Glacial to Holocene climate changes in the SE Pacific. The Raraku Lake sedimentary record (Easter Island, 27°S)

Easter Island (SE Pacific, 27°S) provides a unique opportunity to reconstruct past climate changes in the South Pacific region based on terrestrial archives. Although the general climate evolution of the south Pacific since the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) is coherent with terrestrial records in southern South America and Polynesia, the details of the dynamics of the shifting Westerlies, the South Pacific Convergence Zone and the South Pacific Anticyclone during the glacial–interglacial transition and the Holocene, and the large scale controls on precipitation in tropical and extratropical regions remain elusive. Here we present a high-resolution reconstruction of lake dynamics, watershed processes and paleohydrology for the last 34 000 cal yrs BP based on a sedimentological and geochemical multiproxy study of 8 cores from the Raraku Lake sediments constrained by 22 AMS radiocarbon dates. This multicore strategy has reconstructed the sedimentary architecture of the lake infilling and provided a stratigraphic framework to integrate and correlate previous core and vegetation studies conducted in the lake. High lake levels and clastic input dominated sedimentation in Raraku Lake between 34 and 28 cal kyr BP. Sedimentological and geochemical evidences support previously reported pollen data showing a relatively open forest and a cold and relatively humid climate during the Glacial period. Between 28 and 17.3 cal kyr BP, including the LGM period, colder conditions contributed to a reduction of the tree coverage in the island. The coherent climate patterns in subtropical and mid latitudes of Chile and Eastern Island for the LGM (more humid conditions) suggest stronger influence of the Antarctic circumpolar current and an enhancement of the Westerlies. The end of Glacial Period occurred at 17.3 cal kyr BP and was characterized by a sharp decrease in lake level conducive to the development of major flood events and erosion of littoral sediments. Deglaciation (Termination 1) between 17.3 and 12.5 cal kyr BP was characterized by an increase in lake productivity, a decrease in the terrigenous input and a rapid lake level recovery, inaugurating a period of intermediate lake levels, dominance of organic deposition and algal lamination. The timing and duration of deglaciation events in Easter Island broadly agree with other mid- and low-latitude circum South Pacific terrestrial records. The transition to the Holocene was characterized by lower lake levels. The lake level dropped during the early Holocene (ca 9.5 cal kyr BP) and swamp and shallow lake conditions dominated till mid Holocene, partially favored by the infilling of the lacustrine basin. During the mid- to late-Holocene drought phases led to periods of persistent low water table, subaerial exposure and erosion, generating a sedimentary hiatus in the Raraku sequence, from 4.2 to 0.8 cal kyr BP. The presence of this dry mid Holocene phase, also identified in low Andean latitudes and in Patagonian mid latitudes, suggests that the shift of storm tracks caused by changes in the austral summer insolation or forced by “El Niño-like” dominant conditions have occurred at a regional scale. The palm deforestation of the Easter Island, attributed to the human impact could have started earlier, during the 4.2–0.8 cal kyr BP sedimentary gap. Our paleoclimatic data provides insights about the climate scenarios that could favor the arrival of the Polynesian people to the island. If it occurred at ca AD 800 it coincided with the warmer conditions of the Medieval Climate Anomaly, whereas if it took place at ca AD 1300 it was favored by enhanced westerlies at the onset of the Little Ice Age. Changes in land uses (farming, intensive cattle) during the last century had a large impact in the hydrology and limnology (eutrophication) of the lake.     

Non-marine bacteria in dialysis bags, in seawater

In a previous study we demonstrated the progressive disappearance of Escherichia coli populations upon contact with marine environment (Bianchi & Mircea, 1976). We have used the same experimental device to study the behaviour of other bacteria of enteric or terrigenous origin (Vibrio cholerae, Streptococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) when rejected into the sea.     

5α(H)-cholestan-3α-ol in sediments: Characterization and geochemical significance

The top five centimeters of sediment collected at the deepest point of Lake Léman (Switzerland), 309 meters below water level, contain concentrations of 5α(H)-cholestan-3α-ol (epicholestanol) up to 10% of the total sterol content. Isobutane chemical ionization mass spectrometry and coinjection with an authentic standard on a SP-1000 glass capillary column were used in order to successfully characterize this epimer of cholestanol.The distribution of this stanol throughout the sediment core studied suggests in situ bacterial production. The change in concentration of epicholestanol with depth is different from those found for other C₂₇ stanols, such as cholestanol or coprostanol. It is probably the result of a change in the bacterial fauna in the most recently deposited sediment, related to the increasing eutrophication of the lake rather than the consequence of its lower stability due to the axial conformation of the OH substituent.     

Analysis of Long-Term Anisotropic Convergence in Drifts Excavated in Callovo-Oxfordian Claystone

The main purpose of this paper is to analyze the convergence measurements in drifts of the Underground Research Laboratory (URL) of the French National Radioactive Waste Management Agency (Andra), excavated in Callovo-Oxfordian claystone. These measurements show an anisotropic closure, which depends on the drift orientations with respect to the horizontal in situ stresses. This anisotropic character of the deformation is taken into account by assuming that the drifts section evolves following an elliptical shape. The characteristics of the deformed elliptical section are evaluated following the methodology proposed by Vu et al. (Rock Mech Rock Eng 46:231–246, 2013). Then, using the semi-empirical law proposed by Sulem et al. (Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abstr 24:145–154, 1987), the convergence evolution is fitted independently for each axis of the ellipse. This method allows to distinguish two effects: the face advance and the time-dependent behavior of the ground. The results for the two drift orientations (along the major horizontal stress and perpendicular to it) show very close values for the parameters describing the time-dependent properties of the ground, the distance of influence of the face, and the extent of the decompressed zone around the drift. Finally, the model is validated by keeping these parameters as constants and by simulating the convergence data on a new drift. It is shown that with a period of about 40 days of convergence monitoring, the model can provide valuable insights for predictions of the convergence evolution in the long term.     

Geochemical evaluation of mineralization potential of the Somie-Ntem area within the Tikar plain,Cameroon: implication on petrogenesis

Acta Geochimica - Somie-Ntem area of the Tikar plain belongs to the western Cameroon Domain. The lithology of the plain has been characterized, and the mineral potential is still unclear despite...     

Liquid water uptake in unconfined Callovo Oxfordian clay-rock studied with neutron and X-ray imaging

The Callovo Oxfordian clay-rock (COx) is studied in France for the disposal of radioactive waste, because of its extremely low permeability. This host rock is governed by a hydromechanical coupling of high complexity. This paper presents an experimental study into the mechanisms of water uptake in small, unconfined, prismatic specimens of COx, motivated by the comprehension of cracking observed during concrete/COx interface sample preparation. Water uptake is monitored using both X-ray tomography and neutron radiography, the combination of these imaging techniques allowing material deformation and water arrival to be quantified, respectively. Given the speed of water entry and crack propagation, relatively fast imaging is required: 5-min X-ray tomographies and 10-s neutron radiographs are used. In this study, pairs of similar COx samples from the same core are tested separately with each imaging technique. Two different orientations with respect to the core are also investigated. Analysis of the resulting images yields with micro- and macro-scale insights into hydromechanical mechanisms to be obtained. This allows the cracking to be interpreted as a rapid breakdown in capillary suction (supposed large both to drying and rebound from in situ stress state) due to water arrival, which in turn causes a loss of effective stress, allowing cracks to propagate and deliver water further into the material.

     

Seismic response of Beirut (Lebanon) buildings: instrumental results from ambient vibrations

Resonance period is a key parameter in the seismic design of a structure, thus dynamic parameters of buildings in Beirut (Lebanon) were investigated based on ambient vibration method for risk and vulnerability assessment. Lebanon is facing high seismic hazard due to its major faults, combined to a high seismic risk caused by dense urbanization in addition to the lack of a seismic design code implementation. For this study, ambient vibration recordings have been performed on 330 RC buildings, period parameters extracted and statistically analyzed to identify correlations with physical building parameters (height, horizontal dimensions, age) and site characteristics (rock sites or soft sites). The study shows that (1) the building height or number of floors (N) is the primary statistically robust parameter for the estimation of the fundamental period T; (2) the correlation between T and N is linear and site dependent: T ≈ N/23 for rock sites and N/18 for soft sites; (3) the measured damping is inversely proportional to the period: the taller the building the lower is the damping; (4) a significant overestimation of the period exists in current building codes. However part of the large discrepancy with building code recommendations may be due to the very low level of loading.     

Role of natural nanoparticles on the speciation of Ni in andosols of la Reunion

Andosols on the island of Réunion have high nickel (Ni) concentrations due to the natural pedo-geochemical background. Enhanced knowledge of Ni speciation is necessary to predict the bioavailability and potential toxicity of this element. Ni speciation in these andosols, marked by the presence of high amounts of natural aluminosilicate nanoparticles, was investigated in two complementary systems: (i) In a soil sample—densimetric fractionation was first performed in order to separate the potential bearing phases, prior to Ni speciation characterization. (ii) In a synthetic sample—Ni reactivity with synthetic aluminosilicate nanoparticle analogs were studied. In both cases, Ni speciation was determined using X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). The results revealed that Ni had the same local environment in both systems (natural and synthetic systems), and Ni was chemically linked to natural short-range ordered aluminosilicates or analogs. This complex represented about 75% of the total Ni in the studied soil.     

Typology of Natural Hazards and Assessment of Associated Risks in the Mount Bambouto Caldera (Cameroon Line,West Cameroon)

Abstract: Mount Bambouto is a polygenic stratovolcano of the Cameroon Volcanic Line, built between 21?Ma and 4.5?Ma. It is situated approximately 200?km NE of Mount Cameroon, between 09°55′ and 10°15′ longitude east and, 05°25′ and 05°50′ latitude north. The volcano covers an area of 500?km2 and culminates at 2740?m at Mélétan dome and bears a collapsed caldera at the summit (13?×?8?km). Mount Bambouto is characterized by several natural hazards of different origins: meteorological, such as landslides and rock falls; anthropogenic, such as bushfires, tribal wars and deforestation; and volcanological, such as volcanic eruption. The thematic map shows that 55–60% of the caldera has high probability of occurrence of mass movement. The caldera has a high population density (3000 inhabitants), which increases the level of risk, evaluated at approximately $US3.8 million for patrimony, 3000 civilian deaths and destruction of biodiversity.