On the interpretation of the distinctive pattern of geomagnetic induction observed in northwest India

The geomagnetic variation data from the 1979 Indian array experiment have been reanalyzed and reexamined using the hypothetical event analysis technique. The contour map of the |Z/H ratio replicates distinctive anomaly in northwest India previously delineated in maps of the Fourier coefficients. The anomaly reveals the presence of a significant conductor under the Ganga basin. The contour map has been used to derive a response profile perpendicular to the strike of the anomaly, for comparison with 2-D numerical models. An excellent fit was found for a conductor at a depth of 32 km, with a width of 110 km and a conductivity contrast of 1000. This result places the conductor deep within the lithosphere. In the absence of supporting data the origin of the conductor is difficult to resolve. However, it is thought to be related to pressure-released partial melting, caused by fracturing of the Indian crust during the collision of India with Asia.     

“地球空间双星探测计划”及其与全球环境变化的关系

本文论述了“地球空间双星探测计划”(简称双星计划)及其与全球环境变化的关系。地球空间双星探测计划包括两颗小卫星,分别运行于目前国际上地球空间探测卫星尚未覆盖的近地赤道区和近地极区。双星计划的主要科学目标是用高分辨率的仪器在近地空间的主要活动区探测场和粒子的时空变化;研究磁层空间暴(磁层亚暴、磁暴和磁层粒子暴)的触发机制及其对太阳活动和行星际扰动的响应过程;建立地球空间环境的动态模式。为了实现科学目标,赤道区卫星和极区卫星上各载有8台探测仪器。近地赤道区卫星的轨道是:近地点550km左右,远地点60000km左右,倾角约28.5°;近地极区卫星的轨道是:近地点700km,远地点40000km,倾角约90°。为了使双星计划与欧洲空间局ClusterII卫星相配合,赤道区卫星计划于2003年6月发射,极区卫星计划于2003年12月发射。双星计划与ClusterII卫星相配合,可形成地球空间6点探测计划,这将成为21世纪初国际上重要的地球空间探测计划。本文概要讨论了双星计划与地球系统各圈层的关系,包括与大气圈、生物圈、地球内部各圈层及全球环境变化的关系。     

An interpretation of induced magnetic variations near Shillong and Gulmarg

Short-period events such as bays and storm sudden commencements (SSCs) have been analysed to investigate the nature of induced magnetic variations at two Indian magnetic observatories: Shillong and Gulmarg. It seems that near Gulmarg there is obvious connection between the induced magnetic variations and the two large scale features; the main central thrust (MCT) and the main boundary fault (MBF) in the north-west direction. The Dauki fault, an approximately east-west conductor, seems to be responsible for the conductivity anomalies at SHL.     

External field characterization using CHAMP satellite data for induction studies

Knowledge of external inducing source field morphology is essential for precise estimation of electromagnetic (EM) induction response. A better characterization of the external source field of magnetospheric origin can be achieved by decomposing it into outer and inner magnetospheric contributions, which are best represented in Geocentric Solar Magnetospheric (GSM) and Solar Magnetic (SM) reference frames, respectively. Thus we propose a spherical harmonic (SH) model to estimate the outer magnetospheric contribution, following the iterative reweighted least squares approach, using the vector magnetic data of the CHAMP satellite. The data covers almost a complete solar cycle from July 2001 to September 2010, spanning 54,474 orbits. The SH model, developed using orbit-averaged vector magnetic data, reveals the existence of a stable outer magnetospheric contribution of about 7.39 nT. This stable field was removed from the CHAMP data after transforming to SM frame. The residual field in the SM frame acts as a primary source for induction in the Earth. The analysis of this time-series using wavelet transformation showed a dominant 27-day periodicity of the geomagnetic field. Therefore, we calculated the inductive EM C-response function in a least squares sense considering the 27-day period variation as the inducing signal. From the estimated C-response, we have determined that the global depth to the perfect substitute conductor is about 1132 km and its conductivity is around 1.05 S/m.     

中印度洋海盆表层沉积物稀土元素分布特征及富集规律

对中印度洋海盆14个站位的表层沉积物进行了稀土元素(REE+Y,简称REY)分布特征和富集规律研究.结果表明,样品中REY主要富集于沸石黏土和远洋黏土中(稀土元素总量最高为1239×10?6),且明显富集钇(Y)等重稀土元素(Y富集系数高达14.1,重稀土元素和Y富集系数最高为11.6);富稀土沉积物呈明显Ce亏损,发...     

Morphology of the subducted Indian plate in the Indo-Burmese convergence zone

Earthquake hypocenters and travel time residuals have been analysed to constrain the geometry and physical state of the subducted Indian plate in the Indo-Burmese convergence zone. A critical analysis of earthquake hypocenters reveals the existence of a non-uniform Benioff zone, progressively shortening from north to south. The deepest level of seismicity is observed beneath the Naga hills (160 km) followed by that under the Chin hills (120 km) and Arakan-Yoma ranges (80 km). The region seems to be devoid of moderate sized shallow (< 40 km) earthquakes. Differential travel time residuals from pairs of shallow and intermediate depth earthquakes recorded at teleseismic distances show significantly faster travel time (up to l.2s) in the north-northeast and south-southwest azimuths, whilst slower arrivals (1.2 to 1.5 s) are recorded in the transverse direction. This observation points to the presence of a high velocity slab possibly linked to the subduction of the Indian oceanic lithosphere.     

Induced magnetic variations at Shillong in relation to regional geology

The Shillong plateau and Mikir Hills form a conspicuous feature in the geologically complex region of Northeastern India. From observations of geomagnetic variations at Shillong a consistent suppression of the vertical (Z) component of variation is noted. From previous analyses of a selected geomagnetic storm observed at Shillong, Ujjain and Jaipur, stations at nearly the same latitude, the complex demodulates ofZ variation at Shillong demonstrate this suppression. Results from a comparative study of bays and storm sudden commencements are also cited. An attempt to calculate induction vectors at Shillong was made but they were found to be indeterminate. However, a case for the presence of induced current concentrations near Shillong is strong, when these characteristics of geomagnetic variations are considered in the context of regional geology. Shillong and the Mikir Hills are the intruded northeastern remnants of the Indian Shield, that have been transported into the Eastern Himalayan syntaxis. But the present data are insufficient to delineate the path of induced currents in the Shillong region or to estimate their intensity.     

Delineation of intra crustal horizon in Eastern Dharwar Craton – An aeromagnetic evidence

A correlative study of two mutually independent geophysical properties like magnetic susceptibility variations and shear wave velocity structure of the crust has been carried out in a part of the Eastern Dharwar Craton of Indian peninsular shield. Analysis of the aeromagnetic anomaly field over an area of 35,000 km² comprising the peninsular gneissic basement complex and a part of Cuddapah Basin has resulted in identification of two distinct magnetic horizons: one at a depth of 2 km and the other at a depth of 12 km. Correlation of these results with the inferences made by the inversion of Rayleigh wave phase velocity and other geophysical studies has confirmed the presence of a crustal layer at a depth of 12 km. This horizon has been inferred to be the depth to the lower boundary of the upper crust in this region.     

喜马拉雅西部雅鲁藏布江缝合带地壳尺度的构造叠置

陆陆碰撞过程是板块构造缺失的链条。印度板块与亚洲板块的碰撞造就了喜马拉雅造山带和青藏高原的主体。然而,人们对印度板块在大陆碰撞过程中的行为尚不了解。如大陆碰撞及其碰撞后的大陆俯冲是如何进行的、印度板块是俯冲在青藏高原之下还是回转至板块上部(喜马拉雅造山带内)以及两者比例如何,这些仍是亟待解决的问题。印度板块低角度沿喜马拉雅主逆冲断裂(MHT)俯冲在低喜马拉雅和高喜马拉雅之下已经被反射地震图像很好地揭示。然而,关于MHT如何向北延伸,前人的研究仅获得了分辨率较低的接收函数图像。因而,MHT和雅鲁藏布江缝合带之间印度板块的俯冲行为仍是一个谜。喜马拉雅造山楔增生机制,也就是印度地壳前缘的变形机制,反映出物质被临界锥形逆冲断层作用转移到板块上部,或是以韧性管道流的样式向南溢出。在本次研究中,我们给出在喜马拉雅造山带西部地区横过雅鲁藏布江缝合带的沿东经81.5°展布的高分辨率深地震反射剖面,精细揭示了地壳尺度结构构造。剖面显示,MHT以大约20°的倾斜角度延伸至大约60 km深度,接近埋深为70~75 km的Moho面。越过雅鲁藏布江缝合带运移到北面的印度地壳厚度已经不足15 km。深地震反射剖面还显示中地壳逆冲构造反射发育。我们认为,伴随着印度板块俯冲,地壳尺度的多重构造叠置作用使物质自MHT下部的板块向其上部板块转移,这一过程使印度地壳厚度减薄了,同时加厚了喜马拉雅地壳。     

Was Archean Dharwar Craton ever stable? A seismic perspective

Indian shield comprising a number of Archean-Proterozoic cratons, forms one of the most dynamic, sheared and deformed continental segment amongst all stable areas of the earth. However, for a long time it has been believed that its lithosphere remained unaffected by episodic tectono-thermal and volcanic perturbations. Using available seismic data, an attempt has been made to study the seismic structure of the south Indian shield in order to examine the effects of such mantle processes on its overall crust-mantle structure. Our study suggests that by and large, Indian crust is intermediate to mafic in composition. On an average, only a couple of kilometers of the initially formed upper (granitic-gneissic) crust now remains in place and a thick chunk of the original lower crust has been consumed by the underlying thermally buoyant mantle due to sub-crustal erosion and then subsequently replaced by possibly as much as about 16 km thick magma layer on either side of the Moho. This study throws a new light on the geologic and geodynamic evolution of this region and contradicts the hitherto believed paleo-stability of the Indian shield.     

喜马拉雅东构造结岩石圈板片深俯冲的地球物理证据

2009～2010年在南迦巴瓦地区进行了宽频带地震和大地电磁探测,分别处理获得东构造结及其邻区的地下300km以上的P波速度图像和两条大地电磁电阻率剖面。通过资料的对比和综合解释,发现电阻率分布与地震波速有较好的对应关系。研究结果表明:南迦巴瓦变质体的上地壳部分呈现明显高速高阻特征,为两侧的雅鲁藏布江缝合带所夹持;中下地壳具有不均匀性,且普遍呈低速低阻特征;印度板块在藏东南向欧亚板块的俯冲前缘越过嘉黎断裂,抵达班公湖-怒江缝合带;在拉萨地体的高速俯冲板片以下100km至200km深度范围内存在大规模的低速异常带,其上盘中下地壳也广泛发育低速高导体,指示青藏高原东南缘可能存在韧性易流动的物质向东、东南逃逸的通道,为印度板块在南迦巴瓦的深俯冲动力学模式提供了地球物理证据。     

Australian crustal structure

There have been eight large-scale refraction experiments in Australia during the last fifteen years. P₁ velocities derived from these experiments are significantly higher in the Precambrian shield region than in eastern Australia. P_n-velocities are also higher beneath the shield, and appear to increase systematically from east to west across the continent. There is good evidence for an intermediate layer in all parts of Australia, with an average depth of about 20 km to the Conrad discontinuity. The crustal thickness has an average value of about 40 km, and the observed variations in thickness are apparently unrelated to topography in most cases.     

Depths to density discontinuities beneath the Adamawa Plateau region, Central Africa, from spectral analyses of new and existing gravity data

New gravity data from the Adamawa Uplift region of Cameroon have been integrated with existing gravity data from central and western Africa to examine variations in crustal structure throughout the region. The new data reveal steep northeast-trending gradients in the Bouguer gravity anomalies that coincide with the Sanaga Fault Zone and the Foumban Shear Zone, both part of the Central African Shear Zone lying between the Adamawa Plateau and the Congo Craton. Four major density discontinuities in the lithosphere have been determined within the lithosphere beneath the Adamawa Uplift in central Cameroon using spectral analysis of gravity data: (1) 7–13 km; (2) 19–25 km; (3) 30–37 km; and (4) 75–149 km. The deepest density discontinuities determined at 75–149 km depth range agree with the presence of an anomalous low velocity upper mantle structure at these depths deduced from earlier teleseismic delay time studies and gravity forward modelling. The 30–37 km depths agree with the Moho depth of 33 km obtained from a seismic refraction experiment in the region. The intermediate depth of 20 km obtained within region D may correspond to shallower Moho depth beneath parts of the Benue and Yola Rifts where seismic refraction data indicate a crustal thickness of 23 km. The 19–20 km depths and 8–12 km depths estimated in boxes encompassing the Adamawa Plateau and Cameroon Volcanic Line may may correspond to mid-crustal density contrasts associated with volcanic intrusions, as these depths are less than depths of 25 and 13 km, respectively, in the stable Congo Craton to the south.     

A study of seismic reflection imaging using microearthquake sources

We present a method for processing three-component digital recordings of microearthquakes to obtain near-vertical reflection profiles in regions of shallow seismicity. The processing includes magnitude and focal depth normalization and event stacking, where stacking is by small localized groups, with ray theoretical time and distance corrections applied to compensate for varying focal depths. In areas with high seismicity, this procedure allows earthquakes to be treated as “controlled” sources to probe layered structures of the deep crust and upper mantle.The validity of our approach is examined using aftershocks of the Borah Peak, Idaho earthquake (M_s = 7.3). Several thousand events occurred in a NNW-trending zone about 10 km wide, 75 km long, and 15 km deep. A small (~ 10 ×10 km) array of nine University of Wisconsin three-component triggered short-period digital seismographs was installed in the region of aftershock activity. Over a 10-day period, about 1000 useable events were recorded, of which about 120 have been used for this study. Hypocenters have been computed using both P- and S-wave arrivals, the latter being essential for stable solutions of events outside the network.The Borah Peak data have been processed to obtain shear-wave reflection profiles for the central station (Station 8) of the digital station array. The stacked shear wave (transverse) record sections reveal coherent reflections from horizons at mid-crustal to Moho depths. The most prominent reflections are from crustal discontinuities in the depth range 18–28 km. Coherent reflections can be obtained only through stacking, which is necessary to improve the signal to noise ratio. The major sources of data scatter, as manifested by “smearing” of reflections on the stacked records, are crustal heterogeneity and errors in the determination of focal depth and origin time.     

Deep earth electrical conductivity-depth profiles around African geomagnetic equator using solar quiet currents

Electrical conductivity structure of the Earth’s deep interior has been successfully mapped out down to approximately 1500 km around the geomagnetic dip equatorial regions of Africa using solar quiet-day ionospheric currents. Spherical harmonic analysis (SHA) was employed in separating the internal and external field contributions to the solar quiet variations. Transfer function was used for each of the external and internal pairs to compute the conductivity-depth profile for the region. Calculated average electrical conductivity values were evidently higher than obtained in other parts of the world farther away from the geomagnetic equator. Sq current vortex foci are observed very close to the geomagnetic equator. Depth of penetration was greatly enhanced. Stations on latitudes less than 1° from the geomagnetic equator show higher electrical conductivity when compared with that situated more than 4° away from it at various corresponding depths. Evidence of discontinuities in the earth layers were also noted at some depths. Highly conductive layers were delineated around 400 km depth and beyond 1200 km.     

Simulation of Storm Surges Along Myanmar Coast Using a Location Specific Numerical Model

Coastal flooding induced by storm surges associated with tropical cyclones is one of the greatest natural hazards sometimes even surpassing earthquakes. Although the frequency of tropical cyclones in the Indian seas is not high, the coastal region of India, Bangladesh and Myanmar suffer most in terms of life and property caused by the surges. Therefore, a location-specific storm surge prediction model for the coastal regions of Myanmar has been developed to carry out simulations of the 1975 Pathein, 1982 Gwa, 1992 Sandoway and 1994 Sittwe cyclones. The analysis area of the model covers from 8° N to 23° N and 90° E to 100° E. A uniform grid distance of about 9 km is taken along latitudinal and longitudinal directions. The coastal boundaries in the model are represented by orthogonal straight line segments. Using this model, numerical experiments are performed to simulate the storm surge heights associated with past severe cyclonic storms which struck the coastal regions of Myanmar. The model results are in agreement with the limited available surge estimates and observations.     

Three-dimensional seismic modelling of crustal structure in the TESZ region based on POLONAISE''97 data

This paper reports the results of 3-D tomographic modelling of crustal structure in the Trans European Suture Zone region (TESZ) of Poland, eastern Germany and Lithuania. The data are the product of a large-scale seismic experiment POLONAISE'97, which was carried out in 1997. This experiment was designed to provide some 3-D coverage. The TESZ forms the boundary between the Precambrian crustal terranes of the East European Craton (EEC) and the younger Phanerozoic terranes to the southwest. The 3-D results generally confirm the earth models derived by earlier 2-D analyses, but also add some important details as well as a 3-D perspective on the structure. The velocity model obtained shows substantial horizontal variations of crustal structure across the study area. Seismic modelling shows low (<6.1 km/s) velocities suggesting the presence of sedimentary rocks down to a depth of about 20 km in the Polish basin. The shape of the basin in the vicinity of the profile P4 shows significant asymmetry. Three-dimensional modelling also allowed tracing of horizontal irregularities of the basin shape as well as variations of the Moho depth not only along profiles, but also between them. The slice between P2 and P4 profiles shows about 10-km variations of the Moho over a 100-km interval. The crustal thickness varies from about 30 km in SW, beneath the Palaeozoic platform, to about 42 km beneath East European Craton in NE. High seismic velocities of about 6.6 km/s were found in the depth range 2–10 km, which coincides with K trzyn anorthosite massif. The results of this 3-D seismic modelling of the POLONAISE'97 data will ultimately be supplemented by inversion of seismic data from previous experiments.     

Seismic ray direction anomalies and relative residuals of earthquakes recorded at Gauribidanur array

Slowness and azimuthal anomalies provide valuable information about lateral inhomogeneities within the crust and mantle of the earth. Over 300 earthquakes (distance range 14°–36° and azimuth 0°–360°) recorded at Gauribidanur seismic array (GBA) in southern India, were analysed using adaptive processing techniques. Slowness anomalies upto 1·3 sec/deg and azimuthal anomalies upto 8° have been observed in the present analysis. Slowness anomaly patterns for Java trench, Mid-Indian oceanic ridge earthquakes are more consistent as compared to the events originating in the Himalayan and Hindukush regions. A significant feature of the azimuthal anomaly pattern was the distinct absence of any positive anomalies from earthquakes occurring in mid-oceanic ridge. These anomalies have also been analysed as a function of epicentral distance and are mainly attributed to the transition zones occurring between 400–700 km depth ranges in the Indian upper mantle regions. Relative residuals between the stations of GBA have very little dependence on azimuth and distance. An anomalous structure beneath the array in the direction of the Java trench region (azimuth 116–126°) has been postulated on the basis of large systematic slowness vectors observed.     

Seismological Evidences for the Multiple Incomplete Crustal Subductions in Himalaya and Southern Tibet

SEISMOLOGICAL EVIDENCES FOR THE MULTIPLE INCOMPLETE CRUSTAL SUBDUCTIONS IN HIMALAYA AND SOUTHERN TIBET     

Track prediction of very severe cyclone ‘Nargis’ using high resolution weather research forecasting (WRF) model

The recent very severe cyclonic storm (VSCS) ‘Nargis’ over the Bay of Bengal caused widespread destruction over Myanmar after hitting the coast on 2 May 2008. The real time forecasting of the VSCS ‘Nargis’ was a very difficult task as it did not follow the normal westerly/northwesterly track. In the present study, a detailed diagnostic analysis of the system ‘Nargis’ is carried out initially to investigate the features associated with this unusual movement and subsequently the real time forecast of VSCS ‘Nargis’ using high resolution advanced version weather research forecasting (WRF) model is presented. The advanced research WRF model was run for 72 h at 27 km and 20 km resolutions with 28, 29, 30 April and 1 May as the initial conditions. The diagnostic study indicates that the recurvature of the system ‘Nargis’ was mainly associated with: