Naturally Enhanced Ion-Acoustic Spectra And Their Interpretation

Incoherent scatter radars are designed to detect scatter from thermalfluctuations in the ionosphere. These fluctuations contain, among other things,features associated with ion-acoustic waves driven by random motions within theplasma. The resulting spectra are generally broad and noisy, but neverthelessthe technique can, through a detailed analysis of spectra, be used to measure arange of physical parameters in the Earth's upper atmosphere, and provides apowerful diagnostic in studies of magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling,thermosphere dynamics and the geospace environment in general. In recent yearsthere has been much interest in naturally occurring (as opposed to artificiallystimulated) enhanced ion-acoustic spectra seen in the auroral zone andcusp/cleft region. A study of the plasma instability processes that lead tosuch spectra will help us to better understand auroral particle acceleration,wave-particle and wave-wave interactions in the ionosphere, and theirassociation with magnetospheric processes. There is now a substantial body ofliterature documenting observations of enhanced ion-acoustic spectra, but thereremains controversy over generation mechanisms. We present a review ofliterature documenting observations of naturally enhanced ion-acoustic spectra,observed mainly along the geomagnetic field direction, along with a discussionof the theories put forward to explain such phenomena.     

Rheology and geodynamic modelling: the next step forward

The application of continuum mechanics and microstructural analysis to geological studies over the past 30 years has spurred earth scientists to reassess fundamental tectonic processes such as subduction, collision and rifting in terms of dynamics. Armed with new analytical methods, geologists have returned to the field to look at rock structures with more mechanistic eyes. The advent of sophisticated computers, programs, and laboratory deformation equipment has facilitated the simulation of geodynamic processes that range in scale from the grain to the lithosphere. The result has been specialization, with the concomitant opening of communication gaps between geodynamicists, field geologists and rock mechanicists. Partly, these gaps reflect differences of perception and approach. In order to bridge these gaps, a workshop was organized after the DRM conference to debate how field and laboratory studies of deformed rocks can improve our understanding of lithospheric rheology, and in turn, how this understanding can be used to refine dynamic models of orogenesis. The workshop hosted participants with backgrounds in structural geology, experimental rock mechanics, metamorphic petrology and both numerical and analogue modelling. This paper summarizes the main controversies and conclusions reached during the workshop. For the sake of brevity, referencing in this summary is restricted to literature referred to during the oral presentations and to comments made by speakers themselves (names italicized).     

The DAV and Periadriatic fault systems in the Eastern Alps south of the Tauern window

Alpine deformation of Austroalpine units south of the Tauern window is dominated by two kinematic regimes. Prior to intrusion of the main Periadriatic plutons at ~30 Ma, the shear sense was sinistral in the current orientation, with a minor north-side-up component. Sinistral shearing locally overprints contact metamorphic porphyroblasts and early Periadriatic dykes. Direct Rb-Sr dating of microsampled synkinematic muscovite gave ages in the range 33-30 Ma, whereas pseudotachylyte locally crosscutting the mylonitic foliation gave an interpreted ⁴⁰Ar-³⁹Ar age of ~46 Ma. The transition from sinistral to dextral (transpressive) kinematics related to the Periadriatic fault occurred rapidly, between solidification of the earlier dykes and of the main plutons. Subsequent brittle-ductile to brittle faults are compatible with N-S to NNW-SSE shortening and orogen-parallel extension. Antithetic Riedel shears are distinguished from the previous sinistral fabric by their fine-grained quartz microstructures, with local pseudotachylyte formation. One such pseudotachylyte from Speikboden gave a ⁴⁰Ar-³⁹Ar age of 20 Ma, consistent with pseudotachylyte ages related to the Periadriatic fault. The magnitude of dextral offset on the Periadriatic fault cannot be directly estimated. However, the jump in zircon and apatite fission-track ages establishes that the relative vertical displacement was ~4-5 km since 24 Ma, and that movement continued until at least 13 Ma.     

Two Experimental Methods to Determine the Speciation of Cadmium in Sediment from the River Neckar

The binding forms of Cd to an anaerobic sediment of low sulfide content from Lauffen reservoir (River Neckar, Germany) were studied using two different approaches, i. e. sequential extraction (modified from published protocols) and titrimetric study of the pH-dependent Cd release. Thermodynamic equilibrium calculations were applied to calculate both the release pattern of Cd during the titrations and the speciation of Cd within the single fractions of the extraction protocol. The calculations were based on measured sediment parameters such as hydrous ferric oxide (HFO), acid volatile sulfide, carbonate content and total Cd content, and the extractants (oxalate, acid etc.) used. The results of the two independent approaches coincided well in that they both assigned more than two thirds of the total Cd content to be adsorbed to organic matter. Cd bound as CdS is of little importance. Sequential extraction after a 3-month oxidation period at pH 7 revealed a shift of Cd from being mainly bound in stronger surface complexes with organic matter to being mainly bound in weaker surface complexes with organic matter and HFO, and thus becoming more bioavailable. This study suggests that the use of sequential extraction although being frequently criticized due to its operational character can be used to determine binding forms of metal ions if they are accompanied by 1) careful supporting experiments, 2) analysis of important sediment parameters, and 3) the use of thermodynamic equlibrium models which can help to understand Cd speciation within the extraction fractions.     

The Sudbury Structure (Ontario,Canada): a tectonically deformed multi-ring impact basin

The occurrence of shock metamorphic features substantiates an impact origin for the 1.85 Ga old Sudbury Structure, but this has not been universally accepted. Recent improvements in knowledge of large-scale impact processes, combined with new petrographic, geochemical, geophysical (LITHOPROBE) and structural data, allow the Sudbury Structure to be interpreted as a multi-ring impact structure. The structure consists of the following lithologies: Sudbury Breccia —dike breccias occurring up to 80 km from the Sudbury Igneous Complex (SIC); Footwall rocks and Footwall Breccia — brecciated, shocked crater floor materials, in part thermally metamorphosed by the overlying SIC; Sublayer and Offset Dikes, Main Mass of the SIC and Basal Member of the Onaping Formation (OF) — geochemically heterogeneous coherent impact melt complex ranging from inclusion-rich basal unit through a dominantly inclusion-free to a capping inclusion-rich impact melt rock; Grey Member of OF — melt-rich impact breccia (suevite); Green Member of OF — thin layer of fall back ejecta; Black Member of OF — reworked and redeposited breccia material; Onwatin and Chelmsford Formations — post-impact sediments. Observational and analytical data support an integrated step-by-step impact model for the genesis of these units. Analysis of the present spatial distribution of various impact-related lithologies and shock metamorphic effects result in an estimated original rim-to-rim diameter of the final crater of 200 or even 280 km for the Sudbury Structure, prior to tectonic thrusting and deformation during the Penokean orogeny.     

Frequency analysis of geomagnetic beating-type pulsations in thepc3 range

Summary The spectral analysis of samples of beating-type pc3 pulsations, recorded at the Budkov Observatory during the summer months of 1968 and 1969 was carried out in the frequency interval10 mHz100 mHz. The average limits of the pulsation frequency range are roughly20 mHz60 mHz. The centre of the occurrence frequency graphs for both components is at the frequency f_g 41 mHz. The analysis of three separated daily intervals showed a very slight tendency to a systematic decrease in the frequency of the centre from the morning to the afternoon. The study of the sense of rotation of the pulsation disturbance vector in the (X, Y)-plane showed an overall predominancy of L over R-types during daytime, particularly during the morning.     

Approaches indG/G-determinations

Summary Whereas observations of planets and solar satellites are more promising for detecting possible variations of Newtonian gravitational constant,G, with time the application of additional methods which are substantially different might be useful. It is discussed to what extent the tidal problems can be solved in connection with lunar orbit tracking for detectingG; further a relativeG-experiment at the earth surface is outlined.     

Determination of the original shape of pulsations from their spectra

Zusammenfassung Es wird eine einfache auf der Symmetrie der Grundformeln der Fourierschen Transformation gegründete Methode, wie von den Spektralfunktionen zur ursprünglichen Pulsationsform zu gelangen, beschrieben. Mit dieser Methode wird die durchschnittliche Form der Pi2-Pulsationen konstruiert. Diese idealisierte Pulsation hat dieselben Eigenschaften wie ein statistisches Ensemble von Pulsationen. Der wirkliche Verlauf der Intensit?t des magnetischen Feldes bei Pi2-Pulsationen wird durch die Methode aus den Induktionsregistrierungen abgeleitet. Die berechnete Kurve zeigt starke Korrelation mit der direkten Registrierung der Intensit?t des magnetischen Feldes.

---

---

Address: Boční II, Praha 4-Spořilov.     

Deformation und Umwandlung von Plagioklas durch Stoßwellen in den Gesteinen des Nördlinger Ries

Plagioclase from fragments of crystalline basement rocks in breccias found in the area of the Nördlinger Ries crater displays characteristic plastic deformation and phase transition phenomena due to shock metamorphism at different pressures in the range of 100 to 1000 kilobars.These phenomena are discussed in the scope of a progressive impact metamorphism the degree of metamorphism reflecting a radial gradient of pressure and temperature diminishing outward from the point of meteorite impact.Within the lowest pressure range of about 100 to 300 kilobars (shock stage I) strong fracturing and plastic deformation such as bending of crystals, deformation bands and planar features (lamellae of lowered refractive index and of lowered or no birefringence) are to be found. The lamellae which are mostly isotropic, are interpreted as slip bands the glide planes of which are low indices planes of the plagioclase lattice such as (001), (010), (100), (1¯20), (130) and others. These slip bands are unknown from feldspar formed by normal processes within the earth's crust. Plagioclase of such a stage of deformation shows an unusual strong decrease of refraction and birefringence. Its optical properties are those of a highly disordered plagioclase. It may be called diaplectic plagioclase.Total isotropization of plagioclase is a typical feature of the pressure range from 300 to 500 kilobars (shock stage II). This glass which is called diaplectic glass differs strongly from the normal glass in physical properties and structural state. It is formed by a kind of solid state transformation without actual melting.Shock pressures in the order of 500 to 650 kilobars (shock stage III) are able to cause selective melting of plagioclase grains in a crystalline rock. Normal glasses with vesicles and streaks are formed by this process.Within the pressure range of about 650 to 1000 kilobars (shock stage IV) residual temperatures are so high that total melting of rocks occurs. Plagioclase melts are mixed inhomogenously with other silicate melts forming rock melts which can be found in suevite as flat glassy bombs. Vaporization of silicates must be expected in the upper pressure range of this shock stage.Statistical universal stage measurements on the fabric of plagioclase support theoretical considerations after which the deformation pattern of a single crystal should depend on the fabric relations to the surrounding minerals and on their physical properties. Strongly inhomogenous deformation of plagioclase minerals within the microscopic rock scale was observed because polycrystalline rocks are disorganizing a unique shock front by interaction of wave fronts at interfaces and free surfaces and perhaps by multiwave shocks. Directions of compressive and tensile stresses on a mineral are therefore changing from grain to grain.