The mean magnetic field of the Sun: Method of observation and relation to the interplanetary magnetic field

The mean solar magnetic field as measured in integrated light has been observed since 1968. Since 1970 it has been observed both at Hale Observatories and at the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory. The observing procedures at both observatories and their implications for mean field measurements are discussed. A comparison of the two sets of daily observations shows that similar results are obtained at both observatories. A comparison of the mean field with the interplanetary magnetic polarity shows that the IMF sector structure has the same pattern as the mean field polarity.     

Turbulent viscosity and Jupiter's tidal Q

A recent estimate of tidal dissipation by turbulent viscosity in Jupiter's convective interior predicts that the current value of the planet's tidal Q ～ 5 × 10⁶. We point out a fundamental error in this calculation, and show that turbulent dissipation alone implies that at present Q ～ 5 × 10¹³. Our reduced estimat for the rate of tidal dissipation shows conclusively that tidal torques have produced only negligible modifications of the orbits of the Galilean satellites over the age of the solar system.     

中国南方海相含油气保存单元的层次划分与综合评价

以最近十年中国南方的海相新区油气勘探评价成果为依托 ,以油气成藏和整体封闭保存体系评价为核心 ,在渝东—湘鄂西、中下扬子和滇黔桂三大区域划分出 9个有利区块 5 1个含油气保存单元 ,并将其归纳为四个层次。综合评价认为 ,方西和石柱保存单元具有较好的整体封存体系 ,属持续性含油气保存单元 ,为首选勘探目标 ;江汉盆地南部、句容—海安区块、南鄱阳坳陷、楚雄盆地东北部具备或基本具备整体封存条件 ,属于沉积重建型含油气保存单元 ,通过精细勘探可望获得商业性油气流 ;楚雄盆地西北部、南盘江坳陷、十万大山盆地和渝东—湘鄂西地区利川复向斜由于晚期强烈构造改造而仅存在部分封存体系 ,需要攻关探索 ;思茅、渝东—湘鄂西地区的花果坪和桑植—石门地区已失去整体封闭保存条件 ,仅局部存在封存体系 ,地质条件高度复杂 ,勘探风险甚高。     

Die seismische Aktivität in Venezuela im Zusammenhang mit den wichtigsten tektonischen Bruchzonen

Zusammenfassung Einem kurzen Überblick über die geologischen und tektonischen Zusammenhänge in den wichtigsten venezolanischen Erdbebengebieten folgt eine standardisierte Betrachtung der Einzelbeben, deren Magnitude gleich oder größer als 5,5 war. Die aus makroseismischer Intensität und/oder Magnitude (Richter) berechnete, ausgelöste Erdbebenenergie, summiert über 440 Jahre bekannter Erdbebengeschichte Venezuelas, wurde graphisch dargestellt. Die Neigung der so erhaltenen Energietreppen ist ein Maß für die Seismizität, i.e. der Vertikalabstand der Parallelen zwischen Maxima und Minima ist ein Maß für die größtmögliche Magnitude eines Erdbebens aus der entsprechenden Herdregion, und aus den zeitlichen Abständen der Energietreppen lassen sich Schlüsse ziehen über Erdbebenhäufigkeit bzw. Erdbebenerwartung. Schließlich wurde für alle Beben das der ausgelösten seismischen Energie unter gegebenen Voraussetzungen entsprechendeErdbebenvolumen berechnet, an die Erdoberfläche projiziert und als Epizentralgebiete in einer Isoseistenkarte dargestellt, in welchen Wellenbewegungen und Krustendeformationen zu erwarten sind. Besonders Brucherscheinungen sollten dann sichtbar sein, wenn eine der Oberflächen des Volumens mit der Erdoberfläche zusammenfällt. Mittels einer für alle größeren venezolanischen Erdbeben aus makroseismischen Beobachtungen berechneten Intensitäts-Abklingkonstanten c wurde schließlich eine Isoseistenkarte für Venezuela entworfen, in welcher mögliche Überlagerungen aus allen seismischen Zonen des Landes berücksichtigt wurden. Diese Karte kann als Grundlage für die Planung erdbebensicherer Bauten und für geotektonische Zwecke benutzt werden.

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A brief synopsis of the geological and tectonical context of the most important Venezuelan earthquake regions is followed by a standardized treatment of the single earthquakes with magnitudes greater then 5,5. From intensity and/or magnitude (Richter), the earthquake energy released was calculated, added up for the 440 years of known earthquake history of Venezuela, and presented in graphs. The slope of such cumulative energy histogram is a measure of the seismicity, i.e. the distance between the two parallel lines, which connect the maxima and the minima, gives an idea of the possible maximum magnitude in each region; from the time intervals of the steps one may draw conclusions concerning earthquake frequency and earthquake expectation. Finally the earthquake volume for each single quake, which under given conditions corresponds to the energy released, was calculated, its surfaces were projected on the earth's surface and mapped as epicentral regions of an isoseismal map, in which wave motion and crustal deformations may be expected. Special fracture features should be visible where one of the surfaces of the volume intersects the earth's surface. By means of an intensity decay constant c, which was determined from macroseismic observations for each greater earthquake, the isoseismal map for Venezuela was drawn, in which possible intensity superpositions of all seismic regions were taken into consideration. This map may be used as a base for earthquake engineering and geotectonical purposes.

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Résumé Un bref aperçu sur les rapports géologiques et tectoniques dans les régions de tremblements de terre les plus importantes au Vénézuéla est suivi d'une étude standardisée des tremblements individuels, dont la magnitude était égale ou supérieure à 5,5. L'énergie sismique dégagée, calculée à partir de l'intensité macro-sismique et/ou de la magnitude (Richter), accumulée pendant 440 ans d'histoire connue des tremblements au Vénézuéla, est représentée à l'aide d'esquisses graphiques. L'inclinaison des «escaliers d'énergie» qui en résultent est la mesure de la sismicité, c'est-à-dire la distance verticale des lignes parallèles entre maxima et minima est la mesure de la magnitude la plus grande possible d'un tremblement de la région sismique en question, et on peut déduire des intervalles de temps entre les escaliers d'énergie des conclusions sur la fréquence et la prévision des tremblements. Enfin, pour tous les tremblements le volume de tremblement correspondant sous des conditions données à l'énergie sismique dégagée est calculé, projeté sur la surface de la terre et représenté sur une carte isoséiste comme régions épicentrales où l'on peut prévoir un mouvement d'ondes et des déformations de l'écorce. En particulier, des phénomènes de fraction doivent être visibles quand l'une des surfaces du volume coincide avec la surface de la terre. Finalement, à l'aide d'une constante d'intensité diminuée «c», calculée pour tous les tremblements de terre majeurs du Vénézuéla par des observations macrosismiques une carte isoséiste est dessinée pour le Vénézuéla, dans laquelle il est tenu compte des superpositions possibles de toutes les zones sismiques du pays. Cette carte peut servir de base pour le projet de bâtiments résistant aux séismes et à des buts géotectoniques.

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Diffractometric clay mineral analysis of Recent sediments of Lake Constance (Central Europe)

Mica, smectite, and chlorite are the characteristic clay minerals in about 120 Recent sediment samples of Lake Constance as shown by semiquantitative clay mineral analysis. Interstratified clay minerals are practically absent, kandites were not found.The decrease of the smectite/mica ratio from West to East is apparently due to the dominance of the mica-chlorite assemblage of the Rhine river derived from the northern Alps in the eastern part of the lake. With increasing distance from the delta of the Rhine river, the Tertiary Molasse clay minerals (mainly mica and smectite) derived from rocks surrounding the lake become more abundant.

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Zusammenfassung An 120 Sedimentproben aus dem Bodensee wurde der Tonmineralbestand der Fraktion <2 durch die röntgenographische Phasenanalyse halbquantitativ ermittelt.Glimmer, Smectit und Chlorit sind die charakteristischen Tonmineralgruppen in den Sedimenten. Mixed-layer-Minerale treten so gut wie nicht auf, Kandite konnten nicht nachgewiesen werden.Aus der Bestimmung der relativen Häufigkeit von Glimmer und Smectit ergibt sich, daß das Smectit/Glimmer-Verhältnis von Osten (Einmündung des Alpenrheins) nach Westen ständig zunimmt.Diese Verteilung ist durch die Zufuhr von Glimmer und Chlorit durch den Alpenrhein aus den nördlichen Alpen bedingt, die jedoch mit zunehmender Entfernung vom Delta durch die Molasse-Distributiv-Provinz mit vorherrschend Glimmer und Smectit überlagert wird.

     

Recent variations in the general circulation as related to glacier retreat in northern Scandinavia

Summary A review is given of the investigations on variations in the general circulation in middle latitudes made byWillett andPetterssen. According toWillett a «high-index» type of circulation pattern with a strong zonal flow has probably caused the recent climatic improvement in the northern latitudes while the «low-index» type with meridional flow would create a cooling off in the same areas. According toPetterssen an other type of «low-index» pattern with a weak zonal flow and strong meridional exchange of air has been the essential cause of the warming up of the northern latitudes in Europe. This implies that the definition of the «low-index» type is not clear and gives rise to misunderstanding. Making use of our experience on glacier retreat in northern Scandinavia it is concluded that thePetterssen type of circulation more probably than the «high-index» type has caused the warming-up in the North Atlantic area from which the retreat of the glaciers has followed.     

Particle composition and size distributions in and around a deep-pit swine operation,Ames, IA

The contribution of emissions from agricultural facilities is rapidly becoming a major concern for local and regional air quality. Characterization of particle properties such as physical size distribution and chemical composition can be valuable in understanding the processes contributing to emissions and ultimate fate of particulate matter from agricultural facilities. A measurement campaign was conducted at an Iowa, deep-pit, three-barn swine finishing facility to characterize near-source ambient particulate matter. Size-specific mass concentrations were determined using minivol samplers, with additional size distribution information obtain using optical particle counters. Particulate composition was determined via ion chromatographic analysis of the collected filters. A thermal-CO₂ elemental/organic carbon analyzer measured particulate carbon. The chemical composition and size distribution of sub-micron particles were determined via real-time aerosol mass spectrometry. Primary particulate was not found to be a major emission from the examined facility, with filter-based impactor samples showing average near-source increases (~15–50 m) in ambient PM₁₀ of 5.8 ± 2.9 μg m⁻³ above background levels. PM_2.5 also showed contribution attributable to the facility (1.7 ± 1.1 μg m⁻³). Optical particle counter analysis of the numerical size distributions showed bimodal distributions for both the upwind and downwind conditions, with maximums around 2.5 μm and below the minimum quantified diameter of 0.3 μm. The distributions showed increased numbers of coarse particles (PM₁₀) during periods when wind transport came from the barns, but the differences were not statistically significant at the 95% confidence level. The PM₁₀ aerosols showed statistically increased concentrations of sulfate, nitrate, ammonium, calcium, organic carbon, and elemental carbon when the samplers were downwind from the pig barns. Organic carbon was the major constituent of the barn-impacted particulate matter in both sub-micron (54%) and coarse size (20%) ranges. The AMS PM₁ chemical speciation showed similar species increases, with the exception of and Ca⁺², the latter not quantified by the AMS.     

Geophysical response of filled sinkholes,soil pipes and associated bedrock fractures in thinly mantled karst,east-central Illinois

Karst aquifers are often protected by a thin mantle of unconsolidated sediment. Soil pipes and sinkholes may breach this natural protective barrier and open pathways for contaminants to quickly reach bedrock aquifers. Geophysical surveys offer a quick and noninvasive way to identify these features; such surveys may also be sequenced to reveal increasing detail in critical areas. At a study site in east-central Illinois, electromagnetic (EM) surveys mapped high conductivity anomalies over filled sinkholes and soil pipes that penetrated the unconsolidated cover. Two-dimensional inverted resistivity sections, made over these anomalies, depict filled sinkholes and soil pipes as conductive zones above deeply weathered bedrock fractures. Borings verified the geophysical models and suggest high conductivities associated with the filled sinkholes are the result of enhanced moisture near active soil pipes. EM surveys also identified conductive zones in the overburden above a probable bedrock fracture linking sinkhole areas 0.5 km apart. Resistivity and EM methods, used in a phased and sequential manner, thus proved useful in mapping filled sinkholes and in delineating the vertical and lateral connections between soil pipes and hydraulically active bedrock fractures.     

Über die Geschwindigkeit der Krustenverkürzung in den Zentralalpen

Zusammenfassung Die alpine Krustenverkürzung (300–400 km oder mehr im Profil der Westschweiz, 400–500 km oder mehr im Profil der Ostschweiz) erfolgte in diskreten orogenen Phasen, welche durch Zeiten langsamerer Bewegung oder eigentlicher Remission getrennt waren. Während der wichtigsten Phase, an der Eozän-Oligozän-Wende, betrug die Relativgeschwindigkeit der nördlichen Platte und der südlichen Kleinplatte einige cm/a.

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Crustal shortening in the Central Alps (300–400 km or more in western Switzerland, 400–500 km or more in eastern Switzerland) occurrend in discrete orogenic phases, separated by times of slower movement or of complete stop. During the most important phase, at the turn from the Eocene to the Oligocene, the rate of relative movement of the northern plate and the southern microplate was of the order of several cm/y.

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Résumé Le raccourissement de la croûte dans les Alpes Centrales (300–400 km ou davantage en Suisse occidentale, 400–500 km ou davantage en Suisse orientale) se fit par phases orogéniques défines, séparées par des intervalles à mouvement plus lent ou même à arrêt total. Pendant la phase principale, à la fin de l'Eocène ou au début de l'Oligocène, la vitesse relative de la plaque septentrionale et de la microplaque méridionale était de l'ordre de plusieurs cm/a.

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Recent insights into physiological responses to nutrients by the cylindrospermopsin producing cyanobacterium,Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii

The harmful cyanobacterium Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii is a widespread species increasingly being recorded in freshwater systems around the world. Studies have demonstrated some key attributes of this species which may explain its global dominance. It has a high level of flexibility with respect to light and nutrients, being capable of growth under low and variable light conditions. However, it is the strategy with respect to nutrient utilization that has received more attention. Unlike many bloom forming species, the dominance of this species is not simply linked to higher nutrient loads. In fact it appears that it is more competitive when phosphorus and nitrogen availability is low and/or variable. An important component of this flexibility appears to be the result of within-population strain variability in responses to nutrients, as well as key physiological adaptations. Strain variability also appears to have an effect on the population-level cell quota of toxins, specifically cylindrospermopsins(CYNs). Field studies in Australia showed that populations had the highest proportion of toxic strains when dissolved inorganic phosphorus was added, resulting in stoichiometrically balanced nitrogen and phosphorus within the cells. These strategies are part of an arsenal of responses to environmental conditions, making it a challenging species to manage. However, our ability to improve bloom prediction will rely on a more detailed understanding of the complex physiology and ecology of this species.