Frequency dependence of crustalQ β in stable and tectonically active regions

Fundamental-mode Rayleigh wave attenuation data for stable and tectonically active regions of North America, South America, and India are inverted to obtain several frequency-independent and frequency-dependentQ models. Because of trade-offs between the effect of depth distribution and frequency-dependence ofQ on surface wave attenuation there are many diverse models which will satisfy the fundamental-mode data. Higher-mode data, such as 1-Hz Lg can, however, constrain the range of possible models, at least in the upper crust. By using synthetic Lg seismograms to compute expected Lg attenuation coefficients for various models we obtained frequency-dependentQ models for three stable and three tectonically active regions, after making assumptions concerning the nature of the variation ofQ with frequency.In stable regions, ifQ varies as , where is a constant, models in which =0.5, 0.5, and 0.75 satisfy fundamental-mode Rayleigh and 1-Hz Lg data for eastern North America, eastern South America, and the Indian Shield, respectively. IfQ is assumed to be independent of frequency (=0.0) for periods of 3 s and greater, and is allowed to increase from 0.0 at 3 s to a maximum value at 1 s, then that maximum value for is about 0.7, 0.6, and 0.9, respectively, for eastern North America, eastern South America, and the Indian Shield. TheQ models obtained under each of the above-mentioned two assumptions differ substantially from one another for each region, a result which indicates the importance of obtaining high-quality higher-mode attenuation data over a broad range of periods.Tectonically active regions require a much lower degree of frequency dependence to explain both observed fundamental-mode and observed Lg data. Optimum values of for western North America and western South America are 0.0 if is constant (Q is independent of frequency), but uncertainty in the Lg attenuation data allows to be as high as about 0.3 for western North America and 0.2 for western South America. In the Himalaya, the optimum value of is about 0.2, but it could range between 0.0 and 0.5. Frequency-independent models (=0.0) for these regions yield minimumQ values in the upper mantle of about 40, 70, and 40 for western North America, western South America, and the Himalaya, respectively.In order to be compatible with the frequency dependence ofQ observed in body-wave studies,Q in stable regions must be frequency-dependent to much greater depths than those which can be studied using the surface wave data available for this study, andQ in tectonically active regions must become frequency-dependent at upper mantle or lower crustal depths.On leave from the Department of Geophysics, Yunnan University, Kunming Yunnan, People's Republic of China     

The perturbed structure of the neutral atmospheric boundary layer over irregular terrain

The differential equations for first-order (linear) response of the planetary boundary layer are formulated for flow over periodic terrain, for variations in both surface roughness and terrain elevation. A simple second-order closure model of the turbulence is used, and Coriolis forces are neglected. Flow over a periodic terrain produces corresponding periodic structure in all meteorological fields above the surface. The periodic structure consists of two components. The first is very nearly evanescent with height. It corresponds to the motion that would be observed were the atmosphere inviscid. The second component, introduced by turbulent viscosity, exhibits a phase variation with height in addition to a decay in amplitude. W.K.B. [Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin] approximations for the two components are developed, and the coupling between the components is discussed. The formulation for calculating solutions by numerical integration is developed, including specification of appropriate boundary conditions. Calculations are presented in a companion paper.Wave Propagation Laboratory.Environmental Science Group.     

The Preparation and Evaluation of Bastnäsite Reference Materials IGS 40 and 41

Two bastnäsites - rare-earth fluocarbonate ores - from Mountain Pass, California, each weighing 40 kg, were ground to -200 mesh (75 μm), homogenized, sub-sampled into 432 containers and issued to interested laboratories for analysis in 1979. The methods used for the determination of rare-earth oxides, are discussed and the analytical results have been evaluated statistically. Rare-earth analysis remains a difficult field and, in the two samples, only nine elements have been assigned recommended concentrations. Appendices list the participating laboratories, the main determinations and information on the determination of other elements and oxides.     

Influence of geometry upon crack healing rate in calcite

Crack healing experiments were conducted at 780°, 815°, and 850° C in dry carbon dioxide over periods of 0.5 to 1320 h on small penny-shaped cracks of known geometry in Stahl calcite. As observed by previous investigators, healing initiates with the formation of tubes around the leading edge of the crack, followed by the pinching off of spherical bubbles from these tubes. Pillars and peninsular structures formed and grew at cleavage steps and other surface irregularities, greatly accelerating the healing process in some cracks. The crack tip regression distance at constant temperature follows a simple power law in time; although, with the exception of one crack at 850° C, the time exponent systematically decreases from 0.59 at 780° C to 0.15 and 0.07 at 815° and 850° C, respectively. Only the largest exponent is consistent with existing theory: the two smaller time exponents are, as yet, unexplained. Healing rates are strongly inversely dependent upon crack aperture, in qualitative agreement with theory. For example, cracks with maximum apertures of less than 60 nm (6×10^?8 m) healed completely in 0.5 to 25 h at 850° C; while fatter cracks, with maximum apertures of about 700 nm, showed very little healing after up to 1320 h at the same temperature. At 780° C, the functional dependence of healing rate upon crack aperture was consistent with several aspects of the present model.     

In situ thermal conductivity and equilibrium formation temperature from circulation flow rate variations

A temperature-transient method to estimatein situ formation thermal conductivity and equilibrium formation temperature using circulation fluid flow-rate pulses is described. Flow-rate changes induce temperature variations in the well and the time from when the flow alters to the subsequent maximum or minimum temperature of the drilling fluid can be used to determine these two formation parameters. Some examples are presented to illustrate the method.     

Terrestrial heat flow and geothermal gradients in relation to hydrodynamics in the Alberta basin, Canada

Geothermal gradients in the Alberta part of the Western Canadian sedimentary basin have been studied on the basis of 55,244 bottom-hole temperature values from 28,260 petroleum exploration wells. Gradient estimates for different depth and stratigraphic intervals together with a study of the heat conductivity distribution indicate both regional heat flow variations and variations with depth. The regional hydrodynamics of the basin strongl influences both grad ifT gradient and heat flow increase with depth in water recharge areas to the west and decrease with depth in discharge areas to the north and east. The results indicate that heat flow in the central part of the basin should be approximately equal to the deep crustal heat flow.     

Particulate iron and manganese in the Santa Barbara Basin,California

Particulate Fe and Mn may be important trace metal scavengers in the water column as well as being probable indicators of biologically mediated redox processes. A study has been made of suspended particulate composition in the Santa Barbara Basin, a shallow near-shore basin off southern California with sub-oxic conditions below sill depth. Observations have revealed several interesting phenomena relating to the geochemistry of Fe and Mn. Most striking is a profound enrichment of particulate Fe in samples from the bottom two hundred meters. These particulates have a constant Fe/P mole ratio of about three and may originate at the sediment-water interface or may be transported to the basin from local marshes. For particulate Mn, enrichments are observed both in the sub-sill waters and near the base of the euphotic zone. A consideration of particle removal rates suggests that the sub-photic zone enrichment has a biogenic origin. In the sub-sill waters, enrichment in Mn is apparently due to the precipitation of dissolved Mn diffusing from the anoxic basin sediments. A simple mass balance suggests that most of the Mn lost from the sediments is transported from the Santa Barbara Basin in dissolved form.