Variability of polar motion oscillations with periods from 20 to 150 days in 1979–1991

Variability of short period oscillations of polar motion with periods ranging from 20 to 150 days were investigated in the period 1979–1991. The new computation method of time variable band pass filter spectra and the Wavelet Transform method were applied. These oscillations are elliptical with variable amplitudes. Modulation periods of amplitude variations of these oscillations of about two and three years were found. Correlations of short period oscillations of polar motion and of effective atmospheric angular momentum (EAAM) excitation functions show annual variations and connections of their increases with El Niño phenomena.     

Mixing processes in wide open channels

The work contains analyses of two cases of stream diffusion under conditions of turbulent flow in an open channel. The analysed cases were: a source of rectangular cross-section placed in the channel axis and at the wall. To describe the mixing process the known equation of the turbulent diffusion was used. Verification of the solution for the considered cases was made based on research performed on models.     

Thermomagnetic properties of some Late Mesozoic diabase dikes of South Spitsbergen

Summary Laboratory investigations of thermomagnetic properties of specimens from seven diabase dikes of South Spitsbergen have been performed. Studies of temperature variation of isothermal saturation remanence combined with Hopkinson effect measurements and investigations of low temperature remanence give information on the mineral composition of the magnetic phases present in the magnetic fraction of the diabases. The experiments show that the clean natural remanence of these dikes has been acquired at the time of their, consolidation in the Late Mesozoic, though three of them may have been partially remagnetized at the time of Tertiary orogeny. Since the dikes reveal several normal and reversed directions of clean natural remanence, it is concluded that they were formed at different times in the Late Mesozoic, even though some of them may have been subjected to secondary influences at a later date.     

Nonlinearity of Nonradial Modes in Evolved Stars

We show that in evolved stars, even at relatively low surfaceamplitudes, nonradial modes become strongly nonlinear in thehydrogen shell source, where the Brunt-Väisälä frequency hasits absolute maximum. The measure of nonlinearity is the productof horizontal displacement times the radial wavenumber, . It becomes large already in evolved -Scuti stars.This nonlinearity presents a major problem for interpretations ofamplitude modulation in RR Lyrae stars in terms of nonradial modeexcitation.     

Double Material Segment as the Model of Irregular Bodies

We propose a new, simple model to describe the gravity field of irregular, nonspherical celestial bodies, like small moons or minor asteroids. The simple idea of Duboshin to use a material straight segment for such bodies is extended by combining two perpendicular segments of different lengths and masses. In typical situations, when the longest axis of the body coincides with one segment, the remaining segment must have an imaginary length. The potential remains a real function even if one segment is imaginary. The new model is confronted with the exact form of an ellipsoid's potential and with two alternative simple models for a two-axial and a three-axial ellipsoid.     

Ptolemaic Transformation in Keplerian Problem

We propose the Ptolemaic transformation: a canonical change of variables reducing the Keplerian motion to the form of a perturbed Hamiltonian problem. As a solution of the unperturbed case, the Ptolemaic variables define an intermediary orbit, accurate up to the first power of eccentricity, like in the kinematic model of Claudius Ptolemy. In order to normalize the perturbed Hamiltonian we modify the recurrent Lie series algorithm of HoriuuMersman. The modified algorithm accounts for the loss of a term's order during the evaluation of a Poisson bracket, and thus can be also applied in resonance problems. The normalized Hamiltonian consists of a single Keplerian term; the mean Ptolemaic variables occur to be trivial, linear functions of the Delaunay actions and angles. The generator of the transformation may serve to expand various functions in Poisson series of eccentricity and mean anomaly.     

Energy gap and density in SiO2 polymorphs

A relationship between the energy gap (E _G) and density (ρ) for pure SiO₂ polymorphs is derived from atomic weights and first ionization potentials of free silicon and oxygen atoms. Theoretical considerations are based on the Lorentz electron theory of solids. The eigenfrequency v₀ of elementary electron oscillators, in energy units h v₀, is identified with the energy gap of a solid. The numerical relation is expressed as \(E_G = \sqrt {139.24 - 13.8327\rho } \) is in eV. For low-quartz with a density of 2.65 g/cm³ and also for stishovite with a density of 4.28 g/cm³, the energy gap E _G=10.1 eV and 8.9 eV, respectively. From laboratory measurements for low-quartz E _G=10.2 eV. The energy gap-density relation suggests a critical density value of ρ_x ≈ 10.1 g/cm³ for an SiO₂ phase when the energy gap vanishes (E _G=0), which is consistent with estimated densities for a high pressure silica polymorph with the fluorite structure.     

Chemical processes and migration of elements during retrogression of a staurolite-zone assemblage in western North Carolina

A detailed study of retrograde alteration of a staurolite porphyroblast and its surrounding matrix of mica schist has made use of petrographic, modal, and microprobe analysis. Retrogression was to the garnet zone of metamorphism and apparently occurred largely after a temperature decline of 70–100° C. The event caused metasomatic removal of Zn but may have been isochemical relative to other analyzed elements. The best estimate of the overall reaction is: 1 staurolite+3.018 biotite+3.550 quartz+0.629 albite +0.014 anorthite+0.678 NaCl+14.004 H₂O =3.274 Na-rich muscovite+3.561 chlorite +0.273 ilmenite+0.110 chloritoid+0.039 garnet +0.339 ZnCl₂.Non-systematic variation in composition of analyzed minerals is revealed by statistical treatment of replicate analyses. Such variation involves monovalent and divalent cations within many minerals, but is most pronounced within retrograde muscovite. Muscovite variation involves Si and Al as well as FM and alkalis and does not follow a phengite law of charge-coupled substitution.Relative to the core of the retrograded staurolite crystal, zoning is seen in averaged muscovite compositions and in development of incompatible mineral assemblages, which include chloritoid well within retrograded staurolite but biotite within the matrix. A local gradient in the chemical potential of an Al-bearing component was likely present during retrogression.Alteration of staurolite was probably accomplished by reaction and diffusion through the medium of an intergranular fluid phase. Relative to staurolite, migration of elements involved immigration of considerable amounts of Mg, Na, K, and H and expulsion of Al, Fe, Zn, and O. It is inferred that concentration of Al within the fluid phase was considerably lower than those of monovalent and divalent cations.Preservation of considerable staurolite and evidence for a local concentration gradient of Al in the fluid phase suggest that limited amounts of H₂O were available. Expulsion of Zn suggests that much water was not consumed locally but exited the terrane. An attempt at resolution of this dilemna involves fracture-channelized infiltration of H₂O into the rock. A more regional petrographic study of retrogression suggests that H₂O which entered the rock may have been liberated initially by prograde dehydration at a moderately greater depth of 2–3 km.Results of this study, especially the non-phengitic nature of crystal-chemical substitution within muscovite, indicate chemical reaction under conditions of disequilibrium. Apparently, extent of retrogression was controlled by availability of H₂O rather than by thermochemical equilibria.