Computer simulation of Pb and Sr isotope evolution of the Earth's crust and upper mantle

Isotope evolution in a differentiated (crust and upper mantle) and chemically heterogeneous Earth has been computed for a model with isotopic exchange between crust and mantle at an exponentially decreasing rate. To simulate the effects of subduction, cells of crust and mantle are selected at random, their contents mixed and then redistributed into the cells from which they came—to give new chemically heterogeneous but momentarily isotopically homogeneous systems. Daughter isotopes in each cell grow according to equations appropriate for closed chemical systems. Rock age distributions and isotopic data created by the computer calculation mimic nature. Pb isotope data changes through geologic time are illustrated to demonstrate that two-stage interpretations applied to Pb data for rocks with complex histories may be misleading. The intercept of the Pb ore growth curve and regressions fit to Pb data gives minimum values only for the duration of heterogeneous $\text{U}\text{Pb}$ systems, not the time when heterogeneous distribution first occurred. An intercept derived time of about 3 b.y., in the Pb system is shown to be quantitatively compatible with an average $\text{Rb}\text{Sr}$ age of crustal rocks of 1.5 b.y. and with a constant degree of chemical heterogeneity for all of Earth history.     

Integrated land-use systems: Assessment of promising agroforest and alternative land-use practices to enhance carbon conservation and sequestration

Degraded or sub-standard soils and marginal lands occupy a significant proportion of boreal, temperate and tropical biomes. Management of these lands with a wide range of existing, site-specific, integrated, agroforest systems represents a significant global opportunity to reduce the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Establishment of extensive agricultural, agroforest, and alternative land-use systems on marginal or degraded lands could sequester 0.82–2.2 Pg carbon (C) per year, globally, over a 50-year time-frame. Moreover, slowing soil degradation by alternative grassland management and by impeding desertification could conserve up to 0.5–1.5 Pg C annually. A global analysis of biologic and economic data from 94 nations representing diverse climatic and edaphic conditions reveals a range of integrated land-use systems which could be used to establish and manage vegetation on marginal or degraded lands. Promising land-use systems and practices identified to conserve and temporarily store C include agroforestry systems, fuelwood and fiber plantations, bioreserves, intercropping systems, and shelterbelts/windbreaks. For example, successful establishment of low-intensity agroforestry systems can store up to 70 Mg C/ha in boreal, temperate and tropical ecoregions. The mean initial cost of soil rehabilitation and revegetation ranges from $500–3,000/ha for the 94 nations surveyed. Natural regeneration of woody vegetation or agro-afforestation establishment costs were less than $1000/ha in temperate and tropical regions. The costs of C sequestration in soil and vegetation systems range from $1-69/Mg C, which compares favorably with other options to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere. Although agroforestry system projects were recently established to conserve and sequester C in Guatemala and Malaysia, constraints to wide-spread implementation include social conditions (demographic factors, land tenure issues, market conditions, lack of infrastructure), economic obstacles (difficulty of demonstrating benefits of alternative systems, capital requirements, lack of financial incentives) and, ecologic considerations (limited knowledge of impacts and sustainability of some systems).The information in this document has been funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It has been subject to the Agency's peer and administrative review, and it has been approved for publication as an EPA document. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement for use.     

秦岭造山带根部地壳结构及流变学演化

在地质和地球物理资料基础上，运用物理学观点，研究和分析了秦岭造山带根部－大别前寒武纪变质地体的三维结构及流变学演化历史，通过现代及中－新元古代时期地壳流变学剖面的构筑，强调地壳流变学分层性及变质变形分解作用对中下地壳结构及地球动力学演化的控制作用，线状强应变带与透镜状弱应变域的规律组合，是秦岭造山带及其根部地壳结构的基本样式，并具尺度不变性，将古老中下地壳近３Ｇａ的流变学演化历史划分为７个阶段。它     

Using PETRIMES to estimate mercury deposits in California

In this article, we examine the use of an unconventional procedure, PETRIMES, to estimate mineral resources of mercury deposits in California. The study, which is based on the nonparametric discovery process model and Q-Q plots, suggests that a lognormal distribution is appropriate for the mercury deposits in California. The results of the assessment are summarized as follows: (1) the total number of mercury deposits in the population is approximately 165; (2) the median value of the largest undiscovered deposit size is 487 flasks; (3) the mean of the remaining mercury potential is 2,500 flasks; and (4) the population resource ranges from 1,040,000 to 4,300,000 flasks (at a 0.9 probability level).     

A Method for the Exploratory Analysis of Airline Networks

The airline industry in the United States has experienced significant changes in the spatial configuration of networks since the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978. Attempts have been made to study the structure of the hub-and-spoke network in the airline industry, but no efficient methodology has been available. This paper describes an exploratory approach to analyzing the spatial configuration of airline networks. Flight frequencies and numbers of passengers from published schedules of six U.S. domestic airlines (American, Continental, Delta, Northwest, United, and USAir) are used in this study. The analytic components in the exploratory system include the examination of network connectivity and network autocorrelation in a dynamic mapping environment. The results of the analyses show both the overall spatial patterns of airline networks and the hierarchical hubbing structures.     

Role of slope stability in cumulative impact assessment of hydropower development: North Cascades, Washington

Two environmental assessments considered the potential cumulative environmental impacts resulting from the development of eight proposed hydropower projects in the Nooksack River Basin and 11 proposed projects in the Skagit River Basin, North Cascades, Washington, respectively. While not identified as a target resource, slope stability and the alteration of sediment supply to creeks and river mainstems significantly affect other resources. The slope stability assessment emphasized the potential for cumulative impacts under disturbed conditions (e.g., road construction and timber harvesting) and a landslide-induced pipeline rupture scenario. In the case of smallscale slides, the sluicing action of ruptured pipeline water on the fresh landslide scarp was found to be capable of eroding significantly more material than the original landslide. For large-scale landslides, sluiced material was found to be a small increment of the original landslide. These results predicted that hypothetical accidental pipeline rupture by small-scale landslides may result in potential cumulative impacts for 12 of the 19 projects with pending license applications in both river basins.     

Mineralogy and petrography of HAL,an isotopically-unusual Allende inclusion

A detailed mineralogical study of HAL was initiated to elucidate the origin of this inclusion because Leeet al. (1979) had found large mass fractionation effects and small nuclear effects in its Ca isotopic composition, but no ²⁶Mg excesses in samples of it with very high ${}^{27}\text{Al}{}^{24}\text{Mg}$ ratios. HAL's 1.0 mm radius interior consists almost entirely of three hibonite crystals and is surrounded by a 2.0 mm thick, multi-layered rim. The first layer, called the black rim, is black and compact, resembles a devitrified glass and contains an anisotropic Al-Fe-oxide similar to hercynite in composition. This is followed by a friable rim sequence, layer I of which is predominantly feldspathoids with minor anorthite, Ti-Fe-oxide and Al-Fe-oxide. Layer II contains abundant perovskite, plus grossular, andradite and pyroxene in addition to the minerals of layer I. Layer III is mostly Ca-phosphate, possibly hydroxy-apatite and perovskite. Layer IV is rich in hibonite, Al-Fe-oxide, perovskite, nepheline and the two garnets, lacks Ca-phosphate but contains traces of a Ti-Sc-Zr-oxide. Layer V is rich in Al-Fe-oxide, pyroxene, nepheline, the two garnets and olivine whose crystals display peculiar rectangular cross-sections. The black rim does not completely surround the hibonite core. Sectors of the friable rim exist where layer I is missing and where the mineralogy of adjacent layers is no different from that of the same layers in other sectors. Pentlandite, nickel-iron and barrel-shaped olivine crystals, minerals typical of the matrix of Allende and found nowhere else in HAL, are found in layer V and increase in abundance toward its exterior, as if grains of these phases accreted together with the other minerals of layer V. This layer also contains alternating olivine-rich and garnet-, pyroxene-rich bands, resembling rhythmic layering. For these reasons, we conclude that each of the layers of the friable rim formed by the accretion of an assemblage of condensate grains rather than by complete reaction of a precursor to HAL with a nebular gas. Thus, the unusual isotopic characteristics of HAL are thought to have been inherited from a nebular reservoir which was isotopically distinct from that which gave rise to the bulk of the material in Allende. HAL's mineralogical peculiarities indicate that its formation reservoir was also chemically distinct from the latter one.     

The city in an era of restricted car usage: Some potential responses and adjustments to future oil shortages

This paper examines some of the possible changes in city form and function which may result from decreased personal mobility in the future due to oil shortages. The empirical dimension is provided by the results of studies of the observed response of the suburban population of Hobart, Tasmania, which suffered severe disruption in personal mobility and a marked reduction in car usage following the collapse of the Tasman Bridge in January 1975. In addition to a variety of relatively minor, or first-order, adjustments, a number of second-order adjustments were identified involving changes in job location and movement of residence. If undertaken at sufficient scale, such adjustments could lead to major changes in the social-spatial structure of cities, with gentrification of inner areas resulting in the displacement of the poor outwards to more inaccessible locations.     

Geochemistry of sterols in sediments from Black Sea and the southwest African shelf and slope

Surface sediment samples from the shelf and continental slope off southwest Africa and sediment cores from the deepest part of the Black Sea were analyzed for sterols. Because the organic matter in these anoxic sediments is relatively well-preserved, the input from source organisms in the water column is important in controlling sterol distribution patterns. The sterol distribution on the Namibian shelf is complex, probably because of the great spatial and temporal variability of biological productivity caused by seasonal upwelling and changes in oxygen concentration. The Black Sea, perhaps because of greater physical stability of the water column, has sterol distributions which can be explained by microbial activity or chemical processes acting on a constant input of organic carbon from surface production.