Focal Mechanisms and Stress Field in The Region Vogtland/Western Bohemia

We calculated focal mechanisms for 30 of the strongest events (1.5 M _L 3.3) in distinct subregions of Vogtland/Western Bohemia between 1990 and 1998. Our investigations are concerned with events of the swarms near Bad Elster (1991), Haingrün (1991), Nový Kostel (1994 and 1997) and Zwickau (1998), two events from a group of earthquakes near Klingenthal (1997) and eight single events. Seismograms were provided by the digital station networks of the Geophysical Observatory of the University of Munich, the Technical University of Freiberg, the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic in Prague, the Masaryk University in Brno and some nearby stations of the German Regional Seismic Network (GRSN). To calculate focal mechanisms two inversion methods were applied. The inferred focal mechanisms do not show a simple, uniform pattern of seismic dislocation. All possible dislocation types – strike-slip, normal and thrust faulting - are represented. The prevailing mechanisms are normal and strike-slip faulting. Considerable differences in the fault plane solutions are noted for the individual subregions as well as in some cases among the individual events of a single swarm. For the Nový Kostel area we succeeded to resolve a change in the orientations of the nodal planes for the two successive swarms of December 1994 and January 1997. Besides this we also observe a change in the mechanisms, namely from strike-slip and normal faulting (December 1994) to strike-slip and thrust faulting (January 1997). Based on the inferred focal mechanisms the stress field was estimated. It turned out, that the dominating stress field in the region Vogtland/Western Bohemia does not substantially differ from the known stress field of West and Central Europe, being characterized by a SE-NW direction of the maximum compressive horizontal stress. We conclude that the seismicity in the Vogtland/Western Bohemia region is not predominantly caused by an independent local stress field, but rather controlled by the dominating stress regime in Central Europe.     

Zum Vorkommen von Pyrophyllit,Gümbelit und Quarziten in der Kontaktaureole des Bramscher Massivs

Zusammenfassung Die geophysikalischen Untersuchungen am Störkörper von Bramsche, ca. 20 km N Osnabrück, deuten auf einen basischen Intrusivkörper in ca. 5 km Tiefe. Hohe Inkohlungsgrade in karbonischen bis kretazischen Sedimenten lassen eine starke Wärmequelle mit einem bis zu den Karbonhorsten südlich und westlich Osnabrück reichenden Kontakthof vermuten, mit einem Maximum der Inkohlung im Gebiet der geophysikalischen Anomalie.Während sich an den Karbonhorsten um Osnabrück sulfidisch-barytische Erze kretazischen Alters finden, fehlen jegliche Vererzungsspuren im Zentrum der Anomalie. Hier könnten lediglich Pyrophyllit und Quarzitisierungen im Malm des Gehns und das Vorkommen von Gümbelit im Piesberg-Karbon auf Auswirkungen der Intrusion hinweisen. Ausbildung (Faseraggregate der Phyllosilikate) und geologisches Auftreten (keine laterale Verteilung) sprechen aber für eine im weitesten Sinne lateral-sekretionäre Entstehung.Experimente vonNoll (1936) undAlthaus (1966) ergaben eine Bildungstemperatur für Pyrophyllit von ca. 390° C. Es finden sich jedoch keine pegmatitisch-pneumatolytischen oder katahydrothermalen Mobilisate in diesem Gebiet. Somit sollte die Bildungstemperatur für den Pyrophyllit niedriger gewesen sein. Selbst wenn die Bildungstemperatur bekannt wäre, wäre es schwierig, den hydrothermal gebildeten Pyrophyllit als geologisches Thermometer zu benutzen.- Geothermische Überlegungen zur Kalkulation der Intrusionstemperatur lassen sich hier somit nur noch mit Hilfe des Inkohlungsgrades vornehmen.

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Geophysical researches at the Bramsche anomaly, about 20 km north of Osnabrück in NW-Germany indicate a basic intrusive body at the depth of about 5 km. A big source of heat with a contact zone reaching to the Carboniferous horsts south and west of Osnabrück is supposed by the increase of coalification in Carboniferous up to Cretaceous sediments, which has the highest degrees of coalification in the region of the geophysical anomaly.While there are sulfide deposits with barytic gangue of Cretaceous age at the Carboniferous horsts near Osnabrück, there are no ore-traces in the centre of the anomaly. Only the occurence of pyrophyllite and quartzites in the Malm of the Gehn-hills and the occurrence of gümbelite (Mg-hydromuscovite) in the Carboniferous sediments of Piesberg-horst may indicate the influence of the intrusion. - But habit (fibre-aggregates of the phyllosilicates) and geologic occurence (no lateral distribution) of these mineralisations suggest a formation by lateral secretion in a broader meaning of the term.Experiments byNoll (1936) andAlthaus (1966) proved a temperature of about 390° C for the formation of pyrophyllite. But there are no pegmatitic-pneumatolytic or kata-hydrothermal mobilisations in this district. Therefore it is assumed that the temperature of the formation may be lower under other conditions. Even if the temperature of this formation were known, it would be difficult to use pyrophyllite — formed under hydrothermal conditions — as a geologic thermometer. - Geothermal conclusions to calculate the temperature of the intrusion are only possible by using the decrease of volatile matter of the coals.

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Résumé Les recherches géophysicales du corps failleux de Bramsche, à environ 20 km au nord d'Osnabrück font penser à un corps intrusit basique à 5 km sous la surface. De grands degrés d'houillification en des sédiments carbonifères et crétacés révèlent une forte source de chaleur avec une auréole de contact s'étendant jusqu'aux horsts carbonifères au sud et à l'ouest d'Osnabrück, avec un maximum d'houillification dans la région de l'anomalie géophysicale.Bien qu'on trouve des airains crétacés sulfurés avec barytine, aucune trace de minéralisation n'est visible au centre de l'anomalie. Ce n'est que la pyrophyllite et les quartzites dans le Malm du Gehn et l'existence de gümbelite (Mghydro-muscovite) dans le Piesberg-Karbon qui peuvent indiquer des effets d'intrusion. La structure et l'existence géologique font plutôt penser à une genèse latéralement sécrétionaire. Des conclusions géothermiques pour calculer la température d'intrusion ne sont à entreprendre qu'à l'aide du degré d'houillification.

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Meinem verehrten Lehrer, Herrn Prof. Dr. H.Harder danke ich für die Anregung zu dieser Arbeit im Rahmen einer regionalen lagerstättenkundlichen Dissertation. Für weitere Hinweise und Diskussionen bin ich Herrn Prof. Dr. B.Brockamp verpflichtet.     

Deformation und Umwandlung von Plagioklas durch Stoßwellen in den Gesteinen des Nördlinger Ries

Plagioclase from fragments of crystalline basement rocks in breccias found in the area of the Nördlinger Ries crater displays characteristic plastic deformation and phase transition phenomena due to shock metamorphism at different pressures in the range of 100 to 1000 kilobars.These phenomena are discussed in the scope of a progressive impact metamorphism the degree of metamorphism reflecting a radial gradient of pressure and temperature diminishing outward from the point of meteorite impact.Within the lowest pressure range of about 100 to 300 kilobars (shock stage I) strong fracturing and plastic deformation such as bending of crystals, deformation bands and planar features (lamellae of lowered refractive index and of lowered or no birefringence) are to be found. The lamellae which are mostly isotropic, are interpreted as slip bands the glide planes of which are low indices planes of the plagioclase lattice such as (001), (010), (100), (1¯20), (130) and others. These slip bands are unknown from feldspar formed by normal processes within the earth's crust. Plagioclase of such a stage of deformation shows an unusual strong decrease of refraction and birefringence. Its optical properties are those of a highly disordered plagioclase. It may be called diaplectic plagioclase.Total isotropization of plagioclase is a typical feature of the pressure range from 300 to 500 kilobars (shock stage II). This glass which is called diaplectic glass differs strongly from the normal glass in physical properties and structural state. It is formed by a kind of solid state transformation without actual melting.Shock pressures in the order of 500 to 650 kilobars (shock stage III) are able to cause selective melting of plagioclase grains in a crystalline rock. Normal glasses with vesicles and streaks are formed by this process.Within the pressure range of about 650 to 1000 kilobars (shock stage IV) residual temperatures are so high that total melting of rocks occurs. Plagioclase melts are mixed inhomogenously with other silicate melts forming rock melts which can be found in suevite as flat glassy bombs. Vaporization of silicates must be expected in the upper pressure range of this shock stage.Statistical universal stage measurements on the fabric of plagioclase support theoretical considerations after which the deformation pattern of a single crystal should depend on the fabric relations to the surrounding minerals and on their physical properties. Strongly inhomogenous deformation of plagioclase minerals within the microscopic rock scale was observed because polycrystalline rocks are disorganizing a unique shock front by interaction of wave fronts at interfaces and free surfaces and perhaps by multiwave shocks. Directions of compressive and tensile stresses on a mineral are therefore changing from grain to grain.     

Range imaging: a new method for high‐resolution topographic measurements in small‐ and medium‐scale field sites

Topographic measurements are essential for the study of earth surface processes. Three‐dimensional data have been conventionally obtained through terrestrial laser scanning or photogrammetric methods. However, particularly in steep and rough terrain, high‐resolution field measurements remain challenging and often require new creative approaches. In this paper, range imaging is evaluated as an alternative method for obtaining surface data in such complex environments. Range imaging is an emerging time‐of‐flight technology, using phase shift measurements on a multi‐pixel sensor to generate a distance image of a surface. Its suitability for field measurements has yet not been tested. We found ambient light and surface reflectivity to be the main factors affecting error in distance measurements. Low‐reflectivity surfaces and strong illumination contrasts under direct exposure to sunlight lead to noisy distance measurements. However, regardless of lighting conditions, the accuracy of range imaging was markedly improved by averaging multiple images of the same scene. For medium ambient lighting (shade) and a light‐coloured surface the measurement uncertainty was approximately 9 mm. To further test the suitability of range imaging for field applications we measured a reach of a steep mountain stream with a horizontal resolution of approximately 1 cm (in the focal plane of the camera), allowing for the interpolation of a digital elevation model on a 2 cm grid. Comparison with an elevation model obtained from terrestrial laser scanning for the same site revealed that both models show similar degrees of topographic detail. Despite limitations in measurement range and accuracy, particularly at bright ambient lighting, range imaging offers three‐dimensional data in real time and video mode without the need of post‐processing. Therefore, range imaging is a useful complement or alternative to existing methods for high‐resolution measurements in small‐ to medium‐scale field sites. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Hypolimnetic density currents traced by sulphur hexafluoride (SF6)

The artificial tracer sulphur hexafluoride (SF₆) has been used to study the density-driven deep water exchange between two sill-separated basins of Lake Lucerne, Gersauersee and Urnersee. The sources of the density gradients between the two basins are (1) salinity differences between the major inlets due to the different geology of their drainage areas, and (2) temperature differences due to spatial variation of wind forcing. Wind speeds are generally larger in Urnersee, especially in spring during the so-called Föhn events, when winds blow from the south. In contrast, Gersauersee is protected form these winds. In spring 1989, a total of 630 g of SF₆ was released at 80 to 120 m depth in the small Treib Basin located between Urnersee and Gersauersee. During about 100 days the distribution of SF₆ in the lake was determined by gaschromatography. Two models are used to quantify the exchange flow, (1) a one-box mass balance model for SF₆ in the deep part of Treib Basin, and (2) a one-dimensional diffusion/advection model describing the temporal and vertical temperature variation in Urnersee. According to the first model, the flow into the deep hypolimnion of Urnersee, decreases from 21·10⁶ m³·d^?1 at the end of March to about 8·10⁶ m³·d^?1 in late April. The second model yields similar flow rates. The decrease of the flow rate during spring, confirmed by both approaches, is consistent (1) with the decreasing strength of the density gradient above the sill during spring and early summer, and (2) with hydrographic information collected in Lake Lucerne during other years.     

Identification of geomorphic process units in Kärkevagge, northern Sweden, by remote sensing and digital terrain analysis

Sediment transport processes in the Kärkevagge are investigated concerning their spatial and temporal characteristics due to long–term monitoring. Within this study remote sensing techniques and GIS modelling in connection with geomorphic mapping are applied for identification and characterization of geomorphic process units. Relationships between geomorphometric parameters and slope processes like solifluction, talus creep and rockfall have been analysed. Multitemporal Landsat–TM5 scenes are used as source for landcover characteristics (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) after preprocessing involving orthorectification and topographic normalization in order to remove possible terrain–induced effects. Additionally, a digital elevation model with a resolution of 20 m for the Kärkevagge catchment is developed and parameters like slope gradient, slope aspect and profile curvature are extracted as input for the analysis of the sediment transport system. The combination of landcover information, geomorphometrical and topological features allows the definition of areas for single process activities. They show specific sediment displacement characteristics depending on material conditions, topological and geometrical features. Geomorphic process units, which show a homogenous composition, are extracted from these available layers.     

Why chromatic imaging matters

During the last two decades, the first generation of beam combiners at the Very Large Telescope Interferometer has proved the importance of optical interferometry for high-angular resolution astrophysical studies in the near- and mid-infrared. With the advent of 4-beam combiners at the VLTI, the u ? v coverage per pointing increases significantly, providing an opportunity to use reconstructed images as powerful scientific tools. Therefore, interferometric imaging is already a key feature of the new generation of VLTI instruments, as well as for other interferometric facilities like CHARA and JWST. It is thus imperative to account for the current image reconstruction capabilities and their expected evolutions in the coming years. Here, we present a general overview of the current situation of optical interferometric image reconstruction with a focus on new wavelength-dependent information, highlighting its main advantages and limitations. As an Appendix we include several cookbooks describing the usage and installation of several state-of-the art image reconstruction packages. To illustrate the current capabilities of the software available to the community, we recovered chromatic images, from simulated MATISSE data, using the MCMC software SQUEEZE. With these images, we aim at showing the importance of selecting good regularization functions and their impact on the reconstruction.     

Some remarks on certain special BDT-FRW solutions

We wish to point out that the BDT-FRW (k=1) special dust solution obtained by Dehnen and Obregón (1971) and the BDT-FRW (k=1) radiation solution given by Obregón and Chauvet (1978) are contained as special cases in the special perfect fluid Jordan-Brans-Dicke solution first given by Brill (1962). In addition we give a simple proof that the special BDT-FRW (k=1) vacuum solution given by Dehnen and Obregón (1972) does not exist. We finally consider the special case =0 and present some new solutions.