Interactions between mean flow and finite-amplitude mesoscale eddies in a barotropic ocean

Abstract

For the purpose of deriving an analytical parametrization, oceanic mesoscale eddies are represented as a horizontally propagating wave field in a non-uniform environment. The mathematical analysis rests upon the assumption of scale disparity between a short eddy scale and a long mean-flow scale. The novelty resides in the treatment of finite-amplitude eddies, which, moreover, form either a band-like or a cell-like pattern. A barotropic ocean is chosen as a first step to illustrate the mathematical analysis, but dissipation is included. The main result is an analytical derivation of a mesoscale-eddy parametrization: the mean-flow equation contains Reynolds-stress terms which are computed from parameters of the eddy field, which, in turn, are predicted by separate evolution equations. Due to restrictive assumptions (barotropy, orthogonal waves,…), the parametrization established here should be viewed only as a first step toward the design of a more practical parameterization for large-scale modelling.     

Geodynamic evolution of the Tethyan lithosphere as recorded in the Spontang Ophiolite,South Ladakh ophiolites(NW Himalaya,India)

The Spontang Ophiolite complex represents the most complete ophiolite sequence amongst the South Ladakh ophiolites and comprises mantle rocks(depleted harzburgites,dunites and minor lherzolites)as well as crustal rocks(basalt,isotropic gabbros,layered gabbros etc.).In the present study,detailed geochemistry(whole rock as well as mineral chemistry)and Sr-Nd isotopic analyses of thirty-six ultramaficmafic samples have been attempted to constraint the evolution and petrogenetic history of the Tethyan oceanic crust.Major,trace-element and REE patterns of the peridotites and their minerals indicate that the lherzolites experienced lower degrees of partial melting resembling abyssal peridotites(at higher temperatures,TREE=$1216℃)than the harzburgites(6%–8%versus 15%–17%).Elevated eNd(t)and variable⁸⁷ Sr/⁸⁶ Sr(t)ratios along with REE patterns suggest that the Spontang mafic rocks display N-MORB affinity with negligible participation of oceanic sediments in their genesis are originated from a depleted upper mantle with little contribution from subduction-related fluids.MORB-type Neotethyan oceanic crust is associated with the earliest phase of subduction(of older Jurassic age)through which a younger intra-oceanic island arc(Spong arc)subsequently developed.Harzburgites REE display typical U-shaped patterns,suggesting that these rocks have been metasomatized by LREE-enriched fluids.On the other side,mafic rocks are characterized by heterogeneous(Nb/La)PMand(Hf/Sm)PMand relatively homogeneous eNd(t),indicating interaction of subduction-related melts with the upper mantle during the initiation of subduction,in Early Cretaceous times.     

Remobilization of arsenic from buried wastes at an industrial site: mineralogical and geochemical control

An industrial area contaminated by As was studied to determine the source of this element and its speciation in As-bearing solids and in run-off waters. Mineral precipitates and water samples were collected and analyzed to assess processes controlling As mobility at this site. The integrated study of a contaminated industrial area allowed identification of the source of the As and of the nature of secondary As-bearing phases. The results obtained both on solid and water samples were used to model As behavior during waste leaching on carbonate rocks. At the upper end of a topographic transect across the site, run-off waters (pH=7.9) interact with surficial waste piles (containing arsenolite, arsenopyrite and pyrite), becoming acidic (pH=2.2) and concentrated in dissolved arsenate species (As⁵⁺) (ΣAs ranging from 0.961 to 3.149·10⁻³ mol/l). Those acidic waters interact with the limestone substratum, providing dissolved Ca which reacts with As to precipitate 1:1 Ca arsenates (weilite CaHAsO₄, haidingerite CaHAsO₄.H₂O and pharmacolite CaHAsO₄.2H₂O) and, in minor amounts, Ca–Mg arsenates (picropharmacolite (Ca,Mg)₃(AsO₄)₂ 6H₂O). The 1:1 Ca arsenates identified are known to precipitate at low pH (3–6) and seem to be stable in media with high dissolved CO₂, in comparison with other types of Ca arsenates. However, due to their high solubilities, they are not strictly relevant candidates to immobilize As in contaminated surficial environments. Although reported solubilities decrease to values close to the French and US drinking standards in Ca-rich solutions, a thorough examination of the precipitation/dissolution kinetics of Ca arsenates should be undertaken to assess their long-term stability and their efficiency in rapidly immobilizing As in contaminated surficial environments.     

Sedimentation rates in flow-restricted and restored salt marshes in Long Island Sound

Many salt marshes in densely populated areas have been subjected to a reduction in tidal flow. In order to assess the impact of tidal flow restriction on marsh sedimentation processes, sediment cores were collected from flow-restricted restricted salt marshes along the Connecticut coast of Long Island Sound. Cores were also collected from unrestricted reference marshes and from a marsh that had been previously restricted but was restored to fuller tidal flushing in the 1970's. High bulk densities and low C and N concentrations were found at depth in the restricted marsh cores, which we attribute to a period of organic matter oxidation, sediment compaction, and marsh surface subsidence upon installation of flow restrictions (between 100 and 200 years before the present, depending on the marsh). Recent sedimentation rates at the restricted marshes (as determined by¹³⁷Cs and²¹⁰Pb dating) were positive and averaged 78% (¹³⁷Cs) and 50% (²¹⁰Pb) of reference marsh sedimentation rates. The accumulation of inorganic sediment was similar at the restricted and reference marshes, perhaps because of the seasonal operation of the tide gates, while organic sediment accretion (and pore space) was significantly lower in the restricted marshes, perhaps because of higher decomposition rates. Sedimentation rates at the restored marsh were significantly higher than at the reference marshes. This marsh has responded to the higher water levels resulting from restoration by a rapid increase in marsh surface elevation.     

Heavy metal removal efficiencies in a river–marsh system estimated from patterns of metal accumulation in sediments

Estuaries have long been thought to be effective traps for river-borne contaminants; however, accurately predicting removal efficiencies remains problematic. In the Quinnipiac River, CT, marsh system, patterns of metal accumulation (Ag, Cd, Cu, Pb) in sediments were used to estimate heavy metal removal efficiencies. Linear and multivariate regression models were fit to sediment metal concentrations to estimate removal curves and surfaces, which avoided the large temporal variability commonly encountered when using direct water column measurements. Second order regressions normalized to the shortest distance to the river channel were found to have the best fit (r>0.67) with the lowest standard error (<32%). The heavy metal removal efficiencies estimated by comparing total metal accumulation in marsh sediments with riverine flux were Ag=21%, Cd=6%, Cu=14%, and Pb=17%, which are comparable to the maximum removal efficiency of riverine suspended particulate matter (28%).     

Phase changes and thermodynamic properties of CaTiO3. Spectroscopic data,vibrational modelling and some insights on the properties of MgSiO3 perovskite

The effect of pressure (up to 21 GPa at room temperature) and temperature (up to 1570 K at room pressure) on the Raman spectrum of CaTiO₃ is presented. No significant changes, which could be attributed to a major structural change, are observed in the spectra up to 22 GPa. The pressure shifts of the Raman modes can be related to a significant compression of the Ti-O bond. Discontinuous changes in the spectra upon heating may be related to phase changes observed by calorimetry and X-ray diffraction. The important temperature shifts of some low-frequency modes can be related to an increase in the Ti-O-Ti angle in agreement with the X-ray data showing a decrease of the structural distortion with increasing temperature. These data are compared to those available for MgSiO₃-perovskite and show that CaTiO₃ is a good structural analogue for MgSiO₃-perovskite. The present spectroscopic data are used to calculate the specific heat and entropy of CaTiO₃. The role of the low frequency modes in the calculations is emphasized. Good agreement is observed between calculated and experimentally determined values in the 0–1300 K temperature range. A similarly defined model is proposed for MgSiO₃-perovskite. It is found that the entropy lies between 57 and 64 J/mol/K at 298 K and between 190 and 200 J/mol/K at 1000 K in agreement with the values inferred from experimental equilibrium data. Finally we briefly discuss the values of the Grüneisen parameters of both perovskites inferred from macroscopic and microscopic data.     

Aluminium X-ray absorption Near Edge Structure in model compounds and Earth’s surface minerals

Aluminium K-edge X-ray absorption near edge spectra (XANES) of a suite of silicate and oxides minerals consist of electronic excitations occurring in the edge region, and multiple scattering resonances at higher energies. The main XANES feature for four-fold Al is at around 2 eV lower energy than the main XANES feature for six-fold Al. This provides a useful probe for coordination numbers in clay minerals, gels, glasses or material with unknown Al-coordination number. Six-fold aluminium yields a large variety of XANES features which can be correlated with octahedral point symmetry, number of aluminium sites and distribution of Al-O distances. These three parameters may act together, and the quantitative interpretation of XANES spectra is difficult. For a low point symmetry (1), variations are mainly related to the number of Al sites and distribution of Al-O distances: pyrophyllite, one Al site, is clearly distinguished from kaolinite and gibbsite presenting two Al sites. For a given number of Al-site (1), variations are controlled by changes in point symmetry, the number of XANES features being increased as point symmetry decreases. For a given point symmetry (1) and a given number of Al site (1), variations are related to second nearest neighbours (gibbsite versus kaolinite). The amplitude of the XANES feature at about 1566 eV is a useful probe for the assessment of Al^IV/Al^total ratios in 2/1 phyllosilicates. Al-K XANES has been performed on synthetic Al-bearing goethites which cannot be studied by ²⁷Al NMR. At low Al content, Al-K XANES is very different from that of α-AlOOH but at the highest level, XANES spectrum tends to that of diaspore. Al-K XAS is thus a promising tool for the structural study of poorly ordered materials such as clay minerals and natural alumino-silicate gels together with Al-subsituted Fe-oxyhydroxides. Received: 18 December 1996 / Revised, accepted: 2 June 1997     

Injection experiments and thermal recovery in corehole OH-1, Lake City,California

Two injection tests, shallow and deep, followed by repeated temperature logging were performed in the Lake City, California OH-1 corehole, to delineate permeable zones, investigate the permeability of rocks adjacent to the wellbore, and to test the validity of maximum-reading thermometer (MRT) measurements collected during the drilling process that show lower than static temperatures above a depth of 2100 ft and significantly higher than static temperatures below a depth of about 2500 ft. The tests confirmed several permeable zones in OH-1. At about 300 ft, there is a strong zone of lateral flow, and at 947 ft there is a major outflow zone for injected fluid. Two other possible permeable flow zones were detected from the thermal recovery logs: one at about 1500 ft and another at about 2300 ft. The 2300 ft permeable zone seems to be an inflow zone, and the source of a probable downflow responsible for cooling the wellbore below about 2500 ft. The hotter MRT data obtained during drilling may be reconciled with the significantly lower static temperature logs if downflow from about 2300 ft is present.     

Dike distribution in the Oman-United Arab Emirates ophiolite

Mafic dikes and dunite veins are observed in the mantle section of the Oman – United Arab Emirates (O-UAE) ophiolites, as well as diabase dikes and hydrothermal veins in the crust section. They have been systematically measured during the mapping of this ophiolite and are represented by their trajectories in the folded map 3 in the back of this volume, and by local stereoplots included in this study. Mafic dikes in the mantle section correspond to basaltic melt being injected at decreasing temperatures from above or at peridotite solidus, down to below 450°C. Hydrothermal veins associated with dioritic dikes issued from hydrous melting of host gabbros are observed down to the base of the crust, bearing evidence for sea water penetration into basal gabbros at or above 900°C, that is very close to the ridge axis. Dike orientations record the stress field at the time of their injection. In most places, all types of dikes are dominantly parallel to the general trend of the nearest sheeted dike complex; thus the stress field has not visibly changed from melt injection in the asthenosphere below the ridge of origin to injection in a lithosphere up to a few Myr old, at distances beyond 100 km from the axis. Local preferred orientations, when they are considered in the frame of the paleo-ridge system of O-UAE, result in a coherent model throughout the belt: the sheeted dike complex dips moderately away from the presumed ridge axis and the mantle dikes, toward this axis. These opposite directions are explained by the presumed effect of subsidence toward the axis for the sheeted dikes and by the central feeding from an asthenospheric uprise for the mantle dikes.