Transfer zones and fault reactivation in inverted rift basins: Insights from physical modelling

Carbonate mylonites with varying proportions of second-phase minerals were collected at positions of increasing metamorphic grade along the basal thrust of the Morcles nappe (Helvetic nappes, Switzerland). Variations of temperature, stress, and strain rate, changes in chemistry of solid and fluid phases, and differing degrees of strain localization and annealing were tracked by measuring the shapes, mean sizes, and size distributions of both matrix and second-phase grains, as well as crystal preferred orientation (CPO) of the matrix. Field structures suggest that strain rate was constant along the fault. The mean and distribution of the calcite grain sizes were affected most profoundly by temperature: Increased temperature, presumably accompanied by decreased stress, correlated with larger mean sizes and wider size distributions. At a given location, the matrix grains in mylonites with more second-phase particles are, on average, smaller, have narrower size distributions, and have more elongate shapes. For example, mylonites with 50 vol.% of second phases have matrix grain sizes half that of pure mylonites. Changes in calcite chemistry and the presence of synkinematic fluids seemed to influence microfabric only weakly. Temporal variations in conditions, such as exhumation-induced cooling, apparently provoke changes in temperature, stress, and strain rate along the nappe. These changes result in further strain localization during retrograde conditions and cause the grain size to be reduced by an additional 50%. The matrix CPO strengthens with increasing temperature or strain, but weakens and rotates with increasing second-phase content. These fabric changes suggest differing rates of grain growth, grain size reduction, and development of CPO owing to variations in the deformation conditions and, perhaps, mechanisms. To interpret natural mylonite structures or to extrapolate mechanical data to natural situations requires careful characterization of the microfabric, and, in particular, second-phase minerals.     

Targeted GOES Satellite Observations to Improve Hurricane Track Forecast: A Case Study of Hurricane Floyd

This study performs a set of Observing System Simulation Experiments (OSSEs) using Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) soundings. The primary objective of the OSSEs is to demonstrate that targeted observations can improve forecast accuracy by enhancing the initial conditions and mitigating their uncertainties. Hurricane Floyd (1999) is chosen as a study case. The main reason for choosing hurricane Floyd as a test case is that the movement of the storm was dictated by a mid-level complex polar jet steering flow region. This well-defined feature allowed us to examine the inaccuracy of analysis over the steering flow area using GOES soundings as targeted observations and its impact on the forecast track error. The set of experiments starts from a baseline forecast of hurricane Floyd using the Operational Multiscale Environment model with Grid Adaptivity (OMEGA). From GOES satellite soundings, atmospheric vertical profiles were extracted to simulate targeted observations. These data extracts were assimilated in the initial conditions to simulate new forecasts of hurricane Floyd which were then compared against both the baseline track and observed track. It was found that targeted observations in a forecast sensitive area can help to reduce hurricane forecast track error. Assimilation of only the subset of data (about 50 soundings) from the subjectively chosen fully sampled target region produced a considerable reduction of the track forecast errors (about 30%) within the first critical three days of the forecast.     

甘肃北山地区榴辉岩的变质年龄：来自锆石的U-Pb同位素定年证据

北山造山带地处塔里木-中朝板块与哈萨克斯坦板块的交汇部分,主造山时期被认为是早古生代。榴辉岩产在北山造山带的南带,带中榴辉岩与大量基性超基性洋壳岩石和俯冲碰撞有关的花岗岩等伴生,反映该带有可能代表板块的边界。北山榴辉岩的锆石SHRIMP U-Pb同位素定年表明,榴辉岩相的变质年龄为(819±21)Ma,原岩年龄为(1007±20)Ma,表明北山地区存在新元古代一次重要的板块裂解和俯冲碰撞事件。与北山相邻的祁连山南部柴北缘地区近年也报道存在新元古代板块裂解和蛇绿岩洋壳形成事件,表明中国西部存在区域上的新元古代洋盆裂解事件,或称之为罗德尼亚大陆裂解事件。需强调的是,北山榴辉岩相变质事件发生在新元古代,柴北缘榴辉岩的原岩虽为新元古代洋壳岩石,但榴辉岩相变质作用则发生在早古生代,反映北山新元古代俯冲碰撞事件之后的又一次俯冲碰撞事件。     

Application of Atomic Spectrometric Methods Coupled with Gas Chromatography for Geochemical Exploration

This paper presents a scheme of analysis for bottom sediments based on inductively coupled plasma-atomic fluorescence spectrometry and arc discharge atomic emission spectrometry combined with instrumental pyrolysis and gas chromatographic methods (head space analysis) for determining organic matter. The experimental investigation was performed on bottom sediments of the Kuybyshev and Ivankovo reservoirs on the Volga River, used as a drinking water supply. The selective sample dissolution method followed by the inductively coupled plasma-atomic fluorescence spectrometry liquid phase analysis and the arc discharge atomic emission spectrometry solid phase analysis was used to obtain quantitative information on heavy metal speciation in bottom sediments. In the present work we have taken the direct extraction scheme for analysis. It is shown that the proposed combination of instrumental methods is highly effective for revealing natural and anthropogenic components in the composition of organic matter, for conducting preliminary estimation of the binding of heavy metals with organic matter and for assessing activity of organic matter biochemical transformation. The proposed approach enlarges the capabilities for prediction and modelling of the processes in environmental-geochemical investigations.     

Structure of the crust and uppermost mantle beneath southern Finland revealed by analysis of local events registered by the SVEKALAPKO seismic array

In 1998–1999, a large-scale seismic array was deployed in Finland as a part of the EUROPROBE/SVEKALAPKO subproject, involving 14 European universities and research institutes. The objective of the project was to map the deep lithosphere structure and thickness beneath the Fennoscandian Shield by means of teleseismic events. In addition, about 580 local seismic events were registered during the data acquisition period. Among them, only eight local earthquakes were recorded, the rest being quarry blasts from mining sites in Russia, Finland, Estonia and Sweden. In this study, we present the analysis of the seismic wave field from the strongest local events registered by the majority of the stations of the SVEcofennian–KArelian–LAPland–KOla Transect (SVEKALAPKO) array with the aim of mapping the structure of the upper mantle beneath the array. For this purpose, we selected the events corresponding to a single source type and compared these recordings with those from wide-angle reflection and refraction experiments in the area to identify the regional phases. The record sections of selected events demonstrate strong reflections (PmP) from the Moho boundary. The refracted Pn phases can be seen as first arrivals at distances of about 200–400 km from the source. At offsets of about 400–800 km, phases reflected from inhomogeneities in the uppermost mantle (P1) and double reflections from the Moho boundary (PmPPmP) were recorded.Results from 2D forward ray trace modeling of reflected and refracted P-waves along four profile swathes from SVEKALAPKO stations demonstrate that the mantle reflections originate from two different groups of boundaries beneath the array: one group of phases arrive from subhorizontal and gently dipping reflectors below the Moho boundary at a depth of 70–90 km, while the other group are phases originating from a depth of 100 to 130 km. Based on the irregular character of the first group of reflections, their different spatial orientation and correlation with the Moho offsets, we interpret the boundaries of this group as relicts of ancient subduction and collision processes. The second group of reflections can be explained by a transition from mechanically strong to mechanically weak lithosphere.     

The Mechanism of Reactive NO3 Uptake on Dry NaX (X=Cl, Br)

A simple kinetic mechanism of nitrate radicals uptake on dry sea-salt NaCl, NaBr surfaces is proposed. The mechanism includes adsorption/desorption equilibrium and unimolecular decomposition of the adsorbed complex: NO₃(g) + NaX(s) (NO₃-NaX)(s); (NO₃-NaX)(s) NaNO₃ + X(s) Two techniques were used: the matrix isolation ESR and mass spectrometry. The uptake coefficient () is found to be dependent on exposure time of salt to NO₃ for raw coating. The initial (t0) is higher than the observable steady-state _obs. At room temperature _obs is independent of [NO₃] at low [NO₃] = 3 × 10⁹ - 10¹¹ cm^-3, but it is inversely proportional to [NO₃] at concentrations higher than 10¹² cm^-3. At temperatures above 100 °C, _obs becomes independent of [NO₃] in a wider range of [NO₃]. An increased number of dislocations is supposed to exist in the case of raw coating. Due to a wide spread of the surface sites binding energy with the ionic lattice near dislocations, the part of surface complexes has lower binding energy and "burns" more rapidly. That burning determines the transition from (t0) down to _obs.The kinetic parameters and elementary rate coefficients are obtained. The recommended for low atmospheric NO₃ concentration are in the range of 0.002 ± 0.04 for NaCl and 0.1-0.3 for NaBr depending on a mechanism of the (t) relaxation.     

Observations of Peculiarities of Sunspot Fragment Patterns

The subsurface space-dynamic structure of an active region is probed by coordinate tracking of 130 fragments of 19 sunspots during 6-hr observations in white light. Normalization and averaging of parameters for different active regions allow us to derive the distribution density, magnitude and sense of horizontal velocity of the fragments as functions of the distance from the center of preceding and following sunspots of a bipolar group. We first discover that on the interval from 0 to 3.3 sunspot radii the velocity field is similar in concept to the concentric convective complex (convective cell + ambient convective roll) wherein azimuthal dynamic components are in contradiction with the action of the Coriolis force. Thereupon we detect that the magnetic fragments on this interval tend to be clustered in the distinctive spiral patterns in which helical components are contradictory to the -effect. Most likely we receive observational evidence of nonlinear transformation of the toroidal magnetic field into the familiar local-bipolar form through the following bifurcations in the supergranulation convection: self-oscillating horizontal magnetic field pair of multi-armed spirals of concentration with opposite chirality (handedness) pair of concentric ring complexes of near-vertical magnetic field.     

The ionosphere over Genova during the solar eclipse of February 15, 1961

Summary The behaviour of the ionosphere over Genova during the solar eclipse of February 15, 1961 is investigated. For theE-layer the effect was very marked, but the value obtained for the recombination coefficient is above normal. The effect of the eclipse was also observed on theF2 layer; however, the behaviour here appears affected by the simultaneous occurrence of an ionospheric perturbation. Finally, the maximum reduction of the ionospheric absorption on 2 and 3 Mc/s during the eclipse was found to be of the order of about 12 db.This report belongs to a set of investigations on geophysical effects of the solar eclipse of February 15th, 1961 carried out by the «Istituto Geofisico, Università di Genova», and made possible through a financial support of the «Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche».     

Nonlinear dynamic analysis of reinforced concrete frames

This paper presents the theoretical and computational procedure for nonlinear dynamic analysis of reinforced concrete frames under seismic excitations. In the research, physical nonlinearity due to material behavior is introduced for reinforced concrete material and the connection between the material and geometrical nonlinearity is described. An integration procedure for dynamic analysis, based on a step-by-step method with optional iteration, is presented. Results for a series of example analyses are presented to demonstrate the capabilities of the computer program.     

Nanoscale Chemical Imaging by Photo‐Induced Force Microscopy: Technical Aspects and Application to the Geosciences

Photo‐induced force microscopy (PiFM) is a new‐frontier technique that combines the advantages of atomic force microscopy with infrared spectroscopy and allows for the simultaneous acquisition of 3D topographic data with molecular chemical information at high spatial (~ 5 nm) and spectral (~ 1 cm^?1) resolution at the nanoscale. This non‐destructive technique is time efficient as it requires only conventional mirror‐polishing and has fast mapping rates on the order of a few minutes that allow the study of dynamic processes via time series. Here, we review the method’s historical development, working principle, data acquisition, and evaluation, and provide a comparison with traditional geochemical methods. We review PiFM studies in the areas of materials science, chemistry and biology. In addition, we provide the first applications for geochemical samples including the visualization of faint growth zonation in zircons, the identification of fluid speciation in high‐pressure experimental samples, and of nanoscale organic phases in biominerals. We demonstrate that PiFM analysis is a time‐ and cost‐efficient technique combining high‐resolution surface imaging with molecular chemical information at the nanoscale and, thus, complements and expands traditional geochemical methods.