DETERMINATION OF ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES OF THE GROUND AT SHALLOW DEPTH WITH AN ELECTROSTATIC QUADRUPOLE: FIELD TRIALS ON ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES1

Knowledge of both the electrical resistivity ρ and the dielectric permittivity ? of the ground is important for the determination of characteristics such as granularity, porosity, moisture and salt content. Whereas the measurement of ρ is very common and can be achieved using either the d.c. resistivity method or a wide variety of EM devices, ? remains practically unknown in the low-frequency domain between the IP domain and the high-frequency domain. Following the principle of the quadrupole technique used in d.c. prospecting and of the quadrupolar probe for measuring the complex permittivity of the ionosphere, we propose a new approach which does not require any galvanic contact between the poles and the ground. The transfer impedance can be evaluated using the quasi-static approximation for low frequency or the full EM theory for higher frequencies. The conditions under which both calculations apply are discussed. At low frequencies and for low resistivity ground, the electrostatic quadrupole measures ρ exactly as with the d.c. technique; for higher resistivities or frequencies the simultaneous measurement of both properties becomes possible. Examples in archaeological prospecting are presented and checked against independent d.c. resistivity measurements or excavation analyses.     

Chlorine partitioning in the stratosphere based on in situ measurements

Balloon‐borne cryogenic air sampler experiments have been conducted from a tropical (Hyderabad, 17.5°N) and a midlatitude (GAP, southern France, 44°N) station since 1987 in the altitude range of about 8‐35 km. Air samples are analysed at the Max Planck Institute for Aeronomy (MPAE) and Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) using various gas chromatographic techniques to obtain the vertical distributions of several halogenated source gases and long‐lived dynamical tracers. These observations are used to determine the stratospheric partitioning of the chlorine species into their organic and inorganic forms for the altitude range of 20 to 35 km. Distributions of inorganic chlorine indicate increase in their abundances with altitude, latitude and time. Mixing ratio correlations of organic and inorganic chlorine with N₂O have been obtained which also suggest that the rate of increase in inorganic halogens component in the stratosphere is larger than the increase rate of total organic halogen. This supports previous assessments that halogen‐induced ozone depletion will continue to be observed for a few more years, despite the decrease of halocarbon loading into the stratosphere since 1994.     

Selective and reversible carbonate—silica replacements in Lower Cretaceous carbonate-bearing turbidites of the Eastern Alps

In the diagenetic history of calcareous sandstones, silicacementation and silicification may be followed by carbonatecementation and replacement and vice versa, and the change-over from one to the other may occur more than once. This is well illustrated by calcareous and siliciclastic turbidites of the Gault Formation (Aptian to Albian) of the Eastern Alps which have been interpreted as deep-sea trench plain and deep-sea fan deposits. In these turbidites silicification selectively affects ooids and a few other biogenic carbonate fragments rich in organic matter (algae and bryozoans) which form a small fraction of the bulk sediment. The type and sequence of diagenetic changes are largely controlled by host-rock composition and may vary vertically within individual beds as a result of compositional grading. In the carbonate turbidites, silicification follows widespread calcite cementation. The process is slow, resulting in relatively coarsely crystalline replacement quartz. In ooids with quartz nuclei, rim-quartz forms mostly monocrystalline ‘overgrowths’ by outward replacement of the concentrically laminated carbonate cortex. This type of silicification is often incomplete leaving parts of the ooid cortices unaffected. In quartz arenites and sublitharenites silicification precedes calcite cementation. There the process is rapid, forming microcrystalline quartz. Even if the ooid nucleus consists of quartz, a syntaxial ‘overgrowth’ does not normally form. The replacement quartz is almost always polycrystalline. Late-stage diagenetic calcite and dolomite which develop euhedral crystal shapes and cut across grain boundaries may replace the earlier secondary rim-quartz of the ooids as well as other minerals. Possible sources of the silica are pressure-solution of quartz, dissolution of opaline silica of radiolarian tests and of sponge spicules, and feldspar in the host bed. In a number of examples an increase in the degree of silicification can be observed towards the lower bedding planes of individual turbidites requiring an additional external source of silica which seems to necessitate cross-formational flow of pore solutions. Silicification in both the carbonate and the siliciclastic turbidites probably took place at about the same time; in the carbonate turbidites it was preceded, however, by calcite cementation, which significantly reduced porosity and permeability before silicification took place. The greater degree of alteration experienced by the Gault turbidites of the Falknis and Tasna Nappes, which are more internal structural units of the Alps (compared to the Flysch Zone of the Eastern Alps), is reflected by the growth of quartz ‘beards’ and spikes from the ooids in the direction perpendicular to maximum stress. This is the only case observed where the rim quartz of the ooids grows beyond the original grain boundaries.     

20th-CENTURY CHANGES OF TEMPERATURE IN THE MOUNTAIN REGIONS OF CENTRAL EUROPE

Daily maximum and minimum temperatures from 29 low-lying and mountain stations of 7 countries in Central Europe were analyzed. The analysis of the annual variation of diurnal temperature range helps to distinguish unique climatic characteristics of high and low altitude stations. A comparison of the time series of extreme daily temperatures as well as mean temperature shows a good agreement between the low-lying stations and the mountain stations. Many of the pronounced warm and cold periods are present in all time series and are therefore representative for the whole region. A linear trend analysis of the station data for the period 1901–1990 (19 stations) and 1951–1990 (all 29 stations) shows spatial patterns of similar changes in maximum and minimum daily temperatures and diurnal temperature range. Mountain stations show only small changes of the diurnal temperature range over the 1901–1990 period, whereas the low-lying stations in the western part of the Alps show a significant decrease of diurnal temperature range, caused by strong increase of the minimum temperature. For the shorter period 1951–1990, the diurnal temperature range decreases at the western low-lying stations, mainly in spring, whereas it remains roughly constant at the mountain stations. The decrease of diurnal temperature range is stronger in the western part than in the eastern part of the Alps.