On the growth and decay of irregularities in the ionosphere

It has been demonstrated that VHF/UHF scintillation data can be used to evaluate important physical parameters such as scale sizes, strength, growth and decay of irregularities in the equatorial ionosphere. These parameters are important in constructing electroject models. It is shown that large scale irregularities are generated first which later break into smaller scale sizes. During the decay phase, the small scale irregularities disappear first after followed by large scale irregularities. The generation and destruction time of these irregularities has been estimated to be around 20 min. In addition these irregularities affect propagation of radio waves from HF to UHF range which suggests the existence of a wide spectrum of irregularities in the ionosphere. It has been found that the scale sizes of daytimeE-region irregularities are smaller than those in theF-region during night-time. The growth rate of the irregularities seems to be larger in theE-region than in theF-region of the ionosphere.     

Rocket borne studies of electron density irregularities in equatorial D and E regions

Electron density irregularities in the equatorialD andE regions have been studied using ground-based and rocket-borne experiments. In this paper this subject is reviewed with an emphasis on the rocket-borne measurements of electron density and electric field structures and other parameters relevant for identifying processes responsible for generation of electron density irregularities. These studies have led to the identification of various causative mechanisms, in terms of plasma and neutral dynamical processes for producing irregularities. Based on these mechanisms, the irregularities are classified and discussed. There are many observations which have eluded explanation and hence call for sustained efforts.     

Characteristics of low latitude ionospheric E-region irregularities linked with daytime VHF scintillations measured from Varanasi

VHF amplitude scintillations recorded during the daytime period from January 1991 to December 1993, April 1998 to December 1999 and January 2008 to December 2008 at low latitude station Varanasi (geographic lat. = 25°15′N; long. = 82°59′E; geomagnetic lat. = 14°55′N, long. = 154°E, dip angle = 37.3°, sub-ionospheric dip = 34°) have been analyzed to study the behaviour of ionospheric E-region irregularities during the active solar and magnetic periods. The autocorrelation functions, power spectral densities, signal de-correlation times are computed to study the temporal features of ionospheric E-region irregularities linked with daytime scintillations. Derived spectral index ranges between −2 and −9. Assuming velocity of irregularities, the characteristic lengths of the E-region irregularities are estimated. We have estimated the minimum and maximum range of scale length of sporadic-E (E _s ) irregularities to be observed over Varanasi. These results are in close agreement with those reported from this latitude region.     

A geometric model for the formation of deformation band clusters

Arrays of closely-spaced (approximately <70 mm) sub-parallel cataclastic deformation bands are common structures in deformed, high-porosity (∼10–35%) sandstones. The distribution of strain onto many small-displacement deformation bands is thought by some to result from strain-hardening of the cataclasite within individual bands. Examination of both normal and strike-slip faults with displacements ≤7 m from southeastern Utah, USA, and the North Island of New Zealand suggests, however, that clusters of deformation bands systematically develop at fault geometric irregularities (e.g., fault bends, steps, relays, intersections and zones of normal drag). The strain-hardening model does not account for clustering of deformation bands at fault geometric irregularities or the associated widespread coalescence of bands, and is not unequivocally demonstrated by post-peak macroscopic mechanical responses in laboratory rock deformation experiments. A geometric model is proposed in which individual bands within clusters develop sequentially due to migration of incremental shear strains at fault geometric irregularities as part of a slip localisation, asperity removal and strain weakening process. The geometric model, which does not require strain hardening of the fault rock, applies for the duration of faulting and a range of rock types in the brittle upper crust.     

广义相遇法的拓展

当地表不规则时,用广义相遇法求取的折射层速度存在较大误差,针对于此,这里提出了一种基于广义相遇法的广义相遇静校圆滑法。其步骤如下:①利用广义相遇法求出针对不同XY值的广义相遇速度解析值和时间深度值;②根据时间深度值求出"静校正量",然后从旅行时间中减去静校正量;③绘出广义相遇速度解析曲线,求出速度。其中的步骤②,是把所求的静校正量从旅行时间中减去,就是把地表的影响消除,所以得到的值基本不受地表的影响。对某一模型用此方法,取得了比较理想的效果,尤其是对于地表比较小范围的突然变化,有很明显的效果。实践证明,该方法极大地提高了传统广义相遇法求取折射层波速的精度。     

高速铁路高架线路列车运营对既有线路基的影响研究

为分析高速铁路高架线列车运行对既有线路基影响,建立桥墩-大地-既有线路基有限元模型,结合测试验证模型可靠性,分析不同行车条件对既有线路基应力状态的影响关系,讨论高速铁路轨道平顺性恶化和土体模量降低对既有线路基的影响,预测既有线路基表层累计变形。研究得到,既有线自身列车运行对路基应力状态的影响占主要地位,高速铁路运营对既有线路基应力状态的贡献度很小,不会对既有线路基使用寿命造成明显影响,高速铁路桥墩与既有线距离按限界控制即可满足要求;在轨道平顺性恶化和土体模量降低条件下,高速列车运营引起的既有线路基应力增加不超过0.5 kPa。     

Remote probing ofD-region irregularities

The nature of theD-region irregularities responsible for partial reflections is studied using amplitude, phase and range information taken at Buckland Park, South Australia, utilising a 178-dipole receiving array. Stratifications with distinct layer type structures below 80 km are noticed. A major part of the echo amplitude consists of specularly reflected signals.     

Stromatolites of the lower Missoula Group (Middle Proterozoic), Belt Supergroup,Glacier National Park,Montana

The mode of formation and environmental setting of stromatolites from the lower Missoula Group (ca. 1.1·10⁹ years old) in Glacier National Park, Montana, have been determined. The stromatolite-bearing interval in the lower Missoula Group was deposited in a shallow, intermittently exposed setting of very low relief, the stromatolites forming during periods of submergence. In situ carbonate precipitation was the dominant process involved in the formation of encrusting stromatolitic laminae. This precipitate was deposited within, and probably beneath, algal mats, most likely as a result of the photosynthetic removal of carbon dioxide by the mat-building microscopic algae. Calcite also was precipitated in several types of open-space structures occurring within these stromatolites. Other laminae were produced by the organic stabilization of detrital particles; by the solely physical accumulation of terrigenous material; and probably, by bacterially induced precipitation of iron sulfide which was later oxidized to form hematite layers.Three forms of filamentous microfossils, two of which appear to be oscillatoriacean cyanophytes and the third of which is probably either a cyanophyte or filamentous bacterium, have been detected in these structures. In addition, hematitic pillar-shaped microstructures, interpreted to have been produced by filamentous bacteria, are abundant locally.In gross morphology, the lower Missoula Group stromatolites are simple, unbranched, domal structures ranging from several millimeters to several decimeters in both height and diameter. Physical conditions played a major role in determining the macrostructure of these stromatolites. Of particular importance were the shape of the positive sediment-surface irregularities upon which the stromatolites initially formed, the rate of sedimentation between stromatolite colonies, and the deposition of layers of terrigenous material on stromatolite growth surfaces. The effect of biological factors on stromatolite structure is clearly seen in those portions of stromatolites relatively free of terrigenous material; biological activity was apparently greatest on positive irregularities of the growth surface, resulting in preferential enhancement of such irregularities and development of second- and higher-order hemispheroidal structures.     

High-precision chaotic radial basis function neural network model:Data forecasting for the Earth electromagnetic signal before a strong earthquake

The Earth’s natural pulse electromagnetic field data consists typically of an underlying variation tendency of intensity and irregularities.The change tendency may be related to the occurrence of earthquake disasters.Forecasting of the underlying intensity trend plays an important role in the analysis of data and disaster monitoring.Combining chaos theory and the radial basis function neural network,this paper proposes a forecasting model of the chaotic radial basis function neural network to conduct underlying intensity trend forecasting by the Earth’s natural pulse electromagnetic field signal.The main strategy of this forecasting model is to obtain parameters as the basis for optimizing the radial basis function neural network and to forecast the reconstructed Earth’s natural pulse electromagnetic field data.In verification experiments,we employ the 3 and 6 days’data of two channels as training samples to forecast the 14 and 21-day Earth’s natural pulse electromagnetic field data respectively.According to the forecasting results and absolute error results,the chaotic radial basis function forecasting model can fit the fluctuation trend of the actual signal strength,effectively reduce the forecasting error compared with the traditional radial basis function model.Hence,this network may be useful for studying the characteristics of the Earth’s natural pulse electromagnetic field signal before a strong earthquake and we hope it can contribute to the electromagnetic anomaly monitoring before the earthquake.     

Statistical characteristics of the Northwestern Pacific abyssal irregularities and their potential impact on the tsunami propagation

A set of echograms obtained during the course of the Pacific Transects project in the second half of 1980 was digitized with a similar step within a distance of 1 mile. Based on the processing of these materials, the spectral and statistical characteristics of the irregularities of the bottom topography of the Northwestern Pacific were obtained. It was shown that the decrease of the spectral density within the wavelength range from 2 to 100 miles is well consistent with the k^?2 law with the subdivision of the spectrum into two ranges: the small-scale (2–8 miles long and 50 m high) and medium-scale (10–40 miles long and 120 m high) ones. The dampening decrement of the tsunami wave due to the interaction with the irregularities of the bottom topography accounted for γ = 0.2 hr^?1 for the forward scattering and 0.1 hr^?1 for the back scattering. The forward scattering provides the transformation of the initial single pulse into the wave train, the delay of the maximum wave with respect to the arrival time of the tsunami, and the increase in the duration of the oscillations.     

Geomagnetic activity control on VHF scintillations over an Indian low latitude station, Waltair (17.7‡N, 83.3‡E, 20‡N dip)

Using the data of amplitude scintillations recorded at 244 MHz from the geostationary satellite, FLEETSAT (73‡E) at a low latitude station, Waltair (17.7‡N, 83.3‡E, 20‡N dip), during the increasing sunspot activity period of 1997–2000, the effect of the geomagnetic storms on the occurrence of ionospheric scintillations has been studied. A total of 60 SC storms studied during this period, following the Aarons’ criterion, reveals that the local time of onset of the recovery phase of the geomagnetic storms play an important role in the generation or inhibition of the ionospheric irregularities. Out of the 60 storms studied, nearly 60 to 70% satisfied the categories I, II and III of Aarons’ criteria. However, in the remaining 30 to 40% of the cases, no consistent results were observed. Thus, there is a necessity for further investigation of the effect of geomagnetic storms on ionospheric irregularities, particularly with reference to the altitude variations of the F-layer (h’F) relating to the changes in the local electric fields.     

MORPHOTECTONICS OF THE BASEMENT SURFACE OF THEWEST SIBERIAN BASIN WITHIN NADYM-TAZ INTERFLUVE

The map of reflecting horizon A, plotted on the basis of regional geophysical materials, yields information about the bottom topography of sedimentary cover of the West-Siberian Basin within Nadym-Taz interfluve. Through morphotectonic analysis about this surface, the authors are able to understand the distribution characteristics of the main topographic irregularities, with the block structure of the lower cover floors and underlying complexes as the focus. The largest irregularities are caused by the presence of three regional altitude steps, which show a regional tendency of basement being submerged in the north-north-east direction. Within these irregularities, the authors have distinguished some regions, which can be divided, based on the characteristics of morphostructural distribution, into two groups, i.e., areal (Nadym, Tol‘ka, Urengoy) and belt (Tarko-Sale, Russko-Chasel‘ka and Messoyakha). The first ones represent quasihomogeneous blocks, whose surfaces are complicated by irregular low-amplitude elevations and troughs and low-gradient zones with gradient values being up to 0.03, or they submerge stepwise, with the leveled areas being separated by zones with high gradients (0.07-0.15). The morphostructure ofthe other group of regions is characterized by the en-echelon distribution of contrastingly positive and negative elements with high values of slope gradients (higher than 0.1-0.2).     

Simulation of Thermal Surface Waves in a Protoplanetary Disk in a Two-Dimensional Approximation

Astronomy Reports - Theoretical models predict that the obscuration of stellar radiation by irregularities on the surface of a protoplanetary disk can cause self-generating waves traveling towards...     

On the formation of a sharp layer of metallic constituents at sunrise in the lower thermosphere

Results are presented of two instrumented rocket experiments performed from an equatorial station, one at night and the other shortly after sunrise. The ion neutral composition as well as electron density and the amplitude of plasma irregularities were monitored. During the latter flight, a sharp layer of ionisation with its lower boundary at 100 km was observed. The layer had a half width close to 1 km and a peak electron density of 5·6× 10⁴cm^?3. Large amplitude of plasma irregularities, noticed on the negative gradient portion of the layer indicates a downward direction of the polarisation electric field during the observations. The resulting downward drift of photoions as they are produced at sunrise followed by the local decrease of the drift is suggested to be the cause of the layer formation at that altitude. The long lasting nature of such layers once identified on ionograms indicates that they are constituted of metallic ions possibly of micrometeoritic origin deposited overnight in the lower thermosphere. The required photoionisation rate of production of the metallic ions at sunris eis about 2 cm^?3 sec^?1.     

On the origin of ringing irregularities—A meteor hypothesis

Journal of Earth System Science - Isolated ionospheric irregularities produce oscillating (ringing) diffraction patterns on the ground. Typical physical properties such as density, size, etc. of...     

Structures at the base of the Upper Group 2 chromitite layer, Bushveld Complex, South Africa, on Karee Mine (Lonmin Platinum)

Exposures in a now-infilled pit mined for platiniferous UG2 chromitite in the Bushveld Complex, South Africa, are described. The layer of chromitite is underlain by anorthosite, providing a dramatic colour contrast. The interface between these two rock types shows evidence of various scales of irregularities. In plan view, small circular depressions, less than 3 cm across and 5 mm deep, occupy about 20% of the surface. Between them, the contact is planar. The anorthosite, immediately underlying the chromitite, has a planar fabric visible in thin sections that is not disturbed beneath these small depressions. Another set of depressions occurs, about 40 cm in diameter and with variable depth (< 40 cm). Again they are approximately circular. Larger structures, called potholes, reach several metres. No regular distribution pattern is apparent in any of these structures.

Several possible processes are reviewed for the origin of these irregularities, especially the small-scale structures, but none explains all the features noted. These processes include remelting, diapirism, impact-generated dimpling, gas escape, and interference rippling. We present a photographic record of these structures, but present no definitive model for their interpretation.     

Morphological signatures of fault lines in an earthquake prone zone of southern Baromura hill, north-east India: a multi source approach for spatial data analysis. A critical review

In a recent work, Dey et al. (Environ Earth Sci 59:353–361, 2009) presented some new observations on the southern part of one of the anticlinal ridges of Tripura, viz. the Baromura range. The work incorporated a number of irregularities and misinterpretations that need to be addressed to avoid future confusion. The present article critically reviews Dey et al.’s paper to bring out its inaccuracies.     

The role of slump scars in slope channel initiation: A case study from the Miocene Jatiluhur Formation in the Bogor Trough,West Java

This paper investigates slope channel initiation by seabed irregularities that were initially formed by slump scars in the lower to middle Jatiluhur Formation, part of the middle- to late Miocene successions in the Bogor Trough, West Java. This Miocene succession is up to 1000 m thick in the study area, and is interpreted as a prograding slope–shelf system that formed during a period of falling- and lowstand stages in relative sea level. The lower part of the formation is a siltstone-dominated siliciclastic succession, containing slump deposits, slump-scar-fill deposits, and minor channel-fill deposits, which formed in slope and shelf-margin environments. In contrast, the middle part, which gradationally overlies the lower part, is characterized by shallow-marine carbonates.The slump-scars-fill deposits have an overall lenticular geometry, and are 140–480 m wide and 0.4–1.6 m thick. Some have distinct erosional bases, which cut into the underlying siltstones, in association with medium- to coarse-grained sandstones with lateral-accretion surfaces and tractional structures common in channel-fill deposits. The incident link of slump-scar-fill deposits and channel-fill deposits in the prograding slope–shelf succession of the lower to middle Jatiluhur Formation suggests that some slump scars formed incipient seabed irregularities that may have played an important role in the development of slope channels. The present study provides one example of the various potential mechanisms that can result in channel formation in a slope setting.     

Fractal Modelling of the Microstructure Property of Quartz Mylonite During Deformation Process

Mylonite is the result of the dynamic metamorphism and minerals in mylonite are deformed gradually with an increase in the degree of metamorphism. Quantifying the degree of deformation including the irregularities of shapes and the frequency distribution of the minerals becomes one of the most challenging efforts in mylonite analysis. Fractal modelling has been demonstrated in this paper to be an effective mean to achieve the above goal. Perimeter-Area fractal model was used to quantify the irregularities in the geometries and Cumulative Number-Area model is used to characterize the irregularities of distribution of quartzs in mylonites, respectively. Examples of quartz from five types of mylonites with different degree of deformation within the foreland of the Moine Thrust Zone in NW Scotland are chosen to study the evolution processes of deformation. As the main mineral component of quartzite mylonite, patterns are extracted from digital photomicrographics of the multiscale-grey image grid data to show quartz grains with different degree of deformation, The areas and perimeters of the quartz grains were calculated by GIS-based image processing technologies. From type one to type five, with an increase in degree of deformation, the corresponding Perimeter-Area exponent increases from 1.20, 1.28, 1.38, 1.46, to 1.60, respectively, the fractal dimension of the perimeter from 1.07, 1.08, 1.17, 1.23, to 1.44, as well as the exponent of Cumulative Number- Area from 0.50, 0.51, 0.58, 0.82, to 0.85, respectively. The result has shown that as increase of the intensity of deformation, the shape of quartz grains tends to be more irregular, grain size tends to be smaller, and the number of grains increases. The results obtained using GSI model has indicated that as an increase in the intensity of deformation, the patterns of quartz grains tends to be more stratified and randomness increases.     

北京地区地震地质条件及地震地面运动反应分析

本文利用北京市地下地质、地震及震害等资料,选定了城区西北部震害异常带下伏的基岩凹陷作为研究对象,应用经过扩展的SAP5二维结构动力分析程序进行了动力有限元分析,结果表明:1.二维动力有限元分析解决了不规则的埋藏基岩地形对地面地震反应问题。2.埋藏基岩地形的起伏对地震地面运动的影响是明显的。3.既便只输入S波,也有可观的竖向运动分量产生。4.埋藏基岩凹陷地形的地震地面运动反应与震害异常带有成因上的联系。