Sunlight and tidal interaction as a mechanism of carbon transport in an ice-covered region: Results of a coupled ice–ocean ecosystem model

In order to clarify the mechanism of carbon transport in an ice-covered ecosystem in Lake Saroma (44^°N${44}^{°}\mathrm{N}$, 143^°E${143}^{°}\mathrm{E}$, Hokkaido, Japan), a three-dimensional numerical calculation using a coupled ice–ocean ecosystem model was conducted. This model comprises an ocean ecosystem model, an ice ecosystem model, and equations for the coupling between ice and ocean. Comparisons of calculated results with observational data confirm that the calculation well reproduced the in situ phenomena with respect to tides, tidal currents, concentrations of POC and chlorophyll a in ice and in water, and sinking fluxes beneath the ice. The analysis of the organic carbon budget based on the calculation reveals that tide-induced transport, the enhancement of biological production in a pelagic system, and the physical release of organic matter from ice associated with ice-melting are important factors affecting the carbon transport during the ice-melting season. The carbon transport has a one-day time cycle. This is because principal driving forces are sunlight, and diurnal tides. The described mechanism of “sunlight and tidal pumping” is one of the most important features of carbon transport in a coupled ice–water ecosystem.     

On the sensitivity of tidal residuals off the west coast of Britain to mesh resolution

An irregular mesh model of the west coast of Britain is used to examine the sensitivity of tidal residuals to mesh resolution in the region. Computed residuals are compared with earlier published results determined with a high resolution (1 km grid) finite difference model of the eastern Irish Sea. Initial calculations show that tidal residuals are largest in nearshore regions particularly in the vicinity of headlands. Local refinement of the mesh in these regions leads to a more detailed picture of the flow field, particularly adjacent to the coast. Although large scale offshore features of the flow can be resolved using the high resolution finite difference model, such an approach leads to a “stair case” representation of the coastal boundary with an adjacent near coastal region of spurious tidal residuals. By using an irregular mesh that follows the coast, this effect is removed. In the Mersey river region the tidal residual is resolved with a mesh resolution of 120 m, although calculations show that its distribution is particularly sensitive to small scale features of the topography. A variable mesh that can accurately represent the lateral variations in river width and details of topography in both the nearshore and estuarine environment appears essential in modelling the coastal spread of freshwater plumes from rivers and pollutants discharged into the near coastal environment.     

Concentrations of 137Cs, 90Sr, 108m Ag, 239+240 Pu and atom ratio of 240Pu/239Pu in tanner crabs, Chionoecetes japonicus and Chionoecetes opilio collected around Japan

The anthropogenic radionuclides, ¹³⁷Cs, ⁹⁰Sr, ^108mAg, ^239+240Pu, were measured in two Chionoecetes species, red queen crab (Chionoecetes japonicus) and snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) collected around Japan during 1996–2007. There was no increase in the concentrations of these radionuclides and no large variation of the atom ratio of ²⁴⁰Pu/²³⁹Pu during this research period. These results indicated that the source of the radionuclides was not the radioactive wastes dumped by the former USSR and Russia and originated from past nuclear weapon tests. The higher atom ratio in the crab species than that from global fallout would be contributed by the Pacific Proving Grounds close-in fallout. The variability of the concentration of radionuclides in the crab species would result from the variability of the composition and quantity in the diet. However, the decrease in the concentration of radionuclides with sampling depth would depend on the concentration in the seawater and diet.     

西昆仑大地构造相解剖及其多岛增生过程

西昆仑造山带的大地构造相自北向南大致包括：（ｉ）塔里木地块西南构造域, （ｉｉ）库地北岩浆弧,（ｉｉｉ）库地混杂带,（ｉｖ）库地微陆块,（ｖ）主剪切带,（ｖｉ）峡南桥钙 碱性岩浆杂岩带,（ｖｉｉ）麻扎－康西瓦混杂带－增生楔,（ｖｉｉｉ）甜水海前陆褶皱冲断带等组成 部分．其中大地构造相（Ｉ）－（ｖ）记录了晚元古代－早古生代原特提斯大洋向北消减,欧 亚大陆向南增生的历史,而大地构造相（ｖｉ）－（ｖｉｉｉ）记录了羌塘地块北部被动陆缘沉积 大地构造演化、古特提斯洋晚古生代－早中生代的消减以及羌塘地块与欧亚大陆碰撞、 拼贴并最终焊合的历史．大地构造相分析表明西昆仑造山带存在复杂的多岛海－增生弧 造山作用．这种复杂的多岛增生作用是欧亚大陆向南增生的重要特征．     

超大型金成矿省的地球动力学背景(摘要)

按照数百吨到上千吨金产量成矿省的特征,将金矿床分为 ６类：（ｉ）造山带型金矿,（ｉｉ）卡林和类卡林型金矿,（ｉｉｉ）浅成低温型热液金－银矿床,（ｉｖ）斑岩型钢－金矿床,（ｖ）铁氧化物型铜－金矿床;（ｖｉ）富金块状硫化物（ＶＭＳ）矿床和沉积喷流矿床（ＳＥＤＥＸ）． 这些类型反映不同的地球动力学背景．造山带型金矿产于近地体边缘的地壳中部（４－１６ ｋｍ）,在 Ｃｏｒｄｉｌｌｅｒａｎ型造山带转换挤压的俯冲－增生杂岩内;其他造山带型金矿省形成在板内地幔岩石围拆沉或地慢柱上涌处．卡林型和类卡林型金矿产于拉伸的…     

合肥盆地碎屑石榴石组成及其对源区恢复和地层对比的意义

合肥盆地侏罗系碎屑成因石榴石的化学组成是相当复杂的．镁铝榴石组分含量范围０～４３％;钙铝榴石组分含量范围从小于１％到５０％;铁铝榴石组分含量２％－９２％;锰铝榴石组分含量为０～８８％．部分相对富镁铝榴石组分的石榴石有可能来源于大别造山带高压－超高压的变质岩．由于现今大别山变质岩（包括佛子岭群绿片岩）的石榴石中锰铝榴石成分含量较低（小于３０％）,它们不可能是合肥盆地保罗系富锰铝榴石成分碎屑石榴石的物源．合肥盆地保罗系沉积岩中石榴石的组成具有一定的时－空展布特征,它们可用于沉积盆地充填序列和地层对比的分析．     

造山带岩石层多向层架构造及其对新生代岩浆活动制约──以三江及邻区为例

综合滇川西部特提斯带现今地表构造格局、地壳和上地幔三维速度图像再解释,提出造山带各圈层间,上地壳、中下地壳、岩石层地幔、软流层地幔的构造是一种多向层架构造,上地壳与中下地壳间是一个区域性构造滑脱面．岩石层地幔是一个不易变形的刚性体,常保留老的构造框架．软流层表现为易变层,是变形启动区,反映 “新”构造．研究区陆内新生代岩浆活动的空间分布,主要受扬子地块西缘存在的近南北向－北北东向软流层上涌体及其热熔体上侵地壳底部所形成的壳幔混合层和区域性构造（包括断裂）交叉转折（转换）部位的制约．     

攀西古裂谷的地震成像研究──壳幔构造特征及其演化推断

攀西地区的地震层析成像揭示出该区典型的大陆古裂谷结构特征,其表现为：（ｉ）沿裂谷短轴方向地壳不同深度处存在高、低速异常相间的似层状条带,呈三明治结构．高、低速异常区的分布与裂谷区基底岩性有关．（ｉｉ）下地壳底部－上地幔顶部存在一速度值为 ７．１－７．５和 ７．８ ｋｍ／ｓ的附加层,其厚度约为 ２０ ｋｍ,研究表明它源于幔源物质的侵入．（ｉｉｉ）古裂谷轴部的华坪至会东一带１１０－１６０ｋｍ深度处呈现显著的高速透镜体,被周围的相对低速物质所围限,这是在古裂谷带岩石层地幔中首次被发现．综合地质学、岩石学和地球化学的研究成果推断,在轴部存在壳－幔间的附加层和上地幔高速透镜体的形成与裂谷的发生、发展和消亡的深部动力学过程有关．     

新疆额尔齐斯金矿带的成矿作用及其与中亚型造山作用的关系

额尔齐斯金矿带在泥盆纪－早石炭世处于沟弧盆体系之喀拉通克岩浆弧与克兰弧后盆地的交界处,前人因此套用活动大陆边缘的成岩成矿模式研究和解释额尔齐斯构造带的金矿形成与分布．但是,大量同位素测年和地质研究均表明成矿事件明显晚于洋壳俯冲体制,而发生于晚石炭－早二叠世的碰撞造山过程中,尤其是挤压－伸展转变期．通过分析典型金矿床的成矿时代、构造背景、矿床地质、成矿流体性质和成矿物质来源等,确证它们与碰撞造山体制的矿床特征一致,成矿物质主要来自矿区南侧地层或地体,因此运用碰撞造山成矿模式重新解释了金矿带的形成,指出了找矿方向．     

Secular variations ing 1 0 component of geomagnetic field and its origin

The secular variations (SV) ing ₁ ⁰ of geomagnetic field, caused by the interaction between the geomagnetic field and the radial fluid-flow of the outer-core, are discussed with both statistical and analytic methods. When the value ofg ₁ ⁰ s ₂ ⁰ is relatively high compared with other terms, SV ing ₁ ⁰ is characterized by exponential change. When the effect of non-dipole field is notable, SV ing ₁ ⁰ shows complex features. Especially when the value of g ₁ ⁰ is close to zero, SV ing ₁ ⁰ is completely determined by the random process of non-dipole fields. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 49429405) and by the Chinese Academy of Sciences.     

Ar/Ar and C geochronology of the Albano maar deposits: Implications for defining the age and eruptive style of the most recent explosive activity at Colli Albani Volcanic District,Central Italy

New ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar and ¹⁴C ages have been found for the Albano multiple maar pyroclastic units and underlying paleosols to document the most recent explosive activity in the Colli Albani Volcanic District (CAVD) near Rome, Italy, consisting of seven eruptions (Albano 1 = oldest). Both dating methodologies have been applied on several proximal units and on four mid-distal fall/surge deposits, the latter correlated, according to two current different views, to either the Albano or the Campi di Annibale hydromagmatic center. The ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages on leucite phenocrysts from the mid-distal units yielded ages of ca. 72 ka, 73 ka, 41 ka and 36 ka BP, which are indistinguishable from the previously determined ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages of the proximal Albano units 1, 2, 5 and 7, thus confirming their stratigraphic correspondence.     

Temporal and spatial variations of <Emphasis Type="Italic">δ</Emphasis><Superscript>15</Superscript>N and <Emphasis Type="Italic">δ</Emphasis><Superscript>18</Superscript>O for atmospheric N<Subscript>2</Subscript>O above the oceanic surface from Shanghai to Antarctica

During the 22nd Chinese Antarctic Research Expedition (CHINARE-22), the atmospheric gas samples above the oceanic surface and near the surface were collected on the track for the scientific ship “Xuelong” and on Millor Peninsula of eastern Antarctica, respectively, using the Tedlar gas bags. Every day the sampling times were 10:00 and 22:00 (local time), respectively. In the laboratory, high-precision measurement of the isotopic compositions for N₂O in these gas samples was conducted using Thermo Finnigan MAT-253 Isotopic Mass Spectrometer with a fully automated interface for the pre-GC concentration (PreCon) of trace gases. The temporal and spatial variations of δ ¹⁵N and δ ¹⁸O in atmospheric N₂O were analyzed. The mean δ ¹⁵N and δ ¹⁸O-N₂O values above the oceanic surface were (7.21±0.50)‰ and (44.52±0.52)‰, respectively. From 30°N to Antarctica, the δ ¹⁵N (6.05‰–7.88‰) linearly increased with the rate of about 0.01‰ with the latitude while the δ ¹⁸O (43.05‰–48.78‰) showed a large fluctuation. The δ ¹⁵N negatively correlated with air temperature and N₂O concentration, and slightly positively correlated with δ ¹⁸O. The summertime variations of δ ¹⁵N and δ ¹⁸O-N₂O appeared the same trend on Millor Peninsula of eastern Antarctica. They significantly positively correlated with each other and negatively with N₂O concentration. The δ ¹⁵N and δ ¹⁸O-N₂O at different sites averaged (7.42±0.35)‰ and (44.69±0.49)‰, respectively, slightly higher than those above the oceanic surface, significantly higher than those of atmospheric N₂O in the low-latitude regions of Northern Hemisphere. The predominant factors affecting the spatial variations of δ ¹⁵N and δ ¹⁸O values were also discussed. The isotopic data given in this study can help to investigate the global and regional N₂O budgets. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 40676005 and 40406001)     

Quantitative assessment of dissolved radiotracers in the English Channel: Sources, average impact of la Hague reprocessing plant and conservative behaviour (1983, 1986, 1988, 1994)

Knowledge of long-term movements of water-masses in the English Channel has been substantially improved using hydrodynamic modelling coupled with radio-tracers studies; nevertheless, the precision of results so obtained is still largely dependent on measurement precision. New tools are now available to make more accurate determinations of radio-tracer distribution: (1) Repositioning of station locations at the same tide reference-time, giving a homogeneous spatial data set, coupled with the possibility of interpolating and quantifying the amounts of dissolved radioactivity flowing through the English Channel; (2) the first measurements of tritium (³H) in seawater on a large scale in the English Channel demonstrate that this fully conservative radionuclide is a clearly identifiable marker of industrial releases; (3) recent campaigns carried out during the FLUXMANCHE II CCE (1994) programme show the general distribution of dissolved radionuclides ¹³⁷Cs, ¹³⁴Cs, ⁶⁰Co, ¹²⁵Sb, ¹⁰⁶Ru and ³H in the English Channel and the Irish Sea; and (4) the re-utilisation of data from previous campaigns (1983, 1986, 1988) provides indications, at any given location in the English Channel, about the average dilution and distribution of releases derived from the La Hague reprocessing plant. Excesses and losses of radionuclides are now quantified with respect to known source terms; estimates of losses are provided for non-conservative radionuclides, while an excess of ¹³⁷Cs was observed in the English Channel during the period 1983–1994. This excess, which has the same order of magnitude as the quantities released from La Hague plant in the English Channel, could be explained by about 1% of the Sellafield reprocessing plant releases entering the Channel. These results confirm and give a more detailed picture of the previously known distribution of water masses in the English Channel. They lead to clear information about transit times and dilution at this scale, and provide directly comparable data for the validation of hydrodynamic models.     

Use of mode-converted waves in marine seismic data to investigate the lithology of the sub-bottom sediments in Isfjorden,Svalbard

The compression wavefield is efficiently converted to shear-wave energy at post-critical angles in areas of high impedance contrast at the sea floor. We have analysed mode-converted shear waves in a data set acquired with a hybrid marine/land geometry in Isfjorden, Svalbard. Through a kinematic 2D ray-tracing modellingV _p/V_s ratios for part of the uppermost 5km of the crust are obtained. Low values (V _p /V _s =1.65) are tentatively associated with the section of Devonian sandstones which appears to attain a minimum thickness of 1.5km below 3 km depth about 10km west of Kapp Thorden.     

Matuyama-Brunhes reversal and Kamikatsura event on Maui: paleomagnetic directions, Ar/Ar ages and implications

Eighty-nine basaltic lava flows from the northwest wall of Haleakala caldera preserve a concatenated paleomagnetic record of portions of the Matuyama-Brunhes (M-B) reversal and the preceding Kamikatsura event as well as secular variation of the full-polarity reversed and normal geomagnetic field. They provide the most detailed volcanic record to date of the M-B transition. The 24 flows in the transition zone show for the first time transitional virtual geomagnetic poles (VGPs) that move from reverse to normal along the Americas, concluding with an oscillation in the Pacific Ocean to a cluster of VGPs east of New Zealand and back finally to stable polarity in the north polar region. All but one of the 16 Kamikatsura VGPs cluster in central South America. The full-polarity flows, with ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages spanning a total of 680 kyr, pass a reversal test and give an average VGP insignificantly different from the rotation axis, with standard deviation consistent with that for other 0-5 Ma lava flows of similar latitude. Precise ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating consisting of 31 incremental heating experiments on 12 transitional flows yields weighted mean ages of 775.6±1.9 and 900.3±4.7 ka for the M-B and Kamikatsura transitional flows, respectively. This Matuyama-Brunhes age is ∼16 kyr younger than ages for M-B flows from the Canary Islands, Tahiti and Chile that were dated using exactly the same techniques and standards, suggesting that this polarity transition may have taken considerably longer to complete and been more complex than is generally believed for reversals.     

Modern (<100 years) sedimentation in the Taiwan Strait: Rates and source-to-sink pathways elucidated from radionuclides and particle size distribution

A large number of sediment cores collected during 2005-2010 from the Taiwan Strait were analyzed for radionuclides (²¹⁰Pb, ¹³⁷Cs and ⁷Be) to elucidate sedimentation dynamics in this all-important gateway linking two largest marginal seas in the western Pacific (namely, the South China Sea and the East China Sea). Apparent sediment accumulation rates derived from ²¹⁰Pb and ¹³⁷Cs profiles vary from <0.1 to >2 cm/yr, averaging ∼0.4 cm/yr and showing a spatial pattern closely related to hydrodynamics and sediment source-to-sink pathways. Spatial-temporal variation of ⁷Be activity in surface sediments off Taiwan’s west coast indicates episodic deposition of flood layers and their mobility from river estuaries toward the north. In conjunction with particle size distribution in surface sediments and the structure of sediment strata revealed by sub-bottom echo images; the radionuclide data can be used to outline three different sediment source-to-sink dispersal systems. Based on sediment loads of surrounding rivers and the distribution of sediment accumulation rates, lateral transport is required to account for the budget and size distribution of sediments in the strait.     

Refinement of the late Quaternary geologic history of Erebus volcano,Antarctica using Ar/Ar and Cl age determinations

Six new ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar and three cosmogenic ³⁶Cl age determinations provide new insight into the late Quaternary eruptive history of Erebus volcano. Anorthoclase from 3 lava flows on the caldera rim have ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages of 23 ± 12, 81 ± 3 and 172 ± 10 ka (all uncertainties 2σ). The ages confirm the presence of a second, younger, superimposed caldera near the southwestern margin of the summit plateau and show that eruptive activity has occurred in the summit region for 77 ± 13 ka longer than previously thought. Trachyte from “Ice Station” on the eastern flank is 159 ± 2 ka, similar in age to those at Bomb Peak and Aurora Cliffs. The widespread occurrences of trachyte on the eastern flank of Erebus suggest a major previously unrecognized episode of trachytic volcanism. The trachyte lavas are chemically and isotopically distinct from alkaline lavas erupted contemporaneously in the summit region < 5 km away.     

First Ar/Ar age of the Ceprano man (central Italy)

The Ceprano calvarium, found in 1994 in Italy and attributed to Homo cepranensis, is one of the most celebrated hominin remains of Europe. It was considered at least 700 ka-old until a recent investigation incorporating magnetostratigraphy and K-Ar ages from the literature assigned to the calvarium an age of ∼450 (+50, −100) ka. Here we pin down the age of the Ceprano calvarium to 353 ± 4 ka (±1σ external) by means of new ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating on K-feldspars retrieved from the sediments that hosted the skull. In absence of evidence of reworking, this refined age sinks the conviction that H. cepranensis belonged to human evolution at the Brunhes–Matuyama boundary (c.a. 781 ka). Our refined age indicates that H. cepranensis lived in central Italy probably during the cold period of marine isotope stage (MIS) 10, and that despite his archaic morphology and lack of Neanderthal traits, he was contemporaneous with more advanced species such as H. heidelbergensis.     

表生明矾石族矿物40Ar/39Ar年代学概述

近年来,激光40Ar/39Ar法成功测定了硫化物矿床氧化带中表生明矾石族矿物(明矾石和黄钾铁矾)的年龄,表明这类矿物适用于 40Ar/39Ar法定年。激光熔样方法引入40Ar/39Ar定年,不仅减少了样品的用量,同时也降低了系统的空白本底水平; 利用阶段加热法得到的年龄谱图,不仅可以有效识别原生矿物的混染和多世代矿物的存在,还可以检测样品中的过剩、继承Ar。虽然风化矿物定年还存在一些潜在的问题,但是只要有科学的采样和合理的分析流程,并结合其他检测手段,就可以获得有意义的风化年龄。这为研究新生代以来化学风化、氧化带形成时间和古气候提供了新的方法。