Gravitational ballooning instability of prominences

Prominences can be unstable to a gravitational ballooning instability of the Rayleigh-Taylor type. A two-dimensional generalized Kippenhahn-Schlüter prominence equilibrium is constructed. Its stability to ideal, three-dimensional, short-wavelength line-tied perturbations is analyzed. The instability requires a critical vertical density gradient. For a given magnetic field strength, the instability is sensitive to the angle at which the magnetic field lines cross the prominence. An approximate, sufficient, threshold condition is consistent with typical prominence parameters.     

Development of orthopyroxene-Fe/Mg ferrite symplectites by continuous olivine oxidation

The development of orthopyroxene-Fe/Mg ferrite symplectites associated with olivine is discussed with respect to the chemical reactions by which they form. Previously proposed reactions are presented graphically and the differences between them are reviewed. With the exception of exsolution, these are all discontinuous reactions in the sense that olivine is replaced by the two-phase symplectite assemblage.Olivine-hosted symplectites developed in the margins of lherzolite xenoliths from Kauai, Hawaii, demonstrate a reaction mechanism which has not been previously documented from natural samples. Original Fo₉₀ olivine in these samples oxidized to a new assemblage consisting of orthopyroxene (En_92–95)-Fe/Mg ferrite (Mf_35–50) symplectites developed within more magnesian olivine (Fo_92–96) hosts. Thus, by this mechanism, olivine of a different composition persists as part of a final three-phase assemblage. As oxidation advanced, the compositions of all three product phases became continuously more magnesian and the stoichiometric coefficients of the orthopyroxene and Fe/Mg ferrite continuously increased, whereas those of the product olivine decreased in the mass-balance equations. These characteristics demonstrate that the reaction was controlled by oxygen diffusion into the xenoliths from the highly oxidized alkali picrite melt in which they were entrained. Thermodynamic calculations suggest that a gradient in oxygen fugacity of 10^0.9 bars existed across the xenolith rims and resulted in compositional gradients of 4 mol% fayalite and ferrosilite and 15 mol% magnetite.     

The system tonalite-peridotite-H2O at 30 kbar,with applications to hybridization in subduction zone magmatism

We present data on the phase relationships of mixtures between natural tonalite and peridotite compositions with excess H₂O at 30 kbar, and on the composition of the piercing point where the peridotite-tonalite mixing line intersects the L(Ga,Opx) reaction boundary. These data, in conjunction with earlier analogous data along peridotite-granite and basalt-granite mixing lines, permit construction of a pseudoternary liquidus projection that is relevant to interaction of peridotite with slab-derived magmas. Knowledge of the liquidus phase and temperature for a range of compositions within this projection enables us to map primary crystallization fields for quartz, garnet, orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene, and olivine, and to estimate the distribution of isotherms across the projection. Using this projection, we explore the consequences of peridotite assimilation by mafic to intermediate (basalt to dacite) hydrous slab-derived melts. Progressive assimilation under isothermal conditions results in garnet precipitation as the melt composition traverses the garnet liquidus surface and then garnet+orthopyroxene crystallization once the melt reaches the L(Ga,Opx) field boundary. The melt is constrained to remain on this field boundary and further assimilation of peridotite simply results in continued precipitation of garnet+orthopyroxene until the melt is consumed. The product is a hybrid solid assemblage consisting of Ga+ Opx. It is noteworthy that this process drives the melt composition in a direction nearly perpendicular to the mixing line between peridotite and the initial melt. If assimilation occurs with increasing temperature (as might occur if a slab-derived magma rises into the hotter mantle wedge), intermediate magmas (e.g. andesites) will again precipitate garnet until they reach the L(Ga,Opx) reaction boundary at which point Ga re-dissolves and orthopyroxene precipitates as the melt composition moves up-temperature along this boundary. The product of this process is a hybrid solid assemblage with garnet subordinate to orthopyroxene. For more mafic initial compositions (e.g. basalts) originally plotting in the Cpx field, it appears possible to avoid field boundaries involving garnet and shift in composition more directly toward peridotite, if assimilation is accompanied by a sharp increase in temperature. Considering published REE evidence (arguing against garnet playing a significant role in the genesis of many subduction-related magmas) in light of our results, it appears unlikely that peridotite assimilation by intermediate magmas under conditions of constant or increasing temperature is an important process in subduction zones. However, if assimilation is accompanied by an increase in temperature, our data do permit the derivation of high-Mg basalts from less refractory precursors (e.g. high-Al basalts) by peridotite assimilation.     

Racing climate change: Collaboration and conflict in California's global climate change policy arena

Media accounts routinely refer to California's Assembly Bill 32 (AB 32), the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, as “landmark” climate change legislation. On its surface, this label is an accurate reflection of the state's forward-thinking stance across many environmental issues including pesticides, toxic substances, solid waste, and air quality. For all its promise, however, AB 32 can also be considered a low point in the landscape of conflict between state environmental regulators and California's environmental justice movement. While the legislation included several provisions to address the procedural and distributive dimensions of environmental justice, the implementation of AB 32 has been marked by heated conflict. The most intense conflicts over AB 32 revolve around the primacy of market mechanisms such as “cap and trade.” This article examines the drivers and the manifestations of these dynamics of collaboration and conflict between environmental justice advocates and state regulators, and pays particular attention to the scalar and racialized quality of the neoliberal discourse. The contentiousness of climate change politics in California offers scholars and practitioners around the world a cautionary tale of how the best intentions for integrating environmental justice principles into climate change policy do not necessarily translate into implementation and how underlying racialized fractures can upend collaboration between state and social movement actors.     

The earthquake of November 21, 1979 in NE Bohemia

Summary The present paper describes the macroseismic field of the earthquake which occurred in NE Bohemia on November 21, 1979. The co-ordinates of the epicentre, the focal depth, the epicentral intensity and the magnitude of the considered shock are determined on the basis of macroseismic and microseismic data.     

A model for elemental coronal flux loops

The photosphere possesses many small, intense patches of magnetic flux. Each of these patches (or sources) is connected magnetically through the corona to several sources of opposite polarity. An elemental flux loop consists of all of the flux joining one such source to another. We find that each source is connected to twenty other sources, on average, and that the typical flux and diameter of elemental loops in the corona are 10¹⁶ Mx and 200 km; there are approximately 17 separators for each source. We also model a typical large-scale coronal loop consisting of many elemental loops and determine its complex internal topology. Each upright null lies at the end of about 22 separatrices, which tend to be clustered together in trunk-like structures, analogous to river-valleys in a geographical contour map. Prone nulls correspond to saddle points, while their spines are analogous to watersheds.     

Terrane character of the north-east margin of the Moldanubian Zone: the Kutná Hora Crystalline Complex,Bohemian Massif

Three major allochthonous units have been distinguished on the north-eastern border of the Moldanubian Zone, which differ each from other in lithology and structural and metamorphic evolution. Their present day position displays significant metamorphic and structural inversion resulting from progressive nappe stacking during the Variscan orogeny. The uppermost-Gföhl Unit consists of anatectic rocks containing high temperature/high pressure relics, i.e. granulites, eclogites and garnet peridotites. The rocks of the Gföhl Unit were strongly mylonized during uplift and later also extensively migmatized in the kyanite stability field. The Kouiim Nappe is built up by a sequence of fine-grained leucocratic migmatites with preserved relics of a pre-Variscan deformation event. This event was terminated by the intrusion of coarse-grained porphyritic granites, converted into augen orthogneisses by the Variscan orogeny. The lowermost Micaschist Zone was formed from a sequence of metapelites intercalated with diopsidic amphibolites.During uplift from deep crustal zones the Gföhl Unit cut off a thick slice of the basement crustal material represented by the Kourim Nappe. The quartzo-feldspathic material of the Kourim Nappe acted as a major shear interface because of its extreme ductility under the conditions found in the middle crust. This process occurred under amphibolite facies metamorphism. The continuous uplift of the nappe pile induced another crustal segment in the nappe stack, represented by the Micaschist Zone. The whole nappe sequence was then thrust over the Moldanubian Zone. A westward sense of shear is suggested for the whole uplift history. The kinematic pattern was complicated by later strike-slip ductile faults which finished the recent geological configuration.Correspondence to: J. Synek     

Assessment of the exploitable biomass of thread herring(Opisthonema spp.) in northwestern Mexico

In recent years, the small pelagic fishery on the Pacific northwest coast of Mexico has significantly increased fishing pressure on thread herring Opisthonema spp. This fishery is regulated using a precautionary approach(acceptable biological catch(ABC) and minimum catch size). However, due to fishing dynamics, fish aggregation habits and increased fishing mortality, periodic biomass assessments are necessary to estimate ABC and assess the resource status. The Catch-MSY approach was used to analyze historical series of thread herring catches off the western Baja California Sur(BCS, 1981–2018) and the Gulf of California(GC, 1972–2018) to estimate exploitable biomass and target reference points in order to obtain catch quotas. According to the results, in GC,the maximum biomass reached in 1972(at the beginning of fishery) and minimum biomass reached in 2015; the estimated exploitable biomass for 2019 was 42.2×10~4 t; and the maximum sustainable yield(MSY) was 15.4×10~4 t.In the western BCS coast, the maximum biomass was reached in 1981(at the beginning of fishery) and minimum biomass was reached in 2017; the estimated exploitable biomass for 2019 was 3.2×10~4 t; and the MSY was 1.2×10~4 t.Both stocks showed a decrease in biomass over the past years and were currently near to point of full exploitation.The results suggest that the use of the Catch-MSY method is suitable to obtain annual biomass estimates, in order to establish an ABC, to know the current state of the resource, and to avoid overcoming the potential recovery of the stocks.