Three new species ofSchizothrix Kützing (Cyanophyta) from marine algal mats

Three new species of the genusSchizothrix (Cyanophyta) have been described:Sch. gracilis, Sch. splendida andSch. constricta. They are significant members of many algal mat communities in marine shallow water and intertidal environments.     

Occurrence of Pyrodinium bahamense var. compressum along the southern coast of the Baja California Peninsula

As part of a continuing toxic microalgae monitoring program, 22 phytoplankton samples were collected from July to November 2010 at several sampling stations along the southern coast of the Baja California Peninsula. For the first time, the toxic dinoflagellate Pyrodinium bahamense var. compressum was found along the southeastern and southwestsern coasts of the peninsula. P. bahamense var. bahamense was first observed off San José del Cabo, which is an extension of the range of this variety. Both varieties occur as solitary cells. P. bahamense var. compressum occurred at temperatures ranging between 24.5 °C and 31 °C, whereas var. P.bahamense occurred at 28.5 °C to 29 °C, indicating its tropical and subtropical nature. Occurrence of P. bahamense var. compressum along this coastline may be related to El Niño 2009-2010.     

Dimensions and taxonomy of oscillatoriaceae

Summary Oscillatoria limosa Ag. material from: 1. different localities in Denmark, 2. herbarium material stored in the Botanical Museum, University of Copenhagen, 3. exsiccate material inRabenhorst: ‘Die Algen Sachsens’ and ‘Die Algen Europas’, 4. exsiccate material inWittrock andNordstedt's ‘Algae Aquae Dulcis Exsiccatae’, and, 5. exsiccate material in ‘Phytotheca Boreali Americana’ was studied for the purpose of evaluating the variation in trichome diameters. The results of measurements of altogether 7534 filaments were subjected to statistical analysis. The means and dispersions found appear from Tables 2–4. With a view to the taxonomy of Cyanophyceae the morphological problems of attenuation, calyptra formation, constriction at cross walls, coiling, direction in which living trichomes turn, variations in dimensions, and colour of trichomes are discussed. The following taxa are considered to be identical withOscillatoria limosa: Arthrospira argentina (Freng.) Guarrero and Kühnemann,O. annae van Goor fa.major Kamat,O. bharadwajae Kamat,O. corakiana var.granulata Kamat,O. curviceps Ag.,O. major Vauch cp. Forti,O. obtusa Gardner,O. ornata Kütz. var.crassa Rao,O. ornata fa.planktonica Elenk.,O. refringens Gardner,O. subbrevis fa.major G. S. West,O. subbrevis fa.crassa Dixit,O. tenuis var.subcrassa Conrad,Spirulina funiformis (Vouk) Komárek (Syn:Arthrospira funiformis Vouk,A. breviaarticulata Setch. and Gardner, andSpirulina breviarticulata (Setch. and Gardn.) Geitler). In addition it is mentioned thatO. limosa var.badia Tilden evidently belongs toO. irrigua (Kütz.) Gom.O. limosa fa.disperso-granulata (Schkorb.) Elenk. is considered to belong toO. nitida Schkorb. The validity ofO. limosa var.tenuis Seckt. must be considered doubtful. As regards toO. perornata Skuja andO. perornata var.attenuata Skuja the present author calls attention to the close relationship withO. limosa fa.disperso-granulata (Schkorb.) Elenk. andO. nitida Schkorb.     

Jurassic Progonocimicidae (Hemiptera) from China and phylogenetic evolution of Coleorrhyncha

The fossil record of Progonocimicidae of Hemiptera suborder Coleorrhyncha from China is reviewed. Ovicimex laiyangensis Hong et Wang, 1990, from the Lower Cretaceous of Laiyang, is excluded from Coleorrhyncha. The available generic name Mesocimex Hong, 1983 is resurrected from synonymy and proposed for replacement of the preoccupied name and junior homonym Mesoscytina Hong, 1983, non Mesoscytina Tillyard, 1919. It resulted in following new combinations: Mesocimex abditus (Yu. Popov, 1982) comb. n., Mesocimex ambiguus (Yu. Popov, 1985) comb. n., Mesocimex brunneus (Hong, 1983), comb. n., Mesocimex fidus (Yu. Popov, 1982) comb. n., Mesocimex intermedius (Yu. Popov, 1985) comb. n., Mesocimex kuzbasicus (Yu. Popov, 1985) comb. n., Mesocimex liliputus (Yu. Popov, 1988) comb. n., Mesocimex minutus (Yu. Popov, 1982) comb. n., Mesocimex modestus (Yu. Popov, 1985) comb. n., Mesocimex paulinus (Yu. Popov, 1982) comb. n., Mesocimex cognatus (Yu. Popov, 1982) comb. n. An annotated list of species of Mesocimex is given. In addition, a new species, Mesocimex lini sp. nov., is described based on well-preserved specimens with wings and bodies from the Middle Jurassic of Daohugou, China. This discovery supports the Middle Jurassic age of Daohugou Lagerstatte, since all species of Mesocimex are confined to the Lower-Middle Jurassic. The phylogenetic evolution of Coleorrhyncha is discussed: Cicadocorinae, Karabasiinae, Hoploridiinae, and Peloridiidae are monophyletic clades whereas Progonocimicinae and Karabasidae are clearly paraphyletic groups.     

Application of the Pi theorem to the wear rate of gouge formation in frictional sliding of rocks

A simple law of wear rate is examined for the process of gouge generation during the frictional sliding of simulated faults in rocks, by use of the Pi theorem method (dimensional analysis) and existing experimental data. The relationship between wear rate (t/d) and the applied stress can be expressed by the power-law relations $$\frac{t}{d} = C_\sigma \sigma ^{m\sigma } ,\frac{t}{d} = C_\tau \tau ^{m\tau }$$ wheret is the thickness of the gouge generated on the frictional surfaces,d is the fault displacement, σ and τ are normal stress and shear stress, respectively, andC _σ,C _τ,m _σ andm _τ are constants. These results indicate that the exponent coefficientsm _σ andm _τ and the coefficientsC _σ andC _τ depend on the material hardness of the frictional surfaces. By using the wear rates of natural faults, these power-law relationships may prove to be an acceptable palaeopiezometer of natural faults and the lithosphere.     

Stream function solutions for steady water waves

Two stream function solutions for steady two-dimensional water waves are reviewed. The algorithm developed by Dalrymple (1974, Proc. 6th Conf. Offshore Tech., pp. 843–856) and used by Hudspeth and Slotta (1978, Proceedings of the American Society of Civil Engineers,104, 319–334) is compared with the algorithm developed by Chaplin (1980, Coastal Engineering,3, 179–205). By examining more closely the near-breaking wave conditions, it is shown that celerity does not increase monotonically with increasing dimensionless wave steepness. Numerical comparisons between the two algorithms indicate that the Dalrymple algorithm is more accurate for near-breaking waves and requires less computer programming effort. Neither algorithm appears to be able to predict breaking wave conditions as accurately as the Cokelet (1977, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London,A286, 183–230) algorithm. Numerical comparisons of the Dalrymple free surface error convergence criteria with the Chaplin significant figures convergence criteria indicate that the free surface error convergence criterion is more consistent for stream function representations.     

Terrestrial,meteoritic, and lunar titanium isotopic ratios revaluated: evidence for correlated variations

Variations in the titanium isotopic ratios of various solar system materials have been reported by three laboratories. In this work we compare these data (including some new Allende inclusion values reported here) on a common basis. The data of all three groups for terrestrial samples have been found to be consistent within about ten parts per ten thousand for all ratios. The considerable disagreement in reported titanium isotopic anomalies for Allende materials has been investigated by renormalization of all published high-precision titanium isotopic ratio data to various bases in order to assess the nature, number, and loci of possible anomalies. On this basis, variations appear to be present in⁴⁶Ti and⁴⁷Ti, as well as in⁵⁰Ti. All materials reported to date can be divided into two main groups, with the only exceptions being about 10% of Allende inclusions. All but one of the materials reported to date are interpretable as mixtures of a material similar to C-1 and varying amounts (up to about 0.5% of⁵⁰Ti) of a material characterized by⁵⁰Ti/⁴⁶Ti?6 and⁴⁶Ti?⁴⁷Ti+⁴⁸Ti+⁴⁹Ti. Inclusion EK 1-4-1 requires a further component (up to about 0.5%⁴⁶Ti) characterized by⁴⁶Ti/⁴⁷Ti? 1.3and⁴⁷Ti?⁴⁸Ti+⁴⁹Ti+⁵⁰Ti.     

Note sur la famille des Oscillatoriacées

Owing to a critical examination of the taxonomic characteristics ofOscillatoria, such as gas vacuoles, calyptra, sheath, arrangement of the trichome, etc., this family has to be redefined. It is divided into two tribes:

1. The ‘Vaginariées’ or rather the Schizothricées (Oscillatoria which have developed sheaths withseveral trichomes).
2. The ‘Lyngbyées’, with or without sheath which only contain one trichome.

The first tribe includes the speciesSchizothrix (encompassingHydrocoleum, Dasygloe, Oligoclonium, Lyngbyopsis), Microcoleus (withSirocoleus) andPorphyrosiphon. The tribe of the ‘Lyngbyées’ is composed of theOscillatoria species (includingSpirulina, Arthrospira, Spirulinopsis, Glaucospira [?] andJuguspira [?]),Lyngbya (withPhormidium, Symploca, Katagnymene, Pelagothrix, Haliarachne, Proterendothrix, Cirrosiphon, Cyanohydnum) andCrinalium. The systematic position fo the four speciesIsocystis, Borzia, Sinaiella andPseudanabaena is somewhat doubtful and must be examined more closely for clarification.     

Cosmogenic and radiogenic noble gases in the Dhajala chondrite

Whole rock and chondrules of the Dhajala chondrite were analyzed for Ne, Ar, Kr and Xe by total melting as well as by stepwise heating techniques. The cosmic ray exposure ages for the whole rock and the chondrules are6.2 ± 0.8 and6.3 ± 1.0m.y. as determined by the²¹Ne method and4.8 ± 1.5 and4.2 ± 2.0m.y. by the³⁸Ar method, respectively. The K-Ar age of the whole rock is4.2 ± 0.4b.y. The elemental composition of the trapped gas in this chondrite is of “planetary” type. The radiogenic¹²⁹Xe contents in the whole rock and chondrules are similar and this component is very retentively sited in the chondrules.     

87Rb87Sr chronology of H chondrites: Constraint and speculations on the early evolution of their parent body

A precise⁸⁷Rb-⁸⁷Sr whole-rock isochron for H chondrites and an internal isochron for Tieschitz (H3) have been determined. The age and⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr initial ratio of the whole rocks are4.52 ± 0.05 b.y. and0.69876 ± 0.00040(λ(⁸⁷Rb) = 1.42 × 10^?11yr^?1). For Tieschitz, whereas handpicked separates plot on a well-defined line, heavy liquid separates scatter in the⁸⁷Rb/⁸⁶Sr vs.⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr diagram. Leaching experiments by heavy liquids indicate that they might have a sizeable effect on Tieschitz minerals. The age and⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr initial ratio as determined by handpicked separates are4.53 ± 0.06 b.y. and0.69880 ± 0.00020, indistinguishable from the whole-rock isochron.These results are interpreted as “primitive isochrons” dating the condensation of chondrites from the solar nebula. The best value of this event is given by joining both isochrons together at4.518 ± 0.026 b.y. and⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr= 0.69881 ± 0.00016. The near identity of this initial ratio with the one of Allende white inclusions argues in favor of a sharp isochronism of condensation from a⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr homogeneous nebula. Data from Guaren?a [11] and Richardton [48] are interpreted as secondary internal isochrons, 100 m.y. after the condensation of the whole rocks.The data are then used to constrain a thermal evolution model of the H chondrite parent body. This body might have a 150–175 km radius, and might have been heated by²⁶Al. An²⁶Al/²⁷Al ratio of 4–6 × 10^?6 is enough for heating such a body. Further tests for this model are proposed.     

A Nd,Sr and O isotopic investigation into the causes of chemical and isotopic zonation in the Bishop Tuff,California

The Bishop Tuff represents a single eruption of chemically zoned rhyolitic magma. Six whole rock samples spanning the compositional and temperature range yield initial⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr of 0.7060–0.7092 andδ¹⁸O of 5.9–10.3‰. Six constituent sanidines yield smaller ranges of initial⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr of 0.7061–0.7069 andδ¹⁸O of 6.7–7.9. In contrast¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd ratios for the six whole rocks and two constituent magnetites exhibit negligible variation with a mean of0.51258 ± 1. These data are used to show that the phenocrysts were precipitated from an already chemically zoned liquid, that the zoning process involved negligible assimilation of, or exchange with, country rocks and that the extreme Sr and O isotopic disequilibria are probably the result of post-eruptive interaction with meteoric water. The parent magma had?Nd = ?0.9, ?Sr = +23 andδ¹⁸O = 7‰ and was formed from mantle-derived magmas and/or melts of lower crustal rocks isotopically similar to parts of the Sierra Nevada Batholith.     

Geomagnetic solar and lunar daily variations at Alibag,India

Geomagnetic solar and lunar daily variationsS andL, at Alibag, India are derived, by the well-known Chapman-Miller method, from the series of homogeneous mean hourly magnetic data of the years 1932 to 1972. The data for all the three elements — declinationD and horizontal and vertical intensitiesH andZ — are analysed, by dividing the data suitably for a study of the seasonal variations, the effect of the changes in the solar and magnetic activities onS andL, the oceanic dynamo contribution toL, and their interactions with each other. The main results are as follows.

1. ForS the daily pattern and its seasonal progression conform to the type expected from a northern-hemisphere station. On the other hand, the amplitudes of all the four harmonics ofL systematically have higher values in winter, and inD andZ the harmonics show large phase differences between summer and winter. The pattern ofL in winter suggests that the lunar current system consists of a single set of vortices in the summer hemisphere rather than the conventional vortices, one set in each of the hemispheres.
2. Solar-cycle modulation on the solar ranges as well as on the amplitudes of the first three harmonics ofS is greater than that expected solely from the increase in E-region conductivity, whereas the corresponding modulation onL is comparable to that on the E-region conductivity.
3. With increasing magnetic activity the first harmonic ofS shows an increase, and the first three harmonics ofL indicate a general decrease, in amplitude.
4. Of the variability inS 96%, but inL only 32%, is found to be accounted for by the combined effect of the variations in the solar and magnetic activities.

     

On the physical essence of theb value for AE of rock tests and natural earthquakes in terms of fracture mechanics

The problem of physical essence of theb value forAE of rock tests and natural earthquakes has been a controversial topic during the past two decades. In the present paper the order and energy of each microfracturing of the microcrack system existing in a rock specimen is discussed from the viewpoint of fracture mechanics, then the whole series ofAE and subsequently the value ofb are determined. The order of microfracturing depends on the parametersKei/Kci whereKei is the effective stress intensity factor of thei-th microcrack andKci is the fracture toughness in the site of thei-th crack. The energy of eachAE can be expressed asηi ∫ loili Gids whereG is the energy release rate of microcarck,loi andli are the original and final crack lengths respectively andηi is the emanating efficiency for thei-th crack. If we assume that the distribution density function of microcrack lengthl isp(l)=Bl?v whereB andγ are constants, then the expressionb=3γ/2 can be deduced. Hence, we have come to the conclusion that the value ofb mirrors essentially the “crack-system-configuration” of the material, which means the distribution of the sizes, shapes and orientations of microcracks over space as well as the distribution of the other relevant physical parameters such as fracture toughness, friction coefficient, etc. Our conclusion is somewhat similar in character to Mogi’s. He concluded thet the heterogeneity of the material plays the most important role in determining the value ofb. The term heterogeneity of course covers the idea of “crack-system-configuration, but we think that our view has a little bit deeper insight to the problem than that of Mogi.     

Description de deux nouvelles Cyclotelles (Bacillariophyceae) de milieux alcalins et eutrophes:Cyclotella costei nov. sp. etCyclotella wuethrichiana nov. sp.

Two new species of the genus Cyclotella are presented which have been discovered during ecological and paleoecological research studies in the littoral zone of two small alkaline eutrophic lakes in France (Lake Paladru) and in Switzerland (Lake Le Loclat). These new species are namedCyclotella costei nov. sp. andCyclotella wuethrichiana nov. sp.     

Bemerkungen zur Systematik und Ökologie einiger mit Kalk inkrustierterPhormidiumarten

The lime incrusting species of the genusPhormidium (Cyanophyta) have been revised. Bibliographical data have been compared with results of microscopical examinations. The revision led to the following proposals:Phormidium incrustatum (Näg.) Gom.,Ph. umbilicatum (Näg.) Gom.,Ph. toficola (Näg.) Gom.,Ph. calcicola Gardner andPh. subincrustatum F. E. Fritsch are synonyms and should be namedPh. incrustatum. Likewise,Ph. calcareum Kütz.,Ph. pulvinatum Woron.,Ph. yellowstonense Prát andPh. crustaceaum Woron. are synonyms and should be namedPh. calcareum.     

A formula describing both magnetic and isotopic blocking temperatures

The following new theorem is proved: the equation E/RT_B =ln(1.781 k₀τ), where E = activation energy, R = the molar gas constant and T_B = blocking temperature, applies equally well to both the isotopic and the magnetic systems in rocks from a cooling orogen. The isotopic model involves first-order loss of daughter, while the magnetic model applies to an assemblage of single-domain grains with constant E. Dodson supplied the original proof that the equation applied to isotopic systems. The well-known superficial similarity between the concepts of isotopic and magnetic blocking is thus given quantitative expression.     

A study on the characteristics of the information dimensionD 1 of the temporal and spatial distributions of earthquakes in an active fault zone

The research of the information dimension (D ₁) in an active fault zone considers the contribution of each seismic event to information and reflects the characteristics of the temporal and spatial distributions of earthquakes from a new point of view, avoiding some short-comings of the research about the capacity dimension (D ₀). The results of calculation show that the information dimension of the temporal distribution in Xianshuihe active fault zone before Luhuo large earthquake isD ₁=0.1051. It is a consult creterion of large earthquakes in future in the fault zone. The information dimensions of the temporal distribution of the earthquakes in Anninghe active fault zone are respectivelyD ₁(t _N)=0.1363 (for the north section) andD ₁(t _S)=0.06710 (for the south section). The information dimensions of the spatial distribution are respectivelyD ₁(K _N)=1.053 (for the north section) andD ₁(K _S)=0.7758 (for the south section). The north section and the south section belong to two self-similar systems with different information dimensions respectively. The extent of the self-organization of seismic activity in the south section is higher than that in the north section. This is helpful for us to judge the major dangerous section in the key region of the seismic monitoring. The research about the information dimension of the temporal and the spatial distributions of earthquakes is significant for the exploration of active fault zones and seismic prediction.     

36Cl and53Mn in Antarctic meteorites and10Be-36Cl dating of Antarctic ice

Cosmic-ray-produced⁵³Mn (t_1/2 = 3.7 × 10⁶years) has been measured in twenty Antarctic meteorites by neutron activation analysis.³⁶Cl (t_1/2 = 3.0 × 10⁵years) has been measured in fourteen of these objects by tandem accelerator mass spectrometry. Cosmic ray exposure ages and terrestrial ages of the meteorites are calculated from these results and from rare gases.¹⁴C (t_1/2 = 5740years) and²⁶Al (t_1/2 = 7.2 × 10⁵years) data. The terrestrial ages range from 3 × 10⁴ to 5 × 10⁵ years. Many of the L3 Allan Hills chrondrites seem to be a single fall based on these results. In addition,¹⁰Be (t_1/2 = 1.6 × 10⁶years) and³⁶Cl have been measured in six Antarctic ice samples. The first measurements of¹⁰Be/³⁶Cl ratios in the ice core samples demonstrate a new dating method for ice.     

Quantification relations between the sourc eparameters

The various useful source-parameter relations between seismic moment and common use magnitude lg(M ₀) andM _s,M _L,m _b; between magnitudesMs andM _L,M _s andm _b,M _L andm _b; and between magnitudeM _s and lg(L) (fault length), lg (W) (fault width), lg(S) (fault area), lg(D) (average dislocation);M _L and lg(f _c) (corner frequency) have been derived from the scaling law which is based on an “average” two-dimensional faulting model of a rectangular fault. A set of source-parameters can be estimated from only one magnitude by using these relations. The average rupture velocity of the faultV _r=2.65 km/s, the total time of ruptureT(s)=0.35L (km) and the average dislocation slip rateD=11.4 m/s are also obtained. There are four strong points to measure earthquake size with the seismic moment magnitudeM _w.

1. The seismic moment magnitude shows the strain and rupture size. It is the best scale for the measurement of earthquake size.
2. It is a quantity of absolute mechanics, and has clear physical meaning. Any size of earthquake can be measured. There is no saturation. It can be used to quantify both shallow and deep earthquakes on the basis of the waves radiated.
3. It can link up the previous magnitude scales.
4. It is a uniform scale of measurement of earthquake size. It is suitable for statistics covering a broad range of magnitudes. So the seismic moment magnitude is a promising magnitude and worth popularization.