Dynamic measurement of sediment grain compressibility at atmospheric pressure: acoustic applications

Under certain conditions, Wood's equation can be used to predict sound speed in fluid/solid-grain suspensions if the bulk moduli and densities of the grains and fluid are known. In this paper, that relationship is used to estimate grain-bulk moduli in suspensions where sound speed, fluid density, fluid bulk modulus, grain density, and particle concentrations are known or accurately measured. Measured values of grain-bulk moduli for polystyrene beads suspended in water (mean = 4.15 /spl times/ 10/sup 9/ Pa) and soda-lime glass beads suspended in a "heavy liquid" (mean = 3.8 /spl times/ 10/sup 10/ Pa) are consistent with the values of bulk moduli for polystyrene beads and soda-lime glass beads found in the literature (3.6 to 4.2 /spl times/ 10/sup 9/ Pa and 3.4 to 4.0 /spl times/ 10/sup 10/ Pa, respectively). These measurements thus provide controls, which demonstrate the validity of the suspension technique to estimate values of particle bulk modulus. The values of bulk modulus, measured using the same suspension techniques, for Ottawa sand and quartz sand grains collected from the coastal sediments of the northeast Gulf of Mexico ranged between 3.8 and 4.7 /spl times/ 10/sup 10/ Pa, with 95% confidence limits between 3.0-5.7 /spl times/ 10/sup 10/ Pa. These measured values of bulk modulus are consistent with the range of handbook values for polycrystalline quartz (3.6 to 4.0 /spl times/ 10/sup 10/ Pa). The use of the lower bulk modulus (i.e., 7.0 /spl times/ 10/sup 9/ Pa) recently suggested by Chotiros is therefore inappropriate and traditional handbook values of sediment grain-bulk moduli should be used as inputs for sediment acoustic modeling.     

Modelling Access with GIS in Urban Systems (MAGUS): capturing the experiences of wheelchair users

Access and mobility are important dimensions of quality of life. For wheelchair users, everyday trips are often fraught with problems, with many barriers imperceptible to the able-bodied, hindering or totally restricting movement. This paper describes a project undertaken with wheelchair users, which has developed, tested and applied a Geographic Information System model. This model acts both as a navigational device for wheelchairs users – enabling them to make informed route choices through urban places – and as a decision support and planning tool for urban planners – making visible the ways in which built environments are often distorted and hostile spaces for wheelchair users.     

Antiferromagnetic inclusions in lunar glass

The magnetic susceptibility of 11 glass spherules from the Apollo 15, 16, and 17 fines and two specimens of a relatively large glass spherical shell were studied as a function of temperature from room temperature to liquid helium temperatures. All but one specimen showed the presence of antiferromagnetic inclusions. Closely spaced temperature measurements of the magnetic susceptibility below 77 K on five of the specimens showed antiferromagnetic temperature transitions (Néel transitions). With the exception of ilmenite in one specimen, these transitions did not correspond to any transitions in known antiferromagnetic compounds.     

Airflow pattern and droplet trajectories about an electrostatic cloud droplet probe

Summary This study considers the numerical results for the airflow pattern to obtain droplet trajectories around and into a leading edge hole of a cloud droplet sampling probe. The probe was initially conceived at MIT and developed into a practical airborne system in the Cloud Physics Program at the National Center for Atmospheric Research. The probe is designed to be an ellipsoid of revolution with a circular sampling hole at the forward stagnation point. The external flow field is assumed to be steady, axisymmetric, irrotational and incompressible and depends on four parameters: the hole radius, axial speed in the hole, free stream velocity and the fineness ratio of the ellipsoid. The trajectory calculations are based on a three-dimensional gravity field with a fluid resistance computed from experimental drag coefficients on spheres. Both numerical and theoretical solutions for the flow field have been obtained for various combinations of the above parameters. For these flow fields, trajectories for droplets have been obtained. From the trajectory calculations we have obtained collection efficiencies for the probe and have compared these trajectories with experimental trajectories obtained at NCAR.The National Center for Atmospheric Research is sponsored by the National Science Foundation.     

Multiple detachment levels and their control on fold styles in the compressional domain of the deepwater west Niger Delta

We interpret recently acquired two‐dimensional (2D) and 3D seismic data from the contractional domain of the Tertiary deepwater west Niger Delta, which is an area of current hydrocarbon exploration and development to show that during its gravitational collapse, multiple detachments were active. Detachments are located within (1) what we herein refer to as the ‘Dahomey unit’, (2) the transition between the Agbada and Akata formations (Top Akata) and (3) the Akata formation. Seismic interpretation and quantitative measurements of fault displacements show that the utilisation of different detachments results in contrasting styles of thrust propagation and fold growth. Two geographical zones are defined. In zone A (NW sector of the study area), the stratigraphically shallowest Dahomey detachment is dominant and is associated with thrust truncated folds. In zone B (SE sector of the study area), a stratigraphically lower detachment approximately at the Agbada–Akata formation boundary is associated with thrust propagation folds. A third detachment, within the Akata formation, is locally developed and is also associated with thrust propagation folds. The different deformational histories are probably related to the mechanical stratigraphy and the pore‐pressure characteristics of the succession.     

Statistical Properties of SGR 1806-20 Bursts

We present statistics of SGR 1806-20 bursts, combining 290 events detected with the Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer/Proportional Counter Array, 111 events detected with the Burst and Transient Source Experiment, and 134 events detected with the International Cometary Explorer. We find that the fluence distribution of bursts observed with each instrument are well described by power laws with indices 1.43, 1.76, and 1.67, respectively. The distribution of time intervals between successive bursts from SGR 1806-20 is described by a lognormal function with a peak at 103 s. There is no correlation between the burst intensity and either the waiting times until the next burst or the time elapsed since the previous burst. In all these statistical properties, SGR 1806-20 bursts resemble a self-organized critical system, similar to earthquakes and solar flares. Our results thus support the hypothesis that the energy source for soft gamma repeater bursts is crustquakes due to the evolving, strong magnetic field of the neutron star, rather than any accretion or nuclear power.     

X-ray source populations in the region of the open clusters NGC 6633 and IC 4756

Using deep exposures (∼10⁵ s) with the ROSAT High Resolution Imager, we have performed flux-limited surveys for X-ray sources in the vicinity of the Hyades-age open stellar clusters NGC 6633 and IC 4756, detecting 31 and 13 sources, respectively. Our primary aim is to search for so-far unrecognized cluster members. We propose identifications or classifications (cluster member, field star, extragalactic field object) for the X-ray sources, based on published membership lists, and on X-ray:optical flux ratios and optical colour–magnitude diagrams. Results of simulating the expected X-ray-emitting source populations are compared with the ROSAT measurements and with the expected capabilities of the XMM mission. The simulations provide a novel method of comparing the activity levels of NGC 6633 and IC 4756 with that of the Hyades. The measurements and simulations confirm that cluster members are the major class of X-ray emitter in these fields at flux levels     (0.1–2.4 keV), contributing ∼40 per cent of the total X-ray sources. We find six possible new members in NGC 6633 and four candidates in IC 4756; all require further observation to establish membership probability.