Determining the maximum degree of harmonic coefficients in geopotential models by Monte Carlo methods

Random errors for the harmonic coefficients of a geopotential model are generated from the matrix of normal equations by a parallel computer applying the Gibbs sampler. This leads to random values for the harmonic coefficients. They are transformed by nonlinear, quadratic transformations to random values for the square roots of degree variances, of mean squares of geoid undulations and gravity anomalies. The expected values of these quantities are not equal to the values of these quantities computed by the estimated harmonic coefficients, due to correlations and errors in the estimation. By hypothesis tests estimated harmonic coefficients distorted by correlations and errors are detected. Applying the tests to the geopotential model ITG-CHAMP01 of the Institute of Theoretical Geodesy in Bonn it is concluded that above the degree 62 the harmonic coefficients cannot add any information to the geopotential model.     

Modeling Energy Fluxes in Lake Ecosystems as a Means of Hydrobiological Studies

A mass-balance model was developed for the prediction of the biomass and annual production of phytoplankton, macrophytes, epiphytes, and phytobenthos (primary producers), bacterioplankton and bacteriobenthos (reducers), herbivorous and predator zooplankton, zoobenthos, planktivorous fish, benthivorous fish, and predatory fish (consumers). The model is controlled by a small number of parameters.__________Translated from Vodnye Resursy, Vol. 32, No. 3, 2005, pp. 361–370.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Boulion.     

Mineralogical changes during thermal demagnetization of natural continental sandstones

We study the mineralogical changes suffered by specimens of natural miocene red and green continental sandstones (from Pozuelos Formation and Tiomayo Formation) cropping out in the Argentine Puna that increase their bulk magnetic susceptibility and change color when thermally treated. We hypothesize that on heating siderite, which is present in small quantities as cement in the studied sandstones, would oxidize and decompose into maghemite and/or magnetite. Subsequent heating to higher temperatures sometimes would bring about the conversion of maghemite and/or magnetite to hematite. Mössbauer spectroscopy proved to be a very valuable tool for the determination of the presence of siderite in small amounts in the studied samples. The present results show that further work is needed in order to fully understand the mineralogical changes suffered by continental sandstones during heating. The characterization of such changes occurred during laboratory routines is relevant, since they can help to better understand natural processes.     

Passive Seismic Experiment Mosaic - A Pilot Study of Mantle Lithosphere Anisotropy of the Bohemian Massif

We present results of an array study of seismic anisotropy beneath the Bohemian Massif (BM) showing distinct lateral and directional variations of the fast shear-wave polarization and split-delay time consistent with variations in the P-residual spheres, in which directional means of relative residuals are subtracted. Our analysis of the S- and P-wave anisotropy suggests that the mantle lithosphere of the BM consists of at least three large domains with different orientation of the large-scale fabric separated by sutures cutting most likely the whole lithosphere. Boundaries of the units are characterised by a null or small shear-wave splitting, as well as by smaller values in the P-residual spheres. We present self-consistent 3D anisotropic models of the lithosphere domains of the BM resulting from joint inversion of anisotropic parameters searching for a 3D orientation of mantle fabric. While in the Saxothuringian and Sudetes parts of the BM the (a, c) foliations dip prevailingly to the N-NW, they dip to the S and SW in the southern and eastern parts of the Moldanubian.     

Lame surfaces as a generalisation of the triaxial ellipsoid

In modern geodesy the triaxial ellipsoid as a generalisation of the ellipsoid of revolution has a significant position in studying the figure of the Earth. Lame surfaces represent a generalisation of the triaxial ellipsoid. The following paragraphs are devoted to curvatures of the Lame surfaces.     

Monitoring Mutagenic Pollution of Small Rivers

The importance of sampling frequency in the course of monitoring of mutagenic pollution of small rivers is shown, the Kotorosl River (a tributary of the Volga River) being taken as an example. In working out a sampling program, due consideration should be given for seasonal variations of the river hydrological regime and input of pollutants. Incorrect choice of sampling frequency may lead to one of the principal reasons for improper assessment of toxicogenetic situation. A water sampling program has been proposed for the Kotorosl River studies based on monitoring.__________Translated from Vodnye Resursy, Vol. 32, No. 3, 2005, pp. 347–351.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Fomicheva, Prokhorova.     

A Possible Detection of the 26 December 2004 Great Sumatra-Andaman Islands Earthquake with Solution Products of the International GNSS Service

The main goal of this work is to critically review the IGS solution products and Precise Point Positioning (PPP) in order to demonstrate their potential to contribute to studies of large earthquakes such as the one that devastated Southeast Asia on December 26th, 2004. In view of a possible detection of the Mw 9.0 Sumatra-Andaman Islands Earthquake of December 26, 2004, position solutions, ranging from intervals of years to one second, of four International GNSS Service (IGS) stations within 3000 km of the epicenter were examined. The IGS combined, cumulative solution product (IGS04P51), consisting of epoch and station velocity solutions and based on data spans of several years prior to the earthquake, was used as a reference. Four IGS combined weekly position solutions (igs04P1301-4), two weeks before and after the earthquake, were utilized for the weekly solution resolution. PPP static and kinematic solutions with IGS Final combined orbits and clocks were used for the mean daily and instantaneous 5-min and 1-sec epoch solutions, respectively. The most significant changes, detected by both weekly and daily solutions occurred in longitude. The nearest IGS station ntus, about 1000 km east of the epicenter, moved westward about 15 mm, while the more distant Indian station iisc (∼ 2300 km NW from the epicenter), shifted about 15 mm eastward. In spite of position errors caused by interpolation of the 5-min IGS clocks, the 1-sec solutions, based on separate data sets, available only for two stations (iisc, dgar), still showed seismic surface waves, in particular at the Indian station iisc. Precise daily IGS combined polar motion and length-of-day products, after correcting for the atmospheric effects, also likely detected, statistically significant, anomalistic excitations on December 26, 2004 that could be caused by this great earthquake.     

Biotransformation of Organogenic Substances in the Aniva Bay Waters: Assessment with the Use of Mathematical Modeling

Mathematical modeling is used to study the conditions of natural biotransformation of biogenic element compounds (containing C, N, P, Si) in five areas within Aniva Bay. The input data for the model are evaluated with the use of GIS “Sakhalin Shelf” and the available reference literature on the bay oceanography. Water masses that transferred through the boundaries between the areas were evaluated based on the values of water level, river runoff, atmospheric precipitation, evaporation, and the volume of water in the bay, all of which vary as a result of water heating. The model was used to evaluate annual variations in the concentrations of organic and mineral fractions of these elements and the biomasses of planktonic organisms for the five areas in the bay. Modeling results also allowed the assessment of biogenic substance input with river runoff into Lososei Bay. Based on the internal fluxes of substances, the monthly and annual aquatic animal production was evaluated.     

Assessment of the Geochemical Background and Anthropogenic Load by Bioaccumulation of Microelements in Fish

Comparative characteristic of several microelements (Ni, Cu, Sr, Al, Zn, Co, Mn, Pb, Cd, Hg, As) found in fish (case study of breams in the Volga basin reservoirs) is presented. Regularities of accumulation of these elements in fish depending on their concentration in the water are analyzed. Main disturbances in fish caused by the accumulation of microelements in their organs and tissues are considered.     

Analytic expressions for the velocity sensitivity to the elastic moduli for the most general anisotropic media

For non‐linear kinematic inversion of elastic anisotropy parameters and related investigations of the sensitivity of seismic data, the derivatives of the wavespeed (phase velocity and group velocity) with respect to the individual elastic moduli are required. This paper presents two analytic methods, called the eigenvalue and eigenvector methods, to compute the derivatives of the wavespeeds for wave propagation in a general anisotropic medium, which may be defined by up to 21 density‐normalized elastic moduli. The first method employs a simple and compact form of the eigenvalue (phase velocity) and a general form of the group velocity, and directly yields general expressions of the derivatives for the three wave modes (qP, qS₁, qS₂). The second method applies simple eigenvector solutions of the three wave modes and leads to other general forms of the derivatives. These analytic formulae show that the derivatives are, in general, functions of the 21 elastic moduli as well as the wave propagation direction, and they reflect the sensitivity of the wavespeeds to the individual elastic moduli. Meanwhile, we give results of numerical investigations with some examples for particular simplified forms of anisotropy. They show that the eigenvalue method is suitable for the qP‐, qS₁‐ and qS₂‐wave computations and mitigates the singularity problem for the two quasi‐shear waves. The eigenvector method is preferable to the eigenvalue method for the group velocity and the derivative of the phase velocity because it involves simpler expressions and independent computations, but for the derivative of the group velocity the derivative of the eigenvector is required. Both methods tackle the singularity problem and are applicable to any degree of seismic anisotropy for all three wave modes.