Numerical models of mantle convection with secular cooling

A 2-D time-dependent finite-difference numerical model is used to investigate the thermal character and evolution of a convecting layer which is cooling as it convects. Two basic cooling modes are considered: in the first, both upper and lower boundaries are cooled at the same rate, while maintaining the same temperature difference across the layer; in the second, the lower boundary temperature decreases with time while the upper boundary temperature is fixed at 0°C. The first cooling mode simulates the effects of internal heating while the second simulates planetary cooling as mantle convection extracts heat from, and thereby cools, the Earth's core. The mathematical analogue between the effects of cooling and internal heating is verified for finite-amplitude convection. It is found that after an initial transient period the central core of a steady but vigorous convection cell cools at a constant rate which is governed by the rate of cooling of the boundaries and the viscosity structure of the layer. For upper-mantle models the transient stage lasts for about 30 per cent of the age of the Earth, while for the whole mantle it lasts for longer than the age of the Earth. Consequently, in our models the bulk cooling of the mantle lags behind the cooling of the core-mantle boundary. Models with temperature-dependent viscosity are found to cool in the same manner as models with depth-dependent viscosity; the rate of cooling is controlled primarily by the horizontally averaged variation of viscosity with depth. If the Earth's mantle cools in a similar fashion, secular cooling of the planet may be insensitive to lateral variations of viscosity.     

Noise reduction and detection of weak, coherent signals through phase-weighted stacks

We present a new tool for efficient incoherent noise reduction for array data employing complex trace analysis. An amplitude-unbiased coherency measure is designed based on the instantaneous phase, which is used to weight the samples of an ordinary, linear stack. The result is called the phase-weighted stack (PWS) and is cleaned from incoherent noise. PWS thus permits detection of weak but coherent arrivals. The method presented can easily be extended to phase-weighted cross-correlations or be applied in the τ p domain. We illustrate and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of PWS in comparison with other coherency measures and present examples. We further show that our non-linear stacking technique enables us to detect a weak lower-mantle P -to- S conversion from a depth of approximately 840 km on array data. Hints of an 840 km discontinuity have been reported; however, such a discontinuity is not yet established due to the lack of further evidence.     

Seismic anisotropy within the uppermost mantle of southern Germany

This paper presents an updated interpretation of seismic anisotropy within the uppermost mantle of southern Germany. The dense network of reversed and crossing refraction profiles in this area made it possible to observe almost 900 traveltimes of the P_n phase that could be effectively used in a time-term analysis to determine horizontal velocity distribution immediately below the Moho. For 12 crossing profiles, amplitude ratios of the P_n phase compared to the dominant crustal phase were utilized to resolve azimuthally dependent velocity gradients with depth. A P -wave anisotropy of 3–4 per cent in a horizontal plane immediately below the Moho at a depth of 30 km, increasing to 11 per cent at a depth of 40 km, was determined. For the axis of the highest velocity of about 8.03 km s⁻¹ at a depth of 30 km a direction of N31°F was obtained. The azimuthal dependence of the observed P_n amplitude is explained by an azimuth-dependent sub-Moho velocity gradient decreasing from 0.06 s⁻¹ in the fast direction to 0 s⁻¹ in the slow direction of horizontal P -wave velocity. From the seismic results in this study a petrological model suggesting a change of modal composition and percentage of oriented olivine with depth was derived.     

地幔流体的前缘研究

地幔流体是与地幔环境处于平衡的气体和挥发分。其主要化学组分为碳、氢、氧、氮、硫（ＣＨＯＮＳ）。它以富于地球内部原始组分为特征，但也包含部分再循环组分。地幔挥发分在弱还原条件下主要为ＣＯ２－Ｈ２Ｏ，强还原环境则以ＣＨ４－Ｈ２Ｏ－Ｈ２为主。地幔流体地球化学的重要性质为：（１）易溶于硅酸盐熔体；（２）净化作用；（３）再沉淀作用。近年来，有关地幔流体中稀有气体和挥发分的起源、分布及同位素组成等前缘领域的研究已取得重要进展。当前拟优先探索的问题包括气体裂化与金刚石成因，非生物成因地幔烃，地幔流体与成矿作用，以及地幔挥发分注入与地壳重熔等。     

从生物化石的性质和分布分析秦岭上升的阶段性与幅度

本文从生物化石的性质、分布的与我国南、北方同期生物群的对比，分析了秦岭从中生代晚期以来各个时期上升的幅度。秦岭在三叠纪末期成陆后即开始隆起，但隆起幅度有限。白垩纪与古新世该区地形高低悬殊不大。早第三纪中、后期秦岭有一次强烈的隆起活动，地形起伏，且对动物的迁移起了明显的阻碍作用。相继产生的夷平作用使晚第三纪秦岭区内的动物仍与区外的保持着较好的往来交流。早更新世末期秦岭再次表现出了垂直运动的特点。由于     

山东中生代橄榄安粗岩系火山岩的地质、地球化学特征及岩石成因

山东中生代橄榄安粗岩系火山岩主要分布在沂沭断裂带及其两侧的断陷型陆相火山盆地中，为早白垩世火山活动的产物．Ｒｂ－Ｓｒ全岩等时年龄变化于１１１．４～１１９．６Ｍａ．岩石组合主要为粗面玄武岩－橄榄安粗岩－安粗岩－粗面岩．这套岩石在化学上具有富碱富钾、富铝贫钛、高氧化系数及富轻稀土和大离子亲石元素的特点，并具有较高的ＩＳｒ值和明显偏低εＮｄ值．根据对岩石地质、地球化学特征和产出构造环境的详细分析，表明这套岩石的成因应主要是富集型地幔的部分熔融