Distribuzione geografica dell'attivita' magnetica terrestre

Riassunto Richiamate le caratteristiche secondo cui le perturbazioni regolari ed irregolari del campo terrestre concorrono a definire l'attività geomagnetica, se ne analizza la distribuzione geografica mediante le grandezze:HR _H ,ZR _Z , e (10^–4.²). Di queste sono illustrati e discussi gli andamenti in funzione della latitudine geomagnetica, dedotti dai valori medi calcolati per quasi tutte le stazioni funzionanti durante l'Anno Polare 1932–33 ed il triennio successivo 1933–36. Si rileva particolarmente il massimo assoluto di attività della zone anulare delle aurore, e quello relativo delle regioni equatoriali. Segue un'indagine, a carattere piuttosto indicativo, sulla ripartizione geografica del grado di variazione dell'attività nel tempo, introducendo a tale scopo opportuni indici ed esponendone il comportamento. Conclude la Nota un cenno sugli andamenti stagionali dell'attività e della variabilità geomagnetica.     

Multi-year drought frequency analysis at multiple sites by operational hydrology - A comparison of methods

This paper compares two generators of yearly water availabilities from sources located at multiple sites with regard to their ability to reproduce the characteristics of historical critical periods and to provide reliable results in terms of the return period of critical sequences of different length. The two models are a novel multi-site Markov mixture model explicitly accounting for drought occurrences and a multivariate ARMA. In the case of the multisite Markov mixture model parameter estimation is limited to a search in the parameter space guided by the value of parameter λ to show the sensitivity of the model to this parameter. Application to two of the longest time series of streamflows available in Sicily (Italy) shows that the models can provide quite different results in terms of estimated return periods of historic droughts, although they seem to perform more uniformly when it comes to simulate drought-related statistics such as drought length, severity and intensity. The role of parameter selection for the multisite Markov mixture model and of the marginal probability of generated flows in providing results consistent with the characteristics of the observed series is discussed. Both models are applied to the system of sources supplying the city of Palermo (Sicily) and its environs showing the applicability of the newly developed multisite Markov mixture model to medium-to-large scale water resources systems.     

Eruptive history and petrologic evolution of the Albano multiple maar (Alban Hills, Central Italy)

A comprehensive volcanological study of the Albano multiple maar (Alban Hills, Italy) using (i) ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar geochronology of the most complete stratigraphic section and other proximal and distal outcrops and (ii) petrographic observations, phase analyses of major and trace elements, and Sr and O isotopic analyses of the pyroclastic deposits shows that volcanic activity at Albano was strongly discontinuous, with a first eruptive cycle at 69±1 ka producing at least two eruptions, and a second cycle with two peaks at 39±1 and 36±1 ka producing at least four eruptions. Contrary to previous studies, we did not find evidence of magmatic or hydromagmatic eruptions younger than 36±1 ka. The activity of Albano was fed by a new batch of primary magma compositionally different from that of the older activity of the Alban Hills; moreover, the REE and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr data indicate that the Albano magma originated from an enriched metasomatized mantle. According to the modeled liquid line of descent, this magma differentiated under the influence of magma/limestone wall rock interaction. Our detailed eruptive and petrologic reconstruction of the Albano Maar evolution substantiates the dormant state of the Alban Hills Volcanic District. Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available for this article at Editorial responsibility: J. Donnelly-Nolan An erratum to this article can be found at     

1983–2003 decaying rate of deflation at Askja caldera: Pressure decrease in an extensive magma plumbing system at a spreading plate boundary

New deformation data from the Askja volcano, Iceland, show that the volcano's caldera has been deflating continuously for over 20 years, and confirm that the rate of subsidence is slowing down. The decay in subsidence rate can be fitted with a function of the form e ^{− t / τ} , where τ is 39 years. Reanalysis of GPS data from 1993–1998 show that these data can be fitted with a model calling for two Mogi point sources, one shallow, and another one much deeper (16.2 km depth). Pressure decrease occurs in both sources. The deeper source is responsible for observed horizontal contraction towards Askja at distances that cannot be explained by the shallower source. Plate spreading of 19 mm/year distributed evenly over about 100-km-wide zone is also favoured by the data.     

Paleoceanographic evolution of the SW Svalbard margin (76°N) since 20,000 C yr BP

Two cores from the southwestern shelf and slope of Storfjorden, Svalbard, taken at 389 m and 1485 m water depth have been analyzed for benthic and planktic foraminifera, oxygen isotopes, and ice-rafted debris. The results show that over the last 20,000 yr, Atlantic water has been continuously present on the southwestern Svalbard shelf. However, from 15,000 to 10,000 ¹⁴C yr BP, comprising the Heinrich event H1 interval, the Bølling-Allerød interstades and the Younger Dryas stade, it flowed as a subsurface water mass below a layer of polar surface water. In the benthic environment, the shift to interglacial conditions occurred at 10,000 ¹⁴C yr BP. Due to the presence of a thin upper layer of polar water, surface conditions remained cold until ca. 9000 ¹⁴C yr BP, when the warm Atlantic water finally appeared at the surface. Neither extensive sea ice cover nor large inputs of meltwater stopped the inflow of Atlantic water. Its warm core was merely submerged below the cold polar surface water.     

Analysis and modeling of the seasonal South China Sea temperature cycle using remote sensing

The present paper describes the analysis and modeling of the South China Sea (SCS) temperature cycle on a seasonal scale. It investigates the possibility to model this cycle in a consistent way while not taking into account tidal forcing and associated tidal mixing and exchange. This is motivated by the possibility to significantly increase the model’s computational efficiency when neglecting tides. The goal is to develop a flexible and efficient tool for seasonal scenario analysis and to generate transport boundary forcing for local models. Given the significant spatial extent of the SCS basin and the focus on seasonal time scales, synoptic remote sensing is an ideal tool in this analysis. Remote sensing is used to assess the seasonal temperature cycle to identify the relevant driving forces and is a valuable source of input data for modeling. Model simulations are performed using a three-dimensional baroclinic-reduced depth model, driven by monthly mean sea surface anomaly boundary forcing, monthly mean lateral temperature, and salinity forcing obtained from the World Ocean Atlas 2001 climatology, six hourly meteorological forcing from the European Center for Medium range Weather Forecasting ERA-40 dataset, and remotely sensed sea surface temperature (SST) data. A sensitivity analysis of model forcing and coefficients is performed. The model results are quantitatively assessed against climatological temperature profiles using a goodness-of-fit norm. In the deep regions, the model results are in good agreement with this validation data. In the shallow regions, discrepancies are found. To improve the agreement there, we apply a SST nudging method at the free water surface. This considerably improves the model’s vertical temperature representation in the shallow regions. Based on the model validation against climatological in situ and SST data, we conclude that the seasonal temperature cycle for the deep SCS basin can be represented to a good degree. For shallow regions, the absence of tidal mixing and exchange has a clear impact on the model’s temperature representation. This effect on the large-scale temperature cycle can be compensated to a good degree by SST nudging for diagnostic applications.     

Crustal attenuation in the Southern Andean retroarc (38°–39°30′ S) determined from tectonic and gravimetric studies: The Lonco-Luán asthenospheric anomaly

The western retroarc of the Southern Andes between 38° and 40° S is formed by a NNW-elongated ridge not associated with stacked thrust sheets. On the contrary, during the last 4–3 Ma this ridge was affected by extensional deformation, regional uplift and related folding on a very broad scale. Receiver function analysis shows that the drainage divide area and adjacent retroarc lie over an attenuated crust. Expected crustal thickness at these latitudes is around 38 km, whereas in this part of the retroarc the thickness is less than 32 km. The causes for such attenuation have been linked to a moderate steepening of the subducted Nazca plate beneath the South American plate, which is suggested by a westward shift and narrowing of the magmatic arc during the last 4 to 5 Ma. Gravimetric studies show that the upper plate did not react homogeneously to slab steepening, but ancient sutures and lithospheric discontinuities deeply buried under Mesozoic to Cenozoic sequences in the retroarc were locally reactivated. These processes resulted in an asthenospheric anomaly that correlates at the surface with the area of Pliocene to Quaternary doming, widespread extension and three radial troughs. Two of the troughs have accommodated substantial amounts of extension, but the third was probably aborted at an early stage. Moreover, the presence of an anomalous concentration of calderas and large volcanic centers over the proposed asthenospheric anomaly, and their age distribution, may indicate minor migration of the asthenospheric anomaly between 4 and 2 Ma through the western South American plate.     

Little Black Holes: Dark Matter and Ball Lightning

Small, quiescent black holes can be considered as candidates for the missing dark matter of the universe, and as the core energy source of ball lightning. By means of gravitational tunneling, unidirectional radiation is emitted from black holes in a process much attenuated from that of Hawking radiation, P, which has proven elusive to detect. Gravitational tunneling emission is similar to electric field emission of electrons from a metal in that a second body is involved which lowers the barrier and gives the barrier a finite rather than infinite width. Hawking deals with a single isolated black hole. The radiated power here is P ∝ e^-2Δγ P, where e^-2Δγ is the transmission probability. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Alkaline ultramafic lamprophyres and associated carbonatite dykes from the Kalix area,northern Sweden

Alkahne ultramafic lamprophyres and associated carbonatite dykes form north-south trending dyke swarms. The lamprophyres are sub-divided into micaceous, picritic and breccia varieties. Carbonatites sensu stricto (beforsites) occur very subordinate.The dykes of the Kalix area show great similarities to petrographically related rocks from other Scandinavian occurrences (Sokli, Alnö and Fen). Major differences are found in their tectonic setting (regularly striking dyke swarms) and the REE-pattern (distinctly negative cerium anomalies).The following petrogenetic model is advanced for the Kalix dykes: (1) partial melting of upper mantle material, (2) Intrusion into a crustal magma chamber, fractional crystallization, (3) Interactions between crystallized material and the volatile phase (light REE depletion, oxidation of cerium), (4) Intrusion in fracture zones under horizontal tension.

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Zusammenfassung Alkalin-ultrabasiscbe Lamprophyre und begleitende KarbonatitgÄnge bilden nordsüdlidi streichende GangschwÄrme. Die Lamprophyre zeigen gewisse Ähnlichkeiten zu alnöitischen und kimberlitischen Gesteinen; sie wurden unterteilt in glimmerreiche und pikritische Lamprophyre sowie Brekzien. Karbonatite im engeren Sinn treten nur sehr untergeordnet auf; sie sind als Beforsite charakterisiert.Die Ganggesteine des Kalix-Gebiets weisen gro\e Ähnlichkeiten mit petrographiscb verwandten Gesteinen von anderen skandinavischen Vorkommen (Sokli, Alnö und Fen) auf. GrundsÄtzliche Unterschiede finden sich vor allem im tektonischen Auftreten (ziemlich konstant streichende GangschwÄrme) und im Verteilungsmuster der seltenen Erden (deutlich negative Cer-Anomalien).Die Bildung der Kalix-GÄnge wird folgenderweise erklÄrt: (1) Partielle Aufschmelzung des oberen Mantels, (2) Intrusion der Schmelze in eine krustale Magmakammer, gefolgt von fraktionierter Kristallisation, (3) Reaktion zwischen vorzugsweise kristallisiertem Material und der volatilen Phase (Entarmung an leichten seltenen Erden, Oxidation des Cers), (4) Intrusion in Bruchzonen, die horizonteller Dehnung ausgesetzt sind.

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Résumé Des lamprophyres alcalins ultrabasiques accompagnés de carbonatites forment des essaims de dykes de direction nord-sud. Les lamprophyres se subdivisent en variétés micacée, picritique ainsi que brÊchique. Les carbonatites sensu stricto sont rares et sont plutÔ des beforsites.Les dykes de la région de Kalix présentent de grandes similitudes avec des roches pétrographiquement apparentées d'autres localités Scandinaves (Sokli, Alnö et Fen). Les différences essentielles sont dues à leur situation tectonique (essaims de dykes de direction régulière) ainsi qu'à la distribution des Terres Rares (anomalie négative distincte de cérium).Le modèle pétrogénétique suivant est proposé pour les dykes de Kalix: (1) fusion partielle de matériau du manteau supérieur, (2) intrusion dans une chambre magmatique de l'écorce et cristallisation fractionnée, (3) interaction entre le material déjà cristallisé et la phase volatile (appauvrissement des éléments légers des Terres Rares, oxydation du cérium), (4) intrusion le long de zones de fracture dans des conditions d'extension horizontale.

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Levels of chlorinated hydrocarbons in marine animals from the central Mediterranean

Concentrations of chlorinated hydrocarbons (DDT and metabolites, PCBs, aldrin, dieldrin, HCB and BHCs) have been determined in the tissues of five species of marine animals sampled in selected areas of the central Mediterranean.