AGU journal highlights -- March 12, 2009( The following highlights summarize r...)

The following highlights summarize research papers that have been published in Geophysical Research Letters (GRL).

In this release:

1. Exploring how corals build their skeletons
2. Earth cyclones may help explain Venusian vortices
3. Model relates South Polar ozone concentrations and wind patterns
4. Laboratory crystals give clues to deep Earth puzzle
5. Spacecraft characterize perturbations that can affect orbiting satellites

Anyone may read the scientific abstract for these papers by clicking on the link provided at the end of each Highlight. You can also read the abstract by going to http://www.agu.org/pubs/search_options.shtml and inserting into the search engine the full doi (digital object identifier), e.g. 10.1029/ 2008GL036782. The doi is found at the end of each Highlight below.

Journalists and public information officers (PIOs) at educational or scientific institutions, who are registered with AGU, also may download papers cited in this release by clicking on the links below.

Instructions for members of the news media, PIOs, and the public for downloading or ordering the full text of any research paper summarized below are available at http://www.agu.org/jinstructions.shtml.

1. Exploring how corals build their skeletons

Despite its long history of study, the mechanism by which corals form their skeletons remains largely unknown. Recently, advances in microanalytical techniques have made it possible for scientists to investigate the variability of trace elements and stable isotopic compositions within coral skeletons. These studies have revealed systematic compositional variations within skeletons that are much too large to be explained by anything but biological activity. Such data complicate the use of corals as prox
'/>"/>