Reconstruction of the diagenesis of the fluvial-lacustrine- deltaic sandstones and its influence on the reservoir quality evolution-- Evidence from Jurassic and Triassic sandstones, Yanchang Oil Field, Ordos Basin

The reservoir quality of Jurassic and Triassic fluvial and lacustrine-deltaic sandstones of the Yanchang Oil Field in the Ordos Basin is strongly influenced by the burial history and facies-related diagenetic events. The fluvial sandstones have a higher average porosity (14.8%) and a higher permeability (12.7×10?3 ?m2) than those of the deltaic sandstones (9.8% and 5.8 ×10?3 ?m2, respectively). The burial compaction, which resulted in 15% and 20% porosity loss for Jurassic and Triassic sandstones, respectively, is the main factor causing the loss of porosity both for the Jurassic and Triassic sandstones. Among the cements, carbonate is the main one that reduced the reservoir quality of the sandstones. The organic acidic fluid derived from organic matter in the source rocks, the inorganic fluid from rock-water reaction during the late diagenesis, and meteoric waters during the epidiagenesis resulted in the formation of dissolution porosity, which is the main reason for the enhancement of reservoir-quality.     

Soil organic carbon storage and soil CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> flux in the alpine meadow ecosystem

High-resolution sampling, measurements of organic carbon contents and ¹⁴C signatures of selected four soil profiles in the Haibei Station situated on the northeast Tibetan Plateau, and application of ¹⁴C tracing technology were conducted in an attempt to investigate the turnover times of soil organic carbon and the soil-CO₂ flux in the alpine meadow ecosystem. The results show that the organic carbon stored in the soils varies from 22.12×10⁴ kg C hm⁻² to 30.75×10⁴ kg C hm⁻² in the alpine meadow ecosystems, with an average of 26.86×10⁴ kg C hm⁻². Turnover times of organic carbon pools increase with depth from 45 a to 73 a in the surface soil horizon to hundreds of years or millennia or even longer at the deep soil horizons in the alpine meadow ecosystems. The soil-CO₂ flux ranges from 103.24 g C m⁻² a⁻¹ to 254.93 gC m⁻² a⁻¹, with an average of 191.23 g C m⁻² a⁻¹. The CO₂ efflux produced from microbial decomposition of organic matter varies from 73.3 g C m⁻² a⁻¹ to 181 g C m⁻² a⁻¹. More than 30% of total soil organic carbon resides in the active carbon pool and 72.8%281.23% of total CO₂ emitted from organic matter decomposition results from the topsoil horizon (from 0 cm to 10 cm) for the Kobresia meadow. Responding to global warming, the storage, volume of flow and fate of the soil organic carbon in the alpine meadow ecosystem of the Tibetan Plateau will be changed, which needs further research. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 40231015, 40471120 and 40473002) and the Guangdong Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 06300102)     

基于Gassmann方程的流体替换方法在珊溪水库地震研究中的应用

引入基于Gassmann方程的流体替换方法,在分析地震波P波速度、波速比与岩石孔隙度和饱和度关系的基础上,应用于珊溪水库地震波速比和P波速度变化特征研究,得到:(1)珊溪水库震中区岩石始终处于接近水饱和的饱水状态,波速比和P波速度"下降-回升"的变化实质上反映了震中区岩石"孔隙度增大(饱和度减小)-饱和度增大"的变化,每一丛地震的波速比由极小值逐渐增大为极大值是由于岩石从不饱和状态变化到饱和状态;(2)根据每一丛地震波速比的变化,计算得到珊溪水库流体扩散率αs=1.06×104 cm2 s-1,该数值与美国南卡罗莱纳水库、巴西Acu水库、广东新丰江水库的流体扩散率基本一致;(3)震源区岩石孔隙度上限值为8.7%~2.0%,该数值与华东勘测设计研究院通过室内岩石物理力学性质试验测定的珊溪水库坝址区新鲜流纹斑岩的孔隙度平均值一致。     

Black carbon aerosols and their radiative properties in the Pearl River Delta region

The climatic and environmental effects of atmospheric aerosols are a hot topic in global science community, and radiative properties of the aerosols are one of the important parameters in assessing climatic change. Here we studied the black carbon concentration and absorption coefficient measured with aethalometers, scattering coefficient measured with nephelometers, and single scattering albedo derived at an atmospheric composition watch station in Guangzhou from 2004 to 2007. Our main results are as follows. The data of black carbon concentration and absorption coefficients measured with instruments cannot be directly used until they are measured in parallel with internationally accepted instruments for comparison, calibration, and reduction. After evaluation of the data, the result shows that the monthly mean of BC concentration varies 3.1–14.8 μg·m⁻³ and the concentration decreases by about 1 μg·m⁻³ in average over the four years; It is higher in the dry season with a multi-year mean of 8.9 μg/m³ and lower in the rainy season with a multi-year mean of 8.0 μg·m⁻³; The extreme maximum of monthly mean concentration occurred in December 2004 and extreme minimum in July 2007, and a 4-year mean is 8.4 μg·m⁻³. It is also shown that monthly mean scattering coefficient derived varies 129 −565 Mm⁻¹, monthly mean absorption coefficient 32–139 Mm⁻¹, and monthly mean single scattering albedo 0.71–0.91, with annual mean values of 0.80, 0.82, 0.79 and 0.84 for 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007, respectively. Three instruments were used to take simultaneous measurements of BC in PM₁₀, PM_2.5, and PM₁ and the results showed that PM_2.5 took up about 90% of PM₁₀ and PM₁ accounted for about 68% of PM_2.5, and BC aerosols are mainly present in fine particulates. The variability of BC concentrations is quite consistent between the Nancun station (141 m above sea level) and the Panyu station (13 m above sea level), which are 8 km apart from each other. The concentration in higher altitude station (Panyu) is consistently lower than the lower altitude station (Nancun), and the difference of annual mean is about 4 μg·m⁻³. Supported by Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. U0733004, 40375002, 40418008, 40775011), National High Technology R & D Program of China (Grant Nos. 2006AA06A306 and 2006AA06A308) and National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No. 2005CB422207)     

Low enthalpy geothermal energy resources in Denmark

The deep oil exploration drillings in Denmark have shown that especially the Danish Embayment contains low enthalpy geothermal resources associated with warm aquifers. The most promising reservoirs have been found in highly permeable Upper Triassic sand and sandstone beds, which cover at least 5000 km² at depths of 2000–3000 m and at temperatures of 60–100°C. The porosity of the main reservoir is of 15–25%, and the permeability is presumed to be approximately 1 darcy (10^–12 m²) or higher. A layer thickness of 30–60 m has been observed on a number of localities. Also the Middle Jurassic and the Lower Triassic contain reservoirs of interest. A major geothermal exploration work is planned with seismic investigations, drillings to depths of 2000–4000 m and probably establishment of pilot district heating plants.     

Net autotrophy in a fluvial lake: the relative role of phytoplankton and floating-leaved macrophytes

This study combined water- and sediment flux measurements with mass balances of dissolved gas and inorganic matter to determine the importance of pelagic and benthic processes for whole-system metabolism in a eutrophic fluvial lake. Mass balances of dissolved O₂, inorganic carbon (DIC), nitrogen (DIN), phosphorous (SRP), particulate N (PN) and P (PP) and Chl a were calculated at a nearly monthly frequency by means of repeated sampling at the lake inlet and outlet. Simultaneously, benthic fluxes of gas and nutrients, including denitrification rates, and the biomass of the dominant pleustophyte (Trapa natans) were measured, and fluxes of O₂ and CO₂ across the water–atmosphere interface were estimated from diel changes in outlet concentrations. On an annual scale, Middle Lake exhibited CO₂ supersaturation, averaging 313% (range 86–562%), but was autotrophic with a net O₂ production (6.35 ± 2.05 mol m⁻² y⁻¹), DIC consumption (−31.18 ± 18.77 mol m⁻² y⁻¹) and net export of Chl a downstream (8.38 ± 0.95 mol C m⁻² y⁻¹). Phytoplankton was the main driver of Middle Lake metabolism, with a net primary production estimated at 33.24 mol O₂ m⁻² y⁻¹, corresponding to a sequestration of 4.18 and 0.26 mol m⁻² y⁻¹ of N and P, respectively. At peak biomass, T. natans covered about 18% of Middle Lake’s surface and fixed 2.46, 0.17 and 0.02 mol m⁻² of C, N and P, respectively. Surficial sediments were a sink for O₂ (−14.47 ± 0.65 mol O₂ m⁻² y⁻¹) and a source of DIC and NH₄ ⁺ (18.84 ± 2.80 mol DIC m⁻² y⁻¹ and 0.83 ± 0.16 mol NH₄ ⁺ m⁻² y⁻¹), and dissipated nitrate via denitrification (1.44 ± 0.11 mol NO₃ ⁻ m⁻² y⁻¹). Overall, nutrient uptake by primary producers and regeneration from sediments were a minor fraction of external loads. This work suggests that the creation of fluvial lakes can produce net autotrophic systems, with elevated rates of phytoplanktonic primary production, largely sustained by allochtonous nutrient inputs. These hypereutrophic aquatic bodies are net C sinks, although they simultaneously release CO₂ to the atmosphere.     

The dynamics of a double-cell hydrothermal system in triggering seismicity at Somma-Vesuvius: results from a high-resolution radon survey (revisited)

Data collected at Somma-Vesuvius during the 1998–1999 radon surveys have been revisited and reinterpreted in light of recent geophysical and geochemical information. The duration of selected radon anomalies, together with the decay properties of radon, have been used to estimate the permeability and porosity of rocks of the deep hydrothermal system. The current local cyclic seismicity is explained by means of a double convective-cell model. Convective cells are separated by a low-permeability horizon located at about 2–2.5 km below sea level. Fluids convecting within the upper cells show temperatures ranging 300–350°C. Rock permeabilities in this sector are estimated on the order of 10⁻¹² m², for porosities (ϕ) of about 10⁻⁵ typical of a brittle environment where fluid velocities may reach ∼800 m/day. Fluid temperatures within the lower cells may be as high as 400–450°C, consistent with supercritical regimes. The hydrodynamic parameters for these cells are lower, with permeability k ∼ 10⁻¹⁵ m², and porosity ranging from 10⁻⁶ to 10⁻⁷. Here, fluid motion toward the surface is controlled by the fracture network within a porous medium approaching brittle–ductile behaviour, and fluid velocities may reach ∼1,800 m/day. The low-permeability horizon is a layer where upper and lower convecting cells converge. In this region, fluids (convecting both at upper and lower levels) percolate through the wallrock and release their brines. Due to self-sealing processes, permeability within this horizon reaches critical values to keep the fluid pressure near lithostatic pressure (for k ∼ 10⁻¹⁸ m²). Deep fluid pressure buildups precede the onset of hydrothermally induced earthquakes. Permeability distribution and rock strength do not exclude that the next eruption at Somma-Vesuvius could be preceded by a seismic crisis, eventually leading to a precursory phreatic explosion. The coupling of these mechanisms has the potential of inducing pervasive failure within rocks of the hydrothermal shell, and may be a prelude to a magmatic eruption. It is finally emphasised that the integrated analysis of seismic and geochemical data, including radon emissions, could be successfully used in testing temperature distributions and variations of porosity and permeability in active geothermal reservoirs.     

Nitrogen retention in a floodplain backwater of the upper Mississippi River (USA)

Backwaters connected to large rivers retain nitrate and may play an important role in reducing downstream loading to coastal marine environments. A summer nitrogen (N) inflow-outflow budget was examined for a flow-regulated backwater of the upper Mississippi River in conjunction with laboratory estimates of sediment ammonium and nitrate fluxes, organic N mineralization, nitrification, and denitrification to provide further insight into N retention processes. External N loading was overwhelmingly dominated by nitrate and 54% of the input was retained (137 mg m⁻² day⁻¹). Ammonium and dissolved organic N were exported from the backwater (14 and 9 mg m⁻² day⁻¹, respectively). Nitrate influx to sediment increased as a function of increasing initial nitrate concentration in the overlying water. Rates were greater under anoxic versus oxic conditions. Ammonium effluxes from sediment were 26.7 and 50.6 mg m⁻² day⁻¹ under oxic and anoxic conditions, respectively. Since anoxia inhibited nitrification, the difference between ammonium anoxic–oxic fluxes approximated a nitrification rate of 29.1 mg m⁻² day⁻¹. Organic N mineralization was 64 mg m⁻² day⁻¹. Denitrification, estimated from regression relationships between oxic nitrate influx versus initial nitrate concentration and a summer lakewide mean nitrate concentration of 1.27 mg l⁻¹, was 94 mg m⁻² day⁻¹. Denitrification was equivalent to only 57% of the retained nitrate, suggesting that another portion was assimilated by biota. The high sediment organic N mineralization and ammonium efflux rate coupled with the occurrence of ammonium export from the system suggested a possible link between biotic assimilation of nitrate, mineralization, and export.     

Field-aligned currents in the winter and summer hemispheres caused by IMF <Emphasis Type="Italic">By</Emphasis>

Structures controlled by the IMF By sign and season of the year have been detected based on the decomposition of field-aligned current maps constructed using magnetic field measurements on polar low-orbiting satellites. It has been indicated that field-aligned currents have identical structures, composed of the main polar circular current and the return current at the polar cap dayside boundary, at any By sign in the summer hemisphere. Two different types of structures are implemented under winter conditions depending on the By sign. For the northern winter, it is the polar circular current and the return current at the polar cap nightside boundary at By < 0; current sheets are strongly stretched along latitudes below 80° MLat, and only small part of the current is in the noon sector of the polar cap. For the summer winter, the corresponding structures are implemented at opposite By signs. The intensities of the field-aligned currents, originating as a result of the interhemispheric asymmetry and flowing along closed geomagnetic field lines near the polar cap boundary, have been estimated. The maximum of the interhemispheric current density is 0.25 μA m⁻² in the summer and 0.1 μA m⁻² in the winter; the total current is 5 × 10⁵ and 5 × 10⁴ A, respectively.     

Long-term variations in the second sectorial Stokes harmonics on the basis of TOPEX/POSEIDON altimetry between 1993 and 2000

The long-term variations in the second degree sectorial Stokes parameters of the geopotential have been determined from TOPEX-POSEIDON (T/P) satellite altimeter data, covering the period of January 1, 1993 to January 3, 2001 (T/P cycles 11-305). It is the first attempt to determine the variations in the second sectorial harmonics in the Earth’s inertia tensor due to the ocean dynamics. The variations amount to about 1 × 10⁻¹⁰ (J ₂ ⁽²⁾ ≈ 1.6 × 10⁻⁶ and S ₂ ⁽²⁾ ≈ −0.9 × 10⁻⁶). The variations are about 5% of the tidal effect. This corresponds to variations in the directions of the equatorial axes of the Earth’s inertia ellipsoid of up to 10 arc-seconds. Consequently, the annual and semi-annual variations of the Earth’s equatorial flattening is about 10⁻⁹; i.e. it corresponds to a change of 8 units of its denominator of 91 030. (The equatorial flattening ≈ 1/91 030). Since the coverage of the Earth’s ocean surface is not worldwide, and the inclination of T/P is i = 66°, it is only 58.2% (min. depth of the ocean 2 000 m) of the Earth’s surface which is processed, the torque, resulting from the seasonal transfer of masses within a sea surface layer, is not zero. It amounts up to 10¹⁶ kg m²s⁻², which is comparable to the total indirect tidal torque due to the Moon and the Sun, ∼ 3.9 × 10¹⁶ kg m²s⁻². However, the above estimate strongly depends on the adopted thickness of the sea surface layer, ΔR = 50 m. For a larger thickness of ΔR = 100 m, the seasonal torque amounts to about ∼ 2.3 × 10¹⁶ kg m²s⁻².     

Seasonal and interannual variation of the phytoplankton and copepod dynamics in Liverpool Bay

The seasonal and interannual variability in the phytoplankton community in Liverpool Bay between 2003 and 2009 has been examined using results from high frequency, in situ measurements combined with discrete samples collected at one location in the bay. The spring phytoplankton bloom (up to 29.4 mg chlorophyll m⁻³) is an annual feature at the study site and its timing may vary by up to 50 days between years. The variability in the underwater light climate and turbulent mixing are identified as key factors controlling the timing of phytoplankton blooms. Modelled average annual gross and net production are estimated to be 223 and 56 g C m⁻² year⁻¹, respectively. Light microscope counts showed that the phytoplankton community is dominated by diatoms, with dinoflagellates appearing annually for short periods of time between July and October. The zooplankton community at the study site is dominated by copepods and use of a fine mesh (80 μm) resulted in higher abundances of copepods determined (up to 2.5 × 10⁶ ind. m⁻²) than has previously reported for this location. There is a strong seasonal cycle in copepod biomass and copepods greater than 270 μm contribute less than 10% of the total biomass. Seasonal trends in copepod biomass lag those in the phytoplankton community with a delay of 3 to 4 months between the maximum phytoplankton biomass and the maximum copepod biomass. Grazing by copepods exceeds net primary production at the site and indicates that an additional advective supply of carbon is required to support the copepod community.     

Application of <Superscript>137</Superscript>Cs fingerprinting technique to interpreting sediment production records from reservoir deposits in a small catchment of the Hilly Loess Plateau,China

According to variations of 137Cs and clay contents, 44 flood couplets were identified in a profile of reservoir deposit with a vertical length of 28.12 m in the Yuntaishan Gully. Couplet 27 at the middle of the profile had the highest average 137Cs content of 12.65 Bq kg-1, which indicated the 1963s' deposits, then 137Cs content decreased both downward and upward in the profile. The second top and bottom couplets had average 137Cs contents of 2.15 Bq kg-1 and 0.92 Bq kg-1, respectively. By integrated analysis of reservoir construction and management history, variations of 137Cs contents over the profile, sediment yields of flood couplets and rainfall data during the period of 1958-1970, individual storms related to the flood couplets were identified. 44 floods with a total sediment yield of 2.36×104 m3 occurred and flood events in a year varied between 1 and 10 times during the period of 1960-1970. 7-10 flood events occurred during the wet period of 1961-1964 with very wet autumn, while only 1-2 events during the dry period of 1965-1969. Average annual specific sediment yield was 1.29×104 t km-2 a-1 for the Yuntaishan Gully during the period of 1960-1970, which was slightly higher than 1.11 ×104 t km-2 a-1 for the Upper Yanhe River Basin above the Ganguyi Hydrological Station and slightly lower than 1.40 ×104 t km-2 a-1 for the nearby Zhifang Gully during the same period. Annual specific sediment yields for the Yuntaishan Gully were correlated to the wet season's rainfalls well.     

三峡工程运用后荆江河段崩岸时空分布及其对河床调整的影响

三峡工程运用后长江中游荆江河段河床持续冲刷,局部河段崩岸频发,影响河道内悬沙输移与河床形态调整.本研究采用实测长程河道地形及固定断面地形资料,确定了2002-2018年荆江河段的主要崩岸区域,估算了崩岸土体的泥沙总量,进而定量分析了河岸崩退对河床调整的影响.计算结果表明:荆江段累计河岸崩退体积约为2.0亿m3,约占该河...     

Organic carbon release by phytoplankton and bacterial reassimilation

The release of organic carbon by phytoplankton and its reassimilation by bacteria were studied in Lake Geneva during four daily kinetics, using¹⁴C techniques. Gentamycin was used to suppress bacterial activity. Size fractionation was used to measure¹⁴C fixation in 2 particulate fractions (≥1 μm and 0.2 to 1 μm) and in a third fraction: dissolved organic carbon. Measurements of bacterial biomass and¹⁴C glucose uptake as the H¹⁴CO ₃ ⁻ uptake by samples prefractionated before incubation showed that the whole algae were retained on 1 μm pore size Nuclepore filters, but bacteria were retained on 1 μm and 0.2 μm filters. Concentration of 20 μg.ml⁻¹ gentamycin resulted in incomplete bacterial inhibition while phytoplankton was affected. Phytoplankton released less of 20% of its photoassimilated carbon of which a large proportion was utilized by bacterioplankton.     

Low-mature gases and typical low-mature gas fields in China

No natural gas pool of industrial importance could be formed at the low-evolution stage of organic matter. In the 1980s, on the basis of the development in exploration practice, the hypotheses of bio-thermo-catalytic transitional zone gases and early thermogenic gases were proposed. The lower-limit Ro values for the formation and accumulation of natural gases of industrial importance have been expanded to 0.3%―0.4%. In the light of the two-stage model established on the basis of carbon isotope fractionation in coal-type natural gases, the upper-limit Ro values have been set at 0.8%―1.0%. In terms of the geological practice in the low-mature gas zones and China's main coal-type gas fields, it is feasible and proper to set the upper-limit Ro value of low-mature gases at 0.8%. Supper-large gas fields such as the Urengoy gas field in western Siberian Basin should belong to low-mature gas fields, of which the natural gas reserves account for more than 20% of the global proven reserves, providing strong evidence for the significance of such a type of resources. The proven natural gas reserves in the Turpan-Hami Basin of China have almost reached 1000 × 108 m3. The main source rocks in this area are the Jurassic Xishanyao Formation, which occurs as a suite of coal series strata. The corresponding thermal evolution indices (Ro ) are mainly within the range of about 0.4%―0.8%, the δ 13C1 values of methane vary between-44‰ and-39‰ (correspondingly Ro =0.6%―0.8%), and those of ethane are within the range of-29‰―-26‰, indicating that natural gases in the Turpan-Hami Basin should be designated to coal-type low-mature gases. The light hydrocarbon evolution indices of natural gases also fall within the area of low evolution while the precursor type of light hydrocarbons also shows the characteristics of the coal-type. The geological background, carbon isotopic composition and light hydrocarbon index all provide strong evidence suggesting that the proven natural gases in the Turpan-Hami Basin are low-mature gases. In China a gas field with the gas reserves reaching 300 ×108 m3 can be defined as a large gas field, and thus the proven low-mature gases in the Turpan-Hami Basin are equivalent to the reserves of three large gas fields. Its existence is of great significance in research on and exploration of low-mature gases in China.     

Simulating bubble number density of rhyolitic pumices from Plinian eruptions: constraints from fast decompression experiments

Decompression experiments of a crystal-free rhyolitic liquid with ≈ 6.6 wt. % H₂O were carried out at a pressure range from 250 MPa to 30–75 MPa in order to characterize effects of magma ascent rate and temperature on bubble nucleation kinetics, especially on the bubble number density (BND, the number of bubbles produced per unit volume of liquid). A first series of experiments at 800°C and fast decompression rates (10–90 MPa/s) produced huge BNDs (≈ 2 × 10¹⁴ m⁻³ at 10 MPa/s ; ≈ 2 × 10¹⁵ m⁻³ at 90 MPa/s), comparable to those in natural silicic pumices from Plinian eruptions (10¹⁵–10¹⁶ m⁻³). A second series of experiments at 700°C and 1 MPa/s produced BNDs (≈ 9×10¹² m⁻³) close to those observed at 800°C and 1 MPa/s (≈ 6 × 10¹² m⁻³), showing that temperature has an insignificant effect on BNDs at a given decompression rate. Our study strengthens the theory that the BNDs are good markers of the decompression rate of magmas in volcanic conduits, irrespective of temperature. Huge number densities of small bubbles in natural silicic pumices from Plinian eruptions imply that a major nucleation event occurs just below the fragmentation level, at which the decompression rate of ascending magmas is a maximum (≥ 1 MPa/s).     

Phytoplankton abundance and contributions to suspended particulate matter in the Ohio,Upper Mississippi and Missouri Rivers

Main channel habitats of the Ohio, Missouri, and Upper Mississippi Rivers were surveyed during the summers of 2004, 2005 and 2006 using a probability-based sampling design to characterize inter-annual and inter-river variation in suspended chlorophyll a (CHLa) and related variables. Large (fivefold) differences in CHLa were observed with highest concentrations in the Upper Mississippi (32.3 ± 1.8 μg L⁻¹), intermediate values in the Missouri (19.7 ± 1.1 μg L⁻¹) and lowest concentrations in the Ohio (6.8 ± 0.5 μg L⁻¹). Inter-annual variation was small in comparison to inter-river differences suggesting that basin-specific factors exert greater control over river-wide CHLa than regional-scale processes influencing climate and discharge. The rivers were characterized by variable but generally low light conditions as indicated by depth-averaged underwater irradiance <4 E m⁻² day⁻¹ and high ratios of channel depth to euphotic depth (>3). Despite poor light conditions, regression analyses revealed that TP was the best single predictor of CHLa (R ² = 0.40), though models incorporating both light and TP performed better (R ² = 0.60). Light and nutrient conditions varied widely within rivers and were inversely related, suggesting that riverine phytoplankton may experience shifts in resource limitation during transport. Inferred grazing and sedimentation losses were large yet CHLa concentrations did not decline downriver indicating that growth and loss processes were closely coupled. The contribution by algae to suspended particulate organic matter in these rivers (mean = 41%) was similar to that of lakes (39%) but lower relative to reservoirs (61%).     

Thermal structure and heat loss at the summit crater of an active lava dome

Forward-Looking Infrared (FLIR) nighttime thermal images were used to extract the thermal and morphological properties for the surface of a blocky-to-rubbley lava mass active within the summit crater of the Caliente vent at Santiaguito lava dome (Guatemala). Thermally the crater was characterized by three concentric regions: a hot outer annulus of loose fine material at 150–400°C, an inner cold annulus of blocky lava at 40–80°C, and a warm central core at 100–200°C comprising younger, hotter lava. Intermittent explosions resulted in thermal renewal of some surfaces, mostly across the outer annulus where loose, fine, fill material was ejected to expose hotter, underlying, material. Surface heat flux densities (radiative + free convection) were dominated by losses from the outer annulus (0.3–1.5 × 10⁴  s⁻¹m⁻²), followed by the hot central core (0.1–0.4 × 10⁴ J s⁻¹m⁻²) and cold annulus (0.04–0.1 × 10⁴ J s⁻¹m⁻²). Overall surface power output was also dominated by the outer annulus region (31–176 MJ s⁻¹), but the cold annulus contributed equal power (2.41–7.07 MJ s⁻¹) as the hot central core (2.68–6.92 MJ s⁻¹) due to its greater area. Cooled surfaces (i.e. the upper thermal boundary layer separating surface temperatures from underlying material at magmatic temperatures) across the central core and cold annulus had estimated thicknesses, based on simple conductive model, of 0.3–2.2 and 1.5–4.3 m. The stability of the thermal structure through time and between explosions indicates that it is linked to a deeper structural control likely comprising a central massive plug, feeding lava flow from the SW rim of the crater, surrounded by an arcuate, marginal fracture zone through which heat and mass can preferentially flow.