Carbon isotopes and Precambrian—Cambrian boundary geology, South Australia: ocean basin formation, seawater chemistry and organic evolution

A carbon isotope stratigraphy from the lowest Cambrian strata in the Adelaide fold belt of South Australia is interpreted in terms of the geological context of the sequence: major transgression, developing circulation patterns and upwelling resulting from an adjacent opening ocean, and biomass increases stemming from the Cambrian radiation event. There is also evidence from the textures of ooids and cements in late Precambrian-Cambrian strata for subtle variations in seawater chemistry across the boundary and these may well have been instrumental in the development of calcareous skeletons in the early metazoans.     

Variations in momentum,mass and heat fluxes due to changes in the sea surface temperature of Hudson Bay

Abstract

The atmospheric model of Danard et al. (1983) is used to investigate the changes in heat, mass and momentum fluxes at the air‐sea interface in Hudson Bay when the seasonal sea surface temperature is varied. Comparisons of model predictions with data from a meteorological buoy located 400 km offshore showed that the model predicted the variations in wind speed and air temperature fairly well but underestimated their magnitudes. In addition it provided offshore heat and mass fluxes for which no direct observations were available.

The most important parameter determining air‐sea fluxes is the temperature difference between air and water. This determines the stability and the degree of vertical convection of the air. In the spring the colder water stabilizes the air, which depresses vertical convection. This reduces wind stress and evaporation while increasing the heat flux into the water. During the fall, the opposite occurs. The sea surface temperature is thus buffered against man‐made changes. When the temperature is decreased, for example, as the result of hydroelectric development in surrounding watersheds, the heat flux into the water increases while the wind stress decreases. Both effects increase the sea surface temperature, opposing the initial decrease. A one‐degree depression of sea surface temperature in summer is slowly offset by increased heating and no noticeable change in temperature remains at the end of the fall.     

An Overview of Some Significant Eastern Canadian Earthquakes and Their Impacts on the Geological Environment,Buildings and the Public

Numerous moderate to large earthquakes have occurred in eastern Canada. Some ofthese events had significant geological effects such as surface faulting, liquefaction,submarine slumping, rock avalanches, rock falls, landslides, railroad embankmentslides, and one tsunami. Some of these earthquakes caused considerable damage tobuildings with unreinforced masonry elements that were located on thick clay deposits. These events also had strong psychological and social impacts, mainly due to the unpreparedness of the population. To minimize these impacts, programs should be designed to map the land and offshore areas most susceptible to mass movements (Earth Sciences), to define buildings most at risk (Engineering) and to educate the public about mitigation actions (Education, science popularization).     

Tectonic style of the Appalachian allochthonous zone of southern Quebec: Seismic and gravimetric evidence

An integrated interpretation of seismic reflection and gravity results yields an image of the structural units (nappes, overthrust sheets and underthrust slabs) of the Cambrian-Ordovician metasedimentary and metavolcanic sequences of the Appalachian province of southern Quebec at depth and the relative position of the underlying Precambrian crystalline basement. The tectonics related to crystalline Precambrian basement may be correlated with four interpretations and combinations of these. A décollement of Paleozoic sedimentary and volcanic piles over a rigid crystalline basement is most probable considering the interpretation of gravity and especially seismic data. The tectonic style at depth is rather unresolved from surface geological information. The elaboration of a two-dimensional model is constrained by physical properties of rocks, maximum depth extents of individual bodies and seismic reflectors in addition to surface geology. Finally, a minimum of 1500 km of shortening and Iapetan closing is suggested.     

The point-spread function for airborne radiometry

Pointwise division in the Fourier domain can be used to deconvolve the effects of aircraft altitude upon gridded, two-dimensional, radiometric count data. The appropriate divisor function, expressed as a triple integral by Gunn, is developed as a convergent series suitable for its numerical evaluation. For various flying heights, graphs display in cross-section the corresponding, radially symmetric, divisor function.