAM, designed to measure rare impacts of cosmic dust, registered scores of events each lunation most frequently around sunrise and sunset. LEAM data are accepted as caused by heavily-charged particles of lunar dust at speeds of <100 m/s, stimulating theoretical models of transporting lunar dust and adding significant motivation for returning to the Moon. New analyses here show some raw data are sporadic bursts of 1, 2, 3 or more events within time bubbles smaller than 0.6 s, not predicted by theoretical dust models but consistent with noise bits caused by electromagnetic interference (EMI) from switching of large currents in the Apollo 17 Lunar Surface Experiment Package (ALSEP), as occurred in pre-flight LEAM-acceptance tests. On the Moon switching is most common around sunrise and sunset in a dozen heavy-duty heaters essential for operational survival during 350 h of lunar night temperatures of minus 170 °C. Another four otherwise unexplained features of LEAM data are consistent with the “noise bits” hypothesis. Discoveries with DDE and TDS reported in 1970 and 1971, though overlooked, and extensive DDE discoveries in 2009 revealed strengths of adhesive and cohesive forces of lunar dust. Rocket exhaust gases during Lunar Module (LM) ascent caused dust and debris to (i) contaminate instruments 17 m distant (Apollo 11) as expected, and (ii) unexpectedly cleanse Apollo hardware 130 m (Apollo 12) and 180 m (Apollo 14) from LM. TDS photos uniquely document in situ cohesion of dust particles and their adhesion to 12 different test surfaces. This review finds the entire TDS experiment was contaminated, being inside the aura of outgassing from astronaut Alan Shepard's spacesuit, and applies an unprecedented caveat to all TDS discoveries. Published and further analyses of Apollo DDE, TDS and LEAM measurements can provide evidence-based guidance to theoretical analyses and to management and mitigation of major problems from sticky dust, and thus help optimise future lunar and asteroid missions, manned and robotic.     

Electrical stress and strain in lunar regolith simulants

Experiments to entrain dust with electrostatic and fluid-dynamic forces result in particulate clouds of aggregates rather than individual dust grains. This is explained within the framework of Griffith-flaw theory regarding the comminution/breakage of weak solids. Physical and electrical inhomogeneities in powders are equivalent to microcracks in solids insofar as they facilitate failure at stress risers. Electrical charging of powders induces bulk sample stresses similar to mechanical stresses experienced by strong solids, depending on the nature of the charging. A powder mass therefore “breaks” into clumps rather than separating into individual dust particles. This contrasts with the expectation that electrical forces on the Moon will eject a submicron population of dust from the regolith into the exosphere. A lunar regolith will contain physical and electrostatic inhomogeneities similar to those in most charged powders.     

沙尘天气过程起沙特征的观测试验和参数化研究进展

沙尘天气过程研究中,起沙过程是沙尘传输和沉降的基础,沙尘模式中的起沙参数化方案决定了能否准确模拟和预报沙尘天气。试验观测和数值模拟是研究起沙过程的重要途径。基于风蚀起沙的物理机制,总结了起沙机制和起沙特征的研究成果,介绍了风蚀起沙的主要影响因子,回顾了起沙关键参数（临界起沙摩擦速度（u*t ）或临界起沙风速（Ut ）、水平跃移沙尘通量（Q）和起沙通量（F））的试验观测及其沙尘模式应用中的参数化方案,并讨论了不同起沙参数化方案的应用与校验。同时,针对目前研究中存在的问题和今后可能的研究方向提出建议。     

Rare earth elements of aeolian deposits in Northern China and their implications for determining the provenance of dust storms in Beijing

This paper contributes to a better understanding of the source of dust storms in northern China and the relationship between these sources and other aeolian sediments in this region. Sediment samples in potential source areas were collected from the Hunshandake Sandy Land, Heaven Desert, the loess deposits of the Bashang area, the mountainous basins and valleys north of Beijing and from the Badain Jaran Desert and Hulunbaier Sandy Land (Fig. 1). Dust samples were collected in Beijing during two dust storms in March 2002 and April 2006. The laboratory methods used in this study included measurements of abundance of trace elements, in particular the rare earth elements (REEs), mineral assemblages and grain size. The REE contents, Eu and Ce anomalies show clear differences between various deposits. Provenance is considered to be the key factor influencing REE patterns in the study areas. The REE abundances and patterns indicate that the aeolian sand north of Beijing, such as in the Heaven Desert, is mainly of local origin rather than from desert encroachment from the north. The mineral grains carried in dust storms, however, are highly mixed, and may come partly from local sources but mainly from distant desert regions in western China.     

Chromium and nickel distribution in soils, active river, overbank sediments and dust around the Burrel chromium smelter (Albania)

Chromium ore was treated to produce ferrochromium from 1979 until 2000 in a smelter in Burrel, 35 km NE of Tirana (Albania). As a consequence, large amounts of solid waste, i.e. slags (about 9.10⁶ m³) have been disposed next to the smelter, disfiguring the landscape. In an attempt to define contaminated sites, heavy metal content of the different sampling media have been compared with respective background samples.In the study area, the determination of background values in soil samples is complicated due to the different geological substrates. Cr and Ni background concentrations in serpentinite-derived soils, west of the smelting plant, are markedly higher than in the Pliocene gravel/sandy soils, where the smelter is situated (Cr 2147 and 193 mg/kg, respectively; Ni 2356 and 264 mg/kg). These values are clearly lower than those encountered around the smelter. Average total Cr and Ni concentrations in soils around the smelter are 3117 and 1243 mg/kg, respectively. The highest concentrations of Cr (up to 2.3 wt.%), were recorded in samples taken near the smelting compartment within the industrial plant and next to the slags clearly indicating that the smelter forms a point source of Cr contamination. The Cr / Fe ratio is the best indicator to differentiate non-polluted (Cr / Fe Serpentinite soil: 130–390; Pliocene soils: < 130) from polluted areas (> 390 smelting nearby of the slags).Cr and Ni values for local backgrounds in stream and overbank sediments were taken in the Mat river 6 km upstream and to the east of the smelter (268 and 430 mg/kg for Cr, and 306 and 604 mg/kg for Ni, respectively). Equivalent sediments taken from the Zalli i Germanit river, which drains the smelter area are respectively 816 and 1126 mg/kg for Cr and 1115 and 1185 mg/kg for Ni.Dust samples, taken from the lofts of houses up to 2 km from the smelter, display high concentrations of Cr, Ni and Zn (average contents of 2899, 436 and 902 mg/kg, respectively). The later concentrations in the dust samples have been confirmed by mineralogical analysis where Cr-bearing mineral phases such as ferrochromium and chromium oxides, clearly relate to the activity of the smelter. Consequently, atmospheric deposition of dust particles forms a serious problem and can also be responsible for the elevated contents encountered in soil samples around the smelter.All these data show that the degree of contamination caused by industrial activity of the Burrel Cr-smelter is severe, although no Cr(VI) was detected in soil water extractions nor in the surface or groundwater where concentrations were < 0.01 mg/kg.     

2002年我国沙尘暴的若干特征分析

利用2002年的地面观测资料和NCEP/NCAR的再分析资料对2002年3、4月沙尘暴发生频率以及相应的月和候的环流形势特征进行了分析。结果表明，东亚大槽发展和加深是造成该年沙尘暴偏北路径多的主要成因，并且是影响华北、东北甚至华中的一种主要环流形势。东北低涡维持期间生成的副冷锋次天气尺度系统，可以产生强局地沙尘暴。使用GMS-5的卫星观测资料的亮温数据，对沙尘暴在冷涡天气下的沙尘输送情况进行了分析。给出了沙尘暴在向下游输送沙尘时的空间分布，特别指出了在东北冷涡强烈发展的形势下，沙尘可以向东北方向输送，影响东北、远东，甚至更北的地区。     

沙尘暴卫星遥感研究进展

研究沙尘暴对我国北方地区的生态环境建设和可持续发展有着重要意义。近10年来，我国北方地区的沙尘暴天气呈现增长的趋势，相关学科都从不同侧面展开对沙尘暴的研究。主要综述了国内外利用卫星遥感技术研究沙尘暴的进展。对沙尘暴的国内外研究历史和现状进行了简要回顾，然后系统地介绍了应用遥感技术开展沙尘暴研究的数据源及其特点、原理和技术方法，其中，对沙尘暴遥感研究的技术方法给予了更为详细的介绍，最后针对现有研究的不足，对未来沙尘暴遥感研究的方向进行了展望。     

Unprecedented last-glacial mass accumulation rates determined by luminescence dating of loess from western Nebraska

A high-resolution chronology for Peoria (last glacial period) Loess from three sites in Nebraska, midcontinental North America, is determined by applying optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating to 35–50 μm quartz. At Bignell Hill, Nebraska, an OSL age of 25,000 yr near the contact of Peoria Loess with the underlying Gilman Canyon Formation shows that dust accumulation occurred early during the last glacial maximum (LGM), whereas at Devil’s Den and Eustis, Nebraska, basal OSL ages are significantly younger (18,000 and 21,000 yr, respectively). At all three localities, dust accumulation ended at some time after 14,000 yr ago. Mass accumulation rates (MARs) for western Nebraska, calculated using the OSL ages, are extremely high from 18,000 to 14,000 yr—much higher than those calculated for any other pre-Holocene location worldwide. These unprecedented MARs coincide with the timing of a mismatch between paleoenvironmental evidence from central North America, and the paleoclimate simulations from atmospheric global circulation models (AGCMs). We infer that the high atmospheric dust loading implied by these MARs may have played an important role, through radiative forcing, in maintaining a colder-than-present climate over central North America for several thousand years after summer insolation exceeded present-day values.