Danian cool-water coral reefs in southern Scandinavia localised over seafloor highs

Danian (Paleocene) reefs formed by ahermatypic scleractinian corals in relatively deep water are known in a few localities in southern Scandinavia. Reflection and shallow seismic profiles, and samples from drilling and scuba diving in bridge pier excavations in Øresund, the strait between Denmark and Sweden, for the first time allow interpretation of the factors that controlled the localisation of the reefs.     

Fossilisation of a silica diagenesis reaction front on the mid-Norwegian margin

The diagenetic transformation of biogenic silica from opal-A to opal-CT was recognised on seismic reflection data over an area of 78 × 10³ km² on the mid-Norwegian margin. The opal-A/CT diagenetic boundary appears as a positive, high amplitude reflection that generally cross-cuts the hosting stratigraphy. We demonstrate that it is not a sea bottom simulating reflection (BSR) and also that is not in thermal equilibrium with the present day isotherms. We present arguments that three styles of deformation associated with the opal-A/CT reflection – polygonal faulting, regional anticlines and synclines and differential compaction folding – indicate that the silica diagenesis reaction front is fossilised at a regional scale. Isochore maps demonstrate the degree of conformity between the opal-A/CT reflection and three seismic horizons of Late Miocene to Early Pliocene age that potentially represent the paleo-seabed when ‘fossilisation’ of the reaction front took place. The seismic interpretational criteria for recognition of a fossilised diagenetic front are evaluated and the results of our study are integrated with previous studies from other basins of the NE Atlantic in order to determine if the arrest of silica diagenesis was diachronous along this continental margin.     

Combined three-dimensional electric and seismic tomography study on the Åknes rockslide in western Norway

We present a combined 3-D geoelectric and seismic tomography study conducted on the large Åknes rockslide in western Norway. Movements on the slope are strongly influenced by water infiltration, such that the hydrogeological regime is considered as a critical factor affecting the slope stability. The aim of our combined geophysical study was to identify and visualize the main shallow tension fractures and to determine their effect on hydraulic processes by comparing the geophysical results with information from borehole logging and tracer tests. To resolve the complex subsurface conditions of the highly fractured rock mass, a three-dimensional set-up was chosen for our seismic survey. To map the water distribution within the rock mass, a pattern of nine intersecting 2-D geoelectric profiles covered the complete unstable slope. Six of them that crossed the seismic survey area were considered as a single data set in a 3-D inversion. For both methods, smoothing-constraint inversion algorithms were used, and the forward calculations and parameterizations were based on unstructured triangular meshes. A pair of parallel shallow low-velocity anomalies (< 1400 m/s) observed in the final seismic tomogram was immediately underlain by two anomalies with resistivities <13 kΩm in the resistivity tomogram. In combination with borehole logging results, the low-velocity and resistivity anomalies could be associated with the drained and water-filled part of the tension fractures, respectively. There were indications from impeller flowmeter measurements and tracer tests that such tension fractures intersected several other water-filled fractures and were responsible for distinct changes of the main groundwater flow paths.     

Trends,drivers and impacts of changes in swidden cultivation in tropical forest-agriculture frontiers: A global assessment

This meta-analysis of land-cover transformations of the past 10–15 years in tropical forest-agriculture frontiers world-wide shows that swidden agriculture decreases in landscapes with access to local, national and international markets that encourage cattle production and cash cropping, including biofuels. Conservation policies and practices also accelerate changes in swidden by restricting forest clearing and encouraging commercial agriculture. However, swidden remains important in many frontier areas where farmers have unequal or insecure access to investment and market opportunities, or where multi-functionality of land uses has been preserved as a strategy to adapt to current ecological, economic and political circumstances. In some areas swidden remains important simply because intensification is not a viable choice, for example when population densities and/or food market demands are low. The transformation of swidden landscapes into more intensive land uses has generally increased household incomes, but has also led to negative effects on the social and human capital of local communities to varying degrees. From an environmental perspective, the transition from swidden to other land uses often contributes to permanent deforestation, loss of biodiversity, increased weed pressure, declines in soil fertility, and accelerated soil erosion. Our prognosis is that, despite the global trend towards land use intensification, in many areas swidden will remain part of rural landscapes as the safety component of diversified systems, particularly in response to risks and uncertainties associated with more intensive land use systems.     

温冰川上的冰震——以奥地利Hohe Tauern地区Schlatenkees冰川为例

在奥地利Hohe Tauern的Schlatenkees冰川上布置了两组地震仪测量网,用电动力垂直地震仪记录到了约1200次冰震。找出了地震学参数彼此之间的几种关系。并根据优势频率,将冰震分成了4组。记录到的震动事件的震深为25—130m,震源半径为12—67m,地震矩为4.23×10~5—6.52×10~7Nm,地震能为9.1—1.34x10~5J,应力降为0.16—32.04hPa。     

Effects of F,B2O3 and P2O5 on the solubility of water in haplogranite melts compared to natural silicate melts

The effects of F, B₂O₃ and P₂O₅ on the H₂O solubility in a haplogranite liquid (36 wt. % SiO₂, 39 wt. % NaAlSi₃O₈, 25 wt. % KAlSi₃O₈) have been determined at 0.5, 1, 2, and 3 kb and 800, 850, and 900°C. The H₂O solubility increases with increasing F and B content of the melt. The H₂O solubility increase in more important at high pressure (2 and 3 kb) than at low pressure (0.5 kb). At 2 kb and 800°C, the H₂O solubility increases from 5.94 to 8.22 wt. % H₂O with increasing F content in the melt from 0 to 4.55 wt. %, corresponding to a linear H₂O solubility increase of 0.53 mol H₂O/mol F. With addition of 4.35 wt. % B₂O₃, the H₂O solubility increases up to 6.86 wt. % H₂O at 2 kb and 800°C, corresponding to a linear increase of 1.05 mol H₂O/mol B₂O₃. The results allow to define the individual effects of fluorine and boron on H₂O solubility in haplogranitic melts with compositions close to that of H₂O-saturated thermal minima (at 0.5–3 kb). Although P has a dramatic effect on the phase relations in the haplogranite system, its effect on the H₂O solubility was found to be negligible in natural melt compositions. The concominant increase in H₂O solubility and F can not be interpreted on the basis of the available spectroscopic data (existence of hydrated aluminofluoride complexes or not). In contrast, hydrated borates or more probably boroxol complexes have been demonstrated in B-bearing hydrous melts.     

The Barents Sea Ice Sheet — A model of its growth and decay during the last ice maximum

On the basis of geomorphological and sedimentological data, we believe that the entire Barents Sea was covered by grounded ice during the last glacial maximum. ¹⁴C dates on shells embedded in tills suggest marine conditions in the Barents Sea as late as 22 ka BP; and models of the deglaciation history based on uplift data from the northern Norwegian coast suggest that significant parts of the Barents Sea Ice Sheet calved off as early as 15 ka BP. The growth of the ice sheet is related to glacioeustatic fall and the exposure of shallow banks in the central Barents Sea, where ice caps may develop and expand to finally coalesce with the expanding ice masses from Svalbard and Fennoscandia.The outlined model for growth and decay of the Barents Sea Ice Sheet suggests a system which developed and existed under periods of maximum climatic deterioration, and where its growth and decay were strongly related to the fall and rise of sea level.     

How do we know when we have done enough to protect the environment?

The changing concepts and challenges that the process industry has to face in relation to environmental protection are discussed. The original requirements on industry to reduce emissions of contaminants through the installation of filters and waste water treatment facilities or through process modification and introduction of ‘clean production’ strategies were mainly based on economic and technical considerations rather than on an effort to avoid environmental impacts. The introduction of concepts such as ‘assimilative capacity of the environment’ and ‘critical load’ provided useful instruments for setting effect-related emission standards, resulting in acceptable environmental protection. However, the actual requirement for ‘sustainability’ has forced industry to focus not only on controlling emissions of contaminants and pollutants, but to take a global environmental approach, including the choice of raw materials and energy sources, recycling and re-utilization of wastes and to take responsibility for the fate of their products, during their whole lifecycle.     

Who sets the environmental standards for tomorrow''s industry: Industry, consumers, government regulations, the green lobby?

The paper discusses the role of all parties involved in the debate about environmental standards, their relationships in an ideal situation, the weaknesses today and how these weaknesses could be corrected. The question of who should set the environmental standards is an important element on the way to this ideal situation. It is considered necessary that all parties, industry, consumers, government regulations and the green lobby, should contribute to the development of better environmental standards.     

Geological mapping of rapid mass movement deposits as an aid to land-use planning

Rapid mass movements are common features of hilly or mountainous terrains, and depending on the type of movements or processes involved these give rise to characteristic deposits. Identification of these deposits in mapping programmes gives a clue as to their mode of origin (rockslide/rockfall, snow avalanche, debris flow, fluidal sediment flow) and this can be used to predict rapid mass movements in the future.

A case story from western Norway is described and the value of mapping such deposits for land-use planning and hazard estimation stressed.