Electronic Sputtering Analysis of Astrophysical Ices

Experimental results on fast ion collision with icy surfaces having astrophysical interest are presented. ²⁵²Cf fission fragments projectiles were used to induce ejection of ionized material from H₂O, CO₂, CO, NH₃, N₂, O₂ and Ar ices; the secondary ions were identified by time-of-flight mass spectrometry. It is observed that all the bombarded frozen gas targets emit cluster ions which have the structure X_nR^±, where X is the neutral ice molecule and R^± is either an atomic or a molecular ion. The shape of the positive or negative ion mass spectra is characterized by a decreasing yield as the emitted ion mass increases and is generally described by the sum of two exponential functions. The positive ion water ice spectrum is dominated by the series (H₂O)_nH₃O⁺ and the negative ion spectrum by the series (H₂O)_nOH⁻ and (H₂O)_nO⁻. The positive ion CO₂ ice spectrum is characterized by R⁺ = C⁺, O⁺, CO⁺, O₂⁺ or CO₂⁺ and the negative one by R⁻ = CO₃⁻. The dominant series for ammonia ice correspond to R⁺ = NH₄⁺ and to R⁻ = NH₂⁻. The oxygen series are better described by (O₃)_nO_m⁺ secondary ions where m = 1, 2 or 3. Two positive ion series exist for N₂ ice: (N₂)_nN₂⁺ and (N₂)_nN⁺. For argon positive secondary ions, only the (Ar)_nAr⁺ series was observed. Most of the detected molecular ions were formed by one-step reactions. Ice temperature was varied from ∼20 K to complete sublimation.     

Hydrogeology and groundwater management in a coastal granitic area with steep slopes in Galicia (Spain)

Groundwater availability, management and protection are great challenges for the sustainability of groundwater resources in the scattered rural areas of the Atlantic regions of Europe where groundwater is the only option for water supply. This report presents a hydrogeological study of the coastal granitic area of Oia in northwestern Spain, which has unique geomorphological and hydrogeological features with steep slopes favoring the erosion of the weathered granite. The hydrogeological conceptual model of the study area includes: (1) the regolith layer, which is present only in the flat summit of the mountains; (2) the slope debris and the colluvial deposits, which are present in the intermediate and lowest parts of the hillside; (3) the marine terrace; and (4) the underlying fractured granite. Groundwater recharge from rainfall infiltration varies spatially due to variations in terrain slope, geology and land use. The mean annual recharge estimated with a hydrological water balance model ranges from 75 mm in the steepest zone to 135 mm in the lowest flat areas. Groundwater flows mostly through the regolith and the detrital formations, which have the largest hydraulic conductivities. Groundwater discharges in seepage areas, springs, along the main creeks and into the sea. The conceptual hydrogeological model has been implemented in a groundwater flow model, which later has been used to select the best pumping scenario. Model results show that the future water needs for domestic and tourist water supply can be safely provided with eight pumping wells with a maximum pumping rate of 700 m³/day.