The earthquake sequence of May 1951 at Jucuapa, El Salvador

Three earthquakes that happened over two days in May 1951 caused extensive damage to villages in a small area of eastern El Salvador (Central America). Contemporary hypocentral solutions indicated focal depths, confirmed by re-calculations using available seismic data, of the order of 90 km, suggesting events associated with the subducted Cocos plate. Macroseismic observations strongly indicate that the earthquakes were of very shallow focus and this is supported by wave-form modeling and the appearance of seismograms recorded in Guatemala. A re-evaluation of the location and source characteristics for these events is presented, together with a fault plane solution and additional macroseismic evidence. The implications for seismic hazard and risk assessment in Central America, where shallow earthquakes of moderate magnitude, frequently occurring in clusters, pose the greatest threat to settlements which, like the area affected by these events, are concentrated along the axis of Quaternary volcanoes.     

The Llullaillaco volcano, northwest Argentina: construction by Pleistocene volcanism and destruction by sector collapse

Llullaillaco is one of a chain of Quaternary stratovolcanoes that defines the present Andean Central Volcanic Zone (CVZ), and marks the border between Chile and Argentina/Bolivia. The current edifice is constructed from a series of thick dacitic lava flows, forming the second tallest active volcano in the world (6739 m). K–Ar and new biotite laser ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar step-heating dates indicate that the volcano was constructed during the Pleistocene (≤1.5 Ma), with a youngest date of 0.048±0.012 Ma being recorded for a fresh dacite flow that descends the southern flank. Additional ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar measurements for andesitic and dacitic lava flows from the surrounding volcanic terrain yield dates of between 11.94±0.13 Ma and 5.48±0.07 Ma, corresponding to an extended period of Miocene volcanism which defines much of the landscape in this region. Major- and trace-element compositions of lavas from Llullaillaco are typical of Miocene–Pleistocene volcanic rocks from the western margin of the CVZ, and are related to relatively shallow-dipping subduction of the Nazca plate beneath northern Chile and Argentina.Oversteepening of the edifice by stacking of thick, viscous, dacitic lava flows resulted in collapse of its southeastern flank to form a large volcanic debris avalanche. Biotite ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating of lava blocks from the avalanche deposit indicate that collapse occurred at or after 0.15 Ma, and may have been triggered by extrusion of a dacitic flow similar to the one dated at 0.048±0.012 Ma. The avalanche deposits are exceptionally well preserved due to the arid climate, and prominent levées, longitudinal ridges, and megablocks up to 20-m diameter are observed.The avalanche descended 2.8 km vertically, and bifurcated around an older volcano, Cerro Rosado, before debouching onto the salt flats of Salina de Llullaillaco. The north and south limbs of the avalanche traveled 25 and 23 km, respectively, and together cover an area of approximately 165 km². Estimates of deposit volume are hampered by a lack of thickness information except at the edges, but it is likely to be between 1 and 2 km³. Equivalent coefficients of friction of 0.11 and 0.12, and excess travel distances of 20.5 and 18.5 km, are calculated for the north and south limbs, respectively. The avalanche ascended 400 m where it broke against the western flank of Cerro Rosado, and a minimum flow velocity of 90 m s⁻¹ can be calculated at this point; lower velocities of 45 m s⁻¹ are calculated where distal toes ascend 200 m slopes.It is suggested that the remaining precipitous edifice has a high probability for further avalanche collapse in the event of renewed volcanism.     

A proposal for a new position for the Aptian/Albian boundary

The Aptian/Albian boundary, as currently placed, presents problems which have not yet been solved and possibly never will be. No detailed definition of recent years can be applied on a world-wide scale, which will be needed for any definition acceptable to the Subcommission on Cretaceous Stratigraphy. The only satisfactory and workable solution is to choose a completely new position. It is suggested that this should be at the base of the Zone of Lyelliceras lyelli. This would change the start of the Albian from appproximately 112 Ma to 109 Ma but it would be a standard which should be recognizable on all five continents.     

Remote sensing-modelisation approach for diurnal estimation of burnt biomass in the Central African Republic Savanna

Experimental studies and mesoscale modeling of atmospheric chemistry require a good knowledge of the sources of the atmospheric constituent, at a temporal scale of about one hour and at a spatial scale corresponding to the model grid. A combined remote sensing/modeling approach for the estimation of the diurnal distribution of the amount of biomass burning in Central African Republic (C.A.R.) savanna fires is proposed. The fire propagation model (BEHAVE) developed by Rothermel was adapted to the fuel characteristics encountered in C.A.R. Ground and airborne measurements with satellite images (NOAA/AVHRR) were used to predict an accurate estimate of the burnt biomass. This combination allows the calculation of the distribution of the number of fires during the day providing an evaluation of the instantaneous fluxes of the compounds emitted in the atmosphere by these fires.     

交城断裂中段的活动特征及其地震危险性

通过野外调查和对地质资料、地震活动性资料的综合分析，把交城断裂中段进一步划分为南亚段和北亚段。指出断裂南亚段存在发生６．８级地震的危险性     

X－CT与MR在中枢神经系统中的应用比较

本文阐述了ＣＴ与ＭＲ在中枢神经系统中应用的各自特点及不足，二者相辅相成，相互不能替代，Ｘ－ＣＴ便宜，速度快；Ｘ－ＣＴ业已证实其特征及长处，其局限性也已经明确，而ＭＲ在这些方面，尚待继续探讨。在检查组织内小钙化灶方面ＣＴ大于或优于ＭＲ，ＣＴ显示皮质骨比较好，因而在诊断外伤方面优于ＭＲ。ＭＲ不能显示急性蛛网膜下腔内出血，因而在大多数急症方面ＣＴ优于ＭＲ。在显示血脑屏障的破坏方面，增强ＣＴ扫描优于ＭＲＩ，这种情况只有在ＭＲ静脉注射造影剂得到广泛应用后才可能得以改善     

Morphological characteristics of the earthquake surface ruptures on Awaji Island, associated with the 1995 Southern Hyogo Prefecture Earthquake

Abstract The earthquake surface ruptures on the northern side of Awaji Island accompanying the 1995 Southern Hyogo Prefecture Earthquake in Japan consist of three earthquake surface rupture zones called the Nojima, Matsuho, and Kusumoto Earthquake Surface Rupture Zones. The Nojima Earthquake Surface Rupture Zone is - 18 km long and was formed from Awaji-cho at the northern end of Awaji Island to Ichinomiya-cho. It occurred along the pre-existing Nojima geological fault in the northern segment and as a new fault in the southern segment. The northern segment of the Nojima Earthquake Surface Rupture Zone is composed of some subparallel shear faults showing a right-step en echelon form and many extensional cracks showing a left-step en echelon form. The southern segment consists of some discontinuous surface ruptures which are concentrated in a narrow zone a few tens of meters in width. This surface rupture zone shows a general trend striking north 30°-60° east, and dipping 75°-85° east. The deformational topographies and striations on the fault plane generated during the co-seismic displacement show that the Nojima Earthquake Surface Rupture Zone is a right-lateral strike-slip fault with some reverse component. Displacements measured at many of the outcrops are generally 100-200 em horizontally and 50-100 em vertically in the northern segment and a few em to 20 em both horizontally and vertically in the southern segment. The largest displacements are 180 em horizontally, 130 em vertically, and 215 em in netslip measured at the Hirabayashi fault scarp. The Matsuho Earthquake Surface Rupture Zone striking north 40°-60° west was also found along the coastline trending northwest-southeast in Awaji-cho for ～1 km at the northern end of Awaji Island. The Kusumoto Earthquake Surface Rupture Zone occurred along the pre-existing Kusumoto geological fault for ～ 1.5 km near the northeastern coastline, generally striking north 35°-60° east, dipping 60°-70° west. From the morphological and geomorphological characteristics, the Nojima Earthquake Surface Rupture Zone can be divided into four segments which form a right-step en echelon formation. The geological and geomorphological evidence and the aftershock epicenter distributions show clearly that the distributions and geometry of these four segments are controlled by the pre-existing geological structures.     

太平洋中部微生物与多金属结核的生成关系

作者采用洋底水-岩-微生物相互作用系统的观点首次对太平洋中部洋底多金属结核开展了微生物成矿作用的研究。通过洋底各介质中微生物活动与多金属结核生成机制、成矿物质转化的微生物作用及化学作用对比模拟实验研究、观察和测定系统中成矿物质浓度及环境参数的变化,揭示了成矿组分由微生物活动引起的反应速度和演变方向;从微生物地球化学作用的观点,论证了多金属结核微生物成矿机制和成矿模式;提出了多金属结核微生物成矿阶段和成矿理论。     

东北深,浅源地震的相关活动

本文讨论了东北深、浅源地震在时间上、强度上的相关活动特点,认为东北地震是太平洋板块俯冲与亚欧板块挤压作用的结果。东北深震超前于浅源地震活动,可为浅源地震监测预报提供信息。     

Lake Issyk-kul,Kirgizia

The main limnological features of Lake Issyk-kul are described. The lake is a large (6,236 km²), deep (z_m, 668 m), closed lake in eastern Kirgizia. It lies at ∼1,607 m above sea level, but water-levels have been dropping since the last century. It is slightly saline (salinity, ∼6g L⁻¹), with Na⁺, Mg²⁺, Cl⁻ and SO ₄ ²⁻ the dominant ions. Nutrient levels are low and the lake is considered ultra-oligotrophic. Characeae dominate the macrophytes. About 300 and 117 taxa of, respectively, phytoplankton and zooplankton have been identified, withArctodiaptomus salinus the most numerous in the zooplankton. Chironomids dominate the benthos. Several endemic taxa of fish occur, of whichLeuciscus bergi was dominant until the 1970s. The fish fauna has been supplemented by many introduced species. Three mysids were introduced in 1965–8 and are now a significant part of the ecosystem. The present annual fish catch permitted is 320 t. The most important value of the lake is as a recreational resource. To promote and sustain this value requires careful, ongoing management. The most significant threats to the lake are local pollution, visitor pressure, and declining water-levels.