Precipitable water vapor (PWV) estimations from the site of the Eastern Anatolia Observatory<Superscript>∗</Superscript> (DAG), a new astronomical observatory in Turkey

We present preliminary statistics on the precipitable water vapor (PWV) content over the Karakaya Hills in Erzurum city, where the largest optical and near-infrared astronomical telescope in Turkey will be operated. Since the observatory will observe in the near-infrared (NIR), it is intended to perform PWV measurements of the atmosphere above the site by using signal delays in Global Positioning System (GPS) communication. The analysis of the GPS data recorded on the summit for almost one year shows that the atmosphere over the site of the observatory, which has an altitude of 3170 m, has favorable conditions for NIR observations. From GPS measurements, we report that the site had an average PWV of 3.2 mm and a median PWV of 2.7 mm between October 6, 2016, and June 15, 2017. We also present the time dependency of the PWV content and the correlations between the amount of PWV and the other meteorological records gathered from radiosonde flights and ground-based measurements.     

Remote sensing of water depths in shallow waters via artificial neural networks

Determination of the water depths in coastal zones is a common requirement for the majority of coastal engineering and coastal science applications. However, production of high quality bathymetric maps requires expensive field survey, high technology equipment and expert personnel. Remotely sensed images can be conveniently used to reduce the cost and labor needed for bathymetric measurements and to overcome the difficulties in spatial and temporal depth provision. An Artificial Neural Network (ANN) methodology is introduced in this study to derive bathymetric maps in shallow waters via remote sensing images and sample depth measurements. This methodology provides fast and practical solution for depth estimation in shallow waters, coupling temporal and spatial capabilities of remote sensing imagery with modeling flexibility of ANN. Its main advantage in practice is that it enables to directly use image reflectance values in depth estimations, without refining depth-caused scatterings from other environmental factors (e.g. bottom material and vegetation). Its function-free structure allows evaluating nonlinear relationships between multi-band images and in-situ depth measurements, therefore leads more reliable depth estimations than classical regressive approaches. The west coast of the Foca, Izmir/Turkey was used as a test bed. Aster first three band images and Quickbird pan-sharpened images were used to derive ANN based bathymetric maps of this study area. In-situ depth measurements were supplied from the General Command of Mapping, Turkey (HGK). Two models were set, one for Aster and one for Quickbird image inputs. Bathymetric maps relying solely on in-situ depth measurements were used to evaluate resultant derived bathymetric maps. The efficiency of the methodology was discussed at the end of the paper. It is concluded that the proposed methodology could decrease spatial and repetitive depth measurement requirements in bathymetric mapping especially for preliminary engineering application.     

Determining the weights of two types of artificial reefs required to resist wave action in different water depths and bottom slopes

The interaction between waves and artificial reefs (ARs; a hollow cube weighing 8.24 kN (0.84 t) and a water pipe weighing 1.27 kN (0.13 t)) in shallow waters was investigated with respect to variations in design weight, orientation (for cube; 45° and 90° angles, for pipe; 0°, 90°, and 180° angles to flow), depth (1–20 m), and bottom slope (10^?1, 30^?1, and 50^?1). Physics equations and FLUENT software were used to estimate resisting and mobilising forces, and drag coefficients. Drag coefficients for the hollow cube were 0.76 and 0.85 at 45° and 90° angles to the current, respectively, and 0.97, 0.38, and 1.42 for the water pipe at 0°, 90°, and 180° angles to the current, respectively. Deepwater offshore wave conditions at six stations were transformed into shallow nearshore waters representative of the artificial reef site. Waters deeper than 12 and 16 m are safe to deploy blocks with angles of 45° and 90°, respectively. However, water pipes constructed at angles of 90° and 180° to the current were estimated as being unstable for 365 out of 720 cases at all stations (only one station was stable for all cases). Water pipes angled at 0° were found to be stable in all 360 cases. Slope had a significant effect on weight and depth. Results from this study provide an important reference for engineers performing projects aiming to increase the performance and service life of ARs.     

Recursive algorithms for the computation of the potential harmonic coefficients of a constant density polyhedron

The gravitational potential of a constant density general polyhedron can be expressed both in terms of a closed analytical expression and as a series expansion involving the corresponding spherical harmonic coefficients. The latter can be obtained from two independent algorithms, which differ not only in their algorithmic architecture but in their efficiency and overall performance, especially when computing the coefficients of higher degree and order. In the present paper a comparative study of all these three approaches is carried out focusing on the numerical implementation of the recursive relations appearing in the two algorithms for the computation of the polyhedral potential harmonic coefficients. The performed numerical investigations show that the linear algorithm proposed by Jamet and Thomas (Proceedings of the second international GOCE user workshop, ‘GOCE, The Geoid and Oceanography’, ESA-ESRIN, Frascati, Italy, 8–10 March 2004, ESA SP-569, 2004), but so far not implemented, achieves a reasonable accuracy at a computational expense that opens to practical applications, for instance in the field of satellite gravimetry/gradiometry interpretation. The convergence behavior of the linear recursion algorithm is studied thoroughly and a computational procedure is proposed that enables the stable computation of potential harmonic coefficients up to degree 60 when referring to an arbitrarily shaped polyhedral body.     

High‐Arctic climate conditions for the last 7000 years inferred from multi‐proxy analysis of the Bliss Lake record,North Greenland

The Arctic is more vulnerable to climate change than are mid latitudes. Therefore, palaeolimnological studies from the High Arctic are important in providing insights into the dynamics of the climate system. Here we present a multi‐proxy study from one of the world's northernmost lakes: Bliss Lake, Peary Land, Greenland. The early Holocene (10 850–10 480 cal. a BP) is characterized by increased erosion and gradually more marine conditions. Full marine conditions developed from 10 480 cal. a BP until the lake was isolated at 7220 cal. a BP. From its marine isolation at 7220 cal. a BP Bliss Lake becomes a lacustrine environment. Evidence from geochemical proxies (δ¹³C and total organic carbon) suggests that warmer conditions prevailed between 7220 and 6500 cal. a BP, corresponding to the Holocene thermal maximum, and from 3300 until 910 cal. a BP. From 850 to 500 cal. a BP colder climate conditions persisted. The transition from warmer to colder climate conditions taking place around 850 cal. a BP may be associated with the transition from the Medieval Warm Period to the Little Ice Age. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The geology,mineralogy and geochemistry of the broomstock gold deposit,Kwekwe Greenstone Belt,Zimbabwe; Some implications for gold mineralization in jaspilite iron formations

Summary At Broomstock Mine, three types of gold mineralization have been identified: (i) jaspilite-hosted ore, (ii) ore confined to shear zones within meta-basalts, and (iii) supergene ore. The present study, which is focused on the jaspilite-hosted ore, revealed that areas carrying economic gold grades are characterized by fracturing, brecciation and abundant arsenopyrite-pyrite mineralization. The mineralization was introduced by hydrothermal fluids which used dilatant fractures in the jaspilites as channelways. Deposition of gold and sulfides occurred in response to changing P-T conditions and through chemical reactions of the fluids with the iron-rich jaspilites. Gold and accompanying elements may either originate from processes of intraformational remobilization, or they were derived from external, distant sources.

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Geologie, Mineralogie und Geochemie der Goldlagerstätte Broomstock im Kwekwe Greenstone Belt, Zimbabwe: Bedeutung für Goldvererzung in jaspitischen Eisenformationen

Zusammenfassung In der Broomstock Mine treten drei Typen von Goldmineralisationen auf: (i) Vererzungen in Jaspiliten, (ii) Vererzungen in Scherzonen, die Metabasalte durchsetzen, und (iii) supergene Vererzungen.Die vorliegende Untersuchung befaßt sich vornehmlich mit den Vererzungen der Jaspilite. Kartierungen und Beprobungen zeigten, daß ökonomische Goldgehalte an Be-reiche der Jaspilite gebunden sind, die tektonisch zerbrochen und brekziiert sind. Zudem treten in diesen Bereichen Arsenkies und Pyrit in hohen Konzentrationen auf. Die Mineralisation stellt den Absatz hydrothermaler Lösungen dar, die dilatante Bruchzonen innerhalb der Jaspilite als Zufuhrkanäle benutzten. Der Absatz der Sulfide und des Goldes erfolgte aufgrund sich ändernder P-T-Bedingungen und durch chemische Reaktionen zwischen den Lösungen und den eisenreichen Jaspiliten. Als Modell zur Herkunft des Goldes und der begleitenden Elemente wird entweder eine intraformationale Umlagerung, oder eine Zufuhr aus externen, entfernteren Quellen angenommen.

     

Seismic hazard computations for regions with low earthquake activity — A case study for the Belgium,The Netherlands and NW Germany area

The algorithms to evaluate seismic hazard, used and/or developed by five teams participating in the TERESA project, applied to the low seismicity area Belgium, The Netherlands and NW Germany are compared. The main differences in the results can be explained by the majority criterion of Egozcue et al. (1989), the differences in the upper bound and zonification and, in some cases, by a higher attenuation.     

Alkaline lamprophyre and related dyke rocks in NE Transdanubia,Hungary: The Alcsutdoboz-2 (AD-2) borehole

Summary The Alcsutdoboz-2 (AD-2) core contains 12 magmatic dykes which belong to the Late Cretaceous lamprophyric-carbonatitic association of NE Transdanubia, Hungary. Petrographically, 11 dykes can be considered alkaline lamprophyre (mainly monchiquite), and the remainder might be called carbonatite. The lamprophyre dykes are similar to both alkaline lamprophyres and ultramafic lamprophyres in major element composition, whereas the carbonatite dyke has some features that are similar to carbonatites but others that are dissimilar. Nevertheless, both of the two types of AD-2 dykes possess higher LILE content than the ultramafc lamprophyres and kimberlites, but strongly differ from average carbonatite. Based on the REE pattern, crystal fractionation (mainly of olivine) and separation of a carbonate phase from the parental lamprophyric magma are proposed for genesis of the carbonatite dyke. These characteristics and the compositional zoning of clinopyroxene and mica suggest a complex crystallization history for these dykes. The likeliest origin for the parental lamprophyric melt is through a very small degree of partial melting of metasomatized mantle.

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Alkalische Lamprophyre und assoziierte Ganggesteine in Nordost-Transdanubien, Ungarn: die Bohrung Alcsutdoboz-2 (AD-2)

Zusammenfassung Der Kern der Bohrung Alcsutdoboz-2 (AD-2) enthält zwölf magmatische Gänge, die zu der jung-kretazischen Lamprophyr-Karbonatit-Assoziation des nordöstlichen Transdanubiens in Ungarn gehören. Petrographisch gesehen gehören elf Gänge zu den alkalischen Lamprophyren (hauptsächlich Monchiquit), und der Rest kann als Karbonatit bezeichnet werden. Die Lamprophyrgänge sind in ihrer Hauptelementzusammensetzung sowohl alkalischen Lamprophyren wie ultramafschen Lamprophyren ähnlich. Der Karbonatitgang hingegen zeigt Parameter, die denen von Karbonatiten teilweise, aber nicht durchwegs, ähnlich sind. Beide Typen der AD-2-Gänge zeigen höhere LILE-Gehalte als ultramafische Lamprophre und Kimberlite, unterscheiden sich aber deutlich vom durchschnittlichen Karbonatit. Auf der Basis der Seltenen ErdVerteilung, werden Kristallfraktionierung (hauptsächlich von Olivin) und Abtrennung einer Karbonatphase von lamprophyrischen Magma als Vorgänge gesehen, die für die Entstehung der Karbonatit-Gänge relevant sind. Diese Aspekte und die Zonierung der Zusammensetzungen von Klinopyroxen und Glimmer weisen auf eine komplexe Kristallisationsgeschichte dieser Gänge hin. Sehr wahrscheinlich ist die lamprophyrische Ausgangsschmelze durch eine geringfügige teilweise Aufschmelzung von metasomatisiertem Mantel entstanden.

     

Modelling magnetization processes in single-and multi-domain rock samples using the preisach diagram

Summary The paper presents the results of identifying a model of the Preisach type for haematite grains of the single-domain as well as multi-domain size. Due to the phenomenological conception of the model, the relations between the parameters of the model and actual parameters are very complex, however, impressive accuracy and stability of the modified model indicate the need to resume studies of this problem. The model parameters also confirm the adequate properties of the vibrating-sample magnetometr (VSM) used and developed in our laboratories.     

The ionosphere as an Alfven resonator in the Pc1 micropulsation range

Summary A local planar approximation of a stratified, inhomogeneous, anisotropic and dissipative ionosphere is presented as an Alfven quarter-wave plate resonator in the Pc1 micropulsation range. The frequency-amplitude structure of the resonance response of an isotropic Alfven wave on the Earth's surface and at a given altitude in the ionosphere is studied in comparison to standing waves in vacuum above an ideal conductor for a particular model of the ionosphere. An asymmetry in the response was found at both boundary of the resonator, at the Earth's surface and at the given altitude z₀. The results are related to the vertical changes of frequency dispersion in the dissipative medium of the ionosphere and to the vertical profile of the inhomogeneities of the resonator being considered.