High-density CO2−N2 inclusions in eclogite-facies metasediments of the Münchberg gneiss complex,SE Germany

The eclogite-facies metasedimentary rocks in the Münchberg gneiss complex (T=630±30° C/P17–24 kbar) locally contain CO₂–N₂-rich fluid inclusions of extremely low molar volumes (32 cm³/mol) in quartz. These fluid compositions are mainly found in rocks intercalated with calcsilicate bands. Densities were determined from low-temperature phase transitions like stable or metastable homogenization (L+VL), partial homogenization (S+L+VS+L) and the transition S+LL (L = liquid, V = vapour, S = solid). The high fluid densities are in agreement with eclogite-facies pressure and temperature and subsequent amphibolite facies. CO₂–N₂ inclusions were not observed in adjacent eclogites nor in non-calcareous metasediments. These rock types contain predominantly H₂O-rich inclusions correlating with amphibolite-facies conditions. The variation of fluid composition with lithological differences indicates local fluid gradients and speaks against a pervasive fluid flow during eclogite-facies metamorphism.     

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.

     

IGU commission on the world political map

The International Geographical Union Reports

IGU commission on the world political map     

Mass ratios of three bodies for stable low-inclination three-dimensional periodic motion

The intervals of possible stability, on the -axis, of the basic families of three-dimensional periodie motions of the restricted three-body problem (determined in an earlier paper) are extended into regions of the -m ₃ parameter space of the general three-body problem. Sample three-dimensional periodic motions corresponding to these regions are computed and tested for stability. Six regions, corresponding to the vertical-critical orbitsl1v, m1v,m2v, andilv, survive this preliminary stability test-therefore, emerging as the mass parameters regions allowing the simplest types of stable low inclination three-dimensional motion of three massive bodies.     

Book reviews

REGIONAL GEOGRAPHY: Current Developments and Future Prospects edited by R. J. Johnston, J Hauer and G. A. Hoekveld. 14 × 22 cm, xiii and 216 pages. Routledge: London 1990 (ISBN 0 415 05247 5) $A89.95 (hard).

THE MAKING OF THE AMERICAN LANDSCAPE edited by M. P. Conzen. 19 × 25 cm, xvi and 433 pages. Unwin Hyman: Boston 1990 (ISBN 0 04 917010 4) $A59.95 (soft).

EASTERN EUROPE: An Historical Geography 1815–1945 by D. Turnock. 14 × 22 cm, ix and 357 pages. Routledge: London 1989 (ISBN 0 415 01269 4) $A115.00 (hard), distributed by the Law Book Co.

THE HUMAN GEOGRAPHY OF EASTERN EUROPE by D. Turnock. 14 × 22 cm, xii and 345 pages. Routledge: London 1989 (ISBN 0 415 00469 1) $A105.00 (hard), distributed by the Law Book Co.

A HISTORY OF THE PACIFIC ISLANDS by I. C. Campbell. 14 × 21 cm, 239 pages. University of Queensland Press: St Lucia 1990 (ISBN 0 7022 2291 7) $A34.95 (soft).

THE CORPORATE FIRM IN A CHANGING WORLD ECONOMY: Case Studies in the Geography of Enterprise edited by M. de Smidt and E. Wev‐er. 14 × 23 cm, xiv and 247 pages. Routledge: London 1990 (ISBN 0 415 03497 3) $A105.00 (hard).

THE CAPITALIST CITY: Global Restructuring and Community Politics by M. P. Smith and J. R. Feagin. 15 × 23 cm, 393 pages. Basil Black‐well: Oxford 1988 (ISBN 0 631 15182 6) £35 (hard).

CONFLICT AND CHANGE IN THE COUNTRYSIDE: Rural Society, Economy and Planning in the Developed World by G. M. Robinson. 15 × 23 cm, xxvi and 482 pages. Belhaven Press: London 1990 (ISBN 1 85293 043 8) £40.00 (hard); (ISBN 1 85293 044 6) £14.95 (soft).

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE (Collins Reference Dictionary) by G. Jones, A. Robertson, J. Forbes and G. Hollier. 13 × 20 cm, vi and 473 pages. Collins: London 1990 (ISBN 0 00 434348 4) £5.95 (soft).

THE HUMAN IMPACT ON THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT (Third Edition) by A. Goudie. 17 × 24 cm, xi and 388 pages. Blackwell: Oxford 1990 (ISBN 0 631 16164 3) $A39.95 (soft).

PATTERNS OF LIFE: Biogeography of a Changing World by H. W. Mielke. 19 × 24 cm, xiv and 370 pages. Unwin Hyman: London 1989 (ISBN 0 04 574032 1).     

The gawler ranges,South Australia: an unusual volcanic massif

The volcanic residuals of the Gawler Ranges together form an extensive massif that in its gross morphology differs markedly from most exposures of silicic volcanic rocks. The upland developed in two stages, the first involving differential fracture‐controlled subsurface weathering, the second the stripping of the regolith. As a result, an irregular weathering front was exposed, with domical projections prominent. These bornhardts are etch forms, and they are of considerable antiquity.

The differential weathering of the rock mass reflects the exploitation of various fracture systems by shallow groundwaters. Orthogonal fracture systems at various scales, sheet fractures and columnar joints control the morphology of the bornhardts in gross and in detail.

The exploitation of the structural base, which was established in the Middle Protero‐zoic, probably took place throughout the Late Proterozoic and the Palaeozoic, though only minor remnants of the Proterozoic land surface remain. The major landscape features developed during the Mesozoic. The weathering which initiated the bornhardts occurred in the Jurassic or earlier Mesozoic, and the landforms were exposed in Late Cretaceous to Early Tertiary times.

Though structural forms dominate the present landscape, some major and some minor landforms are best explained in terms of climatic changes of the later Cainozoic. The palaeodrainage system, established under humid conditions by the Early Tertiary, was alluviated during the Cainozoic arid phases, and salinas were formed. The sand dunes of the region also reflect this aridity.     

Recent results on the solar diameter

Using optically identical telescopes at different sites, we have measured the solar diameter with a drift-scan technique. In order to investigate the cause of the observed fluctuations, we not only compare observations made simultaneously by different observers at the same telescope, but also observations made simultaneously at two different sites. Our main results are: (a) The mean error of a single drift time measurement is ±0.08s(or ± 1.1) at Izaña and ±0.11 s (or ± 1.7) at Locarno; this closely corresponds to the angular resolution at those two sites under normal seeing conditions, (b) We find no correlation between observations at different sites; a significant correlation exists, however, between observations made simultaneously by different observers at the same site: This indicates that most of the observed fluctuations are due to atmospheric effects (image motion) rather than personality effects, (c) The mean solar semi-diameter derived from a total of 1122 observations made in 1990 (472 at Izaña, 650 at Locarno) is R = (960.56 ± 0.03) (Izaña: 960.51, Locarno: 960.59); this may be compared with R = (960.32 ± 0.02) which is obtained from a re-analysis of 1773 observations made in 1981 (Izaña: 960.16, Locarno: 960.38). Although a small residual increase of the solar diameter during the last ten years seems to be indicated, we conclude that most - if not all - of the observed variations are due to variable seeing conditions, and that there is still no conclusive evidence for a genuine solar variation with amplitudes in excess of about ±0.3.     

Geology and tectonics of the Themis Regio-Lavinia Planitia-Alpha Regio-Lada Terra area,Venus: Results from Arecibo image data

New radar images obtained from the Arecibo Observatory (resolution 1.5–4.0 km) for portions of the southern hemisphere of Venus show that: the upland of Phoebe Regio contains the southern extension of Devana Chasma, a rift zone extending 4200 km south from Theia Mons and interpreted as a zone of extension; Alpha Regio, the only large region of tessera within the imaged area, is similar to tessera mapped elsewhere on the planet and covers a smaller percentage of the surface than that observed in the northern high latitudes; the upland made of Ushas, Innini and Hathor Montes consists of three distinct volcanic constructs; Themis Regio is mapped as an ovoid chain of radar-bright arcuate single and double ring structures, edifices and bright lineaments. This area is interpreted as a region of mantle upwelling and on the basis of apparent split and separated features, a zone of localized faulting and extension. Linear zones of deformation in Lavinia Planitia are characterized by lineament belts that are often locally elevated, are similar to ridge belts mapped in the northern high latitudes and are interpreted to be characterized mainly by compression; radar-bright lava complexes within Lavinia Planitia are unique to this part of the planet and are interpreted to represent areas of eruption of high volumes of extremely fluid lava; the upland of Lada Terra is bound to the north by a linear deformation zone interpreted as extensional, is characterized by large ovoids and coronae, is interpreted to be associated with an area of mantle upwelling, and is in contrast to the northern high latitude highland of Ishtar Terra. Regions of plains in the southern hemisphere cover about 78%; of the mapped area and are interpreted to be volcanic in origin. Located within the area imaged (10–78 S) are 52 craters interpreted to be of impact origin ranging from 8 to 157 km in diameter. On the basis of an overall crater density of 0.94 craters/10⁶ km², it is determined that the age of this part of the Venus surface is similar to the 0.3 to 1.0 billion year age calculated for the equatorial region and northern high latitudes. The geologic characteristics of the portion of the Venus southern hemisphere imaged by Arecibo are generally similar to those mapped elsewhere on the planet. This part of the planet is characterized by widespread volcanic plains, large volcanic edifices, and zones of linear belt deformation. The southern hemisphere of Venus differs from northern high latitudes in that tessera makes up only a small percentage of the surface area and the ovoid chain in Themis Regio is unique to this part of the planet. On the basis of the analysis presented here, the southern hemisphere of Venus is interpreted to be characterized by regions of mantle upwelling on a variety of scales (ovoids, region made up of Ushas, Innini and Hathor Montes), upwelling and extension (Themis Regio) and localized compression (lineament belts in Lavinia Planitia).     

The luminosity function of halo white dwarfs

Recently, Liebertet al. (1989) have obtained an approximate observational luminosity function for halo white dwarfs. Certainly, this first attempt will be improved by the forthcoming Very Large Telescopes. Here we construct theoretical luminosity functions of such stars and we examine their dependence on the age of the halo. Finally, we show that accurate observational luminosity functions could provide useful information about the evolution of the galaxy.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.     

Nucleosynthesis in SNIa

The final products of a SNIa explosion critically depend on the degree of neutronization of the incinerated material and on the total amount of burned material. Here we study their dependence on the velocity of the burning front and on the density at which the thermonuclear runaway starts. The abundances of⁵⁴Cr,^{54, 58}Fe,^{58, 62}Ni provide some constraints to the possible values of model parameters.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.