Note on pollen extraction from coarse sediments

The following note on a new method for extracting pollen from fossil pollen grains summarizes two articles in French, published in Annales de la Société Géologique de Belgique (Juvigné, 1973a; 1973b).The new method proposed has three important parts: (1) Elutriation of the sediment in water; (2) the specific gravity of the heavy liquid must be between 2.25 and 2.5; and (3) the dispersion of the sediment in the heavy liquid is made with a high-speed mixer.     

Spectral analysis of oscillations with a time-variable frequency

Summary The paper presents a method of evaluating oscillations with a time-variable frequency using a computer. The given function is first interpolated at points which are not distributed equidistantly in time, but the digitizing step varies with time according to a known optional regularity. The spectrum of the obtained function is computed for various of these interpolations and tests are run to determine when the interpolation best compensates the time variation of the frequency. The initial and terminal frequency in the given sample is then determined. The usability of this method with respect to various types of oscillations with a variable frequency and its accuracy in comparison to sonagrams are discussed.     

Age of the Laschamp paleomagnetic excursion revisited

The reverse paleomagnetism of the lava flows of Laschamp and Olby, already discovered by Bonhommet and Babkine, is confirmed. The ages of these flows, measured by¹⁴C, thermoluminescence and K-Ar dating are respectively36,000 ± 4000 and42,000 ± 5000years. VGP's comparison of the “Laschamp event” with those of the 30,000-year Lake Mungo excursion does not show evidence of coincidence between these two events.     

Geomorphological models as a tool for environmental studies

Relief is understood as a fundamental component of the environmental system. The structure of geomorphodynamic processes and of the relief sphere as the main energy transformation surface is a determining factor for environmental conditions of both sites and areas. Modelling is the instrument of the applied and systems analytic approach to geomorphology. Geomorphological tools are appropriate means of determining, structuring, assessing and predicting the geoecological potential of the environment. This is demonstrated by quantitative and multivariate models to describe spatial patterns of the environment (fluvial network analysis) and to evaluate and present environmentally relevant geomorphological disposition (slope stability analysis).     

Permanganate oxidation products of algal humic-like substances

Algal humic-like substances were oxidized with KMnO₄. The oxidation products were analyzed by GC-MS. Normal and branched fatty acids, dicarboxylic and benzene carboxylic acids were identified. Aliphatic acids were by far the most prominent compounds. Similarities between humic and fulvic acids of both Fucus and Laminaria algae were apparent. Fucus humic acids, however, showed a more aromatic structure than their Laminaria counterpart. The contribution of algae to marine sedimentary humus is discussed.     

Earthquake strong motion simulated by stress drop models

Shallow strike slip earthquakes on vertical faults are modelled as two-dimensional antiplane strain ruptures in a uniformly prestressed homogeneous halfspace. Behind the rupture front, which is specified, the stress drops to a lower value. The elastodynamic boundary value problem is solved with a finite difference method. Several cases are studied, which include symmetric and one-directional rupture propagation, surface faulting, multiple events, variable rupture velocity, sticking and rebreaking of the fault plane. The time function of displacement, velocity and acceleration are interpreted as signals generated by events in the focus, namely starting, stopping and breaking through the surface of the rupture. The model explains peak velocity and peak acceleration in the near field of M5.5–6 earthquakes; which are typically about 0.2 m/s and 5 m/s² at 10 km epicentral distance, if the rupture velocity is close to the shear wave velocity. Sticking of the fault does not alter the accelerograms significantly, but it increases the seismic moment in simple events and decreases it in multiple events.Contribution No. 226, Geophysical Institute, University of Karlsruhe.