The Levant Slumps and the Phoenician Structures: collapse features along the continental margin of the southeastern Mediterranean Sea

Two distinct series of slumps deform the upper part of the sedimentary sequence along the continental margin of the Levant. One series is found along the base of the continental slope, where it overlies the disrupted eastern edge of the Messinian evaporites. The second series of slumps transects the continental margin from the shelf break to the Levant Basin. It seemed that the two series were triggered by two unrelated, though contemporaneous, processes. The shore-parallel slumps were initiated by basinwards flow of the Messinian salt, that carried along the overlying Plio-Quaternary sediments. Seawater that percolated along the detachment faults dissolved the underlying salt to form distinctly disrupted structures. The slope-normal slumps are located on top of large canyons that cut into the pre-Messinian sedimentary rocks. A layer of salt is found in the canyons, and the Plio-Quaternary sediments were deposited on that layer. The slumps are bounded by large, NW-trending faults where post-Messinian faulted offset was measured. We presume that the flow of the salt in the canyons also drives the slope-normal slumps. Thus thin-skinned halokynetic processes generated the composite post-Tortonian structural patterns of the Levant margin. The Phoenician Structures are a prime example of the collapse of a distal continental margin due to the dissolution of a massive salt layer.     

Precursory slope distress prior to the 2010 Mount Meager landslide,British Columbia

In 2010, the south flank of Mount Meager failed catastrophically, generating the largest (53 ± 3.8 × 10⁶ m³) landslide in Canadian history. We document the slow deformation of the edifice prior to failure using archival historic aerial photographs spanning the period 1948–2006. All photos were processed using Structure from Motion (SfM) photogrammetry. We used the SfM products to produce pre-and post-failure geomorphic maps that document changes in the volcanic edifice and Capricorn Glacier at its base. The photographic dataset shows that the Capricorn Glacier re-advanced from a retracted position in the 1980s then rapidly retreated in the lead-up to the 2010 failure. The dataset also documents 60 years of progressive development of faults, toe bulging, and precursory failures in 1998 and 2009. The 2010 collapse was conditioned by glacial retreat and triggered by hot summer weather that caused ice and snow to melt. Meltwater increased pore water pressures in colluvium and fractured rocks at the base of the slope, causing those materials to mobilize, which in turn triggered several secondary failures structurally controlled by lithology and faults. The landslide retrogressed from the base of the slope to near the peak of Mount Meager involving basement rock and the overlying volcanic sequence. Elsewhere on the flanks of Mount Meager, large fractures have developed in recently deglaciated areas, conditioning these slopes for future collapse. Potential failures in these areas have larger volumes than the 2010 landslide. Anticipated atmospheric warming over the next several decades will cause further loss of snow and glacier ice, likely producing additional slope instability. Satellite- and ground-based monitoring of these slopes can provide advanced warning of future landslides to help reduce risk in populated regions downstream.     

生态服务价值与方法研究

1Ecosystemservicesandtheirvalueoftheworld1.1EcosystemservicesHuman societies derive many essential goods from natural ecosystems, including seafood, game animals, fodder, fuelwood, timber, and pharmaceutical products (Constanza, 1997). These goods represent important and familiar parts of the economy. What has been less appreciated until recently is that natural ecosystems also perform fundamental life-support services without which human civilizations would cease to thrive. These include the…     

P wave velocity structure of upper and middle crust beneath the Three Gorges reservoir dam and adjacent regions

The three-dimensional P wave velocity structures of upper and middle crust beneath the Three Gorges reservoir dam and adjacent regions were reconstructed by means of the seismic tomography, using the absolute P-arrivals from the events observed by the Three Gorges seismic network. Our preliminary study of the deep structure shows: (1) the lithology of the Huangling anticline, integral and highly solidified, exhibits a uniformity. Down to a depth of 20 km, the Huangling anticline still shows high-velocity anomalies. Note that the characteristics of the velocity images with the different depths are not the same; (2) the depth of the sedimentary rocks beneath the entire Zigui basin is not constant, which is less than 6 km; (3) the top boundary of the crystalline basement varies from 0 to 7 km, whereas the bottom one between 14 and 16 km; (4) the partially molten substances of the upper mantle are located in the Badong-Zigui and its adjacent regions as well as nearby Peishi area. The development and evolution of the current tectonics are associated with the cooling and solidifying process of the molten substances within the upper mantle; (5) the different velocity structures of the deep crust in both east and west side of the Jiuwanxi fault are to be investigated in order to understand the origin of gravitational gradient zone in the Three Gorge areas; and (6) the velocities within the upper crust would be affected by reservoir water permeability. Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 40574039), National Key Technology R& D Program (Grant No. 2008BAC38B02)     

钦-杭结合带南段新元古代俯冲作用:来自粤西贵子混杂岩变基性岩年代学和地球化学的证据

新元古代以来,扬子地块和华夏地块拼贴形成钦-杭结合带。粤西贵子混杂岩为揭示钦-杭结合带南段地质演化提供了一个重要的窗口。贵子混杂岩构造岩块为强烈变形-变质的变基性岩、深海硅质岩,基质为石英岩、云母片岩以及具鲍马序列富锰质硅泥质岩等。对混杂岩中变基性岩年代学和元素地球化学分析显示,锆石U-Pb年龄为948±11Ma,除少部分属低钾(拉斑)外,其余均为钙碱性系列,CIPW标准矿物成分属石英拉斑玄武岩-橄榄拉斑玄武岩组合。变基性岩具有高TiO_2(平均1.85%)、P_2O_5(平均0.21%)的特点;无Eu异常或轻微负异常,配分曲线右倾(球粒陨石标准化(La/Yb)N=2.65~3.89),大离子亲石元素(Rb、Ba、Th、U)富集,高场强元素(Nb、Zr、Hf)轻微亏损,表现为洋壳消减作用下岛弧岩浆岩特征。高的Nb(7.56×10~(-6)~16.11×10~(-6),均大于7×10~(-6))、Nb/U(18.39~25.65)、(Nb/La)N(0.76~0.94,原始地幔标准化)显示为岛弧环境富Nb玄武岩。本研究认为,云开地块出露的这套构造混杂岩,是新元古代古华南洋俯冲在钦-杭结合带南段的记录,可为该带的南东边界提供线索。     

A review of advances in China’s flash flood early-warning system

This paper summarizes the main flash flood early-warning systems of America, Europe, Japan, and Taiwan China and discusses their advantages and disadvantages. The latest development in flash flood prevention is also presented. China’s flash flood prevention system involves three stages. Herein, the warning methods and achievements in the first two stages are introduced in detail. Based on the worldwide experience of flash flood early-warning systems, the general research idea of the third stage is proposed from the viewpoint of requirements for flash flood prevention and construction progress of the next stage in China. Real-time dynamic warning systems can be applied to the early-warning platform at four levels (central level, provincial level, municipal level, and county level) . Through this, soil moisture, peak flow, and water level can be calculated in real-time using distributed hydrological models, and then flash flood warning indexes can be computed based on defined thresholds of runoff and water level. A compound warning index (CWI) can be applied to regions where rainfall and water level are measured by simple equipment. In this manner, flash-flood-related factors such as rainfall intensity and antecedent and cumulative rainfall depths can be determined using the CWI method. The proposed methodology for the third stage could support flash flood prevention measures in the 13th 5-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the People’s Republic of China (2016–2020). The research achievements will serve as a guidance for flash flood monitoring and warning as well as flood warning in medium and small rivers.     

Heavy metals in sediments and their bioaccumulation in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phragmites australis</Emphasis> in the Anzali wetland of Iran

Accumulation of metals in both sediments and Phragmites australis organs was studied. Samples were collected from seven stations located in Anzali wetland, Iran. The samples were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The results showed that concentration of the studied metals (except As and Cd) were higher in sediments than in P. australis organs. Metal accumulation was found to be significantly (P <0.05) higher in roots than in above-ground organs of P. australis. The bioaccumulation factor (BAF) and the transfer factor (TF) also verified the highest rate of metal accumulation in roots and their reduced mobility from roots to the above-ground organs. Pearson correlation coefficient showed significant relationships between metal concentrations in sediments and those in plant organs. It should be pointed out that sediment and plant samples exhibited higher metal concentrations in eastern and central parts than in western and southern parts of the wetland. The mean concentrations of all studied elements (except for Fe, V and Al) were higher in these sediment samples than in the Earth’s crust and shale. High accumulation of metals in P. australis organs (roots and shoots) is indicative of their high bioavailability in sediments of the wetland. The correlation between metal concentrations in sediments and in P. australis indicates that plant organs are good bioindicators of metal pollution in sediments of Anzali wetland.     

Fractal-like adsorption kinetics of Pb^2＋ in rocks

The adsorption kinetics of Pb^2＋ in rocks has been studied using ion selective electrodes and atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The results showed that the adsorption process is a fractal-like reaction. The adsorption rate was relatively high before 30 minutes, and then dropped. The saturated adsorption capacity （a） of Pb^2＋ and kinetic parameters （b, a, D and k） increased with increasing initial concentrations of Pb^2＋. These parameters （except a） decreased while Na^＋ was present in the solution. Furthermore, the smaller the rocks were in grain size, the bigger these kinetic parameters would be, though the parameter a was almost constant.     

Suitability analysis for sand and gravel extraction site location in the context of a sustainable development in the surroundings of Zaragoza (Spain)

Zaragoza city is located in the central Ebro Basin, in the Iberian Peninsula. The fluvial terraces formed by the Ebro River present a valuable resource of sand and gravel deposits. However, taking advantage of these available resources implies conflicts with other land use interests like urban and industrial development as well as agricultural use, which has also traditionally occupied the alluvial terraces. These deposits represent a substantial groundwater resource that should be preserved for future generations. The development of spatial decision support systems (SDSS) has greatly assisted efforts for solving land-use conflicts. These systems combine the benefits of geographic information systems (GIS) and decision support methodologies and are therefore suitable to manage sustainable development of urban areas. In this contribution, an extraction suitability map taking into consideration a variety of environmental criteria is created with the help of a SDSS. The method used is the analytical hierarchy process which is integrated in ArcGIS. Areas most suitable to sand and gravel extraction are located in the high terraces, and in those terraces covered by pediments where the thickness of resource is relatively high. These areas are far from valuable natural areas, outside areas most vulnerable to groundwater contamination, and beneath soils with poor irrigation characteristics.     

2-D deformation analysis of a half-space due to a long dip-slip fault at finite depth

Closed form analytical expressions of stresses and displacements at any field point due to a very long dip-slip fault of finite width buried in a homogeneous, isotropic elastic half-space, are presented. Airy stress function is used to derive the expressions of stresses and displacements which depend on the dip angle and depth of the upper edge of the fault. The effect of dip angle and depth of the upper edge of the fault on stresses and displacements is studied numerically and the results obtained are presented graphically. Contour maps for stresses and displacements are also presented. The results of Rani and Singh (1992b) and Freund and Barnett (1976) have been reproduced.