Application of precise 142Nd/144Nd analysis of small samples to inclusions in diamonds (Finsch,South Africa) and Hadean Zircons (Jack Hills,Western Australia)

¹⁴⁶Sm–¹⁴²Nd and ¹⁴⁷Sm–¹⁴³Nd systematics were investigated in garnet inclusions in diamonds from Finsch (S. Africa) and Hadean zircons from Jack Hills (W. Australia) to assess the potential of these systems as recorders of early Earth evolution. The study of Finsch inclusions was conducted on a composite sample of 50 peridotitic pyropes with a Nd model age of 3.3 Ga. Analysis of the Jack Hills zircons was performed on 790 grains with ion microprobe ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb spot ages from 3.95 to 4.19 Ga. Finsch pyropes yield 100 × ?¹⁴²Nd = ? 6 ± 12 ppm, ?¹⁴³Nd = ? 32.5, and ¹⁴⁷Sm/¹⁴⁴Nd = 0.1150. These results do not confirm previous claims for a 30 ppm ¹⁴²Nd excess in South African cratonic mantle. The lack of a ¹⁴²Nd anomaly in these inclusions suggests that isotopic heterogeneities created by early mantle differentiation were remixed at a very fine scale prior to isolation of the South African lithosphere. Alternatively, this result may indicate that only a fraction of the mantle experienced depletion during the first 400 Myr of its history. Analysis of the Jack Hills zircon composite yielded 100 × ?¹⁴²Nd = 8 ± 10 ppm, ?¹⁴³Nd = 45 ± 1, and ¹⁴⁷Sm/¹⁴⁴Nd = 0.5891. Back-calculation of this present-day ?¹⁴³Nd yields an unrealistic estimate for the initial ?¹⁴³Nd of ? 160 ?-units, clearly indicating post-crystallization disturbance of the ¹⁴⁷Sm–¹⁴³Nd system. Examination of ^146,147Sm–^142,143Nd data reveals that the Nd budget of the Jack Hills sample is dominated by non-radiogenic Nd, possibly contained in recrystallized zircon rims or secondary subsurface minerals. This secondary material is characterized by highly discordant U–Pb ages. Although the mass fraction of altered zircon is unlikely to exceed 5–10% of total sample, its high LREE content precludes a reliable evaluation of ¹⁴⁶Sm–¹⁴²Nd systematics in Jack Hills zircons.     

Adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference systems for semi-automatic discrimination between seismic events: a study in Tehran region

Thisarticle presents an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) for classification of low magnitude seismic events reported in Iran by the network of Tehran Disaster Mitigation and Management Organization (TDMMO). ANFIS classifiers were used to detect seismic events using six inputs that defined the seismic events. Neuro-fuzzy coding was applied using the six extracted features as ANFIS inputs. Two types of events were defined: weak earthquakes and mining blasts. The data comprised 748 events (6289 signals) ranging from magnitude 1.1 to 4.6 recorded at 13 seismic stations between 2004 and 2009. We surveyed that there are almost 223 earthquakes with M ≤ 2.2 included in this database. Data sets from the south, east, and southeast of the city of Tehran were used to evaluate the best short period seismic discriminants, and features as inputs such as origin time of event, distance (source to station), latitude of epicenter, longitude of epicenter, magnitude, and spectral analysis (fc of the Pg wave) were used, increasing the rate of correct classification and decreasing the confusion rate between weak earthquakes and quarry blasts. The performance of the ANFIS model was evaluated for training and classification accuracy. The results confirmed that the proposed ANFIS model has good potential for determining seismic events.     

Application of various methods for 2D inverse modeling of residual gravity anomalies

This paper presents a neural network approach to determine 2D inverse modeling of a buried structure from gravity anomaly profile. The results of the applied neural network method are compared with the results of two other methods, least-squares minimization and the simple method. Sphere, horizontal cylinder and vertical cylinder and their gravity effects are considered as the synthetic models and the synthetic data, respectively. The synthetic data are also corrupted with noise to evaluate the capability of the methods. Then the Dehloran bitumen map in Iran is chosen as a real data application. Anomaly value of the cross-section, which is taken from the gravity anomaly map of Dehloran bitumen, is very close to those obtained from these methods.     

Stochastic micromechanical model of the deterioration of asphalt mixtures subject to moisture diffusion processes

The deleterious effect of moisture in the microstructure of asphalt mixtures, usually referred to as moisture damage, has been recognized as a main cause of early deterioration of asphalt pavements. The initiation and evolution of moisture‐related deterioration is strongly influenced by the internal air void structure of asphalt mixtures. Despite its importance, the majority of works conducted on the micromechanical modeling of asphalt mixtures overlook the role of the air void structure, mainly because of its high complexity and variability. This paper explores the influence of air void variability on the performance of asphalt mixtures subjected to moisture diffusion processes. A stochastic modeling technique based on random field theory was used to generate internal distributions of physical and mechanical properties of the asphalt matrix of the mixture that depend on probable air voids distributions. The analysis was conducted by means of a coupled numerical micromechanical model of moisture damage. The results showed that the variability and distribution of air voids are decisive in determining the moisture‐dependent performance of asphalt mixtures. Furthermore, it was also shown that a stochastic characterization of the diverse air void configurations is a feasible and useful approach to better represent and understand mechanically related deterioration processes in asphalt mixtures. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Automatic Surface Reconstruction Based on the Fusion of Fuzzy Logic and Robust Estimation Techniques

Automatic surface reconstruction by means of digital image matching essentially involves computation in both image and object spaces. In image space, image matching is performed according to certain radiometric and geometric similarity criteria for conjugate point determination. The matching operations may therefore be regarded as decision–making processes. In practice, however, the similarity criteria for conjugate point determination demonstrate non–deterministic behaviour. Thus, the nature of these decision–making processes is more compatible with fuzzy reasoning concepts. In object space, on the other hand, surface reconstruction procedures, which operate on the basis of previously determined conjugate points, are essentially deterministic in nature and hence demand rigorous geometric modelling. In this paper, a new approach for automatic surface modelling is proposed, based on two different mathematical treatments: a fuzzy logic reasoning method for the conjugate point determination in image space; and a robust finite elements approach for the surface modelling in object space. Tests carried out on real data demonstrate the high potential of the strategy proposed.     

High-precision Nd/Nd measurements in terrestrial rocks: Constraints on the early differentiation of the Earth’s mantle

We present new ultra-high precision ¹⁴²Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd measurements of early Archaean rocks using the new generation thermal ionization mass spectrometer Triton. Repeated measurements of the Ames Nd standard demonstrate that the ¹⁴²Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd ratio can be determined with external precision of 2 ppm (2σ), allowing confident resolution of anomalies as small as 5 ppm. A major analytical improvement lies in the elimination of the double normalization procedure required to correct our former measurements from a secondary mass fractionation effect. Our new results indicate that metasediments, metabasalts, and orthogneisses from the 3.6 to 3.8 Ga West Greenland craton display positive ¹⁴²Nd anomalies ranging from 8 to 15 ppm. Using a simple two-stage model with an initial ε¹⁴³Nd value of 1.9 ± 0.6 ε-units, coupled ¹⁴⁷Sm-¹⁴³Nd and ¹⁴⁶Sm-¹⁴²Nd chronometry constrains mantle differentiation to 50-200 Ma after formation of the solar system. This chronological constraint is consistent with differentiation of the Earth’s mantle during the late stage of crystallization of a magma ocean. We have developed a two-box model describing ¹⁴²Nd and ¹⁴³Nd isotopic evolution of depleted mantle during the subsequent evolution of the crust-mantle system. Our results indicate that early terrestrial protocrust had a lifetime of ca. 0.7-1 Ga in order to produce the observed Nd isotope signature of Archaean rocks. In the context of this two box mantle-crust system, we model the evolution of isotopic and chemical heterogeneity of depleted mantle as a function of the mantle stirring time. Using the dispersion of ¹⁴²Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd and ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd ratios observed in early Archaean rocks, we constrain the stirring time of early Earth’s mantle to 100-250 Ma, a factor of 5 shorter than the stirring time inferred from modern oceanic basalts.     

Global and regional trends in greenhouse gas emissions from livestock

Following IPCC guidelines (IPCC 2006), we estimate greenhouse gas emissions related to livestock in 237 countries and 11 livestock categories during the period 1961–2010. We find that in 2010 emissions of methane and nitrous oxide related to livestock worldwide represented approximately 9 % of total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Global GHG emissions from livestock increased by 51 % during the analyzed period, mostly due to strong growth of emissions in developing (Non-Annex I) countries (+117 %). In contrast, developed country (Annex I) emissions decreased (?23 %). Beef and dairy cattle are the largest source of livestock emissions (74 % of global livestock emissions). Since developed countries tend to have lower CO₂-equivalent GHG emissions per unit GDP and per quantity of product generated in the livestock sector, the amount of wealth generated per unit GHG emitted from the livestock sector can be increased by improving both livestock farming practices in developing countries and the overall state of economic development. Our results reveal important details of how livestock production and associated GHG emissions have occurred in time and space. Discrepancies with higher tiers, demonstrate the value of more detailed analyses, and discourage over interpretation of smaller-scale trends in the Tier 1 results, but do not undermine the value of global Tier 1 analysis.     

Risk of injury and death from lightning in Northern Malawi

Rates of lightning mortality in communities on the western shore of Lake Malawi are higher than any other reported rate in the world: 419 strike victims per million people per annum and 84 deaths per million per annum. To document the background to this phenomenon, we conducted comprehensive household interviews with surviving victims and witnesses of every case of lightning strike in seven administrative areas around Nkhata Bay, Malawi. We find that the consequential lightning strikes are significantly more common in the rainy season and during the morning. Among those victims struck by lightning, there is an average ratio of approximately one death to four injuries, which is substantially higher than the commonly accepted ratio of 1:10. Children and adults are at equal risk of being struck. If struck, the probability of death is greater when the victim is outside in the open or outside under cover than indoors under a tin or thatched roof, but is unaffected by different kinds of footwear or whether it is raining. Reported explanations for strikes often center on witchcraft or other forms of social conflict. Our findings extend the study of consequential lightning strikes in the developing world and highlight cultural factors associated with this hazard. We end with recommendations for reducing the risk of lightning for rural populations.