Computer simulations of the structural and physical properties of the olivine and spinel polymorphs of Mg2SiO4

The aim of the work presented is to develop a computer simulation technique which will predict the structure and physical properties of forsterite and ringwoodite, the major mantle-forming polymorphs of Mg₂SiO₄. The technique is based upon energy minimization, in which all structural parameters are varied until the configuration with the lowest energy is achieved. The lattice energy and physical properties (e.g. elasticity and dielectric constants) are calculated from interatomic potentials, which generally include electrostatic and short-range terms. We investigate several types of traditional potential models, and present a new type of model which includes partial ionic charges and a Morse potential to describe the effect of covalency on the Si-O bond. This new form of potential model is highly successful, and not only reproduces the zero-pressure structural, elastic and dielectric properties of forsterite and ringwoodite, but also accurately describes their pressure dependence.     

Comparative growth of juvenile white sturgeon and striped bass: Effects of temperature and hypoxia

The influences of temperature and environmental hypoxia on the growth rates of two California anadromous fishes, white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) and striped bass (Morone saxatilis) were examined. Fish (0.5–0.6 g initial weight) were fedad libitum rations ofArtemia in flow-through aquaria regulated for temperature (15, 20, and 25°C) and oxygen tension (130 and 90 torr P_{o 2}). Growth of sturgeon was significantly greater at 20 °C compared with 15 °C, but there was no difference between 20 and 25 °C. Striped bass growth increased with each 5° increment of temeprature elevation to 3.2% body weight per d at 25 °C, the fastest growth rate measured. The temperature of maximum growth reflected the temperature of the native estuarine rearing area. Environmental hypoxia (90 torr P_{o 2}) reduced growth of sturgeon within each temperature level, whereas striped bass growth was reduced by hypoxia only at the upper two temperatures. Sturgeon were much more active in the growth chambers than striped bass. Sturgeon activity increased with each 5 °C temperature increase under normoxia and hypoxia, except at 25 °C (hypoxia) where activity was insignificantly different from that at 20 °C (hypoxia).     

Forecasting in the social and natural sciences: An overview and analysis of isomorphisms

This article identifies and analyzes several points of similarity in the structure and context of forecasting in the social and natural sciences. These include: the limits of identities or universal laws as a basis for forecasts; the corresponding need for simplifying parametric representations of one or more of the variables that enter into identities; various sources of uncertainty about parameterizations; intrinsic limitations on predictability or forecasting accuracy in large-scale systems; the need for sensitivity analyses of model responses to changes in exogenous variables and/or parametric structures; problems of model linkage; and the social (organizational and political) context of forecasts. Suggestions for future lines of inquiry are made in each case. Several of these are such that they can benefit from a sharing of experience and expertise across disciplinary lines.The research reported herein was supported in part by the IC² Institute, The University of Texas at Austin, and in part by National Science Foundation Grant Number SES-8411702. However, the opinions expressed in the paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the sponsoring organizations. We appreciate the advice and comments of Jesse H. Ausubel, Robert S. Chen, Judith Jacobsen, and Richard C. Rockwell on earlier versions of this paper.The National Center for Atmospheric Research is sponsored by the National Science Foundation.     

Vegetative physiographic analysis of a U.S. northern barrier system

A quantitative analysis of historical aerial photographs and maps coupled with detailed field surveys provided the data necessary to assess the importance of overwash processes and vegetative recovery on Nauset Spit, Cape Cod, Massachusetts Development of all plant communities and physiographic features is extremely rapid on the spit. Dunes are evident from aerial photographic analysis in as little as three years after overwash; salt marshes are apparent in only ten years. Classical ecological succession does not appear to occur on Nauset Spit, since environments are periodically altered by overwash processes. Most dominant species on the barrier can grow in bare sandy substrate. Migration of the Nauset Spit, system proceeds by a cyclic series of events, involving inlet dynamics, overwash processes, and dune building     

The entrainment of high-viscosity magma into low-viscosity magma in eruption conduits

We report experiments on the flow of two fluids of contrasting viscosity through a pipe in which low-viscosity fluid occupies the center of the pipe. The volume flux of the low-viscosity fluid in the pipe increased during an experiment but did not reach 100% in most cases. The transition from high- to low-viscosity-dominated outflow involved a drop in pressure gradient and an increase in flow rate due to reduced viscous resistance in the pipe. Initially, the central flow was thin and parallel-sided, but as its diameter increased the flow became unstable. A sequence of instabilities was observed during the course of each experiment, both in time and as a function of height in the pipe. In the most commonly observed instability the central flow adopted a helical geometry. The transition from parallel-sided to unstable flow first appeared at the top of the pipe and propagated downwards against the flow. Axisymmetric instabilities originating at the pipe entrance were also observed. All forms of instability exhibited entrainment of viscous fluid into the faster moving central flow. Entrainment was extensive early in the existence of the central flow, but later on the volume flux of lower-viscosity fluid in the central flow rose more rapidly than the rate of entrainment and the proportion of lower-viscosity fluid increased with time. These compositional changes determined the viscosity of the central flow which was found to control its diameter and velocity. In banded pumice deposits, silicic pumice without mafic component is commonly erupted alongside banded pumice blocks. We infer that banded pumice may correspond to the central flow in our experiments, i. e., that viscous magma has been incorporated into less viscous melt, and that pure acid pumice is derived from the outer flow. Changes in eruption style may be caused by variations in pressure gradient and flow rate due to changes in the viscosity of the melt in the conduit. Varied mafic/silicic proportions and degree of mixing in magmatic associations are controlled by the bulk volume erupted, discharge rate, initial temperature difference and aspect ratio of the conduit.     

Elimination of spurious higher-mode response in pseudodynamic tests

In a pseudodynamic test, errors in restoring-force feedback are introduced into numerical computations. Some of these errors can excite the higher-frequency response of the specimen. In this paper, the use of viscous and numerical dampings to eliminate spurious higher-frequency effects is studied. Since the tangent stiffness of a non-linear specimen cannot be measured accurately, initial-stiffness-dependent viscous damping is considered. In addition, an explicit integration algorithm with desired numerical damping properties is proposed and examined. The analytical and numerical studies presented indicate that viscous-damping properties can be substantially changed by non-linear deformations. For this reason, the use of numerical damping appears to be more advantageous.     

Bimodal magmatism and associated sedimentary facies with particular reference to the correlation between orogeny and regression

It is stressed that a thorough investigation of the subtle and still poorly understood relationships between orogeny, magmatism and associated sediments is warranted. Certain types of sediments appear to be commonly linked to specific magmatic contexts. This is especially true for the oceanic crust, but it may be equally valid for bimodal continental magmatism with the development of granite. Grand scale regression with the formation of continental detrital deposits could represent the response to mantle upwelling and/or plume activity.

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Zusammenfassung Zwischen Orogenese, Magmatismus und zugehörigen Sedimenten existiert ein enger Zusammenhang, der meist wenig verstanden ist und dringend eingehender Studien bedarf. Gewisse Sediment-Typen sind meist an einen ganz spezifischen, magmatischen Kontext gebunden. Dies ist insbesondere der Fall für die ozeanische Kruste, könnte aber auch für den bimodalen, kontinentalen magmatischen Zyklus mit der Bildung von Granit zutreffen. Die gro\räumigen Regressionen und die damit verbundene Entstehung von kontinentalen, detritischen Ablagerungen könnte die Antwort auf vertikale Mantel-Konvektion oder Plume-Aktivität sein.

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Résumé Il est important de mieux comprendre les relations subtiles existant entre orogenèse, magmatisme et sédiments associés. Certains types de sédiments sont systématiquement apparentés à un contexte magmatique spécifique. Ceci est particulièrement évident pour la croûte océanique, mais pourrait Être également valable dans le cadre du magmatisme continental bimodal avec développement de granite. Les régressions à grande échelle avec formation de sédiments détritiques continentaux pourraient représenter la conséquence d'une activité accrue et/ou de mouvements convectifs du manteau.

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