The seismological picture of the inner core: structure and rotation

This paper presents a review of recent results concerning the structure and the rotation of the inner core, as inferred from seismological observations. We first focus on the apparent hemispherical pattern of the inner core structure, observed in both the anisotropy and the heterogeneity of the uppermost layers, whereas isotropic velocities seem to be homogeneous in a broad wavelength domain. Then we present results on the radial variations of the attenuation and its possible anisotropy, for which viscoelasticity and wave scattering provide complementary explanations. Linked to these results is a discussion about the detection of the PKJKP phase, which propagates as S-wave inside the inner core. Finally, the seismological observations of a possible inner core rotation are discussed; recent results seem to favour rotation rates below 0.2° yr^?1.     

Enregistrements sismologiques de l'explosion sur le site de l'usine AZF (Toulouse,France)Seismological records of an explosion at the AZF chemical complex in Toulouse,France

This study presents a detailed analysis of the seismic records of a strong explosion that occurred on 21 September 2001 at a chemical complex located south of Toulouse, France, and provoked important damages. The explosion, which is equivalent to a 3.4 magnitude earthquake, has been recorded at most of the stations of the National Seismological Network, as well as at a station under test at the ‘Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées’, 4.2 km away from the epicentre. The main seismic phases are interpreted using the known crustal structures, and a modelling with synthetic seismograms is performed. To cite this article: A. Souriau et al., C. R. Geoscience 334 (2002) 155–161.     

Galactic evolution and star counts in the milky way

A model of population synthesis for our Galaxy is used to estimate the constraints imposed by photometric and astrometric star counts. We construct a statistical method to compute the degree of compatibility of the model with the data in the form of a multidimensional functionf(V, B-V, U-B, ). We apply the method to the determination of the star formation history in the Galaxy from Schmidt plates towards the anticentre. Although the presently available data do not allow us to draw firm conclusions, we show that the same kind of data with a slightly better photometric accuracy and with proper motions would give new constraints on the past star formation rate of the Galaxy.     

7-ethylresorufin O-deethylase activity and level of DNA-adducts in trout treated with benzo(a)pyrene

In fish, as well as in mammals, it is well known that the cytochrome P450-dependent oxidative metabolism of xenobiotics can generate DNA-reactive species. Moreover, this metabolism is known to be inducible by several compounds of environmental significance, such as polychlorobiphenyls, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and dioxins. Consequently, we studied the relationship between the degree of induction of the cytochrome P4501A, expressed as that of 7-ethylresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activity, and the level of DNA-adducts, using the post-labelling assay, in the liver of rainbow trout exposed to benzo(a)pyrene (a representative PAH). The results showed a significant 2- to 4-fold increase in EROD activity 2, 4 and 8 days after treatment, paralleled by an increase in DNA-adduct levels. This work further emphasizes the involvement of cytochrome P4501A in the metabolism of benzo(a)pyrene into genotoxic metabolites in rainbow trout.     

Chemical and biological characterization of particles by flow cytometry in the Krka estuary, Croatia

Flow cytometry was used to characterize suspended particles in the Krka estuary (Croatia). This technique allows a rapid characterization and quantification of individual particles; it is based on the simultaneous measurement of the light scatter and natural or induced fluorescence. The relative size of the particles was determined by light scatter signals and by a calibration with fluorescent beads.The determination of organic particles was carried out by staining with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC). The autofluorescence of photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll and phycoerythrin) present in the phytoplankton population was measured. The carbohydrates (galactose and glucose-mannose) were stained by lectins conjugated to FITC. The abundance of organic coatings or mineral particles and detritus was obtained from the difference between the total number of particles stained by specific carbohydrate fluorochromes and living cells.Results show that the Krka estuary is characterized by the occurrence of very small particles. About 80% of suspended particles are organic, most of these particles being living cells. The only exception is the Guduca River, a small tributary.     

Geoid anomalies over Gorringe Ridge,North Atlantic Ocean

Gorringe Ridge is a strong uplifted block of oceanic crust and upper mantle lying at the eastern end of the Azores-Gibraltar plate boundary. The geoid over this structure derived from Seasat altimeter data exhibits a 9-m height anomaly with a north-south lateral extension smaller than 200 km. An attempt is made to interpret this geoid together with the gravity anomalies and with the seismicity, which has been compiled as a function of depth.It is first shown that the flexure of the oceanic lithosphere due to the ridge loading does not provide a good fit of the geoid anomalies and probably should be discarded, as it assumes a continuous unfractured elastic plate.Models involving local heterogeneities are then tested. The comparison of the observed geoid anomalies with the anomalies due to the uncompensated relief indicates that the topographic high has no shallow compensation.Uncompensated models, previously proposed to explain the gravity anomalies, are tested using the geoid. One model (Purdy and Bonnin, in Bonnin [11]), which involves an uplift of upper mantle material at depth, generates too strong geoid anomalies and must be discarded. Another model, which represents a nascent subduction zone (Le Pichon et al. [25]), fits both the gravity and geoid anomalies, but leads to difficulties in explaining the deep seismicity north of Gorringe Ridge.A model in isostatic equilibrium is also able to fit both gravity and geoid anomalies. This model involves a deep root of density 3.0 g cm^?3, as has been previously proposed for many oceanic ridges and plateaus. This model is compatible with the deep seismicity, but the origin of this low-density material at great depth is up to now an unresolved question.More likely, dynamical models taking into account the forces induced by the convection related to the slow plate convergence in this area will have to be considered.     

Age and significance of the North Pyrenean metamorphism

³⁹Ar-⁴⁰Ar and ⁸⁷Rb-⁸⁷Sr studies of some metamorphic minerals from the North Pyrenean zone indicate that they crystallized about 92–104 m.y. ago on the east, 85 m.y. or older on the west. An amphibole from a lherzolite in the eastern area gives a plateau age at 103 m.y. The North Pyrenean metamorphism is shown to be a thermal effect of forcible lherzolite emplacement along the North Pyrenean zone. This latter process is related to the early breakup of the Europe-Iberia plate during the middle Cretaceous time.     

North American Precambrian history recorded in a single sample: high-resolution UPb systematics of the Potsdam sandstone detrital zircons,New York State

Zircons separated from the Cambrian Potsdam sandstone of New York yield four distinct populations which can be defined by a number of analytical techniques. U-Pb isotopic analyses of small samples and monozircons of each population reveal a fine chronology not apparent in milligram-sized sample analysis, and define source area ages of 1180, 1320, 2100 and 2700 m.y. for the Cambrian detrital suite. These ages correspond to well-defined sources in the Superior and Grenville Provinces of the Canadian Shield (2700 and 2100 m.y.) and the well established Grenville age rocks of the Adirondack Mountains (1180 m.y.). The 1320-m.y. age appears to be derived from the Adirondacks, and suggests the existence of pre-Grenville basement in that massif. Our techniques allow the interpretation of the Precambrian history of a large portion of eastern North America from a single sample, and thus should be valuable in the definition of source areas in paleogeographic reconstruction, and in studies of continental crustal evolution.