Volcanic Markers of the Post-Subduction Evolution of Baja California and Sonora, Mexico: Slab Tearing Versus Lithospheric Rupture of the Gulf of California

The study of the geochemical compositions and K-Ar or Ar-Ar ages of ca. 350 Neogene and Quaternary lavas from Baja California, the Gulf of California and Sonora allows us to discuss the nature of their mantle or crustal sources, the conditions of their melting and the tectonic regime prevailing during their genesis and emplacement. Nine petrographic/geochemical groups are distinguished: ??regular?? calc-alkaline lavas; adakites; magnesian andesites and related basalts and basaltic andesites; niobium-enriched basalts; alkali basalts and trachybasalts; oceanic (MORB-type) basalts; tholeiitic/transitional basalts and basaltic andesites; peralkaline rhyolites (comendites); and icelandites. We show that the spatial and temporal distribution of these lava types provides constraints on their sources and the geodynamic setting controlling their partial melting. Three successive stages are distinguished. Between 23 and 13 Ma, calc-alkaline lavas linked to the subduction of the Pacific-Farallon plate formed the Comondú and central coast of the Sonora volcanic arc. In the extensional domain of western Sonora, lithospheric mantle-derived tholeiitic to transitional basalts and basaltic andesites were emplaced within the southern extension of the Basin and Range province. The end of the Farallon subduction was marked by the emplacement of much more complex Middle to Late Miocene volcanic associations, between 13 and 7 Ma. Calc-alkaline activity became sporadic and was replaced by unusual post-subduction magma types including adakites, niobium-enriched basalts, magnesian andesites, comendites and icelandites. The spatial and temporal distribution of these lavas is consistent with the development of a slab tear, evolving into a 200-km-wide slab window sub-parallel to the trench, and extending from the Pacific coast of Baja California to coastal Sonora. Tholeiitic, transitional and alkali basalts of subslab origin ascended through this window, and adakites derived from the partial melting of its upper lip, relatively close to the trench. Calc-alkaline lavas, magnesian andesites and niobium-enriched basalts formed from hydrous melting of the supraslab mantle triggered by the uprise of hot Pacific asthenosphere through the window. During the Plio-Quaternary, the ??no-slab?? regime following the sinking of the old part of the Farallon plate within the deep mantle allowed the emplacement of alkali and tholeiitic/transitional basalts of deep asthenospheric origin in Baja California and Sonora. The lithospheric rupture connected with the opening of the Gulf of California generated a high thermal regime associated to asthenospheric uprise and emplaced Quaternary depleted MORB-type tholeiites. This thermal regime also induced partial melting of the thinned lithospheric mantle of the Gulf area, generating calc-alkaline lavas as well as adakites derived from slivers of oceanic crust incorporated within this mantle.     

Comparison between the Chile and Mexico triple junction areas substantiates slab window development beneath northwestern Mexico during the past 12-10 Myr

When combined with the Miocene-Recent volcanic record of Baja California, a parallel drawn between the Chile and Mexico triple junction areas substantiates slab window development beneath northwestern Mexico during the past 12-10 Myr. The slab-free zone manifestations challenge the notion that ridge subduction has not occurred beneath the southern Baja California peninsula. The geochemically distinctive rocks from the Santa Clara volcanic field of west-central Baja California, including coeval adakites and niobium-enriched basalt, are commonly inferred to signal partial melting of the subducting plate at shallow depths and relatively high temperatures, before slab dehydration occurs. Such PT conditions for slab melting have only been observed in association with spreading-ridge subduction. We propose that slab window development beneath southern Baja California and mainland Mexico (30° to 18°N) resulted from subduction of the East Pacific rise.     

Heat flow from eastern Panama and northwestern Colombia

Heat flows were determined at 12 sites in four distinct areas between longitude 77° and 80°W in eastern Panama and northwestern Colombia. Evidently, most of the region is underlain by mafic oceanic crust so that the crustal radiogenic component of heat flow is very small (～ 0.1 μcal cm^?2 sec^?1). Low heat-flow values (～ 0.7 μcal cm^?2 sec^?1) in northwestern Colombia may reflect thermal transients associated with shallow subduction. The normal values (～ 1) at about 78°W are consistent with the mean heat flow from the western Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico. At 80°W, a fairly high value of 1.8 may define the easterly limit of thermal transients due to Cenozoic volcanic activity in Central America.     

Introduction to ‘A tribute to Edward P. Glenn (1947–2017): A legacy of scientific environmental assessment and applications in hydrological processes’

This special issue (SI) ‘A Tribute to Edward P. Glenn (1947-2017): A legacy of Scientific Environmental Assessment and Applications in Hydrological Processes’ is a celebration of the extensive work of Dr. Ed Glenn that was instrumental across multiple sub-disciplines of hydrology. The SI highlights four primary areas of hydrological processes that are cornerstones of Ed Glenn's over four decades of research. These contributions cover the following specialties: (i) Hydrology in the Colorado River Delta; (ii) Riparian ecosystem water use; (iii) Riparian Plant ecophysiology and ecohydrology; and (iv) Methods and models to characterize evapotranspiration. Since Ed was passionate about the dryland delta at the end of the Colorado River, we begin with four research studies that focus on this special region on the U.S.–Mexico border which encompasses four states (Baja and Sonora in Mexico and California and Arizona in United States) as well as tribal communities in the transboundary area. The Colorado River delta reaches the Northern Gulf of California in the Sea of Cortez which has been designated as a UNESCO international biosphere reserve (‘Reserva de la Biosfera El Pinacate y Gran Desierto de Altar’), which includes the Upper Gulf of California and Delta of the Colorado River (‘Reserva de la Biosfera Alto Golfo de California y Delta del Río Colorado’). Ed spent the majority of his last three decades on water balance studies and on ground-based transpiration quantification for validation of satellite and airborne remote sensing methods. We wrap up the special issue with contributions related to improving satellite and airborne remote sensing estimation of actual evapotranspiration. It is our pleasure to summarize the 16 research studies contributed to the special issue to honour Ed Glenn's research interests.     

Heat flow measurements in the southern portion of the Gulf of California

Twenty-five new heat flow measurements made in the Gulf of California are presented. All the values except two at the mouth of the Gulf and two in the Sal si Puedes basin are high. The values ranged from 2.0 to greater than 10 μcal/cm² sec (82 to > 420 mW/m²) with eight values greater than 5.2 (210 mW/m²). Due to high rates of sedimentation throughout the Gulf, the actual heat flow, in many cases, may be up to 25% greater than that recorded.Most of the heat flow stations are concentrated in the Farallon and Guaymas basins and show a marked increase towards the central deeps, where new crust is believed to be forming. The heat flow values in the Farallon basin show a sharp peak 10–15 km southeast of the central depression while those in the Guaymas basin peak in the depression.The heat flow profiles across the Guaymas and Farallon basins are remarkably similar to those observed on other well sedimented spreading centers such as the northern portion of the Explorer trough. Thus they may provide evidence that the crust is being created by an axially symmetric intrusion process with a major loss of heat due to hydrothermal circulation. The absence of magnetic anomalies in the Gulf has been attributed to the supposed presence of large grains in the intruded basalt. Large grains form by the slow cooling of the basalt under a layer of sediment. Prominent magnetic anomalies have been observed on the northern portion of the Explorer trough. Observational data suggest that the thermal processes at this ridge axis and the center of the Farallon basin are identical. We suggest that further careful study is needed in the Gulf before the slow cooling model is accepted as an explanation for the attenuation of the magnetic anomalies.     

Location of Moderate-Sized Earthquakes Recorded by the NARS�CBaja Array in the Gulf of California Region Between 2002 and 2006

We relocated the hypocentral coordinates of small to moderate-sized earthquakes reported by the National Earthquake Information Center (NEIC) between April 2002 and August 2006 in the Gulf of California region and recorded by the broadband stations of the network of autonomously recording seismographs (NARS?CBaja array). The NARS?CBaja array consists of 19 stations installed in the Baja California peninsula, Sonora and Sinaloa, Mexico. The events reported by the preliminary determinations of epicenters (PDE) catalog within the period of interest have moment magnitudes (M _w) ranging between 1.1 and 6.7. We estimated the hypocentral location of these events using P and S wave arrivals recorded by the regional broadband stations of the NARS?CBaja and the RESBAN (Red Sismológica de Banda Ancha) arrays and using a standard location procedure with the HYPOCENTER code (Lienert and Havskov in Seism Res Lett 66:26?C36, 1995) as a preliminary step. To refine the location of the initial hypocenters, we used the shrinking box source-specific station term method of Lin and Shearer (J Geophys Res 110, B04304, 2005). We found that most of the seismicity is distributed in the NW?CSE direction along the axis of the Gulf of California, following a linear trend that, from north to south, steps southward near the main basins (Wagner, Delfin, Guaymas, Carmen, Farallon, Pescadero and Alarcon) and spreading centers. We compared the epicentral locations reported in the PDE with the locations obtained using regional arrival times, and we found that earthquakes with magnitudes in the range 3.2?C5.0?mb differ on the average by as much as 43?km. For the M _w magnitude range between 5 and 6.7 the discrepancy is less, differing on the average by about 25?km. We found that the relocated epicenters correlate well with the main bathymetric features of the Gulf.     

Temperature and heat wave trends in northwest Mexico

Increase in temperature extremes is one of the main expected impacts of climate change, as well as one of the first signs of its occurrence. Nevertheless, results emerging from General Circulation Models, while sufficient for large scales, are not enough for forecasting local trends and, hence, the IPCC has called for local studies based on on-site data. Indeed, it is expected that climate extremes will be detected much earlier than changes in climate averages. Heat waves are among the most important and least studied climate extremes, however its occurrence has been only barely studied and even its very definition remains controversial. This paper discusses the observed changes in temperature trends and heat waves in Northwestern Mexico, one of the most vulnerable regions of the country. The climate records in two locations of the region are analyzed, including one of the cities with extreme climate in Mexico, Mexicali City in the state of Baja California and the Yaqui River basin at Sonora State using three different methodologies. Results showed clear trends on temperature increase and occurrence of heat waves in both of the study zones using the three methodologies proposed. As result, some policy making suggestion are included in order to increase the adaptability of the studied regions to climate change, particularly related with heat wave occurrence.     

Upwelling-enhanced seasonal stratification in a semiarid bay

The role of wind-driven upwelling in stratifying a semiarid bay in the Gulf of California is demonstrated with observations in Bahía Concepción, Baja California Sur, Mexico. The stratification in Bahía Concepción is related to the seasonal heat transfer from the atmosphere as well as to cold water intrusions forced by wind-driven upwelling. During winter, the water column is relatively well-mixed by atmospheric cooling and by northwesterly, downwelling-favorable, winds that typically exceed 10 m/s. During summer, the water column is gradually heated and becomes stratified because of the heat flux from the atmosphere. The wind field shifts from downwelling-favorable to upwelling-favorable at the beginning of summer, i.e., the winds become predominantly southeasterly. The reversal of wind direction triggers a major cold water intrusion at the beginning of the summer season that drops the temperature of the entire water column by 3–5 °C. The persistent upwelling-favorable winds during the summer provide a continuous cold water supply that helps maintain the stratification of the bay.     

Hurricane-induced motions and interaction with ocean currents

Hurricanes produce mixing and flow divergences (and convergences) that alter the upper-ocean heat content (OHC), which in turn affects the storm. Ocean observations under a hurricane are rare, making it difficult to validate forecast models. Past research have mainly focused on OHC-changes by vertical mixing and tacitly assumed that horizontal transports are slowly varying. Moreover, effects of coastal boundaries on ocean responses to hurricanes are generally omitted. This work uses satellite data to detect and verify forecast isopycnal motions under hurricane Wilma (Oct/16–26/2005) in the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. The model is then used to show that Wilma-induced convergences in northwestern Caribbean Sea produce increased Yucatan-Channel transport into the Gulf ahead of the storm, and the Yucatan–Loop Current front diverts most of this heat around the Loop. This response is distinct from that of an ocean without the Loop, for which warming is widespread north of the channel. These intricate ocean responses can impact hurricane predictions.     

南海北部大陆边缘盆地地热特征与油气富集

本文报道了莺歌海盆地、北部湾盆地共148个新测热导率数据,根据收集的钻井温度数据新增计算65个大地热流数据;结合前人研究成果绘制了南海北部大陆边缘沉积盆地的地温梯度图、大地热流分布图;系统归纳了南海北部大陆边缘油气勘探成果.结果表明,南海北部大陆边缘珠江口盆地、琼东南盆地、北部湾盆地、莺歌海盆地的平均热流值分别为68.7±11 mW/m²、71.1±13 mW/m²、65.7±8.9 mW/m²、74.7±10 mW/m²,属于典型的“热盆”.热流区域分布特征总体上受大地构造背景控制,随地壳厚度从北向南,由陆架到陆坡区逐渐减薄而增高,水热活动与岩浆活动等是引起局部高热流异常的原因.盆地地温场的差异控制和约束了油气分布富集规律,从研究区油气勘探成果中可以发现,该区域的气田多发育于高热流盆地（凹陷）,而中-低热流盆地（凹陷）则多孕育油田,油气田具有“北油南气”的分布特征.     

Geothermal observations in east Liaoning and haicheng seismic area

We have obtained altogether heat flux data of 23 drill holes including 2 observational holes of thermal flow in the Haicheng seismic area. These data show roughly thermal structure of the crust in eastern Liaoning and in the Haicheng seismic area. The results indicate that there is higher value of heat flow in the belt north by east from Liaoyang to Xiongyue, the average thermal flux being 8.29× 10⁻²J/m²·s (2.0 hfu). The average thermal fulx in the Haicheng seismic area is 9.22×10²J/m²·s (2.2 hfu). Comparing with other known geophysical data of the Haicheng seismic area, we give a geophysical section of comprehensive interpretation. We suppose the low-velocity layer in the lower crust of the Haicheng seismic area is a result from intrusion of large-scale uper mantle substance. High temperature and low velocity mean that the layer has the nature of plastic mechanics. The focal region of the Haicheng earthquake is situated right in the upper part of that plastic layer. Obviously, this result is significant for studying the seismogenic process of the Haicheng earthquake and other intra-plate earthquakes. We attempt to emphasize that observation of heat flow is necessary for earthquake study. Gu Haoding did the actual writing.     

鄂尔多斯盆地深部热结构特征及其对华北克拉通破坏的启示

基于二维稳态热传导方程,利用有限元数值模拟方法,选取东西向横穿鄂尔多斯盆地地质与地球物理解释大剖面进行了深部温度场数值模拟研究,得到了华北克拉通西部的鄂尔多斯盆地下伏岩石圈热结构特征.地幔热流变化范围:21.2~24.5mW·m-2,体现为东高西低特征.壳幔热流比(Qc/Qm)介于1.51~1.84之间,为"热壳冷幔".与华北东部地幔热流对比表明,西部的鄂尔多斯盆地相对处于稳定的深部动力学环境.在岩石圈热结构研究基础上,对克拉通地震岩石圈与热岩石圈厚度差异进行了对比,研究表明:鄂尔多斯盆地西部地震岩石圈与热岩石圈厚度差异约达140km,而东部的汾渭地堑,渤海湾盆地二者差异逐渐减小.华北克拉通自西向东,地震岩石圈厚度与热岩石圈厚度差异不断减小,意味着华北克拉通岩石圈下部的软流圈地幔黏性系数自西向东逐渐降低,本文从地热学角度可能印证了太平洋俯冲脱水作用对华北克拉通的影响.     

Water column anomalies associated with hydrothermal activity in the Guaymas Basin,Gulf of California

Sea floor hydrothermal activity in the Guaymas Basin, Gulf of California, is quite different from that associated with ridge crest spreading centers. Injection of hydrothermal fluids occurs in the bottom of a semi-enclosed basin and water column anomalies produced by this activity increase to much higher values than in the open ocean. In the Guaymas Basin the hydrothermal venting generates large clouds of fine suspended particulate matter (SPM) 100–300 m above active mounds and chimneys. These hydrothermal clouds have potential temperature anomalies of about 0.010–0.020°C, are enriched in dissolved silica, particulate manganese, and depleted in dissolved oxygen relative to areas away from the vents. The particulate manganese values increase from about 3 nmol/kg at ～ 1000 m, well above the enclosing topography of the subsill basin, to 100–150 nmol/kg in the clouds of SPM and in the bottom nepheloid layer. The particulate Mn in the hydrothermal clouds appears to originate from both direct precipitation of dissolved Mn²⁺ injected by the vents and entrainment of Mn-rich SPM in the rising hydrothermal plumes. Injection of silica-rich vent fluids into the basin bottom waters produces a silica anomaly of 10–15 μmol relative to the other deep basins of the Gulf of California. Spillover of Guaymas Basin deep water produces a silica plume just above the basin sill depth which is detectable to the mouth of the Gulf. A simple two-endmember mixing model indicates that the deep waters of the Guaymas Basin contain approximately 0.1% hydrothermal fluid. Oxygen anomalies associated with the hydrothermal clouds are on the order of 5 μmol relative to regions away from active vents. The basin as a whole shows a depletion in oxygen of about 13 μmol relative to the other deep basins of the Gulf. The mixing model shows that this oxygen consumption can be explained by the oxidation of dissolved sulfide and methane injected by the hydrothermal vents. Box models of the deep basins of the southern Gulf of California indicate that the Guaymas Basin has a significantly higher source term for dissolved silica and sink term for dissolved oxygen than the other basins. The calculated flux of hydrothermal fluids into the Guaymas Basin is 10–12 m³/s.     

Seasonal and interannual thermohaline variability in the Guaymas Basin of the Gulf of California

Temperature and salinity data for the years 1939–1983 are used to investigate seasonal and interannual scales of the hydrographic variability across the Guaymas Basin, which is located between 27° and 28°N in the Central Gulf of California. Winter conditions extend from December to April and summer conditions from June to October, with transition periods in May and November. Sea surface temperature increases from about 16°C in February–March to 31°C in August. No clear seasonal cycle in surface salinity was found. Typical values are above 35.1‰ even in winter, and up to 35.5‰ in November.Relatively cold and low salinity near-surface waters observed in June 1957 and in June 1982, suggest advection of California Current Water to the Guaymas Basin. Subtropical Subsurface Water may occur around the year, but is obscured by vertical mixing with Gulf Water mainly during winter, when vertical stratification is weaker. The Intermediate and Deep Pacific Water masses successively fill the Guaymas Basin to the bottom (2000 m), showing very stable T-S characteristics.Positive sea level anomalies at Guaymas increases during El Nin˜o years, and anomalous low salinity and high temperature at the surface indicate the presence in the Guaymas Basin of water from the south. Observed differences reached 0.4‰ in surface salinity and 3°–5°C in surface temperature. There is evidence that the observed low salinities could not be due to abundant precipitation. An additional effect is a deepening of the winter pycnocline down about 200 m, compared to the usual depth of <100 m. In summer, this effect is not as clear as in winter, due to the strong stratification. The effects of the very strong 1982–1983 and 1957–1958 ENSO episodes may have lasted for one and two years, respectively. It is argued that during an ENSO event the Transition Water of the California Current meet and mix near the Gulf entrance with the Tropical Surface Water of the Costa Rica Coastal Current. This mixed water could have been carried north into the Gulf by local surface circulation. In 1983 it was found at the surface in the Guaymas Basin above the southeastward flow of the colder and saltier Gulf Water.     

中国大陆地区大地热流数据汇编(第四版)

大地热流是表征地球内部热状态的重要参数,也是进行岩石圈热结构、地球动力学研究和区域地热资源潜力评价的必要参数.大地热流的测量和数据汇编是地热学研究的一项重要的基础性工作,目前我国已经分三版公开发表中国大陆地区大地热流数据862个,本文在第三版热流数据汇编的基础上,共计收集整理公开发表的热流数据345个,并在空白区开展了大地热流数据补充性测量,获得大地热流数据23个.本文将2001年以来新增的368个数据及第三版热流数据构建成中国大陆地区大地热流数据汇编(第四版).截止目前已汇编我国大陆地区热流数据1230个,其中A、B、C和D类数据分别占49.3%、34.2%、12.6%和3.9%,较第三版热流数据A类数据比重增加了2.9%.基于现有汇编数据更新了中国大陆地区大地热流测点图并进行了统计分析.相较于第三版汇编数据,热流测量空白区面积已显著减小,热流测点覆盖率低和平面分布不均一的缺陷得到改善,本次汇编填补了西藏阿里、贵州省、广西省以及吉林省的热流测量空白区.新版热流数据统计表明,中国大陆地区(含渤海海域)热流值范围为23~319mW·m~(-2),平均值61.5±13.9mW·m~(-2);除去受地下水活动影响强烈的D类数据,热流值范围30~140mW·m~(-2),平均值60.4±12.3mW·m~(-2).本次大地热流数据汇编结果显示,我国大陆地区热流分布格局总体仍表现为:东高、中低,西南高、西北低.在西太平洋板块俯冲远程效应影响下,中国东部表现为一个高热流带,自东南沿海向东北方向一直延伸到东北地区的松辽盆地、长白山一带;受控于新生代欧亚板块和印度板块碰撞影响,青藏高原高热流区主要集中在雅鲁藏布江缝合带和南北向展布的裂谷带,总体热流值向北逐渐降低,并伴随局部的高热流区,如东北缘的共和盆地;中部地区新生代以来构造活动相对微弱,为中-低热流背景.     

Tectonic modelling in the Bjørnøya West Basin of the Western Barents Sea1

The Bjøirnøya West Basin lies between latitudes 73° and 74°, longitudes 16°E and 18°E, contains at least 8 km of sediments deposited from the Late Jurassic, and is of considerable interest for hydrocarbon exploration. The Cenozoic extensional tectonics in the basin can be clearly seen from seismic data with normal faulting and from subsidence curves with rapid subsidence. The extension occurred during the Late Palaeocene with active extension lasting about 6 million years (m.y.) followed by thermal cooling. The tectonic subsidence within the study area shows a three-phase development: phase 1, synrift (58–52 Ma (million years before the present day)), is characterized by rapid subsidence; phase 2, postrift (52–5 Ma), by slow subsidence with occasional uplift; and phase 3 (5–0 Ma), by rapid subsidence. An adaptive finite-element model, with consideration of the radiogenic heat production in the lithosphere, has been used to model the subsidence and heat flow. The modelling of subsidence shows the β-factor distribution varying from 1.9 to 3.5 with an average of 2.4 for the uniform lithospheric extension. The heat-flow modelling predicts a rapid increase of heat flow during the Early Palaeocene. The maximum heat flow at about 52 Ma, which could be as much as 3.0 hfu (10^?6 cal/cm²/s), was followed by a decrease in heat flow. A plate-weakening model has been proposed to explain the rapid subsidence for the last 5 m.y. by flexure of the elastic lithosphere which is weakened by a decrease in elastic thickness caused by an increase of the temperature gradient in the lithosphere. The plate-weakening model predicts a heat-flow increase at 5 Ma of up to 2.0 hfu. Our study, using quantitative modelling of the tectonic subsidence, provides a partial (if not a full) understanding of the tectonic development and thermal evolution of the Bjønøya West Basin.     

Heat flow and the geothermal potential of Egypt

Preliminary heat flow values ranging from 42 to 175 mW m^–2 have been estimated for Egypt from numerous geothermal gradient determinations with a reasonably good geographical distribution, and a limited number of thermal conductivity determinations. For northern Egypt and the Gulf of Suez, gradients were calculated from oil well bottom hole temperature data; east of the Nile, and at three sites west of the Nile, gradients were calculated from detailed temperature logs in shallow boreholes. With one exception, the heat flow west of the Nile and in northern Egypt is estimated to be low, 40–45 mW m^–2, typical of a Precambrian Platform province. A local high, 175 mW m^–2, is probably due to local oxidational heating or water movement associated with a phosphate mineralized zone. East of the Nile, however, including the Gulf of Suez, elevated heat flow is indicated at several sites, with a high of 175 mW m^–2 measured in a Precambrian granitic gneiss approximately 2 km from the Red Sea coast. These data indicate potential for development of geothermal resources along the Red Sea and Gulf of Suez coasts. Water geochemistry data confirm the high heat flow, but do not indicate any deep hot aquifers. Microearthquake monitoring and gravity data indicate that the high heat flow is associated with the opening of the Red Sea.     

Thermal regimes and regional metamorphism in the vicinity of overthrust faults: an example of shear heating and inverted metamorphic zonation from southern California

Thermal models are developed and temperature-depth profiles computed to account for the development of sharply inverted metamorphic zonations and estimatedP-T conditions beneath deep-seated thrust faults, with particular reference to the metamorphism of the Pelona Schist-Vincent Thrust system of southern California.Models dependent only upon conductive redistribution of heat from an initially hot upper plate are inadequate to account for the observed temperature distributions and theP-T time constraints can only be satisfied if a total shear heating of 3 hfu or more occurs in the region of the thrusts. These heating rates are consistent with known rates of plate movement, shear stresses along major fault zones, and shear strengths of rocks.Petrological constraints indicate the likelihood of buffering of the maximum temperature attained by shear heating due to marked reduction of shear strengths of rocks upon increase of temperature and release of water during metamorphic dehydration reactions.These models may be of general applicability to inverted metamorphic zonations, notably those beneath obducted Newfoundland ophiolites, and are consistent with our present understanding of the thermal properties of the upper parts of subduction zones.     

Investigation into regional thermal structure of the Thrace Region, NW Turkey, from aeromagnetic and borehole data

The aeromagnetic values over the study region are relatively uniform except for a few anomalies in the northeastern and southwestern areas. Analyses of aeromagnetic data were performed in NW Turkey, in order to have a look into the subsurface regional thermal structure of the region. For this purpose, power spectra, reduced to pole (RTP), and band-pass filtered anomalies were produced using geophysical techniques. Band-pass filtered data were produced from the RTP aeromagnetic anomalies to isolate near surface and undesired deep effects. Based on the aeromagnetic data interpretation, the thickness of the magnetized crust, named the Curie Point Depth (CPD), in the study area lies between 9.7 and 20.3 km. The CPD estimates in the Thrace region of Turkey indicate two shallow CPD (SCPD1 and SCPD2) zones (the Istranca Massif and the Saros Graben area). The deep CPD are located within the Thrace Basin with sediment thickness of about 9 km. The corresponding heat flow map prepared from the averaged thermal conductivities and thermal gradients from the CPD reveals the existence of one low heat flow zone (75 mW/m²) over the center of Thrace Basin, and two high heat flow zones over the Istranca Masif (100–125 mW/m²) in the northern side and Saros Graben (125–135 mW/m²) areas in the southern side of the Thrace Basin.     

Natural gas seepage in the Gulf of Mexico

Hydrocarbon compositions and δ¹³C values for methane of fourteen natural seep gases and four underwater vents in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico are reported. The C₁/(C₂ + C₃) ratios of the seep gas samples ranged from 68 to greater than 1000, whereas δ_PDB¹³C values varied from ?39.9 to ?65.5‰. Compositions suggest that eleven of the natural gas seeps are produced by microbial degradation whereas the remaining three have a significant thermocatalytically produced component. Contradictions in the inferences drawn from molecular and isotopic compositions make strict interpretation of the origins of a few of the samples impossible.