Zinc-rich Pyrite from the TAG Active Mound, the TAG Hydrotherma Field, Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Abstract: Pyrite rich in Zn, up to 3.1 wt%, was found in the TAG active mound of the TAG hydrothermal field, the slow-spreading Mid-Atlantic Ridge at 26°08'N and 44°49'W. The Zn-rich pyrite is characterized by an optical homogeneity, a homogeneous distribution of Zn in the back-scattered electron images, both at a magnification of about 500, a negative correlation between Fe and Zn contents of the pyrite and a rather small unit cell edge (a₀ = 5.4117 ± 0.0008Å), strongly indicating that the detected Zn is present in the pyrite in solid solution. Such Zn concentrations are observed exclusively in dendritic pyrite, suggesting that the Znrich pyrite grew from hydrothermal fluids of a high degree of supersaturation due to quenching on the seafloor.     

Influence of source region properties on scaling relations forM<0 events

Excavation induced seismic events with moment magnitudesM<0 are examined in an attempt to determine the role geology, excavation geometry, and stress have on scaling relations. Correlations are established based on accurate measurements of excavation geometry and methodology, stress regime, rock mass structure, local tectonics, and seismic locations. Scaling relations incorporated seismic moments and source radii obtained by spectral analysis, accounting for source, propagation, and site effects, and using Madariaga's dynamic circular fault model. Observations suggest that the interaction of stresses with pre-existing fractures, fracture complexity and depth of events are the main factors influencing source characteristics and scaling behaviour. Self-similar relationships were found for events at similar depths or for weakly structured rock masses with reduced clamping stresses, whereas a non-similar behaviour was found for events with increasing depth or for heavily fractured zones under stress confinement. Additionally, the scaling behaviour for combined data sets tended to mask the non-similar trends. Overall, depth and fracture complexity, initially thought as second order effects, appear to significantly influence source characteristics of seismic events withM<0 and consequently favour a non-similar earthquake generation process.     

Effect of thermal effluent on migrating menhaden

Hot water effluent from power stations kills juvenile menhaden migrating through Long Island Sound. Since the fish sink to the bottom, losses are unrecorded or at best under-estimated. Other fish are probably also affected. Menhaden in Long Island Sound contribute to the commercial fishery off the eastern seaboard of the United States. At present the losses have little impact on the fishery, but if the projected increase in hot water discharges into the Sound materializes the consequences may be serious.     

List of Forthcoming Papers

Other Index

List of Forthcoming Papers     

Scattering in the Atmosphere of Venus. I. Line profiles and curves of growth for isotropic scattering

We have computed line profiles and curves of growth for both reflected and transmitted radiation for typical lines in CO₂ bands (in the photographic infrared) which occur in the spectrum of Venus. In our model the pressure variation with altitude was considered and the base of the cloud deck was set at the 2 bar level. The temperature was held constant at 250K and a Voigt profile was used for the lineshape. We also assumed that the scale height of the cloud particles was equal to the scale height of the gas. The calculations were made for four values of the scattering optical thickness (τ_c = 0.1, 1.0, 10, and 100) using a continuum single scattering albedo $\text{ω}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>c</mtext>}}\text{= 0.9975}$ (which gives a Bond albedo of 0.896 for τ_c = 100, the value observed for Venus at these wavelengths). Curves of growth are also presented for reflected radiation which has been averaged over the visible disk for three values of the Venus phase angle (0, 86, and 166°).     

The Properties of Supernova 1997cy Associated with GRB 970514

The extraordinary SN 1997cy associated with GRB 970514 has been observed photometrically and spectroscopically for nearly 2 yr. At the time of discovery, SN 1997cy was the brightest supernova (SN) ever observed (MV相似文献   

Fracture in Westerly Granite under AE Feedback and Constant Strain Rate Loading: Nucleation, Quasi-static Propagation, and the Transition to Unstable Fracture Propagation

New observations of fracture nucleation are presented from three triaxial compression experiments on intact samples of Westerly granite, using Acoustic Emission (AE) monitoring. By conducting the tests under different loading conditions, the fracture process is demonstrated for quasi-static fracture (under AE Feedback load), a slowly developing unstable fracture (loaded at a `slow' constant strain rate of 2.5 × 10<sup>−6</sup> /s) and an unstable fracture that develops near instantaneously (loaded at a `fast' constant strain rate of 5 × 10⁻⁵ /s). By recording a continuous ultrasonic waveform during the critical period of fracture, the entire AE catalogue can be captured and the exact time of fracture defined. Under constant strain loading, three stages are observed: (1) An initial nucleation or stable growth phase at a rate of ~ 1.3 mm/s, (2) a sudden increase to a constant or slowly accelerating propagation speed of ~ 18 mm/s, and (3) unstable, accelerating propagation. In the ~ 100 ms before rupture, the high level of AE activity (as seen on the continuous record) prevented the location of discrete AE events. A lower bound estimate of the average propagation velocity (using the time-to-rupture and the existing fracture length) suggests values of a few m/s. However from a low gain acoustic record, we infer that in the final few ms, the fracture propagation speed increased to 175 m/s. These results demonstrate similarities between fracture nucleation in intact rock and the nucleation of dynamic instabilities in stick slip experiments. It is suggested that the ability to constrain the size of an evolving fracture provides a crucial tool in further understanding the controls on fracture nucleation.     

Impact of storm runoff from tropical watersheds on coastal water quality and productivity

Storm runoff in the steep watersheds in Hawaii leads to sediment and freshwater pulses to coastal waters that quickly affect nearshore water quality. This is particularly true in semi-enclosed embayments, such as Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, where water has a relatively long residence time compared to more open coastal areas of the islands. In this paper the authors discuss water quality and productivity in Kaneohe Bay after back-to-back rain events in late November and early December 2003, following a particularly dry summer. The short-term biogeochemical response of coastal waters and the ecosystem to runoff and physical forcing was evaluated through a combination of continuous in situ measurements and adaptive synoptic sampling carried out on a variety of temporal and spatial scales.