The environmental significance of ventifacts: A critical review

Ventifacts (wind-abraded clasts or rock surfaces) are common features of many terrestrial hot and cold deserts, coastal, periglacial and mountain environments, as well as on Mars, and have a long history of investigation. This review paper discusses some of the main themes in terrestrial ventifact research including their formation and geomorphic controls. The varied morphological forms of ventifacts in terrestrial environments, and their environmental significance as indicators of past and present wind direction and sediment mobility, are critically evaluated. Future research directions are identified.     

A review on the statistical significance of VAN predictions

A Special Issue (Geophys. Res. Lett. 23, 1996) was focused on the question whether the VAN predictions outperform random chance. The majority of the participants of this Debate was selected to be critics against VAN, but Varotsos and co-workers accepted to participate and responded to the critical comments. VAN critics, including Geller (1996), share the same “requirements”, which decrease the success rate by 50% and the alarm rate by a factor 4–5. Furthermore, these “requirements”, when applied to an ideally perfect earthquake prediction method (which successfully predicts all earthquakes above a certain threshold, and does not issue any false alarm), lead to the following paradoxes: (a) the success rate is below 100%, (b) the alarm rate is 23% only, and (c) the ideal precursors are “postseismic” signals. Recent statistical treatments by Hamada (1996) and by Aceves et al. (1996) coincide to the conclusion that VAN predictions cannot be ascribed to chance.     

Tectonic significance of Th/U ratios from Archean basalts

Observed Th/U ratios from Archean basalts have been altered by metamorphism and/or recent weathering. Experimental leaching of Th and U from these basalts suggests that great care is necessary in using directly observed ratios for any petrogenetic models. Calculated Th/U ratios (based on Pb isotopic composition) when used with an index oxide (SiO₂) may reveal the depth of formation of these basalts.     

A pollen atlas

Book reviewed in this article:
Delcourt, Paul A., Delcourt, Hazel R. & Webb, Thompson 1984: Atlas of Mapped Distributions of Dominance and Modern Pollen Percentages for Important Tree Taxa of Eastern North America     

Influence of sedimentary environments on sulfur isotope ratios in clastic rocks: a review

Strata-bound sulfide deposits associated with clastic, marine sedimentary rocks, and not associated with volcanic rocks, display distributions of S³⁴ values gradational between two extreme types: 1. a flat distribution ranging from S³⁴ of seawater sulfate to values about 25 lower; and 2. a narrow distribution around value S³⁴ (sulfide)=S³⁴ (seawater sulfate) –50, and skewed to heavier values. S³⁴ (seawater sulfate) is estimated from contemporaneous evaporites. There is a systematic relation between the type of S³⁴ distribution and the type of depositional environment. Type 1 occurs in shallow marine or brackish-water environments; type 2 occurs characteristically in deep, euxinic basins. These distributions can be accounted for by a model involving bacterial reduction of seawater sulfate in systems which range from fully-closed batches of sulfate (type 1) to fully open systems in which fresh sulfate is introduced as reduction proceeds (type 2). The difference in the characteristic distributions requires that the magnitude of the sulfate-sulfide kinetic isotope effect on reduction be different in the two cases. This difference has already been suggested by the conflict between S³⁴ data for modern marine sediments and laboratory experiments. The difference in isotope effects can be accounted for by Rees' (1973) model of steady-state sulfate reduction: low nutrient supply and undisturbed, stationary bacterial populations in the open system settings tend to generate larger fractionations.

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Zusammenfassung Schichtgebundene Sulfid-Lagerstätten in Begleitung von klastischen, marinen Sedimentgesteinen ohne Beteiligung vulkanischer Gesteine zeigen kontinuierliche Verteilungen der S³⁴-Werte zwischen zwei Extremtypen: 1. Eine flache Verteilung im Bereich von S³⁴-Werten des Seewasser-Sulfats bis zu Werten, die etwa 25 niedriger liegen. 2. Eine eng begrenzte Verteilung um den S³⁴ (Sulfid)-Wert=S³⁴ (Seewasser-Sulfat) –50 und asymmetrischer Verteilungskurve mit stärkerer Besetzung bei den schwereren Werten. Das S³⁴ (Seewasser-Sulfat) wird von gleichaltrigen Evaporiten abgeleitet. Es besteht eine systematische Beziehung zwischen der Art der S³⁴-Verteilung und dem Milieu des Ablagerungsraumes. Typ 1 tritt im marinen Flachwasser oder in brackischer Umgebung auf. Typ 2 ist charakteristisch für tiefe euxinische Becken. Diese Verteilungen können erklärt werden mit Hilfe eines Modells mit bakterieller Reduktion von Meerwasser-Sulfat in Systemen, die von völlig abgeschlossenen Sulfat-Mengen (Typ 1) bis zu völlig offenen Systemen reichen, in die bei fortschreitender Reduktion frisches Sulfat zugeführt wird (Typ 2). Der Unterschied in den charakteristischen Verteilungen setzt voraus, daß die Stärke der kinetischen Sulfat-Sulfid-Isotopen-Wirkung auf die Reduktion in beiden Fällen verschieden ist. Dieser Unterschied wurde bereits wegen der Widersprüche zwischen den verschiedenen S³⁴-Werten heutiger mariner Sedimente und Laborexperimente vermutet. Der Unterschied in der Isotopen-Wirkung kann durch das Modell von Rees (1973) für kontinuierlich ablaufende Sulfat-Reduktion erklärt werden. Geringes Nahrungsangebot und ungestörte, gleichbleibende Bakterien-Populationen in offenen Systemen neigen zur Erzeugung stärkerer Fraktionierungen.

     

Palaeohydrological significance of late Quaternary strontium isotope ratios in a tropical lake

Ostracods preserved in late Quaternary sediments of Wallywash Great Pond, a fresh coastal lake in SW Jamaica, record temporal variations in the strontium-isotope composition of lake water. Oxygen-isotope and Sr/Ca ratios in ostracods reveal temporal variations in the lake's hydrology, related to effective precipitation, and in its salinity related to varying marine-saline groundwater input from changes in relative sea level. Evaluation of isotopic and trace-element data indicates that the stratigraphic variations in ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios during the late Quaternary are best explained by climatically-controlled hydrological changes. During wetter periods, the lake's Sr budget was dominated by springwater input with relatively low ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio, whereas during drier times reduced springflow, possibly coupled with input of more-radiogenic Sr from other sources, such as sea-spray aerosols and perhaps Saharan dust, led to an increase in the Sr-isotope ratio of the lake water. Despite proximity of the lake to the sea and evidence for slight intrusion of marine saline groundwater in the past, however, the extent of marine input appears to have had limited influence on the lake's Sr-isotope ratios. Whereas the ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios cannot be used as a palaeosalinity proxy in this particular lake, they do provide valuable information about the mechanisms underlying hydrological change.     

基于连通性恢复的潜流带生态修复研究进展

潜流带是流域生态修复的关键区域之一, 潜流带修复的根本目标是恢复水系间的能量流通、物质传递和信息流动, 即恢复潜流带的连通性。对于潜流带连通性恢复而言, 应统筹考虑水文连通性、生态连通性和功能连通性等多层次的内容。潜流带生态修复相关研究主要基于流体动力学、地质学和生态学等基础理论, 剖析潜流驱动的生物地球化学耦合机制, 研发可促进潜流交换和恢复生物多样性的生态修复技术, 实现潜流带水文条件的改善与生物物种的恢复, 进而达到潜流带生态系统结构和功能综合性修复的目的。本文从潜流带水文连通性、生态连通性和功能连通性等多层次出发, 从潜流带流体动力学性能、介质性能、生物群落组成、食物网结构及环境生态功能等方面, 综述基于生态修复目标的潜流带连通性恢复理论与技术进展, 以实现潜流带生态系统整体稳定性的提升。在未来潜流带生态修复理论与应用研究中, 需发挥多学科交叉的优势, 耦合多组学方法对潜流带生态过程进行微观探索, 系统探究时间和空间尺度上潜流带生态修复过程的演替规律, 进一步构建多因素作用下的潜流带生态修复框架体系。     

A guide to pollen analysis

P. D. Moore & J. A. Webb: An Illustrated Guide to Pollen Analysis , Hodder & Stoughton, London-Sydney-Auckland-Toronto.     

常见稀有气体采样容器研究进展及意义

稀有气体是地学研究的重要手段之一,在研究成矿流体来源、壳幔相互作用过程中具有重要的研究意义,其组成及同位素比值是研究天体和地质体来源、成岩机理及各种地质和物理化学过程的关键,可作为地球化学示踪剂。如何有效地在大气圈、水圈和岩石圈进行稀有气体同位素样品的提取,是气体同位素研究急需解决的基础科学问题,所以气体采样容器和取样技术显得尤为重要。本文在文献调研的基础上,对常见的采样容器的优缺点进行对比,并总结了不同采样容器对稀有气体取样的优劣性。常见的气体采集容器包括不锈钢瓶、铜管、玻璃瓶、气体采样袋、注射器等,而稀有气体的采集容器常为不锈钢瓶和铜管等;通过对比表明不锈钢瓶具有耐高温、耐高压、抗强腐蚀、不易燃、不易爆等特点和优越性,在气体样品采集和运输过程中稳定性最好,实验效果也最好;铜管采样效果和密封性好,但操作较为复杂;玻璃采样容器效果次之;石英玻璃瓶虽然操作简便,但是运输保存不便;气体采样袋和注射器的采集和运输储存效果较差。因此建议稀有气体样品采集使用不锈钢瓶和铜管以及钠钙材质的玻璃瓶,不建议将石英材质玻璃容器以及注射器和气袋作为稀有气体的采样工具。该工作可为气体地球化学的研究提供新的参考。     

Floorspace to worker ratios in shopping centres: A note

The characteristics of employment within the retailing sector are still poorly understood. This short paper expands on a previously presented study of Canberra (Geoforum10, 407–425) by reporting on the systematic variation between the ratio of floorspace to employees and type of shopping centre, and the different relationships between floorspace per worker and size of store by type of shopping centre. The planning implications in terms of employment provision are briefly discussed.     

A Correction Approach to the Common Pb Contribution to ^207Pb／^206Pb Ratios Obtained by the Zircon Evaporation Technique

An approach is recommended for the correction of common Pb contribution to ^207Pb/^206Pb ages obtained by the zircon evaporation technique.A comparison with that by Cocherie et al.(1992)shows that two approaches yield similar results in the ^207Pb*/^206Pb* ratios.But when using the new approach,only two errors of the measured ^204Pb/^206Pb and ^207Pb/^207Pb ratios are introduced to the calculated ^207Pb^*/^206Pb^* ratios.     

Economic significance of colonial invasions in Khejuri-Hijli coastal sector of Purba Medinipur district,West Bengal: A geographical review

Khejuri- Hijili coastal area, now extends over the Khejuri police station, is situated in the southeastern part of the district of Purba Medinipur of West Bengal, on the western bank of the Hugli river. Between 21°47'42"N-22°4'N latitudes and 87°45'4"E-88°18"E longitudes the area covers about 267.97 sq. km. At the confluence of the rivers Bhagirathi-Hugli and the Bay of Bengal, Hijili emerged as an island from the estuarine surroundings around 1400-1500 A.D. afterward the island became covered with natural mangroves. Gradually it became the abode of fishermen. To gather some primary data, household survey by different questionnaire, topographic survey was done. Secondary data are mainly produced by assembling historical charts, maps, literatures for the specified work of the area concerned. Historical records including documents, survey notes, maps and photographs provided valuable information about the study area. Remains of early structures, monuments, and office buildings have been vigilantly watched and written reports and research articles have been carefully studied for sequencing the socio-economic history of the area. Later on accuracy assessment was performed by comparing two sources of information: classification of map derived from old records and maps and the ground truth information. The output obtained by performing the above steps includes land use and other maps and charts. These outputs were then analyzed to detect the historical significance of Khejuri-Hijili sector of the Hugli estuary and its sequential deterioration. These changes in the study area that were identified from classified maps, charts and diagram were tabulated.     

水库调度的新阶段——生态调度

现行水库调度方式以防洪调度与兴利调度为主,从保护河流生态系统的观点看,没有涉及生态因素,调度应兼顾河流生态系统需求.分析了生态调度的内涵,介绍了国内外大型水利工程生态调度的进展情况,分析了生态调度包含的内容.在此基础上,提出了生态调度的专项调度:生态需水量调度、生态洪水调度、泥沙调度、水质调度、其他生态因子调度和涉及几个专项的综合调度.     

A review of the relationship of rock weathering and climate and its significance to foundation engineering

This paper is a preliminary review of the large field embraced by climate and engineering aspects of the weathering of rock.

Factors affecting weathering and the development of residual soils in general and their relationship to the engineering classifications of weathered materials are briefly discussed. The development of residual soils within four principal climatic zones of the world: periglacial, temperate, arid and humid tropical, is examined in more detail. The engineering behaviour of the residual soils in these zones is reviewed and compared, firstly by considering the engineering properties of the various soils and secondly by their performance as foundation material. The results of the review are summarised in the form of tables and figures.

It is concluded from the work that generalized knowledge of climate and engineering behaviour of weathering rock and residual soils is helpful in the planning of engineering projects and in the economic design of site investigations, but it is emphasised each site must be investigated on its own merits.     

A review of sandstone illite cements and aspects of their significance to hydrocarbon exploration and development

Current understanding of the origin of illite cements within the pore systems of sandstone reservoirs is at best speculative whilst knowledge of the control of illite morpholoy is, to all practical purposes, non-existent. This is unfortunate considering the widespread occurrence of illite and the often disastrous decrease in reservoir performance associated with its presence (up to 200-fold decreases in permeability have been recorded from aeolian sandstones of the U.K. southern North Sea for example). An advanced knowledge of the origin of this clay mineral is thus of considerable importance to the future of the hydrocarbon exploration and production industry. This paper presents an assessment of sandstone illite morphotypes and reviews the mechanisms which have been proposed for their formation.     

徽成盆地东河群孢粉化石的发现及其意义

对甘肃南部徽成盆地东河群进行了孢粉研究，在上部的化垭组首次发现了一些孢粉化石。孢粉组合以Ｃｉｃａｔｒｉｃｏｓｉｓｐｏｒｉｔｅｓ Ｈｓｕｉｓｐｏｒｉｔｅｓ Ｃｌａｓｏｐｏｌｉｓ为代表，蕨类植物孢子占明显优势，以海金砂科、水龙骨科和卷柏科为主；裸子植物花粉以掌鳞杉科最常见，还有松科及麻黄科花粉。经孢粉组合特征和属种地史分布对比分析，认为化垭组的地质时代属早白垩世，可能为早白垩世中期，东河群的上界也为这一时期     

Climatic significance of D/H and13C/12C ratios in Irish oak cellulose

δD and δ¹³C analyses of cellulose nitrate from two modern Irish oak trees that form part of the 7400 year long chronology were carried out, covering a period of 123 years (1861–1983 A.D.) with a 5 year resolution so as to assess the potential of this long chronology for retrieval of palaeoenvironmental data. One of the trees (Q5293) showed significant correlations of δD, δ¹³ C and ring width with mean annual temperatures as recorded at the Armagh weather station nearby and the mean fall temperatures of Central England. The other tree (Q5296) did not exhibit any significant climatic correlations either because it grew utilizing a nearby permanent source of ground water or because the intra-ring isotopic variations in Irish oak are significant enough to mask the climatic signal. Whilst our results have given a positive indication of the usefulness of these trees for palaeoenvironmental information, more trees need to be analysed to confirm our findings. Even though one of the trees did not exhibit climatic correlations, both trees show a significant positive correlation of δ¹³C and a negative correlation of δD with ring width variations. Furthermore, two tree samples that grew during the 1620s B.C., when a volcano is thought to have erupted on the Aegean island of Santorini, show increased δD and decreased δ¹³C for one to two decades following the eruption, though the magnitudes of change seem to vary with site and trees. We have proposed a possible mechanism based on tree phenology to explain both the above effects.