Properties of electric turbulence in the polar cap ionosphere

Small-scale (scales of ∼0.5–256 km) electric fields in the polar cap ionosphere are studied on the basis of measurements of the Dynamics Explorer 2 (DE-2) low-altitude satellite with a polar orbit. Nineteen DE-2 passes through the high-latitude ionosphere from the morning side to the evening side are considered when the IMF z component was southward. A rather extensive polar cap, which could be identified using the ɛ-t spectrograms of precipitating particles with auroral energies, was formed during the analyzed events. It is shown that the logarithmic diagrams (LDs), constructed using the discrete wavelet transform of electric fields in the polar cap, are power law (μ ∼ s ^α). Here, μ is the variance of the detail coefficients of the signal discrete wavelet transform, s is the wavelet scale, and index α characterizes the LD slope. The probability density functions P(δE, s) of the electric field fluctuations δE observed on different scales s are non-Gaussian and have intensified wings. When the probability density functions are renormalized, that is constructed of δE/s ^γ, where γ is the scaling exponent, they lie near a single curve, which indicates that the studied fields are statistically self-similar. In spite of the fact that the amplitude of electric fluctuations in the polar cap is much smaller than in the auroral zone, the quantitative characteristics of field scaling in the two regions are similar. Two possible causes of the observed turbulent structure of the electric field in the polar cap are considered: (1) the structure is transferred from the solar wind, which is known to have turbulent properties, and (2) the structure is generated by convection velocity shears in the region of open magnetic field lines. The detected dependence of the characteristic distribution of turbulent electric fields over the polar cap region on IMF B _y and the correlation of the rms amplitudes of δE fluctuations with IMF B _z and the solar wind transfer function (B _y ² + B _z ²)^1/2sin(θ/2), where θ is the angle between the geomagnetic field and IMF reconnecting on the dayside magnetopause when IMF B _z < 0, together with the absence of dependence on the IMF variability are arguments for the second mechanism.     

Modelling the dynamics and thermodynamics of volcanic degassing

 The rates of passive degassing from volcanoes are investigated by modelling the convective overturn of dense degassed and less dense gas-rich magmas in a vertical conduit linking a shallow degassing zone with a deep magma chamber. Laboratory experiments are used to constrain our theoretical model of the overturn rate and to elaborate on the model of this process presented by Kazahaya et al. (1994). We also introduce the effects of a CO₂–saturated deep chamber and adiabatic cooling of ascending magma. We find that overturn occurs by concentric flow of the magmas along the conduit, although the details of the flow depend on the magmas' viscosity ratio. Where convective overturn limits the supply of gas-rich magma, then the gas emission rate is proportional to the flow rate of the overturning magmas (proportional to the density difference driving convection, the conduit radius to the fourth power, and inversely proportional to the degassed magma viscosity) and the mass fraction of water that is degassed. Efficient degassing enhances the density difference but increases the magma viscosity, and this dampens convection. Two degassing volcanoes were modelled. At Stromboli, assuming a 2 km deep, 30% crystalline basaltic chamber, containing 0.5 wt.% dissolved water, the ∼700 kg s^–1 magmatic water flux can be modelled with a 4–10 m radius conduit, degassing 20–100% of the available water and all of the 1 to 4 vol.% CO₂ chamber gas. At Mount St. Helens in June 1980, assuming a 7 km deep, 39% crystalline dacitic chamber, containing 4.6 wt.% dissolved water, the ∼500 kg s^–1 magmatic water flux can be modelled with a 22–60 m radius conduit, degassing ∼2–90% of the available water and all of the 0.1 to 3 vol.% CO₂ chamber gas. The range of these results is consistent with previous models and observations. Convection driven by degassing provides a plausible mechanism for transferring volatiles from deep magma chambers to the atmosphere, and it can explain the gas fluxes measured at many persistently active volcanoes. Received: 26 September 1997 / Accepted: 11 July 1998     

The tsunamigenic earthquake of April 1, 1946, in the Fox Islands (Aleutian island arc)

An interpretation of the type, size, and location of the source of the Aleutian earthquake on April 1, 1946, which was characterized by the highest intensity (I = 4), is proposed. The earthquake source is a subvertical reverse fault striking along the island arc and dipping at an angle of 85° toward the deep-sea trench. The reverse fault is located in the lower part of the island slope, within the eastern termination of the Aleutian terrace. The western end of the reverse fault is located in the area of the Krenitsyn Islands (λ ∼ 165°W), where the pattern of isobaths changes, and an abrupt widening of the shelf part of the Fox Islands takes place. Large (M _S ∼ 7) shocks, preceding the 1946 earthquake, occurred here in 1940, 1942, and 1944. Structural inhomogeneities in the island slope in the area of the Sanak Islands (λ ∼ 162°W) determine the eastern edge of the source-reverse fault, whose length within the specified boundaries is about 200 km. The mean magnitude of the earthquake corresponding to such a source is ∼8.3. According to the regular relation between the rupture length and the mean movement, the vertical displacement of the ocean floor in the source region could attain 5–6 m. A significant vertical displacement of the ocean floor over its large length (∼200 km) was responsible for the high tsunamigenic ability of this earthquake. A favorable combination in the source area of the topographic and other conditions necessary for the tsunami formation could additionally contribute to an increase in the intensity of the tsunami. The earthquake of April 1, 1946, in the Fox Islands, as well as the tsunamigenic earthquakes of March 9, 1957, in the Andreanof Islands and February 4, 1965, in the Rat Islands, does not belong to the class of “slow” earthquakes.     

Energetics of the magnetospheric superstorm on November 20, 2003

The magnetospheric storm on November 20, 2003 was one of two greatest events in 1957–2003. The D _st^* index reached −472 nT, the polar cap potential drop exceeded 200 kV, the polar cap boundary expanded up to Φ = 60°, the plasma layer density in the synchronous orbit reached 5 cm⁻³, and the inner edge of the plasma sheet penetrated up to L ∼ 1.5R _E. The sequence of disturbance modes including some previously unknown is described. The distribution of the total power input into the magnetosphere between the ionosphere (power Q _i) and the ring current (Q _DR), as well as the relative roles of the spontaneous substorms and the driven disturbances in the creation of the DR current, is analyzed. The values of the parameter α = Q _DR/Q _i are calculated with a step of 5 min. It is shown that intervals with α ≪ 1 and with maximums α ≫ 1 were observed in the events under consideration. These results contradict the dominant opinion that the energy input into the magnetosphere during disturbances is primarily dissipated in the ionosphere. The two types of α maximums are observed: one in the mode of a prevailing spontaneous substorm and the other in the mixed mode of the substorm and driven disturbance. It is concluded that both types of the maximums and corresponding enhancements of the DR current appeared due to the plasma turbulization processes in the substorm current wedge. The parameter α appears to slowly increase from α ≪ 1 to α > 1 with increasing activity level; this trend supports the driven model of creating the DR current due to an increase in the electric field of the solar wind.     

Receiver function study in northern Sumatra and the Malaysian peninsula

In this receiver function study, we investigate the structure of the crust beneath six seismic broadband stations close to the Sunda Arc formed by subduction of the Indo-Australian under the Sunda plate. We apply three different methods to analyse receiver functions at single stations. A recently developed algorithm determines absolute shear-wave velocities from observed frequency-dependent apparent incidence angles of P waves. Using waveform inversion of receiver functions and a modified Zhu and Kanamori algorithm, properties of discontinuities such as depth, velocity contrast, and sharpness are determined. The combination of the methods leads to robust results. The approach is validated by synthetic tests. Stations located on Malaysia show high-shear-wave velocities (V _S) near the surface in the range of 3.4–3.6 km s^− 1 attributed to crystalline rocks and 3.6–4.0 km s^− 1 in the lower crust. Upper and lower crust are clearly separated, the Moho is found at normal depths of 30–34 km where it forms a sharp discontinuity at station KUM or a gradient at stations IPM and KOM. For stations close to the subduction zone (BSI, GSI and PSI) complexity within the crust is high. Near the surface low V _S of 2.6–2.9 km s^− 1 indicate sediment layers. High V _S of 4.2 km s^− 1 are found at depth greater than 6 and 2 km at BSI and PSI, respectively. There, the Moho is located at 37 and 40 km depth. At station GSI, situated closest to the trench, the subducting slab is imaged as a north-east dipping structure separated from the sediment layer by a 10 km wide gradient in V _S between 10 and 20 km depth. Within the subducting slab V _S ≈ 4.7 km s^− 1. At station BSI, the subducting slab is found at depth between 90 and 110 km dipping 20° ± 8° in approximately N 60° E. A velocity increase in similar depth is indicated at station PSI, however no evidence for a dipping layer is found.     

Lava effusion rates from hand-held thermal infrared imagery: an example from the June 2003 effusive activity at Stromboli

A safe, easy and rapid method to calculate lava effusion rates using hand-held thermal image data was developed during June 2003 at Stromboli Volcano (Italy). We used a Forward Looking Infrared Radiometer (FLIR) to obtain images of the active lava flow field on a daily basis between May 31 and June 16, 2003. During this time the flow field geometry and size (where flows typically a few hundred meters long were emplaced on a steep slope) meant that near-vertical images of the whole flow field could be captured in a single image obtained from a helicopter hovering, at an altitude of 750 m and ∼1 km off shore. We used these images to adapt a thermally based effusion rate method, previously applied to low and high spatial resolution satellite data, to allow automated extraction of effusion rates from the hand-held thermal infrared imagery. A comparison between a thermally-derived (0.23–0.87 m³ s⁻¹) and dimensionally-derived effusion rate (0.56 m³ s⁻¹) showed that the thermally-derived range was centered on the expected value. Over the measurement period, the mean effusion rate was 0.38±0.25 m³ s⁻¹, which is similar to that obtained during the 1985–86 effusive eruption and the time-averaged supply rate calculated for normal (non-effusive) Strombolian activity. A short effusive pulse, reaching a peak of ∼1.2 m³ s⁻¹, was recorded on June 3, 2003. One explanation of such a peak would be an increase in driving pressure due to an increase in the height of the magma contained in the central column. We estimate that this pulse would require the magma column to attain a height of ∼190 m above the effusive vent, which is approximately the elevation difference between the vent and the floor of the NE crater. Our approach gives an easy-to-apply method that has the potential to provide effusion rate time series with a high temporal resolution.Editorial responsibility: M. Carroll     

Characteristics of coda wave attenuation in Yunnan area

The characteristic of seismic coda wave attenuation in Yunnan area in 7 frequency-bands range from 1 Hz to 20 Hz was estimated by using the local earthquake's waveform data recorded from 22 Yunnan digital seismic stations.Coda attenuation Q-c1 of each station was firstly calculated by single scattering method. Then, mean free path Le and seismic albedo Bo of each station were calculated, and scattering attenuation Q-1s and intrinsic attenuation Q-1i were separated from total attenuation Q-1t by multiple lapse time window analysis based on the multiple scattering model in uniform random isotropic scattering medium. The attenuating characteristics in Yunnan show that most value of Le are in 10～30 km, with maximal within 2～6 Hz;Bo are about 0.5 at 1～2 Hz, but less than 0.5at other frequency-bands, which means Q-1i is comparable with Q-1s at 1～2 Hz, and after 1～2 Hz, Q-1i is greater than Q-1s and dominates the attenuation process. Q-1c is close to Q-1i at other frequency bands except 1～2 Hz.Results show that Q-1 especially Qs-1 varies spatially, Q-1 in eastern Yunnan zone is a bit higher than in northwestern Yunnan zone;northwestern Yunnan zone higher than southwestern Yunnan zone. Comparing with other results in global, Qs-1 in Yunnan is lower than the global average value among these results, Q-1i is higher than the global average value, and Q-1t lies the middle among these results.     

Upper mantle P wave velocity structure of the northern part of China and Mongolia

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Estimate of seasonal changes in the intensity of the infrared atmospheric system of molecular oxygen

On the basis of measurements of the intensity of 1.58-μm emissions of the Infrared Atmospheric System of molecular oxygen (IRAO₂) conducted at the Zvenigorod scientific station of the Institute of Atmospheric Physics of the Russian Academy of Sciences (φ = 55.7°N, λ = 36.8°E), seasonal variations are estimated for various solar zenith angles. Their amplitude has the maximum value at the solar zenith angles χ _S ∼ 105–110°. It decreases at χ _S ∼ 125–130° and tends to zero at χ _S ∼ 80–85°. The comparison of currently measured values of the 1.58-μm emission intensity of the Infrared Atmospheric System of molecular oxygen with published data on the intensity of this emission obtained in 1961–1966 reveals their decrease over approximately 50 years. This fact is in good agreement with similar behavior of the emission intensity of atomic oxygen (557.7 nm) over the period considered.     

Crustal Structure Along the Lawrencepur-Astor Profile in the Northwest Himalayas

During the Pamir Himalayan project in the year 1975 seismic refraction and wide-angle reflection data were recorded along a 270 km long Lawrencepur-Astor (Sango Sar) profile in the northwest Himalayas. The profile starts in the Indus plains and crosses the Main Central Thrust (MCT), the Hazara Syntaxis, the Main Mantle Thrust (MMT) and ends to the east of Nanga Parbat. The seismic data, as published by Guerra et al. (1983), are reinterpreted using the travel-time ray inversion method of Zelt and Smith (1992) and the results of inversion are constrained in terms of parameter resolution and uncertainty estimation. The present model shows that the High Himalayan Crystallines (HHC, velocity 5.4 km s⁻¹) overlie the Indian basement (velocity 5.8–6.0 km s⁻¹). The crust consists of four layers of velocity 5.8–6.0, 6.2, 6.4 and 6.8 km s⁻¹ followed by the upper mantle velocity of 8.2 km s⁻¹ at a depth of about 60 km.     

Cooling rates in the shock veins of chondrites: constraints on the (Mg, Fe)2SiO4 polymorph transformations

The occurrence of γ-phase, a high-pressure polymorph of olivine (α-phase), in the shock veins of Sixiangkou chondrite was due to a greater cooling rate (> 10 000°C·s^-1) in the veins. Because γ-phase partially reverted to β-phase and no back-transformation from β-phase to α-phase took place, the shock veins of Peace River chondrite with a cooling rate of 1 000–2 000δC·s^-1 contain a great amount of β-phase. In the shock veins of Mbale chondrite with a cooling rate of <500°C·s^-1, the majority of γ-phase reverted to α-phase. The heat dissipation in shock veins took place after a stage of shock compression of chondrite parent body, and the parent body was broken into fragmental pieces. Cooling rate in the shock veins constrained the back-transformations of (Mg, Fe)₂SiO₄ high-pressure polymorphs. Project of Chen and Xie supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 496720981, Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province (Grant No. 960500), and the Science Foundation of Academia Sinica for the returned scholars.     

Review of the source characteristics of the Great Sumatra–Andaman Islands earthquake of 2004

The December 26, 2004 Sumatra–Andaman Island earthquake, which ruptured the Sunda Trench subduction zone, is one of the three largest earthquakes to occur since global monitoring began in the 1890s. Its seismic moment was M ₀ = 1.00 × 10²³–1.15 × 10²³ Nm, corresponding to a moment-magnitude of M _w = 9.3. The rupture propagated from south to north, with the southerly part of fault rupturing at a speed of 2.8 km/s. Rupture propagation appears to have slowed in the northern section, possibly to ∼2.1 km/s, although published estimates have considerable scatter. The average slip is ∼5 m along a shallowly dipping (8°), N31°W striking thrust fault. The majority of slip and moment release appears to have been concentrated in the southern part of the rupture zone, where slip locally exceeded 30 m. Stress loading from this earthquake caused the section of the plate boundary immediately to the south to rupture in a second, somewhat smaller earthquake. This second earthquake occurred on March 28, 2005 and had a moment-magnitude of M _w = 8.5.     

Construction dynamics of a lava channel

We use a kinematic GPS and laser range finder survey of a 200 m-long section of the Muliwai a Pele lava channel (Mauna Ulu, Kilauea) to examine the construction processes and flow dynamics responsible for the channel–levee structure. The levees comprise three packages. The basal package comprises an 80–150 m wide ′a′a flow in which a ∼2 m deep and ∼11 m wide channel became centred. This is capped by a second package of thin (<45 cm thick) sheets of pahoehoe extending no more than 50 m from the channel. The upper-most package comprises localised ′a′a overflows. The channel itself contains two blockages located 130 m apart and composed of levee chunks veneered with overflow lava. The channel was emplaced over 50 h, spanning 30 May–2 June, 1974, with the flow front arriving at our section (4.4 km from the vent) 8 h after the eruption began. The basal ′a′a flow thickness yields effusion rates of 35 m³ s⁻¹ for the opening phase, with the initial flow advancing across the mapped section at ∼10 m/min. Short-lived overflows of fluid pahoehoe then built the levee cap, increasing the apparent channel depth to 4.8 m. There were at least six pulses at 90–420 m³ s⁻¹, causing overflow of limited extent lasting no more than 5 min. Brim-full flow conditions were thus extremely short-lived. During a dominant period of below-bank flow, flow depth was ∼2 m with an effusion rate of ∼35 m³ s⁻¹, consistent with the mean output rate (obtained from the total flow bulk volume) of 23–54 m³ s⁻¹. During pulses, levee chunks were plucked and floated down channel to form blockages. In a final low effusion rate phase, lava ponded behind the lower blockage to form a syn-channel pond that fed ′a′a overflow. After the end of the eruption the roofed-over pond continued to drain through the lower blockage, causing the roof to founder. Drainage emplaced inflated flows on the channel floor below the lower blockage for a further ∼10 h. The complex processes involved in levee–channel construction of this short-lived case show that care must be taken when using channel dimensions to infer flow dynamics. In our case, the full channel depth is not exposed. Instead the channel floor morphology reflects late stage pond filling and drainage rather than true channel-contained flow. Components of the compound levee relate to different flow regimes operating at different times during the eruption and associated with different effusion rates, flow dynamics and time scales. For example, although high effusion rate, brim-full flow was maintained for a small fraction of the channel lifetime, it emplaced a pile of pahoehoe overflow units that account for 60% of the total levee height. We show how time-varying volume flux is an important parameter in controlling channel construction dynamics. Because the complex history of lava delivery to a channel system is recorded by the final channel morphology, time-varying flow dynamics can be determined from the channel morphology. Developing methods for quantifying detailed flux histories for effusive events from the evidence in outcrop is therefore highly valuable. We here achieve this by using high-resolution spatial data for a channel system at Kilauea. This study not only indicates those physical and dynamic characteristics that are typical for basaltic lava flows on Hawaiian volcanoes, but also a methodology that can be widely applied to effusive basaltic eruptions.     

Molecular biomarker record of paleooceanographic environment in the East China Sea during the last 35000 years

By reference of the δ¹⁸O and δ¹³C isotopic compositions of G.sacculifer and accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS)¹⁴C dates, the U _K ³⁷ , ∑C _– ²¹ /∑C _+- ²² and Pr/Pn in core DGKS9603 have been used to characterize the changes of paleooceanographic environment occurring in the East China Sea (ECS) during the last 35000 years. The stratigraphic records of these proxies have shown that during the last 35 ka the Okinawa Trough has gone through 7 stronger cold-climate events (C₁–C₇) and 9 terrigenous matter-decreasing events (e₂–e₉), of which, the C₁ corresponds to the cold episode occurring in the middle late Holocene, C₂–C₄ and C₇ correspond to the H₁–H₄ events, respectively. e₁ and e₃–e₈ correspond to the decrease of sea surface temperature (SST), respectively. The terrigenous inputs increased when Heinrich events occurred. Climate colding resulted in the decrease of terrigenous matter transported by rivers, and the increase of that transported by winter monsoon. Heinrich events are closely related to East Asia monsoon. During the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM, 15.5–25.8 Cal ka BP), reduction environment fluctuated strongly, bringing forth three stronger reduction events (R₁–R₃) and one weaker reduction event (O), of which, R₁–R₃ correspond to the decrease of SST and increase of terrigenous nutrient and O corresponds to the decrease of terrigenous nutrient. The fluctuation of reduction condition must be related to the change of sea surface productivity.     

Investigation of the amplitude features of high-latitude magnetic impulse events

The features of the amplitude distributions of magnetic impulse events have been investigated using the observations from a number of high-latitude observatories in the Northern and Southern hemispheres. It has been shown that the tails of the statistical distribution functions of the impulse amplitudes are approximated by a power law of the form f(A) = A ^−α, where A is the impulse amplitude and α is the exponent. Therefore, the magnetic-impulse generation regime corresponds to the features of the on-off intermittency model. The distribution of the magnetic impulse amplitudes has been analyzed for various geomagnetic latitudes, local times, seasons, solar activity cycle phases, and interplanetary conditions. It has been found that most statistical distributions of magnetic impulse amplitudes have the exponent α larger than 2, which is typical of the chaotic regimes called “strong turbulence.” In some cases, the exponent α is close to 1, which is typical of the regimes generated in a weakly turbulent medium. Qualitative estimates of the plasma wave turbulence level in the high-latitude magnetosphere have been obtained.     

Response of dayside auroras to abrupt increases in the solar wind dynamic pressure at positive and negative polarity of the IMF <Emphasis Type="Italic">B</Emphasis><Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">z</Emphasis></Subscript> component

The optical observations on Heiss Island (Φ′ = 75.0°) have been used to study the characteristics of auroras in the near-noon MLT sector after abrupt increases in the solar wind dynamic pressure at negative and positive polarity of the IMF B _z component. It has been found out that the 427.8 and 557.7 nm emission intensities considerably increased at B _z < 0 both equatorward of the dayside red luminosity band and within this band. The value of the emission intensities at a red luminosity maximum (I ₆₃₀₀/I ₅₅₇₇ ∼ 0.5) indicates that energetic electron precipitation is of the magnetospheric origin. At B _z > 0, fluxes of harder (E > 1 keV) precipitating electrons were superimposed on the soft spectrum of precipitating particles in the equatorial part of the red luminosity band. This red band part was hypothetically caused by the low-latitude boundary layer (LLBL) on closed lines of the geomagnetic field, the estimated thickness of which is ∼3 R _e . The 557.7 nm emission intensity increased during 3–5 min after SC/SI and was accompanied by the displacement of the red band equatorward boundary toward lower latitudes. The displacement value was ∼150–200 km when the dynamic pressure abruptly increased by a factor of 3–5. After SC/SI, the 630.0 nm emission intensity continued increasing during 16–18 min. It is assumed that the time of an increase in the red line intensity corresponds to the time of saturation of the magnetospheric boundary layers with magnetosheath particles after an abrupt increase in their density.     

A universal field equation for dispersive processes in heterogeneous media

When formulated properly, most geophysical transport-type process involving passive scalars or motile particles may be described by the same space–time nonlocal field equation which consists of a classical mass balance coupled with a space–time nonlocal convective/dispersive flux. Specific examples employed here include stretched and compressed Brownian motion, diffusion in slit-nanopores, subdiffusive continuous-time random walks (CTRW), super diffusion in the turbulent atmosphere and dispersion of motile and passive particles in fractal porous media. Stretched and compressed Brownian motion, which may be thought of as Brownian motions run with nonlinear clocks, are defined as the limit processes of a special class of random walks possessing nonstationary increments. The limit process has a mean square displacement that increases as t^α+1 where α > −1 is a constant. If α = 0 the process is classical Brownian, if α < 0 we say the process is compressed Brownian while if α > 0 it is stretched. The Fokker–Planck equations for these processes are classical ade’s with dispersion coefficient proportional to t^α. The Brownian-type walks have fixed time step, but nonstationary spatial increments that are Gaussian with power law variance. With the CTRW, both the time increment and the spatial increment are random. The subdiffusive Fokker–Planck equation is fractional in time for the CTRW’s considered in this article. The second moments for a Levy spatial trajectory are infinite while the Fokker–Planck equation is an advective–dispersive equation, ade, with constant diffusion coefficient and fractional spatial derivatives. If the Lagrangian velocity is assumed Levy rather than the position, then a similar Fokker–Planck equation is obtained, but the diffusion coefficient is a power law in time. All these Fokker–Planck equations are special cases of the general non-local balance law.     

Intrinsic and Scattering Seismic Attenuation in Southwestern Anatolia

The intrinsic dissipation and scattering attenuation in southwestern (SW) Anatolia, which is a tectonically active region, is studied using the coda waves. First the coda quality factor (Q_c) assuming single scattering is estimated from the slope of the coda-wave amplitude decay. Then the Multiple Lapse Time Window (MLTW) analysis is performed with a uniform earth model. Three non-overlapping temporal data windows are used to calculate the scattered seismic energy densities against the source-receiver distances, which, in turn, are used to calculate separate estimates of the intrinsic and scattering factors. In order to explore the frequency dependency, the observed seismograms are band pass-filtered at the center frequencies of 0.75, 1.5, 3.0, 6.0 and 12.0. The scattering attenuation (Q_s⁻¹) is found lower than the intrinsic attenuation (Q_i⁻¹) at all frequencies except at 0.75 Hz where the opposite is observed. Overall the intrinsic attenuation dominates over the scattering attenuation in the SW Anatolia region. The integrated energy curves obtained for the first energy window (i.e., 0–15 s) are somewhat irregular with distance while the second (i.e., 15–30 s) and third (i.e., 30–45 s) data windows exhibit more regular change with distance at most frequencies. The seismic albedo B₀ is determined as 0.61 at 0.75 Hz and 0.34 at 12.0 Hz while the total attenuation factor denoted by L_e⁻¹ changes in the range 0.034–0.017. For the source-station range 20–180 km considered the scattering attenuation is found strongly frequency dependent given by the power law Q_s⁻¹ = 0.010*f^−1.508. The same relations for Q_i⁻¹, Q_t⁻¹ (total), Q_c⁻¹ and (expected) hold as Q_i⁻¹ = 0.0090*f^−1.17, Q_t⁻¹ = 0.019*f^−1.31, Q_c⁻¹ = 0.008*f^−0.84 and respectively. Compared to the other attenuation factors Q_c⁻¹ and are less dependent on the frequency.     

The preliminary interpretation of deep seismic sounding in western Yunnan

The preliminary interpretation of Project western Yunnan 86–87 is presented here. It shows that there obviously exists lateral velocity heterogeneity from south to north in western Yunnan. The depth of Moho increases from 38 km in the southern end of the profile to 58 km in its northern end. The mean crustal velocity is low in the south, and high in the north, about 6.17–6.45 km/s. The consolidated crust is a 3-layer structure respectively, the upper, middle and lower layer. P ₁ ⁰ is a weak interface the upper crust, P ₂ ⁰ and P ₃ ⁰ are the interfaces of middle-upper crust and middle-lower crust respectively. Another weak interface P ₃ ^0′ can be locally traced in the interior of the lower crust. Interface Pg is 0–6 km deep, interface P ₁ ⁰ 9.2–16.5 km deep, and interfaces P ₂ ⁰ and P ₃ ⁰ respectively 17.0–26.5 km, 25.0–38.0 km deep. The velocity of the upper crust gradually increases from the south to the north, and reaches its maxmium between Nangaozhai and Zhiti, where the velocity of basement plane reaches 6.25–6.35 km/s, then it becomes small northward. The velocity of the middle crust varies little, the middle crust is a low velocity layer with the velocity of 6.30 km/s from Jinhe-Erhai fault to the north. The lower crust is a strong gradient layer. There exists respectively a low velocity layer in the upper mantle between Jinggu and Jingyunqiao, and between Wuliangshan and Lancangjiang fault, the velocity of Pn is only 7.70–7.80 km/s, it is also low to the north of Honghe fault, about 7.80 km/s. Interface P_6/0 can be traced on the top of the upper mantle, its depth is 65 km in the southern end of the profile, and 85 km in the northern end. The Chinese version of this paper appeared in the Chinese edition ofActa Seismologica Sinica,15, 427–440, 1993.     

Sulphur emissions to the stratosphere from explosive volcanic eruptions

 Two methods were used to quantify the flux of volcanic sulphur (as the equivalent mass of SO₂) to the stratosphere over different timescales during the Holocene. A combination of satellite-based measurements of sulphur yields from recent explosive volcanic eruptions with an appropriate rate of explosive volcanism for the past 200 years constrains the medium-term (∼10²years) flux of volcanic sulphur to the stratosphere to be ∼1 Mt a^–1, with lower and upper bounds of 0.3 and 3 Mt a^–1. The short-term (∼10- to 20-year) flux due to small magnitude (10¹⁰–10¹²kg) eruptions is of the order of 0.4 Mt a^–1. At any time the instantaneous levels of sulphur in the stratosphere are dominated by the most recent (0–3 years) volcanic events. The flux calculations do not attempt to address this very short timescale variability. Although there are significant errors associated with the raw sulphur emission data on which this analysis is based, the approach presented is general and may be readily modified as the quantity and quality of the data improve. Data from a Greenland ice core support these conclusions. Integration of the sulphate signals from presumed volcanic sources recorded in the GISP2 core provides a minimum estimate of the 10³–year volcanic SO₂ flux to the stratosphere of 0.5–1 Mt a^–1 over the past 9000 years. The short-term flux calculations do not account for the impact of rare, large events. The ice-core record does not fully account for the contribution from small, frequent events. Received: 27 September 1995 / Accepted: 13 December 1995