Evolution and paleobiogeography of mangroves

We reviewed the geological record of mangroves based on fossil pollen, fruits, and wood evidence of Nypa, Avicennia, Sonneratia, Rhizophoraceae, and mangrove associates to trace the origin, distribution, extinction, and range contraction of paleo‐mangroves during the Late Cretaceous–Miocene time. Our study region covers paleocoastal areas of Indo‐West Pacific (IWP) and Atlantic East Pacific (AEP) region. First, we compiled the mangrove fossil records from the Late Cretaceous till Miocene and identified the migration pattern for Nypa, Avicennia, Sonneratia, Rhizophoraceae members, and mangrove associates such as Acrostichum, Wetherellia, Pelliciera, Aegiceras, Heritiera, Excoecaria, and Barringtonia. Second, we interpreted the paleoclimate shifts which caused the dispersal/extinction of this specialized ecosystem. Lastly, we proposed the future consequences of mangrove diversity for restoration and conservation strategies. First mangroves appeared during the Late Cretaceous, 100–65 Ma, since then their evolution is closely related to sea‐level changes in geological times. The oldest geological record of Nypa palm which prefers broad ecological tolerance is a good example for pantropical distribution of mangroves. High sea‐level and humid climate offered sufficient coastal regions and climate for the development of 12 genera of mangroves in nine families and subsequent proliferation into newer areas during early to middle Eocene (~50–40 Ma). The Eocene/Oligocene boundary crisis heralds the beginning of a biogeographical split between the present‐day eastern and western provinces of mangroves with records of Sonneratia, Rhizophora, Pelliciera, Barringtonia, and Acrostichum. However, during Oligocene and Middle Miocene mangroves occupied the present geographical position with addition of Nypa, Avicennia, and Excoecaria species. Re‐evaluation of Cenozoic records suggests that the climatic conditions of Late Paleocene, end of Eocene, and middle Pliocene were the driving force that led to the evolution and expansion of mangrove flora. During the Neogene, latitudinal contraction, extinction, and migration of mangroves led to the present bipartite distribution. The Himalayan uplift and establishment of Asian summer monsoon toward Late Neogene further affected the coastal dynamics which tailored the mangrove distribution of the Indian subcontinent. Loss of ecological habitats and local extinction forming disjunct distribution of mangroves during the Quaternary have also affected its overall biogeography.     

Seismic identification of geothermal prospecting in Harrat Rahat,Northern Arabian Shield

Influenced by mining activities in adjacent coal seams, stresses on rocks surrounding roadway were redistributed, and the roadways in lower coal seam were subjected to the asymmetrical roof falling and roof sagging. Considering stresses effect on the plastic zone around the roadway, numerical models were carried out by FLAC to investigate plastic zone with respect to stress ratio and direction of stresses. The relationship between the properties of surrounding rock and plastic zone boundary was also investigated by another numerical model and analytical study, whereby the tailgate stability of panel 30,501 in Tashan coal mine was implemented. It is shown that the rocks surrounding a roadway in the lower coal seam were subjected to unequal stresses, and the principal stress direction was deflected from the original direction. High stresses and big stress ratio can produce butterfly-shaped or X-shaped plastic zone. The direction of stresses was deflected, causing the plastic zone around the roadway to be transferred from the shoulder to the roof of the roadway. Consequently, asymmetrical stresses produce asymmetrical plastic zone. On this basis, the tailgate should be assigned conditions of the stresses and stress ratio at a low level. In this way, the tailgate was arranged at the position where the horizontal distance from the roadway in the lower seam to the centre line of the coal pillar in the upper seam (x) is 52.5 m, and was stable relatively.     

Near-surface foundation level assessment from seismic measurements: a case study of north Jeddah City,Saudi Arabia

In this study, a comprehensive assessment on the generation mechanism, distribution characteristics, and extension rules of structure cracks was conducted by in situ monitoring and field investigation in the Chengchao Iron Mine. Structure cracks are affected by many factors, e.g., surface deformation, structure strength, occurrence position, and machine vibration. They initially occur in a structure when the strength of the structure is not enough to resist the inner strain as surface deformation increases. In contrast, increases in width and length of structure crack exert stress release in the structure and thus decrease structure deformation surrounding the crack. A great ground crack may adversely aggravate structure cracking and release the stress of surrounding rock masses. In addition, micro cracks in rock masses provide favorable conditions for the generation and extension of cracks, resulting that cracks occur in shaft walls more easily and extend towards the deeper. The initial distribution of cracks is generally consistent with such micro cracks. Subsequently, cracks in deep rock masses will extend along the strike of the mined-out area as surface deformation increases. Sensibilities to cracking of structures are changed by their different strain resistances and become stronger from bolt-shotcrete shaft, bolt-shotcrete tunnel, and brick-concrete building to brick wall. Based on distribution characteristics of cracks and wave velocity in rock masses, the overlaying strata affected by underground mining can be divided into four zones: broken zone, broken transition zone, crack generation zone, and micro deformation zone.     

Contribution de la gravimétrie à l'étude de la structure du bassin de Tadla (Maroc) : Implications hydrogéologiques

This study is based on the analysis and the interpretation of the gravity data of the Tadla basin. Its purpose is to increase the knowledge of this basin structure. A residual anomaly map was first calculated from the Bouguer anomaly data witch are strongly affected by a regional gradient. The computed map provides information on the ground density variation but it does not bring enough of new elements. Data filtering allows us to emphasize the structures affecting the basin. We chose the horizontal gradient coupled to the upward continuation techniques that permit to highlight news structures and to give information on their dip. The elaborated structural map of the study area constitutes a useful document for rationalizing the future groundwater exploration in the Tadla basin. To cite this article: A. Najine et al., C. R. Geoscience 338 (2006).     

Site response assessment of an urban extension site using microtremor measurements,Ahud Rufeidah,Abha District,Southwest Saudi Arabia

Arabian Journal of Geosciences - Microtremor horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio (HVSR) method has been conducted at 33 sites in Ahud Rufeidah urban expansion zone in order to assess the...     

Soil Loss Mapping for Sustainable Development and Management of Land Resources in Warora Tehsil of Chandrapur District of Maharashtra: An Integrated Approach Using Remote Sensing and GIS

The study area is characterized by low and fluctuating rainfall pattern, thin soil cover, predominantly rain-fed farming with low productivity coupled with intensive mining activities, urbanization, deforestation, wastelands and unwise utilization of natural resources causing human induced environmental degradation and ecological imbalances, that warrant sustainable development and optimum management of land resources. Spatial information related to existing geology, land use/land cover, physiography, slope and soils has been derived through remote sensing, collateral data and field survey and used as inputs in a widely used erosion model (Universal Soil Loss Equation) in India to compute soil loss (t/ha/yr) in GIS. The study area has been delineated into very slight (<5 t/ha/yr), slight (5–10 t/ha/yr), moderate (10–15 t/ha/yr), moderately severe (15–20 t/ha/yr), severe (20–40 t/ha/yr) and very severe (>40 t/ha/yr) soil erosion classes. The study indicate that 45.4 thousand ha. (13.7% of TGA) is under moderate, moderately severe, severe and very severe soil erosion categories. The physiographic unit wise analysis of soil loss in different landscapes have indicated the sensitive areas, that has helped to prioritize development and management plans for soil and water conservation measures and suitable interventions like afforestation, agro-forestry, agri-horticulture, silvipasture systems which will result in the improvement of productivity of these lands, protect the environment from further degradation and for the ecological sustenance.     

Impact of MJO on the intraseasonal variation of summer monsoon rainfall over India

The summer monsoon rainfall over India exhibits strong intraseasonal variability. Earlier studies have identified Madden Julian Oscillation (MJO) as one of the most influencing factors of the intraseasonal variability of the monsoon rainfall. In this study, using India Meteorological Department (IMD) high resolution daily gridded rainfall data and Wheeler?CHendon MJO indices, the intra-seasonal variation of daily rainfall distribution over India associated with various Phases of eastward propagating MJO life cycle was examined to understand the mechanism linking the MJO to the intraseasonal variability. During MJO Phases of 1 and 2, formation of MJO associated positive convective anomaly over the equatorial Indian Ocean activated the oceanic tropical convergence zone (OTCZ) and the resultant changes in the monsoon circulation caused break monsoon type rainfall distribution. Associated with this, negative convective anomalies over monsoon trough zone region extended eastwards to date line indicating weaker than normal northern hemisphere inter tropical convergence zone (ITCZ). The positive convective anomalies over OTCZ and negative convective anomalies over ITCZ formed a dipole like pattern. Subsequently, as the MJO propagated eastwards to west equatorial Pacific through the maritime continent, a gradual northward shift of the OTCZ was observed and negative convective anomalies started appearing over equatorial Indian Ocean. During Phase 4, while the eastwards propagating MJO linked positive convective anomalies activated the eastern part of the ITCZ, the northward propagating OTCZ merged with monsoon trough (western part of the ITCZ) and induced positive convective anomalies over the region. During Phases 5 and 6, the dipole pattern in convective anomalies was reversed compared to that during Phases 1 and 2. This resulted active monsoon type rainfall distribution over India. During the subsequent Phases (7 and 8), the convective and lower tropospheric anomaly patterns were very similar to that during Phase 1 and 2 except for above normal convective anomalies over equatorial Indian Ocean. A general decrease in the rainfall was also observed over most parts of the country. The associated dry conditions extended up to northwest Pacific. Thus the impact of the MJO on the monsoon was not limited to the Indian region. The impact was rather felt over larger spatial scale extending up to Pacific. This study also revealed that the onset of break and active events over India and the duration of these events are strongly related to the Phase and strength of the MJO. The break events were relatively better associated with the strong MJO Phases than the active events. About 83% of the break events were found to be set in during the Phases 7, 8, 1 and 2 of MJO with maximum during Phase 1 (40%). On the other hand, about 70% of the active events were set in during the MJO Phases of 3 to 6 with maximum during Phase 4 (21%). The results of this study indicate an opportunity for using the real time information and skillful prediction of MJO Phases for the prediction of break and active conditions which are very crucial for agriculture decisions.     

Post-collisional magmatism in the northern Arabian-Nubian Shield: The geotectonic evolution of the alkaline suite at Gebel Tarbush area, south Sinai, Egypt

Post-collisional alkaline magmatism (∼610–580 Ma) is widely distributed in the northern part of the Neoproterozoic Arabian-Nubian Shield (ANS), i.e. the northern part of the Egyptian Eastern Desert and Sinai. Alkaline rocks of G. Tarbush constitute the western limb of the Katharina ring complex (∼593 ± 16 Ma) in southern Sinai. This suite commenced with the extrusion of peralkaline volcanics and quartz syenite subvolcanics intruded by syenogranite and alkali feldspar granite. The mineralogy and geochemistry of these rocks indicate an alkaline/peralkaline within-plate affinity. Quartz syenite is relatively enriched in TiO₂, Fe₂O₃, MgO, CaO, Sr, Ba and depleted in SiO₂, Nb, Y, and Rb. The G. Tarbush alkaline suite most likely evolved via fractionation of mainly feldspar and minor mafic phases (hornblende, aegirine) from a common quartz syenite parental magma, which formed via partial melting of middle crustal rocks of ANS juvenile crust. Mantle melts could have provided the heat required for the middle crustal melting. The upper mantle melting was likely promoted by erosional decompression subsequent to lithospheric delamination and crustal uplift during the late-collisional stage of the ANS. Such an explanation could explain the absence or scarce occurrence of mafic and intermediate lithologies in the abundant late- to post-collisional calc-alkaline and alkaline suites in the northern ANS. Moreover, erosion related to crustal uplift during the late-collision stage could account for the lack or infrequent occurrence of older lithologies, i.e. island arc metavolcanics and marginal basin ophiolites, from the northern part of the ANS.