Comparison Between the Nutations of the Planet Mars and the Nutations of the Earth

The nutations of the planets Mars andEarth are investigated and compared. Alarge number of interior structureparameters are involved in the nutationcomputations. The comparison between the observations and the computationsprovides several constraints on these parmeters andtherefore allows a better understanding of the physics of the interior of theplanet. For the Earth, the high precision of the observations of the nutationshas led to a very good determination of interior properties of the planet. ForMars, observations of nutations are not yet available, and we review how theamplitude of the Martian nutations depends on the hypotheses consideredfor its interior. Although Mars is very similar to the Earth, its interior is not well known;for example, we don't knowif its core is liquid or solid. Only if the core is liquid,the Free Core Nutation (FCN) normal mode exists and can alter the nutationswhich are close to the resonance. From the observed geoids, it is known thatboth planets are not in hydrostatic equilibrium. The departure is larger forMars than for the Earth, and consequently, the implication of considering a convective mantle instead of a mantle in hydrostatic equilibrium described byClairaut's equation for the initial equilibrium state of the planet is largeron the Martian nutations than on the Earth nutations. The consequences of theuncertainty in the core dimensions are also examined and shown to be of a veryhigh influence for Mars if the core is liquid, due to the potential changes inthe FCN resonance. The influence of the presence of an inner core, which isknown to exist for the Earth, could be more important for Mars than for theEarth if the inner core is large. Due to the presence of Tharsis on Mars, thetriaxiality of this planet has, additionally, larger effects than on Earth.     

The effect of the pollution of the ground layer of the atmosphere on the albedo

Summary A simple model is proposed suitable for studying the effect of the ground layer of the atmosphere, polluted by aerosol, on the albedo. This model is founded on solving the equation of transfer of radiative energy. The numerical results are discussed, particular attention being paid to the analysis of errors due to neglecting the multiple reflection of solar radiation on the aerosol particles. A method which would also include the multiple reflection is proposed, and the conditions under which the presence of the aerosol is responsible for an increase or decrease of the solar radiation balance on the Earth's surface, are analysed.     

On the use of the autocorrelation method for estimating the depth to the magnetic basement

The depth to the top of magnetic dykes can be estimated from total field aeromagnetic data using the relation between the depth to magnetic sources and the autocorrelation function of magnetic data. By using synthetic anomalies we show that in the ideal case, depth can be determined to an accuracy of 10% or better, when the anomaly sources are two-dimensional dykes. However, the estimated depths depend on the width of the dykes. The estimated depth is about 0.6 times the actual depth to the top of thin dykes, and around the true depth for thick dykes having width-to-depth ratio around 3. The depth is considerably overestimated for very thick dykes (e.g., contacts, which is a special case of the thick dyke). Thus, the autocorrelation method requires that the width-to-depth ratio of the dyke is estimated independently to correctly estimate the depths. Alternatively, it must be assumed that the width-to-depth ratio for the two-dimensional source body is between 1.5 and 4.     

On the synchronism in the events within the core and on the surface of the earth: the changes in the organic world and in the polarity of the geomagnetic field in the phanerozoic

The data on geomagnetic reversals are compared with the changes in the organic world and with the lower-mantle plumes. The times of the formation of plumes and the times of their appearance on the Earth’s surface relate to the intervals characterized by the different frequencies of geomagnetic reversals, i.e., there is no interrelation between the formation of plumes and the frequency of the changes in the geomagnetic field polarity. At the same time, a certain synchronism is observed between the frequency of the geomagnetic reversals and the boundaries of the biostratigraphic ages, i.e., the changes in the organic world in the long-period range. A hypothesis is proposed, which explains the change in the sign of the geomagnetic field by the combined effect of the irregular rotation of the internal core relative to the mantle and the changes in the slope angle of the axis of the Earth’s rotation, which, in turn, results in synchronous events on the Earth’s surface: the rates of changes in the organic world.     

On the nearly axially-symmetrical model of the hydromagnetic dynamo of the earth

A short review of the present state of the nearly axially-symmetrical dynamo model is given. A simplified theory for hydromagnetic dynamos taking into account the forces acting in the Earth's core is considered. The role of weak core-mantle friction is discussed and a form of solution is suggested which is characterized by a large geostrophic velocity in the core and by a boundary layer of a new type. The consequences of such a model (called model Z) for the Earth's dynamo are discussed.     

On the variability of the Charnock constant and the functional dependence of the drag coefficient on wind speed

A model for the air–sea interface, based on the coupled pair of similarity relations for “aerodynamically” rough flow in both fluids, is presented, which is applied to fetch-limited and high wind speed conditions which occur, for example, in hurricanes. It is shown that the specification of the maximum 10-m drag coefficient and the 10-m wind speed and the peak wave speed at which it occurs are sufficient to uniquely determine the drag law, which asymptotes at low wind speeds to a Charnock constant similar to that for the fully developed wind wave sea and is almost independent of the peak wave speed at the maximum in drag coefficient. A feature of the drag law is that it is of Charnock form, almost independent of the wave age, consistent with the transfer of momentum to the wave spectrum being due to the smaller rather than the dominant wavelengths. The analysis is also applied to a variable sea state in which either the surface wind or the surface Stokes drift vary, but the peak wave speed is kept constant. The corresponding variability in the Charnock constant is in general accord with observations.     

Existence of the solutions and the attractors for the large-scale atmospheric equations

The atmosphere is a kind of fluid surrounding therotating earth, and its state can be described by thevelocity vector v, the temperature T, the density ρ, andthe pressure p at each point. Its evolution process isessentially governed by the Navier-Stockes equationand the temperature equation. Due to the specialty andthe complexity of the atmospheric problem, althoughsome modified and simplified work have made onthese fluid mechanics and temperature equations, theyare still a very complex forc…     

上地幔各向异性分析中地壳的影响

应用伪谱法研究了地壳各向异性对上地幔各向异性分析的影响. 用几种不同情况下的两层各向异性模型,模拟了全波场,着重分析了不同深度观测点上的剪切波分裂特征. 结果表明,当地壳为各向同性或其各向异性主轴与上地幔重合或相互垂直时,在地壳观测到的快、慢剪切波的偏振方向保持了上地幔中的偏振方向;重合时,快、慢波走时延迟增大;垂直时,走时延迟减小. 当地壳的各向异性主轴与上地幔成一般夹角时,其粒子运动轨迹变得十分复杂,不能直观地识别上地幔各向异性中的快波方向,对走时延迟也有一定的影响. 将常用的两种分析方法应用于对模拟结果的反演,发现当地壳各向异性与上地幔各向异性方向为一般夹角时,反演结果会出现较大的误差或误判. 进而提出解决这一问题的方法,一是综合多种方法的结果;二是由拟合残差或相关系数等值线作进一步的确定.     

太平洋中部地磁台11年周期变化的研究

综合APIA、HONOLULU、PAMATAI 3个地磁台三分量的11年周期变化的形态后,可定性地提出该变化源于内场。如内源为核幔边界的电涡流,则其中心点应位于3台之间。     

华北盆地北缘香河—皇庄断裂晚更新世以来活动性研究

香河—皇庄断裂位于华北盆地北缘,是京津唐地区一条重要的NE向断裂构造。浅层人工地震反射剖面探测发现,香河—皇庄断裂在廊坊市香河县西马家窝地区表现为一条NE－SW走向的NW倾正断层,剖面上呈铲状,上部略陡,向下逐渐变缓;其对大厂凹陷东缘没有明显的控制作用,为一条新近纪以来形成的断裂,切穿了前中生界基底,且第四纪以来仍有活动。通过部署于断层两侧的构造观察孔岩芯对比及测年数据判断,(6.69±5.6) ka以来香河—皇庄断裂无活动,其上断点很可能位于距地表15～30 m范围内,大致相当于晚更新世早期;在中更新世上部地层中,香河—皇庄断裂存在1.5～1.8 m的垂直落差。香河—皇庄断裂现阶段处于不活动状态,未来发生中强地震的可能性较低。     

On the Mechanism of the Secular Tidal Acceleration of the Solid Inner Core and the Viscosity of the Liquid Core

As is known, the secular deceleration of the Earth's diurnal rotation is explained mainly by the tidal friction in the ocean. Below we consider this mechanism in some detail, taking into account also elastic deformations of the mantle under the action of ocean loading and the interaction between the tide-generating body, ocean tidal wave, liquid outer core, and solid inner core. It is shown that elastic displacements of the core-mantle boundary under the action of ocean loading are of about the same amplitude and phase as the elastic loading displacements of the Earth's outer surface. As a result, side by side with the mechanism of secular deceleration of diurnal rotation of the mantle, there are also (1) the opposite mechanism of secular acceleration of diurnal rotation of the outer liquid core and of the solid inner core and (2) the mechanism of excitation of differential rotation in the liquid core. Taking these effects into account, we compare theoretical and modern observed data on the eastward drift of the solid inner core. It is shown that the best agreement may be obtained if the turbulent viscosity of the liquid core is about 2 × 10 ³ Poise     

On the intensity of the geomagnetic field in the geological past

A detailed analysis of the data on the intensity of the geomagnetic dipole and frequency of its reversals presented in the world’s paleointensity databases provided the arguments in favor of the hypothesis of the negative correlation between the average virtual dipole moment (VDM) and the frequency of the reversals on the interval from 5 Ma to 100 Ma ago. However, the statistical confidence level of this hypothesis is only 60–70%, which is far below 95%, the standard required confidence level of a hypothesis to be considered statistically reliable. At a high level of confidence (above 99%), the presence of a positive correlation between the mean value and variance of VDM for a number of intervals of stable polarity in the Cenozoic and Mesozoic is confirmed. This finding means that the distribution of VDM on these time intervals is certainly non-Gaussian and is rather described by the gamma- or lognormal law. At the same time, in contrast to the earlier intervals, the histogram of VDM for the Brunhes epoch is closer to the normal distribution. Compared our conclusions with the published results on the numerical modeling of the geodynamo, we found that they are consistent in terms of a probable negative correlation between the average VDM and reversal frequency, as well as the lack of correlation between the average VDM and the length of the interval of stable polarity.     

On the thermal evolution of the earth

The two principal contributions to the surface heat flow of the earth are the cooling of the earth and the heat production of radioactive isotopes. As the rate of heat production decreases with time the temperature of the interior of the earth also decreases. The rate of decrease is determined by the ability of solid-state mantle convection to transport the heat to the surface. The dominant effect is the exponential temperature dependence of the mantle viscosity. The non-dimensional mantle temperature can be parameterised in terms of the Rayleigh number for mantle convection. It is found that the mantle is currently cooling at a rate of 36°K/10⁹ years and that three billion years ago the mean temperature was 150°K higher than it is today; 83% of the present surface heat flow is attributed to the decay of radioactive isotopes and 17% to the cooling of the earth. The corresponding mean concentration of uranium in the mantle is 32 ppb.     

活动支座摩擦力对桥梁抗震性能的影响参数分析

利用摩擦单元模拟了活动支座摩擦力在桥梁地震反应分析中的作用,以一座6跨连续梁桥为例,通过改变其计算参数得到不同的计算模型,对各模型进行时程反应分析,得到不同参数模型的固定墩墩底弯矩的减震率。发现在某些情况下出现了负减震率并进行了原因分析。通过不同参数模型减震牢的对比,分析了各计算参数对固定墩墩底减震率的影响。建议对于考虑支座摩擦后自振周期接近场地卓越周期的桥梁考虑活动支座摩擦作用。     

黎城盆地北缘黎城断裂的地球物理特征及活动性分析

黎城断裂是晋获断裂构造带上的重要构造单元,查明其构造特征具有重要意义。在黎城盆地北缘针对黎城断裂进行了地球物理勘探和地质考察,对黎城断裂的活动性进行研究。浅层地震勘探和高密度电法勘探的结果表明,黎城断裂是一条第四系活动断裂,倾角较陡。地质剖面考察的结果表明晋获断裂受黎城断裂的影响明显,南北段存在巨大差异。综合以上研究成果,判断黎城断裂为第四系活动断裂,其对晋获断裂的控制作用明显。     

基于台阵记录的局部场地条件地震动效应分析

基于自贡西山公园山体地形影响台阵和唐山响堂土层场地台阵的地震动记录, 采用互相关分析、 相干系数分析、 傅里叶谱比法和考虑相干系数的傅里叶谱比法, 对比研究了山体地形和土层场地两种局部场地条件对地震动的影响。 结果表明, 局部场地条件下的地震动效应与地震波的频率成分相关。 低频地震波由于其波长较长, 易于穿过土层场地和山体地形发生衍射, 从而导致二者地震动显著相关, 但二者在该频段的地震动场地效应差异不大; 较高频率的地震波由于其波长较短, 更容易受土层场地条件和山体地形条件的影响, 造成二者地震动场地效应差异显著。 此外, 由于山体顶部的尺寸变小, 低频长波长地震波容易在该位置发生衍射, 导致山顶周边测点的地震动相关性增加, 而较高频率的地震波则容易引起山顶局部场地发生共振效应。 山体地形上相邻位置的地震动差异一般较大, 相关性较低, 这与山体地形不同位置的几何形状对较高频率的地震波影响有关; 山底基岩的地震动受山体地形的影响较小, 该位置的地震动效应机制尚需作进一步研究。      

Convection currents in the Earth's mantle and the spherical harmonic development of the topography of the earth

Summary A system of simple principles concerning the kinematics of the convection currents in the Earth's mantle was postulated as the starting point. The mantle is supposed to become more and more homogeneous downward. Here it is essential, for the reason of symmetry, that the current system has a degree of regularity as high as possible and is modified only in the upper part, mainly due to the distribution of continents and oceans. The adequate system is chosen by the help of the theory of point groups. Evaluating the distribution to be expected of the coefficients of the spherical harmonic development of the Earth's theoretical topography by means of electronic computers, accordance is found for the extrema to the 31 st order, i.e. as far as they have been determined until now. — The system yields the seismic discontinuities of the Earth's mantle as a secondary product. That does not mean that the system explains them, but it is absolutely consistent with them. That seems to be aquantitative proof of the system regarded as probable on the strength of group-theoretic considerations.Report No. 74, lectured in Potsdam, May 7, 1970.     

On the evolution of the geothermal regime of the North China Basin

Recent heat flow and regional geothermal studies indicate that the North China Basin is characterized by relatively high heat flow compared with most stable areas in other parts of the world, but lower heat flow than most active tectonic areas. Measured heat flow values range from 61 to 74 mW m⁻². The temperature at a depth of 2000 m is generally in the range 75 to 85°C, but sometimes is 90°C or higher. The geothermal gradient in Cenozoic sediments is in the range 30 to 40°C/km for most of the area. The calculated temperature at the Moho is 560 and 640°C for surface heat flow values of 63 and 71 mW m⁻², respectively. These thermal data are consistent with other geophysical observations for the North China Basin. Relatively high heat flow in this area is related to Late Cretaceous-Paleogene rifting as described in this paper.     

On the choice of the acceptable seismic risk

The proper choice of the acceptable seismic risk requires an accurate cost-benefit analysis. As is well known these analyses present considerable difficulties if one wishes to face the problem in a general way from the technical point of view. Besides, there are no generally accepted criteria for formulating a quantitative evaluation of the intangibles, among which the most important is the risk to human life. However, it appears indispensable that research should be started in the field which leads to some numerical results In this paper a simplified analytical model is proposed and the problem of intangibles is discussed. The basic idea is that the comparison with other risks is the most realistic instrument for the choice of an acceptable level of the specific considered risk. The conclusion reached is that a fundamental index for comparison and decision is the incremental cost of investment necessary to save, on average, one human life a year. An evaluation of such an index, valid as a first approximation, is given for this simplified model.     

On the possible density inversion in the upper mantle of the earth

The possible density inversion throughout seismic wave-guides beneath ocean basins and continental structures (without shields) is discussed in accordance with upper-mantle velocity models, thermodynamic properties of deep matter and temperature profiles. The problem is numerically solved. No density inversion in the upper mantle beneath ancient shields is indicated.