Understanding a coastal flood event: the 10th March 2008 storm surge event in the Solent, UK

Extreme sea-level events (e.g. caused by storm surges) can cause coastal flooding, and considerable disruption and damage. To understand the impacts or hazards expected by different sea levels, waves and defence failures, it is useful to monitor and analyse coastal flood events, including generating numerical simulations of floodplain inundation. Ideally, any such modelling should be calibrated and validated using information recorded during real events, which can also add plausibility to synthetic flood event simulations. However, such data are rarely compiled for coastal floods. This paper demonstrates the capture of such a flood event dataset, and its integration with defence and floodplain modelling to reconstruct, archive and better understand the regional impacts of the event. The case-study event comprised a significant storm surge, high tide and waves in the English Channel on 10 March 2008, which resulted in flooding in at least 37 distinct areas across the Solent, UK (mainly due to overflow and outflanking of defences). The land area flooded may have exceeded 7 km², with the breaching of a shingle barrier at Selsey contributing to up to 90 % of this area. Whilst sea floods are common in the Solent, this is the first regional dataset on flood extent. The compilation of data for the validation of coastal inundation modelling is discussed, and the implications for the analysis of future coastal flooding threats to population, business and infrastructure in the region.     

Influence of the Frasnian-Famennian event on radiolarian faunas

The impact of the Frasnian-Famennian biotic mass extinction event (F-F event) on radiolarian faunas is examined in 13 sections, which belong to two types of cherty basin in South China. No appreciable decrease in radiolarian biodiversity is observed across the F-F boundary. Indeed, radiolarian faunas flourished during the Famennian. The F-F event may not have had any dramatic effect on the radiolarian faunas in deep water and the disappearance of Famennian radiolarians in shallow water platform sections may simply be a result of sea level change rather than any biotic crisis.     

An Australian pyro-tornadogenesis event

On 18 January 2003, fires had a devastating impact on Australia’s capital, Canberra. A series of reviews and scientific studies have examined the events of that day and indicate that the worst impacts were due to a series of violent pyro-convective events and resultant pyro-cumulonmibi. These coupled fire–atmosphere events are much more energetic than normal fires. In one instance, an intense pyro-convective cell developed a tornado. We demonstrate that this was indeed a tornado, the first confirmed pyro-tornadogenesis in Australia, and not a fire whirl. Here, we discuss aspects of the formation, evolution and decay of the tornado, which was estimated to have been of at least F2 intensity, highlighting a process that can significantly increase the damage of a wildfire event.     

二叠系-三叠系界线的事件地层学标志

<正> 传统的二叠-三叠系界线,是以喜马拉雅山的Otoceras层的底作为三叠系底界(Die-ner 1912)。70年代以来,国际上提出了多种方案(Waterhouse 1973,1976;Kozur 1977;Newell 1978),我国80年代出现了分歧意见(李子舜、姚建新1984;李子舜、詹立培等1986)。1986年在意大利举行的“西特提斯南阿尔卑斯的二叠系及二叠-三叠系界线国际     

Security and the future: Anticipating the event of terror

This paper explores the relation between processes of security and futurity in the context of efforts to govern the complexity and contingency of events of terror. It argues that processes of securing function by generating a dangerous or promissory supplement to the present that thereafter propels the extension of forms of security. The paper develops this argument through an example of how an event of terror was anticipated: a RAND exercise into the aftermath of a ‘ground burst’ nuclear explosion in Long Beach, California on March 14th 2005. It argues that exercises (in)secure through three quasi-causal operations, each of which render events of terror actionable and result in specific relations between the present and future. First, ‘hypothetically possible’ generic events are named. The future takes place as a threatening horizon. Second, the defined phases of an event’s happening are staged (an advent, its multiplication into a crisis in the context of a milieu, and a response/recovery phase). The here and now is suspended between an ‘as if’ future and the present. Third, the consequences of the event are played. The future is both an intensified ‘practical’ presence embodied by exercise participants and an outside that exceeds attempts to definitively know it. The conclusion summarises the implications of the paper for work on futurity, security and the event.     

New data on accounts of the 1908 Tunguska event

There has been a longstanding debate about the nature of the 1908 Tunguska event. Many eyewitness accounts were collected more than half of a century after the event. Among these are many second‐hand oral accounts after the generation of eyewitnesses faded away. However, several years ago, two valuable publications appeared containing first‐hand eyewitness accounts collected by a Russian ethnographer, Sev'yan Vainshtein, during an expedition to the settlement of Sulomay in 1948. This paper presents additional details of these accounts, based on the author's discussions with Vainshtein before he died in 2008, and demonstrates how these accounts shed new light on what happened in Tunguska in June 1908.     

Evidence for Heinrich event 1 in the British Isles

In the north Irish Sea basin (ISB), sedimentary successions constrained by AMS ¹⁴C dates obtained from marine microfaunas record three major palaeoenvironmental shifts during the last deglacial cycle. (i) Marine muds (Cooley Point Interstadial) dated to between 16.7 and 14.7 ¹⁴C kyr BP record a major deglaciation of the ISB following the Late Glacial Maximum (LGM). (ii) Terminal outwash and ice-contact landforms (Killard Point Stadial) were deposited during an extensive ice readvance, which occurred after 14.7 ¹⁴C kyr BP and reached a maximum extent at ca.14 ¹⁴C kyr BP. At this time the lowlands surrounding the north ISB were drumlinised. Coeval flowlines reconstructed from these bedforms end at prominent moraines (Killard Point, Bride, St Bees) and indicate contemporaneity of drumlinisation from separate ice dispersal centres, substrate erosion by fast ice flow, and subglacial sediment transfer to ice-sheet margins. In north central Ireland bed reorganisation associated with this fast ice-flow phase involved overprinting and drumlinisation of earlier transverse ridges (Rogen-type moraines) by headward erosion along ice streams that exited through tidewater ice margins. This is the first direct terrestrial evidence that the British Ice Sheet (BIS) participated in Heinrich event 1 (H1). (iii) Regional mud drapes, directly overlying drumlins, record high relative sea-level (RSL) with stagnation zone retreat after 13.7 ¹⁴C kyr BP (Rough Island Interstadial). Elsewhere in lowland areas of northern Britain ice-marginal sediments and morainic belts record millennial-scale oscillations of the BIS, which post-date the LGM advance on to the continental shelf, and pre-date the Loch Lomond Stadial (Younger Dryas) advance in the highlands of western Scotland (ca. 11–10 ¹⁴C kyr BP). In western, northwestern and northern Ireland, Killard Point Stadial (H1) ice limits are reconstructed from ice-flow lines that are coeval with those in the north ISB and end at prominent moraines. On the Scottish continental shelf possible H1-age ice limits are reconstructed from dated marine muds and associated ice marginal moraines. It is argued that the last major offshore ice expansion from the Scottish mountains post-dated ca. 15 ¹⁴C kyr BP and is therefore part of the H1 event. In eastern England the stratigraphic significance of the Dimlington silts is re-evaluated because evidence shows that there was only one major ice oscillation post-dating ca.18 ¹⁴C kyr BP in these lowlands. In a wider context the sequence of deglacial events in the ISB (widespread deglaciation of southern part of the BIS → major readvance during H1 → ice sheet collapse) is similar to records of ice sheet variability from the southern margins of the Laurentide Ice Sheet (LIS). Well-dated ice-marginal records, however, show that during the Killard Point readvance the BIS was at its maximum position when retreat of the LIS was well underway. This phasing relationship supports the idea that the BIS readvance was a response to North Atlantic cooling induced by collapse of the LIS. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A non-magmatic iron projectile for the Gardnos impact event

The goal of this study is to identify the type of projectile responsible for the formation of the late Precambrian Gardnos impact structure in Norway. Fifteen impactite samples, predominantly impact breccias and suevites from the central and northeastern part of the structure, were analyzed for platinum group elements (PGE) and Au using nickel-sulfide fire assay combined with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Major and trace elements were measured in the same samples using X-ray fluorescence (XRF). In addition, the concentrations of siderophile elements Ni, Cr, and Co were determined by ICP-MS after acid digestion. The samples collected at the contact between suevite and the sedimentary infill yielded the highest PGE concentrations (Ir = 1.926 ng/g, Ru = 3.494 ng/g, Pt = 4.716 ng/g, Rh = 0.766 ng/g, Pd = 2.842 ng/g for GC6). The CI-normalized PGE patterns are characterized by Ru and Rh enrichments suggesting a non-chondritic impactor. Concentration plots of the different PGE display an excellent correlation (R > 0.99), indicative of a single source for the PGE enrichment. The Ni/Cr ratio of the Gardnos impactor (2.56 ± 0.20) agrees with that of chondrites (2 to 7), whereas Ir is depleted relative to Ni in this projectile (Ni/Ir ratio of 92 000 ± 8000 compared to an average Ni/Ir ratio of 23 150 ± 4250 for chondrites). There is no clear indication of selective post-depositional remobilization of the characteristic highly siderophile elements. The Ni/Ir and Cr/Ir data combined with the non-chondritic PGE ratios probably indicate a differentiated projectile. Based on (1) the similarity of the inter-element ratios of the impactor with the iron phase of non-magmatic iron meteorites and (2) the presence of characteristics of both chondrites and iron meteorites (Ni/Cr and Ni/Ir ratios), an IA or IIIC non-magmatic iron meteorite is a very plausible impactor.     

Stepwise mass extinctions: the case for the Late Cenomanian event

The various extinctions of marine taxa in the Late Cenomanian can be shown as conforming to the 'step-wise extinction' model. The order of such extinctions is, however, compatible with the presence of an expanded oxygen minimum zone in the world ocean. The occurrence of iridium anomalies at this level in the succession may, however, indicate a volcanogenic control on the global environment. Detailed time-analysis of the Late Cenomanian event has been used to produce a correlation of some key successions.     

从哥伦比亚超大陆裂解事件论古/中元古代的界限

国际前寒武纪地层表中始终把古/中元古代的界线置于1. 6Ga,我国则一直将这一界线置于1. 8Ga。存在认识分歧的根本原因是对1. 8Ga前后时期地质事件及其性质的理解与认识的差异或偏颇。本文通过阐述1. 8～1. 6Ga期间地质事件及其性质,重点分析和讨论古/中元古代(界)界限的划分及相关地质事件的标志与意义。大量的地质资料显示,超大陆从1. 8～1. 75Ga开始裂解,形成一系列的陆内盆地,如北美(劳伦古陆)的Thelon盆地、澳大利亚北部的Leichhardt超级盆地、南美巴西圣弗兰西斯科盆地、华北南缘的熊耳裂谷盆地以及扬子地块西南缘的东川盆地等。在这些盆地形成的早期沉积了冲积扇相、河流相的碎屑岩,之后伴有较广泛的火山岩喷发,中晚期从河流相、湖相碎屑岩沉积过渡到浅海碳酸盐台地沉积,反映一个拉伸裂解的过程。在复原的哥伦比亚超大陆内,广泛分布有1. 78～1. 72Ga的非造山花岗岩,包括AMCG组合(斜长岩、纹长二长岩、紫苏花岗岩和花岗岩)、环斑花岗岩、A型花岗岩等,以及广泛分布的基性岩墙群。这些岩浆岩都反映了拉伸裂解的地球动力学背景。在1. 8～1. 6Ga,不论是沉积事件还是岩浆事件,绝大部分与超大陆的拉伸裂解有关,并未显示造山作用、大陆固结和克拉通化的特点,用固结纪来概括这一阶段地质事件的性质并不合适。哥伦比亚超大陆上的许多盆地在1. 6Ga左右经历了一次广泛的抬升,使沉积作用短时间间断,之后原有盆地继续发展,接受了更广泛的沉积,这种沉积作用可以一直延续到1. 4～1. 3Ga左右。与裂解有关的岩浆事件也以幕式方式从1. 78Ga一直断续持续到1. 4～1. 32Ga左右。从1. 8Ga(或1. 78Ga)到1. 4～1. 3Ga,不论是盆地的沉积事件还是与裂解有关的岩浆事件,基本是连续的。以1. 6Ga作为年代界线划分古/中元古代,人为地隔断了连续的沉积事件和岩浆事件,显然与"尽可能少地截断沉积作用、火成侵位或造山运动的主要序列"的前寒武纪地层划分原则相悖。连续的裂谷盆地沉积事件和非造山岩浆事件可以追溯到1. 8Ga(或1. 78Ga)。因此,我们建议将古/中元古代的界线置于1. 8Ga或1. 78Ga。考虑到裂谷作用的本质是在已有超大陆或克拉通的基础上盖层的发育过程,因此我们建议将～1. 8Ga或1. 78～1. 4Ga都归入盖层系。     

Simulation of a Himalayan cloudburst event

Intense rainfall often leads to floods and landslides in the Himalayan region even with rainfall amounts that are considered comparatively moderate over the plains; for example, ‘cloudbursts’, which are devastating convective phenomena producing sudden high-intensity rainfall (∼10 cm per hour) over a small area. Early prediction and warning of such severe local weather systems is crucial to mitigate societal impact arising from the accompanying flash floods. We examine a cloudburst event in the Himalayan region at Shillagarh village in the early hours of 16 July 2003. The storm lasted for less than half an hour, followed by flash floods that affected hundreds of people. We examine the fidelity of MM5 configured with multiple-nested domains (81, 27, 9 and 3 km grid-resolution) for predicting a cloudburst event with attention to horizontal resolution and the cloud microphysics parameterization. The MM5 model predicts the rainfall amount 24 hours in advance. However, the location of the cloudburst is displaced by tens of kilometers     

The characteristics of the Mocoa compound disaster event,Colombia

A rainfall-induced compound disaster happened in Mocoa in the pre-dawn hours of 1 April 2017. More than 300 people were killed, and a large number of houses and roads were destroyed in the worst catastrophe in the history of Mocoa. To investigate this disaster, a detailed interpretation was carried out using high-resolution images. Analysis of disaster characteristics based on satellite image revealed that the disaster could be identified as a consequence of compound mountain hazards including landslides, debris flows, and mountain torrents. The mountain hazards converged in the mountain watershed, which amplified the disaster’s effects. Analysis considers that this disaster is the result of heavy rainfalls. Moreover, in-depth interpretation of rainfall data and satellite images spanning over 16 years reveals that the previous El Niño event (2014–2016) also played an important role, which caused reduced rainfall and vegetation coverage. The long period of drought brought by El Niño affected the growth of vegetation and reduced the ability of vegetation to cope with heavy rainfalls. The results reveal that both antecedent rainfalls and climate impact need to be taken into consideration for mountain hazard analysis.     

Chelyabinsk event as an astronomical phenomenon

The fall of a meteorite near the town of Chelyabinsk is considered from the viewpoint of astronomy, and the major witness facts and entry characteristics (including the measured entry velocity and the height of the explosion) are analyzed. The aerodynamic phenomena that accompanied the entry of the meteorite in the atmosphere at an ultrasonic velocity and the origin of a shock wave that induced damage on the Earth’s surface are analyzed. The paper also reports the estimated frequency of the falls of celestial bodies depending on their size, and consequences of collisions of these bodies with the Earth. It is emphasized that studies of small bodies in the Solar System can provide insight into the origin of the protoplanetary disk and the processes that produced the planets. The studies of small bodies, such as the Chelyabinsk meteorite, are directly related to the problem of asteroid and comet impact hazard (ACIH). The paper reports the sizes of potentially hazardous celestial bodies whose monitoring requires the deployment of a network of specialized telescopes on the Earth to mitigate ACH and a system of space-based systems for the identification and monitoring of such bodies in near space.     

Late. Oligocene Pacific-wide tectonic event

Stratigraphic and structural changes, radiometrically and biostratigraphically dated, from basins and basement across New Zealand, indicate that the modern Australia-Pacific plate boundary, including the Alpine fault sector, formed between 28 and 24 Ma. This age range coincides with changes at about 25 Ma in the trends of the Hawaiian and Louisville hotspot chains, and a 27–25 Ma reorganization of spreading on the Antarctic-Pacific spreading ridge. It also follows closely the 28.5 Ma initiation of subduction of the East Pacific Rise south of Mendocino fracture zone that lead to formation of the San Andreas continental transform. The late Oligocene Pacific-wide tectonic reorganization may have been triggered by this ridge-trench collision.     

湖南台地泥盆纪末绝灭事件后的微生物沉积

湖南中南部浅水碳酸岩台地,泥盆系顶部假整合面之上,石炭纪海进最早期,相当四射珊瑚Cystophrentis-Uralinia间隔带和单房室有孔虫带的层位,普遍发育厚度不等(7~30m)的微生物沉积.宏观上为条带状或斑块、瘤状构造,大部分由核形石组成,局部发育凝块构造内碎屑.它们均属微生物成因,代表汉根卑尔格绝灭事件后(...     

鄂尔多斯盆地延长期坳陷湖盆事件沉积记录

鄂尔多斯盆地延长期浊积岩、震积岩、凝灰岩等事件沉积垂向上均发育典型的沉积序列,可根据其沉积序列进行识别。其主要形成于长6期至长8期,平面上分布在盆地西南部的深湖区。从形成机制上看,构造运动触发了火山活动和强烈的地震。地震活动又触发(辫状河)三角洲前缘沉积物向深湖区移动,由牵引流转化为浊流。这几种事件沉积与油气聚集关系密切。浊积岩、震积岩具有一定的储集能力,构成深水区油气的主要储集体;而凝灰岩促进了优质烃源岩的形成,并加速其演化过程。     

Middle Paleozoic impact event in the southwest of the East European Platform

A zone with high remanent magnetization and magnetic susceptibility has been identified at the boundary between Lower Devonian gray- and red-colored deposits in the basin of the Dniester River in the southwest of Ukraine (in the southwest of the East European Platform). The microparticles of native iron and nickel and iron-nickel intermetallic compounds found here might be markers of an impact event in the Lochkovian (~ 415 Ma). Electron microscope examination and probe microanalysis of the chemical composition, morphology, structures, and textures of specific microobjects showed that they are the product of melting of meteoritic substance and target rocks caused by an impact explosion. Explosive dispersion and deposition of microparticles on the Earth’s surface result in a rapid differentiation of their substance. The obtained data can be used as evidence of a reference impact event during the fall of an iron-stone meteorite, and a characteristic set of minerals and geochemical parameters can help to identify catastrophic events in the geologic history.