The topology of force-free magnetic field near bipolar sunspots

The topological character of a new type of solution representing a force-free magnetic field near bipolar sunspots is examined. It is shown that some of the observed topological features of chromospheric fibrils and filaments in H can be interpreted in terms of the configuration of the magnetic lines of force of the present solution. In particular, by the examples considered the observed twisted S-shape topology of lower lying fibrils and the orientation of prominences (higher filaments) associated with sunspots are successfully reproduced.Visiting scientist at the High Altitude Observatory.The National Center for Atmospheric Research is sponsored by the National Science Foundation.     

The hydrogeology of granitic rocks in deep boreholes used for compressed air storage

The compressed air energy storage(CAES) is a much-awaited new system for load leveling power supply. An economical system must be developed, preventing leakage of stored air (with pressures of more than 20 atm) using groundwater pressure surrounding an unlined cavern in hard rock. The air tightness of the rock around the cavern must be confirmed. In this study, the hydrogeology of the test site was examined prior to field air tightness tests in the borehole. The results indicate that, when evaluating the hydrogeology of the test site related to the air tightness of rocks, it is necessary to understand the geological structure and fracture characteristics of the site. This is done by means of a field survey, investigations and tests in and between the boreholes, and the examination of the distribution of permeability and pore water pressures.     

Trace-element characteristics of east–west mantle geochemical hemispheres

Recent statistical analyses on the isotopic compositions of oceanic, arc, and continental basalts have revealed that the Earth's mantle is broadly divided into eastern and western hemispheres. The present study aimed to characterize the isotopically defined east–west geochemical hemispheres using trace-element concentrations. Basalt data with Rb, Sr, Nd, Sm, Pb, Th, and U in addition to the isotopic ratios ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr, ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd, ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb, and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb were selected mostly from the GEOROC and PetDB databases. A total of 4787 samples were used to investigate the global geochemical variations. The results show that the wide trace-element variations are broadly explained by the melting of melt-metasomatized and fluid-metasomatized mantle sources. The larger amount of the fluid component derived from subducted plates in the eastern hemisphere than that in the western hemisphere is inferred from the basalts. These characteristics support the hypothesis that focused subduction towards the supercontinent created the mantle geochemical hemispheres.     

The Global Stratotype Section and Point （GSSP） for the base of the Holocene Series/Epoch （Quaternary System/Period） in the NGRIP ice core

The Greenland ice core from NorthGRIP （NGRIP） contains a proxy climate record across the Pleistocene-Holocene boundary of unprecedented clarity and resolution. Analysis of an array of physical and chemical parameters within the ice enables the base of the Holocene, as reflected in the first signs of climatic warming at the end of the Younger Dryas/Greenland Stadial 1 cold phase, to be located with a high degree of precision.     

High-resolution shallow seismic and ground penetrating radar investigations revealing the evolution of the Uemachi Fault system, Osaka, Japan

Abstract Ground penetrating radar (GPR) and high‐resolution shallow reflection seismic surveying were carried out to investigate the subsurface geology in and around the Uemachi Fault zone in the Yamato River area, Osaka, Japan. Shallow drilling in the area showed a major displacement event during the middle Pleistocene. The main Uemachi Fault plane could be clearly imaged on the seismic section, except for the most shallow 200 m. Several shallow normal fault planes with less displacement could be detected on both sides of the fault plane. GPR profiles confirmed the presence of several shallow normal faults within the area near the fault zone. These shallow faults could be followed in all of the GPR profiles crossing the fault zone. The integration of seismic section, GPR profiles and drilling data led to a conceptual model that explains the evolution of the Uemachi Fault system. The proposed model suggests the occurrence of several cycles of small vertical displacement along the deep part of the fault plane caused by the regional east–west compressional stress. The ductile nature of the shallow sedimentary cover and the absence of confining pressure in the shallow part allow for a considerable amount of plastic bending before failing in the shallow sedimentary layers. This bending generates stretching force within the shallow sedimentary cover, which in time, along with gravitational force, gives rise to the formation of the swarm of normal faults within the shallow layers near the fault zone. Some of the detected faults extend to a depth of less than 3 m below the ground surface, suggesting that the last tectonic activity along the fault plane may have occurred recently.     

On periodic vortices over a concave semicircular wall fixed in a rotating tank

Abstract

New periodic vortices were observed during a rotating tank experiment, to be described. The peculiarities and the formation mechanism of the present vortices are based on observations. The vortices reach the complete form in stages, viz. laminar boundary layer growth, sinuous motion and rolling oscillation. After being formed, the vortices are shed periodically and the diameter of the vortices grows as they advance.

The vortices appear when the flow over the concave semicircular wall, fixed in the rotating tank, is maintained by the shear stresses at the inner surface of the rotating tank. The vortices and the flow were visualized with thymol blue dye.     

RXTE observation of NGC 6240: a search for the obscured active nucleus

We present new data taken at 850 μm with SCUBA at the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope for a sample of 19 luminous infrared galaxies. Fourteen galaxies were detected. We have used these data, together with fluxes at 25, 60 and 100 μm from IRAS , to model the dust emission. We find that the emission from most galaxies can be described by an optically thin, single temperature dust model with an exponent of the dust extinction coefficient ( k _λ ∝ λ ^{− β} ) of β ≃1.4–2. A lower β ≃1 is required to model the dust emission from two of the galaxies, Arp 220 and NGC 4418. We discuss various possibilities for this difference and conclude that the most likely is a high dust opacity. In addition, we compare the molecular gas mass derived from the dust emission, M _850 μm, with the molecular gas mass derived from the CO emission, M _CO, and find that M _CO is on average a factor 2–3 higher than M _850 μm.