Oblique and near collision subduction, Sagami and Suruga Troughs —preliminary results of the French-Japanese 1984 Kaiko cruise, Leg 2

Leg 2 of the French-Japanese 1984 Kaiko cruise has surveyed the Suruga and the Sagami Troughs, which lie on both sides of the northwestward moving and colliding Izu-Bonin Ridge, the northernmost part of the Philippine Sea plate. The transition from the Nankai Trough to the Suruga Trough is characterized by northward decrease in width of the accretionary prism, in good agreement with the increasing obliquity between the through axis and the direction of the convergence, as the strike of the convergent boundary changes from ENE-NNE to south-north. South of the area, the southern margin of the Zenisu Ridge shows contractional deformations. This supports the interpretation made by the team of Leg 1 who studied the western extension of the area we studied, that it is an intra-oceanic thrusting of the ridge over the Shikoku Basin. In the Sagami Trough, where the relative motion is highly oblique to the plate boundary, active subduction is mostly confined in the east-west trending portions of the trough located south of the Boso Peninsula and along the lower Boso Canyon, near the TTT triple junction. In between, the present motion is mainly right-lateral along the northwest trending Boso escarpment. However, an inactive but recent (Pliocene to lower Pleistocene) accretionary prism exists south of the Boso escarpment, which suggests that the relative motion was more northerly than at present before about 1 Ma ago.     

Ecological classification of macrophytes and phytobenthos for rivers in Germany according to the water framework directive

A new assessment system for macrophytes and phytobenthos in German rivers meeting the requirements of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) of the European Community is described. Biocoenotic types based on biological, chemical and hydromorphological data from over 200 river sites covering the main ecoregions, hydromorphological stream types and degradation forms have been defined. For developing a classification system the quality element macrophytes and phytobenthos was divided into three components: macrophytes, benthic diatoms and remaining phytobenthos. For macrophytes seven types including one subtype, for benthic diatoms 14 types including three subtypes and for the remaining phytobenthos five river types were identified. The benthic vegetation at reference condition was described for most of the river types. Degradation is characterised as deviation in benthic vegetation species composition and abundance from the reference biocoenosis. For classification in five ecological status classes, several metrics were developed and used in combination with existing indices. For some of the described river types additional investigations are necessary before a classification system can be developed.     

L'ı̂le de la Dominique, à l'origine des avalanches de débris les plus volumineuses de l'arc des Petites AntillesThe Island of Dominica,site for the generation of the most voluminous debris avalanches in the Lesser Antilles Arc

Results from recent fieldwork and the Aguadomar marine survey in the Lesser Antilles clearly indicate that the volcanic field of southern Dominica has experienced three major edifice collapse events. This led to formation of the most voluminous debris avalanches known in the Caribbean Arc. Submarine hummocky morphology with plurikilometric megablocks is characteristic of debris avalanche deposits. We propose that steep slopes on the western Caribbean side of the island and intense hydrothermal alteration lead to recurrent large-scale edifice collapses. Therefore islands in the Lesser Antilles face a non-negligible risk from generation of tsunamis associated with potential future edifice collapse. To cite this article: A. Le Friant et al., C. R. Geoscience 334 (2002) 235–243.     

Temporal aspects of the abrasion of microphytic crusts under grain impact

Wind‐tunnel simulations of the response of two moss crusts to grain impact indicate that, given sufficient time, these surfaces will deteriorate under very low wind velocities only slightly above u_*t for the loose, saltating grains. In parallel with these experiments, the frequency distributions of ultimate strength and penetration energy were determined for each of the two crust types via penetrometry. Pohlia was found to be stronger than Tortula; but, even so, both of these crusts had ultimate strengths 20–350 times higher than the force delivered by a single grain impacting each surface at a velocity of 1 ms^?1. In comparison, the modulus of deformation and penetration energy data were very similar for the two surface types, especially for the weakest areas of crust development. This observation is in accord with the wind‐tunnel simulations that also found no consistent difference in the response of these two crust types to impact. In comparison with crusts formed by clay and salt, fibrous microphytic crusts are morphologically complex and typically weak. The notable elasticity of these surfaces does reduce the force of grain impact, and thereby provides some protection against rupture. One of the central conclusions of this study suggests that not only is the particle kinetic energy at impact important in crust breakdown, but also tiny fractures at points of localized stress concentration contribute to a progressive reduction in the integrity of the filament net. In some of the experiments conducted as part of this study, up to 50 or more minutes of constant bombardment was required to produce small abrasion marks on selected areas of the microphytic crust. This study prepares a foundation for future experiments needed to examine the breakdown of complex crusts formed in nature. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Contrasting the geochemistry of oxic sediments across ecosystems: a synthesis

The geochemistry of oxic sediments was contrasted across a range of Canadian aquatic ecosystems; 7 freshwater lakes, (3 circumneutral and 4 acidic), 15 peatlands (5 mineral-rich, 5 moderately-poor and 5 mineral-poor), 9 wetlands (3 oligosaline, 3 mesosaline and 3 euryhaline), an estuary (deposited and suspended sediments) and an intertidal region. Sediments were characterized by a simultaneous extraction that separated sediments into easily reducible (ER) metal (oxyhydroxides of Mn and easily reducible amorphous oxyhydroxides of Fe) and reducible (R) metal (more crystalline forms of oxyhydroxides of Fe), organic matter, and, the concentrations and partitioning of Zn, Cu and Cd associated with these 3 sediment components. Ecosystems were distinct with respect to ER Fe and organic matter [canonical variate analysis (CVA)] with 53% of among system variation in geochemistry attributed to these 2 components. Sediments of peatlands and wetlands contained greater amounts of organic matter whereas sediments of lakes, intertidal and estuarine deposited and suspended sediments were characterized by greater amounts of ER Fe. A further 21% of among system variation could be ascribed to organically bound Fe that was greater in acidic lakes and mineral-rich peatlands as compared to other systems. Concentration and partitioning of Cd within sediments was regionally dependent with 41% of among system variation (CVA) attributed to differences in ER Cd and R Cd. Cadmium from peatlands and lakes located in Ontario was recovered from all 3 sediment components whereas sediment from wetlands, the estuary and the intertidal regions of British Columbia (BC) contained no organically bound Cd with amounts recovered occurring mostly as ER Cd. Lakes and peatlands located in Ontario contained 3–5-fold total Cd as compared to ecosystems located in BC. A further 21% of among ecosystem variation was attributed to Zn partitioning. Zinc in peatland and wetland sediments occurred as R Zn as compared to lake and estuarine deposited sediments where Zn was recovered both as ER and R Zn. Total Zn was also 3–5-fold greater in sediments of systems in Ontario as compared to those sampled in BC. Concentration and partitioning of Cu was similar across all systems with Cu recovered from the organic component of sediment. The geochemistry of surficial oxic sediments with respect to ER Mn, R Fe and organic matter and the geochemical associations among these sediment components is ecosystem and region dependent. For assessing impacts of metals on sediment dwelling biota the geochemical characteristics of the system under study should first be defined.     

Rare earth element variations resulting from inversion of pigeonite and subsolidus reequilibration in lunar ferroan anorthosites

We present results of a secondary ion mass spectrometry study of the rare earth elements (REEs) in the minerals of two samples of lunar ferroan anorthosite, and the results are applicable to studies of REEs in all igneous rocks, no matter what their planet of origin. Our pyroxene analyses are used to determine solid-solid REE distribution coefficients (D = C_REE in low-Ca pyroxene/C_REE in augite) in orthopyroxene-augite pairs derived by inversion of pigeonite. Our data and predictions from crystal-chemical considerations indicate that as primary pigeonite inverts to orthopyroxene plus augite and subsolidus reequilibration proceeds, the solid-solid Ds for orthopyroxene-augite pairs progressively decrease for all REEs; the decrease is greatest for the LREEs. The REE pattern of solid-solid Ds for inversion-derived pyroxene pairs is close to a straight line for Sm-Lu and turns upward for REEs lighter than Sm; the shape of this pattern is predicted by the shapes of the REE patterns for the individual minerals.Equilibrium liquids calculated for one sample from the compositions of primary phases, using measured or experimentally determined solid-liquid Ds, have chondrite-normalized REE patterns that are very slightly enriched in LREEs. The plagioclase equilibrium liquid is overall less rich in REEs than pyroxene equilibrium liquids, and the discrepancy probably arises because the calculated plagioclase equilibrium liquid represents a liquid earlier in the fractionation sequence than the pyroxene equilibrium liquids. “Equilibrium” liquids calculated from the compositions of inversion-derived pyroxenes or orthopyroxene derived by reaction of olivine are LREE depleted (in some cases substantially) in comparison with equilibrium liquids calculated from the compositions of primary phases. These discrepancies arise because the inversion-derived and reaction-derived pyroxenes did not crystallize directly from liquid, and the use of solid-liquid Ds is inappropriate. The LREE depletion of the calculated liquids is a relic of formation of these phases from primary LREE-depleted minerals. Thus, if one attempts to calculate the compositions of equilibrium liquids from pyroxene compositions, it is important to establish that the pyroxenes are primary. In addition, our data suggest that experimental studies have underestimated solid-liquid Ds for REEs in pigeonite and that REE contents of liquids calculated using these Ds are overestimates.Our results have implications for Sm-Nd age studies. Our work shows that if pigeonite inversion and/or subsolidus reequilibration between augite and orthopyroxene occurred significantly after crystallization, and if pyroxene separates isolated for Sm-Nd studies do not have the bulk composition of the primary pyroxenes, then the Sm-Nd isochron age and ε_Nd will be in error.     

Teaching Geographical Information Handling Skills for Lower-income Countries

Geographical Information Systems are seen by many as a quick 'fix' for the problems of lower-income countries and people in those countries have been encouraged to adopt this perception, along with the technology. As teachers of students from LICs, we seek to avoid reproducing a contextless transfer of technical skills and rather aim to promote an education based on the limitations of the technology and on the nature and construction of information. While identifying GIS as one of many components of 'geographical information', we emphasise the importance of including 'non-GIS' staff in the education process. We advocate a 'problem-posing' approach to the teaching of 'Geographical Information for Development' and discuss some of the challenges which this raises, both for teachers and students.     

A comparative electron microprobe study of “Aeginetan” wares with potential raw material sources from Aegina,Methana, and Poros,Greece

Qualitative stylistic evidence from ceramic vessels and limited petrographic analysis suggested that a distinctive group of ceramics with visible inclusions of biotite (Gold Mica Fabric) was produced on the island of Aegina, Greece, during the Middle Helladic and Late Helladic I periods. To quantitatively evaluate this provenance, we sampled all potential source rocks on Aegina, Methana, and Poros. Electron microprobe analysis of amphibole in these samples revealed that each of these volcanic centers has its own unique mineralogical signature. Comparative analyses of amphibole in Zerner's original stylistic “Gold Mica Fabric” type sample with the reference samples reveal that two sherds are Aeginetan. Three additional sherds from this sample may have a non‐Aeginetan provenance, probably from a back‐arc setting outside the Saronic Gulf. These results suggest that the hypothesis of a single source production site for Aeginetan Ware should be reexamined. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Community Stories: Explaining Resistance to Street Tree-Planting Programs in Detroit,Michigan, USA

Non-profit organizations are key actors in urban and community forestry (UCF) initiatives, and sometimes city residents resist their efforts. Between 2011-2014, 24 percent of residents offered a street tree in Detroit, Michigan, USA submitted a “no-tree request.” Differing views on decision-making emerged as a main reason for resistance to tree planting. This study used interviews with city residents, and those within a non-profit organization, between 2014-2016 to understand reasons for conflict over decision-making between these groups. Heritage narratives, or selective representations of the city’s history and character, helped explain conflict over tree planting. Residents who wanted greater decision-making power in tree planting assumed they would be responsible for stewardship, reflecting their historical experiences within the city. The organization’s dominant heritage narrative emphasized that residents held misperceptions of trees based on negative past experiences, and required education on benefits of trees. Recommendations for integrating heritage narratives into UCF efforts are provided.     

Mineral fibres and environmental monitoring:A comparison of different analytical strategies in New Caledonia

Covered by ultrabasic units for more than a third of its surface,the New Caledonia(South West Pacific)is one of the largest world producers of Ni-ore from lateritic deposits.Almost all outcrops of geological units and open mines contain serpentine and amphibole,also as asbestos varieties.In this geological context,in which weathering processes had a great contribution in the production and dispersion of mineral fibres into the environment,the development of a routinely analytical strategy,able to discriminate an asbestiform fibre from a non-harmful particle,is a pivotal requisite.However,the acquisition of all these parameters is necessary for determining the risk associated to fibres exposition.A multidisciplinary routinely approach,based on the use of complementary simply-to-use but reliable analytical methods is the only possible strategy.In addition,the instrumental apparatus must be easily transportable on the field,directly on the mining site.The employment of specialized tools such as Polarized Light Microscopy associated to Dispersion Staining method(PLM/DS)and portable Raman spectroscopy for identification of environmental asbestos,are proved extremely effective in the improvement of the performance and rapidity of data acquisition and interpretation.Both PLM/DS and handheld Raman devices confirmed to be discriminant in the detection and characterization of asbestos fibres for both serpentine and amphibole.Furthermore,these techniques proved extremely effective even in the presence of strongly fibrous and altered samples.