Comet classification with new methods for gas and dust spectroscopy     

Laura E. Langland-Shula  Graeme H. Smith 《Icarus》2011,213(1):280-322

We present the results of a program of comet long-slit spectroscopy with the Kast Dual Spectrograph on the 3-m Shane Telescope at Lick Observatory. A total of 26 comets, from a variety of dynamical families, were observed on 39 different nights from 1996 to 2007. A new statistical method extracted the twilight sky from comet frames, because traditional sky subtraction techniques were inadequate. Because previously published Haser model parent and daughter scale lengths did not fit the data well, unbiased ranges of scale lengths were searched for the best-fitting pairs. Coma gas production rates for OH, CN, C₂, C₃, NH, NH₂, and OH confirmed the widely reported carbon-chain depletion for a sub-class of comets, most notably high-perihelion Jupiter-family comets observed at r_h > 1.5 AU, with different behaviors for C₂ and C₃. Our long-slit spectroscopy data was also adapted for the A(θ)fρ dust production parameter. The assumption that A(θ)fρ is constant throughout the nucleus was not upheld. High dust-to-gas ratios for comets with large perihelia were not a selection effect, and suggest that the dust was released earlier in the formation of the coma than the gas. The dust-to-gas ratio did not exhibit any evolutionary traces between different comet dynamical families. The comet survey illuminates the diversity among comets, including the unusually carbon poor Comet 96P/Machholz.  相似文献   

European Solar Telescope: Progress status     

M. Collados  F. Bettonvil  L. Cavaller  I. Ermolli  B. Gelly  A. Prez  H. Socas‐Navarro  D. Soltau  R. Volkmer  the EST team 《Astronomische Nachrichten》2010,331(6):615-619

In this paper, the present status of the development of the design of the European Solar Telescope is described. The telescope is devised to have the best possible angular resolution and polarimetric performance, maximizing the throughput of the whole system. To that aim, adaptive optics and multi‐conjugate adaptive optics are integrated in the optical path. The system will have the possibility to correct for the diurnal variation of the distance to the turbulence layers, by using several deformable mirrors, conjugated at different heights. The present optical design of the telescope distributes the optical elements along the optical path in such a way that the instrumental polarization induced by the telescope is minimized and independent of the solar elevation and azimuth. This property represents a large advantage for polarimetric measurements. The ensemble of instruments that are planned is also presented (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)  相似文献   

Chemistry of atmospheres formed during accretion of the Earth and other terrestrial planets   总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1  

Laura Schaefer  Bruce Fegley Jr. 《Icarus》2010,208(1):438-448

We used chemical equilibrium and chemical kinetic calculations to model chemistry of the volatiles released by heating different types of carbonaceous, ordinary and enstatite chondritic material as a function of temperature and pressure. Our results predict the composition of atmospheres formed by outgassing during accretion of the Earth and other terrestrial planets. Outgassing of CI and CM carbonaceous chondritic material produces H₂O-rich (steam) atmospheres in agreement with the results of impact experiments. However, outgassing of other types of chondritic material produces atmospheres dominated by other gases. Outgassing of ordinary (H, L, LL) and high iron enstatite (EH) chondritic material yields H₂-rich atmospheres with CO and H₂O being the second and third most abundant gases. Outgassing of low iron enstatite (EL) chondritic material gives a CO-rich atmosphere with H₂, CO₂, and H₂O being the next most abundant gases. Outgassing of CV carbonaceous chondritic material gives a CO₂-rich atmosphere with H₂O being the second most abundant gas. Our results predict that the atmospheres formed during accretion of the Earth and Mars were probably H₂-rich unless the accreted material was dominantly CI and CM carbonaceous chondritic material. We also predict significant amounts of S, P, Cl, F, Na, and K in accretionary atmospheres at high temperatures (1500-2500 K). Finally, our results may be useful for interpreting spectroscopic observations of accreting extrasolar terrestrial planets.  相似文献   

Deep-sea coral aragonite as a recorder for the neodymium isotopic composition of seawater     

Tina van de Flierdt  Laura F. Robinson 《Geochimica et cosmochimica acta》2010,74(21):6014-6032

Deep-sea corals have been shown to be useful archives of rapid changes in ocean chemistry during the last glacial cycle. Their aragonitic skeleton can be absolutely dated by U-Th data, freeing radiocarbon to be used as a water-mass proxy. For certain species of deep-sea corals, the growth rate allows time resolution that is comparable to ice cores. An additional proxy is needed to exploit this opportunity and turn radiocarbon data into rates of ocean overturning in the past.Neodymium isotopes in seawater can serve as a quasi-conservative water-mass tracer and initial results indicate that deep-sea corals may be reliable archives of seawater Nd isotopes. Here we present a systematic study exploring Nd isotopes as a water-mass proxy in deep-sea coral aragonite. We investigated five different genera of modern deep-sea corals (Caryophyllia, Desmophyllum, Enallopsamia, Flabellum, Lophelia), from global locations covering a large potential range of Nd isotopic compositions. Comparison with ambient seawater measurements yields excellent agreement and suggests that deep-sea corals are reliable archives for seawater Nd isotopes.A parallel study of Nd concentrations in these corals yields distribution coefficients for Nd between seawater and coral aragonite of 1-10, omitting one particular genus (Enallopsamia). The corals and seawater did however not come from exactly the same location, and further investigations are needed to reach robust conclusions on the incorporation of Nd into deep-sea coral aragonite.Lastly, we studied the viability of extracting the Nd isotope signal from fossil deep-sea corals by carrying out stepwise cleaning experiments. Our results show that physical removal of the ferromanganese coating and chemical pre-cleaning have the highest impact on Nd concentrations, but that oxidative/reductive cleaning is also needed to acquire a seawater Nd isotope signal.  相似文献   

Fair Trade Rooibos tea: Connecting South African producers and American consumer markets     

Laura T. Raynolds  Siphelo Unathi Ngcwangu 《Geoforum》2010,41(1):74-83

This article analyzes the recent growth and configuration of Fair Trade networks connecting South African Rooibos tea producers with American consumer markets. As we demonstrate, Fair Trade’s growth in the Rooibos sector engages key issues of black empowerment, land reform, and sustainable development in post-Apartheid South Africa. Fair Trade networks provide small-scale black Rooibos producers with critical markets. Most significantly, the Wupperthal and Heiveld cooperatives have upgraded into processing and packaging and their jointly owned Fairpackers facility now exports shelf-ready Rooibos tea. Analyzing the nature of US Fair Trade Rooibos buyers and their South African sourcing arrangements, we identify key variations in Fair Trade commitment and engagement between mission-driven and market-driven distributors. While mission-driven buyers engage small-scale Rooibos cooperatives in multifaceted partnership networks, market-driven buyers pursue conventional sourcing strategies favoring purchases from large plantations and exporters. We conclude that tensions between a radical and commercial orientation toward Fair Trade in Rooibos tea networks in many ways mirror those in the broader movement.  相似文献   

Assessment of the role of facies heterogeneity at the fine scale by numerical transport experiments and connectivity indicators   总被引：2，自引：1，他引：1  

Chiara Vassena  Laura Cattaneo  Mauro Giudici 《Hydrogeology Journal》2010,18(3):651-668

The heterogeneity of facies at the scale of individual lithological levels controls, at a macroscopic scale, water flow and contaminant transport in porous sediments. In particular the presence of organized features such as permeable connected levels, has a significant effect on travel times and dispersion. Here, the effects of facies heterogeneity on flow and transport are studied for three blocks, whose volume is of the order of a cubic meter, dug from alluvial sediments from the Ticino valley (Italy). Using the results of numerical tracer experiments on these domains, the longitudinal dispersion coefficient is computed with an Eulerian approach based on the fit of the breakthrough curves with the analytical solution of the convective-dispersive transport equation. Moreover, the dispersion tensor is computed with a Lagrangian approach from the second order moments of particle distributions. Three types of connectivity indicators are tested: (1) connectivity function; (2) flow, transport and statistical connectivity; (3) original (intrinsic, normal and total) indicators of facies connectivity. The connectivity function provides the most complete information. Some of the transport and statistical connectivity indicators are correlated with dispersivity. The simultaneous analysis of the three indicators of facies connectivity emphasizes the fundamental geometrical features that control transport.  相似文献   

An empirical equation for tunnel inflow assessment: application to sedimentary rock masses     

Paola Gattinoni  Laura Scesi 《Hydrogeology Journal》2010,18(8):1797-1810

Groundwater inflow assessment is essential for the design of tunnel drainage systems, as well as for assessment of the environmental impact of the associated drainage. Analytical and empirical methods used in current engineering practice do not adequately account for the effect of the jointed-rock-mass anisotropy and heterogeneity. The impact of geo-structural anisotropy of fractured rocks on tunnel inflows is addressed and the limitations of analytical solutions assuming isotropic hydraulic conductivity are discussed. In particular, the study develops an empirical correction to the analytical formula frequently used to predict groundwater tunnel inflow. In order to obtain this, a discrete network flow modelling study was carried out. Numerical simulation results provided a dataset useful for the calibration of some empirical coefficient to correct the well-known Goodman’s equation. This correction accounts for geo-structural parameters of the rock masses such as joint orientation, aperture, spacing and persistence. The obtained empirical equation was then applied to a medium-depth open tunnel in Bergamo District, northern Italy. The results, compared with the monitoring data, showed that the traditional analytical equations give the highest overestimation where the hydraulic conductivity shows great anisotropy. On the other hand, the empirical relation allows a better estimation of the tunnel inflow.  相似文献   

Water quality and relationship between superficial and ground water in Rome (Aniene River basin,central Italy)   总被引：1，自引：1，他引：0  

Francesco La Vigna  Simone Ciadamidaro  Roberto Mazza  Laura Mancini 《Environmental Earth Sciences》2010,60(6):1267-1279

Chemical, physical, and biological features of streams and ground water of the North-Eastern area of Rome are jointly analyzed in order to assess the status of water resources. Ground water was investigated with classical survey methods (pH, temperature, and electric conductivity). Microbiological pollution, faunal composition, and stream surrounding area conditions of surface waters were studied, in order to quantify the residual value of these ecosystems from both a human and an environmental point of view. Results show a general impairment of the system and the comparison between superficial waters and shallow ground waters makes it possible to detect the presence of a connection between the two levels. This relationship occurs as an exchange from superficial waters (streams and rivers) to the shallow aquifers. Where superficial waters are contaminated, as in the Tor Sapienza stream, pollutants move to the shallow aquifers too, due to the decreased pressure of the over-exploited aquifer. Moreover, uncontrolled drilling activity, diffused in urban areas, makes it possible the connection between shallow and deep ground water. Notwithstanding this, the mixing between superficial and deep ground water system in Rome is not very widespread and, apparently, limited to restricted areas.  相似文献   

An in situ investigation of the preservation and alteration of presolar silicates in the Miller Range 07687 chondrite     

Laura B. Seifert  Pierre Haenecour  Tarunika Ramprasad  Adrian J. Brearley  Thomas J. Zega 《Meteoritics & planetary science》2023,58(3):360-382

Dust grains that formed around ancient stars and in stellar explosions seeded the early solar protoplanetary disk. While most of such presolar grains were destroyed during solar system formation, a fraction of such grains were preserved in primitive materials such as meteorites. These grains can provide constraints on stellar origins and secondary processing such as aqueous alteration and thermal metamorphism on their parent asteroids. Here, we report on the nature of aqueous alteration in the Miller Range (MIL) 07687 chondrite through the analysis of four presolar silicates and their surrounding material. The grains occur in the Fe-rich and Fe-poor lithologies, reflecting relatively altered and unaltered material, respectively. The O-isotopic compositions of two grains, one each from the Fe-rich and Fe-poor matrix, are consistent with formation in the circumstellar envelopes of low-mass Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB)/Red Giant Branch (RGB) stars. The other two grains, also one each from the Fe-rich and Fe-poor matrix, have O-isotopic compositions consistent with formation in the ejecta of type-II supernovae (SNe). The grains derived from AGB/RGB stars include two polycrystalline pyroxene grains that contain Fe-rich rims. The SNe grains include a polycrystalline Ca-bearing pyroxene and a polycrystalline assemblage consistent with a mixture of olivine and pyroxene. Ferrihydrite is observed in all focused ion beam sections, consistent with parent-body aqueous alteration of the fine-grained matrix under oxidizing conditions. The Fe-rich rims around presolar silicates in this study are consistent with Fe-diffusion into the grains resulting from early-stage hydrothermal alteration, but such alteration was not extensive enough to lead to isotopic equilibration with the surrounding matrix.  相似文献   

Changes in extremes and hydroclimatic regimes in the CREMA ensemble projections   总被引：2，自引：0，他引：2  

Filippo Giorgi  Erika Coppola  Francesca Raffaele  Gulilat Tefera Diro  Ramon Fuentes-Franco  Graziano Giuliani  Ashu Mamgain  Marta Pereira Llopart  Laura Mariotti  Csaba Torma 《Climatic change》2014,125(1):39-51

We analyze changes of four extreme hydroclimatic indices in the RCP8.5 projections of the Phase I CREMA experiment, which includes 21st century projections over 5 CORDEX domains (Africa, Central America, South America, South Asia, Mediterranean) with the ICTP regional model RegCM4 driven by three CMIP5 global models. The indices are: Heat Wave Day Index (HWD), Maximum Consecutive Dry Day index (CDD), fraction of precipitation above the 95th intensity percentile (R95) and Hydroclimatic Intensity index (HY-INT). Comparison with coarse (GPCP) and high (TRMM) resolution daily precipitation data for the present day conditions shows that the precipitation intensity distributions from the GCMs are close to the GPCP data, while the RegCM4 ones are closer to TRMM, illustrating the added value of the increased resolution of the regional model. All global and regional model simulations project predominant increases in HWD, CDD, R95 and HY-INT, implying a regime shift towards more intense, less frequent rain events and increasing risk of heat wave, drought and flood with global warming. However, the magnitudes of the changes are generally larger in the global than the regional models, likely because of the relatively low “climate sensitivity” of the RegCM4, especially when using the CLM land surface scheme. In addition, pronounced regional differences in the change signals are found. The data from these simulations are available for use in impact assessment studies.  相似文献