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At least 19 records

Water diffusion in a basaltic melt

Measurements of water diffusivity in a basaltic liquid are reported. The concentration-dependent total water diffusivities in the basaltic melt at 1300-1500 C are 30-50 times as large as those in rhyolitic melts and are greater than the total CO2 diffusivity in basaltic melts, contrary to previous expectations. These results suggest that diffusive fractionation would increase the ratio of water to CO2 in growing bubbles relative to equilibrium partitioning and decrease the ratio in interface melts near an advancing anhydrous phenocryst.

Zhang, Youxue↗

Abundance and composition of solar KR in the H3-H6 chondrite ACFER111

He/Ne, Ne/Ar, and Ar/Kr abundance ratios of solar gases extracted by stepped heating, stepped oxidation, and stepped etching of lunar and meteoritic regoliths are significantly lower than ratios measured directly or predicted by model estimates. Of these, the differences in the He/Ne and Ne/Ar ratios are explained to be owing to diffusive fractionation losses from the host minerals. In contrast, it remains controversial if the Ar/Kr and Kr/Xe ratios were fractionated prior to or after the implantation of the gases into the minerals. In the H3-H6 chondritic regolith breccia ACFER 111, measured He/Ne and Ne/Ar ratios appear to be of nearly unfractionated solar composition. The Ar/Kr ratio of ACFER 111, might thus be also unfractionated. We examined by stepped etching a metal sample of ACFER 111 and obtained an average solar 36Ar/84Kr = 3150 plus or minus 300 which is in agreement with the model predictions. The isotopic composition of solar Kr was observed to change in the course of the etching in a way very similar to that report for lunar ilmenites by the Zurich group. This can be interpreted as a change of the mixing ratio of Solar Wind (SW) and Solar Energetic Particles (SEP). The isotopic composition of the SEP component obtained from our Kr data, however, is distinct from that reported by the Zurich group.

Pedroni, A.↗

Magnetic diffusion and ionization fractions in dense molecular clouds - The role of charged grains

The physics of magnetic diffusion in dense molecular clouds is examined, with particular attention given to the role of charged grains in controlling the process. The ionization fraction of dense molecular clouds in the presence of grains is determined from considerations of charge exchange, dissociative recombination, radiative recombination and collisions between grains and charged species, and it is found that the inclusion of grains tends to lower the ionization fraction for a given cosmic-ray ionization rate and metal depletion. The kinematics of grain motion is discussed and it is shown that at temperatures less than 30 K, each grain alternates rapidly in charge between -1 and 0 and thus executes periodic motion in a self-gravitating cloud containing a magnetic field. The full kinematics of magnetic diffusion including the motions of ions and electrons are then examined, taking into account the additional viscous force from charged grains, and numerical calculations of the diffusion time scales of uniform, magnetically supported clouds or cloud cores are presented.

Elmegreen, B. G.↗

D/H Isotope Fractionation During H Diffusion Loss from Clinopyroxene Evidenced in Martian Nakhlites

Knowing the distribution and origin of water in terrestrial planets is crucial to understand their formation, evolution and the source of their atmospheres and surface water. Mantle D/H ratios may be used to determine what type of material contributed water to the terrestrial planets [1]. However, other processes, magmatic or surface alteration processes, can also modify D/H ratios, and for Mars, we only have samples from the crust, as meteorites. The D/H ratio of igneous phases of Martian meteorites is generally explained in terms of the mixing contributions of two reservoirs: surficial with high D/H (dD > 700 ‰) related to interaction with the martian atmosphere (dD ~ 5000‰), and mantle-derived with lower D/H (dD < 500 ‰ but the exact value is still debated)[2]. However, our present study evidences that H loss in clinopyroxene during degassing can significantly fractionate H isotopes and increase their D/H ratios. In situ analyses of H isotopes, and of water, major and trace element contents were performed on the pyroxenes of 5 nakhlites. Nakhlites are clinopyroxenites that likely originated from the same lava flow or shallow magma chamber. Water contents decrease (380 to <5 ppm H2O) with increasing dD (-268 to 4860 ‰). Significant influence from spallation, exchange with the martian atmosphere, shock, surface alteration, and hydrothermal processes is ruled out. Together with the evidence of less water at the edge of individual pyroxene grains compared to their interior, we interpret this correlation as the result of preferential diffusive loss of H relative to D from the already crystallized pyroxenes during ascent of the partially-crystallized magma. Similar H isotope fractionations have been observed in another nominally anhydrous mineral, garnet, during experimental dehydration [3]. These results emphasize that caution is warranted when interpreting H isotope analyses of igneous, nominally anhydrous minerals in terms of planetary processes.

Peslier, A. H.↗

Diffusion-controlled magnesium isotopic fractionation of a single crystal forsterite evaporated from the solid state

Though the origin of calcium- and aluminum-rich inclusions (CAI's) in carbonaceous chondrites is till a disputed issue, evaporation is no doubt one of the most important processes for the formation of CAI's in the early solar nebula. The mechanism for production of large isotopic mass fractionation effects in magnesium, silicon, oxygen, and chromium in CAI's can be better understood by examining isotopic fractionation during the evaporation of minerals. New evaporation experiments were performed on single-crystal forsterite. The magnesium isotopic distribution near the evaporating surfaces of the residues using a modified AEI IM-20 ion microprobe to obtain rastered beam depth profiles was measured. A theoretical model was used to explain the profiles and allowed determination of the diffusion coefficient of Mg(++) in forsterite at higher temperatures than previous measurements. The gas/solid isotopic fractionation factor for magnesium for evaporation from solid forsterite was also determined and found to be nearly the same as that for evaporation of liquid Mg2SiO4.

Wang, Jianhua↗

Modelling the effect of diffuse light on canopy photosynthesis in controlled environments

A layered canopy model was used to analyze the effects of diffuse light on canopy gross photosynthesis in controlled environment plant growth chambers, where, in contrast to the field, highly diffuse light can occur at high irradiance. The model suggests that high diffuse light fractions (approximately 0.7) and irradiance (1400 micromoles m-2 s-1) may enhance crop life-cycle canopy gross photosynthesis for hydroponic wheat by about 20% compared to direct light at the same irradiance. Our simulations suggest that high accuracy is not needed in specifying diffuse light fractions in chambers between approximately 0.7 and 1, because simulated photosynthesis for closed canopies plateau in this range. We also examined the effect of leaf angle distribution on canopy photosynthesis under growth chamber conditions, as these distributions determine canopy extinction coefficients for direct and diffuse light. We show that the spherical leaf angle distribution is not suitable for modeling photosynthesis of planophile canopies (e.g., soybean and peanut) in growth chambers. Also, the absorption of the light reflected from the surface below the canopy should generally be included in model simulations, as the corresponding albedo values in the photosynthetically active range may be quite high in growth chambers (e.g., approximately 0.5). In addition to the modeling implications, our results suggest that diffuse light conditions should be considered when drawing conclusions from experiments in controlled environments.

Non-NASA Center↗

Fractionation of CO in the diffuse clouds toward Zeta Ophiuchi

An analysis of CO A-X bands in diffuse clouds toward Zeta Ophiuchi is presented. The results provide isotopic ratios that constitute the strongest observational evidence for highly localized isotopic fractionation of CO in diffuse portions of an interstellar cloud. The value of the fractionation implies that selective photodissociation is the controlling influence of the fractionation. The molecule's excitation temperature is discussed and a lower limit to the O-16/O-18 ratio is provided. The absence of CO lines from the gas that provides broad CH+ and CH lines commonly attributed to warm gas behind a shock front is addressed.

Sheffer, Yaron↗

Mass fractionation of noble gases in diffusion-limited hydrodynamic hydrogen escape

The theory of mass fractionation by hydrogen is presently extended to atmospheres in which hydrogen is not the major constituent. This theoretical framework is applied to three different cases. In the first, it is shown that the fractionation of terrestrial atmospheric neon with respect to mantle neon is explainable as a consequence of diffusion-limited hydrogen escape from a steam atmosphere toward the end of the accretion process. In the second, the anomalously high Ar-38/Ar-36 ratio of Mars is shown to be due to hydrodynamic fractionation by a vigorously escaping and very pure hydrogen wind. In the last case, it is speculated that the currently high Martian D/H ratio emerged during the hydrodynamic escape phase which fractionated Ar.

Zahnle, Kevin↗

Measurement and Modeling of the Optical Scattering Properties of Crop Canopies

The specular reflection process is shown to be a key aspect of radiation transfer by plant canopies. Polarization measurements are demonstrated as the tool for determining the specular and diffuse portions of the canopy radiance. The magnitude of the specular fraction of the reflectance is significant compared to the magnitude of the diffuse fraction. Therefore, it is necessary to consider specularly reflected light in developing and evaluating light-canopy interaction models for wheat canopies. Models which assume leaves are diffuse reflectors correctly predict only the diffuse fraction of the canopy reflectance factor. The specular reflectance model, when coupled with a diffuse leaf model, would predict both the specular and diffuse portions of the reflectance factor. The specular model predicts and the data analysis confirms that the single variable, angle of incidence of specularly reflected sunlight on the leaf, explains much of variation in the polarization data as a function of view-illumination directions.

Vanderbilt, V. C.↗

Isotopic Measurements in CAIs with the Nanosims: Implications to the understanding of the Formation process of Ca, Al-Rich Inclusions

Ca, Al-rich Inclusions (CAIs) preserve evidence of thermal events that they experienced during their formation in the early solar system. Most CAIs from CV and CO chondrites are characterized by large variations in O-isotopic compositions of primary minerals, with spinel, hibonite, and pyroxene being more O-16-rich than melilite and anorthite, with delta 17, O-18 = approx. -40%o (DELTA O-17 = delta O-17 - 0.52 x delta O-18 = approx. - 20%o ). These anomalous compositions cannot be accounted for by standard mass dependent fractionation and diffusive process of those minerals. It requires the presence of an anomalous oxygen reservoir of nucleosynthetic origin or mass independent fractionations before the formation of CAIs in the early solar system. The CAMECA NanoSIMS is a new generation ion microprobe that offers high sensitivity isotopic measurements with sub 100 nm spatial resolution. The NanoSIMS has significantly improved abilities in the study of presolar grains in various kind of meteorites and the decay products of extinct nuclides in ancient solar system matter. This instrument promises significant improvements over other conventional ion probes in the precision isotopic characterization of sub-micron scales. We report the results of our first O isotopic measurements of various CAI minerals from EK1-6-3 and 7R19-1(a) utilizing the JSC NanoSIMS 50L ion microprobe. We evaluate the measurement conditions, the instrumental mass fractionation factor (IMF) for O isotopic measurement and the accuracy of the isotopic ratio through the analysis of a San Carlos olivine standard and CAI sample of 7R19-1(a).

Ito, M.↗

Lunar and Planetary Science XXXV: From Ancient Mists: Presolar and Nebular Processes

The session "From Ancient Mists: Presolar and Nebular Processes" included the following reports: Interpretation of the Meteoritic Extinct Radioactivity - Mean Life Relation; On the Issue of Molybdenum Isotopic Anomalies in Meteorites: Is It Still "FUN"?; (26Al/27Al)o of the Solar Nebula Inferred from Al-Mg Systematic in Bulk CAIs from CV3 Chondrites; Magnesium Isotopic Compositions of Igneous CAIs in the CR Carbonaceous Chondrites: Evidence for an Early and Late-stage Melting of CAIs; The 26Al-26Mg Chronology of a Type C CAI and POIs in Ningqiang Carbonaceous Chondrite; Bulk Compositions of CAIs and Al-rich Chondrules: Implications of the Reversal of the Anorthite / Forsterite Condensation Sequence at Low Nebular Pressures; Synthesis of Refractory Minerals by High-Temperature Condensation of a Gas of Solar Composition; Elemental and Isotopic Fractionation by Diffusion-limited Evaporation; "Nonideal" Isotopic Fractionation Behavior of Magnesium in Evaporation Residues; Determination of Primordial Refractory Inclusion Compositions; Zoning Patterns in Spinel from Type B Ca-Al-rich Inclusions: Constraints on Sub-Solidus Thermal History; Radial Migration of Materials from Inner to Outer Solar Nebula: Evidence from Meteorite Matrix; and Refractory Forsterites in Chondritic Meteorites, a Link Between CAIs and Chondrules.

Source record↗

Solar wind helium, neon and argon released by oxidation of metal grains from the Weston chondrite

A set of experiments were carried out to test the feasibility of determining unfractionated elemental and isotopic ratios for the noble gases in the presumably ancient solar wind present in the gas rich meteorites. The problems of diffusive loss was avoided by analyzing metal rather than the usual silicates. In order to avoid chemical, and even harsh physical, treatment of the sample, which might have affected the surfaces of metal grains, a means of analyzing the metal in the presence of residual silicate not removed by gentle crushing and magnetic separation was devised. Preliminary results given were obtained by taking advantage of the differing properties of metal and silicates with regard to diffusion. The results suggests that, with some modifications in the choice of pyrolysis and combustion temperatures and in the amount of O2 used, it should be possible, by oxidizing the surfaces of metal grains from gas rich meteorites, to obtain data on solar wind that has not been fractionated by diffusive loss.

Becker, R. H.↗

Chain Dynamics in a Dilute Magnetorheological Fluid

The structure, formation, and dynamics of dilute, mono-dispersive ferrofluid emulsions in an external magnetic field have been investigated using dynamic light scattering techniques. In the absence of the magnetic field, the emulsion particles are randomly distributed and behave like hard spheres in Brownian motion. An applied magnetic field induces a magnetic dipole moment in each particle. Dipolar interactions between particles align them into chains where correlation functions show two decay processes. The short-time decay shows the motion of straight chains as a whole where the apparent chain length increases with the applied magnetic field and the particle volume fraction. Good scaling results are obtained showing that the apparent chain length grows with time following a power law with exponent of 0.6 and depends on the applied field, particle volume fraction, and diffusion constant of the particles. The long-time decay in the correlation function shows oscillation when the chains reach a certain length with time and stiffness with threshold field This result shows that chains not only fluctuate, but move in a periodic motion with a frequency of 364 Hz at lambda = 15. It may suggest the existence of phonons. This work is the first step in the understanding of the structure formation, especially chain coarsening mechanism, of magnetorheological (MR) fluids at higher volume fractions.

Liu, Jing↗

Estimating Net Primary Productivity Using Satellite and Ancillary Data

The net primary productivity (C) or annual rate of carbon accumulation per unit ground area by terrestrial plant communities is the difference of the rate of gross photosynthesis (A(sub g)) and autotrophic respiration (R) per unit ground area. Although available observations show that R is a large and variable fraction of A(sub g), viz., 0.3 to 0.7, it is generally recognized that much uncertainties exist in this fraction due to difficulties associated with the needed measurements. Additional uncertainties arise when these measurements are extrapolated to regional or global land surface using empirical equations, for example, using regression equations relating C to mean annual precipitation and air temperature. Here, a process-based approach has been taken to calculate A(sub g) and R using satellite and ancillary data. A(sub g) has been expressed as a product of radiation use efficiency, magnitude of intercepted photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), and normalized by stresses due to soil water shortage and air temperature away from the optimum range. A biophysical model has been used to determine the radiation use efficiency from the maximum rate of carbon assimilation by a leaf, foliage temperature, and the fraction of diffuse PAR incident on a canopy. All meteorological data (PAR, air temperature, precipitation, etc.) needed for the calculation are derived from satellite observations, while a land use, land cover data (based on satellite and ground measurements) have been used to assess the maximum rate of carbon assimilation by a leaf of varied cover type based on field measurements. R has been calculated as the sum of maintenance and growth components. The maintenance respiration of foliage and live fine roots at a standard temperature of different land cover has been determined from their nitrogen content using field and satellite measurements, while that of living fraction of woody stem (viz., sapwood) from the seasonal maximum leaf area index as determined from satellite observations. These maintenance respiration values were then adjusted to that corresponding to air temperature according to a prescribed non-linear variation of respiration with temperature. The growth respiration has been calculated from the difference of Ag and maintenance respiration, according to the two-compartment model. The results of calculations will be reported for 36 consecutive months (1987-1989) over large contiguous areas (ca. 10(exp 5) sq km) Of agricultural land and tropical humid evergreen forests, and compared with available field data.

Choudhury, B. J.↗

A numerical study of the effects of ambipolar diffusion on the collapse of magnetic gas clouds

The gravitational collapse of isothermal, nonrotating magnetic gas clouds have been calculated numerically, including the effects of ambipolar diffusion. The fractional ionization in the clouds is approximated by a power-law function of the gas density, f = K/n to the q-power, where K and q are adjustable parameters. Eleven numerical experiments were run, and the results indicate that the asymptotic character of collapse is determined mainly by the value of q and is largely independent of the other parameters characterizing a cloud (e.g., K, cloud mass). In particular, there is nearly a one-to-one correspondence between q and the slope, x, of the central magnetic field strength-gas density relationship. If q is no more than 0.8, a cloud collapses asymptotically, as though the magnetic field were 'frozen' to the neutral matter. The magnetic field strength at the center of a collapsing cloud is strongly amplified during collapse even for values of q of about 1, despite extremely low values of fractional ionization. A discussion of the theoretical basis for this unexpected behavior is given. Possible implications of our results for the problems of magnetic braking of rotating protostars and star formation in general are also presented.

Black, D. C.↗

Prediction and measurement of soil bidirectional reflectance

The present model for soil bidirectional reflectance distribution functions in the visible and reflective IR ranges is based on a representation of soil surfaces by a collection of opaque spheres atop a Lambertian horizontal surface. The model is not sensitive to increases in the sphere area index beyond a value of 0.4. Observed soil reflectance factor data for a tilled field are noted to be consistent with those predicted by the model's expression of soil reflectance as a function of the horizontal area obscured by a sphere, the amount of surface in shadow, and relative brightness of a sphere, and the fraction of diffuse illumination.

Irons, James R.↗

Growing wheat in Biosphere 2 under elevated CO2: observations and modeling

Spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L., cv. Yecora Rojo) was grown in the intensive agricultural biome (IAB) of Biosphere 2 during the l995-l996 winter/spring season. Environmental conditions were characterized by a day/night temperature regime of 27/17 degrees C, relative humidity (RH) levels around 45%, mean atmospheric CO2 concentration of 450 ppmv, and natural light conditions with mean intensities about half of outside levels. Weekly samples of above-ground plant matter were collected throughout the growing season and phenological events recorded. A computer model, CERES-Wheat, previously tested under both field and controlled conditions, was used to simulate the observed crop growth and to help in data analysis. We found that CERES-Wheat simulated the data collected at Biosphere 2 to within 10% of observed, thus suggesting that wheat growth inside the IAB was comparable to that documented in other environments. The model predicts phenological stages and final dry matter (DM) production within l0% of the observed data. Measured DM production rates, normalized for light absorbed by the crop. suggested photosynthetic efficiencies intermediate between those observed under optimal field conditions and those recorded in NASA-Controlled Ecological Life-Support Systems (CELSS). We suggest that such a difference can be explained primarily in terms of low light levels inside the IAB, with additional effects due to elevated CO2 concentrations and diffuse light fractions.

Non-NASA Center↗