Neogene exhumation and relief evolution in the eastern Betics (SE Spain): Insights from the Sierra de Gador

The Betics are a key area to study an orogenic landscape disrupted by late‐orogenic extension. New low‐temperature thermochronology (LTT) data (AHe and AFT) coupled with geomorphic constraints in the Sierra de Gador (Alpujarride complex) are used to reconstruct the cooling history and evolution of relief during the Neogene. We document three stages: (1) a fast cooling event between 23 and 16 Ma associated with the well‐known extensive tectonic exhumation of the Alpujarride unit, (2) a period of slow cooling between 16 and 7.2 Ma related to a planation event and (3) a post‐7.2 Ma surface uplift associated with the inversion of the Alboran domain undetected by LTT. The planation event followed by this late uplift can explain the occurrence of inherited low‐relief surfaces overlain by Tortonian–Messinian platform deposits at the top of the range. Finally, we propose that the Sierra de Gador is a more transient landscape than the nearby Sierra Nevada.     

Identification, definition and quantification of goods and services provided by marine biodiversity: implications for the ecosystem approach

This paper identifies and defines ecosystem goods and services provided by marine biodiversity. Case studies have been used to provide an insight into the practical issues associated with the assessment of marine ecosystem goods and services at specific locations. The aim of this research was to validate the definitions of goods and services, and to identify knowledge gaps and likely difficulties of quantifying the goods and services. A validated theoretical framework for the assessment of goods and services is detailed, and examples of the goods and services at a variety of case study areas are documented. These results will enable future assessments of marine ecosystem goods and services. It is concluded that the utilisation of this goods and services approach has the capacity to play a fundamental role in the Ecosystem Approach, by enabling the pressures and demands of society, the economy and the environment to be integrated into environmental management.     

Strontium-Isotope Studies Of Chloride-Contaminated Groundwater,Denmark

Saline groundwater has three principal origins in Denmark: 1) Seawater infiltration into nearcoastal aquifers, 2) saline formation water in aquifers of marine sedimentary origin, and 3) intrusion of brines from deep saline formation waters and evaporitic deposits in the subsurface. Strontium-isotope studies of chloride-contaminated groundwater from a Quaternary sandy aquifer at Stautrup Waterworks, Denmark, indicate that the groundwater is heavily influenced by saline formation water from underlying Oligocene marine mica clay. Thus, strontium isotopic hydrochemical criteria were successfully used to identify the sources of saline groundwater.

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RESUMEN: La salinidad en las aguas subterráneas de Dinamarca tiene tres orígenes principales: 1) Infiltración de agua marina en acuíferos costeros, 2) agua de formación salina en acuíferos de origen sedimentario marino, y 3) intrusión de salmueras procedentes de aguas salinas de formaciones profundas y de depósitos evaporíticos subterráneos. Estudios isotópicos del estronico en las aguas subterráneas contaminadas or cloruros en un acuífero arenoso Cuaternario en Stautrup Waterworks, Dinamarca, indican que el agua está fuertement influenciada por el agua de formación salina correspondiente a una capa inferior de micas arcillosas oligocénicas. Por tanto, los criterios hidroquímicos isotópicos se pudieron utilizar satisfactoriamente para identificar las fuentes de salinidad de las aguas subterráneas.

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RéSUMé: La salinité des aux souterraines du Danemark possède trois origines principales: 1) l'intrusion d'eau de mer dans les aquifères littoraux, 2) les eaux connées des sédiments marins constituant l'aquifère, 3) la remontée dans les aquifères superficiels de saumures provenant d'eaux connées de sédiments et de formations évaporitiques profonds. L'étude des isotopes du strontium d'eaux souterraines chargées en chlorures d'un aquifère sableux du Quaternaire du champ captant de Stautrup (Danemark) montre que le chimisme des eaux souterraines est fortement marqué par les eaux connées des argiles micacées marines sous-jacentes de l'Oligocène. Des critères hydrochimiques des isotopes du strontium ont par conséquent permis d'identifier les sources de la salinité d'eaux souterraines.

     

Non-recognition of continental tholeiites using the Ti-Y-Zr diagram

Continental tholeiites cannot be identified using the Ti-Y-Zr diagram. Two-hundred and thirteen analyses from 16 localities representing 7 continental tholeiitic provinces all plot outside the within-plate basalt field of this diagram.Analyses representing about 50% of the population plot in the ocean-floor basalt field, the rest plots in the calc-alkali basalt field. Therefore problems might arise when attempts are made to classify ancient tectonomagmatic environments using the Ti-Y-Zr diagram.     

Palaeomagnetic distortion modelling and possible recovery by inversion

A robust finite-element technique is presented for computation of both the internal demagnetization effects and magnetic terrain effects in bodies with arbitrary shape and arbitrary susceptibility distribution. This method facilitates a flexible analysis of the palaeomagnetic deflection problem. Tests on geologically realistic settings of highly magnetic rocks demonstrate that deflections of several degrees may occur even for relatively simple two-dimensional models. Similarly, the magnetic intensity may well be biased by 5-15% by demagnetization effects. The present paper focuses on deflections and intensity variations inside the magnetized body, where we find a systematic shallowing of inclination for bodies with a horizontal elongation. Because the bodies sampled at a typical palaeomagnetic site will have a dominant direction of elongation, the magnetic deflection effect will tend to impose a systematic bias which doesn’t average out. An inversion-based procedure for elimination of the deflection effect is presented. It requires that the magnetic body is quite homogeneous and that its surface geometry is known, as may be the case for historical lava flows. Tests demonstrate that in order to recover both ambient palaeofield direction and the effective susceptibility at blocking temperature it is necessary to sample near strong topographic elements in the magnetic body. Since the surface geometry rarely is known it is proposed as an alternative to inversion that an effective susceptibility is assessed and a horizontal slab correction is applied for samples taken far from topographical features. When shape geometry is unknown and no correction applied, palaeomagnetic conclusions must take into account the possible bias from internal demagnetization and magnetic terrain effects.     

The extent of soil erosion in upland England and Wales

Following recommendations by the 19th Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution, the area, causes and rates of upland soil erosion in England and Wales were investigated between 1997 and 1999. This paper describes the methods and results of the field survey of 1999 in which the extent of eroded ground was determined. 2. The area of degraded soil and the volume of eroded material were both determined from the dimensions of individual erosion features at 399 field sites located on an orthogonal grid across the uplands. Using measurements of individual erosion features, degraded soil extent in upland England and Wales was estimated at almost 25 000 ha, 2·46 per cent of the total upland area surveyed. Half this eroded area was revegetated and no longer subject to continued accelerated soil loss in 1999. The total volume of eroded material was estimated at 0·284 km³. Although deposition of eroded material occurred within 20 per cent of eroded field sites, the total volume of redeposited material was less than 1 per cent of the total volume of eroded soil. 3. Erosion was more extensive on peat soils than on dry, wet mineral or wet peaty mineral soils. In addition, the higher incidence of erosion at high altitudes and on low slopes reinforced the relationship between erosion and areas of peat formation. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.