Correlation of atmospheric occurences over the United States with some physical and chemical parameters. Part III: Frequencies of precipitation

Summary Correlation between some physical and chemical variables, measured at 28 stations of the United States Weather Bureau Network, and seasonal and annual frequencies of precipitation, has been attempted with the aim of gaining insight into the bearing of such variables, on occurrence of precipitation. — Concurrent trends of frequencies with local temperature functions, altitude parameters, precipitable water vapour increments, and some chemical species have been found.Contribution of the «Centro Nucleazione Aerosoli» of the National Research Council of Italy, Via Vettore 4 (Monte Sacro),Roma.     

Galactic dynamics in the light of meteorological theory

Summary Equations for the motions in a galaxy which is controlled by gravitational forces and inertial effects are formulated. It is found that for the motions relative to the rotating system formulae analogous, and of similar form, to the geostrophic wind equations may be written. From these formulae and from the distribution of the relative gravitational potential in the disc of the galaxy, it is found that a spiral tendency in the mass distribution carries the implication of an inward flux of angular momentum by advective processes. This is to be compared with an outward flux through gravitational torques obtained in previous studies in which the writer participated.     

A sidelight on long range forecasting

Summary A gradually cumulative error due to the use of the hydrostatic approximation is examined through consideration of a simple mathematical model taken from the classical theory of gravity waves. Two cases are chosen which differ solely in the circumstance that in one the hydrostatic assumption is made while in the other it is not. A large divergence of the results present in the later stages is then to be referred to the neglect of terms contained in the exact equation of motion for the vertical direction in one of the solutions. The inference is drawn that comparable phenomena might arise in the integration of the atmospheric equations over long time periods.     

Phase Equilibria in the Metamorphic Rocks of St. Paul Island and Cape North, Nova Scotia

A suite of schists—one from the garnet zone, 19 from thestaurolite zone, 2 from the kyanite isograd, and one from thekyanite zone—were separated into their constituent minerals.Chemical analyses of one chlorite and of 23 sets of coexistingbiotites and garnets were carried out by photometric and titrametricprocedures. Plots of garnet-biotite tie-lines from divariantassemblages on appropriate phase diagrams result in intersectingtie-lines which cannot be ascribed to experimental error. Theoreticalconsiderations argue that at equilibrium, at the same pressureand temperature or at constant pressure and varying temperature,tie-lines of divariant assemblages should not intersect. Possibleexplanations require that diffusion equilibrium of Fe and Mgbe restricted to volumes smaller than that of a hand specimenor that P as well as T varies considerably. Emission spectrographicdeterminations of Fe and Mg in biotite indicate that the Fe/Mgratio varies among biotites little more than a centimeter apart.Such a variation would argue more in favor of a lack of diffusionequilibrium.     

Equivalent thickness of the outer ionosphere obtained by evaluation of Faraday records

With an appropriate system of higher order approximations the Faraday-effect is calculated for instantaneous ionospheric models the data of which are derived from the results of vertical soundings. Only one parameter which corresponds to the thickness of the outer ionosphere is left open; it is determined by global comparison with simultaneous Faraday-observations of satellite emissions. The thickness parameter shows various forms of variation with latitude; an increase towards north is the rule for quiet daytime conditions. Comparison with local methods shows considerable differences due to the indetermination of the absolute number of rotations.     

Structure and petrology of an alpine peridotite on Cypress Island,Washington, U.S.A

A study of the structural petrology of a peridotite exposed on Cypress Island in Skagit Co., Washington, U.S.A. has been carried out. The Cypress peridotite is, by virtue of its composition, structure and associations, typical of ultramafics of the alpine type. It contains relict layering and accumulative textures which show it to have originated by crystal settling from a magma of unknown initial composition. Parallelism of lineations and b-axes of folds in the layering with well-developed [100]-maxima in the fabrics of olivine crystals is considered to have arisen through a penetrative deformation of the mass accompanied by plastic flow or recrystallization of the olivine. An indication of the minimum temperature of the deformation is provided by cross-cutting veins of pyroxenite which have not participated in the folding. The most satisfactory interpretation of the overall fabric of the peridotite is that it was deformed, possibly during intrusion, as a crystal mush, and that filter pressing due to compaction of the solid particles by plastic flow or recrystallization removed all but a small percentage of the magmatic fraction which then crystallized following cessation of the movements.     

The volcano-magnetic effect

Summary A geometrically simple volcano is considered, havig a spherical magma chamber of 2.5 km radius centred at 10 km depth. The Curie point isotherm is assumed to be a plane at 20 km depth, except for the spherical volume which is also non-magnetic. The stress pattern in the vicinity of the spherical chamber, due to regional stress of sufficient intensity to cause an eruptions, is used to calculate the change in magnetization which results from the piezomagnetic effect through the volume of solid rock. The consequent magnetic field anomaly at the surface is then obtaied by numerical integration of the dipole law of force over the stressed volume. For rocks of the type found on the volcanic island of St. Vincent (West Indies), this model gives a maximum local volcano-magnet c effect of about 7 gammas.     

IDENTIFYING AND ASSESSING PROBLEM AREAS IN SOIL EROSION SURVEYS USING AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS

Gully erosion has for many years been a problem in Rhodesia1s Tribal Trust Lands. This paper describes how Soil Conservation Service staff, with no previous ground knowledge of these areas, used good quality 1/25,000 scale aerial photographs to measure the extent of the gully erosion and to pinpoint erosion “black spots.” This enabled quick and reliable estimates of the cost of reclamation work to be made without the need for time-consuming field survey. The survey method discussed is capable of wide application wherever gully erosion occurs and needs to be brought under control.