Soil-zone microfabrics in calcrete and in desiccation cracks from the upper Jurassic purbeck formation of dorset

Soil-zone microfabrics, alveolar-septal structure, needle-fibre calcite, and calcans are described from horizontal calcrete layers, stringers, and infillings in vertical desiccation cracks from an Upper Jurassic limestone in the Lower Purbeck Formation of Dorset. These calcrete palaeosols occur in an oolitic limestone (the Hard Cap) which represents former evaporitic lagoonal to carbonate mudflat environments. The calcretes occur 6-10 cm below the Great Dirt Bed, a former rendzina soil with rooted tree remains. Desiccation cracks and vugs formed in the oolitic sediment before Great Dirt Bed times. After formation of the Great Dirt Bed, soil-water rich in dissolved CaCO₃ preferentially flowed through natural conduits in the underlying sediment, namely the desiccation cracks and vugs. Calcrete precipitated in these cracks and vugs around decaying plant roots, and probably, during more arid (evaporative) climatic periods. These palaeosol microfabrics are among the first to be described from the British Jurassic and were probably preserved due to the semiarid Lower Purbeck climate where rapid oxidation of organic matter limited the amount and strength of carbonic acid generation, thereby limiting extensive dissolution of early formed soil-zone carbonate. Early diagenetic cementation of the sediment also aided microfabric preservation by sealing off soil-zone structures from subsequent diagenetic fluids.     

Midwater fishes in the eastern North Atlantic—I. Vertical distribution and associated biology in 30°N, 23°W,with developmental notes on certain myctophids

This paper is the first of a series describing the vertical distribution of midwater fishes in the eastern North Atlantic in areas approximately 10° of latitude apart near the 20° meridian. As such, it is concerned solely with collections made in 30°N, 23°W. The results are based primarily upon RMT 8 net samples collected using an opening-closing RMT 1+8 combination net. In all, 17,443 specimens were caught by RMT 8, divisible into 37 families, 66 genera with 98 species identified. Numerically the most abundant groups recognized were the Gonostomatidae (60% total catch), Macrorhamphosidae (23%) and Myctophidae (7%). Some definition of vertical limits is provided for the majority of species represented, but only 31 are considered in detail. Where possible, observed biological phenomena (e.g. development, sexual maturity, sexual dimorphism, etc.) and distribution limits have been correlated. In general, the characteristics of species' distributions, and the observed relations of distribution and migratory behaviour were as one would anticipate from past work. Among many species, a size-depth stratification was observed, and with migrants, migratory behaviour appeared dependent upon developmental state. The mode of species development, however, had no bearing upon ultimate migratory behaviour. Certain non-migratory elements of the population of an habitually migrant species, e.g. Chauliodus danae, could not be satisfactorily interpreted upon the basis of biological factors examines. Migrant species principally occupied 400–900 m depth by day, and 25–300 m by night, although they occurred at greater depths. Reverse migrations were only observed in Macrorhamphosus. The overall catches were dominated by non-migrants, and at depths greater that 200 m these comprised the most abundant species per depth at all times. Cyclothone constituted the most abundant genus sampled and provided greatest insight into distributional and biological detail. C. braueri, the most numerous species, is probably a single spawner, and the results demonstrate a size-depth stratification that may be correlated with sexual maturity stages. The olfactory structure in males is more complicated than previously described. The larger males develop a snout prolongation which would improve water flow through the nasal rosette and hence olfaction. Unlike C. microdon, C. braueri probably does not undergo sex-reversal. Developmental notes are included for the myctophid species Notoscopelus resplendens, Benthosema suborbitale, and Hygophum hygomi in the Appendix.     

The influence of pressure on the structure and dynamics of hydrogen bonds in zoisite and clinozoisite

Density functional theory calculations have been used to study the pressure-induced changes of the hydrogen bond of Fe-free orthozoisite and clinozoisite and the concomitant shifts of the OH-stretching frequencies. Two independent parameter-free lattice dynamical calculations have been employed. One was based on a plane-wave basis set in conjunction with norm-conserving pseudopotentials and a density functional perturbation theory approach, while the other used a localised basis set and a finite displacement algorithm for the lattice dynamical calculations. Both models confirm the unusually large pressure-induced red-shift found experimentally (−33.89 cm⁻¹/GPa) in orthozoisite, while the pressure-induced shifts in clinozoisite are much smaller (−5 to −9 cm⁻¹/GPa). The atomistic model calculations show that in orthozoisite the nearly linear O–H⋯O arrangement is compressed by about 8% on a pressure increase to 10 GPa, while concomitantly the O–H distance is significantly elongated (by 2.5% at 10 GPa). In clinozoisite, the O–H⋯O arrangement is kinked at ambient conditions and remains kinked at high pressures, while the O-H distance is elongated by only 0.5% at 10 GPa. The current calculations confirm that correlations between the distances and dynamics of hydrogen bonds, which have been established at ambient conditions, cannot be used to infer hydrogen positions at high pressures.     

The petrogenesis of massif anorthosites: a Nd and Sr isotopic investigation of the Proterozoic of Rogaland/Vest-Agder,SW Norway

Sm-Nd and Rb-Sr isotopic analyses of charnockitic migmatite, augen gneiss, anorthosite-leuconorite and two acid plutons from the Rogaland and Vest-Agder districts of southwest Norway constrain their crustal residence ages, origin and evolution. The charnockitic migmatites, which are a major component of the metamorphic basement complex, represent the oldest and largest episode of accretion, in which new crust was derived 1.5–1.9 Ga ago from a mantle source of depleted Nd isotopic composition. The basement complex was intruded by a number of large anorthositic to granitic plutons during and after the Sveconorwegian orogenic period. Samples from the ca. 1050 Ma old, synorogenic Håland anorthosite-leuconorite massif exhibit substantial variation of initial _Nd of +2.1 to +4.4 at an anorthosite locality and –0.5 to +2.3 at a leuconorite locality, but display significant variation of initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio only between the localities (anorthosite mean=0.70369, leuconorite mean=0.70560). A model is proposed whereby the anorthosite and leuconorite were derived by major crustal contamination of, and fractional crystallization from, a picritic magma derived from isotopically-depleted mantle. Two younger acid intrusions, the 950 Ma old Lyngdal granodiorite and the 930 Ma old Farsund charnockite, both have initial Sr and Nd isotope ratios consistent with massive contamination of depleted-mantle-derived magma by old continental crustal material.     

Petrogenetic modelling of in situ fractional crystallization in the zoned Loch Doon pluton,Scotland

The late Caledonian Loch Doon granitic intrusion ranges in composition from hypersthene diorite at the margin, through quartz diorite, granodiorite and granite to cordierite microgranite at its core. Petrogenetic modelling of trace element variations and least squares analysis of major elements indicate that two distinct magmas are involved, each magma controlled by crystallization of plag-opx-cpx-bio. Late stage rocks related to the second magma include the cordierite microgranites and aplites, which are interpreted as the final residue which crystallized rapidly after a build up and loss of volatiles.Analyses of whole rocks and minerals for REE's and other elements of moderate-high ionic potential indicate that these elements are strongly controlled by minor phase crystallization; apatite, zircon, sphene and allanite are dominant at intermediate compositions but other accessory minerals such as monazite and xenotime may also become important at acid compositions.It is probable that within each magma the mechanisms of crystal settling and filter pressing operated, the former being initially dominant, and the latter becoming more important with increasing degree of fractional crystallization.     

下投式探空资料对Debby飓风路径预报影响的数值试验

在飓风路径的数值预报中，对于初始场的要求很高，然而，由于初始资料的缺乏，经常导致路径预报的误差较大，尤其是当飓风处于远离陆地的海上时，这种误差更大，通过利用UM模式在Debby飓风活动期间，对下投式探空仪所获取探空资料，采用不同使用方案的三个时次共计10次数值试验的结论分析，给出一些有意义的 结论，即非实时资料对实时资料的有效补充，能够提高飓风路径预报精度，而在众多气象要素场中，风场和湿度场对飓风路径预报的影响更大。     

Hydrogen isotopes in dinosterol from the Chesapeake Bay estuary

The hydrogen isotope ratio of the dinoflagellate sterol dinosterol (4α,23,24-trimethyl-5α-cholest-22E-en-3β-ol) was measured in suspended particles and surface sediments from the Chesapeake Bay estuary in order to evaluate the influence of salinity on hydrogen isotope fractionation. D/H fractionation was found to decrease by 0.99 ± 0.23‰ per unit increase in salinity over the salinity range 10-29 PSU, a similar decrease to that observed in a variety of lipids from hypersaline ponds on Christmas Island (Kiribati). We hypothesize that the hydrogen isotopic response to salinity may result from diminished exchange of water between algal cells and their environment, lower growth rates and/or increased production of osmolytes at high salinities. Regardless of the mechanism, the consistent sign and magnitude of dinosterol δD response to changing salinity should permit qualitative to semi-quantitative reconstructions of past salinities from sedimentary dinosterol δD values.     

Tropical drought patterns and their linkages to large-scale climate variability over Peninsular Malaysia

Ocean–atmosphere modes of climate variability in the Pacific and Indian oceans, as well as monsoons, regulate the regional wet and dry episodes in tropical regions. However, how those modes of climate variability, and their interactions, lead to spatial differences in drought patterns over tropical Asia at seasonal to interannual time scales remains unclear. This study aims to analyse the hydroclimate processes for both short- and long-term spatial drought patterns (3-, 6, 12- and 24-months) over Peninsular Malaysia using the Standardized Precipitation Index, Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index, and Palmer Drought Severity Index. Besides that, a generalized least squares regression is used to explore underlying circulation mechanisms of these spatio-temporal drought patterns. The tested drought indices indicate a tendency towards wetter conditions over Peninsular Malaysia. Based on principal component analysis, distinct spatio-temporal drought patterns are revealed, suggesting North–South and East–West gradients in drought distribution. The Pacific El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO), the South Western Indian Ocean (SWIO) variability, and the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) are significant contributors to the observed spatio-temporal variability in drought. Both the ENSO and the SWIO modulate the North–South gradient in drought conditions over Peninsular Malaysia, while the QBO contributes more to the East–West gradient. Through modulating regional moisture fluxes, the warm phases of the ENSO and the SWIO, and the western phases of the QBO weaken the southwest and northeast monsoon, leading to precipitation deficits and droughts over Peninsular Malaysia. The East–West or North–South gradients in droughts are related to the middle mountains blocking southwest and northeast moisture fluxes towards Peninsular Malaysia. In addition, the ENSO and QBO variations are significantly leading to short-term droughts (less than a year), while the SWIO is significantly associated with longer-duration droughts (2 years or more). Overall, this work demonstrates how spatio-temporal drought patterns in tropical regions are related to monsoons and moisture transports affected by the oscillations over the Pacific and Indian oceans, which is important for national water risk management.     

加拿大一美国圣劳伦斯河：需要对大河生态系统水平上的了解

Throughout the course of civilization, large rivers have played a major role in transport, water supply and human waste disposal. The pressure on these resources has greatly intensified over this century, but our ecological understanding of this most important class of freshwater environments remains poorly developed.