Incipient weathering rind development on introduced machine‐polished granite discs in an Arctic alpine environment,northern Scandinavia

Weathering rinds, zones of alteration on the exterior surfaces of rock outcrops and coarse unconsolidated surficial debris are widely used by geomorphologists and Quaternary geologists as indicators of the relative age of landforms and landscapes. Additionally they provide unique insights into the earliest stages of rock and mineral weathering, yet the origin of these alteration zones is relatively poorly understood. This lack of understanding applies especially to the initial stages of rind formation. The study reported in this paper has two principal objectives. The first is to use lightly polished granite discs inserted in soil profiles under several different plant communities in an Arctic alpine environment for a period of four or five years to investigate the nature of incipient weathering rind development. The second is to investigate the factors responsible for spatial variability in the nature and rates of rind formation. Incipient weathering rind development on the outer edges of the granite discs is observable and measurable over a period of time as short as four years in the mild Arctic alpine environment of Swedish Lapland. The earliest stages of rind development involve the development of a porous structure consisting of a combination of pits and fractures which have been solutionally enlarged and modified. Solution appears to be preferentially concentrated on the surfaces of feldspars and, to a lesser extent, quartz. In addition, iron oxides are present along grain boundaries and in grain interiors and are interpreted to have been derived from the oxidation of ferromagnesian minerals. Spatial variability in weathering rind development appears to be particularly driven by differences in moisture but is not related to soil pH. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The history of water salinity in the Pearl River estuary,China, during the Late Quaternary

This research reconstructed the Late Quaternary salinity history of the Pearl River estuary, China, from diatom records of four sedimentary cores. The reconstruction was produced through the application of a diatom–salinity transfer function developed based on 77 modern surface sediment samples collected across the estuary from shallow marine environment to deltaic distributaries. The statistical analysis indicates that the majority of sediment samples from the cores has good modern analogues, thus the reconstructions are reliable. The reconstructed salinity history shows the older estuarine sequence formed during the last interglacial was deposited under similar salinity conditions to the younger estuarine sequence, which was formed during the present interglacial. Further analysis into the younger estuarine sequence reveals the interplays between sea level, monsoon‐driven freshwater discharge, and deltaic shoreline movement, key factors that have influenced water salinity in the estuary. In particular, a core from the delta plain shows the effects of sea‐level change and deltaic progradation, while cores from the mouth region of the estuary reveal changes of monsoon‐driven freshwater discharge. This study demonstrates the advantages of quantitative salinity reconstructions to improve the quality of reconstruction and allow direct comparison with other quantitative records and the instrumentally observed values of salinity. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Conservation as disturbance: Upheaval and livelihood diversification near Tarangire National Park,northern Tanzania

Recent studies have identified poverty reduction near parks and protected areas, findings that challenge an extensive literature on the social burdens associated with protected areas. These studies move the discussion on the social dynamics of conservation forward, however, they do not offer insight into the underlying mechanisms that shape household-level outcomes such as income and wealth. By focusing on protected areas as centers of uncertainty, upheaval, and disturbance, this study examines the character and incidence of livelihood diversification within communities near Tarangire National Park in northern Tanzania compared to communities far from the park. Livelihood diversification is well understood as a coping and/or risk mitigation strategy pursued in response to various types of shocks, and uncertainty more generally. This study draws on mixed methodologies to construct multivariate statistical models to estimate the effect of proximity to the park on measures of livelihood diversification. The results indicate that proximity to park is strongly correlated with livelihood diversification, suggesting that households near the park are adapting to opportunities and constraints and may be seeking to reduce variance in income and wealth in response to disturbances and uncertainty associated with the park.     

高分辨率WRF三维变分同化在北京地区降水预报中的应用

为迎接2008年北京奥运会,改进北京地区的天气预报,建立了一个基于三重嵌套区域(27/9/3 km)的WRF三维变分同化(WRFVar)和WRF模式的高分辨率快速更新循环同化预报(Rapid-Up-date Cycle)系统,并针对2006年8月1日发生在北京地区的强对流天气进行了一系列数值试验,结果表明:高分辨率的快速更新循环系统很好地预报出了此次强降水过程;在WRF三维变分同化里调节背景场误差和观测误差,提高了降水预报的效果;插值得出的3 km背景场误差可以作为一个合理的近似在3 km分辨率的WRFVar中使用,用户可以不必积累高分辨率的预报场去计算背景场误差,从而节省大量计算资源。3 h频次的RUC已经能满足预报要求,更高频次(1 h)的RUC并没有导致预报的进一步提高。     

The relation between rigorous and Helmert’s definitions of orthometric heights

Following our earlier definition of the rigorous orthometric height [J Geod 79(1-3):82–92 (2005)] we present the derivation and calculation of the differences between this and the Helmert orthometric height, which is embedded in the vertical datums used in numerous countries. By way of comparison, we also consider Mader and Niethammer’s refinements to the Helmert orthometric height. For a profile across the Canadian Rocky Mountains (maximum height of ~2,800 m), the rigorous correction to Helmert’s height reaches ~13 cm, whereas the Mader and Niethammer corrections only reach ~3 cm. The discrepancy is due mostly to the rigorous correction’s consideration of the geoid-generated gravity disturbance. We also point out that several of the terms derived here are the same as those used in regional gravimetric geoid models, thus simplifying their implementation. This will enable those who currently use Helmert orthometric heights to upgrade them to a more rigorous height system based on the Earth’s gravity field and one that is more compatible with a regional geoid model.     

Lithogeochemical patterns around Pb-Zn mineralizations in Dinantian carbonate rocks of (eastern) Belgium

The lithogeochemical distribution patterns of Mg, Sr, Na, Zn, Pb, Fe, Mn, K, Corg (organic matter) and IR (insoluble residue) in the Dinantian limestones and dolomites from the eastern part of Belgium have been studied (Dinant and Verviers synclinorium). Comparison of geochemical data of non-mineralized strata revealed higher background values in the strata of the Verviers synclinorium where Pb-Zn mineralizations occur. In this area a relation may exist with the metallogenetic district (Herve-Vesdre-Theux district; proposed by Dejonghe 1985b). However, the higher background values also could relate to the more restricted sedimentation conditions in the Verviers synclinorium as opposed to the more open marine conditions in the Dinant synclinorium. The influence of mineralization on the geochemistry of limestones is limited and unpredictable. In dolomites, however, the effect can be important. In these rocks, the lithogeochemical distribution of Zn, Pb and Mn can be subdivided into three populations, i.e. a regional background, a local high background and a halo population. The higher trace element concentrations in the halo population is caused by the existence of disseminated sulfide minerals (sphalerite, galena and pyrite) and Zn-bearing goethite (mainly pseudomorphs after pyrite) and Mn-oxides. The sulfides relate to the ore emplacement. In the local high background only the Zn-bearing oxides occur. Their presence and thus the development of the local high background relates to weathering processes.     

Controlling mechanisms for the trace metals, (Cu,Zn, Cd,Fe, Co and Ni) in anoxic sea water in Saanich Inlet,British Columbia,Canada

A study was conducted on Cu, Zn, Cd, Fe, Co and Ni levels in Saanich Inlet anoxic seawater. Data on the concentration of these trace metals and H₂S, and other oceanographic parameters were obtained in four cruises. Equilibrium models are presented together with in situ data. The results strongly support the assumption that the solubilities of Cu, Zn, Cd, Fe, Co and Ni are controlled by bisulfide and/or polysulfide complexes. The species of Cu, Zn, Cd and Ni are shown to be Cu(S₄) ₂ ³⁻ and Cu(Sn₄S₅)³⁻, Zn(HS) ₂ ⁰ and ZnHS ₂ ⁻ , Cd(HS) ₂ ⁰ and Ni(HS) ₂ ⁰ , respectively. The solid species controlling Fe²⁺ and Co²⁺ are respectively the pyrohotites FeS and CoS. The data illustrates that thermodynamic equilibrium has been established in the H₂S-controlled seawater of Saanich Inlet, and that equilibrium has not been established in the H₂S−O₂-coexisted seawater of Saanich Inlet. The lack of equilibrium in the H₂S−O₂-coexisted seawater is a result of the flushing or mixing of oxygenated seawater with anoxic water. The new species of trace metals are still in the processes of reduction and precipitation. Contribution No. 1428 from Institute of Oceanology, Academia Sinica     

Auroral ion velocity distributions for a polarization collision model

We have calculated the effect that convection electric fields have on the velocity distribution of auroral ions at the altitudes where the plasma is weakly-ionized and where the various ion-neutral collision frequencies are much smaller than the ion cyclotron frequencies, i.e. between about 130 and 300 km. The appropriate Boltzmann equation has been solved by expanding the ion velocity distribution function in a generalized orthogonal polynomial series about a bi-Maxwellian weight factor. We have retained enough terms in the series expansion to enable us to obtain reliable quantitative results for electric field strengths as large as 90 mV m^?1. Although we have considered a range of ion-neutral scattering mechanisms, our main emphasis has been devoted to the long-range polarization interaction. In general, we have found that to lowest order the ion velocity distribution is better represented by a two-temperature or bi-Maxwellian distribution than by a one-temperature Maxwellian, with there being different ion temperatures parallel and perpendicular to the geomagnetic field. However, the departures from this zeroth-order bi-Maxwellian distribution become significant when the ion drift velocity approaches (or exceeds) the neutral thermal speed.     

Whole-rock and sulfide lead-isotope data from the hydrothermal JADE field in the Okinawa back-arc trough

The mineralization of the active hydrothermal JADE field resembles in many aspects the Kuroko-type mineralization. The JADE field is located in a back-arc graben and is associated with a bimodal volcanism. Lead isotope data from igneous rocks, sediments, and ores further emphasize the similarities with the Kuroko ores and suggest that both sediments and volcanic rocks contributed comparable amounts of lead to the deposit. When compared to the sediments, a much larger volume of volcanic rocks must have contributed lead to the deposit, because of the considerably lower lead concentration of volcanic rocks. In contrast to the crustal type lead of the JADE field and the Kuroko-type sulfide deposits the lead isotope signatures of VMS-type deposits at mid-ocean ridges is distinctly different. In the absence of a sedimentary cover it reflects the composition of the mantle source, whereas in the presence of a sedimentary cover it is either a mixture of mantle and sedimentary lead or it may even be completely dominated by the latter. Received: 5 October 1995 / Accepted: 10 May 1996