Harmonic analysis of the mean northern hemisphere water vapor distribution for the year 1950

Summary Harmonic analyses along latitudes 30°, 45° and 60° of the mean northern hemisphere water vapor field are presented. The seasonal variations of these spectra are investigated and the relative contributions of the various scales of mean eddies to the meridional transport of water vapor are calculated. Of special interest is the finding that perturbations of wave number 2, corresponding to the great continents and oceans, are dominant at all three latitudes and of primary importance in effecting the northward transport of water vapor.The research reported in this article was sponsored by the Geophysics Research Directorate, Air Force Cambridge Research Center, under Contract No. AF 19 (604)-2242.     

Multiple instabilities and modes of glacial rhythmicity in the plio-Pleistocene: a general theory of late Cenozoic climatic change

It has been noted that several distinct modes of glacial oscillation have existed during the past few million years, ranging from low-amplitude, high-frequency oscillations in the early Pliocene, through relatively high amplitude, predominantly near-40 ky period, oscillations in the late Pliocene and early Pleistocene, to the major near-100 ky period oscillations of the late Pleistocene. In addition to other plausible mechanisms suggested previously to explain aspects of this multirhythmic phenomenon, we now illustrate another possible contributor to this type of behavior based on the hypothesis that the slow-response climatic system is bistable and that two kinds of internal instability may be operative along with externally imposed forcing due to earth-orbital (Milankovitch) radiation changes and slow, tectonically-induced changes in atmospheric carbon dioxide. These two instabilities have been discussed previously: one is due to positive feedback in the global carbon cycle leading to near-100 ky free oscillations of the ice sheets, and the other is due to the potential for ice-calving catastrophes associated with bedrock variations that can lead to oscillations of a period near 40 ky, independent of obliquity forcing. Within the framework of a dynamical model containing the possibility for these two instabilities, as well as for stable modes, we show (1) how Milankovitch radiative changes or stochastic forcing influencing ice sheets can induce aperiodic (chaotic) transitions between the possible stable and unstable modes, and more significantly, (2) how progressive, long-term, tectonically-induced, changes in carbon dioxide, acting in concert with earth-orbital radiative variations in high Northern Hemisphere latitudes, can force systematic transitions between the modes. Such systematic changes can result in an ice mass chronology for the past 5 My that is qualitatively similar to the observed record of global ice mass. In essence, we have constructed a minimum dynamical model of the late Cenozoic climatic changes, containing what are believed to be the main physical factors determining these changes: ice mass, bedrock depression, atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration, deep ocean thermohaline state, Milankovitch radiation forcing, and slow tectonically-induced carbon dioxide forcing. This model forms the basis for a coherent theory for the complex climatic events of this long period.     

Obstacle marks produced by flow around stranded ice blocks during a glacier outburst flood (jökulhlaup) in west Greenland

The effects of glacier ice block grounding on the morphology and sedimentology of proglacial fluvial outwash were examined during a glacier outburst flood or jökulhlaup, near Søndre Strømfjord, west Greenland. Observations made during and after the 1987 jökulhlaup both on the surface of an ice contact delta and within a confined valley sandur plain provided information about the formation of ice block obstacle marks and the significance of these bedforms for sandur morphology and sedimentology. Flow directions determined from obstacle mark morphology have been used successfully to chart flow direction changes on the falling limb of the jökulhlaup. Maximum flow depths for scour around stranded ice blocks may be given by 0·5–0·9 times the diameter of the ice block, as estimated from the depth of scour, the height of the obstacle shadow or the extent of ice block meltout sediments. Minimum flow depths can be represented by the height of the obstacle shadow above the mean bed level. The internal composition of the shadow indicates the ability of the flow to transport various sizes of material into the lee of obstacles. Ice block obstacle marks within the distal portion of the sandur initiated waning stage channel change. Proximal and lateral erosion around stranded ice blocks extended downstream from the ice block, forming chute channels which then captured waning stage flows, resulting in significant bar incision with associated deposition of lobate or deltaic deposits. It is suggested that ice block obstacle marks are important in terms of channel morphology, channel morphological change and their usefulness as palaeohydrological indicators.     

Crustal stress in Iceland

Hydrofracturing stress measurements have been carried out to about 0.4 km in two boreholes in Quaternary volcanic rocks in Reykjavik, Iceland, on the flank of the Reykjanes-Langjökull continuation of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The measurements indicate a dominant orientation of _{H max} approximately perpendicular to the axial rift zone, in contrast to earthquake focal mechanism solutions from within the axial rift zone of the Reykjanes Peninsula. In one hole (H32) a depth-dependent change in stress orientation is indicated, with ₁ horizontal above a depth of about 0.25 km, and vertical below it; however the orientation of _{H max} remains unchanged. The data thus suggest reconciliation of an apparent conflict between the dominantly compressive indications of shallow overcoring stress measurements and dominant extension as required by focal mechanism solutions. The measured stresses are supported by the more reliable of overcoring measurements from southeast Iceland, and by recent focal mechanism solutions for the intraplate Borgarfjördur area. A fundamental change in crustal stresses appears therefore to occur as a function of distance from the axis of the axial rift zone. The data seem reasonably explicable in terms of a combination of thermoelastic mechanisms associated with accretion and cooling of spreading lithosphere plates. Stresses directly associated with the driving mechanisms of plate tectonics apparently do not dominate the observed stress pattern.     

Geochemistry and petrogenesis of Archaean metavolcanic amphibolites from Fiskenaesset,S. W. Greenland

The meta-volcanic amphibolites closely associated with the Fiskenaesset anorthosite complex can be subdivided on the basis of trace element patterns or mineral chemistry; by far the most abundant type has light rare-earth element (LREE) depleted REE patterns and displays a wide range in trace element abundances. Chemically comparable amphibolites can be recognised throughout the ca. 2800 M.yr. West Greenland terrain.The geochemistry of the basaltic amphibolites is dominantly controlled by fractional crystallisation processes, although variable degrees of partial melting may also be important. The required crystal extract (plagioclase dominated) in the proposed fractionation scheme is very similar to the primary mineralogy of cumulates of the Fiskenaesset complex and trace element models support a genetic relationship between the anorthosite complex and enclosing host amphibolites.The application of trace element discrimination to assign tectonic environment in the Archaean is arguable. However, details of the trace element chemistry (especially chondritic La/Ta ratios) are taken to suggest, out of a range of likely tectonic environments, an ocean floor, rather than island arc, affinity for the Fiskenaesset amphibolites. The large ion lithophile (LIL) elements display erratic distribution patterns, but are generally enriched relative to the REE. This appears not to be related to high-grade metamorphism but may be a relict feature of seafloor alteration. The association of the cumulate sequence with meta-volcanic amphibolites and metasediments probably represents an ocean floor assemblage emplaced into the lower crust during crustal accretion.     

Subcritical crack propagation in rocks: theory,experimental results and applications

The micromechanisms of tensile fracture are reviewed, with particular emphasis on the influence of chemical effects on fracture controlled by pre-existing cracks (stress corrosion). A fracture mechanism map for quartz is presented which was constructed using a combination of theoretical insights and experimental data. The manner in which stress corrosion will modify the predictions of fracture mechanism maps is discussed by reviewing the numerous theories of stress corrosion. Experimental data are presented on stress corrosion in tensile deformation of quartz, quartz rocks, calcite rocks, basaltic rocks, granitic rocks and other geological materials. Although the experimental evidence for stress corrosion is overwhelming, very few data were obtained under conditions that simulate those in the bulk of the earth's crust and so the extent of its geophysical significance is yet to be fully established. Examples are given, however, of how invoking stress corrosion as a rate-controlling deformation mechanism sheds new light on extremely diverse geophysical phenomena, such as: predicting the strength and sliding friction properties of rocks, modelling earthquake rupture, the stability of hot, dry-rock geothermal reservoirs, stimulation of oil and gas reservoirs, the crack-seal mechanism of rock deformation and low stress dilatancy, fracture mechanics of lunar rocks, magmatic intrusions and the relaxation of internal stresses in rock.     

Analysis of fluoride, chloride, nitrate and sulphate in natural waters using ion chromatography

The analysis of anion components of thirty natural water samples using an ion-chromatographic method were compared to analyses for F, Cl, NO₃ and SO₄ obtained by presently used techniques. Of these thirty samples, five were replicates. Precision estimates were also calculated from synthetic solution replicates. In addition, a comparison of results obtained through separator columns of two different lengths (250 mm and 500 mm) was completed. An inter-anion interference test indicated that, at pH 6, analysis of low concentrations of any one of the four anions studied was not affected by large concentrations of the other three anions. Reported detection limits for the ion-chromatographic technique are one to two orders of magnitude below routine methods. Replicate sample analysis indicated that a relative standard deviation below 1 percent was possible for F, Cl, NO₃ and SO₄.