L' and M' standard stars for the Mauna Kea Observatories Near-Infrared system

We present L ' and M ' photometry, obtained at the United Kingdom Infrared Telescope (UKIRT) using the Mauna Kea Observatories Near-Infrared (MKO-NIR) filter set, for 46 and 31 standard stars, respectively. The L ' standards include 25 from the in-house 'UKIRT Bright Standards' with magnitudes deriving from Elias et al. and observations at the Infrared Telescope Facility in the early 1980s, and 21 fainter stars. The M ' magnitudes derive from the results of Sinton and Tittemore. We estimate the average external error to be 0.015 mag for the bright L ' standards and 0.025 mag for the fainter L ' standards, and 0.026 mag for the M ' standards. The new results provide a network of homogeneously observed standards, and establish reference stars for the MKO system, in these bands. They also extend the available standards to magnitudes which should be faint enough to be accessible for observations with modern detectors on large and very large telescopes.     

北秦岭造山带翠华山黑云母花岗岩LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb测年及地球化学特征

秦岭翠华山水湫池地区分布的黑云母花岗岩是陕西翠华山国家山崩地质公园的崩塌母岩,目前还未见对其系统地开展年代学、地球化学研究。本文在野外调查的基础上,对翠华山水湫池地区分布的黑云母花岗岩首次进行了LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb测年、Lu-Hf同位素及全岩地球化学分析,获得锆石U-Pb加权平均年龄为149.4Ma±1.1 Ma,时代属于晚侏罗世;结合前人的研究成果资料,翠华山复式岩体可能存在～227 Ma、～150 Ma、～119 Ma三期岩浆侵位活动;全岩地球化学分析具有高硅(w(SiO₂)=69.83%～75.31%)、富钾(w(K₂O)=2.71%～5.23%)、弱过铝质(A/CNK=1.00～1.07)特征,属于高钾钙碱性-钾玄岩Ⅰ型花岗岩;其轻、重稀土分馏明显(w(LREE)/w(HREE)=10.09～67.50),富集LILE(K、La、Pb、Sr)、亏损HFSE(Ta、Nb、P、Ti),Eu呈弱负异常—轻微正异常,且显示高Sr低Y花岗岩特征;锆石Hf同位素分析得出ε_Hf(t)=-4.6～-1.4,T_...     

The 1991 WMO International ozonesonde intercomparison at Vanscoy,Canada

Abstract

An intercomparison of ozonesondes was held at Vanscoy, Saskatchewan, from 13 to 24 May 1991. The intercomparison, which was sponsored by the WMO and hosted by the Atmospheric Environment Service (AES) of Canada, was attended by scientists from six countries: Canada, Finland Germany, India, Japan and the United States. Four different makes of ozonesondes were used: the ECC sonde, the Brewer‐Mast sonde, the Indian ozonesonde and the Japanese RSH‐KC79 ozonesonde. These represent most of the sonde types that are in routine operation in the Global Ozone Observing System.

A balloon payload and telemetry system was developed to accommodate up to eight ozonesondes that could operate independently and transmit data simultaneously to a ground receiver. Ten flights were launched, each carrying 7 or 8 sondes, and a total of 65 successful profile measurements were made. The payloads were carried to altitudes between 35 and 40 km. The measured profiles are used to determine statistically meaningful evaluations of the different sonde types. The results compared with those from previous intercomparisons indicate that there has been a general improvement in performance for most of the types. In addition there appears to have been changes with time in the relative sensitivity to tropospheric ozone for different sonde types. This result should be considered when drawing conclusions regarding trends in tropospheric ozone.     

Effect of the water/cement ratio on concrete behavior under extreme loading

This study focuses on identifying concrete behavior under severe triaxial loadings (near field detonation or ballistic impacts). In order to reproduce high stress levels with well‐controlled loading paths, static tests have been carried out on concrete samples by mean of a very high‐capacity triaxial press (stress levels on the order of 1 GPa). It is a longstanding fact that the water/cement ratio (W/C), upon entering the concrete composition, is a major parameter affecting the porosity and strength of the cement matrix of hardened concrete. The objective of this article is to quantify the effect of this ratio on concrete behavior under conditions of high confinement. From the composition of a reference ‘ordinary’ concrete (i.e. W/C=0.6), two other concretes have been produced with W/C ratios equal to 0.4 and 0.8, respectively. This article presents experimental results and their analysis regarding the effect of water/cement ratio (W/C) on concrete behavior under high confinement. It shows that when placed under high confinement, concrete behaves like a granular stacking composed of concrete without any influence from the level of cement matrix strength. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Digital Computer Programs for Recording and Processing Infrasonic Array Data

Summary We describe in detail the digital formats in which microbarograph array data are recorded at Alexandria Laboratories. Brief summaries are presented of 32 computer programs for altering the data formats, performing signal detection and analysis in both the tune domain and the frequency-wave number domain, and for various theoretical calculations involving the acoustic radiation from explosion sources in a layered atmosphere. An example is included of the write-ups and flow charts of these programs.     

Near-infrared spectra of 12 Near-Earth Objects

We present a number of spectra of Near-Earth Objects taken in the period 1998-2003 with two different instruments (CGS4 and UIST) on the UKIRT telescope. Since observations with CGS4 require multiple spectral fragments to be observed sequentially and then spliced together we assess the reliability of this technique using comparisons between multiple observations of the same object, between observations of the same object with both instruments and with independent spectra of common objects. We conclude that while problems in the spectral splicing can occur, they are usually intuitively obvious and that overall our dataset is sound. The objects for which we present new spectral data are: 1627 Ivar, 4179 Toutatis, 5381 Sekhmet, (5587) 1990 SB, 6489 Golevka, (11405) 1999 CV₃, (14402) 1991 DB, 25143 Itokawa, (25330) 1999 KV₄, (52760) 1998 ML₁₄, (66391) 1999 KW₄, and (101955) 1999 RQ₃₆. Our results, together with albedo data from the literature, suggest carbonaceous compositions for 25330 and 101955. The available data for 14402 suggest it may belong to the relatively rare M class. Our analysis suggests an S or Sq classification for 52760 and a V classification for 5381 Sekhmet. For all remaining objects the UKIRT data are consistent with published spectral classifications. We find that only 3 of the 12 objects are not S/Q/V-class, which is roughly consistent with the results of Binzel et al. [Binzel, R.P., Rivkin, A.S., Stuart, J.S., Harris, A.W., Bus, S.J., Burbine, T.H., 2004. Icarus 170, 259-294]. Four spectra of Toutatis taken over a range of solar phase angles between 0.7°-81° and at intervals of several weeks are indistinguishable within the uncertainties and therefore do not reveal any evidence for phase reddening or surface variegation.     

Extension syn-convergence,poinçonnement vertical et unités métamorphiques contrastées en bordure ouest du Grand Paradis (Alpes Franco-Italiennes)

Résumé

À la bordure occidentale du massif du Grand Paradis (Alpes occidentales), la zone Piémontaise est constituée des unités océaniques des schistes lustrés et de l’unité continentale du Grand Paradis. Une étude métamorphique nous permet de préciser et de discuter des discontinuités de pression et des conditions de rétro-morphose de trois unités piémontaises déjà distinguées antérieurement. L’unité supérieure des schistes lustrés (LS) métamorphisée dans le faciès des schistes bleus (9.5 ± 2 kbar, 340 ± 30 °C). L’unité inférieure des schistes lustrés (LI) métamorphisée dans le faciès des éclogites (12.5±3 kbar, 480±50 °C). L’unité continentale du Grand Paradis (GP) métamorphisée dans le faciès des éclogites de plus haute pression (12 à 20 kbar, 500 ± 50 °C). L’ensemble des unités enregistre une décompression dans les conditions du faciès amphibolite à épidote, et donc avec une légère augmentation tardive de température, pour les unités LI et GP, et dans celles des schistes verts pour l’unité LS. L’étude des inclusions fluides dans les fentes de tension et dans les plans de cisaillement, en parallèle à l’élude des paragenèses rétromorphiques permet de montrer que c’est tardivement (4 ± 1 kbar, 400 ± 50 °C) que l’histoire tectonomélamor-phique devient commune à l’ensemble des unités. L’étude du champ de la déformation finie met en évidence une tectonique en extension qui débute en conditions ductiles dans le faciès amphibolite à épidote pour LI, et schiste vert pour LS, et se poursuit en conditions fragiles. La déformation ductile se traduit par des trajectoires en dômes et bassins de la foliation, avec une partition entre des domaines en aplatissement au c?ur des dômes et des domaines en cisaillement simple en bordure des dômes, au contact entre les différentes unités. La déformation fragile correspond au continuum plus tardif de la déformation extensive ductile. Cette tectonique extensive n’est qu’en partie responsable des sautes de pression entre les trois unités étudiés. Elle correspond à l’accommodation, en surface, au poinçonnement vertical des unités de haute pression, en contexte de convergence, par l’écaillage progressif de la croûte européenne à l’avant du butoir mantellique apulien. © 2000 Editions scientifiques et médicales Elsevier SAS     

Linking the NE Anatolian and Lesser Caucasus ophiolites: evidence for large-scale obduction of oceanic crust and implications for the formation of the Lesser Caucasus-Pontides Arc

In the Lesser Caucasus and NE Anatolia, three domains are distinguished from south to north: (1) Gondwanian-derived continental terranes represented by the South Armenian Block (SAB) and the Tauride–Anatolide Platform (TAP), (2) scattered outcrops of Mesozoic ophiolites, obducted during the Upper Cretaceous times, marking the northern Neotethys suture, and (3) the Eurasian plate, represented by the Eastern Pontides and the Somkheto-Karabagh Arc. At several locations along the northern Neotethyan suture, slivers of preserved unmetamorphozed relics of now-disappeared Northern Neotethys oceanic domain (ophiolite bodies) are obducted over the northern edge of the passive SAB and TAP margins to the south. There is evidence for thrusting of the suture zone ophiolites towards the north; however, we ascribe this to retro-thrusting and accretion onto the active Eurasian margin during the latter stages of obduction. Geodynamic reconstructions of the Lesser Caucasus feature two north dipping subduction zones: (1) one under the Eurasian margin and (2) farther south, an intra-oceanic subduction leading to ophiolite emplacement above the northern margin of SAB. We extend our model for the Lesser Caucasus to NE Anatolia by proposing that the ophiolites of these zones originate from the same oceanic domain, emplaced during a common obduction event. This would correspond to the obduction of non-metamorphic oceanic domain along a lateral distance of more than 500?km and overthrust up to 80?km of passive continental margin. We infer that the missing volcanic arc, formed above the intra-oceanic subduction, was dragged under the obducting ophiolite through scaling by faulting and tectonic erosion. In this scenario part of the blueschists of Stepanavan, the garnet amphibolites of Amasia and the metamorphic arc complex of Erzincan correspond to this missing volcanic arc. Distal outcrops of this exceptional object were preserved from latter collision, concentrated along the suture zones.     

Murray Basin Magnetotelluric study

The Murray Basin is geologically featureless, has been sparsely covered by geophysics, and is penetrated by a few scattered wells. Only drilling and reflection seismic work have provided consistently reliable depth information. They have indicated the presence of narrow troughs, which contain more than 3 km of Palaeozoic sediment, covered by basement highs with less than 300 m of Mesozoic and Cainozoic cover.

Six widely spaced magnetotelluric (MT) sites were occupied in the north central Murray Basin. Results showed a 5 km thick horizontal section at Pooncarie, with a probably average porosity of 10%. Higher porosities, and probably a thicker section, were indicated near Little Topar, but the structural complexity there requires that additional data be acquired for positive interpretation.

A persistent conductivity increase near 100 km suggests that the method may respond well to the base of the tectonic plate.

The MT method appears well suited to the onshore exploration problems currently faced in Australia.