Fast variability of the outflow in the Z CMa system

High-resolution, time-resolved spectroscopic observations of Z CMa carried out on 1997 January 14–17 are presented. Large night-to-night and hour-to-hour variations in Hα, Hβ and Na i D P Cygni absorptions, as well as an Hβ emission peak, were observed. Variations in the red wings of the hydrogen emission lines were also detected. The high-velocity wide-emission component on the blue side of Hα appeared on January 17. The observations are discussed in the framework of current wind models.     

Assessment of the possible contribution of space ties on-board GNSS satellites to the terrestrial reference frame

The realization of the international terrestrial reference frame (ITRF) is currently based on the data provided by four space geodetic techniques. The accuracy of the different technique-dependent materializations of the frame physical parameters (origin and scale) varies according to the nature of the relevant observables and to the impact of technique-specific errors. A reliable computation of the ITRF requires combining the different inputs, so that the strengths of each technique can compensate for the weaknesses of the others. This combination, however, can only be performed providing some additional information which allows tying together the independent technique networks. At present, the links used for that purpose are topometric surveys (local/terrestrial ties) available at ITRF sites hosting instruments of different techniques. In principle, a possible alternative could be offered by spacecrafts accommodating the positioning payloads of multiple geodetic techniques realizing their co-location in orbit (space ties). In this paper, the GNSS–SLR space ties on-board GPS and GLONASS satellites are thoroughly examined in the framework of global reference frame computations. The investigation focuses on the quality of the realized physical frame parameters. According to the achieved results, the space ties on-board GNSS satellites cannot, at present, substitute terrestrial ties in the computation of the ITRF. The study is completed by a series of synthetic simulations investigating the impact that substantial improvements in the volume and quality of SLR observations to GNSS satellites would have on the precision of the GNSS frame parameters.     

Oxygen isotope zoning in garnets from Franciscan eclogite blocks: evidence for rock–buffered fluid interaction in the mantle wedge

The oxygen isotope compositions of eclogite and amphibolite garnets from Franciscan Complex high-grade blocks and actinolite rinds encasing the blocks were determined to place constraints on their fluid histories. SIMS oxygen isotope analysis of single garnets from five eclogite blocks from three localities (Ring Mountain, Mount Hamilton, and Jenner Beach) shows an abrupt decrease in the δ¹⁸O value by ~1–3 ‰ from core to rim at a distance of ~120 ± 50 μm from the rim in nine out of the 12 garnets analyzed. In contrast, amphibolite garnets from one block (Ring Mountain) analyzed show a gradual increase in δ¹⁸O value from core to rim, implying a different history from that of the eclogite blocks. Values of δ¹⁸O in eclogite garnet cores range from 5.7 to 11.6 ‰, preserving the composition of the eclogite protolith. The abrupt decrease in the δ¹⁸O values of the garnet rims to values ranging from 3.2 to 11.2 ‰ suggests interaction with a lower δ¹⁸O fluid during the final stages of growth during eclogite facies metamorphism (450–600 °C). We hypothesize that this fluid is sourced from the serpentinized mantle wedge. High Mg, Ni, and Cr contents of actinolite rinds encasing the blocks also support interaction with ultramafic rock. Oxygen isotope thermometry using chlorite and phengite versus actinolite of rinds suggests temperatures of 185–240 °C at Ring Mountain and Mount Hamilton. Rind formation temperatures together with the lower δ¹⁸O garnet rims suggest that the blocks were in contact with ultramafic rock from the end of garnet growth through low-temperature retrogression. We suggest a tectonic model in which oceanic crust is subducted at the initiation of subduction and becomes embedded in the overlying mantle wedge. As subduction continues, metasomatic exchange between high-grade blocks and surrounding ultramafic rock is recorded in low δ¹⁸O garnet rims, and later as temperatures decrease, with rind formation.     

Detecting discontinuities in GNSS coordinate time series with STARS: case study,the Bologna and Medicina GPS sites

Global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) data are a fundamental source of information for achieving a better understanding of geophysical and climate-related phenomena. However, discontinuities in the coordinate time series might be a severe limiting factor for the reliable estimate of long-term trends. A methodological approach has been adapted from Rodionov (Geophys Res Lett 31:L09204, 2004; Geophys Res Lett 31:L12707, 2006) and from Rodionov and Overland (J Marine Sci 62:328–332, 2005) to identify both the epoch of occurrence and the magnitude of jumps corrupting GNSS data sets without any a priori information on these quantities. The procedure is based on the Sequential t test Analysis of Regime Shifts (STARS) (Rodionov in Geophys Res Lett 31:L09204, 2004). The method has been tested against a synthetic data set characterized by typical features exhibited by real GNSS time series, such as linear trend, seasonal cycle, jumps, missing epochs and a combination of white and flicker noise. The results show that the offsets identified by the algorithm are split into 48 % of true-positive, 28 % of false-positive and 24 % of false-negative events. The procedure has then been applied to GPS coordinate time series of stations located in the southeastern Po Plain, in Italy. The series span more than 15 years and are affected by offsets of different nature. The methodology proves to be effective, as confirmed by the comparison between the corrected GPS time series and those obtained by other observation techniques.     

Modeling orbital relative motion to enable formation design from application requirements

While trajectory design for single satellite Earth observation missions is usually performed by means of analytical and relatively simple models of orbital dynamics including the main perturbations for the considered cases, most literature on formation flying dynamics is devoted to control issues rather than mission design. This work aims at bridging the gap between mission requirements and relative dynamics in multi-platform missions by means of an analytical model that describes relative motion for satellites moving on near circular low Earth orbits. The development is based on the orbital parameters approach and both the cases of close and large formations are taken into account. Secular Earth oblateness effects are included in the derivation. Modeling accuracy, when compared to a nonlinear model with two body and J₂ forces, is shown to be of the order of 0.1% of relative coordinates for timescales of hundreds of orbits. An example of formation design is briefly described shaping a two-satellite formation on the basis of geometric requirements for synthetic aperture radar interferometry.