Thermal nature of the source of the Indian gravity anomaly

The non-hydrostatic part of the second zonal harmonic term has been included in the Indian gravity anomaly. The interpretation of the potential, gravity and deflection of the vertical has been produced by a new method. The depth of the source is 580 km and the solution satisfies the temperature gradient of 1°K/km. The ratio Δ V_p/Δp > 0 shows the thermal nature of the density distribution near 670 km.     

The establishment of a GPS deformation network in the ethiopian rift valley

In April and May 1989 the satellite Global Positioning System (GPS) was employed in the establishment of three deformation networks in the Ethiopian Rift Valley. The net E1 consists of 6 points of about 100–270 km interdistances, with two points located on each of the African and the Somalian plate and two points down in the rift. In addition two separate GPS traverses were established: one (E2) runs across the rift, and one (E3) runs about 500 km along the rift.The remeasurement of a 175 km long baseline included in two subcampaigns indicates a repeatability of the GPS observations of the order of 1×10⁻⁷ and 3×10⁻⁷ for slope distance and ellipsoidal height, respectively.Along the E2 traverse GPS/trigonometric levelled geoid undulations and gravimetric geoid undulations agree well, while the discrepancy along the E3 traverse needs further analysis.     

Predictive ground motion scaling in Switzerland: Best estimates and uncertainties

Spectral ground motion (1 to 15 Hz) as a function of distance is modeled for events spanning 3.0 <M_w ≤ 7.0 in Switzerland. The parameters required to simulate ground motion with a stochastic approach are inverted from 2958 horizontal and vertical component waveforms of small to moderate size events (2.0 ≤ M_{L} ≤ 5.2) in the distance range 10 to 300 km recorded on hard rock sites. Using a Monte Carlo simulation, we establish a significantly different amplification of about a factor of 1.9 between the Alpine Foreland and the Alps. To assess the trade-off between the free parameters of our stochastic model and their influence on the predictive ground motion relationship, we perform a grid search over the five-dimensional solution space. The uncertainties are separated into epistemic and aleatory parts; the main epistemic uncertainty is attributed to the lack of data forM > 5. To constrain the viable models at large magnitudes, results from worldwide scaling studies are evaluated in light of the Swiss data. The model that explains best the low observed stress drops at small magnitudes (Δσ ≅ 3 bar) yet matches observed intensities of historical earthquakes assumes a stress drop increasing with moment asM₀^0.25. For three sites in Switzerland we evaluate the sensitivity of the epistemic uncertainty by computing probabilistic hazard curves. Our model offers the most comprehensive and detailed study of spectral ground motion for Switzerland to date.     

Interpretation of gravity and magnetic data in the Phlegraean fields geothermal area, Naples, Italy

Available gravity and magnetic data of the Phlegraean Fields geothermal area, Naples, Italy, have been interpreted and the obtained structural models discussed in the light of the other available geological, volcanological and geophysical data.On the basis of the results of a previous seismic reflection survey in the Gulf of Naples and in the Pozzuoli Bay, which delineated a basement characterized by a seismic velocity of 4–6 km/s, it has been possible to evaluate the gravity anomaly connected with the morphology of this horizon ( = 2.7 g/cm³).The residual anomaly map, obtained after subtraction of the regional long-wavelength components relative to mantle and deep crustal structures and the computed components relative to the above-mentioned seismic basement, shows up as a circular low with an amplitude of 10 mgal centred in the Pozzuoli Bay. This gravity low has been interpreted as due to the occurrence, in the centre of Pozzuoli Bay, of light (Δ = −0.2 g/cm³) material with a maximum thickness of about 2 km. However, a contribution to the anomaly due to a narrow magmatic body intruded in the basement, as suggested by volcanological and ground deformation data, cannot be excluded.The aeromagnetic map of the Phlegraean Fields is characterized by three main anomalies which have been fitted by superficial tridimensional parallelepipedic bodies, schematically representing lava flows and domes. Their anomalies have been subsequently subtracted from the observed field, obtaining as a residual a large anomaly centred in the southwestern area of the Pozzuoli Bay. It has been interpreted as being due to a lowmagnetized body which, taking into account the thermal state of the area, should represent that part of the pyroclastic sequence which has lost part of its magnetization by thermo-chemical alteration.     

The 14 August 2003 Lefkada Island (Greece) earthquake: Focal mechanisms of the mainshock and of the aftershock sequence

The central area of the Ionian Sea is dominated by the Cephalonia Transform Fault Zone (CTFZ) with a pronounced dextral strike-slip component of motion. The CTFZ has two main segments: the Lefkada Segment (LS) in the north and the Cephalonia Segment (CS) in the south. On 14 August 2003 an M_w 6.2 earthquake ruptured the Lefkada Segment and produced extensive damage, especially to the western coast of the island. Teleseismic waveform modelling revealed the multiple source character of the mainshock, which occurred as three sub-events along a ∼N12^∘E line. The first sub-event occurred at a depth of about 15 km, followed 2.5 s later by the second and largest sub-event at a depth of 11 km and the third sub-event 14 s after the second at a depth of 15 km. The total moment from the body waves of this sequence is about 22.3×10¹⁷ Nt m (M_w 6.2) with a source duration of ∼15 s. The rupture started at the northern part of the Lefkada fault Segment and propagated southwards. The second and third sub-events are located at 7 and 40 km to the south-east in respect to the first sub-event. The focal mechanisms of the two strongest sources indicate strike-slip faulting along the NE–SW trending Lefkada segment (sub-event 2: Strike = 12^∘, Dip = 81^∘, Rake = 174^∘; sub-event 3: Strike = 20^∘, Dip = 63^∘, Rake = −179^∘). Moment tensor inversion applied to regional broad band waveforms obtained from the Greek National Seismographic Network provided focal mechanisms for 23 aftershocks with magnitudes ranging from M_w 3.6 to 5.4. The aftershock sequence presented spatial and temporal variation. The aftershocks were concentrated in two clusters one at the northern part of the activated area and another at the southern part. Most of them were of strike-slip character, following the major tectonic lines of the area, although low-angle thrust and reverse faulting mechanisms were also observed. Thrust and reverse type mechanisms are mainly concentrated in the northern and mainland part of the Lefkada Island which probably indicates the segmented character of the fault and probable activation of adjacent structures.     

A quadratic element method for evaluating groundwater flow by the inversion of surface tilt with application to the Tono Area, Japan

By modifying a previous method with constant elements, we developed a quadratic element method for more accurately estimating groundwater flow by the inversion of tilt data. In this method: (1) a region of groundwater flow is divided into quadratic elements in which the change in groundwater volume per unit volume of rock (Δv) and the Skempton coefficient (B) vary in a quadratic manner with the coordinates, (2) the values of Δv are set to zero at the boundaries of the region of groundwater flow and (3) the sum of the squared second derivatives of Δv is adopted as a constraining condition that is weighted and added to the sum of the squared errors in tilt. First, analyses were performed for a flow model to determine the accuracy of this method for estimating groundwater flow and also to clarify the effect of the assumed size of a region of groundwater flow. These analyses showed that the quadratic element method proposed in this study gives a much better estimation of Δv than the constant element method and that a large region of groundwater flow should be assumed, rather than a small region, since the values of Δv at points outside of the actual region of groundwater flow are estimated to be nearly zero when a large region is assumed while these values are greatly overestimated when an excessively small region is assumed. Finally, the quadratic element method was applied to the site of the Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory in the Tono area, Japan. Inverse analyses were performed for tilt data measured by four tiltmeters with a resolution of 10⁻⁹ radians during the excavation of two shafts under the assumption that the rock mass is an isotropic and homogeneous half- space. The results showed that the method proposed in this study reproduced the tilt data very accurately. Thus, the distribution of Δv was estimated without sacrificing the reproducibility of the tilt data. The contour maps of B(1 + ν)Δv (ν: Poisson’s ratio) showed that the heterogeneous flow of groundwater occurred at the site and that groundwater volume decreased mainly in the area surrounded by two faults. The latter result is consistent with the finding obtained by previous investigations that these faults have low permeability in the direction perpendicular to the strike and may act as a flow barrier.     

Simulation of the formation of Ushant thermal front

The formation of the Ushant thermal front off northwestern France is simulated numerically with a one-dimensional model of the vertical thermal structure of the sea. This simulation is derived from a Niiler and Kraus (1977, Modelling and prediction of the upper layers of the ocean, pp. 143–172) mixed layer model in which bottom friction is introduced. The model inputs are the meteorological parameters measured at Ushant and the barotropic tidal currents computed with a numerical model (Mariette et al., 1982, Oceanologica Acta, 5, 149–159). Both very fine time steps (Δt = 1h) and spatial steps (horizontal mesh size: Δx = Δy = 2nmi; vertical step: Δz = 1m) are used. This study is intended to be mainly concerned with the processes acting during the formation of the Ushant front. Comparison of the model results with satellite pictures and in situ measurements shows good agreement. We point out that biological blooms could occur according to a spring-neap cycle, during the thermal front formation. The prevailing effect of local processes such as tidally induced bottom friction and energy budget at the sea surface on the thermal evolution of the Mer d'Iroise is then emphasized. During the formation of the front, these effects seem to be more important than the advective processes which are not considered in this work.     

Shock-induced CO2 loss from CaCO3; implications for early planetary atmospheres

We report new results of shock recovery experiments on single crystal calcite. Recovered samples are subjected to thermogravimetric analysis. This yields the maximum amount of post-shock CO₂, the decarbonization interval, ΔT, and the energy of association (or vaporization), ΔEV, for the removal of remaining CO₂ in shock-loaded calcite. Comparison of post-shock CO₂ with that initially present determines shock-induced CO₂ loss as a function of shock pressure. Incipient to complete CO₂ loss occurs over a pressure range of 10to 70GPa. The latter pressure should be considered a lower bound. Comparable to results on hydrous minerals, ΔT and ΔEV decrease systematically with increasing shock pressure. This indicates that shock loading leads to both the removal of structural volatiles and weakening of bonds between the volatile species and remainder of the crystal lattice.Optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) reveal structural changes, which are related to the shock-loading. Comparable to previous findings on shocked antigorite is the occurrence of dark, diffuse areas, which can be resolved as highly vesicular areas as observed with a scanning electron microscope. These areas are interpreted as representing quenched partial melts, into which shock-released CO₂ has been injected.The experimental results are used to place bonds on models of impact production of CO₂ during accretion of the terrestrial planets.     

Drifter observations of the Hebrides slope current and nearby circulation patterns

The mean flow at and around the Hebrides and Shetland Shelf slope is measured with ARGOS tracked drifters. Forty-two drifters drogued at 50 m were deployed in three circles over the Hebrides slope at 56.15°N in two releases, one on 5th December, 1995 and the second on 5–9th May, 1996. The circles span a distance of some 20 km from water depths of 200 m to 1200 m. Drifters are initially advected poleward along-slope by the Hebrides slope current at between 0.05 and 0.70 m s^–1 in a laterally constrained (25–50 km wide) jet-like flow. Drifters released in winter remained in the slope current for over 2000 km whilst summer drifters were lost from the slope current beyond the Wyville-Thomson Ridge, a major topographic feature at 60°N. Dispersion from the slope region into deeper waters occurs at bathymetric irregularities, particularly at the Anton Dohrn Seamount close to which the slope current is found to bifurcate, both in summer and winter, and at the Wyville-Thomson Ridge where drifters move into the Faeroe Shetland Channel. Dispersion onto the continental shelf occurs sporadically along the Hebrides slope. The initial dispersion around the Hebrides slope is remarkably sensitive to initial position, most of the drifters released in shallower water moving onto the shelf, whilst those in 1000 m or more are mostly carried away from the slope into deeper water near the Anton Dohrn Seamount. The dispersion coefficients estimated in directions parallel and normal to the local direction of the 500 m contour, approximately the position of the slope current core, are approximately 8.8 × 10³ m² s^–1 and 0.36 × 10³ m² s^–1, respectively, during winter, and 11.4 × 10³ m² s^–1 and 0.36 x 10³ m² s^–1, respectively, during summer. At the slope there is a minimum in across-slope mean velocity, Reynolds stress, and across-slope eddy correlations. The mean across-slope velocity associated with mass flux is about 4 × 10^–3 m s^–1 shelfward across the shelf break during winter and 2 × 10^–3 m s^–1 during summer. The drifters also sampled local patterns of circulation, and indicate that the source of water for the seasonal Fair Isle and East Shetland currents are the same, and drawn from Atlantic overflows at the Hebrides shelf.     

Variations of vertical velocity in the deep oceans simulated by a 1/10° OGCM

This paper analyzes variations of vertical velocity w simulated by the 1/10° Ocean General Circulation Model for the Earth Simulator (OFES). Strong w-variability is found in the deep oceans. When w is WKBJ-normalized, the standard deviation averaged over the Southern Ocean increases with depth and is larger than 8 × 10^− 3 cm/s throughout the water column below 1,500 m. Evidences are presented that link this w-variability to internal waves generated by quasi-steady currents over topography. The aliasing errors in lag-3-day correlations suggest a bottom generation of near-inertial waves. A scale analysis indicates that vertically propagating waves that can be resolved by the OFES model are waves with frequencies of the order of inertial frequency and wavelengths comparable to the order of the grid size. The vertical energy flux associated with these waves is substantial. When integrated globally, the vertical energy flux is upward in the upper 4 km and reaches maximum values of about 0.8 TW at about 1 to 2 km depth. Thus, the w-variability in the 1/10° OFES integration points not only to a strong bottom generation of near-inertial internal waves in the deep Southern Ocean but also to the possibility that the power provided by internal waves generated by non-tidal currents over topography can be comparable to the power provided by internal waves generated by tidal flows over topography.     

Gravity reduction with three-dimensional atmospheric pressure data for precise ground gravity measurements

The redistribution of air masses induces gravity variations (atmospheric pressure effect) up to about 20 μgal. These variations are disturbing signals in gravity records and they must be removed very carefully for detecting weak gravity signals. In the past, different methods have been developed for modelling of the atmospheric pressure effect. These methods use local or two-dimensional (2D) surface atmospheric pressure data and a standard height-dependent air density distribution. The atmospheric pressure effect is consisting of the elastic deformation and attraction term. The deformation term can be well modelled with 2D surface atmospheric pressure data, for instance with the Green's function method. For modelling of the attraction term, three-dimensional (3D) data are required. Results with 2D data are insufficient.From European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) 3D atmospheric pressure data are now available. The ECMWF data used here are characterised by a spacing of Δ and Δλ = 0.5°, 60 pressure levels up to a height of 60 km and an interval of 6 h. These data are used for modelling of the atmospheric attraction term. Two attraction models have been developed based on the point mass attraction of air segments and the gravity potential of the air masses. The modelling shows a surface pressure-independent part of gravity variations induced by mass redistribution of the atmosphere in the order of some μgal. This part can only be determined by using 3D atmospheric pressure data. It has been calculated for the Vienna Superconducting Gravimeter site.From this follows that the gravity reduction can be improved by applying the 3D atmospheric attraction model for analysing long-periodic tidal waves including the polar tide. The same improvement is expected for reduction of long-term absolute gravity measurements or comparison of gravity measurements at different seasonal times. By using 3D atmospheric pressure data, the gravity correction can be improved up to some μgal.     

Investigating soil moisture feedbacks on precipitation with tests of Granger causality

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

The short term response to eutrophication abatement

We compare results of a new model for predicting the short term inter annual changes in chlorophyll-a (chl-a) in lakes after reductions in total phosphorus (TP) to predictions made by least squares regression models. In the new method, slopes of chl-a/TP graphs (both axes in mg · m^–3) are depicted in frequency diagrams and used to extract information on the expected, short term chl-a/TP response. The short term response for nine shallow (< 10 m deep) and nutrient rich lakes to changes in TP was found to be: Chl-a = 0.49 · TP + 17.3, and for nine deep, P-limited lakes: Chl-a = 0.08 · TP + 3.5. If the TP-reduction is known to be greater than 10 mg · m^–3, the expected slope increases to 0.58 for shallow lakes and to 0.26 for deep lakes. The slope, 0.58, is 8% lower than the slope for the long term response calculated by regression for the shallow lakes. For deep lakes the slope, 0.26, is 2 to 3 times higher than that calculated by regression, indicating that reductions in TP for deep lakes give greater effects than least squares regression equations suggest. We have also calculated the reduction in TP which will give about 80% probability that a reduction in chl-a will be observed next year. For shallow, P-limited lakes this reduction is about 30 mg · m^–3 (5% of average initial in-lake TP concentration), and for deep lakes about 14 mg · m^–3 (35% of average initial in-lake TP concentration).     

The mechanism of formation of the Baikal basin

The Baikal is a deep long and narrow basin in East Siberia which follows a huge fault zone adjoining the Siberian Platform. The basin was formed by rapid subsidence of continental crust during the pas 3–4 Ma. It is bounded by normal faults which indicate extension of the crust during the subsidence. According to seismic reflection profiling data, the intensity of extension is not large (3–7%). It is much smaller than the thinning of the crystalline crust under the basin (up to 38%). The thinning and crustal subsidence can be explained by the transformation of gabbro in the lower crust into dense garnet granulites. The latter rocks (with V_p 7.7−7.8 km/sec) are still located under the remnant part of the crust. Rapid transformation took place due to an inflow of catalyzing fluid along the fault zone from the asthenospheric upwelling. This upwelling, which is at a depth of 80–90 km, caused a general uplift of a broad area in the south of East Siberia.     

Sediment non-linearity and attenuation of seismic waves: a study of accelerograms from Lefkas, western Greece

We investigate the dependence of the S-wave high-frequency spectral-decay parameter, κ (“kappa”) — a measure of wave attenuation — on ground-motion amplitude. 21 three-component accelerograms from two adjacent sediment sites in the town of Lefkas, western Greece, are used, representing 17 earthquakes with magnitudes M_w 4.7–7.0 and hypocentral distances 12–93 km. Recorded peak horizontal ground accelerations (PGA) and velocities (PGV) are 22–540 cm/s² and 1.3–54.5 cm/s.Fourier amplitude spectra are computed for S-wave windows, and the frequency range is visually determined where the high-frequency spectral decay can be approximated by a straight line on the linear-log plot; its slope (and hence κ) is computed by linear regression. κ is found to depend on hypocentral distance as κ=0.108+0.058R (r=0.518).As PGV increases from 1.3 to 54.5 cm/s, κ₀ (κ at 0 km, characterising inelastic attenuation in the site's subsurface geology) varies between 0.060 and 0.160 s. κ₀ is found to correlate very strongly with log MGA (r=0.645) (MGA — mean horizontal acceleration in the S-wave window) but also with log PGA (r=0.447) and log PGV (r=0.627). We attribute this behaviour to sediment non-linearity (shear-modulus degradation), resulting in the decrease of the site's dominant-resonance frequency (from about 3.5 to 2.4 Hz) and leading to the increase of κ₀. Our results imply that at sediment sites, an important contribution to κ comes from wave attenuation (damping) in the softest sediments and show that κ₀ is amplitude dependent, thus being a measure of sediment non-linearity.     

Combined geothermal-geophysical models of the earth's crust and upper mantle for the European continent

An attempt is made to obtain a combined geophysical model along two regional profiles: Black Sea— White Sea and Russian Platform—French Central Massif. The process of the model construction had the following stages: 1. The relation between seismic velocity (V_p, km/s) and density (σ, g/cm³) in crustal rocks was determined from seismic profiles and observed gravity fields employing the trial and error method. 2. Relations between heat production HP (μW/m³), velocity and density were established from heat flow data and crustal models of old platforms where the mantle heat flow HF_M is supposed to be constant. The HF_M value was also determined to 11 ± 5 mW/m². 3. A petrological model of the old platform crust is proposed from the velocity-density models and the observed heat flow. It includes 10–12 km of acid rocks, 15–20 km of basic/metamorphic rocks and 7–10 km of basic ones. 4. Calculation of the crustal gravity effects; its substraction from the observed field gave the mantle gravity anomalies. Extensively negative anomalies have been found in the southern part of Eastern Europe (50–70 mgal) and in Western Europe (up to 200 mgal). They correlate with high heat flow and lower velocity in the uppermost mantle. 5. A polymorphic advection mechanism for deep tectonic processes was proposed as a thermal model of the upper mantle. Deep matter in active regions is assumed to be transported (advected) upwards under the crust and in its place the relatively cold material of the uppermost mantle descends. The resulting temperature distribution depends on the type of endogeneous regime, on the age and size of geostructure. Polymorphic transitions were also taken into account.     

Orographic controls on rain water isotope distribution in the Mount Lofty Ranges of South Australia

Hydrogen and oxygen isotopes of water are common environmental tracers used to investigate hydrological processes, such as evaporation, vegetation water use, surface water–groundwater interaction, and groundwater recharge. The water isotope signature in surface water and groundwater evolves from the initial rain signature. In mountain terrain, rain water stable isotope composition spatially varies due to complex orographic precipitation processes. Many studies have examined the isotope–elevation relationships, while few have quantitatively investigate the terrain aspect and slope effect on rain isotope distribution. In this paper, we examine the orographic effects more completely, including elevation, terrain slope and aspect, on stable isotope distribution in the Mount Lofty Ranges (MLR) of South Australia, using a multivariate regression model. The regression of precipitation isotope composition suggests that orographic effects are the dominant controls on isotope spatial variability. About 75% of spatial variability in δ¹⁸O and deuterium excess is represented by the regression using solely orography-related variables (elevation, terrain aspect and slope), with about 25% of δ¹⁸O spatial variability attributed to the terrain aspect and slope effect. The lapse rate is about −0.25‰ for every 100 m at both windward and leeward slopes. However, at the same elevation, δ¹⁸O at the leeward slope (eastern MLR) is 0.5‰ larger than that at the windward slope. The difference can be explained by different mechanisms – continuous rain-out processes on the windward side and sub-cloud evaporation on the leeward side. Both δ¹⁸O and deuterium excess maps (1 km resolution) are constructed based on the regression results for the MLR. Both maps are consistent with groundwater of local precipitation origin, and useful to examine groundwater recharge.     

First in situ measurement of electric field fluctuations during strong spread F in the Indian zone

An RH-560 rocket flight was conducted from Sriharikota rocket range (SHAR) (14°N, 80°E, dip 14°N) along with other experiments, as a part of equatorial spread F (ESF) campaign, to study the nature of irregularities in electric field and electron density. The rocket was launched at 2130 local time (LT) and it attained an apogee of 348 km. Results of vertical and horizontal electric field fluctuations are presented here. Scale sizes of electric field fluctuations were measured in the vertical direction only. Strong ESF irregularities were observed in three regions, viz., 160/190 km, 210/257 km and 290/330 km. Some of the valley region vertical electric field irregularities (at 165 km and 168 km), in the intermediate-scale size range, observed during this flight, show spectral peak at kilometer scales and can be interpreted in terms of the image striation theory suggested by Vickrey et al. The irregularities at 176 km do not exhibit any peak at kilometer scales and appear to be of a new type. Scale sizes of vertical electric field fluctuations showed a decrease with increasing altitude. The most prominent scales were of the order of a few kilometers around 170 km and a few hundred meters around 310 km. Spectra of intermediate-scale vertical electric field fluctuations below the base of the F region (210/257 km) showed a tendency to become slightly flatter (spectral index n = –2.1 ± 0.7) as compared to the valley region (n = –3.6 ± 0.8) and the region below the F peak (n = –2.8 ± 0.5). Correlation analysis of the electron density and vertical electric field fluctuations suggests the presence of a sheared flow of current in 160/330 km region.     

A site effect study in the Verchiano valley during the 1997 Umbria-Marche (Central Italy) earthquakes

Strong site effects were observed during the two M _W 5.7 and M _W 6.0 main shocks of the Colfiorito seismic crisis which occured on September 26, 1997 in Umbria-Marche (Central Italy).The most obvious indications of these effects are the dramatic differences in damage shown by buildings of similar construction in neighboring villages.Such observations were specifically made in the Verchiano valley in the fault area, 15 km south of Colfiorito where the Verchiano village and the Colle and Camino hamlets were heavily damaged (MCS intensity IX-X) since the first main shock of 1997/09/26,while in contrast, the Curasci village located 2 km eastwards remains almost intact.In order to study the anomalous ground motion amplifications in this area, an array of 11, 3-components seismo- and accelero-meters was set up during the 1997/10/20-24 period, extending from the western side of the valley, up to the top of Mount San Salvatore, going accross the Colle and Curasci hamlets.During the experiment, 67 aftershocks enlightened the valley from the Colfiorito (10 km north) and the Sellano (6 km south) active swarms.Seismic refraction experiments were conducted at the same time in the 500 m wide, 1500 m long Verchiano valley in order to determine the thickness and main characteristics of the alluvial infilling.The main results are: (i) compared to the valley side ground motion, and for all the events, recordings in the central part of the valley (piana di Verchiano) show relative amplification of 10 with a clear lengthening of the seismogram duration by a factor of 2 – (ii) broad band relative amplification of 6–8 is also clearly identified at the top of the Mount San Salvatore overhanging the valley – (iii) any of the site effect measurements done explains by itself the strongly contrasted damage observed at Colle and Curasci: i.e. the modification of the near-field radiation pattern by interaction with the free heterogeneous surface may have induced local shadow zones that saved Curasci.     

Two-dimensional kinematic and rheological modeling of the 1912 pyroclastic flow,Katmai, Alaska

Pyroclastic flow emplacement is strongly influenced by eruption column height. A surface along which kinetic energy is zero theoretically connects the loci of eruption column collapse with all coeval ignimbrite termini. This surface is reconstructed as a two-dimensional energy line for the 1912 Katmai pyroclastic flow in the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes from mapped flow termini and the runup of the ignimbrite onto obstructions and through passes. Extrapolation of the energy line to the vicinity of the source vent at Novarupta suggests the eruption column which generated the ignimbrite eruption was approximately 425 m high. The 1912 pyroclastic flow travelled about 25 km downvalley. Empirical velocity data calculated from runup elevations and surveyed centrifugal superelevations indicate initial velocities near Novarupta were greater than 79–88 m s^–1. The flow progressively decelerated and was travelling only 2–8 m s^–1 when it crossed a moraine 16 km downvalley. The constant slope of the energy line away from Novarupta suggests the flow was systematically slowed by internal and basal friction. Using a simple physical model to calculate flow velocities and a constant kinetic friction coefficient (Heim coefficient) of 0.04 derived from the reconstructed energy line, the flow is estimated to have decelerated at an average rate of –0.16 m s^–2 and to have taken approximately 9.5 minutes to travel 25 km down the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes. The shear strength of the flowing ignimbrite at the moraine was approximately 0.5 kPa, and its Bingham viscosity when it crossed the moraine was 3.5 × 10³ P. If the flow was Newtonian, its viscosity was 4.2 × 10³ P. Reynolds and Froude numbers at the moraine were only 41–62 and 0.84–1.04, respectively, indicating laminar, subcritical flow.