Application of Advanced Analytics and Visualization in Mineral Systems

正The key to answering many compelling and complex questions in Earth,planetary,and life science lies in breaking down the barriers between scientific fields and harnessing the integrated,multi-disciplinary power of Earth,planetary,and bioscience data resources.We have a unique opportunity to integrate large and rapidly expanding"big data"resources,to enlist powerful analytical and visualization methods,and to answer multi-disciplinary questions that cannot be addressed by one field alone.     

Intrabasinal conditions promoting the development of a biogenic carbonate sedimentary facies associated with the seagrass Posidonia oceanica

This paper aims to elucidate the spatial relationships between the distribution and growth dynamics of Posidonia oceanica, the sedimentary depositional facies (carbonate vs. siliciclastic), and the hydrodynamic features of the Gulf of Oristano (Western Sardinia, Mediterranean sea), a complex depositional system characterized by multiple sources of sediments and a marked hydrodynamic gradient.     

Mediterranean warming is especially due to summer season

We created a new homogenized daily minimum and maximum temperature data set (1955–2007) for the central Mediterranean area of Tuscany (Italy). Yearly and seasonal long-term trends of some climatic and extreme climatic indices were investigated. The results highlighted a positive trend for mean temperature of about 0.9°C per 50 years with a slightly more pronounced increase in maximum temperature. Seasonal analysis revealed a by far much greater increase in summer (June, July, August) and spring (March, April, May) temperature in respect of autumn and winter, this finding consistent with most recent Mediterranean evidences. Warm extremes showed an overall tendency to increase, while a slight not significant decrease trend was found in regard to frost days and cold extremes. Comparisons with different patterns of Mediterranean warming confirmed the magnitude of recent very fast rise in temperature, especially during summer. This change could be due to last decades modifications of general circulation patterns and land–temperature, land–precipitation positive feedback processes dependent from soil moisture. All these results confirm that the Mediterranean is a region especially responsive and thus very vulnerable to climate change.     

Global and regional trends in greenhouse gas emissions from livestock

Following IPCC guidelines (IPCC 2006), we estimate greenhouse gas emissions related to livestock in 237 countries and 11 livestock categories during the period 1961–2010. We find that in 2010 emissions of methane and nitrous oxide related to livestock worldwide represented approximately 9 % of total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Global GHG emissions from livestock increased by 51 % during the analyzed period, mostly due to strong growth of emissions in developing (Non-Annex I) countries (+117 %). In contrast, developed country (Annex I) emissions decreased (?23 %). Beef and dairy cattle are the largest source of livestock emissions (74 % of global livestock emissions). Since developed countries tend to have lower CO₂-equivalent GHG emissions per unit GDP and per quantity of product generated in the livestock sector, the amount of wealth generated per unit GHG emitted from the livestock sector can be increased by improving both livestock farming practices in developing countries and the overall state of economic development. Our results reveal important details of how livestock production and associated GHG emissions have occurred in time and space. Discrepancies with higher tiers, demonstrate the value of more detailed analyses, and discourage over interpretation of smaller-scale trends in the Tier 1 results, but do not undermine the value of global Tier 1 analysis.     

Physically based dynamic run-out modelling for quantitative debris flow risk assessment: a case study in Tresenda,northern Italy

Quantitative landslide risk assessment requires information about the temporal, spatial and intensity probability of hazardous processes both regarding their initiation as well as their run-out. This is followed by an estimation of the physical consequences inflicted by the hazard, preferentially quantified in monetary values. For that purpose, deterministic hazard modelling has to be coupled with information about the value of the elements at risk and their vulnerability. Dynamic run-out models for debris flows are able to determine physical outputs (extension, depths, velocities, impact pressures) and to determine the zones where the elements at risk can suffer an impact. These results can then be applied for vulnerability and risk calculations. Debris flow risk has been assessed in the area of Tresenda in the Valtellina Valley (Lombardy Region, northern Italy). Three quantitative hazard scenarios for different return periods were prepared using available rainfall and geotechnical data. The numerical model FLO-2D was applied for the simulation of the debris flow propagation. The modelled hazard scenarios were consequently overlaid with the elements at risk, represented as building footprints. The expected physical damage to the buildings was estimated using vulnerability functions based on flow depth and impact pressure. A qualitative correlation between physical vulnerability and human losses was also proposed. To assess the uncertainties inherent in the analysis, six risk curves were obtained based on the maximum, average and minimum values and direct economic losses to the buildings were estimated, in the range of 0.25–7.7 million €, depending on the hazard scenario and vulnerability curve used.     

Local Holocene environmental indicators in Upper Mesopotamia: Pedogenic carbonate record vs. archaeobotanical data and archaeoclimatological models

It has been suggested that pedogenic carbonate coatings on stones in archaeological sites can be used to reconstruct late Quaternary environmental changes in the area of the Fertile Crescent. This research compares a pedogenic carbonate record from southeastern Turkey with three other local or regional sources of palaeoenvironmental information in order to evaluate the correlation of this new proxy with other independent data from the area: (1) ancient plant macroremains from archaeological sites as ecological indicators, (2) stable carbon isotope composition of ancient plant macroremains available in the literature and from our own investigations in six mid-Holocene archaeological sites, and (3) modelled Holocene precipitation and temperature changes in the northern Fertile Crescent. Comparison involved selected palynological and isotopic data from lacustrine sediments as well as speleothem isotopic records in Near Eastern locations available in the literature. Although the data show a certain amount of variation of proxy records on the regional scale, for the northern Fertile Crescent (Upper Mesopotamia) they suggest three pronounced features of the Holocene environmental history: (1) a trend toward warmer temperatures may have affected the area during the early Holocene (between ca. 10,000–6000 cal BP), (2) increased moisture availability and relatively high temperatures in the mid-Holocene (ca. between 5000 and 4000 cal BP), and (3) a significant decrease in moisture availability around 4000 cal BP.Further research is needed to enhance the chronological resolution of both pedogenic carbonate and plant macrofossil records. This study stresses the complexity of the Holocene palaeogeography of the Near East and underlines the need for careful analysis of local sources of palaeonvironmental information in the region.     

Suitability of biogenic carbonate of Lithospermum fruits for C dating

Lithospermum (Boraginaceae) belongs to a small group of plant taxa that accumulate biogenic carbonate in their fruits. In this genus, carbonate incrustations form in the cells of the epidermis and sclerenchyma of the pericarp. Fossil Lithospermum fruits (nutlets) with well-preserved calcified tissues commonly occur in Quaternary sediments and cultural layers. We tested the suitability of biogenic carbonate of Lithospermum fruits for radiocarbon dating using a total of 15 AMS measurement results from four modern and 11 fossil samples. The ¹⁴C data from modern samples suggest that Lithospermum utilises only atmospheric carbon to synthesise calcite in the nutlets. In general, the ages determined through ¹⁴C dating of fossil fruitscorresponded well with the absolute-age intervals for archaeological sites over the last 5000 yr. Biogenic carbonate of Lithospermum fruits, like that of Celtis, represents a new source of chronological information for late Quaternary studies.     

Integrating structural geology and petroleum systems modeling – A pilot project from Bolivia's fold and thrust belt

For the first time, a new approach to petroleum systems analysis is presented which allows full integration of tectonic and palinspastic restoration with three-dimensional (3D), PVT-controlled, multi-component, three-phase petroleum migration analysis through time. A systematic modeling study has been applied to a study area dominated by fold and thrust belts located in the Sub Andean orogeny near Tarija, Bolivia. The project has been performed with a special focus on the simulation technique and on the correct distribution of temperature, source-rock maturity and pressure development through time with reference to its input data. This is the first pilot project presenting a 3D numerical model in a compressional structural regime to which the basin modeling approach has been applied to explain the observed distribution of temperature, pressure, maturity and petroleum accumulations in general.     

Vestan lithologies mapped by the visual and infrared spectrometer on Dawn

We present global lithological maps of the Vestan surface based on Dawn mission's Visible InfraRed (VIR) Spectrometer acquisitions with a spatial sampling of 200 m. The maps confirm the results obtained with the data set acquired by VIR with a spatial sampling of 700 m, that the reflectance spectra of Vesta's surface are dominated by pyroxene absorptions that can be interpreted within the context of the distribution of howardites, eucrites, and diogenites (HEDs). The maps also partially agree with the ground and Hubble Space Telescope observations: they confirm the background surface being an assemblage of howardite or polymict eucrite, as well as the location of a diogenitic‐rich spot; however, there is no evidence of extended olivine‐rich regions in the equatorial latitudes. Diogenite is revealed on the Rheasilvia basin floor, indicating that material of the lower crust/mantle was exposed. VIR also detected diogenites along the scarp of Matronalia Rupes, and the rims of Severina and a nearby, unnamed crater, and as ejecta of Antonia crater. The diogenite distribution is fully consistent with petrological constraints; although the mapped distribution does not provide unambiguous constraints, it favors the hypothesis of a magma ocean.