Simultaneous infrasonic,seismic, magnetic and ionospheric observations in an earthquake epicentre

Various pre-seismic and co-seismic effects have been reported in the literature in the solid Earth, hydrosphere, atmosphere, electric/magnetic field and in the ionosphere. Some of the effects observed above the surface, particularly some of the pre-seismic effects, are still a matter of debate. Here we analyze the co-seismic effects of a relatively weak earthquake of 28 October 2008, which was a part of an earthquake swarm in the westernmost region of the Czech Republic. Special attention is paid to unique measurements of infrasonic phenomena. As far as we know, these have been the first infrasonic measurements during earthquake in the epicentre zone. Infrasonic oscillations (～1–12 Hz) in the epicentre region appear to be excited essentially by the vertical seismic oscillations. The observed oscillations are real epicentral infrasound not caused by seismic shaking of the instruments or by meteorological phenomena. Seismo-infrasonic oscillations observed 155 km apart from the epicentre were excited in situ by seismic waves. No earthquake-related infrasonic effects have been observed in the ionosphere. Necessity to make vibration tests of instruments is pointed out in order to be sure that observed effects are not effects of mechanical shaking of the instrument.     

Fortnightly oscillations observed in the Adriatic Sea

This paper documents the occurrence of strong fortnightly oscillations in the Adriatic Sea frequently observed in the current measurements. For that purpose, we analyzed half-decadal sea level series and long-term currents collected within different parts and layers of the Adriatic Sea. Harmonic analysis and band-pass filter with cutoff periods at 10 and 20 days have been applied to the series. The sea level Mf tide is found to be the only significant tidal constituent over periods between the diurnal and semi-annual ones, having no significant phase variations in the Adriatic Sea. Moreover, the currents on periods between 10 and 20 days could only partially be explained by atmospheric forcing. The fact that they are in-phase with the Mf tide gives a hint on a possible mechanism responsible for the generation of these oscillations. Additionally, these currents are usually strongly amplified during a weakly stratified season, indicating a baroclinic mechanism responsible for the multiplication of the fortnightly currents.     

Empirical estimates of dynamic parameters on a large set of European buildings

During a three year-period, the participants of a NATO Science for Peace project performed ambient noise measurements inside buildings in four European countries. This paper reports the results relevant to reinforced concrete (RC) buildings with height in the range 1–20 floors. The total number of such buildings surveyed is 244. The most striking feature is the similarity of the height-period relationships in the four countries, which allowed the treatment of the all measurements as a single database. We found no significant correlation with other variables, and calculated a regression that is very similar to other empirical height-period relationships and quite different from code provisions and theoretical models.     

Responses of large-scale coronal structures to chromospheric activity

We have followed the transit of two active regions across the western solar limb during June 29 through July 2, 1980, as imaged in 3.5–16 keV X-rays by HXIS aboard the SMM. During frequent brightenings of large-scale coronal structures, hard X-ray emission in the 11–16 keV energy band was recorded up to altitudes of 76 000 km. Soft X-rays could be seen in excess of 250 000 km altitude above the photospheric active region. Many X-ray brightenings low in the corona in the active regions were followed by enhancements high in the corona in the large-scale coronal structures. Although subsequent enhancements rarely appeared in the same position, similar portions of the corona brightened intermittently, indicating that the general configuration of the coronal structures above the active regions did not change much, in spite of the frequent energy inputs. These inputs were of two kinds: nonthermal, with very fast response at high coronal altitudes within seconds or tens of seconds, and thermal, with a delay of several minutes. The nonthermal response is short-lived, reflecting the time profile of the primary source; the thermal response is more gradual and longer lasting than the primary source. In some enhancements of large-scale coronal structures both these kinds of response occur and can be clearly recognized. There are also active-region hrightenings without any response in the high corona and,vice versa, high-corona brightenings without any obvious primary source; in the latter case, it is likely that the source was hidden behind the limb.     

Tree‐age control on reconstructed debris‐flow frequencies: examples from a regional dendrogeomorphic reconstruction in the Crimean Mountains

The Crimean Mountains (Ukraine) are renowned for the highest occurrence of debris flows along the northern coast of the Black Sea, but information on their origin, frequency and triggers is widely lacking. This study reconstructs a regional time series of debris flows in eight catchments located on the slopes above Yalta. Dendrogeomorphic analyses were performed on 1122 increment cores selected from 566 black pines (Pinus nigra ssp. pallasiana) with clear signs of external damage induced by past debris‐flow activity. The trees sampled were divided into old and young trees. The sample contains 361 young trees with post‐1930 innermost rings and 205 old trees with pre‐1930 germination dates. The two groups of trees were analyzed separately to identify possible age effects in the reconstructed debris‐flow series and to assess the ability of P. nigra to record geomorphic disturbances over time. We date a total of 215 debris flows back to ad 1701 and observe a mean decadal frequency of 6.9 events, with a peak in activity during the 1940s (20 events). The young trees record an increase in debris‐flow activity over the last 70 years, whereas the frequency of events remained fairly constant in the old trees for the same period. By contrast, the formation of reaction wood became increasingly scarce with increasing tree age whereas the occurrence of abrupt growth suppression increased. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Seasonal and diurnal variability of pressure fluctuation in the infrasound frequency range observed in the Czech microbarograph network

Infrasound environments in the Czech microbarograph network were studied. Reference Fourier amplitude spectra were calculated from data measured at three microbarograph sites of the network in May 2011-April 2012; directional analysis of infrasound arrivals in the frequency band 0.15-0.4 Hz was performed for the microbarograph array at Panská Ves in May 2014-April 2015. Diurnal, seasonal and site-to-site variability of the reference spectra was evaluated. Site-to-site variability is influenced by the location of the respective sensors in the open air and inside the observatory buildings and by local noise phenomena like wind turbines. Diurnal variability is well developed in summer with maximum ambient noise levels during the daytime and minima at night. Seasonal variability is observed at night with maxima in winter and minima in summer. Wind and wind eddies seem to be an important source of ambient noise in measurements in the Czech microbarograph network. A distinct spectral peak occurs near 0.2 Hz with amplitudes by about one order of magnitude higher in winter than in summer. Its seasonal variability is related to seasonal propagation of microbaroms from the source region in the Northern Atlantic.     

Meridional Motions and Reynolds Stress Determined by Using Kanzelhöhe Drawings and White Light Solar Images from 1964 to 2016

Sunspot position data obtained from Kanzelhöhe Observatory for Solar and Environmental Research (KSO) sunspot drawings and white light images in the period 1964 to 2016 were used to calculate the rotational and meridional velocities of the solar plasma. Velocities were calculated from daily shifts of sunspot groups and an iterative process of calculation of the differential rotation profiles was used to discard outliers. We found a differential rotation profile and meridional motions in agreement with previous studies using sunspots as tracers and conclude that the quality of the KSO data is appropriate for analysis of solar velocity patterns. By analyzing the correlation and covariance of meridional velocities and rotation rate residuals we found that the angular momentum is transported towards the solar equator. The magnitude and latitudinal dependence of the horizontal component of the Reynolds stress tensor calculated is sufficient to maintain the observed solar differential rotation profile. Therefore, our results confirm that the Reynolds stress is the dominant mechanism responsible for transport of angular momentum towards the solar equator.     

On the presence of hydrous defects in differently coloured wulfenites (PbMoO4): an infrared and optical spectroscopic study

Several samples of wulfenite, PbMoO₄, varying in colour from colourless to yellow, orange and red, have been characterised by means of IR and optical absorption spectroscopy and by microprobe analyses. A distinct pleochroic band group with absorption maxima centred at 3,380 and 3,150 cm^?1 can be seen in the IR spectra of wulfenite single-crystals, indicating the presence of hydroxyl groups. The pleochroic and thermal behaviour of the OH stretching bands along with deuteration experiments, as well as results obtained from synthetic flux-grown samples, exclude the presence of submicroscopic hydrous mineral inclusions as their primary origin. The pleochroic scheme and the band positions were used to postulate a model for the OH incorporation mode, based on the assumption of vacancies on Mo and Pb sites in the structure of this ‘nominally anhydrous mineral’. Optical absorption spectra of coloured natural samples show a broad and polarised band around 23,000–24,000 cm^?1, preceding the fundamental UV absorption edge, which has been identified as the reason for the colour of the mineral. The comparison with synthetic PbMoO₄ single-crystals, doped with variable amounts of Cr⁶⁺, yielded conclusive evidence that trace amounts of the CrO₄ ^2? anion group, substituting for MoO₄ ^2?, determine the variable colour. Besides, in one sample, trace amounts of Nd³⁺ have been spectroscopically identified.     

SPATIO‐TEMPORAL SPECIFICS OF HYDRO‐GEOMORPHIC PROCESSES IN HEADWATER PARTS OF MID‐MOUNTAINS RECONSTRUCTED BASED ON TREE‐RING DATA: A CASE STUDY FROM THE HRUBÝ JESENÍK MOUNTAINS (CZECH REPUBLIC)

Debris flows and debris floods cause frequent geomorphic hazards, even in the mid‐mountains of Central Europe. In the Hrubý Jeseník Mountains (Eastern Sudetes, Czech Republic), strong anthropogenic interventions have created specific conditions for erosion, transport and accumulation of material released by debris flow/flood events. We present a detailed spatio‐temporal reconstruction of the hydro‐geomorphic process activity in two adjacent sub‐catchments using dendrogeomorphic methods applied to the steep, narrow channels. An analysis of 172 sampled trees [Picea Abies (L.) Karst.] revealed 14 torrential events since 1943 in the Klepá?ský stream sub‐catchment and 11 events since 1897 in the Keprnický stream sub‐catchment. Identical events were identified in 1965, 1991, 1997, 2002 and 2010. The event return periods were comparable with return periods from the foothills of the European Alps. A higher frequency of events in the first sub‐catchment may be caused by the presence of a deep‐seated landslide, steeper slopes and a higher susceptibility to shallow slope deformations. Different spatial patterns of events were presented using the Kernel Density analysis in ArcMap 10.1. Clusters of affected trees in the valley floor during the last decades may be due to increased erosion below the check dams and increased accumulation above. The presence of check dams and slope stabilization works since the 1960s has mitigated the processes in several gullies, but due to the current non‐interventional management, the risk of their damage is increasing, particularly when increased activity is observed in the adjacent unprotected gullies.