Tectonic stages along a traverse cross cutting the Rhodopian zone (Greece)

In a cross section along the Rhodopian zone from the Greece/Bulgarian border through the postalpine basins in the Xanthi area to Thasos island detailed structural mapping and collection of field data enable us to determine a sequence of tectonic stages that affected this area. This allows us to propose a model of continental collision.During the early Eocene, NE-SW directed movements produced a southwest facing pile of crystalline nappes with internal deformation comprising NW and NE trending isoclinal folds and a NE-SW trending stretching lineation. After a short time interval, nappe movements started again under brittle deformation conditions and produced composite thrust sheets, WNW- and NNE trending chevron folds and thick cataclasite. Late erogenic uplift and extension caused the formation of NW- and NE trending normal faults. These faults bounded the Oligocene flysch- and molasse basins and provided pathways for voluminous magmatic suites. This tectonic process was interrupted at the Oligocene/Miocene boundary by a late orogenic compression reflected in NW open folds and dissolution cleavages. Subsequently, differential uplift and subsidence associated with NW- and NE trending normal faults has continued up to the present time. From the early Pliocene new fragmentation and thinning of the crust reflected in WNW listric faults and NNE transfer faults has affected the southern parts of the Rhodopian zone.Nappe forming movements are the result of a progressive collisional process involving a Kimmerian microcontinent lying between the Eurasia and Apulia continents. In the final stages of this collision, uderplating processes led to regional uplift and extension. Additional extensional movements were related to the formation of the Aegean back arc basin caused by the Late Cenozoic Hellenic subduction zone.

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Zusammenfassung Durch Gefügedatensammlung und strukturelle Kartierung in einer Geotraverse durch die Rhodopische-Zone von der griechisch-bulgarischen Grenze, die sich über das postalpine Becken der Xanthi-Gegend bis zur Insel Thassos hinzieht, wurde sowohl die Zeitabfolge der tektonischen Ereignisse definiert als auch ein Kontinental-Kollisionsmodel aufgestellt.Während dem unteren Eozän haben NE-SW streichende Bewegungen einen südwestlich vergenten kristallinen Deckenstappel gebildet, der von NW- und NE streichenden Isoklinalfalten und einer SW streichenden Strekkungslineation innendeformiert wurde. Nach einer kurzen Zeitspanne haben Deckenbewegungen unter Bruchbedingungen wiederbegonnen. Dadurch wurden zusammengesetztes Deckenstappel, WNW and NNE streichende Knickfalten und mächtige Kataklasite gebildet. Postorogenetisches Aufsteigen des Gebirges wird von NW- und NE streichenden Abschiebungen gekennzeichnet. Diese Verwerfungen begrenzen Oligozäne Flysch- und Molassebecken und stellen Aufstiegswege von magmatischen Produkten dar, die stellenweise die Erdoberfläche erreichten. An der Grenze Oligozän-Miozän zeigt eine postorogene Kompression NW gerichtete geöffneteFalten und eine begleitende Lösungsschieferung. Nach dieser kurzen Unterbrechung setzt sich das Aufsteigen des Gebirges bis heute fort bei gleichzeitigen NW- und NE gerichteten Abschiebungen. Seit dem unteren Pliozän wird eine Zerspaltung und Ausdünnung der Kruste sowohl durch WNW gerichtete-listrische-Abschiebungen als auch durch NNE gerichtete »Transfer«-Verwerfungen hervorgerufen.Deckenbewegungen sind das Ergebnis eines kontinuierlichen Kollisionsprozesses, der einen Kimmerischen Mikrokontinent miteinbezieht, welcher zwischen dem Eurasischen- und dem Apulischen Kontinent lag. In den letzten Stadien der Kollision führte Plattenverdickung zu einem Aufsteigen des Gebirges, das von regionaler Ausdehnung begleitet wird. Eine weitere Ausdehnung bezieht sich auf die Bildung des Ägäischen »black arc basin« das durch die rezente Hellenische Subduktionszone hervorgerufen wurde.

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Résumé Dans une géotraverse de la zone du Rhodope, depuis la frontière gréco-bulgare, à travers les bassins post-alpins de la région de Xanthi et jusqu'à l'île de Thasos, on a effectué une cartographie structurale de détail et diverses observations de terrain. Cette investigation a permis de définir la succession des événements tectoniques et de proposer un modèle de collision continentale.Pendant l'Eocène inférieur, des mouvements de direction NE-SW ont engendré un empilement de nappes cristallines à vergence SW dont les structures de déformation interne comprennent des plis isoclinaux de directions NW et NE ainsi qu'une linéation d'étirement NE-SW. Après une courte pause, le mouvement des nappes a repris dans des conditions de déformation cassante, avec production de lames charriées composites, de plis en chevrons orientés WNW et NNE et de zones cataclasitiques épaisses. Un soulèvement orogénique tardif accompagné d'une extension crustale a ensuite engendré des failles normales de directions NW et NE. Ces failles ont délimité les bassins oligocènes de flysch et de molasse et ont ouvert la voie à de volumineuses venues magmatiques qui, par endroits, ont atteint la surface. Ces processus tectoniques ont été interrompus à la limite Oligocène-Miocène parune compression tardi-orogénique responsable de plis ouverts orientés NW et d'une schistosité de dissolution. Par la suite, des mouvements de soulèvement et de subsidence différentiels se sont poursuivis jusqu'aujourd'hui. A partir du début du Pliocène, les parties méridionales de la zone du Rhodope ont été le siège de nouveaux processus de fragmentation et d'amincissement de la croûte, qui se sont traduits par des failles listriques WNW et par des décrochements.La genèse des nappes résulte d'un processus progressif de collision impliquant un microcontinent kimmérien compris entre les continents eurasien et apulien. Lors des stades finals de cette collision, des phénomènes d' «underplating» ont provoqué un soulèvement de l'ensemble accompagné d'une extension à l'échelle régionale. Des mouvements d'extension ultérieurs sont en relation avec la formation du bassin d'arrière-arc égéen engendré par la zone de subduction hellénique au Cénozoïque supérieur.

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Implications of structural segmentation during earthquakes: the 1995 Egion earthquake, Gulf of Corinth, Greece

The Egion earthquake which occurred in the Gulf of Corinth, central Greece (Ms = 6.2) on 15 June 1995 was caused by normal slip on the north-dipping and WNW-trending Egion fault. The Egion fault ruptured at depth during the Egion mainshock and probably re-ruptured at shallow level during the largest aftershock. The surface trace of the Egion fault has a segmented geometry. Linkage between three segments, which show long-term deformation differences as well as coseismic segmentation, enabled all segments to be incorporated in an earthquake segment. The surface ruptures continued to grow after the coseismic motion; the afterslip throw of the fault 10 weeks after the main event was equal to the 3 cm value for maximum coseismic slip. This afterslip was accompanied by uplift of the footwall block and a warp-like hangingwall subsidence (folding). This pattern of deformation was associated with more complex deformation at the western end of the earthquake segment. Here, afterslip was accompanied by general subsidence of the whole area (between 25th June and 30th July), followed by uplift of the whole area without afterslip (between 30th July and 2nd September). The afterslip-rate averaged over the 73 day period after the main event varied from 0.48 mm day⁻¹ along the central part of the earthquake segment to 0.16 mm day⁻¹ at the eastern end of the earthquake segment.     

J.H. Hagedoorn – inventing the Hapa: A review of a geophysicist's 'other' work and how it inspired others

This paper describes J.G. Hagedoorn's work on 'ultimate sailing'– the combination of a manned kite and a water kite called a Hapa, constituting a minimal sailing system – and the way others have taken up his challenge to sail while suspended from a kite. Hagedoorn's goal has not been entirely achieved, but 'near' and partial solutions have been reached. Kite-Hapa-sailing continues to pose a 'Holy Grail' type challenge to many kite-sailors.     

Crystallographic studies of some olivine-related (Ni,Mg)3(PO4)2 solid solutions

Olivine-related (Ni, Mg)₃(PO₄)₂ solid solutions were prepared and equilibrated at 1070 K. Accurate monoclinic unit cell dimensions were determined from Guinier-Hägg photographic data. Structural refinements based on the X-ray profile-fitting technique after Rietveld were carried out for pure nickel (II) orthophosphate and for three Ni/Mg solid solutions. (Ni_1-x Mg _x )₃(PO₄)₂ phases with 0.40≦x≦0.60 are probably isostructural with Ni₃(PO₄)₂ (P2₁/a) while phases with low magnesium contents (<27 atom % Mg) deviate structurally from Ni₃(PO₄)₂. The results also show that Ni²⁺ is partially ordered at the octahedralM(1) sites, withK _D (Ni, Mg)=4.0±0.2     

Ozone abundance on Mars from infrared heterodyne spectra: II. Validating photochemical models

Ozone is an important observable tracer of martian photochemistry, including odd hydrogen (HO_x) species important to the chemistry and stability of the martian atmosphere. Infrared heterodyne spectroscopy with spectral resolution ?¹⁰⁶ provides the only ground-based direct access to ozone absorption features in the martian atmosphere. Ozone abundances were measured with the Goddard Infrared Heterodyne Spectrometer and the Heterodyne Instrument for Planetary Wind and Composition at the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility on Mauna Kea, Hawai'i. Retrieved total ozone column abundances from various latitudes and orbital positions (LS=40°, 74°, 102°, 115°, 202°, 208°, 291°) are compared to those predicted by the first three-dimensional gas phase photochemical model of the martian atmosphere [Lefèvre, F., Lebonnois, S., Montmessin, F., Forget, F., 2004. J. Geophys. Res. 109, doi:10.1029/2004JE002268. E07004]. Observed and modeled ozone abundances show good agreement at all latitudes at perihelion orbital positions (LS=202°, 208°, 291°). Observed low-latitude ozone abundances are significantly higher than those predicted by the model at aphelion orbital positions (LS=40°, 74°, 115°). Heterogeneous loss of odd hydrogen onto water ice cloud particles would explain the discrepancy, as clouds are observed at low latitudes around aphelion on Mars.     

Ozone abundance on Mars from infrared heterodyne spectra: I. Acquisition, retrieval, and anticorrelation with water vapor

Observations of ozone on Mars were made using the Goddard Space Flight Center's Infrared Heterodyne Spectrometer and Heterodyne Instrument for Planetary Wind and Composition at the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility. Ozone is an important observable tracer of martian photochemistry. Infrared heterodyne spectroscopy with spectral resolution ?¹⁰⁶ is the only technique that directly measures ozone in the martian atmosphere from the surface of the Earth. Ozone column abundances down to the martian surface were acquired in seven data sets taken between 1988 and 2003 at various orbital positions (LS=40°, 74°, 102°, 115°, 202°, 208°, 291°). Ozone abundances are compared with those retrieved using ultraviolet techniques, showing good agreement. Odd hydrogen (HO_X) chemistry predicts anticorrelation of ozone and water vapor abundances. Retrieved ozone abundances consistently show anticorrelation with corresponding water vapor abundances, providing strong confirmation of odd hydrogen activity. Deviation from strict anticorrelation between the observed total column densities of ozone and water vapor suggests that constituent vertical distribution is an additional, significant factor.     

The Eclipsing Binary bx Andromedae and its Orbital Period Behaviour

The orbital period variations of the eclipsing binary BX And are examined analysing its (O–C) diagram 1) with the standard method, in which the minima times are fitted by the quadratic ephemeris combined with an assumed light-time effect, and 2) with the first continuous method. The results from the use of the two methods are, as was expected, different.     

On the determination of a set of material constants for a high‐cycle accumulation model for non‐cohesive soils

The paper discusses the determination of a set of constants for the high‐cycle accumulation model (HCA) proposed by the authors. The HCA model predicts permanent strains or excess pore water pressures in non‐cohesive soils due to a cyclic loading with a large number of cycles and with small to intermediate strain amplitudes. The laboratory tests necessary for the determination of the material constants and their analysis are explained in detail in this paper. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Kinematics and strain partitioning in the southeast Hellenides (Greece)

New kinematic and structural data from the tectonic windows of eastern Crete and the Dodecanese Islands combined with strain and quartz fabric analysis have enabled us to determine a detailed structural evolution of the region and to present a plate tectonic scenario for the southeast Hellenides. During the Early Mesozoic, the southeastern part of Apulia was separated from North Africa and the adjacent microplates by WNW‐trending rift zones and NE‐trending transfer faults. Displacement along the transfer faults has locally reoriented these rift zones into an ENE–WSW direction. Finite strain and quartz fabric asymmetry data indicate that in Late Cenozoic time, NNW‐directed nappe movements caused a nearly coaxial deformation along the ENE–WSW trending rift segments and non coaxial top‐to‐the‐southeast shearing along the WNW‐trending rift segments, as well as along the pre‐existing NE‐trending transfer faults. Tectonic style along the margin varies in response to the obliquity of the principal shortening direction with respect to the margin. These variations could be due to the pre‐convergence geometry of the southern margin of Eurasia and to local strain partitioning effects. Furthermore, a tectonic model is presented in which syncompressional uplift and vertical buoyancy of the subducted crustal slice caused the rapid exhumation of metamorphic units in the south Hellenides. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.