Two-dimensional finite-difference model of seafloor compliance

Seafloor compliance is the measure of seafloor deformation under a pressure signal. Our new 2-D finite-difference compliance modelling algorithm presents several advantages over the existing compliance models, including the ability to handle any gridded subsurface structure with no limitations on the gradients of the material properties, as well as significantly improved performance. Applying this method to some of the problems inaccessible to previously existing methods, demonstrates that lateral variations in subsurface structure must be accounted for to adequately interpret compliance data. In areas with significant lateral variations, the utilization of 1-D modelling and inversion is likely to result in high interpretation errors, even when additional subsurface structure information is available. We find that flattened pure melt bodies have a significantly higher compliance than cylindrical melt bodies with the same cross-sectional area. The compliance created by such bodies often has side peaks over their edges, which are as strong as or stronger than the central peak, requiring a series of measurements to best constrain their size and shear velocity. Finally, we find that the compliance data are far and away most sensitive to the broad, thick, lower-crustal partial melt zone. Our simple data fitting model for the compliance measurements on the East Pacific Rise at 9°48'N required shear velocities as low as 700 m s⁻¹ in the centre of this zone, far below the values previously estimated using 1-D model based inversions, suggesting higher melt percentages than those previously estimated, while small melt bodies in the upper part of the crust were found to have little or no effect on the measured compliance.     

Geochemistry and geochronology of Late Triassic volcanic rocks in the Chiang Khong region, northern Thailand

The Chiang Khong segment of the Chiang Khong–Lampang–Tak Volcanic Belt is composed of three broadly meridional sub‐belts of mafic to felsic volcanic, volcaniclastic, and associated intrusive rocks. Associated sedimentary rocks are largely non‐marine red beds and conglomerates. Three representative Chiang Khong lavas have Late Triassic (223–220 Ma) laser ablation inductively coupled mass‐spectroscopy U–Pb zircon ages. Felsic‐dominated sequences in the Chiang Khong Western and Central Sub‐belts are high‐K calc–alkaline rocks that range from basaltic to dominant felsic lavas with rare mafic dykes. The Western Sub‐belt lavas have slightly lower high field strength element contents at all fractionation levels than equivalent rocks from the Central Sub‐belt. In contrast, the Eastern Sub‐belt is dominated by mafic lavas and dykes with compositions transitional between E‐mid‐oceanic ridge basalt and back‐arc basin basalts. The Eastern Sub‐belt rocks have higher FeO* and TiO₂ and less light rare earth element enrichment than basalts in the high‐K sequences. Basaltic and doleritic dykes in the Western and Central sub‐belts match the composition of the Eastern Sub‐belt lavas and dykes. A recent geochemical study of the Chiang Khong rocks concluded that they were erupted in a continental margin volcanic arc setting. However, based on the dominance of felsic lavas and the mainly non‐marine associated sediments, we propose an alternative origin, in a post‐collisional extensional setting. A major late Middle to early Late Triassic collisional orogenic event is well documented in northern Thailand and Yunnan. We believe that the paucity of radiometric dates for arc‐like lavas in the Chiang Khong–Lampang–Tak Volcanic Belt that precede this orogenic event, coupled with the geochemistry of the Chiang Khong rocks, and strong compositional analogies with other post‐collisional magmatic suites, are features that are more typical of volcanic belts formed in a rapidly evolving post‐collisional, basin‐and range‐type extensional setting.     

The hydrography and biology of a bloom of the coccolithophorid Emiliania huxleyi in the northern North Sea

In June/July 1994 a study was made of a small bloom of the coccolithophorid Emiliania huxleyi in an area of the North Sea to the east of the Shetland Islands. Observations on the hydrography of the study area indicated the bloom was associated with Atlantic water and was confined to an area in which a stable shallow mixed layer had formed. There was no evidence to suggest association of horizontal physical structure with the bloom development. High cell densities of >1– cells dm⁻³, together with low concentrations of PIC (<50 μg dm⁻³) and detached liths (2– liths cm⁻³) indicated that the bloom was studied at an early stage of development. Biochemical and physiological observations indicated active growth was taking place. The results presented are discussed in comparison with previous studies carried out in both oceanic and shelf seas.     

[Al ii] in the ultraviolet spectrum of the symbiotic star RR Telescopii

An inspection of a GHRS/ HST spectrum of the symbiotic star RR Telescopii reveals the presence of the [Al  ii ] 3s²¹S – 3s3p ³P₂ line at a vacuum wavelength of 2661.06±0.08 Å, 8.89±0.08 Å away from the Al  ii ] 3s²¹S – 3s3p ³P₁ intercombination transition at 2669.95 Å, in good agreement with the theoretical prediction of Δ λ =8.80 Å. We also find that the Al  ii ] line profile is asymmetric, showing a strong low-density component with a weak high-density wing, redshifted by 30 km s⁻¹, in agreement with the findings of Schild & Schmid, which were based on optical observations. Our measurement of the emission-line ratio R I (2661.06 Å)/ I (2669.95 Å)=0.027±0.003 implies log  N _e=5.8±0.2, in good agreement with the densities found from other ions, such as Si  iii . These results provide strong evidence that we have detected the [Al  ii ] line, the first time (to our knowledge) that this feature has been reliably identified in an astrophysical or laboratory spectrum.     

Spread of oil from theTenyo Maru,off the Southwest coast of Vancouver Island

We provide background oceanography and observations and hindcast simulations of spreading oil leaked from the wreck of theTenyo Maru, a fishing vessel that sank off the western entrance to Juan de Fuca Strait in July 1991. The vessel sank in the region of the Tully Eddy on the continental shelf. Although this eddy is normally present in summer, its location shifts and its trapping time varies considerably. The spread of theTenyo Maru oil is represented reasonably well by assuming the eddy to be a littler further to the east and north of its position as observed during drifter studies in 1986. Observations in 1985 showed that the preferred exit route of surface water from the eddy was toward the southeast, the direction followed by theTenyo Maru oil in 1991; however, other drift paths are possible, and under different weather conditions the oil could have drifted toward the Vancouver Island coast.     

Encapsulated Cell Bioremediation: Evaluation on the Basis of Particle Tracer Tests

Microencapsulation of degradative organisms enhances microorganism survivability (Stormo and Crawford 1994). The use of encapsulated cell microbeads for in situ biodegradation depends not only on microorganism survival but also on microbead transport characteristics. Two forced-gradient, recirculating-loop tracer experiments were conducted to evaluate the feasibility of encapsulated cell transport and bioremediation on the basis of polystyrene microsphere transport results. The tracer tests were conducted in a shallow, confined, unconsolidated, heterogeneous, sedimentary aquifer using bromide ion and 2 μm, 5 μn, and 15 μm microsphere tracers. Significant differences were observed in the transport of bromide solute and polystyrene microspheres. Microspheres reached peak concentrations in monitoring wells before bromide, which was thought to reflect the influence of aquifer heterogeneity. Greater decreases in microsphere C/C_o ratios were observed with distance from the injection wells than in bromide C/C_o ratios, which was attributed to particle filtration and/or settling. Several methods might be considered for introducing encapsulated cell microbeads into a subsurface environment, including direct injection into a contaminated aquifer zone, injection through a recirculating ground water flow system, or emplacement in a subsurface microbial curtain in advance of a plume. However, the in situ use of encapsulated cells in an aquifer is probably limited to aquifers containing sufficiently large pore spaces, allowing passage of at least some encapsulated cells. The use of encapsulated cells may also be limited by differences in solute and microbead transport patterns and flowpath clogging by larger encapsulated cell microbeads.     

Detection of a strong transient blueshifted absorption component in the β Pictoris disc

We present high-resolution spectra (1.0 km s⁻¹ FWHM) of the circumstellar Ca K line towards β Pictoris obtained on 1997 June 19 and 20. On the former date a strong absorption component was found at a heliocentric velocity of v _helio = +8 km s⁻¹, that is blueshifted by 14 km s⁻¹ with respect to the main, 'stable', circumstellar component at v _helio = +22 km s⁻¹. To our knowledge, this is the first detection of a blueshifted Ca  ii component with a strength comparable to the more frequently observed redshifted events. On the following night a blueshifted component was still present, but its strength had decreased significantly; in addition, a strong redshifted component had appeared at v _helio = +54 km s⁻¹ which was absent on the previous night. The implications of these observations for the evaporating 'comet' model of spectral variations in the β Pictoris disc are discussed.     

Near-infrared imaging of the host galaxies of BL Lacertae objects

Near-infrared images have been obtained of nine BL Lacertae objects in order to investigate their host galaxy properties. From numerical modelling of the data we find that five of the nine BL Lacs have contributions from extended galaxy emission in their profiles. Tentative morphologies were derived for two of the BL Lacs, namely B2 0752+258, for which a disc morphology is slightly preferred, and S4 0954+65, for which an elliptical morphology is preferred. From our modelling we derive host galaxy absolute magnitudes of M_H =−25.6±0.5 for B2 0752+258, and M_H =−26.3±0.8 for S4 0954+65. We also find an average K -band absolute K -corrected host galaxy magnitude, for the BL Lacs, of 〈 M_K 〉=−26.3±0.6 asssuming an elliptical galaxy model, and 〈 M_K 〉=−26.1±0.9 assuming a disc galaxy model. The derived absolute magnitudes are similar to those found for the putative parent population of FRI radio galaxies, predicted by unified schemes. For those BL Lacs in which host galaxies have been previously detected at optical wavelengths we derive rest frame colours which are generally consistent with those of 'normal' galaxies. However, for TEX 0836+182 we find a rather blue colour which, together with the elongated morphology, may be indicative of interaction or spiral structure. Our results suggest that the host galaxies of BL Lacs are indeed similar to those of FRI radio galaxies, adding further weight to the unification scenario. In our present infrared frames of relatively modest resolution, we do not find that infrared observations are any more or less effective than optical observations at revealing the underlying host galaxy.