GGR Biennial Critical Review: Analytical Developments Since 2012

Advances in the chemical, crystallographic and isotopic characterisation of geological and environmental materials can often be ascribed to technological improvements in analytical hardware or to innovative approaches to data acquisition and/or its interpretation. This biennial review addresses key laboratory methods that form much of the foundation for analytical geochemistry; again, this contribution is presented as a compendium of laboratory techniques. We highlight advances that have appeared since January 2012 and that are of particular significance for the chemical and isotopic characterisation of geomaterials. Prominent scientists from the selected analytical fields present publications they judge to be particular noteworthy, providing background information about the method and assessing where further opportunities might be anticipated. In addition to the well‐established technologies such as thermal ionisation mass spectrometry and plasma emission spectroscopy, this publication also presents new or rapidly growing methods such as electron backscattered diffraction analysis and atom probe tomography – a very sensitive method providing atomic scale information.     

Current climate data rescue activities in Australia

正1.Introduction Recovering historical instrumental climate data is crucial for identifying long-term climate variability and change,putting present climate into context and constraining future climate projections(Brunet and Jones,2011).In other words,to understand the future,we need to improve our understand-     

Grab sampling for the determination of sulfur dioxide and dimethyl sulfide in air by isotope dilution gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

Developments allowing the direct determination of sulfur dioxide and dimethyl sulfide in grab samples by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry with isotopically labeled standards (GC/MS/ILS) are reported. Isotopomers of DMS and SO₂ are used as internal standards. Spiked air samples are dried to a dew point of <–60 °C and trapped cryogenically in loops of Teflon tubing. Sealed samples are transported to the laboratory under liquid nitrogen and later subjected to GC/MS analysis. Holding times of up to one month do not result in significant sample loss. For samples collected in a clean marine environment, concentrations of SO₂ and DMS greater than 5 and 8 pptv, respectively, are significantly different from blanks at the 95% confidence level. Average measurement precision derived from a propagation of errors are 9% for SO₂ and 42% for DMS at concentrations from 5–15 pptv.Improvements are outlined which should provide sensitivity and precision comparable to that of on-site GC/MS. The technique will allow increased flexibility for the determination of trace sulfur species in the field under conditions where deployment of a mass spectrometer is not possible.     

Coal’s medium-run future under atmospheric greenhouse gas stabilization

We assess the future of coal under alternative climate stabilization regimes, investigating how the quantity and location of future coal production, trade and use depends upon five factors: the supply-side constraint of resource depletion, diversification and deepening of international trade, economic growth, trends in energy intensity, and the availability of coal-fired carbon-free electric generation technology (IGCC-CCS). Using the Phoenix computable general equilibrium model of the world economy, we find that coal is sensitive to demand-side assumptions about economic growth and energy-saving structural or technological change. In a 550 ppm stabilization emission tax scenario, the gobal coal industry initially declines sharply and then rebounds, in 2050 reaching roughly the same size as it is today—but only if IGCC-CCS is available by 2020. Under alternative stabilization regimes, IGCC-CCS penetration is a key influence on production and imports in major coal regions, where it interacts with extraction costs driven by the rate of depletion relative to trade partners.     

Dietary greenhouse gas emissions of meat-eaters,fish-eaters,vegetarians and vegans in the UK

The production of animal-based foods is associated with higher greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions than plant-based foods. The objective of this study was to estimate the difference in dietary GHG emissions between self-selected meat-eaters, fish-eaters, vegetarians and vegans in the UK. Subjects were participants in the EPIC-Oxford cohort study. The diets of 2,041 vegans, 15,751 vegetarians, 8,123 fish-eaters and 29,589 meat-eaters aged 20–79 were assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Comparable GHG emissions parameters were developed for the underlying food codes using a dataset of GHG emissions for 94 food commodities in the UK, with a weighting for the global warming potential of each component gas. The average GHG emissions associated with a standard 2,000 kcal diet were estimated for all subjects. ANOVA was used to estimate average dietary GHG emissions by diet group adjusted for sex and age. The age-and-sex-adjusted mean (95 % confidence interval) GHG emissions in kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalents per day (kgCO₂e/day) were 7.19 (7.16, 7.22) for high meat-eaters (?>?=?100 g/d), 5.63 (5.61, 5.65) for medium meat-eaters (50-99 g/d), 4.67 (4.65, 4.70) for low meat-eaters (?<?50 g/d), 3.91 (3.88, 3.94) for fish-eaters, 3.81 (3.79, 3.83) for vegetarians and 2.89 (2.83, 2.94) for vegans. In conclusion, dietary GHG emissions in self-selected meat-eaters are approximately twice as high as those in vegans. It is likely that reductions in meat consumption would lead to reductions in dietary GHG emissions.     

Electrokinetic Migration of Nitrate Through Heterogeneous Granular Porous Media

This study investigates and quantifies the influence of physical heterogeneity in granular porous media, represented by materials with different hydraulic conductivity, on the migration of nitrate, used as an amendment to enhance bioremediation, under an electric field. Laboratory experiments were conducted in a bench‐scale test cell under a low applied direct current using glass bead and clay mixes and synthetic groundwater to represent ideal conditions. The experiments included bromide tracer tests in homogeneous settings to deduce controls on electrokinetic transport of inorganic solutes in the different materials, and comparison of nitrate migration under homogeneous and heterogeneous scenarios. The results indicate that physical heterogeneity of subsurface materials, represented by a contrast between a higher‐hydraulic conductivity and lower‐hydraulic conductivity material normal to the direction of the applied electric field exerts the following controls on nitrate migration: (1) a spatial change in nitrate migration rate due to changes in effective ionic mobility and subsequent accumulation of nitrate at the interface between these materials; and (2) a spatial change in the voltage gradient distribution across the hydraulic conductivity contrast, due to the inverse relationship with effective ionic mobility. These factors will contribute to higher mass transport of nitrate through low hydraulic conductivity zones in heterogeneous porous media, relative to homogeneous host materials. Overall electrokinetic migration of amendments such as nitrate can be increased in heterogeneous granular porous media to enhance the in situ bioremediation of organic contaminants present in low hydraulic conductivity zones.     

A review of some unique aspects of the limnology of shallow Southern African man-made lakes

Large numbers of man-made lakes occur throughout S Africa. Although primarily designed for specific water supply purposes, most of these lakes fulfill a multipurpose role. The need for such large numbers of reservoirs is related to vagaries in rainfall and runoff; these uncertainties have led to the development of a philosophy of conserving water quantity, which has created some unusual limnological conditions. Examination of the hydrography and limnology of 64 S African impoundments reveals that both basin morphometry and water retention times are affected by natural (drought/flood) and artificial (drawdown) factors which, in turn, affect the hydrodynamics of the lakes, whilst the introduction of treated effluents as a water conservation measure gives rise to a large percentage of enriched lakes having extremely high productivity.     

Metamorphism and exhumation of basement gneiss domes in the Quadrilátero Ferrífero:Two stage dome-and-keel evolution?

The presence of dome-and-keel provinces in Archean cratons has been connected with the initiation of plate tectonics on Earth as these features are most commonly observed in Archean rocks.The Quadrilátero Ferrífero in Brazil has been identified as a Paleoproterozoic dome-and-keel province for more than three decades.The prevailing model suggests that it formed during the Rhyacian Transamazonian orogeny,making it unique among dome-and-keel provinces.However,a lack of appropriate lithologies,datable minerals and the metamorphic overprint of later orogenesis has resulted in a cryptic metamorphic record for the formation of this dome-and-keel province.A clinopyroxene-bearing migmatite from the core of the Ba??o dome has peak P-T conditions of 5-7 kbar and 700-750 ℃ and a published age of ca.2730 Ma based on U-Pb ages of zircon from leucosomes,suggesting that this age represents the migmatisation event.A fine-grained epidote-albite-titanite assemblage overprints the coarse-grained clinopyroxene and amphibole,giving P-7 conditions of 8-9 kbar and 550 ℃ with an associated titanite age of ca.2050 Ma.A garnet-bearing amphibolite sample also from the core of the dome has peak P-T conditions of 7-8 kbar and 650-700 ℃,and texturally late titanite from this sample produces an age of ca.2060 Ma.Three additional samples were collected from the edges of the dome.A garnet-gedrite bearing felsic schist produces peak P-T conditions of 8-9 kbar and 650-700℃ on a clockwise P-T evolution.This sample has a U-Pb zircon age of ca.2775 Ma,which could date metamorphism or be the age of its volcaniclastic protolith.Texturally unconstrained titanite from the sample gives an age of ca.2040 Ma.A garnet-bearing amphibolite that occurs as a boudin within the felsic schist gives both zircon and titanite ages of ca.2050 Ma and has peak P-T conditions of 5-6 kbar and 650-700 ℃ on a near isobaric P-T path.An amphibolite dike,observed to cross-cut the felsic schist produces a zircon U-Pb age of ca.2760 Ma.Altogether this data suggests that the samples were metamorphosed in the Archean(ca.2775-2730 Ma)and again during the Transamazonian event.The most plausible explanation for this data is that dome-and-keel formation occurred in the Archean with migmatisation and high-temperature metamorphism occurring at this time.The Paleoproterozoic event is interpreted as a reactivation of the dome-and-keel formation structures,with Paleoproterozoic keels crosscutting Archean keels and producing metamorphic aureoles.The high radiogenic heat production and the presence of dense sedimentary successions in Archean terranes make dome-and-keel provinces a uniquely Archean feature,but they are susceptible to reworking,resulting in an enigmatic record of formation.     

Variable foraging and cleaning behavior by juvenile leatherjackets,Oligoplites saurus (Carangidae)

The behavior of the leatherjack, Oligoplites saurus, was studied in the field. Four behavioral patterns were identified: (1) cleaning behavior on the redfin needlefish, Strongylura notata, (2) intraspecific schooling, (3) interspecific schooling with the rough and tidewater silversides, Membras martinica and Menidia peninsulae, pinfish, Lagodon rhomboides, and menhaden, Brevoortia sp., (4) swimming along in a “leafmimic” position or next to floating algae or debris. Fishes exhibiting any of these behaviors fed primarily on plankton. Schooling leatherjackets also fed on scales of Strongylurus notata, Brevoortia sp., Menidia peninsulae and Lagodon rhomboides. These observations are supported by stomach content analyses. It is suggested that scale-feeding may be a preadaptation for cleaning behavior among leatherjackets.     

The application of caesium‐137 measurements to investigate floodplain deposition in a large semi‐arid catchment in Queensland,Australia: a low‐fallout environment

Floodplains comprise geomorphologically important sources and sinks for sediments and associated pollutants, yet the sedimentology of large dryland floodplains is not well understood. Processes occurring on such floodplains are often difficult to observe, and techniques used to investigate smaller perennial floodplains are often not practical in these environments. This study assesses the utility of ¹³⁷Cs inventory and depth‐profile techniques for determining relative amounts of floodplain sedimentation in the Fitzroy River, northeastern Australia; a 143 000 km² semi‐arid river system. Caesium‐137 inventories were calculated for floodplain and reference location bulk soil cores collected from four sites. Depth profiles of ¹³⁷Cs concentration from each floodplain site and a reference location were recorded. The areal density of ¹³⁷Cs at reference locations ranged from 13 to 978 Bq m^–2 (0–1367 Bq m^–2 at the 95% confidence interval), and the mean value ± 2 (standard error of the mean) was 436 ± 264 Bq m^–2, similar to published data from other Southern Hemisphere locations. Floodplain inventories ranged from 68 to 1142 Bq m^–2 (0–1692 Bq m^–2 at the 95% confidence interval), essentially falling within the range of reference inventory values, thus preventing calculation of erosion or deposition. Depth‐profiles of ¹³⁷Cs concentration indicate erosion at one site and over 66 cm of deposition at another since 1954. Analysis of ^239+240Pu concentrations in a depositional core substantiated the interpretation made from ¹³⁷Cs data, and depict a more tightly constrained peak in concentration. Average annual deposition rates range from 0 to 15 mm. The similarity between floodplain and reference bulk inventories does not necessarily indicate a lack of erosion or deposition, due to low ¹³⁷Cs fallout in the region and associated high measurement uncertainties, and a likely influence of gully and bank eroded sediments with no or limited adsorbed ¹³⁷Cs. In this low‐fallout environment, detailed depth‐profile data are necessary for investigating sedimentation using ¹³⁷Cs. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.