Apparent radiocarbon ages of recent marine shells from Norway,Spitsbergen, and Arctic Canada

The mean apparent radiocarbon ages of marine shells, colleted alive before the initiation of atomic bomb testing, and also before the main input of dead carbon derived from fossil fuels, are found to be 440 yr for the coast of Norway, 510 yr for Spitsbergen, and 750 yr for Ellesmere Island, Arctic Canada. The relationship between these apparent ages and the oceanic circulation pattern, is discussed. Also possible variations of the apparent ages back in time are discussed.     

Improvement of the geoid in local areas by satellite-to-satellite tracking

Summary The concept of satellite-to-satellite tracking measuring the relative velocity of two orbiting satellites spaced some hundreds kilometers on a close orbit, provides now possibilities for the investigation of the Earth’s gravity field. In the paper only medium and short wave length effects affecting the measured relative velocity have been considered. Collocation is used in such an analysis of local geoid improvement, because this method allows to combine heterogeneous data in a consistent way. Covariance functions relevant for the particular case of a circular equatorial orbit are given. Two kinds of observation equations have been formulated. The choice of observation equation with regard to satellites configuration is discussed. It is found that it is sufficient to have a limited number of satellite-to-satellite observations in a 7^o×7^o area around the estimation point with distances between profiles of about 1^o.5 and between the two satellites forming the pair of 200+350 km; the altitude of satellite-to-satellite observations should be as low as possible. The accuracy of the geoid determination strongly depends on the degree and order of the reference field used. An accuracy of about ±1 m can be achieved with an assumed reference field of (40,40). The influence of measuring errors is discussed and it is shown that only satellite-to-satellite observations with accuracy better then 0.1 mm/sec will give an improvement of the geoid. Finally, some results on the combination of low-low satellite-to-satellite tracking and terrestrial gravity data are given. The proposed method seems to be especially interesting for unsurveyed areas. Furthermore, it has the practical advantage that only a local coverage data is needed.     

Meteorological microseisms and stratospheric warmings

Summary The meteorological microseisms recorded at Prague are found to be essentially independent of the occurrence of the major midwinter stratospheric warmings. This finding contributes to studying the downward propagation mechanism of some extraterrestrial influences.     

Sudden ionospheric disturbances and flare activity in the course of the solar cycle no 20

a¶rt;a ma nu an u u (SID) u nu n a (a n¶rt; au) mu 1965–1975 . u u SID na¶rt;am nau, mum u nm R.     

The use of laboratory measurements of electric resistivity of rocks for evaluating the magnetotelluric method

Summary A profile model of electric resistivity as a function of depth was compiled, the initial parameters being the values of the electric resistivity determined experimentally for basaltic and eclogitic rocks from the Bohemian Massif. The curves of the apparent resistivity were computed for this model and the measure of information evaluated for the various model layers. The dominant influence of the subsurface layer was proved.     

On sweeping frequency impedance measurements

Summary The current spectral density I() dependence on the width of the frequency band and sweep period is studied. The relation between the required accuracy of measurement an the optional parameters of the sweeping process is formulated.     

Morphology of the Wadati-Benioff zone,andesitic volcanism,and active fracture zones in Central America

Summary The morphology of the Wadati-Benioff zone in the region of Central America, based on the distribution of 1377 earthquake foci, verified the existence of an intermediate aseismic gap and its relation to active andesitic volcanism, and the non-uniformity of subduction due to the hampering effect of the main structural features of the subducting Cocos plate. Four deep seismically active fracture zones, genetically connected with the process of subduction, and three fracture zones manifesting the possible boundary between the Americas and Caribbean plates were identified in the continental wedge.     

Adria,the African promontory,in mesozoic Mediterranean palaeogeography

The orogenic belts encircling the present-day Adriatic Sea are the deformed Mesozoic continental margin of an area known as Adria, the outline of which began to take shape during Middle Triassic continental rifting. Early Jurassic oceanic rifting was usually close to, but not coincident with, sites of earlier continental rifting. The Triassic rifted zones were usually incorporated into the continental margin of Adria, profoundly influencing its subsequent development. The Mesozoic platform/basin morphology of this margin can be correlated along the length of the belt.Palaeomagnetic data from autochthonous outcrops of the foreland of Adria do not indicate relative rotation and moreover suggest that this foreland has moved in coordination with Africa since the Early Mesozoic. Seismic soundings indicate that thick Mesozoic sedimentary sequences which can be correlated with sections on the African platform are continuous beneath the eastern Mediterranean seas. The concept of Adria as having behaved as a promontory of the African plate is tested by correlation of the main tectonic events in the belt with the spreading history of the Atlantic. The simplest model which adequately accounts for available data comprises a continuous Mesozoic continental margin from the Magrebids of Tunisia, through the Apennines, Alps, Dinarides and Hellenides to the alpine belt of Turkey. This margin was the southern margin of the Mesozoic Tethys and its foreland was more or less continuous with the African platform. Some structural and geochemical features of the double ophiolitic belt on the eastern side of Adria may be explained in terms of more external oceanic branches giving a more diversified continental margin of Adria. The present undulations of the Periadriatic belt are mainly a product of Late Cretaceous to recent deformation, which severely modified the shape of this margin by continental collision and by subsequent development of back-arc features.