Organic-inorganic spatial relationships in carbonaceous chondrites

The use of a novel technique to determine the spatial relationships of organic and aqueously produced inorganic phases in carbonaceous chondrites, in order to support proposals of a genetic link between the two

Identification by Raman spectroscopy of Mg–Fe content of olivine samples after impact at 6kms?1 onto aluminium foil and aerogel: In the laboratory and in Wild-2 cometary samples

AbstractOlivine, (Mg, Fe)2[SiO4], is a common mineral in extraterrestrial materials, whose Mg–Fe content varies from the end-members Forsterite (Mg2SiO4: denoted ‘Fo’) to Fayalite (Fe2SiO4: denoted ‘Fa’), together with minor quantities of Ca, Cr, Mn and Ni. Olivine is readily identified by Raman spectroscopy, and the Mg–Fe content can be obtained by precise measurements of the position of the two strongest Raman peaks. Here we show that this is not only true for pristine and highly crystalline olivine, but also for grains which have undergone high pressure shock processing during hypervelocity impact. We demonstrate that there are subtle changes to the Raman spectra in grains impacted at 6.1kms−1 onto aluminium foil and into low density aerogel. We quantify these changes, and also show that if no correction is made for the impact effects, the Fe:Mg molar ratio of the olivine can be significantly misinterpreted. This study was stimulated by NASA’s Stardust mission to comet 81P/Wild-2, since freshly ejected cometary dust particles were collected (via impact) onto aluminium foil and into aerogel cells at 6.1kms−1 and these samples are being investigated with Raman spectroscopy. We identify the residue in one Stardust impact crater on aluminium foil as arising from an olivine with a composition of Fo97–100

Cryptoendolith alteration of Antarctic sandstone substrates: pioneers or opportunists?

The cryptoendolithic habitat of the Antarctic Dry Valleys has been considered a good analogy for past Martian ecosystems, if life arose on the planet. Yet cryptoendoliths are thought to favor the colonization of rocks that have a preexisting porous structure, e. g., sandstones. This may weaken their significance as exact analogues of potential rock-colonizing organisms on Mars, given our current understanding of the dominant volcanic nature of Martian geology. However, the production of oxalic acid, by these lichendominated communities, and its weathering potential indicate that it could be an aid in rock colonization, enabling endoliths to inhabit a wider variety of rock types. Utilizing ICP-AES and scanning electron microscope techniques, this study investigates elemental and mineralogical compositions within colonized and uncolonized layers in individual sandstone samples. This is in order to determine if the weathering of mineral phases within the colonized layers causes an increase in the amount of pore space available for colonization. The results show that colonized layers are more weathered than uncolonized, deeper portions of the rock substrate. Layers within uncolonized samples have uniform compositions. Differences between the colonized and uncolonized layers also occur to varying extents within colonized rocks of different mineralogical maturities. The results confirm that cryptoendoliths modify their habitat through the production of oxalic acid and suggest that over time this directly increases the porosity of their inhabited layer, potentially increasing the biomass it can support

A basic reference state suitable for anomaly-coupled ocean-atmosphere climate models

AbstractA large class of ocean-atmosphere models exists in which the ocean state is coupled to the model of the atmosphere only through the anomalies of the ocean state. The sea surface temperatures are defined with respect to a mean reference state, i.e., they are the difference between the ocean state and a reference state. Due to coupled model drift, the choice of reference state is important and it can have a large impact on the variability in the model. The reference state can be calculated as an average throughout the coupled simulation and various methods of doing this (moving average, exponentially weighted moving average and accumulated mean) are compared in this note. The accumulated mean method appears to be the sole method of the three which gives both unbiased anomalies and a convergent reference state. It is recommended for use in anomaly-coupled models for improving variability and predictability

'BUT WHAT AM I GOING TO SAY?" Some advice to medical students about dealing with feelings of inadequacy

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Data Preparations for a New Australian Gravimetric Geoid

The rationale is given for a new determination of the Australian gravimetric geoid. In preparation for this task, the Australian Geological Survey Organisation's gravity data base has been validated and reformatted. Additional information in the form of digital terrain data are available from the Australian Surveying and Land Information Group's 9" by 9" Digital Elevation Model (DEM), derived from ~5.2 million spot elevations and the ~0.6 million elevations in the gravity data base. Both gravity and terrain data were transformed to give their horizontal position on the GRS80 ellipsoid, which produces a homogeneous data source for subsequent geoid computations. The gravity anomalies were computed using a second-order, free-air correction and normal gravity was computed using GRS80 latitude. Satellite altimeter-derived gravity anomalies are also considered as an additional source of information in offshore areas. The statistical fit of the new EGM96 global geopotential model to geometrical control provided by the Australian Fiducial and National GPS Networks is shown to be an improvement upon the OSU91A model, upon which AUSGEOID93 was based