Quantitative description of the geomagnetic field during the Matuyama-Brunhes polarity transition

A model of the reversing geodynamo based on the assumptions (1) that reversals start in a localized region of the core and (2) that upon its onset this reversed region extends, or “floods”, both north-south and east-west until the entire core is affected, has recently been shown to provide a generally successful simulation of existing paleomagnetic records of the Matuyama-Brunhes transition (Hoffman, 1979). In this paper the modelled solution is analyzed so as to reveal the behavior of the dominant Gauss coefficients during the transition. At the time of total axial dipole decay the controlling components are found to be a zonal octupole (g₃⁰) and a non-axisymmetric quadrupole (g₂¹, h₂¹). Given the distribution of sites corresponding to the available records of the Matuyama-Brunhes, the existence of a significant zonal quadrupole field component cannot be ruled out; however, the role of any equatorial dipole component can be neglected.Due to the presence of a significant low-order non-axisymmetric term in the analyzed transition field, the predicted minimum intensity experienced during the Matuyama-Brunhes is found to be dependent on both site latitude and longitude. In particular, over a mid-northern circle of latitude, the predicted minimum intensity is found to vary by more than a factor of three, averaging about 10% of the full polarity field strength.Although not a unique solution, the applicability of the findings from this analysis is not tied to the phenomenological model from which they were derived. More specifically, whether the above two-component non-dipole transitional field arises from assumed configurational changes of the reversing geodynamo (as is the case for the flooding model) or, alternatively, is considered to be a stationary (non-reversing) portion of the field during axial dipole decay and regeneration, has little effect on either the calculated path locality of the virtual geomagnetic pole or the minimum intensity experienced at a given site. These two possible situations, in principle, should be distinguishable given the future attainment of detailed paleomagnetic data corresponding to back-to-back (R → N and N → R) polarity transitions.     

Amplitude-dependent effects of longitudinal seismic wave propagation in the interhole space

Field investigations of the amplitude dependence of the P wave velocity in dry and water-saturated rocks are carried out in the space between two shallow boreholes. The seismic wave velocity nonlinearly varies with the strain amplitude in the range ～(4–50) × 10^?8. The pattern of the velocity variation with amplitude depends on the pulse propagation direction. In dry and partially water-saturated rocks, the wave velocity decreases by 1.5% with the amplitude increasing within the range mentioned above and increases by 0.4% in completely water-saturated rocks (with an accuracy of up to 0.1%). Amplitude variations within a closed cycle (A _min … → A _max … → A _min) lead to hysteresis in the V _p (A _min-max-min) dependence (i.e., the ascending and descending branches of the curve do not coincide). If the hysteretic loop is not closed, the residual velocity component ΔV _p (A) is present. This effect is observed in dry and weakly saturated rocks. In a completely saturated rock, hysteresis of the velocity dependence is absent; the ascending and descending amplitude branches coincide. It is suggested that the amplitude characteristics and their hysteresis can be used in the future as an additional criterion for the differentiation of rocks by their fluid saturation.     

Strontium and neodymium isotopes in hot springs on the East Pacific Rise and Guaymas Basin

We have determined the concentrations and isotopic compositions of Sr and Nd in hydrothermal fluids from 21°N, East Pacific Rise and Guaymas Basin, Gulf of California. The purest solutions analyzed from 21°N exhibit a small range in Sr concentration between individual vents from 5.8 to 8.7 ppm, close to normal seawater Sr concentrations. They exhibit a small range in⁸⁷Sr⁸⁶Sr fromε_Sr(0) = −13.4 to −17.7, corresponding toε_Sr(0) ≈ −18 ± 2 in the pure hydrothermal end-member. These results indicate extensive but not complete isotopic exchange with Sr in the depleted oceanic crust (ε_Sr(0) = −31.8) and suggest that Sr concentrations in these solutions are buffered. In contrast, the concentration and isotopic composition of Nd in solutions show large variations between vents. The concentration of Nd ranges from 20 to 336 pg/g (6–100 times seawater Nd concentrations). The isotopic composition ranges fromε_Nd(0) = −3.6 (similar to Pacific seawater) to +7.9. Many samples show substantial contributions from MORB, but all haveε_Nd(0) well below MORB at this locality (ε_Nd(0) = +9.7) in spite of very large enrichments in Nd concentrations. While complete isotopic exchange withwater/rock≈ 2 or exchange with anomalous oceanic crust can explain the Sr data, the Nd data require exchange with a reservoir havingε_Nd(0) < Pacific seawater. Low-temperature reactions with metalliferous sediments on the ridge flanks may provide such a source. Both Sr and Nd in the Guaymas Basin solution are very different from21°N. ε_Sr(0) = +11.0 andε_Nd(0) = −11.4 and are consistent with the fluid exchanging Sr and Nd with heated sediments having a substantial component of old continental detritus. Some irregularities in the Nd isotopic data reported here indicate that there must be a problem of contamination for some ultra-low-level trace elements during sample collection and processing which requires further attention.Using a simple box model, the estimates for hydrothermal Nd fluxes are compared with fluxes which would be required to maintain the relatively radiogenic value ofε_Nd(0) ≈ −3 in the Pacific against the influx of more negative Antarctic waters (ε_Nd(0) ≈ −9). It is shown that the hydrothermal flux of Nd from mid-ocean ridges falls far short of that necessary to maintain the isotopic balance. This indicates that weathered material from volcanic terranes (ε_Nd(0) ≈ +7) is the most reasonable major source of radiogenic Nd in the Pacific.     

Carbon monoxide on the primitive earth

The reaction of CO + OH^? in aqueous solution to give formate was studied as a carbon monoxide sink on the primitive earth and in the present ocean. The reaction is first order in OH^? and first order in the molar CO concentration. The second order rate constant is given by log k(M^?1hr^?1) = 15.83?4886/T between 25°C and 60°C. Using the solubility of CO in sea water, and assuming a pH of 8 for a primitive ocean of the present size, the halflife of CO in the atmosphere is calculated to be 12 × 10⁶ yr at 0°C and 5.5 × 10⁴ yr at 25°C.Three other CO sinks would have been important in the primitive atmosphere: CO + H₂ → H₂CO driven by various energy sources, CO + OH → CO₂ + H, and the Fischer-Tropsch reaction of CO + H₂ → hydrocarbons, etc. It is concluded that the lifetime of a CO atmosphere would have been very short on the geological time scale although the relative importance of these four CO sinks is difficult to estimate.The CO + OH^? reaction to give formate is a very minor CO sink on the earth at the present time.     

Some Atmospheric Surface Layer Characteristics over Varanasi from MONTBLEX-90

—An attempt has been made to study the atmospheric surface layer characteristics such as Richardson number (Ri). Monin-Obukhov length scale (L), friction velocity (U _* ?), friction temperature (θ _*?), roughness length (Z ₀?), turbulent kinetic energy (TKE), ratio of eddy conductivity to eddy diffusivity (K _m ?/K _h ?) over a semi-moist convective regime. Data which were collected at Varanasi (25°18′N, 83°E) as part of the experiment known as MONTBLEX-90 (Monsoon Trough Boundary Layer Experiment) during the summer monsoon season was used in the present study. The variation of the above parameters with stability has been discussed. The differences within the surface layer are also pointed out. Some broad features are found to coincide with that of Businger et al. (1971). The heterogeneity and the anisotropic turbulence typical of monsoon tropical atmosphere are shown to be responsible for the deviations noticed within the surface layer.     

Attenuation of Coda Waves in the Saurashtra Region, Gujarat (India)

The attenuation characteristics based on coda waves of two areas—Jamnagar and Junagarh of Saurashtra, Gujarat (India)—have been investigated in the present study. The frequency dependent relationships have been developed for both the areas using single back scattering model. The broadband waveforms of the vertical components of 33 earthquakes (Mw 1.5–3.5) recorded at six stations of the Jamnagar area, and broadband waveforms of 68 earthquakes (Mw 1.6–5) recorded at five stations of the Junagarh area have been used for the analysis. The estimated relations for the Junagarh area are: Q _c?=?(158?±?5)f^(0.99±0.04) (lapse time : 20?s), Q _c?=?(170?±?4.4)f^(0.97±0.02) (lapse time : 30?s) and Q _c?=?(229?±?6.6)f^(0.94±0.03) (lapse time : 40?s) and for the Jamnagar area are: Q _c?=?(178?±?3)f^(0.95±0.05) (lapse time : 20?s), Q _c?=?(224?±?6)f^(0.98±0.06) (lapse time : 30?s) and Q _c?=?(282?±?7)f^(0.91±0.03) (lapse time : 40?s). These are the first estimates for the areas under consideration. The Junagarh area appears to be more attenuative as compared to the Jamnagar area. The increase in Q _c values with lapse time found here for both the areas show the depth dependence of Q _c as longer lapse time windows will sample larger area. The rate of decay of attenuation (Q ^?1) with frequency for the relations obtained here is found to be comparable with those of other regions of the world though the absolute values differ. A comparison of the coda-Q estimated for the Saurashtra region with those of the nearby Kachchh region shows that the Saurashtra region is less heterogeneous. The obtained relations are expected to be useful for the estimation of source parameters of the earthquakes in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat where no such relations were available earlier. These relations are also important for the simulation of earthquake strong ground motions in the region.     

Height profiles of the amplitudes of large-scale traveling ionospheric disturbances

Nighttime height profiles of the amplitudes of large-scale traveling ionospheric disturbances (LSTIDs) obtained from the data of vertical sounding in Almaty (76°55′ E, 43°15′ N) for the period 2000–2007 are analyzed. The height profiles are plotted using the time variations in electron density N _h (t) at a series of heights for the F region in the ionosphere with a height step of 10 km. In total, observations were conducted during 1166 nights, among which 581 nights are characterized by wave activity. Nights with the maximum amplitude of variations in N _h (t) exceeding 25% are selected for analysis. The total number of such nights is 63; LSTIDs have been recorded in both magnetically quiet and active periods. The regressive ratios between the height of the F-region maximum and the height that corresponds to the maximum absolute amplitude of a wave, as well as between the values of the maximum amplitude at a height profile and the value of the amplitude of variations in N _m F(t) at the layer maximum, are obtained.     

Magnetic instability in a rapidly rotating cylindrical annulus with a finitely conducting inner core

Abstract

We consider the stability of a toroidal magnetic field B = B(s*) (where (s*,φ,z*) are cylindrical polar coordinates) in a cylindrical annulus of conducting fluid with inner and outer radii s_i and s _o rotating rapidly about its axis. The outer boundary is taken to be either insulating or perfectly conducting, and the effect of a finite magnetic diffusivity in the inner core is investigated. The ratio of magnetic diffusivity in the inner core to that of the outer core is denoted by ηη→0 corresponding to a perfectly conducting inner core and η→∞ to an insulating one. Comparisons with the results of Fearn (1983b, 1988) were made and a good match found in the limits η→0 and η→∞ with his perfectly conducting and insulating results, respectively. In addition a new mode of instability was found in the eta;→0 regime. Features of this new mode are low frequency (both the frequency and growth rate →0 as η→0) and penetration deep into the inner core. Typically it is unstable at lower magnetic field strengths than the previously known instabilities.     

Echinoderms from Azores islands: An unexpected source of antibiotic resistant Enterococcus spp. and Escherichia coli isolates

The prevalence of antibiotic resistance and the implicated mechanisms of resistance were evaluated in Enterococcus spp. and Escherichia coli, isolated from a total of 250 faecal samples of echinoderms collected from Azorean waters (Portugal). A total of 144 enterococci (120 Enterococcus faecium, 14 E. hirae, 8 E. faecalis, 2 E. gallinarum) and 10 E. coli were recovered. High percentages of resistance in enterococci were found for erythromycin, ampicillin, tetracyclin and ciprofloxacin. The erm(A) or erm(B), tet(M) and/or tet(L), vat(D), aac(6′)-aph(2″) and aph(3′)-IIIa genes were found in isolates resistant to erythromycin, tetracycline, quinupristin/dalfopristin, high-level gentamicin and high-level kanamycin, respectively. Resistance in E. coli isolates was detected for streptomycin, amikacin, tetracycline and tobramycin. The aadA gene was found in streptomycin-resistant isolates and tet(A) + tet(B) genes in tetracycline-resistant isolates. The data recovered are essential to improve knowledge about the dissemination of resistant strains through marine ecosystems and the possible implications involved in transferring these resistances either to other animals or to humans.     

A Least-squares Minimization Approach to Depth Determination from Magnetic Data

—We have developed a least-squares minimization approach to depth determination from magnetic data. By defining the anomaly value T(0) at the origin and the anomaly value T(N) at any other distance (N) on the profile, the problem of depth determination from magnetic data has been transformed into finding a solution to a nonlinear equation of the form f(z)=0. Formulas have been derived for a sphere, horizontal cylinder, dike, and for a geologic contact. Procedures are also formulated to estimate the effective magnetization intensity and the effective magnetization inclination. A scheme for analyzing the magnetic data has been formulated for determining the model parameters of the causative sources. The method is applied to synthetic data with and without random errors. Finally, the method is applied to two field examples from Canada and Arizona. In all cases examined, the estimated depths are found to be in goodagreement with actual values.     

Singlet oxygen O2(b1Σ g + ) production at altitudes of the polar ionosphere

The relative rate constants of O₂(b¹Σ _g ⁺ , v= 1–4) production at an inelastic interaction between electronically excited N(²D) atoms and O₂(X³Σ _g ^? , v = 0) oxygen molecules have been calculated. It was shown that an increase in equilibrium distances between oxygen atoms in NO₂ quasi-molecule, produced during the interaction, substantially increases the calculated relative production rates of O₂(b¹Σ _g ⁺ , v > 1). The obtained coefficients are used to calculate the O₂(b¹Σ _g ⁺ , v= 1–4) relative populations at 110 km (T = 250 K) and 150 km (T = 500 K) altitudes of the polar ionosphere. The calculated populations have been compared with the results of the published measurements of the Atmospheric system band luminosity intensities, and satisfactory agreement has been obtained for low altitudes.     

A regional surface wave magnitude scale for the earthquakes of Russia’s Far East

The modified scale M _s(20R) is developed for the magnitude classification of the earthquakes of Russia’s Far East based on the surface wave amplitudes at regional distances. It extends the applicability of the classical Gutenberg scale M _s(20) towards small epicentral distances (0.7°–20°). The magnitude is determined from the amplitude of the signal that is preliminarily bandpassed to extract the components with periods close to 20 s. The amplitude is measured either for the surface waves or, at fairly short distances of 0.7°–3°, for the inseparable wave group of the surface and shear waves. The main difference of the M _s(20R) scale with the traditional M _s(BB) Soloviev–Vanek scale is its firm spectral anchoring. This approach practically eliminated the problem of the significant (up to–0.5) regional and station anomalies characteristic of the M _s(BB) scale in the conditions of the Far East. The absence of significant station and regional anomalies, as well as the strict spectral anchoring, make the M _s(20R) scale advantageous when used for prompt decision making in tsunami warnings for the coasts of Russia’s Far East.     

Monsoon activity and coupling between low-latitude and high-latitude stratospheric activities

From a Fourier analysis of the monthly mean values of the northern hemispheric geopotential heights at 30 and 50 mb levels, for the period 1972–1979, the transports of momentum and of sensible heat, and the energy conversion terms,C(K _E ,K _Z ) andC(A _Z ,A _E ), have been computed along 30°N and 60°N latitutudes. The variation in these dynamical parameters at 60°N, in relation to monsoon activity in low latitudes and the easterly and westerly phases of the QBO over Gan Island, suggest that a coupling may exist between the high-latitude stratospheric changes and low-latitude monsoon activity and that the low-latitude stratospheric activity modulates high-latitude circulation, confirming the results obtained byHolton andTan (1980) and byLabitzke (1983). The study of the low-latitude stratospheric changes in relation to the high-latitude warmings also indicates a linkage between the low- and high-latitude features     

Trace element and isotopic effects of combined wallrock assimilation and fractional crystallization

Equations describing trace element and isotopic evolution in a magma chamber affected simultaneously by fractional crystallization and wallrock assimilation are presented for a model where the mass assimilation rate(?_a) is an arbitrary fraction(r) of the fractional crystallization rate(?_c). The equations also apply to recharge of a crystallizing magma. Relatively simple analytical expressions are obtained for both radiogenic isotope variations (Nd, Sr, Pb) and stable isotopes (O, H) including the effects of mass-dependent fractionation. Forr = 1 a modified zone refining equation is obtained for trace element concentrations, but forr < 1 behavior is a combination of zone refining and fractional crystallization. Asr → ∞, simple binary mixing is approached. The isotopic and trace element “mixing” trends generated can be much different from binary mixing, especially forr < 1. The model provides the basis for a more general approach to the problem of wallrock assimilation, and shows that binary mixing models are insufficient to rule out crustal assimilation as a cause of some of the isotopic variations observed in igneous rocks, including cases where clustering of isotopic values occurs partway between presumed endmember values. The coupled assimilation-fractional crystallization model provides an explanation for certain trace element and isotopic properties of continental margin orogenic magmas (e.g. Sr concentration versus⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr) which had previously been interpreted as evidence against assimilation. So-called “pseudoisochrons” can be understood as artifacts of contamination using this model. A significant correlation exists between country rock age and low¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd ratios in continental igneous rocks, clearly suggestive that crustal contamination is generally important.     

High-pressure X-ray diffraction studies on β- and γ-Mg2SiO4

Pressure effects on the lattice parameters of β- and γ-Mg₂SiO₄ have been measured at room temperature and at pressures up to 100 kbar using a multi-anvil high-pressure X-ray diffraction apparatus. The volume changes (ΔV/V₀) at 90 kbar are 5.4 · 10^?2 and 4.2 · 10^?2 for β- and γ-Mg₂SiO₄, respectively. Isothermal bulk moduli at zero pressure have been calculated from least-square fits of the data to straight lines. They turn out to be 1.66 ± 0.4 and 2.13 ± 0.1 Mbar for β- and γ-Mg₂SiO₄, respectively. The α → γ transition obeys Wang's linear V_φ?ρ relation but the α → β transition does not.     

Oxygen and hydrogen isotope studies of serpentinization in the Troodos ophiolite complex,Cyprus

Oxygen and hydrogen isotopic compositions were measured on 12 serpentine and 2 actinolite samples from the Troodos ophiolite complex, Cyprus. The single analyzed antigorite(δD= ?60, δ¹⁸O= 7.1) is isotopically similar to all previously analyzed antigorites from ultramafic bodies. However, although their D/H ratios are relatively “normal”(δD= ?70to?92), the δ¹⁸O values of most of the Troodos lizardite-chrysotile serpentines (+12.6 to +14.1) are much higher than the 2.0–9.3‰ range typically found in such serpentines. Such high δ¹⁸O values have previously been found only in the serpentine-like mineraloids termed “deweylites”, which apparently formed at Earth-surface temperatures, and in a single sample from Vourinos, Greece that is in contact with high-¹⁸O limestone. The Troodos lizardite-chrysotile samplescannot have formed by reaction with heated ocean waters, but instead must have formed in contact with large amounts of some type of meteoric, metamorphic, or formation water, either (1) at very low temperatures in a near-surface environment, or (2) at about 100°C from waters that were abnormally enriched in¹⁸O(δ¹⁸O ≈ +4 to +8). The latter possibility seems most plausible inasmuch as extensive evaporites were deposited throughout the Mediterranean Sea during the late Miocene, and this would have been accompanied by strong¹⁸O enrichments of the local meteoric waters. Heated ocean waters, however, probably were responsible for the formation of the actinolitic amphiboles(δ¹⁸O= 4.6 to 5.5; δD= ?51to?46) from the gabbro and ultramafic zones in the Troodos complex. The amphiboles must have formed at considerably higher temperatures and at an earlier stage than the lizardite-chrysotile serpentinization.     

Determination of Q β(f) in Different Parts of Kumaon Himalaya from the Inversion of Spectral Acceleration Data

This paper presents the results of a modified two-step inversion algorithm approach to find S wave quality factor Q _β(f) given by Joshi (Bull Seis Soc Am 96:2165–2180, 2006). Seismic moment is calculated from the source displacement spectra of the S wave using both horizontal components. Average value of seismic moment computed from two horizontal components recorded at several stations is used as an input to the first part of inversion together with the spectra of S phase in the acceleration record. Several values of the corner frequency have been selected iteratively and are used as inputs to the inversion algorithm. Solution corresponding to minimum root mean square error (RMSE) is used for obtaining the final estimate of Q _β(f) relation. The estimates of seismic moment, corner frequency and Q _β(f) from the first part of inversion are further used for obtaining the residual of theoretical and observed source spectra which are treated as site amplification terms. The acceleration record corrected for the site amplification term is used for determination of seismic moment from source spectra by using Q _β(f) obtained from first part of inversion. Corrected acceleration record and new estimate of seismic moment are used as inputs to the second part of the inversion scheme which is similar to the first part except for use of input data. The final outcome from this part of inversion is a new Q _β(f) relation together with known values of seismic moment and corner frequency of each input. The process of two-step inversion is repeated for this new estimate of seismic moment and goes on until minimum RMSE is obtained which gives final estimate of Q _β(f) at each station and corner frequency of input events. The Pithoragarh district in the state of Uttarakhand in India lies in the border region of India and Nepal and is part of the seismically active Kumaon Himalaya zone. A network of eight strong motion recorders has been installed in this region since March, 2006. In this study we have analyzed data from 18 local events recorded between March, 2006 and October, 2010 at various stations. These events have been located using HYPO71 and data has been used to obtain frequency-dependent shear-wave attenuation. The Q _β(f) at each station is calculated by using both the north-south (NS) and east-west (EW) components of acceleration records as inputs to the developed inversion algorithm. The average Q _β(f) values obtained from Q _β(f) values at different stations from both NS and EW components have been used to compute a regional average relationship for the Pithoragarh region of Kumaon Himalaya of form Q _β(f)?=?(29?±?1.2)f ^{(1.1 ± 0.06)}.     

On the topographic coupling at the core-mantle interface

The mean tangential stresses at a corrugated interface between a solid, electrically insulating mantle and a liquid core of magnetic diffusivity λ are calculated for uniform rotation of both mantle and core at an angular velocity Ω in the presence of a corotating magnetic field B. The core and mantle are assumed to extend indefinitely in the horizontal plane. The interface has the form z = η(x, y), where z is the upward vertical distance and x, y are the zonal and latitudinal distances respectively. The function η(x, y) has a planetary horizontal length scale (i.e. of the order of the radius of the Earth) and small amplitude and vertical gradient. The liquid core flows with uniform mean zonal velocity U₀ relative to the mantle. Ω and B possess vertical and horizontal components.The vertical (poloidal) component B_p is uniform and has a value of 5 G while the horizontal (toroidal) field B_T = B_pαz, where α is a constant. When |α| ? 1, the mean horizontal stresses are found to have the same order of magnitude (10^?2 N m^?2) as those inferred from variations in the decade fluctuations in the length of the day, although the exact numerical values depend on the orientation of Ω as well as on the wavenumbers in the zonal and latitudinal directions.The influence of the steepness (as measured by α) of the toroidal field on the stresses is investigated to examine whether the constraint that the mean horizontal stresses at the core-mantle interface be of the order of 10^?2 N m^?2 might provide a selection mechanism for the behaviour of the toroidal field in the upper reaches of the outer core of the Earth. The results indicate that the restriction imposed on α is related to the value assigned to the toroidal field deep into the core. For example, if |α| ? 1 then the tangential stresses are of the right order of magnitude only if the toroidal field is comparable with the poloidal field deep in the core.     

Multifractal scaling of the kinetic energy flux in solar wind turbulence

The geometrical and scaling properties of the energy flux of the turbulent kinetic energy in the solar wind have been studied. Using present experimental technology in solar wind measurements we cannot directly measure the real volumetric dissipation rate, <varepsilon>(t), but are constrained to represent it by its surrogate the energy flux near the dissipation range at the proton gyro scale. There is evidence for the multifractal nature of the so defined dissipation field <varepsilon>(t), a result derived from the scaling exponents of its statistical moments. The generalized dimension D _q has been determined and reveals that the dissipation field has a multifractal structure, which is not compatible with a scale-invariant cascade. The related multifractal spectrum f(<alpha>) has been estimated for the first time for MHD turbulence in the solar wind. Its features resemble those obtained for turbulent fluids and other nonlinear multifractal systems. The generalized dimension D _q can for turbulence in high-speed streams be fitted well by the functional dependence of the p-model with a comparatively large parameter p ₁=0.87, indicating a strongly intermittent multifractal energy cascade. The experimental value for D _p/3 used in the scaling exponent s(p) of the velocity structure function gives an exponent that can describe some of the observations. The scaling exponent <mu> of the autocorrelation function of <varepsilon>(t) has also been directly evaluated, being 0.37. Finally, the mean dissipation rate was determined, which could be used in solar wind heating models.     

Zinc content in otoliths of mackerel from the Aegean

The zinc content in otoliths of the mackerel (Scomber japonicus colias) has been determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis. Six groups each of twelve specimens of the same age selected from three areas of the Aegean sea have been analysed. The zinc content was found to be a linear function of the age and body length.