Can Trees Buy Time? An Assessment of the Role of Vegetation Sinks as Part of the Global Carbon Cycle

Atmospheric CO₂ concentrations can be reduced by storing carbon in vegetation. However, this lowers the concentration gradient between the atmosphere and other potential carbon reservoirs, such as the oceans, and thereby reduces the subsequent inherent rate of removal of CO₂ from the atmosphere. Hence, storage of carbon in temporary reservoirs can reduce atmospheric CO₂ concentrations in the short term, but if the carbon is released again, it will increase concentrations in the long term. It must, therefore, be considered when, or, indeed whether, to store carbon in vegetation sinks.To determine an optimal strategy, the exact nature of climate-change impacts needs to be considered first. Impacts can be mediated by:1. the direct and instantaneous effect of CO₂ and its associated temperature;2. the rate of change in CO₂ and its associated temperature;3. the cumulative effect of CO₂ and its associated temperature.Carbon stored in permanently maintained vegetation sinks can lower atmospheric CO₂ concentrations, but this can be done most effectively if sequestration occurs close to the time when atmospheric concentrations are to be lowered. Similarly, maximal rates of change can be most effectively reduced by carbon sequestration close to the time of anticipated maximal rates of change. For reducing impacts via cumulative forcing, however, early sink activity would be more effective than delayed activity.Temporary carbon stores would only be beneficial for climate change impacts related to the cumulative impact of CO₂, but it could even worsen impacts mediated via the instantaneous effect of temperature or those related to the rate of change. Hence, the planting of trees is only beneficial in reducing climate-change impacts if the most serious impacts are those related to the cumulative effect of increased temperature. If other impacts are more serious, then the planting of trees would bring greater benefits if it is delayed until closer to the time when the most severe impacts are to be expected. However, if serious land degradation would result from deforestation, or from a failure to plant trees in the near future, then trees should still be planted in order to maximise the amount of carbon stored on land.     

Secular variation in numerical geodynamo models with lateral variations of boundary heat flow

We study magnetic field variations in numerical models of the geodynamo, with convection driven by nonuniform heat flow imposed at the outer boundary. We concentrate on cases with a boundary heat flow pattern derived from seismic anomalies in the lower mantle. At a Rayleigh number of about 100 times critical with respect to the onset of convection, the magnetic field is dominated by the axial dipole component and has a similar spectral distribution as Earth’s historical magnetic field on the core-mantle boundary (CMB). The time scales of variation of the low-order Gauss coefficients in the model agree within a factor of two with observed values. We have determined the averaging time interval needed to delineate deviations from the axial dipole field caused by the boundary heterogeneity. An average over 2000 years (the archeomagnetic time scale) is barely sufficient to reveal the long-term nondipole field. The model shows reduced scatter in virtual geomagnetic pole positions (VGPs) in the central Pacific, consistent with the weak secular variation observed in the historical field. Longitudinal drift of magnetic field structures is episodic and differs between regions. Westward magnetic drift is most pronounced beneath the Atlantic in our model. Although frozen flux advection by the large-scale flow is generally insufficient to explain the magnetic drift rates, there are some exceptions. In particular, equatorial flux spot pairs produced by expulsion of toroidal magnetic field are rapidly advected westward in localized equatorial jets which we interpret as thermal winds.     

焉耆盆地侏罗系煤系源岩评价与成烃机理研究

在对焉耆盆地已钻探井暗色泥岩、碳质泥岩等生油岩和部分原油样品地球化学分析的基础上,结合构造,特别是沉积和岩相古地理特征,研究了烃源岩类型及空间展布,煤系源岩有机显微组分组成及生烃机理,有机质丰度、类型及成熟度特征,指出烃源岩类型属典型的腐殖型;侏罗系八道湾组、三工河组和西山窑组煤系泥岩、炭质泥岩及煤均能生烃,但以侏罗系八道湾组煤系泥岩为主要烃源岩;博湖坳陷南、北凹陷都经历过油气形成过程,但北部凹陷存在两个生油阶段,而南部凹陷仅存在一个生油阶段。     

ON THE INFLUENCE OF TURBULENCE ON THE INITIATION OF SEDIMENT MOTION

1 PROBLEM DEFINITION Owing to the practical importance of the initiation of motion many researchers began to tackle this problem even at the beginning of the last century (e.g. Kramer (1932, 1935), Casey (1935)). Shields (1936, Fig. 1) developed a non-dimensional representation based on the measured data of Casey, Kramer, USWES and Gilbert, together with his own data based on investigations with succinite sand, lignite, granite chips and heavy spar. Despite the different material p…     

Estimation of the time-dependent crustal movements of the zmit Earthquake

The 17 August 1999 zmit earthquake significantly deformed the earth's crust in the Marmara Region, especially in the Gölcük–Sapanca Zone, Turkey. It broke a 150-km long segment of the northern branch of North Anatolian Fault Zone. The geodetically determined moment magnitude was M_w=7.5. Global Positioning System (GPS) sites, which are a small subset of the Marmara Continuous GPS Network (MAGNET), and survey sites in the region were studied to estimate coseismic and postseismic deformations, using different methodologies with linear, quadratic and exponential kinematic models. Six GPS epochs for these sites, which were carried out before and after the 17 August 1999 zmit earthquake, were used to define the kinematic models. The quadratic deformation model was also applied to determine the time-dependent crustal movement parameters (velocity and acceleration) of the sites, using the Kalman filter technique. In order to show the differences between the models, the estimated deformation fields on the last epoch were compared. In all models, as expected, the faults near the sites show large coseismic displacements with fault parallel direction, whereas the far sites show small coseismic displacements due to the effects of the zmit earthquake. Each kinematic model, fitted to the epochs after the earthquake, shows different behaviour. While the linear model shows insufficient results, the nonlinear models (quadratic and exponential) give the best fitted to the postseismic deformations. As a result of Kalman filter analysis, the fault near-sites shows significant velocities with fault parallel direction, whereas the far sites have insignificant velocities. All stations have insignificant accelerations in the last epoch.     

A study on the structure of the convective atmosphere over the Bay of Bengal during BOBMEX-99

Convective activity is one of the major processes in the atmosphere influencing the local and large-scale weather in the tropics. The latent heat released by the cumulus cloud is known to drive monsoon circulation, which on the other hand supplies the moisture that maintains the cumulus clouds. An investigation is carried out on the convective structure of the atmosphere during active and suppressed periods of convection using data sets obtained from the Bay of Bengal and Monsoon Experiment (BOBMEX). The cumulus convection though being a small-scale phenomenon, still influences its embedding environment by interaction through various scales. This study shows the variation in the kinematic and convective parameters during the transition from suppressed to active periods of convection. Convergence in the lower levels and strong upward vertical velocity, significant during active convection are associated with the formation of monsoon depressions. The apparent heat source due to latent heat release and the vertical transport of the eddy heat by cumulus convection, and the apparent moisture sink due to net condensation and vertical divergence of the eddy transport of moisture, are estimated through residuals of the thermodynamic equation and examined in relation to monsoon activity during BOBMEX.     

Spectral observations of the symbiotic Mira variable V407 Cyg in 1993–2002

We present high-and low-resolution spectral observations of the symbiotic Mira variable V407 Cyg obtained in 1993–2002. Both emission and absorption spectra of the star are analyzed in detail. We present the basic spectral parameters for three states of the hot component of V407 Cyg—its passive and quiescent states and an outburst in 1998—and study the evolution of the emission-line profiles during transitions from one state to another.     

Upper lithospheric seismic velocity structure across the Pripyat Trough and the Ukrainian Shield along the EUROBRIDGE'97 profile

We present new results on the structure resulting from Palaeoproterozoic terrane accretion and later formation of one of the aulacogens in the East European Platform. Seismic data has been acquired along the 530-km-long, N–S-striking EUROBRIDGE'97 traverse across Sarmatia, a major crustal segment of the East European Craton. The profile extends across the Ukrainian Shield from the Devonian Pripyat Trough, across the Palaeoproterozoic Volyn Block and the Korosten Pluton, into the Archaean Podolian Block. Seismic waves from chemical explosions at 18 shot points at approximately 30-km intervals were recorded in two deployments by 120 mobile three-component seismographs at 3–4 km nominal station spacing. The data has been interpreted by use of two-dimensional tomographic travel time inversion and ray trace modelling. The high data quality allows modelling of the P- and S-wave velocity structure along the profile. There are pronounced differences in seismic velocity structure of the crust and uppermost mantle between the three main tectonic provinces traversed by the profile: (i) the Pripyat Trough is a ca. 4-km-deep sedimentary basin, fully located in the Osnitsk–Mikashevichi Igneous Belt in the northern part of the profile. The velocity structure is typical for a Precambrian craton, but is underlain by a ca. 5-km-thick lowest crustal layer of high velocity. The development of the Pripyat Trough appears to have only affected the upper crust without noticeable thinning of the whole crust; this may be explained by a rheologically strong lithosphere at the time of formation of the trough. (ii) Very high seismic velocity and Vp/Vs ratio characterise the Volyn Block and Korosten Pluton to a depth of 15 km and probably also the lowest crust. The values are consistent with an intrusive body of mafic composition in the upper crust that formed from bimodal melts derived from the mantle and the lower crust. (iii) The Podolian Block is close to a typical cratonic velocity structure, although it is characterised by relatively low seismic velocity and Vp/Vs ratio. A pronounced SW-dipping mantle reflector from Moho to at least 70 km depth may represent the Proterozoic suture between Sarmatia and Volgo–Uralia, the structure from terrane accretion, or a later shear zone in the upper mantle. The sub-Moho P-wave seismic velocity is high everywhere along the profile, with the exception of the area above the dipping reflector. This velocity change further supports a plate tectonic origin of the dipping mantle reflector. The profile demonstrates that structure from Palaeoproterozoic plate tectonic processes are still identifiable in the lithosphere, even where younger metamorphic equilibration of the crust has taken place.     

The Early Palaeozoic Break-up of Northern Gondwana: Sedimentology, Physical Volcanology and Geochemistry of a Submarine Volcanic Complex in the Bavarian Facies Association, Saxothuringian Basin, Germany

Ordovician volcano-sedimentary successions of the Bavarian facies association in the Saxothuringian basin record the continental rift phase of the separation of the Saxothuringian Terrane from Gondwana. An 80 m succession from the Vogtendorf beds and Randschiefer Series (Arenig-Middle Ordovician), exposed along the northern margin of the Münchberg Gneiss Massif in northeast Bavaria, were subjected to a study of their sedimentology, physical volcanology and geochemistry. The Randschiefer series previously has been interpreted as lavas, tuffs, sandstones and turbidites, but the studied Ordovician units include four main lithological associations: mature sandstones and slates, pillowed alkali-basalts and derivative mass flow deposits, trachyandesitic lavas and submarine pyroclastic flow deposits interbedded with turbidites. Eight lithofacies have been distinguished based on relict sedimentary structures and textures, which indicate deposition on a continental shelf below wave base. The explosive phase that generated the pyroclastic succession was associated with the intrusion of dykes and sills, and was succeeded by the eruption of pillowed basalts. Debris flow deposits overlie the basalts. Ordovician volcanism in this region, therefore, alternated between effusive and explosive phases of submarine intermediate to mafic volcanism.

Based on geochemical data, the volcanic and pyroclastic rocks are classified as basalts and trachyandesites. According to their geochemical characteristics, especially to their variable concentrations of incompatible elements such as the High Field Strength Elements (HFSE), they can be divided into three groups. Group I, which is formed by massive lavas at the base of the succession, has extraordinarily high contents of HFSE. The magmas of this group were probably derived from a mantle source in the garnet stability field by low (ca. 1%) degrees of partial melting and subsequent fractionation. Group II, which comprises the pillow lavas at the top of the sequence, displays moderate enrichment of HFSE. This can be explained by a slightly higher degree of melting (ca. 1.6%) for the primary magma. Group I and II melts fractionated from their parental magmas in different magma chambers. The eruption centres of Groups I and II, therefore, cannot be the same, and the volcanic rocks must have originated from different vents. The sills and pyroclastic flow deposits of Group III stem at least partly from the same source as Group I. Rocks of Group I most likely mixed together with Group II components during the formation of the Group III flows, which became hybridised during eruption, transportation and emplacement.

The sedimentological and geochemical data best support a rift as the tectonic setting of this volcanism, analogous to modern continental rift zones. Hence, the rift-associated volcanic activity preserved in the Vogtendorf beds and Randschiefer Series represents an early Ordovician stage of rift volcanism when the separation of the Saxothuringian Terrane from Gondwana had just commenced.     

热液金刚石压腔在地质流体研究中的应用

热液金刚石压腔(HDAC)是专为模拟地壳温压条件下的地质作用而设计的，它尤其适用于观测水或其它流体与地质物质之间的相互作用。HDAC可时-190～1200℃，0～10GPa的热液体系进行实验，并可在实验的温压条件下．用各种先进的光学方法分析样品，更可以把实验的全程录像存档。充满流体的HDAC本身就可当做是一个人工合成的流体包裹体。因此它可以用来研究流体的状态方程和相关系。它又可时其它流体包裹体样品施加外压力，因此在热分析的过程中可免除包裹体的膨胀或爆破的困境。HDAC可应用到颇为宽广的温压范围，它已被广泛地用来观测各种化学体系的临界现象，包括在地质方面特别有用的含水硅酸盐体系。HDAC也可与同步辐射X光源相结合，而取得各种金属或稀土元素水溶液的x射线吸收精细结构(X-ray absorption fine structure；XAFS)光谱，因而时在热液里的金属或稀土元素络合物的组分和结构提供了最基本的资料。然而，X光的强度在透过金刚石时，因绕射和吸收而大大地减弱，因此应用一般的HDAC来获取那些吸收边在10keV以下的元素的XAFS光谱颇为困难。目前已有两种改良式的HDAC解除了这方面的困难，而时在元素周期表上的第一排过渡性金属元素和稀土元素的水溶液，提供清晰的XAFS光谱。这些资料可用来研究金属或稀土元素络合物在地质热液里的特性，及其在元素迁移和成矿作用方面的效应。而这些元素在地质应用方面特别重要。