Regional significance of volcanic geochemistry in the Far Triple Junction, Ethiopia

Regional significance of volcanic geochemistry in far Triple Junction, Ethiopi

Structural geology of the African rift system: Summary of new data from ERTS-1 imagery

ERTS imagery reveals for the first time the structural pattern of the African rift system as a whole. The strong influence of Precambrian structures on this pattern is clearly evident, especially along zones of cataclastic deformation, but the rift pattern is seen to be ultimately independent in origin and nature from Precambrian tectonism. Continuity of rift structures from one swell to another is noted. The widening of the Gregory rift as its northern end reflects an underlying Precambrian structural divergence, and is not a consequence of reaching the swell margin. Although the Western Rift is now proven to terminate at the Aswa Mylonite Zone, in southern Sudan, lineaments extend northeastwards from Lake Albert to the Eastern Rift at Lake Stefanie. The importance of en-echelon structures in the African rifts is seen to have been exaggerated

Notes on the Afar triple junction

Geological anomalies of Afar and bordering plateau

Mapping of the major structures of the African rift system

The author has identified the following significant results. The new fault map of the main Ethiopian rift, based on aerial photo compilations, generally agrees well with the maps produced from ERTS-1 imagery. Characteristically, the ERTS-1 imagery shows some of the major faults to be more extensive than realized from ground studies, though due to the angle of sun illumination some east-facing fault scarps are not easily discernible on the imagery. The Corbetti caldera, shows up surprisingly poor on the imagery, and is shown to be an adjunct to an older, larger caldera now occupied by Lakes Awassa and Shallo. The lithological boundaries mapped by De Paola in the rift are difficult to discern on the ERTS-1 imagery. On the Somalian plateau, east of the rift, a denuded caldera has been identified as the source of much of the lavas of the Batu Mountains. Further south, ERTS-1 imagery amplifies the structural and lithological mapping of the Precambrian rocks of the Shakisso-Arero area, and of the Kenya-Ethiopia border region. For the first time with some certainty, it is now possible to say that on the evidence of the ERTS-1 imagery, the Western Rift does not continue northeast beyond the Sudan-Uganda border, and is thus not to be sought in western Ethiopia

Ethiopian rift and plateaus - Some volcanic petrochemical differences

Volcanic petrochemical differences in Ethiopian rift and plateau

Optical Turbulence Measurements and Models for Mount John University Observatory

Site measurements were collected at Mount John University Observatory in 2005 and 2007 using a purpose-built scintillation detection and ranging system. $C_n^2(h)$ profiling indicates a weak layer located at 12 - 14 km above sea level and strong low altitude turbulence extending up to 5 km. During calm weather conditions, an additional layer was detected at 6 - 8 km above sea level. $V(h)$ profiling suggests that tropopause layer velocities are nominally 12 - 30 m/s, and near-ground velocities range between 2 -- 20 m/s, dependent on weather. Little seasonal variation was detected in either $C_n^2(h)$ and $V(h)$ profiles. The average coherence length, $r_0$, was found to be $7 \pm 1$ cm for the full profile at a wavelength of 589 nm. The average isoplanatic angle, $\theta_0$, was $1.0 \pm 0.1$ arcsec. The mean turbulence altitude, $\bar{h_0}$, was found to be $2.0\pm0.7$ km above sea level. No average in the Greenwood frequency, $f_G$, could be established due to the gaps present in the \vw\s profiles obtained. A modified Hufnagel-Valley model was developed to describe the $C_n^2(h)$ profiles at Mount John, which estimates $r_0$ at 6 cm and $\theta_0$ at 0.9 arcsec. A series of $V(h)$ models were developed, based on the Greenwood wind model with an additional peak located at low altitudes. Using the $C_n^2(h)$ model and the suggested $V(h)$ model for moderate ground wind speeds, $f_G$ is estimated at 79 Hz.Comment: 14 pages; accepted for publication in PAS

Total reaction cross sections from 141^{141}141Pr(α\alpha,α\alpha)141^{141}Pr elastic scattering and α\alpha-induced reaction cross sections at low energies

Elastic scattering data for $^{141}$Pr($\alpha$,$\alpha$)$^{141}$Pr have been analyzed to derive a new energy-dependent local potential for the $^{141}$Pr-$\alpha$ system. This potential is used successfully to predict the cross section of the $^{141}$Pr($\alpha$,n)$^{144}$Pm reaction at low energies where new experimental data have become available very recently. Contrary to various global potentials, this new potential is able to reproduce simultaneously elastic scattering data around and above the Coulomb barrier and reaction data below the Coulomb barrier for the $^{141}$Pr-$\alpha$ system. Reasons for the partial failure of the global potentials are explained by intrinsic properties of the scattering matrix and their variation with energy. The new local potential may become the basis for the construction of a new global $\alpha$-nucleus potential.Comment: 12 pages, 8 figures, Phys. Rev. C, accepte

Apparatus for fabrication of americium- beryllium neutron sources prevents capsule contamination

Modified gloved enclosure is used to fill a capsule with a mixture of americium and beryllium radioactive powders to seal weld the opening, and to test it for leaks. It contains a horizontal partition, vortex mixer, mounting press, welder, test vessel, and radiation shielding to prevent surface contamination

The Effects of Clumping and Substructure on ICM Mass Measurements

We examine an ensemble of 48 simulated clusters to determine the effects of small-scale density fluctuations and large-scale substructure on X-ray measurements of the intracluster medium (ICM) mass. We measure RMS density fluctuations in the ICM which can be characterized by a mean mass-weighted clumping factor C = /^2 between 1.3 and 1.4 within a density contrast of 500 times the critical density. These fluctuations arise from the cluster history of accretion shocks and major mergers, and their presence enhances the cluster's luminosity relative to the smooth case. We expect, therefore, that ICM mass measurements utilizing models which assume uniform density at a given radius carry a bias of order sqrt(C) = 1.16. We verify this result by performing ICM mass measurements on X-ray images of the simulations and finding the expected level of bias. The varied cluster morphologies in our ensemble also allow us to investigate the effects of departures from spherical symmetry on our measurements. We find that the presence of large-scale substructure does not further bias the resulting gas mass unless it is pronounced enough to produce a second peak in the image of at least 1% the maximum surface brightness. We analyze the subset of images with no secondary peaks and find a bias of 9% and a Gaussian random error of 4% in the derived mass.Comment: To appear in ApJ