An alternative scenario for earthquake prediction experiments

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Current earthquake prediction experiments investigate behaviour before potentially large earthquakes. There is some evidence that comparatively small typical events in isolated swarms of earthquakes may have precursory behaviour similar to that before much larger earthquakes in more complicated areas of seismicity. Such typical events in isolated swarms frequently recur with similar magnitudes in similar locations with repetition times sometimes as little as a few days. It is argued that monitoring such typical events in isolated swarms could be an effective way to gain experience of precursory activity, and might well be a good guide for investigations of precursors to large earthquakes.     

Radio sources in the 2dF Galaxy Redshift Survey – II. Local radio luminosity functions for AGN and star-forming galaxies at 1.4 GHz

We have cross-matched the 1.4-GHz NRAO VLA Sky Survey (NVSS) with the first 210 fields observed in the 2dF Galaxy Redshift Survey (2dFGRS), covering an effective area of 325 deg² (about 20 per cent of the final 2dFGRS area). This yields a set of optical spectra of 912 candidate NVSS counterparts, of which we identify 757 as genuine radio identifications – the largest and most homogeneous set of radio source spectra ever obtained. The 2dFGRS radio sources span the redshift range     to 0.438, and are a mixture of active galaxies (60 per cent) and star-forming galaxies (40 per cent). About 25 per cent of the 2dFGRS radio sources are spatially resolved by NVSS, and the sample includes three giant radio galaxies with projected linear size greater than 1 Mpc. The high quality of the 2dF spectra means we can usually distinguish unambiguously between AGN and star-forming galaxies. We make a new determination of the local radio luminosity function at 1.4 GHz for both active and star-forming galaxies, and derive a local star formation density of         .     

Submersed macrophyte effects on nutrient exchanges in riverine sediments

Submersed macrophytes are important in nutrient cycling in marine and lacustrine systems, although their in nutrient exchange in tidally-influenced riverine systems is not well studied. In the laboratory, plants significantly lowered porewater nutrient pools of riverine sediments compared with bare controls. Deep-rootedVallisneria americana lowered the porewater nutrients to a greater extent than the shallow-rootedPotamogeton pectinatus. V. americana showed significantly higher tissue nutrient content (N in roots, P in leaves) thanP. pectinatus. porewater nutrients in the river increased from spring to summer (1995) when vegetation was at its peak (for porewater PO₄-P, p<0.05). In 1996, porewater nutrients were higher during peak plant biomass in the summer than in the fall (for porewater PO₄-P, p<0.05). In the summer (1995) vegetated patches had significantly greater porewater PO₄-P than bare patches. We hypothesize that the concentrating of particulates in riverine grassbeds and subsequent microbial processing may provide an indirect source of nutrients for submersed macrophytes. In tidally-influenced riverine systems, biological mechanisms such as root uptake of nutrients and lateral oxygen release may be masked by the interaction of physical forces (i.e., tides, currents) with the structure of the grassbeds.     

Effects of oxygen and redox oscillation on degradation of cell-associated lipids in surficial marine sediments

Degradation patterns of sedimentary algal lipids were tracked with time under variable redox treatments designed to mimic conditions in organic-rich, bioturbated deposits. Uniformly ¹³C-labeled algae were mixed with Long Island Sound surface muddy sediments and exposed to different redox regimes, including continuously oxic and anoxic, and oscillated oxic: anoxic conditions. Concentrations of several ¹³C-labeled algal fatty acids (16:1, 16:0 and 18:1), phytol and an alkene were measured serially. Results showed a large difference (∼10×) in first-order degradation rate constants of cell-associated lipids between continuously oxic and anoxic conditions. Exposure to oxic conditions increased the degradation of cell-associated lipids, and degradation rate constants were positive functions (linear or nonlinear) of the fraction of time sediments were oxic. Production of two new ¹³C-labeled compounds (iso-15:0 fatty acid and hexadecanol) further indicated that redox conditions and oxic: anoxic oscillations strongly affect microbial degradation of algal lipids and net synthesis of bacterial biomass. Production of ¹³C-labeled iso-15:0 fatty acid (a bacterial biomarker) was inversely proportional to the fraction of time sediments were oxic, rapidly decreasing after 10 days of incubation under oxic and frequently oscillated conditions. Turnover of bacterial biomass was faster under continuously or occasionally oxic conditions than under continuously anoxic conditions. ¹³C-labeled hexadecanol, an intermediate degradation product, accumulated under anoxic conditions but not under oxic or periodically oxic conditions. The frequency of oxic: anoxic oscillation clearly alters both the rate and pathways of lipid degradation in surficial sediments. Terminal degradation efficiency and lipid products from degradation of algal material depend on specific patterns of redox fluctuations.     

多震相层析成像与在介质中的多波型射线跟踪

本文介绍了多震相的层析成像的思路和算法，通过穿透和反射走时可以同时作出２维和３维慢度（速度的倒数）重建。我们分析了在穿透和反射数据中确定速度和深度的不确定性，并认识到深度扰动对反射走时异常比慢度扰动更敏感。由不同波类型所提供的对速度和深度的约束，这个算法实际上减少了在一般反射层析成像在速度和深度之间的不确定性，并且也避免了在穿透层析成像中的不确定问题。线性化反演是通过从反射界面深度由分离速度参数迭代进行的。使用一个快速的２－Ｄ和３－Ｄ射线跟踪算法来计算穿透和反射走时和对幔度及反射界面深度的偏导数。深度和速度都用立方Ｂ样条函数来进行参数化。合成例子表明，当同时考虑穿透和反射时间，层析成像的结果得到改进。这个方法也应用到英国煤炭测量局（ＢｒｉｔｉｓｈＣｏａｌＭｅａｓｕｒｅｓ）沿跨线排列所记录的逆ＶＳＰ数据组。通过使用波形配合技术，用同时确定时间延迟和叠加权，可以自动拾取旅行时间。所观察到的逆ＶＳＰ层析成像可比周围介质具有较低速度的两个断层区域成像。断层的位置由附近的反射测线所确定。本文还讨论了在复杂２－Ｄ和３－Ｄ非均匀各向同性介质中地震射线跟踪方法。界面的几何形状和水平速度场都通过使用非均匀步长立方Ｂ－样条节点     

Shear-wave anisotropy and the stress field from borehole recordings at 2.5 km depth at Cajon Pass

53 local earthquakes recorded at 2.5 km depth in the Cajon Pass scientific borehole are analysed for shear-wave splitting. The time delays between the split shear waves can be positively identified for 32 of the events. Modelling these observations of polarizations and time delays using genetic algorithms suggests that the anisotropic structure near Cajon Pass has orthorhombic symmetry. The polarization of the shear waves and the inferred strike of the stress-aligned fluid-filled intergranular microcracks and pores suggests that the maximum horizontal compressional stress direction is approximately N13°W. This is consistent with previous results from earthquake source mechanisms and the right-lateral strike-slip motion on the nearby San Andreas Fault, but not with stresses measured within the uppermost 3 km of the borehole. This study suggests that the San Andreas Fault is driven by deeper tectonic stresses and the present understanding of a weak and frictionless San Andreas Fault may need to be modified. The active secondary faulting and folding close to the fault are probably driven by the relatively shallow stress as measured in the 3.5 km deep borehole.     

Measurement of PAN in the Polluted Boundary Layer and Free Troposphere Using a Luminol-NO2 Detector Combined with a Thermal Converter

Peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN,CH³C(O)O₂NO₂) has been measured inthe polluted boundary layer and free troposphere by thermal conversion tonitrogen dioxide (NO₂) followed by detection of thedecomposition product with a Scintrex LMA-3 NO₂-luminolinstrument. Following laboratory tests of the efficiency of PAN conversionand investigations of possible interferences, the technique was evaluated atthe West Beckham TOR (Tropospheric Ozone Research) Station near the northNorfolk coast in Eastern England between September 1989 and August 1990. PANmeasured by the new technique was reasonably well correlated with PANrecorded using electron capture gas chromatography (EC/GC). PAN was alsowell correlated with ozone (O³) in the summer months. Springand autumn episodes of simultaneously high concentrations of PAN andO³ were examined in conjunction with air parcelback-trajectories and synoptic- and local-scale meteorology in a study ofthe sources of photooxidants on the east coast of England. Spring-timemeasurements of PAN made in the free troposphere in a light aircraft ataltitudes up to 3.1 km showed the presence of 0.54 and 0.26 ppbv PAN inpolar maritime and mid-latitude oceanic air masses, respectively. Thetechnique is particularly suited to airborne applications because potentialinterferences are minimised and the frequency of measurements is higher thangenerally achieved with EC/GC methods.     

Electron spin resonance spectra of marine and fresh-water manganese nodules

Eighty ferromanganese nodules from a wide variety of marine and fresh-water environments have been analyzed by electron spin resonance spectroscopy. The purpose has been to gain information on the forms in which the major constituents of manganese nodules are present. Contributions to ESR spectra of the nodules come mainly from Mn²⁺ and Fe³⁺. Deep-sea samples generally showed only broad resonance lines, and those with larger peaks close to g = 2.0 are believed to contain more Mn²⁺ than others. Some Antarctic and fresh-water nodules lack a strong Mn²⁺ resonance and have a peak around g = 4.0 which is most likely tetrahedral Fe³⁺. A number of smaller peaks in several samples could not be readily interpreted in terms of contributions from individual ionic species because of fundamental problems in preparing standards having the ion of interest in the same micro-environment as it experiences in the nodules.