Revised exponential distance relation for the Uranian system after the Voyager 2 fly-by

The rings and satellites discovered by Voyager 2 in the Uranian system confirm the existence of small satellites and rings foreseen before their discoveries and close to the locations suggested by an exponential distance relation found by the method of comparison of magnitude order of successive distances ratios of the large Uranian satellites. A new exponential distance relation is deduced, fitting the distances of the large satellites and groups of rings and new small satellites with a spacing ratio of 1.456. Some characteristics of an hypothetical parent body for the new inner satellites are also deduced.     

Far Ultraviolet Spectrum of Mars

A spectrum of Mars of unprecedented quality was obtained in the range of 904-1183 Å with a spectral resolution of 0.2 Å using the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer. Besides marking the first detection of molecular hydrogen on Mars (Krasnopolsky and Feldman, Science 2001 294, 1914-1917), the spectrum also revealed many emission lines of H, O, N, C, Ar, He, N⁺, C⁺, and Ar⁺ and the bands of N₂ and CO. The spectrum makes it possible to study the emission multiplet structures and the component ratios and to separate many of the blended lines. From the argon lines, we retrieved Ar mixing ratios of 1.5 and 1.3% at 150 and 130 km, respectively, in excellent agreement with the Viking mass spectrometric measurements of 1.6% in the lower atmosphere. The He 584-Å emission observed in second order also agrees with the Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer detection of He on Mars. The observed spectrum may be used as a database to study specific problems such as the dayglow excitation, radiative transfer, and composition in Mars' upper atmosphere.     

Geochemistry of the thermal springs and fumaroles of Basse-Terre Island,Guadeloupe, Lesser Antilles

 The purpose of this work was to study jointly the volcanic-hydrothermal system of the high-risk volcano La Soufrière, in the southern part of Basse-Terre, and the geothermal area of Bouillante, on its western coast, to derive an all-embracing and coherent conceptual geochemical model that provides the necessary basis for adequate volcanic surveillance and further geothermal exploration. The active andesitic dome of La Soufrière has erupted eight times since 1660, most recently in 1976–1977. All these historic eruptions have been phreatic. High-salinity, Na–Cl geothermal liquids circulate in the Bouillante geothermal reservoir, at temperatures close to 250  °C. These Na–Cl solutions rise toward the surface, undergo boiling and mixing with groundwater and/or seawater, and feed most Na–Cl thermal springs in the central Bouillante area. The Na–Cl thermal springs are surrounded by Na–HCO₃ thermal springs and by the Na–Cl thermal spring of Anse à la Barque (a groundwater slightly mixed with seawater), which are all heated through conductive transfer. The two main fumarolic fields of La Soufrière area discharge vapors formed through boiling of hydrothermal aqueous solutions at temperatures of 190–215  °C below the "Ty" fault area and close to 260  °C below the dome summit. The boiling liquid producing the vapors of the Ty fault area has δD and δ¹⁸O values relatively similar to those of the Na–Cl liquids of the Bouillante geothermal reservoir, whereas the liquid originating the vapors of the summit fumaroles is strongly enriched in ¹⁸O, due to input of magmatic fluids from below. This process is also responsible for the paucity of CH₄ in the fumaroles. The thermal features around La Soufrière dome include: (a) Ca–SO₄ springs, produced through absorption of hydrothermal vapors in shallow groundwaters; (b) conductively heated, Ca–Na–HCO₃ springs; and (c) two Ca–Na–Cl springs produced through mixing of shallow Ca–SO₄ waters and deep Na–Cl hydrothermal liquids. The geographical distribution of the different thermal features of La Soufrière area indicates the presence of: (a) a central zone dominated by the ascent of steam, which either discharges at the surface in the fumarolic fields or is absorbed in shallow groundwaters; and (b) an outer zone, where the shallow groundwaters are heated through conduction or addition of Na–Cl liquids coming from hydrothermal aquifer(s). Received: 9 November 1998 / Accepted: 15 July 1999     

Determination of Porosity and Permeability out of Dispersion Analyses of Borehole Wall Displacements

Waves carried in the borehole can be measured by the use of controlled sources inside the borehole and receivers located in the same borehole as well. This article gives the theoretical background and develops a new method to determine rock-physical parameters out of such controlled measurements of waves carried inside the borehole. Theoretical dispersion curves of the group velocities are matched to dispersion analyses of registrations obtained in the borehole. This inversion process intends to determine the in situ porosity and permeability of the rock.     

Application of laser strainmenters to the study of earthquake physics

The paper considers possibilities of applying laser strainmeters for the study of earthquake physics. One of laser strainmeters is described. A high efficiency of using the laser strainmeters for the study of earthquakes and their precursors is shown. In records of the spaced laser strainmeters, anomalous deformations propagating from the east to the west with the speed comparable with that of migration of earthquakes were found.     

Spectral scaling in Mars topography: effect of craters

Extensive computer simulations aimed at testing a hypothesis that impact craters may explain the scaling behaviour of surface spectra are presented. The simulations show that indeed crater effects alone may explain the spectral scaling of Mars’ topography revealed from MOLA data. The range of the scaling exponents obtained for a wide range of simulation parameters does not exceed the limits observed for Mars. The simulations suggest that the shape of large craters is the key factor leading to the two scaling ranges in the surface spectra. Particular values of the scaling exponents may additionally depend on the depth-diameter relationship and the crater size distribution.     

Bianchi-II Rotating World

Dynamical and kinematic properties of Bianchi-II cosmological models with rotation and expansion are investigated. Exact solutions of Einstein field equations are obtained which describe the evolution of a rotating Universe. Exact solutions of null, timelike and spacelike geodesics are constructed. Two new cosmological tests for rotating universes are discussed: cosmological lens effect and cosmological mirror effect.     

Dynamical Properties of a Sample of Ellipticals

On the basis of Jeans equations we study some dynamical properties of a sample of E galaxies considered as oblate and prolate spheroids. Although the results emphasize the anisotropy as the dominant dynamical factor both for oblate and prolate configurations, the sample contains some oblate galaxies apparently isotropic consistent with full rotational support. Comparisons of the mass-to-luminosity ratios obtained from our models with ratios derived from recent evolutionary synthesis models do not seem to leave room for nonluminous matter within the ranges (of the order of one de Vaucouleurs' radius) of the kinematical observations. Such comparisons suggest that a flatter than the classical Salpeter IMF would lead to better agreement with the dynamical results obtained within the framework of our models.