The structure of the lower crust at the Argentine continental margin, South Atlantic at 44°S

It is well established that the Argentine passive margin is of the rifted volcanic margin type. This classification is based primarily on the presence of a buried volcanic wedge beneath the continental slope, manifested by seismic data as a seaward dipping reflector sequence (SDRS). Here, we investigate the deep structure of the Argentine volcanic margin at 44°S over 200 km from the shelf to the deep oceanic Argentine Basin. We use wide-angle reflection/refraction seismic data to perform a joint travel time inversion for refracted and reflected travel times. The resulting P-wave velocity-depth model confirms the typical volcanic margin structure. An underplated body is resolved as distinctive high seismic velocity (v_p up to 7.5 km/s) feature in the lower crust in the prolongation of a seaward dipping reflector sequence. A remarkable result is that a second, isolated body of high seismic velocity (v_p up to 7.3 km/s) exists landward of the first high-velocity feature. The centres of both bodies are 60 km apart. The high-velocity lower-crustal bodies likely were emplaced during transient magmatic–volcanic events accompanying the late rifting and initial drifting stages. The lateral variability of the lower crust may be an expression of a multiple rifting process in the sense that the South Atlantic rift evolved by instantaneous breakup of longer continental margin segments. These segments are confined by transfer zones that acted as rift propagation barriers. A lower-crustal reflector was detected at 3 to 5 km above the modern Moho and probably represents the lower boundary of stretched continental crust. With this finding we suggest that the continent–ocean boundary is situated 70 km more seaward than in previous interpretations.     

The return of confiscated land and property in the new Länder: The process and its geographical implications

The unification of Germany has led to claims for the restitution of more than 2.47 million pieces of property confiscated under the auspices of either the Third Reich or the East German government. The legal and administrative taks of restitution is a huge challenge for the new Germany, with far-reaching implications for the country's social and economic fabric. This paper examines the nature and scale of restitution claims and how they are being settled across the five new German states (Bundesländer) and Berlin. It reveals a picture of considerable progress overall, but with substantial regional variations.     

A unified earthquake-resistant design method for steel frames using arma models

The objective of this paper is to develop a unified earthquake-resistant design method for moment-resisting steel frames, including the design earthquake via a dynamic ARMA model. Important features of this design method are: (i) to make it possible to incorporate inherent uncertain features of design earthquakes into the design process itself through the dynamic ARMA model, (ii) to provide a simplified design formula for a preliminary design of moment-resisting steel frames based upon the concept of stiffness-oriented design and (iii) to facilitate the formulation of a new probabilistic multi-objective optimal design problem aimed at finding the design with the minimum level of designer's dissatisfaction. In this optimal design problem, constraints and objectives are handled in a unified manner after a feasible design is obtained. A design example is presented to demonstrate the validity of this unified design method and to examine the convergence of response statistics. Finally, the generality and practicality of this design method are assessed.     

A new fast fourier method for evaluating fourier spectra at arbitrary frequencies

This paper deals with some recent problems of frequency determination in dynamical systems. As a main result a new Fast Fourier Transform (FIT) method, the High Resolution Fast Fourier Transform (HRFFT) is presented, which allows for economic evaluation of discrete Fourier spectra at arbitrary frequencies, not just at the evenly spaced points of the rigid frequency grid the ordinary FFT is restricted to (continuous evaluation). Comparison is made to existing methods in what regards continuous evaluation, computational speed, memory requirements and precision, evidencing the high efficiency of the HRFFT. Possible applications of the new technique are indicated, showing that existing methods, as e.g. that of Laskar (1990, Icarus 88) and its extension by idlichovský and Nesvorný (1996, this volume), may strongly benefit from the HRFFT.     

The effects of diagenesis on the redistribution of strontium isotopes in shales

The rubidium-strontium method has often been used in attempts to date shales, but has yielded mixed results. In order to explore the effects of diagenesis on this system, samples of a Miocene shale section collected from an oil well drilled in coastal Louisiana were separated into fractions and analyzed for Sr⁸⁷/Sr⁸⁶, Rb and Sr. The diagenetic changes involve the destruction of detrital mica and feldspar and the formation of an illite-rich clay from smectite. Strontium from interstitial waters, calcium carbonate and adsorbed on the clay minerals is released and then sequestered by the newly forming phases, together with the strontium mobilized from the silicate minerals. Attending these changes there is a trend towards the homogenization of the shale with respect to its strontium isotopes, but diagenesis and homogenization are not complete in the deepest part (5523 m) of the section studied. Therefore, the interpretation of rubidium-strontium shale dates remains uncertain, but the dates in many cases most probably represent the time equal to or younger than the time of the major construction of new phases and the attendant homogenization of the strontium isotopes.     

An argument against a type I cometary tail model

This letter represents an abstract of a forthcoming publication in which a type I cometary tail model is explained in terms of observational facts without additional assumptions. It is made clear that essential claims and assertions of the currently discussed magneto-hydrodynamical theory of the tails cannot be brought into agreement with this experimental model.     

Der Aerologische aufbau des Ostasiatischen Monsuns

Zusammenfassung Darstellung des ostasiatischen Monsuns als Erscheinung der Grundschicht. Dieser Monsun über China und Japan ist im Winter sehr flach, nur etwa 1500 m hoch, aufgebaut als Grundschicht vom Normaltyp, der im Falle des Niederschlags nur leicht anschwillt. Der Sommermonsun ist verschieden gestaltet, die Luftmassen, die dem nordpazifischen Hochdruck entströmen, bringen einen Monsun mit stabil geschichteter niedriger Grundschicht von höchstens 2000 m. Der Monsun der tropischen und subtropischen Gegenden entstammt, ist wesentlich feuchter und kann auch höher hinaufreichen. Im ostasiatischen Raum bringt der Sommermonsun trotz seiner Feuchtigkeit keinen Niederschlag von sich aus; dieser fällt nur, wenn sich Depressionen bilden, die Grundschicht sich durch lokale Gewitterbildung auflöst, oder wenn grössere Gebirge zu Steigerungsregen Anlass geben. Hier liegt ein entschiedener Gegensatz zum Regenmonsun des tropischen und subtropischen Asiens.

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Summary Representation of the monsoon in Eastern Asia as a phenomenon of the ground layer. The monsoon over China and Japan is very shallow during the winter, only about 1500 m high and of standart-type ground-layer structure, rising only slightly in the event of precipitation. The summer monsoon is of different structure: ais masses from the North-Pacific high pressure areas produce a monsoon with a stable laminated low ground layer of 2000 m at a maximum. The monsoon originating from tropical and subtropical regions carries considerably more moisture, and can extend to higher levels. In Eastern Asia the summer monsoon, in spite of its high moisture contents, produces no rain by itself, this occurs only when depressions are forming and the ground layer is dissipating because of local thunderstorm activity, or when major mountain ranges are causing an upslope movement. Here is the fundamental difference to the rain monsoon of tropical and subtropical Asia.