Events in alpine deformation and metamorphism in the Northern Pennine Zone and Southern Gotthard massif regions,Switzerland

The Pennine nappes consist of broad subrounded anticlinal cores of crystalline basement enveloped by a relatively thin cover of Mesozoic metasediments. They have been subsequently refolded by two more phases of deformation, F 2 and F 3, on a regional scale. The imprint of these deformations, F 2 and F 3, also occur in the southern part of the Gotthard massif and its Mesozoic cover. The main episode of Alpine metamorphism, producing principal porphyroblasts, has occurred after the formation of Pennine nappes as a result of heat emanating from the thermic dome of the Lepontine Alps. The study of metamorphic fabrics suggests that the Alpine metamorphism probably had a higher grade during the time of the rise of thermic dome than during the formation of Pennine nappes.

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Zusammenfassung Die penninischen Decken bestehen aus breiten, abgerundeten antiklinalen Kernen kristallinen Basements, die von relativ geringmÄchtigen mesozoischen Metasedimenten umgeben sind. Sie wurden regional durch zwei weitere Deformationsphasen, F 2 und F 3, noch einmal gefaltet. Die Auswirkungen dieser Deformationen, F 2 und F 3, zeigen sich auch im südlichen Teil des Gotthard-Massivs und seiner mesozoischen Bedeckung. Die Hauptphasen alpiner Metamorphose, die im wesentlichen Porphyroblaste erzeugte, fand nach der Bildung der penninischen Decken statt als Ergebnis von WÄrme, die dem thermischen Dom der Lepontinischen Alpen entströmte. Aus der Untersuchung metamorpher Gefüge geht hervor, da\ die alpine Metamorphose wÄhrend der Zeit der Heraushebung des thermischen Domes offenbar stÄrker war als wÄhrend der Bildung der penninischen Decken.

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Résumé Les nappes pennines consistent en de larges noyaux anticlinaux munis d'une enveloppe relativement peu épaisse de métasédiments mésozoÏques. Elles furent encore plissées à l'échelle régionale au cours de deux autres phases de déformation F 2 et F 3. Les effets de ces déformations F 2 et F 3 se montrent aussi dans la partie méridionale du massif du Gotthard et de sa couverture mésozoÏque. La phase principale du métamorphisme alpin, qui a essentiellement produit des porphyroblastes, a eu lieu après la formation des nappes pennines par suite de l'apport de chaleur émanant du « dÔme thermique » des Alpes Lépontiennes. De l'étude des structures métamorphiques, il ressort que le métamorphisme alpin, pendant la montée du « dÔme thermique », est clairement d'un degré plus élevé que pendant la formation des nappes pennines.

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On the abnormally high natural remanent magnetization of certain lavas

Summary The rock specimens found to have natural remanent magnetization of abnormally high intensity, have been generally from hill sides or tops, or from ridges high up from the local surroundings. A field of several hundred oersteds has been found sufficient to produce in some of the artificially demagnetized specimens an isothermal magnetization of the same order as the abnormal natural ones, and this magnetization has shown a similar degree of stability as the natural one. Variations in the direction and magnitude of the natural magnetic vector have been found over a distance of a few centimetres. Laboratory tests indicate a normal chemical composition for the specimens. The lightning discharge seems to be the plausible cause of abnormally high magnetization of rocks, which is generally isothermal and might have originated in the recent past, but the magnetization is sometimes complicated probably by the thermal effect of the discharge.     

Geomagnetic calm intervals and anomalous solar cycle 20

Long period variations in the occurrence of prolonged intervals of calm magnetic field conditions are studied using index Ap of magnetic activity. The solar-cycle variation in occurrence is compared with the sunspot number. Anomalous behaviour for solar cycle 20, observed in other solar parameters, are shown to be manifested in the occurrence frequency of quiet intervals. Spectral characteristics of occurrence indicates a dominant long period variation of about 30 years and a more feeble 11-year oscillation     

Fluid flow related features as an indicator of potential gas hydrate zone: western continental margin of India

Multichannel seismic reflection data from the continental margin of western India suggest the potential presence of fluid expulsion features, which may or may not be associated with gas hydrates. No typical bottom simulating reflector was observed on the reflection seismic section. As a result we look for other evidence in seismic sections in a small corridor of the western continental margin of India in order to establish the presence of gas hydrates. We study features including venting through the seafloor, pockmarks, sea floor collapse, faults acting as migration paths for fluid flow, transparent gas-charged sediment, reduction in amplitude strength, diapirism and mud-volcano. Presence of all these gas-escape features on a seismic section implies the probable presence of methane within the zone of hydrate stability field.     

Redshifts and the Hubble diagrams of Quasi-Stellar Objects

In order to investigate the nature of the redshifts of QSOs, Hubble diagrams have been plotted. First, [log (cz),m _v ] pairs have been plotted for a sample of 252 QSOs. This sample has been drawn from the recent catalogue (Burbidgeet al., 1977) of 633 QSOs after excluding those for which either the redshifts are uncertain or theV magnitudes are not known accurately. Before plotting,K-correction has been applied to theV magnitudes. A least-squares linear fit has been obtained for this plot and, as a result, we get a slope of 0.165±0.012 against 0.2 expected theoretically on the basis of the assumption that the QSOs are at cosmological distances implied by their redshifts. The discrepancy in the value of the slope has been attributed partly to the uncertainty in theK-correction and partly to the evolutionary effect. In order to eliminate the uncertainty due to theK-correction, [log (cz), logf(H)] pairs have been plotted for a sample of 52 QSOs and a least-squares linear fit has been obtained which has a slope of –0.497±0.076, in close agreement with the theoretically expected value of –0.5. This lends support to the hypothesis that the redshifts of the QSOs are cosmological in nature. Finally, the evolutionary effect has been examined, and we conclude that the QSOs do evolve in luminosity in course of time.     

Quasi-stellar objects and evolution of galaxies

In view of the striking similarities between Quasi-Stellar Objects on the one hand and the nuclei of N galaxies, Seyfert galaxies, radio galaxies and normal galaxies on the other, the possibility that QSOs might belong to an early phase in the evolutionary sequence of galaxies is explored. In this connection, considering the fact that nebulosities have been detected around five QSOs, the implications of the hypothesis that a QSO consists of a bright central object embedded in an extended nebulosity have been examined. In particular, the ratio a between the intensity of the bright central object and that of the surrounding nebulosity in the visual band of wavelengths has been calculated by the colour-given method for a sample of 81 QSOs with emission redshiftz0.76. This ratio a has been used to calculate the apparent visual magnitudem(V) and the absolute visual magnitudeM(V) of the bright central object (Nu) as well as that of the surounding nebulosity (Neb) of the QSOs in the sample and a criterion has been proposed as to the detectability of the surrounding nebulosities. Similar calculations have been made for N galaxies, Seyfert galaxies and normal galaxies. It is found that the values of log a, M(V) _Nu and M(V) _Neb for the four classes of extragalactic objects show a definite trend and suggest an evolutionary sequence: QSOsN galaxiesSeyfert galaxiesnormal galaxies.     

Satellite stereo data for dem surfaces and derivatives

Various attributes can be derived from Digital Elevation Model (DEM), which are essential to analyze watershed physical characteristics. This paper discusses utility and accuracy of satellite DEM surfaces and their derivatives. Facilities available in various software packages were compared to generate DEM from satellite data and other sources. For test site at Chamba, Uttaranchal, DEMs produced from various algorithms were evaluated for accuracy of surface and its derivatives. Most of the algorithms have shown correlation coefficient of 0.99 and above but the desirable maximum error in spot height (1/5 of contour interval) is not achieved. Slope and aspect produced from various algorithms were comparable around 70-80%. Comparison of DEM surface and its derivatives were attempted for test sites at Shimla and Nahan using IRS-1C and SPOT PAN stereo pair, respectively. Model accuracy has shown that error in height is higher than planimetry. Surface derivatives from stereo DEM for Shimla and Nahan test sites have shown an overall accuracy of 56.5% and 59.2% for slope; 49.79% and 71.21% for aspect and 74.15% for topographic level slicing, respectively. Accuracy has improved when observed class value was lowered or put-up by one unit.     

Tectonics of the Central Crystallines of western Himalaya

The crystalline sheet of the Higher Himalaya, referred to as the Central Crystallines, is a continuous lithotectonic unit which can be traced from the River Kali of eastern Kumaun in the east to Sankoo in the Suru River valley of Kashmir in the west. The principal lithostratigraphic units of this zone are pelites, psammites, gneisses, amphibolites, migmatites and leucocratic granites. The rocks of this zone show progressive regional metamorphism of normal as well as reverse types, the metamorphic grade ranging from chlorite to sillimanite zone. The Main Central Thrust, which demarcates the southern boundary of the Central Crystallines, has brought the crystalline rocks to rest over the sediments of Deoban Group in Kumaun and Garhwal and over the Outer Crystallines (=Chail-Jutogh Nappe) in Himachal Pradesh. The evidence obtained from metamorphism, deformation and radiometric dating indicate that the Central Crystallines is an old Precambrian basement which has been reactivated during Caledonian and Alpine orogenic movements.