Isotope systematics of noble gases in the Earth's mantle: possible sources of primordial isotopes and implications for mantle structure

The Earth's mantle contains a mixture of primordial noble gases, in particular solar-type helium and neon, and radiogenic rare gases from long-lived U, ²³²Th, ⁴⁰K and short-lived ¹²⁹I, ²⁴⁴Pu. Rocks derived from deep mantle plume magmatism like on Hawaii or Iceland contain a higher proportion of primordial nuclides than rocks from the shallow upper mantle, e.g. mid ocean ridge basalts (MORBs). This is widely regarded as the key evidence for survival of a less degassed and more “primitive” reservoir within the lower mantle. We present an evaluation of noble gas composition showing the shallow mantle to have about five times more radiogenic (relative to primordial) isotopes than Hawaii/Iceland-type plume reservoirs, no matter if short- or long-lived decay systems are considered. This fundamental property suggests that both MORB and plume-type noble gases are mixtures of: (1) a homogeneous radiogenic component present throughout most of the mantle and (2) a uniform primordial noble gas component with very minor radiogenic ingrowth. This conclusion depends crucially on the observed excess of radiogenic Xe in plume-derived rocks, and is only valid if this Xe excess is inherent to the plume sources.Possible sources of the primordial component of mantle plume reservoirs—and possibly also the MORB mantle—could be mantle reservoirs that remained relatively isolated over most of Earth's history (“blobs”, a deep abyssal layer, or the D” layer), but these need a considerable concentration of primordial gases to compensate U, Th, K decay over 4.5 Ga. Earth's core is evaluated as an alternative viable source feeding primordial nuclides into mantle reservoirs: even low metal-silicate partitioning coefficients allow sufficient primordial noble gases to be incorporated into the early forming core, as the undifferentiated proto-Earth was initially gas-rich. Massive mantle degassing soon after core formation then provides the opposite concentration gradient that allows primordial noble gases reentering the mantle at the core-mantle boundary, probably via partial mantle melts. Another possible source of primordial noble gases in Earth's mantle are subducted sediments containing extraterrestrial dust with solar He and Ne, but this supply mechanism crucially depends on largely unconstrained parameters. The latter two scenarios do not require the preservation of a “primitive” mantle reservoir over 4.5 Ga, and can potentially better reconcile increasing geochemical evidence of recycled lithospheric components in mantle plumes and seismic evidence for whole mantle convection.     

我国陆区地壳生热率分布与壳幔热流特征研究

壳幔热流配分代表了一个地区的深部热量来源与最基础的地热背景,为区域地热资源的形成提供了重要的约束条件.本文依托CRUST1.0模型与地质资料,将中国陆区在平面上划分为19个构造区,在垂向上将这些区域从第四系沉积物至上地幔的地层划分为8个圈层,确定了这些圈层的分布范围和厚度.在全国范围内实测放射性生热率数据664组,收集地壳放射性生热率及U、Th、K元素含量数据约1000组,系统地完成了上述区域各圈层的放射性生热率填图,统计得出我国陆区上、中、下地壳生热率的平均值分别为1.31 μW·m^-3、0.57 μW·m^-3与0.22 μW·m^-3.在此基础上,结合最新的全国大地热流测量数据（1503组）完成了我国陆区地壳-地幔热流分布的研究.研究结果表明,我国陆区q_c/q_m>1的面积占80.1%、q_c/q_m>1.2的面积占65.8%.除我国东部、中部的一些盆地之外,在我国陆区大部分地区,地壳均为大地热流的最主要热源.地壳各圈层中,基底层至中地壳为地壳的主要的产热区域,贡献了平均约50%的大地热流值.本文以面积加权计算得我国陆区地壳热流平均值为39.1 mW·m^-2,其中青藏高原最高、东南沿海次之,两者分别得益于较大的地壳厚度与较高的基岩地层生热率.我国陆区地幔热流平均值为29.7 mW·m^-2,与全球地幔热流平均值接近,其中东部沿海地区、环鄂尔多斯地区、藏滇地热带分布区较高.地壳热流、地幔热流的高值区与我国的主要地热资源分布区均具有较好的一致性.

     

Topographic correlations with soil and regolith thickness from shallow‐seismic refraction constraints across upland hillslopes in the Valles Caldera,New Mexico

How rock is weathered physically and chemically into transportable material is a fundamental question in critical‐zone science. In addition, the distribution of weathered material (soil and intact regolith) across upland landscapes exerts a first‐order control on the hydrology of watersheds. In this paper we present the results of six shallow seismic‐refraction surveys in the Redondo Mountain region of the Valles Caldera, New Mexico. The P‐wave velocities corresponding to soil (≤ 0.6 km s^?1) were inferred from a seventh seismic survey where soil‐thickness data were determined by pit excavation. Using multivariable regression, we quantified the relationships among slope gradient, aspect, and topographic wetness index (TWI) on soil and regolith (soil plus intact regolith) thicknesses. Our results show that both soil and regolith thicknesses vary inversely with TWI in all six survey areas while varying directly with slope aspect (i.e. thicker beneath north‐facing slopes) and inversely with slope gradient (i.e. thinner beneath steep slopes) in the majority of the survey areas. An empirical model based on power‐law relationships between regolith thickness and its correlative variables can fit our inferred thicknesses with R² ‐values up to 0.880 for soil and 0.831 for regolith in areas with significant topographic variations. These results further demonstrate the efficacy of shallow seismic refraction for mapping and determining how soil and regolith variations correlate with topography across upland landscapes. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Hysteretic freezing characteristics of riparian peatlands in the Western Boreal Forest of Canada

Freezing characteristics were investigated for a sedge covered floating fen and spruce covered swamp located beside a shallow lake in the Western Boreal Forest of Canada. Thermal properties were measured in situ for one freeze‐thaw cycle, and for two freeze‐thaw cycles in laboratory columns. Thermal conductivity and liquid water content were related to a range of subsurface temperatures above and below the freezing thresholds, and clearly illustrate hysteresis between the freezing and thawing process. Thermal hysteresis occurs because of the large change in thermal conductivity between water and ice, high water content of the peat, and wide variation in pore sizes that govern ice formation. Field and laboratory results were combined to develop linear freezing functions, which were tested in a heat transfer model. For surface temperature boundary conditions, subsurface temperatures were simulated for the over‐winter period and compared with field measurements. Replication of the transient subsurface thermal regime required that freezing functions transition gradually from thawed to frozen state (spanning the ?0·25 to ?2 °C range) as opposed to a more abrupt step function. Subsurface temperatures indicate that the floating fen underwent complete phase change (from water to ice) and froze to approximately the same depth as lake ice thickness. Therefore, the floating fen peatland froze as a ‘shelf’ adjacent to the lake, whereas the spruce covered swamp had a higher capacity for thermal buffering, and subsurface freezing was both more gradual and limited in depth. These thermal properties, and the timing and duration of frozen state, are expected to control the interaction of water and nutrients between surface water and groundwater, which will be affected by changes in air temperature associated with global climate change. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Rossby wave resonance in the presence of a nonlinear critical layer

Abstract

The behavior of Rossby waves on a shear flow in the presence of a nonlinear critical layer is studied, with particular emphasis on the role played by the critical layer in a Rossby wave resonance mechanism. Previous steady analyses are extended to the resonant case and it is found that the forced wave dominates the solution, provided the flow configuration is not resonant for the higher harmonics induced by the critical layer. Numerical simulations for the forced initial value problem show that the solution evolves towards the analysed steady state when conditions are resonant for the forced wave, and demonstrate some of the complications that arise when they are resonant for higher harmonics. In relating the initial value and steady problems, it is argued that the time dependent solution does not require the large mean flow distortion that Haberman (1972) found to be necessary outside the critical layer in the steady case.     

Present geotemperature and its suggestion to natural gas generation in Xujiaweizi fault-depression of the northern Songliao Basin

According to stastistic of present geotemperatures at the depths of 1000,2000,3000 and 4000 m,respectively in the Xujiaweizi fault-depression of the north Songliao Basin,the result indicates that Xujiaweizi fault-depression falls in the high geotemperature area,with the higher geothermal gradient in the depression layer than that in the fault-depression layer.The geothermal gradient decreases with the increasing of the depth.The thermal conductivity of rock greatly controls the geothermal gradient.The main factors constraining the current geotemperature include thermal configuration of the earth's crust, deep faults,distribution and abundance of radioelements.The high geotemperature is in favour of generation of deep gas.