Estimating Deep Seafloor Interface and Volume Roughness Parameters Using the Multibeam-Hydrosweep System

Utilizing a hull-mounted, multinarrow beam echosounder onboard RV Polarstern, we measured variation of acoustic backscatter with incidence angles at two different sites in the Southern Oceans (Agulhas Plateau and the Riiser Larsen Sea). We modeled the data, using a composite roughness model, including water-sediment interface roughness and sediment volume roughness parameters. The model effectively uses the near normal incidence angle backscatter to determine the seafloor interface roughness parameters employing Helmholtz-Kirchhoff theory. Beyond 20° incidence angles, an application of Rayleigh-Rice theory is made by using a necessary splicing technique (combining both of the theories at 20° incidence angle). The estimated interface and volume roughness parameters are found to be in accordance with the known area geology.     

The effect of tidal inlets on open coast storm surge hydrographs

Bridge scour modeling requires storm surge hydrographs as open ocean boundary conditions for coastal waters surrounding tidal inlets. These open coast storm surge hydrographs are used to accurately determine both horizontal and vertical circulation patterns, and thus scour, within the inlet and bay for an extreme event. At present, very little information is available on the effect that tidal inlets have on these open coast storm surge hydrographs. Furthermore, current modeling practice enforces a single design hydrograph along the open coast boundary for bridge scour models. This study expands on these concepts and provides a more fundamental understanding on both of these modeling areas.     

Energy spectra of cosmic ray nuclei: 4≤Z≤26 and 0.3≤E≤2 GeV amu−1

Energy spectra of cosmic ray nuclei in the charge range 5Z26 have been derived from the response of an acrylic plastic erenkov detector. Data were obtained using a balloon-borne detector and cover the energy range 320E2200 MeV amu^–1. Spectra are derived from a formal deconvolution using the method of Lezniak (1975). Relative spectra of different elements are compared by observing the charge ratios. Secondary-primary ratios are observed to decrease with increasing energy, consistent with the effect previously observed at higher energy. Primary-to-primary ratios are constant for 6Z10 and 14Z26 but vary for 10Z14. This data is found to be consistent with existing data, where comparable, and lends strong support to the idea of two separate source populations contributing to the cosmic ray composition.Work supported by University of Maryland Grant NGR 21-002-316.     

Distribution of lunar impacts by objects in parabolic low inclination orbits

This paper presents a computer investigation extending to the case of parabolic orbits, an earlier investigation conducted by Barricelli and Metcalfe (1969) on lunar impacts by external low eccentricity satellites as a means to interpret the asymmetric distribution of lunar maria. Parabolic orbits can be approximated by two kinds of objects:

1. High eccentricity external satellites may, near periapsis, approach the Moon with orbital velocity and other characteristics closely resembling those of a parabolic orbit.
2. Asteroids and meteoroids approaching the Earth-Moon system with a low velocity may have moved in a nearly parabolic orbit when they reached the lunar distance from the Earth at the time when the impacts which carved the lunar maria took place.

The investigation gives, therefore, not only additional information relevant to the interpretation of the distribution of lunar maria by the satellite impacts hypothesis (in this case high eccentricity ones), but also information about the alternative hypothesis (Wood, 1973) that asteroid impacts rather than satellite impacts were involved.     

Platinum-group minerals in quaternary gold placers in the upper Chindwin area of northern Burma

In the Chindwin Basin in northern Burma, there is a system of five Pleistocene terraces in which gold placers with low concentrations of platinum-group minerals (PGM) occur. Samples were taken from four sites in the Chindwin Basin and one from near an ophiolite occurrence on the northeast side of the Chindwin Basin; they were studied under the microscope, with a scanning electron microscope, and an electron microprobe. The main minerals were Pt-Fe and Os-Ir-Ru alloys, usually in a ratio between 2 and 5. In most cases, the shape of the grains allowed a quick distinction between the two types. Sperrylite, laurite, irarsite, cooperite, tulameenite, and isomertieite occur infrequently as individual mineral grains and sometimes as inclusions in the alloy grains. Braggite, platarsite, hollingworthite, bowieite, keithconnite, cuproiridsite, malanite, stibiopalladinite, geversite, kashinite, several unnamed PGM, and Fe, Ni, and Cu sulfides were observed as inclusions, mainly in the Pt-Fe alloys and also to a lesser extent in the Os-Ir-Ru alloys. Lamellar and myrmekite-like intergrowths, oriented exsolution lamellae, and idiomorphic inclusions of sulfides in the alloys indicate a magmatic origin of the PGM. The origin of the PGM is assumed to be ophiolites in northern Burma. A continual decrease in mean grain size occurred during transport.

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Platingruppenminerale in quartären Goldseifen im oberen Chindwingebiet in Nord-Burma

Zusammenfassung Im Gebiet des Chindwin Basin in Nordburma ist ein System von fünf pleistozänen Terrassen ausgebildet, in denen Goldseifen mit geringen Anteilen an PGM auftreten.PGM-Konzentrate von vier Vorkommen des Chindwin Basin und eine weitere Probe aus der Nähe eines Ophiolithvorkommens im Nordosten des Chindwin Basin wurden mit optischer Mikroskopie, Rasterelektronenmikroskopie und Mikrosonde untersucht.Hauptmineralien sind Pt-Fe-Legierungen und Os-Ir-Ru-Legierungen in einem Verhältnis von 2: 1 bis 5: 1. Ihre Morphologie kugeliger oder plattiger, teilweise idiomorpher Körner erlaubt in den meisten Fällen eine rasche Identifizierung der beiden Typen. Sehr selten treten als Einzelminerale, aber auch als Einschlüsse in Legierungen, Sperrylith, Laurit, Irarsit, Cooperit, Tulameenit und Isomertieit auf. Braggit, Platarsit, Hollingworthit, Bowieit, Keithconnit, Cuproiridsit, Malanit, Stibiopalladinit, Geversit, Kaschinit, einige unbekannte PGM und Fe-, Ni- und Cu-Sulfide wurden nr als Einschlüsse, hauptsächlich in Pt-Fe-Legierungen, weniger in Os-Ir-Ru-Legierungen, beobachtet.Lamellare und myrmekitische Verwachsungen, orientierte Entmischungen und idiomorphe Einschlüsse von Sulfiden in Legierungen weisen auf eine magmatische Entstehung der PGM hin. Die Herkunft der PGM wird in Ophiolithen Nordburmas vermutet. Beim Transport hat eine kontinuierliche Abnahme der mittleren Korngrösse stattgefunden.

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With 8 Figures     

On the appearance of a cold front with a narrow rainband in the vicinity of the Alps

Summary First intensive observations of a narrow cold frontal rainband in southern Germany are described. The observations by Doppler radar and surface observations are in good agreement with others made in Great Britain and at the west coast of the United States. There are no principal differences between the observations close to the sea and those during the passage of the front across the Alpine foreland. The observed coexistence of short and elongated precipitation cells is explained by the local modification of convergence and vorticity. When approaching the Alps the precipitation patterns increased in size due to the upslope winds, and the pre-frontal low-level jet is reorganized completely in a manner such that the cross-frontal circulation was enhanced while the pre-frontal low-level jet disappeared.With 20 Figures