Volcanic rocks and the depth of the Benioff zone in Sud Lipez,Southwest Bolivia

The depth of the Benioff zone has been determined from the new analysis of volcanic rocks and from new seismic data from S.W. Bolivia. Both data give consistently 260 km as a depth of the Benioff zone and for the origin of magma of calc-alkali magma series in SW-Bolivia. These inferences are consistent with the plate tectonics model.     

深度震相sSmS特征及其在震源深度确定中的应用

通过一系列理论地震图模拟,研究了莫霍面超临界反射深度震相sSmS的特征,分析了影响该震相的各种因素。结果表明,SmS和sSmS属于高频波,一般情况下在高频段(1Hz左右)可被清晰地观测到;而在更长周期的地震图上,SmS和sSmS的强度比S波或者S多次波弱,不易辨认;地壳结构复杂地区且震源深度较浅时,sSmS震相也不容易被观测到。本文以2011年6月20日腾冲MS5.2地震为研究实例,利用sSmS深度震相确定其震源深度为6km,与其它方法所得结果一致。在利用深度震相测定震源深度的研究中,sSmS震相可以作为震源深度精确测定的手段之一。     

Cases of aerosol optical depth estimation in the Athens area,Greece

This work estimates the Ångström turbidity coefficients and investigates the variation of the aerosol optical depth (AOD) in the Athens area, during different atmospheric conditions. The AOD is estimated in the wavelength band of 400–670 nm from direct-beam spectral irradiance measurements using ground-based instrumentation, during an experimental campaign performed in the period 22 September–1 October 2002. All data were collected under clear-sky conditions near the city center of Athens; the AODs were estimated relative to the local zenith to avoid the influence of the optical air mass. The study shows that the AOD is influenced by wind regime and traffic in the Athens area. The Angstrom's turbidity coefficients and the AOD values were found to be higher under the influence of South-sector winds compared to those from the North-sector. Under South-sector low winds, the pollutants are accumulated in the Athens basin. On the contrary, the North-sector winds clean the atmosphere.     

The geodynamo,past, present and future

Abstract

The geodynamo simulation of Glatzmaier and Roberts (1996, Physica D97, 81) is driven by the cooling of the model Earth, which releases latent heat and light components of core fluid at the freezing surface of the inner core as it advances outwards. At some time in the past, the inner core was only a quarter of its present size and at some time in the future it will be twice its present size. The geodynamo operating during those epochs are studied here, the three models (past, present and future) being tied together in an evolutionary sense. The time taken for the models to evolve from past to future depends on the cooling rate, which is controlled by the dynamics of the mantle and is not studied here. All three models generate external fields of comparable strength and all three appear to be close to Taylor states. Unexpectedly, the future model showed considerable variability in time, while the past model does not. Deviations from axisymmetry in the external field increase with inner core radius and the relative predominance of the centered dipole over other multipole components declines.     

The ecosystem of a mesotrophic lake-II. Interactions among nutrient load,river flow,and epilimnion depth

The management variables which primarily affect phytoplankton biomass (as chl-a) in Lake Mjøsa, Norway, are total phosphorus loading (TP) and the timing and volume of water through flow (by active storage reservoirs). The response of the lake to changes in these factors is studied using a simulation model of the lake ecosystem. Chl-a responses from both observed data and the simulated results are extracted by multiple regression. Results show that decreasing TP load decreases chl-a, but less at low TP levels (< 10 mg TP · m^–3). There is also a certain time period for peak river flow which gives the least yield of chl-a per unit TP. This time period occurs in early summer (i.e., around June 10) if the total phosphorus load is low, and later if the load is high. Both observations and simulation results show that a high water flow increases chl-a at low epilimnion depths (< 15 m), but that the same high water flow decreases chl-a when epilmnion is deep.     

空间归一化边界识别方法用于判断地质体的水平位置及深度(英文)

边界识别是重磁数据解释中的常用方法之一,依据其结果可划分出地质体的水平范围。边界识别结果受地质体埋深及导数计算误差的影响所识别边界与真实边界之间存在一定的差距,且边界识别法无法直观地给出地质体的深度信息。为了获得异常体的水平位置和深度信息,本文提出空间归一化边界识别方法,其对不同深度的边界识别函数进行归一化计算,空间归一化边界识别法的最大值对应于异常体的水平位置和深度。常规边界识别结果的误差随理深的减小而减小,而空间归一化边界识别法是通过最大值来判断地质体的位置,最大值是在地质体处获得,因此归一化边界识别方法所获得的结果是准确的。通过理论模型试验证明归一化边界识别方法能有效地完成异常体的水平位置和深度的计算,所获得的水平位置和深度信息与理论值相一致,为下一步的勘探计划提供了更加可靠的依据。将其应用于实际航磁数据的解释,获得了断裂的具体分布形式。     

Ground-motion modelling at regional distances for earthquakes in a continental interior,II. Effect of focal depth,azimuth and attenuation

Multiple-mode surface-wave signals are used to model ground motion at distances of 50 to 500 km for an earthquake source in a continental interior. Motion on a thrust fault is used as the earthquake model. Theoretical ground-motion time histories are generated for this source for various focal depths, receiver azimuths and medium-attenuation models. A shallow source will generate greater values for the ground motion than the same source at a greater depth. Two anelastic attenuation models are considered, one appropriate to the central and eastern United States and the other to southern California. The effects of the difference in the attenuation models are seen at distances greater than 100 km for periods greater than 1.5 sec.     

Crustal seismic structure and depth distribution of earthquakes in the Archean Kuusamo region,Fennoscandian Shield

Two-dimensional crustal velocity models are derived from passive seismic observations for the Archean Karelian bedrock of north-eastern Finland. In addition, an updated Moho depth map is constructed by integrating the results of this study with previous data sets. The structural models image a typical three-layer Archean crust, with thickness varying between 40 and 52 km. P wave velocities within the 12–20 km thick upper crust range from 6.1 to 6.4 km/s. The relatively high velocities are related to layered mafic intrusive and volcanic rocks. The middle crust is a fairly homogeneous layer associated with velocities of 6.5–6.8 km/s. The boundary between middle and lower crust is located at depths between 28 and 38 km. The thickness of the lower crust increases from 5–15 km in the Archean part to 15–22 km in the Archean–Proterozoic transition zone. In the lower crust and uppermost mantle, P wave velocities vary between 6.9–7.3 km/s and 7.9–8.2 km/s. The average V_p/V_s ratio increases from 1.71 in the upper crust to 1.76 in the lower crust.The crust attains its maximum thickness in the south-east, where the Archean crust is both over- and underthrust by the Proterozoic crust. A crustal depression bulging out from that zone to the N–NE towards Kuusamo is linked to a collision between major Archean blocks. Further north, crustal thickening under the Salla and Kittilä greenstone belts is tentatively associated with a NW–SE-oriented collision zone or major shear zone. Elevated Moho beneath the Pudasjärvi block is primarily explained with rift-related extension and crustal thinning at ∼2.4–2.1 Ga.The new crustal velocity models and synthetic waveform modelling are used to outline the thickness of the seismogenic layer beneath the temporary Kuusamo seismic network. Lack of seismic activity within the mafic high-velocity body in the uppermost 8 km of crust and relative abundance of mid-crustal, i.e., 14–30 km deep earthquakes are characteristic features of the Kuusamo seismicity. The upper limit of seismicity is attributed to the excess of strong mafic material in the uppermost crust. Comparison with the rheological profiles of the lithosphere, calculated at nearby locations, indicates that the base of the seismogenic layer correlates best with the onset of brittle to ductile transition at about 30 km depth.We found no evidence on microearthquake activity in the lower crust beneath the Archean Karelian craton. However, a data set of relatively well-constrained events extracted from the regional earthquake catalogue implies a deeper cut-off depth for earthquakes in the Norrbotten tectonic province of northern Sweden.     

Intermediate depth earthquakes and volcanic eruptions in Central America, 1961–1972

Eight Central American volcanoes had large eruptions during the period 1961 to 1972. The distribution of intermediate depth earthquakes which occurred during the same period is marked by eight concentrations. Seven of the eight very active volcanoes are spatially related to the concentrations of intermediate depth earthquakes. The centers of the concentrations are typically a few tens of kilometers seaward of the volcanoes. The earthquakes have focal depths of about 70 to 110 km. Directly below the active volcanoes there is little or no intermediate depth seismic activity. Partially melted areas along the deep seismic zone directly below the active volcanoes might explain this distribution. Spatial-temporal progressions relating specific intermediate depth earth-quakes to specific volcanic eruptions have not been recognized. The development of a concentration of intermediate depth earthquakes spatially related to a quiescent volcano may indicate that the volcano will soon enter a period of renewed activity.     

Focal depth,magnitude, and frequency distribution of earthquakes along oceanic trenches

The occurrence of earthquakes in oceanic tren- ches can pose a tsunami threat to lives and properties in active seismic zones. Therefore, the knowledge of focal depth, magnitude, and time distribution of earthquakes along the trenches is needed to investigate the future occurrence of earthquakes in the zones. The oceanic trenches studied, were located from the seismicity map on： latitude ＋51 ° to＋53° and longitude -160° to 176° （Aleutian Trench）, latitude ＋40° to ＋53° and longitude ＋148° to＋165° （Japan Trench）, and latitude -75° to -64° and longitude -15° to ＋30° （Peru-Chile Trench）. The following features of seis- mic events were considered： magnitude distribution, focal depth distribution, and time distribution of earthquake. The results obtained in each trench revealed that the earthquakes increased with time in all the regions. This implies that the lithospheric layer is becoming more unstable. Thus, tectonic stress accumulation is increasing with time. The rate of increase in earthquakes at the Peru-Chile Trench is higher than that of the Japan Trench and the Aleutian Trench. This implies that the convergence of lithospheric plates is higher in the Peru-Chile Trench. Deep earthquakes were observed across all the trenches. The shallow earthquakes were more prominent than intermediate and deep earthquakes in all thetrenches. The seismic events in the trenches are mostly of magnitude range 3.0-4.9. This magnitude range may indi- cate the genesis of mild to moderate tsunamis in the trench zone in near future once sufficient slip would occur with displacement of water column.     

Eutrophication in the Polish coastal zone: the past, present status and future scenarios

In the Baltic Sea eutrophication processes have accelerated in the past 50 years of the 20th century and presently there exists a major ecological problem for this sea. The Polish coastal zone of the southern Baltic Sea is the recipient of riverine inputs from two major sources, namely the Odra and Vistula, as well as a number of smaller rivers along the central coast. Hence, the entire coastal zone remains under severe anthropogenic pressure. The variability of nutrient concentrations, especially the winter nutrient pool in the euphotic zone, summer level of total nitrogen and total phosphorus, together with such eutrophication indicators as water oversaturation with oxygen and the summer oxygen minimum, were analysed in the data time series 1959-2001. The temporal trends were investigated using linear regression and the non-parametric Whirsch test. The future characteristics of the Baltic Sea are discussed taking into account the development of driving forces.     

Harold Edwin Hurst: the Nile and Egypt,past and future

ABSTRACT

H.E. Hurst spent some 60 years studying the Nile for the Egyptian government, and laid the foundation for a monumental set of hydrological records and investigations. His studies of the size of over-year reservoirs needed to maintain a given yield from Nile flows showed that this was greater than that based on random series. This finding, known as the Hurst phenomenon, was confirmed by other natural series and led to important advances in practical and theoretical statistics. His work led to the design of the Aswan High Dam and to continued research in Egypt.

Editor D. Koutsoyiannis; Guest editor E. Eris     

Focal depth,magnitude, and frequency distribution of earthquakes along oceanic trenches

The occurrence of earthquakes in oceanic trenches can pose a tsunami threat to lives and properties in active seismic zones. Therefore, the knowledge of focal depth, magnitude, and time distribution of earthquakes along the trenches is needed to investigate the future occurrence of earthquakes in the zones. The oceanic trenches studied, were located from the seismicity map on: latitude +51° to +53°and longitude-160° to 176°(Aleutian Trench), latitude+40° to +53° and longitude +148° to +165°(Japan Trench), and latitude-75° to-64° and longitude –15° to+30°(Peru–Chile Trench). The following features of seismic events were considered: magnitude distribution, focal depth distribution, and time distribution of earthquake. The results obtained in each trench revealed that the earthquakes increased with time in all the regions. This implies that the lithospheric layer is becoming more unstable. Thus, tectonic stress accumulation is increasing with time. The rate of increase in earthquakes at the Peru–Chile Trench is higher than that of the Japan Trench and the Aleutian Trench. This implies that the convergence of lithospheric plates is higher in the Peru–Chile Trench. Deep earthquakes were observed across all the trenches. The shallow earthquakes were more prominent than intermediate and deep earthquakes in all thetrenches. The seismic events in the trenches are mostly of magnitude range 3.0–4.9. This magnitude range may indicate the genesis of mild to moderate tsunamis in the trench zone in near future once sufficient slip would occur with displacement of water column.