A note on the approximate determination of the dispersion of Love waves in a laterally nonhomogeneous layer lying over a homogeneous half-space

Rayleigh's principle and the concept of the local wave number have been utilised for the approximate determination of the dispersion of Love waves propagating in a laterally heterogeneous layer lying over a homogeneous half-space. The shear wave velocity and the rigidity in the surface layer have been assumed to decrease with the increase of the lateral distance from the origin. The range of validity of the dispersion equation obtained by this method has been examined critically. It was found that: (a) for existence of Love waves the minimum value of shear wave velocity in the layer must be less than that in the matter below, and (b) the phase velocity of Love waves decreases with the increase of the lateral distance from the origin.     

Faecal pollution of Belgian coastal water

In 1978 faecal pollution of Belgian coastal waters was investigated. The degree of pollution is maximal on the coastline and decreases quickly offshore. At 5 km from the coastline, pollution indicators are still detectable. No significant difference was seen between the values of surface and deep-sea samples.     

Analysis of Astex-Stratocumulus Observational Data Using a Mass-Flux Approach

A mass-flux approach is applied to observational data obtained in a convective boundary layer topped with stratocumulus clouds. The observational data were obtained from aircraft measurements during the Atlantic Stratocumulus Transition Experiment (ASTEX). A conditional sampling method is used to calculate average updraft and downdraft values. The vertical fluxes calculated with the mass-flux approach are found to be proportional to the real (measured) fluxes, with a proportionality factor being about 0.6. This value is predicted by theory for two variables having a joint Gaussian distribution function; proportionality factor = 2^-1 0.637. The horizontal fractional entrainment and detrainment rates calculated from the data ( 1–2 × 10^-2 m^-1) are an order of magnitude higher than the rates obtained by large eddy simulations for cumulus convection ( 2–3 × 10^-3 m^-1) and two orders of magnitude higher than those used in modelling cumulus convection with a mass-flux scheme in an operational weather forecast model ( 3 × 10^-4 m^-1). A numerical mass-flux model for the thermodynamics was developed and showed that results are in good agreement when compared with measured profiles of the liquid water content.     

Formation of metamorphic biotite by decarbonation

Microcline is not necessarily the source of the K content of metamorphic biotite. The biotite may be formed by decalcitization; the released Ca reacts with Al, derived from sericite and chlorite, to form some calc-alumino-silicate such as plagioclase or epidote. It may also result from the reaction of sericite with the Fe---Mg released by dedolomitization. The biotitic character of meta-calco-pelites from the Belgian Ardenne, increasing with their anorthite content, illustrates this mode of biotite formation.     

The isotopic composition and elemental abundance of lutetium in meteorites and terrestrial samples and the 176Lu cosmochronometer

The isotopic composition of lutetium has been measured in a range of terrestrial and meteoritic materials using solid-source mass spectrometric techniques. The meteoritic and terrestrial isotopic abundances are identical within experimental errors. The absolute ¹⁷⁵Lu/¹⁷⁶Lu ratio as determined in this work is 37.36 ± 0.07 at the 95% confidence level. On the basis of this measurement the atomic weight of lutetium has been calculated to be 174.967 ± 0.002, which is in good agreement with the currently accepted figure of 174.97 ± 0.01.Using the stable isotope dilution technique the abundance of lutetium has been determined in 25 stone, 1 stony-iron and 8 iron meteorites, and in 12 standard rocks, with an accuracy of ±5% at the 95% confidence level. In general, there is good agreement between this work and other published data.The ¹⁷⁶Lu-¹⁷⁶Hf pair has been proposed as an s process nucleocosmochronometer, because of the long half-life of ¹⁷⁶Lu and the unique fact that both are s process isobars. The isotopic and elemental abundances of lutetium as measured in this work have been used with published nuclear data to estimate the mean age of s process nucleosynthesis for this isobaric pair, using the Schramm-Wasserburg formalism. The mean age cannot be accurately determined at the present time because of the lack of 30 keV neutron capture cross-section data for s only process nuclides and an accurate measurement of the branching ratio of ¹⁷⁵Lu + n. However, it is possible to place constraints on the nuclear parameters in this mass region using a reasonable s process chronology based on the decay of ¹⁷⁶Lu.     

Off-shore wind measurements by HF doppler ground-wave radar

Remote measurements of wind velocity are performed, up to 100 km away from the shore, by using some features of the Doppler spectrum of HF radio waves backscattered by the sea. The variation with radio-frequency of the ratio of the amplitudes of the two Bragg lines in this spectrum shows a discontinuity occurring at a value simply related to the wind velocity. The validity of these measurements is discussed by comparison with meteorological data obtained by conventional methods.     

Geochemistry of actinolitic hornblendes from tonalitic rocks,Northern Portugal

Chemical analyses are given for actinolitic hornblendes of tonalitic rocks from the Hercynian belt of Northern Portugal. The distribution of elements between amphibole and co-existing biotite is studied. The composition of the amphiboles is analysed in the light of experimental data on amphiboles and the physical conditions of crystallization inferred from the study of the biotite and rock series. The data on the biotites lead to the definition of a temperature of 800°C for the crystallization of actinolitic hornblendes with Mg/(Mg + Fe) ratios of 0·72-0·61 at pressures of about 3 Kb and fO₂ defined by FMQ.     

Using XMM-Newton to measure the spectrum of the Vela pulsar and its phase variation

We report on our analysis of two XMM-Newton observations of the Vela pulsar performed in December 2000 (total exposure time: 96.5 ks). We succeeded in resolving the pulsar spectrum from the surrounding bright nebular emission taking advantage both of the accurate calibration of the EPIC point spread function and of the Chandra/HRC surface brightness map of the nebula. This made it possible to assess to pulsar spectral shape disentangling its thermal and non-thermal components. Exploiting the photon harvest, we have also been able to perform a phase-resolved study of the pulsar emission.