Impact of loading effects on determination of the International Terrestrial Reference Frame

The International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF), as a realization of the International Terrestrial Reference System (ITRS), is represented by a set of station positions and linear velocities. They are intended to be used as regularized coordinates to which some corrections should be added to access instantaneous coordinates. The latest ITRS realization is the ITRF2005, which has integrated time series of station positions to form long-term solutions for the four space geodetic techniques. Currently, a purely linear model is used to parameterize station displacements in the estimation process, plus occasional discontinuities in case of earthquakes or equipment changes. However the input data have been derived without applying surface loading models and so surface loading effects are supposed to be embedded in the coordinates as measured quantities. We evaluate the effect of applying a posteriori loading corrections, which include the effect of atmospheric, non-tidal ocean, and continental water loading, to time series of positions estimated from Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR), Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI), and Global Positioning System (GPS) data. We notice that they reduce about 50% or more of the annual signals in the translation and scale parameter time series of the SLR and VLBI techniques, except in SLR Z translation. In general, the estimated secular frame definition is negligibly affected and estimated positions and velocities are not significantly modified for stations that have accumulated a large number of observations. A multi-technique combination of such derived frames allows concluding that, for some cases, loading model corrections might degrade co-located station coordinates almost as much as they benefit them. However, most significant improvement of the estimated secular coordinates is observed for stations with less than 100 estimated positions as demonstrated with a multi-technique combination.     

International collaboration: the cornerstone of satellite land remote sensing in the 21st century

Satellite land remotely sensed data are used by scientists and resource managers world-wide to study similar multidisciplinary earth science problems. Most of their information requirements can be met by a small number of satellite sensor types. Moderate-resolution resource satellites and low-resolution environmental satellites are the most prominent of these, and they are the focus of this paper. Building, launching, and operating satellite systems are very expensive endeavors. Consequently, nations should change the current pattern of independently launching and operating similar, largely redundant resource and environmental satellite systems in favor of true and full collaboration in developing, launching, operating, and sharing the data from such systems of the future. The past decade has seen encouraging signs of increasing international collaboration in earth remote sensing, but full collaboration has not yet been attempted. A general strategy to achieve such international collaboration is presented here, including discussion of potential obstacles, ideas for organizing and overseeing the long-term process toward collaboration, and short-term objectives whereby early successes critical to accomplishing long-term goals can be achieved.     

Molecular identification of cyanobacteria associated with stromatolites from distinct geographical locations

Modern stromatolites represent a significant resource for studying microbial ecology and evolution. A preliminary investigation was undertaken employing specific genetic probes to characterize the cyanobacteria responsible for stromatolite construction in a range of environments, including microbial mats found in Australia not previously examined with molecular methods. Isolates of cyanobacteria were collected from stromatolites in thermal springs, hypersaline lakes, and oceanic fringes on two continents. A polymerase chain reaction specific for DNA of cyanobacterial 16S rRNA was developed, the resulting products of the DNA amplification reaction were sequenced, and the data were used to infer relatedness between the isolates studied and other members of the cyanobacterial radiation. Complete sequence was generated for the region from position 27 to 408 for 13 strains of cyanobacteria associated with stromatolites. All stromatolite-derived sequences were most closely related to cyanobacteria, as indicated by local sequence alignment. It was possible to correlate genetic identity with morphological nomenclatures and to expand the phylogeny of benthic cyanobacteria. These inferences were also expanded to temporal variation in the dominant resident cyanobacterial species based on sampling of surface and core sinter laminations. Under the methods employed, only one cyanobacterial strain was detected in each sample, suggesting the possible dominance of a specific clonal population of cyanobacteria at any one time in the biota of the samples tested. The data indicate that internal core samples of a stromatolite at least 10 years old can be successfully analyzed by DNA-based methods to identify preserved cyanobacteria.     

The simulated silicification of bacteria--new clues to the modes and timing of bacterial preservation and implications for the search for extraterrestrial microfossils

Evidence of microbial life on Earth has been found in siliceous rock formations throughout the geological and fossil record. To understand the mechanisms of silicification and thus improve our search patterns for evidence of fossil microbial life in rocks, a series of controlled laboratory experiments were designed to simulate the silicification of microorganisms. The bacterial strains Pseudomonas fluorescens and Desulphovibrio indonensis were exposed to silicifying media. The experiments were designed to determine how exposure time to silicifying solutions and to silicifying solutions of different Si concentration affect the fossilization of microbial biofilms. The silicified biofilms were analyzed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in combination with energy-dispersive spectroscopy. Both bacterial species showed evidence of silicification after 24 h in 1,000 ppm silica solution, although D. indonensis was less prone to silicification. The degree of silicification of individual cells of the same sample varied, though such variations decreased with increasing exposure time. High Si concentration resulted in better preservation of cellular detail; the Si concentration was more important than the duration in Si solution. Even though no evidence of amorphous silica precipitation was observed, bacterial cells became permineralized. High-resolution TEM analysis revealed nanometer-sized crystallites characterized by lattice fringe-spacings that match the (10-11) d-spacing of quartz formed within bacterial cell walls after 1 week in 5,000 ppm silica solution. The mechanisms of silicification under controlled laboratory conditions and the implication for silicification in natural environments are discussed, along with the relevance of our findings in the search for early life on Earth and extraterrestrial life.     

The magnetosheath and magnetotail of Venus

We describe the observational history and assess the current understanding of the magnetosheath and magnetotail of Venus, stressing recent developments. We make recommendations for research that can be done using existing observations, as well as desirable trajectory and instrumentation characteristics for future spacecraft missions.     

Satellite measurements of high latitude convection electric fields

This paper reviews the first results of satellite experiments to measure magnetospheric convection electric fields using the double-probe technique.The earliest successful measurements were made with the low-altitude (680–2530 km) polar orbiting Injun-5 spacecraft (launched August, 1968). The Injun-5 data are discussed in detail. The Injun-5 results are compared with the initial findings of the electric field experiment on the polar orbiting OGO-6 satellite (400–1100 km, launched June, 1969).In addition to electric fields, the Injun-5 spacecraft also measures electric antenna impedance and thermal and energetic charged particle densities. Knowledge of these parameters makes possible a detailed investigation of the operation of the electric antenna system. We report on this investigation and discuss errors attributed to sunlight shadows on the probes, wake effects, and other factors. The Injun-5 experiment can generally determine electric fields to an accuracy of about ±30 mV m^-1, and under favorable conditions, accuracies of ±10 mV m^-1 can be obtained.Reversals in the electric field at auroral zone latitudes are the most significant convection electric field effect discovered in the Injun-5 data. Electric field magnitudes of typically 30 mV m^-1, and sometimes 100 mV m^-1, are associated with reversals. Electric field reversals occur on 36% of auroral zone traversals, at about 70° to 80° invariant latitude, at all local times, and in both hemispheres. The latitude of a reversal often changes markedly on time scales less than 2 h. Electric potentials of greater than 40 keV are associated with these high latitude electric fields. Reversals occur at the boundary of measurable intensities of >45 keV electrons and are coincident with inverted V type low energy electron precipitation events. In almost all cases the E×B/B ² plasma convection velocities associated with reversals are directed east or west, with anti-sunward components at higher latitudes and sunward components at lower latitudes. Maximum convection velocities are typically 1.5 km s^-1 and ordinarily occur at the auroral zone near the reversal.Two extreme (and many intermediate) configurations of anti-sunward plasma convection have been observed to occur on the high latitude side of electric field reversals: (1) Ordinarily, >0.75 kms^-1 convection is limited to narrow (5° INV wide) zones adjacent to the reversal. (2) For 14% of reversals >0.75 km s^-1 anti-sunward convection has been observed across the entire polar cap along the trajectory of the Injun-5 spacecraft. A summary pattern of >0.75 km s^-1 polar thermal plasma convection is presented.Electric field measurements from the OGO-6 satellite have substantiated many of the initial Injun-5 observations with improved accuracy and sensitivity. The OGO-6 detector revealed the persistent occurrence of anti-sunward convection across the polar cap region at velocities (<0.75 km s^-1) not generally detectable with the Injun-5 experiment. The OGO-6 observations also provided information indicating that the location of the electric field reversal shifts equatorward during periods of increased magnetic activity.The implications of the electric field measurements for magnetosphericand auroral structure are summarized, and a list of specific recommendations for improving future experiments is presented.     

New business opportunities in space

Outside the big space industry conglomerates, there are a number of much smaller firms, often with great specialist expertise, in existence. A concentration of such companies is found around the aerospace centre of Bristol in Southwest England; these companies are seeking to expand the UK space business and explore new opportunities, not only in traditional fields but also in up-and-coming areas such as exploration and space tourism. To this end their forum held a one-day conference in Exeter. One of their members reports on the proceedings.     

On biogenicity criteria for endolithic microborings on early Earth and beyond

Micron-sized cavities created by the actions of rock-etching microorganisms known as euendoliths are explored as a biosignature for life on early Earth and perhaps Mars. Rock-dwelling organisms can tolerate extreme environmental stresses and are excellent candidates for the colonization of early Earth and planetary surfaces. Here, we give a brief overview of the fossil record of euendoliths in both sedimentary and volcanic rocks. We then review the current understanding of the controls upon the distribution of euendolithic microborings and use these to propose three lines of approach for testing their biogenicity: first, a geological setting that demonstrates a syngenetic origin for the euendolithic microborings; second, microboring morphologies and distributions that are suggestive of biogenic behavior and distinct from ambient inclusion trails; and third, elemental and isotopic evidence suggestive of biological processing. We use these criteria and the fossil record of terrestrial euendoliths to outline potential environments and techniques to search for endolithic microborings on Mars.