A closure study of sub-micrometer aerosol particle hygroscopic behaviour

The hygroscopic properties of sub-micrometer aerosol particles were studied in connection with a ground-based cloud experiment at Great Dun Fell, in northern England in 1995. Hygroscopic diameter growth factors were measured with a Tandem Differential Mobility Analyser (TDMA) for dry particle diameters between 35 and 265 nm at one of the sites upwind of the orographic cloud. An external mixture consisting of three groups of particles, each with different hygroscopic properties, was observed. These particle groups were denoted less-hygroscopic, more-hygroscopic and sea spray particles and had average diameter growth factors of 1.11–1.15, 1.38–1.69 and 2.08–2.21 respectively when taken from a dry state to a relative humidity of 90%. Average growth factors increased with dry particle size. A bimodal hygroscopic behaviour was observed for 74–87% of the cases depending on particle size. Parallel measurements of dry sub-micrometer particle number size distributions were performed with a Differential Mobility Particle Sizer (DMPS). The inorganic ion aerosol composition was determined by means of ion chromatography analysis of samples collected with Berner-type low pressure cascade impactors at ambient conditions. The number of ions collected on each impactor stage was predicted from the size distribution and hygroscopic growth data by means of a model of hygroscopic behaviour assuming that only the inorganic substances interacted with the ambient water vapour. The predicted ion number concentration was compared with the actual number of all positive and negative ions collected on the various impactor stages. For the impactor stage which collected particles with aerodynamic diameters between 0.17–0.53 μm at ambient relative humidity, and for which all pertinent data was available for the hygroscopic closure study, the predicted ion concentrations agreed with the measured values within the combined measurement and model uncertainties for all cases but one. For this impactor sampling occasion, the predicted ion concentration was significantly higher than the measured. The air mass in which this sample was taken had undergone extensive photochemical activity which had probably produced hygroscopically active material other than inorganic ions, such as organic oxygenated substances.     

Simulations of 20th and 21st century Arctic cloud amount in the global climate models assessed in the IPCC AR4

Simulations of late 20th and 21st century Arctic cloud amount from 20 global climate models (GCMs) in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 3 (CMIP3) dataset are synthesized and assessed. Under recent climatic conditions, GCMs realistically simulate the spatial distribution of Arctic clouds, the magnitude of cloudiness during the warmest seasons (summer–autumn), and the prevalence of low clouds as the predominant type. The greatest intermodel spread and most pronounced model error of excessive cloudiness coincides with the coldest seasons (winter–spring) and locations (perennial ice pack, Greenland, and the Canadian Archipelago). Under greenhouse forcing (SRES A1B emissions scenario) the Arctic is expected to become cloudier, especially during autumn and over sea ice, in tandem with cloud decreases in middle latitudes. Projected cloud changes for the late 21st century depend strongly on the simulated modern (late 20th century) annual cycle of Arctic cloud amount: GCMs that correctly simulate more clouds during summer than winter at present also tend to simulate more clouds in the future. The simulated Arctic cloud changes display a tripole structure aloft, with largest increases concentrated at low levels (below 700 hPa) and high levels (above 400 hPa) but little change in the middle troposphere. The changes in cloud radiative forcing suggest that the cloud changes are a positive feedback annually but negative during summer. Of potential explanations for the simulated Arctic cloud response, local evaporation is the leading candidate based on its high correlation with the cloud changes. The polar cloud changes are also significantly correlated with model resolution: GCMs with higher spatial resolution tend to produce larger future cloud increases.     

High-grade metamorphism of ironstones in the Mesoarchaean of southwest Swaziland

A sequence of high-grade rocks collectively referred to as Mkhondo Valley Metamorphic Suite is exposed around the Nhlangano Gneiss Dome in southwest Swaziland and also less extensively further north. Meta-ironstones are part of this sequence and have been studied specifically with two main objectives in mind, firstly, to test the hypothesis of the high-grade metamorphic sequence correlating with lower-grade Pongola-age rocks nearby, and secondly, to assess the potential of these meta-ironstones for retrieving P-T conditions of metamorphism. The studied ironstones contain substantial Al due to terrigenous clastic input and also include Mn-rich varieties. Three compositional groups of meta-ironstones can be distinguished: garnet-orthopyroxene-bearing ones, garnet-bearing, orthopyroxene-free ones, and a garnet-poor to garnet-free type. A comparison of bulk rock compositions between these high-grade meta-ironstones and low-grade Mn-poor to Mn-rich ironstones from the Mozaan Group supports a stratigraphic correlation. Pseudosection modelling demonstrates that aluminous meta-ironstones provide useful P-T constraints at high peak temperatures as they do not tend to produce significant amounts of melt, if any. The presence of Al is critical for introducing garnet to amphibolite and granulite-facies assemblages, which also allows to apply conventional thermobarometers. The combination of pseudosection modelling and conventional thermobarometry yielded peak metamorphic conditions of 850–890 °C at 7 to 8 kbar. These data are compatible with the ones obtained from associated metapelitic gneisses, except that the latter indicate decompression to lower pressure granulite-facies conditions. The petrological, structural and geochronological data from southwest Swaziland confirm major orogenic activity in the eastern Kaapvaal Craton during the Neo-Archaean.     

Contrasting punctuated zircon growth in two syn-erupted rhyolite magmas from Tarawera volcano: Insights to crystal diversity in magmatic systems

Two mineralogically and chemically distinct rhyolite magmas (T1 and T3) were syn-erupted from the same conduit system during the 21.9 ka basalt intrusion-triggered Okareka eruption from Tarawera volcano, New Zealand. High spatial resolution U–Th disequilibrium dating of zircon crystals at the ~ 3–5 μm scale reveals a protracted yet discontinuous zircon crystallization history within the magmatic system. Both magma types contain zircon whose interiors predate the eruption by up to 200 ka. The dominant age peak in the T1 magma is ~ 30 ka with subordinate peaks at ~ 45, ~ 75, and ~ 100 ka, whereas the T3 magma has a dominant zircon interior age peak at ~ 90 ka with smaller modes at ~ 35 and ~ 150 ka. These patterns are consistent with isolated pockets of crystallization throughout the evolution of the system. Crystal rim analyses yield ages ranging from within error of the eruption age to at least ~ 90 ka prior to eruption, highlighting that zircon crystallization frequently stalled long before the eruption. Continuous depth profiling from crystal rims inward demonstrates protracted growth histories for individual crystals (up to ~ 100 ka) that were punctuated by asynchronous hiatuses of up to 30 ka in duration. Disparate zircon growth histories can result from localized thermal perturbations caused by mafic intrusions into a silicic reservoir. The crystal age heterogeneity at hand-sample scale requires considerable crystal transport and mixing. We propose that crystal mixing was achieved through buoyancy instabilities caused by mafic magma flow through crystal mush. A terminal pre-eruptive rejuvenation event was capable of mobilizing voluminous melts that erupted, but was too short (< 10²–10³ years) to result in extensive zircon growth. The contrasting, punctuated zircon histories argue against closed-system fractional crystallization models for silicic magmatism that require protracted cooling times following a mostly liquid starting condition.     

Microfabric analyses applied to the Witwatersrand gold- and uranium-bearing conglomerates: constraints on the provenance and post-depositional modification of rock and ore components

Microfabrics of detrital quartz grains and quartz cement of four gold- and uranium-bearing conglomerates of various goldfields of the Witwatersrand Basin, South Africa, were investigated by optical and cathodoluminescence microscopy. The study revealed that the vast majority of quartz grains (<5 mm) originate from felsic magmatic source rocks. Cherts and polymineralic mineral grains, pointing to greenschist to amphibolite facies metasedimentary rocks, follow in abundance, whereas diagenetic to weakly metamorphosed quartzites are subordinate. Material from hydrothermal vein quartz is almost completely lacking, both in the sand and in the pebble fraction. No obvious relationships are discernible between the varying proportions of detrital siliciclastic components of the different reefs and their ore grades. Assuming a sedimentological control of gold distribution, this finding supports multiple sources for the detrital components, which were thoroughly mixed during transport. The post-depositional history of the sediments is characterized by a complex polyphase succession of deformation, cementation and hydrothermal alteration events. Both fragmentation and pressure solution features within detrital quartz, quartz cement and round grains of pyrite, zircon, chromite and uraninite demonstrate that these materials were present in the conglomerates during diagenesis, and, thus, are true detrital grains with abraded, rounded grain morphologies. By analogy, it is assumed that gold is also a detrital component, although most of the gold grains display characteristics of hydrothermal overprinting. During subsequent metamorphism, micro-shear zones are developed, and brittle-ductile crystal-plastic deformation and limited quartz recrystallization occur. Maximum temperatures of about 350 °C were reached on the prograde metamorphic path. Recrystallization and redistribution of detrital siliciclastic and ore minerals took place, and various hydrothermal/metamorphic minerals including chlorite, sericite, pyrophyllite and chloritoid were formed. These redistribution processes involved existing detrital minerals only and were generally isochemical because little evidence exists for the development of a secondary porosity and permeability that would allow major external inputs into the Witwatersrand conglomerates. Most of the gold grains have hydrothermal characteristics, as evidenced by their authigenic, crystalline shapes and their chemical compositions. However, these features are regarded to result from overprinting. Most likely, the gold grains experienced more drastic modifications relative to other ore components because of the ductile and mobile nature of gold. The retrograde metamorphic path is characterized by percolating radioactive fluids at T<300 °C, recorded by radiation damage indicated by cathodoluminescence alteration rims along quartz grain boundaries and microcracks. The degrees of radiation damage observed are proportional to the uranium contents of the conglomerate ores. The collective evidence of our study supports the modified placer model for the genesis of the Witwatersrand ores. This model explains most of the observations on the detrital mineral assemblage and its post-depositional modification elegantly and in a satisfactory manner.     

Buried rhyolites within the active,high-temperature Salton Sea geothermal system

Previously unrecognized pulses of rhyolite volcanism occurred in the Salton Trough between 420 ± 8 ka and 479 ± 38 ka (2σ), based on high-spatial resolution U–Pb zircon geochronology. Presently, these rhyolite lavas, tuffs and shallow subvolcanic sills are buried to depths between ~ 1.6 and 2.7 km at ambient temperatures between 200 and 300 °C, and are overprinted by propylitic to potassic hydrothermal alteration mineral assemblages consisting of finely intergrown quartz, K-feldspar, chlorite, epidote, and minor pyrite. Alteration resistant geochemical indicators (whole-rock Nd-isotopes, zircon oxygen-isotopes) reveal that these rhyolites are derived from remelting of MORB-type crust that was chilled and hydrothermally altered by deep-circulating hydrothermal waters. U–Pb zircon dating confirms the presence of Bishop Tuff in well State 2-14 at ~ 1.7 km depth, approximately 5 km NE of the geothermal wells that penetrated the buried rhyolites. These results indicate accelerated subsidence towards the center of the Salton Trough, increasing from 2.2 mm/a to 3.8 mm/a. Based on these results, the present-day Salton Sea geothermal field is identified as a focus zone of episodic rhyolitic volcanism, intense heat flow and metamorphism that predates present-day geothermal activity and Holocene volcanism by at least ~ 400 ka.     

Upper tropospheric warming intensifies sea surface warming

One of the robust features in the future projections made by the state-of-the-art climate models is that the highest warming rate occurs in the upper-troposphere especially in the tropics. It has been suggested that more warming in the upper-troposphere than the lower-troposphere should exert a dampening effect on the sea surface warming associated with the negative lapse rate feedback. This study, however, demonstrates that the tropical upper-tropospheric warming (UTW) tends to trap more moisture in the lower troposphere and weaken the surface wind speed, both contributing to reduce the upward surface latent heat flux so as to trigger the initial sea surface warming. We refer to this as a ‘top-down’ warming mechanism. The rise of tropospheric moisture together with the positive water vapor feedback enhance the downward longwave radiation to the surface and facilitate strengthening the initial sea surface warming. Meanwhile, the rise of sea surface temperature (SST) can feed back to intensify the initial UTW through the moist adiabatic adjustment, completing a positive UTW–SST warming feedback. The proposed ‘top-down’ warming mechanism and the associated positive UTW–SST warming feedback together affect the surface global warming rate and also have important implications for understanding the past and future changes of precipitation, clouds and atmospheric circulations.