Inclination Error Research Articles

In situ remagnetization experiments of loess on the Chinese Loess Plateau: Evidence for localized post-depositional remanent magnetization

[1] Inconsistent stratigraphic positions of reversal boundaries and spurious paleomagnetic variations associated with polarity reversals recorded by loess/paleosols on the Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP) have in general been attributed to inferred delayed acquisition of magnetization and high-frequency variations of the geomagnetic field, respectively. These conclusions are partly based on an incomplete knowledge of the magnetization acquisition process of loess. Recent laboratory experiments, which demonstrate that dry-deposited loess acquires a stable remanent magnetization after its first wetting (precipitation), resulted in significant inclination errors that are not generally encountered in Chinese loess. Laboratory experiments only remotely mimic natural conditions, and we have therefore performed in situ experiments at two sites on the CLP separated by some 650 km to elucidate whether variations in natural conditions can impose secondary remanent magnetization components in loess (L1). The experiments were performed by relocating blocks (volume ∼5·10−3 m3) of last interglacial loess after being turned upside down inside loess exposures. Inverted blocks were retrieved and analyzed after 8 and 17 months respectively. Thermal demagnetization reveals that partial remagnetization has occurred within different parts of the loess blocks. This secondary magnetization, which is characterized by blocking temperatures that overlap with those of the primary component to above 450°C, cannot be attributed to a viscous remanent magnetization and is therefore proposed to represent local and partial realignment of magnetic grains. We tentatively propose that physical ‘unlocking’ and realignment of magnetic grains may be assisted by pressure release caused by differential thermal expansion of the different mineral grains in loess. Localized remagnetization may account for a number of reported spurious paleomagnetic results from CLP.

Modeling for orientation deviation of workpiece and analysis of machining accuracy

The machining accuracy of workpiece is influenced by its orientation deviation, which is caused by the fixture-workpiece error. Based on the spatial coordinate theory, the orientation deviation of workpiece is measured by using an on-machine verification system, which can take into account the errors resulting from fixture manufacturing, installation and adjustment, location and clamping of workpiece. According to the least square method, the model of orientation deviation is built to determine the relationship between the theoretical and actual coordinate systems. The influence of orientation deviation on machining accuracy is quantified, and it is shown that the orientation deviation only affects the dimensional precision and position precision, rather than shape precision. In the experiment, the compensation processing of realtime errors was conducted, and the perpendicularity and inclination errors of the tetragonal part were reduced by 38.46% and 47.06%, respectively.

Widespread inclination shallowing in Permian and Triassic paleomagnetic data from Laurentia: Support from new paleomagnetic data from Middle Permian shallow intrusions in southern Illinois (USA) and virtual geomagnetic pole distributions

Recent paleomagnetic work has highlighted a common and shallow inclination bias in continental redbeds. The Permian and Triassic paleomagnetic records from Laurentia are almost entirely derived from such sedimentary rocks, so a pervasive inclination error will expectedly bias the apparent polar wander path of Laurentia in a significant way. The long-standing discrepancy between the apparent polar wander paths of Laurentia and Gondwana in Permian and Triassic time may be a consequence of such a widespread data-pathology. Here we present new Middle Permian paleomagnetic data from igneous rocks and a contact metamorphosed limestone from cratonic Laurentia. The exclusively reversed Middle Permian magnetization is hosted by low-Ti titanomagnetite and pyrrhotite and yields a paleomagnetic pole at 56.3°S, 302.9°E (A 95 = 3.8, N = 6). This pole, which is unaffected by inclination shallowing, suggests that a shallow inclination bias may indeed be present in the Laurentian records. To further consider this hypothesis, we conduct a virtual geomagnetic pole distribution analysis, comparing theoretical expectations of a statistical field model (TK03.GAD) against published data-sets. This exercise provides independent evidence that the Laurentian paleomagnetic data is widely biased, likely because of sedimentary inclination shallowing. We estimate the magnitude of this error from our model results and present and discuss several alternative corrections.

중력 법칙을 이용한 전자나침반의 경사오차 및 비 수평오차 보정

This paper proposes a correction method concerning the inclination error and non-horizontal error of magnetic compass when magnetic compass is vibrated. This system used the 2-axis variable resistance and pendulum. A pendulum hanging from the 2-axis variable resistance of this system is always maintain the horizontal because of gravity. but these data had some intrinsic error. So we used the low pass filter to solve this problem. So this system can get the accurate azimuth of magnetic compass.<BR> In conclusion, These results demonstrate convincingly by applied algorithm of experiment.

Development of a low-cost attitude sensor for agricultural vehicles

The objective of this research was to develop a low-cost attitude sensor for agricultural vehicles. The attitude sensor was composed of three vibratory gyroscopes and two inclinometers. A sensor fusion algorithm was developed to estimate tilt angles (roll and pitch) by least-squares method. In the algorithm, the drift error of the gyroscopes was estimated using the inclinometers. In addition to tilt angles, the attitude sensor also estimated the absolute heading angle and position with inclination error correction by integrating a GPS. Tests were conducted on a flat field, a sloping ground and a bumpy road. Results showed that the attitude sensor was able to estimate the roll angle with the maximum root mean square error of 0.43°, the pitch angle with 0.61° and the heading angle with 0.64°. Moreover, the attitude sensor dramatically improved the positioning accuracy from 25.9 cm to 3.0 cm in the sloping ground test and from 8.4 cm to 3.7 cm in the bumpy road test. The proposed technology used in the attitude sensor will help to develop advanced agricultural applications.

Accuracy of acetabular cup positioning using imageless navigation

BackgroundCorrect placement of the acetabular cup is a crucial step in total hip replacement to achieve a satisfactory result and remains a challenge with free-hand techniques. Imageless navigation may provide a viable alternative to free-hand technique and improve placement significantly. The purpose of this project was to assess and validate intra-operative placement values for both inclination and anteversion as displayed by an imageless navigation system to post-operative measurement of cup position using high resolution CT scans.MethodsThirty-two subjects who underwent primary hip joint arthroplasty using imageless navigation were included. The average age was 66.5 years (range 32-87). 23 non-cemented and 9 cemented acetabular cups were implanted. The desired position for the cup was 45 degrees of inversion and 15 degrees of anteversion. A pelvic CT scan using a multi-slice CT was used to assess the position of the cup radiographically.ResultsTwo subjects were excluded because of dislodgement of the tracking pin. Pearson correlation revealed a strong and significant correlation (r = 0.68; p < 0.006) for cup inclination and a moderate non-significant correlation (r = 0.53; p = 0.45) between intra-operative readings and cup placement for anteversion.ConclusionsThese findings can be explained with the possible introduction of systematic error. Even though the acquisition of anatomic landmarks is simple, they must be acquired with great precision. An error of 1 cm can result in a mean anteversion error of 6 degrees and inclination error of 2.5 degrees. Whilst computer assisted surgery results in highly accurate cup placements for inclination, anteversion of the cup cannot be determined accurately.

Inclination Errors Evaluation of Planar Lines with a Chaos Optimization

To improve inclination error evaluation of planar lines, chaos optimization is proposed to evaluate the minimum zone error in this paper. The evolutional optimum model and the calculation process are introduced. By using the properties of ergodicity, stochastic property, and “regularity” of chaos, the efficiency of chaos optimization algorithm (COA) is much higher than some stochastic algorithms such as simulated anneal algorithm (SAA) and genetic algorithm (GA) when COA is used to a kind of continuous problems. The chaos optimization algorithm can improve the efficiency of searching in the whole field by gradually shrinking the area of optimization variable. Finally, the control experiment results evaluated by different method such as the Least Square, Simplex search, Powell optimum methods and GA, indicate that the proposed method does provide better accuracy on inclination error evaluation.

Influence of inclination error in sedimentary rocks on the Triassic and Jurassic apparent pole wander path for North America and implications for Cordilleran tectonics

Because of paleomagnetic inclination error (I error) in sedimentary rocks, we argue that previous estimates of Triassic and Jurassic paleolatitudes of the North American craton have generally been too low, the record being derived mostly from sedimentary rocks. Using results from all major cratons, we construct a new composite apparent pole wander (APW) path for Triassic through Paleogene based on 69 paleopoles ranging in age from 243 to 43 Ma. The poles are from igneous rocks and certain sedimentary formations corrected for I error brought into North American coordinates using plate tectonic reconstructions. Key features of the new APW path are a 25° northward progression from 230 to 190 Ma to high latitudes (off northernmost Siberia) where the pole lingers until 160 Ma, a jump to the Aleutians followed by a hook in western Alaska by ∼145 Ma that leads to the 130–60 Ma stillstand, after which the pole moves to its present position. As an example of the application of this new path we use paleomagnetic results to determine that southern Wrangellia and Stikinia (W/S), the two most westerly terranes in the Canadian Cordillera, lay 630 to 1650 km farther south than at present relative to the craton during the Late Triassic and Early Jurassic. This is consistent with an exotic Tethyan origin as paleontological and mantle geochemical evidences imply. During the Late Triassic through Early Cretaceous, W/S moved northward more slowly than the craton, implying oblique sinistral net convergence over this 130 Myr interval. This was followed by dextral shear in latest Cretaceous through Eocene.

Improving Cup Positioning Using a Mechanical Navigation Instrument

Although surgical navigation reduces the rate of malpositioned acetabular cups in total hip arthroplasty (THA), its use has not been widely adopted. As a result of our perceived need for simple and efficient methods of navigation, we developed a mechanical navigation device for acetabular cup orientation. We assessed accuracy of cup orientation (mean error of cup inclination and anteversion) of a novel mechanical navigation device, percentage of outliers, length of operation, and compared the results with a series of CT-based computer-assisted THAs. Cup orientation of 70 THAs performed using the mechanical navigation device was compared with a historical control group of 146 THAs performed using CT-based computer navigation. Postoperative cup orientation was measured using a validated two-dimensional/three-dimensional matching method. An outlier was defined outside a range of ± 10° from the planned inclination and/or anteversion. Using the mechanical navigation device, we observed a decrease in the errors of inclination (1.3° ± 3.4° [range, -6.6° to 8.2°] versus 3.5° ± 4.2° [-12.7° to 6.9°]), errors of anteversion (1.0° ± 4.1° [-8.8° to 9.5°] versus 3.0° ± 5.8° [-11.8° to 19.6°]), percentages of outliers (0% versus 9.6%), and length of operation (112 ± 22 [78-184] minutes versus 132 ± 18 [90-197] minutes) compared with CT-based navigation. Compared with CT-based surgical navigation, navigation of acetabular cup orientation using a mechanical device can be performed in less time, lower mean errors, and minimal equipment.

Clockwise rotation and implications for northward drift of the western Transverse Ranges from paleomagnetism of the Piuma Member, Sespe Formation, near Malibu, California

New paleomagnetic results from mid‐Tertiary sedimentary beds in the Santa Monica Mountains reinforce the evidence for large‐scale rotation of the western Transverse Ranges, and anisotropy measurements indicate that compaction‐induced inclination flattening may resolve a long‐standing controversy regarding the original paleolatitude of the rotated block. Previously published paleomagnetic data indicate that post‐Oligocene rotation amounts to 70°–110° clockwise, affecting the Channel Islands, Santa Monica Mountains, and Santa Ynez Mountains. The Sespe Formation near Malibu consists of a lower member dominated by nonmarine sandstone and conglomerate and an upper section, the Piuma Member, which consists of gray‐red sandstone and mudstone interbedded with minor tuff and limestone beds. The Piuma Member has a paleomagnetic pole at 36.6°N, 326.7°E (A95min = 5.0°, A95max = 9.6°), obtained by thermal demagnetization of 34 oriented cores from Oligocene and early Miocene beds. After correcting for plunge of the geologic structure, the data are consistent with significant clockwise rotation (77° ± 7°) of the region relative to stable North America. Rotation of the western Transverse Ranges is generally viewed as a consequence of Pacific–North American plate interactions after 28 Ma, when east–west subduction gave way to northwest transform motion in southern California. Inclinations from the Piuma study indicate a paleolatitude anomaly of 11° ± 7° and are consistent with a mean northward drift that exceeds generally accepted San Andreas fault displacement by a factor of 3. However, sedimentary inclination error may accentuate the anomaly. Anisotropy of isothermal remanent magnetization indicates inclination flattening of approximately 8°, and correction for the effect reduces the paleolatitude anomaly to 5.3° ± 5.8°. Compaction may explain the inclination flattening in these sedimentary rocks, but the process does not adequately explain lower‐than‐expected inclinations found in previous studies of Miocene volcanic rocks of the western Transverse Ranges.

Accuracy of acetabular cup placement in computer-assisted, minimally-invasive THR in a lateral decubitus position

In a prospective and randomised clinical study, we implanted acetabular cups either by means of an image-free computer-navigation system (navigated group, n = 32) or by free-hand technique (freehand group n = 32, two drop-outs). Total hip replacement was conducted in the lateral position and through a minimally invasive anterior approach (MicroHip). The position of the component was determined postoperatively on CT scans of the pelvis using CT-planning software. We found an average inclination of 42.3° (range 32.7-50.6°; SD ± 3.8°) and an average anteversion of 24.5° (range 12.0-33.3°; SD ± 6.0°) in the computer-assisted study group and an average inclination of 37.9° (range 25.6-50.2°; SD ± 6.3°) and an average anteversion of 23.8° (range 5.6-46.9°; SD ± 10.1°) in the freehand group. The higher precision of computer navigation was indicated by the lower standard deviations. For both measurements we found a significant heterogeneity of variances (p < 0.05, Levene's test). The mean difference between the cup inclination/anteversion values displayed by computer navigation and the true cup position (CT control) was 0.37° (SD 3.26) and -5.61° (SD 6.48), respectively. We found a bias (underestimation) with regard to anteversion determined by the imageless computer navigation system. A bias for inclination was not found. Registration of the landmarks of the anterior pelvic plane in lateral position with undraped percutaneous methods leads to an error in cup anteversion, but not to an error in cup inclination. The bias we found is consistent with a correct registration of the anterosuperior iliac spine (ASIS) and with a registration of the symphysis 1 cm above the bone, corresponding to the less compressible overlying soft tissue in this region. There was no significant correlation between the bias and the thickness of soft tissue above the pubic tubercles. We suggest use of a percutaneous registration of ASIS and an invasive registration above the pubic tubercles when computer-assisted navigation is performed in minimally invasive THR in a lateral position.

光场相机中微透镜阵列与探测器配准误差分析

In order to reduce the influence on the digital refocusing,the structure registration error in the light field camera is discussed.As for the camera in which the microlens array arranged in Matrix-style, the registration error sources are analyzed.The most important registration errors including coupled distance error,rotation error and inclination error are represented.And the registration limit conditions for the three situations respectively are suggested.The simulation experiments show that when the registration limit is exceeded,the reconstructed image will appear blurred,aliasing and other distortion. and the accurate refocusing range will be reduced.

Pangea B: an artifact of incorrect paleomagnetic assumptions?

The detailed plate reconstruction within Pangea megacontinent has been an ongoing debate among the paleomagnetic community for decades. The Pangea B hypothesis, implying a 3500 km Triassic dextral megashear on the Gondwana-Laurussia limit, has been recently reinforced by new data, excluding Southern Alps sites. This configuration, at odds with geological evidence, does improve the coherency of paleomagnetic poles from Gondwana and Laurussia. However, the corresponding apparent latitudinal difference between the two supercontinents can be easily accounted for, without invoking this megashear, considering the effect of inclination error (or equivalent non-dipole field) on the site distribution used in the paleomagnetic study. Once northern hemisphere Southern Alps data are considered, Pangea B no longer holds. Large inclination errors (10°-30°) are to be expected in the Permo-Triassic continental sediments as demonstrated in the Esterel and possibly Argentina Permo-Triassic studies or in Neogene analogues such as the Siwalik or Catalan basin sequences. An overall discussion of the inclination error problem is given. Analysis of the database also suggests an age bias between the Gondwana and Laurussia reference poles at the Permo-Triassic boundary, partly responsible also for the latitudinal shift. Finally, Moroccan data are demonstrated to be irrelevant for computing a Gondwana early Triassic pole.

Molecular gas in NUclei of GAlaxies (NUGA)

We present high-resolution CO(1-0) and CO(2-1) maps of the LINER 2 galaxy NGC1961. This galaxy is unusual among late-type (Sc) disk galaxies in having a very large radial extent and inferred dynamical mass. We propose a head-on collision scenario to explain the perturbed morphology of this galaxy- both the off-centered rings and the inflated radius. This scenario is supported by the detection of a steep velocity gradient in the CO(1-0) map at the position of a southwest peak in radio continuum and near-infrared emission. This peak would represent the remnant of the disrupting companion. We use numerical models to demonstrate the plausibility of the scenario. While ram pressure stripping could in principle be important for shocking the atomic gas and produce the striking head-tail morphology, the non detection of this small galaxy group in X-ray emission suggests that any hot intragroup medium has too low a density. The collision with the companion of mass ratio 1:4 produces a lopsided wave, which accounts for the sharp boundary observed in the atomic gas on the southern side. We argue that NGC1961 has a strongly warped disk, which gives the false impression of a nearly face-on system; the main disk is actually more edge-on, and this error in the true inclination has led to the surprisingly high dynamical mass for a morphologically late-type galaxy. In addition, the outward propagating ring artificially enlarges the disk. The collision de-stabilizes the inner disk and can provide gas inflow to the active nucleus.

Diachronous pervasive remagnetization in northern Iberian basins during Cretaceous rotation and extension

Northern Iberia exposes a series of Mesozoic sedimentary basins, whose final formation history is tied to a rotation episode of Iberia during the Aptian, related to the opening of the Bay of Biscay. Many of these basins experienced widespread remagnetization, previously loosely tied to a ‘Mid-Cretaceous thermal event’. Here we make use of the improved apparent polar wander path (APWP) of Iberia to narrowly constrain the age of their remagnetization to show that several basins experienced a regional diachronous remagnetization. We apply the small circle intersection (SCI) method to reconstruct the paleomagnetic field direction during remagnetization in the Organyà Basin in the Southern Pyrenees, Spain, where the age of remagnetization is stratigraphically well-dated to around the Barremian–Aptian boundary, and where the paleomagnetic direction during remagnetization has been well-established. The resulting direction of D/ I = 316.8 ± 5.7°/54.8° ± 3.3° (where the uncertainty in declination is approximated by α 95 / cos I and the error in inclination by α 95) corresponds closely to a recently improved APWP of Iberia, providing support for the applicability of this method. Application of the SCI method allows us to show that the older portion of the remagnetized beds was already tilted by ~ 15–20° to the South during the remagnetization as a result of half-graben formation in the Organyà Basin. Moreover, the positive outcome of the SCI technique enables us to argue that previously published results from three other basins—the Cabuérniga and Cameros Basins and the Iberian Range—can be straightforwardly compared to the APWP. Hence, we show that the four pervasively remagnetized basins under consideration all acquired their remagnetization at different times. The remagnetization events were thus confined to these sedimentary basins on an individual ‘per basin’ scale—albeit occurring on a regional scale over a period of at least ~ 10–15 Myr. Therefore, we propose that the Cretaceous remagnetization events in northern Iberia are related to the extensional tectonic rifting. The pervasive remagnetization is most likely basin confined because there is no apparent overall regional or temporal trend among the basins. Reasonable explanations for remagnetization are those that can occur on the scale and within the context of individual sedimentary basins. These include the interplay of burial depth and an elevated geothermal gradient to reach the diagenetic temperatures required for magnetite-producing reactions. In the Iberian situation, there is no need to invoke more speculative regional Iberia-wide mechanisms.

Early Jurassic magnetostratigraphy and paleolatitudes from the Hartford continental rift basin (eastern North America): Testing for polarity bias and abrupt polar wander in association with the central Atlantic magmatic province

To determine whether the ∼200 Ma central Atlantic magmatic province (CAMP) coincides with a normal polarity bias and a purported abrupt change in polar wander at the J1 cusp, we collected samples for paleomagnetic study from 80 sites distributed over a ∼2500‐m‐thick section of sedimentary units that are interbedded with and overlie CAMP lavas in the Hartford basin, which together represent the initial 2.4 Ma of the Jurassic according to cycle stratigraphic analysis. Characteristic directions carried by hematite were isolated by thermal demagnetization in 71 sites and define a coherent magnetostratigraphy supported by a positive reversal test and an interbasin fold test. Despite a pronounced overall normal polarity bias (only three relatively short reverse polarity intervals could be confirmed in the sampled section), normal polarity Chron H24n that encompasses the CAMP extrusive zone is no more than 1.6 Ma in duration. Elongation/inclination analysis of the 315 characteristic directions, which have a flattened distribution, produces a result in agreement with a published mean direction for the CAMP volcanic units as well as published results similarly corrected for inclination error from the Newark basin. The three data sets (CAMP volcanics, Newark corrected sediments, and Hartford corrected sediments) provide a 201 Ma reference pole for eastern North America at 67.0°N, 93.8°E, A95 = 3.2°. Paleopoles from the Moenave and Wingate formations from the Colorado Plateau that virtually define the J1 cusp can be brought into agreement with the 201 Ma reference pole with corrections for net clockwise rotation of the plateau relative to eastern North America and presumed sedimentary inclination error. The corrected data show that apparent polar wander for North America proceeds directly toward higher latitudes over the Late Triassic and Early Jurassic with no obvious change that can be associated with CAMP.

Testing corrections for paleomagnetic inclination error in sedimentary rocks: A comparative approach

Paleomagnetic inclinations in sedimentary formations are frequently suspected of being too shallow. Recognition and correction of shallow bias is therefore critical for paleogeographical reconstructions. This paper tests the reliability of the elongation/inclination ( E/ I) correction method in several ways. First we consider the E/ I trends predicted by various PSV models. We explored the role of sample size on the reliability of the E/ I estimates and found that for data sets smaller than ∼ 100–150, the results were less reliable. The Giant Gaussian Process-type paleosecular variation models were all constrained by paleomagnetic data from lava flows of the last five million years. Therefore, to test whether the method can be used in more ancient times, we compare model predictions of E/ I trends with observations from five Large Igneous Provinces since the early Cretaceous (Yemen, Kerguelen, Faroe Islands, Deccan and Paraná basalts). All data are consistent at the 95% level of confidence with the E/ I trends predicted by the paleosecular variation models. The Paraná data set also illustrated the effect of unrecognized tilting and combining data over a large latitudinal spread on the E/ I estimates underscoring the necessity of adhering to the two principle assumptions of the method. Then we discuss the geological implications of various applications of the E/ I method. In general the E/ I corrected data are more consistent with data from contemporaneous lavas, with predictions from the well constrained synthetic apparent polar wander paths, and other geological constraints. Finally, we compare the E/ I corrections with corrections from an entirely different method of inclination correction: the anisotropy of remanence method of Jackson et al. [Jackson, M.J., Banerjee, S.K., Marvin, J.A., Lu, R., Gruber, W., 1991. Detrital remanence, inclination errors and anhysteretic remanence anisotropy: quantitative model and experimental results. Geophys. J. Int. 104, 95–103] which relies on measurement of remanence and particle anisotropies of the sediments. In the two cases where a direct comparison can be made, the two methods give corrections that are consistent within error. In summary, it appears that the E/ I method for recognizing and corrected the effects of sedimentary flattening is reasonably robust for at least the Mesozoic and Cenozoic when the source of scatter is geomagnetic and sedimentary flattening in origin.

Late Permian palaeomagnetic data east and west of the Urals

SUMMARY We studied Upper Permian redbeds from two areas, one between the Urals and the Volga River in the southeastern part of Baltica and the other in north Kazakhstan within the Ural-Mongol belt, which are about 900 km apart; a limited collection of Lower-Middle Triassic volcanics from north Kazakhstan was also studied. A high-temperature component that shows rectilinear decay to the origin was isolated from most samples of all three collections. For the Late Permian of north Kazakhstan, the area-mean direction of this component is D= 224.3°, I=−56.8°, k= 161, α95= 2.7°, N= 18 sites, palaeopole at 53.4°N, 161.3°E; the fold test is positive. The Triassic result (D= 55.9°, I=+69.1°, k= 208, α95= 4.2°, N= 7 sites, pole at 57.0°N, 134.1°E) is confirmed by a positive reversal test. The corresponding palaeomagnetic poles from north Kazakhstan show good agreement with the APWP for Baltica, thus indicating no substantial motion between the two areas that are separated by the Urals. Our new mean Late Permian direction for SE Baltica (D= 42.2°, I= 39.2°, k= 94, α95= 3.5°, N= 17 sites; palaeopole at 45.6°N, 170.2°E) is confirmed as near-primary by a positive tilt test and the presence of dual-polarity directions. The corresponding pole also falls on the APWP of Baltica, but is far-sided with respect to the coeval reference poles, as the observed mean inclination is shallower than expected by 13°± 4°. In principle, lower-than-expected inclinations may be attributed to one or more of the following causes: relative tectonic displacements, quadrupole and octupole terms in the geomagnetic field, higher-order harmonics (incl. secular variation) of the same field, random scatter, non-removed overprints, or inclination error during remanence acquisition and/or diagenetic compaction. Our analysis shows that most mechanisms from the above list cannot explain the observed pattern, leaving as the most likely option that it must be accounted for by inclination shallowing. Comparison with selected coeval results from eastern Baltica (all within Russia) shows that all of them are biased in the same way. This implies that they cannot be used for analysis of geomagnetic field characteristics, such as non-dipole contributions, without a more adequate knowledge of the required correction for inclination shallowing.

Correcting distorted paleosecular variation in late glacial lacustrine clay

An undisturbed, horizontal chronostratigraphic marker horizon of laminated red glacio-lacustrine clay crops out over ∼25,000 km 2 in northern Ontario, Canada. The primary, clastic hematite laminae possess two stable vector components of magnetization. We sampled a 1.6 m vertical section at overlapping 2 cm intervals in cubic specimens (8 cm 3, n = 106), precisely oriented in geographic coordinates which permitted measurement of inclination and declination. Alternating field demagnetization (12–17 steps per specimen) isolated a characteristic (ChRM), primary component (coercivity ≥40 mT) approximately 30° shallower than the mean geomagnetic field inclination at this latitude, with distorted paleosecular secular variation (PSV). A lower coercivity overprint (20–40 mT) is 6° shallower than the present geomagnetic field and similarly inclined to the depositional-remanence deflection when the clay was re-sedimented in the laboratory. We believe this angle to be representative of the inclination of the deflected primary remanence inclination during deposition, caused by the magnetic anisotropy of the clay. Using this as a proxy for the initial inclination, the ChRM (hard-component) inclinations were restored to their original values assuming vertical compaction, which averages to 51%. The restored inclinations are compatible with site-latitude and the restored secular-variation loops centre reasonably on the geographic North Pole. The structural correction based on homogeneous vertical shortening over-simplifies the reality of heterogeneous particulate flow in which grain rotations depend on shape, size and packing and effectively combines influences of compaction and depositional settlement. Nevertheless, this correction makes the PSV data more useful and interpretable in terms of paleopole migration. The more logical correction technique using anisotropy of anhysteretic remanence (AARM; Jackson, M.J., Banerjee, S.K., Marvin, J.A., Lu, R., Gruber, W., 1991. Detrital remanence, inclination errors, and anhysteretic remanence anisotropy: quantitative model and experimental results. Geophys. J. Int. 104: 95–103) is foiled here due to the high-coercivity of the remanence-bearing grains and their unknown orientation-distribution and shape-distribution.

The Masses and Evolutionary State of the Stars in the Dwarf Nova SS Cygni

The dwarf nova SS Cygni is a close binary star consisting of a K star transferring mass to a white dwarf by way of an accretion disk. We have obtained new spectroscopic observations of SS Cyg with the Hobby-Eberly Telescope (HET). Fits of synthetic spectra for Roche-lobe-filling stars to the absorption-line spectrum of the K star yield the amplitude of the K star's radial velocity curve and the mass ratio: K_{K} = 162.5 +/- 1.0 km/s and q= M_{K} /M_{wd} = 0.685 +/- 0.015. The fits also show that the accretion disk and white dwarf contribute a fraction f = 0.535 +/- 0.075 of the total flux at 5500 angstroms. Taking the weighted average of our results with previously published results obtained using similar techniques, we find <K_{K}> = 163.7 +/- 0.7 km/s and <q> = 0.683 +/- 0.012. The orbital light curve of SS Cyg shows an ellipsoidal variation diluted by light from the disk and white dwarf. From an analysis of the ellipsoidal variations we limit the orbital inclination to the range 45 deg. <= i <= 56 deg. The derived masses of the K star and white dwarf are M_{K} = 0.55 +/- 0.13 M_sun and M_{wd} = 0.81 +/- 0.19 M_sun, where the uncertainties are dominated by systematic errors in the orbital inclination. The K star in SS Cyg is 10% to 50% larger than an unevolved star with the same mass and thus does not follow the mass-radius relation for Zero-Age Main-Sequence stars; nor does it follow the ZAMS mass/spectral-type relation. Its mass and spectral type are, however, consistent with models in which the core hydrogen has been significantly depleted.