<Superscript>10</Superscript>Be, <Superscript>18</Superscript>O and radiogenic isotopic constraints on the origin of adakitic signatures: a case study from Solander and Little Solander Islands,New Zealand

Subduction-related Quaternary volcanic rocks from Solander and Little Solander Islands, south of mainland New Zealand, are porphyritic trachyandesites and andesites (58.20–62.19 wt% SiO₂) with phenocrysts of amphibole, plagioclase and biotite. The Solander and Little Solander rocks are incompatible element enriched (e.g. Sr ~931–2,270 ppm, Ba ~619–798 ppm, Th ~8.7–21.4 ppm and La ~24.3–97.2 ppm) with MORB-like Sr and Nd isotopic signatures. Isotopically similar quench-textured enclaves reflect mixing with intermediate (basaltic-andesite) magmas. The Solander rocks have geochemical affinities with adakites (e.g. high Sr/Y and low Y), whose origin is often attributed to partial melting of subducted oceanic crust. Solander sits on isotopically distinct continental crust, thus excluding partial melting of the lower crust in the genesis of the magmas. Furthermore, the incompatible element enrichments of the Solander rocks are inconsistent with partial melting of newly underplated mafic lower crust; reproduction of their major element compositions would require unrealistically high degrees of partial melting. A similar argument precludes partial melting of the subducting oceanic crust and the inability to match the observed trace element patterns in the presence of residual garnet or plagioclase. Alternatively, an enriched end member of depleted MORB mantle source is inferred from Sr, Nd and Pb isotopic compositions, trace element enrichments and εHf ? 0 CHUR in detrital zircons, sourced from the volcanics. ¹⁰Be and Sr, Nd and Pb isotopic systematics are inconsistent with significant sediment involvement in the source region. The trace element enrichments and MORB-like Sr and Nd isotopic characteristics of the Solander rocks require a strong fractionation mechanism to impart the high incompatible element concentrations and subduction-related (e.g. high LILE/HFSE) geochemical signatures of the Solander magmas. Trace element modelling shows that this can be achieved by very low degrees of melting of a peridotitic source enriched by the addition of a slab-derived melt. Subsequent open-system fractionation, involving a key role for mafic magma recharge, resulted in the evolved andesitic adakites.     

u‐p semi‐Lagrangian reproducing kernel formulation for landslide modeling

This paper presents a u‐p (displacement‐pressure) semi‐Lagrangian reproducing kernel (RK) formulation to effectively analyze landslide processes. The semi‐Lagrangian RK approximation is constructed based on Lagrangian discretization points with fixed kernel supports in the current configuration. As a result, it tracks state variables at discretization points while allowing extreme deformation and material separation that is beyond the capability of Lagrangian formulations. The u‐p formulation following Biot theory is incorporated into the formulation to describe poromechanics of saturated geomaterials. In addition, a stabilized nodal integration method to ensure stability of the domain integration and kernel contact algorithms to model contact between bodies are introduced in the u‐p semi‐Lagrangian RK formulation. The proposed method is verified with several numerical examples and validated with an experimental result and the field data of an actual landslide.     

Polyorogenic reworking of ore‐controlling shear zones at the South Range of the Sudbury impact structure: A telltale story from in situ U–Pb titanite geochronology

The post‐impact orogenic evolution of the world class Ni–Cu–PGE Sudbury mining camp in Ontario remains poorly understood. New temporal constraints from ore‐controlling, epidote–amphibolite facies shear zones in the heavily mineralised Creighton Mine (Sudbury, South Range) illuminate the complex orogenic history of the Sudbury structure. In situ U–Pb dating of shear‐hosted titanite grains by LA‐ICP‐MS reveals new evidence for shear zone reworking during the Yavapai (ca. 1.77–1.7 Ga), Mazatzalian–Labradorian (1.7–1.6 Ga) and Chieflakian–Pinwarian (1.5–1.4 Ga) accretionary events. The new age data show that the effects of the Penokean orogeny (1.9–1.8 Ga) on the structural architecture of the Sudbury structure have been overestimated. At a regional scale, the new titanite age populations corroborate that the Southern Province of the Canadian Shield documents the same tectonothermal episodes that are recorded along orogenic strike within the accretionary provinces of the Southwestern United States.     

Influence of late holocene pyroclastic eruptions on the sedimentary geochemistry of Lake Rotoiti,North Island,New Zealand

Lake Rotoiti in Taupo Volcanic Zone was formed by damming of the drainage system through the floor of Okataina Caldera. Basin sediments are predominantly silt or sand, with mineralogy consistent with derivation from local silicic rocks and airfall tephras. Sandy lithofacies around the shoreline are wave worked deposits. Sand and gravel lithofacies in deeper water and on steep slopes are largely relict or airfall tephras, or both. Profundal sediments are diatomaceous silts. Organic-rich diatomaceous silts also accumulate in near-shore wave-damped zones under weed beds.Short cores penetrated the Tarawera (1886 AD) and Kaharoa (1180 AD) Tephras, identified by their stratigraphic position, geochemistry and mineralogy. Localised slumping is evidenced from secondary tephras interbedded and redeposited within the basin silts. Sedimentation rates in the basins, estimated from the age of bounding tephras, are 0.9 to 4.0 mm y^-1, and are highest under the influence of inflowing water from adjacent Lake Rotorua. For several hundred years prior to the Tarawera eruption sediment accumulation rates and the sediment geochemistry remained unchanged; deposition was predominantly biogenic opaline silica with a small terrestrial component. The Tarawera eruption deposited a terrestrial-silica, aluminum-rich primary tephra across the lake, which was followed by reworked tephra from within the catchment, the effects of which were progressively diluted by biogenic opaline silica as conditions stabilised. While the major effects of the eruption have been rapidly absorbed the lake has not returned to pre-eruption background conditions. A new equilibrium has been attained in which Tarawera Tephra continues to be eroded into the lake and is the principal source for a doubling of sedimentation rates following the eruption. High arsenic levels in some diatomaceous silts are attributed to episodic venting of hydrothermal fluids or gases into the water column.     

Solution of the electron continuity equation in an inhomogeneous medium via the method of characteristics

Many astrophysical problems require a knowledge of the spatial and temporal evolution of fast electron distributions as they interact (e.g., collisionally) with an ambient medium; an example is provided by hard X-ray burst modelling in solar flares. In the mean scattering-rate approximation (which neglects dispersion in the distribution function), this evolution is governed by the continuity equation in phase space. Here we present a rigorous solution of the continuity equation, derived via the method of characteristics, which confirms and generalises the results of previous authors, and gives greater physical and mathematical insight into these solutions. We illustrate the calculation of this solution for mildly relativistic electrons undergoing Coulomb collisions, and briefly indicate the extension of the method to other physical situations.On leave from Department of Mathematics, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand.     

Evidence for solar neutrino flux variability and its implications

Although KamLAND apparently rules out resonant-spin-flavor-precession (RSFP) as an explanation of the solar neutrino deficit, the solar neutrino fluxes in the Cl and Ga experiments appear to vary with solar rotation. Added to this evidence, summarized here, a power spectrum analysis of the Super-Kamiokande data reveals significant variation in the flux matching a dominant rotation rate observed in the solar magnetic field in the same time period. Three frequency peaks, all related to this rotation rate, can be explained quantitatively. A Super-Kamiokande paper reported no time variation of the flux, but showed the same peaks, there interpreted as statistically insignificant, due to an inappropriate analysis. This modulation is small (7%) in the Super-Kamiokande energy region (and below the sensitivity of the Super-Kamiokande analysis) and is consistent with RSFP as a subdominant neutrino process in the convection zone. The data display effects that correspond to solar-cycle changes in the magnetic field, typical of the convection zone. This subdominant process requires new physics: a large neutrino transition magnetic moment and a light sterile neutrino, since an effect of this amplitude occurring in the convection zone cannot be achieved with the three known neutrinos. It does, however, resolve current problems in providing fits to all experimental estimates of the mean neutrino flux, and is compatible with the extensive evidence for solar neutrino flux variability.     

Climate change implications for irrigation and groundwater in the Republican River Basin,USA

This study investigates the influence of climate change on groundwater availability, and thereby, irrigation across political boundaries within the US High Plains aquifer. A regression model is developed to predict changes in irrigation according to predicted changes in precipitation and temperature from a downscaled dataset of 32 general circulation models (GCMs). Precipitation recharge changes are calculated with precipitation-recharge curves developed for prognostic representations of precipitation across the Nebraska-Colorado-Kansas area and within the Republican River Basin focal landscape. Irrigation-recharge changes are scaled with changes in irrigation. The groundwater responses to climate forcings are then simulated under new pumping and recharge rates using a MODFLOW groundwater flow model. Results show that groundwater pumping and recharge both will increase and that the effects of groundwater pumping will overshadow those from natural fluctuations. Groundwater levels will decline more in areas with irrigation-driven decreasing trends in the baseline. The methodologies and predictions of this study can inform long-term water planning and the design of management strategies that help avoid and resolve water-related conflicts, enabling irrigation sustainability.     

On the Investigations of Resilient Modulus of Residual Tropical Gravel Lateritic Soils from Senegal (West Africa)

Investigations on the mechanical behavior of compacted gravel lateritic soils have been the subject of several studies. Used as road materials, soils tests were mainly performed using standard tests. Static loads as unconfined compression test (UCT) remain the only engineering approach used. Alternative testing techniques can be chosen as supplementary tests for characterizing pavement materials. These researches were conducted so as to determine the response of these particular and problematic soils in its compacted form with road traffic loads. This paper presents the results of research conducted to investigate the effect of the soil compacity on the resilient modulus of lateritic soils. The influence of the percentage of cement added so as to stabilize each sample at the optimum modified proctor (OPM) State was also determined. Soil big specimens of around 180 mm diameter (with length to diameter aspect ratio of 2:1) were prepared according to the standard procedure described by AASHTO T 307 and then were subjected to repeated load triaxial tests. The models used, analyzed and developed in this paper are mainly the Andrei and the Uzan–Witczak universal model. Test results showed that the specimen compacity has no significant influence on the resilient modulus of the investigated gravel lateritic soils. Soil specimens with variation of the percentage of cement added exhibited the highest resilient modulus values while the specimens with variation of the compacity exhibited the lowest values. The resilient modulus variation seems to be independent of the level of stress.     

Flying-fox species and Hendra virus spillover risk: comment on ‘Factors explaining the dispersal of Hendra virus disease in South-East Queensland’ by Burnham and Chong (2016)

The approach taken by Burnham and Chong to explain the occurrence of Hendra virus incidents in Australia, while analytically valid, is compromised by erroneous and incomplete biological data underpinning the analyses. Firstly, they erroneously state the peak mating, pregnancy and birthing periods in black, grey-headed and little red flying-foxes, thus their related interpretations and conclusions are flawed. Secondly, the reported association between grey-headed flying-fox density and HeV incidents is at odds with recent findings suggesting grey-headed flying-foxes are an insubstantial host. While this broader epidemiological perspective was not within their stated aims, it is appropriate that it be canvassed in discussion of their geo-spatial analyses given the level of horse-industry, public and media interest in Hendra virus and the potential for confusion and mixed messages regarding HeV exposure risk management. We suggest that a broader collaborative cross-disciplinary approach offers synergies that produce robust, real-world ‘one health’ outputs.