The Nature of the “Voice of the Sea”

Strong vibrations of the Earth’s crust in the frequency range of 7–9 Hz, referred to as the “voice of the sea,” have been recorded in the course of processing synchronous experimental data obtained during recording of variations in the deformation of the Earth’s crust using a shore laser strainmeter, atmosphere pressure variations using a laser nanobarograph, and hydrosphere pressure variations using a laser meter for hydrospheric pressure and wind velocity variations. The nature of these vibrations and their transformation to adjacent geospheres have been discussed.     

On the mechanism of the generation of seismic “nails”

The spatial and temporal peculiarities of seismic “nails” are analyzed. Some nails are related to strong earthquakes, or volcanic eruptions, while some do not show any coincidence with any fault zone or other tectonic structures. In some cases, poorly expressed trends in the depths of earthquake occurrence sequences occur. Based on the calculation of the Hurst exponent, a stable tendency in the order sequence for the depths of hypocenters that form a nail has been revealed. This tendency is consistent with self-organization models, which demonstrate positive feedback during interactions between fluid flows and tectonic deformations and have been used to explain the earthquake generation mechanism. The peculiarities of changes in earthquake numbers on the day when a nail is formed agree well with the acoustical emission dynamics during earthquake triggering through water injections, based on the long-term experimental data. The most probable mechanism that generates the seismic nails that are not related to strong earthquakes is seismic activation under the effects of fluids.     

Finding the Location of Generation Zones of “Voice of the Sea” Microseisms

Doklady Earth Sciences - The generation zones of “voice of the sea” microseisms of three typhoons were determined from the field data using a two-coordinate laser strainmeter. From...     

The phenomenon of “self-focusing” in the gaseous disk of the Galaxy

We consider perturbations in interstellar gas excited by the gravitational field of the spiral-density wave that is responsible for the Galactic arms, taking into account thermal effects. Under the conditions of fairly efficient cooling, the reaction of the gas to the perturbing field is non-trivial: the thickness of the gaseous layer is reduced in the region of the Galactic disk where the density of the gas is enhanced. We call this effect “self-focusing,” and explain it using observational results for the Galactic radio emission in the 21 cm line. Under our assumptions, we find the control parameter (δ) governing the relationship between perturbations of the thickness of the gaseous disk and the gas density in the vicinity of the Galactic equator, i.e., this parameter shows whether the correlation between these quantities is positive or negative, and provides important additional information on the thermal properties of the medium. It can be used as a diagnostic in joint studies of Galactic structure and large-scale features of the interstellar gas. Estimates for the typical Galactic parameters show that the effect of self-focusing should be clearly manifest in the Galaxy.     

Characterisation of fossil porphyrins of the “di-DPEP” type

Four basic structural types of alkyl porphyrins have been reported frequently to occur in sedimentary organic matter as metallocomplexes. The purpose of this note is: i) to report the structural assignment of two representatives (C₃₂, C₃₃) of the so-called “di-DPEP” series, isolated from El Lajjun shale, a bituminous limestone of central Jordan (Upper Cretaceous, El Lajjun Basin); ii) to evaluate a previous suggestion that this type of compound and sedimentary monobenzoporphyrins are related in structure and origin.     

The Nature of the Diamond Potential of “Cold” Paleogeotherms

It is known that the Р–Т parameters of diamond-bearing kimberlite xenoliths correspond to subductive paleogeotherms lying between the 36 and 41 mW/m² conductive models. There are some studies showing the correlation of diamond ability with oxygen fugacity and the fluid composition of mantle xenoliths. The most diamondiferous samples correspond to the water compositions of the calculated O–H–C fluid with a minimum atomic carbon content in it. From the calculations it follows that the fluid carbon atomic content increases with a temperature increase and with the pressure decreasing. The most minor C contents have the 35 mW/m² conductive model in comparison with the 40 and 45 mW/m² models. As a result, it is possible to conclude that the low temperature fields (less than 1100°C) of the “cold” geotherms have the highest diamondiferous ability.     

“Sub-Triticites Beds” of the Donskaya Luka and lower boundary of the Kasimovian Stage

Micro- and macrofauna remains were studied from transitional deposits of Moscovian and Kasimovian Stages in the Donskaya Luka (Volgograd Region). The preliminary analysis of microfauna showed that “sub-Triticites Beds” of the Donskaya Luka contain fusulinid and conodont assemblages enabling correlation of the Middle and Upper Carboniferous deposits in the study region with the type sections of Moscow area and Donbass. Conodonts from the “sub-Triticites Beds” stratotype were studied for the first time. As is established, upper part of the Sukhov Fm. and the base of the Seleznev Fm. belong to the Protriticites pseudomontiparus-Obsoletes obsoletus Zone. Based on fusulinids, higher parts of the Seleznev Fm. belong to the Montiparus Zone of the Khamovnikian Substage, whereas conodonts suggest their correlation with lower part of the Khamovnikian Substage, i.e., with the Ratmirovo Fm. or a basal part of the Neverovo Fm. Middle part of the Seleznev Fm. is correlated to middle cycle of the Neverovo Fm. of the Khamovnikian Substage in Moscow area. The Middle-Upper Carboniferous boundary deposits of the Donskaya Luka are represented by deposits of extremely shallow-water settings and contain only sporadic microfauna. These sections cannot be considered as possible candidates for the GSSP of the Kasimovian Stage base.     

Environmental upheavals of the Ediacaran period and the Cambrian “explosion” of animal life

The second half of the Ediacaran period began with a large impact e the Acraman impact in South Australia, which was accompanied by a negative d13Ccarb anomaly and an extinction-radiation event involvi...     

The “Problem of the quaternary” and the taxonomic rank of the late cenozoic in the international stratigraphic scale

An international scientific conflict has arisen around the International Stratigraphic Scale, the main document that regulates the rules of reading of geological records and, hence, concerns all Earth sciences. The matter of debate is the geological time scale of 2004, developed by the International Commission on Stratigraphy, where the Quaternary system was abandoned. This ICS decision triggered a protest among Quaternary geologists, members of INQUA, and became the subject of much controversy. This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the Quaternary problem and proposes a reasonable scientific solution that may be appropriate for both parties.     

On the meaning of the terms “glaciation” and “interglacial” in the framework of studying paleoclimatic records from the Pleistocene continental and deep-water deposits

The terms “glaciation” and “interglacial” are considered from the point of view of palaeoclimatic proxies obtained from the Pleistocene deep-water and continental deposits. It is shown that the crucial factor in substantiation of these notions is determination of the cause-and-effect mechanism in the considered climatic oscillations. It is noted that oxygen isotope data on deep-water deposits have an undoubted advantage because a more accurate quantitative estimate of climatic oscillation parameters can be made on their basis. It is concluded that the role played by quantitative estimates of palaeoclimatic changes, represented by, first of all, amplitude and time characteristics of climatic oscillations, will become more significant as the methods of paleogeographic studies of both continental and deep-water deposits of the Pleistocene improve; in contrast, the formal determination of the rank of palaeoclimatic oscillations will become less significant. Special attention is paid to the cases of misfits between the Pleistocene deep-water and continental paleoclimatic records and to the necessity to make them consistently as good as possible, especially in the case of Early Pleistocene deposits.     

The “X component” of the radio background

The recent publication of evidence for a new mechanism producing background radio emission of the Galaxy at centimeter wavelengths (in addition to synchrotron radiation, free—free transitions in ionized gas, and the weak radio emission of standard dust) gave rise to a strong reaction among observers, and requires independent experimental verification. This signal is of special concern in connection with studies of the polarization of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) using new-generation experiments. We have derived independent estimates of the validity of the “spinning-dust” hypothesis (dipole emission of macromolecules) using multi-frequency RATAN-600 observations. Test studies in the Perseus molecular cloud show evidence for anomalous extended emission in the absence of strong radio sources (compact HII regions) that could imitate an anomalous radio spectrum in this region. A statistical analysis at centimeter wavelengths over the Ratan Zenith Field shows that the upper limit for the polarized noise from this new component in the spinning-dust hypothesis is unlikely to exceed 1 µK at wavelengths of 1 cm or shorter on the main scales of the EE mode of Sakharov oscillations. Thus, this emission should not hinder studies of this mode, at least to within several percent of the predicted level of polarization of the CMB emission.     

Curating the “Third Place”? Coworking and the mediation of creativity

Coworking spaces (CWS) and the associated practice of coworking, have emerged in numerous forms and various urban contexts to critically challenge traditional concepts of the workplace and location of creative work, while simultaneously confronting the way in which creative workers interact with and relate to each other as well as with space and to place. Heralded as a solution to increasingly atomised work patterns, CWS are imagined and presented as spaces of serendipitous encounter, spontaneous exchange and collaboration. Nonetheless, little is known about how coworking positively supports workers and how coworking relates to wider urban transformation processes has been largely un-researched. This paper contributes to a critical discussion through empirical analysis of a project aimed at establishing new creative CWS in city-centre locations across SE England. The study adopts a novel approach using Q-methodology. Motivations for coworking and benefits (or dis-benefits) of co-location are assessed, as is the extent to which coworking facilitates interactional effects and wider neighbourhood interactions. In particular, the role of the CWS manager as “mediator” is explored. Coworker benefits relate primarily to peer-interaction and support rather than formal collaboration. While CWS managers play a key connecting role, also ensuring coworker complementarity and compatibility, the coworker profile (motivations, needs, experiences) ultimately influences outcomes. The study cautions against the use of CWS as “quick fix” urban renewal tools, with little indication that the benefits of coworking reach beyond immediate members or that linkages are easily established between coworkers and local (resident or business) communities.     

Occurrence of Sn-Bearing colusite in the ore-body “T” of the Bor copper deposit, Serbia

The ore body “T” is the newly discovered massive-pyrite type one which is located in the central part of the Bor copper mine. The main copper minerals are chalcocite-digenite, covellite and enargite. Small amounts of colusite are frequently present in the ore-body. It mostly occurs as the distinct exsolutions in digenite and, associating with enargite and covellite. Composition of the studied colusite shows enriched Sn content, giving an empirical formula from Cu_24.7V_1.8Fe_0.2As_5.1Sb_0.2Sn_0.8S₃₂ to Cu_26.7V_2.0Fe_0.3A_s3.0Sb_0.3Sn_3.5S₃₂. This colusite represents a solid solution between colusite and nekrasovite within a range of 14–54 mol % nekrasovite. Most of the analyses show content of <50 mol % nekrasovite corresponding to the Sn-bearing colusite variety, while one analysis shows content of 54 mol % nekrasovite corresponding to the As-bearing nekrasovite.     

Prevenance,preservation, and transport of the detrital “coffee grounds” of the Mississippi Delta

Detrital organic fragments or “coffee grounds”, common in the swash zone, and in the lee of barrier islands off the Mississippi Delta consists of up to 40% high-volatile bituminous coal particles of medium to coarse sand size (0.25–1 mm). These coal fragments produce both a well preserved Cretaceous-Paleocene flora and a less well preserved Pottsville (Early Pennsylvanian) flora. This Pottsville flora has close affinities with one described by Kosanke (1950) from the Early Pennsylvanian Illinois Basin coals. If the provenance assignment is correct, these coal particles were transported by the Mississippi River a minimum of 1000 miles from the Interior Coal Province to their present locality in the south Pass area of the Mississippi Delta. However, spillage contamination during a century of barge transport within the Mississippi drainage cannot be ruled out as a possible source for the “coffee grounds” coal.High-volatile coals crop out in the Black Warrior Basin in Alabama to the northeast of the delta. If this is a source of the coal, then an entirely different drainage-transport system would be involved. It would invoke drainage from the Appalachian Province southward, with subsequent longshore current transport, westward — along the Gulf Coast shoreline.Heavy-mineral differences exist between these two sedimentary provinces, with the Appalachian-derived heavy minerals dominated by kyanite, staurolite, and tourmaline; and the Mississippi River Canadian Shield source dominated by amphiboles and pyroxenes. The heavy-mineral assemblage recovered from the “coffee grounds” material is more like those of the Mississippi River Province, and dominated by green hornblende.Vitrinite particles of the coals show no evidence of oxidation rims although they have been in oxygenated waters for an extended period of time during transport. The spore preservation is adequate for specific identification, and is further evidence of minimal oxidation.Coal rank analysis and palynoflora identifications provide a dual approach in reconstructing provenance, transport history, and origin of these detrital organic deposits.     

Quantitative analysis of the spectrum of the magnetic roAp star HD 83368 with “lithium” spots

Preliminary results of a synthetic-spectrum analysis of the elemental abundances in the atmosphere of the “spotted” roAp star HD 83368 are presented. The positions of two lithium spots on the star's surface are determined using an imaging technique based on the Doppler shifts for various rotation phases.     

Regionalisation of the “intensity-duration-frequency” curves in Northern Algeria

The flood events observed during last years in the urban areas are subject of main interest for quantification of the hydro-climatic risks and climatic change to the regional scales. The establishment of a statistical relationship between the intensities of intense rains and the recurrence of these events allows us to determine the dimensions of the works according to a previously defined level of risk. They constitute today a leading tool for various users. This work concerns the study of the maximum annual rains, recorded at 49 stations in the northern Algeria. The objectives of this work are to determine the estimators who are the “intensity-duration-frequency” curves and to extract from these whole of information the b Montana climatic parameter to be regionalized for the calculating the river flow and for the dimensioning of the networks of cleansing in the event of insufficiency of data. Different durations going from 15 min to 24 h are studied. We utilised the collocated co-kriging as multivariate estimation method for interpolation in order to yield the space distribution maps of b Montana climatic parameter, with the benefit of using spatially correlated secondary variables, such as the digital elevation model and the distance from the coastline that are known at any localisation. All features led to choose the digital elevation model as covariate for interpolating b Montana values, yielding a better regionalisation of the studied climatic parameter. The geostatistical handling of b Montana values strictly related to auxiliary variables that constitute physical factors overcomes the data shortage in planning, managing and preventing the rain flood risk.