Intensity of the geomagnetic field from recent Italian lavas using a new paleointensity method

A new method has been tested on Etna historic lavas for determining the geomagnetic field intensity (F) using the thermoremanent magnetization of volcanic rocks. The procedure involves a number of very short duration heatings above the Curie point, to produce successive laboratory TRM. Thus, it is possible to check the variations in the TRM-acquiring capacity of the samples with the time of heating (t). The curve J = f(t) is then extrapolated towards t = 0, leading to a virtual value of TRM without any laboratory heating, i.e., without the changes that currently occur when the lavas are heated to produce the TRM. Using such virtual values of TRM, satisfactory results of F had been derived from the majority of the samples studied. These results are consistent with Thellier's archeomagnetic data: they show a nearly constant intensity of the geomagnetic field during the last three centuries and, further back into the past, a significant increase of this.     

N-view reconstruction: a new method for morphological modelling and deformation measurement in volcanology

We present a method of reconstructing volcanic morphology using multiple digital views (N-view), captured at different angles around an object. This approach uses recent advances in the field of Computer Vision to provide accurate 3-D measurements of volcanic surfaces. Videogrammetry (digital image reconstruction) is used, as it is best adapted to numerical processing. The method is tested and now used in the laboratory on analogue volcanic cones. The method begins with calibrating the camera and finding image positions, using an accurate N-view calibration method. This is done by estimating internal and external parameters of the camera using several views of a specially constructed calibration target. The N-view reconstruction of the real object is then done by iteratively deforming an initial theoretical model of the surface. Laboratory tests show that reconstruction accuracy is about 10⁻⁴ m for a distance between the object and the camera of 0.5 m, and is potentially several orders of magnitude higher for surfaces of finer texture and using higher precision sensors. This is easily high enough to be useful for the accuracy required for morphological studies. It is also sufficient for monitoring most types of volcano deformation. The technique has the potential to detect morphology changes of the order of mm. Use of the method in the field requires a slightly different approach from that in the laboratory: textures and lighting are more variable, and the sensor and ground control point location and model calibration must be done differently. We provide case studies from laboratory tests and qualitative image analysis for two field cases: Piton de la Fournaise (Indian Ocean) and Santaguito (Guatemala). These illustrate the technique’s potential and explore problems of field application. Using current sensors, the method has the potential to provide sufficient precision for fine (mm–cm) scale reconstruction, and will represent a valuable, simple and flexible tool when compared with classical stereophotogrammetry techniques.     

Application of groundwater hydraulics to a basaltic water-table aquifer

Analysis of pump-test data of open wells in a basaltic water-table aquifer is made with methods based on both equilibrium and non-equilibrium formulae. The study has indicated that the Thiem's equilibrium formula and the ratio method of Narasimhan appear to be more suitable as compared with Jacob's and Chow's methods. Of the two, Narasimhan's ratio method, which does not require the graphical procedure, is more reliable than the Thiem's method since the latter involves an assumption of the value for the radius of influence. From the value of T (coefficient of transmissibility) obtained by Narasimhan's method it is also possible to calculate the value of the radius of influence by Thiem's method, which can be used in determining the required spacing between wells in the basaltic terrain in order to avoid mutual interference.     

利用独立分量分析进行火山灰云遥感检测

火山灰云不但引起全球气候和环境系统的重大变化,而且还会威胁航空安全。热红外遥感技术为检测火山灰云提供了新手段,但是遥感数据自身的冗余和波段相关性大大降低了火山灰云的检测精度。独立分量分析(Independent Component Analysis,ICA)能够实现遥感数据的去相关和消除冗余,在火山灰云检测中具有一定的潜力。通过探索火山灰云的物理、化学性质,文中以2010年4月19日冰岛艾雅法拉(Eyjafjallajokull)火山灰云MODIS图像为数据源,在对MODIS数据进行主成分分析处理的基础上,利用ICA进行火山灰云检测。结果表明:ICA能够较好地从MODIS图像中获取火山灰云信息,所得结果与美国地质调查局标准光谱数据库和火山灰云SO2浓度分布具有较好的一致性,取得了较好的检测效果。     

IDOAS: A new monitoring technique to study the 2D distribution of volcanic gas emissions

Imaging Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (IDOAS) is an optical remote-sensing method using scattered sunlight as light source. It combines a “pushbroom” imaging spectrometer with the DOAS technique and thus allows imaging two-dimensional trace gas distributions, e.g., in volcanic plumes. The highly sensitive and specific detection of many trace gases simultaneously (specific molecules, not just elements, e.g. SO₂, BrO, NO₂, O₃, HCHO, etc.) is possible, and the temporal and spatial variation of these gases can be measured. The IDOAS system presented here enables the taking of two-dimensional images of trace gas distributions in a volcanic plume with a spatial resolution of 100 pixels horizontally × 64 pixels vertically, each with a field of view of 0.087° in horizontal and 0.208° in vertical directions. Therefore, IDOAS provides useful information about the chemical composition and chemical variability in a volcanic plume and allows studying plume dispersal and chemical transformations. The technique was applied to map the SO₂ distribution in the plume of Mt. Etna volcano for the first time in October 2003.     

A simple method for determining the vertical growth rate of vertical motion at the top of earth's outer core

A simple new method is described for extracting, from magnetic observations taken at Earth's surface, the vertical growth rate of vertical motion, ?u/?r, at special isolated points on the top surface of Earth's liquid core. The technique utilizes only the radial component of the frozen-flux induction equation and it requires information only on the radial magnetic field, B_r, its horizontal gradient, and its secular variations, ?B_r/?t, at the core-mantle boundary.     

Magma rates in feeding conduits of different volcanic centres

A quasi-stationary magma flow rate in asthenospheric and crustal conduits of central type volcanoes and volcanic centres was studied analytically under the following conditions. Magma rises through cylindrical channels in which the magma temperature does not change with time, but the wall rocks are gradually heated. The magma rates were calculated for basaltic, andesitic and dacitic volcanoes using the “continental” and “oceanic” geotherms. It follows from these calculations that the magma supply rate may determine the kind of activity of a volcanic centre, being constant for large and very active volcanoes, intermittent for usual volcanic centres of island arcs or sporadic for volcamic fields, clusters of cinder cones and areal volcanism. Theoretical conclusions are consistent with observational data.     

EM Monitoring of Crustal Processes Including the Use of the Network-MT Observations

There are several kinds of coupling mechanisms which can convert mechanical, chemical or thermal energies due to seismic or volcanic activities into electromagnetic energies. As a result of concentrated efforts in laboratory and theoretical research, the basic relationship between the intensity of electromagnetic sources and changes in mechanical, chemical and thermal state is becoming established. Also with the progress of the electromagnetic simulation techniques, it has been possible to evaluate in situ sensitivity. Based on this progress and also due to extensive improvement in measuring techniques, many field experiments have been performed to elucidate subsurface geophysical processes underlying the preparation stage, onset, and subsequent healing stage of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. In volcanic studies, many studies have reported the measurement of electromagnetic signals which were successfully interpreted in terms of various driving mechanisms. Although there have been numerous reports about the existence of precursory electromagnetic signals in seismic studies, only a few of them could be successfully explained by the proposed mechanisms, whereas coseismic phenomena are often consistent with those mechanisms including the absence of detectable signals. In many cases, one or two orders of higher sensitivity were required, especially for precursory signals. Generally, electromagnetic methods are more sensitive to near-surface phenomena. It will be necessary to discriminate electromagnetic signals due to these near-surface sources, which often possess no relationship with the crustal activities. Further efforts to enhance in situ sensitivity through improvements in observation techniques and in data processing techniques are recommended. At the same time, multi-disciplinary confirmation against the validity of electromagnetic phenomena will inevitably be necessary. A Network-MT observation technique has been developed to determine large-scale deep electrical conductivity structure. In the method, a telephone line network or purpose-built long baseline cables are utilized to measure voltage differences with long electrode separations. Because of the averaging effect of the electric fields, static shift problems due to small-scale, near-surface lateral heterogeneities can be alleviated. Several field experiments revealed regional scale deep electrical conductivity structures related to slab subduction or its stagnation, which enable us to elucidate underlying physical processes caused by the slab motion. The technique can also be applied to monitor the electric potential field related to crustal activities. The annual variation of the potential field and electrical conductivity in the French Alps were interpreted to be caused by the annual variation of lake water level. The method was also used to monitor the regional scale spatio-temporal variation of the SP field and electrical conductivity before and at the onset of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.     

Magnetic fabric of bulgarian loess sediments derived by using various sampling techniques

Summary The anistropy of low field magnetic susceptibility has been studied for seven outcrops of loess sediments in North-Eastern Bulgaria. Different sampling methods were applied in order to choose the best technique for obtaining the primary magnetic fabric of such unconsolidated sediments. AMS results show significant changes in the petrofabric of samples collected by the first technique which disturbs the original sedimentary fabric. The second applied technique does not cause such a strong deformation but some disturbance of the magnetic fabric is probable. Typical sedimentary fabric is obtained from hand samples and it is therefore concluded that this represents the best method for obtaining reliable AMS results from soft sediments.     

Jupiter's and Saturn's fine-scale magnetic fields

Jupiter's field is strongly dipolar but with relatively large high order moments compared to the Earth's. In situ magnetic field data allow us to interpret most of the Earth-based microwave observations of Jupiter, with the exception of Branson's hot spot. Decametric emissions have a complex rotational pattern which has been stable since 1950; their agreement with the spacecraft magnetic fields is much less satisfactory than that of the microwaves. We conclude that the extrapolation of magnetic fields from the spacecraft to the surface of Jupiter is in error by 40% in the Southern Hemisphere.Saturn's radio emissions show complexities similar to Jupiter's. They are strongly asymmetric about the rotational axis, although Saturn's Field is nearly axisymmetric. Their strong asymmetry suggests strong longitudinal variations in the magnetic field a few thousand kilometers from the cloud tops, in conflict with the field measured aboard Pioneer 11.The magnetic fields within a few thousand kilometers of either Jupiter's or Saturn's cloud tops are probably unknown. It is discouraging that more is not known about the fields after a total of 7 encounters. Perhaps the Galileo probe can test usefully models of the Jupiter field, even if its measurements refer to just one trajectory through the clouds. An arguable case can be made that the giant planets exhibit complexity of magnetic structure similar to the Sun.     

Time variant analysis of geomagnetic signals describes the volcanic activity of Mt. Etna between early 2000 and late 2002

Volcanomagnetic anomalies have been mostly observed during strong eruptions. Our aim is to improve the geomagnetic data analysis to evidence the anomalies occurring in a larger time span, especially in the phases preceding the eruptive events. We developed a time variant statistical approach and applied it to the 2000–2002 Etna geomagnetic temporal series. It is based on an algorithm that statistically predicts the geomagnetic field at the station on the volcanic edifice by that recorded at the remote one. In such a way a number of significant changes in the time series (called statistical innovations), marking the local magnetic field change, were detected. The distribution of such statistical innovations accurately describes the Etna volcanic evolution: we note a progressive increase of the innovation occurrence as the eruptive cycles were approaching and only few and weak innovations at times between the various eruptive cycles. The significance of this analysis is further confirmed by the close agreement among the mean square prediction error, strain release and the volcanic activity behavior. On the contrary, the geomagnetic field at a single station or its difference at two stations do not have any clear correlation with other measured physical quantities. The complex pattern of the prediction error was also investigated by a multifractal analysis. We found that the Holder regularity increases with the intensification of the volcanic activity, implying that innovations tend to be less sporadic and correlated during the major volcanic phases.     

新生代火山岩层面确定及构造含义

新生代火山岩生成以来,如果所在地块没有发生过明显地南北向位移,并且火山岩原生剩磁矢量的统计平均值满足轴向地心偶极子磁场规律,那么通过座标转换可以得到其生成时期原始水平面经构造变动后呈现今产状的数学表达式。从而使用古地磁方法确定的块体绕垂直轴的旋转量和地层绕水平轴的掀斜量更为接近客观实际。同时也使无产状可寻的新生代火山岩用古地磁方法研究其构造运动成为可能     

A new technique for measuring diffusion coefficients of cations and anions in ionic crystals

A new technique has been developed for measuring the diffusion coefficient in ionic crystals. Based on Einstein's formula expressing the relation between diffusion coefficient and electric mobility, the electrical impedance of a diatomic ionic crystal is derived theoretically as a function of frequency of the applied electric field. In this method, the diffusion coefficients of both cations and anions are determined simultaneously by fitting the measured impedance to the theoretical relation. This method was applied to NaCl single crystals in the temperature range 370–780°C. The impedance was determined over the frequency range 0.01 Hz to 1 kHz, at constant temperature. The diffusion coefficients thus obtained for NaCl agree reasonably well with previous data by means of a radioactive isotope technique. The activation energies for Na⁺ and Cl^? obtained are 1.97±0.03 eV and 2.08±0.06 eV, respectively, in the intrinsic region, and 0.92±0.02 eV and 1.06±0.02 eV in the extrinsic region. It was discovered that there are diffusion blocks of approximately 2 μm width, which obstruct free migration of ions in a single crystal.     

The campanian ignimbrite: a major prehistoric eruption in the Neapolitan area (Italy)

A geological, chemical and petrographical study of the Campanian ignimbrite, a pyroclastic flow deposit erupted about 30,000 years ago on the Neapolitan area (Italy), is reported. The ignimbrite covered an area of at least 7,000 km²; it consists of a single flow unit, and the lateral variations in both pumice and lithic fragments indicate that the source was located in the Phlegraean Fields area. Textural features, areal distribution and its morphological constraints suggests that the eruption was of the type of highly expanded low-temperature pyroclastic cloud. The original composition was strongly modified by post-depositional chemical changes involving most of the major and trace elements. No primary differences in the composition of the magma have been recognized. The Campanian ignimbrite is a nearly saturated potassic trachyte, similar to many other trachytes of the Quaternary volcanic province of Campania. Its chemistry indicates an affinity with the so-called «low-K association» of the Roman volcanic province.     

Volcanic dry avalanche deposits — Identification and comparison with nonvolcanic debris stream deposits

A “volcanic dry avalanche deposit” is defined as a volcaniclastic deposit formed as a result of a large-scale sector collapse of a volcanic cone associated with some form of volcanic activity. Avalanche transport occurred in response to the gravitational field, in a manner similar to the transport of nonvolcanic debris streams (e.g. Hsü, 1975). Such deposits are characterized by megablock structure — deformed and fractured large blocks up to several hundreds meters in diameter. A megablock preserves original layering, intrusive contacts or weathered surfaces of the source volcanic edifice. Surface topography of the deposit is characterised with hummocky relief. Ratios of fell height to travel distance for volcanic dry avalanche deposits are between 0.18 and 0.06. This range is similar but smaller than the value of 0.58 to 0.08 for nonvolcanic debris stream deposit. This similarity suggests similar transportation mechanisms. Excessive travel distances as defined by Hsü (1975), calculated for volcanic dry avalanche deposits, give values larger than for debris stream deposits of the same volume. The difference is explained by lower rigidity of the collapsing mass due to the existence of soft pyroclastic layers, alteration around the vent, development of fractures owing to new cryptodome intrusion, and boiling of supercritical fluid contained within the collapsed mass.     

Time–Frequency–Wavenumber Analysis of Surface Waves Using the Continuous Wavelet Transform

A modified approach to surface wave dispersion analysis using active sources is proposed. The method is based on continuous recordings, and uses the continuous wavelet transform to analyze the phase velocity dispersion of surface waves. This gives the possibility to accurately localize the phase information in time, and to isolate the most significant contribution of the surface waves. To extract the dispersion information, then, a hybrid technique is applied to the narrowband filtered seismic recordings. The technique combines the flexibility of the slant stack method in identifying waves that propagate in space and time, with the resolution of f–k approaches. This is particularly beneficial for higher mode identification in cases of high noise levels. To process the continuous wavelet transform, a new mother wavelet is presented and compared to the classical and widely used Morlet type. The proposed wavelet is obtained from a raised-cosine envelope function (Hanning type). The proposed approach is particularly suitable when using continuous recordings (e.g., from seismological-like equipment) since it does not require any hardware-based source triggering. This can be subsequently done with the proposed method. Estimation of the surface wave phase delay is performed in the frequency domain by means of a covariance matrix averaging procedure over successive wave field excitations. Thus, no record stacking is necessary in the time domain and a large number of consecutive shots can be used. This leads to a certain simplification of the field procedures. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the method, we tested it on synthetics as well on real field data. For the real case we also combine dispersion curves from ambient vibrations and active measurements.     

A new technique to estimate initial spill size using a modified fay-type spreading formula

Estimating oil spill size is important for a variety of economic, environmental and legal reasons. One attempt to determine oil spill size by visually assessing the extent of colour regimes in the spill and multiplying the areas of these regimes by thickness values leads to unsatisfactory results. Previous efforts to estimate oil spill size by inverting spreading using formulae like those of Blokker and Fay have also incurred difficulties related to environmental conditions which influence spill spread rate. Data obtained during a series of field experiments, conducted off the Saudi Arabian coastline during the fall of 1982, were used to devise a modification of Fay's spreading formula. The results agree significantly better with the observed areas of the oil spill than Fay's original formula. The modified area formula is then inverted to obtain a formula for initial volume spilled.     

Archaeomagnetic determination of the ancient intensity of the geomagnetic field in Tamilnadu,India

A detailed study of the ancient intensity of the Earth's magnetic field in Tamilnadu, India is presented using pottery, bricks, tiles etc., obtained from the excavations that have been carried out at some of the important places of historical and archaeological interest. An attempt is made to reconstruct the secular variation of the geomagnetic field intensity. The results reported here reveal considerable changes in the Earth's magnetic field in this region during the past 2400 y. It is observed that the intensity of the geomagnetic field has been previously 57% greater than at present.     

Magnetic field anomalies associated with geodynamic phenomena

Significant variations of the Earth's magnetic field seem to be associated with geodynamic phenomena, particularly volcanic cruptions and earthquakes. The variations have small amplitudes, generally only a few nT. These small signals are embedded into larger transient variations due to other natural or artificial causes. An original method of recovering interesting signals having amplitudes down to 1 nT, is to describe the whole variation analytically so that each component may be isolated. Several studies have shown that significant signals exist for tectonically active regions: 10–30 nT for large-scale arrays over periods of years; 5–15 nT for volcanic phenomena; 1–5 nT for earthquakes.Only a few test sites for volcanoes (New Zealand, Hawaii, Antilles) and earthquakes (essentially the San Andreas fault system) have been monitored so far.The cause of the type of magnetic variations studied here, which are associated with volcanism and rock failures, has most often been attributed to piezomagnetism. Some authors have suggested that electrokinetic effects associated with porosity-changes may also play a role.The isolated signals may, in the future, be used for hazard forecasting when the time-constants associated with the effects are known more precisely.     

PP-PS协同反演技术预测大庆深层火山岩含气储层

徐深气田深层火山岩含气储层含气检测尚缺乏有效的方法,传统的纵波反演由于反演过程中仅仅使用单个模型的波,反演结果存在多解性.PP、PS联合反演方法较好地解决了多解性难题,反演结果比较稳定,可信度较高.通过在大庆深层火山岩探区采集2D3C多波资料,并进行处理技术攻关,综合利用测井、VSP等资料,利用PP、PS联合反演技术进...