ALMA Evidence for Ram Pressure Compression and Stripping of Molecular Gas in the Virgo Cluster Galaxy NGC 4402
ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
Authors: Cramer, W. J.; Kenney, J. D. P.; Cortes, J. R.; Cortes, P. C.; Vlahakis, C.; Jachym, P.; Pompei, E.; Rubio, M.
Abstract
High-resolution (1 '' x 2 '') Atacama Large Millimeter Array CO(2-1) observations of the ram pressure stripped galaxy NGC 4402 in the Virgo cluster show some of the clearest evidence yet for the impacts of ram pressure on the molecular interstellar medium (ISM) of a galaxy. The eastern side of the galaxy atr similar to 4.5 kpc, upon which ram pressure is incident, has a large (width similar to 1 kpc, height similar to 1 kpc above the disk midplane) extraplanar plume of molecular gas and dust. Molecular gas in the plume region shows distinct noncircular motions in the direction of the ram pressure; the kinematic offset of up to 60 km s(-1)is consistent with acceleration by ram pressure. We also detect a small amount of gas in clouds below the plume that are spatially and kinematically distinct from the surrounding medium, and appear to be decoupled from the stripped ISM. We propose that diffuse molecular gas is directly stripped but giant molecular cloud (GMC) density gas is not directly stripped, and so decouples from lower density stripped gas. However, GMCs become effectively stripped on short timescales. We also find morphological and kinematic signatures of ram pressure compression of molecular gas in a region of intense star formation on the leading side atr similar to 3.5 kpc. We propose that the compressed and stripped zones represent different evolutionary stages of the ram pressure interaction, and that feedback from star formation in the compressed zone facilitates the effective stripping of GMCs by making the gas cycle rapidly to a lower density diffuse state.
Distribution of microplastic and small macroplastic particles across four fish species and sediment in an African lake
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
Authors: Merga, Lemessa B.; Redondo-Hasselerharm, Paula E.; Brink, Paul J. Van den; Koelmans, Albert A.
Abstract
Pollution with microplastics has become an environmental concern worldwide. Yet, little information is available on the distribution of microplastics in lakes. Lake Ziway is one of the largest lakes in Ethiopia and is known for its fishing and drinking water supply. This study aims to examine the distribution of plastic particles, of all sizes (microand small macro-plastics) in four of the major fish species of the lake and in its shoreline sediment. The gastrointestinal tracts analysis showed that 35% of the sampled fishes ingested plastic particles. The median number of particles per fish was 4 (range 1-26). Benthic (Clarias gariepinus) and benthopelagic (Cyprinus carpio and Carassius carassius) fish species were found to contain a significantly higher number of plastic particles in comparison to the planktivorous fish species (Oreochromis niloticus). More fishes ingested plastic particles in the wet compared to the dry season. The maximum plastic size (40 mm fibre) was found in C. carpio. Estimated median mass of plastic particles in fish was 0.07 (0.0002-385.2) mg/kg_ww. Fish and sediment samples close to known potential sources of plastic particles had a higher plastic ingestion frequency (52% of the fish) and higher plastic concentration compared to the other parts of the lake. The median count and mass of plastic particles measured in sediment of the lake were 30,000 (400-124,000) particles/m3 and 764 (0.05-36,233) mg/kg_dw, respectively, the upper limits of which exceed known effect thresholds. Attenuated total reflection (ATR) Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy showed that polypropylene, polyethylene and alkyd-varnish were the dominant polymers in fishes and in sediment. The plastic particles size distributions were Log-linear and were identical for plastic particles found in fish and in sediment, suggesting strong benthic-pelagic coupling of plastic particles transfer. (c) 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).