Constraints on cooling rates and permeabilities of pumice in an explosive eruption jet from colour and magnetic mineralogy

In explosive volcanic eruptions, vesicular magma droplets, produced by fragmentation, are propelled into the atmosphere where they are chilled to form pumices. The thermal history of droplets and the permeability of their internal bubble networks determine how much they are deformed in the eruption jet, and hence what information pumices record about the state of the magma at fragmentation. We study these aspects of the `Minoan' plinian eruption of Santorini Volcano by quantifying the rate of oxidation reactions that took place when air entered the hot magma fragments. In our experiments white Minoan pumices were heated for minutes to hours between 600 and 850°C, either in air, or in an atmosphere with an oxygen fugacity at the Ni–NiO buffer. Pumices were unchanged by heating at Ni–NiO. Those heated in air often became pink to dark pink, depending on heating time, and their Curie temperatures, as determined by magnetic susceptibility measurements, increased. We use oxidation rates deduced from these experiments, in conjunction with calculations of the rate of conductive cooling and of the rate at which air can enter a pumice, to constrain the conditions experienced by pumices during the eruption. Natural Minoan pumices less than about 5 cm in radius are white, whereas larger ones often have white rims and pink interiors with Curie temperatures higher than those of white material. We infer that small pumices were cooled before being oxidized, and that oxidation of the interiors of large clasts mostly took place during flight, at temperatures within a few tens of degrees of magmatic values. White rims of large pumices, despite being permeable, were cooled before oxidation could occur. Permeability developed in the liquid state, but did not develop early enough, with respect to cooling, or was not large enough to allow extreme oxidation. We give measurements of pumice permeabilities that should be close to magmatic values.     

Stability functions correct at the free convection limit and consistent for for both the surface and Ekman layers

For the thermal stability function _h used to calculate heat and moisture fluxes in the surface layer, we choose a formulation which has the theoretically correct free convection limit % MathType!MTEF!2!1!+-% feaafeart1ev1aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn% hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqtubsr% 4rNCHbGeaGqiVu0Je9sqqrpepC0xbbL8F4rqqrFfpeea0xe9Lq-Jc9% vqaqpepm0xbba9pwe9Q8fs0-yqaqpepae9pg0FirpepeKkFr0xfr-x% fr-xb9adbaqaaeGaciGaaiaabeqaamaabaabaaGcbaGaaeikaiabgk% HiTGqaciaa-PhacaqGVaGaamitaiaabMcadaahaaWcbeqaaiabgkHi% TiaaigdacaGGVaGaaG4maaaaaaa!3DFE!\[{\rm{(}} - z{\rm{/}}L{\rm{)}}^{ - 1/3} \]. We then use the experimental result that z/L Ri to deduce a formulation with an exponent -1/6 for the momentum stability function _m. This formulation also resolves the matching problem at the interface between the surface and Ekman layers. The proposed functions are found to remain reasonably close to another formulation that is well supported by observations and has exponents -1/2 for _h and -1/4 for _m. The intent of the proposals is mainly to clarify and simplify the parameterization of the convective boundary layer in present day atmospheric models, without significantly altering the results.     

Improving the diagnostic relation for the nocturnal boundary-layer height

A one-dimensional model of the nocturnal boundary layer (NBL) has been used to investigate the time variation of the NBL height for stationary and horizontally homogeneous synoptic conditions. The time variation of the well known quantity = hflu _* has been shown to be related to the wind variation at the top of the NBL. For the simple simulated conditions, this variation depends only on the roughness length and the Coriolis parameter. The value of averaged over the whole night is a function of the friction velocity. An expression is proposed for which is compared with observations. Under stationary external conditions, the new relation improves the determination of the NBL height if compared with the classical relation using a constant value of .     

High Resolution Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) in a Transition Zone Environment: Application for Detailed Internal Architecture and Infilling Processes Study of a Rhône River Paleo-channel

Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) was applied in a sand-infilled paleo-channel located in the Rhône Delta, in Southern France. The detailed pattern and sedimentological evolution of the channel fill deposits – know from both historical and geological sources – made it the ideal site to test the ERT method. A geoelectrical survey was performed, using the ABEM SAS-4000 multi-electrode array system in March 2003. Very low electrical resistivity values were obtained, ranging from 0.3 to 10 Ohm m, consistent with the high salinity measured in situ (the pore water conductivity was found to range from 0.9 to 1.2 S/m at 25 °C). The electrical resistivity profiles reflect mainly salinity variations. Indeed, in this case, salinity is so high that surface conductivity associated with clay minerals can be safely neglected. ERT provided valuable high-resolution information that complemented other exiting data such as historical information, bathymetric, geological, and lithostratigraphic data, which allowed the architecture of the channel to be defined. The ERT was used to determine the infilling dynamics of the Pégoulier Channel, which opens new perspectives in terms of paleoenvironmental reconstruction and paleodynamic studies.     

On the ability of the LODYC GCM to simulate the thermocline depth in the equatorial Atlantic

Using a multivariate model testing procedure that distinguishes between model inadequacies and data uncertainties, we investigate the ability of the LODYC GCM to simulate the evolution of the 20°C isotherm depth during the 1982–1984 FOCAL/SEQUAL experiment in the equatorial Atlantic. Two different versions of the model are considered: the Ri version which has a Richardson number dependent parameterization of vertical mixing and the new TKE version which uses a local estimation of the turbulent kinetic energy to parameterize vertical mixing. Some effects of the forcing uncertainties are considered by forcing the TKE version with three equally plausible wind stress fields whose differences are consistent with the measurement and sampling errors, and the drag coefficient indeterminacy. The resulting uncertainties in the model response are substantial and can be as large as the differences between simulations with the two GCM versions, which stresses the need to take the forcing uncertainties into account. Although only one Ri run is available, it is shown that the TKE parameterization significantly improves the representation of the equatorial upwelling and the simulation of the depth of the thermocline in the eastern Atlantic. However, there remain significant differences with the observations which cannot be explained by the forcing uncertainties that were considered. The two model versions perform better in the equatorial wave guide than in the 12°N-12°S domain, and they are better distinguished over large domains than along sections, which shows that a global multivariate view point must be used in model-reality comparisons. Finally, a comparison with a linear multimode model emphasizes the need for greater model complexity to properly simulate the equatorial upwelling and the thermocline variability in the tropical Atlantic.This paper was presented at the Second International Conference on Modelling of Global Climate Variability, held in Hamburg 7–11 September 1992 under the auspices of the Max-Planck-Institute for Meteorology. Guest Editor for these papers is L. Dümenil     

The first major incision of the Swiss Deckenschotter landscape

The Swiss Deckenschotter (“cover gravels”) is the oldest Quaternary units in the northern Swiss Alpine Foreland. They are a succession of glaciofluvial gravel layers intercalated with glacial and/or overbank deposits. This lithostratigraphic sequence is called Deckenschotter because it “covers” Molasse or Mesozoic bedrock and forms mesa-type hill-tops. Deckenschotter occurs both within and beyond the extent of the Last Glacial Maximum glaciers. The Swiss Deckenschotter consist of two sub-units: Höhere (Higher) and Tiefere (Lower) Deckenschotter. Although the Höhere Deckenschotter sub-unit (HDS) is topographically higher than the Tiefere Deckenschotter, it is older. The only available age for the Swiss Deckenschotter is 2.5–1.8 Ma based on mammal remains found in HDS at the Irchel site. In this study, we present an exposure age for the topographically lowest HDS, calculated from a cosmogenic ¹⁰Be depth-profile. Our results show that the first phase of the Deckenschotter glaciations in the Swiss Alps terminated at least 1,020\(_{ - 120}^{ + 80}\) ka ago, which is indicated by a significant fluvial incision. This line of evidence seems to be close to synchronous with the beginning of the Mid-Pleistocene Revolution, when the frequency of the glacial-interglacial cyclicity changed from 41 to 100 ka and the amplitude from low to high, between marine isotope stages 23 and 22.     

Laboratory assessment of saturation and sample molding effects on shear resistance and mechanical characteristics of sandy soil

In order to evaluate shear resistance characteristics of sand, which has previously experienced liquefaction, two series of drained and undrained monotonic triaxial compression tests on medium dense sand were carried out. In the first test series, the influence of the specimen preparation method and confining pressure has been studied. It was found that there was a marked difference in the behavior even though the density and stress conditions were identical. The conclusion was that the soil fabric was responsible for this result. In the second series of tests, the saturation influence on the shear resistance of the sand was examined. The results showed that the decrease in Skempton's pore pressure coefficient B improves the shear resistance and increases the friction angle of the sand.     

Tectonic and eustatic control on a mixed siliciclastic–carbonate platform during the Late Oxfordian–Kimmeridgian (La Rochelle platform,western France)

Boreal and Tethyan realms of Western Europe present significant sedimentological, paleontological, and stratigraphic differences. The purpose of this study is to constrain regional versus global controls on the dynamics of a sedimentary system located at the interface of these two realms in order to better understand the origin of their differences. Detailed sedimentological, palynofacies and calcareous nannofossil analyses were performed on two sections from the La Rochelle platform (western France). The Pas section includes part of the Late Oxfordian and Early Kimmeridgian, and the Rocher d'Yves section is assigned to the Late Kimmeridgian. They correspond to monotonous marl–argillaceous limestone alternations. Limestones are essentially mudstones with echinoderms, bivalves and foraminifera that suggest low-energy, open-marine conditions. Highly bioclastic and/or peloidal deposits occur commonly, and show wackestones to wacke-pack-grainstones textures. These deposits indicate frequent high-energy events, and are interpreted as storm deposits. Marls dominate in the most proximal depositional environments, while calcareous deposits are more important in more distal environments. The Rocher d'Yves section is globally more marly than the Pas section, suggesting a more proximal setting. Palynofacies are dominated by woody particles, suggesting shallow-water, proximal depositional environments. Calcareous nannofossils are ascidian spicules, coccoliths, and schizospheres. Watznaueria britannica dominate calcareous nannofossil assemblages in the Pas section. The Rocher d'Yves assemblages are quasi-exclusively composed of Cyclagelosphaera margerelii, and indicate more proximal paleoenvironments than those of the Pas section. Different orders of depositional sequences are defined, with sequence boundaries corresponding to the most rapid relative sea-level falls. They are hierarchically stacked, and correlate, on the basis of ammonite zones, with the sequences of contemporaneous sections from Tethyan and boreal realms. The stacking pattern of these sequences suggests an orbital control on sedimentation. Small-, medium- and large-scale sequences correspond to precession (20 ky) cycles and to 100 ky and 400 ky eccentricity cycles, respectively. The elementary sequences have durations shorter than 20 ky. The Kimmeridgian was a period of global sea-level rise that ended in the Late Kimmeridgian. More proximal depositional environments in the Rocher d'Yves section (Late Kimmeridgian) than in the Pas section (Early Kimmeridgian) imply a progradation of the La Rochelle platform during the Kimmeridgian. This progradation resulted from a slowdown of the subsidence in the Aquitaine Basin during the Kimmeridgian, corresponding to the first steps of Atlantic Ocean opening. High-frequency cycles on the La Rochelle platform formed in sync with Milankovitch orbital cycles, while tectonics controlled the formation of the low-frequency cycles.     

Mechanisms of equilibrium and kinetic oxygen isotope effects in synthetic aragonite at 25 °C

Aragonite was precipitated in the laboratory at 25 °C in isotopic equilibrium with Na-Ca-Mg-Cl-CO₃ solutions at two different pH values (i.e., pH = ∼8.2 and ∼10.8) by the constant addition method. On the basis of the oxygen isotope composition of the aragonite precipitates, it was demonstrated that the equilibrium aragonite-water fractionation factor is independent of the pH of the parent solution and equal to:

1000lnα_{(aragonite-H2O)}=29.12±0.09