Spectra of the earthquake sequence February-March, 1981, in south-central Sweden

On February 13, 1981 a relatively strong earthquake occurred in the Lake Vänern region in south-central Sweden. The shock had a magnitude ofM_L = 3.3 and was followed within three weeks by three aftershocks, with magnitudes 0.5 ≤ M_L ≤ 1.0. The focal mechanism solution of the main shock indicates reverse faulting with a strike in the N-S or NE-SW direction and a nearly horizontal compressional stress. The aftershocks were too small to yield data for a full mechanism solution, but first motions of P-waves, recorded at two stations, are consistent for the aftershocks. Dynamic source parameters, derived from Pg- and Sg-wave spectra, show similar stress drops for the main shock (2 bar) and the aftershocks (1 bar), while the differences in seismic moment (1.5·10²⁰ resp. 4·10¹⁸dyne cm), fault length (0.7 resp. 0.2 km) and relative displacement (0.15 resp. 0.03 cm) are significant.     

SEAWAT 2000: modelling unstable flow and sensitivity to discretization levels and numerical schemes

A systematic analysis shows how results from the finite difference code SEAWAT are sensitive to choice of grid dimension, time step, and numerical scheme for unstable flow problems. Guidelines to assist in selecting appropriate combinations of these factors are suggested. While the SEAWAT code has been tested for a wide range of problems, the sensitivity of results to spatial and temporal discretization levels and numerical schemes has not been studied in detail for unstable flow problems. Here, the Elder-Voss-Souza benchmark problem has been used to systematically explore the sensitivity of SEAWAT output to spatio-temporal resolution and numerical solver choice. A grid size of 0.38 and 0.60% of the total domain length and depth respectively is found to be fine enough to deliver results with acceptable accuracy for most of the numerical schemes when Courant number (Cr) is 0.1. All numerical solvers produced similar results for extremely fine meshes; however, some schemes converged faster than others. For instance, the 3rd-order total variation-diminishing method (TVD3) scheme converged at a much coarser mesh than the standard finite difference methods (SFDM) upstream weighting (UW) scheme. The sensitivity of the results to Cr number depends on the numerical scheme as expected.     

GPS network monitors the Western Alps' deformation over a five-year period: 1993–1998

  The Western Alps are among the best studied collisional belts with both detailed structural mapping and also crustal geophysical investigations such as the ECORS and EGT seismic profile. By contrast, the present-day kinematics of the belt is still largely unknown due to small relative motions and the insufficient accuracy of the triangulation data. As a consequence, several tectonic problems still remain to be solved, such as the amount of N–S convergence in the Occidental Alps, the repartition of the deformation between the Alpine tectonic units, and the relation between deformation and rotation across the Alpine arc. In order to address these problems, the GPS ALPES group, made up of French, Swiss and Italian research organizations, has achieved the first large-scale GPS surveys of the Western Alps. More than 60 sites were surveyed in 1993 and 1998 with a minimum observation of 3 days at each site. GPS data processing has been done by three independent teams using different software. The different solutions have horizontal repeatabilities (N–E) of 4–7 mm in 1993 and 2–3 mm in 1998 and compare at the 3–5-mm level in position and 2-mm/yr level in velocity. A comparison of 1993 and 1998 coordinates shows that residual velocities of the GPS marks are generally smaller than 2 mm/yr, precluding a detailed tectonic interpretation of the differential motions. However, these data seem to suggest that the N–S compression of the Western Alps is quite mild (less than 2 mm/yr) compared to the global convergence between the African and Eurasian plate (6 mm/yr). This implies that the shortening must be accomodated elsewhere by the deformation of the Maghrebids and/or by rotations of Mediterranean microplates. Also, E–W velocity components analysis supports the idea that E–W extension exists, as already suggested by recent structural and seismotectonic data interpretation. Received: 27 November 2000 / Accepted: 17 September 2001     

Self‐purification in Upland and Lowland Streams

Ecological investigations at four streams in Saxony‐Anhalt have shown that there are considerable differences between the self‐purification power of upland and lowland streams. This result is reflected in chemistry and in microbiology. The structure of the bottom substrate mainly influences the degree of self‐purification in connection with rate of flow and flow velocity. The results and differences are demonstrated using the example of Katzsohlbach in the landscape unit “Mittel‐ and Unterharz” and the stream Olbe in the landscape unit “Magdeburger Börde”.     

Climate change in Yellowstone National Park: Is the drought-related risk of wildfires increasing?

The increased frequency of wildfires in the United States has become a common prediction associated with the build-up of greenhouse gases. In this investigation, variations in annual wildfire data in Yellowstone National Park are compared to variations in historical climate conditions for the area. Univariate and multivariate analytical techniques reveal that (a) summer temperatures in the Park are increasing, (b) January-June precipitation levels are decreasing, and (c) variations in burn area within the Park are significantly related to the observed variations in climate. Outputs from four different general circulation model simulations for 2 × CO₂ are included in the analyses; model predictions for increasing aridity in the Yellowstone Park area are generally in agreement with observed trends in the historical climate records.     

Collapse structures in the Permian of the Saar-Nahe area,Southwest Germany

Volcanic breccias near an intrusive rhyolite dome in the Permian Saar-Nahe trough of southwest Germany have been identified as complex pipe-like subsidence-structures occupying the site and immediate neighbourhood of explosive volcanoes.At the Rödern, at first fine-grained, well-bedded and later coarser-grained and poorly bedded pyroclastic materials were deposited on top of a lava flow that formed the regional surface. Collapse along a ringfault with differential subsidence of 500 to 700 m produced a saucer-shaped structure in which steeply dipping pyroclastic beds still overlie the lava flow on which they were originally deposited. In the actual feeder, large blocks of country-rock subsided individually prior to wholesale subsidence of the entire feeder-content. Intrusion of a high alumina quartz tholeiite into the pyroclastic beds terminated the activity.The Hirschberg structure has essentially the same history, but is more fragmented. Subsidences vary between 150 and 260 m. Intrusion of petrographically and chemically similar basalt took place mainly near the margin of the ringfault.Three smaller structures also contain bedded pyroclastic deposits that subsided approximately 600, 1100, and 1400 m. The surface expressions of these five collapse structures are assumed to have been small collapse-calderas with diameters of several 100 m. to 1.5 km.

---

Zusammenfassung Vulkanische Brekzien im Rotliegenden der Umgebung des Donnersberges in der Saar-Nahe-Senke/Pfalz liegen in Einbruchsstrukturen vor, die den ursprünglichen Schlot und seine unmittelbare Umgebung einnehmen.Am Rödern wurden ehemals auf einer Olivin-Basalt-Lava feinkörnige und spÄter grobkörnige Pyroclastica abgelagert. Einbruch an einem Ringbruch und differentielle Absenkung zwischen 500 und 700 m führte zur Anlage der trichterförmigen Struktur der geschichteten Pyroclastica. Trotz der Absenkung liegen sie immer noch mit ungestörtem Kontakt, jedoch nun steil einfallend, dem mitabgesenkten Olivin-Basalt auf.Am ursprünglichen Schlot ist Absenkung einzelner gro\er Nebengesteinsschollen und nachfolgend des gesamten Schlotinhaltes festzustellen. Die vulkanische AktivitÄt wurde durch Intrusion eines high-alumina Quarz-Tholeiites abgeschlossen.Der Hirschberg weist im wesentlichen die gleiche Struktur und Entwicklungsgeschichte auf, ist jedoch in mehrere Schollen untergliedert. Die BetrÄge der differentiellen Absenkung liegen zwischen 150 und 260 m. Infolge der Zerblockung innerhalb des Ringbruches intrudierte Basalt vorwiegend im Bereich der Verwerfungen, also am Ringbruch und zwischen einzelnen Schollen.Drei kleinere Strukturen enthalten ebenfalls geschichtete Pyroclastica und weisen maximale AbsenkungsbetrÄge von 600, 1100 und 1400 m auf.Im Bereich der ursprünglichen ErdoberflÄche müssen infolge der Einbrüche tiefe Krater vorgelegen haben, die als kleine Einbruchscalderen bezeichnet werden können.

---

Résumé Aux alentours du «Donnersberg» dans la «Saar-Nahe-Senke» (Palatinat, Sudouest de l'Allemagne) des brèches volcaniques du Permien inférieur sont conservées à l'intérieur de structures d'effondrement. Celles-ci se trouvent au lieu mÊme de la cheminée originale et à ses alentours immédiats.Une de ces structures, le «Rödern», est caractérisée par des dépÔts pyroclastiques — fins à la base et plus grenus vers le sommet — couvrant des laves basaltiques à olivine. L'effondrement à l'intérieur d'une faille annulaire et une subsidence différentielle de 500 à 700 m ont eu comme résultat une structure rappelant un entonnoir. Les dépÔts pyroclastiques stratifiés reposent, quoiqu'avec un pendage fort, toujours en superposition normale et non faillés sur les basaltes à olivine qui eux aussi ont été affectés par la subsidence.A la cheminée mÊme on constate l'affaissement de grands panneaux de roches encaissantes suivi de l'effondrement de tout le remplissage de cheminée. L'activité s'achève par des venues d'une «high-alumina Quarz-Tholeiite».Le «Hirschberg», dont la structure et l'évolution ressemblent à celles du «Rödern», est caractérisé par une fragmentation du bloc effondré. L'affaissement de différents panneaux varie entre 150 et 260 m. Suite à la fragmentation de nouvelles venues basaltiques prennent place, soit le long de la faille annulaire, soit le long des failles entre les differents panneaux.Des dépÔts pyroclastiques stratifiés sont conservés encore dans trois autres structures plus petites. L'affaissement à l'intérieur de ces structures est de 600, 1100 et 1400 m au maximumQuant à la morphologie de la région après l'effondrement, on peut supposer qu'elle était caractérisée par l'existence de cratères profonds (caldères d'effondrement).

---

, Donnersberg ( -, ) , . - Rödern - , . - 500–700 , . , .- , . . - Hirschberg, , , . 150–260 . , . . . - ; 600, 1100 1400 . - , , , , .

     

Eine pleistozäne Rutschung bei Kitzbühel/Tirol

ZusammenfassungEine pleistozäne Rutschung bei Kitzbühel/Tirol Bei einem Grabenaushub wurden in Grundmoräne zwei fossile Rutschkörper festgestellt. Ein Beispiel wird anhand von alten Bewegungsstrukturen beschrieben, die durch Oxydationsstreifen abgebildet wurden. Nach dem Geländeschnitt rissen z. T. die alten Schwächestellen infolge geringer Abweichungen der Scherfestigkeit des Materials wieder auf.

---

SummaryA Pleistocene Landslide near Kitzbühel/Tyrol During excavation of a ditch two fossil landslides have been ascertained. One example is described the structures of which are copied by oxide bands. After excavating the old joints have opened again.

---

RésuméUn glissement pléistocène près de Kitzbühel/Tyrol Pendant l'excavation d'un fossé deux glissements fossiles étaient constatés dans la moraine. Un glissement est décrit dont les structures sont illustrées par bandes d'oxydes. Les observations ont demontré que les fissures vieilles se sont ouvertes après l'excavation.

---

---

Mit 1 Abbildung     

Glass crust on intratelluric phenocrysts in volcanic ash as a measure of eruptive violence

A comparison of each of the volumes of nine deposits of airborne volcanic ash from the Coatepeque Volcano in El Salvador, Central America to the amount of glass crust adhering to intratelluric phenocrysts shows an inverse relationship. As violence, volume, and eruptive abrasion increase, glass crusts decrease. The eruptive violence of a prehistoric eruption and the original volume of ash can thus be calculated from glass-to-crystal ratios observed in erosional remnants.     

Luna 20: mineralogy and petrology of fragments less than 125 μm size

Two milligrams of less than 125 μm size particles from the Luna 20 soil sample (22001,17) have been examined. The results of the mineral identification and analysis verify earlier assumptions that the nature of the lunar highlands is predominantly anorthositic in composition. The presence of highly magnesian clinopyroxene, orthopyroxene and olivine suggests crystallization of Highland rocks in an ultrabasic environment. No fragments were observed that could be unequivocally assigned to mare basalt types.     

Energy flow and elemental concentrations in the Steina River ecosystem (Black Forest, Germany)

Considering food web energetics and elemental cycling together allows the testing of hypotheses about the coevolution of biological systems and their physical environment. We investigated the energy flow and the distribution of 25 elements in the Steina River.¶We constructed an annual energy flow network and estimated the emergy ("embodied energy" that includes all the energy involved in a process) contributions of resources sustaining the system. Furthermore, we measured the concentration of various macronutrients, essential elements, and heavy metals in the physical environment and trophic compartments. Finally, we examined the hypothesis of a positive relationship between the "rarity" of an element and its tendency to bioaccumulate. To do so, we used transformity, the relative energy input required to sustain a compartment's net production or the concentration differential of an element between the living community and the physical environment.¶The resulting energy flow network is one of the most complete available for streams. In the Steina, over 99% of the energy input is transported through the system without being processed. Dissolved inorganic matter and sunlight are the largest inputs, but uptake efficiency is much higher for dissolved and particulate organic matter. Transformities of trophic compartments and elements span 6 to 7 orders of magnitude.¶The tendency to bioaccumulate was as predicted for most elements, with macronutrients showing no accumulation and heavy elements accumulating in high-transformity compartments. However, Na and K were found at highest concentrations in consumers, and Pb, Ga, and Cd in algae. Improved estimates may become possible as more knowledge is available on ecosystem flows. We suggest further ways of testing hypotheses about strategies of element processing.