Spatial and temporal replicability of meteoric and in situ 10Be concentrations in fluvial sediment

Cosmogenic isotopes, short‐lived radionuclides, elemental concentrations and thermochronometric indicators are measured in river sand to quantify erosion rates and trace sediment sources, and/or infer erosional processes. Interpretations of detrital sediment analyses are often based on the rarely tested assumption of time‐invariant tracer concentration. A better understanding of when and where this assumption breaks down and what sampling strategies minimize temporal and small‐scale spatial variance will improve science done using detrital river sediment. Here, we present new and previously published spatial and temporal replicates measured for in situ and meteoric ¹⁰Be (¹⁰Be_i and ¹⁰Be_m, respectively). Our new data include 113 replicate pairs, taken from agricultural and/or tectonically active watersheds in China months to millennia apart and spatial replicates taken up to 2 km apart on the same day. The mean percentage difference is 10% (?122% to 150%) for both systems considered together; the mode is close to 0% for both systems; and 36% of pairs of samples replicate within our analytical accuracy at 2σ . We find that ¹⁰Be_i replicates better than ¹⁰Be_m (p < 0.01). ¹⁰Be_i replicability is worse in steeper basins, suggesting that stochastic processes (i.e. landslides) affect reproducibility. ¹⁰Be_m replicability is worse in larger basins, suggesting non‐conservative behavior of ¹⁰Be_m as sediment moves downstream. Our results are consistent with the few previously published replicate studies. Considering all replicate data in a wide range of landscapes, in areas with deep erosional processes, replicability is poor; in other areas, replicability is good. This suggests that, in steep, tectonically active, and/or agricultural landscapes, individual detrital sediment measurements do not represent upstream rates as well as larger populations of samples. To ensure that measurements are representative of the upstream watershed, our data suggest that samples be amalgamated either over time or from several places close by in the same channel. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Detailed mineralogy and petrology of highly shocked poikilitic shergottite Northwest Africa 6342

Northwest Africa (NWA) 6342 is an intermediate, poikilitic shergottite, found in Algeria in 2010. It is comprised of two distinct petrographic areas; poikilitic domains with rounded Mg‐rich olivine chadacrysts enclosed by large low‐Ca pyroxene oikocrysts, and a nonpoikilitic domain mainly comprised of subhedral olivine and vesicular recrystallized plagioclase. Oxygen fugacity conditions become more oxidizing during crystallization from the poikilitic to the nonpoikilitic domain (QFM?3.0 to QFM?2.2). As such, it is likely that NWA 6342 experienced a two‐stage (polybaric) crystallization history similar to that of the enriched poikilitic shergottites. NWA 6342 also experienced relatively high levels of shock metamorphism in comparison to most other poikilitic shergottites as evidenced by the fine‐grained recrystallization texture in olivine, as well as melting and subsequent crystallization of plagioclase. The recrystallization of plagioclase requires an extended period of postshock thermal metamorphism for NWA 6342 and similarly shocked intermediate poikilitic shergottites NWA 4797 and Grove Mountains 99027 most likely due to launch from Mars. The similarities in petrology, chemistry, and shock features between these three meteorites indicate that they have similar crystallization and shock histories; possibly originating from the same source area on Mars.     

Frequency dependent polarization analysis of ambient seismic noise recorded at a broadband seismometer in the central United States

We present a new approach to polarization analysis of seismic noise recorded by three-component seismometers.It is based on statistical analysis of frequency-dependent particle motion properties determined from a large number of time windows via eigenanalysis of the 3-by-3,Hermitian,spectral covariance matrix.We applied the algorithm to continuous data recorded in 2009 by the seismic station SLM,located in central North America.A rich variety of noise sources was observed.At low frequencies (0.05 Hz) we observed a tilt-related signal that showed some elliptical motion in the horizontal plane.In the microseism band of 0.05-0.25 Hz,we observed Rayleigh energy arriving from the northeast,but with three distinct peaks instead of the classic single and double frequency peaks.At intermediate frequencies of 0.5-2.0 Hz,the noise was dominated by non-fundamental-mode Rayleigh energy,most likely P and Lg waves.At the highest frequencies (3 Hz),Rayleigh-type energy was again dominant in the form of Rg waves created by nearby cultural activities.Analysis of the time dependence of noise power shows that a frequency range of at least 0.02-1.0 Hz (much larger than the microseism band) is sensitive to annual,meteorologically induced sources of noise.     

An integrative physical,mineralogical and ichnological approach to characterize underfilled lake-basins

Lakes are particularly sensitive to environmental fluctuations, which are recorded in their facies and stratigraphy. Ephemeral lakes reveal their sensitivity to palaeoenvironmental changes in the overprinting of the sedimentary features in every single bed. Tetrapod-track taphonomic-modes and ichnological taphonomic-pathways can be used as sensitive indicators of environmental conditions of the track-bearing beds during deposition and imprinting. The Middle Triassic Cerro de las Cabras succession (Cuyana Basin, Argentina) provides an excellent opportunity to these environmental indicators in an underfilled palaeolake. A model of ichnological preservation for underfilled lake systems is proposed and the role of the ichnology record in the sequence stratigraphy analysis is evaluated, based on the integration of tetrapod-track modes, taphonomic-pathways of playa-lake ichnofauna, mineralogy and physical data. Soft-ground suites include those dominated by invertebrate grazing traces and arthropod locomotion traces (Suite 1), and those overprinted by horizontal-vertical dwelling burrows with tetrapod tracks preserved in taphonomic modes B and C (Suite 2). The firm-ground suite (Suite 3) comprises tetrapod-tracks with the best preservation styles (modes A and B) along less abundant invertebrate dwelling and feeding traces as found in Suite 2. Clay mineralogy (dominated by illite with subordinate smectite) suggests low plasticity of the layers, in agreement with low-relief deformation structures observed in tetrapod-track taphonomic-modes. The well-preserved track tetrapod features documented in the Cerro de las Cabras succession, together with the absence of pedogenic disturbance, trampling obliterating the footprints, and/or evidence of strong disturbance by wind, desiccation and/or precipitation, supports short periods of exposure of the imprinted surface particular to this succession. An integrated multiproxy approach is proposed to evaluate the evolutionary interpretation and identification of autogenic versus allogenic controls in underfilled lake-basin histories. The observed aggradational-trend suggests an equilibrium between rates of accommodation change and sediment supply, and that the basin-centre did not experience prolonged sediment-starved conditions.     

Three‐fold nature of coastal progradation during the Holocene eustatic highstand,Po Plain,Italy – close correspondence of stratal character with distribution patterns

Although general trends in transgressive to highstand sedimentary evolution of river‐mouth coastlines are well‐known, the details of the turnaround from retrogradational (typically estuarine) to aggradational–progradational (typically coastal/deltaic) stacking patterns are not fully resolved. This paper examines the middle to late Holocene eustatic highstand succession of the Po Delta: its stratigraphic architecture records a complex pattern of delta outbuilding and coastal progradation that followed eustatic stabilization, since around 7·7 cal kyr bp . Sedimentological, palaeoecological (benthic foraminifera, ostracods and molluscs) and compositional criteria were used to characterize depositional conditions and sediment‐dispersal pathways within a radiocarbon‐dated chronological framework. A three‐stage progradation history was reconstructed. First, as soon as eustasy stabilized (7·7 to 7·0 cal kyr bp ), rapid bay‐head delta progradation (ca 5 m year^?1), fed mostly by the Po River, took place in a mixed, freshwater and brackish estuarine environment. Second, a dominantly aggradational parasequence set of beach‐barrier deposits in the lower highstand systems tract (7·0 to 2·0 cal kyr bp ) records the development of a shallow, wave‐dominated coastal system fed alongshore, with elongated, modestly crescent beaches (ca 2·5 m year^?1). Third, in the last 2000 years, the development of faster accreting and more rapidly prograding (up to ca 15 m year^?1) Po delta lobes occurred into 30 m deep waters (upper highstand systems tract). This study documents the close correspondence of sediment character with stratal distribution patterns within the highstand systems tract. Remarkable changes in sediment characteristics, palaeoenvironments and direction of sediment transport occur across a surface named the ‘A–P surface’. This surface demarcates a major shift from dominantly aggradational (lower highstand systems tract) to fully progradational (upper highstand systems tract) parasequence stacking. In the Po system, this surface also reflects evolution from a wave‐dominated to river‐dominated deltaic system. Identifying the A–P surface through detailed palaeoecological and compositional data can help guide interpretation of highstand systems tracts in the rock record, especially where facies assemblages and their characteristic geometries are difficult to discern from physical sedimentary structures alone.     

Comparison of the spatio-temporal distribution of the roughneck shrimp Rimapenaeus constrictus (Stimpson, 1874) (Crustacea,Penaeoidea) from monthly samples collected 20 years apart: Effects of a marine protected area in southeastern Brazil

This study was motivated by the data about a Rimapenaeus constrictus population from Ubatuba Bay, obtained in the 1990s, and by the establishment of a marine protected area (MPA) in the same region in 2008. We obtained comparable data about the distribution and abundance of this species collected 20 years apart, to evaluate the effectiveness of the MPA, for its preservation and possible changes in the populational profile. Biotic and abiotic data were obtained monthly, in September 1995–August 1996 (period 1 = 1ºP), and in September 2016–August 2017 (period 2 = 2ºP), from five transects within Ubatuba Bay. In total, 710 and 2,362 individuals were caught in the 1^oP and 2^oP, respectively. Despite this increase in abundance, aspects of the spatial distribution did not change substantially. The high abundance recorded at 5 m of depth was probably due to the creation of the MPA and to the accumulation of detritus at this depth. The high abundance seen in the transect sheltered from waves may be related to sediment heterogeneity, which was higher in this transect, and to the fact that this area is naturally protected from fisheries. In the 1ºP, the highest abundances were recorded in spring and summer, whereas in the 2ºP, they occurred in autumn and winter. This change may be explained by the entrance of the South Atlantic Central Water (SACW), which drives shrimps towards shallower areas. During the 2ºP, a fishing ban occurred in autumn (March 1st until May 31st), which is also when the SACW retreats and water temperature and salinity increase. These two factors combined may have been responsible for the increased shrimp abundance. In conclusion, both conservation practices (MPA and fishing ban) along with the existence of an area naturally protected from fisheries seem to have positively affected the population of R. constrictus, leading to an increase in abundance over the 20-year interval.     

Assessing the performance of a physically based hydrological model using a proxy‐catchment approach in an agricultural environment

Physically based models are useful frameworks for testing intervention strategies designed to reduce elevated sediment loads in agricultural catchments. Evaluating the success of these strategies depends on model accuracy, generally established by a calibration and evaluation process. In this contribution, the physically based SHETRAN model was assessed in two similar U.K. agricultural catchments. The model was calibrated on the Blackwater catchment (18 km²) and evaluated in the adjacent Kit Brook catchment (22 km²) using 4 years of 15 min discharge and suspended sediment flux data. Model sensitivity to changes in single and multiple combinations of parameters and sensitivity to changes in digital elevation model resolution were assessed. Model flow performance was reasonably accurate with a Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient of 0.78 in Blackwater and 0.60 in Kit Brook. In terms of event prediction, the mean of the absolute percentage of difference (μAbs_diff) between measured and simulated flow volume (Qv), peak discharge (Qp), sediment yield (Sy), and peak sediment flux (Sp) showed larger values in Kit Brook (48% [Qv], 66% [Qp], 298% [Sy], and 438% [Sp]) compared with the Blackwater catchment (30% [Qv], 41% [Qp], 106% [Sy], and 86% [Sp]). Results indicate that SHETRAN can produce reasonable flow prediction but performs less well in estimation of sediment flux, despite reasonably similar hydrosedimentary behaviour between catchments. The sensitivity index showed flow volume sensitive to saturated hydraulic conductivity and peak discharge to the Strickler coefficient; sediment yield was sensitive to the overland flow erodibility coefficient and peak sediment flux to raindrop/leaf soil erodibility coefficient. The multiparameter sensitivity analysis showed that different combinations of parameters produced similar model responses. Model sensitivity to grid resolution presented similar flow volumes for different digital elevation model resolutions, whereas event peak and duration (for both flow and sediment flux) were highly sensitive to changes in grid size.