Recent rainfall trends on the margins of the subtropical deserts: A comparison of selected northern hemisphere regions

An analysis of recent (1898–1972) seasonal rainfall data from California (winter) and Mexico (summer) provides no evidence of an inverse relationship such as has been reported by Winstanley for climatically analogous areas of Eurasia and Africa. However, California and Old World winter rain trends have been remarkably similar during this time period. Also, summer rain in northwestern Mexico (Mazatlan) correlates highly with winter rainfall in southern California (San Diego) when allowance is made for a 7-year lag. Winstanley suggested that the expansion and contraction of the circumpolar vortex is a primary control of rainfall trends on the margins of the subtropical deserts. The alternative proposed here is that, at least on this time scale, variations in the longitudinal position of troughs and ridges in the upper air westerlies are more important.     

Concentration of anionic detergents in Rio Grande water (South Brazil)

The concentration of anionic detergents, polyphosphates, ammonia, seston and dissolved oxygen have been determined in a small bay near the principal sewage discharge of the city of Rio Grande. The results show great variations in the concentrations, as a function of the time of the day. The highest concentrations in anionic detergents were observed between 09.00 and 10.00 in the morning, and from 18.00 to 21.00. The other parameters present an erratic distribution, except the dissolved oxygen, showing a net increase in the second half of the sampling period.     

Effects of moisture on strata control in coal mines

Moisture has been known to influence strata failures in coal mines for a long time. However, it is only in the last decade that researchers have attempted to quantify this effect. In the laboratory, attempts have been made to study the effects of moisture on the strength of coal-bearing rocks, moisture gain in shales as a function of time and pressures generated due to swelling, slaking and swelling indices and their possible correlation to strata control problems, and effect of humidity variations on anchor creep and bearing plate performance in conjunction with conventional bolts. In the field, researchers have attempted to correlate humidity variations with the incidence and frequency of roof falls and roof convergence, and effects of air tempering on reducing humidity variations in the mine.

A concise review of what is known about effects of moisture on strata control with emphasis on the Illinois basin coal mines is presented in this paper. Some approaches to mitigate the effects of moisture—leaving coal in the roof, guniting and shotcreting, application of sealants—are then briefly discussed.     

Light hydrocarbons in Red Sea brines and sediments

Light hydrocarbon (C₁-C₃) concentrations in the water from four Red Sea brine basins (Atlantis II, Suakin, Nereus and Valdivia Deeps) and in sediment pore waters from two of these areas (Atlantis II and Suakin Deeps) are reported. The hydrocarbon gases in the Suakin Deep brine (T = ~ 25°C, $\text{Cl}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{= ~ 85‰}$, $\text{CH}{}_4\text{=}\text{~ 71}\text{1}$) are apparently of biogenic origin as evidenced by $\text{C}{}_1\text{(C}{}_2\text{+ C}{}_3$) ratios of ~ 1000. Methane concentrations (6–8 μl/l) in Suakin Deep sediments are nearly equal to those in the brine, suggesting sedimentary interstitial waters may be the source of the brine and associated methane.The Atlantis II Deep has two brine layers with significantly different light hydrocarbon concentrations indicating separate sources. The upper brine (T = ~ 50°C, $\text{Cl}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{= ~ 73‰}$, CH₄ = ~ 155 μl/l) gas seems to be of biogenic origin [$\text{C}{}_1\text{(C}{}_2\text{+ C}{}_3\text{) = ~1100}$], whereas the lower brine (T = ~ 61°C, $\text{Cl}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{= ~ 155‰}$, CH₄ = ~ 120μl/l) gas is apparently of thermogenic origin [$\text{C}{}_1\text{(C}{}_2\text{+ C}{}_3\text{) = ~ 50}$]. The thermogenic gas resulting from thermal cracking of organic matter in the sedimentary column apparently migrates into the basin with the brine, whereas the biogenic gas is produced in situ or at the seawater-brine interface. Methane concentrations in Atlantis II interstitial waters underlying the lower brine are about one half brine concentrations; this difference possibly reflects the known temporal variations of hydrothermal activity in the basin.     

The use of linear programming in the analysis of petrological mixing problems

Petrological mixing problems such as modal analysis, magma mixing, and liquid line of descent calculations, can be solved using the methods of linear programming. If estimates of the standard error of the chemical data are introduced as weights into the set of equations, it is possible to assign confidence limits to the solutions which are obtained and to apply formal statistical tests to geological hypotheses based on the mixing model. This approach is applied to petrological data previously analysed by Wright and Doherty (1970) using a combination of linear programming and least squares methods. It is shown that some of the geological inferences which they drew were based on an overoptimistic assessment of the confidence limits on their solutions, and cannot be regarded as proven.     

Observational study of terrestrial eigenvibrations

A comprehensive analysis has been made of analog and digital recordings of eigenvibration ground motion obtained following four great earthquakes; August 1976 (Philippines), August 1977 (Indonesia), September 1979 (West Irian), and December 1979 (Colombia). The time series (ranging in length from ～28 to ～140 h) are assumed to be linear combinations of damped harmonics in the presence of noise. Tables are calculated from values of the four parameters: Θ, used in describing eigenvibrations, period of oscillation, amplitude, damping factor Q, and phase together with their statistical uncertainties (53 spheroidal modes, ${}_0\text{S}{}_4\text{to}{}_0\text{S}{}_{48}$, and 13 torsional modes, ${}_0\text{T}{}_8\text{to}{}_0\text{T}{}_{45}$). The estimation procedures are by the methods of complex demodulation and non-linear regression that specifically incorporate into the basic model the decaying aspect of the oscillations. These methods, extended to simultaneous estimations of groups of modes, help to eliminate measurement error and measurement bias from estimations of Θ. The result is that overtone modes very near in frequency to fundamental modes can, under certain conditions, be resolved through a non-linear regression technique, although parameter uncertainties are underestimated in general.Of the time series analyzed, 17 were from a northern California regional network of ultra-long period seismographs at Berkeley (three components), Jamestown (vertical component), and Whiskeytown (vertical component) following the four listed earthquakes. The other 7 time series were recorded digitally by the worldwide IDA network following the 1977 Indonesian earthquake. Weighted regional and worldwide averages were made for period and Q of each eigenvibration mode.From the theoretical viewpoint, comparisons of measured period, Q, amplitude, and phase for all modes analyzed led to five conclusions. First, there are no detectable systematic shifts in period, Q, or phase of eigenvibrations within a region whose dimensions are less than a wavelength. Second, though not conclusive, there may be slight systematic shifts in period (<0.65 s) and relative amplitudes within the California regional network due to different source positions and mechanisms. Differences in Q values are not statistically significant. Third, even though differences in period obtained worldwide were as great as 1.33 s (≈0.33%), differences between Q values (as great as 20%) for the same mode were not significant. The conclusion is that the damping characteristics of singlet eigenfunctions are not observed to be significantly different. Fourth, the assumption that a multiplet ${}_{\mathrm{n}}\text{S}{}_{\mathrm{l}}$ behaves as a single oscillation is valid from at least ${}_0\text{S}{}_7$ through ${}_0\text{S}{}_{30}$. Fifth, no systematic pattern emerged for the shift of eigenperiod as a function of order / or posit on the Earth.     

On the occurrence and stability of divalent chromium in olivines included in diamonds

Olivine inclusions in diamonds from kimberlites originating from the deep Upper Mantle contain significant amounts of chromium. It has been suggested that divalent chromium occurs in these olivines. This hypothesis is supported by recent Mössbauer and electronic spectral measurements at high pressures, which demonstrate that pressure-induced reduction takes place in compounds and minerals initially containing Fe³⁺, Mn³⁺, and Cu²⁺ ions. The process is facilitated at high temperatures. Low oxidation states of other metals such as Cr(II) are expected to be stabilized under the very high pressures and elevated temperature conditions in the Mantle. Since Cr²⁺ ions are susceptible to the Jahn-Teller effect, they are predicted by crystal field theory to be stabilized in certain distorted coordination sites, such as the olivine Ml site, all three sites of the -spinel phase, and the 7-coordinated site of the strontium plumbate structure-type. The Cr²⁺ ions in olivines are stabilized in kimberlites intruded into the Crust by the high confining pressures in the diamond inclusions.     

Thermodynamics of coexisting cummingtonite-hornblende Pairs

The activity-composition relations for calcium-rich and calcium-poor amphiboles are calculated from the composition of coexisting cummingtonite-hornblende pairs from a suite of New Zealand rhyolites. The activities are formulated in terms of site occupancies and the regular solution model is used to represent non-ideal mixing of the cations on each site. The regular solution parameters for each site are calculated from the compositions of the coexisting amphiboles. The resulting activity-composition relations are used to calibrate the standard Gibbs energy change for the reaction $${\text{7MgSiO}}_{\text{3}} {\text{ + SiO}}_{\text{2}} {\text{ + H}}_{\text{2}} {\text{O = Mg}}_{\text{7}} {\text{Si}}_{\text{8}} {\text{O}}_{{\text{22}}} {\text{(OH)}}_{\text{2}} $$ assuming that the lowest temperature rhyolites in this suite crystallised at \(P_{{\text{H}}_2 {\text{O}}} = P_{{\text{total}}} \)