The238U spontaneous fission decay constant re-determined by fission tracks

The decay constant(λ_f²³⁸) for the spontaneous fission of²³⁸U was re-determined by means of a man-made uranium glass of known age (126 yr). The spontaneous U fission tracks that had accumulated since the date of manufacture were counted on internal faces of the glass with an error of less than 1.7%. No thermal annealing of the spontaneous tracks was observed. The U content was determined by induced fission tracks. The value obtained forλ_f²³⁸ is(8.57 ± 0.42) × 10^?17yr^?1. Main sources of error are the date of glass melting and the determination of the thermal neutron dose.     

Evaluation of the 87Rb decay constant by age comparison against the U–Pb system

The Rb–Sr decay system is one of the most widely used geochronometers for obtaining ages and cooling rates of terrestrial magmatic, metamorphic, and hydrothermal events. It has also been extensively applied to date extraterrestrial, early solar system events. The accuracy of Rb–Sr ages, however, strongly depends on the accuracy of the ⁸⁷Rb decay constant (λ⁸⁷Rb). We determined λ⁸⁷Rb relative to the decay constants of ²³⁵U and ²³⁸U by comparing Rb–Sr ages of minerals with U–Pb ages obtained from the same intrusion. Comparison of U–Pb emplacement ages with high-precision Rb–Sr mineral ages from three rapidly cooled igneous rocks covering an age range of ca. 2.5 Ga yields an unweighted mean λ⁸⁷Rb of 1.393 ± 0.004 × 10^?11 yr^?1 (i.e., ± 0.3%), corresponding to a half-life of 49.76 × 10⁹ years. Because this decay constant is 2% lower than the presently recommended one, many previously published ages are 2% too young and the resulting geologic interpretations may need revision.     

Isotopic fractionations during oxygen consumption and carbonate dissolution within the North Atlantic Deep Water

The trajectory of the North Atlantic Deep Water is traced from 65°N to 20°N latitude. Along this track the dissolved O₂ decreases, theδ¹⁸O of the dissolved O₂ increases, and the¹⁴C content of the water decreases. From these observations the rate of in-situ O₂ utilization in the deep water is calculated to be 0.10 μmol kg^?1 yr^?1. As was observed previously in the Pacific, theδ¹⁸O data presented here indicate that the utilization is probably caused by bacterial respiration. Carbon dioxide is being added to the water at the rate of 0.07 μmol kg^?1 yr^?1 from the oxidation of this organic matter. An additional 0.12 μmol kg^?1 yr^?1 of CO₂ is derived from the dissolution of particles of CaCO₃.     

The registration-temperature dependence of heavy-ion track-etch rates and annealing sensitivity in crystals: implications for cosmic ray identification and fission track dating of meteorites

Etch rates and etchable lengths of cosmic ray tracks in meteoritic crystals have been used by several workers to derive the charge spectrum of ancient cosmic rays. This is done by comparing the fossil cosmic ray track record with fresh accelerator-produced calibration tracks. These calibration tracks are generally produced at room temperature, while meteorites spend a high proportion of their lifetimes orbiting at large distances from the Sun ( 3–5 AU) and are, consequently, at much lower temperatures (typically 100–150 K) during most of their cosmic ray exposure ages. We have irradiated crystals of apatite, olivine, enstatite and diopside held at 77, 293, 473 and 573 K, with 2 MeV/nucleon⁸¹Br ions, and then etched them. We find that their track etching properties are dependent upon the temperature of the mineral during registration. The track etch velocity generally increases with registration temperature up to 300 or 500 K (the upper limit depending upon the type of crystal). Our results also indicate that the annealing sensitivity of fission tracks in fluorapatite may be influenced by the registration temperature. This temperature dependence has important implications not only for cosmic ray particle identification but also for fission track dating of meteorites in view of the fact that the meteorite parent bodies were at elevated temperatures at the beginning af their life when²⁴⁴Pu fission tracks were being generated abundantly.     

Ion microprobe studies of water in silicate melts. Concentration-dependent water diffusion in obsidian

The ion microprobe at Johnson Space Center has been calibrated for in situ water determinations on a 10-μm scale over the range 0.2 wt.% H₂O to 1.8, 6.8, and 3.7 wt.%, for basaltic, albitic, and rhyolitic glasses, respectively. The basalt glass calibration curve differs substantially from those of albite and rhyolite glasses, indicating a need to carefully match composition and/or melt structure between H₂O standards and unknowns.A value for the diffusivity of water as a function of concentration and time has been calculated from water diffusion profiles measured in rhyolite glasses prepared at 850°C and 700 barsP_t(H₂O) [1]. Transient diffusion into a semi-infinite medium is described by the equation:?(φ/2)?¸/?φ=?(D_w?¸/?φ)/?φ #x003B8;=1, φ=0, θ→ 0, θ→∞, wherex =distance from the cylinder edge,t =time,C₀ =initial concentration,C_s =concentration at the edge,C =concentration at x,θ = C ? C₀/C_s ? C₀,φ = x/t^1/2, andD_w =diffusivity of water. An iterative technique has been used to calculate solutions to the diffusion equation as a function ofD_w [2]. Comparison of these solutions with the ion probe data indicate that, for0.2wt.% ≤ C ≤ 3.7wt.%H₂O,D_w can be described by an exponential function of θ, of the formD_w = D₀exp(bθ), withD₀ (i.e.,D_w at 0.2%) = (0.8?2.2) × 10^?8 cm²/s and2 ≤ b ≤ 4.     

Dynamics of seasonal recharge beneath a semiarid vegetation on the gnangara mound,Western Australia

To estimate seasonal changes in recharge to the underlying sandy aquifer, the soil water dynamics of the unsaturated zone was monitored down to a depth of 20 m over a period of three years (1985 to 1987). The measurements were made by a neutron probe at eight locations beneath a native vegetation in a semiarid region, Western Australia, receiving precipitation of 775 mm yr^?1. A relatively simple method, based on the analyses of sequentially measured soil water profiles involving utilization of zero flux plane in the unsaturated zone, is presented and used to compute seasonal recharge rates. Drainage fluxes (recharge rates) below two specified depths were estimated. These were: R₁ (water flux at a depth of 10 m, just below the maximum rooting depth) and R₂ (water flux at a depth of 18 m, just above the water table). These two estimates were significantly different both on a seasonal and annual basis, but their cumulative values for the three year period were very similar. While the annual precipitation varied from 525 to 850 mm yr^?1, the corresponding spatially averaged R₁ varied from 34 to 149 mm yr^?1, and R₂ varied from 65 to 80 mm yr^?1. A significant difference in recharge between the upslope and downslope positions on a hillslope was ascribed to differences in vegetation density of the understorey and differences in hydraulic properties of subsoils. For the three year period, the average R₁ and R₂ were 13 per cent and 10 per cent of the precipitation respectively. These values compare favourably with a long-term estimate based on an environmental tracer technique.     

Zircon fission‐track and U–Pb double dating using femtosecond laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry: A technical note

We present a new LA–ICP–MS system for zircon fission‐track (FT) and U–Pb double dating, whereby a femtosecond laser combined with galvanometric optics simultaneously ablates multiple spots to measure average surface U contents. The U contents of zircon measured by LA–ICP–MS and standardized with the NIST SRM610 glass are comparable to those measured by the induced FT method, and have smaller analytical errors. LA–ICP–MS FT dating of seven zircon samples including three IUGS age standards is as accurate as the external detector method, but can give a higher‐precision age depending on the counting statistics of the U content measurement. Double dating of the IUGS age standards gives FT and U–Pb ages that are in agreement. A chip of the Nancy 91500 zircon has a homogeneous U content of 84 ppm, suggesting the possibility of using this zircon as a matrix‐matched U‐standard for FT dating. When using the Nancy 91500 zircon as a U‐standard, a zeta calibration value of 42–43 year cm² for LA–ICP–MS FT dating is obtained. While this value is strictly valid only for the particular session, it can serve as a reference for other studies.     

Carbon pools and fluxes in the China Seas and adjacent oceans

The China Seas include the South China Sea, East China Sea, Yellow Sea, and Bohai Sea. Located off the Northwestern Pacific margin, covering 4700000 km~2 from tropical to northern temperate zones, and including a variety of continental margins/basins and depths, the China Seas provide typical cases for carbon budget studies. The South China Sea being a deep basin and part of the Western Pacific Warm Pool is characterized by oceanic features; the East China Sea with a wide continental shelf, enormous terrestrial discharges and open margins to the West Pacific, is featured by strong cross-shelf materials transport; the Yellow Sea is featured by the confluence of cold and warm waters; and the Bohai Sea is a shallow semiclosed gulf with strong impacts of human activities. Three large rivers, the Yangtze River, Yellow River, and Pearl River, flow into the East China Sea, the Bohai Sea, and the South China Sea, respectively. The Kuroshio Current at the outer margin of the Chinese continental shelf is one of the two major western boundary currents of the world oceans and its strength and position directly affect the regional climate of China. These characteristics make the China Seas a typical case of marginal seas to study carbon storage and fluxes. This paper systematically analyzes the literature data on the carbon pools and fluxes of the Bohai Sea,Yellow Sea, East China Sea, and South China Sea, including different interfaces(land-sea, sea-air, sediment-water, and marginal sea-open ocean) and different ecosystems(mangroves, wetland, seagrass beds, macroalgae mariculture, coral reefs, euphotic zones, and water column). Among the four seas, the Bohai Sea and South China Sea are acting as CO_2 sources, releasing about0.22 and 13.86–33.60 Tg C yr~(-1) into the atmosphere, respectively, whereas the Yellow Sea and East China Sea are acting as carbon sinks, absorbing about 1.15 and 6.92–23.30 Tg C yr~(-1) of atmospheric CO_2, respectively. Overall, if only the CO_2 exchange at the sea-air interface is considered, the Chinese marginal seas appear to be a source of atmospheric CO_2, with a net release of 6.01–9.33 Tg C yr~(-1), mainly from the inputs of rivers and adjacent oceans. The riverine dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) input into the Bohai Sea and Yellow Sea, East China Sea, and South China Sea are 5.04, 14.60, and 40.14 Tg C yr~(-1),respectively. The DIC input from adjacent oceans is as high as 144.81 Tg C yr~(-1), significantly exceeding the carbon released from the seas to the atmosphere. In terms of output, the depositional fluxes of organic carbon in the Bohai Sea, Yellow Sea, East China Sea, and South China Sea are 2.00, 3.60, 7.40, and 5.92 Tg C yr~(-1), respectively. The fluxes of organic carbon from the East China Sea and South China Sea to the adjacent oceans are 15.25–36.70 and 43.93 Tg C yr~(-1), respectively. The annual carbon storage of mangroves, wetlands, and seagrass in Chinese coastal waters is 0.36–1.75 Tg C yr~(-1), with a dissolved organic carbon(DOC) output from seagrass beds of up to 0.59 Tg C yr~(-1). Removable organic carbon flux by Chinese macroalgae mariculture account for 0.68 Tg C yr~(-1) and the associated POC depositional and DOC releasing fluxes are 0.14 and 0.82 Tg C yr~(-1), respectively. Thus, in total, the annual output of organic carbon, which is mainly DOC, in the China Seas is 81.72–104.56 Tg C yr~(-1). The DOC efflux from the East China Sea to the adjacent oceans is 15.00–35.00 Tg C yr~(-1). The DOC efflux from the South China Sea is 31.39 Tg C yr~(-1). Although the marginal China Seas seem to be a source of atmospheric CO_2 based on the CO_2 flux at the sea-air interface, the combined effects of the riverine input in the area, oceanic input, depositional export,and microbial carbon pump(DOC conversion and output) indicate that the China Seas represent an important carbon storage area.     

Laser-ablation ICP-MS zircon U-Pb ages for key Pliocene-Pleistocene tephra beds in unglaciated Yukon and Alaska

Tephrochronology is one of the most effective ways to correlate and date Quaternary deposits across large distances. However, it can be challenging to obtain direct ages on tephra beds when they are beyond the limit of radiocarbon dating, do not contain mineral phases suitable for ⁴⁰K-⁴⁰Ar (or ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar) dating, or suitable glass shards for fission-track dating are not available. Zircon U-Pb dating by laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) is an emerging technique for dating young (<1 Ma) tephra. Here, we demonstrate that LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating can produce reliable ages for key tephra beds found in Yukon and Alaska. We assessed five different techniques for calculating tephra maximum depositional ages from zircon U-Pb ages for eight tephra beds. Our preferred zircon U-Pb ages (reported with 2σ uncertainties), based on a Bayesian model for calculating maximum depositional ages, are broadly consistent with previously established chronology constructed from stratigraphy, paleomagnetism, and/or glass fission track and ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages: Biederman tephra (178 ± 17 ka), HP tephra (680 ± 47 ka), Gold Run tephra (688 ± 44 ka), Flat Creek tephra (708 ± 43 ka), PA tephra (1.92 ± 0.06 Ma), Quartz Creek tephra (2.62 ± 0.08 Ma), Lost Chicken tephra (3.14 ± 0.07 Ma), and GI tephra (542 ± 64 ka). We also present newly revised glass fission-track and ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages recalculated from previous determinations using updated ages for the Moldavite tektite and Fish Canyon Tuff standards, and updated K decay constants. For Pleistocene age zircon crystals, corrections for ²³⁰Th disequilibrium and common-Pb are significant and must be treated with caution. Similarly, apparent tephra ages are sensitive to the choice of method used to calculate a maximum depositional age from the assemblage of individual crystallization ages. This study demonstrates that LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating can be successfully applied to numerous Pliocene-Pleistocene Alaskan-Yukon tephra, providing confidence in applying this method to other stratigraphically important tephra in the region.     

Anomalous cosmogenic 3He production and elevation scaling in the high Himalaya

The production rate of cosmogenic ³He in apatite, zircon, kyanite and garnet was obtained by cross-calibration against ¹⁰Be in co-existing quartz in glacial moraine boulders from the Nepalese Himalaya. The boulders have ¹⁰Be ages between 6 and 16 kyr and span elevations from 3200 to 4800 m. In all of these minerals ³He correlates with ¹⁰Be and is dominantly cosmogenic in origin. After modest correction for non-cosmogenic components, ³He/¹⁰Be systematics imply apparent sea-level high-latitude (SLHL) apparent production rates for ³He of 226 atoms g^? 1 yr^? 1 in zircon, 254 atoms g^? 1 yr^? 1 in apatite, 177 atoms g^? 1 yr^? 1 in kyanite, and 153 atoms g^? 1 yr^? 1 in garnet. These production rates are unexpectedly high compared with rates measured elsewhere in the world, and also compared with proposed element-specific production rates. For apatite and zircon, the data are sufficient to conclude that the ³He/¹⁰Be ratio increases with elevation. If this reflects different altitudinal scaling between production rates for the two isotopes then the SLHL production rates estimated by our approach are overestimates. We consider several hypotheses to explain these observations, including production of ³He via thermal neutron capture on ⁶Li, altitudinal variations in the energy spectrum of cosmic-ray neutrons, and the effects of snow cover. Because all of these effects are small, we conclude that the altitudinal variations in production rates of cosmogenic ³He and ¹⁰Be are distinct from each other at least at this location over the last ～ 10 kyr. This conclusion calls into question commonly adopted geographic scaling laws for at least some cosmogenic nuclides. If confirmed, this distinction may provide a mechanism by which to obtain paleoelevation estimates.     

Fission track dating of kimberlitic zircons

The only reliable method for dating kimberlites at present is the lengthy and specialized hydrothermal procedure that extracts²⁰⁶Pb and²³⁸U from low-uranium zircons. This paper describes a second successful method by fission track dating of large single-crystal zircons, 1.0–1.5 cm in dimension. The use of large crystals overcomes the limitations imposed in conventional fission track analysis which utilizes crushed fragments. Low track densities, optical track dispersion, and the random orientation of polished surfaces in the etch and irradiation cycle are effectively overcome.Fission track ages of zircons from five African kimberlites are reported, from the Kimberley Pool (90.3 ± 6.5 m.y.), Orapa (87.4 ± 5.7 and 92.4 ± 6.1 m.y.), Nzega (51.1 ± 3.8 m.y.), Koffiefontein (90.0 ± 8.2 m.y.), and Val do Queve (133.4 ± 11.5 m.y.). In addition we report the first radiometric ages (707.9 ± 59.6 and 705.5 ± 61.0 m.y.) of crustal zircons from kimberlites in northwest Liberia. The fission track ages agree well with earlier age estimates. Most of the zircons examined in this study are zoned with respect to uranium but linear correlations are established (by regression analysis) between zones of variable uranium content, and within zones of constant uranium content (by analysis of variance). Concordance between the fission track method and the U/Pb technique is established and we concluded that track fading from thermal annealing has not taken place. Kimberlitic zircons dated in this study, therefore, record the time of eruption.     

Geochronological study of the Monte Amiata Lavas (Central Italy)

K/Ar and fission track age measurements were performed on lava samples of Monte Amiata volcano (Central Italy) which is formed by a sequence of lava flows and lava domes ranging in composition from trachybasalts to high-SiO₂ quartzlatites. The ages obtained, except for the oldest volcanic products, range from 290,000 to 180,000 years. Excess⁴⁰Ar was found in some mineral separates, especially biotite, causing apparent rather old ages. The correct ages were calculated by means of K/Ar isochrons, and were found to be very similar to the ages calculated on sanidine separates. The volcanic activity that built up the outcropping Monte Amiata units seems to have lasted a relatively short time.     

Carbon fluxes in the China Seas: An overview and perspective

This paper aims to provide an overview of regional carbon fluxes and budgets in the marginal seas adjacent to China.The "China Seas" includes primarily the South China Sea, East China Sea, Yellow Sea, and the Bohai Sea. Emphasis is given to CO_2 fluxes across the air-sea interface and their controls. The net flux of CO_2 degassing from the China Seas is estimated to be9.5±53 Tg C yr~(-1). The total riverine carbon flux through estuaries to the China Seas is estimated as 59.6±6.4 Tg C yr~(-1). Chinese estuaries annually emit 0.74±0.02 Tg C as CO_2 to the atmosphere. Additionally, there is a very large net carbon influx from the Western Pacific to the China Seas, amounting to ～2.5 Pg C yr~(-1). As a first-order estimate, the total export flux of particulate organic carbon from the upper ocean of the China Seas is 240±80 Tg C yr~(-1). This review also attempts to examine current knowledge gaps to promote a better understanding of the carbon cycle in this important region.     

Strontium and argon isotopic homogenization of pelitic sediments during low-grade regional metamorphism: The pan-African upper Damara sequence of Northern Namibia (South West Africa)

The fine mineral fractions < 2 μm extracted from pelitic sediments of the Eocambrian upper Damaran Mulden Group were subjected to a detailed isotopic study by the Rb-Sr and K-Ar methods in combination with a mineralogical analysis by X-ray diffractometry.The sediments contain two major parageneses of metamorphic origin which can be related to two separate low-grade regional metamorphic events of anchizonal intensity with temperatures between 250 and 300°C and pressures up to 2 kbar. These events are dated at about 535 m.y. and 455 m.y. respectively (with λ(⁸⁷Rb) = 1.42 × 10^?11 yr^?1).Anomalously high K-Ar ages on samples from specific stratigraphic horizons can be related to open system behaviour and K migration during the formation of stilpnomelane from ferromagnesian illites.This study shows that age dating of sedimentary rocks subjected to low-grade regional metamorphism can only yield meaningful results if the interpretation of isotopic analyses is based on a clear understanding of the mineralogical processes that led to the formation of those parageneses which characterize the rock unit dated.     

Fission track dating of volcanic glass shards in marine sediments

The fission track dating method is applied to glass shards from volcanic ash layers in deep sea sediments which have also been dated by other methods. Measured ages for three samples are in excellent agreement with previously determined K-Ar, paleomagnetic and paleontologic ages. The fission track method of dating of glass shards seems to offer itself as a valuable tool for dating marine sediments.     

Large prandtl number finite-amplitude thermal convection with maxwell viscoelasticity

Abstract

Nonlinear interactions of deviatoric stress components and the velocity field occur in all dynamic flows where convected elasticity is accounted for. By incorporating a linear Maxwellian constitutive relation (Oldroyd ‘B’ type) into a finite-amplitude convection model we quantify the magnitude of some of the effects of these nonlinear interactions. For viscoelastic flows the relevant nondimensional parameter is the ratio of viscoelastic constitutive relaxation time constant, λ₁, to the basic flow process time. The Rayleigh number, Ra, and the nondimensional ratio of λ₁ to thermal conduction time, τ_c, are part of the parameter space investigated. However, shorter basic flow time scales than that for thermal equilibration are of interest since most viscoelastic fluids have relatively small values of λ₁ The ratio of λ₁ to buoyant time [bcirc], or λ₁/[bcirc], is, therefore, a pertinent parameter. Using both lithospheric and aesthenospheric values for λ₁, the ratio appropriate to mantle convection is roughly bounded by O(1)[bcirc]>λ₁/[bcirc]>O(10^?6). Employing these bounds and computing low Rayleigh number time-dependent convective flows in a two-dimensional box, it is demonstrated that viscoelasticity has a negligible influence on quasi-steady heat transport even for λ₁/[bcirc]～O(1) For any time-dependent behavior with time scales as short, or shorter than, the buoyant time, [bcirc], viscoelasticity might be important to the local exchange of mechanical energy. The recoverable strain energy in the descending portion of the lithosphere is comparable to the local viscous dissipation. The magnitude of this recoverable component of shear is proportional to λ₁/[bcirc].     

Whole rock Th-Pb age for the Masuke and Dembe-Divula complexes,Rhodesia

A whole rock U-Th-Pb study was carried out on eight granites from a suite previously dated at 177 ± 4my(λ = 1.39 × 10^?11yr^?1) by Rb-Sr methods. A U-Pb isochron was not obtained owing to recent leaching of U in the outcrop. Seven samples gave a Th-Pb isochron with age 184 ± 16my(λ = 4.99 × 10^?11yr^?1), (^20/8Pb²⁰⁴Pb)₀ = 39.2 ± 0.2 and MSWD 0.8. The eighth sample fell off the line and was rejected on geological grounds. Dissolving 5 g aliquots of the powdered rock markedly improved the reproducibility of U analyses but analysis of the variances suggests that inhomogeneities still might exist between duplicate dissolutions. Th-Pb geochronology needs further development to bring it to the level of precision of the Rb-Sr method.     

Characteristics of fission tracks in zircon: Applications to Geochronology and Cosmology

We describe a simple method for nearly isotropic revelation of fission tracks in zircon. The etchant is an equivolume mixture of 48% HF and 98% H₂SO₄; etching is carried out under pressure at 150° – 180°C. For fossil track densities above ～ 5 × 10⁶, the etching time is strongly anticorrelated with track density. The total etchable fission fragment track length (2 fragments) is 11 ± 0.5 μm. The length distribution is sharply peaked; the standard deviation in different samples is ± (0.7 – 0.8) μm. Thermal annealing studies indicate a lower activation energy for track fading than was previously repoted using a phosphoric acid etchant. A practical chemical dissolution method is described for quantitatively recovering zircon crystals from rock samples; this method should find application in fission track dating of even zircon poor rocks.     

The impact of pro‐glacial lakes on downstream sediment delivery in Norway

Glacier recessions caused by climate change may uncover pro‐glacial lakes that form important sedimentation basins regulating the downstream sediment delivery. The impact of modern pro‐glacial lakes on fluvial sediment transport from three different Norwegian glaciers: Nigardsbreen, Engabreen and Tunsbergdalsbreen, and their long‐term development has been studied. All of these lakes developed in modern times in overdeepened bedrock basins. The recession of Nigardsbreen uncovered a 1.8 km long and on average 15 m deep pro‐glacial lake basin during 1937 to 1968. Since then the glacier front has been situated entirely on land, and the sediment input and output of the lake has been measured. The suspended sediment transport into and out of the lake averaged 11 730 t yr^?1 and 2340 t yr^?1 respectively. Thus, 20% remained in suspension at the outlet. The measured mean annual bedload supplied to the lake was 11 800 t yr^?1, giving a total transport of 23 530 t yr^?1 which corresponds to a specific sediment yield of 561 t km^?2 yr^?1. A 1.9 km long and up to 90 m deep pro‐glacial lake basin downstream from Engabreen glacier was uncovered during 1890 to 1944. The average suspended sediment load delivered from the glacier during the years 1970–1981 amounted to 12 375 t yr^?1and the transport out of the lake was 2021 t yr^?1, giving an average of 16% remaining in suspension. The mean annual bedload was 8000 t yr^?1, thus the total transport was 20 375 t yr^?1, giving a specific sediment yield of 566 t km^?2 yr^?1. For Tunsbergdalsbreen glacier, measurements in the early 1970s indicated that the suspended sediment transport was on average 44 000 t yr^?1. From 1987 to 1993 the recession of the glacier uncovered a small pro‐glacial lake, 0.3 km long and around 9 m deep. Downstream from this, the suspended sediment load measured in 2009 was 28 000 t yr^?1, indicating that as much as 64% remained in suspension. Flow velocity, grain size of sediment, and morphology of the lake are important factors controlling the sedimentation rate in the pro‐glacial lakes. A survey of the sub‐glacial morphology of Tunsbergdalsbreen revealed that there are several overdeepened basins beneath the glacier. The largest is 4 km long and 100 m deep. When the glacier melts back they will become lakes and act as sedimentation basins. Despite an expected increase in sediment yield from the glacier, little sediment will pass these lakes and downstream sediment delivery will be reduced markedly. Beneath Nigardsbreen there was only a small depression that may form a lake and the sediment delivery will not be significantly affected. © 2014 The Authors. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.     

Energy partitioning over a semi‐arid shrubland in northern China

During the last decade, the widely distributed shrublands in northern China have shown significant signs of recovery from desertification, the result of widespread conservation practices. However, to support the current efforts in conservation, more knowledge is needed on surface energy partitioning and its biophysical controls. Using eddy‐covariance measurements made over a semi‐arid shrubland in northwest China in 2012, we examined how surface energy‐balance components vary on diurnal and seasonal scales, and how biophysical factors control bulk surface parameters and energy exchange. Sensible heat flux (H) exceeded latent heat flux (λE) during most of the year, resulting in an annual Bowen ratio (β, i.e. H/λE) of 2.0. λE exceeded H only in mid‐summer when frequent rainfall co‐occurred with the seasonal peak in leaf area index (LAI). Evapotranspiration reached a daily maximum of 3.3 mm day^?1, and summed to 283 mm yr^?1. The evaporative fraction (EF, i.e. λE/R_n), Priestley–Taylor coefficient (α), surface conductance (g_s) and decoupling coefficient (Ω) were all positively correlated with soil water content (SWC) and LAI. The direct enhancement of λE by high vapour pressure deficit (VPD) was buffered by a concurrent suppression of g_s. The g_s played a direct role in controlling EF and α by mediating the effects of LAI, SWC and VPD. Our results highlight the importance of adaptive plant responses to water scarcity in regulating ecosystem energy partitioning, and suggest an important role for revegetation in the reversal of desertification in semi‐arid areas. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.