Focal mechanism of earthquakes in the Kamchatka-Commander region and heterogeneities of the active seismic zone

Summary Focal mechanisms of 74 shallow and 16 intermediate earthquakes (1964–1970) in the Kamchatka-Commander region are discussed. Regional stress systems and the nature of faulting are analyzed. Complex stress fields in the Kamchatka-Commander region and variable aftershock processes of strong Kamchatka earthquakes show the existence of heterogeneities of the active seismic zone in the Region.     

The characteristics of seismic signals produced by lahars and pyroclastic flows: Volcán de Colima,México

The general characteristics of seismic signals produced by pyroclastic flows (generated by either the collapse of a lava dome or an eruptive column) and lahars at Volcán de Colima, México are discussed. The paper concentrates on the 2004–2006 activity associated with and following the extrusion of andesitic block-lava in October–November 2004. It is shown that the duration of the broad-band seismic records of pyroclastic flows lasts a few minutes while the duration of seismic records of lahars continues for tens of minutes or hours. The spectra of seismic records produced by pyroclastic flows are characterized by lower peak frequencies (around 3–4 Hz) than for lahars (around 6–8 Hz). This difference in the frequency content together with the difference in the duration of seismic signals allows early diagnostic of the events in real time.     

Potential forest fire danger over Northern Eurasia: Changes during the 20th century

Significant climatic changes over Northern Eurasia during the 20th century have been reflected in numerous variables of economic, social, and ecological interest, including the natural frequency of forest fires. For the former USSR, we are now using the Global Daily Climatology Network and a new Global Synoptic Data Network archive, GSDN, created jointly by U.S. National Climatic Data Center and Russian Research Institute for Hydrometeorological Information. Data from these archives (approximately 1500 of them having sufficiently long meteorological time series suitable for participation in our analyses) are employed to estimate systematic changes in indices used in the United States and Russia to assess potential forest fire danger. We use four indices: (1) Keetch–Byram Drought Index, (KBDI; this index was developed and widely used in the United States); (2) Nesterov, (3) Modified Nesterov, and (4) Zhdanko Indices (these indices were developed and widely used in Russia). Analyses show that after calibration, time series of the days with increased potential forest fire danger constructed using each of these three indices (a) are well correlated and (b) deliver similar conclusions about systematic changes in the weather conditions conducive to forest fires. Specifically, over the Eastern half of Northern Eurasia (Siberia and the Russian Far East) statistically significant increases in indices that characterize the weather conditions conducive to forest fires were found. These areas coincide with the areas of most significant warming during the past several decades south of the Arctic Circle. West of the Ural Mountains, the same indices show a steady decrease in the frequency of “dry weather summer days” during the past 60 yr. This study is corroborated with available statistics of forest fires and with observed changes in drought statistics in agricultural regions of Northern Eurasia.     

Helium-volume dynamics of Upper Freeport coal powder and lumps

Exposure to 7 MPa of helium at room temperature alters the texture of Upper Freeport coal in a lump form. The differences in texture and porosity between coal powder and lumps may affect the transport and interaction of fluids and coal. In this work, the information about the coal texture and micro- and meso-porosity was obtained via the BET, BJH, and Dubinin–Astakhov analyses. We further investigated the free-fluid-phase volume (free-volume) effects due to helium interaction with the powder and the lumps. During the manometric experiment, helium penetration into the dry coal matrix resulted in slow relaxation of pressure. After exposure of coal to helium, there have been no significant changes of the macroscopic dimensions observed and the relaxation process can be attributed to microscopic ‘free-volume’ effects. Evolution of the sorption–desorption rates indicates that exposure to helium may change the texture and apparent (helium) density of dry coal.     

The Mw 7.4 Colima, Mexico, Earthquake of 21 January 2003: The Observed Damage Matrix in Colima City and its Comparison with the Damage Probability Matrix

The Mw 7.4 earthquake of 21 January 2003 occurred within the Mexican subduction zone and produced many damages of masonry constructions in the towns of Colima state, México. The macroseismic investigation of damages produced by the earthquake in Colima city was realized for 3,332 constructions within the area of study representing about 20% of the total city area and covered with the different type of constructions. The 7-grade scale of damage was used to describe the damage distribution. The damage matrix, constructed for the area, showed that the damage distribution varied from 63% of constructions with relatively slight damages (grades 1–3) to 29% of constructions that had significative damages (grades 4–5) and 8% of completely destructed or demolished masonry. The damage matrices, constructed for 12 subzones of the area of study, reflected two tendencies in the damage distributions: the predominance of slight damages of the recent constructions situated in the northern and eastern parts of the area and the predominance of significant damages of the older constructions in the southern and western parts of the area. It was observed a significant dependence of damage index upon the age of constructions and the type of masonry. The comparison of the observed damage matrix with the damage probability matrix calculated for Colima masonry in 1999 gives MM intensity VII in Colima.