Models of magnetic field generation in partly stable planetary cores: Applications to Mercury and Saturn

A substantial part of Mercury's iron core may be stably stratified because the temperature gradient is subadiabatic. A dynamo would operate only in a deep sublayer. We show that such a situation arises for a wide range of values for the heat flow and the sulfur content in the core. In Saturn the upper part of the metallic hydrogen core could be stably stratified because of helium depletion. The magnetic field is unusually weak in the case of Mercury and unusually axisymmetric at Saturn. We study numerical dynamo models in rotating spherical shells with a stable outer region. The control parameters are chosen such that the magnetic Reynolds number is in the range of expected Mercury values. Because of its slow rotation, Mercury may be in a regime where the dipole contribution to the internal magnetic field is weak. Most of our models are in this regime, where the dynamo field consists mainly of rapidly varying higher multipole components. They can hardly pass the stable conducting layer because of the skin effect. The weak low-degree components vary more slowly and control the structure of the field outside the core, whose strength matches the observed field strength at Mercury. In some models the axial dipole dominates at the planet's surface and in others the axial quadrupole is dominant. Differential rotation in the stable layer, representing a thermal wind, is important for attenuating non-axisymmetric components in the exterior field. In some models that we relate to Saturn the axial dipole is intrinsically strong inside the dynamo. The surface field strength is much larger than in the other cases, but the stable layer eliminates non-axisymmetric modes. The Messenger and Bepi Colombo space missions can test our predictions that Mercury's field is large-scaled, fairly axisymmetric, and shows no secular variations on the decadal time scale.     

从PM10的测量推测成都市区汞污染的来源

通过2007年5—6月期间测量成都市若干条剖面上大气可吸入颗粒物(PM10)中的汞含量,来推测成都市大气中汞的来源。结果表明:在12个点的测量范围内,成都市PM10的质量平均浓度为210.8μg/m3;PM10中汞的质量平均浓度为0.36ng/m3。公园和郊区PM10浓度和其中汞浓度均较少,可能与植被茂盛有关。由PM10中汞的分布可知,在热电厂、停用的生活垃圾堆放场和寺庙附近出现最高值,说明热电厂和生活垃圾堆放场是大气汞污染的重要次生来源。寺庙附近出现的高汞值,推测与寺庙的礼仪活动如香烛燃烧有关。     

贵州万山废弃矿区小流域系统沉积物及悬浮物重金属的空间分布特征

废弃矿山虽已不再开采,但废弃矿坑、旧冶炼场地、埋填的尾矿坝受雨水淋滤仍可通过地表径流对下游地区造成污染。研究废弃矿山水系沉积物及悬浮物中重金属的沿河道分布及相互关系具有重要的现实意义。本文以贵州万山汞矿区下溪河小流域系统作为研究区域,对沉积物及悬浮物中重金属元素进行初步调查,为监测和污染耕地进行修复提供基础资料。通过湿法消解的前处理方法,利用电感耦合等离子体质谱和原子荧光光谱法测定了沉积物及悬浮物样品中Cr、Ni、Cu、Cd、Pb、As、Hg、Zn、Co含量,查明污染现状及空间分布特征,以获取矿区污染物向下游迁移、扩散的信息。结果表明:沉积物中Hg含量范围为0.10～16.0μg/g(干重),平均值为5.79μg/g,是《国家土壤环境质量标准》二级土壤Hg限值的几十倍;Cd在部分站点超标;Ni、Cu、Co含量平均值均不超标;Hg和Cd的变异系数较大,显示空间分布不均的特征。沉积物中Hg为高潜在生态风险级别。研究区沉积物及悬浮物中的Hg浓度与河段的水动力条件有关,最大值出现在河道宽阔、水流平缓的站点。由于万山汞矿早已停止开采和冶炼,本研究提出,自然条件下废弃矿区的风化淋滤引起颗粒物输送是造成河流下游Hg和Cd污染的原因。     

中国煤中的汞

煤中的汞是人们最为关注的环境有害元素之一。由于汞具有强挥发性,燃烧时容易排放到大气中,从而对大气产生污染。我国多数煤中含汞处于0.01～1mg/kg之间,平均0.15mg/kg。煤中黄铁矿是汞的主要载体,其它硫化物、方解石和粘土矿物也可能含汞。燃煤向大气排放汞的问题正日益受到重视。     

Analysis of the experimental compressibility of deep water marine sediments from the Gulf of Guinea

This study strives to analyze the compressibility of deep water marine sediments originating from the Gulf of Guinea. Our approach is multi-scaled and, on the macroscopic level, based on two equations which link the overburden effective stress with the liquidity index, the Biarez & Favre equation on the one hand, and the Burland equation on the other hand (after calculation of the ICL expression as a function of the I_L parameter). On the local level, the evolution of the microstructures is analysed and compared with GoG remoulded clay. Two additional observation techniques have been used, the scanning electron microscope and the mercury intrusion porosimetry.     

Resolved images of an unknown sector on the surface of Mercury

We took electronic photographs of Mercury on the side of the planet that was not photographed from the Mariner-10 spacecraft in 1973–1975 by the millisecond-exposure method in ground-based observations. Based on these photographs, we synthesized resolved images of the surface of unknown regions of the planet. The capabilities of the method are limited by the small angular size of the planetary disk (only 7.3 arcsec at average quadrature), specific difficulties of Mercury’s ground-based observations, their very limited duration, and the laboriousness of the subsequent computer-aided observational data processing. The millisecond-exposure method is complex, but a sufficient number of primary electronic photographs can be taken under good seeing conditions for the subsequent synthesis of Mercurian images with a resolution of no worse than the diffraction limit. A giant basin about 2000 km in diameter and other large structures are distinguished in the synthesized images of the planet. In the regions where radar data are available, these structures can be identified with previously found ones. In some measure, the synthesized images allow the relief of the longitude sector 210°–290° W to be reconstructed on Mercury. It can be asserted with caution that the large relief features are distributed asymmetrically over the surface of Mercury, much as observed on other terrestrial planets, the Moon, and many satellites of giant planets.     

Mycobacteria, but not mercury, induces metallothionein (MT) protein in striped bass, Morone saxitilis, phagocytes, while both stimuli induce MT in channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, phagocytes

Recent advances in molecular immunology indicate that the expression of inducible pro-inflammatory proteins is increased in vertebrates in response to both infectious disease agents and various xenobiotics. For example, iNOS, COX-2, and CYP1A are induced by both inflammation and AhR ligands. Moreover, the expression of these proteins in response to stimuli varies among individuals within populations. Little is known of the differences among fish in the inducibility of proinflammatory proteins in response to both infectious agents and xenobiotics. Through random screening of a striped bass, Morone saxitilis, peritoneal macrophage cDNA library, a full length metallothionein (MT) gene was cloned and sequenced. MT is a low-molecular weight (6–8 kDa), cysteine-rich metal binding protein. Metals are required by pathogenic bacteria for growth, and by the host defense system by serving as a catalyst for the generation of reactive oxygen intermediates (ROIs) by phagocytes. A recombinant striped bass MT (rMT) was expressed and purified, then used to generate a specific mAb (MT-16). MT protein expression was followed in freshly isolated striped bass and channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, phagocytes after in vitro exposure to the naturally occurring intracellular pathogen Mycobacteria fortuitum or to 0.1 and 1 μM mercury (Hg), as HgCl₂. MT expression was increased by 24 h in both channel catfish and striped bass phagocytes as a result of exposure to M. fortuitum cells. On the other hand, MT was induced by Hg in channel catfish cells, but not those of striped bass. These results indicate that metal homeostasis in phagocytes is different between catfish and striped bass. In addition, these data suggest that care should be taken to distinguish between inflammation-induced vs. metal-induced MT when using MT expression as a biomarker of metal exposure.     

Investigation of the morphology of pore space in mudstones—first results

A suite of selected Tertiary mudstones was studied to improve the knowledge about microstructure and related transport processes in mudstones. Samples were investigated by mercury- and Wood's metal injection, SEM, XRD, and grain size analysis. Wood's metal injection has the advantage of visualising the ‘frozen’ injection process. The smallest pore casts observed were down to 40 nm in diameter, while the largest, bottle-shaped pores were up to 5 μm in diameter. Bottle-shaped pores occurred in all the samples, usually around silt or sand grains. One sample, which had a porosity of 28.5% according to mercury injection data, had not been impregnated by the molten alloy. We suggest this to reflect a strong deformation of the clay fabric by the high pressure without intrusion into the matrix. This raises questions about the reliability of mercury injection data for very fine-grained, highly porous sediments.After excluding these very fine-grained samples and one very calcareous sample regressions were found which relate porosity (φ), clay content (C), and sand content (S) to capillary displacement pressure (P_d(Hg)): P_d(Hg)=−25.05+0.63 C+0.29S (R²=0.92), and P_d(Hg)=−10.24+0.47 C−0.15φ (R²=0.88).     

黄河迳流对汞存在、迁移、形态和归宿的影响(英文)

于1983—1985年采集黄河口及邻海沉积物、海水及悬浮颗粒物样品,测定了底质总汞、海水总汞、溶解总汞、无机汞及悬浮颗粒物总汞。所测定的各种汞的形态均列于世界河口区最低的浓度水平。枯水期无机汞和海水总汞分布相对均匀。丰水期溶解总汞分布均匀,而无机汞、颗粒汞和海水总汞都显示出与盐度、颗粒物含量相似的梯度分布。显示了黄河迳流及所携带大量悬浮颗粒物的重要影响。黄河水的无机特征和海水相对高的有机物含量,使无机汞入海后部分转变成有机汞,同时海水与河水的颗粒汞出现明显差别。底质汞与中值粒径线性相关,颗粒汞与颗粒物含量双曲线相关。近河口区盐度、颗粒物含量及颗粒汞含量有明显分层现象。     

The impact of resuspension on sediment mercury dynamics, and methylmercury production and fate: A mesocosm study

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of resuspension on the fate and bioaccumulation of mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) in shallow estuarine environments, using mesocosms. Two 4-week experiments were conducted in July (Experiment 1) and October (Experiment 2) of 2001 with Baltimore Harbor sediments. Hard clams, Mercenaria mercenaria, were introduced into sediments for Experiment 2. Tidal resuspension (4 h on and 2 h off cycles) was simulated, with 3 replicate tanks for each treatment—resuspension (R) and non-resuspension (NR). Sediment cores were collected during the experiments for THg, MeHg, organic content and AVS analyses, and for the determination of methylation/demethylation using Hg stable isotopes (¹⁹⁹Hg(II) and CH₃¹⁹⁹Hg(II)). Zooplankton samples were collected once a week while clams were taken before and after Experiment 2 for THg and MeHg analyses. Our results suggest that the interplay between Hg methylation and MeHg degradation determines the overall MeHg pool in sediments. Sediment resuspension does not appear to directly impact the Hg transformations but can lead to changes in the association to Hg binding phases, influencing Hg methylation. The bioaccumulation results indicate that sediment resuspension can play an important role in transferring sediment MeHg into organisms.