Paleomagnetic evidence for a diachronic clockwise rotation of the Coastal Range, eastern Taiwan

Paleomagnetic results obtained from over 2100 cores sampled at 132 early Pliocene to late Pleistocene sites in the Coastal Range of eastern Taiwan indicate that, since the late Pliocene, the margin of the Philippine Sea plate has undergone a clockwise rotation of about 30° as a direct consequence of the Plio-Pleistocene collision of this plate with the Chinese Continental plate. The rotation is diachronic and started between 3 and 4 Ma ago in the northern Coastal Range then propagated southward at an average speed of the order of 70 ± 10 km/Ma. This value is in very good agreement with estimates of the southward propagation of the collision between the Philippine Sea plate and the Eurasian margin in Taiwan. It is suggested that the rotation reflects the deformation of the Philippine Sea plate at depth and does not results from the shallow deformations involved in the building of the Coastal Range orogen.     

Significance of gabbronorite occurrence in the crustal section of the Semail ophiolite

The eastern end of the Haylayn massif exposes a complex paleoridge structure interpreted as the tip of a northwestward propagating segment (Nicolas et al., this issue). The area, revisited from a petrostructural and geochemical viewpoint, offers the most documented exposures of the association of olivine gabbros and gabbronorites in Oman (Juteau et al., 1988). Gabbronorites were injected while the main gabbro unit was deforming in the magmatic state. Both units do not differ chemically, except for the SiO₂ enrichment of the orthopyroxene-rich gabbros relative to olivine-gabbro. In addition, they display the same trace element signature, which implies the same parent magma for both units. The extension of the stability field of orthopyroxene is assigned to increase of oxygen fugacity due to hydration. The source of hydration is the ridge axis hydrothermal circulation, suggesting hydrothermal/magma interaction at temperatures above the gabbro solidus. The distribution of gabbronorites at the scale of the entire ophiolite suggests a relation with ridge tectonics where high-T conditions of hydrothermal-magmatic interaction are met. Such conditions are met when propagating segments rotate the structures of the dying magma chamber.     

Seasonal variation in the molt status of an oceanic copepod

The timing of diapause, or suppressed development, in the dominant California Current copepod Calanus pacificus was examined in two ways. Diapause timing was inferred from changes in the abundance of deep, diapausing C. pacificus over a full year at a station off southern California, USA. Jaw phase and ecdysteroid content, indicators of molt cycle status in C. pacificus, were also examined to determine if shifts toward early molt phases, as are observed in diapausing Calanus, were also found among surface C. pacificus during periods when the abundance of deep, diapausing C. pacificus was increasing. The abundance of diapausing C. pacificus in deep water increased from June to mid-October, then declined from October to March. The percentage of surface-living C. pacificus CV with postmolt jaws, the earliest jaw phase, was significantly higher from June to mid-October than at other times. The ecdysteroid content of surface-living C. pacificus CV was also significantly lower during June to mid-October than during late October to May. Both of these changes indicate a shift to earlier molt phases in surface-living C. pacificus CV during periods of onset of diapause. However, the molt status of surface CV was variable from June to mid-October, suggesting that preparation for diapause was spatially or temporally heterogeneous. Hypotheses about environmental cues that induce diapause were evaluated, although the effect of cues on possibly sensitive stages could not be considered. The abundance of diapausing C. pacificus increased during a period of warm upper water column temperature and generally high and declining photoperiod; however, evaluation of the cues inducing diapause was inconclusive.     

U-Pb zircon age and Nd isotopic composition of granitoids,charnockites and supracrustal rocks from Heimefrontfjella,Antarctica

Heimefrontfjella and Mannefallknausane, in Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica, comprise an amphibolite-facies terrain and a granulite terrain, separated by a major mylonite zone. The amphibolite terrain is made up of mafic to felsic metavolcanics and metasediments, intruded by granitoid plutons: the granulite terrain has supracrustal rocks with similar lithologies, intruded by felsic plutonic rocks that crystallized as charnockites.U-Pb zircon ages (conventional and ion microprobe) demonstrate that magmatic activity was confined to a relatively short interval between 1130 and 1045 Ma and was followed in the amphibolite terrain by metamorphism around 1060 Ma. Specific ages are as follows: metarhyolite in the amphibolite terrain, 1093 ± 38 Ma; granitoids in the amphibolite terrain, 1045 ± 9 Ma to 1107 ± 16 Ma, charnockites in the granulite terrain, 1073 ± 8 Ma to 1135 ± 8 Ma, metamorphic zircons in garnet amphibolite and a post-metamorphic pegmatite, both 1060 ± 8 Ma. Older zircons were found only in a metasediment which yielded discordant zircon fractions with²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ages between 1250 and 1450 Ma, and in a granulite facies metaquartzite, which contained concordant zircons with the following ages: 1104 ± 5 Ma, 1215 ± 15 Ma, 1400 Ma, 1700 Ma, 2000 Ma. The youngest age is interpreted as the age of granulite metamorphism, the older ages as those of detrital zircons.A Sm-Nd mineral isochron age of the garnet amphibolite (960 ± 120 Ma) agrees within error with the U-Pb age of metamorphic zircons (1060 ± 8 Ma). Initial _Nd values (T = 1.1 Ga) for 15 samples range from +4 to–4. The highest came from a metabasalt and two granitoids from Milorgfjella, the northern area; the lowest from the granulite-facies metasediment and from a charnockite, both from Vardeklettane, a nunatak in the south. The positive but subdued values preclude generation directly from depleted MORB-type mantle _Nd + 6 to + 7 at 1.1 Ga) and indicate generation from a source containing older crustal material.

---

Zusammenfassung Die Gebiete um Heimefrontfjella und Mannefallknausane in Dronning Maud Land, Antarktis, bestehen aus amphibolith- und granulitfaziellen Grundgebirgskomplexen, die durch eine große Mylonitzone voneinander getrennt sind. Der amphibolithfazielle Komplex besteht aus mafisch bis felsischen Metavulkaniten und Metasedimenten, die von Granitplutonen intrudiert werden. Der Granulitkomplex enthält Suprakrustalgesteine ähnlicher Art, die von Charnockiten intrudiert werden.U-Pb-Alter, die mit der konventionellen Multikorn-Methode und an der Ionen-Mikrosonde an Einzelkörner bestimmt wurden, engen die magmatische Aktivität zwischen 1130 und 1045 Ma ein. Auf diese Periode folgte in dem amphibolithfaziellen Gebiet eine Regionalmetamorphose um 1060 Ma. Die Einzelalter sind wie folgt: in dem amphibolithfaziellen Komplex ergab ein Metarhyolith 1039 ± 38 Ma, während die Granitoide zwischen 1045 ± 9 Ma und 1107 ± 16 Ma variieren. In dem Granulitkomplex wurden die Charnockite auf 1073 ± 8 Ma bis 1135 ± 8 Ma datiert, während metamorphe Zirkone aus einem Granatamphibolith sowie aus einem posttektonischen Pegmatit identische Alter von 1060 ± 8 Ma ergaben. Ältere Komponenten wurden lediglich in einer Metasediment-Probe gefunden, die diskordante Zirkone mit²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb Altern zwischen ca. 1250 und 1450 Ma enthielt, sowie in einem granulitfaziellen Metaquarzit, in dem konkordante Zirkone die folgenden Alter ergaben: 1104 ± 5 Ma, 1215 ± 15 Ma, 1400 Ma, 1700 Ma, 2000 Ma. Das jüngste Zirkonalter aus dem Metaquarzit interpretieren wir als Zeitpunkt der Granulitmetamorphose, während die höheren Alter detritische Komponenten repräsentieren.Eine Sm-Nd Mineralisochrone für einen Granatamphibolith hat ein Alter von 960 ± 120 Ma, das innerhalb der experimentellen Fehler mit einem U-Pb-Alter von 1060 ± 8 Ma für metamorphe Zirkone übereinstimmt. Initiale _Nd-Werte (T = l.1 Ga) für 15 Proben variieren zwischen +4 und -4. Die höchsten Werte wurden für einen Metabasalt und zwei Granitoide von Milorgfjella im nördlichen Arbeitsgebiet bestimmt. Die niedrigsten Werte stammen aus dem granulitfaziellen Metaquarzit und von einem Charnockit, beide aus Vardeklettane, einem Nunatak im Süden. Die leicht positiven Werte lassen eine juvenile Bildung der Wirtsgesteine aus einem MORB-ähnlichen Mantel (_Nd + 6 bis + 7 um 1.1 Ga) nicht zu und deuten ein Ausgangsmaterial mit Komponenten älterer kontinentaler Kruste an.

---

Résumé Les régions de Heimefrontfjella et Mannefallknausane situées dans le Dronning Maud Land en Antartique sont formées par deux zones principales à degrés métamorphiques différents: une à faciès amphibolitique et une autre à faciès granulitiques, séparées par une zone mylonitique. Des roches métavolcaniques à composition variant de basique à felsique ainsi que des roches d'origine sédimentaire composent la zone amphibolitique. Elles sont recoupées par des plutons granitiques. La zone granulitique est formée également par des roches d'origine volcanique et sedimentaire qui sont, elles, recoupées par des charnockites.Les mesures d'U-Pb sur zircons (utilisant la méthode conventionnelle et la microsonde ionique) montrent que l'activité magmatique s'est confinée à une période relativement courte entre 1130 Ma et 1045 Ma. Elle a été suivie par un métamorphisme, il y a 1060 Ma, dans la zone amphibolitique. De façon plus détaillée, les âges sont les suivants: dans la zone amphibolitique, rhyolite datée à 1093 ± 38 Ma, granitoïdes datés à 1045 ± 9 Ma et 1107 ± 16 Ma; dans la zone granulitique, charnockites datées entre 1073 ± 8 Ma et 1135 ± 8 Ma, zircons métamorphiques provenant d'une amphibolite à grenat datés à 1060 ± 8 Ma et pegmatite postmétamorphique datée à 1060 ± 8 Ma. Deux roches ont fourni des zircons donnant des âges plus anciens: un sédiment métamorphisé et un metaquartzite. Les âges²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb obtenus pour les fractions discordantes des zircons du metasediment varient entre 1250 et 1450 Ma alors que le metaquartzite contient des zircons concordants avec les âges suivants: 1104±5 Ma, 1215±15Ma, 1400 Ma, 1700 Ma et 2000 Ma. L'âge le plus jeune obtenu pour le métaquartzite est interprété comme représentant l'âge du métamorphisme granulitique alors que les âges plus anciens représentent les âges de zircons détritiques.Une isochrone Sm-Nd sur minéraux a été obtenue sur une amphibolite à grenat. Elle définit un âge de 960 ± 120 Ma qui correspond, aux erreurs près, à l'âge U-Pb des zircons métamorphiques (1060 ± 8 Ma). Les _Ndinitiaux (T = 1,l Ga) obtenus pour 15 échantillons varient entre +4 et –4. Les valeurs les plus élevées ont été obtenues pour un basalte et deux granitoïdes de Milorgfjella situés dans la partie nord; les valeur _Nd les plus faibles proviennent du métasédiment dans la zone granulitique et d'une charnockite. Ces deux échantillons se situent dans le nunatak Vardeklettane dans le Sud. Les _Nd étant positifs mais toutefois plus faibles que la valeur du manteau appauvri à cette période (entre +6 et +7 à 1,1 Ma), une extraction directe du manteau ne peut être retenue et nous suggérons que la région source contenait du matériau crustal plus ancien.

---

Heimfreontfjella Mannefallknausane Dronning Maud, , , . , . , ., , 1130 1045 Ma. 1060 . : — 1093±38 Ma, 1045±9 Ma 1107±16 Ma. 1073±8 Ma 1135±8 Ma, - 1060±8 Ma. , , 1250 1450 Ma. : 1104±5 Ma, 1215±15 Ma, 1400 Ma, 1700 Ma 2000 Ma. , , , . Sm-Nd, -, 960±120 Ma, , - 1060±8 Ma. Nd (T=1,1 ) 15 + 4 — 4. Milogrfjella . , Vardeklettane . , MORB (Nd + 6 + 7, 1,1 ); .

     

Precipitation stable isotope variability and subcloud evaporation processes in a semi‐arid region

The stable isotopic (²H/¹H and ¹⁸O/¹⁶O) composition of precipitation has been used for a variety of hydrological and paleoclimate studies, a starting point for which is the behaviour of stable isotopes in modern precipitation. To this end, daily precipitation samples were collected over a 7‐year period (2008–2014) at a semi‐arid site located at the Macquarie Marshes, New South Wales (Australia). The samples were analysed for stable isotope composition, and factors affecting the isotopic variability were investigated. The best correlation between δ ¹⁸O of precipitation was with local surface relative humidity. The reduced major axis precipitation weighted local meteoric water line was δ ²H = 7.20 δ ¹⁸O + 9.1. The lower slope and intercept (when compared with the Global Meteoric Water Line) are typical for a warm dry climate, where subcloud evaporation of raindrops is experienced. A previously published model to estimate the degree of subcloud evaporation and the subsequent isotopic modification of raindrops was enhanced to include the vertical temperature and humidity profile. The modelled results for raindrops of 1.0 mm radius showed that on average, the measured D‐excess (=δ ²H ? 8 δ ¹⁸O) was 19.8‰ lower than that at the base of the cloud, and 18% of the moisture was evaporated before ground level (smaller effects were modelled for larger raindrops). After estimating the isotopic signature at the base of the cloud, a number of data points still plotted below the global meteoric water line, suggesting that some of the moisture was sourced from previously evaporated water. Back trajectory analysis estimated that 38% of the moisture was sourced over land. Precipitation samples for which a larger proportion of the moisture was sourced over land were ¹⁸O and ²H‐enriched in comparison to samples for which the majority of the moisture was sourced over the ocean. The most common weather systems resulting in precipitation were inland trough systems; however, only East Coast Lows contributed to a significant difference in the isotopic values. Copyright © 2016 Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation. Hydrological Processes. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Avoiding deforestation in Panamanian protected areas: An analysis of protection effectiveness and implications for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD) is likely to be central to a post-Kyoto climate change mitigation agreement. As such, identifying conditions and factors that will shape the success or failure of a reduced deforestation scheme will provide important insights for policy planning. Given that protected areas (PAs) are a cornerstone in forest conservation, we draw on interviews and secondary data to analyze the effects of available PA resources, governance ability, the level of community involvement, and provincial deforestation rates on land-cover change in nine PAs in Panama. Our results illustrate that coupling surveillance measures with greater funding and strong governance are paramount to reducing deforestation. Alone, however, these factors are insufficient for forest protection. We argue that conservation approaches that complement effective surveillance with community participation and equitable benefit sharing will address the wider issues of leakage and permanence.     

Assessment of the historical trace metal contamination of sediments in the Elizabeth River, Virginia

Two sediment cores (Southern Branch, PC-1, and Western Branch, WB-2) were taken from the highly industrialized Elizabeth River, Virginia. The concentrations of trace metals cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, nickel, lead and zinc, major elements iron, manganese and aluminum, organic carbon content and the specific surface area of the sediments were determined in each of the cores. Down-core variations in metals varied significantly in each core with maximum contamination events occurring at different times in different portions of the river. In PC-1, maximum metal concentrations were seen after the appearance of (137)Cs. In contrast, the highest levels in WB-2 occurred well before the appearance of (137)Cs. Although stricter environmental regulations have caused a decrease in metal concentrations since the 1980s, the concentrations in the surface sediments of many trace metals were elevated to levels 2-5 times higher than the levels at the bottom of the cores in both the Southern and Western Branches of the river.     

Programming beauty and the absence of Na Lao: popular Thai TV and identity formation among youth in Northeast Thailand

People living in the northeast of Thailand interchangeably label themselves and are labelled by others as Isan, Thai Isan, Lao Isan, Thai or Lao, depending on the ethnic, political, social or familial nuances of any given situation. I use the term Lao Isan to refer specifically to Isan people of Lao origin or ethnicity. Lao Isan are subject to complex and often competing notions of Isan-ness, Lao-ness and Thai-ness by insiders and outsiders. Using data derived from an ethnographic study of popular Thai television and Lao Isan youth (aged 17–25) living in the city of Khon Kaen and the town of Mahasarakham in northeast Thailand in 2002, this paper explores contemporary and co-existing interpretations of Isan identity or Khwampenisan among Lao Isan youth in relation to self-image and connections with national understandings of physical beauty as they are perpetuated in Thai-produced television programs.

STAGES: the Space Telescope A901/2 Galaxy Evolution Survey

We present an overview of the Space Telescope A901/2 Galaxy Evolution Survey (STAGES). STAGES is a multiwavelength project designed to probe physical drivers of galaxy evolution across a wide range of environments and luminosity. A complex multicluster system at   z ∼ 0.165  has been the subject of an 80-orbit F606W Hubble Space Telescope (HST) /Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) mosaic covering the full     span of the supercluster. Extensive multiwavelength observations with XMM–Newton , GALEX, Spitzer , 2dF, Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope and the 17-band COMBO-17 photometric redshift survey complement the HST imaging. Our survey goals include simultaneously linking galaxy morphology with other observables such as age, star formation rate, nuclear activity and stellar mass. In addition, with the multiwavelength data set and new high-resolution mass maps from gravitational lensing, we are able to disentangle the large-scale structure of the system. By examining all aspects of an environment we will be able to evaluate the relative importance of the dark matter haloes, the local galaxy density and the hot X-ray gas in driving galaxy transformation. This paper describes the HST imaging, data reduction and creation of a master catalogue. We perform the Sérsic fitting on the HST images and conduct associated simulations to quantify completeness. In addition, we present the COMBO-17 photometric redshift catalogue and estimates of stellar masses and star formation rates for this field. We define galaxy and cluster sample selection criteria, which will be the basis for forthcoming science analyses, and present a compilation of notable objects in the field. Finally, we describe the further multiwavelength observations and announce public access to the data and catalogues.