RAINFALL AND TEMPERATURE ATTRIBUTES ON THE LESOTHO–DRAKENSBERG ESCARPMENT EDGE, SOUTHERN AFRICA

Located near the southeastern limit of Africa, the Lesotho‐Drakensberg and associated escarpment is the highest range of African mountains south of the massifs in Tanzania. At the escarpment summit and on the adjacent high peaks, the climate is generally interpreted as marginal periglacial yet few data, specifically rainfall and temperature, exist on record at these altitudes. Climatic data from two temporary field stations on the escarpment edge, one of which is the highest rainfall station yet on record in southern Africa, provide contemporary surface‐climate conditions. Mean annual rainfall recorded between 2001 and 2005 averages 767.8 mm at Sani Pass summit (three complete years), and 753.2 mm on Sentinel Peak (two complete years); these values are less than those recorded for the same period in the mountain foothills. Even though rainfall is slightly below long‐term rainfall averages for the area due to a marginally dry spell, the data show that earlier estimates of between 1000 mm and 2000 mm rainfall per annum on the escarpment are too high. A measured mean air temperature of 5.8°C at Sani Pass, however, falls within the range estimated for the escarpment summit. Frost cycles in air and at the soil surface are frequent in winter, but absent in soil for summer, and no long‐duration surface‐soil freeze was measured. Temperatures thus confirm the marginal periglacial nature as postulated for previously, but precipitation data indicate a dryer environment than anticipated. Palaeoenvironmental scenarios, notably arguments for former glaciation based on extrapolations from somewhat exaggerated contemporary precipitation values, thus require re‐consideration.     

Positional uncertainty in manually digitized map data

Digital map coordinates represent the locations of real world entities. As such, differences can exist between the ‘tru’ and digital database coordinates of those entities. This paper reports on a statistical characterization of positional error in manually-digitized and map-registered point data, the relative contribution of point type and operator to digitization error, and the effects of map media type on the positional uncertainty associated with registration.

Manually-digitized point data were collected by four operators from mylar and paper maps. Point locations for a number of different feature types were sampled from United States Geological Survey (USGS) 1:24 000 scale maps. Linear models were used to estimate the variance components due to among-operator, map media, point type and registration effects. The statistical distribution of signed distance deviations for manually-digitized data was leptokurtic relative to a random normal variate. Unsigned deviations averaged 0-054 mm. Squared distance deviations were not different from a Chi-square random variate. Variance components indicate that among-operator differences in positional uncertainty were large and statistically significant, while differences among point type were small and non-significant. Signed distance deviations associated with a first-order afhne followed a normal distribution. Unsigned distance deviations associated with a first-order affinc transformation averaged 0068mm, and squared distance deviations were distributed as a Chi-square. Differences in transformation accuracy were not related to type of map media.     

Road network detection from SPOT imagery for updating geographical information systems in the rural–urban fringe

Abstract

Visual interpretation of high-resolution satellite data has been useful for mapping linear features, such as roads and updating land-use changes. However, it would be beneficial to map new road networks digitally from satellite data to update digital databases using semi-automated techniques. In this paper, an algorithm called Gradient Direction Profile Analysis (GDPA) is used to extract road networks digitally from SPOT High Resolution Visible (HRV) panchromatic data. The roads generated are compared with a visual interpretation of the SPOT HRV multispectral and panchromatic data. The technique is most effective in areas where road development is relatively recent. This is due to the spectral consistency of new road networks. As new road networks are those of most interest to the land manager, this is a useful technique for updating digital road network files within a geographical information system of urban areas.     

Identifying Accessory Mineral Saturation during Differentiation in Granitoid Magmas: an Integrated Approach

Numerical reconstructions of processes that may have operatedduring igneous petrogenesis often model the behaviour of importanttrace elements. The geochemistry of these trace elements maybe controlled by accessory mineral saturation and fractionation.Determination of the saturation point of accessory mineralsin granitoid rocks is ambiguous because assumptions about crystalmorphology and melt compositions do not always hold. An integratedapproach to identifying accessory mineral saturation involvingpetrography, whole-rock geochemical trends, saturation calculationsand mineral chemistry changes is demonstrated here for a compositionallyzoned pluton. Within and between whole-rock samples of the BoggyPlain zoned pluton, eastern Australia, the rare earth element(REE)-enriched accessory minerals zircon, apatite and titaniteexhibit compositional variations that are related to saturationin the bulk magma, localized saturation in intercumulus meltpools and fractionation of other mineral phases. Apatite isidentified as having been an early crystallizing phase overnearly the whole duration of magma cooling, with zircon (andallanite) only saturating in more felsic zones. Titanite andmonazite did not saturate in the bulk magma at any stage ofdifferentiation. Although some trace elements (P, Ca, Sc, Nb,Hf, Ta) in zircon exhibit compositional variation progressingfrom mafic to more felsic whole-rock samples, normalized REEpatterns and abundances (except Ce) do not vary with progressivedifferentiation. This is interpreted to be a result of limitationsto both simple ‘xenotime’ and complex xenotime-typecoupled substitutions. Our data indicate that zircon REE characteristicsare not as useful as those of other REE-rich accessory mineralsas a petrogenetic indicator. KEY WORDS: saturation; zircon; apatite; titanite; magma differentiation; trace elements; REE patterns     

MEASURING AND MODELLING OF SOIL WATER DYNAMICS AND RUNOFF GENERATION IN AN AGRICULTURAL LOESSIAL HILLSLOPE

Surface runoff may be generated when the rainfall intensity exceeds the infiltration capacity, or when the soil profile is saturated with water. Indications exist that both types of overland flow may occur in hilly agricultural loess regions. Here, for a loessial hillslope under maize in the southern part of The Netherlands, it was shown, with pressure head and runoff measurements, that Hortonian overland flow occurs during typical summer rain events. Surface runoff was initiated after saturation of the top 5–10 cm of the soil. Deeper in the soil, unsaturated conditions prevailed while runoff took place. Peak runoff discharges at the outlet of the subcatchment occurred a few minutes after peak rainfall intensities were measured. It appeared that SWMS_2D, a two-dimensional water flow model, was capable in simulating observed pressure head changes and runoff. Simulated potential runoff for the transect studied was higher by a magnitude of three than the measured areal average. This indicates effects of surface ponding, and the probable location of this particular transect in a region with high runoff production.     

Expanding spread profile at the northern Jan Mayen Ridge

An expanding spread seismic profile at the central northern Jan Mayen Ridge, ESP-5, has yielded a crustal seismic velocity distribution which is similar to observations from the thinned continental crust at the Norwegian continental margin. The profile reveals a post-early Eocene sedimentary sequence, about 1. 5 km thick, overlying 1 km of volcanic extrusives and interbedded sediments. Below, there are about 3 km of pre-opening sediments above the seismic basement. The results indicate that the main ridge block is underlain by a thinned crust, possibly only 13.5 km thick. The results are compatible with a continental nature for the main ridge complex.     

Contrasting flooding histories of Mississippian carbonate platforms revealed by marine alteration effects in palaeosols

Palaeosols associated with exposure surfaces in Mississippian platform carbonate sequences in Britain invariably show evidence for later alteration by sea water. These alteration effects can be attributed to flooding of the emergent platforms during transgressions that terminated exposure surface development. A study of 230 palaeosol profiles representing 60 stratigraphic levels has revealed a two fold division of these marine hydromorphic effects. Palaeosols in ramp sequences (Chadian-Arundian stages) are capped by ferroan dolomite horizons with carbonized rootlets, pyrite and thin coals. The ferroan dolomites exhibit δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O values indicative of formation in brackish waters. These are interpreted as coastal marshes that developed landward of a transgressive shoreline. Younger Asbian-Brigantian palaeosols lack these dolomites but have been extensively pyritised. The pyrite also developed through marine hydromorphic alteration but flooding was relatively instantaneous over the flat topped platforms. These differences in flooding history reflect both different platform configuration and more rapid transgressions during the Asbian-Brigantian, likely a result of glacio-eustatic effects. Flooding characteristics of the Asbian-Brigantian platforms differ from those associated with late Cainozoic examples, apparently because complete platform rims were not developed. Similar mineralogical alteration effects are likely to be common in other platform sequences in the geological record, but have not been documented.