Combined method for detecting hidden anomalies in galactic cosmic ray variations

A method has been proposed for detecting hidden periodicities in nonstationary finite time series with strong noise. The successive application of the spectral singular expansion and wavelet transform makes it possible to calculate the energy of short signals with an arbitrary form against a suppressing noise back-ground, the amplitude of which is several times as large as that of a useful signal. This method has been used to identify variations in the galactic cosmic ray (GCR) flux related to IMF disturbances due to the earthward propagation of solar magnetic clouds in the heliosphere.     

摩洛哥前阿特拉斯山脉前寒武系-寒武系界线的地层概述

作者首先评述了前阿特拉斯山脉（摩洛哥）古生代山系前寒武纪盖层的三个部分:火山质和磨拉石质前寒武纪Ⅲ岩系、白云质阿土图期（Adoudounian）岩系和塔利文期（Taliwinnian）岩系（“酒红色（lie de vin）”岩系）,塔利文期岩系主要是陆相的,但西部则发育成海相含叠层石地层,据此有可能确定由塔利文阶到下寒武统的过渡。随后的几个章节介绍了下寒武统的发现和研究简史,以及对前阿特拉斯山脉西部下寒武统含三叶虫“阶”的概述。文章还附有若干幅阿土图期、塔列文期和早寒武世的古地理图,以及一些地层和构造剖面图。     

Laboratory Studies Of Wind Stress Over Surface Waves

Simultaneous laboratory observations of wind speed, wind stress, and surfacewind-wave spectra are made under a variety of wind forcing patterns using cleanwater as well as water containing an artificial surfactant. Under typical experimentalconditions, more than half of the total stress is supported by the wave-induced stressrather than by the surface viscous stress. When the surfactant reduces the shortwind-wave spectra, the wind stress also decreases by as much as 20–30% at agiven wind speed. When the wind forcing is modulated in time, the wind stresstends to be higher under decreasing wind than under increasing wind at a givenwind speed, mainly because the response of short wind-wave spectra to varyingwind forcing is delayed in time. These examples clearly demonstrate that therelationship between the wind speed and the wind stress can be significantlymodified if the surface wave field is not in equilibrium with the wind forcing.Next, we examine whether the wind stress is estimated accurately if the wave-inducedstress by all surface wave components is explicitly evaluated by linear superpositionand is added to the surface viscous stress. It is assumed that the surface viscous stressis uniquely related to the wind speed, and that the wind input rate is determined by thelocal, reduced turbulent stress rather than the total stress. Our wind stress estimatesincluding the wave contributions agree well with observed wind stress values, evenif the surface wave field is away from its equilibrium with the wind in the presenceof surface films and/or under time-transient wind forcing. These observations stronglysuggest that the wind stress is accurately evaluated as a sum of the wave-induced stressand the surface viscous stress. At very high winds, our stress estimates tend to be lowerthan the observations. We suspect that this is because of the enhancement of wind stressover very steep (or breaking) short wind-waves.     

Response of multi-degree-of-freedom structures with sliding supports

The response of multi-degree-of-freedom (MDOF) structures with sliding supports is studied. The problem of sliding structures is a discontinuous one in that different numbers of equations of motion with varying forcing functions are required for the sliding and non-sliding phases. The numerical difficulties involved in this regard in an incremental finite element analysis can be circumvented through the introduction of a fictitious spring for the sliding support. Such a treatment enables one to study the higher mode effects on MDOF sliding structures under the excitation of harmonic or earthquake motions. The dynamic characteristics of MDOF sliding structures will be highlighted in the analysis of a four-storey shear building with sliding support.     

The Present-Day Hydrochemical State of Hydroecosystems Suffering the Technogenic Effect of AO Apatit

Hydrochemical studies have been carried out to assess the extent of molybdenum and aluminum pollution of wastewaters from Apatit plant and natural water bodies suffering higher technogenic load. The main sources of surface water pollution by aluminum and molybdenum have been identified. The interrelationship between the natural and technogenic factors at the formation of aluminum- and molybdenum-containing wastewaters as well as quarry and mine waters has been studied.     

Evolution of polycyclic alkanes in the Espirito Santo Basin

The distributions of polycyclic alkanes were monitored in a Neocomian sequence (well 1-ESS-34) from the Espirito Santo Basin, southeast Brazil. The profiles included, apart from regular hopanes, significant concentrations of 18α(H), 28,30-bisnorhopane and subordinate amounts of gammacerane. Sterane concentrations, normally with hopane/sterane <5, were compatible with other geochemical data indicating a predominantly planktonic/microbial source of the deposited organic matter. Sample maturities ranged from very immature to the onset of oil generation, allowing biomarker distributions to be followed along a broad maturation range. The ability of certain molecular ratios (e.g. C₂₇ 17α(H)/17β(H)hopanes) to reflect a maturity sequence with depth in the closely-spaced strata of the immature upper levels (Jiquiá Stage) showed the value of molecular techniques over classical geochemical methods (e.g. vitrinite reflectance) for the study of immature sequences. The presence in the oils of southern Espirito Santo of 28,30-bisnorhopane, gammacerane and methyl steranes in similar concentrations as in extracts of the deepest levels of the 1-ESS-34 well qualify the Jiquia Stage as the probable source rock of oils accumulated in the basin.     

Crystal structures of the Rb- and Sr-exchanged forms of ivanyukite-Na-T

The Rb- and Sr-exchanged forms of ivanyukite have been obtained and structurally characterized. The chemical formulas derived from the electron microprobe data are as follows: the Rb-exchanged form (Na_0.10K_0.07Ca_0.15Sr_0.05Rb_1.81Ba_0.02)_{Σ = 2.20}[(Ti_3.65Nb_0.19Fe_0.05Mn_0.01)_{Σ = 3.90}O_2.07/(OH)_1.93(Si_2.98Al_0.02)_{Σ = 3.00} O₁₂] · 3.61H₂O; the Sr-exchanged form (K_0.03Sr_0.81Ca_0.04Ba_0.07)_{Σ = 0.95}[(Ti_3.74Nb_0.19Fe_0.03)_{Σ = 3.96}] [O_1.83/(OH)_2.17](Si_2.99Al_0.01)_{Σ = 3.00}O₁₂) · 7H₂O. The structures of the Rb- and Sr-exchanged forms of ivanyukite have been solved and refined using the least squares method. The structures are based on a mixed three-dimensional octahedral-tetrahedral framework of the pharmacosiderite type with channels occupied by Rb⁺ and Sr²⁺ cations and water molecules. The Rb⁺ cations in the Rb-exchanged form are 12-coordinated, whereas the Sr²⁺ cations in the Sr-exchanged form are 9- or 7-coordinated. The statistical investigation of the geometric parameters of the pharmacosiderite-type titanosilicates showed that symmetry changes are associated with the interactions of extraframework cations with the O atom of the Ti₄(O,OH)₄ clusters of the titanosilicate framework. The relationship between the unit-cell parameters in titanosilicates of the pharmacosiderite type and the structural geometric parameters of the titanosilicate framework has been proved by the use of multiple regression equations.     

Characterising the vertical separation of shale-gas source rocks and aquifers across England and Wales (UK)

Shale gas is considered by many to have the potential to provide the UK with greater energy security, economic growth and jobs. However, development of a shale gas industry is highly contentious due to environmental concerns including the risk of groundwater pollution. Evidence suggests that the vertical separation between exploited shale units and aquifers is an important factor in the risk to groundwater from shale gas exploitation. A methodology is presented to assess the vertical separation between different pairs of aquifers and shales that are present across England and Wales. The application of the method is then demonstrated for two of these pairs—the Cretaceous Chalk Group aquifer and the Upper Jurassic Kimmeridge Clay Formation, and the Triassic sandstone aquifer and the Carboniferous Bowland Shale Formation. Challenges in defining what might be considered criteria for ‘safe separation’ between a shale gas formation and an overlying aquifer are discussed, in particular with respect to uncertainties in geological properties, aquifer extents and determination of socially acceptable risk levels. Modelled vertical separations suggest that the risk of aquifer contamination from shale exploration will vary greatly between shale–aquifer pairs and between regions and this will need to be considered carefully as part of the risk assessment and management for any shale gas development.