Numerical simulations of non-ergodic solute transport in three-dimensional heterogeneous porous media

Numerical simulations of non-ergodic transport of a non-reactive solute plume by steady-state groundwater flow under a uniform mean velocity, , were conducted in a three-dimensional heterogeneous and statistically isotropic aquifer. The hydraulic conductivity, K(x), is modeled as a random field which is assumed to be log-normally distributed with an exponential covariance. Significant efforts are made to reduce the simulation uncertainties. Ensemble averages of the second spatial moments of the plume and the plume centroid variances were simulated with 1600 Monte Carlo (MC) runs for three variances of log K, _Y²=0.09, 0.23, and 0.46, and a square source normal to of three dimensionless lengths. It is showed that 1600 MC runs are needed to obtain stabilized results in mildly heterogeneous aquifers of _Y²0.5 and that large uncertainty may exist in the simulated results if less MC runs are used, especially for the transverse second spatial moments and the plume centroid variance in transverse directions. The simulated longitudinal second spatial moment and the plume centroid variance in longitudinal direction fit well to the first-order theoretical results while the simulated transverse moments are generally larger than the first-order values. The ergodic condition for the second spatial moments is far from reaching in all cases simulated and transport in transverse directions may reach ergodic condition much slower than that in longitudinal direction.     

Analysis of State of Stress During The 1997 Earthquake Swarm In Western Bohemia

Focal mechanisms of 70 events of the January 1997 earthquake swarm were analysed using the Gephart and Forsyth method to determine the state of stress in the West Bohemia/Vogtland region and to reveal possible stress variations during the swarm activity. The method was applied to the whole set of 70 focal mechanisms and to several subsets distinguishing magnitudes of events and the spatial and temporal distribution of the swarm. The three representative stress models A ( ₁ ,A: 0/45 (az/dip), ₂ A: 134/35, ₃ A: 243/25), B ( ₁ ,B: 162/38, ₂ B: 263/14, ₃ B: 10/49), and C ( ₁ C: 135/30, ₂ C: 1/50, ₃ C: 239/23) which could characterise the state of stress in the region were found. Model C can be considered to be the most probable stress model because of its consistency with the European stress field. The results of the stress analysis applied to the individual subsets of focal mechanisms indicate that the state of stress was more uniform during the first phase of the swarm. To distinguish between the fault plane and the auxiliary plane of fault plane solutions a statistical approach was used. The results showed that the fault planes striking NW-SE and dipping 45° to NE were activated during the swarm.     

Zur Analyse der Genauigkeit von mehrmals mit einer Gravimetergruppe gemessenen gravimetrischen Verbindungen

Summary In order to evaluate the accuracy of measurements repeated by a set of gravimeters the semi-systematic errors ₂ and ₃ were introduced besides the random error ₁ in[1]. It is shown that Eqs.(10) and(11), given in[1], should not be used to determine these errors, but Eqs.(8) and(9).     

On the diffusion of the perturbing toroidal magnetic field from the core to the mantle

Zusammenfassung Es werden die Wurzeln einer charakteristischen Gleichung für die Randbedingung der Diffusion des toroidalen magnetischen Störungsfeldes berechnet, das in dünner Schicht unterhalb der Grenze Kern — Mantel, als eine Folge von Störung der Winkelgeschwindigkeit dieser Schicht in Anwesenheit des magnetischen Dipolfeldes induziert wird. Die Wurzeln werden für verschiedene Werte des Verhältnisses der Leitfähigkeit des Erdmantels und Erdkerns ausgerechnet. Es wird gezeigt, dass das aus dem Milieu mit der elektrischen Leitfähigkeit in das Milieu mit elektrischer Leitfähigkeit _m diffundierende toroidale magnetische Störungsfeld vom Werte _m/<10^–2 an von dem Verhältnis elektrischer Leitfähigkeiten beider Milieus unabhänging bleibt.     

Frequency dependent electrical properties of minerals and partial-melts

The resistance to current flow of minerals and partial-melts is a frequency dependent electrical property. Measurements of the frequency dependent electrical impedance of single crystal olivine, polycrystalline olivine, dunites, metapelites, and partial-melts, between 10^–4 and 10⁵ Hz, when plotted in the complex impedance plane, reveal arcs that correspond to different conduction mechanisms in the material being studied. In polycrystalline materials, two impedance arcs related to material properties (as opposed to electrode properties or electrode-sample interactions) are observed. Each impedance arc is activated over a distinct range of frequency, that is, the mechanisms occur in series. Based on experiments comparing single and polycrystalline impedance spectra, experiments on samples with different electrode configurations, and on samples of varying dimension, the mechanisms responsible for these impedance arcs are interpreted as grain interior conduction ( _gi ), grain boundary conduction (in polycrystalline materials; _gb ), and sample-electrode interface effects, from highest to lowest frequency, respectively. Impedance spectra of natural dunitic rocks reveal analogous behavior, that is, _gb and _gi add in series. The grain boundaries do not enhance the conductivity of any of the materials studied (a direct result of the observed series electrical behavior) and, under certain conditions, limit the total conductivity of the grain interior-grain boundary system. By examining the frequency dependence of the electrical properties of partial-melts, it is possible to gain information about microstructure and the distribution of the melt phase and to determine the conditions under which the presence of melt enhances the total conductivity. Impedance spectra of olivine-basalt partial-melts indicate that at least two conduction mechanisms occur in series over the frequency range 10^–4-10⁵ Hz, similar to the observed electrical response of melt-absent polycrystalline materials. In a sample containing isolated melt pockets the intermediate frequency grain boundary impedance arc is modified by the presence of melt indicating series conduction behavior. In a sample with an interconnected melt phase the high frequency grain interior impedance arc is modified by the melt phase, indicating the initiation of parallel conduction behavior. Because field EM response versus frequency curves are used to derive conductivity versus depth profiles, it is important to perform laboratory experiments to understand the frequency-dependent electrical behavior of Earth materials. Activation energies determined from studies that measure conductivity at a single frequency may be erroneous because of the shift of the dominant conduction mechanism with frequency as temperature is varied.     

Variation of certain parameters of regional stress tensor under condition of rockburst hazard

The feasibility of gaining valuable geomechanical information derived from seismological data and its specialist interpretation for utilisation in the area of assessing hazards due to mining tremors and rockbursts has become a development of signal importance in mining seismology. Undoubtedly of particular interest is a certain knowledge of the directions of the principal stresses ₁, ₂, ₃ of the regional stress tensor. For their determination, use is made of a set of parameters from the mining tremors' regional focal mechanism solutions (angular parameters of nodal planes and axes of principal stresses in the tremor focus —P andT). Results of research conducted at the Szombierki and Wujek mines and analysis of calculated results for parameters of regional stress tensor show that there exist appreciable differences between values of these parameters and also a clear correlation with local extraction conditions that is of significance from the point of view of seismic hazard.     

Velocity changes associated with generalized triaxial deformation of pyrophyllite

Compressional and shear-wave velocities (V _p andV _s ) were measured during the generalized triaxial deformation (i.e. _{1 2}=2 ₃) of pyrophyllite. Observed velocity changes could be ascribed to crack development during dilatancy. Velocity changes were very localized with respect to the ultimate failure plane. The orientation and development of the failure plane was continuously observed with laser holography. Velocity reverals, i.e. changes from a decreasing trend to an increasing trend, were documented in a wet sample in bothV _p andV _s . These changes in bothV _p andV _p are inconsistent with dialatancy-diffusion models. The reversals were interpreted as a reflection of local stress reorientation caused by a slowly propagating fault.     

A note on the stress-dilatancy relation for simulated fault gouge

Theoretical constraints on the stress-dilation relation for a deforming Coulomb material requirev ifC=0 andv sin^-1( _m / _m ) always, wherev is the dilation angle, is the friction angle,C is cohesion, _m is the maximum shear stress, and _m is the mean effective stress. Recent laboratory measurements of friction and dilatancy of simulated fault gouge show that small amplitude shear-load cycling causes compaction and consolidation. Comparison of the data with theory indicates that such load cycling produces: (1) increased coefficient of friction (or friction angle), (2) increased cohesion, and (3) increased dilatancy rate (or dilation angle). Under certain conditions of load cycling without significant plastic shear strain accumulation ( ^p <0.005) we find thatv exceeds both and, in contrast to theory, sin^-1( _m / _m ). This result is interpreted in terms of enhanced cohesion and overconsolidation, which lead to residual stresses within the gouge. An analogy is drawn between these special loading conditions and those extant on natural faults. In particular, our results imply that jostling and minor stress variations associated with microearthquakes may produce strengthening of fault gouge and changes in the fault zone's stress-dilatancy relation. Hence, compaction associated with microseismicity may lead to subsequent dilation of fault gouge, even for faults with large displacement rates and large net offsets (e.g., San Andreas). In regions where such dilation persists over sufficient displacements (on the order of the critical slip distance for seismic faulting) it may tend to inhibit unstable slip.     

Tidal currents and residual currents at Norderney,Elbe 1, and Aussen-Eider lightships and their variation under the influence of prevailing winds

Summary Four hourly current-and wind observations during the years 1924–1927 at the German lightvessels Norderney, Elbe 1, and Aussen-Eider were subjected to harmonic analysis with emphasis on the influence of the wind on the residual as well as on the tidal current. The tidal current is strongest at Elbe 1 and weakest at Aussen-Eider. The half-monthly inequality of the current is strongly influenced by a ₂ tidal component. Wind influences the velocity, phase and duration of ebb-and flow current in a systematic way at Norderney and Elbe 1. Deviations from the mean tidal current are caused mainly by the change in wind direction rather than by wind velocity. The mean residual current is weak at the three stations. But wind driven currents have a velocity up to 5 times as great as the mean residual current and reverse their direction with the wind. The annual variation of the mean residual current, however, is caused only to a small part by the annual wind variation.Abbreviations used in this paper Gr. M. Tr. Greenwich moon transit, i.e. Greenwich civil time of the upper or lower transit of the moon through the meridian of Greenwich - C _n computed tidal current at M1/2Hn - C _n ^m computed mean tidal current at M1/2Hn - M _n Moon-half hour mean, i.e. mean of all current velocities observed during M1/2Hn - M.A. Moon age of an observation, true Greenwich time of Gr.M.Tr. directly preceeding the time of observation, expressed in 12 integral numbers, each representing M.A. falling in 12 different hourly intervals - M1/2H Moon-half hour, 1/2 of the interval between one moon transit and the next, i.e. 1/24 of 12h25m - R _n ^o ,R _n ^' ,R _n ^" residual current computed by harmonic analysis ofn M1/2H means of the mean current, the current at weak winds, and the current at strong winds respectively - d.o.f. degrees of freedom - standard deviation ofC _n fromM _n - ^* mean standard deviation ofC _n fromM _n for analysis with weighted means - A _o Standard error of the residual currentA _o - AB standard error of the harmonic coefficientsA ₁,B ₁,A ₂,B ₂,... - S ₂ Phase of the current componentS ₂     

Identity of the characteristics of electrodynamic seismographs with non-standard periods of seismometers and galvanometers

Summary The maximum changes of magnification were determined for electrodynamic seismographs with standard characteristics and for some experimental long-period seismographs, the constants of which are given in Tab. 1, when the period of the seismometer or galvanometer has a deviation of not more than 5% from the standard value. Under the assumption of control of the other constants of the seismograph, identical amplitude and phase responses with a small change of the absolute magnification of the seismograph may be achieved with characteristicsAII ( ² >0.2), AIV ( ² 0.4), B ( ² >0.3) Nos28, 32 and33. This deviation can also be compensated by adjusting the optical distance. The procedure of adjusting the identical characteristics is suitable for systems with which an accurate setting of the period is difficult and for systems with an uncontrollable period, provided their values are within the limits of allowed deviations from the standard constants.     

Solution of stochastic groundwater flow by infinite series,and convergence of the one-dimensional expansion

This paper investigates analytical solutions of stochastic Darcy flow in randomly heterogeneous porous media. We focus on infinite series solutions of the steady-state equations in the case of continuous porous media whose saturated log-conductivity (lnK) is a gaussian random field. The standard deviation of lnK is denoted . The solution method is based on a Taylor series expansion in terms of parameter , around the value =0, of the hydraulic head (H) and gradient (J). The head solution H is expressed, for any spatial dimension, as an infinite hierarchy of Green's function integrals, and the hydraulic gradient J is given by a linear first-order recursion involving a stochastic integral operator. The convergence of the -expansion solution is not guaranteed a priori. In one dimension, however, we prove convergence by solving explicitly the hierarchical sequence of equations to all orders. An infinite-order stochastic solution is obtained in the form of a -power series that converges for any finite value of . It is pointed out that other expansion methods based on K rather than lnK yield divergent series. The infinite-order solution depends on the integration method and the boundary conditions imposed on individual order equations. The most flexible and general method is that based on Laplacian Green's functions and boundary integrals. Imposing zero head conditions for all orders greater than one yields meaningful far-field gradient conditions. The whole approach can serve as a basis for treatment of higher-dimensional problems.     

Sealing law of far-field spectra based on observed parameters of the specific barrier model

A set of acceleration source spectra is constructed using the observed parameters of the specific barrier model of Papageorgiou and Aki. The spectra show a significant departure from the ²-model at the high frequency range. Specifically, the high frequency spectral amplitudes of seismic excitation are higher as compared to the level predicted by the ²-model. This is also supported by other observational evidence. The high frequency amplitudes of acceleration scale proportionally to the square root of the rupture areaS, to the rupture spreading velocityv, and to the local strain drop (/) (=strain drop in between barriers). The local strain drop in between barriers is not related in a simple way to the global strain drop, which is the strain drop estimated by assuming that it is uniform over the entire rupture area. Consequently, the similarity law does not apply. Using the source spectra which we constructed, we derive expressions for high frequency amplitudes of acceleration such asa _rms anda _max. Close to the fault both are independent of fault dimensions and scale as (/µ)(f)^1/2, while away from the fault plane they scale asW ^1/2(/µ)(f)^1/2, whereW is the width of the fault and f is the effective bandwidth of the spectra.     

Dispersion of surface plumes in the Southern North Sea

Summary Continuous releases of fluorescent dye were made in the southern North Sea and the power law dependence of the plume width, represented by _y , against the diffusion time determined. The spreading was non-Fickian and could be represented in the form _y ² =B ² t whereB was a diffusion velocity of magnitude 1.4×10^–2 m/s. Such spreading was reproduced in both particle tracking and finite difference plume models by allowing the horizontal diffusivity,K _H, to depend linearly on diffusion time. The weakness of this method is that it is not clear how the diffusion parameters can be extrapolated to weather conditions that are different to those prevailing at the time of the experiments. However, comparable spreading rates were obtained by combining a Fickian diffusion model with an advective field that represented the near-surface current shears due to wind and waves. The resulting shear diffusion effect produced realistic simulation of the observed dispersion rates. An advantage of this approach is that it enables predictions to be made over a range of weather conditions provided that the wind and wave shears can be accurately parameterized.

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Ausbreitung von Tracerwolken an der Oberfläche in der südlichen Nordsee

Zusammenfassung Fluoreszierender Farbstoff wurde in der südlichen Nordsee kontinuierlich freigesetzt und die Breite der Wolke, repräsentiert durch _y , in Abhägigkeit von der Ausbreitungszeit bestimmt. Die Ausbreitung folgte nicht dem Fickschen Ansatz und konnte in der Form _y ² =B ² t dargestellt werden, wobeiB eine Ausbreitungsgeschwindigkeit von der Größenordnung 1.4×10^–2 m/s darstellt. Eine derartige Ausbreitung wurde sowohl mit Modellen des Partikel-Tracking als auch mit Modellen der finiten Differenzen reproduziert, wobei die horizontale AusbreitungsgrößeK _H linear von der Diffusionszeit abhängig war. Die Schwäche dieser Methode ist, daß es nicht klar ist, wie die Diffusions-Parameter für andere Wetterbedingungen als zur Zeit des Experiments zu extrapolieren wären. Vergleichbare Ausbreitungsverhältnisse werden durch die Kombination eines Fickschen Diffusionsmodells mit einem advektiven Feld erreicht, welches die oberflächennahen durch Wind und Wellen verursachten Stromscherungen berücksichtigt. Der so resultierende Scher-Diffusions-Effekt erbrachte ein realistische Simulation der beobachteten Ausbreitung. Ein Vorteil dieses Vorgehens ist, daß es Vorhersagen über einen Bereich von Wetterbedingungen ermöglicht, vorausgesetzt, daß die durch Wind und Wellen verurschte Scherung zutreffend parameterisiert werden kann.

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La dispersion de la panache de surface dans la partie sud de la Mer du Nord

Résumé A partir de déversements continus de produits fluorescents effectués dans la partie sud de la Mer du Nord, on a pu déterminer l'expression de la largeur du panache _y , par son carré en fonction du temps de diffusion. La dispersion n'était pas du type Fickian et était représentée sous la forme _y ² =B ² t aB était une vitesse de diffusion de grandeur égale 1.4×10^–2 m/s. Une telle dispersion peut être reproduite par une modélisation du panache à la fois par suivi de particules et aux différences finies en admettant que le coefficient de diffusion horizontaleK _H dépendait linéairement du temps. L'inconvénient de cette méthode est qu'il n'est pas facile de savoir comment les paramètres de diffusion peuvent être extrapolés à des conditions météorologiques différentes de celles prévalant au moment des expériences. Quoi qu'il en soit, des taux de dispersion comparables ont été obtenus en combinant un modèle de diffusion Fickian avec un champ d'advection qui représentait les cisaillements de courant de surface dus au vent et aux vagues. L'effet de diffusion du cisaillement résultant produisit une simulation réaliste des taux de dispersion observés. Un avantage de cette approche est de rendre possible des prédictions réalisées à travers un éventail de conditions météorologiques à condition que les cisaillements liés au vent et aux vagues puissent être paramétrisés avec précision.

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Mean densities of Pre-Devonian sedimentary rocks in Poland and their depth dependence

Summary Since 1945 in Poland density measurements have been completed on drilling samples to obtain data for reduction and interpretation of geophysical results. In this paper the developments in density measurements techniques and data processing in Poland are reviewed. Mean density maps have been constructed for the following Pre-Devonian divisions: Volhynian, Valdai and Subholmian Cambrian, Holmian and Protoolenus Cambrian, Middle Cambrian, Lower Ordovician, Middle Ordovician, Upper Ordovician, Lower Silurian, Middle Silurian, Upper Silurian. On the basis of the same data the dependence of mean densities on the present depth of all the above divisions has been examined. This dependence has been approximated by regression equations of the following type: (h)= ah + b , (h) = ah² + bh + c, (h)= alnh + b((h): mean density,h: present depth). In addition to the coefficients of these equations the correlation coefficient, regression standard error, and confidence intervals have been calculated. Analysis of the results obtained revealed a dominant effect of compaction on the mean density values. Hypotheses have been presented concerning other geological factors responsible for the variation of these values. Regression curves constructed for the individual stratigraphic horizons served to estimate the maximum earlier depth of the Palaeozoic rocks of the Holy Cross Mountains and their vertical displacement. Similar studies have been completed for two adjacent boreholes situated in the Bug River depression. Their results indicate that mean density values can readily serve to estimate the amount of vertical tectonic displacement.     

Mass transport in rotatory tidal currents

Summary A perturbation method is used to calculate steady non-linear effects in rotatory tidal currents. The inclusion of the Coriolis acceleration leads to a uniquely determined second order current system in the tidal stream. This is shown to be absent in high frequency gravity waves. It is found that particle drift, or mass transport, is critically dependent on this mean current, and consequently on the value off/,f being the Coriolis parameter, and the angular frequency of the oscillation.     

Anisotropic magnetic susceptibility of rocks under mechanical stresses

Summary The magnetic susceptibility of a rock under a uniaxial compression () decreases along the axis of compression and increases along the direction perpendicular to the axis, with an increase of . Thus, the magnetic susceptibility of a compressed rock becomes anisotropic.The decrease of longitudinal susceptibility,K (), and the increase of transverse susceptibility,K (), are theoretically derived from a model of rock which assumes the uniaxial anisotropy and the isotropic magnetostriction of magnetic minerals in rocks and a random orientation of the minerals. Results show thatK () decreases toward zero whereasK () increases and approaches a finite asymptotic value with an increase of , and –(/)K () is twice as large as /K () for small values of . These results are in good agreement with experimental data.

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Zusammenfassung Die magnetische Suszeptibilität eines Steines unter zunehmender uniachsigen Druckspannung () nimmt ab längs der Achse der Druckspannung und nimmt zu längs der Richtung senkrecht der Achse. Somit wird die magnetische Suszeptibilität des gedrückten Steines anisotrop.Die Abnahme der longitudinalen Suszeptibilität,K (), und die Zunahme der transversalen Suszeptibilität,K (), werden theoretisch von einem Modell eines Steines hergeleitet, das die uniachsige Anisotropie, die isotrope Magnetostriktion, und eine nichtbevorzugte Orientierung der magnetischen Minerals im Stein annimmt. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass mit einer Zunahme des ,K () gegen Null abnimmt, währendK () zunimmt und sich einem begrenzten asymtotitschen Wert nähert und, dass für kleine Werte des , –(/)K () zweimal so gross wie /K () ist. Diese Ergebnisse stimmen gut mit den Versuchangaben überein.

     

On the Upper Bound of the Liquid Core Viscosity

By using Molodensky and Sasao (1995a) and Molodensky and Groten (1998) an approach of expansion in powers of the small parameter =(+)/ (where + and are the frequencies of nutational motion in space and in a mantle-fixed reference frame, respectively, is tidal frequency) a theory of diurnal Earth tides and nutation for a realistic model of the Earth with an inhomogeneous, viscous liquid core and an anelastic mantle is constructed. It is shown that our approach is self-consistent for semi-annual, annual, and principal nutational components (when ||1/180). By comparing the results of modern VLBI-nutational data and the results of our calculations, we have found the region of possible values of the parameters which describe the anelastic properties of the Earth's lower mantle and the viscosity of the liquid core. It is shown that modern VLBI-data are about six orders of magnitude more sensitive to the liquid core viscosity than modern seismic data or Earth free oscillations data.     

Source characteristics of the 1992 Nicaragua tsunami earthquake inferred from teleseismic body waves

We analyzed the broadband body waves of the 1992 Nicaragua earthquake to determine the nature of rupture. The rupture propagation was represented by the distribution of point sources with moment-rate functions at 9 grid points with uniform spacing of 20 km along the fault strike. The moment-rate functions were then parameterized, and the parameters were determined with the least squares method with some constraints. The centroid times of the individual moment-rate functions indicate slow and smooth rupture propagation at a velocity of 1.5 km/s toward NW and 1.0 km/s toward SE. Including a small initial break which precedes the main rupture by about 10 s, we obtained a total source duration of 110 s. The total seismic moment isM _o =3.4×10²⁰ Nm, which is consistent with the value determined from long-period surface waves,M _o =3.7×10²⁰ Nm. The average rise time of dislocation is determined to be 10 s. The major moment release occurred along a fault length of 160 km. With the assumption of a fault widthW=50 km, we obtained the dislocationD=1.3 m. From andD the dislocation velocity isD=D/0.1 m/s, significantly smaller than the typical value for ordinary earthquakes. The stress drop =1.1 MPa is also less than the typical value for subduction zone earthquakes by a factor of 2–3. On the other hand, the apparent stress defined by 2E _s /M _o , where andE _s are respectively the rigidity and the seismic wave energy, is 0.037 MPa, more than an order of magnitude smaller than . The Nicaragua tsunami earthquake is characterized by the following three properties: 1) slow rupture propagation; 2) smooth rupture; 3) slow dislocation motion.     

Die Sonnenstrahlung und ihre Messung

Summary History and results of a 41/2-years-expedition to Argentine. A determination of the sun's «temperature» can only be given by the laws ofBoltzmann-Stefan andWien, because the temperature of the different layers is different. In the measurements of the sun's radiation the law ofBoltzmann-Stefan was introduced (T ⁴, where is a constant, andT the Kelvin-Temperature) while in the passed 100 years the difference between the sun's and the instruments radiation was taken as radiation, although this difference was arbitrariously variable with the instruments temperature. The effect of the vertical exchange of airmasses, on the radiation of the sun and the radiation of the air between the sun and the instrument was cleared. With these corrections one can not receive more as the difference between the so called solar constant and the albedo of the atmosphere. If the highest values are used (smallest albedo) the approximated value of the solar constant becomes 2.4, corresponding well to the value, derived from the supposed temperature of the sun.     

Crustal stress in Iceland

Hydrofracturing stress measurements have been carried out to about 0.4 km in two boreholes in Quaternary volcanic rocks in Reykjavik, Iceland, on the flank of the Reykjanes-Langjökull continuation of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The measurements indicate a dominant orientation of _{H max} approximately perpendicular to the axial rift zone, in contrast to earthquake focal mechanism solutions from within the axial rift zone of the Reykjanes Peninsula. In one hole (H32) a depth-dependent change in stress orientation is indicated, with ₁ horizontal above a depth of about 0.25 km, and vertical below it; however the orientation of _{H max} remains unchanged. The data thus suggest reconciliation of an apparent conflict between the dominantly compressive indications of shallow overcoring stress measurements and dominant extension as required by focal mechanism solutions. The measured stresses are supported by the more reliable of overcoring measurements from southeast Iceland, and by recent focal mechanism solutions for the intraplate Borgarfjördur area. A fundamental change in crustal stresses appears therefore to occur as a function of distance from the axis of the axial rift zone. The data seem reasonably explicable in terms of a combination of thermoelastic mechanisms associated with accretion and cooling of spreading lithosphere plates. Stresses directly associated with the driving mechanisms of plate tectonics apparently do not dominate the observed stress pattern.