The empirical Melchior laws and parametric excitation of the Chandler wobble

Models of the motion of the terrestrial reference frame with respect to an inertial frame can describe the motions of the Earth-Moon system, which are traditionally separated into precession, nutation, the polar motion, and rotation about the Earth’s axis. Existing theoretical models do not describe variations in the Earth-orientation parameters with the required accuracy, so that the current polar coordinates and duration of the day must be determined from observations. To improve theoretical models for the time dependence of the coordinates of the Earth’s pole, we examine the possible excitation of the Chandler wobble due to internal properties of the Earth-Moon system. A differential equation describing the parametric resonance in the Earth-Moon system is obtained for the first region of the parametric excitation. The solution of this equation analytically describes the finite amplitudes of the nonlinear conservative system. The theoretical results are compared with the empirical laws of Melchior deduced from observational data on the coordinates of the Earth’s pole.     

Population synthesis of rapidly rotating main-sequence stars with companions

Usingthe “Scenario Machine” (a specialized numerical code formodeling the evolution of large ensembles of binary systems), we have studied the physical properties of rapidly rotating main-sequence binary stars (Be stars) with white-dwarf companions and their abundance in the Galaxy. The calculations are the first to take into account the cooling of the compact object and the effect of synchronization of the rotation on the evolution of Be stars in close binaries. The synchronization time scale can be shorter than the main-sequence lifetime of a Be star formed during the first mass transfer. This strongly influences the distribution of orbital periods for binary Be stars. In particular, it can explain the observed deficit of short-period Be binaries. According to our computations, the number of binary systems in the Galaxy containing a Be star and white dwarf is large: 70–80% of all Be stars in binaries should have degenerate dwarf companions. Based on our calculations, we conclude that the compact components in these systems have high surface temperatures. Despite their high surface temperatures, the detection of white dwarfs in such systems is hampered by the fact that the entire orbit of the white dwarf is embedded in the dense circumstellar envelope of the primary, and all the extreme-UV and soft X-ray emission of the compact object is absorbed by the Be star’s envelope. It may be possible to detect the white dwarfs via observations of helium emission lines of Be stars of not very early spectral types. The ultraviolet continuum energies of these stars are not sufficient to produce helium line emission. We also discuss numerical results for Be stars with other evolved companions, such as helium stars and neutron stars, and suggest an explanation for the absence of Be-black-hole binaries.     

Devonian Carbonate Facies of the Chizhapka Bank of the Nyurol Paleobasin,Southeastern Part of Western Siberia

Comprehensive lithogenetic analysis of the Nyurol paleobasin revealed a large shoal area surrounded by basins. The shoal area is composed of organogenic buildups covered by sediments of isolated and inner lagoons. The organogenic buildups are divided into two types: Stromatopora bioherms and mud-mounds. Regularities of the distribution of organogenic buildups are considered.     

On Rhythmical Layering of Rocks Formed from Basaltic Magma

Formation of rhythmical layering in intrusive basic and ultrabasic rock bodies is explained in different ways, in particular, by the movement of microparticles (mineral clusters) of plagioclase and pyroxene within the basalt melt under the influence of thermal and gravitational forces. A model of cluster movement is proposed as a consequence of the forces appearing when ultrasonic elastic fluctuations pass through the melt. The model is based on fundamental dynamic equations. Depending on cluster density, wave parameters, and magmatic chamber size, in the melt there can form different combinations of rhythmically alternating layers of different composition.     

Petrogenesis of the Greenhills Complex,Southland, New Zealand: magmatic differentiation and cumulate formation at the roots of a Permian island-arc volcano

A Permian (~265 Ma) intrusive complex which formed as a magmatic feeder reservoir to an immature island-arc volcano is fortuitously exposed in southern New Zealand. Known as the Greenhills Complex, this intrusion was emplaced at shallow crustal levels and consists of two layered bodies which were later intruded by a variety of dykes. Cumulates, which include dunite, olivine clinopyroxenite, olivine gabbro, and hornblende gabbro-norite, are related products of parent-magma fractionation. Both primary (magmatic) and secondary platinum-group minerals occur within dunite at one locality. Using the composition of cumulus minerals, mafic dykes and melt inclusions, we have determined that the parent magmas of the complex were hydrous, low-K island-arc tholeiites of ankaramitic affinities. Progressive magmatic differentiation of this parent magma generated fractionated melt of high-alumina basalt composition which is now preserved only as dykes which cut the Complex. Field evidence and cumulus mineral profiles reveal that the magma chambers experienced turbulent magmatic conditions during cumulate-rock formation. Recharge of the chambers by primitive magma is likely to have coincided with eruption of residual melt at the surface. Similar processes are inferred to account for volcanic-rock compositions in other parts of this arc terrane and in modern island-arc systems.     

Origin of Hydrocarbons in Hydrothermal Sulfide Ores in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge

The Rainbow hydrothermal field (36° N Mid-Atlantic Ridge) is one of the three presently known fields related to serpentinization of ultramafic rocks accompanied by the formation of hydrogen- and methane-rich solutions. Gas chromatographic (GC) and molecular gas chromatographic–mass spectrometric (GC-MS) investigations of sulfide ores and sediments from this field confirmed a predominantly biological nature of bitumoids related to the high-temperature transformation of biomass of the hydrothermal biological community. At the same time, ores of the Rainbow field contain significant amounts of compounds that are not directly related to biogenic synthesis. This fact suggests the possibility of an abiogenic synthesis of methane and even complex hydrocarbons during the serpentinization of ultramafic rocks.     

Observed daily large-scale rainfall patterns during BOBMEX-1999

A daily rainfall dataset and the corresponding rainfall maps have been produced by objective analysis of rainfall data. The satellite estimate of rainfall and the raingauge values are merged to form the final analysis. Associated with epochs of monsoon these rainfall maps are able to show the rainfall activities over India and the Bay of Bengal region during the BOBMEX period. The intra-seasonal variations of rainfall during BOBMEX are also seen using these data. This dataset over the oceanic region compares well with other available popular datasets like GPCP and CMAP. Over land this dataset brings out the features of monsoon in more detail due to the availability of more local raingauge stations.     

Separate lead isotope analyses of leachate and residue rock fractions: implications for metal source tracing in ore deposit studies

Separate lead isotope analyses of leachate and residue fractions are applied to a broad spectrum of rocks commonly investigated in metallogenic studies. Resulting data highlight a systematic behavior of leachate and residue fractions with respect to lead isotope compositions, which essentially depends on the mineralogical composition of the rock. Granitoid and high-grade metamorphic rocks have residue compositions virtually identical to common lead. In contrast, low-grade metasedimentary rocks may have residue compositions swamped by radiogenic lead of leach-resistant zircons. Mafic magmatic rocks have residues that are often more radiogenic than leachates, depending on the ratio of leach-refractory zircons to common lead in the residual fraction of these rocks. Separate leachate and residue analyses of source rocks provide two lead isotope end members whose mixture may represent lead with the appropriate ore fluid composition. Our leaching experiments indicate that hot acid solutions (and by inference hydrothermal fluids) preferentially leach radiogenic lead from medium- to high-grade metamorphic and granitoid rocks, whereas they preferentially leach common lead from low-grade metasedimentary and mafic magmatic rocks. The method presented in this study provides a reliable alternative to other methods (i.e., age-correction of bulk-rock compositions) for the determination of the common lead signature of felsic to intermediate magmatic rocks. This may be preferable to age-corrected bulk-rock analyses, where ages to apply for corrections of bulk-rock data are not known or where moderately to highly altered rocks must be used. Case studies of orogenic gold and MVT districts of Peru (Pataz and San Vicente, respectively) show that separate leachate and residue lead isotope analyses carried out systematically on whole rocks allow a more thorough evaluation of metal source reservoirs than does the standard method of age-corrected or uncorrected bulk-rock analyses.