Palaeointensity results for historic lavas from Mt Etna using microwave demagnetization/remagnetization in a modifiedThellier-type experiment

The bane of conventional Thellier-type palaeointensity experiments is the thermal alteration of the samples during experimentation. However, high-frequency microwaves can be used to stimulate the magnetic minerals directly, thus eliminating the need for the bulk sample to be heated ( Walton et al . 1993 ). The microwave technique has been successfully applied to ceramics ( Shaw et al . 1996 , 1999 ), and here we present results for historic lavas from Mt Etna, Sicily. 20 samples were randomly selected from 10 different historic flows dating from 1843 to 1983. Hysteresis parameters were monitored as a check for alteration during experimentation and minimal alteration was found. Rock-magnetic analysis and AF plus microwave demagnetizations were carried out on all samples, and microwave intensity analysis was carried out on those samples that were stable to microwave demagnetization (16 in total). With one exception, all samples gave high-quality intensity results. Two or three subsamples from each sample were investigated and a weighted average calculated to give a single estimate of the field. When the intensity values were compared with the SV model based on direct observatory measurements ( Bloxham & Gubbins 1985 ), it was found that those samples that contained a high multidomain (MD) component gave intensity values around 20 per cent lower than expected. This can be explained by the cooling rate effect ( Dodson & McClelland-Brown 1980 ) and/or the presence of an MD component ( McClelland et al. 1996 ). Those samples with the lowest numbers of MD grains gave field values which, within error, were the same as those for the model, or slightly too high: this is compatible with the cooling rate effect.     

Geological and geomorphological evolution of the Etna volcano NE flank and relationships between lava flow invasions and erosional processes in the Alcantara Valley (Italy)

In this paper, the interrelationships between volcanic activity and fluvial events in the Alcantara Valley are investigated. Based on the correlation between the stratigraphy of the NE flank of Mt Etna and subsurface data, the geological and geomorphological evolutions of the valley are reconstructed. New 1:10 000 scale geological mapping shows that the bulk of this sector of the volcano is made up of the Ellittico volcano lava flows, though they are widely covered by the products of the eruptive activity of the last 15 ka. The present-day morphological setting of the Alcantara Valley is the result of two main evolutionary phases initiated during the activity of the Ellittico volcano. Only one lava flow invasion of the valley floor occurred in the first phase. This phenomenon was followed by a long period of erosional processes leading to the entrenchment of the drainage pattern and the erosion of the Ellittico lava flow. About 20–25 ka ago, an important change in the frequency of the lava flow invasions into the valley occurred associated with the final stage of the Ellittico volcano activity marking the beginning of the second phase. During this phase, volcanic processes became predominant with respect to other morphogenetic processes in the Alcantara Valley. Lava flows coming from the NE flank of the Ellittico volcano caused a radical modification of the morphological setting of this area, even though only one lava flow emitted by an eruptive fissure located within the valley partially filled the riverbed. During the eruptive activity of the last 15 ka, the complete filling of the Alcantara Valley floor occurred. In particular, between 15 and 7 ka, a lava flow originated from the Mt Moio scoria cone filled the valley floor for a distance of about 9 km. Following a short period of erosion, an eruptive fissure located within the valley generated a 20–21-km-long lava flow that was channelled along the full extent of the Alcantara Valley and stretches for about 3 km offshore in the Ionian sea. In the last 7 ka, lava flows originating from the NE-Rift zone produced only temporary damming of the riverbed without any important contribution to the filling of the Alcantara Valley.     

大青山、蛮汗山外生菌根真菌资源调查

室外调查与室内观察鉴定结果表明：1．大青山、蛮汗山外生菌根真菌资源极为丰富。其中大青山已知存在78种外生菌根真菌，隶属于15科，3l属；蛮汗山已知存在79种外生菌根真菌，隶属于15科，32属。2．在高海拔阴坡和半阴坡，与青海云杉、落叶松共生的主要为牛肝菌属、乳菇属、红菇属、丝膜菌属；与阔叶树共生的以鹅膏科为最多。3．在中低海拔地区与松属共生频率最高的是乳牛肝菌属；与杨、桦共生最多的是杯伞属、桩菇属、蘑菇属。4．通过分离，在大青山、蛮汗山先后分别获得珍贵菌根菌10种、12种。5．在分离的菌根菌中乳牛肝菌属中的大部分种为油松、樟子松的优秀菌根真菌。     

南迦巴瓦峰与托木尔峰山地垂直自然带的比较

南迦巴瓦峰地处喜马拉雅山脉东端雅鲁藏布江大拐弯的内侧，托木尔峰地处天山山脉的西端，二者独特的自然地理特征及其高大的山体为山地垂直自然带谱的形成和发展提从了十分有利的自然环境，发育了相当完整的山地垂直系列。比较二者的垂直带谱，可以发现无论在垂直带谱的形成条件，基带，性质和结构类型，还是景观特征，垂直分异影响因素及南北坡差异程度等方面，都存在着较大的差异。南峰垂直带谱为以森林－草原－荒漠土壤系列为特征的季风性湿润，法湿润带谱系统，垂直分异的主导因素为温度；托峰垂直带谱为以荒漠－－草原－荒漠土壤系列为特征的大陆性干旱带谱系统，垂直分异的主导因素为湿度。不同的垂直自然带特征决定了不同的资源开发利用和保护措施。     

湖南省山地旅游气候资源的深度开发利用——以衡山和雪峰山为例

利用衡山高山气象站(1952-1996年)和湖南雪峰山高山气象站(1973-1989年)的气象资料,以衡阳和吉首同期的气象资料作为参照,分析了衡山及雪峰山的山地气候特点,指出(1)湖南的山地(如衡山和雪峰山等)是盛夏休闲避暑的好去处,具有进一步综合开发利用的价值; (2)为了充分利用山地特殊的气象景观资源,应掌握好气象景观(如云雾、日出、雪和雾凇等)出现的最佳时机,加大宣传力度,适时开辟专门的气象景观旅游线路; (3)可以利用山地独特的气候条件如云雾等开发特色旅游产品.     

Modelling of ground deformation and gravity fields using finite element method: an application to Etna volcano

Elastic finite element models are applied to investigate the effects of topography and medium heterogeneities on the surface deformation and the gravity field produced by volcanic pressure sources. Changes in the gravity field cannot be interpreted only in terms of gain of mass disregarding the ground deformation of the rocks surrounding the source. Contributions to gravity changes depend also on surface and subsurface mass redistribution driven by dilation of the volcanic source. Both ground deformation and gravity changes were firstly evaluated by solving a coupled axisymmetric problem to estimate the effects of topography and medium heterogeneities. Numerical results show significant discrepancies in the ground deformation and gravity field compared to those predicted by analytical solutions, which disregard topography, elastic heterogeneities and density subsurface structures. With this in mind, we reviewed the expected gravity changes accompanying the 1993–1997 inflation phase on Mt Etna by setting up a fully 3-D finite element model in which we used the real topography, to include the geometry, and seismic tomography, to infer the crustal heterogeneities. The inflation phase was clearly detected by different geodetic techniques (EDM, GPS, SAR and levelling data) that showed a uniform expansion of the overall volcano edifice. When the gravity data are integrated with ground deformation data and a coupled FEM modelling was solved, a mass intrusion could have occurred at depth to justify both ground deformation and gravity observations.