University of Crete

About: University of Crete is a education organization based out in Rethymno, Greece. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Galaxy. The organization has 8681 authors who have published 21684 publications receiving 709078 citations. The organization is also known as: Panepistimio Kritis.

GOODS-Herschel: Gas-to-dust Mass Ratios and CO-to-H_2 Conversion Factors in Normal and Starbursting Galaxies at High-z

Abstract: We explore the gas-to-dust mass ratio (M_gas/M_d) and the CO luminosity-to-M_gas conversion factor (α_(CO)) of two well-studied galaxies in the Great Observatories Origins Deep Survey North field that are expected to have different star-forming modes, the starburst GN20 at z = 4.05 and the normal star-forming galaxy BzK-21000 at z = 1.52. Detailed sampling is available for their Rayleigh-Jeans emission via ground-based millimeter (mm) interferometry (1.1-6.6 mm) along with Herschel PACS and SPIRE data that probe the peak of their infrared emission. Using the physically motivated Draine & Li models, as well as a modified blackbody function, we measure the dust mass (M_(dust)) of the sources and find (2.0^(+0.7)_(–0.6) × 10^9) M_☉for GN20 and (8.6^(+0.6)_(–0.9) × 10^8) M_☉ for BzK-21000. The addition of mm data reduces the uncertainties of the derived M_(dust) by a factor of ~2, allowing the use of the local M_(gas)/M_d versus metallicity relation to place constraints on the αCO values of the two sources. For GN20 we derive a conversion factor of α_(CO) < 1.0 M_☉ pc^(–2) (K km s^(–1))^(–1), consistent with that of local ultra-luminous infrared galaxies, while for BzK-21000 we find a considerably higher value, α_(CO) ~4.0 M_☉ pc^(–2) (K km s^(–1))^(–1), in agreement with an independent kinematic derivation reported previously. The implied star formation efficiency is ~25 L_☉/M_☉ for BzK-21000, a factor of ~5-10 lower than that of GN20. The findings for these two sources support the existence of different disk-like and starburst star formation modes in distant galaxies, although a larger sample is required to draw statistically robust results.

Variability in regional background aerosols within the Mediterranean

Abstract: . The main objective of this study is the identification of major factors controlling levels and chemical composition of aerosols in the regional background (RB) along the Mediterranean Basin (MB). To this end, data on PM levels and speciation from Montseny (MSY, NE Spain), Finokalia (FKL, Southern Greece) and Erdemli (ERL, Southern Turkey) for the period 2001 to 2008 are evaluated. Important differences on PM levels and composition are evident when comparing the Western and Eastern MBs. The results manifest W-E and N-S PM10 and PM2.5 gradients along the MB, attributed to the higher frequency and intensity of African dust outbreaks in the EMB, while for PM1 very similar levels are encountered. PM in the EMB is characterized by higher levels of crustal material and sulphate as compared to WMB (and central European sites), however, RB nitrate and OC + EC levels are relatively constant across the Mediterranean and lower than other European sites. Marked seasonal trends are evidenced for PM levels, nitrate (WMB), ammonium and sulphate. Also relatively higher levels of V and Ni (WMB) are measured in the Mediterranean basin, probably as a consequence of high emissions from fuel-oil combustion (power generation, industrial and shipping emissions). Enhanced sulphate levels in EMB compared to WMB were measured. The high levels of sulphate in the EMB may deplete the available gas-phase NH3 so that little ammonium nitrate can form due to the low NH3 levels. This study illustrates the existence of three very important features within the Mediterranean that need to be accounted for when modeling climate effects of aerosols in the area, namely: a) the increasing gradient of dust from WMB to EMB; b) the change of hygroscopic behavior of mineral aerosols (dust) via nitration and sulfation; and c) the abundance of highly hygroscopic aerosols during high insolation (low cloud formation) periods.