Damping constant and turbulence in the solar atmosphere

In the region of the formation of weak and medium-strong lines, the microturbulence increases with height (V _ver=0.7–0.9 km s^-1, V _hor= 1.1–1.5 km s^-1), the macroturbulence decreases (V _ver=1.6–1.4 km s^-1, V _hor= 2.4–1.5 km s^-1), and the total velocity field (vertical component) is depth-independent (1.7 km s^-1). The empirical damping constants for Fe, Ti, Cr, Ni lines are equal 1.3₆, 1.7₆, 1.6₆, 1.6₆, respectively. The correlation length (the Kubo-Anderson process has been used) in the solar photosphere is 520–550 km.     

Current estimates of the Earth's principal moments of inertia

Summary The principal moments of the Earth's inertia and their differences have been computed and their actual accuracy estimated on the basis of the most recent values of the 2nd degree geopotential parameters (model GEM-T2) and of the parameter H in the precession constant. The contributions due to the zero frequency zonal term in the tidal potential have been determined.

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au m nmnmuaa 2- mnu (¶rt; GEM-T2) u naama nm nuu n¶rt; aua m uuu u u u amu u ¶rt;am u a mmu. u a¶rt; n¶rt; uu nm amu a a nuu nmuaa.

     

Linear hydromagnetic stability of a differentially rotating non-uniformly stratified fluid layer

Summary Our discussion is concerned with the common effect of the non-uniformity of layer rotation and stratification. We have assumed a model of differential rotation with the upper part of the layer rotating more slowly, the bottom part more quickly. The upper part of the layer is stratified stably, the bottom part unstably.The thermal instabilities are preferred in the strong differential rotation case and they are the most easily excited by a strong magnetic field (10²–10³). The direction of its propagation is westward in the uniformly stratified layer and eastward in the non-uniformly stratified layer.     

Using numerical modelling to evaluate tsunami hazard near the Kuril Island

A sequence of computer experiments is used to study questions concerning the tsunami problem as a quantitative estimate of tsunami danger, detailed geographical tsunami classification, determination of the parameters of critical tsunami waves, and the conditions of their development. We call a wave critical, if its impact on the coast is most hazardous.Using the Middle Kuril Island as an example, we present the results of a computer experiment which includes determining the wavefields on the shelf and estimating the effects connected with the deep-water Bussol and Diana Straits.Numerical simulation of tsunami waves of different sources permits the assessment of the extent of tsunami danger in different areas of the coastal zone of Simushir Island, depending on the location of the focus zone and their geometry.The major singularities of the wavefield arise in the zones of the deep-water straits. The distribution of the amplification factors is determined by both the global parameters of the wavefields and the local properties of individual harbours. The results obtained for a particular harbour in the northern part of Simushir Island, formed the basis for the quantitative estimate of tsunami danger for this area.     

Seismic hazard monitoring in Kamchatka and its applications to the M = 6.6 earthquake of 6 October 1987

The earthquake of 6 October 1987 (M = 6.6), which occurred near the Shipunsky Cape, Kamchatka, was the largest crustal event in the vicinity of the main city of Kamchatka — Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky — during the last three decades. It was followed by numerous aftershocks. This earthquake allowed us to test the effectiveness of the seismic hazard monitoring in Kamchatka, including the seismological, geodetic and hydrogeochemical surveys. The seismic survey provided the location and source nature of the main shock and aftershocks and the seismic environment of the main shock. The geodetic and hydrogeochemical surveys have yielded data on the response to earthquakes of the Earth's surface deformations, water level, and chemical elements concentration in the underground water. As a result, the following data were obtained:

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The earthquake of 6 October had a seismic moment 4–10 E18 Nm, thrust type of faulting and the source volume of 20 × 20 × 10 km³. The maximum intensity was VI–VII (MSK-64 scale) and maximum acceleration 88 cm/s².

Before this event, a relative increase in the number of the upper mantle (depth more than 100 km) moderate magnitude earthquakes during 5 years and a one-year period of seismic quiescence for small shallow earthquakes, were recognized. Significant anomalies in HCO₃ and H₃BO₃ concentrations in the underground waters were observed in the wells a week before the main shock.

     

TREK: A cosmic-ray experiment on the Russian space station MIR

The goals of the TREK experiment, now in place on the MIR Space Station, are to resolve and measure the composition of both odd-Z and even-Z cosmic-ray nuclei up to uranium, to measure the isotopic composition of Fe-group nuclei, and to search for transuranic nucleic and exotic particles such as strangelets. To collect tracks of ultraheavy cosmic rays, exterior panels holding an array of BP-1 phosphate glass 1.2m² in area and 16 plates thick are now mounted outside the Kvant-2 module on MIR. Heaters and relays regulate the temperature of the glass at 25°±5°C. The detectors will record 10³ cosmic-ray tracks withZ50 during 2.5 years. An interior panel consisting of an array 0.09 m² in area and 32 plates thick and mounted on the inside wall of the Soyuz spacecraft (attached to the Space Station) will collect tracks of about 13000 Fe and 500 Ni nuclei.     

Potentials for stationary point-axial stellar system models

Some potentials for a stationary stellar system model with point-axial symmetry and equatorial plane of symmetry that verifies Chandrasekhar's postulates have been obtained.Paper presented at the 12th European Astronomical Meetings of the IAU on European Astronomers Look to the Future, held 8–11 October, 1990, Davos, Switzerland.     

A new Bolivia-USSR astronomical observatory and its astrometric activities

In 1982 a Bolivia-USSR astronomical observatory began its activities near Tarija, Bolivia. Observations of 200 000 faint stars, 2822 bright stars (m6) and Halley's comet have been made with the expedition's astrograph.     

Resistive ballooning line-tied boundary conditions

Ideal and resistive ballooning modes are investigated for different ratios of a two-layer stratified density region representing a model for the photospheric/coronal boundary. Construction of the ballooning equations using a WKB approach is justified by comparison between the values of the growth rate obtained using Hain-Lüst and ballooning equations together with a WKB integral relation. Different values of the density ratio, radius, and resistivity are considered. Sausage-type and kink-type instabilities are found. One of these, depending on the value of r remained unstable for large density ratios. The other instability tended to marginal stability as the density ratio was increased, and allowed parallel and perpendicular flows across the boundary. This is contrary to the predictions of both the rigid-wall and flow-through conditions.     

Dynamical instability in accreting white dwarfs

We study the evolution of solid, CO white dwarfs after explosive carbon ignition at central densities around 10¹⁰ g cm^–3 triggered by steady accretion in a close binary system, in order to elucidate whether these stars can collapse to form a neutron star. We show that as long as the velocity of the burning front remains below a critical value of 0.006c _s (60 km s^–1), gravitational collapse is the final fate. These calculations support the accretion-induced collapse (AIC) scenario for the origin of a fraction of low-mass X-ray binaries.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.