Isotopic constraints on time scales and mechanisms of slab material transport in the mantle wedge: evidence from the Simcoe mantle xenoliths, Washington, USA

Spinel harzburgite and websterite mantle xenoliths from Simcoe volcano in southern Washington represent fragments of mantle lithosphere from the back-arc side of the Cascade arc front. Previous studies have shown that metasomatism by either silica-rich fluids or hydrous melts crystallized phlogopite, imparted high oxygen fugacities (0.3 to 1.4 log units above QFM), and more radiogenic Os isotopic compositions on these peridotites. These features are consistent with part or all of the metasomatic agent being derived from the Juan de Fuca slab. New Re–Os, Sm–Nd, Sr, and U–Th–Pb isotopic data shed further light on the origin and composition of the metasomatic agent. The clinopyroxenes from the xenoliths have correlated Pb isotopic compositions (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb=18.63–19.55, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb=15.56–15.63, ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb=38.22–38.87). The most radiogenic Pb isotopic compositions extend beyond the most radiogenic Pb isotopic compositions for the Cascade arc lavas and display a shallower trend. Mixtures between Juan de Fuca basalts and pelagic or terrigenous sediments would result in Pb isotopic compositions that are not radiogenic enough in ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb at the high ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb end of this array. Therefore, models for rapid transfer of components from the slab to the mantle lithosphere are not viable in this case. Instead, a multi-stage model is preferred. In the first stage, the slab component is transferred via fluid or melt into, and reacts with the hanging wall mantle. This results in a residual slab depleted in Pb relative to U and Th, and consequent high U/Pb and Th/Pb. Additional dehydration or melting of the slab imparts this chemical signature to the peridotite in the hanging wall. In the second stage, the hybridized hanging wall peridotite evolves for tens of million years until corner flow drags it down to deeper levels in the mantle wedge where melting occurs in response to higher temperatures. In the third stage, this melt migrates upward where it metasomatizes the mantle lithosphere represented by the Simcoe xenoliths. Trace element compositions of the clinopyroxenes, and the presence of high alkali glasses in the xenoliths, are consistent with the metasomatic agent derived from the hybridized hanging wall being alkali-rich, and possibly similar to potassic-rich lavas found in arc and back-arc settings. These data therefore demonstrate the importance of the hybridized hanging wall mantle above slabs as a source for melts which can be metasomatic agents in the upper mantle, and as a site for storage of material derived from the slab for periods of at least tens of million years.     

Winde und turbulente Luftströmungen in der Ionosphäre

Zusammenfassung Siehe Abschnitt IV.

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Summary Occurrence of predominantly horizontal linear air currents in the ionosphere could be verified by direct and indirect electrical observations. The maximum of frequency of the measured wind velocities lies, within the range of 80 and 120 km altitude, at 60 m/sec and within theF-layer (200 to 350 km altitude) at 100 m/sec. The measured wind velocities do not show a uniform pattern. The standard deviation of the observations reaching several 100 per cent makes it probable that wind direction and speed depend on the hour of day and the season as well as on the geographical latitude and altitude. Considering particularly theF-layer the velocity of propagation of the deviation centers was found to be proportional to the earth-magnetic characteristic number. The extention of these deviation centers, however, does not depend on the intensity of the earth-magnetic disturbance and is nearly constant also in other respects. These more or less linear air currents are combined with a more or less turbulent movement. The direct and indirect observations verify this for the range between 80 and 100 km altitude; knowledge on the respective conditions in theF-layer, however, could not be obtained by them. The root of the average velocity square of all velocity components in the direction of the observations amounts to approximately 2 m/sec. The occurrence of solar and lunar tides in the range of theE-layer with a velocity amplitude of 35 and 25 m/sec respectively can be considered as a indisputable fact, whereas for theF-layer there exist too few investigations as yet.

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Résumé La présence de courants d'air essentiellement horizontaux dans l'ionosphère a été prouvée par des observations visuelles directes et électriques indirectes. Le maximum de fréquence des vitesses de vent mesurées se trouve dans la couche comprise entre 80 et 120 km, où elles atteignent 60 m/s, ainsi qu'au niveau de la coucheF (200–350 km) avec 100 m/s. Les directions observées ne fournissent pas d'image simple; la dispersion des mesures conduit à penser que les azimuts et les vitesses dépendent du moment du jour et de la saison, comme de la latitude et de l'altitude. En ce qui concerne la coucheF en particulier, il apparaît que la vitesse de déplacement des centres de dispersion est proportionnelle au nombre caractéristique géomagnétique. La grandeur de ces centres est toutefois indépendante de l'intensité de la perturbation géomagnétique et reste à peu près constante.A ces courants ionosphériques plus ou moins linéaires se superpose un courant d'air plus ou moins turbulent; les observations directes et indirectes vérifient ce fait pour la couche comprise entre 80 et 120 km, mais elles ne peuvent rien dire à ce sujet en ce qui concerne la coucheF. La racine carrée du carré moyen des vitesses de toutes les composantes de vitesse dans la direction d'observation est égale à 2 m/s environ.L'existence de marées solaires et lunaires dans la coucheE avec une amplitude des vitesses de respectivement 35 et 25 m/s peut être considérée comme assurée; les recherches analogues concernant la coucheF sont encore trop peu nombreuses.

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Mit 6 Textabbildungen.     

Analysis of the long-term precipitation series at Athens,Greece

In this paper, the characteristics of the long-term precipitation series at Athens (1858–1985) have been statistically analyzed. This study covers both the history and the analysis of the data. The ten-year mean amounts, the monthly and annual amounts averaged over the intervals 1858–1890, 1891–1985, 1951–1980, 1858–1985, the mean number of hours of precipitation and the precipitation intensity are given. The analysis of long-term time series of climatic data (in particular precipitation) is a useful tool for the study of past climate. Different statistical techniques are used in order to depict monthly, seasonal and annual variations, as well as trends, periodicities and recurrence intervals of the amount, intensity and number of precipitation days. The analysis reveals many interesting characteristics. These characteristics of the precipitation regime are extended to a time scale from seasonal variation to a semi-secular trend. The study of such long-term series may be helpful not only in practical applications of rainfall, but also for explaining the possible physical or anthropogenic mechanisms of climatic fluctuations and tendencies. The series of precipitation at Athens is one of the longest in south-eastern Europe.