Multiphase magnetizations: Problems and implications

Experiments combining different cleaning and analytical techniques indicate that multiphase magnetizations may be quite common. However, these may not be recognized because of limited experimental work. Alternating field (AF) cleaning is often the only treatment applied to igneous and metamorphic rocks; thermal and/or AF cleanings are usually the only treatments applied to sedimentary rocks. In many instances, AF and thermal treatments are limited to 100 mT and 550°C respectively. Investigations based on such limited cleaning often fail to detect some of the phases of magnetization contained in the rock. Failure to detect one or more phases means that valuable data are not recovered and the whole magnetic history of the rock has not been unfolded. Most importantly, the undetected phase might be the initial so that a secondary magnetization can easily be mistaken for the initial with an erroneous interpretation as a result. It is therefore imperative to recognize all phases of magnetizations and it possible to separate them.Procedures that have been used to recognize and unravel multiphase magnetizations are described. These procedures make use of chemical, thermal and AF cleaning treatments, two-stage demagnetization, vector analysis, slicing of specimens and vector diagrams. The combination used depends on the rock studied. For example, it is found that AF followed by thermal treatment can be very useful for the study of igneous rocks; chemical leaching is by far the most effective cleaning technique for the study of red beds. A three-phase model describing the magnetizations process of certain red beds is proposed. The slicing of specimens is used to explain intermediate directions with respect to field reversals. It is shown that graphical representation by vector diagrams can greatly facilitate the interpretation of the results. The examples show that, although a statistically well defined magnetization may be obtained after limited cleaning, it cannot be assumed to be the initial. One must ascertain that another magnetization has not remained undetected. This necessitates detailed and extensive experimental work using and devising new analytical procedures in an attempt to unfold the whole magnetic history of the rock. It is noted that tentative polar paths constructed from results obtained after inadequate experimental work cannot be up-graded by adding more data points of doubtful or unproven quality. The evolutionary process of polar paths is dependent upon increasing the reliability of palaeomagnetic results.     

Hydrological regulation of chemical weathering and dissolved inorganic carbon biogeochemical processes in a monsoonal river

To better understand the mechanisms relating to hydrological regulations of chemical weathering processes and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) behaviours, high-frequency sampling campaigns and associated analyses were conducted in the Yu River, South China. Hydrological variability modifies the biogeochemical processes of dissolved solutes, so major ions display different behaviours in response to discharge change. Most ions become diluted with increasing discharge because of the shortened reactive time between rock and water under high-flow conditions. Carbonate weathering is the main source of major ions, which shows strong chemostatic behaviour in response to changes in discharge. Ions from silicate weathering exhibit a significant dilution effect relative to the carbonate-sourced ions. Under high temperatures, the increased soil CO₂ influx from the mineralisation of organic material shifts the negative carbon isotope ratios of DIC (δ¹³C_DIC) during the high-flow season. The δ¹³C_DIC values show a higher sensitivity than DIC contents in response to various hydrological conditions. Results from a modified isotope-mixing model (IsoSource) demonstrate that biological carbon is a dominant source of DIC and plays an important role in temporal carbon dynamics. Furthermore, this study provides insights into chemical weathering processes and carbon dynamics, highlighting the significant influence of hydrological variability to aid understanding of the global carbon cycle.     

Coastal erosion vs man-made protective structures: evaluating a two-decade history from southeastern India

Remote sensing images of AD 1991–2011 and field observations help evaluate shoreline changes (erosion and accretion) in Puducherry and Tamil Nadu states of southeastern India. A minor harbor was constructed during AD 1986–1989 in the coast of Puducherry, and it initiated the gradual process of shoreline modification. In the subsequent years, beaches located toward the north of the harbor suffered erosion (?0.12–?4.19 m/year) and there was accretion (0.27–7.25 m/year) in the southern beaches. However, the man-made structures (seawall and groin) have reduced the shoreline changes after AD 2004. In the last two decades, the rate of erosion area-wise gradually decreased (0.24–0.013 km²/year) and accretion remained constant (0.019 km²/year). Our results suggest that accretion happened in the southern side of the breakwaters and erosion occurred in the northern part. Presence of groins structures in the region in the northern part has also provoked accretion in the south and erosion in the northern side close to the State of Tamil Nadu.

     

Hypoxia in the northern Gulf of Mexico: Does the science support the Plan to Reduce,Mitigate, and Control Hypoxia?

We update and reevaluate the scientific information on the distribution, history, and causes of continental shelf hypoxia that supports the 2001 Action Plan for Reducing, Mitigating, and Controlling Hypoxia in the Northern Gulf of Mexico (Mississippi River/Gulf of Mexico Watershed Nutrient Task Force 2001), incorporating data, publications, and research results produced since the 1999 integrated assessment. The metric of mid-summer hypoxic area on the LouisianaTexas shelf is an adequate and suitable measure for continued efforts to reduce nutrients loads from the Mississippi River and hypoxia in the northern Gulf of Mexico as outlined in the Action Plan. More frequent measurements of simple metrics (e.g., area and volume) from late spring through late summer would ensure that the metric is representative of the system in any given year and useful in a public discourse of conditions and causes. The long-term data on hypoxia, sources of nutrients, associated biological parameters, and paleoindicators continue to verify and strengthen the relationship between the nitratenitrogen load of the Mississippi River, the extent of hypoxia, and changes in the coastal ecosystem (eutrophication and worsening hypoxia). Multiple lines of evidence, some of them representing independent data sources, are consistent with the big picture pattern of increased eutrophication as a result of long-term nutrient increases that result in excess carbon production and accumulation and, ultimately, bottom water hypoxia. The additional findings arising since 1999 strengthen the science supporting the Action Plan that focuses on reducing nutrient loads, primarily nitrogen, through multiple actions to reduce the size of the hypoxic zone in the northern Gulf of Mexico.     

典型喀斯特流域降水与径流特征分析及径流年际变化的影响因素贡献分解

地下水文过程是地球关键带科学研究的重要问题,在具有地表地下二元水文结构的喀斯特地区,其水文过程与其他类型区差异显著,研究黔中典型喀斯特小流域后寨河流域降水与径流特征及径流年际变化的影响因素,有助于在区域视角上了解气候变化与人类活动影响下的喀斯特流域水文特征。本文基于贵州省普定县后寨河流域出口观测站1987~2006年实测降水、地表径流、地下径流序列水文数据,分析比较了后寨河流域降水、径流的年内与年际变化特征,并采用集中度与不均匀系数两个指标分析比较了流域降水与径流的年内分配特征。采用累积距平法、年际累积量法分析了流域降水量与径流量的年际变化趋势,确定出1990年与2002年两个拐点年份,其中1990年为突变年。运用累积量斜率变化率比较法定量计算出气候变化与人类活动对径流年际变化的贡献率：以人类活动影响较小的初始阶段T₁（1987~1990年）为基准期,在不考虑潜在蒸散量的影响时,计算得到人类活动影响加剧的措施期T₂（1991~2002年）时段降水量减少对于地表、地下径流量减少的贡献率分别为39.32%、46.52%,人类活动对于地表、地下径流量减少的贡献率分别为60.68%、53.48%;如果考虑潜在蒸散量的影响,潜在蒸散量减少对于地表、地下径流量减少的贡献率分别为-14.89%、-17.61%,而人类活动对于地表、地下径流量减少的贡献率分别增至为75.57%、71.09%。可见,人类活动是后寨河流域径流量年际变化的主要驱动因素。

     

Cluster regression model and level fluctuation features of Van Lake, Turkey

Lake water levels change under the influences of natural and/or anthropogenic environmental conditions. Among these influences are the climate change, greenhouse effects and ozone layer depletions which are reflected in the hydrological cycle features over the lake drainage basins. Lake levels are among the most significant hydrological variables that are influenced by different atmospheric and environmental conditions. Consequently, lake level time series in many parts of the world include nonstationarity components such as shifts in the mean value, apparent or hidden periodicities. On the other hand, many lake level modeling techniques have a stationarity assumption. The main purpose of this work is to develop a cluster regression model for dealing with nonstationarity especially in the form of shifting means. The basis of this model is the combination of transition probability and classical regression technique. Both parts of the model are applied to monthly level fluctuations of Lake Van in eastern Turkey. It is observed that the cluster regression procedure does preserve the statistical properties and the transitional probabilities that are indistinguishable from the original data.     

Geochemical approach to magmatic evolution of Mt. Erciyes stratovolcano Central Anatolia, Turkey

Erciyes stratovolcano, culminating at 3917 m, is located in the Cappadocian region of central Anatolia. During its evolution, this Quaternary volcano produced pyroclastic deposits and lava flows. The great majority of these products are calc-alkaline in character and they constitute Kocdag and Erciyes sequences by repeated activities. Alkaline activity is mainly observed in the first stages of Kocdag and approximately first-middle stages of Erciyes sequences. Generally, Kocdag and Erciyes stages terminate by pyroclastic activities. The composition of lavas ranges from basalt to rhyolite (48.4–70.5 wt.% SiO₂). Calc-alkaline rocks are represented mostly by andesites and dacites. Some compositional differences between alkaline basaltic, basaltic and andesitic rocks were found; while the composition of dacites remain unchanged. All these volcanics are generally enriched in LIL and HFS elements relative to the orogenic values except Rb, Ba, Nb depleted alkaline basalt. ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd isotopic composition of the volcanics range between 0.703344–0.703964, 0.512920–0.512780 for alkaline basalts and change between 0.704322–0.705088, 0.512731–0.512630 for alkaline basaltic rocks whereas calc-alkaline rocks have relatively high Sr and Nd isotopic ratios (0.703434–0.705468, 0.512942–0.512600). Low Rb, Ba, Nb content with high Zr/Nb, low Ba/Nb, La/Yb ratio and low Sr isotopic composition suggest an depleted source component, while high Ba, Rb, Nb content with high La/Yb, Ba/Nb, low Zr/Nb and low ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios indicate an OIB-like mantle source for the generation of Erciyes alkaline magma. These elemental and ratio variations also indicate that the different mantle sources have undergone different degree of partial melting episodes. The depletion in Ba, Rb, Nb content may be explained by the removal of these elements from the source by slab-derived fluids which were released from pre-collisional subduction, modified the asthenospheric mantle. The chemically different mantle sources interacted with crustal materials to produce calc-alkaline magma. The Ba/Nb increase of calc-alkaline samples indicates the increasing input of crustal components to Erciyes volcanics. Sr and Nd isotopic compositions and elevated LIL and HFS element content imply that calc-alkaline magma may be derived from mixing of an OIB-like mantle melts with a subduction-modified asthenospheric mantle and involvement of crustal materials in intraplate environments.     

天空光遮挡法水体光谱测量便携版漂浮式光学浮标研发与应用

离水辐亮度Lw(Water-leaving radiance)是水色遥感现场观测中的关键物理量之一,由其计算获得的遥感反射率Rrs(Remote sensing reflectance)是水色遥感参数反演的最基本参数.天空光遮挡法SBA(Skylight-blocked approach)可以直接测量水体离水辐亮度,作...