Orientation of the Earth by numerical integration

Recent research in the department has involved determining the value of lunar observations in the determination of geodetic and selenodetic control. A fundamental consideration in the research is the determination of the orientation of the Earth in the celestial coordinate system. Classical reductions for precession and nutation can be expected to be consistent with the present day observations, however, corrections to the classical theory are difficult to model due to the large number of coefficients involved. Consequently, a portion of the research has been devoted to numerically integrating the Eulerian equations of motion for a rigid Earth and considering the six initial conditions of the integration as unknowns. Comparison of the three adjusted Eulerian angles from the numerical integration over 1000 daysindicates agreement with classical theory to within 0.003 seconds ofarc. This work was performed under NASA Contract No. NAS 9-13093. Presented at the International Symposium on Computational Methods in Geometrical Geodesy, Oxford, September 2–8, 1973.     

A Geostatistically Based Ground Water Monitoring Study of Nonpoint Source No3--N Concentrations

Geostatistical interpretations of ground water monitoring data are presented to define the spatial distributions of NO₃^--N in the ground water at two demonstration test sites in the Idaho Snake River Plain. Sequential Gaussian simulation was used to delineate monthly ground water NO₃^--N changes during and after implementation of a prescribed crop rotation at test site 1. Trend surface analyses were used to illustrate monthly ground water NO₃^--N changes during and after a prescribed irrigation practice was implemented at test site 2. These evaluations suggest that geostatistically based ground water monitoring can be effective in the delineation of changes in ground water quality in shallow, unconfined aquifers in agricultural areas such as those in southern Idaho. Geostatistical methods showed spatial and temporal changes in ground water NO₃^--N inferred to be a result of the agricultural practices implemented.     

Inferred Palaeoproterozoic arc rifting along a consuming plate margin: insights from the stratigraphy,volcanology and geochemistry of the Kangerluluk sequence,southeast Greenland

The 200- to 300-m-thick volcano-sedimentary sequence in the Kangerluluk Fjord, associated with penecontemporaneous and late-tectonic dykes, as well as a synvolcanic plutonic suite, represents an integral component of the Palaeoproterozoic Ketilidian Mobile Belt, south Greenland. The ca. 1808-Ma Kangerluluk supracrustal sequence contains four distinct mappable lithofacies: (a) a conglomerate-sandstone lithofacies; (b) a pyroclastic lithofacies; (c) a volcanic lithofacies; and (d) a peperite lithofacies. The volcanic lithofacies, up to 200 m thick, is characterized by shallow-water subaqueous brecciated and pillowed flows. Flows are either (a) feldspar-phyric, or (b) feldspar-pyroxene-phyric, with 0.2- to 3-cm-size plagioclase and 0.2- to 3-cm-size pyroxene that constitute between 20 and 30% (locally up to 50%) of the flows. Mafic dykes intruded wet unconsolidated pyroclastic lithofacies, resulting in the formation of peperites. Geochemically, the volcanic and pyroclastic units represent a distinct tholeiitic magmatic suite enriched in incompatible trace elements including Th, La, Yb, Zr and Nb, and exhibiting (La/Yb)_n~10. The plutonic suite and associated dykes display a calc-alkaline trend with enriched LREE and unfractionated flat HREE patterns, La_n ranging between 50 and 100, (La/Yb)_n ratios between 8 and 22, and negative Nb and Ti anomalies on the mantle-normalized, incompatible multi-element patterns. The pillowed flows lie in the continental flood basalt field on the Y-Nb-Zr discrimination diagram, and display a Nb anomaly and K₂O-enrichment that collectively suggest a crustal component and/or a subduction-modified mantle source. The geology, stratigraphy of the Kangerluluk area and geochemistry can be used to infer a change in magma genesis from arc to rift volcanism. The 1850- to 1800-Ma calc-alkaline Julianehåb batholith represents a magmatic arc that rifted during crustal extension, allowing for the ascent of mantle-derived mafic magma. The geochemistry of the mafic volcanic flows, synvolcanic dykes and pyroclastic deposits favours a crustal component in magma genesis and offers new insights into the tectonic evolution of the Ketilidian Mobile Belt.     

Paleogeographic and paleotectonic response to magmatic processes: a case history from the Archean sequence in the Chibougamau area,Quebec

The Chibougamau area, Québec, is characteristic of the internal zone of the Archean Abitibi Orogenic Belt. The paleogeographic, paleotectonic and magmatic history of the Archean sequence in the Chibougamau area is subdivided into three stages.In the first stage a submarine volcanic chain formed mainly by the effusion of submarine lava flows composed of primitive, potash-poor, tholeiitic basalt. The volcanic chain gradually grew to sea level. In the second stage, volcanic islands emerged and grew. Mainly pyroclastic eruptions of strongly differentiated, calc-alkaline andesite and dacite concentrated on the volcanic islands, whereas effusion of basalt continued at first in the surrounding basin. A felsic volcaniclastic apron was deposited around the volcanic islands. In the third stage, the volcanic islands were uplifted and were eroded to the level of their subvolcanic plutons. The debris derived from this volcanic-plutonic terrain was deposited in downfaulted marine and continental basins. The contemporaneous volcanism was shoshonitic.The first paleogeographic stage is interpreted as the growth of an immature island arc. During the second stage, the island arc became mature and its crust was thickened by accretion of plutonic material. The third stage is a period of back-arc extension.

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Zusammenfassung Das Gebiet von Chibougamau, Québec, ist characteristisch für die interne Zone des Archaischen Abitibi Orogens. Man kann seine paleogeographische, paleotectonische und magmatische Geschichte in drei Phasen gliedern.Eine submarine Vulkankette formte sich in der ersten Phase, hauptsächlich durch Effusion von submarinen Lavaergüssen aus primitivem, kaliarmen, tholeiitischem Basalt. Die Vulkankette wuchs langsam bis zum Meeresspiegel. Vulkanische Inseln bildeten sich und wuchsen während der zweiten paleogeographischen Phase. Vorwiegend pyroklastische Eruptionen von stark differenzierten, kalk-alkalischem Andesit und Dazit konzentrierten sich mehr und mehr auf den Inselvulkanen, während die Effusion von Basalt zunächst in den Becken noch stattfand. Ein Mantel aus felsitischen vulkanoklastischen Gesteinen wurde um die Inselvulkane abgelagert. Die dritte Phase begann mit einer Hebung der Inselvulkane und mit ihrer Erosion bis zum Niveau ihrer subvulkanischen Plutone. Der Detritus dieses vulkanisch-plutonischen Geländes wurde in marinen und kontinentalen Verwerfungsbecken abgelagert. Der gleichalte Vulkanismus ist shoshonitisch.Wir deuten die erste paleogeographische Phase als Wachstumsphase eines primitven Inselbogens. Während der zweiten Phase reifte der Inselbogen und seine Kruste verdickte sich durch Akkretion plutonischen Materials. Die dritte Phase ist eine Periode der Dehnung im Hinterland eines Inselbogens.

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Résumé La région de Chibougamau, Québec, est caractéristique de la zone interne de la ceinture orogénique archéenne de l'Abitibi. Son évolution paléogéographique, paléotectonique et magmatique se subdivise en trois phases.Lors de la première phase paléogéographique, une chaîne sous-marine de volcans se formait, essentiellement par l'émission de coulées de lave composée de basalte primitif, hypopotassique, tholéiitique. Graduellement cette chaîne volcanique s'élevait jusqu'au niveau de la mer. A la phase suivante, des îles volcaniques émergeaient et croissaient. Des éruptions essentiellement pyroclastiques d'andésites et de dacites calco-alcalines et fortement différenciées se concentraient sur les îles tandis que l'effusion de laves basaltiques continuaient dans le bassin. Un manteau de roches volcaniclastiques felsiques se déposait autour des îles volcaniques. Lors de la troisième phase, les îles volcaniques furent soulevées et furent érodées jusqu'au niveau des masses plutoniques sub-volcaniques. Le débris de ce terrain volcano-plutonique fut déposé dans des bassins de faille marins et continentaux. Des shoshonites dominaient le volcanisme contemporain.Nous interprétons la première phase paléogéographique comme une phase de croissance d'un arc insulaire immature. Lors de la deuxième phase, 1'arc insulaire devenait mature et sa croûte s'epaissît par accrétion de matériel plutoni-que. Enfin, la troisième phase est une période d'extension en arrière d'un arc insulaire.

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Further considerations on combining earth rotation observations from different space geodetic systems

Additional results are presented concerning a study that consider improvements over present Earth Rotation Parameter (ERP) determination methods by directly combining observations from various space geodetic systems in one adjustment. Earlier results are extended, showing that in addition to slight improvements in accuracy substantial (a factor of three or more) improvements in precision and significant reductions in correlations between various parameters can be obtained (by combining Lunar Laser Ranging (LLR), Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR) to Lageos, and Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) data in one adjustment) as compared to results from individual systems. Smaller improvements are also seen over the weighted means of the individual system results. Although data transmission would not be significantly reduced, negligible additional computer time would be required if (standardized) normal equations were available from individual solutions. Suggestions for future work and implications for the new International Earth Rotation Service (IERS) are also presented.     

Effects of adopting new precession,nutation and equinox corrections on the terrestrial reference frame

First, the paper is devoted to the effects of adopting new definitive precession and equinox corrections on the terrestrial reference frame: The effect on polar motion is a diurnal periodic term with an amplitude increasing linearly in time; on UT1 it is a linear term. Second, general principles are given the use of which can determine the effects of small rotations (such as precession, nutation or equinox corrections) of the frame of a Conventional Inertial Reference System (CIS) on the frame of the Conventional Terrestrial Reference System (CTS). Next, seven CTS options are presented, one of which is necessary to accommodate such rotations (corrections). The last of these options requiring no changes in the origin of terrestrial longitudes and in UT1 is advocated; this option would be maintained by eventually referencing the Greenwich Mean Sidereal Time to a fixed point on the equator, instead of to the mean equinox of date, the current practice. Accommodating possible future changes in the astronomical nutation is discussed in the last section. The Appendix deals with the effects of differences which may exist between the various CTS's and CIS's (inherent in the various observational techniques) on earth rotation parameters (ERP) and how these differences can be determined. It is shown that the CTS differences can be determined from observations made at the same site, while the CIS differences by comparing the ERP's determined by the different techniques during the same time period. Presented at XVIII General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union Patras, Greece, August 17–26, 1982.