Tectonic correlations of pre-Mesozoic crust from the northern termination of the Colombian Andes, Caribbean region

Reconnaissance zircon U/Pb SHRIMP, Ar–Ar, and Sm–Nd geochronology, petrological, and geochemical data were obtained from selected localities of two pre-Mesozoic metamorphic belts from the northern termination of the Colombian Andes in the Caribbean region. The older Proterozoic belt, with protoliths formed in a rift- or backarc-related environment, was metamorphosed at 6–8 kb and 760–810 °C during Late Mesoproterozoic times. This belt correlates with other high-grade metamorphic domains of the Andean realm that formed a Grenvillian-related collisional belt linked to the formation of Rodinia. The younger belt was formed over a continental arc at <530–450 Ma in a Gondwanide position and metamorphosed at 5–8 kb and 500–550 °C, probably during the Late Paleozoic–Triassic, as part of the terranes that docked with northwestern South America during the formation of Pangea. A Mesozoic Ar–Ar tectonothermal evolution can be related to regional magmatic events, whereas Late Cretaceous–Paleocene structural trends are related to the accretion of the allocthonous Caribbean subduction metamorphic belts. Lithotectonic correlations with other circum-Caribbean and southern North American pre-Jurassic domains show the existence of different terrane dispersal patterns that can be related to Pangea’s breakup and Caribbean tectonics.     

Extruding the Borborema Province (NE‐Brazil): a two‐stage Neoproterozoic collision process

We propose that the development of the Borborema Province from 620 to 570 Ma resulted from two discrete collisional events. Collision I, along the West Gondwana Orogen on the west side of the Province, took place at c. 620–610 Ma as the result of collision between the Parnaíba Block, as the forefront of the much larger Amazonian‐West Africa Craton, and the old basement of the Borborema Province. The suture zone related to this collision was reactivated by a dextral transform zone (the Transbrasiliano Lineament), allowing the Borborema Province to approach and collide against the São Francisco Craton in the south at c. 590–580 Ma marking collision II along the Sergipano Orogen. The combined stresses related to eastward push from collision I and northward push from the cratonic indentation into a thickened lithosphere gave rise to an extensive network of strike‐slip shear zones across the Province, forcing its northeastward extrusion.     

Estimation of the Lagrangian Velocity Structure Function Constant C0 by Large-Eddy Simulation

The inertial subrange Kolmogorov constant C ₀, which determines the effective turbulent diffusion in velocity space, plays an important role in the Lagrangian modelling of pollutants. A wide range of values of the constant are found in the literature, most of them determined at low Reynolds number and/or under different assumptions. Here we estimate the constant C ₀ by tracking an ensemble of Lagrangian particles in a planetary boundary layer simulated with a large-eddy simulation model and analysing the Lagrangian velocity structure function in the inertial subrange. The advantage of this technique is that it easily allows Reynolds numbers to be achieved typical of convective turbulent flows. Our estimates of C ₀ is C ₀=4.3±0.3 consistent with values found in the literature     

Domains of spit evolution in the Goro area, Po Delta, Italy

Goro lagoon was formed during the 19th century in the southern part of the Po Delta. Its origin is related to the growth of a spit system, which progressively occluded the southernmost interdistributary bay from the sea. The development of the spits is due to the morphological prominence of the Po Delta which causes a divergent littoral drift, enhanced by wave refraction over the delta front. During the last century the spit was abandoned, destroyed, and re-constructed several times because of the development of newer spits seawards. Using historical maps and aerial photographs, three different periods are recognised, featuring distinctive spit growth styles: parallel, fan-shaped and branched. The different domains of spit evolution are related to several factors, mainly to the mutual influence of sediment discharge, sand mining along the Po river, wave action over the delta front, human-induced subsidence and direct human interventions along the spits and for flood-control.     

Compound events decomposition and the interaction between AVO and velocity information1

Minimization of seismic residuals does not guarantee uniqueness of the model, and this implies ambiguities in the inversion. Amplitude vs. offset (AVO) inversion does not lead to a unique solution of single elastic interface parameters unless converted and S-wave or critical angle reflections are available. Given the ambiguity of AVO inversion, this paper discusses the interaction between AVO and velocity estimation. The number of independent parameters necessary to describe an isolated reflection with AVO behaviour and residual velocity error is determined. Statistical analysis allows the establishment of an approximate equivalence of the effects of AVO and slight velocity variations; this equivalence cannot be solved without geological a priori information (kinematic equivalence). The data are then decomposed into compound events (i.e. sequences of N interfaces that follow each other at a fixed time lag). The decomposition is obtained by extrapolating the results of the analysis from narrowband to wideband data. Compound events decomposition demonstrates that AVO inversion is ambiguous, not only in the physical parameter space (P- and S-wave velocities, and density) but also kinematically. As an example of compound event decomposition, a medium is derived. This medium is geologically implausible but is kinematically equivalent.     

GHR1 Zircon – A New Eocene Natural Reference Material for Microbeam U‐Pb Geochronology and Hf Isotopic Analysis of Zircon

We present multitechnique U‐Pb geochronology and Hf isotopic data from zircon separated from rapakivi biotite granite within the Eocene Golden Horn batholith in Washington, USA. A weighted mean of twenty‐five Th‐corrected ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U zircon dates produced at two independent laboratories using chemical abrasion‐isotope dilution‐thermal ionisation mass spectrometry (CA‐ID‐TIMS) is 48.106 ± 0.023 Ma (2s analytical including tracer uncertainties, MSWD = 1.53) and is our recommended date for GHR1 zircon. Microbeam ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U dates from laser ablation‐inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry (LA‐ICP‐MS) and secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) laboratories are reproducible and in agreement with the CA‐ID‐TIMS date to within < 1.5%. Solution multi‐collector ICP‐MS (MC‐ICP‐MS) measurements of Hf isotopes from chemically purified aliquots of GHR1 yield a mean ¹⁷⁶Hf/¹⁷⁷Hf of 0.283050 ± 17 (2s, n = 10), corresponding to a εHf₀ of +9.3. Hafnium isotopic measurements from two LA‐ICP‐MS laboratories are in agreement with the solution MC‐ICP‐MS value. The reproducibility of ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U and ¹⁷⁶Hf/¹⁷⁷Hf ratios from GHR1 zircon across a variety of measurement techniques demonstrates their homogeneity in most grains. Additionally, the effectively limitless reserves of GHR1 material from an accessible exposure suggest that GHR1 can provide a useful reference material for U‐Pb geochronology of Cenozoic zircon and Hf isotopic measurements of zircon with radiogenic ¹⁷⁶Hf/¹⁷⁷Hf.     

On the Accuracy of the Calibration of Superconducting Gravimeters Using Absolute and Spring Sensors: a Critical Comparison

Over the past two decades, superconducting gravimeters (SGs) have been a key tool to investigate a number of geophysical processes leading to time-variable gravity changes. As SGs are relative meters, even though they are the most sensitive and stable devices currently available, they need to be accurately calibrated. Each branch of Earth sciences that benefits from high-precision gravity monitoring demands calibration of gravity sensors to accuracy of better than 0.1%. This research deals with a calibration experiment performed at the Strasbourg (France) SG site by means of two FG5 (#206 and #211) absolute gravimeters (AGs) and new-generation spring meters (Scintrex Ltd. Autograv CG-3M and CG5 and Microg-LaCoste gPhone). Our goal is to try to use the newest generation of spring mechanical gravimeters (MGs) for calibrating SGs. We discuss the results in terms of precision and accuracy of the SG calibration by means of different metrological and methodological approaches. With the FG5 #211 we derive scale factors for the SG-GWR C026 located in Strasbourg in agreement with those routinely obtained since 1997 by means of the FG5 #206. This confirms that the estimation of the scale factors is independent of the AG sensor. From a moving-window regression analysis between the synthetic body tides and both the SG and MG gravity records we detect significant fluctuations of the SG scale factors over time due to the instability of the instrumental sensitivity of the MGs. Our main results demonstrate that, owing to the time variability of their sensitivity, the used spring meters, even if well calibrated, cannot be used as a stable reference for SGs. As a result, MGs are not suitable to replace AGs for SG calibration, and we conclude that currently the method using parallel recording with absolute gravity meters is still the most feasible calibration approach for SGs.     

Sea gravity data in the Gulf of Naples. A contribution to delineating the structural pattern of the Phlegraean Volcanic District

Bathymetric and gravity surveys were carried out from 1988 to 1994, in the Gulf of Naples (Southern Italy) to offshore extend the already existing Bouguer anomaly map. In order to improve the knowledge of the structural setting beneath the active Neapolitan volcanoes (Vesuvio, Campi Flegrei and Ischia), 862 stations were surveyed within the isobath of 400 m; at the same time, and about 2000 on-land gravity values were also collected. A new Bouguer anomaly map spanning the whole volcanic region was drawn from the final data set. Gravity anomalies were referred to the new absolute gravity station in Naples and computed according to 1980 Geodetic Reference System. Finally, a density value of 2200 kg/m³ was used in the computation of the Bouguer and terrain effects. We carried out the inversion of the gravity anomalies adopting a 2.5-D modelling along selected profiles crossing the investigated area. The interpretative models were constrained to data obtained from deep wells and other geophysical investigations.     

Geochemical and Sr-Nd isotopic evidence for petrogenesis and geodynamic setting of Lower-Middle Triassic volcanogenic rocks from central Greece: Implications for the Neotethyan Pindos ocean

Mineralogy and Petrology - Geochemistry and Sr-Nd isotopes were determined in Triassic calcalkaline metalava and metapyroclastic rocks from Attica and Argolida, central Greece, to ascertain their...     

Monitoring the Dynamics of the Ionosphere–Plasmasphere System by Ground-Based ULF Wave Observations

Cross-spectral analysis of ULF wave measurements recorded at ground magnetometer stations closely spaced in latitude allows accurate determinations of magnetospheric field line resonance (FLR) frequencies. This is a useful tool for remote sensing temporal and spatial variations of the magnetospheric plasma mass density. The spatial configuration of the South European GeoMagnetic Array (SEGMA, 1.56 <  L <  1.89) offers the possibility to perform such studies at low latitudes allowing to monitor the dynamical coupling between the ionosphere and the inner plasmasphere. As an example of this capability we present the results of a cross-correlation analysis between FLR frequencies and solar EUV irradiance (as monitored by the 10.7-cm solar radio flux F10.7) suggesting that changes in the inner plasmasphere density follow the short-term (27-day) variations of the solar irradiance with a time delay of 1–2 days. As an additional example we present the results of a comparative analysis of FLR measurements, ionospheric vertical soundings and vertical TEC measurements during the development of a geomagnetic storm.