The Jeffers Brook diorite–granodiorite pluton: style of emplacement and role of volatiles at various crustal levels in Avalonian appinites,Canadian Appalachians

International Journal of Earth Sciences - Small appinite plutons ca. 610 Ma outcrop in the peri-Gondwanan Avalon terrane of northern Nova Scotia, with different structural levels exposed....     

Mediterranean forest species mapping using classification of Hyperion imagery

Regional operational forest species mapping is an active research topic that aims to provide the systematic and updatable information necessary for understanding and monitoring the rapidly changing forest environment. In this study, we investigated the potential of satellite hyperspectral imagery in regional forest species mapping by employing a pixel-based and an object-based nearest neighbour classifier in two different Mediterranean study areas. The overall thematic accuracy of the produced maps was assessed using reference data collected in the field and ranged between 0.72 and 0.83. No approach was found to be superior for the study areas. The McNemar test showed no statistically significant difference at the 95% confidence level in the classification accuracies achieved by the two approaches. Both pixel- and object-based approaches provide useful maps, suggesting that regional forest species mapping from space has much potential.     

Forward stratigraphic modelling of sediment pathways and depocentres in salt‐influenced passive‐margin basins: Lower Cretaceous,central Scotian Basin

Source‐to‐sink studies and numerical modelling software are increasingly used to better understand sedimentary basins, and to predict sediment distributions. However, predictive modelling remains problematic in basins dominated by salt tectonics. The Lower Cretaceous delta system of the Scotian Basin is well suited for source‐to‐sink studies and provides an opportunity to apply this approach to a region experiencing active salt tectonism. This study uses forward stratigraphic modelling software and statistical analysis software to produce predictive stratigraphic models of the central Scotian Basin, test their sensitivity to different input parameters, assess proposed provenance pathways, and determine the distribution of sand and factors that control sedimentation in the basin. Models have been calibrated against reference wells and seismic surfaces, and implement a multidisciplinary approach to define simulation parameters. Simulation results show that previously proposed provenance pathways for the Early Cretaceous can be used to generate predictive stratigraphic models, which simulate the overall sediment distribution for the central Scotian Basin. Modelling confirms that the shaly nature of the Naskapi Member is the result of tectonic diversion of the Sable and Banquereau rivers and suggests additional episodic diversion during the deposition of the Cree Member. Sand is dominantly trapped on the shelf in all units, with transport into the basin along salt corridors and as a result of turbidity current flows occurring in the Upper Missisauga Formation and Cree Member. This led to sand accumulation in minibasins with a large deposit seawards of the Tantallon M‐41 well. Sand also appears to bypass the basin via salt corridors which lead to the down‐slope edge of the study area. Sensitivity analysis suggests that the grain size of source sediments to the system is the controlling factor of sand distribution. The methodology applied to this basin has applications to other regions complicated by salt tectonics, and where sediment distribution and transport from source‐to‐sink remain unclear.     

Temporal and spatial patterns of trace elements in the Patuxent River: A whole watershed approach

Trace element distributions, partitioning, and speciation were examined at 15 sites in the Patuxent River watershed from May 1995 through October 1997 to determine possible sources of trace elements to the river and estuary, to examine the relationship of the trace element discharges to freshwater discharges as well as to land use and geographic region, to validate previous estimates of loadings to the river, and to provide baseline data for trace elements in the Patuxent River watershed and estuary. Six freshwater sites were examined, representing different basins and geographic provinces, and nine sites along the estuarine salinity gradient. Subregions within the watershed varied considerably in concentrations and areal yields for some elements. Concentrations of As, Cd, Ni, Pb, and Zn were elevated in the Coastal Plain sites compared to the Piedmont sites, while Cu and Hg were more evenly distributed. Cadmium, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn showed overall positive correlations with river flow while As and methylHg (meHg) showed negative correlations with river flow. Concentrations of trace elements in the estuarine portion of the river were generally low, and consistent with mixing between Patuxent River water with elevated concentrations and the lower concentrations of the Chesapeake Bay. Interesting features included a local Cd maximum in the low salinity region of the estuary, probably caused by desorption from suspended sediments, and a significant input of water containing high As concentrations from the Chesapeake Bay and from As being released from bottom sediments in summer. Comparisons between the estimated annual flux of trace elements and the estimates of suspected source terms (atmospheric deposition, urban runoff, and known point sources) suggest that, except for Hg, direct atmospheric deposition is small compared to fluvial loads. Current estimates of trace element inputs from point sources or from urban runoff are inadequate for comparison with other sources, because of inappropriate techniques and/or unacceptably high detection limits. A complete examination of trace element dynamics in the Patuxent River (and in other coastal systems) will require better data for these potential sources.     

基于方向模板的保持边缘平滑后地震图像的不连续性检测

鉴于地震数据不连续性检测的重要性,本文提出了一种保持和检测地震图像不连续性(如:岩层,断层,河道等)的方法.通常在图象不连续的地方,象素值会有较大的差异,文中用4×4的方向模板计算目标点周围六个方向上的差值,当最大差值超过某个门限值时,则可认为该点为不连续点,由此来检测地震图像的不连续性.由于包含重要信息的区域受噪声的影响通常比其他地方严重,而且基于差值的不连续性检测算法对噪声较为敏感,所以在不连续性检测之前降低地震图像的噪声是很重要的.普通的平滑去噪方法会造成边缘模糊,不利于不连续性检测.本文采用旋转模板的非线性平滑方法,用四个六边形和一个八边形模板在目标像素周围旋转,用与目标像素标准差最小(最同类)的模板内那些点的均值代替目标像素的值,从而实现对地震图象的保边缘平滑去噪处理.理论模型和实际数据处理结果表明:与Y、Luo等人提出的保边缘平滑方法相比,本文的保边缘平滑处理方法提高了计算效率和峰值信噪比;将文中提出的保边缘平滑方法和基于方向模板的不连续性检测方法结合使用,得到的不连续性检测结果比直接检测更清晰.地震数据解释人员可根据检测到的不连续性来识别断层、岩层、河道等.     

Radiation balance at the surface in the city of S?o Paulo, Brazil: diurnal and seasonal variations

The main goal of this work is to describe the diurnal and seasonal variations of the radiation balance components at the surface in the city of S?o Paulo based on observations carried out during 2004. Monthly average hourly values indicate that the amplitudes of the diurnal cycles of net radiation (Q*), downwelling and upwelling shortwave radiation (SW_DW, SW_UP), and longwave radiations (LW_DW, LW_UP) in February were, respectively, 37%, 14%, 19%, 11%, and 5% larger than they were in August. The monthly average daily values indicate a variation of 60% for Q*, with a minimum in June and a maximum in December; 45% for SW_DW, with a minimum in May and a maximum in September; 50% for SW_UP, with a minimum in June and a maximum in September; 13% for LW_DW, with a minimum in July and a maximum in January; and 9% for LW_UP, with a minimum in July and a maximum in February. It was verified that the atmospheric broadband transmissivity varied from 0.36 to 0.57; the effective albedo of the surface varied from 0.08 to 0.10; and the atmospheric effective emissivity varied from 0.79 to 0.92. The surface effective emissivity remained approximately constant and equal to 0.96. The albedo and surface effective emissivity for S?o Paulo agreed with those reported for urban areas in Europe and North America cities. This indicates that material and geometric effects on albedo and surface emissivity in S?o Paulo are similar to ones observed in typical middle latitudes cities. On the other hand, it was found that S?o Paulo city induces an urban heat island with daytime maximum intensity varying from 2.6°C in July (16:00 LT) to 5.5°C in September (15:00 LT). The analysis of the radiometric properties carried out here indicate that this daytime maximum is a primary response to the seasonal variation of daily values of net solar radiation at the surface.     

Screening criteria to identify brittle R.C. structural failures in earthquakes

Collapse of structures in severe earthquakes is synonymous with loss of vertical load bearing capacity in the columns and walls of the structural system. This paper identifies criteria that could be used in the context of preliminary assessment in order to rapidly identify from the large inventory of existing, substandard construction, those buildings that are more likely candidates for catastrophic collapse. Proposed criteria include (i) a stiffness index in order to determine the severity of seismic displacement demand and, (ii) a base-shear strength index associated with typical column details representative of the state of practice from the era of the building’s period of construction. The criteria may be used to characterize the primary deficiencies of the building and the level of spectral acceleration that may be tolerated prior to failure. Ten buildings representative of older construction practices used in the Mediterranean countries prior to the introduction of capacity design procedures, which suffered excessive damage or collapse in past earthquakes, are used to proof-test the applicability of the procedure and the practical advantages of spectrum compatible stiffness and strength criteria that may be used in determining a proper retrofit strategy.     

Optical Photometric Observations of 7-Ray Loud Blazars

We report results of our optical photometric observations of ten gamma-ray loud blazers, namely: 0219+428 (3C66A), PKS 0420-014 (OA 129), S5 0716+714, 0754+100 (OI 090.4), 0827+243 (OJ248), 1652+398 (Mrk 501), 2200+420 (BL Lacertae), 2230+114 (CTA 102), 2251+158 (3C 454.3) and 2344+514. The observations were carried out in September-October, 2000 using the 70 cm optical telescope at Abstumani Observatory, Georgia. We found intra-day variations in 0420-014, S5 0716+714, BL Lacertae and CTA 102. A variation of 0.3 magnitude over a time scale of about 3 hours was observed in the R passband in BL Lacertae on JD 2451827. We did not detect any variation in 3C 66A, Mrk 501, or 3C 454.3 during our observations. Nor did we detect any clear evidence of variation in 1ES 2344+514 during our two weeks' observing run of the TeV gamma-ray source.     

Petrology and tectonic significance of seamounts within transitional crust east of Orphan Knoll, offshore eastern Canada

The Early Cretaceous separation of Newfoundland from Iberia–Ireland is a classic example of a magma-poor continental margin with hyperextension and with widespread minor magmatism resulting in seamounts. This study defines the distribution of seamounts east of Orphan Knoll, and documents and interprets the geochemical character of the one recovered lava sample. Video imagery of lava outcrops, and the sample, were obtained by ROV from Orphan seamount, one of a linear series of small seamounts overlying transitional thinned continental crust on the seaward side of Orphan Knoll. New multibeam bathymetry and legacy seismic data show several seamounts that extend irregularly along the fault-bound NE margin of Orphan Knoll. Whole rock geochemistry shows the sample to be highly alkaline basanite or possibly tephrite. Diopside–hedenbergite, kaersutite and K-feldspar phenocrysts were analyzed by electron microprobe and scanning electron microscope, and alteration minerals including kaolinite were identified by X-ray diffraction. The highly alkaline character of the basanite is similar only to Early Cretaceous volcanic and sub-volcanic rocks erupted through thick continental crust of the Mesoproterozoic Grenville Orogeny. The location of the linear set of seamounts is related to margin-parallel faults on the seaward side of Orphan Knoll that provided a pathway for magma, although ENE-trending lineaments in individual seamounts or seamount groups suggest the influence of oceanic fracture zones. A lower gradient crest to Orphan seamount above 2,200 m suggests subaerial erosion, consistent with the presence of kaolinite as an alteration product and the absence of lava pillows at and above this depth.