Reversals of the geomagnetic field,magnetostratigraphy, and relative magnitude of paleosecular variation in the phanerozoic

The percentage of normal and reversed magnetization in land-based paleomagnetic studies of Phanerozoic rocks (0 to ? 570 m.y.) have been compiled in order to determine the long-term variation in polarity bias of the geomagnetic field. Where possible the results are compared with the record from marine magnetic anomalies. Only rarely is there an even balance between normal and reversed polarity. During the past 350 m.y. two quiet intervals can be recognized when few reversals occurred, the Cretaceous (KN about ? 81 to ? 110 m.y.) and Permo-Carboniferous (PCR about ? 227 to ? 313 m.y.). Less firmly established are two other quiet intervals, one in the Jurassic (JN about ? 145 to ? 165 m.y.), and one in the Triassic (TRN about ? 205 to ? 220 m.y.). Between these quiet intervals there are disturbed intervals when reversals were comparatively frequent. From ? 680 to ? 350 m.y. the paleomagnetic record is inadequate to delineate a succession of quiet and disturbed intervals although one is probably present. Maximum entropy spectral analysis reveals three periodicities, a dominant one at about 300 m.y. and others, less well-defined, at 113 and 57 m.y. The variations in polarity bias are compared with the paleosecular variation, and it is shown that the magnitude of the paleosecular variation is greater in disturbed than in quiet intervals. This indicates that the magnitude of paleosecular variation and polarity bias are governed by variations in the balance between non-dipole and dipole components of the field, and that these variations probably had their origin in processes near the core—mantle interface. The correspondence between the dominant periods of 300 m.y. and plate tectonics is noted and a causal relationship suggested.     

The Process of Competitive Discussion

Every active scientific discipline has arrived at its own peculiar definition of acceptable problems and acceptable ways of attacking them through a social process of mutual consent.     

Oscillations of coronal electron traps inferred from hard X-ray data

The work of Brown and Hoyng (1975) on the betatron acceleration of hard X-ray source electrons trapped in a vibrating flux tube is generalised to include Fermi acceleration by the varying transverse field. This development can explain the trajectory of bursts in a plot of equivalent thick-target electron flux versus spectral index as inferred from observations obtained by ESRO TD1A. Specifically the loops observed in this , diagram, unexplained in Brown and Hoyng's anslysis are accounted for by a changing phase relationship between the varying field strength f(t) and magnetic scale length g(t)- Application of the formalism to the detailed TD1A observations of the large events of 1972, August 4 and 7, allows inference of the evolution of f(t), g(t) in these events.Now at: Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, U.S.A.     

Mass-luminosity distribution and physical conditions of ionized gas in NGC 4575

Photographic photometry and spectroscopic observations of NGC 4575 suggest it to be a galaxy of reduced dimensionsD×d=14.4×13.5 kpc and of high luminosityM=–20.7. The rotation curve was also determined. Assuming a model of three homogeneous similar spheroids, we derived the density and mass distribution, and their total mass was found to be _T =2.33 × 10¹⁰.The mass luminosity ratio does not vary withinr=24, indicating that the stellar composition is similar within it, and the ratio _T / _T 1 suggests that this object contains a high proportion of young stars. From the emission lines it is found that the electronic density Ne100 cm^–3 is relatively low in the HII regions. The abundance ratiosN(N)/N(S) andN(N)/N(H) for the nucleus and two emission regions were also derived.     

On the relative magnitude of streaming velocities of alpha particles and protons at 1 AU

The occurrence at a heliocentric distance of 1 AU of alpha particle streaming velocities larger than proton streaming velocities,v /v _p >1 (Ogilvie, 1975) is investigated on the basis of the theory suggesting the existence in the solar wind of an accelerating force acting preferentially on the alpha particles.Accurate solution of the three-fluid model equations for the quiet solar wind indicates that anecessary andsufficient condition for (v /v _p )_{1 AU}>1 is the presence of a relativelyweak accelerating forceacting in a limited region in the vicinity of 1 AU. If the force is effectiveonly at small heliocentric distances, the alpha particle streaming velocity excess vanishes at distances less than 1 AU, because of the (equalization) action of the dynamical friction force.     

The concept of limiting magnitude and the performance of the Isaac Newton telescope for prime focus photography

A quantitative definition of limiting magnitude for stellar photographs is proposed, together with a method of measurement employing a Racine prism. Limiting magnitudes inU, B andV for the Isaac Newton telescope at Herstmonceux derived from a total of 72 prime focus photographs are presented and the results correlated with the size of the photographed image. The limiting magnitude for an extrapolated value of the seeing of 1 isB=22^m.0, in good agreement with a value obtained by scaling the limiting magnitudes of the 200 inch telescope.     

Ionospheric techniques for the detection of transient X- and γ-ray bursts

Calculations are presented of the amount of excess ionization produced in the lower ionosphere by various transient X- and -ray bursts under different assumptions about the incident spectrum and the ion recombination rates in the ionosphere. These calculations show that the bursts will have only a small effect on the ionosphere, due in part to their short duration. An experiment has been started to measure the power spectrum of the phase and amplitude of the night-time fluctuations of a CW signal in order to determine if it is possible to improve the sensitivity of the ionospheric technique by using the transient nature of the bursts. Preliminary results from this experiment are presented.Paper presented at the COSPAR Symposium on Fast Transients in X- and Gamma-Rays, held at Varna, Bulgaria, 29–31 May, 1975.     

Formation of an iron-poor Moon by partial capture,or: Yet another exotic theory of lunar origin

It is shown how it is possible to explain the low abundance of iron and siderophiles in the Moon in a natural way. This is done by an extension of Öpik's mechanism, whereby one or more planetoids pass through Earth's Roche zone, are broken up, and have part of their material captured. Assuming the planetoids are differentiated, the iron core can easily escape capture. This process does not involve any dissipation mechanisms and goes a long way toward explaining the peculiar bulk composition of the Moon. The picture is consistent with that of Urey, in which the early solar system contained more (and smaller) planets than it does today. In the second part of the paper, dynamical considerations are applied for two models, and it is shown that capture from one (or a few) planetoids is quite feasible, whereas a large number of contributors is highly unlikely.     

The spectral reflectivity of select areas on Europa

The July 12, 1973, occultation of Europa by Io was observed in 30 wavelength channels in the spectral region λλ3200-11, 000 Å with the 200-inch Hale telescope and a multichannel spectrometer. The data are presented in absolute units above the Earth's atmosphere. The data are analyzed to obtain the spectral reflectivity of seven localized areas on the disk of Europa centered on 324°W longitude. The equatorial material is confirmed to be darker than the eastward-skewed bright north polar cap and a hint is evident that the darker material as well may be somewhat redder than the cap material.     

The atmosphere of Io from Pioneer 10 radio occultation measurements

The occultation of the Pioneer 10 spacecraft by Io (JI) provided an opportunity to obtain two S-band radio occultation measurements of its atmosphere. The dayside entry measurements revealed an ionosphere having a peak density of about 6 × 10⁴ elcm^?3 at an altitude of about 100 km. The topside scale height indicates a plasma temperature of about 406 K if it is composed of Na⁺ and 495 K if N₂⁺ is principal ion. A thinner and less dense ionosphere was observed on the exit (night side), having a peak density of 9 × 10³ elcm^?3 at an altitude of 50 km. The topside plasma temperature is 160 K for N₂^? and 131 K for Na⁺. If the ionosphere is produced by photoionization in a manner analogous to the ionospheres of the terrestrial planets, the density of neutral particles at the surface of Io is less than 10¹¹?10¹² cm³, corresponding to a surface pressure of less than 10^?8 to 10^?9 bars. Two measurements of its radius were also obtained yielding a value of 1830 km for the entry and 192 km for the exit. The discrepancy between these values may indicate an ephemeris uncertainty of about 45 km. The two measurements yield an average radius of 1875 km, which is not in agreement with the results of the Beta Scorpii stellar occultation.