Estimation de la température maximale d'enfouissement du Toarcien et du Callovo-Oxfordien au centre du bassin de Paris par les marqueurs organiques

The thermal history of the central part of the Paris basin is reconstructed using C₃₁ hopane $\mathrm{S}/\mathrm{R}$ isomerisation ratios and organic matter transformation ratios measured on Lower Toarcian and Callovo-Oxfordian samples. Maximum burial palaeotemperatures range between 90 and 115?°C for the Toarcian shales, and between 75 and 95?°C for the Callovo-Oxfordian samples, from the East to the centre of the basin, respectively. The amount of Late Cretaceous erosion was evaluated to be between ca. 400 to 600 m in the eastern part of the studied area and 100 to 300 m in the centre of the basin. To cite this article: C. Ménétrier et al., C. R. Geoscience 337 (2005).     

Short Time Lyapunov Indicators in the Restricted Three-Body Problem

We applied the method of the short time Lyapunov indicators to the planar circular and to the planar elliptic restricted three-body problem in order to study the structure of the phase space in some selected regions. In the circular case we computed the short-time averages of the stretching numbers to distinguish between regular and chaotic domains of the phase space. The results obtained in this way are in good agreement with the corresponding Poincaré's surface of sections. Using the short time Lyapunov indicators we determined the detailed structure of the phase space in the semi-major axis-eccentricity plane of the test particle both in the circular and in the elliptic restricted problem (in the latter case for some values of the eccentricities of the primaries) and we studied the main features of the phase space.This revised version was published online in October 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

On the adelphic potentials compatible with a set of planar orbits

Given a planar potentialB=B(x, y), compatible with a monoparametric family of planar orbitsf(x, y)=c, we face the problem of producing potentialsA=A(x, y), adelphic toB(x, y), i.e. nontrivial potentials which have in common withB(x, y) the given set of orbits. We establish a linear, second order partial differential equation for a functionP(x, y) and we prove that, to any definite positive solution of this equation, there corresponds a potentialA(x, y) adelphic toB(x, y).     

A Global Inventory of Burned Areas at 1 Km Resolution for the Year 2000 Derived from Spot Vegetation Data

Biomass burning constitutes a major contribution to global emissions of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane, greenhouse gases and aerosols. Furthermore, biomass burning has an impact on health, transport, the environment and land use. Vegetation fires are certainly not recent phenomena and the impacts are not always negative. However, evidence suggests that fires are becoming more frequent and there is a large increase in the number of fires being set by humans for a variety of reasons. Knowledge of the interactions and feedbacks between biomass burning, climate and carbon cycling is needed to help the prediction of climate change scenarios. To obtain this knowledge, the scientific community requires, in the first instance, information on the spatial and temporal distribution of biomass burning at the global scale. This paper presents an inventory of burned areas at monthly time periods for the year 2000 at a resolution of 1 kilometer (km) and is available to the scientific community at no cost. The burned area products have been derived from a single source of satellite-derived images, the SPOT VEGETATION S1 1 km product, using algorithms developed and calibrated at regional scales by a network of partners. In this paper, estimates of burned area, number of burn scars and average size of the burn scar are described for each month of the year 2000. The information is reported at the country level. This paper makes a significant contribution to understanding the effect of biomass burning on atmospheric chemistry and the storage and cycling of carbon by constraining one of the main parameters used in the calculation of gas emissions.     

The Phase Space Structure Around L4 in the Restricted Three-Body Problem

The phase space structure around L ₄ in the restricted three-body problem is investigated. The connection between the long period family emanating from L ₄ and the very complex structure of the stability region is shown by using the method of Poincarés surface of section. The zero initial velocity stability region around L ₄ is determined by using a method based on the calculation of finite-time Lyapunov characteristic numbers. It is shown that the boundary of the stability region in the configuration space is formed by orbits suffering slow chaotic diffusion.     

Generalised Series Expansion (GSE) used in DC geoelectric–seismic joint inversion

Horizontally layered (1D) earth models are often assumed as a model estimate for the interpretation of geophysical data measured along 2D geological structures. In this process, the individual data sets are usually inverted independently, and it is considered only in a later phase of interpretation that these local (1D) models have common characteristic features. Taking account of these common attributes, instead of the successive independent interpretations, the lateral variations of geometrical and petrophysical parameters can be efficiently determined for the whole 2D structure by applying a series expansion. Using global basis functions, two advantages can be achieved: (i) choosing an appropriate number of basis functions helps us to restrict the complexity of the model; (ii) the integration of all the data sets measured along the profile gives rise to the application of simultaneous or joint inversion methods. This results in a decrease of the number of independent unknowns, a higher stability during the inversion and a more accurate and reliable parameter estimation.In this paper, a joint inversion algorithm is presented using DC geoelectric apparent resistivities and refraction seismic travel times measured along various layouts above a 2D geological model. To describe lateral variations series, expansions are used, and furthermore, to improve the often used approximation of a (locally) 1D forward modelling, the integral mean value of the horizontally changing model parameters (calculated along an appropriately defined interval) is introduced. We call the inversion procedure that combines series expansions and the concept of integral mean Generalised Series Expansion (GSE) inversion. The method was developed and tested for both the simultaneous (integrating data sets of one method or methods on the same physical basis) and the joint inversion (where data sets of methods on different physical bases are joined together), using synthetic and field data sets. It is also demonstrated that the equivalence problem inherent in the independent inversion of DC geoelectric data can efficiently be resolved by the use of the joint GSE inversion method in the cases of conductive and resistive equivalent geological models.     

Démantèlement des paysages cuirassés anciens en zones forestières tropicales d'Afrique centrale : formation d'accumulations ferrugineuses actuelles en bas de versantOld ferricrete landscape dismantling in Central Africa rain forest zone: formation of the present downslope iron accumulations

Present downslope iron accumulations were investigated in the rainforest zone in southern Cameroon. Six clay and Fe-hydroxide dominated patterns have been identified and occur on the lower part of hill slopes. They can be subdivided in three different sequences, related to gentle, moderate or steep slopes. They are discontinuous with respect to the dismantling zone of the old ferricrete cap formed at Cretaceous period. They show a gradual development from a soft Fe-crust (carapace) to a vesicular facies that will, with time, cover the whole landscape again. To cite this article: É. Temgoua et al., C. R. Geoscience 334 (2002) 537–543.     

Stratigraphie et sédimentologie des « calcaires à Productus » du Carbonifère inférieur de la Montagne noire (Massif central,France)Stratigraphy and sedimentology of the Lower Carboniferous ‘Calcaires à Productus’ of the Montagne Noire (Massif Central,France)

The ‘Calcaires à Productus’ of the Montagne Noire are microbial build-ups. Two formations are defined and dated respectively as Uppermost Visean (Upper Warnantian–Brigantian) and Serpukhovian on the basis on corals. That makes these limestones out to be younger than previously stated (Lower and base of Upper Warnantian–Asbian and base of Brigantian) and indicates that the development of the olistoliths and thrusts including them, due to the Variscan orogeny, was at least as young as the Upper Serpukhovian. The Serpukhovian limestones of the Montagne Noire are correlated with the Lanet Limestone (Mouthoumet Massif, Corbières) and Ardengost Limestone (central Pyrenees). To cite this article: É. Poty et al., C. R. Geoscience 334 (2002) 843–848.