Some steineresque comments,and monodian asides on geography in Europe

The question of whether geography is an art or a science is discussed within the context of comments made by Steiner about the current state of literary criticism. Several problems of geographic development parallel this situation. Problems of translation go beyond the common meaning of the word, and include questions of teaching and public communication. Mapping is seen as a fundamental act of human enquiry. The lack of even elementary mathematical training has severe consequences, because new perspectives are difficult to achieve. These are illustrated by the work of Wilson, with analogies drawn from Monod.     

Crystal fractionation and partial melting in the petrogenesis of a Proterozoic high-MgO volcanic suite,Ungava, Québec

There is little concensus on the relative importance of crystal fractionation and differential partial melting to the chemical diversity observed within most types of volcanic suites. A resolution to this controversy is best sought in suites containing high MgO lavas such as the Chukotat volcanics of the Proterozoic Cape Smith foldbelt, Ungava, Quebec. The succession of this volcanic suite consists of repetitive sequences, each beginning with olivine-phyric basalt (19-12 wt% MgO), grading upwards to pyroxene-phyric basalt (12-8 wt% MgO) and then, in later sequences, to plagioclase-phyric basalt (7-4 wt% MgO). Only the olivine-phyric basalts have compositions capable of equilibrating with the upper mantle and are believed to represent parental magmas for the suite. The pyroxene-phyric and plagioclase-phyric basalts represent magmas derived from these parents by the crystal fractionation of olivine, with minor chromite, clinopyroxene and plagioclase. The order of extrusion in each volcanic sequence is interpreted to reflect a density effect in which successively lighter, more evolved magmas are erupted as hydrostatic pressure wanes. The pyroxene-phyric basalts appear to have evolved at high levels in the active part of the conduit system as the eruption of their parents was in progress. The plagioclase-phyric basalts may represent residual liquids expelled from isolated reservoirs along the crust-mantle interface during the late stages of volcanic activity.A positive correlation between FeO and MgO in the early, most basic olivine-phyric basalts is interpreted to reflect progressive adiabatic partial melting in the upper mantle. Although this complicates the chemistry, it is not a significant factor in the compositional diversification of the volcanic suite. The preservation of such compositional melting effects, however, suggests that the most basic olivine-phyric basalts represent primitive magmas. The trace element characteristics of these magmas, and their derivatives, indicate that the mantle source for the Chukotat volcanics had experienced a previous melting event.     

Seasonal changes in the depth distributions of interstitial salinities in the Fraser River estuary,British Columbia

The vertical distribution of interstitial salinities to a depth of 6 cm in subtidal estuarine sediments was measured monthly from June 1977 to August 1978 in mud substrates in the Fraser River estuary, British Columbia. Measurements were made at six stations ranging from oligohaline to polyhaline. The results of this study demonstrated that vertical salinity gradients were present, particularly in the mesohaline zone of the estuary, in the sediments and that the magnitude of these gradients changes seasonally.     

The age of glacier peak tephra in west-central Montana

At Sheep Mountain Bog, near Missoula, Montana, a late-glacial tephra, that probably fell in late summer, is preserved as an 8-mm-thick graded bed overlain by another 8 mm of redeposited ash mixed with lake deposits. Sediment surrounding the ash was ¹⁴C dated to about 11,200 yr B.P. Electron-microprobe analyses of the volcanic glass and hornblende phenocrysts from this ash layer indicate that they are similar in major-element chemistry to those of Glacier Peak layer G previously considered to be about 12,000 yr old or older.     

Interaction of organic compounds with calcium carbonate—III. Amino acid composition of sorbed layers

Nitrogenous organic compounds in sorbed surface layers and in calcified organic matter associated with calcium carbonate sediment particles consist of 40–50% amino acids, 2% amino sugars and 25% ammonia. In grain size classes > 20 μm these compounds are mainly contained in the calcified protein of carbonate secreting organisms but with smaller grain sizes—and consequently increased specific surface area—they are contained in sorbed layers at the mineral surface. The composition of the sorbed layer is characterized by a predominance of neutral amino acids, a relative enrichment of basic and weakly polar amino acids, and a deficiency of acidic amino acids in comparison with the proteinaceous matter of calcifying organisms. The respective abundances for sorbed and calcified matter are: 505 and 380 Res./ of neutral amino acids, 262 and 450 Res./1000 of acidic amino acids, 92 and 51 Res./l000 of basic amino acids, and 141 and 129 Res./1000 of weakly polar amino acids.The composition of the sorbed layer appears to be the result of sorption of proteinaceous matter from solution since it reflects the free and peptide-bound amino acid composition of seawater. The characteristic amino acid assemblage could also be the result of preferential decomposition of protein and subsequent enrichment of neutral and basic amino acids; however, sorption from solution appears more likely since the total amount of amino acids sorbed to calcium carbonate (0.58 mg m ^?2) corresponds closely to the amount of protein known to cover one m² of aqueous substrate in monolayer arrangement. Sorption from solution is further supported by the low arginine/ornithine ratios in both the sorbed layer and the natural dissolved organic matter. This process might lead to a characteristic amino acid spectrum in fine grained calcareous sediments that reflects the composition of the dissolved organic matter in seawater rather than that of the carbonate secreting proteinaceous matter.     

Geochemical and cosmochemical cycles involving sulfur,sulfide, sulfite and sulfate

Raman spectra of aqueous systems containing sulfur dioxide, elemental sulfur and sulfate indicate that the equilibrium between these species is catalyzed by elemental sulfur. Therefore, dynamic equilibrium can be expected under conditions prevalent on Venus, on Io and in epigenic sulfur deposits.     

Denitrification capacity in a subterranean estuary below a Rhode Island fringing salt marsh

Coastal waters are severely threatened by nitrogen (N) loading from direct groundwater discharge. The subterranean estuary, the mixing zone of fresh groundwater and sea water in a coastal aquifer, has a high potential to remove substantial N. A network of piezometers was used to characterize the denitrification capacity and groundwater flow paths in the subterranean estuary below a Rhode Island fringing salt marsh.¹⁵N-enriched nitrate was injected into the subterranean estuary (in situ push-pull method) to evaluate the denitrification capacity of the saturated zone at multiple depths (125–300 cm) below different zones (upland-marsh transition zone, high marsh, and low marsh). From the upland to low marsh, the water table became shallower, groundwater dissolved oxygen decreased, and groundwater pH, soil organic carbon, and total root biomass increased. As groundwater approached the high and low marsh, the hydraulic gradient increased and deep groundwater upwelled. In the warm season (groundwater temperature >12 °C), elevated groundwater denitrification capacity within each zone was observed. The warm season low marsh groundwater denitrification capacity was significantly higher than all other zones and depths. In the cool season (groundwater temperature <10.5 °C), elevated groundwater denitrification capacity was only found in the low marsh. Additions of dissolved organic carbon did not alter groundwater denitrification capacity suggesting that an alternative electron donor, possibly transported by tidal inundation from the root zone, may be limiting. Combining flow paths with denitrification capacity and saturated porewater residence time, we estimated that as much as 29–60 mg N could be removed from 11 of water flowing through the subterranean estuary below the low marsh, arguing for the significance of subterranean estuaries in annual watershed scale N budgets.