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Mathematical aspects of seismology
1970, Phys. Earth Planet. InterIors 2, 300—301. North-Holland Publishing Company, Amsterdam
BOOK REVIEWS
Methods in Palaeomagnelism, Developments in Solid Earth Geophysics 3, D. W. Collinson, K. M. Creer and S. K. Runcorn, eds. (Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1967) xviii+ 609 pp., Dfl. 110.00.
This excellent and well edited book is of great value for every research worker who is interested in the field of rock magnetism and palaeomagnetism. J.
This book contains papers which were presented at the NATO conference on Palaeomagnetic Methods (Physics Department of the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, April 1—10, 1964). The aim of the conference was to discuss the techniques and instruments used in the various palaeomagnetic laboratories. No less than 83 contributions have been inserted in the Proceedings (a number of them have not been read at the conference but have been added to complete the collection). Chapter 1 deals with sampling techniques in the field (9 papers). The many methods for measuring the natural remanent magnetisation of rock samples have been collected in Chapter 2. The subdivision of this Chapter is: astatic magnetometers (10 papers), ballistic and spinner magnetometers (8 papers), fiuxgate magnetometers (2 papers), principles of measurement (4 papers). In Chapter 3, procedures to test the stability of magnetisation are discussed (12 papers). Chapter 4 gives 5 papers on the presentation and analysis of data, Measurements of isotropic and anisotropic susceptibility are discussed in Chapter 5 (11 papers). Chapter 6 contains 9 papers on magnetic measurements in applied fields. Techniques for the study of magnetic components in rocks (6 papers) are collected in Chapter 7. Chapter 8 presents 7 papers on miscellaneous laboratory facilities, Palaeomagnetic research is nowadays carried out in at least 25 institutes spread over more than 10 different countries. When looking through the extensive collection of papers presented in this book, one is struck by the great variety of instruments and techniques which have been developed by the various research groups. The presentation of these methods of measurement means a very useful competition, useful not only for the groups involved but for everybody who wishes to study the magnetic properties of rocks.
VELDKAMP
M. BATH, Mathematical Aspects of Seismology (Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1968) xii+415 pp., Dfl. 85.00. This book is a most useful survey of the mathernatical methods required in modern seismology. It includes a very thorough discussion of contour integration, a detailed treatment of Bessel and Hankel functions leading to a discussion of the wave equation and wave propagation in solids and liquids. An attractive exposition of the Laplace transform method is included and a discussion of matrix methods. The title is not perhaps as exact as one would wish for the book includes rather little discussion of seismology. It is in fact a mathematical text to be mastered by the modern student of seismology. I wonder however whether more might have been said in such a comprehensive text on wave propagation in anisotropic media. The inferences drawn from continental drift and sea floor spreading of large scale motions in the Earth’s mantle imply that solid state creep processes are of considerable importance. The stress differences associated with flow, whether ther~ mally driven or otherwise, can also be inferred from the low harmonics of the external gravitational field. It is hard to escape the conclusion that arguing either from the stress distribution in the mantle or from flow that, in the presence of grain boundary or other forms of creep, widespread anisotropy should be found. That this is an important cause of the anomalies in seismic travel times seems likely. It would therefore have been perhaps an appropriate moment in the development of seismology to direct students’ attention to this field.
300
S. K.
RUNCORN
BOOK REVIEWS
Methods in Palaeomagnelism, Developments in Solid Earth Geophysics 3, D. W. Collinson, K. M. Creer and S. K. Runcorn, eds. (Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1967) xviii+ 609 pp., Dfl. 110.00.
This excellent and well edited book is of great value for every research worker who is interested in the field of rock magnetism and palaeomagnetism. J.
This book contains papers which were presented at the NATO conference on Palaeomagnetic Methods (Physics Department of the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, April 1—10, 1964). The aim of the conference was to discuss the techniques and instruments used in the various palaeomagnetic laboratories. No less than 83 contributions have been inserted in the Proceedings (a number of them have not been read at the conference but have been added to complete the collection). Chapter 1 deals with sampling techniques in the field (9 papers). The many methods for measuring the natural remanent magnetisation of rock samples have been collected in Chapter 2. The subdivision of this Chapter is: astatic magnetometers (10 papers), ballistic and spinner magnetometers (8 papers), fiuxgate magnetometers (2 papers), principles of measurement (4 papers). In Chapter 3, procedures to test the stability of magnetisation are discussed (12 papers). Chapter 4 gives 5 papers on the presentation and analysis of data, Measurements of isotropic and anisotropic susceptibility are discussed in Chapter 5 (11 papers). Chapter 6 contains 9 papers on magnetic measurements in applied fields. Techniques for the study of magnetic components in rocks (6 papers) are collected in Chapter 7. Chapter 8 presents 7 papers on miscellaneous laboratory facilities, Palaeomagnetic research is nowadays carried out in at least 25 institutes spread over more than 10 different countries. When looking through the extensive collection of papers presented in this book, one is struck by the great variety of instruments and techniques which have been developed by the various research groups. The presentation of these methods of measurement means a very useful competition, useful not only for the groups involved but for everybody who wishes to study the magnetic properties of rocks.
VELDKAMP
M. BATH, Mathematical Aspects of Seismology (Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1968) xii+415 pp., Dfl. 85.00. This book is a most useful survey of the mathernatical methods required in modern seismology. It includes a very thorough discussion of contour integration, a detailed treatment of Bessel and Hankel functions leading to a discussion of the wave equation and wave propagation in solids and liquids. An attractive exposition of the Laplace transform method is included and a discussion of matrix methods. The title is not perhaps as exact as one would wish for the book includes rather little discussion of seismology. It is in fact a mathematical text to be mastered by the modern student of seismology. I wonder however whether more might have been said in such a comprehensive text on wave propagation in anisotropic media. The inferences drawn from continental drift and sea floor spreading of large scale motions in the Earth’s mantle imply that solid state creep processes are of considerable importance. The stress differences associated with flow, whether ther~ mally driven or otherwise, can also be inferred from the low harmonics of the external gravitational field. It is hard to escape the conclusion that arguing either from the stress distribution in the mantle or from flow that, in the presence of grain boundary or other forms of creep, widespread anisotropy should be found. That this is an important cause of the anomalies in seismic travel times seems likely. It would therefore have been perhaps an appropriate moment in the development of seismology to direct students’ attention to this field.
300
S. K.
RUNCORN