Simulation studies of processes associated with stimulated electromagnetic emission (SEE) in the ionosphere

Results of numerical simulation studies of processes associated with Stimulated Electromagnetic Emission (SEE) produced during ionospheric heating experiments are presented. A one-dimensional magnetized electrostatic Particle-In-Cell (PIC) simulation model with uniform plasma density is used to investigate electrostatic wave generation in the region where the pump frequency ω₀ approximately equals the upper hybrid frequency ω_uh. In particular, the simulation plasma is driven with a uniform oscillating electric field to represent the long wavelength pump wave and power spectra of the electrostatic waves produced are taken. The pump wave frequency and amplitude are varied to consider the effects on the simulation power spectrum. The upper hybrid frequency in the model is varied through harmonics of the electron cyclotron frequency Ω_ce to consider the effects of stepping the pump frequency through cyclotron harmonics. The power spectrum from the simulation plasma is richly structured. The resulting power spectra show sidebands upshifted and downshifted from the pump frequency by multiples of the lower hybrid frequency ω_lh. The structure of the spectrum is highly sensitive to the proximity of the upper hybrid frequency to the cyclotron harmonic frequencies.     

Q and high-frequency strong motion spectra

Empirical scaling equations for Fourier amplitude spectra of strong ground motion are used to describe A₀ and τ in the assumed (high-frequency) shape of strong motion amplitudes: FS(_φ) = A₀e-^πτφ. The res of computed A₀ and τ with other related estimates of spectral amplitudes; (2) smooth decay of strong motion spectral amplitudes up to φ = 25 Hz, without an abrupt low-pass filtering of high frequecies; and (3) good agreement with other estimates of the regionally specific attenuation of high-frequncy seismic waves.As the recorded strong earthquake shaking in the western United States typically samples only the shallow (10 km) and local (100km) characteristics of wave attenuation, the processed strong motion accelerograms can be used as the most direct means of describing the nature of the high-frequency attenuation of the entire strong motion signal for use in earthquake engineering applications. Seismological body wave, Lg and coda wave estimates of Q sample different volumes of the crust surrounding the station, and involve different paths of the waves. These differences must be carefully documented and understood before the results can be used in earthquake engineering characterization of strong motion amplitudes.     

Investigating soil moisture feedbacks on precipitation with tests of Granger causality

Granger causality (GC) is used in the econometrics literature to identify the presence of one- and two-way coupling between terms in noisy multivariate dynamical systems. Here we test for the presence of GC to identify a soil moisture (S) feedback on precipitation (P) using data from Illinois. In this framework S is said to Granger cause P if F(P_t|Ω_t−Δt)≠F(P_t|Ω_t−Δt−S_t−Δt) where F denotes the conditional distribution of P, Ω_t−Δt represents the set of all knowledge available at time t−Δt, and Ω_t−Δt−S_t−Δt represents all knowledge except S. Critical for land–atmosphere interaction research is that Ω_t−Δt includes all past information on P as well as S. Therefore that part of the relation between past soil moisture and current precipitation which results from precipitation autocorrelation and soil water balance will be accounted for and not attributed to causality. Tests for GC usually specify all relevant variables in a coupled vector autoregressive (VAR) model and then calculate the significance level of decreased predictability as various coupling coefficients are omitted. But because the data (daily precipitation and soil moisture) are distinctly non-Gaussian, we avoid using a VAR and instead express the daily precipitation events as a Markov model. We then test whether the probability of storm occurrence, conditioned on past information on precipitation, changes with information on soil moisture. Past information on precipitation is expressed both as the occurrence of previous day precipitation (to account for storm-scale persistence) and as a simple soil moisture-like precipitation-wetness index derived solely from precipitation (to account for seasonal-scale persistence). In this way only those fluctuations in moisture not attributable to past fluctuations in precipitation (e.g., those due to temperature) can influence the outcome of the test. The null hypothesis (no moisture influence) is evaluated by comparing observed changes in storm probability to Monte-Carlo simulated differences generated with unconditional occurrence probabilities. The null hypothesis is not rejected (p>0.5) suggesting that contrary to recently published results, insufficient evidence exists to support an influence of soil moisture on precipitation in Illinois.     

In situ measurements of sound velocities and densities across the orthopyroxene → high-pressure clinopyroxene transition in MgSiO3 at high pressure

Using acoustic measurement interfaced with a large volume multi-anvil apparatus in conjunction with in situ X-radiation techniques, we are able to measure the density and elastic wave velocities (V_P and V_S) for both ortho- and high-pressure clino-MgSiO₃ polymorphs in the same experimental run. The elastic bulk and shear moduli of the unquenchable high-pressure clinoenstatite phase were measured within its stability field for the first time. The measured density contrast associated with the phase transition OEN → HP-CEN is 2.6-2.9% in the pressure of 7-9 GPa, and the corresponding velocity jumps are 3-4% for P waves and 5-6% for S waves. The elastic moduli of the HP-CEN phase are K_S=156.7(8) GPa, G = 98.5(4) GPa and their pressure derivatives are K_S′=5.5(3) and G′ = 1.5(1) at a pressure of 6.5 GPa, room temperature. In addition, we observed anomalous elastic behavior in orthoenstatite at pressure above 9 GPa at room temperature. Both elastic wave velocities exhibited softening between 9 and 13-14 GPa, which we suggest is associated with a transition to a metastable phase intermediate between OEN and HP-CEN.     

WIND observations of coherent electrostatic waves in the solar wind

The time domain sampler (TDS) experiment on WIND measures electric and magnetic wave forms with a sampling rate which reaches 120 000 points per second. We analyse here observations made in the solar wind near the Lagrange point L1. In the range of frequencies above the proton plasma frequency f_pi and smaller than or of the order of the electron plasma frequency f_pe, TDS observed three kinds of electrostatic (e.s.) waves: coherent wave packets of Langmuir waves with frequencies f ≃ f_pe, coherent wave packets with frequencies in the ion acoustic range f_pi ≥ f ≥ f_pe, and more or less isolated non-sinusoidal spikes lasting less than 1 ms. We confirm that the observed frequency of the low frequency (LF) ion acoustic wave packets is dominated by the Doppler effect: the wavelengths are short, 10 to 50 electron Debye lengths λ_D. The electric field in the isolated electrostatic structures (IES) and in the LF wave packets is more or less aligned with the solar wind magnetic field. Across the IES, which have a spatial width of the order of ≃25_D, there is a small but finite electric potential drop, implying an average electric field generally directed away from the Sun. The IES wave forms, which have not been previously reported in the solar wind, are similar, although with a smaller amplitude, to the weak double layers observed in the auroral regions, and to the electrostatic solitary waves observed in other regions in the magnetosphere. We have also studied the solar wind conditions which favour the occurrence of the three kinds of waves: all these e.s. waves are observed more or less continuously in the whole solar wind (except in the densest regions where a parasite prevents the TDS observations). The type (wave packet or IES) of the observed LF waves is mainly determined by the proton temperature and by the direction of the magnetic field, which themselves depend on the latitude of WIND with respect to the heliospheric current sheet.     

Determination of the long period tidal waves in the GGP superconducting gravity data

Several results about the long period (LP) tidal waves are obtained by the analysis of series of superconducting gravity data, provided by the Global Geodynamics Project (GGP). The most important result is the determination of a single group called LPMF, composed by all LP tides but representing accurately the parameters of the M_f wave. As the LP tidal generating potential is vanishing at latitudes ±35°15′52″ we cannot determine accurate tidal amplitude factors for the stations located between ±40° and ±30°. However, it is still possible to obtain tidal residual vectors and compare them with oceanic tidal loading computations. For 15 stations the NAO99 oceanic model is giving a coherent picture. For nine stations with M_f amplitude larger than 3 μgal (1 μgal = 10 nm s⁻²) a global analysis is obtained by introducing the loading effect of the ocean directly in the observation equations. The mean amplitude factor obtained for LPMF is larger than expected from the models and there is a significant phase lag, showing the imperfection of the tidal oceanic models for M_f. Other new result is the first separate estimation of the parameters of the LP tides, generated by the tidal potential of third degree, dominated by a Lunar declinational monthly wave, called here 3M_md. Due to their small amplitudes (under 1 μgal) these waves are practically hidden by the noise. Nevertheless, the quality of the data and the flexibility of the VAV analysis method [Venedikov, A.P., Arnoso, J., Vieira, R., 2001. Program VAV/2000 for tidal analysis of unequally spaced data with irregular drift and colored noise. J. Geodetic Soc. Jpn. 47 (1), 281–286; Venedikov, A.P., Arnoso, J., Vieira, R., 2003. VAV: a program for tidal data processing. Comput. Geosci. 29, 487–502.] allow getting significant results, in agreement with the theory of the Earth deformation by the tidal potential of third degree.     

Peak surface strains during strong earthquake motion

Peak amplitudes of surface strains during strong earthquake ground motion can be approximated by ε = Aν_max/β₁, where ν_max is the corresponding peak particle velocity, β₁ is the velocity of shear waves in the surface layer, and A is a site specific scaling function. In a 50 m thick layer with shear wave velocity β₁ 300 m/s, A 0·4 for the radial strain ε_rr, A 0·2 for the tangential strain ε_rθ, and A 1·0 for the vertical strain, ε_z. These results are site specific and representative of strike slip faulting and of soil in Westmoreland, in Imperial Valley, California. Similar equations can be derived for other sites with known shear wave velocity profile versus depth.     

Scaling model experiments on propagation of electromagnetic waves using salt solution to simulate the Earth's crust: Loma Prieta and Kobe earthquakes

Propagation of electromagnetic (EM) waves from an earthquake focus in the conductive Earth has been investigated using 1/1,000,000 scaling models taking earth-ionosphere and ocean-Moho plane parallel-plate waveguides into account. Microwaves at a frequency, ω_m, a million times higher than that of seismic EM signal (SEMS), ω, were generated at the model focus. They are propagated in a salt solution modeling the earth's crust and reflected by ocean, fault planes, ionosphere and Moho plane all made by aluminum. Distribution of EM power was mapped by scanning a detector antenna over the model Earth's surface. The skin depth, δ, calculated by the exact skin depth equation, 1/δ=ω(μ/2)^1/2 [(1+(1/ωρ)²)^1/2 −1]^1/2 where dielectric constant, and permeability, μ are the same but resistivity, ρ, 10⁻⁶ times smaller than that of Earth, gave 10⁻⁶ times small skin depth validating the model scaling index. Images for evanescent and wave-ripple standing waves disturbed by normal, strike-slip and dip-slip conductive fault planes have been obtained using an aluminum plate. The co-circular contour map above the epicenter due to evanescence was pushed to the north east direction from the epicenter by the presence of ocean for the Loma Prieta earthquake, while to north direction for the Kobe earthquake. The intensity of EM ULF emissions for the Loma Prieta earthquake is discussed quantitatively.     

Scattering ofP andS waves by a spherically symmetric inclusion

Scattering of an arbitrary elastic wave incident upon a spherically symmetric inclusion is considered and solutions are developed in terms of the spherical vector system of Petrashen, which produces results in terms of displacements rather than displacement potentials and in a form suitable for accurate numerical computations. Analytical expressions for canonical scattering coefficients are obtained for both the cases of incidentP waves and incidentS waves. Calculations of energy flux in the scattered waves lead to elastic optical theorems for bothP andS waves, which relate the scattering cross sections to the amplitude of the scattered fields in the forward direction. The properties of the solutions for a homogeneous elastic sphere, a sphere filled by fluid, and a spherical cavity are illustrated with scattering cross sections that demonstrate important differences between these types of obstacles. A general result is that the frequency dependence of the scattering is defined by the wavelength of the scattered wave rather than the wavelength of the incident wave. This is consistent with the finding that the intensity of thePS scattering is generally much stronger than theSP scattering. When averaged over all scattering angles, the mean intensity of thePS converted waves is2V _p ² /V _s ⁴ times the mean intensity of theSP converted waves, and this ratio is independent of frequency. The exact solutions reduce to simple and easily used expressions in the case of the low frequency (Rayleigh) approximation and the low contrast (Rayleigh-Born) approximation. The case of energy absorbing inclusions can also be obtained by assigning complex values to the elastic parameters, which leads to the result that an increase in attenuation within the inclusion causes an increased scattering cross section with a marked preference for scatteredS waves. The complete generality of the results is demonstrated by showing waves scattered by the earth's core in the time domain, an example of high-frequency scattering that reveals a very complex relationship between geometrical arrivals and diffracted waves.     

Diurnal sea breeze effects on inner-shelf cross-shore exchange

Cross-shore exchange by strong (cross-shore wind stress, τ_sx>0.05 Pa) diurnal (7–25 h) sea breeze events are investigated using two years of continuous wind, wave, and ocean velocity profiles in 13 m water depth on the inner-shelf in Marina, Monterey bay, California. The diurnal surface wind stress, waves, and currents have spectral peaks at 1, 2, and 3 cpd and the diurnal variability represents about 50% of the total variability. During sea breeze relaxation (−0.05<τ_sx<0.05 Pa), a background wave-driven inner-shelf Eulerian undertow profile exists, which is equal and opposite to the Lagrangian Stokes drift profile, resulting in a net zero Lagrangian transport at depth. In the presence of a sea breeze (τ_sx>0.05 Pa), a uniform offshore profile develops that is different from the background undertow profile allowing cross-shore Lagrangian transport to develop, while including Lagrangian Stokes drift. The diurnal cross-shore current response is similar to subtidal (>25 h) cross-shore current response, as found by Fewings et al. (2008). The seasonality of waves and winds modify the diurnal sea breeze impact. It is suggested that material is not transported cross-shore except during sea breeze events owing to near zero transport during relaxation periods. During sea breeze events, cross-shore exchange of material appears to occur onshore near the surface and offshore near the sea bed. Since sea breeze events last for a few hours, the long-term cross-shore transport is incremental each day.     

Fine S wave velocity structure beneath Iwate volcano, northeastern Japan, as derived from receiver functions and travel times

A genetic algorithm inversion of receiver functions derived from a dense seismic network around Iwate volcano, northeastern Japan, provides the fine S wave velocity structure of the crust and uppermost mantle. Since receiver functions are insensitive to an absolute velocity, travel times of P and S waves propagating vertically from earthquakes in the subducting slab beneath the volcano are involved in the inversion. The distribution of velocity perturbations in relation to the hypocenters of the low-frequency (LF) earthquakes helps our understanding of deep magmatism beneath Iwate volcano. A high-velocity region (dV_S/V_S=10%) exists around the volcano at depths of 2–15 km, with the bottom depth decreasing to 11 km beneath the volcano’s summit. Just beneath the thinning high-velocity region, a low-velocity region (dV_S/V_S=−10%) exists at depths of 11–20 km. Intermediate-depth LF (ILF) events are distributed vertically in the high-velocity region down to the top of the low-velocity region. This distribution suggests that a magma reservoir situated in the low-velocity region supplies magma to a narrow conduit that is detectable by the hypocenters of LF earthquakes. Another broad low-velocity region (dV_S/V_S=−5 to −10%) occurs at depths of 17–35 km. Additional clusters of deep LF (DLF) events exist at depths of 32–37 km in the broad low-velocity zone. The DLF and ILF events are the manifestations of magma movement near the Moho discontinuity and in the conduit just beneath the volcano, respectively.     

Wave propagation in a seven-story reinforced concrete building: I. Theoretical models

For transient, high frequency, and pulse like excitation of structures in the near field of strong earthquakes, the classical design approach based on relative response spectrum and mode superposition may not be conservative. For such excitations, it is more natural to use wave propagation methods. In this paper (Part I), we review several two-dimensional wave propagation models of buildings and show results for theoretical dispersion curves computed for these models. We also estimate the parameters of these models that would correspond to a seven-story reinforced concrete building in Van Nuys, California. Ambient vibration tests data for this building imply vertical shear wave velocity β_z=112 m/s and anisotropy factor β_x/β_z=0.55 for NS vibrations, and β_z=88 m/s and β_x/β_z=1 for EW vibrations. The velocity of shear waves propagating through the slabs is estimated to be about 2000 m/s. In the companion paper (Part II), we estimate phase velocities of vertically and horizontally propagating waves between seven pairs of recording points in the building using recorded response to four earthquakes.     

Sulfur isotopic effects in the disproportionation reaction of sulfur dioxide in hydrothermal fluids: implications for the δS variations of dissolved bisulfate and elemental sulfur from active crater lakes

Sulfur isotope effects during the SO₂ disproportionation reaction to form elemental sulfur (3SO₂+3H₂O→2HSO₄⁻+S+2H⁺) at 200–330°C and saturated water vapor pressures were experimentally determined. Initially, a large kinetic isotopic fractionation takes place between HSO₄⁻ and S, followed by a slow approach to equilibrium. The equilibrium fractionation factors, estimated from the longest run results, are expressed by 1000 ln α_HSO4⁻–S=6.21×10⁶/T²+3.62. The rates at which the initial kinetic fractionation factors approach the equilibrium ones were evaluated at the experimental conditions.δ³⁴S values of HSO₄⁻ and elemental sulfur were examined for active crater lakes including Noboribetsu and Niseko, (Hokkaido, Japan), Khloridnoe, Bannoe and Maly Semiachik (Kamchatka), Poás (Costa Rica), Ruapehu (New Zealand) and Kawah Ijen and Keli Mutu (Indonesia). Δ_HSO4⁻–S values are 28‰ for Keli Mutu, 26‰ for Kawah Ijen, 24‰ for Ruapehu, 23‰ for Poás, 22‰ for Maly Semiachik, 21‰ for Yugama, 13‰ for Bannoe, 9‰ for Niseko, 4‰ for Khloridonoe, and 0‰ for Noboribetsu, in the decreasing order. The SO₂ disproportionation reaction in the magmatic hydrothermal system below crater lakes where magmatic gases condense is responsible for high Δ_HSO4⁻–S values, whereas contribution of HSO₄⁻ produced through bacterial oxidation of reduced sulfur becomes progressively dominant for lakes with lower Δ_HSO4⁻–S values. Currently, Noboribetsu crater lake contains no HSO₄⁻ of magmatic origin. A 40-year period observation of δ³⁴S_HSO4⁻ and δ³⁴S_S values at Yugama indicated that the isotopic variations reflect changes in the supply rate of SO₂ to the magmatic hydrothermal system. This implies a possibility of volcano monitoring by continuous observation of δ³⁴S_HSO4⁻ values. The δ¹⁸O values of HSO₄⁻ and lake water from the studied lakes covary, indicating oxygen isotopic equilibration between them. The covariance gives strong evidence that lake water circulates through the sublimnic zone at temperatures of 140±30°C.     

Internal soil moisture and piezometric responses to rainfall-induced shallow slope failures

Better knowledge regarding internal soil moisture and piezometric responses in the process of rainfall-induced shallow slope failures is the key to an effective prediction of the landslide and/or debris flow initiation. To this end, internal soil moisture and piezometric response of 0.7-m-deep, 1.5-m-wide, 1.7-m-high, and 3.94-m-long semi-infinite sandy slopes rested on a bi-linear impermeable bedrock were explored using a chute test facility with artificial rainfall applications. The internal response time defined by the inflection point of the soil moisture and piezometric response curves obtained along the soil–bedrock interface were closely related to some critical failure states, such as the slope toe failure and extensive slope failures. It was also found that the response times obtained at the point of abrupt bedrock slope decrease can be used as indicators for the initiation of rainfall-induced shallow slope failures. An investigation of spatial distributions of soil water content, ω (or degrees of saturation, S_r), in the slope at critical failure states shows that the 0.2 m – below – surface zone remains unsaturated with S_r 40–60%, regardless of their distances from the toe and the rainfall intensity. Non-uniform distributions of ω (or S_r) along the soil–bedrock interface at critical failure states were always associated with near-saturation states (S_r 80–100%) around the point of bedrock slope change or around the transient ‘toe’ upstream of the slumped mass induced by the retrogressive failure of the slope. These observations suggest the important role of the interflow along the soil–bedrock interface and the high soil water content (or high porewater pressure) around the point of bedrock slope deflection in the rainfall-induced failure of sandy slopes consisting of shallow impermeable bedrocks. The present study proposes an ‘internal response time’ criterion to substantiate the prediction of rainfall-induced shallow slope failures. It is believed that the ‘internal response time’ reflects the overall characteristics of a slope under rainfall infiltration and can be as useful as the conventional meteorology-based threshold times. The ‘internal response time’ theory can be generalized via numerical modeling of slope hydrology, slope geology and slope stability in the future.     

Determining Q of near-surface materials from Rayleigh waves

High-frequency (≥2 Hz) Rayleigh wave phase velocities can be inverted to shear (S)-wave velocities for a layered earth model up to 30 m below the ground surface in many settings. Given S-wave velocity (V_S), compressional (P)-wave velocity (V_P), and Rayleigh wave phase velocities, it is feasible to solve for P-wave quality factor Q_P and S-wave quality factor Q_S in a layered earth model by inverting Rayleigh wave attenuation coefficients. Model results demonstrate the plausibility of inverting Q_S from Rayleigh wave attenuation coefficients. Contributions to the Rayleigh wave attenuation coefficients from Q_P cannot be ignored when Vs/V_P reaches 0.45, which is not uncommon in near-surface settings. It is possible to invert Q_P from Rayleigh wave attenuation coefficients in some geological setting, a concept that differs from the common perception that Rayleigh wave attenuation coefficients are always far less sensitive to Q_P than to Q_S. Sixty-channel surface wave data were acquired in an Arizona desert. For a 10-layer model with a thickness of over 20 m, the data were first inverted to obtain S-wave velocities by the multichannel analysis of surface waves (MASW) method and then quality factors were determined by inverting attenuation coefficients.     

Scattering of elastic waves by a fracture zone containing randomly distributed cracks

We theoretically study the scattering ofP, SV andSH waves by a zonal distribution of cracks, which simulates a fault fracture zone. An investigation is conducted how the geometrical properties of the crack distribution and the frictional characteristics of the crack surface are reflected in the attenuation and dispersion of incident waves, as well as in the amplitudes of the transmitted and reflected waves from the zone. If the crack distribution within the fault zone changes temporally during the preparation process of the expected earthquake, it will be important for earthquake prediction to monitor it, utilizing the scattering-induced wave phenomena.We consider the two-dimensional problem. Aligned cracks with the same length are assumed to be randomly distributed in a zone with a finite width, on which elastic waves are assumed to be incident. The distribution of cracks is assumed to be homogeneous and sparse. The crack surface is assumed to be stress-free, or to undergo viscous friction; the latter case simulates fluid-filled cracks. The opening displacement of the crack is assumed to be negligibly small. The idea of the mean wave formalism is employed in the analysis, and Foldy's approximation is assumed.When the crack surface is stress-free, it is commonly observed for every wave mode (P, SV andSH) that the attenuation coefficientQ ^–1 peaks aroundka1, the phase velocity is almost independent ofk in the rangeka<1 and it increases monotonically withk in the rangeka>1, wherek is the intrinsicS wavenumber anda is the half length of the crack. The effect of the friction is to shift the peak ofQ ^–1 and the corner of the phase velocity curve to the low wavenumber range. The high wavenumber asymptote ofQ ^–1 is proportional tok ^–1 independently of model parameters and the wave modes. If the seismological observation thatQ ^–1 ofS waves has a peak at around 0.5 Hz in the earth's crust is combined with our results, the upper limit of crack size within the crust is estimated about 4 km. The information regarding the transmitted and reflected waves, such as the high wavenumber limit of the amplitude of the transmitted wave etc., allows estimation of the strength of the friction.     

Anelasticity of the crust and upper mantle beneath north and central India from the inversion of observed Love and Rayleigh wave attenuation data

The fundamental mode Love and Rayleigh waves generated by earthquakes occurring in Kashmir, Nepal Himalaya, northeast India and Burma and recorded at Hyderabad, New Delhi and Kodaikanal seismic stations are analysed. Love and Rayleigh wave attenuation coefficients are obtained at time periods of 15–100 seconds, using the spectral amplitude of these waves for 23 different paths along northern (across Burma to New Delhi) and central (across Kashmir, Nepal Himalaya and northeast India to Hyderabad and Kodaikanal) India. Love wave attenuation coefficients are found to vary from 0.0003 to 0.0022 km^–1 for northern India and 0.00003 km^–1 to 0.00016 km^–1 for central India. Similarly, Rayleigh wave attenuation coefficients vary from 0.0002 km^–1 to 0.0016 km^–1 for northern India and 0.00001 km^–1 to 0.0009 km^–1 for central India. Backus and Gilbert inversion theory is applied to these surface wave attenuation data to obtainQ ^–1 models for the crust and uppermost mantle beneath northern and central India. Inversion of Love and Rayleigh wave attenuation data shows a highly attenuating zone centred at a depth of 20–80 km with lowQ for northern India. Similarly, inversion of Love and Rayleigh wave attenuation data shows a high attenuation zone below a depth of 100 km. The inferred lowQ value at mid-crustal depth (high attenuating zone) in the model for northern India can be by underthrusting of the Indian plate beneath the Eurasian plate which has caused a low velocity zone at this shallow depth. The gradual increase ofQ ^–1 from shallow to deeper depth shows that the lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary is not sharply defined beneath central India, but rather it represents a gradual transformation, which starts beneath the uppermost mantle. The lithospheric thickness is 100 km beneath central India and below that the asthenosphere shows higher attenuation, a factor of about two greater than that in the lithosphere. The very lowQ can be explained by changes in the chemical constitution taking place in the uppermost mantle.     

Changes in the early part of the seismic coda due to localized scatterers: The estimation ofQ in a stope environment

A single scattering model was used to analyse the temporary changes in the mean density of scattered waves in a discrete random medium. The model of the mean energy density, originally proposed bySato (1977) for spherical radiation and isotropic scattering, has been modified and applied to a medium in which the scatterers are confined to a specified volume. The time variation of the early part of the mean energy density function for the different source durations was investigated. The dominant effect on the theoretical mean energy density is caused by the specified volume containing scatterers. The duration of the source pulse influences the early part of the coda fort/t ₀<1.2, wheret is the lapse time measured from the source origin time, andt ₀is arrival time of the body wave.The analysis of the coda signal of micro-events occurring immediately in front of the face enables us to estimate the size of the fracture zone induced by the stope. The model of the mean energy density of coda for a medium containing scatterers close to the seismic source was used to analyse a large number of events recorded close to an advancing mine face in a deep level gold mine in South Africa. The coda decay rate has two trends: the first, with a steep decay of coda, is produced by a larger deviation of rock parameters and/or larger size of the scatterers; the second trend, which decays more slowly, has the corresponding mean-free path ranging from 20 m to 200 m. The analysis indicates that the rock mass about 15–20 m from the stope contains a large proportion of fractured and blocked rock, which is the source of scattering. The scattering of theS-wave was much stronger and more stable, with the mean-free path varying from 11 m to 45 m. This is due to the shorter wavelength of theS wave in comparison with theP wave. The quality factor for theP coda wave varies from 30 to 100 in the fracture zone of stope and outside this zone it has a value of 300. The quality factor of theS wave varies from 20 to 78 in the equivalent volume. For rock surrounding the stope the ratioQ _sp ^–1 /Q _ss ^–1 varied from 0.31 to 0.69. This suggests that the radii of scatterers are smaller than 3.5 m.     

The diurnal and semidiurnal barometric oscillations global distribution and annual variation

Summary The global distributions of the annual and seasonal means of the diurnal (S ₁) and semidiurnal (S ₂) surface pressure oscillations are investigated by spherical harmonic analysis. The main waves are,S ₁ ¹ (with wave number 1) forS ₁ andS ₂ ² forS ₂.S ₁ ¹ is much less predominant among the waves ofS ₁ thanS ₂ ² among those ofS ₂. As in the case of the lunar semidiurnal barometric tideL ₂ the pressure maxima occur earlier in the Southern than in the Northern Hemisphere. In the case ofS ₂ the standing waveS ₂ ⁰ and the waveS ₂ ³ are also of interest besidesS ₂ ². Although the present analysis extends only from 60°N to 60°S, whileS ₂ ⁰ is largest at polar latitudes, its results show thatS ₂ ⁰ should be smaller at high southerly than at high northerly latitudes, as has been observed. Thus this observed asymmetrical distribution ofS ₂ ⁰ may be due to causes outside the polar regions rather than to their geographical differences. The best approximation to the observed distribution ofS ₂ ⁰ is obtained by including a mode representing an oscillation independent of longitude and latitude indicating a small semidiurnal variation of the mean global surface presure, which is an unlikely result on physical grounds.The seasonal variation ofS ₁ ¹ expressed in percent of the annual mean is smaller than that ofS ₂ ², and both are less than the unexplained seasonal variation ofL ₂ ².The main wavesS ₁ ¹ andS ₂ ² are expressed not only by associated Legendre functions, but also by Hough functions.National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado, U.S.A., sponsored by the National Science Foundation.     

Unified approach to amplitude attenuation and coda excitation in the randomly inhomogeneous lithosphere

A unified model is proposed for explaining the frequency dependent amplitude attenuation and the coda wave excitation on the basis of the single scattering process in the randomly inhomogeneous lithosphere. Adopting Birch's law and a direct proportion between density and wave velocity, we statistically describe the inhomogeneous medium by one random function characterized by the von Karman autocorrelation function. We calculate the amplitude attenuation from the solid angle integral of scattered wave energy on the basis of the Born approxiimation after subtracting the travel-time fluctuation effect caused by slowly varying velocity inhomogeneities. This subtraction is equivalent to neglect energy loss by scattering within a cone around the forward direction. The random inhomogeneity of the von Karman autocorrelation function of order 0.35 with the mean square fractional fluctuation of 7.2×10^–3 1.3×10^–2 and the correlation distance of 2.15.1 km well explains observed backward scattering coefficientg and the ratioQ _P ^–1 /Q _S ^–1 , and observed and partially conjecturedQ _S ^–1 for frequencies between 0.5 Hz and 30 Hz.