Latitudinal variability of the ionosphere and long-term prediction of the maximum usable frequency of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">F</Emphasis> region along direct and reverse paths

We present maximum usable frequency (MUF) calculation results when a radiowave, radiated at a zero angle, is reflected from the ionosphere along direct and reverse paths when the latitudinal variability of the medium is significant. As an example, we consider the Novorossiysk-California path. Calculations were carried out using a “two-point” method and data of the Monthly MUF Prediction for May 1980 and May 1991. The “two-point” method is validated based on a new way of approximated representation of the Watson integral, which is an exact solution of the benchmark problem related to the point source field in a spherically layered medium. It is shown that MUFs along a reverse path are several MHz higher than MUFs along a direct path during the whole day.     

Application of the theoretical reference ionosphere model for calculating HF-radiowave propagation characteristics

We study the possibilities of the Theoretical Ionosphere Model (TIM) developed at the Institute of Solar-Terrestrial Physics, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, for calculating the HF-radiowave propagation characteristics. The results of simulation based on the TIM are compared with calculations based on the IRI model and data from experimental observations. Analysis of the results of calculations for the maximum usable frequency (MUF) have shown that with the same input data (coordinates of the receipt and transmission points, the route length, date, and time), the differences in the calculated MUFs (using two different models supplying radio routes with ionospheric information) amount to ∼1% in the daytime and reach 10% at night.     

Evaluation of the efficiency of a model of the decameter radiowave propagation environment

We present a concept regarding the effectiveness of ionospheric models in maximum usable frequency (MUF) forecasts according to the fitting criterion for daily progress in predicted and experimentally observed MUFs. For example, it is shown using the daily variability in the MUF on two one-leap paths that an MUF model on the basis of a long-term IPG forecast is characterized by efficiency within 0.8. It is shown using the same two paths that a forecast on the basis of the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) model has the same efficiency. A model of the effectiveness probability density function is constructed on the basis of a generalization of the method of nonholomorphic functions.     

Estimation of Coda Wave Attenuation for the National Capital Region, Delhi, India Using Local Earthquakes

Attenuation of seismic waves is very essential for the study of earthquake source parameters and also for ground-motion simulations, and this is important for the seismic hazard estimation of a region. The digital data acquired by 16 short-period seismic stations of the Delhi Telemetric Network for 55 earthquakes of magnitude 1.5 to 4.2, which occurred within an epicentral distance of 100 km in an area around Delhi, have been used to estimate the coda attenuation Q_c. Using the Single Backscattering Model, the seismograms have been analyzed at 10 central frequencies. The frequency dependence average attenuation relationship Q_c = 142f ^1.04 has been attained. Four Lapse-Time windows from 20 to 50 seconds duration with a difference of 10 seconds have been analyzed to study the lapse time dependence of Q_c. The Q_c values show that frequency dependence (exponent n) remains similar at all the lapse time window lengths. While the change in Q₀ values is significant, change in Q₀ with larger lapsetime reflects the rate of homogeneity at the depth. The variation of Q_c indicates a definitive trend from west to east in accordance with the geology of the region.     

Postmiocene geodynamic evolution of the drake passage,Western Antarctic Region,southern ocean

In 1994–2006, the German research vessel, Polarstern, and the Russian research vessel, Akademik Boris Petrov, carried out marine geologic and geophysical explorations in the Western Antarctic Region within the Bellingshausen, Amundsen, and Scotia marginal Seas and the Drake Passage. In these expeditions, new unique data on submarine topography have been collected by a multibeam echosounder, gravity and magnetic measurements have been carried out, multichannel seismic profiling has been performed, and the collections of rock samples have been acquired. The analysis and interpretation of new evidence together with previous geologic and geophysical data for the Drake Passage region have shown that end of spreading in the Aluk Ridge three million years ago resulted in the redistribution of stresses associated with the relative motion of the Antarctic, Scotia, and Phoenix Plates, which, in turn, caused significant tectonic reconstruction of the entire transition zone of the Drake Passage.     

Strong motion records and synthetic isoseismals of the Pyrgos,Peloponnisos, Southern Greece,Earthquake Sequence of March 26, 1993

In this work, several seismological observations are presented in order to explain characteristic features of the earthquake sequence which occurred in March 1993 in southwestern Greece, very close to the city of Pyrgos.Fault plane solutions of the largest fore- and aftershocks and the main shock, as well as the directions at which the maximum ground accelerations were recorded suggest that this earthquake sequence has been developed by rupturing three distinct focal planes with different focal mechanisms. The first focal plane, located in the off-shore area, strikes NW-SE, dips SE and includes most of the foreshock activity. The foreshock activity migrated to the northeastern part of the city of Pyrgos and took place on planes with a predominant direction NE-SW. The main shock ofM _x =5.5 occurred in a focal plane located between the two above-mentioned areas. Strong motion records of significant shocks of the sequence show peak acceleration values on components consistent with the relevant fault plane solutions.Furthermore, the observed macroseismic field has been compared with synthetic isoseismals computed by using a certain velocity model and the focal mechanism parameters of the main shock.     

Interpretation of gravity and magnetic data in the Phlegraean fields geothermal area, Naples, Italy

Available gravity and magnetic data of the Phlegraean Fields geothermal area, Naples, Italy, have been interpreted and the obtained structural models discussed in the light of the other available geological, volcanological and geophysical data.On the basis of the results of a previous seismic reflection survey in the Gulf of Naples and in the Pozzuoli Bay, which delineated a basement characterized by a seismic velocity of 4–6 km/s, it has been possible to evaluate the gravity anomaly connected with the morphology of this horizon ( = 2.7 g/cm³).The residual anomaly map, obtained after subtraction of the regional long-wavelength components relative to mantle and deep crustal structures and the computed components relative to the above-mentioned seismic basement, shows up as a circular low with an amplitude of 10 mgal centred in the Pozzuoli Bay. This gravity low has been interpreted as due to the occurrence, in the centre of Pozzuoli Bay, of light (Δ = −0.2 g/cm³) material with a maximum thickness of about 2 km. However, a contribution to the anomaly due to a narrow magmatic body intruded in the basement, as suggested by volcanological and ground deformation data, cannot be excluded.The aeromagnetic map of the Phlegraean Fields is characterized by three main anomalies which have been fitted by superficial tridimensional parallelepipedic bodies, schematically representing lava flows and domes. Their anomalies have been subsequently subtracted from the observed field, obtaining as a residual a large anomaly centred in the southwestern area of the Pozzuoli Bay. It has been interpreted as being due to a lowmagnetized body which, taking into account the thermal state of the area, should represent that part of the pyroclastic sequence which has lost part of its magnetization by thermo-chemical alteration.     

Source mechanism and rupture propagation in the Mudurnu Valley,Turkey, earthquake of July 22, 1967

Summary First motions ofP waves and amplitude spectra ofG ₂ andG ₃ waves have been used to determine the source mechanism and rupture propagation. The amplitudes ofG ₃ waves have been corrected for the attenuation using aQ-model obtained from the amplitude spectra ofG ₂ andG ₃ waves. Observed directivities for the strike-direction agreed with a model of a bilateral fault propagated primarily from east to west.     

Aftershocks of the San Marcos earthquake of April 25, 1989 (M S =6.9) and some implications for the Acapulco-San Marcos,Mexico, seismic potential

Aftershock activity following the April 25, 1989 (M _S =6.9) earthquake near San Marcos, Guerrero, Mexico, was monitored by a temporary network installed twelve hours after the mainshock and remaining in operation for one week. Of the 350 events recorded by this temporary array, 103 were selected for further analysis in order to determine spatial characteristics of the aftershock activity. An aftershock area of approximately 780 km² is delimited by the best quality locations. The area of highest aftershock density lies inside an area delimited by the aftershocks of the latest large event in the region in 1957 (M _S =7.5) and it partially overlaps the zone of maximum intensity of the earlier 1907 (M _S =7.7) shock. Aftershocks also appear to cluster close to the mainshock hypocenter. This clustering agrees with the zone of maximum slip during the mainshock, as previously determined from strong motion records. A low angle Benioff zone is defined by the aftershock hypocenters with a slight tendency for the slab to follow a subhorizontal trajectory after a 110 km distance from the trench axis, a feature which has been observed in the neighboring Guerrero Gap. A composite focal mechanism for events close to the mainshock which also coincides with the zone of largest aftershock density, indicates a thrust fault similar to the mainshock fault plane solution.The San Marcos event took place in an area which could be considered as a mature seismic gap. Due to the manner in which strain release has been observed to previously occur, the occurrence of a major event, overlapping both the neighboring Guerrero Gap and the San Marcos Gap segments of the Mexican thrust, cannot be overlooked.     

Body-wave waveform constraints on the source parameters of the Yangjiang,China, earthquake of July 25, 1969: A devastating earthquake in a stable continental region

On July 25, 1969, anM _s 5.9 earthquake shook the Kwangtung Province near Yangjiang, China. Casualties and extensive damage were reported in the epicentral area. The Yangjiang earthquake occurred within the passive margin located along China's southeast coast. This stable continental setting is seismically one of the most quiet regions of China; historic records indicate this earthquake to have been the first devastating one in the area. A remarkable feature of this earthquake sequence is that its foreshocks and aftershocks are relatively small in terms of number and magnitude despite the relatively large main shock.Waveforms of long-and short-period teleseismicP and long-period teleseismicSH waves have been modeled to estimate the source parameters for this earthquake. The focal mechanism determined is predominately strike-slip with a small normal component (strike=263°, dip=79°, rake=194°) and is in good agreement with observations in the epicentral area regarding dislocation direction of fissures, distribution of aftershocks, and isoseismals. The average seismic moment is 5.15×10²⁴ dyne-cm and the focal depth is estimated to be 9 km. The earthquake is characterized by a rather short source-time function and a high stress drop of approximately 380 bars. The observed pattern of the foreshock-main shock-aftershock sequence is interpreted in terms of the large stress drop associated with the main shock and the material properties at and near the source. TheP-axis orientation lies roughly NW-SE and is consistent with the maximum compressive stress observed along the coast of southeast China. This stress orientation is consistent with the NW subducting Philippine Sea plate and the SE ward push from central China due to the convergence between Indian and Eurasian subcontinents.     

Identification of calanco,a badland landform in the northern Apennines,Italy

Calanco (plural, calanchi) is a term widely used in the northern Apennines, Italy, to define a type of badland formed in clayey bedrock. However, no precise geomorphological definition of calanco has been established and a variety of map symbols are used to indicate the presence of calanco landforms. With the aim of developing an improved approach to identifying calanchi, a group of experienced surveyors identified 24 catchments with calanco characteristics among 67 catchments located between Bologna and Faenza in the northern Apennines. The morphology of each catchment was classified using traditional quantitative geomorphic approaches including fieldwork, map interpretation, hypsometric curve construction and computation of the annual sediment yield. Consideration of the parameters produced by these approaches indicated that none was capable of representing the presence of calanchi unequivocally and the basins were grouped into five classes on the basis of number and type of calanco criteria that they met. A characteristic of calanchi that is evident on topographic maps is crenulation of the contour lines and in this study a new topographic parameter was developed to represent the degree of contour crenulation. This parameter, LO/LF, is defined as the ratio of the actual length of a contour line (LO) to the length of the same line smoothed by an algorithm based on a moving average (LF). Calculated values of LO/LF ranged from 1·05 to 1·38. To test whether high values of the contour crenulation parameter were associated with calanchi, LO/LF values were added to other criteria for the five classes of catchment. Class 1 catchments, consisting of 14 of the 24 calanchi catchments identified in the field, displayed all of the criteria defining calanchi, and were characterized by the highest values of LO/LF (mean value 1·27 ± 0·15). It is proposed, therefore, that the contour crenulation ratio (LO/LF) may be useful in identifying the calanco landform. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Convection in a rotating,laterally heated annulus the wave number transitions

Abstract

The radial temperature differences at which the transitions from one wave number to the next occur have been measured with either increasing or decreasing positive radial temperature gradients, at five different rotation rates, with the fluid being always in thermal equilibrium and being in contact with an upper rigid lid. Hysteresis has been observed in all wave number transitions, and also in the transition to upper symmetry. There are, nevertheless, regions in the stability diagram where the wave number is unique. There is an excluded region where the wave number four cannot be obtained through quasi-steady procedure. There is a reversal of the sense of the hysteresis of the transitions. At low ΔT, a wave number transition with increasing radial temperature difference occurs at a higher ΔT, than the same transition with decreasing temperature difference. On the other hand, at large values of ΔT, a wave number transition with increasing radial temperature difference occurs at a lower ΔT, than the same transition with decreasing temperature difference. Wave number transitions with increasing ΔT, occur spontaneously out of amplitude oscillations. Wave number transitions with decreasing ΔT, occur via slow wave splitting in association with phase modulations of the waves. The uniqueness of the wave number in the unique areas of the stability diagram has been confirmed by sudden start experiments.     

Coda-Q before and after the 1983 Misasa earthquake of M 6.2, Tottori Prefecture,Japan

To detect any temporal change in coda-Q associated with an earthquake of M 6.2, digitized data from analog magnetic records of microearthquakes for a small confined region just around its hypocenter have been processed, with special attention to measuring errors. The M 6.2 earthquake took place at the Misasa town, Tottori Prefecture, in southwest Japan with preceding anomalous seismicity changes. TheQ values were elevated 20% around three years before the M 6.2 event for frequencies of 5 to 20 Hz, and tended to decrease around two years before. Data with high quality show undulated temporal variation with a period of 5–6 years before the earthquake, which is correlated with the regional seismic activity. There is a possibility that the observedQ change stands for precursory effect of the medium-scale earthquake. The aftershock sequence also shows an undulated temporal variation ofQ with a period of 150 days for around 10Hz, correlating also with the seismic activity. The fracturing processes by numerous microearthquakes may be responsible for the attenuation property of randomly scattered seismic waves.     

Fracture characteristics of the 1997 Jiashi, Xinjiang, China, earthquake swarm inferred from source spectra

Broadband P and S waves source spectra of 12 MS5.0 earthquakes of the 1997 Jiashi, Xinjiang, China, earthquake swarm recorded at 13 GDSN stations have been analyzed. Rupture size and static stress drop of these earthquakes have been estimated through measuring the corner frequency of the source spectra. Direction of rupture propagation of the earthquake faulting has also been inferred from the azimuthal variation of the corner frequency. The main results are as follows: ①The rupture size of MS6.0 strong earthquakes is in the range of 10～20 km, while that of MS=5.0～5.5 earthquakes is 6～10 km.② The static stress drop of the swarm earthquakes is rather low, being of the order of 0.1 MPa. This implies that the deformation release rate in the source region may be low. ③ Stress drop of the earthquakes appears to be proportional to their seismic moment, and also to be dependent on their focal mechanism. The stress drop of normal faulting earthquakes is usually lower than that of strike-slip type earthquakes. ④ For each MS6.0 earthquake there exists an apparent azimuthal variation of the corner frequencies. Azimuthally variation pattern of corner frequencies of different earthquakes shows that the source rupture pattern of the Jiashi earthquake swarm is complex and no uniform rupture expanding direction exists.     

Calculations of the ionization drift velocity by the Titheridge method,based on the data obtained at the Irkutsk Digisonde

The applicability of the method proposed by Titheridge [1995] to the estimations of the ionization vertical drift velocity V is studied. The values of the F2-layer maximum height, h _m F2, obtained from the measurements using the DPS-4 digital ionosonde at Irkutsk (Institute of Solar-Terrestrial Physics) in 2003–2006, are the initial data. The neutral gas parameters were calculated from the [Hedin, 1987] thermospheric model. The obtained calculations of the vertical ionization drift velocity are estimated by comparing with the [Hedin et al., 1991] empirical model. In some cases, good agreement with this model has been obtained. However, such agreement is registered not always, and the cause of such discrepancies is still unclear. The diurnal variations in the vertical ionization drift velocity in different seasons are also discussed.     

Requirements for the Catchment,Treatment, and Surveillance of Drinking Water To Avoid the Transmittance of Pathogenic Bacterial,Viral, and Parasitic Organisms

Measures devised for guaranteeing the supply of epidemiologically and hygienically sound drinking water are generally based on observations made during epidemics and the follow‐up scientific studies. Despite the high level standards that have been attained in the treatment of drinking water, the drinking water‐derived outbreaks still keep cropping up even in the industrialized countries. The outbreaks of the parasites Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium parvum, and the recent outbreak in Canada caused by Toxoplasma gondii, again focused our attention to the possible infection risk posed by pathogens in drinking water. The circumstances of the cryptosporidia outbreak in Milwaukee in 1993 can be considered as typical for such outbreaks in which parasites have caused human disease. There are generally two ways of avoiding the transmittance of pathogens by drinking water: (i) use of uncontaminated groundwater, or (ii) treatment of the potentially contaminated one. All surface waters have to be considered potentially contaminated, while the purity of the groundwater depends on the local conditions. Routine disinfection of drinking water should be used to minimize the residual risk posed by pathogens. For purification of fecally contaminated water it is utterly inadequate. Testing of water for pathogens followed by more extensive decontamination measures in the case of positive findings appears to be of little value.     

Podhale,Poland, earthquake of November 30, 2004

Earthquake of November 30, 2004, in Podhale region, southern Poland, was of unexpectedly big size in this area of weak seismicity. As Poland is considered a country of low seismicity, the earthquake has caused concern about seismic hazard in Poland, especially since it took place shortly after the even more unexpected Kaliningrad Region, Russia, earthquakes of September 21, 2004, that inflicted minor damage in northern Poland. The paper presents the findings on the Podhale earthquake which reached macroseismic intensity up to 7 and magnitude 4.7 (m _b ; ISC). The event was felt up to a distance of about 100 km and inflicted slight damage to buildings in its narrow epicentral area, thus evidencing its relatively shallow depth. The quake has been located near the village of Skrzypne, about 15 km west-southwest of the district capital Nowy Targ. The source mechanism has been found to be of dip slip normal fault type, although a problem remains of association of this mechanism with known tectonic dislocations in the region. The earthquake has been followed by a long series of aftershocks. Their distribution in time is also studied and the biggest aftershocks have been located.     

Foreshocks and aftershocks of the M W = 7.1, 1992, earthquake in the Atrato region, Colombia

We study the October 18, M _W = 7.1, 1992 Atrato earthquake, and its foreshocks and aftershocks, which occurred in the Atrato valley, northwestern Colombia. The main shock was preceded by several foreshocksof which the M _W = 6.6, October 17 earthquacke was the largest. Inparticular, we examine foreshocks and aftershocks performing joint-hypocenter relocations using high quality Pn and Sn wave readingsfrom permanent regional networks. We observed a few hours prior to the main shock a sudden increase of foreshocks. Maybe this could be used as a predictor since foreshocks have been known for other major events in the region. Our locations align for 90 km with a trend of 5^° ±4^° in agreement with the Harvard CMT solution showing the faultplane trending 9^° to be the plane of rupture. In relation to theepicenter of the main shock, maximum intensities were located to thesouth, consistent with a rupture that traveled from north to south witha larger energy release in the south as suggested by an empirical Green'sfunction study (Li and Toksöz, 1993; Ammon et al., 1994). The boundarybetween the Panama and North Andes blocks has been placed close to thePanama-Colombia border as either a sharp boundary or a diffuse zone. TheAtrato earthquake, however, shows that the plate boundary between thePanama and North Andes microblocks is a diffuse deformation zone. Thiszone has a width of at least 2^° stretching from 78^°W to 76^°W. Quantification of earthquake moment release (during the past30 years) in this zone shows a similar amount of moment release in thewestern and eastern parts of this zone.     

Geochemical characteristics and origin of gases from the Upper,Lower Paleozoic and the Mesozoic reservoirs in the Ordos Basin,China

The Ordos Basin, the second largest sedimentary basin in China, contains the broad distribution of natural gas types. So far, several giant gas fields have been discovered in the Upper and Lower Paleozoic in this basin, each having over 1000×10⁸m³ of proven gas reserves, and several gas pools have also been discovered in the Mesozoic. This paper collected the data of natural gases and elucidated the geochemical characteristics of gases from different reservoirs, and then discussed their origin. For hydrocarbons preserved in the Upper Paleozoic, the elevated δ ¹³C values of methane, ethane and propane indicate that the gases would be mainly coal-formed gases; the singular reversal in the stable carbon isotopes of gaseous alkanes suggests the mixed gases from humic sources with different maturity. In the Lower Paleozoic, the δ ¹³C₁ values are mostly similar with those in the Upper Paleozoic, but the δ ¹³C₂ and δ ¹³C₃ values are slightly lighter, suggesting that the gases would be mixing of coal-type gases as a main member and oil-type gases. There are multiple reversals in carbon isotopes for gaseous alkanes, especially abnormal reversal for methane and ethane (i.e. δ ¹³C₁>δ ¹³C₂), inferring that gases would be mixed between high-mature coal-formed gases and oil-type gases. In the Mesozoic, the δ ¹³C values for gaseous alkanes are enriched in ¹²C, indicating that the gases are mainly derived from sapropelic sources; the carbon isotopic reversal for propane and butane in the Mesozoic is caused by microbial oxidation and mixing of gases from sapropelic sources with different maturity. In contrast to the Upper Paleozoic gases, the Mesozoic gases are characterized by heavier carbon isotopes of iso-butane than normal butane, which may be caused by gases generated from different kerogen types. Finally, according to δ ¹³C₁-R ₀ relationship and extremely low total organic carbon contents, the Low Paleozoic gases would not be generated from the Ordovician source as a main gas source, bycontrast, the Upper Paleozoic source as a main gas source is contributed to the Lower Paleozoic gases.

     

The structure and sedimentology of relict talus,Trotternish, northern Skye,Scotland

Sections up to 3·5 m deep cut through the upper rectilinear segment of relict, vegetated talus slopes at the foot of the Trotternish escarpment reveal stacked debris-flow deposits intercalated with occasional slopewash horizons and buried organic soils. Radiocarbon dating of buried soil horizons indicates that reworking of sediment by debris flows predates 5·9–5·6 Cal ka BP , and has been intermittently active throughout the late Holocene. Particle size analyses of 18 bulk samples from these units indicates that c. 27–30 per cent of the talus deposit is composed of fine (<2 mm) sediment. Sedimentological comparison with tills excludes a glacigenic origin for the talus debris, and the angularity of constituent clasts suggests that in situ weathering has been insignificant in generating fine material. We conclude that the fine sediment within the talus is derived primarily by granular weathering of the rockwall, with syndepositional accumulation of both fine and coarse debris, implying that c. 27–30 per cent of rockwall retreat since deglaciation reflects granular weathering rather than rockfall. The abundance of fines within the talus deposits is inferred to have been of critical importance in facilitating build-up of porewater pressures during rainstorms, leading to episodic failure and flow of debris on the upper parts of the slope. A wider implication of these findings is that the mechanical properties of talus slopes cannot be regarded as those of free-draining accumulations of coarse clasts, and that models that treat talus slopes as such have limited value in explaining their form and evolution. Our findings lend support to models that envisage the upper straight slope on talus accumulations as the product of mass-transport as well as rockfall, and indicate that episodic debris flow has been the primary agent of mass-transport at this site. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.