Tephrochronology and tephrostratigraphy of two Pleistocene continental fossiliferous successions from central Italy

The stratigraphical context of two Middle Pleistocene fossiliferous palaeosols from Central Italy (Abruzzo and Tuscany) have been studied. Small mammals and molluscs occur in both palaeosols, which are covered by tephra layers that were analysed using an interdisciplinary approach. Application of fission‐track dating to apatites separated from the Case Picconetto tephra (Pescara, Abruzzo), yielded an age of 0.48 ± 0.04 Ma, indistinguishable from those previously determined for the Campani Quarry (Lower Valdarno, Tuscany) (0.46 ± 0.05 Ma and 0.48 ± 0.05 Ma). Geochemical and petrographic investigations indicate that these tephra originated from different volcanoes, the Alban Hills Volcanic Complex and the Vico Volcano (Latium) respectively. Small mammal and mollusc assemblages indicate different palaeoclimatic and palaeoenvironmental conditions for the Case Picconetto and Campani Quarry palaeosols. Warm and humid conditions can be inferred for the Campani Quarry site, whereas open and cold conditions can be inferred for Case Picconetto. On the basis of faunal data, fission‐track dates and attribution of tephra to specific volcanic eruptions, we suggest a correlation of these faunas with marine oxygen isotope stage 14 (Case Picconetto) and with marine oxygen isotope stage 11 (Campani Quarry), respectively. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Mezen Bay—a key area for understanding Weichselian glaciations in northern Russia

Sediment successions in coastal cliffs around Mezen Bay, southeastern White Sea, record an unusually detailed history of former glaciations, interstadial marine and fluvial events from the Weichselian. A regional glaciation model for the Weichselian is based on new data from the Mezen Bay area and previously published data from adjacent areas. Following the Mikulinian (Eemian) interglacial a shelf‐centred glaciation in the Kara Sea is reflected in proglacial conditions at 100–90 ka. A local ice‐cap over the Timan ridge existed between 75 and 65 ka. Renewed glaciation in the Kara Sea spread southwestwards around 60 ka only, interrupted by a marine inundation, before it advanced to its maximum position at about 55–50 ka. After a prolonged ice‐free period, the Scandinavian ice‐sheet invaded the area from the west and terminated east of Mezen Bay about 17 ka. The previously published evidence of a large ice‐dammed lake in the central Arkhangelsk region, Lake Komi, finds no support in this study. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Palaeotemperature reconstructions of the European permafrost zone during marine oxygen isotope Stage 3 compared with climate model results

A palaeotemperature reconstruction based on periglacial phenomena in Europe north of approximately 51 °N, is compared with high‐resolution regional climate model simulations of the marine oxygen isotope Stage 3 (Stage 3) palaeoclimate. The experiments represent Stage 3 warm (interstadial), Stage 3 cold (stadial) and Last Glacial Maximum climatic conditions. The palaeotemperature reconstruction deviates considerably for the Stage 3 cold climate experiments, with mismatches up to 11 °C for the mean annual air temperature and up to 15 °C for the winter temperature. However, in this reconstruction various factors linking climate and permafrost have not been taken into account. In particular a relatively thin snow cover and high climatic variability of the glacial climate could have influenced temperature limits for ice‐wedge growth. Based on modelling the 0 °C mean annual ground temperature proves to be an appropriate upper temperature limit. Using this limit, mismatches with the Stage 3 cold climate experiments have been reduced but still remain. We therefore assume that the Stage 3 ice wedges were generated during short (decadal time‐scale) intervals of extreme cold climate, below the mean temperatures indicated by the Stage 3 cold climate model simulations. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Optimisation of underwater visual census and controlled angling methods for monitoring subtidal temperate reef fish communities

Standardised sampling protocols for monitoring fish stocks are essential to assess changes in stock status and provide a means to evaluate the effectiveness of fisheries management measures, such as marine protected areas (MPAs). This study aimed to optimise two standard sampling methods, namely underwater visual census (UVC) and controlled angling, for assessing subtidal reef fish communities. In terms of efficiency, variability and bias, UVC transects were found to be superior to point counts. For controlled angling, an effort of two angler-hours per fishing station provided low catch variability, high catch per unit effort and a representative catch. Whereas UVC provided less variable estimates of relative density, controlled angling provided greater sampling efficiency. It is thus recommended that the two methods be used in conjunction. The optimal sampling protocols identified are suitable for rapid assessments or long-term monitoring of subtidal, temperate reef fish communities.     

Enhancing the mechanical properties of marine clay using cement solidification

Abstract

The use of soft clay and dredged marine clays as the construction material is challenging. This is because the high water content, high compressibility and low permeability of the clay causing the instability of ground and structure. This detrimental effect of soft clay can be improved by the cement solidification process, which is relatively cheap and efficient. This paper mainly focuses on the study of improvement on the mechanical behavior of cement mixed marine clay. The soil is reconstituted by using ordinary Portland cement of 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% by its mass. The study reveals that cementation of clay significantly improves the peak and residual strength of soil. Similarly, the primary yield stress of the soil is also improved from 16 to 275?kPa as cement content increases from 5% to 20%, respectively. By using statistical tools, the relationships between various parameters are established, which are very important to define the mechanical behavior of the clay. This study reveals that the yield surface of the solidified marine clay is not a smooth elliptical surface. Rather it is composed of two linear surfaces followed by a log-linear surface which can be modeled by using simple parameters obtained from triaxial tests.     

Sedimentological criteria to differentiate submarine channel levee subenvironments: Exhumed examples from the Rosario Fm. (Upper Cretaceous) of Baja California, Mexico, and the Fort Brown Fm. (Permian), Karoo Basin, S. Africa

Two scales of levee confinement are commonly recognised from submarine channel-levee systems on the seafloor and in the subsurface. Large-scale external levees bound the entire system whilst smaller-scale internal levees bound individual thalweg channels within the channel-belt. Although thin beds are commonly identified in core and well logs, their origin, and consequently their stratigraphic significance is currently poorly understood. This knowledge gap stems, in part, from the lack of unambiguously identified outcrop analogues of channel-levees, and in particular the lack of identifiable internal and external levees. Here we report from two exhumed channel-levee systems where both scales of confinement can be recognised: the Rosario Fm. of Baja California, and the Fort Brown Fm. of South Africa. A suite of characteristic sedimentary features are recognised from internal and external levees respectively: internal levees are characterised by structures indicative of complexity in the waxing-waning style of overspill, interactions with topography and flow magnitude variability; in contrast, external levees are characterised by structures indicative of simple surge-like waning flows, relatively uniform flow directions, laterally extensive beds, and a lack of erosive events. Using these observations, together with published literature, we propose a simple nomenclatural scheme for levee sub-environments, and criteria to differentiate between levee sub-environments in core or outcrop.     

唐山祥云湾海洋牧场海域网采浮游植物群集特征研究

为研究唐山祥云湾海洋牧场海域网采浮游植物群集特征, 于2020年11月至2021年11月在祥云湾海洋牧场海域进行了浮游植物及环境因子的周年逐月调查。共鉴定浮游植物41属78种, 其中硅藻33属62种, 甲藻7属15种, 硅鞭藻1属1种, 年均丰度为205.58×10⁴ cells/m³, 多样性指数H''为2.88。与近岸非增殖海域不同, 该海域浮游植物的丰度及群落结构指数在春夏季水生生物繁生期达到全年最低。优势类群的季节演替明显, 其中, 3~5月以诺氏海链藻最占优势, 9~10月以角毛藻和中肋骨条藻最占优势, 周年优势类群以圆筛藻和角毛藻最占优势, 其优势度变动在6月前以圆筛藻显著为高, 之后则以角毛藻显著为高; 此外,甲藻的优势度在泛冬季(11~2月)达到最高。鱼礁区与对照区的对比结果显示, 两区域浮游植物的群落变化均可划分为泛冬季低温期(11~2月)、春夏季繁生期(3~6月)、泛秋季降温期(7~11月)三个时期。链状浮游植物的丰度在礁区明显高于对照区, 而非链状浮游植物则相反; 与生物作用关系密切的溶解有机碳、pH值在礁区低于对照区, 而总磷和溶解态硅则相反。Pearson相关及冗余分析(RDA)显示, 两区域浮游植物与环境因子的显著相关关系在不同时期差异明显。春夏季繁生期牡蛎礁上的贝类滤食活跃, 浮游植物与环境因子的关系最为密切, 浮游植物与环境因子的相关关系达到显著水平的数量最多。礁区与对照区浮游植物的群集特征差异可能受到礁体附着生物活动及潮汐往复流混合作用的影响。     

2006～2007年福建沿岸海域石首鱼类资源量时空变化

基于2006～2007年福建沿岸海域4个航次的底拖网调查,分析了福建沿岸海域石首鱼科鱼类的资源现状.结果表明:4个航次共捕获石首鱼类16种,其中春季捕获石首鱼类10种,夏季和冬季均捕获14种,秋季捕获12种.不同航次捕获的石首鱼类占所有鱼类总渔获量的比例为10.43%～23.23%,平均15.71%.平均资源密度和平均个体密度分别为81.49 kg/km2和3 663.06 ind./km2.平均资源密度和平均个体密度均以秋季最高,分别为130.02 kg/km2和5 702.64 ind./km2.闽东沿岸海域、闽江口及其附近海域、闽中沿岸海域和厦门沿岸海域石首鱼类的全年平均资源密度分别为70.75、96.23、22.54和84.57 kg/km2.在各种石首鱼类中,叫姑鱼(Johnius belengerii)的资源密度和个体密度最大,其次是丁氏(Wak tingi).叫姑鱼的相对重要性指数最高,为871.01,仅叫姑鱼为优势种.与近20 a前的调查资料相比较,石首鱼类的渔获量占鱼类总渔获量的比例升高,但资源密度显著下降,必须采取措施,避免开发强度的继续增加,以利于其资源的可持续利用.     

大陆动力学演化与成矿研究: 历史与现状

地球动力学演化过程与成矿作用是当今矿床学研究的前沿。文章回顾了自20世纪60年代以来，有关大陆动力学演化与成矿的研究历史和当前的研究动向。综述了几个研究大阶段，即：海底喷流成矿作用、大陆边缘成矿作用、板内成矿作用及地质历史演化过程的大陆汇聚或增生与多期次成矿。同时，以华南地区为例，将大陆侧向和垂向增生作为切入点，阐述了华南世界级有色、稀有、贵金属成矿省在地质历史过程中的成矿作用，并提出在该成矿省进一步实现找矿突破的重要科学问题。