Crustal evolution of the early earth: The role of major impacts

Impact cratering was an important — even dominant — process affecting the crustal evolution of the small terrestrial planets. The fundamental highlands/maria dichotomy of the Moon's surface can be traced to a late heavy bombardment by basin-forming, asteroid-sized bodies which produced not only a topographic division in the lunar crust but also localized the later eruptions of mare basalts. Major impact basins with diameters in excess of 200 km are recognized throughout the inner solar system from Mars to Mercury. Similar craters must have formed on the Earth prior to 4 Ga ago, and the minimum number of such basin-forming impacts can be calculated by scaling from the observed (minimum) number preserved on the Moon. When allowance is made for differences in impact velocity, gravitational cross-section and the effects of gravity on crater diameter, it is found that at least 50% of a presumed global sialic crust would have been converted into impact basins by 4 Ga ago. Among the effects resulting from the impact of an asteroidal object on the early crust were: (a) establishment of a topographic dichotmy of 3–4 km (after isostatic adjustment), (b) pressure-release partial melting of the upper mantle and rapid flooding of the basin floor by basalt, and (c) enhancement of thermal gradients in the sub-basin lithosphere and upper asthenosphere. Comparative planetary data such as impact scaling can be used as important constraints on models of the early terrestrial crust. For example, the topography resulting from impact bombardment produced discrete oceans and dry land by 4 Ga ago, making unreasonable models of a globe-encircling ocean on the Earth after that time.     

The evolution of the electronics industry in Johor (Malaysia): Strategic coupling,adaptiveness, adaptation,and the role of agency

Bringing together concepts from the global production networks and evolutionary economic geography literature, this article empirically examines the trajectory of the electrical and electronics industry in Johor (Malaysia). Based on trends in firm entries and exit as well as interviews with companies, we find limited robustness in the industry’s trajectory. While there is evidence of the role of ‘structure’ in this outcome, we argue that human agency – particularly the actions of subnational policy-makers – is key. This is manifest in a preference for fostering regional ‘adaptiveness’ through the often uncritical promotion of a diversity of economic sectors. This compromises the meaningful pursuit of regional ‘adaptation’ in the form of new and more complex branches emerging from existing industries. This arrested development, in turn, hinders an effective strategic coupling between the regional economy and multinational corporations, thus undermining regional resilience.     

川渝地区构造动力学演化与盆岭-盆山耦合构造分析

以构造动力学演化为主线,从拉张与挤压的辩证关系出发,提出了川渝地区构造动力学演化经历了挤压-区域拉张-陆隆伸展-再挤压的构造动力学演化过程;川渝地区在T3-J2期间为盆岭耦合构造格局,在当时山岭与盆地之间过渡的斜坡带前缘(大致相当于理县至都江堰地域),出现印支、燕山期滑覆构造,表现为山岭斜坡前缘逆冲叠瓦状断层与紧闭甚至倒转、平卧褶皱的出现;J3以来,构造动力学背景由伸展转变为挤压,形成基底卷入的厚皮构造,龙门山迅速崛起,四川盆地最终定型,形成现今见到的松潘甘孜高原-龙门山-四川盆地构成的盆山耦合构造格局。     

The role of impact and radiogenic heating in the early thermal evolution of Mars

Journal of Earth System Science - The planetary differentiation models of Mars are proposed that take into account core–mantle and core–mantle–crust differentiation. The numerical...     

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

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

Meteotsunami forecasting: sensitivities demonstrated by the 2008 Boothbay,Maine, event

To support development of a meteotsunami forecasting capability for the USA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration funded a project in 2011 focused on meteotsunami forecasting for the US east coast. Meteotsunami forecasting shares many similarities with traditional tsunami forecasting, though the characterization and integration of the source with numerical forecast models is much different. Given meteotsunami source characterization through atmospheric observations and models, it is conceivable that meteotsunami alerts could be issued and their impact forecasted using existing tsunami forecast models with high-resolution coastal definition. To test this, the 2008 Boothbay, Maine, meteotsunami is simulated using an atmospheric source consisting of a moving pressure disturbance coupled with a tsunami forecast model. Sensitivities of the modeled impact to the source characteristics, such as speed, wavelength, and direction, are also tested. Results show that the observed impact can be re-created through numerical modeling when the pressure disturbance period is roughly matched with the harbor resonance and observed meteotsunami period.     

Origin and evolution processes of hybrid event beds in the Lower Cretaceous of the Lingshan Island,Eastern China

On the basis of detailed sedimentological investigation, three types of hybrid event beds (HEBs) together with debrites and turbidites were distinguished in the Lower Cretaceous sedimentary sequence on the Lingshan Island in the Yellow Sea, China. HEB 1, with a total thickness of 63–80 cm and internal bipartite structures, is characterised by a basal massive sandstone sharply overlain by a muddy sandstone interval. It is interpreted to have been formed by particle rearrangement at the base of cohesive debris flows. HEB 2, with a total thickness of 10–71 cm and an internal tripartite structure, is characterised by a normal grading sandstone base, followed by muddy siltstone middle unit and capped with siltstones; the top unit of HEB 2 may in places be partly or completely eroded. The boundary between the lowest unit and the middle unit is gradual, whereas that between the middle unit and the top unit is sharp. HEB 2 may be developed by up-dip muddy substrate erosion. HEB 3, with a total thickness up to 10 cm and an internal bipartite structure, is characterised by a basal massive sandstone sharply overlain by a muddy siltstone interval. The upper unit was probably deposited by cohesive debris flow with some plant fragments and rare mud clasts. HEB 3 may be formed by the deceleration of low-density turbidity currents. The distribution of HEBs together with debrites and turbidites implies a continuous evolution process of sediment gravity flows: debris flow → hybrid flow caused by particle rearrangement → high-density turbidity current → hybrid flow caused by muddy substrate erosion → low-density turbidity current → hybrid flow caused by deceleration.     

胶北~2.5Ga岩浆热事件的锆石Hf同位素特征及其对地壳演化的指示意义

位于华北克拉通东缘的胶北地体,被普遍认为是胶-辽-吉带的西南组成部分,经历了多期岩浆-变质热事件,而晚太古宙末期约2.5Ga的岩浆事件是该区最强的岩浆事件;为了确定该期岩浆热事件的性质,本文选取2件形成于约2.5Ga的英云闪长质片麻岩及花岗质片麻岩开展锆石Hf同位素测试分析;总计69个锆石Hf同位素分析点的结果显示,它们均具有正的εHf(t)值,在10.71到3.0之间,平均为6.02,两阶段锆石Hf模式年龄主要分布于2.6～2.9Ga之间,平均为2747Ma,明显大于锆石的207Pb/206Pb年龄,表明约2.5Ga的TTG及花岗质片麻岩主要源于2.6～2.9Ga新生地壳的重熔或再造;另外,一些锆石具有极正的εHf(t)值,它们的锆石Hf模式年龄与U-Pb年龄相近,这暗示在约2.5Ga有亏损地幔物质加入地壳,并发生了即时重熔;根据本次研究获得的锆石Hf同位素数据,结合前人的Nd同位素结果,我们认为胶北地体内约2.5Ga的岩浆活动可能主要表现为与地幔岩浆低侵作用有关的新生地壳的重熔或再造,约2.9Ga和2.7～2.8Ga是胶北地体地壳生长的两个时期,并且与华北克拉通大部分地区一样,2.7～2.8Ga是胶北地体新生地壳形成最重要的时期。     

矿物光电子能量在地球早期生命起源与进化中的作用

地球早期生命起源的第一步是合成简单的有机化合物,但合成有机物所需能量来源问题长期困扰着学术界。早期地球上丰富的硫化物半导体矿物可将太阳光子转化为光电子,提供持续的能量来源。也正是由于矿物光电子能量较高,在非生物途径合成小分子有机物方面具有优势。其中半导体矿物自然硫转化太阳能产生的光电子能量,是目前所发现的最高的矿物光电子能量,不仅能直接还原CO₂分子为甲酸物质,还可催化其他生命基础物质的合成。在全球陆地系统中暴露在阳光下的岩石/土壤表面普遍被一层铁锰氧化物“矿物膜”所覆盖,光照下含半导体矿物水钠锰矿的“矿物膜”产生原位、灵敏、长效的光电流,显示出优异的光电效应。生物光合作用中心Mn₄CaO₅在裂解水产氧过程中产生成分和结构类似水钠锰矿的结构中间体,地球早期“矿物膜”中水钠锰矿可能促进了锰簇Mn₄CaO₅与生物光合作用的起源与进化。早期地球半导体矿物为生命起源基本物质的合成提供直接能量来源,矿物光电子能量在地球早期生命起源与进化中起到了重要作用。     

矿物光电子能量在地球早期生命起源与进化中的作用

地球早期生命起源的第一步是合成简单的有机化合物，但合成有机物所需能量来源问题长期困扰着学术界。早期地球上丰富的硫化物半导体矿物可将太阳光子转化为光电子，提供持续的能量来源。也正是由于矿物光电子能量较高，在非生物途径合成小分子有机物方面具有优势。其中半导体矿物自然硫转化太阳能产生的光电子能量，是目前所发现的最高的矿物光电子能量，不仅能直接还原CO2分子为甲酸物质，还可催化其他生命基础物质的合成。在全球陆地系统中暴露在阳光下的岩石/土壤表面普遍被一层铁锰氧化物“矿物膜”所覆盖，光照下含半导体矿物水钠锰矿的“矿物膜”产生原位、灵敏、长效的光电流，显示出优异的光电效应。生物光合作用中心Mn4CaO5在裂解水产氧过程中产生成分和结构类似水钠锰矿的结构中间体，地球早期“矿物膜”中水钠锰矿可能促进了锰簇Mn4CaO5与生物光合作用的起源与进化。早期地球半导体矿物为生命起源基本物质的合成提供直接能量来源，矿物光电子能量在地球早期生命起源与进化中起到了重要作用。     

江苏徐州赵圩剖面新元古界倪园组沉积环境演化与事件沉积

江苏徐州赵圩剖面新元古界倪园组出露完整连续,岩性组合极具代表性,沉积现象丰富,发育有大量典型的事件沉积,因其成因存在争议而长期受到关注。本研究以倪园组野外宏观岩性组合及镜下微观岩石特征为基础,依据宏观—微观对照的方法,分析了倪园组沉积环境及事件沉积特征,探讨了事件沉积频发及类型多样的成因。研究表明: (1)倪园组沉积环境自下而上依次为潟湖—缓坡中上部—缓坡中下部—缓坡中上部—潮坪+潟湖; (2)事件沉积在各段的发育情况均有所区别,其中砾屑灰岩与冲刷—充填构造在各段均有发育,但下段与中段规模较大,除此之外,中段局部见震裂角砾岩、液化底辟构造,顶部发育臼齿构造,而上段底部以臼齿构造为主,中上部见软沉积物变形构造以及交错层理,结合沉积环境分析,认为事件沉积主要发生于缓斜坡环境以及潮坪、潟湖环境; (3)综合以上研究结果,认为倪园组频发—多类型事件沉积与正常沉积构成的特殊旋回,其动力机制或与周期性的地震—风暴作用有关,即可能为Rodinia古大陆的汇聚—裂解导致的华北地台东缘伸展型区域构造运动与米兰科维奇旋回的叠加而引发的多因素耦合作用的结果。     

东北地区积雪反照率特性

利用2017年12月至2018年3月在东北地区获取的82个观测点的积雪反照率数据,从积雪反照率的时序差异、空间特点、影响因素三个方面开展了积雪反照率时空特点研究。结果表明：（1）在时间上,随着积雪积累时间的增加,积雪反照率逐渐降低,最大下降速率为0.003 d^-1。（2）在空间上,积雪反照率在东西方向差异显著,大兴安岭东西两侧地区的积雪反照率均值分别为0.679和0.751;在同一地区内,积雪反照率在雪表层含水量、雪粒径等因素影响下也存在一定差异,大兴安岭西侧地区的积雪反照率北低南高,大兴安岭东侧地区的积雪反照率北高南低。（3）耕地上的农作物留茬对积雪反照率影响较大,短时间内天气变化对积雪反照率影响较小。     

南海北部白垩纪—渐新世早期沉积环境演变及构造控制*

南海北部珠江口—琼东南盆地白垩系—下渐新统记录了华南大陆边缘从主动陆缘向被动陆缘的转换过程。基于盆地构造-地层、单井相、地震相等特征的综合分析,结合南海中南部的沉积环境和区域构造演化,探讨南海北部白垩纪—渐新世早期的沉积环境演变及构造控制背景。研究发现: (1)南海北部白垩系广泛分布,古新统分布极为有限; 始新世早-中期,琼东南盆地只在部分凹陷深部发育了小规模的滨浅湖相和扇三角洲相沉积,珠江口盆地白云凹陷以大规模发育的湖泊相为特征; 始新世晚期—渐新世早期,琼东南盆地和珠江口盆地白云凹陷都受到海侵作用的影响,以海岸平原相和滨浅海相为主。 (2)构造演变包括5期:包括白垩纪安第斯型大陆边缘的“弧—盆”体系发育期,古新世区域隆升剥蚀山间盆地发育期,始新世早-中期裂陷发育,始新世晚期—渐新世早期陆缘破裂期,渐新世晚期东部海盆稳定扩张期。最后,探讨了南海盆地中生代末/新生代初的动力学转换过程及特征。     

中国稳定积雪区IMS雪冰产品精度评价

IMS雪冰产品由多种光学与微波传感器数据融合而成,提供北半球每日无云的积雪范围,在积雪遥感研究中具有广阔的前景. 以气象站实测雪深数据为真值,检验了2009-2010年IMS雪冰产品在中国三大稳定积雪区北疆、东北、青藏高原地区每月、积雪季以及全年的误判率、漏判率和总体准确率,并分析了IMS雪冰产品的准确率与雪深之间的关系. 结果显示：IMS雪冰产品的年总体准确率在三大积雪区均超过了92%,积雪季总体准确率均超过了88%,利用IMS雪冰产品监测积雪范围是可靠的. 然而,IMS雪冰产品精度具有区域差异性,北疆地区在1月和2月误判率偏高,青藏高原地区积雪季有严重的漏判现象. IMS雪冰产品的准确率在东北地区和北疆地区随着雪深的增加而升高,当东北地区雪深超过6 cm,北疆地区超过13 cm时,准确率接近100%,但是,青藏高原地区两者基本没有关系. 通过在青藏高原地区与同时相的4景MODIS积雪产品对比分析发现,实际上IMS雪冰产品相对地高估了积雪面积,青藏高原地区漏判率高其原因是IMS对零碎积雪的识别能力不足并且气象站分布不均匀.     

Public attention to the great smog event: a case study of the 2013 smog event in Harbin,China

Natural Hazards - The 2013 outbreak of smog in China triggered unprecedented public attention in the country, which played a critical role in crisis communication and management. This study...     

地球早期生命环境的演化

地质记录告诉我们,在地球约46亿年的整个历史中经历了无数次大大小小的劫难,其中在地球生命处于起源和早期演化阶段的前寒武纪,首先是"狂轰滥炸",4.5亿~3.8亿年前由太阳系形成时留下的岩石体--小行星仍不断撞击着地球并烧焦了整个地球;后来的"雪球",2.2亿~1.8亿年及大约6亿年前也许是大气中氧气的增加或/和二氧化碳或/和氨气或/和甲烷等温室气体的缩减,使我们的星球进入冰封期.显然,生命挺过了所有的磨难,并以柔克刚的脱颖而出,甚至与环境相互作用共同向高级阶段演化.在至少38亿年前,随着"狂轰滥炸"的停止,原始的生命也许已出现在地球上;到大约5.8亿年前,"雪球"刚结束,新元古代末期的埃迪卡拉大辐射和早寒武纪生命大爆发就接接踵而来,似乎早期地球生命大的进步性演化都是由大的劫难诱发的.     

华北克拉通中部造山带早元古代盆地演化

华北克拉通中部造山带被认为是由东、西部陆块碰撞而产生的陆陆碰撞带。然而,关于两个陆块碰撞的时间以及方式还存在着争议。其中一个模式认为俯冲方向是向西的,两个陆块最终碰撞的时间是在2.5Ga左右,而另一个模式则认为俯冲方向是向东的,并且存在着2.1Ga和1.85Ga两期碰撞事件,第三个模式则认为俯冲方向是向东的,而最终的碰撞拼合发生在1.85Ga左右。近几年来,对于中部造山带中浅变质表壳岩系的研究取得了很大进展,为解决以上争议提供了进一步的资料。根据岩石组合和表壳岩中的不整合接触关系,位于中部造山带中段五台杂岩中的滹沱群和吕梁杂岩中的野鸡山群被分成了上下两个部分。其中,两个群的下部以及位于中部造山带南段中条杂岩中的绛县群和下中条群主要由类似于弧后盆地沉积的变质碎屑岩、碳酸盐岩和火山岩组成,而滹沱群和野鸡山群的上部以及上中条群和担山石群的岩石组合则是类似于山前磨拉石建造的变质砾岩和砂岩。来自于这些浅变质碎屑岩中碎屑锆石的年龄为我们提供了源区以及最大沉积年龄的信息。滹沱群和野鸡山群中的碎屑锆石具有两个峰值年龄,2.5Ga和2.15Ga,它们分别对应于中部造山带中段两期重要的岩浆事件。中条杂岩中的碎屑锆石年龄图谱则较为复杂,除了具有2.5Ga和2.15Ga这两个峰值,还具有2.7Ga这个较低和较老的峰值,这些较老的锆石可能来自中部造山带最南端太华杂岩中的古老岩石。弧后盆地沉积中最年轻的碎屑锆石年龄在2.1Ga左右,而山前磨拉石中最年轻的碎屑锆石在1.85Ga左右。结合前人的研究成果,我们给出了一个华北克拉通中部造山带早元古代沉积盆地的演化模式。从2.1Ga左右开始,一系列弧后盆地在"安第斯型"大陆边缘弧之后产生,在之后的东西陆块碰撞过程中他们成为了中部造山带的一部分。从1.85Ga左右开始,东西陆块沿着中部造山带碰撞,导致了陆壳加厚以及随后的快速抬升和剥蚀,从而形成了周缘前陆盆地中的山前磨拉石建造。发生在早元古代晚期的由弧后盆地向周缘前陆盆地的转化支持了华北的最终克拉通化发生在1.85Ga的构造演化模式。     

Modeling the risk assessment of landslide-dammed lakes based on the emergency response measures in Wenchuan earthquake, 2008, China

With the rapid development of urbanization and climate change, the frequency and degree of the natural hazards and extreme weather events have increased, such as the earthquake, flood, and torrential rain. And the landslide-dammed lake as the secondary disaster of these hazards has become a major threat to many countries. So from twentieth century, many countries have begun to explore the effective emergency response method to reduce the danger of the landslide-dammed lake to the surrounded environment and people. Particularly in China, with successfully dealing with three high-risk landslide-dammed lakes in recent 10 years, the Chinese government has accumulated a great deal of experience in managing the landslide-dammed lakes. So in this paper, based on the Chinese and many other countries’ emergency response experience of successfully managing the landslide-dammed lakes, we build an outburst time–predicted model which can use the Dimensionless blockage index value to predict the outburst time of the landslide-dammed lakes. Based on the urgent time in the process of emergency response to the landslide-dammed lake, we build an integrated risk assessment model with the gray relational analysis and Technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution approach to evaluate the risk value and judge the risk level of the landslide-dammed lake from three aspects (the stability of the landslide-dammed lake, the hydrological environment, and the vulnerability factor of the surrounding environment). These two models can quickly and accurately determine the risk level of landslide-dammed lake in case of lack of complete and detailed data. So it would provide an important reference for government to make the scientific and effective emergency response plan to deal with the extremely high-risk landslide-dammed lake disasters in the future.     

The role of passive microwaves in characterizing snow cover in the Colorado river basin

Snow cover and snow depth data acquired from meteorological stations and SNOTEL sites in the Colorado river basin of the western US were compared and correlated with brightness temperatures observed by passive microwave sensors. The ground data and satellite data were plotted onto 1/4^o latitude by 1/4^o longitude grids for the month, January through April and for the years 1979–1986. Results show that correlations were higher when sub-basin areas of the Colorado river were used rather than the entire Colorado river basin, because snow conditions in these areas are more likely to be similar. Multiple regression analysis using, in addition to the microwave data, input on surface roughness and elevation, vegetation and air temperature considerably improved the goodness of fit. Maximum and minimum temperatures were used as surrogates for grain size distributions. Multiple regression correlation coefficients for the eight sub-basin areas studied ranged between 0.49 and 0.86 for all years lumped together. When the regressions were run for individual years to reduce internannual variability of snow conditions, the average correlation coefficients ranged from 0.58–0.91 for the eight sub-basin areas. Based on, results from this study it is evident that grain size information is needed for better snow water equivalent determination using microwave radiometric techniques.     

The role of dextral transpressional faulting in the evolution of an early Carboniferous mafic–felsic plutonic and volcanic complex: Cobequid Highlands, Nova Scotia, Canada

The Wentworth plutonic complex, consisting of gabbro and granite, was emplaced in the earliest Carboniferous in the Cobequid shear zone of the northern Appalachians. The plutonic complex is coeval with a 5-km-thick pile of volcanic rocks. Early alkalic A-type granite correlates with thick felsic pyroclastics and minor basalt, which are overlain by 1.5-km-thick basalts that correlate with a large gabbro pluton that is intruded, in turn, by late granites. The basalt and gabbro are Fe-rich tholeiites. The geochemistry of the late granites suggests that they formed by differentiation of a granodioritic magma resulting from assimilation of early granite by the gabbroic magma. The Wentworth plutonic complex lies on the north side of the dextral Rockland Brook fault, near the western tip of wedge-shaped basement block of the Avalon terrane. Field observations of mesoscopic structures and map contacts show that the plutonic bodies at all structural levels are related to transpressive strike–slip faults. Dykes parallel to the mylonitic foliation in the Rockland Brook fault zone and at the contacts between igneous phases suggest that the plutons developed largely through dyke to pluton construction. The plutonism was initiated by dyking related to major faults under transpression that was partitioned into shear zone-bounded blocks, while the sinking of those blocks finally provided the space for mafic magma emplacement. Dyking was active over at least a 10-Ma time period. The overall location of plutonism in the Cobequid shear zone appears related to its position at the intersection of the shear zone bounding the southwestern margin of the Magdalen basin and the E–W transpressional contact of the Avalon and Meguma terranes. Magmatism enabled thermomechanical softening of the crust and the vertical and lateral extrusion of the wedge-shaped basement blocks, whose movement controlled the localisation of the voluminous magmatic activity.