Spatial and seasonal distribution of bacterial physiological groups in two reservoirs with different trophic levels

The spatial and seasonal distribution of the viable heterotrophic population and three heterotrophic physiological groups, i.e. ammonifyers, nitrate reducers and sulphate reducers, were studied in two reservoirs in the province of Vizcaya (Spain). Using indicative parameters, both reservoirs were classified as warm monomictics, one hypereutrophic and the other mesotrophic. A direct relation between the size of the bacterial populations and the trophic levels of the reservoirs was observed. Likewise, the distributions of the bacterial populations in the water column are basically different. In the hypereutrophic lake there is a direct relationship between the bacterial distribution and the physical-chemical environment of the reservoir that cannot be observed in the mesotrophic lake.     

Observations of vertical ground accelerations exceeding gravity during the 1997 Umbria-Marche (central Italy) earthquakes

We found extensive evidence that the vertical ground accelerations produced during the largest shock (M = 6.0) of the 1997 Umbria-Marche earthquake sequence exceeded 1g in two areas close to the heavily-damaged villages of Annifo and Colle Croce. This evidence comes from the striking observation of thousands of freshly fractured and broken rocks and stones in these areas. Some of the broken stones lie isolated on soft detritic soil while others had been previously piled up, probably a long time agoto clear the fields for farming. The freshness of the cuts and fractures and the consistency of the observations for thousands of rocks and stones in these areas indicate that these rocks were thrown upwards during the earthquake, with breakage occurring at the time of impact. Ground motion calculations consistent with the static deformation inferred from GPS and interferometry data, show that the broken stones and rocks are found in the zone where the strongest shaking took place during the earthquake and that most of the shaking there was vertical.     

High magnitude global seismicity and lateral velocity gradients

Summary A new significant correlation has been sought between high magnitude global seismicity and lateral surface wave velocity gradients. Rayleigh wave velocity divisioning of Eurasia, Africa, Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean into regions of similar group velocity dispersion character of 30 sec period bySanto andSato [1]³) has been mainly used for calculating the gradients. It is quite striking to note that all earthquakes of magnitude 8.6 and above during 1897–1956 have occurred in regions having gradients of the order of 1.5·10^–3 sec^–1.Finally, some potential areas for high magnitude earthquake occurrences are predicted and the possible velocity gradients in regions, where division pattern is not yet investigated like South America and Australia, are also estimated.N.G.R.I. Contribution No. 70-170.     

Maximum response of asymmetric structures subject to A multicomponent earthquake

A simple and general technique to obtain a six-component earthquake input motion of a rigid foundation using three-linear-components earthquake record is presented. Using the multicomponent input, the maximum structural response to an arbitrarily oriented earthquake is derived. The method is applied to determine the response spectrum for a two-d.o.f. laterally and torsionally coupled linear system. The effects of foundation geometry, structural properties and apparent wave velocity on the structural response are investigated. It is found that increasing the foundation size reduces the peak values of the input motion; this reduction is more pronounced for a square foundation than for a circular one.     

Minimizing structural vibrations with absorbers

In a companion paper¹ the authors show that the parameters of an absorber which will minimize the resonant response of a simple elastic body can be determined from known results by treating the body as an equivalent single degree-of-freedom system. In this paper cylindrical shells are considered as examples of dynamically complex structures, for which the ratio of the natural frequencies of adjacent modes tends towards unity. It is shown that as dynamic complexity increases optimum absorber parameters for the reduction of resonant response deviate increasingly from those for an equivalent single degree-of-freedom system. Absorbers can be used also to reduce the random response of structures. Simple expressions for optimum parameters are given for an undamped main system, which has one degree of freedom and is subjected to white noise excitation. Optimum absorber parameters for beams, plates and cylindrical shells show similar qualitative behaviour for random and harmonic response with the concept of an equivalent single degree-of-freedom system being applicable only for the simpler structures.     

Correspondence analysis applied to volcanic aerosols

A statistical analysis of volcanic aerosol based on 1,083 variables including concentration, grain-size and site variabilities establishes correlations between sites and among chemical elements.Variation curves of element concentration show parallel behaviour. High coefficients of correlation between anions and cations confirm associations between elements.     

Rhyolitic ignimbrites in the region of Afyon (Central Anatolia)

Occurrence and field relations of an extensive ignimbrite sheet near Afyon in Central Anatolia are described. These rhyolitic ignimbrites are part of the important Neogene volcanic activity in Turkey and belong to the alignment of volcanic complexes along the inner border of the Taurian ranges. In close stratigraphical connection and in the same tectonic position as the rhyolites there occurs an assemblage of high-potassic, intermediate to basic volcanic rocks (alkali trachytes, mela-trachytes, latites and leucite-bearing rocks). Petrological and magmatological considerations led to the conclusion that the rhyolites and the potassic series, in spite of the close geological connection, are not related by processes of magmatic differentiation. Arguments in favour of an anatectic origin of the rhyolitic melt are presented. The occurrence of garnet and allanite as accessory minerals and as inclusions in the salic minerals of the ignimbrite are interpreted as relictic witnesses of a sialic parent rock. However, the trace elements, especially high Rb connected with low Sr, Ba and Zr and K/Rb ratios below 100 give a pattern generally explained by strong fractionation processes.     

Phosphorus accumulation rates in metalliferous sediments on the East Pacific Rise

Based on phosphorus, iron and manganese analyses in 16 cores (5 dated) from the crest and flanks of the East Pacific Rise and the Bauer Deep we estimate that phosphorus is being deposited about 20 times faster in metalliferous sediments near the rise crest than in adjacent flank deposits, and about 40 times faster on the crest than in the Bauer Deep. Almost all of the phosphorus on the rise crest is contained in poorly crystallized hydrothermal iron oxyhydroxides, supporting Berner's (1973) proposal of phosphate sorption by these phases. The phosphate is probably derived from seawater, but some hydrothermal contribution cannot be excluded at this time. Flux estimates indicate that metalliferous sedimentation could remove 15–40% of the pre-agricultural river input of dissolved phosphate.     

Frequency distributions of major elements (Pb,Zn, Cu) in the main polymetallic deposits of the Baia Mare district (Romania)

The frequency distributions of Pb, Zn, Cu in the hydrothermal sulphide deposits of the Baia Mare district are established. It is shown that the distribution of Pb is similar to that of Zn, unlike that of Cu. This law appears to be valid whatever the composition and grade of the ore, the type of the host rock, and the type of hydrothermal alterations. This law can provide arguments to establish the genesis of mineralizations of unknown origin.