SOME EXPERIMENTS CONCERNING THE PRIMARY SEISMIC PULSE*

Recordings were made with three types of detector of the primary compressional (P) and shear (S) wave pulses generated by explosions in boreholes. Charge weights varied from 0.08 kg to 9.5 kg and detector distances varied from about 3 m to about 80 m. Scaling by the simple factor W^1/3 where W is the charge weight, enabled observations from different sized charges to be fitted to a single expression. Experiments were carried out in the Bunter sandstone and the London clay and both fluid and solid tamping were used. This variation in tamping had no significant effect on the P-waves but it may have affected the generation of SV-waves. In both media the P-wave energy carried at 30 m from the shot by frequencies less than 100 Hz decreased rapidly with depth and was usually 1–2 % of the available chemical energy for a shot depth of 15 m. The S-wave energy was much less than this, but was highly directional. The P-wave pulse had the appearance of a damped sinusoid in very good agreement with the predictions of the ‘equivalent radiator’ hypothesis. However, the surface of this radiator should be identified not with the blown cavity but with the surface at which the tensile stresses associated with the stress wave become less than the tensile strength of the rock. The predominant frequency for a 1 kg charge at a depth of 15 m was 24 Hz in the clay and 52 Hz in the sandstone. In these and similar media, therefore, an effort should be made to keep individual charges less than 1 kg in reflection shooting and less than 10 kg in refraction shooting. The value of Q was about 50 in clay and about 25 in the sandstone. These estimates are rather uncertain because of the small distances over which the pulses were observed. The Z-transforms of the sampled pulses indicated that they were all of minimum phase, or very near to it.     

THE ELECTRICAL CURRENT PATTERN INDUCED BY AN OSCILLATING MAGNETIC DIPOLE IN A SEMI INFINITE CONDUCTIVE THIN PLATE*

In a paper by Koefoed and Kegge (1968), which was based on previous work of Wesley (1958), the electrical current pattern has been derived that is induced by an oscillating magnetic dipole in a semi-infinite thin plate of infinitesimal resistivity. In the present paper, the range of validity of the assumptions, on which the work of Wesley is based, is subjected to a theoretical analysis. It is found that the decisive factor for the validity of Wesley's derivation is the quotient of the square of the penetration depth of the electrical current over the product of the thickness of the plate and a distance that is indicative of the size of the current loops in the plate. Wesley's derivation is shown to be valid only when this factor is negligible. It is also shown that in this condition the imaginary component of the anomaly must be negligible. Model experiments are described in which the electrical current pattern is studied also in the range in which the derivation of Wesley is not valid. The procedure used in these model experiments was to measure the tangential component of the magnetic field strength very close to the metal plate that simulated the conductive dyke. In order to express the results of the measurements in terms of the imaginary to real ratio, these results are compared with an interpretation graph for field measurements that was published by Hedström and Parasnis (1958). It is found that the current pattern in the plate is essentially the same as that which follows from Wesley's derivation, provided that the imaginary to real ratio is less than one third. The measurements do not permit to draw conclusions regarding the current pattern in the plate in conditions that correspond to larger values of the imaginary to real ratio.     

Pole-to-pole moisture conditions for the IGY

Summary A study of the mean atmospheric humidity conditions on a planetary scale during the IGY covering the calendar year 1958 is presented. The fields of mean precipitable water content and of the zonal and meridional transports of water vapor are analyzed for the entire globe. Zonally averaged values of the various quantities at several levels are presented in tabular form and compared whenever possible with previous results or indirectly are analyzed on the basis of information obtained from different sources. The structure of these fields is studied and the corresponding implications for the general circulations of the atmosphere are discussed. Finally the zonal water balance for all the globe is discussed and its implications analyzed.     

PHOTOGRAMMETRIC MEASUREMENTS OF GLACIAL LANDFORMS

Photogrammetric methods using sequential aerial photography can provide the geomorphologist with comparative measurements of rapidly changing glacial landforms. Examples are given of eskers, kame and kettle areas, an ice-dammed lake and coastal features in south-east Iceland.     

ANALYTICAL AERIAL TRIANGULATION BLOCK ADJUSTMENT; THE DIRECT HEIGHT SOLUTION INCORPORATING TIE-STRIPS

The historical development of analytical aerial triangulation block adjustment is mentioned by way of introduction. The advantages of separating the plan and height adjustments are given and the observation equations of a typical adjustment section are analysed to show that this convenient practice is justified in normal circumstances. The principles of a direct solution of the normal equations suitable for a moderate-sized computer, are explained and developed in detail for the height adjustment. The advantages of tie-strips in the height adjustment are demonstrated and the difficulties which then arise are discussed. An approximate method which overcomes these difficulties is developed. Details of the computer programmes used are given in Appendix B.     

The inhibition of microorganisms by heavy metals

This paper examines the effects of heavy metals on microorganisms in the aqueous environment; the mechanisms by which metals may exert toxic effects on microbes and the factors affecting microbial response to metals; the ways in which microbial activity may alter the metal balance of an environment and the modifications produced in microbes by heavy metal ions; the effects of the toxic copper ion on the growth, respiration, magnesium content, cytochrome synthesis and osmotic sensitivity of some organisms studied in the laboratory; and the feasibility of the participation of microbes in geochemical processes considering the demonstrable resistance to toxic metals by some bacteria and the fact that natural environments may contain high levels of metals rendered less toxic by binding to natural chelating compounds.

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Zusammenfassung In dieser Arbeit werden verschiedene Wirkungen von Schwermetallen auf Mikroorganismen in wäßrigem Milieu untersucht. Es wird gezeigt, daß Schwermetalle toxische Wirkungen auf Mikroorganismen ausüben können und welche Faktoren die Reaktionen von Mikroben gegenüber Metallen bestimmen. Weiter wird beschrieben, wie die Mikrobenaktivität das Metallgleichgewicht in einem gegebenen Milieu verändern und beeinflussen kann und wie andererseits Änderungen in den Mikroben selbst durch Schwermetall-Ionen hervorgerufen werden. Dabei wird besonders die Wirkung des toxischen Kupfer-Ions auf das Wachstum, die Atmung, den Magnesiumgehalt, die Cytochromsynthese und die osmotische Empfindlichkeit einiger Mikroorganismen dargestellt. Die Anwesenheit von Mikroben bei geochemischen Prozessen wird unter Berücksichtigung der Resistenz einiger Bakterien gegenüber toxischen Metall-Ionen diskutiert. Dabei spielt die Tatsache eine große Rolle, daß durch Chelatbildung die Schwermetall-Ionen in der natürlichen Umwelt der Mikroorganismen ihre toxische Wirkung verlieren.

     

On the basic principles of geophysical radioactive measurements

Summary The process of radon diffusion in space and time through rocks is treated in detail from the point of view of radiometric prospecting for oil. Taking into account the depth and diffusivity conditions encountered in nature it is stated that vertical radon diffusion reaching from the oil deposits up to the surface cannot be expected. Time intervals as required for setting in of a stationary concentration state and decay conditions of the radon lead to the conclusion that the penetration of emanometric measurements seldom exceeds the depth of 5–10 m.