Optimal deflection of NEOs en route of collision with the Earth

Recently, a method for the n-body analysis of the velocity change required to deflect a hazardous near-Earth object (NEO) was presented by Carusi et al. [Carusi, A., Valsecchi, G.B., D'Abramo, G., Boattini A., 2002. Icarus 159, 417-422]. We extent this method in order to optimize the velocity change vector instead of its along-track magnitude. From an application of both methods to a fictitious NEO we find Carusi's parallel approach to be reasonable for phases of unperturbed two-body motion. But, for orbit phases inhering third-body perturbations, i.e., for planetary close approaches or prior to a collision, the results obtained from the new method show the radial component of deflection impulse to play a major role. We show that a fivefold greater efficiency can be achieved by a deflection impulse being non-parallel to orbital velocity. The new method is applied to two possible 99942 Apophis impact trajectories in order to provide constraints for future Apophis deflection mission analysis.     

Late Quaternary vegetation changes around Lake Rutundu,Mount Kenya,East Africa: evidence from grass cuticles,pollen and stable carbon isotopes

Woody, subalpine shrubs and grasses currently surround Lake Rutundu, Mount Kenya. Multiple proxies, including carbon isotopes, pollen and grass cuticles, from a 755‐cm‐long core were used to reconstruct the vegetation over the past 38 300 calendar years. Stable carbon‐isotope ratios of total organic carbon and terrestrial biomarkers from the lake sediments imply that the proportion of terrestrial plants using the C₄ photosynthetic pathway was greater during the Late Pleistocene than in the Holocene. Pollen data show that grasses were a major constituent of the vegetation throughout the Late Pleistocene and Holocene. The proportion of grass pollen relative to the pollen from other plants was greatest at the last glacial maximum (LGM). Grass cuticles confirm evidence that C₄ grass taxa were present at the LGM and that the majority followed the cold‐tolerant NADP‐MEC₄ subpathway. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The effect of bulk rock composition on the stability of amphibole in the upper mantle: Implications for solidus positions and mantle metasomatism

Summary The stability of pargasitic amphibole in the upper mantle is a function of water content and bulk rock composition, and under water-undersaturated conditions, the stability of amphibole controls the solidus position. Experiments in the system Tinaquillo peridotite +0.2% H₂O, a refractory peridotite under water-undersaturated conditions, show that amphibole is stable to 1030°C and 26 kb. In contrast, pargasitic amphibole is stable to 1150°C and 30 kb in Hawaiian pyrolite, a more fertile peridotite composition. This indicates that under water-undersaturated conditions, the most fertile part of a crystallizing mantle diapir with an inhomogeneous composition will solidify first while a more refractory component will contain an alkali-rich melt which will have the ability to metasomatize adjacent regions. The relative stabilities of amphibole in refractory and fertile bulk compositions may result in increasing rather than diminishing chemical contrasts in high temperature lherzolite, i.e. a process of metamorphic differentiation. Ti, Fe, Al and Na metasomatism can therefore be considered a normal occurrence associated with the upward migration and solidification of an H₂O-bearing mantle diapir.

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Der Einfluß der Gesamtgesteins-Zusammensetzung auf die Stabilität von Amphibol im oberen Mantel: Bedeutung für Solidus-Positionen und Mantel-Metasomatose

Zusammenfassung Die Stabilität pargasitischer Amphibole im oberen Mantel ist eine Funktion von Wassergehalt und Gesamtgesteins-Zusammensetzung. Unter wasser-untersättigten Bedingungen, kontrolliert die Stabilität von Amphibol die Solidus-Position. Experimente in dem System Tinaquillo Peridotit +0,2% H₂O, einem refraktären Peridotit unter wasser-untersättigten Bedingungen, zeigen daß Amphibol bis 1030°C und 26 Kb stabil ist. Im Gegensatz dazu ist pargasitische Hornblende in einem Hawaii-Pyrolit, von mehr fertiler Peridotit-Zuammensetzung, bis 1150°C und 30 Kb stabil. Das zeigt, daß bei wasser-untersättigten Bedingungen der am meisten produktive Teil eines kristallisierenden Mantel-Diapirs mit inhomogener Zusammensetzung sich zuerst verfestigen wird, während eine mehr refraktäre Komponente eine alkali-reiche Schmelze enthalten wird, die wiederum die Fähigkeit hat, umliegende Bereiche metasomatisch zu beeinflussen. Die relativen Stabilitäten von Amphibol in refraktären und fertilen Gesamtzusammensetzungen können dazu führen, daß die chemischen Gegensätze in Hochtemperaturlherzoliten eher zunehmen als abnehmen, d. h. ein Prozeß metamorpher Differentiation. Ti, Fe, Al und Na Metasomatose können deshalb als ein verbreiteter Vorgang, der mit der Aufwärtsbewegung und Verfestigung eines H₂O-führenden Mantel-Diapirs assoziiert ist, betrachtet werden.

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With 4 Figures