Crustal Matter Research Articles

The air-borne particulate pollution in Beijing—concentration, composition, distribution and sources

Aerosol samples of PM2.5 and PM10 were collected in both summer and winter seasons from 2002 to 2003 synchronously at a traffic site, an industrial site, and a residential site in Beijing, which could basically be the representatives over Beijing. Twenty-three elements and 15 ions together with organic carbon and elemental carbon were analyzed systematically for characterization of Beijing aerosol. PM2.5 was the major part of the inhalable particles (PM10), as the ratios of PM2.5/PM10 were 0.45-0.48 in summer and 0.52-0.73 in winter. SO42-, NO3-, NH4+, organic matter, crustal matter, and element carbon were the six dominant species, which totally accounted for 85.8-97.7% of Secondary aerosol, (SO42-, NO3-, and NH4+), road dust or/and long-range transported dust from outside Beijing, industry and motor vehicles emission, coal burning were the major contributors to the air-borne particulate pollution in Beijing. Overall, coal burning and the traffic exhausts, plus the dust from the long-range transport, could be the major sources of the aerosol pollution at Beijing. A relatively even spatial distribution of chemical species in PM2.5 was found while in PM10 a significant variation with the highest concentrations at the industrial site in summer and at the residential site in winter was observed. The concentrations of PM10, PM2.5 as well as various chemical species were higher in winter than in summer. The contributions of mineral aerosol from outside Beijing were first estimated with a newly developed element tracer technique, which accounted for 79% and 37% of the total mineral in PM10 and PM2.5 in winter, and 19% and 20% in summer, respectively. During the dust storm period from 20 to 22 March, it reached up to 97% in TSP, 79% in PM10 and 76% in PM2.5. This is the technique, firstly, developed for estimating the relative contributions of sources from inside and outside Beijing to the total mineral aerosol and it could provide the basic information in controlling the air-borne particulate pollution at Beijing. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Movement and strain conditions of active blocks in the Chinese mainland

The definition of active block is given from the angles of crustal deformation and strain. The movement and strain parameters of active blocks are estimated according to the unified velocity field composed of the velocities at 1598 GPS stations obtained from GPS measurements carried out in the past years in the Chinese mainland and the surrounding areas. The movement and strain conditions of the blocks are analyzed. The active blocks in the Chinese mainland have a consistent E-trending movement component, but its N and S components are not consistent. The blocks in the western part have a consistent N-trending movement and the blocks in the eastern part have a consistent S-trending movement. In the area to the east of 90°E, that is the area from Himalayas block towards NE, the movement direction of the blocks rotates clockwisely and the movement rates of the blocks are different. Generally, the movement rate is large in the west and south and small in the east and north with a difference of 3 to 4 times between the rates in the west and east. The distributions of principal compressive strain directions of the blocks are also different. The principal strain of the blocks located to the west of 90°E is basically in the SN direction, the principal compressive strain of the blocks in the northeastern part of Qingzang plateau is roughly in the NE direction and the direction of principal compressive strain of the blocks in the southeastern part of Qingzang plateau rounds clockwisely the east end of Himalayas structure. In addition, the principal strain and shear strain rates of the blocks are also different. The Himalayas and Tianshan blocks have the largest principal compressive strain and the maximum shear strain rate. Then, Lhasa, Qiangtang, Southwest Yunnan (SW Yunnan), Qilian and Sichuan-Yunan (Chuan-Dian) blocks followed. The strain rate of the blocks in the eastern part is smaller. The estimation based on the stain condition indicates that Himalayas block is still the area with the most intensive tectonic activity and it shortens in the NS direction at the rate of 15.2 ± 1.5 mm/a. Tianshan block ranks the second and it shortens in the NS direction at the rate of 10.1 ± 0.9 mm/a. At present, the two blocks are still uprising. It can be seen from superficial strain that the Chinese mainland is predominated by superficial expansion. Almost the total area in the eastern part of the Chinese mainland is expanded, while in the western part, the superficial compression and expansion are alternatively distributed from the south to the north. In the Chinese mainland, most EW-trending or proximate EW-trending faults have the left-lateral or left-lateral strike-slip relative movements along both sides, and most NS-trending faults have the right-lateral or right-lateral strike-slip relative movements along both sides. According to the data from GPS measurements the left-lateral strike-slip rate is 4.8 ± 1.3 mm/a in the central part of Altun fault and 9.8 ± 2.2 mm/a on Xianshuihe fault. The movement of the fault along the block boundary has provided the condition for block movement, so the movements of the block and its boundary are consistent, but the movement levels of the blocks are different. The statistic results indicate that the relative movement between most blocks is quite significant, which proves that active blocks exist. Himalayas, Tianshan, Qiangtang and SW Yunnan blocks have the most intensive movement; China-Mongolia, China-Korea (China-Korea), Alxa and South China blocks are rather stable. The mutual action of India, Pacific and Philippine Sea plates versus Eurasia plate is the principal driving force to the block movement in the Chinese mainland. Under the NNE-trending intensive press from India plate, the crustal matter of Qingzang plateau moves to the NNE and NE directions, then is hindered by the blocks located in the northern, northeastern and eastern parts. The crustal matter moves towards the Indian Ocean by the southeastern part of the plateau.

Characterization of chemical species in PM 2.5 and PM 10 aerosols in Hong Kong

Aerosol samples for PM 10 and PM 2.5 were collected in wintertime from November 2000 to February 2001 at three different sampling locations in Hong Kong. PM 10 and PM 2.5 were collected by high-volume (hi-vol.) samplers and the concentrations of major elements, ions, organic and elemental carbons were quantified. The ratios of PM 2.5/PM 10 were 0.61 and 0.78 at the PolyU campus and Kwun Tong (KT), respectively. These results indicated that the concentrations of PM 2.5 contribute the majority of the PM 10 fraction. The concentrations of anthropogenic species (e.g. Pb and Cu) in PM 10 and PM 2.5measured at urban areas were generally higher than at an urban background site (Hok Tsui, HT). The major fractions of sulfate at three monitoring sites are non-sea-salts (nss) sulfates. Although HT is located in coastal areas, the contribution of sea salts to sulfate in fine particles was small, indicating a substantial anthropogenic origin. The OC/EC ratios were less than 2 in PolyU and KT monitoring stations for PM 10 and PM 2.5. However, the OC/EC ratios were over 3 at HT for both PM 10 and PM 2.5. This indicates the presence of secondary organic aerosols. Correlations between OC and EC as well as OC and sulfate in HT during both seasons were used to prove that atmospheric transport and transformation of anthropogenic organic species from northeastern area was the dominant source in winter. The chemical composition of the samples was reconstructed from the observed elemental composition. The contribution of the seven components, namely crustal matter, sea salt, ammonium, sulfate, nitrate, elemental carbon and organic matter accounted for 77–84% of the PM 10 and PM 2.5 mass in the urban area (PolyU and KT) and 74% for Hok Tsui (HT). Sulfate, organic matter and elemental carbon are the major constituents in particles especially in PM 2.5 collected at PolyU and KT. The major constituents of PM 10 in HT are sea salt and sulfate.

Factors influencing mass concentration and chemical composition of fine aerosols during a PM high pollution episode

Results obtained during a winter field campaign for the fine fractions of particulate matter are presented. A high pollution episode together with an analysis of the main factors, which influence accumulation of pollutants is described. The measurement campaigns were carried out simultaneously at two sites in Northern Italy, Milan and Erba, during the winter of 2000. The daily variability in the mass concentration values and PM2.5/PM10 ratios appeared to be strongly dependent upon meteorological and atmospheric stability conditions and, in particular, wind regimes. During the intensive field campaign a high-pollution episode occurred that led to TSP and fine fraction concentrations well above the attention and alarm thresholds, reaching values of up to 200–250 μg m −3. The elemental concentrations were determined by ED-XRF analysis. The elemental composition of the particulate matter indicated that crustal matter oxides (soil dust) were the main component in particles with aerodynamic diameter d ae>10 μm. They were an important part also in particles with 2.5<d ae<10 μm, but strongly decreased in particles with d ae<2.5 μm. In the finer fraction sulphates nitrogen and carbon compounds played a major role. The temporal patterns of mass and elemental concentrations, as well as the main components of PM were very similar at the two sites. The high-pollution episode was recorded at many locations in the Po plain, highlighting the role of meteorology and thermodynamic atmospheric conditions on pollution build-up on a large area.

Detailed mass size distributions of elements and species, and aerosol chemical mass closure during fall 1999 at Gent, Belgium

A 10-stage microorifice uniform deposit impactor (MOUDI) and a 12-stage small deposit area low pressure impactor (SDI) were operated at Gent from 6 September to 30 October 1999. Thirty-four parallel samples (of typically 24 h) were collected. The MOUDI samples were analysed for the particulate mass (PM) by weighing, and for organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) by a thermal–optical transmission technique. The SDI samples were analysed for 27 elements by PIXE. PM and OC exhibited typically a rather similar bimodal size distribution, with most of their mass in the submicrometer size range. EC was predominantly associated with fine particles, with maximum typically at around 0.2 μm equivalent aerodynamic diameter (EAD). Sulphur was also mainly in the fine size range, but with maximum at 0.5 μm EAD. Other elements with mainly a fine mode were V, Ni, As, Se and Pb. The crustal elements (Al, Si, Ti, Fe, Zr) exhibited mostly a unimodal coarse mode size distribution, with maximum at about 4 μm EAD. Other elements with mainly a coarse mode were Na, Mg, P, Ca, Cr, Mn, Cu, Ga and Sr. The elements K, Zn and Rb were generally bimodal. Aerosol chemical mass closure calculations indicated that organic aerosol and crustal matter were the major aerosol types in the supermicrometer size range, and that the dominant aerosol types in the submicrometer fraction were organic aerosol and sulphate. On average, 74% of the gravimetric PM was accounted for by the aerosol types considered.

Aerosol chemical mass closure during the EUROTRAC-2 AEROSOL Intercomparison 2000

The field work for the AEROSOL Intercomparison 2000 took place from 4 to 14 April 2000 at Melpitz, Germany. One objective was to assess to which extent aerosol chemical mass closure could be obtained for the site. For this purpose, we operated four filter samplers in parallel (mostly using 12-h collections): two Gent PM10 stacked filter unit (SFU) samplers (one with coarse and fine Nuclepore polycarbonate filters, the other with a Gelman Teflo filter as fine filter) and two single filter holders (one with PM2.5 inlet, the other with PM10 inlet) with Whatman QM-A quartz fibre filters. All samples were analysed for the particulate mass (PM) by weighing; the samples from the first SFU were analysed for 42 elements by a combination of particle-induced X-ray emission spectroscopy and instrumental neutron activation analysis, those from the other SFU for major anions and cations by ion chromatography. All quartz filters were analysed for organic carbon and elemental carbon by a thermal–optical transmission technique. Aerosol chemical mass closure calculations were done for the separate fine (PM2) and coarse (2–10 μm) size fractions. As gravimetric PM data we used the averages from the parallel SFU collections. For reconstituting this PM, nine aerosol types (or components) were considered. Crustal matter, organic aerosol and nitrate were the major aerosol types in the coarse size fraction; the dominant aerosol types in the fine fraction were organic aerosol, nitrate and sulphate. The included components explained 116% and 86% of the gravimetric PM in the coarse and fine size fractions, respectively.

Possible manifestations of slab window magmatisms in Cretaceous southwest Japan

The slab window system related to ridge subduction is studied to explain the conspicuous activity and the along-arc migration of the magmatisms in the eastern margin of Eurasian continent in the late Mesozoic. The trend of the granite ages is scrutinized with systems approach and analyzed by the statistical method in Cretaceous southwest Japan, a reference field of the Eurasian eastern margin. The magmatic distribution of simultaneous activity was determined to be the V-shape of the slab window, excluding dating errors from the located age data. The slab window magmatism has the most dominant zone of the acidic rocks at or near the centerline of the window (the spreading center of two plates), and also has the subdominant zone of the acidic to intermediate rocks on either side of the window. As the slab window opens due to the plate motions, the upwelling current is adiabatically induced in the asthenosphere to fill the window gap. The partial melt is generated in the upwelling flux and transports heat to the lower crust to make greater granitic magma chambers by heat conduction to, and assimilation with, the crustal matter. The younger and hotter slabs outside the window also play a role in partial slab melting and/or dehydration to the asthenosphere and generate the subdominant granodioritic and adakitic and/or high-magnesian andesitic magmatisms as the pre- and post-activities of the main granite genesis. The slab window formed by the subducted ridge between the Kula and Pacific plates was the strong heat source of the active magmatisms and migrated at the rate of 2.8 cm/year from southwest to northeast about 8000 km along the continental margin. The growth of the continent associated with the active acidic to intermediate magmatisms including the adakitic and/or high-magnesian andesitic activities is modeled by the slab window system.

A strongly magnetized strange star model for soft gamma-ray repeaters

Soft γ-ray repeaters (SGRs) have been currently argued as super-strongly magnetized neutron stars (magnetars) with magnetic fields with a few 10 14 G. Here we propose an alternate model, in which SGRs are young strange stars with superconducting cores and with poloidal magnetic fields of normal radio pulsars. For SGR 1806−20, its magnetic field is taken to be ∼3 × 10 13 G in order to match the stellar characteristic timescale and the age of the surrounding supernova remnant (SNR) associated with this burster. The movement of the magnetic flux tubes in these strange stars not only leads to crustal cracking of the stars, giving rise to deconfinement of crustal matter to strange matter, but also to movement of internal magnetic toruses together with the flux tubes. The former process will result in bursting and quiescent emission and the latter process will produce quasi-steady relativistic winds which will power the surrounding SNR. The observed persistent X-ray luminosity, bursting behavior and inferred wind luminosity of SGRs can be explained in this model. The possible relation between the sources of SGRs, anomalous X-ray pulsars and gamma-ray bursts is discussed.

Sources and chemical composition of atmospheric fine and coarse particles in the Helsinki area

During April 1996–June 1997 size-segregated atmospheric aerosol particles were collected at an urban and a rural site in the Helsinki area by utilising virtual impactors (VI) and Berner low-pressure impactors (BLPI). In addition, VI samples were collected at a semi-urban site during October 1996–May 1997. The average PM 2.3 (fine particle) concentrations at the urban and rural sites were 11.8 and 8.4 μg/m 3, and the PM 2.3−15 (coarse particle) concentrations were 12.8 and about 5 μg/m 3, respectively. The difference in fine particle mass concentrations suggests that on average, more than one third of the fine mass at the urban site is of local origin. Evaporation of fine particle nitrate from the VI Teflon filters during sampling varied similarly at the three sites, the average evaporation being about 50–60%. The average fine particle concentrations of the chemical components (25 elements and 13 ions) appeared to be fairly similar at the three sites for most components, which suggests that despite the long-range transport, the local emissions of these components were relatively evenly distributed in the Helsinki area. Exceptions were the average fine particles Ba, Fe, Sb and V concentrations that were clearly highest at the urban site pointing to traffic (Ba, Fe, Sb) and to combustion of heavy fuel oil (V) as the likely local sources. The average coarse particle concentrations for most components were highest at the urban site and lowest at the rural site. Average chemical composition of fine particles was fairly similar at the urban and rural sites: non-analysed fraction (mainly carbonaceous material and water) 43% and 37%, sulphate 21% and 25%, crustal matter 12% and 13%, nitrate 12% and 11%, ammonium 9% and 10% and sea-salt 2.5% and 3.2%, respectively. At the semi-urban site also, the average fine particle composition was similar. At the urban site, the year round average composition of coarse particles was dominated by crustal matter (59%) and the non-analysed components (28%, mainly carbonaceous material and water), while the other contributions were much lower: sea-salt 7%, nitrate 4% and sulphate 2%. At the rural site, the coarse samples were collected in spring and summer and the percentage was clearly lower for crustal matter (37%) and sea-salt (3%) but higher for the not-analysed fraction (51%). At the semi-urban site, the average composition of coarse particles was nearly identical to that at the urban site. Correlations between the chemical components were calculated separately for fine and coarse particles. In urban fine particles sulphate, ammonium, Tl, oxalate and PM 2.3 mass correlated with each other and originated mainly from long-range transport. The sea-salt ions Na +, Cl − and Mg 2+ formed another group and still another group was formed by the organic anions oxalate, malonate, succinate, glutarate and methane sulphonate. Ni and V correlated strongly pointing to combustion of heavy fuel oil as the likely source. In addition, some groups with lower correlations were detected. At the rural and semi-urban sites, the correlating components were rather similar to those at the urban site, although differences were also observed.

Characterisation and source identification of PM 10 aerosol samples collected with a high volume cascade impactor in Brisbane (Australia)

PM 10 (particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter <10 μm) samples of Brisbane air were collected and fractionated into six size fractions (<0.5, 0.5–0.61, 0.61–1.3, 1.3–2.7, 2.7–4.9 and 4.9–10 μm) with a high volume cascade impactor. The chemical composition of the samples was analysed by techniques including Ion Beam Analysis. On average, 42% of the aerosol mass is in the >2.7-μm size fraction, with the <0.5-μm size fraction also contributes 41% of the aerosol mass. The composition of the <1.3-μm aerosols is significantly different to that of the >1.3-μm aerosols. The aerosol mass and concentrations of chemical components related to human activities show a bimodal size-distribution pattern, with most of the mass in the accumulation range (<0.65 μm). The size geometric mean of aerosol mass is 0.96 μm in the samples collected from an industrial/residential site, and is 1.74 μm in the samples collected from a suburban site. The size geometric mean of concentrations of chemical components related to human activities ranges from 0.16 to 0.57 μm. The concentrations of crustal matter and sea salt show a unimodal size-distribution pattern, and with geometric means of 3.73 and 4.12 μm, respectively. Four source factors were resolved by multivariate analysis techniques for the size-fractionated aerosol samples, namely the soil, sea salt, organics and vehicular exhausts factors. The source fingerprints of the factors vary in the size ranges and have implications on the formation and dispersal processes of the particles. On average, the soil and sea salt factors contribute more than 80% of the aerosol mass in the >2.7-μm fractions, while the organics and vehicular exhausts factors explain almost all the aerosol mass in the <0.61-μm fractions.

Source apportionment of PM 2.5 and PM 10 aerosols in Brisbane (Australia) by receptor modelling

Aerosol samples for PM 2.5 and PM 10 (particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters less than 2.5 and 10 μm, respectively) were collected from 1993 to 1995 at five sites in Brisbane, a subtropical coastal city in Australia. This paper investigates the contributions of emission sources to PM 2.5 and PM 10 aerosol mass in Brisbane. Source apportionment results derived from the chemical mass balance (CMB), target transformation factor analysis (TTFA) and multiple linear regression (MLR) methods agree well with each other. The contributions from emission sources exhibit large variations in particle size with temporal and spatial differences. On average, the major contributors of PM 10 aerosol mass in Brisbane include: soil/road side dusts (25% by mass), motor vehicle exhausts (13%, not including the secondary products), sea salt (12%), Ca-rich and Ti-rich compounds (11%, from cement works and mineral processing industries), biomass burning (7%), and elemental carbon and secondary products contribute to around 15% of the aerosol mass on average. The major sources of PM 2.5 aerosols at the Griffith University (GU) site (a suburban site surrounded by forest area) are: elemental carbon (24% by mass), secondary organics (21%), biomass burning (15%) and secondary sulphate (14%). Most of the secondary products are related to motor vehicle exhausts, so, although motor vehicle exhausts contribute directly to only 6% of the PM 2.5 aerosol mass, their total contribution (including their secondary products) could be substantial. This pattern of source contribution is similar to the results for Rozelle (Sydney) among the major Australian studies, and is less in contributions from industrial and motor vehicular exhausts than the other cities. An attempt was made to estimate the contribution of rural dust and road side dust. The results show that road side dusts could contribute more than half of the crustal matter. More than 80% of the contribution of vehicle exhausts arises from diesel-fuelled trucks/buses. Biomass burning, large contributions of crustal matter, and/or local contributing sources under calm weather conditions, are often the cause of the high PM 10 episodes at the GU site in Brisbane.

Are Softγ-Ray Repeaters Strange Stars?

The soft $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray repeaters (SGRs) are proposed to result from young, magnetized strange stars with superconducting cores. As such a strange star spins down, the quantized vortex lines move outward and drag the magnetic flux tubes because of the strong coupling between them. Since the terminations of the tubes interact with the stellar crust, the dragged tubes can produce sufficient tension to crack the crust and pull parts of the broken platelet into the quark core. The deconfinement of crustal matter into strange quark matter will release energy. The model burst energy, duration, time interval, spectrum, and the persistent x-ray emission from SGRs are shown to be in agreement with observed results.

Spin-Down of Neutron Stars and Compositional Transitions in the Cold Crustal Matter

Transitions of nuclear compositions in the crust of a neutron star induced by stellar spin-down are evaluated at zero temperature. We construct a compressible liquid-drop model for the energy of nuclei immersed in a neutron gas, including pairing and shell correction terms, in reference to the known properties of the ground state of matter above neutron drip density, 4.3 × 1011 g cm−3. Recent experimental values and extrapolations of nuclear masses are used for a description of matter at densities below neutron drip. Changes in the pressure of matter in the crust due to the stellar spin-down are calculated by taking into account the structure of the crust of a slowly and uniformly rotating relativistic neutron star. If the initial rotation period is of the order of milliseconds, these changes cause nuclei, initially being in the ground-state matter above a mass density of about 3 × 1013 g cm−3, to absorb neutrons in the equatorial region where the matter undergoes compression, and to emit them in the vicinity of the rotation axis where the matter undergoes decompression. Heat generation by these processes is found to have significant effects on the thermal evolution of old neutron stars with low magnetic fields; the surface emission predicted from this heating is compared with the ROSAT observations of X-ray emission from millisecond pulsars and is shown to be insufficient to explain the observed X-ray luminosities (Iida and Sato, 1997).

Characterisation of chemical species in PM 2.5 and PM 10 aerosols in Brisbane, Australia

Aerosol samples for PM 10 (particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters less than 10 um) were collected from September 1993 to August 1994 at five sites representing the major land use patterns in Brisbane, a subtropical coastal city in Australia. The samples collected were analysed by techniques such as ion beam analysis and the integrating plate laser absorption method, and the chemical composition of the samples was reconstructed from the observed elemental composition. For these PM 10 samples, the major components, on average, were crustal matter (25% by mass), organics (17%), sea salt (12%), elemental carbon (10%) and ammonium sulphate (7%). Aerosol samples of PM 2.5 (particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 μm) were collected by a dichotomous sampler at one of the sites (GU), a site on university buildings located in a suburban area of Brisbane but surrounded by a buffer zone provided by a forest conservation area. A high average fine Br/Pb ratio of 0.36 in the GU samples, which is close to that in vehicle exhausts, indicates that this site probably has low background levels of lead even though there has been significant traffic in the area for 20 years, so the forest area is an effective buffer to road dust from the surrounding suburbia. Temporal trends at this site suggest that road side dust and industry-sourced crustal matter could contribute to more than half of the mass of crustal matter. Seasonal meteorological conditions which determine the dispersion of pollutants out of Brisbane and the continuous input of rural dust into Brisbane are potentially important factors influencing the level of crustal matter in Brisbane. However, major rural dust events do not considerably increase the seasonal average level of crustal matter. Also, apart from significant local influences at some sites (such as heavy road traffic network or a cement factory), the results from the GU site show a similar level of elemental and chemical components from anthropogenic sources to sites in heavy industrial and commercial/light industrial sites, indicating that most anthropogenic emissions are evenly and widely distributed in Brisbane.

Spin‐down of Neutron Stars and Compositional Transitions in the Cold Crustal Matter

Transitions of nuclear compositions in the crust of a neutron star induced by stellar spin-down are evaluated at zero temperature. We construct a compressible liquid-drop model for the energy of nuclei immersed in a neutron gas, including pairing and shell correction terms, in reference to the known properties of the ground state of matter above neutron drip density, $4.3 \times 10^{11} g cm^{-3}$. Recent experimental values and extrapolations of nuclear masses are used for a description of matter at densities below neutron drip. Changes in the pressure of matter in the crust due to the stellar spin-down are calculated by taking into account the structure of the crust of a slowly and uniformly rotating relativistic neutron star. If the initial rotation period is $\sim$ ms, these changes cause nuclei, initially being in the ground-state matter above a mass density of about $3 \times 10^{13} g cm^{-3}$, to absorb neutrons in the equatorial region where the matter undergoes compression, and to emit them in the vicinity of the rotation axis where the matter undergoes decompression. Heat generation by these processes is found to have significant effects on the thermal evolution of old neutron stars with low magnetic fields; the surface emission predicted from this heating is compared with the $ROSAT$ observations of X-ray emission from millisecond pulsars and is shown to be insufficient to explain the observed X-ray luminosities.

Neutron-phonon interaction in neutron stars: Phonon spectrum of Coulomb lattice

The phonon excitation spectrum of Coulomb lattice in the neutron star crusts is studied by solving Dyson's equation for phonons. It is shown that a strong renormalization of the phonon spectrum occurs at densitiesρ≥ρ s /4 for the crustal matter compositions with spherical nuclei, which imply relatively small nuclear mass numbers and charges. It is shown that, the lattice becomes unstable against density fluctuations above a critical density of the order of ∼ρ s /3, whereρ s ≃2.6x1014 g cm−3 is the nuclear saturation density. The neutron quasiparticle spectrum and the virtual mass of a nucleus are briefly discussed.

Microscopic and submicron components of atmospheric particulate matter during high asthma periods in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

The study identifies the various components contributing to atmospheric particulate matter in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, during the period from the end of April and the months of July–August in 1992, covering the autumn period which is typically the period of high asthma incidence in Brisbane. Most particulate matter is < 2 μm and submicronic. Electron microscopy revealed that the submicron material is composed mainly of combusted (“soot”) and incompletely burned hydrocarbons arising from motor vehicle exhaust emissions, crustal matter in the form of quartz microconcretions and other silicates, quiescent spores of Mucorales, and soil bacteria. The contribution from pollen and fungal spores has been evaluated and quantified. Fungal spores counts dominate the bioaerosol counts in the 2–10 μm range and are very high in Brisbane from the end of April through May to mid-June. However even at peak periods the total bioaerosol count only contributes of the order of 5–10% of the total particulate mass. The results show that Pm 10 (particulate matter less than 10 μm in diameter) and nephelometer readings do not indicate peak periods of allergenic bioaerosol readings (in fact there is a negative correlation) due to the low contribution of the bioaerosol count to the total and the different influences of wind speed. However the electron microscopy results show that this does not mean there are no synergies between aerosols from anthropogenic sources and bioaerosols. The cytoplasmic content of spores and pollen was often found to be adhered to motor vehicle emission material and crustal matter. The latter may therefore act as carriers for dispersed cytoplasmic allergenic material released from pollen and fungal spores.

Binary mixing of enriched and undegassed (primitive?) mantle components (He, Sr, Nd, Pb) in Samoan lavas

We have measured He, Sr, Nd, and Pb isotope ratios and Rb, Sr, Sm, and Nd concentrations in stratigraphically controlled lavas from the Pago shield volcano on Tutuila, American Samoa. We interpret these lavas as products of mixing between two isotopically extreme mantle constituents. The first is a highly enriched component with very high Sr isotope ratios, low 3He/ 4He ratios, and high “Δ(74)” and “Δ(84)” Pb isotopic characteristics. This is probably recently recycled ( < 400 Ma) crustal material. The second component has high 3He/ 4He ratios ( > 24R A) and intermediate Sr, Nd, and Pb isotopic ratios. This material was derived from a largely undegassed mantle source, and, in conjunction with data from several other ocean islands, provides strong evidence for the existence of a high 3He/ 4He ratio mantle end member (primitive helium mantle, PHEM) with consistent Sr, Nd, and Pb isotopic characteristics: near bulk-earth 87Sr/ 86Sr (0.7042–0.7052) and 143Nd/ 144Nd (0.51265–0.51280,ε Nd = +0.2to+3.2), and radiogenic Pb ( 206Pb/ 204Pb∼ 18.5–19.0, 207Pb/ 204Pb∼ 15.5–15.57, 208Pb/ 204Pb∼ 38.4–39.2). Although this material cannot have been derived from a reservoir completely closed to elemental fractionation for the full 4.55 Ga duration of Earth's history, it may indicate the presence of a highly primitive mantle source. Erratic temporal variations in the isotopic composition of individual flows indicate sporadic and variable mixing of these two sources. We interpret these results using a model in which high 3He/ 4He ratio plume material, rising intermittently from a lower-mantle source, intercepts and melts recycled crustal matter in the upper mantle or lithosphere and erupts as a binary mixture of PHEM and the so-called “EM” components derived from this recycled material.

Elemental source signatures of aerosols from the Canadian high Arctic

The seasonal fluctuations of antimony, arsenic, indium, manganese and vanadium have been measured in airborne particulate matter from 1982–1987 at Alert in the Canadian high Arctic. Calculations of enrichment factors have shown that arsenic and antimony are very enriched in the wintertime aerosol. While wintertime ratios of non-crustal manganese/non-crustal vanadium were in agreement with previously published work, summertime ratios often resulted in negative values. A re-evaluation of the crustal Mn/V ratio was undertaken by looking at this ratio during the summertime and assuming that nearly all the airborne particulate matter was derived from crustal matter. Principal Source Contribution Function Analyses were performed for arsenic, indium and manganese. The results suggested that these important regional signatures can now be characterized as coming from distinct European and Asian areas. This improvement in area resolution is much more satisfactory than citing the usual attribution of an overall Eurasian source.

Electric and thermal conductivities of quenched neutron star crusts

The electric and thermal conductivities in the outer crustal matter of a neutron star quenched into a solid state by cooling are estimated using a Monte Carlo simulation of freezing transition for dense plasmas. The conductivities are calculated by the precise evaluation of the scattering integrals, using the procedure of Ichimaru et al. (1983) and Iyetomi and Ichimaru (1983). The results predict the conductivities lower, by a factor of about 3, than those with the single-phonon approximation.