Holocene permafrost history and cryostratigraphy in the High‐Arctic Adventdalen Valley,central Svalbard

This paper presents the history and cryostratigraphy of the upper permafrost in the High‐Arctic Adventdalen Valley, central Svalbard. Nineteen frozen sediment cores, up to 10.7 m long, obtained at five periglacial landforms, were analysed for cryostructures, ice, carbon and solute contents, and grain‐size distribution, and were ¹⁴C‐ and OSL‐dated. Spatial variability in ice and carbon contents is closely related to the sedimentary history and mode of permafrost aggradation. In the valley bottom, saline epigenetic permafrost with pore ice down to depths of 10.7 m depth formed in deltaic sediments since the mid‐Holocene; cryopegs were encountered below 6 m. In the top 1 to 5 m, syngenetic and quasi‐syngenetic permafrost with microlenticular, lenticular, suspended and organic‐matrix cryostructures developed due to loess and alluvial sedimentation since the colder late Holocene, which resulted in the burial of organic material. At the transition between deltaic sediments and loess, massive ice bodies occurred. A pingo developed where the deltaic sediments reached the surface. On hillslopes, suspended cryostructure on solifluction sheets indicates quasi‐syngenetic permafrost aggradation; lobes, in contrast, were ice‐poor. Suspended cryostructure in eluvial deposits reflects epigenetic or quasi‐syngenetic permafrost formation on a weathered bedrock plateau. Landform‐scale spatial variations in ground ice and carbon relate to variations in slope, sedimentation rate, moisture conditions and stratigraphy. Although the study reveals close links between Holocene landscape evolution and permafrost history, our results emphasize a large uncertainty in using terrain surface indicators to infer ground‐ice contents and upscale from core to landform scale in mountainous permafrost landscapes.     

Terminal Outflow Velocities from the Mass-Losing AGB Stars

We have calculated terminal gas outflow velocities from the circumstellar shells of the AGB stars. Our results confirm that, in case of the stationary dust driven winds, the dynamics of the outflow is governed essentially by the dust properties and stellar luminosities, while only marginally by other stellar parameters. Although being far from comprehensive, our calculations also indicate that the dust driven winds may only occur in cool, luminous, low mass objects. This revised version was published online in September 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Radar observations of the Geminid meteoroid stream

Continuous radio-wave monitoring of the Geminid activity in December 1992 and 1993 by using a forward scatter (FS) bistatic radar over the Bologna-Lecce baseline (700 km) in Italy, reveals peculiar structural aspects of the stream in terms of signal amplitude-rate and duration-rate dependence. The observational results of the Geminid display obtained in the two consecutive years with differentiated peak levels of transmitted power, exhibit different time distributions of underdense meteors against the signal received power. Both sets of the data relative to the peak activity in December 12–14, show reflection properties of Geminids which are atypical if compared with echoes from cometary-type showers, with really high echo counts at mid-upper levels of the peak received power. An assymmetric curve of activity of the Geminids complex is evidenced, with the peak flux of smaller particles occurring earlier than that of larger ones.     

The carbohydrates in relation to mineralogic and granulometric composition of surface sediments in the karst estuary (River Krka estuary,Yugoslavia)

The investigation of mineral, granulometric and chemical composition of sediments of the River Krka estuary (Yugoslavia) were performed in order to elucidate the origin of the sediments and the pattern of sedimentation. Estuarine surface sediments were found to be fine-grained with a bimodal distribution. Environmental conditions in estuarine sediments favour conservation of the organic matter (anoxic conditions). The carbohydrates in the sediments were investigated to determine whether they are of terrigenous or authigenous origin. Glucose, galactose, mannose, xylose, rhamnose, glucosamine and glucuronic acid were detected in the sediments. Their mutual relationship indicates a preferentially terrigenous source of sedimented organic material in estuarine sediments.     

UV Leo: The Binary with the Two Suns

BV light curves of the eclipsing binary UV Leo obtained at the Kryonerion Astronomical Station of the National Observatory of Athens, Greece, are analyzed. The analysis is based on a Roche configuration with two spots on the secondary surface. The elements of the two components of the system are calculated and the spot characteristics are given.     

Interplanetary dust particles and solar radiation

The problem of the action of the solar radiation on the motion of interplanetary dust particle is discussed. Differences between the action of electromagnetic solar radiation and that of the solar wind are explained not only from the point of view of the physical nature of these phenomena but also from the point of view of dust particle's orbital evolution. As for the electromagnetic solar radiation, general equation of motion for the particle is written and the most important consequences are: (i) the process of inspiralling toward the Sun is not the only possible motion - even spiralling from the Sun is also possible, and, (ii) the orbital plane of the particle (its inclination) may change in time. As for the solar wind, the effect corresponding to the fact that solar wind particles spread out from the Sun in nonradial direction causes that the process of inspiralling toward the Sun is in more than 50% less effective than for radial spread out; in the region of the asteroid belt (long period orbits) the process of inspiralling is changed into offspiralling. Also shift in the perihelion of dust particle's orbit exists.     

Results from several persistent train spectra intercompared

Some results following from two contemporary photographical programs (Slovakia and Japan) for persistent meteor train spectra are compared. It shows that even though both programs are not too different according to their lenses and films used, the spectral interval detected is very different. In this respect prism as a dispersion element is more favourable than the grating with blaze wavelength near 610 nm. However, some results previously assumed as typicai for presented persistent trains-e.g. the forbidden Herzberg O₂ emission, the NO₂ continuum and OH red emissions-seem to be substanciated especially due to higher and linear dispersion of those grating spectra.     

成都市冬季重污染日气象条件成因分析及预报

本文通过对成都10个重污染日进行天气学分析,将污染浓度与气象要素进行聚类、研究了重污染日形成原因及污染浓度与气象要素的关系。在此基础上,建立了SO_2、TSP日平均浓度分级预报方程。     

The comparison between allozyme and RAPD makers for the population genetic structure analysis of scallop Chlamys farreri

1INTRODUCTION Since the first use in human genetic research in1966,allozyme has become the most popular genetic marker for population genetics studies for almost all groups of animals and plants(Lewontin and Hubby,1966;Murphy et al.,1996).In the past seve…     

Sediment flux from a fjord during glacial periods, Isfjorden, Spitsbergen

Sediment has accumulated in Isfjorden, a deep fjord in Spitsbergen, at a rate of 1.7 km³/k.y. during the past 13 k.y. Between 200 ka and 13 ka the fjord was free of ice for 120 k.y. Assuming a similar sediment delivery rate during this ice-free time, 200 km³ of sediment would have accumulated in the fjord. An alternative calculation based on erosion rates suggests that 400 km³ could have been delivered to Isfjorden during this 120 k.y.Seismic studies have identified a 330 km³ package of sediment on the continental shelf and slope west of Isfjorden. This sediment is believed to have accumulated between 200 ka and 13 ka. Herein we argue that this is sediment that was originally deposited in the fjord, and that it was transferred to the shelf by glaciers in the 70 ka during which the fjord was occupied by ice. Calculations using a steady-state numerical model suggest that the sediment could have been moved in a deforming layer of subglacial till and in subglacial melt streams at rates of 7.6 × 10⁶ m³ a⁻¹ and 0.3 × 10⁶ m³ a⁻¹, respectively, resulting in a total flux of 7.9 × 10⁶ m³ a⁻¹. It is unlikely that much sediment was moved in a basal layer of dirty ice, as intense basal melting would have inhibited sediment entrainment.Of the time that glaciers occupied the fjord, 60% would have been required to evacuate the accumulated sediment. During the remaining time, the ice could have been deepening the fjord.