Geochemical characteristics of the La Réunion mantle plume source inferred from olivine-hosted melt inclusions from the adventive cones of Piton de la Fournaise volcano (La Réunion Island)

Major and trace element compositions were obtained for bulk rocks and melt inclusions hosted in olivine crystals (Fo > 85) from the adventive cones of the Piton de La Fournaise volcano (La Réunion Island). Ratios of highly incompatible trace elements for these magmas are used to identify the nature of the La Réunion mantle plume source. Although adventive cone lavas display unusual major element compositions compared to the historical lavas of the volcano (e.g., lower CaO/Al₂O₃), trace element data suggest that the magmas emitted by the adventive cones originate from a common chemical source. This source may correspond to either a homogeneous mixed source of different mantle components or a near-primitive less-differentiated mantle source. The melt inclusions display ratios of highly incompatible elements (e.g., Th/La, Nb/La) which are similar to primitive mantle values, and lower Nb/U ratios compared to most oceanic basalts. These results and previous isotopic and trace element data suggest that La Réunion plume samples a source which is intermediate between a primitive-like mantle domain and a slightly depleted one almost unaffected by the recycling processes. This source could have originated from early depletion of the primitive mantle. Assuming a depletion 4.45 Gyr ago, ~10% melting of this slightly depleted source could explain the enriched trace element concentrations of the melt inclusions.     

Modelling evolution of stellar emission of galaxies for the nir surveys

Recent observational results in the near-IR on distant galaxies and interacting galaxies are clues for modelling evolution of galaxy counts and for testing theories of galaxy formation. Spectrophotometric models, developed in the ultraviolet and visible, were tools essential for such interpretations. So we hereafter present their extension to the near-infrared and preliminary results on radiogalaxies, starbursts and faint counts. The two fundamental objectives are to confirm a merging scenario and to determine the age of the first stellar generation.     

Long slit spectroscopy of the nuclear zone of NGC 253

We have undertaken a study of the physical conditions of the lonized gas within the starburst region of the galaxy NGC 253, using long slit spectroscopy at high spatial and spectral resolution. Our aim was to identify the appropriate parameters describing the dynamics of the gas and the excitation conditions, in relation with the starburst process. Non-gaussian line profiles and line spliting are clearly observed, indicating a complicated dynamical structure; furthermore, the zones presenting non-circular motions and localized outflow of gas have been spatially sampled at the seeing limit.Paper presented at the 11th European Regional Astronomical Meetings of the IAU on New Windows to the Universe, held 3–8 July, 1989, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.     

太阳辐射和地面气象要素的日环食效应

本文通过对1987年9月23日日环食期间太阳辐射和地面气象要素等实测资料的分析,指出了在日环食过程中太阳辐射和地面气象要素等的变化,也叙述了日食期间地面臭氧含量的变化;第一次在国内测得了由日食引起的大气重力波,进而讨论了大气重力波的若干特性.     

A macroelement formulation for shallow foundations on cohesive and frictional soils

The scope of this paper is to present a macroelement model for shallow foundations encompassing the majority of combinations of soil and foundation–soil interface conditions that are interesting for practical applications. The basic idea of the formulation is to raise the common assumption that the surface of ultimate loads of the foundation is identified as a yield surface in the space of force parameters which the footing is subjected to. Instead, each non‐linear mechanism participating in the global response of the system is modelled independently and the surface of ultimate loads is retrieved as the combined result of all active mechanisms. This allows formulating each mechanism by respecting its particular characteristics and offers the possibility of activating, modifying or deactivating each mechanism according to the context of application. The model comprises three non‐linear mechanisms: (a) the mechanism of sliding at the soil–footing interface, (b) the mechanism of soil yielding in the vicinity of the footing and (c) the mechanism of uplift as the footing may get detached from the soil. The first two are irreversible and dissipative and are combined within a multi‐mechanism plasticity formulation. The third mechanism is reversible and non‐dissipative. It is reproduced with a phenomenological non‐linear hyperelastic model. The model is validated with respect to the existing results for shallow foundations under quasi‐static loading tests. It is shown that although the ultimate surface of the foundation is not explicitly used in the formulation of the model, the obtained force states by the model are always contained within it. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Formal ratification of the Quaternary System/Period and the Pleistocene Series/Epoch with a base at 2.58 Ma

In June 2009, the Executive Committee of the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) formally ratified a proposal by the International Commission on Stratigraphy to lower the base of the Quaternary System/Period to the Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) of the Gelasian Stage/Age at Monte San Nicola, Sicily, Italy. The Gelasian until then had been the uppermost stage of the Pliocene Series/Epoch. The base of the Gelasian corresponds to Marine Isotope Stage 103, and has an astronomically tuned age of 2.58 Ma. A proposal that the base of the Pleistocene Series/Epoch be lowered to coincide with that of the Quaternary (the Gelasian GSSP) was also accepted by the IUGS Executive Committee. The GSSP at Vrica, Calabria, Italy, which had hitherto defined the basal boundary of both the Quaternary and the Pleistocene, remains available as the base of the Calabrian Stage/Age (now the second stage of the revised Pleistocene). In ratifying these proposals, the IUGS has acknowledged the distinctive qualities of the Quaternary by reaffirming it as a full system/period, correctly complied with the hierarchical requirements of the geological timescale by lowering the base of the Pleistocene to that of the Quaternary, and fully respected the historical and widespread current usage of both the terms ‘Quaternary’ and ‘Pleistocene’. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.