Optically stimulated luminescence age of the Old Cedar midden, St. Joseph Peninsula State Park, Florida

We report optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating results from the Old Cedar midden in St. Joseph Peninsula State Park, located between the Gulf of Mexico and St. Joseph Bay near Port St. Joe, FL, USA. The Old Cedar site (8GU85) is located on top of a relict beach ridge which is actively eroding into St. Joseph Bay. Old Cedar is noted for its conch shell tool assemblage, otherwise rare at northwest Florida archaeological sites, and is believed to have been utilized during the Late Woodland Weeden Island and possibly the Fort Walton periods [Benchley, E.D., Bense, J.A., 2001. Archaeology and history of St. Joseph Peninsula State Park: Phase I investigations. Report of Investigations, No. 89, University of West Florida Archaeology Institute]. After removing surficial erosion deposits, we extracted OSL core samples from both the midden layer and the underlying beach ridge. The resulting OSL age is compared with the age of another beach ridge on St. Joseph Peninsula. We hope that this study will aid in the investigation and conservation of Old Cedar specifically and other Weeden Island sites in the St. Joseph Bay area.     

Characterization of Distributional Forms for Compositional Data and Associated Distributional Tests

A variety of approaches to the testing of distributional forms for compositional data has appeared in the literature, all based on logratio or Box–Cox transformation techniques and to a degree dependent on the divisor chosen in the formation of ratios for these transformations. This paper, recognizing the special algebraic–geometric structure of the standard simplex sample space for compositional problems, the use of the fundamental simplicial singular value decomposition, and an associated power-perturbation characterization of compositional variability, attempts to provide a definitive approach to such distributional testing problems. Our main consideration is the characterization and testing of additive logistic–normal form, but we also indicate possible applications to logistic skew normal forms once a full range of multivariate tests emerges. The testing strategy is illustrated with both simulated data and applications to some real geological compositional data sets.     

Responses of a Northern Adriatic Ampelisca-Corbula community to seasonality and short-term hydrological changes in the Po river

During the 20th century, increased nutrient inflow has increased the frequency and intensity of eutrophication events in the North-western Adriatic Sea. More recently, evidence of a reduction in the Po river flow and a recovery of the benthic environment were reported. We examined the role played by Po river regime and seasonality in determining the temporal pattern of macrozoobenthos variation: samples were collected from a site located 10-12km off Cesenatico during two years from October 2004 to September 2006, when the mean Po discharge remained exceptionally low. 88 taxa were found, and the community was dominated by few species: Ampelisca diadema, Lumbrineris latreillii, Corbula gibba, Aricidea claudiae, Levinsenia gracilis and Nucula nucleus account for about 80% of total abundances. The density of these species exhibited a marked seasonal variability. Moreover, the total abundance and the density of the sensitive species, A. diadema, were negatively affected by several disturbance events (hypoxic conditions, frequent storms and an anomalous winter flood) that occurred between November 2005 and March 2006. The reduction of C. gibba and the increase of A. diadema densities observed in the investigated period, and verified recently by other authors could be related to the reduction in river inputs as a consequence of climatic changes.     

Motion control-based seismic retrofit solutions for a R/C school building designed with earlier Technical Standards

The study of two motion control-based seismic retrofit solutions for a low-rise reinforced concrete school building is presented in this paper. The building was assumed as a benchmark structure for a Research Project financed by the Italian Department of Civil Protection, and is representative of several similar public edifices designed with earlier Technical Standards editions, in Italy as well as in other earthquake-prone European countries. The two solutions refer to the alternative earthquake protection strategies based on the concepts of supplemental damping and seismic isolation, respectively. Namely, they consist in the installation of: (1) a dissipative bracing system incorporating pressurized fluid viscous spring-dampers; and (2) a base isolation system including double friction pendulum sliding bearings. The structural characteristics of the building, and a synthesis of the investigation campaigns developed on it, are initially presented. The mechanical parameters, dimensions, locations and installation details of the constituting elements of the two protective systems are then illustrated, along with the performance assessment analyses carried out in original and rehabilitated conditions according to a full non-linear dynamic approach. The results of the analyses show a remarkable enhancement of the seismic response capacities of the structure for both retrofit hypotheses. This allows reaching the mutual high performance levels postulated in the two rehabilitation designs with remarkably lower costs and architectural intrusion as compared to traditional rehabilitation interventions designed for the same objectives.     

The damped cable system for seismic protection of frame structures — Part I: General concepts,testing and modeling

Research studies on the damped cable system (DCS) for seismic protection of frame structures are presented in this paper and the accompanying one. This technology includes prestressed steel cables linked to pressurized fluid viscous spring‐dampers fixed to the foundation at their lower ends, and to the top floor, or one of the upper floors, at their upper ends. The cables have sliding contacts with the floor slabs, to which they are joined by steel deviators. The general characteristics of the system, as well as of the constituting spring‐dampers and cables, are initially discussed. The results of a laboratory testing campaign developed on a DCS prototype are examined, and transferred into the formulation of the finite element model of the system, conceived to be easily generated by commercial structural analysis programs. A second dynamic experimental investigation follows, concerning a pilot installation of the system on a full‐scale mock‐up building. The benefits of the protective technology are evaluated in terms of maximum displacements and accelerations, as well as of equivalent viscous damping coefficient and MDOF transmissibility ratio. Further sections of the study, including a preliminary sizing criterion of DCS, additional numerical enquiries aimed at optimizing its geometrical layout, and the application to a real case study building, are offered in the companion paper. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

西南天山前陆盆地侏罗纪-白垩纪盆山格局——来自碎屑锆石年代学的证据

目前对天山地区,特别是天山南缘中生代盆山格局认识尚存分歧。本文着眼于侏罗纪-白垩纪这一盆山演化关键阶段,利用碎屑锆石LA-ICP-MS U-Pb定年法对西南天山前陆盆地康苏剖面中侏罗统杨叶组、下白垩统克孜勒苏群沉积开展物源分析。发现中侏罗统杨叶组碎屑锆石U-Pb年龄分布于369~2687 Ma间,基本分布在369~404 Ma(约占4%)、418~501 Ma(约占19%)和544~2687 Ma(约占77%)3个范围;下白垩统克孜勒苏群碎屑锆石U-Pb年龄分布于243~2820 Ma间,集中于253~414 Ma(约占35%)、423~489 Ma(约占27%)和668~2820 Ma(约占37%)3个范围。中侏罗统碎屑锆石年龄分布范围广,各年龄组分均较突显,反映中侏罗世西南天山前缘流域体系宽广,天山内各主要源区均得到沟通,物源范围广阔。下白垩统克孜勒苏群锆石年龄分布明显集中,反映早白垩世西南天山前缘源区范围有所缩小。西南天山前缘与库车前陆盆地的物源构成在中侏罗世存在一定差异,而在早白垩世呈现相似特征。包括西南天山前陆盆地在内的天山南缘或于早白垩世经历一期小规模构造反转,导致山-盆构造分异与抬升-剥蚀增强。     

Persistent polybaric rests of calc-alkaline magmas at Stromboli volcano,Italy: pressure data from fluid inclusions in restitic quartzite nodules

A fluid-inclusion study has been performed on quartzite nodules of stromboli volcano hosted by calc-alkaline lavas of both the Strombolicchio (200 ka) and Paleostromboli II (60 ka) periods. The nodules are mainly composed of quartz crystals with subordinate plagioclase and K-feldspar. Small interstitial minerals such as plagioclase, K-feldspar, clinopyroxene, biotite, and quartz are also found, together with glass. Muscovite, epidote and zircon occur as accessory minerals. Different quartzite nodules occur: (1) equigranular polygonal granoblastic quartzite nodules forming a polygonal texture with clear triple points; (2) inequigranular polygonal granoblastic quartzite nodules; and (3) break-up nodules with strongly resorbed quartz. These quartzites are restites from partial melting, involving felsic crustal rocks at the magma/wall rock contact. Restitic quartz re-crystallises at variable and generally high temperatures, leading to the formation of quartzites with different textures. Quartz grains contain five types of fluid inclusions distinguished on the basis of both fluid type and textural/phase relationships at room temperature. Type I are two-phase (liquid+vapour) CO ₂-rich fluid inclusions. They are primary and subordinately pseudosecondary in origin and have undergone re-equilibration processes. Type II mono-phase/two-phase (vapour/liquid+vapour) CO ₂-rich fluid inclusions are the most common and, based on their spatial distribution and shape, they can be divided into two subclasses: type IIa and type IIb. Type II inclusions are secondary or pseudosecondary and they are assumed to have formed after decrepitation of type I inclusions and cracking of the host quartz. Type III inclusions are mono-phase (vapour); they possibly contain CO ₂ at very low density and surround the inner rims of quartz grains. Type IV two-phase silicate-melt inclusions contain glass±CO ₂-rich fluid. Some of them are cogenetic with type II inclusions. Finally, type V two-phase (liquid+vapour) aqueous inclusions are both vapour-rich and liquid-rich aqueous inclusions. Microthermometric experiments were performed on both type I and II inclusions. Type I inclusions homogenise to liquid between 20 and 30.5 °C. Type IIa inclusions homogenise to vapour in the 24 to 30 °C range, with a maximum peak of frequency at 29 °C. Type IIb inclusions also homogenise to vapour between 14 and 25 °C. There appears to be no difference in homogenisation temperature distribution between the Strombolicchio and Paleostromboli II samples. The trapping pressures of the fluid inclusions have been obtained by combining the microthermometric data of the Strombolicchio and Paleostromboli II samples with the pressure–temperature–volume (i.e. density) characteristics for a pure CO ₂ system. The data on the early inclusions (type I) suggest an important magma rest at a pressure of about 290 MPa (i.e. about 11-km depth). Type IIa CO ₂ inclusions suggest that a second magma rest occurred at a pressure of about 100 MPa (i.e. about 3.5-km depth), whereas type IIb inclusions were trapped later at a shallower depth during the final magma upwelling. No pressure/depth differences seem to occur between the Strombolicchio and Paleostromboli II periods, indicating the same polybaric rests for the calc-alkaline magmas of Stromboli, despite their significantly different ages. This persistence in magma stagnation conditions from 200 to 60 ka suggests a similar plumbing system for the present-day Strombolian activity.     

Changes in climate,vegetation cover and vegetation composition affect runoff generation in the Gulf of Guinea Basin

Although considerable effort has been deployed to understand the impact of climate variability and vegetation change on runoff in major basins across Africa, such studies are scarce in the Gulf of Guinea Basin (GGB). This study combines the Budyko framework and elasticity concept along with geospatial data to fill this research gap in 44 nested sub-basins in the GGB. Annual rainfall from 1982 to 2021 show significant decreasing and increasing trends in the northern and southern parts of the GGB, respectively. Annual potential evapotranspiration (PET) also shows significant increasing trends with higher magnitudes observed in the northern parts of the GGB. Changing trends in climate variables corroborates with shift to arid and wetter conditions in the north and south, respectively. From 2000 to 2020 vegetation cover estimated using enhanced vegetation index (EVI) shows significant increasing trends in all sub-basins including those experiencing a decline in annual rainfall. Vegetation composition measured using vegetation continuous fields (VCFs) from 2000 to 2020 show an increase in tree canopy cover (TC), a decline in short vegetation cover and marginal changes in bare ground cover (BG). Elasticity coefficients show that a 10% increase in annual rainfall and PET may lead to a 33% increase and 24% decline in runoff, respectively. On the other hand, a 10% increase in EVI may lead to a 4% decline in runoff while a 10% increase in TC, SV and BG may reduce runoff by 4% and increase runoff by 3% and 2%, respectively. Even though changes are marginal, decomposing vegetation into different parameters using EVI and VCFs may lead to different hydrological effects on runoff which is one of the novelties of this study that may be used for implementing nature-based solutions. The study also demonstrates that freely available geospatial data together with analytical methods are a promising approach for understanding the impact of climate variability and vegetation change on hydrology in data-scarce regions.