Glacier hydrochemistry, solute provenance, and chemical denudation at a surge-type glacier in Kuannersuit Kuussuat, Disko Island, West Greenland

In 1995–1998, Han 11 km terrestrial surge of Kuannersuit Glacier, an outlet glacier of the largest ice cap on Disko Island, West Greenland, affected the catchment dramatically. In order to estimate solute fluxes and provenances, bulk meltwaters were sampled at the main subglacial outlet during the initial part of the quiescent phase. The hydrochemistry is significantly influenced by a subglacial basaltic weathering regime with absence of carbonate minerals. The results show that marine and aerosol derived solutes have minimal contribution to the total ion content, whereas sequestration of atmospheric CO₂ associated with carbonation of Ca-rich feldspar and reactive volcanic glass is more dominant than previously reported from glacierized catchments. Application of a sampling strategy dividing water samples into four groups to determine the content of dissolved HCO₃⁻ and CO₃²⁻ shows that the cationic equivalent weathering rate range is 683–860 Σmeq⁺ m⁻² a⁻¹ and solute flux ranges between 76 and 98 t km⁻² a⁻¹. The crustal denudation rate is estimated to 26 t km⁻² a⁻¹, and the transient CO₂ drawdown amounts to 8500–13700 kg C km⁻² a⁻¹.     

Mapping the spatial variation of soil water content at the field scale with different ground penetrating radar techniques

Two ground penetrating radar (GPR) techniques were used to estimate the shallow soil water content at the field scale. The first technique is based on the ground wave velocity measured with a bistatic impulse radar connected to 450 MHz ground-coupled antennas. The second technique is based on inverse modeling of an off-ground monostatic TEM horn antenna in the 0.8–1.6 GHz frequency range. Data were collected on a 8 by 9 m partially irrigated intensive research plot and along four 148.5 m transects. Time domain reflectometry, capacitance sensors, and volumetric soil samples were used as reference measurements. The aim of the study was to test the applicability of the ground wave method and the off-ground inverse modeling approach at the field scale for a soil with a silt loam texture. The results for the ground wave technique were difficult to interpret due to the strong attenuation of the GPR signal, which is related to the silt loam texture at the test site. The root mean square error of the ground wave technique was 0.076 m³ m⁻³ when compared to the TDR measurements and 0.102 m³ m⁻³ when compared with the volumetric soil samples. The off-ground monostatic GPR measured less within-field soil water content variability than the reference measurements, resulting in a root mean square error of 0.053 m³ m⁻³ when compared with the TDR measurements and an error of 0.051 m³ m⁻³ when compared with the volumetric soil samples. The variability between the two GPR measurements was even larger with a RSME of 0.115 m³ m⁻³. In summary, both GPR methods did not provide adequate spatial information on soil water content variation at the field scale. The main reason for the deviating results of the ground wave method was the poor data quality due to high silt and clay content at the test site. Additional reasons were shallow reflections and the dry upper soil layer that cannot be detected by the ground wave method. In the case of off-ground GPR, the high sensitivity to the dry surface layer is the most likely reason for the observed deviations. The off-ground GPR results might be improved by using a different antenna that allows data acquisition in a lower frequency range.     

Seasonal rainfall partitioning under runon and runoff conditions on sandy soil in Niger. On-farm measurements and water balance modelling

In sparsely cropped farming systems in semi-arid tropics, rainfall partitioning can be complex due to various interactions between vertical and horizontal water flows, both in the atmosphere and in the soil. Despite this, quantifying the seasonal rainfall partitioning is essential, in order to identify options for increased yields. Results are presented on water flow components, based on field measurements and water balance modelling, for three years (1994–96) in a farmer's field cultivated with pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) Br.] in the Sahel (Niger). Water balance modelling was carried out for three common infiltration categories: runoff producing surfaces, surfaces receiving inflow of runon water from upstream zones, and a reference surface with zero runoff and runon. Runoff was calculated to 25%–30% of annual rainfall (which ranged from 488 to 596 mm), from crust observations, rainfall, soil wetness data, and infiltration estimates. Inflow of runon was estimated from field observations to 8%–18% of annual rainfall. The parameters in the functions for soil surface and canopy resistances were calibrated with field measurements of soil evaporation, stomatal conductance and leaf area. The model estimates of soil water contents, which were validated against neutron probe measurements, showed a reasonable agreement with observed data, with a root mean square error (RMSE) of approximately 0.02 m³ m⁻³ for 0–160 cm soil depth. Estimated productive water flow as plant transpiration was low, amounting to 4%–9% of the available water for the non-fertilised crop and 7%–24% for the fertilised crop. Soil evaporation accounted for 31%–50% of the available water, and showed a low variation for the observed range of leaf area (LAI <1 m² m⁻²). Deep percolation was high, amounting to 200–330 mm for the non-crusted surfaces, which exceeded soil evaporation losses, for 1994–95 with relatively high annual rainfall (517–596 mm). Even a year with lower rainfall (488 mm) and a distinct dry spell during flowering (1996), resulted in an estimated deep percolation of 160 mm for the non-fertilised crop. The crop did not benefit from the additional inflow of runon water, which was partitioned between soil water storage and deep percolation. The only exception to this was the fertilised crop in 1996, where runon somewhat compensated for the limited rainfall and the higher water demand as a result of a larger leaf area than the non-fertilised crop. The effects of rainfall erraticness, resulting in episodic droughts, explain why a crop that uses such a small proportion of the available water, in an environment with substantial deep percolation, still suffers from water scarcity. Application of small levels of phosphorus and nitrogen roughly doubled yields, from 380 to 620 kg ha⁻¹, and plant transpiration, from 33 to 78 mm. Evapotranspirational water use efficiency (WUE_ET) was low, 6500–8300 m³ ton⁻¹ grain for non-fertilised crop, which is an effect of the low on-farm yields and high non-productive water losses. The estimated seasonal rainfall partitioning indicates the possibility of quantifying vertical water flows in on-farm environments in the Sahel, despite the presence of surface overland flow.     

Fe isotope fractionation in iron meteorites: New insights into metal-sulphide segregation and planetary accretion

Magmatic iron meteorites are considered to be remnants of the metallic cores of differentiated asteroids, and may be used as analogues of planetary core formation. The Fe isotope compositions (δ^57/54Fe) of metal fractions separated from magmatic and non-magmatic iron meteorites span a total range of 0.39‰, with the δ^57/54Fe values of metal fractions separated from the IIAB irons (δ^57/54Fe 0.12 to 0.32‰) being significantly heavier than those from the IIIAB (δ^57/54Fe 0.01 to 0.15‰), IVA (δ^57/54Fe − 0.07 to 0.17‰) and IVB groups (δ^57/54Fe 0.06 to 0.14‰). The δ^57/54Fe values of troilites (FeS) separated from magmatic and non-magmatic irons range from − 0.60 to − 0.12‰, and are isotopically lighter than coexisting metal phases. No systematic relationships exist between metal-sulphide fractionation factor (Δ^57/54Fe_M-FeS = δ^57/54Fe_metal − δ^57/54Fe_FeS) metal composition or meteorite group, however the greatest Δ^57/54Fe_M-FeS values recorded for each group are strikingly similar: 0.79, 0.63, 0.76 and 0.74‰ for the IIAB, IIIAB, IAB and IIICD irons, respectively. Δ^57/54Fe_M-FeS values display a positive correlation with kamacite bandwidth, i.e. the most slowly-cooled meteorites, which should be closest to diffusive equilibrium, have the greatest Δ^57/54Fe_M-FeS values. These observations provide suggestive evidence that Fe isotopic fractionation between metal and troilite is dominated by equilibrium processes and that the maximum Δ^57/54Fe_M-FeS value recorded (0.79 ± 0.09‰) is the best estimate of the equilibrium metal-sulphide Fe isotope fractionation factor. Mass balance models using this fractionation factor in conjunction with metal δ^57/54Fe values and published Fe isotope data for pallasites can explain the relatively heavy δ^57/54Fe values of IIAB metals as a function of large amounts of S in the core of the IIAB parent body, in agreement with published experimental work. However, sequestering of isotopically light Fe into the S-bearing parts of planetary cores cannot explain published differences in the average δ^57/54Fe values of mafic rocks and meteorites derived from the Earth, Moon and Mars and 4-Vesta. The heavy δ^57/54Fe value of the Earth's mantle relative to that of Mars and 4-Vesta may reflect isotopic fractionation due to disproportionation of ferrous iron present in the proto-Earth mantle into isotopically heavy ferric iron hosted in perovskite, which is released into the magma ocean, and isotopically light native iron, which partitions into the core. This process cannot take place at significant levels on smaller planets, such as Mars, as perovskite is only stable at pressures > 23 GPa. Interestingly, the average δ^57/54Fe values of mafic terrestrial and lunar samples are very similar if the High-Ti mare basalts are excluded from the latter. If the Moon's mantle is largely derived from the impactor planet then the isotopically heavy signature of the Moon's mantle requires that the impacting planet also had a mantle with a δ^57/54Fe value heavier than that of Mars or 4-Vesta, which then implies that the impactor planet must have been greater in size than Mars.     

PSYCHIC – A process-based model of phosphorus and sediment transfers within agricultural catchments. Part 2. A preliminary evaluation

This paper describes the preliminary evaluation of the PSYCHIC catchment scale (Tier 1) model for predicting the mobilisation and delivery of phosphorus (P) and suspended sediment (SS) in the Hampshire Avon (1715 km²) and Herefordshire Wye (4017 km²) drainage basins, in the UK, using empirical data. Phosphorus and SS transfers to watercourses in the Wye were predicted to be greater than corresponding delivery in the Avon; SS, 249 vs 33 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹; DP, 2.57 vs 1.26 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹; PP, 2.20 vs 0.56 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹. The spatial pattern of the predicted transfers was relatively uniform across the Wye drainage basin, whilst in the Avon, delivery to watercourses was largely confined to the river corridors and small areas of drained land. Statistical performance in relation to predicted exports of P and SS, using criteria for relative error (RE) and root mean square error (RMSE), reflected the potential shortcomings associated with using longer-term climate data for predicting shorter-term (2002–2004) catchment response and the need to refine calculations of point source contributions and to incorporate additional river basin processes such as channel bank erosion and in-stream geochemical processing. PSYCHIC is therefore best suited to characterising longer-term catchment response.     

Intermittent exposure to reduced oxygen levels affects prey size selection and consumption in swimming crab Thalamita danae Stimpson

Portunid crabs Thalamita danae (carapace width: 46–56 mm) were exposed to low oxygen level (4.0 mg O₂ l⁻¹) and hypoxia (1.5 mg O₂ l⁻¹) for 6 h each day with three size classes (large: 15.0–19.9 mm, medium: 10.0–14.9 mm, small: 5.0–9.9 mm) of mussels Brachidontes variabilis offered as food. Consumption rate, prey size preference, and prey handling including breaking time, handling time, eating time and prey value, were studied during the time the crabs were exposed to reduced oxygen levels and results were compared with the crabs maintained at high oxygen level (8.0 mg O₂ l⁻¹) throughout the experiment. Consumption of mussels from all size classes was significantly higher at high oxygen level than at reduced oxygen levels. No mussel size preference was observed for crabs exposed to 4.0 or 8.0 mg O₂ l⁻¹ but those crabs exposed to 1.5 mg O₂ l⁻¹ preferred medium mussels. Both breaking time and handling time increased with mussel size but did not vary with oxygen level. Prey value of each mussel consumed (mg dry wt eaten crab⁻¹ s⁻¹) was calculated by dividing the estimated dry weight of the mussel by the observed handling time. Mean prey value varied significantly with mussel size, with values obtained for large mussels being higher than small mussels at 4.0 and 8.0 mg O₂ l⁻¹; the effect of oxygen level, however, was insignificant. In view of portunid crabs as major predators of mussels, results may help explain dominance of mussels in eutrophic harbours in Hong Kong.     

Effects of some environmental parameters on the reproduction and development of a tropical marine harpacticoid copepod Nitocra affinis f. californica Lang

The effects of salinity, temperature, and light conditions on the reproduction and development of harpacticoid copepod, Nitocra affinis f. californica under controlled laboratory conditions were determined. Seven different salinity levels (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 ppt), four temperatures (20, 25, 30, 35 °C), three different light intensities (25, 56, 130 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹) and photoperiods (24 h:0 h, 1 h:23 h, 12 h:12 h LD cycle) were employed in this study. The highest (p < 0.05) overall reproduction and fastest development time were achieved by copepods reared under 30–35 ppt salinity. The optimum temperature required for the maximum reproduction was 30 °C while under 30 °C and 35 °C the copepod development time was shortest (p < 0.05) compared to other temperature levels. The overall reproduction was highest (p < 0.05) and development rate of N. affinis was shortest (p < 0.05) under lowest light intensity (25 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹). Continuous light (24 h:0 h LD) inhibited the egg production while, continuous darkness (1 h:23 h LD) and 12 h:12 h LD significantly favoured the overall reproductive activity of the female. Photoperiods 1 h:23 h and 12 h:12 h LD yielded highest total (p < 0.05) offspring female⁻¹ coupled with highest (p < 0.05) survival percentage. This study illustrated that although N. affinis can tolerate wide range of environmental conditions, prolonged exposure to subnormal environments affect its reproduction and development. This study showed that this species can be mass cultured for commercial purposes and has a potential to be used for toxicity studies due to its high reproductive performance fast development and a wide range of tolerance to environmental conditions.     

Water budget and vertical conductance for Lowry (Sand Hill) Lake in north-central Florida, USA

Water-budget components and the vertical conductance were determined for Lowry (Sand Hill) Lake in north-central Florida, USA. In this type of lake, which interacts with both the surface-water and groundwater systems, the inflow components are precipitation, surface-water inflow, groundwater inflow, and direct runoff (i.e. overland flow), and the outflow components are evaporation, groundwater outflow, and surface-water outflow. In a lake and groundwater system that is typical of many karst lakes in Florida, a large part of the groundwater outflow occurs by means of vertical leakage through an underlying confining unit to a deeper, highly transmissive aquifer called the upper Floridan aquifer. The water-budget component that represents vertical leakage to the upper Floridan aquifer was calculated as a residual using the water-budget equation. For the 13 month period from August 1994 to August 1995, relative to the surface area of the lake, rainfall at Lowry Lake was 1.55 m yr⁻¹, surficial aquifer inflow was 0.79 m yr⁻¹, surface-water inflow was 1.92 m yr⁻¹, and direct runoff was 0.01 m yr⁻¹. Lake evaporation was 1.11 m yr⁻¹, and surface-water outflow was 1.61 m yr⁻¹. The lake stage increased 0.07 m yr⁻¹, and the vertical leakage to the upper Floridan aquifer was 1.48 m yr⁻¹. Surficial aquifer outflow from the lake was negligible. At Lowry Lake, vertical leakage is a major component of the water budget, comprising about 35% of the outflow during the study period. The vertical conductance (K_V/b), a coefficient that represents the average of the vertical conductances of the hydrogeologic units between the bottom of a lake and the top of the upper Floridan aquifer, was determined to be 2.51 × 10⁻⁴ day⁻¹ for Lowry Lake.     

The earth's thermal profile: Is there a mid-mantle thermal boundary layer?

Shock observations on melting of iron by Brown and McQueen with the inner core boundary (ICB) density contrast estimated by Masters are used with the assumption that the light ingredient of the outer core is oxygen to calculate the boundary temperature T_ICB = (5000 ± 900) K. Adiabatic extrapolation to the core-mantle boundary (CMB) gives T_ICB = (3800 ± 800) K. The temperature increment across the D″ layer is not well constrained, but is estimated to be T_D″ = (800 ± 400) K and a slightly superadiabatic extrapolation to 670 km gives T_{670 +} = (2300 ± 950) K. This is only about 300 K higher than the extrapolation to the same level from the upper mantle, T_670? = (1970 ± 150) K. The difference is far too small to make a viable mid-mantle boundary layer. Remaining unceertainties are too large to discount such a boundary layer with certainty, but agreement of our new temperature profile with temperatures deduced from equation of state studies on the lower mantle and core encourages the view that we are converging to a well-determined temperature profile for the Earth.     

Towards a classification of organic enrichment in marine sediments based on biogeochemical indicators

A nomogram is developed to show that pH, redox potentials (Eh_NHE) and measures of dissolved sulfides (H₂S + HS⁻ + S²⁻)(total free S²⁻) can be used to classify organic enrichment impacts in marine sediments. The biogeochemical cycle of sulfur in marine sediments is described to show that changes in macrobenthic infauna community structure associated with high levels of organic matter supply result from stress due to oxygen deficiency (hypoxia and anoxia) and toxic effects of S²⁻. The changes reflect enhancement of microbial sulfate reduction under conditions of high organic matter sedimentation and the progressive formation of hypoxic–anoxic conditions measured by decreased Eh_NHE and increased concentrations of S²⁻. The nomogram provides a basis for classification of the oxic status of marine sediments based on changes in inter-related biological and biogeochemical variables along an organic enrichment gradient.     

Microbial modulation in the biomass and toxin production of a red-tide causing alga

The effect of S₁₀, a strain of marine bacteria isolated from sediment in the Western Xiamen Sea, on the growth and paralytic shellfish poison (PSP) production in the alga Alexandrium tamarense (A. tamarense) was studied under controlled experimental conditions. The results of these experiments have shown that the growth of A. tamarense is obviously inhibited by S₁₀ at high concentrations, however no evident effect on its growth was observed at low concentrations. Its PSP production was also inhibited by S₁₀ at different concentrations, especially at low concentrations. The toxicity of this strain of A. tamarense is about (0.95–12.14) × 10⁻⁶ MU/cell, a peak toxicity value of 12.14 × 10⁻⁶ MU/cell appeared on the 14th day, after which levels decreased gradually. The alga grew well in conditions of pH 6–8 and salinities of 20–34‰. The toxicity of the alga varied markedly at different pH and salinity levels. Toxicity decreased as pH increased, while it increased with salinity and reached a peak value at a salinity of 30‰, after which it declined gradually. S₁₀ at a concentration of 1.02 × 10⁹ cells/ml inhibited growth and the PSP production of A. tamarense at different pH and salinity levels. S₁₀ had the strongest inhibitory function on the growth of A. tamarense under conditions of pH 7 and a salinity of 34‰. The best inhibitory effect on PSP production by A. tamarense was at pH 7, this inhibitory effect on PSP production did not relate to salinity. Interactions between marine bacteria and A. tamarense were also investigated using the flow cytometer technique (FCM) as well as direct microscope counting. S₁₀ was identified as being a member of the genus Bacillus, the difference in 16S rDNA between S₁₀ and Bacillus halmapalus was only 2%. The mechanism involved in the inhibition of growth and PSP production of A. tamarense by this strain of marine bacteria, and the prospect of using it and other marine bacteria in the bio-control of red-tides was discussed.     

Mathematical modeling of PCB bioaccumulation in Perna viridis

In the present work, we built a mathematical model of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) bioaccumulation in Perna viridis, namely, a one-compartment model with a time dependent incorporation rate R (μg g⁻¹ lipid per ppb water per day), with positive substrate cooperativity as the underlying physical mechanism. The temporal change of the PCB concentration Q (μg g⁻¹ lipid) in the soft tissues of the mussel depends on the competition of the input rate RW and the output rate kQ, where W is the concentration of PCB in water (ppb water) and k is the elimination rate (per day). From our experimental data, k=0.181±0.017 d⁻¹. The critical concentration in water W_c for positive substrate cooperativity was found to be 2.4 ppb. Below W_c, R is a constant. For a water concentration of 0.5 ppb Aroclor 1254, R=24.0±2.4 μg g⁻¹ lipid ppb⁻¹ d⁻¹. Above W_c, positive substrate cooperativity comes into effect and R becomes a function of time and dependent on the concentration Q in a form R=γQ/(Q+δ). This is the case for a water concentration of 5 ppb Aroclor 1254, where γ=15.1 μg g⁻¹ lipid ppb⁻¹ d¹ and δ≈200 μg g⁻¹ lipid. From this model, the uptake is exponentially increasing when the PCB concentration in the mussel is small compared to 200 μg g⁻¹ lipid, and hyperbolically increasing when the concentration is large compared to 200 μg g⁻¹ lipid, which are consistent with the experimental data. The model is useful for understanding the true processes taking place during the bioaccumulation and for risk assessment with higher confidence. Future experimental data which challenge the present model are anticipated and in fact desirable for improvement and perfection of the model.     

Strain localisation in bimineralic rocks: Experimental deformation of synthetic calcite–anhydrite aggregates

Deformation of synthetic calcite–anhydrite aggregates to large shear strains (up to γ = 12.4 at 600 °C, 300 MPa confining pressure and a constant angular displacement rate corresponding to a shear strain rate of 10^− 3 s^− 1) resulted in the first experimental observation of strain localisation from initially homogeneous rocks. In contrast to experiments on pure calcite and anhydrite, which deformed homogeneously to large strains (γ ≥ 5), all experiments on calcite–anhydrite mixtures resulted in heterogeneous deformation at γ > 1 and the formation of narrow localised bands in the microstructures at γ > 4. In these bands, the amount of strain is at least twice as large as in the rest of the sample and individual grains of the same phase cluster and align, thereby forming microstructural layering similar to planar fabrics in natural mylonites. A switch in deformation mechanism in anhydrite from dislocation creep to diffusion creep and/or grain boundary sliding occurs simultaneously with strain localisation. It is concluded that deformation-induced heterogeneous phase distributions cause local strength differences initiating strain localisation in the calcite–anhydrite mixtures. The study suggests that the presence of two phases in combination with a change in deformation mechanism may be responsible for strain localisation in natural poly-mineralic mylonites.     

Viscosity of peridotite liquid up to 13 GPa: Implications for magma ocean viscosities

The viscosity of synthetic peridotite liquid has been investigated at high pressures using in-situ falling sphere viscometry by combining a multi-anvil technique with synchrotron radiation. We used a newly designed capsule containing a small recessed reservoir outside of the hot spot of the heater, in which a viscosity marker sphere is embedded in a forsterite + enstatite mixture having a higher solidus temperature than the peridotite. This experimental setup prevents spheres from falling before a stable temperature above the liquidus is established and thus avoids difficulties in evaluating viscosities from velocities of spheres falling through a partially molten sample.

Experiments have been performed between 2.8 and 13 GPa at temperatures ranging from 2043 to 2523 K. Measured viscosities range from 0.019 (± 0.004) to 0.13 (± 0.02) Pa s. At constant temperature, viscosity increases with increasing pressure up to  8.5 GPa but then decreases between  8.5 and 13 GPa. The change in the pressure dependence of viscosity is likely associated with structural changes of the liquid that occur upon compression. By combining our results with recently published 0.1 MPa peridotite liquid viscosities [D.B. Dingwell, C. Courtial, D. Giordano, A. Nichols, Viscosity of peridotite liquid, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 226 (2004) 127–138.], the experimental data can be described by a non-Arrhenian, empirical Vogel-Fulcher-Tamman equation, which has been modified by adding a term to account for the observed pressure dependence of viscosity. This equation reproduces measured viscosities to within 0.08 log₁₀-units on average. We use this model to calculate viscosities of a peridotitic magma ocean along a liquid adiabat to a depth of  400 km and discuss possible effects on viscosity at greater pressures and temperatures than experimentally investigated.     

AMS analysis of I in Japanese soil samples collected from background areas far from nuclear facilities

Analytical procedures in the determination of iodine-129 (half-life: 1.6×10⁷ y) have been studied using accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS), with special references to the separation procedures of iodine from soil samples for the AMS measurement. Iodine was successfully volatilized from soil samples by pyrohydrolysis at 1000 °C and collected in a trap solution. Iodine was purified from the matrix by solvent extraction. Finally, it was precipitated as silver iodide to make a target for AMS. In order to obtain information on the ¹²⁹I/¹²⁷I ratio in a chemical blank (or iodine carrier), we have determined the ratios in several iodine reagents and found that the ratios fell in a narrow range around 1.7×10⁻¹³. The detection limit for soil sample (1 g material) by the present method was about 0.01 mBq/kg or 4×10⁻¹¹ as the ratio of stable iodine (¹²⁹I/¹²⁷I ratio), i.e. these values were much better than that by neutron activation analysis (NAA) used in our previous studies. We have applied this method in the analysis of soil samples collected from different places in Japan. We could successfully determine ¹²⁹I in soil samples with low ¹²⁹I concentrations, which could not be detected by NAA. Sample size necessary for the soil analysis by AMS was only about 0.5 g or less, whereas about 100 g of the sample were required for NAA [Muramatsu, Y., Ohmomo, Y., 1986. Iodine-129 and iodine-127 in environmental samples collected from Tokaimura/ Ibaraki, Japan. Sci. Total Environ. 48, 33-43]. Using this method, new data were obtained for the ¹²⁹I levels in 20 soil samples collected from background areas far from nuclear facilities, and the ranges were 1.4×10⁻⁵−4.5×10⁻³ Bq/kg as ¹²⁹I concentrations and 3.9×10⁻¹¹−2.2×10⁻⁸ as ¹²⁹I/¹²⁷I ratios. These values are useful in understanding the ¹²⁹I levels in Japanese environments. Higher ¹²⁹I concentrations were observed in forest soils than those in field and rice paddy soils should be related to the interception effect of atmospheric ¹²⁹I due to tree canopies. Relatively high ¹²⁹I/¹²⁷I ratios found in rice paddy soils could be explained by their low stable iodine concentrations which were caused by the desorption of stable iodine from the rice paddies during the cultivation.     

Simultaneous measurements of compressional wave and shear wave velocities, Poisson's ratio, and Vp/Vs under deep crustal pressure and temperature conditions: Example of silicified pelitic schist from Ryoke Belt, Southwest Japan

The ultrasonic technique for measuring travel times of compressional and shear waves using dual-mode transducers was adapted to a piston cylinder apparatus, allowing simultaneous measurements of travel times of compressional and shear waves of island arc samples under the high pressure and temperature conditions of island arcs. This method enables us to determine elastic properties and their pressure and temperature derivatives simultaneously. Furthermore, Vp/Vs can be directly determined from travel times of compressional and shear waves independently of length change due to compression or thermal expansion of rock samples under deep crustal conditions, providing more accurate Vp/Vs values than those determined from individual measurements of travel times of both elastic wave types using single-mode transducers. Experimental techniques and results are demonstrated using data on silicified pelitic schist from the Ryoke Belt to 0.6 GPa. The simultaneous measurement gives Vp  = 5.60 km/s, ∂ Vp /∂ P  = 0.090 (km/s)/GPa, Vs  = 3.37 km/s, ∂ Vs /∂ P  = 0.05 (km/s)/GPa, σ  = 0.216, and Vp / Vs  = 1.66 at ambient conditions. The temperature derivatives were constrained from fitting using linear functions of temperature, yielding ∂ Vp /∂ T  = −0.518 × 10⁻³ (km/s)/K and ∂ Vs /∂ T  = −0.182 × 10⁻³ (km/s)/K. Performing simultaneous measurements of travel times of compressional and shear waves using dual-mode transducers, it is possible to accurately determine Vp / Vs and Poisson's ratio of crustal minerals and rocks at deep crustal conditions to study the composition of the crustal interior, e.g. rock types and fluids below the hypocentral region of earthquakes or around bright spots.     

Tracing suspended sediment and particulate phosphorus sources in catchments

Information on suspended sediment and particulate P (PP) sources is an important requirement in many catchment-based diffuse source pollution studies, in order to assist with model validation and to provide information to support the development of effective sediment and phosphorus control strategies. Such information is, however, frequently unavailable or difficult to assemble. In the study reported, source fingerprinting procedures were successfully used to assemble this information for seven sub-catchments in the Hampshire Avon catchment and five sub-catchments in the Middle Herefordshire Wye catchment. The results provide important new information on the relative importance of the contributions from surface and channel/subsurface sources to the suspended sediment and PP fluxes from the catchments. In the Wye sub-catchments channel/subsurface sources contributed 40–55% of the overall suspended sediment flux and 21–43% of the PP flux from the catchments. Equivalent values for the Avon were 1–41% and 1–54%, respectively. Combination of the information on the relative importance of surface and channel/subsurface sources with measured suspended sediment fluxes has provided the first estimates of the specific fluxes of sediment and PP attributable to channel/subsurface sources for UK catchments. The former are as high as 15–20 t km⁻² year⁻¹ in some of the Wye sub-catchments, whereas the latter exceeded 0.1 kgP ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ in the same sub-catchments. The results emphasize the need to take account of potential contributions from channel/subsurface sources when using measured suspended sediment and PP flux data to validate predictions derived from models incorporating only surface contributions.     

Composition of the core,II. Effect of high pressure on solubility of FeO in molten iron

An experimental and theoretical investigation of the effect of pressure on the solubility of FeO in molten iron has been carried out. Analyses of shock-wave compression data on iron oxides combined with measurements of the FeO bond length in “metallic” oxides suggest that the partial molar volume of FeO(V^*) dissolved in molten iron is substantially smaller than that of molten wüstite. Hence the effect of high pressure should be to increase the solubility of FeO in molten iron at a given temperature. This inference is confirmed by an experimental investigation of the effect of pressure on the position of the FeFeO eutectic. Thermodynamic calculations based on these experiments yield an estimate forV^* which is in reasonable agreement with the theoretical estimates. The experimental value ofV^* is used to calculate the effect of high pressure upon the FeFeO phase diagram. Solubility of FeO in molten iron increases sharply with pressure, the liquid immiscibility region contracts and disappears around 20 GPa and it is predicted that the FeFeO phase diagram should resemble a simple eutectic system above about 20 GPa. Analogous calculations predict that the solubility of FeO in molten iron in equilibrium with magnesiowüstite (Mg_0.8Fe_0.2)O at 2500°C increase from 14 mol.%(P = 0) to above 25 mol.% at 20 GPa. If the core formed by segregation of metallic iron originally dispersed throughout the earth, it seems inevitable that it would dissolved large amounts of FeO, thereby accounting for the observation that the density of the outer core is substantially smaller than that of pure iron under correspondingP, T conditions.     

Phase transition in CaSiO3 perovskite

A phase transition in pure CaSiO₃ perovskite was investigated at 27 to 72 GPa and 300 to 819 K by in-situ X-ray diffraction experiments in an externally-heated diamond-anvil cell. The results show that CaSiO₃ perovskite takes a tetragonal form at 300 K and undergoes phase transition to a cubic structure above 490–580 K in a pressure range studied here. The transition boundary is strongly temperature-dependent with a slightly positive dT / dP slope of 1.1 (± 1.3) K/GPa. It is known that the transition temperature depends on Al₂O₃ content dissolved in CaSiO₃ perovskite [Kurashina et al., Phys. Earth Planet. Inter. 145 (2004) 67–74]. The phase transition in CaSiO₃(+ 3 wt.% Al₂O₃) perovskite therefore could occur in a cold subducted mid-oceanic ridge basalt (MORB) crust at about 1200 K in the upper- to mid-lower mantle. This phase transition is possibly ferroelastic-type and may cause large seismic anomalies in a wide depth range.     

Solubility of FeO in (Mg,Fe)SiO3 perovskite and the post-perovskite phase transition

Phase relations in Mg_0.5Fe_0.5SiO₃ and Mg_0.25Fe_0.75SiO₃ were investigated in a pressure range from 72 to 123 GPa on the basis of synchrotron X-ray diffraction measurements in situ at high-pressure and -temperature in a laser-heated diamond-anvil cell (LHDAC). Results demonstrate that Mg_0.5Fe_0.5SiO₃ perovskite is formed as a single phase at 85–108 GPa and 1800–2330 K, indicating a high solubility of FeO in (Mg,Fe)SiO₃ perovskite at high pressures. Post-perovskite appears coexisting with perovskite in Mg_0.5Fe_0.5SiO₃ above 106 GPa at 1410 K, the condition very close to the post-perovskite phase transition boundary in pure MgSiO₃. The coexistence of perovskite and post-perovskite was observed to 123 GPa. In addition, post-perovskite was formed coexisting with perovskite also in Mg_0.25Fe_0.75SiO₃ bulk composition at 106–123 GPa. In contrast to earlier experimental and theoretical studies, these results show that incorporation of FeO stabilizes perovskite at higher pressures. This could be due to a larger ionic radius of Fe²⁺ ion, which is incompatible with a small Mg²⁺ site in the post-perovskite phase.