A terrestrial shear pattern?

The concept of the strain ellipsoid is applied to indicate a possible regular shear pattern of earthquake distribution over the Earth's surface. A simple model of the Earth is assumed in the form of a rotating sphere with a plastic interior and a thin, fragile, crust. On this basis rotation of the Earth generates an internal radial pressure at the equator equivalent to 1/300g causing a proportionate distortion of the spherical shell. The system is in dynamic equilibrium with an increase in gravity at the equator. The ellipsoid representing the distortion, has orthogonal principal axes corresponding to the principal strains while radial directions at 54°44 from the poles are unchanged in length and are thus possible axes of shear generating the same distortion. The Alpide region of earthquakes extending from Lisbon to Tokyo and restriction of earthquakes mainly to the broad band between latitudes 55°N or S are in support of the proposed view.Four unique sets of orthogonal shear systems have been identified which form a regular pattern with a definite symmetry with respect to the plane of the ecliptic. This suggests that the hoop stress at the Equator associated with Earth rotation may be triggered off by tidal forces and that earthquake prediction may well be possible. Other implications of this new approach are also discussed.     

鄂尔多斯盆地能源矿产氯仿沥青Sm-Nd同位素研究

对鄂尔多斯盆地石油、煤、含铀砂岩及其围岩的氯仿沥青进行了Sm-Nd同位素研究。结果表明,盆地流体(包括深部流体)活动具有多期性,且后期的流体活动对铀矿床的形成具有重要作用;赋存于同一套地层中的含铀砂岩沥青、煤沥青及石油沥青,虽然均具有富集地幔特征,但并非同期活动的产物;东胜矿区侏罗系直罗组煤沥青和盆地西南部陈家山矿区侏罗系延安组的煤沥青,源区时代上存在较大差异,伴生沥青并非全部由煤的热演化形成,可能还存在外来流体的加入,且东胜直罗组煤的伴生沥青较延安组煤的伴生沥青来源深度更大;盆地内马岭油田的直罗组石油沥青、陈家山延安组煤层石油沥青及其煤沥青在源区特征上具有内在联系。     

Variations in Melt Productivity and Melting Conditions along SWIR (70{degrees}E-49{degrees}E): Evidence from Olivine-hosted and Plagioclase-hosted Melt Inclusions

Melt inclusion and host glass compositions from the easternend of the Southwest Indian Ridge show a progressive depletionin light rare earth elements (LREE), Na₈ and (La/Sm)_n, but anincrease in Fe₈, from the NE (64°E) towards the SW (49°E).These changes indicate an increase in the degree of mantle meltingtowards the SW and correlate with a shallowing of the ridgeaxial depth and increase in crustal thickness. In addition,LREE enrichment in both melt inclusions and host glasses fromthe NE end of the ridge are compatible with re-fertilizationof a depleted mantle source. The large compositional variations(e.g. P₂O₅ and K₂O) of the melt inclusions from the NE end ofthe ridge (64°E), coupled with low Fe₈ values, suggest thatmelts from the NE correspond to a variety of different batchesof melts generated at shallow levels in the mantle melting column.In contrast, the progressively more depleted compositions andhigher Fe₈ values of the olivine- and plagioclase-hosted meltinclusions at the SW end of the studied region (49°E), suggestthat these melt inclusions represent batches of melt generatedby higher degrees of melting at greater mean depths in the mantlemelting column. Systematic differences in Fe₈ values betweenthe plagioclase- and the olivine-hosted melt inclusions in theSW end (49°E) of the studied ridge area, suggest that theplagioclase-hosted melt inclusions represent final batches ofmelt generated at the top of the mantle melting column, whereasthe olivine-hosted melt inclusions correspond to melts generatedfrom less depleted, more fertile mantle at greater depths. KEY WORDS: basalt; melt inclusions; olivine; plagioclase; Southwest Indian Ridge     

Non-axisymmetric relativistic Bondi–Hoyle accretion on to a Schwarzschild black hole

We present the results of an exhaustive numerical study of fully relativistic non-axisymmetric Bondi–Hoyle accretion on to a moving Schwarzschild black hole. We have solved the equations of general relativistic hydrodynamics with a high-resolution shock-capturing numerical scheme based on a linearized Riemann solver. The numerical code was previously used to study axisymmetric flow configurations past a Schwarzschild black hole. We have analysed and discussed the flow morphology for a sample of asymptotically high Mach number models. The results of this work reveal that initially asymptotic uniform flows always accrete on to the hole in a stationary way, which closely resembles the previous axisymmetric patterns. This is in contrast with some Newtonian numerical studies where violent flip-flop instabilities were found. As discussed in the text, the reason can be found in the initial conditions used in the relativistic regime, as they cannot exactly duplicate the previous Newtonian setups where the instability appeared. The dependence of the final solution on the inner boundary condition as well as on the grid resolution has also been studied. Finally, we have computed the accretion rates of mass and linear and angular momentum.     

EFFECT OF RATION, TEMPERATURE AND BODY WEIGHT ON GROWTH OF BLACK PORGY,SPARUS MACROCEPHALUS (B.)

ChntnbutionNo.3127fromtheInstituteofOceanology,ChinereAcademyofSciences.Project39370542supportedbyNSFCandstudyalsosupportedbyNationalKeyLaboratoryintheInstituteofHydrobiology.ChineseAcademyofSciences.lNTRODUCTIONltisknownthatgroWthrateoffishcanvary'inresponsetotemperatureandfoodavailability-andperhapslessobviously,tolight,oxygenandothervariables.ThispropertyofvariablegroWthinfishcanbereferredtoasplasticity(Weatheriey,l990).TheeffeCtSofenvironmenta1thCtorsongroWthcanbepredictalfor…     

Low-salinity plumes in the oceanic region of the Basque Country

Low-salinity waters, within the upper layers of the water column, have been observed in the oceanic region of the southeastern limit of the Bay of Biscay (in March, 2007). This contribution assesses the potential role of large surface freshwater discharges from the Adour (France), Nervión, Oria, Deba, Urola, Urumea and Bidasoa (Basque Country) rivers, to explain the presence of these low-salinity waters. Such discharges, within the offshore waters, reached to at least 50 m in depth; likewise, extending over 15–20 km, in the horizontal. This pattern is confirmed by field data collected by offshore buoys, model results, and the analysis of satellite images. The presence of the low-salinity waters is corroborated by numerical simulations, performed by the ROMS (Regional Ocean Modeling System) hydrodynamic model, with the incorporation of river discharges. In order to simulate the freshwater movements and to identify their origin, particles were released at the river mouths and dispersed (by a Lagrangian particle-tracking model, LPTM), supplied by 3-hourly current fields derived from the ROMS model. The plumes of the Nervión, Oria, Urola and Urumea rivers appear to be the main factors contributing to the low-salinity field, at the offshore locations of the buoys. This pattern is related mainly to the prevailing oceano-meteorological conditions, over the period of analysis.     

A numerical study of the orbits of second species of the planar circular RTBP

We present a numerical study of the set of orbits of the planar circular restricted three body problem which undergo consecutive close encounters with the small primary, or orbits of second species. The value of the Jacobi constant is fixed, and we restrict the study to consecutive close encounters which occur within a maximal time interval. With these restrictions, the full set of orbits of second species is found numerically from the intersections of the stable and unstable manifolds of the collision singularity on the surface of section that corresponds to passage through the pericentre. A ‘skeleton’ of this set of curves can be computed from the solutions of the two-body problem. The set of intersection points found in this limit corresponds to the S-arcs and T-arcs of Hénon’s classification which verify the energy and time constraints, and can be used to construct an alphabet to describe the orbits of second species. We give numerical evidence for the existence of a shift on this alphabet that describes all the orbits with infinitely many close encounters with the small primary, and sketch a proof of the symbolic dynamics. In particular, we find periodic orbits that combine S-type and T-type quasi-homoclinic arcs.     

An indurated Pleistocene coastal barrier on the inner shelf of the Gulf of Valencia (western Mediterranean): evidence for a prolonged relative sea-level stillstand

The objective of this study is to document and interpret a recently discovered carbonate-cemented coastal barrier on the inner shelf of the Gulf of Valencia (western Mediterranean Sea). The coastal barrier was identified in a high-resolution digital bathymetric model based on a cartographic survey of the study area using a multibeam echosounder. Moreover, radiocarbon dating and petrographic analyses were performed on a rock sample recovered from the seabed. The data reveal the submerged coastal barrier to be approx. 1.7 km wide and 70 km long, and incised by channels of various dimensions. Aligned more or less parallel to the modern coastline, it is interpreted as corresponding to the shoreline of a former sea-level stillstand. The barrier and lagoon system became stranded above sea level in the course of a subsequent forced regression, which also caused the incision of the river courses. Age dating of the cemented rock suggests that the fossil coastal barrier most probably formed during the prolonged Tyrrhenian (Eemian) sea-level highstand, induration taking place by carbonate cementation at the contact between freshwater and seawater (beach-rock formation). The fact that the fossil barrier is today submerged below modern sea level is explained by the sustained subsidence affecting the region.