Volcanic vents rooted on extension fractures and their geodynamic implications in the Ethiopian Rift

Most of the extension fractures located in the Ethiopian rift are related to rift dynamics, and they have consistently similar orientations for hundreds of kilometers. The orientation of extension fracture gives the local extension direction which is perpendicular to its horns (end segments of an extension fracture). We have established clear geometrical relationships between tectonics and volcanism in the Main Ethiopian Rift by interpreting high-resolution images obtained from Landsat-TM and SPOT satellites and by quantitatively analyzing the geometry of extension fractures, elongated vents and linear volcanic clusters. Applying the relationships obtained, we show that extension fractures in the rift served as channels for magma rising to the surface, and that extension fractures underlie most of the elongated volcanic vents and linear volcanic clusters. The geometry of extension fractures beneath volcanic edifices can be deduced from the shape of elongated vents and pattern of linear volcanic clusters rooted on them. Utilizing the orientations of extension fractures directly observed and those inferred from elongated volcanic vents and linear clusters, we found that the extension direction of the Main Ethiopian Rift is northwest–southeast and that the direction has been rotated clockwise for about 20° in the time interval 2.83 to 0.023 Ma. The Recent axis of rift opening is oriented N40° and located closer to the southeastern escarpment giving an asymmetric geometry to the Main Ethiopian Rift (MER).     

Simulating strong ground motion with the `k -2 ' kinematic source model: An application to the seismic hazard in the Erzincan basin, Turkey

We present a seismic hazard application of a kinematic broad-bandrupture model. This model is based on the k-square dislocation distribution concept (Herrero and Bernard, 1994).Synthetic seismograms are calculated in the far-field approximation with alayered velocity medium for the 13 March 1992 Erzincan earthquake.With a parametrization of the source constrained by other studies,the far-field contribution correctly fits the recorded strong ground motion, which presents a 0.5 to 2 Hz dominant frequency range.As the k-square model is particularly well adapted to synthetize realistic strong-motion at short distances from the fault,it is a reliable tool for calculating seismic hazard maps around active faults. We thus present a synthetic peak ground acceleration map associatedwith the 13 March 1992 activated fault, for a 60 km × 60 km regionaround the epicenter taking into account a smoothed velocity structure ofthe basin in agreement with the absence of significant site effects related to1D resonance deduced from the aftershock records study.This map is compared with several post seismic reports: macroseismicintensities, detailed distribution of damage, and soil cracking andliquefaction. Our model shows that the values of the peak acceleration andvelocity can explain the dominant spatial distributionof these effects, which concentrates in a narrow band along theactivated segment fault, and in particular at its southernextremity. These results enable us to present such maps forhypothetical future earthquake ruptures, located on the major visible orinferred active fault segments in and around the basin. The effects ofthese potential sources are analyzed in relation to the 1992 eventeffects in order to eliminate unknown site responses. We show that thesouthern part of the basin is particularly exposed because of thepresence of strike-slip faults,and that the western part of the basin would suffer a significantlyhigher strong motion levelthan during the 1992 event with the activation of moderate sizednormal faults evidenced on thesouthwestern edge of the basin.     

Evidence for Non-Conservative Behaviour of Chlorine in Humid Tropical Environments

The knowledge of the biogeochemical cycle of chlorine (Cl)is important since this element is used as a tracer of geochemical and hydrological processes in oceanic or continental environments. More specifically, Cl can be used to correct surface water composition from atmospheric contribution in order to calculate precise chemical weathering rates in watersheds. Beyond the problem of potential Cl sources in a given watershed, which is directly related to the lithology, vegetation, and industrial activities, the Cl normalization is based on the assumption that this element behaves conservatively during surface processes (e.g., chemical weathering, adsorption/desorption processes).The purpose of the present study is to forecast the geochemical behavior of Cl in a forested ecosystem located under humid tropical environment.For this reason, we have analyzed the Cl (and also Ca and Na) concentrations ofsurface waters (rainwater, groundwater, river water) over a two-year period in the Nsimi–Zoetele watershed (Cameroon).The Cl mass balance for the watershed appears to be equilibrated over the studied period (1995–1996) but Cl behavior in Mengong River draining the watershed suggests a non-conservative behavior. Indeed, Cl concentrationsin the Mengong River are low during dry seasons and high during wet seasons, which is the reverse tendency to what is usually observed taking into account dilution and evaporation processes. As Cl concentrations in the Mengong River are lower than those measured in all the feeding reservoirs, Cl should be adsorbed onto the soils of the watershed. However, as the Cl mass balance is equilibrated over the whole-year, Cl should be adsorbed and releasedat a seasonal scale. The results we obtained for this small watershed were not generalized for a larger studied basin (i.e., Nyong River basin). Even if these results should be followed by further investigations, this study suggests that Cl normalization should be used with caution to avoid under- or over-estimation of chemical weathering rates.     

Projective ordination by SIMCA: A dynamic strategy for cost-efficient environmental monitoring around offshore installations

A method for environmental monitoring using benthic species profiles as input is developed in this work. The method, referred to as projective ordination, utilises local principal component modelling (SIMCA) to obtain a cross-validated model which spans the natural variation in a region around offshore oil-producing installations. The borderline between regions with disturbed and non-disturbed species communities is subsequently decided from the residual distribution. This distribution is used to design an approximate F-test for assessing whether a community at a particular sampling location is disturbed or not. If so, the nature of the disturbance is determined by projecting the data on the PC model.Projective ordination utilises information from previous surveys to define the permissible variation in species communities, i.e. the limit of the natural variation. In addition, the method is dynamic, in a sense that the sampling locations may vary from survey to survey.Furthermore, our analysis shows that the customary number of replicate samples per station can be reduced. Modelling with only four randomly chosen replicates out of the complete set of five for each sampling location, does not affect the model significantly. On the other hand, taking only 3 replicates into account leads to significant divergences.A model based on the 1990 and 1993 surveys at the Statfjord field is presented as an example of the technique.     

The low-pressure stability of phase A,Mg7Si2O8(OH)6

 Phase A, Mg₇Si₂O₈(OH)₆, is a dense hydrous magnesium silicate whose importance as a host of H₂O in the Earth’s mantle is a subject of debate. We have investigated the low-pressure stability of phase A in experiments on the reaction phase A=brucite+forsterite. Experiments were conducted in piston-cylinder and multi-anvil apparatus, using mixtures of synthetic phase A, brucite and forsterite. The reaction was bracketed between 2.60 and 2.75 GPa at 500° C, between 3.25 and 3.48 GPa at 600° C and between 3.75 and 3.95 GPa at 650^° C. These pressures are much lower than observed in the synthesis experiments of Yamamoto and Akimoto (1977). At 750^° C the stability field of brucite + chondrodite was entered. The enthalpy of formation and entropy of phase A at 1 bar (10⁵ Pa), 298 K, were derived from the experimental brackets on the reaction phase A=brucite+forsterite using a modified version of the thermodynamic dataset THERMOCALC of Holland and Powell (1990), which includes a new equation of state of H₂O derived from the molecular dynamics simulations of Brodholt and Wood (1993). The data for phase A are: ΔH ^o _f =−7126±8 kJ mol^-1, S ^o=351 J K^-1 mol^-1. Incorporating these data into THERMOCALC allows the positions of other reactions involving phase A to be calculated, for example the reaction phase A + enstatite=forsterite+vapour, which limits the stability of phase A in equilibrium with enstatite. The calculated position of this reaction (753° C at 7 GPa to 937° C at 10 GPa) is in excellent agreement with the experimental brackets of Luth (1995) between 7 and 10 GPa, supporting the choice of equation of state of H₂O used in THERMOCALC. Comparison of our results with calculated P-T paths of subducting slabs (Peacock et al. 1994) suggests that, in the system MgO–SiO₂–H₂O, phase A could crystallise in compositions with Mg/Si>2 at pressures as low as 3 GPa. In less Mg rich compositions phase A could crystallise at pressures above approximately 6 GPa. Received: 3 July 1995/Accepted: 14 December 1995     

Forerunners: Early coronal manifestations of solar mass ejection events

Coronal ejection transients viewed with the white light coronagraph on Skylab are studied from the times of their very earliest manifestations for clues to their origin. Excess coronal mass with a configuration like that of the eventual transient is seen in twelve events prior to the transient's associated near-surface H eruption or flare. In seven of the events, data are adequate to observe the rates of outward mass motion of coronal material prior to their surface manifestations. The observations place severe constraints on different solar mass ejection mechanisms because they spread the process responsible for the ejection over a larger region of the corona and over a longer period of time than normally considered. The observations suggest the corona is an active participant in the ejection that begins with the acceleration of the outer portion of a preexisting structure and ends with the obvious surface manifestation.Skylab Solar Workshop Postdoctoral Appointee 1975–78. The Skylab Solar Workshops are sponsored by NASA and NSF and managed by the High Altitude Observatory.The National Center for Atmospheric Research is sponsored by the National Science Foundation.     

Energy distribution function of translationally hot O(3P) atoms in the atmosphere of Earth

Translationally hot O(³P) atoms are produced in the atmosphere of Earth by photolysis of O₂ and O₃ and quenching of O(¹D). A rigorous kinetic theory analysis of this problem is developed and compared with the approach previously employed by Logan and McElroy [Planet. Space Sci.25, 117 (1977)]. It is shown that the kinetic theory employed by the previous workers is somewhat deficient. With the line-of-centers cross-section, the rates of reactions of the translationally hot O(³P) atoms with other atmospheric gases are calculated and found to be in some instances many orders of magnitude larger than the equilibrium rates. Though the non-equilibrium reaction rates with O(³P) are substantially increased, they are still not competitive with the corresponding reaction rates with O(¹D).