Estimates of the energy of surface waves from atmospheric explosions and the source parameters of the Tunguska event

The results of the numerical modeling of experimental concentrated atmospheric explosions, both nuclear and chemical, are presented. The surface pressure spectra are calculated and constraints are gained on their relation to the energy of surface seismic waves and to earthquake magnitudes. For a more accurate determination of the source parameters of the Tunguska event (June 30, 1908), atmospheric explosions at various altitudes and vertical falls of meteoroids are modeled numerically and their seismic effect is estimated.     

Petrogenesis of acid rocks of the deccan traps

The acid rocks of the Deccan Traps including microgranites, felsites, rhyolites and related rocks are contined to tectonically weak zones in Western India. The significance of their distribution is discussed and the opinions expressed on the genesis of the rocks are critically reviewed. In their formation, fractional crystallization of tholeiitie basalt magma, which is supposed to be the parental one, was aided in certain localities by the melting of the sialic crust and assimilation or partial melting of the pre-Deccan Trap rocks. Evidence for the latter is found in the gradational contacts of the acid rocks with the earlier rocks, their association with cruptive centres or faulted zones and absence of any definite trend of variation in petrographical and chemical characters. Some of the rhyolitic rocks are also formed due to hydrothermal alteration of sedimentaries along the Narmada Valley.     

Geographical and Ecological Characteristics of the Caspian Sea and Modern Tendencies in the Evolution of Its Ecosystem

The Caspian Sea is characterized in the geographic and ecological aspects, and the state of its ecosystem is estimated. The natural and anthropogenic processes that control the formation of the environmental conditions in the Caspian Sea and the distribution of principal commercial hydrobionts and their food items are analyzed. Data on modern tendencies in changes in the abiotic and biotic parameters of the ecosystem, their causes and mechanisms are summarized. Prospects of further changes related to the development of shelf fields of petroleum hydrocarbons are assessed.     

主磁场梯度的空间分布和长期变化特征

根据GUFM1和IGRF11模型,计算1590—2010年主磁场总强度F、水平分量H和磁倾角I三个要素的水平梯度和垂直梯度,分析了它们的空间分布和长期变化特点.结果表明:F和H的垂直梯度与其磁场的空间分布类似,水平方向的梯度以及磁倾角I在3个方向的梯度都与其磁场分布有明显差异.H的3个方向的梯度分布清楚地指示出南磁极的位置.梯度的长期变化表明,北半球磁场梯度漂移缓慢,南半球磁场梯度变化较快.磁倾角的垂直梯度显示,中太平洋负异常周围的正异常在围绕该负异常旋转.近赤道的梯度异常带在60°W附近的转折是由印度洋异常向非洲方向移动所致.     

Hydrocarbons in the bottom sediments of the Northern Dvina estuary

The results of studying hydrocarbons during the flood in May 2005 are discussed. The concentration of aliphatic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are shown to match their concentrations in water areas with steady input of pollutants. Weathered oil and pyrogenic compounds dominated in their composition. The geochemical barrier the Northern Dvina River-Dvina Gulf is shown to become a filter during floods and prevents pollutants from penetrating into the White Sea.     

Rock mass strength and the form of some inselbergs in the central namib desert

A rock mass strength classification, involving eight parameters, has been applied to selected inselbergs in the Namib Desert. The inselbergs are formed of schists, gneiss, granite and marble. Their slope inclinations are in a strength equilibrium with their rocks. The study suggests that the strength classification is consistent and has a general validity, and that rock slopes, undergoing uniform weathering, retreat to form slopes which are adjusted to their rock mass strength: this is a more general statement than the common hypothesis of parallel retreat. The favoured hypothesis of slope evolution in the Namib is one of retreat rather than downwearing.     

Volcanic impediments in the progressive development of pre-Columbian civilizations in the Ecuadorian Andes

Archaeological investigations in Ecuador have proposed that there appear to be hiatus or anomalous jumps in the progressive development of pre-Columbian indigenous cultures, based upon the fact that their ceramics and tools demonstrate abrupt advances in their sophistication at several horizons in the soil profile. Because some of these horizons are clearly associated with volcanic ash layers, archaeologists have sought a causal relation with volcanism, that is, the eruptive events or their products severely interfered with the early inhabitants, resulting in their abandonment of certain areas.     

Cosmic dust and micrometeorites in the transitional clay layer at the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary in the gams section (Eastern Alps): Morphology and chemical composition

Results of investigation of the cosmic matter in the transitional clay layer at the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary in the Gams section, Eastern Alps, are presented. A great diversity of iron microspherules and particles of different morphologies, pure nickel spherules, awaruite (Fe₃Ni) particles, and diamond crystals are discovered. Iron microspherules are also met in the overlying Paleocene deposits, but their diversity there is not great. The discovered metallic microspherules and particles are described, their chemical compositions are presented, and their origin is discussed.     

Origin of the Furongian limestone breccias in the North China Platform

Limestone breccias are a common phenomenon in the Cambrian successions worldwide. They bear important geological implications that have attracted geologists for several decades. There are, however, still controversies on their origins, especially those of the breccias with abundant vertically orientated clasts. The Furongian(upper Cambrian) Chaomidian Formation of the North China Platform contains numerous levels of limestone breccias and conglomerates that provide an excellent example to look into their formative processes. These breccias and conglomerates have been the focus of study and discussion since the 1980 s, but yet there is still no consensus with respect to their geneses. Recently, Van Loon and others argued that the vertically orientated clasts of the breccias developed by a number of simultaneous “fountains” on the paleo-seafloor; the “fountains” formed by upward-directed fluidized flows originated from the sediment underlying the brecciated limestones. While the novel “fountain” hypothesis is not impossible, based on field evidences and theoretical considerations, however, it is most likely that the vertically orientated clasts resulted from their re-orientation by upward flow of thixotropically liquidized, uncemented argillaceous sediment that was interbedded with brecciated limestone fragments. Besides, the deformation processes most likely took place under shallow burial.     

Geothermic field and development of the structure of continents

Tectonic, magmatic and metamorphic processes combine into endogenous regimes. There is direct correlation between the degree of excitation of endogenous regimes and observed heat flow. There are grounds to suppose that all varieties of endogenous regimes, their distribution and their history depend on the heterogeneity in space and time of the Earth's thermal field.     

A critical view of the environmental condition of the Sognefjord

The world oceans and seas are experiencing a dramatic decline in their health and viability. In the midst of this crisis, the Norwegian fjords represent under-studied and highly vulnerable ecosystems. Fjord chemistry and fjord ecosystems are poorly studied given the current focus on polar ice melting, fish stock reductions and oil disasters. For this reason, this review sheds light on and aims to accumulate local and national findings concerning the current viability of the Sognefjord, the world's second longest fjord and Norway's longest and deepest fjord, stretching 205 km (127 miles) and reaching 1308 m below sea level as its deepest point. This review shows that there is a critical need to establish knowledge and parameters to better monitor and prevent an ecosystem catastrophe from developing in Norwegian fjords. The poor circulation in fjords compared to opens seas reduces their ability to circulate waste and transport fresh water from hydroelectricity plants. Because of fjord morphology, pollutants and heavy metals are potentially trapped within them at great depths for decades. The monitoring of Norwegian fjords is thus of fundamental importance.     

Microbiological Characterization of the Ivan'kovo Reservoir Water

The current state of the Ivan'kovo Reservoir bacterioplankton is assessed. Data on the total number, biomass, and production of planktonic microflora are presented. The concentrations of active bacteria and their detritus are determined. The distribution of saprophytic microflora is studied.     

Estimation of the Amount of Suspended Sediment in the Tigris River using Artificial Neural Networks

The amount of sediment should be taken into consideration in the planning of water structures for efficient use of limited water resources. It is important to estimate the amount of sediment for the successful operation of these structures in their future performances. Such estimations can be achieved by Artificial Neural Network (ANNs) with low error percentages as seen in many other disciplines. These networks also enable the modeling of nonlinear relationships between the parameters affecting the event. The purpose of this research is to establish models for sediment amounts in the Tigris River at the Diyarbakir measurement station in Turkey. Rainfall, temperature and discharge are taken as independent variables in the models, whereas sediment is taken as the dependent variable. Fourteen different models are generated using ANNs and Regression Analysis (RA). The results are compared with each other and with the observed data. The relative error and determination coefficient are used as comparison criteria. It is concluded that due to their nonlinear modeling capability, ANNs give better results than RA.     

Study of the intensity attenuation law in the East China Plain and the northwest of China

ＳｔｕｄｙｏｆｔｈｅｉｎｔｅｎｓｉｔｙａｔｔｅｎｕａｔｉｏｎｌａｗｉｎｔｈｅＥａｓｔＣｈｉｎａＰｌａｉｎａｎｄｔｈｅｎｏｒｔｈｗｅｓｔｏｆＣｈｉｎａ郁曙君Ｓｈｕ－ＪｕｎＹＵ（ＩｎｓｔｉｔｕｔｅｏｆＧｅｏｐｈｙｓｉｃｓ，ＳｔａｔｅＳｅｉｓｍｏｌｏｇｉｃ...     

On the system approach in the problem of forecasting the earthquakes

The studies on forecasting earthquakes, which reached their greatest development in the last quarter of the past century, have not solved this problem. The present paper sheds light on this. It is concluded that the philosophy of investigations should be profoundly reconceived, and a systematic approach, which is extensively used for solving complex multicomponent problems, should be applied. If applied to earthquake prediction, it could reveal the weak points of the analysis and determine the necessary volume of observations; it would allow geophysicists to pass from poorly substantiated attempts at forecasting to the systematic study of all aspects of the problem which would provide the basis for the forecast. The current state of the problem and its composing subsystems, the geophysical environment and its stress-strain state, are discussed. The questions that have not been previously given due attention, namely, the relationship between the earthquakes and the paths of fluid migration, the reliability of precursors, and the factors responsible for the lack of their correspondence to the parameters of seismic rupture are analyzed. It is concluded that the current networks of seismic and other geophysical observations are incapable of recording the premonitory signs of an impending earthquake and providing the basis for forecasting large earthquakes.     

Internal constitution and the figures of the giant planets

The equations of state of the matter contained in the giant planets are investigated. The thermal state of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune is considered, and the results of the calculations of their figures, gravitational potentials and models of the internal structures are given. These results were reported on the Geophysical Congress, held in Moscow, 1971.     

Alkaline rocks of the deccan traps

Recent investigations on the Deccan Traps reveal many new findings of alkaline rocks more commonly occurring as minor intrusions than as lava flows. In comparison to the vast extent of the Deccan Traps, the alkaline rocks are negligible in their volume and are confined to tectonic belts in parts of Western India. The rocks exhibit no systematic variation in their petrographical and chemical characters thereby suggesting that they were not derived from a primary alkali olivine-basalt magma. The possibility of derivation of alkaline magma locally along the rift zones is proposed. Some of the alkaline rocks are shown to have been formed due to the effective role of volatiles in bringing dissociation of feldspar in certain cases, and alkali metasomatism in others. The syntexis of the pre-Deccan Trap carbonate rocks along the Narmada rift zone is also responsible for some occurrences.     

A note on the necessary condition for baroclinic instability of monsoon zonal current

Analytic expressions are derived for the minimum easterly and westerly jet strengths necessary for baroclinic instability, in terms of their half-widths and location. For this purpose the necessary condition for an internal jet is utilized and the jets and static stability are represented by simple mathematical functions. Dependency of the minimum jet strengths to their half-width and location are discussed.     

Some properties of the hierarchical model reproducing the stress state of the epicentral area of the 2003 Chuya earthquake

The stress state of the Earth’s crust in the region of the Chuya earthquake of 2003 (Gorny Altay) is studied using the data of long-term epicentral observations by dense networks of temporary stations. These data comprise 545 seismic events, which widely vary in energies and whose parameters are determined highly accurately. Two hierarchical levels of the stress field are revealed and their spatial structure and temporal behavior are investigated. It is shown that the subregional stress field, which is determined from the data on strong earthquakes, is predominantly stable across the studied area, where the regime of horizontal shear with submeridional orientation of principal pressure axes is observed. The local stress field calculated from the weak seismic events experiences regular variations, which are consistent with the block structure of the crust; this field is heightand time-dependent.     

Effects of glaciations and permafrost upon the development of karst in Canada

Canadian examples suggest that karst landforms may be divided into eight types in terms of their temporal relationships to the record of repeated Quaternary glaciations. Two types are postglacial, two are subglacial, one type occurs where glacial features are adapted to karstic drainage, and three types display sequences of karstic and glacial action. Glacier effects upon karst landforms and their underlying aquifers display the gamut of possibilities. They may destroy, inhibit, preserve, or stimulate karst development. Where continuous permafrost is maintained when covered by glacier ice, postglacial karst is limited to the active layer epikarst. Where permafrost is thawed beneath ice or during deglaciation there are a variety of postglacial karst developments, depending in part upon climate and in part upon local lithologic and relief conditions.