Fission-Track-Alter von Durango-Apatit,Mexiko

Spontaneous and induced fission tracks in apatite were revealed by etching with HNO₃ and used for fission track dating. The fission track age of specimens known as Durango-Apatite was found to be (36.3±3.5) · 10⁶ a.

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Die Untersuchungen wurden mit Mitteln des Österreichischen Fonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung durchgeführt.

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Den Herrn Prof. Dr. M. Higatsberger und Dipl.-Ing. A. Burtscher von der Studiengesellschaft für Atomenergie in Seibersdorf verdanken wir die sorgfältige Durchführung der Bestrahlung der Proben.     

Die Interpretation von seismischen Reflexionsmessungen mit abgebrochenen Potenzreihen

Zusammenfassung Es wird unter der Voraussetzung, dass die Laufzeitfunktion (r) oder ² (r) durch eine abgebrochene Potenzreihe dargertellt werden kann, das Problem der Reflexionsseismik in einem einachsig inhomogenen Körper allgemein und exakt gelöst. Weiter wird für geneigte Sprungflächen eine Näherungslösung angegeben und ein Beispiel behandelt.

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Summary Under the assumption, that the travel-time function (r) or ² (r) can be represented by a restricted power serie, the problem of the reflection seismic in a uniaxial inhomogeneous medium is generally and exactly treated. Furthermore an approximate solution for inclined surfaces of discontinuity and an example are given.

     

Über Titanit von Graubünden Untersuehungen an Kristallen von der Muotta Naira und vom Tobel Drun

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Zur Interpretation von seismischen Refraktionsmessungen

Zusammenfassung Unter der Voraussetzung, dass die Frontgeschwindigkeitc eine stetige und monoton wachsende Funktion von der Tiefez ist, wird dargelegt, wie man aus einer gemessenen Laufzeitkurve () die zuc inverse Funktionz=z (c) auf einfache Weise berechnen kann. Weiter wird die Eindringtiefez _m in Funktion von ermittelt und abschliessend ein Beispiel gegeben.

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Summary Based on a recorded travel-time curve (), a simple direct method is developed for calculating the functionz=z (c), under the asumption that the wave velocityc is a regularly monotone increasing function of the depthz. Finally a rumerical example is given.

     

The detection and interpretation of hydrogen in fault gases

Hydrogen gas can be released by chemical and mechanical changes in crustal rocks. Once released, it is highly mobile, buoyant, and almost insoluble in groundwater. A fault system may act as a conduit, allowing hydrogen to accumulate in soil gases near a surface expression. Since hydrogen is scarce in ambient air, its presence at elevated levels in soil gases may be a tool for fault mapping. In order to evaluate this tool, we surveyed eleven different faults by measuring the concentration of hydrogen and methane in 2 to 21 soil-gas samples that were collected near each of them. The sense of motion at four of those faults is normal (western United States, Greece), at five it is strike-slip or dip-slip (California, Colorado, Japan), and at two it is thrusting (California). At four of these faults (Hebgen Lake, Yellowstone, Yamasaki, Burro Mountain) maximum concentrations of hydrogen ranged from 80 ppm to 70% and methane from 300 ppm to 5%. All other sites showed ambient levels of both gases, except for one sample taken at Mt. Borah, Idaho, that was 2% methane. From this preliminary study it is not clear whether the presence of hydrogen is correlated uniquely to the location of faults or whether it occurs randomly. The conditions required to produced and accumulate hydrogen are also not clear. Excess hydrogen may well be produced by different mechanisms in different geological regimes. For example, if ferrous hydroxide is present in local rocks, it may react to produce hydrogen. Detailed and extensive studies are needed to clarify the connection between hydrogen and tectonic faulting.     

Bacterial decay of the autumnal phytoplankton in Lake Constance (Bodensee)

The breakdown of autumnal phytoplankton was studied in Lake Constance by combining chemical seston analyses, bacterial counts and scanning electron microscopy. High algal biomass was associated with low numbers of free-living bacteria. The degradation of algae occurred in two phases: First, dissolved material was released leading to growth of free-living bacteria. Thereafter, bacteria attached to the decaying particles and decomposed them until highly refractory material was left behind. Attached bacteria always comprised less than 25% of total bacteria. Dead organic seston exceeded microbial biomass by a factor of 4–10. Pheopigments increased in senescent and dying algal cells relative to chlorophyll. Therefore, pheopigment fractions were used as a relative index of algal decay.     

A Temporal Variant‐Invariant Validation Approach for Agent‐based Models of Landscape Dynamics

Agent‐based modeling provides a means for addressing the way human and natural systems interact to change landscapes over time. Until recently, evaluation of simulation models has focused on map comparison techniques that evaluate the degree to which predictions match real‐world observations. However, methods that change the focus of evaluation from patterns to processes have begun to surface; that is, rather than asking if a model simulates a correct pattern, models are evaluated on their ability to simulate a process of interest. We build on an existing agent‐based modeling validation method in order to present a temporal variant‐invariant analysis (TVIA). The enhanced method, which focuses on analyzing the uncertainty in simulation results, examines the degree to which outcomes from multiple model runs match some reference to how land use parcels make the transition from one land use class to another over time. We apply TVIA to results from an agent‐based model that simulates the relationships between landowner decisions and wildfire risk in the wildland‐urban interface of the southern Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA. The TVIA approach demonstrates a novel ability to examine uncertainty across time to provide an understanding of how the model emulates the system of interest.     

阿拉斯加北极地区的工程设计和施工经验及教训

阿拉斯加北极地区位于布鲁克斯山以北, 白令海峡以东的北坡地区, 属北极海洋性气候区. 区内寒冷( -10 ～ -6 ℃)、连续多年冻土厚度多在200～300 m, 局部达700 m. 地表湖塘和冰楔多边形广泛分布. 阿拉斯加北极地区的工程建筑活动主要为海军部和商业石油勘探、开发和运输服务. 从20世纪40年代以来, 尽管有不少的曲折和教训, 但成功和可以借鉴的经验很多. 最成功的例子当数普如道湾油气田开发、阿里亚斯卡输油管道工程及其相应的环境保护措施. 工程师为了成功和经济地在北极地区修筑和运行工程设施, 必须从"冷"处着想, 并付诸计划和行动. 设计和施工的工程师必须保持实事求是、不断创新精神, 而不拘泥于中纬度地区的教育、培训, 或行业传统. 从工程勘察、设计到施工阶段, 工程师和从事环境研究的科学家必须密切合作. 工程师需要知道环境参数, 制约因素和可利用的机会; 环境科学家需要知道工程师的施工设计和问题, 理解工程限制条件、设备工作能力, 以及备选方案的经济学问题. 这些相互理解只能在密切合作中形成, 并能创造工程经济效益和奇迹.     

Highway Roadway Stability Influenced by Warm Permafrost and Seasonal Frost Action: A Case Study from Glennallen, Alaska, USA

Ground temperatures from four of the seven extensively studied highway cross-sections near Gulkana/Glennallen,Alaska during 1954~1962,were chosen to better understand the impacts of highway construction on warm permafrost.Both the thawing of permafrost and seasonal frost action impacted on road surface stability for about 6 years until the maximum summer thaw reached about 3 m in depth.Seasonal frost action caused most of the ensuing stability problems.Unusually warm summers and the lengths of time required to re-freeze the active layer were far more important than the average annual air temperatures in determining the temperatures of the underlying shallow permafrost,or the development of taliks.The hypothesized climate warming would slightly and gradually deepen the active layer and the developed under-lying talik,but its effect would be obscured by unusually warm summers,by warmer than usual winters,and by the vari-able lengths of time of the zero curtains.At least one period of climate mini-cooling in the deeper permafrost during the early 20th century was noted.