Mineral compositions and abundances derived from visible/near-infrared (VIS/NIR or VNIR) spectra are used to classify asteroids, identify meteorite parent bodies, and understand the structure of the asteroid belt. Using a suite of 48 equilibrated (types 4-6) ordinary (H, L, and LL) chondrites containing orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene, and olivine, new relationships between spectra and mineralogy have been established. Contrary to previous suggestions, no meaningful correlation is observed between band parameters and cpx/(opx + cpx) ratios. We derive new calibrations for determining mineral abundances (ol/(ol + px)) and mafic silicate compositions (Fa in olivine, Fs in pyroxene) from VIS/NIR spectra. These calibrations confirm that band area ratio (BAR) is controlled by mineral abundances, while Band I center is controlled by mafic silicate compositions. Spectrally-derived mineralogical parameters correctly classify H, L and LL chondrites in ∼80% of cases, suggesting that these are robust relationships that can be applied to S(IV) asteroids with ordinary chondrites mineralogies. Comparison of asteroids and meteorites using these new mineralogical parameters has the advantage that H, L and LL chemical groups were originally defined on the basis of mafic silicate compositions. 相似文献
Abstract– The Dawn spacecraft carries a gamma‐ray and neutron detector (GRaND), which will measure and map the abundances of selected elements on the surface of asteroid 4 Vesta. We compare the variability of moderately volatile/refractory incompatible element ratios (K/Th and K/Ti) in howardite, eucrite, and diogenite (HED) meteorites with those in other achondrite suites that represent asteroidal crusts, because these ratios may be accurately measured by GRaND and likely reflect initial chemical compositions of the HED parent body. The K/Th and K/Ti variations can differentiate HED meteorites from angrites and some unique eucrite‐like lithologies. The results suggest that K, Th, and Ti abundances determined from GRaND data could not only confirm that Vesta is the parent body of HED meteorites but might also allow recognition of as‐yet unsampled compositional terranes on Vesta. Besides the K‐Th‐Ti systematics study, we propose a new three‐component mixing model for interpretation of GRaND spectra, required because the spatial resolution of GRaND is coarser than the spectral (compositional) heterogeneity of Vesta’s surface. The mixing model uses abundances of K, Ti, Fe, and Mg that will be analyzed more accurately than other prospective GRaND‐analyzed elements. We examine propagated errors due to GRaND analytical uncertainties and intrinsic errors that stem from an assumption introduced into the mixing model. The error investigation suggests that the mixing model can adequately estimate not only the diogenite/eucrite mixing ratio but also the abundances of most major and minor elements within the GRaND propagated errors. 相似文献
Livelihoods in drylands are already challenged by the demands of climate variability, and climate change is expected to have further implications for water resource availability in these regions. This paper characterizes the vulnerability of an irrigation-dependent agricultural community located in the Elqui River Basin of Northern Chile to water and climate-related conditions in light of climate change. The paper documents the exposures and sensitivities faced by the community in light of current water shortages, and identifies their ability to manage these exposures under a changing climate. The IPCC identifies potentially increased aridity in this region with climate change; furthermore, the Elqui River is fed by snowmelt and glaciers, and its flows will be affected by a warming climate. Community vulnerability occurs within a broader physical, economic, political and social context, and vulnerability in the community varies amongst occupations, resource uses and accessibility to water resources, making some more susceptible to changing conditions in the future. This case study highlights the need for adaptation to current land and water management practices to maintain livelihoods in the face of changes many people are not expecting. 相似文献
The potential for predicting interannual variations of the Leeuwin Current along the west coast of Australia is addressed. The Leeuwin Current flows poleward against the prevailing winds and transports warm-fresh tropical water southward along the coast, which has a great impact on local climate and ecosystems. Variations of the current are tightly tied to El Niño/La Niña (weak during El Niño and strong during La Niña). Skilful seasonal prediction of the Leeuwin Current to 9-month lead time is achieved by empirical downscaling of dynamical coupled model forecasts of El Niño and the associated upper ocean heat content anomalies off the north west coast of Australia from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology Predictive Ocean Atmosphere Model for Australia (POAMA) seasonal forecast system. Prediction of the Leeuwin Current is possible because the heat content fluctuations off the north west coast are the primary driver of interannual annual variations of the current and these heat content variations are tightly tied to the occurrence of El Niño/La Niña. POAMA can skilfully predict both the occurrence of El Niño/La Niña and the subsequent transmission of the heat content anomalies from the Pacific onto the north west coast. 相似文献
Seven meso- and bathy-pelagic fish species from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR) were firstly studied for fish parasites and feeding ecology. With a total of seven parasite species, the 247 meso- and bathy-pelagic deep-sea fish specimens belonging to the families Melamphaidae (3 spp.), Myctophidae (3 spp.) and Stomiidae (1 sp.) revealed low parasite diversity. The genetically identified nematodes Anisakis simplex (s.s.) and Anisakis pegreffii from the body cavity, liver and muscles of Myctophum punctatum were the most abundant parasites, reaching a prevalence of 91.4% and mean intensity of 3.1 (1–14). Anisakis sp. (unidentified) infected Chauliodus sloani and Poromitra crassiceps. Bothriocephalidean and tetraphyllidean cestode larvae infected Benthosema glaciale, the latter also occurring in C. sloani and Scopelogadus beanii, at low prevalences. Adult parasites at low infection rates included the digenean Lethadena sp. (2.9%), and the two copepod species Sarcotretes scopeli (5.7%) and Tautochondria dolichoura (5.3–11.4%). The myctophid Lampanyctus macdonaldi and the melamphaid Scopelogadus mizolepis mizolepis were free of parasites. Analyses of the stomach contents revealed crustaceans, especially copepods and euphausiids for the myctophids and also amphipods for the melamphaids as predominant prey items. While all stomachs showing distinct content comprising often unidentified ‘tissue’ (possibly gelatinous zooplankton), only C. sloani preyed upon fish. Though this feeding habit would enable transfer of a variety of crustacean-transmitted parasites into the fish, the parasite fauna in the meso- and bathy-pelagic fish was species poor. All observed parasites showed low host specificity, demonstrating no distinct pattern of host–parasite co-evolution. The MAR is no barrier for the parasite distribution in the North Atlantic meso- and bathy-pelagial. 相似文献
The coal mining industry is in need of effective, locally available, low-cost ameliorants that can be used to treat the toxic materials generated by surface mining and coal cleaning plants. Ashes generated by fluidized bed combustors may locally fit these criteria. Samples of fly ash and bottom ash were acquired from facilities in West Virginia, Texas, and California and evaluated for their ability to generate alkalinity. The results show that FBC ash has the potential to produce solutions of high alkalinity depending on the CaO and CaCO3 contents. The relative content of CaO, and to a lesser extent Ca(OH)2, determines the rate at which alkalinity will be produced. The neutralization potential is the best parameter to evaluate the potential of an FBC ash to produce alkalinity. Because the composition of ashes from a facility vary over time and because no single parameter will accurately evaluate the rate at which alkalinity will be produced, the rate of alkaline production must be evaluated by controlled leach experiments. 相似文献
ABSTRACTThe critical need for hydrological observations in support of water resources management, particularly during extreme events, has transformed traditional methods of hydrological data management. This transformation has given rise to a framework of e-monitoring the hydrological cycle, the aim of which is to improve understanding of the nature of water. New trends in data science, coupled with increasing technological evolution, make the new generation of data systems more agile and responsive to the needs and expectations for efficient and effective data sharing and service delivery. The WMO Hydrological Observing System was designed around the integration of observations, data exchange, research, data processing, modelling and forecasting, in such a way that societal needs for disaster risk reduction, improved sustainability of environmental resources, climate resilience and economic growth can be effectively met. With its implementation of conceptual functionalities for sustainable data management, the WHOS operational architecture is hydrology’s system for the future. 相似文献
New and improved techniques and apparatus for testing the mechanical properties of materials at high presures and temperatures are described. These include an improved Griggs-type deformation apparatus designed to operate to 5 GPa and associated servo-controlled hydraulic drive and electronics, the design of hydrostatic (molten alkali halide mixtures) pressure assemblies to measure flow stresses as low as a few MPa, the characterization of temperature gradients and friction in such assemblies, measurement of the melting curve of an alkali halide mixture used as a confining pressure medium, and the measurement of acoustic emissions. 相似文献
In 1985, a former tire manufacturing plant surrounded by agricultural fields in the Salinas Valley was designated a Superfund Site by the US Environmental Protection Agency. The plant had been operating for seventeen years, from 1963 until 1980. When dismantling of the plant was started, it was determined that toxic hydrocarbon solvents and oils from the plant had contaminated soil and groundwater in alluvial deposits alongside the plant. It was determined later that the groundwater contamination also lay beneath the agricultural fields in a narrow groundwater plume that extends about 4.3 km downgradient from the plant. Because of the complex architecture of the aquifer system, the gradient, and extensive pumping of agricultural wells, the contaminants migrated northwestward and downward to deeper levels away from the plant.
The agricultural fields are underlain by an unconfined shallow aquifer and by a system of confined aquifers that extend to more than 180 m below surface. Aquifers are discontinuous beds of channel sand and gravel; confining beds are overbank clay and silt, and estuarine clay.
Geophysical data, logs of existing agricultural and other wells, and careful consideration of the stratigraphic architecture of the depositional environment provided the basis for a conceptual hydrogeologic model and for locating characterization wells for detailed visual and geophysical logging and hydrologic testing. Successive refinements of the characterization by sequential installation of wells indicated optimal locations for installation of extraction and monitoring wells. Validity of the concept of the hydrogeologic regime was verified by close match of predictions made by modeling with the later results of pumping from the extraction wells in a pump-and-treat system.
Successful remediation was accomplished by analyzing data from 110 agricultural wells, the few domestic water wells, nearly 200 sequentially installed stratigraphic-characterization and monitoring wells, 25 extraction wells, and by close cooperation among federal, state and local agencies, and the ranchers and growers.
Total contaminants recovered from activated-charcoal strippers of the treatment system totalled < 230 kg. Large quantities were harmlessly volatilized and dispersed into the atmosphere by air strippers and by agricultural sprinkling systems spraying water onto the fields. Crop testing showed no contamination of food crops. The activity has taken seven years and has cost more than US$22 million. 相似文献