A Possible Photochemical Link Between Stratospheric and Near-Surface Ozone on Swiss Mountain Sites in Late Winter

Record high near-surface ozone concentrations at two elevated sites (Chaumont, 1140 m asl, and Rigi, 1030 m asl) in Switzerland were observed simultaneously with extremely low total ozone during a fair weather period in mid-February 1993. An analysis of ozone, temperature, humidity, and wind profiles suggests that the surface ozone peaks were most possibly generated within the region in a layer between about 1000 and 1500 m asl. Mean diurnal cycles of ozone concentration during the period shows a strong increase from late morning to late afternoon at Chaumont and at the same time a decrease at the high alpine site Jungfraujoch (3580 m asl). The different diurnal ozone cycles can both be explained photochemically by taking into account the large difference in NOx concentrations (about two orders of magnitude) between the sites. Photochemical processes are also indicated by the diurnal cycles of NO2 and NO concentration. As a strong photochemical activity is not expected in mid-February at 47°N, we hypothesize that the extremely low total ozone played a role. Total ozone controls the amount of UV-B radiation reaching the troposphere and thus influences photochemical processes. Using a radiation model, we calculated an increase in ozone photolysis at Chaumont and Jungfraujoch of 73% and 83%, respectively, on the day with the lowest total ozone (243 DU) compared to average February conditions (335 DU). It is suggested that total ozone changes have the potential to stimulate photochemistry sufficiently to produce the observed surface ozone peaks at Chaumont and Rigi of 61 and 64 ppbv, respectively. A fog layer just below Chaumont during these days probably also influenced photochemistry, but on a smaller spatial scale. Our empirical results on the influence of changing UV radiation on tropospheric photochemistry are in close agreement with model studies of other groups. Although this case study represents unique conditions, a distinct anticorrelation between near-surface ozone at Chaumont and total ozone also appears in other years (1992–1997) when selecting fair weather days in mid-February. However, other influences cannot be excluded. The selected days provide evidence of a significant photochemical source of ozone in the mid-latitude lower troposphere in late winter.     

大别山的构造变形期次和超高压岩石折返的动力学

从构造关系上看,大别山可分为南部,中部和北部3个构造系统,大别山南部构造系统为一套（原地）构造堆叠系统（相对的）,从上到下依次为：（1）未变质的震旦纪一早三叠世沉积盖层,它被造山后的侏罗－白垩纪砂－砾岩不整合覆盖;（2）弱变质的新元古代板岩;（3）高压变质岩系（宿松群）,这些变质岩系大多退变质为绿片岩相;（4）含柯石英榴辉岩超高压变质单元的异地系统;（5）未经历超高压变质作用的原地（相对的）片麻岩系。北西－南东向的拉伸线理在各个地质单元均有表现。从动力学上看,上盘指向NW的剪切运动被后期的褶皱所改变,大别山中部为（混合岩）热穿窿改造系统,系经历了超高压变质作用的地体叠加了混合岩化作用的产物,它与超高压变质地体的界限为一拆离断层,而正是这个拆离断层使超高压变质地体向地表折返并经历了角闪岩相的退变质作用。大别山北部为构造堆叠系统,早期的面理和南北向的挤压线理被轴面北倾的褶皱所改造,这种褶皱对应于大别山中部同折返期的韧性变形的隆升构造。同时建立了地球运力学模型并讨论了逆冲作用和正断层的作用。     

Products of abiotic U(VI) reduction by biogenic magnetite and vivianite

Reductive immobilization of uranium by the stimulation of dissimilatory metal-reducing bacteria (DMRB) has been investigated as a remediation strategy for subsurface U(VI) contamination. In those environments, DMRB may utilize a variety of electron acceptors, such as ferric iron which can lead to the formation of reactive biogenic Fe(II) phases. These biogenic phases could potentially mediate abiotic U(VI) reduction. In this work, the DMRB Shewanella putrefaciens strain CN32 was used to synthesize two biogenic Fe(II)-bearing minerals: magnetite (a mixed Fe(II)-Fe(III) oxide) and vivianite (an Fe(II)-phosphate). Analysis of abiotic redox interactions between these biogenic minerals and U(VI) showed that both biogenic minerals reduced U(VI) completely. XAS analysis indicates significant differences in speciation of the reduced uranium after reaction with the two biogenic Fe(II)-bearing minerals. While biogenic magnetite favored the formation of structurally ordered, crystalline UO₂, biogenic vivianite led to the formation of a monomeric U(IV) species lacking U-U associations in the corresponding EXAFS spectrum. To investigate the role of phosphate in the formation of monomeric U(IV) such as sorbed U(IV) species complexed by mineral surfaces, versus a U(IV) mineral, uranium was reduced by biogenic magnetite that was pre-sorbed with phosphate. XAS analysis of this sample also revealed the formation of monomeric U(IV) species suggesting that the presence of phosphate hinders formation of UO₂. This work shows that U(VI) reduction products formed during in situ biostimulation can be influenced by the mineralogical and geochemical composition of the surrounding environment, as well as by the interfacial solute-solid chemistry of the solid-phase reductant.     

Magma hybridization in the Western Tatra Mts. granitoid intrusion (S-Poland, Western Carpathians)

In the Variscan Western Tatra granites hybridization phenomena such as mixing and mingling can be observed at the contact of mafic precursors of dioritic composition and more felsic granitic host rocks. The textural evidence of hybridization include: plagioclase?CK-feldspar?Csphene ocelli, hornblende- and biotite-rimmed quartz ocelli, plagioclase with Ca-rich spike zonation, inversely zoned K-feldspar crystals, mafic clots, poikilitic plagioclase and quartz crystals, mixed apatite morphologies, zoned K-feldspar phenocrysts. The apparent pressure range of the magma hybridization event was calculated at 6.1?kbar to 4.6?kbar, while the temperature, calculated by independent methods, is in the range of 810°C?770°C. U-Pb age data of the hybrid rocks were obtained by in-situ LA-MC-ICP-MS analysis of zircon. The oscillatory zoned zircon crystals yield a concordia age of 368?±?8?Ma (MSWD?=?1.1), interpreted as the age of magma hybridization and timing of formation of the magmatic precursors. It is the oldest Variscan magmatic event in that part of the Tatra Mountains.     

Survival of eclogite xenolith in a Cretaceous granite intruding the Central Dabieshan migmatite gneiss dome (Eastern China) and its tectonic implications

Investigation of an eclogite xenolith, discovered in a Cretaceous granite from the Central Domain of the Dabieshan massif in eastern China, yields new petrological insights into the high to ultrahigh-pressure metamorphism, experienced by the Qinling-Dabie orogen. Prior to inclusion as a xenolith in the granite during the Early Cretaceous, this eclogite xenolith had recorded a complex metamorphic evolution that complies with subduction and exhumation processes experienced by the continental crust of the South China Block. Well-preserved mineral parageneses substantiate the prograde and retrograde stages revealed by inclusions in porphyroblastic garnet and zoned minerals such as garnet, omphacite and amphibole in the matrix. The relatively low P/T re-equilibration during a late metamorphic stage was textually inferred by the presence of aluminous and calcic-subcalcic amphiboles such as katophorite, edenite, taramite and pargasite as main matrix phases. According to our U/Pb, Rb/Sr and new ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar geochronological results, namely109 ± 1 and 112 ± 2 Ma plateau ages for muscovite and amphiboles, respectively, two successive but distinct cooling stages account for the thermal history of the granite–migmatite gneiss dome that forms the Central Dabieshan Domain. We argue that prior to the Cretaceous doming, the Central Dabieshan Domain experienced a tectono-metamorphic evolution similar to that observed in the high-pressure to ultra high-pressure units developed in the Southern Dabieshan Domain and Hong’an massif.     

U–Pb geochronology of detrital zircons from a contact metamorphic Brixen Quartzphyllite (South-Tyrol, Italy): evidence for a complex pre-Variscan evolution of the Southalpine basement

Laser ablation ICP-MS U–Pb zircon geochronology of detrital zircons from a contact metamorphic sample of the Brixen Quartzphyllite from the innermost part of the contact aureole adjacent to the Brixen granodiorite yielded three different Precambrian concordia ages: zircon cores and an older generation of zircons give a maximum age of 2,023 ± 31 Ma, zircon rims and a younger generation of single grains yield a concordia age of 882 ± 19 Ma. A third generation of single zircon grains yields an age of 638 ± 20 Ma. In contrast to Austroalpine quartzphyllite complexes from the Eastern Alps neither Cambrian/Ordovician (570–450 Ma) nor Carboniferous (360–340 Ma) ages on single zircons have been observed so far in these samples. These ages provide evidence of a complex pre-Variscan evolution of the Southalpine basement since these data suggest a possible affinity of the Southalpine basement to Gondwana-related tectonic elements as well as to a possible Cadomian hinterland. This study shows that dating detrital zircons of the Brixen Quartzphyllites has great potential for providing age constraints on the complex geological evolution of the Southalpine basement.     

Reactive transport modelling of Cr(VI) treatment by cast iron under fast flow conditions

The Cr(VI) reduction behaviour of five different types of grey cast iron shavings meant for construction of a permeable reactive barrier (PRB) in Thun, Switzerland, was investigated by performing batch and column experiments. Closed system batch experiments clearly demonstrated that the largest shavings also containing the largest spherical C inclusions, were best qualified for the PRB due to their fast Cr(VI) reduction rate. However, the column experiment performed with this type of material revealed that a complete and long term Cr(VI) treatment by the planned PRB was questionable due to the site-specific high groundwater flow velocities and the almost O₂ and CaCO₃ saturated aquifer conditions. The experimentally observed Cr(VI) breakthrough is explained as a result of a decline of reactivity provoked by a strong passivation by observed Fe hydroxides (FeOOH-polymorphs) and carbonates (calcite and aragonite).The column experiment was simulated using the reactive transport modelling code CrunchFlow. Iron cycling and intra-aqueous reactions were incorporated into a previously described reaction network in order to model the strong decline in reactivity of grey cast iron. All key parameters like aqueous species concentrations and mineralogical evolution of the column were successfully modelled. The modelling results confirmed that the observed Cr(VI) breakthrough was caused by surface passivation of the Fe shavings. Complete oxidation of the initially present mass of shavings is not predicted to occur during the expected PRB lifetime of several decades. The model seems to be robust, and it is expected that an application of the calibrated model in 2D to field sites will allow a quantitative evaluation for the performance of planned PRB’s in such environments.     

Persistent scatterer interferometry analysis of the embankment failure of a red mud reservoir using ENVISAT ASAR data

On October 4, 2010, the embankment of No. 10 red mud—waste product during bauxite refining—reservoir of MAL Co. Ltd. alumina plant collapsed. Around 700 000 cubic meter of alkaline slurry with 11–13 pH value flooded three nearby settlements. Ten people were killed, 123 wounded, and about 350 houses were damaged or became uninhabitable in one of the biggest industrial and ecological catastrophe in modern history of Hungary. Synthetic aperture radar interferometry (InSAR) is the only geodetic technique that can reveal the past stability and motion history of the broken reservoir. We performed a persistent scatterer InSAR (PSI) analysis to contribute to the better understanding of the disaster. The key question we address in this study is whether there were signs prior to October 4th event which may have prognosticated the disaster. The PSI results could reveal if the dam was stable in the past without prior signs of the failure or there were definite indications of deformation before the collapse and proper monitoring of motions could have highlighted the risk and the disaster may have been prevented. This is a rare event and its PSI study is unique and may be critical in understanding it and helping to prevent other similar occurrences.     

Cenozoic granitoids in the Dinarides of southern Serbia: age of intrusion,isotope geochemistry,exhumation history and significance for the geodynamic evolution of the Balkan Peninsula

Two age groups were determined for the Cenozoic granitoids in the Dinarides of southern Serbia by high-precision single grain U–Pb dating of thermally annealed and chemically abraded zircons: (1) Oligocene ages (Kopaonik, Drenje, Željin) ranging from 31.7 to 30.6 Ma (2) Miocene ages (Golija and Polumir) at 20.58–20.17 and 18.06–17.74 Ma, respectively. Apatite fission-track central ages, modelling combined with zircon central ages and additionally, local structural observations constrain the subsequent exhumation history of the magmatic rocks. They indicate rapid cooling from above 300°C to ca. 80°C between 16 and 10 Ma for both age groups, induced by extensional exhumation of the plutons located in the footwall of core complexes. Hence, Miocene magmatism and core-complex formation not only affected the Pannonian basin but also a part of the mountainous areas of the internal Dinarides. Based on an extensive set of existing age data combined with our own analyses, we propose a geodynamical model for the Balkan Peninsula: The Late Eocene to Oligocene magmatism, which affects the Adria-derived lower plate units of the internal Dinarides, was caused by delamination of the Adriatic mantle from the overlying crust, associated with post-collisional convergence that propagated outward into the external Dinarides. Miocene magmatism, on the other hand, is associated with core-complex formation along the southern margin of the Pannonian basin, probably associated with the W-directed subduction of the European lithosphere beneath the Carpathians and interfering with ongoing Dinaridic–Hellenic back-arc extension.