On the instability region around the 5 : 3 Jovian resonance

Variations in the dynamic parameters of Phobos have been determined after reaching critical value of the semi-major axis = 7247 km at which zero-gravity on the surface of Phobos near the equator will take place. The rate of the variations will increase significantly, e.g., in the tidal energy dissipation by one order in magnitude. The total dissipated mechanical energy during the whole tidal history of the system has been estimated as -5.5 × 10²¹ kg m² s^-2, the total decrease in the second zonal Stokes parameter of Phobos as -6.6 × 10^-2.     

Triple-junction migration during Paleozoic plate convergence: the Aracena metamorphic belt, Hercynian massif, Spain

New data on the petrology and structure of the Aracena metamorphic belt shows that this is a subduction-related, low-pressure/high-temperature complex developed by plate convergence at the north margin of Gondwana during the Paleozoic. The low-pressure, inverted metamorphic gradient in MORB-derived amphibolites resulted from heating from the continental hanging wall during subduction. This implies that the previous heating of the continental rocks was related to subduction of an oceanic ridge and the creation of a slab window beneath the continental margin. This slab window brought the asthenosphere in contact with the continental margin inducing a shallow thermal anomaly and partial melting of the lithospheric mantle resulting in boninite magmatism.     

Retrograde formation of NaCl-scapolite in high pressure metaevaporites from the Cordilleras Béticas (Spain)

A Permo-Triassic pelite-carbonate rock series (with interacalated metabasitic rocks) in the Cordilleras Béticas, Spain, was metamorphosed during the Alpine metamorphism at high pressures (P _min near 18 kbar). The rocks show well preserved sedimentary features of evaporites such as pseudomorphs of talc, of kyanite-phengitetalc-biotite, and of quartz after sulfate minerals, and relicts of baryte, anhydrite, NaCl, and KCl, indicating a salt-clay mixture of illite, chlorite, talc, and halite as the original rock. The evaporitic metapelites have a whole rock composition characterized by high Mg/(Mg+Ca) ratios>0.7, variable alkaline and Sr, Ba, contents, but are mostly K₂O rich (<8.8 wt%). The F (<2600 ppm), Cl (<3600 ppm), and P₂O₅ (<0.24 wt%) contents are also high. The pelitic member of this series is a fine grained biotite rock. Kyanite-phengite-talc-biotite aggregates in pseudomorphs developed in the high pressure stage. Albite-rich plagioclase was formed when the rocks crossed the albite stability curve in the early stages of the uplift. Scapolite, rich in NaCl (Ca/(Ca+Na) mol% 24–40) and poor in SO₄, with Cl/(Cl+CO₃) ratios between 0.6 and 0.8, formed as porphyroblasts, sometimes replacing up to 60% of the rock in a late stage of metamorphism (between 10 and 5 kbar, near 600°C). No reaction with albite is observed, and the scapolite formed from biotite by: $$\begin{gathered} Al - biotite + CaCO_3 + NaCl + SiO_2 \hfill \\ = Al - poor biotite + scapolite + MgCO_3 + KCl \hfill \\ + MgCl_2 + H_2 O \hfill \\ \end{gathered}$$ Calculated fluid composition in equilibrium with scapolite indicates varying salt concentrations in the fluid. Distribution of Cl and F in biotite and apatite also indicates varying fluid compositions.     

Environmental impact of mineral transformations undergone during coal combustion

The mineral transformations undergone by high sulfur coal ash were studied. An X-ray diffraction (XRD) experiment was carried out to reproduce experimentally the mineral transformations produced during coal combustion in coal-fired power stations. We have verified that the anhydrite is the main crystalline phase that contains sulfur in the solid combustion waste from 500°C until its decomposition at 1060±10°C. Thus, this calcium sulfate is the main crystalline phase involved in the sulfur retention in the combustion wastes at high temperatures. Therefore, a considerable proportion of the sulfur would not be emitted into the atmosphere at temperatures lower than 1060°C. Taking as a reference the annual coal consumption of the Teruel Mining District (6 million tons), the mean sulfur content and the anhydrite content at 900°C, it was shown that the SO₂ emissions could be reduced by approximately 13 percent (83,000 ton/yr) provided that the combustion temperature was 900°C.     

On NAO’s predictability through the DFA method

Summary In this paper, the authors address a predictability study of the NAO index by using the time series analysis method known as “detrended fluctuation analysis” (DFA). This technique provides a quantitative measure of predictability by computing several piecewise fits (either linear or higher degree polynomial ones) to the cumulative series of fluctuations associated to the original series. The measurements, made on several examples of data available in the Internet, agree with other previous analyses (Fernández et al, 2003) assessing that the NAO signal is a slightly red one, whose prediction needs a deeper understanding of the underlying physics.     

The Southern Region of Peru Earthquake of June 23rd, 2001

The western border of South America is one of the most important seismogenic regions in the world. In this region the most damaging earthquake ever recorded occurred. In June 23rd, 2001, another very strong earthquake (Mw = 8.1–8.2) occurred and produced death and damages in the whole southern region of Peru. This earthquake was originated by a friction process between Nazca and South American plates and affected an area of about 300 km × 120 km defined by the distribution of more than 220 aftershocks recorded by a local seismic network that operated 20 days. The epicenter of the main shock was localized in the northwestern extremity of the aftershock area, which suggests that the rupture propagated towards the SE direction. The modeling of P-wave for teleseismic distances permitted to define a focal mechanism of reverse type with NW-SE oriented nodal planes and a possible fault plane moving beneath almost horizontally in NE direction. The source time function (STF) suggests a complex process of rupture during 85 sec with 2 successive sources. The second one of greater size, and located approximately 100–120 km toward the SE direction was estimated to have a rupture velocity of about 2 km/sec on a 28°-dipping plane to the SE (N135°). A second event happened 45 sec after the first one with an epicenter 130km farther to the SE and a complex STF. This event and the second source of the main shock caused a Tsunami with waves from 7 to 8 meters that propagated almost orthogonally to the coast line, by affecting mainly the Camaná area.Three of all the aftershocks presented magnitudes greater or equal to Mw = 6.6, two of them occurred in front of the cities of Ilo and Mollendo (June 26th and July 7th) with focal mechanisms similar to the main seismic event. The aftershock of July 5th shows a normal mechanism at a depth of 75 km, and is therefore most likely located within the subducting Nazca plate and not in the coupling. The aftershocks of June 26th (Mw = 6.6) and July 5th (Mw = 6.6) show simple short duration STF. The aftershock of July 7th (Mw = 7.5) with 27-second duration suggests a complex process of energy release with the possible occurrence of a secondary shock with lower focal depth and focal mechanism of inverse type with a great lateral component. Simple and composed focal mechanisms were elaborated for the aftershocks and all have similar characteristics to the main earthquake.The earthquake of June 23rd caused major damages in the whole southern Peru. The damage in towns of Arequipa, Moquegua allow to consider maximum intensities from 6 to 7 (MSK79). In Alto de la Alianza and Ciudad Nueva zones from Tacna, the maximum intensity was of 7⁻ (MSK79).     

A new approach to the monitoring of deformation on Lanzarote (Canary Islands): an 8-year radar perspective

There was significant eruptive activity on Lanzarote (Canary Islands) in the 18th and 19th centuries, and future activity is a clear likelihood today. The fact that not all of the island is covered by geodetic monitoring prompted the authors to assess the possibility of using SAR interferometry for routine volcanic activity monitoring of the island. This paper presents the results obtained after testing this technique using six radar images acquired by the ERS-1 and ERS-2 satellites during the period 1992-2000. The analysis of these images has confirmed the existence of long-term stability coherence across most of the island: a prerequisite for using SAR interferometry in volcano monitoring. The analysis of 15 (redundant) interferograms allowed us to study both the impact of atmospheric artifacts on Lanzarote and any possible displacements, and to conclude that there has been no displacement greater than 3 cm on the island during the period in question. This result matches those obtained with the geodetic equipment installed on the island. Our results show that the inclusion of SAR interferometry in routine geodetic monitoring, supplementing terrestrial techniques, will clearly improve the chances of detecting any possible deformation, and its broad coverage will enhance the interpretation of any observed anomalies.     

The Null method applied to GNSS three-carrier phase ambiguity resolution

The Null method is a technique to fix the ambiguity in L1 phase measurements of the global positioning system (GPS). The method is adapted to new global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) which offer phase measurements at three frequencies. In order to validate the efficiency of the adapted method, results obtained using a software simulator and an emulator are presented. The results are then compared to those obtained with the least-squares ambiguity decorrelation adjustment (LAMBDA) method. Good performance of the Null method in new GNSS systems is shown.Acknowledgments. The measurements used were provided by the European Space Agency, and were generated by Spectra Precision Terrasat under contract No. 12.406/77/NL/DS. The authors thank Maria Belmontes Rivas for her comments and the reviewers for their suggestions.     

Effects of fluid infiltration on wollastonite genesis at the Mérida contact-metamorphic deposits, SW Spain

Summary The Mérida wollastonite deposits (SW Spain) occur in the inner part of a contact-metamorphic aureole developed on impure carbonate rocks of Lower Cambrian age, by the intrusion of a late Hercynian granite. Contact metamorphism associated with the granite emplacement did not only cause an important thermic anomaly but also triggered a complex fluid-rock interaction driven by infiltration of externally-derived fluids. Petrographic and stable isotope data suggest that the aureole was infiltrated by large amounts of aqueous fluids, emanating from the nearby granite, through lithological contacts. As a result of fluid infiltration, an extensive dilution of the CO₂-rich fluid phase evolved by prograde devolatilization reactions took place, thus providing an environment suitable for wollastonite formation.Nearly pure wollastonite bands resulted from chert interlayered in limestone by local exchange between CaO and SiO₂ across bimetasomatic rims, in the presence of virtually pure water showing a magmatic-dominated isotope signature (¹⁸O values as low as 11.8 are recorded for wollastonites adjacent to the granite contact). Distribution and modal abundance of wollastonite provide insights for determining the fluid flow paths and the extent of infiltration. Fluid circulation was dominantly parallel to bedding and clearly focused along marble-metachert boundaries, whi-ch acted as channelways for migration of fluids in the direction of decreasing temperature. Conditions of wollastonite formation have been estimated as follows: P=570-700 bars; T = 550-600°C; and X_{CO 2} 0.05.

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Der Effekt von Fluidinfiltration auf die Genese von Wollastonit in den kontaktmetamorphen Lagerstätten von Mérida, SW Spanien

Zusammenfassung Die Woliastonitlagerstätten von Mérida (SW Spanien) treten im Innenteil einer kontaktmetamorphen Aureole, die sich durch die Intrusion späthercynischer Granite in unreine unterkambrische Karbonatgesteine bildete, auf. Die die Granitplatznahme begleitende Kontaktmetamorphose verursachte nicht nur eine bedeutende thermische Anomalie, sondern löste, kontrolliert durch die Infiltration externer Fluide, auch komplexe Fluid-Gesteinsinteraktion aus. Peterographische und stabile Isotopendaten weisen darauf hin, daß in die Aureole große Mengen an wäßrigen Lösungen, die aus dem nahegelegenen Granit abzuleiten sind, vor allem entlang lithologischer Grenzen infiltrierten. Als Folge der Fluidinfiltration kam es zu einer starken Verdünnung des durch prograde Devolatilisationsreaktionen entstandenen CO₂-reichen Fluids und zur Bildung von Wollastonit.Nahezu reine Wollastonitbänder entstanden aus den dem Kalk zwischengelagertem Chert durch lokalen CaO- und SiO₂-Austausch über bimetasomatische Ränder und zwar in Gegenwart eines offenbar reinen wäßrigen Fluids mit rnagmatisch-dominierter Isotopensignatur (¹⁸O Werte bis 11.8 sind für Wollastonite nahe des Granitkontaktes nachgewiesen). Die Verteilung und die Modalgehalte von Wollastonit erlauben Einblicke in die Bestimmung der Fluidpfade und das Ausmaß der Infiltration. Die Fluidzirkulation erfolgte hauptsächlich parallel zur Schichtung und ist auf die Marmor-Metachert-Grenzen fokussiert, die als Zufuhrkanäle für die Migration der Fluide in Richtung fallender Temperatur agierten. Die Bedingungen der Wollastonitbildung werden folgendermaßen abgeschätzt: P = 570-700 bar; T=550-600°C; X_{CO 2 2}0.05.