Origin of silicic volcanic rocks in Central Costa Rica: a study of a chemically variable ash-flow sheet in the Tiribí Tuff

Chemical heterogeneities of pumice clasts in an ash-flow sheet can be used to determine processes that occur in the magma chamber because they represent samples of magma that were erupted at the same time. The dominant ash-flow sheet in the Tiribí Tuff contains pumice clasts that range in composition from 55.1 to 69.2 wt% SiO₂. It covers about 820 km² and has a volume of about 25 km³ dense-rock equivalent (DRE). Based on pumice clast compositions, the sheet can be divided into three distinct chemical groupings: a low-silica group (55.1-65.6 wt% SiO₂), a silicic group (66.2-69.2 wt% SiO₂), and a mingled group (58.6-67.7 wt% SiO₂; all compositions calculated 100% anhydrous). Major and trace element modeling indicates that the low-silica magma represents a mantle melt that has undergone fractional crystallization, creating a continuous range of silica content from 55.1-65.6 wt% SiO₂. Eu/Eu*, MREE, and HREE differences between the two groups are not consistent with crystal fractionation of the low-silica magma to produce the silicic magma. The low-silica group and the silicic group represent two distinct magmas, which did not evolve in the same magma chamber. We suggest that the silicic melts resulted from partial melting of relatively hot, evolved calc-alkaline rocks that were previously emplaced and ponded at the base of an over-thickened basaltic crust. The mingled group represents mingling of the two magmas shortly before eruption. Electronic supplementary material to this paper can be obtained by using the Springer LINK server located at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00445-001-0188-8.     

Kinetics of the Gas-Phase Reactions of OH and NO3 Radicals and O3 with the Monoterpene Reaction Products Pinonaldehyde, Caronaldehyde, and Sabinaketone

Using a relative rate method, rate constants have been measured for the gas-phase reactions of OH and NO3 radicals with pinonaldehyde, caronaldehyde and sabinaketone at 296 ± 2 K. The OH radical reaction rate constants obtained are (in units of 10–12 cm3 molecule–1 s–1): pinonaldehyde, 48 ± 8; caronaldehyde, 48 ± 8; and sabinaketone, 5.1 ± 1.4, and the NO3 radical reaction rate constants are (in units of 10–14 cm3 molecule–1 s–1): pinonaldehyde, 2.0 ± 0.9; caronaldehyde, 2.5 ± 1.1; and sabinaketone, 0.036 ± 0.023, where the error limits include the estimated overall uncertainties in the rate constants for the reference compounds. Upper limits to the O3 reaction rate constants were also obtained, of <2 × 10–20 cm3 molecule–1 s–1 for pinonaldehyde and caronaldehyde, and <5 × 10–20 cm3 molecule–1 s–1 for sabinaketone. These reaction rate constants are combined with estimated ambient tropospheric concentrations of OH radicals, NO3 radicals and O3 to calculate tropospheric lifetimes and dominant transformation process(es) of these and other monoterpene reaction products.     

Overexploitation and Deterioration of Aquifers in Venezuela

Approximately 50 percent of the potable, industrial, and agricultural water supply in Venezuela comes from ground water, mined through some 40,000 wells scattered around the country. The majority of the productive aquifers consist of quaternary deposits in mountain valleys and coastal lowlands, all of which are situated in areas with limited or low precipitation. Intensive exploitation of several of these aquifers for the last 30 years has resulted in overdraft conditions and ground water contamination, causing serious socio-economic consequences in various regions of Venezuela. This paper reviews the quality and quantity aspects of overdrafted aquifers in Venezuela, which can he classified into three major categories: (1) aquifers in the coastal lowlands in the stales of Falcon and Zulia of northern Venezuela: (2) the intermontane Carora and Quibor Valley Aquifers: and (3) aquifers in the Lake Valencia Watershed. If current trends of aquifer overexploitation continue, further water deficits and irreversible environmental damage are predicted.     

Quantifying the reefscape transformation of a coastal Caribbean coral reef during a phase shift and the associated coastal landscape change

Caribbean coral reefs are under strong natural and human pressures and many have undergone phase shifts as a result of local and global change. However few studies have quantified the extent of these phase shifts and the potential impacts that they have on coral reef communities. A temporal comparative analysis of several coral reefscape and landscape metrics was conducted for data from Mahahual, Quintana Roo, Mexico, between the years 2000 and 2006, when a phase shift occurred. Landscape metrics were calculated from coral reef and coastal cover maps obtained by multispectral satellite image classification using IKONOS satellite imagery. These metrics showed that the coastal landscape and reefscape of Mahahual lost 85 ha of vegetation cover and 43 ha of coral cover over 6 years, respectively. Coastal landscape transformation was induced by the construction of a cruise ship pier and multiple associated tourist developments along the coast, such as hotels and restaurants, meanwhile alteration of the reefscape may be associated with potential stressors such as coastal development, bleaching events and hurricanes.     

Crustal seismicity in central Chile

Both the genesis and rates of activity of shallow intraplate seismic activity in central Chile are poorly understood, mainly because of the lack of association of seismicity with recognizable fault features at the surface and a poor record of seismic activity. The goal of this work is to detail the characteristics of seismicity that takes place in the western flank of the Andes in central Chile. This region, located less than 100 km from Santiago, has been the site of earthquakes with magnitudes up to 6.9, including several 5+ magnitude shocks in recent years. Because most of the events lie outside the Central Chile Seismic Network, at distances up to 60 km to the east, it is essential to have adequate knowledge of the velocity structure in the Andean region to produce the highest possible quality of epicentral locations. For this, a N–S refraction line, using mining blasts of the Disputada de Las Condes open pit mine, has been acquired. These blasts were detected and recorded as far as 180 km south of the mine. Interpretation of the travel times indicates an upper crustal model consisting of three layers: 2.2-, 6.7-, and 6.1-km thick, overlying a half space; their associated P wave velocities are 4.75–5.0 (gradient), 5.8–6.0 (gradient), 6.2, and 6.6 km/s, respectively.Hypocentral relocation of earthquakes in 1986–2001, using the newly developed velocity model, reveals several regions of concentrated seismicity. One clearly delineates the fault zone and extensions of the strike-slip earthquake that took place in September 1987 at the source of the Cachapoal River. Other regions of activity are near the San José volcano, the source of the Maipo River, and two previously recognized lineaments that correspond to the southern extension of the Pocuro fault and Olivares River. A temporary array of seismographs, installed in the high Maipo River (1996) and San José volcano (1997) regions, established the hypocentral location of events with errors of less than 1 km. These events are clustered along no particular lineament approximately 25 km away from the San José and Maipo volcanoes. Recurrence intervals, based on a frequency magnitude relationship for lower magnitude events, indicate that earthquakes with magnitudes of 4.7 and 7 have a repeat time of 1 and 1200 years, respectively. Focal mechanisms of the two largest events indicate horizontal maximum and minimum compressive stresses with σ₁ varying from a NW–SE orientation in the north to E–W at the southern extreme.     

Distribution,Population Structure, ­Population Biomass and Morphological Characteristics of the Tunicate Pyura stoloniferain the Bay of Antofagasta,Chile

Abstract. The present study analyzes the distribution, population structure, population biomass and morphological characteristics of the intertidal tunicate Pyura stolonifera (Heller, 1878) in the Bay of Antofagasta, Chile, where the species shows a reduced geographical range extending around 60 – 70 km. Three sites along its distribution were studied. At the central site the tunicate presents the widest intertidal belts, reaching nearly 11 m (the mid‐intertidal‐Pyura‐zone shows the higher percent cover). Population dry biomass here averaged up to 20.45 kg·m^–2, representing one of the highest intertidal specific biomasses reported in the literature. Lower values occur towards the borders of its distribution. Population densities were over 1800 indiv.·m^–2 at mid‐intertidal‐Pyura‐belts. Crowding and competition potentially affect morphological characteristics and the energy/tissue allocation along the intertidal and geographical gradient of P. stolonifera.     

Nutrient budgets for European seas: a measure of the effectiveness of nutrient reduction policies

Socio-economic development in Europe has exerted increasing pressure on the marine environment. Eutrophication, caused by nutrient enrichment, is evident in regions of all European seas. Its severity varies but has, in places, adversely impacted socio-economic activities. This paper aims to evaluate the effectiveness of recently adopted policies to reduce anthropogenic nutrient inputs to European seas. Nitrogen and phosphorus budgets were constructed for three different periods (prior to severe eutrophication, during severe eutrophication and contemporary) to capture changes in the relative importance of different nutrient sources in four European seas suffering from eutrophication (Baltic Proper, coastal North Sea, Northern Adriatic and North-Western Black Sea Shelf). Policy success is evident for point sources, notably for P in the Baltic and North Seas, but reduction of diffuse sources has been more problematic.     

Stratification and synthesis of crop-livestock production system using GIS

Population increases, land-use changes and marketing opportunities are important factors affecting crop-livestock integration particularly with respect to their effect on soil fertility and feed supply for ruminant livestock. As the human population density rises, crop farmers and grazers are finding it profitable to establish contracts for paddocking, and they are reaching agreement on equitable ways to make use of crop residues and take care of livestocks. As the processes of intensification proceed, mixed crop-livestock systems are evolving as the viable and dominant farming system, allowing smallholder farmers to capitalize on the complementarity between crops and livestock. Strategies directed to raise the productivity of specific crop-livestock systems need to consider the stage of development of the target area in relation to intensification and the nature of crop-livestock interactions. Information related to crop and livestock systems in West Africa is currently available from various sources e.g., household surveys, aerial surveys, rural appraisal, experimental etc., and held by different agencies. The approach used in this study shows how such data (biophysical and socioeconomic) can be integrated within a GIS environment and synthesized to identify the evolution of systems across environments and also to identify constraints and potential of the systems. Potential for integrated crop-livestock systems remains untapped and/or knowledge of its existence is unknown for large parts of Nigeria. Using data from 36 case studies and georeferenced data on cropping intensities and livestock population for the entire country, it was possible to predict emerging crop-livestock systems using GIS. Indeed, depending on availability of data, it is now possible to extend a similar approach in other African countries. The potential contribution of this technology is largely unknown in West and Central Africa, where few operational programs use them. Major technological innovations and appropriate government policies have potential to shift the balance in regional developments, if targeted carefully at areas where the right conditions exist. Further research could then target specific areas thus ensuring efficient allocation of resources while policy makers can achieve development goals by directing policies and resources to domains that have the greatest potential. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.