Long-term evapotranspiration rates for rainfed corn versus perennial bioenergy crops in a mesic landscape

Perennial cellulosic crops are promoted for their potential contributions to a sustainable energy future. However, a large-scale perennial bioenergy production requires extensive land use changes through diversion of croplands or conversion of uncultivated lands, with potential implications for local and regional hydrology. To assess the impact of such land use conversions on ecosystem water use, we converted three 22 year-old Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) grasslands and three 50+ year-old conventionally tilled corn-soybean crop fields (AGR) to either no-till continuous maize (corn) or perennial (switchgrass or restored prairie) bioenergy crops. We also maintained one CRP grassland without conversion. We measured evapotranspiration (ET) rates on all fields for 9 years using eddy covariance methods. Results show that: (a) mean growing-season ET rates for perennial crops were similar to the ET rate of the corn they replaced at the previously cultivated (AGR) field but ET rates for perennial crops at CRP fields were 5–9% higher than ET rate for corn on former CRP fields; and (b) mean nongrowing season ET rates for perennial fields were 11–15% lower than those for corn fields, regardless of land use history. On an annual basis, mean ET rates for perennial crops tended to be lower (4–7%) than ET rate of the corn that they replaced at AGR fields but ET rates for perennial crops and corn at CRP fields were similar. Over 9 years, mean ET rates for the same crop across land use histories were remarkably similar for corn, whereas for the perennial crops they were 4–10% higher at former CRP than at former AGR fields, mainly due to differences in growing season ET. Over the 9 years and across all fields, ET returned ~60% of the precipitation back to the atmosphere. These findings suggest that large-scale substitution of perennial bioenergy crops for rainfed corn in mesic landscapes would have little if any (0 to −3%) impact on terrestrial water balances.     

Heterotrophic bacterial floras in industrial area and unpolluted marine environments around Qingdao

From Oct. 1999 to Oct. 2000, the heterotrophic bacterial floras in the industrial marine environment around the Qingdao Power Plant (QPP) and in the unpolluted marine environments were investigated. The results showed that the numbers of the heterotrophic bacteria around QPP were much higher than those in unpolluted environments, and the average numbers in QPP Seawater, QPP Sediment, Unpolluted Seawater and Unpolluted Sediment were 5.4×10⁴cfu(mL)⁻¹, 5.0×10⁵cfug⁻¹, 3.0×10²cfu(mL)⁻¹ and 1.3×10⁵cfug⁻¹ respectively. Totally, 118 strains were isolated from QPP and 99 of them were Gram-negative. One hundred and twenty one strains were isolated from the unpolluted environments and 104 of them were Gram-negative. All the Gram-negative bacteria belonged to 13 genera. The distribution of the bacteria was varied in different marine environments. The results showed that the unpolluted marine environments contained much more Vibrio than seawater and sediment around QPP.     

Cryogenic Tests of Volume-Phase Holographic Gratings: I. Results at 200 K

We present results from cryogenic tests of a Volume-Phase Holographic(VPH) grating at 200 K measured at near-infrared wavelengths. The aims of these tests were to see whether the diffraction efficiency and angular dispersion of a VPH grating are significantly different at a low temperature from those at a room temperature, and to see how many cooling and heating cycles the grating can withstand. We have completed 5 cycles between room temperature and 200 K, and find that the performance is nearly independent of temperature, at least over the temperature range which we are investigating. In future, we will not only try more cycles between these temperatures but also perform measurements at a much lower temperature (e.g., ∼80 K).     

The Haughton Impact Structure,Devon Island,Canada: Setting and History of Investigations

Abstract— Although mapped initially as a piercement dome, subsequent discovery of shock metamorphism in clasts of an impact breccia, shatter cones in outcrops of uplifted target rocks and morphological and geophysical characteristics consistent with a complex crater, confirmed a meteorite impact origin for the Haughton structure, Devon Island. Results of three field investigations carried out prior to 1984 defined a complex crater, 20 km in diameter, formed in a lower Paleozoic sedimentary sequence overlying gneisses of the Precambrian basement. The distribution of allochthonous breccia overlying the disturbed target rocks and of the sediments deposited in the crater-filling lake were mapped. A Miocene or possibly Holocene age for the crater was based on paleo-flora and fauna assemblages from the lake sediments. Gravity and magnetic surveys revealed anomalies coincident with the crater, but not interpretable from surface lithologies. Some of the early investigations were of a reconnaissance nature and results and interpretation can only be considered preliminary. Other studies that were carried out in some detail, petrographic investigations in particular, require complementary work for a fuller understanding of their significance. As a result, in 1984 the HISS (Haughton Impact Structure Studies) group carried out a program of detailed geological mapping and sampling, and seismic, gravity, and magnetic surveys in an attempt to improve the definition of the surface and subsurface nature of Haughton, and to formulate a more complete understanding of its formation and subsequent history. Results of these various studies are presented in the eight succeeding papers of this volume.     

On the origin of Archean vein-type gold deposits with reference to the Larder Lake ‘break’ of Ontario and Quebec

The vein-type gold deposits of middle to late Archean age constitute one of the major sources of gold production in the world. These deposits are highly diverse in character, but are invariably found in proximity to mafic and ultramafic volcanic rocks, and closely associated with tectonically disturbed zones, or breaks, in the ancient crust. Using the Larder Lake break of northern Ontario and Quebec as a model, a general theory of genesis for such deposits is proposed.The Larder Lake break is of linear configuration, up to four miles wide, and extending over a distance of approximately 150 miles. Many rich and extensive vein-type gold deposits are associated with it. This break is recognized as a highly folded and faulted, dominantly sedimentary stratigraphic unit, formed as part of the development of the Blake River geosyncline of the Abitibi greenstone belt. Faulting is pervasive within the break but it is non-continuous.Under an oxygen-poor, somewhat acidic weathering regime believed extant in Archean time, gold and associated constituents, derived as weathering products from mafic and ultramafic volcanics, appear to have been concentrated as solutions and sols in muddy surficial accumulations along a paleo-continental margin. On transfer to a shallow marine environment, the gold-bearing solutions became concentrated mainly as cherty and pyritic evaporitic residues. These residues, infolded and variably metamorphosed and remobilized during ensuing geosynclinal development, formed the numerous and apparently heterogeneous gold deposits of the Larder Lake break.Mode of redistribution of gold-bearing residues and metamorphism of their host rocks varies widely. In mild form, little vein development is present and original sedimentary features of the host rock are often preserved. In more extreme cases, true hydrothermal veining is evident and complete recrystallization of the host rock has taken place, sometimes to the extent of formation of a melt with intrusive capabilities. In any case, the gold and related vein constituents remain closely associated with the primary host material and alteration effects are largely derived from the recrystallization of original host rock constituents.The suggested mode of genesis clarifies the relationship between various types of break-related, vein-type gold deposits and offers an explanation of the complex stratigraphy and structure of the break environment. It also suggests a penecontemporaneous relationship between the Larder Lake break and other auriferous breaks, of varying configuration, within the Superior Province of the Canadian Shield. The concept can be used advantageously in exploration for new breaks and new deposits.     

The palaeorotation of the troodos microplate,cyprus, in the late mesozoic-early cenozoic plate tectonic framework of the Eastern Mediterranean

The Troodos ophiolite formed during the Late Cretaceous (Turonian) in a spreading setting above a northerly-dipping subduction zone. Palaeomagnetic data establish that the ophiolite experienced a 90° anticlockwise palaeorotation that occurred during the Late Cretaceous-Early Eocene interval During this period, the ophiolite was stranded adjacent to a generally south-facing continental margin, the remnants of which are preserved in south-west Cyprus (Mamonia Complex), southern Cyprus (Moni melange) and in northern Cyprus (Kyrenia Range). A review of field evidence from these Mesozoic basin margin units shows that strike-slip played a critical role in their Late Cretaceous-Early Tertiary deformation while magnetic and gravity surveys support the existence of major lineaments preserved at depth beneath these areas. Thus, in agreement with available palaeomagnetic data from mainland Turkey and Africa, the rotated crustal unit is believed to be relatively small with its boundaries probably located in the vicinity of Cyprus. In the favoured palaeorotation model, a small supra-subduction zone oceanic crustal unit was rotated about a pole located close to the exposed ophiolite complex. Fragments of the northern continental margin became attached to the rotating microplate along strike-slip lineaments and were then carried southward to their present position. In the light of the regional tectonic setting, it was probably the oblique consumption of crust beneath the ophiolite and/or a collision outside the present area of Cyprus that provided the necessary driving force for the palaeorotation.     

Metallogenesis on a Mesozoic passive continental margin,Antalya Complex,southwest Turkey

A variety of Fe, Mn and trace-metal-enriched Mesozoic pelagic sediments are associated with the tectonically emplaced Antalya Complex in southwestern Turkey. Palaeotectonic settings represented within the complex comprise a continental platform, passing laterally through a Mesozoic passive margin into a zone of marginal oceanic crust, formed during the early stages of continental separation. The origins of the metalliferous sediments are elucidated using mineralogical, major, trace element and REE data, and comparisons with oceanic and ophiolite-related sediments.Late Triassic deposition during the initial continental separation was mostly terrigenous, including detrital carbonate derived from adjacent reef complexes. During the Jurassic and Early Cretaceous the passive margin underwent accumulation of fine-grained terrigenous matter and biogenic silica in deep water below the carbonate compensation depth. Argillaceous mudstones deposited during a regional hiatus at the end of the Upper Triassic show unusual Fe and trace metal enrichment, together with a marked positive Ce anomaly, indicative of slow hydrogenous accumulation.The marginal oceanic crustal zone also shows dominantly terrigenous and siliceous biogenic deposition but with the addition of an important hydrothermal component represented by Fe-Mn deposits. These occur within and immediately above the Upper Triassic lavas of the oceanic crust and as intercalations in the overlying Lower Cretaceous radiolarian chert sequence. Most of these sediments show strong Fe-Mn fractionation; several show a negative Ce anomaly implying rapid incorporation of the REEs from seawater.The Upper Triassic Fe-Mn deposits associated with the lavas are relatively trace-element-depleted and record rapid localised precipitation from relatively high-temperature hydrothermal solutions. By contrast, the more manganiferous and trace-element-enriched metalliferous horizons in the Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous chert sequences represent more dilute low-temperature hydrothermal discharge. Regional comparisons suggest that dominantly manganiferous deposits free of sulphides are characteristic of the early formed Mesozoic ocean crust compared with well established spreading axes like the Troodos Massif, Cyprus.