Abstract: We quantify errors on splitting intensity measurements produced by incoherent noise on horizontal components through a detailed analysis of synthetic seismograms and of SKS and SKKS waves recorded by four permanent broad-band stations. We find that these errors are quite significant, even on high-quality records, because the measurement procedure involves the comparison of radial and transverse components, which are both contaminated by noise. To decrease the level of noise in the data, it is thus recommended to average splitting intensities from waves coming from the same backazimuth. Alternatively, one can analyse stacked radial and transverse components after applying a Wiener filter, which standardizes the waveforms. This is found to be equivalent because the measure of splitting intensity is a linear process. The utilization of Wiener filters reduces variations of apparent splitting resulting from differences in frequency content of the waveforms. It is possible to determine splitting parameters (splitting delays and fast directions) from azimuthal variations of splitting intensity at a particular station. Tests on synthetic seismograms demonstrate that this approach gives unbiased and robust estimates of splitting parameters, in contrast to the Silver and Chan method, which only works on the rare records that have very large signals on their transverse components. The Wolfe and Silver method does not suffer from this limitation and gives the same results as the multichannel splitting intensity method. Analysis of splitting intensities at stations BDFB, BGCA, CAN and ERM gives fast directions that are generally in excellent agreement with those determined with the Wolfe and Silver method. However, at some stations, azimuthal variations of splitting intensities reveal features that are not well captured by the sinusoidal variation representing the average anisotropy beneath the station. This suggests that small-scale lateral variations of anisotropy are present in the subcontinental mantle, which remain to be imaged in detail.

Abstract: We provide a review description of atmospheric inversion methods for the determination of fluxes of long-lived trace gases based on measurements of atmospheric concentration. Emphasis is given to technical aspects of inversion settings, which are crucial to inter-compare and understand inversion results. We briefly sketch the formalism used in such methods, then provide a summary of major currents in research and contemporary problems. Most attention is given to carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) which poses the threat of future climate change. Therefore, there is keen interest in better understanding where and when CO 2 emitted by the combustion of fossil fuels is reabsorbed by land ecosystems and oceans. Using the information contained in concentration fields observed from ground-based networks and from upcoming satellite observations in order to constrain the geographic distribution of surface fluxes is an inverse problem; it consists of finding a set of fluxes that optimally matches the observations available. We review the application of inverse methods to quantify the distribution of the sources and sinks of CO 2 at the surface of the Earth based on global measurements of atmospheric concentration and three-dimensional models of atmospheric transport. We describe the use of topdown atmospheric inversion methods in terms of numerical transport modeling and atmospheric observation networks, and detail some of the currently important issues in assigning uncertainties.

Abstract: We present the results of the use of magnetic methods (susceptibility, magnetic anomalies) applied to meteorite identification and partial classification. These methods were successfully tested during a meteorite collection expedition in Antarctica.

Abstract: We present the results of a study of the morphometric properties of a talus slope in subarctic Quebec (Nunavik) using field-based methods, including geomorphological, granulometric and plant distribution surveys, and statistical analyses. Slope processes are currently active, despite the limited altitudinal difference between the apical-to-distal parts of the slope and the imminent depletion of the debris supply. The near-rectilinear long profiles of the talus highlight the distribution of debris across the slope and demonstrate that free-fall of rock fragments is not the only process operating (redistribution is higher in the westernmost profile, which exhibits a clear concave shape). The spatial distribution of vegetation covering the screes highlights the recent age of parts of the talus, showing that present-day processes are still active, although limited. The short remaining apical rockwall highlights the shortage of debris following deglaciation, as debris are mostly supplied by freeze-thaw processes to the talus, and are then reworked by other processes which need to be better defined in subsequent research.