Resistivity surveying

This paper reviews the principles and applications of the resistivity method of geophysical prospecting. Topics covered are physical principles, instrumentation, field techniques, interpretation procedures, and their recent development. The applications are illustrated by selected case histories of engineering studies, hydrology, structural mapping, and crustal structure.     

The structure of the crust and upper mantle in the Dead Sea rift

The previously published results of a deep seismic refraction study of the Dead Sea—Gulf of Elat rift show crustal thinning underneath the rift and the presence of a 5 km thick velocity transition zone in the lower crust along the rift. The structural interpretation of the first-arrival data was revised using the detailed velocity-depth distribution.The revised crustal thicknesses are 35 km near Elat and 27 km, 160 km south of Elat.The crustal thinning and the presence of the velocity transition zone are interpreted as being the result of intrusion of upper mantle material into the lower crust, possibly representing the initial shape of the processes which have been active further south in the Red Sea since earlier times.     

The structure of SrTiOGeO4 and its solid solution with CaTiOGeO4

Solid solubility and structural phase transitions in (Ca _x Sr_1-x )TiOGeO₄have been studied by means of in situ high temperature X-ray powder diffraction. The displacive A2/a–P2₁/a phase transition analogous to titanite has been followed across the solid solution. Strain analysis indicates a transition temperature of T _c=594 ± 10 K for SrTiOGeO₄ and the additional occurrence of an isosymmetric anomaly at T _i =800 ± 25 K, in analogy to the isomorphous compound CaTiOGeO₄. Lattice parameters as a function of temperature and composition have been determined by X-ray powder diffraction between room temperature and a maximum temperature of 1123 K. The e ₁₁ and e ₁₃ components dominate the strain tensor. All compositions across the solid solution exhibit close to tricritical phase transitions P2₁/a–A2/a. The critical temperature remains almost unaffected by substitution of Sr for Ca, but the magnitude of the spontaneous strain drops significantly with even small amounts of Sr present.     

Statistical Links between Solar Cosmic Rays,Type-II Radio Emission,and Coronal Mass Ejections

Geomagnetism and Aeronomy - Type-II radio emission often accompanies events in solar cosmic rays and is an indicator of the propagation of a shock wave in the solar corona. Conversely, the shock...     

Temporal development of the 1999 intrusive episode in the Eyjafjallajökull volcano, Iceland, derived from InSAR images

Eyjafjallajökull volcano, located in southern Iceland, is characterized by its quiet nature. Only about a handful of earthquakes associated with the volcanic system had been detected prior to the 1990s. Earthquake swarms did, however, occur in 1994 and 1999. Here we investigate the spatio-temporal evolution of a magmatic intrusion associated with the 1999 earthquake swarm via analysis of produced surface deformation. A series of interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) images, spanning various periods of the intrusion, show that in 1999 surface deformation occurred mainly on the southern flanks of the volcano. The deformation amounts to more than 20 cm of range change. Inverse modeling resolves the deformation source to be a sill intrusion at 6.3 km depth. Sill opening was up to 1 m and the total intruded volume amounts to ～0.03 km³. The InSAR data display a migration of the center of deformation through time, enabling us to create time-dependant sill-opening models. Furthermore, we investigate the spatio-temporal distribution of earthquakes and find that the distribution supports the InSAR derived model and additionally provides indications for a possible site of a feeder channel. Magmatic flow-rate estimates indicate an initial intrusion rate of 4–6 m³/s, declining over a few weeks.     

震后地形变与孔隙压力瞬态变化的相互关系

大震改变地壳的应力,从而触发地震及其余震。一系列随时间变化的过程,包括余滑、孔隙流体的流动、下地壳和上地幔粘性的张驰、断层附近应力和孔隙压力调整以及地震的触发进程。然而,尽管进行过多次尝试,但通过直接场地的观测,很难将这些过程区分开来。这里我们采用一种星载雷达干涉图和冰岛南部地震带两个6.5级地震地热井水位变化过程结合的测量法。干涉图记录到的形变既不能用余滑也不能用粘-弹性张驰来解释,但它与地震发生后最初两个月孔隙弹性物质的回跳一致,这可以用地震引起水位变化的快速恢复(1—2个月)来证实,相反余震序列的持续时间达到3.5年,这表明余震的持续时间并不是由孔隙流体的流动控制的,但是,因为表面应变是由地壳浅部孔隙压力的变化控制的,因此,我们不能排除在余震发生深度存在较长时间的孔隙压力瞬态变化。余震的持续时间与随速度和状态变化的摩擦定律控制的地震活动变化速率模型是一致的。     

Seismic investigation of crust-mantle transition in continental rift systems - Jordan-Dead Sea rift and Rhinegraben

The recent acquisition of high-quality seismic refraction data in the Jordan—Dead Sea rift and adjacent areas has made possible the investigation of the dynamic properties of seismic P-waves refracted and reflected at the crust—upper mantle boundary.

These waves cause high-amplitude arrivals near the outer cusp of the travel-time curve which are followed by an abrupt decrease in amplitudes at increasing distances beyond the cusp.

It has been shown that such amplitude distributions can only be the result of a smooth rapid increase of velocity with depth. In the case of the Jordan—Dead Sea rift the amplitude distribution indicates the presence of a transition zone between the lower crust and upper mantle in which the velocity increases smoothly. The interpretation of seismic refraction data in the Rhinegraben indicates the existence of a similar transition zone. In both rifts the crust—mantle boundary outside the rift is represented by sharp velocity discontinuity.

The comparison of the velocity structure of the crust—upper mantle boundary suggests that a smooth transition zone at the base of the lower crust is a characteristic property of continental rifts which could be interpreted in terms of crust—mantle interaction.     

Peculiarities of the outer radiation belt dynamics during the strong magnetic storm of May 15, 2005

The dynamics of energetic electrons (E _e =0.17–8 MeV) and protons (E _p =1 MeV) of the outer radiation belt during the magnetic storm of May 15, 2005, at high (GOES-10 and LANL-84 geosynchronous satellites) and low (Meteor-3M polar satellite) altitudes is analyzed. The data have been compared to the density, plasma velocity, solar wind, and magnetic field measurements on the ACE satellite and geomagnetic disturbances. During the magnetic storm main phase, the nighttime boundary of the region of trapped radiation and the center of westward electrojet shifted to L ～ 3. Enhancements of only low-energy electrons were observed on May 15, 2005. The belt of relativistic electrons with a maximum at L ～ 4 was formed during the substorm, the amplitude of which reached its maximum at ～0630 UT on May 16. The results are in good agreement with the regularity relating the position of a maximum of the new relativistic electron belt, boundaries of the trapped radiation region, and extreme low-latitude position of westward electrojet center to the Dst variation amplitude.