Tree-ring evidence linking late twentieth century changes in precipitation to slope instability,central New York state,USA

The Burtonsville landslide in central New York, USA, is a kilometer-scale rotational block failure in glacial till that was likely initiated by incision of the adjacent Schoharie Creek. Although the timing of initial failure is unknown, relatively fresh scarps and tilted surfaces suggest that movement is post-glacial and active. The river currently erodes the toe slope and it removed significant material during flooding associated with Hurricane Irene (August 2011). We retrieved tree cores from 111 trees across the landslide to reconstruct modern movement and block tilting as it related to moisture conditions in the region. Our data show that trees across the slide are in sync with respect to the stress response indicated by reaction wood. The magnitude of response to slope instability, as inferred from eccentric growth, has varied considerably across the site. We hypothesize that macropore development during the driest periods, and the differential rate at which water has reached subsurface failure planes, has caused the observed slope instability. The combination of a wetter precipitation regime and slope instability leads to higher sediment loads in the adjacent stream and serves as a useful analogy for similar watersheds in the region.     

How late are K-feldspar megacrysts in granites?

Various petrologists have suggested that K-feldspar megacrysts grow in granites that are extensively crystallized, even at subsolidus conditions. However, experimental evidence indicates that, though K-feldspar nucleates relatively late in the crystallization history, abundant liquid is available for development of large crystals. A great deal of evidence, involving many different factors, favours a magmatic/phenocrystic origin for K-feldspar megacrysts in granites, namely simple twinning, oscillatory zoning, euhedral plagioclase inclusions, and concentric, crystallographically controlled arrangements of inclusions. In addition, abundant evidence has been presented of (1) mechanical accumulation of K-feldspar megacrysts in granites, (2) alignment of megacrysts and megacryst concentrations in magmatic flow foliations, (3) involvement of megacrysts in zones of magma mixing in granite plutons, and (4) occurrence of megacrysts in some volcanic rocks, implying that the megacrysts were suspended in enough liquid to be moved without fracturing or plastic deformation. Detailed trace element and isotopic data also indicate that megacrysts can move between coexisting felsic and more mafic magmas. Irregular overgrowths on megacrysts are consistent with continued magmatic growth after euhedral megacrystic growth ceased, the overgrowths being impeded by simultaneously crystallizing quartz and feldspar grains.     

Climate warming alters thermal stability but not stratification phenology in a small north‐temperate lake

Recent climate change represents one of the most serious anthropogenic threats to lake ecosystems in Canada. As meteorological and hydrological conditions are altered by climate change, so too are physical, chemical and biological properties of lakes. The ability to quantify the impact of climate change on the physical properties of lakes represents an integral step in estimating future chemical and biological change. To that end, we have used the dynamic reservoir simulation model, a one‐dimensional vertical heat transfer and mixing model, to hindcast and compare lake temperature‐depth profiles against 30 years of long‐term monitoring data in Harp Lake, Ontario. These temperature profiles were used to calculate annual (June–September) thermal stability values from 1979 to 2009. Comparisons between measured and modelled lake water temperature and thermal stability over three decades showed strong correlation (r² > 0.9). However, despite significant increases in modelled thermal stability over the 30 year record, we found no significant change in the timing of the onset, breakdown or the duration of thermal stratification. Our data suggest that increased air temperature and decreased wind are the primary drivers of enhanced stability in Harp Lake since 1979. The high‐predictive ability of the Harp Lake dynamic reservoir simulation model suggests that its use as a tool in future lake management projects is appropriate. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The nature and origin of brecdation and mineralization at the White Crystal ore deposit,Ardlethan tin mine,New South Wales

The White Crystal ore zone consists of an ovoid mass of fine grained quartz‐tourmaline topaz rock containing disseminated cassiterite together with prominent vughs of quartz and/or tourmaline, cassiterite, and sulphides. Toward the margins of the ore zone the decreasing intensity of alteration illustrates formation via a process of brecciation, infill, and alteration. The rectangular slab‐like fragments are commonly aligned and their plunge indicates a dip towards a common epicentre. The tourmalinized ore zone is surrounded by successive zones of sericitization and argillization. The brecciation is of large scale tensional origin which is suggestive of collapse. Beneath the ore zone mineralization/alteration continues at subeconomic grades and limited data suggests an intrusive hydrothermal style of brecciation. The entire system is a form of breccia pipe and has yielded some 1.5 Mt of ore at around 0.64% Sn.     

Who and what are carbon markets for? Politics and the development of climate policy

Why have carbon markets been rapidly adopted as policy solutions to climate change in the last decade? Perhaps surprisingly, this question has attracted virtually no attention in the large literature on such markets. The standard arguments given for why carbon markets are good ways to respond to climate change do not explain why such markets have flourished as governance mechanisms in relation to climate. Carbon markets have spread and become taken-for-granted because of the potential they give to certain powerful actors (financiers, specifically) to create new cycles of investment, profits and growth. As a consequence, they make possible a political coalition combining financiers with environmentalists. This coalition has considerable potential to legitimize substantial cuts in carbon emissions in the face of continued opposition from other interests. It is the combination of these two elements – the promotion of specific growth sectors and the construction of a political coalition – that constitutes the principal political virtue of carbon markets. In order to demonstrate this claim, the history of emissions trading is traced and the implication of this analysis is explored for the further building of climate governance centred on carbon markets.     

Implications of dredging induced changes in sediment particle size composition for the structure and function of marine benthic macrofaunal communities

A meta-analysis approach was used to assess the effect of dredging induced changes in sediment composition, under different conditions of natural physical disturbance, for the structure and function of marine benthic macrofaunal communities. Results showed the sensitivity of macrofaunal communities increased as both the proportion of gravel increased and the level of natural physical disturbance decreased. These findings may be explained by the close association of certain taxa with the gravel fraction, and the influence of natural physical disturbance which, as it increases, tends to restrict the colonisation by these species. We conclude that maintaining the gravel content of surface sediments after dredging and, where practicable, locating extraction sites in areas of higher natural disturbance will minimise the potential for long-term negative impacts on the macrofauna.     

Mud‐rich delta‐scale compound clinoforms in the Triassic shelf of northern Pangea (Havert Formation,south‐western Barents Sea)

In recent years it has become clear that many shallow‐marine heterolithic and mudstone‐dominated successions are deposited as mud belts forming part of subaqueous deltas that are related to major fluvial sources either upstream or along shore. Here the Havert Formation is presented as an ancient example of this kind of system. The Havert Formation in the south‐western Barents Sea represents shelf margin clinoforms consisting predominantly of heterolithic deposits. Sediments were mainly derived from the east (Ural Mountains), but a smaller system prograded northward from Fennoscandia. The Havert Formation holds a lot of interest due to: (i) its stratigraphic position, directly above the Permo–Triassic boundary and contemporaneous to the emplacement of the Siberian Traps; (ii) the fact that it represents the first siliciclastic input in the south‐western Barents Sea and it shows interaction between Uralian‐derived and Fennoscandian‐derived sediments; and (iii) its hydrocarbon potential. This study is focused on a detailed sedimentological analysis of cored intervals of the (Ural‐derived) Havert Formation, in combination with seismic interpretation, well‐log correlations and palynological analysis of the Havert and overlying Klappmyss formations. The cored intervals belong to the shelf environment of the Havert shelf‐margin clinoforms (300 to 500 m thick). This sedimentological analysis distinguishes six facies associations, spanning from tidally‐influenced channels at the shoreline to mud‐rich subaqueous platform and foresets of the subaqueous delta. Seismic lines and well‐log correlations show the larger‐scale evolution of the Ural‐derived Havert Formation, characterized by episodes of low‐accommodation and high‐accommodation. The palynological analyses provide the first detailed study of the Havert Formation in the Nordkapp Basin, revising its depositional age in the region as Induan to early Olenekian (Smithian). Furthermore, they strengthen the environmental interpretation; palynofacies present on the shelf record flora of tidally‐influenced coastal plains, whereas the palynofacies in the deep‐water slope contain only amorphous organic matter.     

Urban Soil Microbial Features and Their Environmental Significance as Exemplified by Aberdeen City,UK

Urban soil research has invoked great interest in recent years.Previous studies were mainly focused on urban soil physics and chemistry,and soil geography to constrain the source,distribution,transport and deposition of pollutants such as heavy metals and health-hazardous organic matter,bu t litte has been done on soil microbiology.In this paper,the authors reported the variation of microbial features in urban soils compared with those from adjacent rual areas.The results show great changes in basal respiration rates microbial biomass and ecophysiological parameters have taken place in urban environment because of the anthropogenic stress, thus activating the microorganisms.As a result,much more energy,carbon is consumed at a low utilization efficiency.So microbial biosensors can be used to indicate urban environmental pollution effectively.     

用微生物对单一碳源利用方法探讨重金属在城市土壤中积累的环境效应

Biolog研究表明，英国阿伯丁市城市土壤的微生物群落结构显著有别于农村土壤，并使微生物对碳源的消耗量增加，消耗速度加快。城市土壤中不仅重金属Cu,Pb,Zn,Ni的含量明显高于农村土壤，而且其化学形态的主成分分析表明，有效态Pb,Zn,Cu及有机态Ni和Cu是导致城市土壤区分于农村土壤的主要因子。相关性分析表明，Biolog的这种变化规律与重金属的上述化学形态密切相关；典型变量分析表明，重金属对城市土壤微生物群落结果的这种损伤具有长期性效应及不可恢复性。