The molasse facies of the Columbian orogen,Canadian Cordillera

The authors present a tentative model for the relationship between deformation, uplift and molasse sedimentation in the Columbian Orogen of the Canadian Cordillera. Data are mainly drawn from the north-central part of the Columbian Orogen. Two distinct deformational episodes are recognized. The first, probably of mid-Jurassic age, was accompanied by regional metamorphism and resulted in southwesterly directed folds and related faults. This episode of crustal shortening appears to have been the precursor of uplift in the western Columbian Orogen (Omineca Crystalline Belt), causing the progradation of a primogenic non-marine molasse over marine shale and flysch. The second deformation, of probable late Cretaceous to Eocene age, caused overprinting of earlier structures by steep faults in the west and led to the growth of the fold-and-thrust belt of the Rocky Mountains. This episode created a morphogenic drainage system with molasse deposition in intramontane fault basins and along both flanks of the Columbian Orogen. Modal analyses from fluviatile sandstones within the primogenic and morphogenic molasse illustrate the progressive stripping of sedimentary and volcanic units along both sides of the orogenic core zone. Post-orogenic drainage from Miocene to Recent was strongly modified by the development of high-gradient drainage towards the Pacific Ocean.     

Magnetotail dipolarization fronts and particle acceleration: A review

In this paper, the particle acceleration processes around magnetotail dipolarization fronts(DFs) were reviewed. We summarize the spacecraft observations(including Cluster, THEMIS, MMS) and numerical simulations(including MHD, testparticle, hybrid, LSK, PIC) of these processes. Specifically, we(1) introduce the properties of DFs at MHD scale, ion scale, and electron scale,(2) review the properties of suprathermal electrons with particular focus on the pitch-angle distributions,(3)define the particle-acceleration process and distinguish it from the particle-heating process,(4) identify the particle-acceleration process from spacecraft measurements of energy fluxes, and(5) quantify the acceleration efficiency and compare it with other processes in the magnetosphere(e.g., magnetic reconnection and radiation-belt acceleration processes). We focus on both the acceleration of electrons and ions(including light ions and heavy ions). Regarding electron acceleration, we introduce Fermi,betatron, and non-adiabatic acceleration mechanisms;regarding ion acceleration, we present Fermi, betatron, reflection, resonance, and non-adiabatic acceleration mechanisms. We also discuss the unsolved problems and open questions relevant to this topic, and suggest directions for future studies.