The detached haze layer in Titan's mesosphere

By comparing observations from the Cassini imaging system, UV spectrometer, and Huygens atmospheric structure instrument, we determine an apparent radius of ∼40 nm, an imaginary index <0.3 at 187.5 nm and a number density of ∼30 particles cm⁻³ for the detached haze layer at 520 km in Titan's mesosphere. We point out that the detached haze layer is coincident with a local maximum in the measured temperature profile and show that the temperature maximum is caused by absorption of sunlight in the detached haze layer. This rules out condensation as the source of the layer. The derived particle size is in good agreement with that estimated for the size of the monomers in the aggregate particles that make up the main haze layer. Calculations of the sedimentation velocity of the haze particles coupled with the derived number density imply a mass flux , which is approximately equal to the mass flux required to explain the main haze layer. Because the aerosol size and mass flux derived for the detached layer agree with those determined for the main layer, we suggest that the main haze layer in Titan's stratosphere is formed primarily by sedimentation and coagulation of particles in the detached layer. This implies that high-energy radical and ion chemistry in the thermosphere is the main source of haze on Titan.     

Evaluation of the seismic response of masonry buildings based on energy functions

This work is based on energies evaluated from the responses of 12 stone and brick masonry systems subjected to 58 shaking table tests. The evolution of input energy during a damaging base excitation is correlated to the change of the damage patterns of the considered buildings. The comparison among energies dissipated and absorbed by the buildings during the various shocks gives some hints on strengthening strategies. It is found that damage to spandrel beams produces a more significant energy absorption than other types of damage. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Experimental investigation of the earthquake response of a model of a marble classical column

Experimental results concerning the earthquake response of a marble model of a classical column are reported herein. The model was a 1: 3 scale replica of a column of the Parthenon on the Acropolis of Athens, made from the same material as the original. Several earthquake motions, scaled appropriately in order to cause significant rocking but no collapse of the column, were used as the excitation. The base motion was applied in plane (in one horizontal and the vertical direction) or in space (in two horizontal and the vertical direction), using the shaking table facility at the Laboratory for Earthquake Engineering of the National Technical University of Athens. It was found that the column might undergo large deformations during the shaking, which are not necessarily reflected by the residual displacements at the end of it. For planar excitations, significant out‐of‐plane displacements can happen, triggered by the inevitable imperfections of the specimen. It was also verified that the response is very sensitive, even to small changes of the geometry or the input motion parameters. For this reason, the experiments were not repeatable and ‘identical’ experiments produced different results. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Microseismicity and focal mechanisms at the western termination of the North Anatolian Fault and their implications for continental tectonics

For seven weeks, a temporary network of 68 seismological stations was operated in Central Greece, in the region of Thessaly and Evia, located at the western termination of the North Anatolian Fault system. We recorded 510 earthquakes and computed 80 focal mechanisms. Seismic activity is associated with the NE–SW dextral North Aegean Fault, or with very young E–W-striking normal faults that are located around the Gulf of Volos and the Gulf of Lamia. The important NW–SE-striking faults bounding the Pilion, or the basins of Larissa and Karditsa, are not seismically active, suggesting that it is easier to break continental crust, creating new faults perpendicular to the principal stresses, than to reactivate faults that strike obliquely to the principal stress axes     

Assembly processes in upper subtidal macroalgae: The effect of wave exposure

The structure and diversity of sixteen macroalgal assemblages originating from two coastal locations in the Northern (Kavala gulf) and Central (Maliakos gulf) Aegean in Greece were explored by examining their relative abundance distributions (RADs) and fitting five stochastic niche-based models. A mechanistic interpretation of the underpinning assembly processes was attempted by relating the assumptions of the fitted models with available abiotic data corresponding to each assemblage. The random fraction niche-based model, assuming a random niche apportionment to species, was fitted to the majority of Maliakos assemblages characterized by more evenly distributed and speciose RADs, whereas the random assortment model, assuming no relationship among species abundance and niche size, was fitted to most of the Kavala assemblages characterized by steeper RADs with fewer species. Among the possible underlying mechanisms, wave exposure seems to play a key role in macroalgal assembly processes; however factors such as biogeography and hard substrate availability must be also taken into consideration. Short-term processes as changes in resource availability (nutrients and light), known as drivers of assembly rules in other primary producers (e.g. phytoplankton), do not considerably affect macroalgae in the oligotrophic Eastern Mediterranean, possibly due to their longer life spans.     

Explicit finite‐element analysis for the in‐plane cyclic behavior of unreinforced masonry structures

A simple constitutive model is proposed for an in‐plane numerical analysis of unreinforced masonry structures, which are subject to cyclic loading, by using explicit dynamic procedures. The proposed model is implemented by using two‐dimensional plane‐stress finite elements. Three different constitutive relations that are based on the total strain in the global material system are used. Cracking and crushing are controlled through normal strains, whereas shear is controlled through shear strain. Separate hysteretic rules are adopted for each mode of damage. A numerical analysis of masonry walls that are subject to cyclic loading has demonstrated that the use of explicit procedures in conjunction with the proposed model results in an acceptable accuracy when compared with the experimental results. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The 17 November 2015 Mw 6.4 Lefkas (Ionian Sea,Western Greece) Earthquake: Impact on Environment and Buildings

On Tuesday, November 17, 2015 at 07:10:07 (UTC) a strong earthquake struck Lefkas Island (Ionian Sea, Western Greece) with magnitude Mw 6.4, depth of about 6 km and epicenter located 20 km southwest of Lefkas town. It was felt in Lefkas Island and the surrounding region and caused the death of two people, the injury of eight others, many earthquake environmental effects (EEE) and damage to buildings and infrastructures. Secondary EEE were observed in western Lefkas and classified as ground cracks, slope movements and liquefaction phenomena. Primary effects directly linked to surface expression of seismogenic source were not detected in the field. The maximum intensity VIII_{ESI 2007} was assigned to large-volume slope movements along western coastal Lefkas. Damage to buildings was mainly observed in villages located in Dragano-Athani graben arranged almost parallel to the northern segment of the Cephalonia Transform Fault Zone (Lefkas segment). Among structures constructed with no seismic provisions, the stone masonry buildings and monumental structures suffered most damage, while the traditional buildings of the area with dual structural system performed relatively well and suffered minor damage. Reinforced-concrete buildings were affected not so much by the earthquake itself but by the generation of secondary EEE. The maximum seismic intensities VIII_EMS-98 were assigned to villages located in Dragano-Athani graben due to very heavy structural damage observed on masonry buildings mainly attributed to the combination of the recorded high PGA values, the poor antiseismic design and construction of buildings and the geological and tectonic structure of the affected area.     

Mantle dynamics beneath Greece from SKS and PKS seismic anisotropy study

SKS and PKS splitting parameters were determined in the broader Greek region using data from 45 stations of the Hellenic Unified Seismological Network and the Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute, utilizing teleseismic events that occurred between 2010 and 2017. Data were processed for shear-wave splitting with the Minimum Energy Method that was considered the optimal. The results generally confirm the existence of anisotropic zonation in the Hellenic subduction system, with alternating trench-normal and trench-parallel directions. The zonation is attributed to the upper and lower olivine fabric layers that can, potentially, be present in the subduction zone. At the edges of this zone, two possible toroidal flow cases have been identified, implying the existence of tears that allow the inflow of asthenospheric material in the mantle wedge. The high number of null measurements in the KZN and XOR stations indicates a possible anisotropic transition zone between the fore-arc and back-arc areas. SKS and PKS splitting results are jointly interpreted, given that they yield similar values in most cases.     

Earthquake precursory signatures in electromagnetic radiation measurements in terms of day-to-day fractal spectral exponent variation: analysis of the eastern Aegean 13/04/2017–20/07/2017 seismic activity

The recent seismic activity in the eastern Aegean Sea, foregrounded by two major (M_L?=?6.1 and M_L?=?6.2) earthquakes occurring near Lesvos and Kos islands, respectively, is investigated in this work. Electromagnetic radiation measurements across different frequency bands and antenna orientations from a monitoring station in Agia Paraskevi, Lesvos Island, are analysed in order to reveal earthquake precursory signatures hidden in the electromagnetic data sequence. A straightforward, data-driven approach is employed in which day-to-day variations of the fractal characteristics of the measurements are adaptively monitored via a fractal spectral exponent similarity measure. The evolution of the fractal day-to-day variation in a 99-day period, which includes the two major earthquakes, shows a sustained, sudden increase lasting 1 to 4 days before every earthquake cluster of M_L?=?4.0 and above. Most importantly, this day-to-day variation subsides shortly after and remains relatively low during the absence of earthquakes, thus alleviating the emergence of false alarms.