Radar observations of Itokawa in 2004 and improved shape estimation

Abstract— We present June 2004 radar images of asteroid 25143 Itokawa (1998 SF36) that improve upon the longitude‐latitude coverage of images obtained in 2001 by Ostro et al. (2004) and use the 2001–2004 data to refine that paper's constraints on Itokawa's shape. The 2004 images, the first of the asteroid's southern side, look distinctly different from the 2001 images, revealing leading edges that are much more curved and rugged than the nearly convex leading edges seen at northern latitudes in 2001. Itokawa is shaped like a slightly asymmetrical, bent, lumpy ellipsoid with dimensions along the principal axes within 10% of 594 times 320 times 288 m. To illustrate the uncertainty space associated with shape reconstruction from images with suboptimal orientational coverage, we present two alternative three‐dimensional models of the object.     

Carbon balance in a salt marsh: Interactions of diffusive export, tidal deposition and rainfall-caused erosion

Studies of the concentrations of particulate and dissolved organic carbon in the Duplin River, of the tidal exchange of POC and DOC in the marsh, of the standing stock and movement of Spartina alterniflora wrack in the Duplin, and of the removal of carbon from the surface of the marsh by rain were conducted at Sapelo Island, Georgia in order to test three hypotheses about export of carbon from the Duplin River watershed. We found that the gradients in POC and DOC concentrations are such that carbon is being transported down the Duplin River throughout the year, although in smaller quantities than previously believed. In contrast, almost all tidal exchanges within the marsh result in deposition of carbon. Most of this deposited carbon is subsequently eroded as a result of rain falling on the exposed marsh surface, and is washed back into the tidal creeks. This cycle of deposition and erosion is a possible mechanism keeping POC in the thin aerobic surface layer of the marsh, thus increasing its availability to detritivores and aerobic microbes. The standing stock of wrack is only a fraction of the S. alterniflora produced each year, and its export is a negligible term in the carbon balance equation.     

Laboratory condensation of refractory dust in protosolar and circumstellar conditions

In order to better understand condensation processes that took place in the solar nebula and to evaluate the effect of kinetics on the condensed matter, we have built an experimental apparatus for studying condensation of multi-elemental refractory gases at high-temperature and low-pressure. The condensation of a Mg-Si-rich gas, with solar interelement ratios of Ca, Al, Mg and Si, and of a Ca-Al-rich gas under a total pressure of ∼4 × 10⁻³ bar at temperatures from 1045 to 1285 °C and for run times of 4-60 min results in direct formation of crystalline oxides or silicates such as corundum, spinel, anorthite, melilite, Al-diopside, forsterite and enstatite. The mineralogy of the condensates, close to that predicted at equilibrium, varies with the duration of an experiment and the temperature of condensation. The chemical reactions between gas and condensates are rapid enough to attain a steady state in less than one hour. The condensation results in chemical fractionation of the gas, i.e. a depletion of the gas in refractory elements at high temperature. Finally, besides revealing the textures of refractory crystals, which condense from a gas of complex chemical composition, this study shows that certain phases, such as spinel, have favored kinetics of condensation. Our experimental results confirm that refractory inclusions in primitive meteorites could have formed by condensation from a hot nebular gas. Similarly, we confirm that crystalline grains can condense at high temperature in the outflows of evolved stars. In both cases, our results indicate that kinetic processes certainly influence grain mineralogy. Kinetic processes must thus be taken into account in modeling the pressure-temperature conditions of circumstellar environments.     

Organic matter in a low productivity anoxic intraplatform basin in the Triassic Tethys

This paper presents isotopic, bulk geochemical and biomarker data measured on organic matter accumulated in a narrow extensional basin developed at the oceanward margin of the huge Triassic carbonate platform in the Alps–Appenines domain. The integration of isotope signatures, organic petrographical and biomarker evidence together with the composition of kerogen pyrolysates suggests immature organic matter predominantly of algal origin with a minor, but not negligible, higher plant derived and moderate bacterial contribution for the entire sequence. The mineral sources are dominated by platform-derived subtidal Dachstein limestone with a minor palaeosol input and a moderate contribution of autochtonous quartz. Nevertheless, parallel variations observed in the mineral content, as well as in the amount and the quality of the organic matter reflect variations in the palaeoenvironment. The increased humidity, existing in the period of the accumulation of the upper section of the sequence, led to the restriction of dolomitization. A slightly greater higher plant derived contribution, in this section, is evidenced by the composition of bitumen and the results on GC and GC/MS analyses on the non-aromatic hydrocarbon fraction of bitumen. Moreover, the climate-induced weathering enchanced the primary productivity and resulted in a pronounced increase in the TOC content. The average estimated value of the planktonic productivity is about three times higher for the calcite-rich sequence than the dolomite-rich one, being 44.2 and 15.3 tC_org/m²/Ma, respectively. The low to moderate planktonic productivity shows that anoxic conditions, observed for the entire succession, are a consequence of the stagnant water stratification rather than high planktonic productivity. Depth trends in the data measured on kerogens (HI, OI, δ¹³Corg values, composition of pyrolysate) together with the δ¹⁸O excursions and Δδ¹³C values appear to be controlled by sea-level fluctuations. Consistent with the high abundance of alkyltiophenes in kerogen pyrolysates, the high S_org/C ratios (ranging between 0.05 and 0.10) suggest the importance of natural sulfurization in the formation of the sulfur-rich type-II-S kerogen occurring in all of the samples.     

A review of paired catchment studies for determining changes in water yield resulting from alterations in vegetation

Paired catchment studies have been widely used as a means of determining the magnitude of water yield changes resulting from changes in vegetation. This review focuses on the use of paired catchment studies for determining the changes in water yield at various time scales resulting from permanent changes in vegetation. The review considers long term annual changes, adjustment time scales, the seasonal pattern of flows and changes in both annual and seasonal flow duration curves. The paired catchment studies reported in the literature have been divided into four broad categories: afforestation experiments, deforestation experiments, regrowth experiments and forest conversion experiments. Comparisons between paired catchment results and a mean annual water balance model are presented and show good agreement between the two methodologies. The results highlight the potential underestimation of water yield changes if regrowth experiments are used to predict the likely impact of permanent alterations to a catchment's vegetation. An analysis of annual water yield changes from afforestation, deforestation and regrowth experiments demonstrates that the time taken to reach a new equilibrium under permanent land use change varies considerably. Deforestation experiments reach a new equilibrium more quickly than afforestation experiments. The review of papers reporting seasonal changes in water yield highlights the proportionally larger impact on low flows. Flow duration curve comparison provides a potential means of gaining a greater understanding of the impact of vegetation on the distribution of daily flows.     

Interpretation of gamma-ray logs: The distribution of uranium in carbonate platform

High gamma-radioactivity in carbonates is usually ascribed to uranium of detrital minerals and organic matter, and to thorium and potassium of clays. The present study based on Urgonian marls and marly limestones (France) shows that some of the most radioactive values correspond instead to some ‘pure’ limestones. These peaks are generally associated with a sequence boundary or a maximum flooding surface. Low-level γ-spectrometry and ICP–MS analyses show that although high radioactivities are mostly associated with uranium, there is no obvious correlation between uranium enrichment and lithology. Also, correlation between high radioactivity and argillaceous beds might not be systematic. To cite this article: M.C. Raddadi et al., C. R. Geoscience 337 (2005).     

Tilting Styx and Nix but not Uranus with a Spin-Precession-Mean-motion resonance

A Hamiltonian model is constructed for the spin axis of a planet perturbed by a nearby planet with both planets in orbit about a star. We expand the planet–planet gravitational potential perturbation to first order in orbital inclinations and eccentricities, finding terms describing spin resonances involving the spin precession rate and the two planetary mean motions. Convergent planetary migration allows the spinning planet to be captured into spin resonance. With initial obliquity near zero, the spin resonance can lift the planet’s obliquity to near 90\(^\circ \) or 180\(^\circ \) depending upon whether the spin resonance is first or zeroth order in inclination. Past capture of Uranus into such a spin resonance could give an alternative non-collisional scenario accounting for Uranus’s high obliquity. However, we find that the time spent in spin resonance must be so long that this scenario cannot be responsible for Uranus’s high obliquity. Our model can be used to study spin resonance in satellite systems. Our Hamiltonian model explains how Styx and Nix can be tilted to high obliquity via outward migration of Charon, a phenomenon previously seen in numerical simulations.     

Soil paludification and Sphagnum bog initiation: the influence of indurated podzolic soil and fire

The initiation and growth of boreal peatlands developed on well‐drained, sandy landforms are closely associated with podzolic soil paludification processes. The origin of Sphagnum bogs extending on large deltaic plains was examined to test the hypothesis of the dual impact of indurated (ortstein) podzols and fire on forest soil paludification and concurrent peatland initiation and expansion. Mineral soil, basal organic matter and peat monoliths were sampled for soil and macrofossil analyses along an 800‐m toposequence starting from a mixed‐wood boreal forest to a Sphagnum bog (Lebel bog, eastern Quebec, Canada), and ending at a peat dome in the thickest section of the peatland. Mineral soils along the toposequence are ortstein humo‐ferric podzols distributed in the forest environment and beneath Sphagnum peat in the bog, except at the peat dome. Initial peatland growth occurred c. 6000 cal. a BP. Soil paludification coincided with the cessation of fire occurrence as recorded in the organic and mineral layers preceding Sphagnum expansion. Unlike most temperate and boreal raised bogs, the Sphagnum bog developed directly from a forest environment without passing through a transitional fen stage. Conifer forests regenerated successively after several fires between 4200 and 1600 cal. a BP before bog expansion. Pre‐bog forests were composed of fire‐prone black spruce (Picea mariana) and jack pine (Pinus banksiana) trees, and ericaceous species. Given the distribution and thickness of ortstein horizons progressively decreasing and disappearing towards the peatland dome, growth and expansion of the Sphagnum bog was not caused by soil induration processes, which could have potentially impeded vertical and horizontal drainage. The development of indurated podzols outside and several hundred metres inside the peatland preceded the initiation and expansion of the Sphagnum bog. Cessation of fire activity appears to be a key factor facilitating the lateral expansion of the Sphagnum bog under wet soil conditions.     

Data-Driven Predictive Modeling of Mineral Prospectivity Using Random Forests: A Case Study in Catanduanes Island (Philippines)

The Random Forests (RF) algorithm is a machine learning method that has recently been demonstrated as a viable technique for data-driven predictive modeling of mineral prospectivity, and thus, it is instructive to further examine its usefulness in this particular field. A case study was carried out using data from Catanduanes Island (Philippines) to investigate further (a) if RF modeling can be used for data-driven modeling of mineral prospectivity in areas with few (i.e., <20) mineral occurrences and (b) if RF modeling can handle predictor variables with missing values. We found that RF modeling outperforms evidential belief (EB) modeling of prospectivity for hydrothermal Au–Cu deposits in Catanduanes Island, where 17 hydrothermal Au–Cu prospects are known to exist. Moreover, just like EB modeling, RF modeling allows analysis of the spatial relationships between known prospects and individual layers of predictor data. Furthermore, RF modeling can handle missing values in predictor data through an RF-based imputation technique whereas in EB modeling, missing values are simply represented by maximum uncertainty. Therefore, the RF algorithm is a potentially useful method for data-driven predictive modeling of mineral prospectivity in regions with few (i.e., <20) occurrences of mineral deposits of the type sought. However, further testing of the method in other regions with few mineral occurrences is warranted to fully determine its usefulness in data-driven predictive modeling of mineral prospectivity.