Air flow analysis in the upper Río Negro Valley (Argentina)

The so called Upper Río Negro Valley in Argentina is one of the most important fruit and vegetable production regions of the country. It comprises the lower valleys of the Limay and Neuquén rivers and the upper Negro river valley. Out of the 41,671 cultivated hectares, 84.6% are cultivated with fruit trees, especially apple, pear and stone fruit trees. Late frosts occurring when trees are sensitive to low temperatures have a significant impact on the regional production. This study presents an analysis of air flow characteristics in the Upper Río Negro Valley and its relationship with ambient air flow. To such effect, observations made when synoptic-scale weather patterns were favorable for radiative frosts (light wind and clear sky) or nocturnal temperature inversion in the lower layer were used. In the Negro river valley, both wind channeling and downward horizontal momentum transport from ambient wind were observed; in nighttime, very light wind events occurred, possibly associated with drainage winds from the nearby higher levels of the barda. In the Neuquén river valley, the prevailing effect appeared to be forced channeling, consistent with the results obtained in valleys where the synoptic scale wind crossed the axis of the valley. In the Limay river valley, the flow was observed to blow parallel to the longitudinal valley axis, possibly influenced by pressure gradient and forced channeling.     

Insight into the structure of the Upper Rhine Graben and its basement from a new compilation of Bouguer Gravity

A compilation of gravity data from the Upper Rhine Graben (URG) is presented that includes all the main data sources from its German and French parts. This data is used to show that the URG consists of, at least, two arc-shaped and asymmetric rift units that tectonically are the basic building blocks of the graben. In this sense the URG does not differ from other continental rifts, such as the African rifts. This division should replace the now classical geomorphologic division of the URG into three segments, based on their different trends. Moreover, the gravity suggests that the faults in the central and southern segments are continuous and have the same trend, appearing to respond as a single kinematic unit. Changes in the gravity field in the graben are shown to reflect not only the structure of the graben, but also the highly variable composition of the basement. In this respect, the URG is quite different from some other Tertiary continental rifts, where possible changes in the composition of the basement are mostly masked in the gravity field by the effect of the overlying low-density sediments. This characteristic is used to study the extent of some of the main basement units that underlie the graben.     

New INTEGRAL sources and TeV emission

INTEGRAL is operational since more than three years and producing high quality data that allows to detect fainter new hard X-ray sources. The new sources, identified until now, are mostly active galactic nuclei and absorbed or transient high mass X-ray binaries. TeV emission could be expected from the new high mass X-ray binaries accreting dense clumps of stellar wind. INTEGRAL sources with TeV counterparts are discussed. Based on observations with INTEGRAL, an ESA project with instruments and science data centre funded by ESA member states (especially the PI countries: Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Spain), Czech Republic and Poland, and with the participation of Russia and the USA.     

The invention that opened the solar system to exploration

The invention of gravity-propelled interplanetary space travel (also known as “gravity-assist trajectories”) in the early 1960s broke the high-energy barrier of classical space travel based on reaction propulsion, and made possible the exploration of the entire solar system with instrumented spacecraft. In this concept, a free-fall spacecraft is launched from a launch planet P₁ to a nearby planet P₂ such that its gravitational field (superimposed on the gravitational field of the Sun) catapults the vehicle to another planet P₃, which in turn is used to repeat the process. Thus, through a series of planetary encounters, a gravity-propelled trajectory P₁-P₂-P₃-P₄-…-P_N is generated. This paper describes how the invention was conceived and how the difficult mathematical problem of computing the trajectories was solved in order to numerically investigate and use the invention in actual missions. The crucial roles played by the UCLA Computing Facility and the Departments of Mathematics and Physics are also described.     

Définition et datation de la Formation de Venaco (Corse) : dépôt d’origine gravitaire d’âge Priabonien

Priabonian age is highlighted for the first time in Corsica in the Venaco Formation using the presence of specific microfauna (in particular some representatives of Turborotalia cerroazulensis lineage). This silicoclastic formation is mainly represented by coarse facies. It is composed of three members from south to north and from oldest towards youngest: member of Uboli, Cardo and Orsu. The sedimentologic analysis reveals a gravity depositional environment, involving different type of currents. Sedimentologic and chronologic characteristics make the Venaco Formation and the Annot Formation (p.p.) equivalent. Dating the Venaco Fm. brings confirmation that the green schist metamorphism of the Variscan batholith and the related deformation are from the pre-Priabonian period.     

Interpretation and modelling of regional gravity data of the Aveiro Basin (Northwest Portugal)

The gravity map of the Aveiro Basin, North West Portugal was produced in 2000/2001 and some limited two dimensional (2D) interpretation was carried out. It is intended in this article to advance the interpretation and modelling of the original Aveiro basin gravity data. Thus, the data were processed and the horizontal gradient, the second vertical derivative and downward continued field computed. The corresponding maps have been processed and a new interpretation of the basin tectonic features has been proposed. This is compared with the previous geological and tectonic information obtained from former surveys and local boreholes. As the next step a more detailed modelling of the Aveiro Basin took place. Bearing the interpretation of the basin tectonic features in mind, several north–south and east–west gravity profiles were established and modelled. The proposed models were presented and discussed. As a result, a comprehensive mass distribution model for the basin was proposed. Finally, comparison was made between the new gravity model and the previously published tectonic features map. This modelling is particularly useful for groundwater protection, exploration and exploitation and also for the dimensioning of drilling operations. Bearing in mind the geomorphology of the basin the gravity method is a very economical tool for the investigation of basin structures.     

震前重力场变化质源体边界和危险区划定方法研究

在我国大陆开展的流动重力重复观测是监测地震前兆异常的主要技术手段之一。 对大地震前流动重力场观测资料研究结果表明, 区域性持续的重力场增加和减少与大地震发生有显著关系。 目前, 区域重力场变化监测已经成为一种常规前兆观测技术手段。 本文首先从三维倾斜台阶模型入手, 计算了理论重力异常, 并对异常进行变换, 找到了一种可以更好刻画其场源边界的方法, 并进一步应用空间相关系数法进行异常特征分析, 得到了从概率意义上估计危险区的方法。 最后, 本文尝试运用此方法对青藏高原东缘地区1998—2005年的四期流动重力测网资料进行处理和分析。 应用本文提出的异常处理技术, 可有效地圈定异常梯级带位置, 确定质源体边界形态, 并可以联合背景重力异常场等其他资料, 给出危险区发震概率的空间估计, 分析结果在年度震情会商中可以有效地对地震危险区的划定提供技术支持。     

The flat synchrotron spectra of partially self-absorbed jets revisited

Flat radio spectra with large brightness temperatures at the core of active galactic nuclei and X-ray binaries are usually interpreted as the partially self-absorbed bases of jet flows emitting synchrotron radiation. Here we extend previous models of jets propagating at large angles to our line of sight to self-consistently include the effects of energy losses of the relativistic electrons due to the synchrotron process itself and the adiabatic expansion of the jet flow. We also take into account energy gains through self-absorption. Two model classes are presented. The ballistic jet flows, with the jet material travelling along straight trajectories, and adiabatic jets. Despite the energy losses, both scenarios can result in flat emission spectra; however, the adiabatic jets require a specific geometry. No re-acceleration process along the jet is needed for the electrons. We apply the models to observational data of the X-ray binary Cygnus X-1. Both models can be made consistent with the observations. The resulting ballistic jet is extremely narrow with a jet opening angle of only 5 arcsec. Its energy transport rate is small compared to the time-averaged jet power and therefore suggests the presence of non-radiating protons in the jet flow. The adiabatic jets require a strong departure from energy equipartition between the magnetic field and the relativistic electrons. These models also imply a jet power of two orders of magnitude higher than the Eddington limiting luminosity of a  10-M_⊙  black hole. The models put strong constraints on the physical conditions in the jet flows on scales well below achievable resolution limits.     

Structural evolution of the Orange Basin gravity-driven system,offshore Namibia

The Orange Basin records the development of the Late Jurassic to present day volcanic-rifted passive margin of Namibia. Regional extension is recorded by a Late Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous Syn-rift Megasequence, which is separated from a Cretaceous to present day post-rift Megasequence by the Late Hauterivian (ca. 130 Ma) break-up unconformity. The Late Cretaceous Post-rift evolution of the basin is characterized by episodic gravitational collapse of the margin. Gravitational collapse is recorded as a series of shale-detached gravity slide systems, consisting of an up-dip extensional domain that is linked to a down-dip zone of contraction domain along a thin basal detachment of Turonian age. The extensional domain is characterized by basinward-dipping listric faults that sole into the basal detachment. The contractional domain consists of landward-dipping listric faults and strongly asymmetric basinward-verging thrust-related folds. Growth stratal patterns suggest that the gravitational collapse of the margin was short-lived, spanning from the Coniacian (ca. 90 Ma) to the Santonian (ca. 83 Ma). Structural restorations of the main gravity-driven system show a lack of balance between up-dip extension (24 km) and down-dip shortening (16 km). Gravity sliding in the Namibian margin is interpreted to have occurred as a series of episodic short-lived gravity sliding between the Cenomanian (ca. 100 Ma) and the Campanian (ca. 80 Ma). Gravity sliding and spreading are interpreted to be the result of episodic cratonic uplift combined with differential thermal subsidence. Sliding may have also been favoured by the presence of an efficient detachment layer in Turonian source rocks.