Anisotropic P-wave attenuation measured from a multi-azimuth surface seismic reflection survey

A system of aligned vertical fractures produces azimuthal variations in stacking velocity and amplitude variation with offset, characteristics often reported in seismic reflection data for hydrocarbon exploration. Studies of associated attenuation anisotropy have been mostly theoretical, laboratory or vertical seismic profiling based. We used an 11 common‐midpoint‐long portion of each of four marine surface‐seismic reflection profiles, intersecting each other at 45° within circa 100 m of a common location, to measure the azimuthal variation of effective attenuation, Q⁻¹_eff and stacking velocity, in a shallow interval, about 100 m thick, in which consistently orientated vertical fracturing was expected due to an underlying salt diapirism. We found qualitative and quantitative consistency between the azimuthal variation in the attenuation and stacking velocity, and published amplitude variation with offset results. The 135° azimuth line showed the least apparent attenuation (1000 Q⁻¹_eff= 16 ± 7) and the fastest stacking velocity, hence we infer it to be closest to the fracture trend: the orthogonal 45° line showed the most apparent attenuation (1000Q⁻¹_eff= 52 ± 15) and slowest stacking velocity. The variation of Q⁻¹_eff with azimuth φ is well fitted by 1000Q⁻¹_eff = 34 − 18cos[2(φ+40°)] giving a fracture direction of 140 ± 23° (±1SD, derived from ‘bootstrapping’ fits to all 11⁴ combinations of individual common‐midpoint/azimuth measurements), compared to 134 ± 47° from published amplitude variation with offset data. The effects of short‐window spectral estimation and choices of spectral ratio bandwidth and offset ranges used in attenuation analysis, individually give uncertainties of up to ±13° in fracture direction. This magnitude of azimuthal variation can be produced by credible crack geometries (e.g., dry cracks, radius 6.5 m, aspect ratio 3 × 10⁻⁵, crack density 0.2) but we do not claim these to be the actual properties of the interval studied, because of the lack of well control (and its consequences for the choice of theoretical model and host rock physical properties) and the small number of azimuths available here.     

An acidification model (MAGIC) with organic acids evaluated using whole-catchment manipulations in Norway

The results from two whole-catchment manipulation experiments in Norway are used to evaluate MAGIC (Model of Acidification of Groundwater In Catchments), a model of ecosystem biogeochemical response to acid deposition. MAGIC is an aggregated catchment-scale model of acidification that has been widely used in assessment activities in Europe and North America. The experiments involved artificial decrease (Reversing Acidification In Norway, RAIN) and increases (Humid Lake Acidification Experiment, HUMEX) in acidic deposition. Runoff from both sites is influenced by moderate levels of organic acids. At each site the model was calibrated to the control catchment and then applied to the manipulated catchments with only minor adjustments. The major responses in runoff chemistry to the manipulations were closely simulated by the model. Differences between simulated and observed volume-weighted annual average concentrations of all major ions were less than ±6 μequiv 1⁻¹ for the entire 4–8 year period of prediction. Trends in response to the manipulations were correctly simulated. Most of the residual error resulted from an inability of the model to reproduce the year-to-year variability (noise) around the trends. Although such model evaluations cannot ‘prove’ the correctness of the model structure, good fits to experimental data increase confidence in model applications for assessment and management purposes. Evaluations of this sort can also identify aspects of the model that need further development. For MAGIC, these are primarily a need for improvement in the calibration of aluminium solubility and a better process basis for nitrogen dynamics.     

Observational study of terrestrial eigenvibrations

A comprehensive analysis has been made of analog and digital recordings of eigenvibration ground motion obtained following four great earthquakes; August 1976 (Philippines), August 1977 (Indonesia), September 1979 (West Irian), and December 1979 (Colombia). The time series (ranging in length from ～28 to ～140 h) are assumed to be linear combinations of damped harmonics in the presence of noise. Tables are calculated from values of the four parameters: Θ, used in describing eigenvibrations, period of oscillation, amplitude, damping factor Q, and phase together with their statistical uncertainties (53 spheroidal modes, ${}_0\text{S}{}_4\text{to}{}_0\text{S}{}_{48}$, and 13 torsional modes, ${}_0\text{T}{}_8\text{to}{}_0\text{T}{}_{45}$). The estimation procedures are by the methods of complex demodulation and non-linear regression that specifically incorporate into the basic model the decaying aspect of the oscillations. These methods, extended to simultaneous estimations of groups of modes, help to eliminate measurement error and measurement bias from estimations of Θ. The result is that overtone modes very near in frequency to fundamental modes can, under certain conditions, be resolved through a non-linear regression technique, although parameter uncertainties are underestimated in general.Of the time series analyzed, 17 were from a northern California regional network of ultra-long period seismographs at Berkeley (three components), Jamestown (vertical component), and Whiskeytown (vertical component) following the four listed earthquakes. The other 7 time series were recorded digitally by the worldwide IDA network following the 1977 Indonesian earthquake. Weighted regional and worldwide averages were made for period and Q of each eigenvibration mode.From the theoretical viewpoint, comparisons of measured period, Q, amplitude, and phase for all modes analyzed led to five conclusions. First, there are no detectable systematic shifts in period, Q, or phase of eigenvibrations within a region whose dimensions are less than a wavelength. Second, though not conclusive, there may be slight systematic shifts in period (<0.65 s) and relative amplitudes within the California regional network due to different source positions and mechanisms. Differences in Q values are not statistically significant. Third, even though differences in period obtained worldwide were as great as 1.33 s (≈0.33%), differences between Q values (as great as 20%) for the same mode were not significant. The conclusion is that the damping characteristics of singlet eigenfunctions are not observed to be significantly different. Fourth, the assumption that a multiplet ${}_{\mathrm{n}}\text{S}{}_{\mathrm{l}}$ behaves as a single oscillation is valid from at least ${}_0\text{S}{}_7$ through ${}_0\text{S}{}_{30}$. Fifth, no systematic pattern emerged for the shift of eigenperiod as a function of order / or posit on the Earth.     

Controls of uncertainty in acid rock drainage predictions from waste rock piles examined through Monte-Carlo multicomponent reactive transport

Stochastic Environmental Research and Risk Assessment - Heterogeneity in waste rock piles (WRPs) determines uncertainty in acid mine drainage (ARD) predictions from these deposits. Numerical...     

Structures of Mesocirculations Producing Tornadoes Associated with Tropical Cyclone Frances (1998)

Radar structures of one mesocyclone and one mesocirculation (the term mesocirculation refers to a class of rotating updrafts, which may or may not be as spatially and temporally large as a typical mesocyclone) that developed a total of four tornadoes in association with Tropical Cyclone (TC) Frances 1998 are presented. One tornado developed within an inner rainband near the time of landfall while three of the other tornadoes developed within an outer rainband nearly 24 hours after the landfall. Radar reflectivities of the tornadic circulations averaged upwards of 40 dBZ while Doppler radar wind components directed toward the radar averaged 11 m s−1. It is realized that although TC Frances was a minimal hurricane it spawned several tornadoes (four of which were studied) causing damage exceeding $2 million. These tornadoes were not all located close to the TC center, serving as a caution to forecasters and emergency personnel that the immediate landfalling area is not the only place to watch.While it is difficult to accurately predict the TC tornado location and time of occurrence, the degree of low-level baroclinicity seems to play an important role in tornadogenesis. Another significant finding is that the tornadoes were produced on the inward side of an inner rainband, as well as the inward side of an outer rainband. Consistent with climatology, the forward right quadrant of the TC developed the four tornadoes studied here.The lead author, Professor G. V. Rao died 31 July 2004 at the age of 70. He fell victime to the waves while swimming in Mazatlan, Mexico. This is the last paper he publilshed as lead author.     

Climatological and hydrographic influences on nearshore food webs off the southeastern United States: bacterioplankton dynamics

Bacterioplankton productivity, numbers, and cell specific activity were studied in nearshore waters of the southeastern U.S. continental shelf during seasons of maximum freshwater discharge. In April 1984, coastal waters were stratified from normal spring discharge and typical northeastward wind stress. In April 1985, shelf waters were vertically homogeneous due to below normal runoff and southwestward wind stress. In 1984, nearshore bacterial productivity ranged from 7.0 to 14.7 × 10⁶ cells l⁻¹ h⁻¹ and midshelf rates were 40–50% less. In 1985, nearshore productivity ranged from 0.9 to 2.4 × 10⁶ cells 1⁻¹ h⁻¹, and productivity was extremely patchy over the entire shelf. The cell-specific activity (thymidine incorporation per cell) suggests that although productivity was high in 1984, only a fraction of the bacterioplankton was actively growing or incorporating thymidine (0.9–2.9 × 10⁻²¹ mol cell⁻¹ h⁻¹). In 1985, a higher percentage of cells appeared to be active and incorporating thymidine (5–13 × 10⁻²¹mol cell⁻¹h⁻¹) even though productivity was low. Hydrographic conditions along the southeastern coastline may have had a significant impact on the overall community structure and carbon flow through the microbial food web. When coastal waters were stratified in 1984, bacterial biomass was a significant percentage (35–320%) of the phytoplankton biomass. During vertically homogeneous conditions of 1985, bacterial production and biomass were a small percentage (2–13%) of the phytoplankton production and biomass across the shelf. The interannual variation in the microbial food web was attributed to the interannual variability of the southeastern U.S. hydrology due to changes in freshwater discharge and wind direction and intensity. The ecological implications of these results extend to the potential impact of seasonal microbial food webs on nearshore allochothonous and autochothonous organics before removal from the southeastern U.S. coastline.     

Heat flow on the Pacific-Antarctic Ridge

Twenty-four heat flow measurements are clustered in 5–20 m.y. and 60–80 m.y. old seafloor on the crest and northern flank of the Pacific-Antarctic Ridge. The crestal heat flow stations are characterized by (1) low mean heat flow relative to that predicted by theoretical models, (2) thin sediment cover, and (3) high ratio of standard deviation to mean heat flow, all of which indicate a system dominated by convective heat transfer. The measurements made on older seafloor of the northern flank have (1) mean heat flow equal to the theoretical predictions of conductively-cooling lithospheric plate models, (2) thick sediment cover, and (3) low ratio of standard deviation to mean heat flow. Thus convective loss associated with hydrothermal circulation is not considered to be important in 60–80 m.y. old seafloor on the Pacific-Antarctic Ridge. The pattern of heat flow on this ridge is thus similar to that in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans: hydrothermal circulation is dominant on the ridge crest but is suppressed on the flanks, possibly due to a difference in the hydraulic admittance of the sediment between the two regions.