Analyse de 47 Echantillons Géochimiques de Référence par Fluorescence-X (Cu, Ga, Ni, Zn) Et par Absorption Atomique (Cu, Ni, Zn)

47 étalons géochimiques internationaux dont les huit nouveaux étalons de l'USGS ont été analysés par fluorescence-X et absorption atomique pour Ni, Cu, Zn et par fluorescence-X pour Ga.
Les auteurs développment ici pour la fluores-cence-X les problèmes concernant le choix des fonds, le calcul du fond véritable sous-jacent au pic mesuré, les impuretés des tubes et de l'appareillage. Une méthode directe sur échantillon pulvérulent, non destructive, sans aucune préparation est utilisée.
Trois systèmes de fluorescence-X utilisant deux appareillages (Philips PW 1540 et Siemens SSRS 1) et deux tubes molybdène et or sont confrontés et les moyennes comparée à celles d'une méthode d'absorption atomique par mise en solution de l'échantillon (IL 353).
Les résultats obtenus sont comparés soit aux valeurs recommandées, soit aux moyennes calculées à partir de la littérature. On discute tant les accords que les divergences.     

Seasonal Rainfall Forecasts for the Yangtze River Basin in the Extreme Summer of 2020※

Seasonal forecasts for Yangtze River basin rainfall in June, May–June–July (MJJ), and June–July–August (JJA) 2020 are presented, based on the Met Office GloSea5 system. The three-month forecasts are based on dynamical predictions of an East Asian Summer Monsoon (EASM) index, which is transformed into regional-mean rainfall through linear regression. The June rainfall forecasts for the middle/lower Yangtze River basin are based on linear regression of precipitation. The forecasts verify well in terms of giving strong, consistent predictions of above-average rainfall at lead times of at least three months. However, the Yangtze region was subject to exceptionally heavy rainfall throughout the summer period, leading to observed values that lie outside the 95％ prediction intervals of the three-month forecasts. The forecasts presented here are consistent with other studies of the 2020 EASM rainfall, whereby the enhanced mei-yu front in early summer is skillfully forecast, but the impact of midlatitude drivers enhancing the rainfall in later summer is not captured. This case study demonstrates both the utility of probabilistic seasonal forecasts for the Yangtze region and the potential limitations in anticipating complex extreme events driven by a combination of coincident factors.     

Revisiting the Concentration Observations and Source Apportionment of Atmospheric Ammonia

<正>While China’s Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan on particulate matter since 2013 has reduced sulfate significantly, aerosol ammonium nitrate remains high in East China. As the high nitrate abundances are strongly linked with ammonia, reducing ammonia emissions is becoming increasingly important to improve the air quality of China. Although satellite data provide evidence of substantial increases in atmospheric ammonia concentrations over major agricultural regions, long-t...     

Radiolarites et sédiments hypersiliceux océaniques: une comparaison

The mineralogical and chemical composition of Jurassic radiolarian cherts has been studied in Morocco (Rif), Italy (Lombardy basin and Apennines), Greece (Pindus zone and Vourinos Massif), some in close association with ophiolites. We have compared these samples with Cretaceous cherts from the NW Pacific (Leg 32) and with Cenozoic diatomaceous oozes from the Sea of Japan (Leg 31). The silica in the radiolarian cherts is quartz or chalcedony. Most of these rocks also contain feldspars and hematite while the clay fraction is composed of illite and/or chlorite generally associated with swelling clays and, locally, with kaolinite. In oceanic sediments all mineralogical species of silica have been detected (from opal to quartz), the clays generally being the same as those of the radiolarian cherts, the feldspars also being present. Based on the chemical composition of the radiolarian cherts, three facies can be distinguished: massive cherts, pelitic radiolarites and ferruginous radiolarites, the latter occurring only near the contact with volcanic basement. The chemical composition of cherts and diatom oozes from the Pacific is very close to the composition of radiolarian cherts. Although the mineralogy of radiolarian cherts can be related to several models (detrital, diagenesis of pelagic clays etc.) the detrital origin of part of the clay fraction seems certain. The origin of silica and its relation to the palaeolatitudes and the relatively confined nature of the Tethys oceans as well as the influence of volcanic inputs are evaluated, Chemical and mineralogical composition of radiolarian cherts shows that the diagenesis of the clay fraction is not a significant source of silica. Accumulation of diatom oozes in the Sea of Japan and in other areas, shows that the distance from continents and very deep seas are not essential to the development of siliceous sedimentation.     

THE ALBERTA OIL SANDS FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE BORDER*

ABSTRACT. The United States produces less than half of the oil it consumes, a dependence unlikely to subside without drastic improvements in domestic production, development of renewable resources, and greater energy efficiency. All three of these actions, even if ultimately meaningful, will take time to produce results, so the United States is likely to continue to depend on outside suppliers. The most tempting of these suppliers is Canada, especially its massive oil sands in northeastern Alberta Province. In this article I ask why that is true and, more important whether the arrangement is mutually beneficial. The answers are strongly related to location; that is, the location of supply and the location of demand. The view from the south favors Canada above all other countries as a likely source for meeting the growing U.S. oil needs, yet not without accompanying unintended consequences. When viewed from the north, the monetary attraction of the oil sands is weakened by the environmental costs that are likely if their development expands as expected. Weighing these perspectives, the question is whether the combination of demand and environmental concerns leads to, accelerates, or discourages development. Viewing such a prospect from both sides of the border challenges the view that development of natural resources is always inevitable or wise, regardless of apparent profitability and need. Much depends on location.     

Sediment trend models fail to reproduce small-scale sediment transport patterns on an intertidal beach

A rigorous test is presented of the application of sediment trend models to an intertidal beach environment characterized by bar morphology. Sediment samples were collected during low tide from a regular grid and their sediment fall velocity distributions, obtained using a settling tube, were analysed using moment analysis. The net sediment transport direction determined from beach surveys, hydrodynamic measurements, wave ripple observations and sediment transport modelling was compared with predictions by sediment trend models based on the spatial distribution of sediment parameters. It was found that the sediment transport pathways and patterns of sedimentation predicted using sediment trend models were at odds with field observations, and varied significantly depending on whether surface or sub‐surface sediment samples were used. The sediment trend models are thought to fail because, in energetic and morphologically variable beach environments, spatial patterns in sediment characteristics are mainly attributed to the presence of different hydrodynamic regions and associated morphology, rather than sediment pathways. The use of sediment trend models cannot replace the collection of morphological, hydrodynamic and sediment transport data in the field to define relationships between flows, forms and sedimentation patterns on a dynamic intertidal beach.