Fast Magnetohydrodynamic Oscillations in a Fibril Prominence Model

Observations of quiescent filaments show fine-scale structures, suggesting that they can be composed of small-scale threads or fibrils. Here, we study the oscillations of group of periodic fibrils in a Cartesian geometry using Bloch's theorem. The periodic array of fibrils provides a bridge between the seemingly different oscillations of a finite number of fibrils and the oscillations of an homogeneous prominence. Our results show that fine structure plays an important role and cannot be neglected. The filling factor can be used to obtain reliable estimates of periods. Also, the presence of the fibrils introduces a fine-scale modulation in the spatial structure of the global oscillations.     

Ice marginal dynamics during surge activity,Kuannersuit Glacier,Disko Island,West Greenland

The Kuannersuit Glacier surged 11 km between 1995 and 1998. The surge resulted in the formation of an ice cored thrust moraine complex constructed by subglacial and proglacial glaciotectonic processes. Four main thrust zones are evident in the glacier snout area with phases of compressional folding and thrusting followed by hydrofracture in response to the build-up of compressional stresses and the aquicludal nature of submarginal permafrost and naled. Various types of stratified debris-rich ice facies occur within the marginal zone: The first (Facies I) comprises laterally continuous strata of ice with sorted sediment accumulations, and is reworked and thrust naled ice. The second is laterally discontinuous stratified debris-rich ice with distinct tectonic structures, and is derived through subglacial extensional deformation and localised regelation (Facies II), whilst the third type is characterised by reworked and brecciated ice associated with the reworking and entrainment of meteoric ice (Facies III). Hydrofracture dykes and sills (Facies IV) cross-cut the marginal ice cored thrust moraines, with their sub-vertically frozen internal contact boundaries and sedimentary structures, suggesting supercooling operated as high-pressure evacuation of water occurred during thrusting, but this is not related to the formation of basal stratified debris-rich ice. Linear distributions of sorted fines transverse to ice flow, and small stratified sediment ridges that vertically cross-cut the ice surface up-ice of the thrust zone relate to sediment migration along crevasse traces and fluvial infilling of crevasses. From a palaeoglaciological viewpoint, marginal glacier tectonics, ice sediment content and sediment delivery mechanisms combine to control the development of this polythermal surge valley landsystem. The bulldozing of proglacial sediments and the folding and thrusting of naled leads to the initial development of the outer zone of the moraine complex. This becomes buried in bulldozed outwash sediment and well-sorted fines through surface ablation of naled. Up-ice of this, the heavily thrust margin becomes buried in sediment melted out from basal debris-rich ice and subglacial diamicts routed along thrusts. These mechanisms combine to deliver sediment to supraglacial localities, and promote the initial preservation of structurally controlled moraines through insulation, and the later development of kettled dead ice terrain.     

Northern Gulf of Mexico continental slope

The hummocky continental slope in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico is the result of active salt tectonism and accompanying faulting. Fluid and gassy hydrocarbons rise through the sediment column and along faults causing the formation of gas hydrates, gassy sediments, mud volcanoes and mounds, chemosynthetic communities and authigenic carbonates, reefs, and hardgrounds. Salt activity coupled with processes associated with relative sea level fluctuations create a feedback relationship resulting in the above-mentioned phenomena as well as others such as seafloor erosion at great water depths.     

Accurate current measurement using drogued buoys employing DeccaNavigator and Argos

Free-floating drogued buoys have been developed for detailed studies of tidal processes, frontal circulation, eddies, and mixing in the North Sea. They are equipped with two independent tracking systems-Decca Navigator and Argos. Decca Navigator, a hyperbolic radio navigation system with extensive coverage in Western Europe, provides accurate and frequent fixes, and the Argos satellite system is used to monitor progress in real time and to assist recovery. The low power consumption microprocessor-based Decca Navigator receiver designed specifically for this application synchronizes to the precisely timed Decca transmission and then goes into sleep mode, waking briefly at 10-min intervals to take position fixes. The position data are stored in a 2-Mb memory card that has a three-month capacity at the 10-min rate. The recovery procedure, using both Argos and a small VHF beacon, is described, together with other recent developments. A typical buoy track from a study in the North Sea is included     

Structures of the Skiddaw Slates in the Caldew Valley,Cumberland

The hornfelsed Skiddaw Slates in the River Caldew, Cumberland, exhibit one of the best displayed sets of folds in the country. Patterns resulting from an analysis of these folds and the structures on the valley sides, indicate that the rocks have suffered several phases of deformation. Evidence is produced to suggest that folding was initiated during the pre-Bala movements, and re-folding occurred during the main end-Silurian orogeny. During the end-Silurian movements, folding due to collapse under gravity also occurred.     

Survival of juvenile spot (Leiostomus xanthurus) exposed to bromochlorinated and chlorinated sewage in estuarine waters

The acute toxicity of chlorinated and bromochlorinated treated sewage waste was determined with spot, Leiostomus xanthurus. The halogenated sewage waste was generated in a pilot plant located at the James River Sewage Treatment Plant, Newport News, Va. The 96 h and 144 h LC50's were 0·23 mg/l (measured residual) for chlorine and 0·25 mg/l (measured residual) for bromine chloride. These concentrations are considerably higher than those which would be produced by optimal halogenation rates for disinfection or maximum superhalogenation rates permitted by pilot plant equipment and normal effluent dilution rates.     

The Merensky Cyclic Unit and its impact on footwall cumulates below Normal and Regional Pothole reef types in the Western Bushveld Complex

The Merensky Reef of the Bushveld Complex occurs in its highest stratigraphic position as a heterogeneous, pegmatitic, feldspathic melanorite bounded by two narrow chromitite stringers at the base of the Merensky Cyclic Unit (MCU). In the Swartklip Facies of the Rustenburg Layered Suite, the occurrence of widespread thermal and mechanical erosion termed “potholing” has led to the subdivision of the Merensky Reef into Normal Reef and Regional Pothole Reef sub-facies. The transition between the two sub-facies occurs where the MCU transgresses the lower chromitite stringer of the Normal Merensky Reef and cuts down into the underlying cumulate lithologies. In the Regional Pothole Reef at the Northam Platinum Mine, several economic reef types are identified, where the Merensky Reef becomes conformable to cumulate layering, in particular, to the footwall marker (NP2 reef type) and the upper pseudoReef (P2 reef type). The Normal Merensky Reef, as well as the P2 and NP2 Reefs, contains economic platinum group element (PGE) grades and includes the lower portion of the MCU melanorite and the Merensky Chromitite. Whole rock geochemistry indicates that this package is compositionally identical in Normal, P2, and NP2 Reefs, suggesting that the base of the MCU is a relatively homogeneous drape over both Normal and Regional Pothole Reef regions. However, the lower sections of the three Reefs are variables depending on the depth of transgression of the MCU. In the Normal and P2 reef types, transgression by the MCU was arrested within harzburgites, melanorites, and norites, resulting in coarse, pegmatitic textures in the immediate footwall units. For the NP2 Reef, transgression by the MCU was arrested within leucocratic rocks and resulted in the formation of troctolites below the Merensky Chromitite. These troctolites are characterised by a coupled relationship between olivine and sulphides and by changes in major element chemistry and PGE contents relative to equivalent units in the footwall of the Normal Reef. Along with micro-textural relationships, these features suggest that troctolization of leucocratic cumulates in the NP2 Reef beneath the Merensky chromitite was a result of a reactive infiltration of a chromite-saturated melt and an immiscible sulphide liquid from the overlying MCU, rather than a significant fluid flux from below. In all reef types, the concentration of S defines symmetrical peaks centred on the Merensky Chromitite (and chromitites from pre-existing cyclic units in Normal and P2 Reefs), whereas PGE concentrations define asymmetrical peaks with higher PGE contents in reconstituted footwall rocks relative to the MCU melanorite. This signature is attributable to a magmatic model of PGE collection followed by deposition towards the base of the MCU and within reconstituted footwall rocks. The continuity of the asymmetrical magmatic PGE signature between the Normal Reef and Regional Pothole Reef sub-facies indicates that PGE mineralization inherent to the Merensky magma occurred as a drape over a variably eroded and subsequent texturally and geochemically reworked or reconstituted footwall.