Partial derivatives of dispersion curves for higher modes of love waves in a single-layered medium

Summary The partial derivatives of the dispersion curves have been calculated by means of a method founded on the theorem of implicit functions, which was described in[1]. The partial derivatives of the dispersion curves of Love waves are studied in detail for a model of a single-layered medium. Analytical formulae for the partial derivatives are used for deriving the limits of these partial derivatives when the period approaches zero or the critical period.     

Calibration of electromagnetic seismographs by means of responses to release and shock tests

Summary The paper deals with the problems of fast determination of the magnification curve and of the partial constants of an electromagnetic seismograph by means of responses to release and shock tests, using a computer.     

An estimate of the juvenile sulfur content of basalt

Sulfur analyses by X-ray fluorescence give an average content of 107 ppm for 9 samples of fresh subaerially-erupted oceanic basalt and 680 ppm for 38 samples of submarine erupted basalt. This difference is the result of retention of sulfur in basalt quenched on the sea floor and loss of sulfur in basalt by degassing at the surface. The outer glassy part of submarine erupted basalt contains 800±150 ppm sulfur, and this amount is regarded as an estimate of the juvenile sulfur content of the basalt melt from the mantle. The slower cooled interiors of basalt pillows are depleted relative to the rims owing to degassing and escape through surface fractures. Available samples of deep-sea basalts do not indicate a difference in original sulfur content between low-K tholeiite, Hawaiian tholeiite, and alkali basalt.The H₂O/S ratio of analyzed volcanic gases is generally lower than the H₂O/S ratio of gases presumed lost from surface lavas as determined by chemical differences between pillow rims and surface lavas. This enrichment of volcanic gases in sulfur relative to water may result from a greater degassing of sulfur relative to water from shallow intrusive bodies beneath the volcano.Publication authorized by the Director, U.S. Geological Survey.     

Carbon and its isotopes in mid-oceanic basaltic glasses

Three carbon components are evident in eleven analyzed mid-oceanic basalts: carbon on sample surfaces (resembling adsorbed gases, organic matter, or other non-magmatic carbon species acquired by the glasses subsequent to their eruption), mantle carbon dioxide in vesicles, and mantle carbon dissolved in the glasses. The combustion technique employed recovered only reduced sulfur, all of which appears to be indigenous to the glasses. The dissolved carbon concentration (measured in vesicle-free glass) increases with the eruption depth of the spreading ridge, and is consistent with earlier data which show that magma carbon solubility increases with pressure. The total glass carbon content (dissolved plus vesicular carbon) may be controlled by the depth of the shallowest ridge magma chamber. Carbon isotopic fractionation accompanies magma degassing; vesicle CO₂ is about 3.8‰ enriched in ¹³C, relative to dissolved carbon. Despite this fractionation, δ¹³C_PDB values for all spreading ridge glasses lie within the range ?5.6 and ?7.5, and the δ¹³C_PDB of mantle carbon likely lies between ?5 and ?7. The carbon abundances and δ¹³C_PDB values of Kilauea East Rift glasses apparently are influenced by the differentiation and movement of magma within that Hawaiian volcano. Using ³He and carbon data for submarine hydrothermal fluids, the present-day mid-oceanic ridge mantle carbon flux is estimated very roughly to be about 1.0 × 10¹³ g C/yr. Such a flux requires 8 Gyr to accumulate the earth's present crustal carbon inventory.     

A switched continuous-wave sonic anemometer for measuring surface heat fluxes

A one-dimensional sonic anemometer system suitable for use in measuring near surface heat fluxes is described. It operates by transferring continuous sound waves in alternate directions between a matched pair of cheap ultrasonic transducers. The design and development of the anemometer is described, together with wind tunnel tests, and field experiments, in which the performances of several prototypes are compared with those of other anemometers over stubble and over forest. The results indicate that the device is suitable for measuring eddy correlation heat fluxes to an accuracy better than 5%.     

Lysosomal and microsomal responses to environmental factors in Littorina littorea from Sullom Voe

The marine gastropod Littorina littorea from four sites in the vicinity of the Sullom Voe Oil Terminal was found to display reduced cytochemically determined latency of lysosomal arylsulphatase, β-glucuronidase and acid phosphatase in comparison with snails from a nearby ‘clean’ site. This is interpreted as indicating lysosomal destabilization by environmental factors. Elevated total activities of particular lysosomal hydrolases were recorded at three of the sites in Sullom Voe. Animals from a fourth site (Swarta Taing) showed significant depression of arylsulphatase and β-glucuronidase. Cytochemically determined activity of blood cell NADPH-neotetrazolium reductase, which is a component of microsomal detoxication systems, was stimulated in these same sites in comparison with the ‘clean’ reference site. This stimulation or induction is interpreted as a response to the presence of oil-derived polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons.These results are discussed in the light of previous work on the effects of hydrocarbons on lysosomes and in terms of the possible physiological consequences for the animals.     

The thorium isotope content of ocean water

²³²Th concentrations of surface and deep Pacific Ocean waters are 0.01–0.02 dpm/1000 kg (60 pgm/kg). The²³⁰Th activity is 0.03–0.13 dpm/1000 kg in surface waters and 0.3–2.7 dpm/1000 kg in deep waters. Chemical residence times based on in situ production from parent isotopes are about the same for²³⁰Th and²²⁸Th in surface waters (1–5 years) but are ten times greater for²³⁰Th in deep waters (10–100 years). Apparently there are additional sources of²³⁰Th into deep waters. At MANOP site S manganese nodule tops are enriched in Th isotopes by adsorption of Th from seawater and not by incorporation of Th-rich particulates.     

Role of glacial Arctic Ocean ice sheets in Pleistocene oxygen isotope and sea level records

A comparison of the oxygen isotope signal in deep-sea benthic foraminifera with the record of glacio-eustatic sea level for the last 160,000 years reveals that the amplitude of the benthic δ¹⁸O records predicts more continental ice volume than appears to be reflected in lowered sea level stands. These differences between the benthic δ¹⁸O ice volume estimates and radiometrically-dated records of eustatic sea level are consistent with the presence of a large floating Arctic Ocean ice mass during glacial intervals. The presence of an Arctic Ocean ice sheet during glacial intervals may account for the two climatic modes observed in oxygen isotope records which span the entire Pleistocene. The early Pleistocene (1.8 to 0.9 Myr B.P.) interval is characterized by low-amplitude, high-frequency δ¹⁸O fluctuations between glacial and interglacial periods, while the late Pleistocene (0.9 Myr B.P. to present) is characterized by large-amplitude, low-frequency δ¹⁸O changes. These two climatic modes can be explained by the initiation of earth orbital conditions favoring the co-occurrence of glacial period Arctic Ocean ice sheets and large continental ice sheets approximately 900,000 years before present.