Modeling mobile individuals in dynamic landscapes

Geographic modeling systems should support simulation of mobile individuals in dynamic landscapes. In modeling a small population (e.g. an endangered species), it is important to keep track of individuals over time and space, interactions between individuals, landscape processes over time and space, interactions among landscape processes, and interactions of individuals with landscape processes. An object-oriented simulation modeling system was designed to meet these requirements. A prototype demonstrates the capabilities with hypothetical animals in static and dynamic landscapes.     

Multiple-Step Predictive Control for Offshore Structures

—Ocean wave propagation is slow,visible and measurable,so a wave theory can be used to approxi-mately predict the imminnent wave force on an offshore structure based on measured,real-time wave elevation nearthe structure.This predictability suggests the development of a more efficient algorithm,than those that have beendeveloped for structures under wind and seismic loads,for the active vibration control of offshore structures.Thepresent study delveops a mutiple-step predictive optimal control(MPOC)algorithm that accounts for multiple-step external loading in the determibation of optimal control forces.The control efficiency of the newly developedMPOC algorithm has been investigated under both regular(single-frequency)and irregular(multiple-frequency)wave loads,and compared with that of two other well-known optimal control algorithms:classical linear optimalcontrol(CLOC)and instantaneou optimal control(IOC).     

Petrology and Emplacement of Reversely Zoned Gabbro-Diorite Plutons in the Smartville Complex, Northern California

Gabbroic plutons are part of the intrusive substructure of theSmartville Complex, a late Jurassic, rifted, ensimatic arc locatedin the northern Sierra Nevada of California. The plutons rangefrom unzoned, equant bodies of olivine gabbro less than 1 kmin diameter to elongate intrusions up to 25 km in length thatare reversly zoned from olivine gabbro cores to quartz dioriterims. The felsic rocks dip inward beneath the mafic core, indicatingthat this zoning reversal continues to depth. The zoned plutonshave relatively shallow keels. We interpret the reversed zoningas an emplacement feature, analogous to the compositional zoningin a zoned tephra sheet. It formed as a result of tapping analready zoned, deeper level magma chamber. Whether the originalzoning of the magma was concentric or stratiform cannot be readilydeduced. During emplacement, considerable amounts of cumulaterocks were mobilized. The mineralogy and geochemistry of the reversely zoned plutonsindicate that they contain two suites of rocks: a cumulate suiterepresented by olivine gabbro and olivine clinopyroxenite anda differentiated suite of non-cumulate olivine gabbros, gabbronorites,and diorites that lie along a compositional continuum and approximateliquid compositions. Plagioclase and olivine compositions inthe Smartville Complex cumulate suite are identical to thosein modern arc cumulates and are characteristic of the arc cumulatesuite. The differentiated rocks form a compositionally continuousseries that is geochemically very similar to a differentiatedsuite of arc tholeiitic basalts and andesites. Fractionationmodeling indicates that removal of mineral phases found in thecumulate gabbros from the mafic members of the differentiatedsuite can produce the lithologic variation seen in the zonedplutons. Plutons such as those in the Smartville Complex indicatethat there is a genetic link between cumulate rocks and a basalt-andesitefractionation trend in arcs, supporting the hypothesis thatarc andesites form by crystal fractionation. The gabbroic plutonsand related Alaska-type ultramafic complexes contain ultramaficcumulates that can rectify the discrepancy between the cumulatemode predicted by fractionation models and the observed modeof gabbroic cumulates in arcs.     

Biosedimentological zonation of Boundary Bay tidal flats, Fraser River Delta, British Columbia

Boundary Bay tidal flats on the inactive southern flank of the Fraser Delta have surface sediments consisting almost entirely of very fine to fine, well to very well sorted sands which show a gradual fining-shorewards trend. Five floral/sedimentological zones form distinct biofacies. These are, from the shoreline seaward, the saltmarsh, algal mat, upper sand wave, eelgrass and lower sand wave zones. The lower limit of the saltmarsh lies at a constant level above which the maximum duration of continuous exposure rises abruptly from ～ 12 to 40 days. Similarly, at the lower limit of the algal mat zone the maximum duration of continuous exposure jumps from 1 to ～ 2 days, and at the upper limit of the eelgrass zone from ～ 0·5 to ～ 0·8 days. These correlations between exposure and zonation are suggested to be causal. In the algal mat and eelgrass zones microtopography of biogenic origin, only a few centimetres high, creates lateral heterogeneity within the zonal biofacies. In the upper sand wave zone, very low amplitude (a～ 0·1 m) symmetrical sand waves (λ～ 30 m) of probable storm-wave origin have a similar effect. In the lower sand wave zone, sand waves (a～ 0·5 m, λ～ 60 m) are formed by tidal currents or wave action and physical sedimentary structures dominate over biogenic ones. The densities of the following macrofaunal organisms which produce distinctive biogenic sedimentary structures were determined on two surveyed transects: Callianassa californiensis and Upogebia pugettensis, both thalassinidean shrimps; three polychaete worms, Abarenicola sp., Spio sp. and Clymenella sp.; the bivalve Mya arenaria and the gastropods Batillaria attramentaria and Nassarius mendicus. Callianassa excavate unlined temporary feeding burrows, whereas Upogebia build mud-lined permanent dwelling burrows. Upogebia are restricted to below mean sea-level where continuous exposure is < 0·5 days, whereas Callianassa extend up to a level, just below mean higher high water, where maximum continuous exposure rises abruptly from 4 to 9 days. This difference in range is probably due to the latter's greater anoxia tolerance—a necessary adaptation for life in an unlined feeding burrow.     

Phase Petrology and Mineral Chemistry of Coexisting Amphiboles from Telemark, Norway

Electron microprobe analyses of coexisting amphiboles, garnet,and cordierite in specimens collected from a single outcropprovide the basis for phase diagrams thought to be representativeof fixed external conditions in the sillimanite zone. A projectionthrough the compositions of quartz and plagioclase is employedto characterize the mineral facies and to facilitate comparisonswith other metamorphic terrains. Limiting recalculations whichbracket the possible range of Fe⁺³ contents in calcic amphiboleanalyses by electron probe permit an additional projection throughthe composition of magnetite, a ubiquitous phase. From thesedata the apparent non-ideality exhibited by various combinationsof coexisting cumming-tonite, anthophyllite, gedrite, and calcicamphibole is explained by intracrystalline cation ordering.     

Geochemistry and Intrusive History of the Ashland Pluton, Klamath Mountains, California and Oregon

The Ashland pluton is a calc-alkaline plutonic complex thatintruded the western Paleozoic and Triassic belt of the KlamathMountains in late Middle Jurassic time. The pluton comprisesa series of compositionally distinct magma pulses. The oldestrocks are hornblende gabbro and two-pyroxene quartz gabbro withinitial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr = 0{dot}7044, ¹⁸O = 8{dot}7%, and REE patternswith chondrite normalized La/Lu = 7. These units were followedby a suite of tonalitic rocks (La_N/Lu_N = 7) and then by a suiteof K₂O- and P₂O₅ rocks of quartz monzodioritic affinity (La_N/Lu_N= 13–21; La_N/Sm_N = 2{dot}4–3{dot}) The quartz monzodioriticrocks were then intruded by biotite granodiorite and granitewith lower REE abundances but more fractionated LREE(La_N/Lu_N= 13–19; La_N/Sm_N = 4{dot}3–6 and they, in turn,were host to dikes and bosses of hornblende diorite. The latestintrusive activity consisted of aplitic and granitic dikes.Combined phase equilibria and mineral composition data, indicateemplacement conditions of approximately P_total = 2{dot}3kb,P_H2O between 1{dot}5 and 2{dot}2 kb, and f_O2 between the nickel-nickeloxide and hematite-magnetite buffers. Successive pulses of magma display increasing SiO₂ togetherwith increasing ¹⁸O and decreasing initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr. The isotopicdata are consistent with either (1) combined fractional crystallizationof andesitic magma and concurrent assimilation of crustal materialcharacterized by low Sr₁ and high (¹⁸O or, more probably, (2)a series of partial melting events in which sources were successivelyless radiogenic but richer in ¹⁸O Each intrusive stage displaysevidence for some degree of crystal accumulation and/or fractionalcrystallization but neither process adequately accounts fortheir compositional differences. Consequently, each stage appearsto represent a distinct partial melting or assimilation event. The P₂O₅-rich nature of the quartz monzodiorite suite suggestsaccumulation of apatite. However, the suite contains abundantmafic microgranitoid enclaves and most apatite in the suiteis acicular. These observations suggest that magma mixing affectedthe compositional variation of the quartz monzodiorite suite.Mass balance calculations are consistent with a simple mixingprocess in which P₂O₅-rich alkalic basalt magma (representedby the mafic microgranitoid enclaves) was combined with a crystal-poorfelsic magma (represented by the tonalite suite), yielding aquartz monzodioritic magma that then underwent differentiationby crystal fractionation and accumulation.     

Interlobate ice-sheet dynamics during the Last Glacial Maximum at Whitburn Bay, County Durham, England

This research reconstructs ice-sheet processes operating during the Late Devensian in northeast England. The article assesses the lithostratigraphy of the Devensian glacial tills of Whitburn Bay, eastern County Durham, and presents the first detailed analysis of petrological, geochemical and biostratigraphical data to reconstruct lithostratigraphy, provenance and iceflow pathways. Two Devensian tractions tills (the Blackhall and Horden tills) are separated by a boulder pavement, pointing to a switch in ice-bed conditions and the production of a melt-out lag prior to deposition of the upper traction till, the Horden Till. The Blackhall Till contains Magnesian Limestone, Carboniferous Limestone, Whin Sill dolerite and Old Red Sandstone, suggesting a northwesterly source, probably from the Midland Valley and the Southern Uplands. The Horden Till contains erratics and heavy minerals derived from crystalline bedrock sources in the Cheviot Hills and northeast Scotland. Within the Horden Till are numerous sand, clay and gravel-filled canals incised downwards into the diamicton which are attributed to a low-energy, distributed, subglacial canal drainage system. Coupled with hydro-fractures and the boulder pavement, this suggests that a partially decoupled, fast-flowing ice stream deposited the Horden Till. The uphill, landward direction of ice movement indicates that the ice stream was confined in the North Sea Basin, possibly by the presence of Scandinavian Ice.     

Oligo–Miocene seagrass‐influenced carbonate sedimentation along a temperate marine palaeoarchipelago,Padthaway Ridge,South Australia

Oligo–Miocene carbonates associated with the Padthaway Ridge form the southern margin of the Murray Basin, South Australia. The carbonates are a thin, somewhat condensed succession of echinoid and bryozoan‐rich limestones that record accumulation in the complex of islands and seaways and progressive burial of the Ridge through time. The rocks are grainy to muddy bioclastic packstones, grainstones and floatstones, composed of infaunal echinoderms, bryozoans, coralline algae and benthic foraminifera, with lesser contributions from molluscs and serpulid worms. Locally as much as half of these skeletal components are Fe‐stained, relict grains that imbue the lithologies with a conspicuous yellow to orange hue. This variably lithified succession is partitioned into metre‐scale, firmground‐bounded and hardground‐bounded beds textured by extensive Thalassinoides burrows. Dominant lithologies are interpreted as temperate seagrass facies. Limestones contain attributes indicative of both seagrass‐dominated palaeoenvironments and carbonate production and accumulation on unconsolidated, barren sandflat palaeoenvironments. Together these two depositional systems are thought to have generated a single multigenerational, amalgamated facies recording sedimentation within a complex temperate seagrass environment. Limestones overlying the Padthaway Ridge reflect a gradually warming climate, increasing water temperature and decreasing nutrient content, within the framework of a ridge gradually being buried in sediment. This succession from cool–temperate to warm–temperate to subtropical through time permits recognition of the relative influence of changing oceanography on a seagrass‐dominated shallow inter‐island sea floor. Criteria are proposed herein to enable future recognition of similar temperate seagrass facies in Cenozoic limestones elsewhere.     

Interpretation of grain-size distributions from measured sediment data, Platte River, Nebraska

Breaks in the slope of log-probability plots of cumulative grain-size distributions of bed material are compared with frequency distributions of bedload and suspended sediment over a range of discharges at two stations on the Platte River in south-central Nebraska. The break between suspension and intermittent suspension as determined from the bed-material curve coincides with the upper limit of the grain-size overlap between bedload particles and suspended-sediment particles, whereas the break between intermittent suspension and traction corresponds to the grain size at the lower limit of overlap of bedload particles and suspended-sediment particles. Although grain-size distributions of bedload change little with discharge, the size of the coarsest grains in suspension increases with increasing discharge. Thus, the length of overlap of bedload and suspended-sediment distributions increases with increasing discharge. The limits of grain-size overlap of bedload and suspended-sediment distribution curves associated with near-flood discharges most closely approximate the breaks in the bed material grain-size distribution.