The Role of Multi-Mission ERS Altimetry in the Determination of the Marine Geoid in the Azores

This study concerns the determination of a regional geoid model in the North Atlantic area surrounding the Azores islands by combining multi-mission altimetry from the ERS (European Remote Sensing) satellites and surface gravity data. A high resolution mean sea surface, named AZOMSS99, has been derived using altimeter data from ERS-1 and ERS-2 35-day cycles, spanning a period of about four years, and from ERS-1 geodetic mission. Special attention has been paid to data processing of points around the islands due to land contamination on some of the geophysical corrections. A gravimetric geoid has been computed from all available surface gravity, including land and sea observations acquired during an observation campaign that took place in the Azores in October 1997 in the scope of a European and a Portuguese project. Free air gravity anomalies were derived by altimetric inversion of the mean sea surface heights. These were used to fill the large gaps in the surface gravity and combined solutions were computed using both types of data. The gravimetric and combined solutions have been compared with the mean sea surface and GPS (Global Positioning System)-levelling derived geoid undulations in five islands. It is shown that the inclusion of altimeter data improves geoid accuracy by about one order of magnitude. Combined geoid solutions have been obtained with an accuracy of better than one decimetre.     

New experimental determination of Li and B partition coefficients during upper mantle partial melting

Despite the growing interest for Li and B as geochemical tracers, especially for material transfer from subducting slabs to overlying peridotites, little is known about the behaviour of these two elements during partial melting of mantle sources. In particular, mineral/melt partition coefficients for B and to a lesser extent Li are still a matter of debate. In this work, we re-equilibrated a synthetic basalt doped with ~10 ppm B and ~6 ppm Li with an olivine powder from a spinel lherzolite xenolith at 1 GPa–1,330°C, and we analyzed Li and B in the run products by secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). In our experiment, B behaved as a highly incompatible element with mineral/melt partition coefficients of the order of 10⁻² (D ^ol/melt = 0.008 (0.004–0.013); D ^opx/melt = 0.024 (0.015–0.033); D ^cpx/melt = 0.041 (0.021–0.061)), and Li as a moderately incompatible element (D ^ol/melt = 0.427 (0.418–0.436); D ^opx/melt = 0.211 (0.167–0.256); D ^cpx/melt = 0.246 (0.229–0.264)). Our partition coefficients for Li are in good agreement with previous determinations. In the case of B, our partition coefficients are equal within error to those reported by Brenan et al. (1998) for all the mineral phases analyzed, but are lower than other coefficients from literature for some of the phases (up to 5 times for cpx). Our measurements complement the data set of Ds for modelling partial melting of the upper mantle and basalt generation, and confirm that, in this context, B is more incompatible than previously anticipated.     

Plagioclase and other mineral equilibria in a contact metamorphic aureole

Plagioclase, microcline, amphibole, clinozoisite, clinopyroxene and biotite from alternating pelitic and calcareous hornfelses of the Wyman Formation, Blanco Mountain Quadrangle, California, were analyzed using an electron microprobe. The metamorphic aureole formed at temperatures of 300–600° C, total pressure 2–3 Kb, and low but variable partial pressure of CO₂. The minerals show some compositional changes with metamorphic grade as well as differences from one assemblage to another. The plagioclases developed in the aureole do not form a continuous series. Rather, coexisting grains of plagioclase in individual rock layers form at certain distinct compositions: An 1–3, 15–17, 28–32, 38–45, 51–55, 59–65, 75 and 80. There is no evidence of disequilibrium in the rocks, although diffusion was limited; the volume for chemical equilibrium for most samples was less than 1 mm. Inspection of the changes in mineral assemblages with increasing degree of metamorphism and with changes in fluid composition suggests a number of reactions between the phases. Neither these reactions nor the compositions of coexisting minerals provide an obvious explanation for the observed gaps in the plagioclase series. Therefore it is postulated that the compositional clustering is structurally controlled.     

Melt migration in the upper mantle along the Romanche Fracture Zone (Equatorial Atlantic)

Textural and petrological data of mantle peridotites sampled in the central and western parts of the Romanche Fracture Zone (Equatorial Atlantic) during the oceanographic expedition PRIMAR-96 (Russian R/V Gelendzhik) are presented. The studied rocks are mantle peridotites carrying patches, pockets and veins/dikes of magmatic origin, interpreted to be the product of various extents of magma impregnation on mantle partial melting residues. Estimated partial melting degrees based on clinopyroxene Ti/Zr ratios are in the ranges 5–13% and 18–20%. In highly impregnated samples, refertilization of residual peridotite minerals precludes a correct evaluation of the degree of melting. Magmatic products occur as pl±cpx±opx±ol±sp aggregates with various textural features. Interstitial pl-rich patches and gabbroic pockets are interpreted to derive from magma migration through the upper mantle by diffusive porous flow in the ductile part of the lithosphere and melt–rock reactions. Metasomatism of the host peridotites is testified by Ti and Cr increase in spinel and Ti, Sr, Zr, Y and LREE increase in clinopyroxene. Veins and dikes reflect channeled magma migration focused by brittle failures at shallower lithospheric levels. Minor or no chemical changes occurred in peridotites impregnated along fractures. The compositions of magmatic minerals in impregnated peridotites are consistent with derivation from variably fractionated melts of probably MORB type. Barometric estimates suggest that the Romanche peridotites were impregnated at minimum depths of ca. 9–12 km. Thermometric estimates for the peridotite hosts are in the range 750–1050 °C. The spread in temperature values is partly ascribed to localized heating by migrating melts of relatively cold peridotites. Our data and the occurrence of both fertile and depleted peridotites in a neighbouring area along the western Romanche FZ are in accord with the hypothesis of small-scale (<100 km) mantle heterogeneity along this fracture zone.     

Recent Geodetic Results in the Azores Triple Junction Region

—GPS (Global Positioning System) observations started to be carried out in the Azores region under the scope of the TANGO (TransAtlantic Network for Geodesy and Oceanography) project in 1988. The measurements carried out between 1993 and 2000 (five campaigns) on nine GPS sites (one per island) were reprocessed using two state–of–the-art software packages. Different methodologies were applied to compute each campaign solution and the derived velocity field. The velocity fields, including the motions of two permanent stations, recently installed in the Azores, were computed within the most recent geodetic reference frame, ITRF2000 (International Terrestrial Reference Frame, solution 2000). They are compared with the motions of the stable rigid tectonic plates using as reference DEOS2k, a global tectonic model developed using geodetic data. The relative motions between the Western and Central groups of islands yield to evaluate the opening rate of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (boundary between the North American plate and the Eurasian and African plates). Concerning the boundary between the Eurasian and African plates, the motion of the TANGO sites in the Central and Eastern groups clearly identifies the transition pattern between those two plates. Two of the sites are considered to be located in the stable part of these plates, whereas the remaining five are within the deformation region of the Eurasia-Africa boundary. The conclusions are analyzed in view of the different deformation models, derived from geodynamic or geophysical data that have been proposed for the region.     

Pliocene marine deposits at Punta Maldonado, Guerrero state, Mexico

Diverse and abundant Foraminifera and Ostracoda assemblages were recovered from a measured stratigraphic section at Punta Maldonado, Guerrero state, Mexico. The planktonic species indicate an early Pliocene age, between 5.3 and 3.6 Ma; an early late Pliocene (around 2.4 Ma) planktonic assemblage also was recorded from isolated deposits. These ages contradict the Cretaceous–Paleogene age previously assigned to the sedimentary succession at Punta Maldonado. All indicators—benthic assemblages, ichnofacies, lithology, grain size, primary structures, mineralogy, body rock geometry, and facies—suggest deposition in the foreshore and offshore transition zones of a storm-dominated shallow siliciclastic shelf. The Ostracoda and Foraminifera indicate deposition around the outer neritic/upper bathyal boundary, which suggests an uplift of 320–400 m in the area during the Pliocene. This study represents the first report of Pliocene marine rocks in the southwestern coast of Mexico; the data presented contribute to regional geotectonic models.     

Angular velocities of Nubia and Somalia from continuous GPS data: implications on present-day relative kinematics

This study focuses on the break-up of the African tectonic plate into separate Nubian and Somalian blocks, based on recent Global Positioning System (GPS) data. A new, unique velocity field has been obtained by processing all available observations of permanent GPS stations on Africa since 1996. The quantity and distribution of the stations and the length of the time-series of observations exceed that of previous studies by a considerable margin, allowing one to derive a reliable estimate of the differential motion between the Nubia and Somalian plates, which are considered as a single (African) block in the prevailing global tectonic plate models. The estimated relative pole of rotation of Somalia with respect to Nubia is located at 54.8°S; 37.0°E with magnitude −0.069°/Ma, implying distinct opening in the Ethiopian Rift of magnitude ≈7 mm/year and azimuth ≈N94°E, whereas in southeastern South Africa this value is reduced to ≈2 mm/year in almost the same direction. This is in accordance with some of the independent geological and geophysical tectonic models of the Nubia-Somalia plate boundary region. However, the spatial density of the current tracking network is still not optimal to establish the exact location of the entire Somalia-Nubia plate boundary; in particular, the possible branch east of Lake Victoria and heading towards the Mozambique Channel is impossible to confirm or reject at this moment.     

Evaluation of susceptibility for terrain collapse and subsidence in karst areas,municipality of Iraquara,Chapada Diamantina (BA), Brazil

The morphological evolution of the karstic systems is associated with a set of physical and chemical processes, triggered by the dissolution of the rocks, related to percolation of groundwater and surface water, which consequently open underground voids and carve out peculiar forms of relief. Due to environmental and geotechnical aspects, this system is naturally more fragile and vulnerable than other natural systems and, therefore, has increasingly received the attention of the scientific community over the past decades. The objective of the study was to delimit zones with varying degrees of susceptibility for collapses and subsidence of sinkholes in the municipality of Iraquara, Chapada Diamantina (BA), Brazil, and to understand their geological and morphological determinant factors. Geological data, karst phenomenon map, and visual analysis in the field were used to categorize zones with different types of susceptibilities to the nucleation of new sinkholes based on a Hazard Index. This index was defined from the sum of geological hazard factors, lineament density, and sinkhole density. The areas that presented the highest susceptibility for terrain collapse and subsidence corresponded to regions where carbonate rocks outcrop, with high density of photolineaments and 2.62 sinkholes/km². Processes associated with terrain collapse and subsidence in karst areas consisted of a combination of various factors, hindering precise predictions. However, zones of different types of susceptibilities to terrain collapse and subsidence can be delimited when the relationships between these processes and their factors are understood. The Hazard Index proposed does not provide quantitative values for the probability of hazard susceptibility, but rather indicates areas that are more susceptible to terrain subsidence and collapse.     

The thin and medium filters of the EPIC camera on-board XMM-Newton: measured performance after more than 15 years of operation

After more than 15 years of operation of the EPIC camera on board the XMM-Newton X-ray observatory, we have reviewed the status of its Thin and Medium filters. We have selected a set of Thin and Medium back-up filters among those still available in the EPIC consortium and have started a program to investigate their status by different laboratory measurements including: UV/VIS transmission, Raman scattering, X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy, and Atomic Force Microscopy. Furthermore, we have investigated the status of the EPIC flight filters by performing an analysis of the optical loading in the PN offset maps to gauge variations in the optical and UV transmission. We both investigated repeated observations of single optically bright targets and performed a statistical analysis of the extent of loading versus visual magnitude at different epochs. We report the results of the measurements conducted up to now. Most notably, we find no evidence for change in the UV/VIS transmission of the back-up filters in ground tests spanning a 2 year period and we find no evidence for change in the optical transmission of the thin filter of the EPIC-pn camera from 2002 to 2012. We point out some lessons learned for the development and calibration programs of filters for X-ray detectors in future Astronomy missions.