Self-generated aperiodic behaviour in a simple climate model

Climatic variability arising from the coupling between ocean temperature and sea-ice extent is studied in a spatially distributed system. A spatial degree of freedom is crudely introduced by the coupling, through energy transfer, of two box models each of which describes a different space region. The evolution equations are cast into a normal form and some qualitative features of this general class of models are predicted. It is shown, both analytically and numerically, that internally generated complexity in the form of aperiodic behaviour can be a natural consequence of spatially distributed systems.     

Cation exchange reactions controlling desorption of Sr from coarse-grained contaminated sediments at the Hanford site, Washington

Nuclear waste that bore ⁹⁰Sr²⁺ was accidentally leaked into the vadose zone at the Hanford site, and was immobilized at relatively shallow depths in sediments containing little apparent clay or silt-sized components. Sr²⁺, ⁹⁰Sr²⁺, Mg²⁺, and Ca²⁺ was desorbed and total inorganic carbon concentration was monitored during the equilibration of this sediment with varying concentrations of Na⁺, Ca²⁺. A cation exchange model previously developed for similar sediments was applied to these results as a predictor of final solution compositions. The model included binary exchange reactions for the four operant cations and an equilibrium dissolution/precipitation reaction for calcite. The model successfully predicted the desorption data. The contaminated sediment was also examined using digital autoradiography, a sensitive tool for imaging the distribution of radioactivity. The exchanger phase containing ⁹⁰Sr was found to consist of smectite formed from weathering of mesostasis glass in basaltic lithic fragments. These clasts are a significant component of Hanford formation sands. The relatively small but significant cation exchange capacity of these sediments was thus a consequence of reaction with physically sequestered clays in sediment that contained essentially no fine-grained material. The nature of this exchange component explained the relatively slow (scale of days) evolution of desorption solutions. The experimental and model results indicated that there is little risk of migration of ⁹⁰Sr²⁺ to the water table.     

Reductive biotransformation of Fe in shale-limestone saprolite containing Fe(III) oxides and Fe(II)/Fe(III) phyllosilicates

A <2.0-mm fraction of a mineralogically complex subsurface sediment containing goethite and Fe(II)/Fe(III) phyllosilicates was incubated with Shewanella putrefaciens (strain CN32) and lactate at circumneutral pH under anoxic conditions to investigate electron acceptor preference and the nature of the resulting biogenic Fe(II) fraction. Anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate (AQDS), an electron shuttle, was included in select treatments to enhance bioreduction and subsequent biomineralization. The sediment was highly aggregated and contained two distinct clast populations: (i) a highly weathered one with “sponge-like” internal porosity, large mineral crystallites, and Fe-containing micas, and (ii) a dense, compact one with fine-textured Fe-containing illite and nano-sized goethite, as revealed by various forms of electron microscopic analyses. Approximately 10-15% of the Fe(III)_TOT was bioreduced by CN32 over 60 d in media without AQDS, whereas 24% and 35% of the Fe(III)_TOT was bioreduced by CN32 after 40 and 95 d in media with AQDS. Little or no Fe²⁺, Mn, Si, Al, and Mg were evident in aqueous filtrates after reductive incubation. Mössbauer measurements on the bioreduced sediments indicated that both goethite and phyllosilicate Fe(III) were partly reduced without bacterial preference. Goethite was more extensively reduced in the presence of AQDS whereas phyllosilicate Fe(III) reduction was not influenced by AQDS. Biogenic Fe(II) resulting from phyllosilicate Fe(III) reduction remained in a layer-silicate environment that displayed enhanced solubility in weak acid. The mineralogic nature of the goethite biotransformation product was not determined. Chemical and cryogenic Mössbauer measurements, however, indicated that the transformation product was not siderite, green rust, magnetite, Fe(OH)₂, or Fe(II) adsorbed on phyllosilicate or bacterial surfaces. Several lines of evidence suggested that biogenic Fe(II) existed as surface associated phase on the residual goethite, and/or as a Fe(II)-Al coprecipitate. Sediment aggregation and mineral physical and/or chemical factors were demonstrated to play a major role on the nature and location of the biotransformation reaction and its products.     

松辽盆地徐家围子营城组流纹岩地球化学特征及构造指示意义

松辽盆地徐家围子营城组发育一套以流纹岩为主的中酸性火山岩。岩石薄片观察和主量、微量元素研究发现,后期热液蚀变、区域埋深及低温水合作用对流纹岩的Si、K、Rb等元素含量产生一定影响; 流纹岩明显富集Rb、Th、U、Pb等强不相容元素,Ba、Sr、Ti、Eu、P 负异常,暗示其经历了斜长石、磷灰石和钛铁矿分离结晶作用。流纹岩的(⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)_i(0.705265 ~ 0.711895)值变化范围较大,大多数ε_Nd(t)为正值(1.83 ~ 3.38),Pb同位素比值相对集中,(²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb)_i=18.09～18.32,(²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb)_i=15.50 ~ 15.54,(²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb)_i=37.80 ~ 38.10。研究表明,岩石的源区为大比例年轻成分与少量古老地壳的混合部分熔融,其演化过程中经历了不同程度的地壳混染。松辽盆地早白垩世火山岩为板内伸展环境喷发的产物,可能与太平洋板块俯冲导致的中国东部岩石圈减薄、软流圈上涌密切相关。