Observations and model calculations of an additional layer in the topside ionosphere above Fortaleza, Brazil

Calculations using the Sheffield University plasmasphere ionosphere model have shown that under certain conditions an additional layer can form in the low latitude topside ionosphere. This layer (the F3 layer) has subsequently been observed in ionograms recorded at Fortaleza in Brazil. It has not been observed in ionograms recorded at the neighbouring station São Luis. Model calculations have shown that the F3 layer is most likely to form in summer at Fortaleza due to a combination of the neutral wind and theE × B drift acting to raise the plasma. At the location of São Luis, almost on the geomagnetic equator, the neutral wind has a smaller vertical component so the F3 layer does not form.     

Gravity study of the Djibouti area

In March and April 1972, 380 gravity stations were established in the T.F.A.I. The data were reduced to Bouguer anomalies of 5 mGal isolines. Qualitative and quantitative interpretation based on the gravity map, on seismic data and on the magnetics and physiography of the area revealed that: The crust of the Gulf of Tadjura and the central part of the T.F.A.I. is strongly oceanized and is the direct continuation of the Sheba Ridge.To the north of the Gulf, at the Dankali Mountains, the crust increases in thickness and most probably contains sialic fragments, indicating the continuation of the Danakil Chains in the T.F.A.I.To the south, the structure is bordered by a continental block, the Aysha Horst. The oceanization is concentrated only in the area of deep injections, marked by gravity maxima, whereas the rest of the area is to be described as sub-continental. The crust is attenuated from south (Aysha Horst) to north (Red Sea), from 30 to 15 km in thickness.The pattern of the gravity anomalies shows clearly liniations only along the coasts of the Gulf of Tadjura and the Straits of Bab el Mandeb. Inland the field breaks up into relative minima and maxima, indicating the fragmentation of the crust and the ‘triple junction’ nature of the area.The tectonic process is that of extension, with normal faults having maximum displacements at the northern border of the Gulf of Tadjura.The uppermost mantle has low velocity and density values due to thermal processes in the expanding zone. The state of the upper-mantle material must be that of partial melting due to high temperatures of the order of 800° to 1,000° C at about 15 km depth.     

Macroseismic field of the March 4, 1977 Vrancea earthquake

The macroseismic field of the Vrancea earthquake of March 4, 1977, characterized by the following parameters : H = 19h 21m 56s, ø = 45.8°N, γ = 26.8° E, h = 95 Km, M = 7.2, I = VIIIMSK has been analyzed. The following problems were studied : area and shape of the isoseismals of intensity III–VIII ; elongation of the isoseismal ellipses and decrease of intensity with distance. The results confirm our previous studies (Radu and Apopei, 1978) of strong intermediate earthquakes, but render evidence for some peculiarities in the seismic intensity attenuation as well.     

Kinetics for the photo-chemical degradation of Methyl butyrate in presence of Cl atoms and OH radicals

Journal of Atmospheric Chemistry - The Cl/OH initiated temperature dependent photo-oxidative reaction kinetics of methyl butyrate (MB) were examined using a relative rate (RR) technique. Gas...     

Modeling the attenuated total reflectance infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectrum of apatite

Attenuated total reflectance (ATR) infrared spectra were measured on a synthetic and a natural fluorapatite sample. A modeling approach based on the computation of the Fresnel reflection coefficient between the ATR crystal and the powder sample was used to analyze the line shape of the spectra. The dielectric properties of the samples were related to those of pure fluorapatite using an effective medium approach, based on Maxwell–Garnett and Bruggeman models. The Bruggeman effective medium model leads to a very good agreement with the experimental data recorded on the synthetic fluorapatite sample. The poorer agreement observed on the natural sample suggests a more significant heterogeneity of the sample at a characteristic length scale larger than the mid-infrared characteristic wavelength, i.e., about 10 micrometers. The results demonstrate the prominent role of macroscopic electrostatic effects over fine details of the microscopic structure in determining the line shape of strong ATR bands.     

Inelastic displacement demand of RC buildings subjected to earthquakes generated by intermediate-depth Vrancea seismic source

Evaluating inelastic displacement demand of structures exposed to seismic hazard is required for the design of new buildings as well as for seismic risk assessment of existing structures. Most of the buildings are designed to withstand strong earthquakes by responding in the nonlinear range. Having special parts of the structure designed to develop a stable hysteretic behaviour allows the structure to deform in order to accommodate the displacement demand imposed by strong ground motions. This paper is centred on finding a correspondence between the maximum elastic and inelastic displacement responses of the single degree of freedom (SDOF) systems subjected to earthquakes generated by Vrancea seismic source. Vrancea intermediate-depth earthquakes are responsible for the seismic hazard throughout Romanian territory. They have distinctive features, such as large displacement demand and large predominant periods, which makes Romania a special seismic environment. Using a database of Romanian and Japanese strong ground motions generated by intermediate-depth earthquakes and performing nonlinear dynamic analysis on the SDOF oscillators following the Takeda model, this study estimates the inelastic to elastic displacement ratio of reinforced concrete systems. Soil conditions, epicentral distance and magnitude influence on inelastic response is analysed using constant ductility response spectra. The main findings of the study are: the local increase of the inelastic to elastic displacement ratio for type C soil (Eurocode 8 classification) for large magnitude earthquakes and the significant effect of soil conditions on the inelastic response of the SDOF systems. The inelastic amplification was evaluated using a functional form depending on system ductility, soil conditions and earthquake magnitude.

     

An extended stability criterion for density-driven flows in homogeneous porous media

Stability of density-driven flows is a challenging problem with current applications in major areas like energy exploration, water pollution, nuclear and oil industries. The mathematical model for such flows is a system of coupled non linear partial differential equations. To study the physical stability of the system, we consider steady-state flow and perturb the solution of the full system of equations (without Boussinesq approximation) and investigate how it evolves in time: if the solution does not grow indefinitely, the system is called stable. The perturbations are treated as being the result of sub-scale interactions between the velocity field and the solute mass. Making use of a two-scale expansion of the solution, we derived extended stability criteria that include the effects of density, viscosity and flow velocity in flow configurations aligned parallel as well as orthogonal to gravity forces. Numerical simulations with the numerical simulator d³f$d^{3}f$ are presented to test the theoretical stability criteria.     

Theoretical study of OH-defects in pure enstatite

The infrared spectroscopic properties of selected defects in orthoenstatite are investigated by first-principles calculations. The considered defects include doubly protonated Mg vacancies at M1 and M2 sites, fully protonated SiA and SiB vacancies (hydrogarnet defects), and doubly protonated SiA and SiB vacancies associated with interstitial Mg²⁺ cations. The bands observed at 3,070 and 3,360 cm^?1 in the spectrum of synthetic enstatite samples are ascribed to O2A–H and O2B–H groups, respectively, associated with M2 vacancies. The theoretical models suggest that bands observed at 3,590 and 3,690 cm^?1 in the spectrum of enstatite samples synthesized under low silica-activity conditions correspond to O2H and O1H groups associated with SiB vacancies partially compensated by interstitial Mg²⁺ cations in fivefold coordination. The theoretical relation between the integrated absorption coefficient of OH-defects and vibrational frequencies is consistent with previous observations indicating that the absorption coefficients of OH-defects are comparatively stronger in enstatite than in the olivine polymorphs.