Some comments on physical processes at and near the tropopause

The major physical processes at and near the tropopause are evaluated; these processes are radiation, convection and turbulence, advection and vertical convergence. Calculations of instantaneous long wave radiative temperature change for observed and postulated moisture distributions show that radiation usually acts to smooth the temperature profile. Observations and the principle of continuity show that convection is infrequent and unimportant in establishing the tropopause. General principles and numerical integration of the heat conduction equation for special cases show that turbulence will act to smooth the temperature profile unless flux has a certain relationship to hydrostatic stability. Observations, calculations and the principle of continuity show that advection and vertical convergence cannot be universal mechanisms of tropopause formation.

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Zusammenfassung Die grundlegenden physikalischen Prozesse an und in der Nähe der Tropopause werden bestimmt; diese Prozesse sind Strahlung, Konvektion und Turbulenz, Advektion und Vertikalakonvergenz. Berechnungen von momentanen Temperaturänderungen durch langwellige Strahlung für beobachtete und vorgegebene Feuchtigkeitsverteilungen lassen erkennen, daß die Strahlung gewöhnlich das Temperaturprofil auszugleichen sucht. Beobachtungen und das Kontinuitätsprinzip zeigen, daß Konvektion selten und für die Bildung der Tropopause unwichtig ist. Allgemeine Prinzipien und numerische Integration der Wärmeleitungsgleichung für spezielle Fälle zeigen, daß die Turbulenz das Temperaturprofil auszugleichen sucht, außer wenn der Wärmestrom in spezieller Beziehung zur hydrostatischen Stabilität steht. Beobachtungen, Berechnungen und das Kontinuitätsprinzip führen zu der Feststellung, daß Advektion und vertikale Konvergenz nicht als allgemeine Mechanismen für die Bildung der Tropopause angesehen werden können.

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Résumé L'auteur évalue les processus physiques fondamentaux de la tropopause et à sa proximité; ces processus sont le rayonnement, la convection et la turbulence, l'advection et la convergence verticale. Le calcul de variations instantanées de la température dûes au rayonnement de grande longueur d'onde, par une distribution observée et supposée de l'humidité, montre qu'en général le rayonnement semble atténuer et égaliser le profil de la température. Les observations et le principe de continuité font admettre que la convection est rare et de peu d'importance pour la formation de la tropopause. Des principes généraux et une intégration numérique de l'équation de transmission de chaleur pour des can spéciaux montrent que la turbulence tend à égaliser le profil de température à moins que le flux de chaleur ne soit en relation spécifique avec la stabilité hydrostatique. Des observations, des calculs et le principe de continuité prouvent que l'advection et la convergence verticale ne peuvent être considérées comme étant des mécanismes généraux pour la formation de la tropopause.

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With 4 Figures

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The research reported here was supported in part by the Geophysical Research Directorate, A. F. Cambridge Research Center.     

On the magnetic phases of natural pyrrhotites

Summary The magnetic phases of natural pyrrhotites were studied by the method of powder patterns, the chemism of the magnetic phases by means of the electron microprobe method, and the crystal phases by etching the polished sections. The method of powder patterns distinguished the ferrimagnetic and antiferromagnetic phases in the transition-type pyrrhotites. The method of absorbed electrons lead to the discovery that both phases have a different chemical composition and that the ferrimagnetic phase has a lower denisty and an average atomic number. The linear and point-by-point analysis disclosed that the ferrimagnetic phase has a lower weight content of Fe and a higher weight content of S than the antiferromagnetic phase. Both the magnetic phases displayed different properties when etched, and therefore they not only have a different chemical composition, but also a different crystal structure. The necessity of studying the image of the absorbed electrons and the image of the etched surface of the polycrystalline samples of pyrrhotites of the transition type separately on individual grains was pointed out.     

Electromagnetic induction in a half-space with a cylindrical inhomogeneity

Summary The problem of electromagnetic induction in a half-space with a cylindrical inhomogeneity is treated. Solutions for TE and TM polarization of the exciting electromagnetic field are given, which can be used for computing sounding and profiling curves. The anisotropy of the surface impedance is pointed out, as well as a whole series of other interesting properties of the magnetotelluric field in this model; some of them are also demonstrated on the computed theoretical curves.     

The intensity of the earth's magnetic field in the past derived from the archaeomagnetic data

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Dedicated to Academician Alois Zátopek on His 65th Birthday     

SH-wave propagation in anisotropic inhomogeneous crustal layer

Summary In this short contribution,SH-wave propagation in an anisotropic inhomogeneous crustal layer lying on an yielding and rigid isotropic half space is considered. The inhomogeneity is assumed to be present in the directional rigidities and the density. The type of variation in elastic parameters considered herein, is such that the velocities ofSH-waves in horizontal and vertical directions are constant. The frequency equations, governing propagation ofSH-waves are derived for both the cases, i.e. (I) when the lower medium is yielding half space and (II) when it is rigid. Dispersion curves for these cases are also presented.     

Chemistry of peralkaline phonolite dykes from the Grønnedal-Íka area,South Greenland

The chemical variation observed in a suite of fifteen aphyric peralkaline phonolite dykes of mid-Gardar age from the vicinity of the Grønnedal-Íka alkaline complex in south-west Greenland is discussed. From relationships in the system Na₂O-K₂O-Al₂O₃-SiO₂ it is argued that the members of the series are related by the fractionation of feldspar approximating to Ab₅₅Or₄₀An₅ in composition, along with augite and lesser amounts of other ferromagnesian minerals. The bearing of these rocks on phase equilibria in the analogous natural system is discussed, and consideration is given to the possible origins of the initial peralkaline phonolite magma.     

ENHANCEMENT OF ELECTROMAGNETIC ANOMALIES BY A CONDUCTING OVERBURDEN*

The effect of a conducting overburden on the electromagnetic response of sulphide ore-bodies has been studied with the help of quantitative electromagnetic model experiments. These experiments were conducted at a fixed, crystal controlled, frequency of 100 kHz using a number of transmitter-receiver configurations, though the results discussed here mostly pertain to a horizontal coplanar system. An analysis of the anomaly profiles—after accounting for the regional anomaly—indicates a general enhancement of the response. This is attributed (a) to the concentration of the current lines in the host-rock effected by the embedded target and (b) to the change in the phase and space orientation of the field vectors, brought about by the conducting overburden. The enhancement is most pronounced in the case of non-symmetrical bodies such as veins and ribbon-like structures represented by sheet models, but is also observed to a lesser degree for isometric structures. These results are expected to pave the way for a more accurate interpretation of the induction prospecting data.