Schmidt-hammer exposure ages from periglacial patterned ground (sorted circles) in Jotunheimen, Norway, and their interpretative problems

© 2016 Swedish Society for Anthropology and Geography Periglacial patterned ground (sorted circles and polygons) along an altitudinal profile at Juvflya in central Jotunheimen, southern Norway, is investigated using Schmidt-hammer exposure-age dating (SHD). The patterned ground surfaces exhibit R-value distributions with platycurtic modes, broad plateaus, narrow tails, and a negative skew. Sample sites located between 1500 and 1925 m a.s.l. indicate a distinct altitudinal gradient of increasing mean R-values towards higher altitudes interpreted as a chronological function. An established regional SHD calibration curve for Jotunheimen yielded mean boulder exposure ages in the range 6910 ± 510 to 8240 ± 495 years ago. These SHD ages are indicative of the timing of patterned ground formation, representing minimum ages for active boulder upfreezing and maximum ages for the stabilization of boulders in the encircling gutters. Despite uncertainties associated with the calibration curve and the age distribution of the boulders, the early-Holocene age of the patterned ground surfaces, the apparent cessation of major activity during the Holocene Thermal Maximum (HTM) and continuing lack of late-Holocene activity clarify existing understanding of the process dynamics and palaeoclimatic significance of large-scale sorted patterned ground as an indicator of a permafrost environment. The interpretation of SHD ages from patterned ground surfaces remains challenging, however, owing to their diachronous nature, the potential for a complex history of formation, and the influence of local, non-climatic factors

Photophysics of indole-2-carboxylic acid in an aqueous environment

The photo-physics and -chemistry of indoles are known to be highly complex and strongly dependent on their precise molecular structure and environment. Combination of spectroscopic analysis with quantum chemical calculations should be a powerful tool to unravel precise excited state deactivation mechanisms. At the same time, combined studies are seldom and likely far from trivial. In this work we explore the feasibility of combining spectroscopic and quantum-chemical data into one consistent model. The molecule of choice is indole-2-carboxylic acid (ICA) in aqueous media. Excited state dynamics are determined by time-resolved fluorescence experiments, while excited state reaction pathways of ICA–H2O clusters are explored by ab initio calculations

Impact of sulphuric acid on cylinder lubrication for large 2-stroke marine diesel engines: Contact angle, interfacial tension and chemical interaction

othernoThe effect of sulphuric acid on the chemical and physical behaviour of the piston ring lubricant in a marine engine cylinder was investigated. To reveal the basic influence of H2SO4 on the lubricant film, the saturated hydrocarbon Squalane (C30H62) was chosen as a simple model oil. The interfacial tension between aqueous H2SO4 (0-98% w/w) and C30H62 was measured between -3 and 165 degrees C to understand droplet formation in the lubricant. Interfacial tension decreases with increasing acid concentration and is temperature dependent.The wettability of engine parts with corrosive sulphuric acid was characterised by the contact angle. The contact angle of H2SO4 (0-98% w/w) on a grey cast iron cylinder liner material (Wartsila, RT84) and a piston ring chrome-ceramic coating (Federal Mogul Goetze, CKS, empty set960 mm) immersed in C30H62 was measured over a temperature range from 20 to 165 degrees C. In general, larger contact angles were measured under higher temperature conditions and on chrome surfaces.In addition to the physical measurements, chemical reaction between H2SO4 and C30H62 was observed which influenced the interfacial tension, visual appearance, phase separation and formation of solid matter. The reaction time was found to be faster than the neutralisation times of commercially formulated lubricants. The reaction products were analysed using FTIR spectroscopy and EDX to find oxidation and sulphonation