Past major tsunamis and the level of tsunami risk on the Aitape coast of Papua New Guinea

Natural Hazards - This paper reports the results of an investigation into past major tsunamis on the Aitape coast of Papua New Guinea. The investigation was mounted to gather information to help...     

Intensity and direction of lattice-preferred orientation of olivine: are electrical and seismic anisotropies of the Australian mantle reconcilable?

It has been hypothesised that seismic and electrical anisotropy at the base of the lithosphere are caused by strain-induced lattice-preferred orientation (LPO) of olivine [100] axes parallel to present-day plate motion. This would imply that seismic and electrical anisotropy observations can provide geodynamicists with fundamental information for characterising mantle flow. The qualitative agreement between the fast direction of SV-waves and direction of maximum electrical conductance modelled deeper than 150 km below the North Central craton of Australia appear to support a common alignment mechanism, and the observed, anisotropic electrical conductances can be generated by hydrogen diffusivity in a water-poor (<1000 ppm H/Si) olivine mantle. A quantitative test is proposed for the hypothesis that electrical anisotropy is generated by anisotropic hydrogen diffusion rates (D) in olivine. Electrical anisotropy factors are computed using random resistor network models assuming that D[100]≈20×D[010]≈40×D[001]. Electrical and seismic anisotropies calculated from olivine LPO angular distribution functions modelled for a range of shear strains under a simple shear deformation demonstrate that the intensity of olivine [100] alignments (and associated shear strains) that would be required to explain the electrical anisotropy in the mantle below central Australia are significantly greater than predicted by Rayleigh wave anisotropies. The poor agreement between the observed electrical anisotropies and the electrical anisotropies that would be predicted from the Rayleigh wave anisotropies indicates that either (i) electrical anisotropy in the upper mantle below central Australia is not generated by hydrogen diffusivity alone or (ii) the seismic anisotropy is underestimated. The orientation of the olivine [100] axes maxima is inferred to be ∼30° rotated relative to the direction of present-day absolute plate motion (APM) that is determined relative to the hotspot reference frame (HS2-NUVEL1). Both the APM direction that is determined relative to a reference frame defined by requiring no-net rotation of the lithosphere (NNR-NUVEL1) and GPS-derived plate motion vectors fit the geophysical observations of upper mantle anisotropy better. This may support the contention that hotspots are not stationary relative to the deep mantle.     

Surge zones in the Moine thrust zone of NW Scotland

The Caledonian thrust zones of Assynt show several examples of large fault-bounded structures, surge zones, up to 8 km² in extent, which have moved further than adjacent rocks. Extensional faults can be traced into strike-slip faults and then to contractional imbricate faults. There are also zones of extensional and contractional flow as shown by strained bioturbation marks in the Cambrian Pipe Rock.Several other low-angle extensional fault zones have been recognized along the length of the Moine thrust zone, notably in the Kinlochewe district. Recognition of these extensional faults and local surge zones has solved several local problems such as the lack of continuity of the Glencoul thrust and the out-of-sequence character of some of the large low-angle faults. Though the thrust propagation direction was generally from east to west, in the transport direction, several of the eastern faults have been reactivated later and locally cut down as extensional faults. The ‘so-called’ Moine thrust shows extensional fault movement at several localities along its length.The extensional structures and the surge zones suggest that body forces have been important in driving the faults rather than just a push from the rear. The Moines and Moine thrust zone were presumably driven to the WNW by gravity spreading and thinning of the main Scottish Caledonides.     

The Okahandja Lineament and its significance for Damaran tectonics in Namibia

The Okahandja Lineament is considered to represent the southern margin of a magmatic arc produced by the northerly subduction of the Damran Ocean between 750 and 520 Ma ago. Sediments of the Orogen and granitoid intrusives produced by subduction and crustal melting, underwent shear deformation between 675 and 575 Ma in a low angle zone of sinistral sense shear.The Okahandja Lineament represents a zone of differential movement between the Central and Southern Zones of the Orogen during this simple shear deformation. Both overriding and overriden plates were deformed at about 550 and 520 Ma. Production of open S.E. verging structures on the northern plate was accompanied by more intense thrust and fold nappe production on the southern margin of the Damaran Orogen. During this last deformation event, the Central magmatic Zone was downfolded under the southern zone. This fold is the present expression of the Okahandja Lineament. Two tectonic models are proposed for the structures identified within the Central and Southern Zones of the Orogen, combined with evidence from the northern coastal arm of the Orogen.

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Zusammenfassung Das Okahandja-Lineament wird als der Südrand eines magmatischen Bogens (Wurzelzone eines Inselbogens) verstanden, der auf die nordwÄrts gerichtete Subduktion des Damara Ozeans von 750 bis 520 Ma zurückgeführt wird. Die Sedimente des Orogens und die granitoiden Intrusiva, die durch Subduktion und daraus folgender Aufschmelzung der Kruste entstanden, erlitten mehrfache linksgerichtete Scherdeformation entlang einer flachliegenden Zone zwischen 675 und 575 Ma.Das Okahandja-Lineament stellt eine Zone von Teilbewegungen dar für die einfachen Scherdeformationen zwischen der zentralen und der südlichen Zone des Orogens. Die hangende und die liegende Platte wurden zwischen ca. 550 und 520 Ma deformiert. In der nördlichen Platte wurden offene SE-vergente Strukturen gebildet, wÄhrend gleichzeitig am südlichen Rand des Damara-Orogens durch die grö\ere Beanspruchung Falten-Decken entstanden. Dabei wurde die zentrale magmatische Zone unter die südliche Zone gebogen. Diese Falte ist das heutige Erscheinungsbild des Okahandja Lineaments.Zwei tektonische Modelle werden dargelegt, um die erkannten Strukturen in der zentralen und südlichen Zone des Orogens unter Verwendung der Evidenz vom nördlichen Küstenarm des Orogens zu erklÄren.

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Résumé Le linéament de Okahandja est considéré comme la marge bordant au sud un «arc magmatique» résultant de la subduction vers le nord de l'Océan damaranique durant l'intervalle 750-520 M. a. - Les sédiments de l'orogène et les intrusions granitoÏdes produites par la subduction et par la fusion de la croûte subirent, entre 675 et 575 M. a., de nobreuses déformations cisaillantes, sénestres, le long d'une zone faiblement inclinée.Le linéament de Okahandja représente, pour les déformations cisaillantes simples une zone de déplacements partiels entre la zone centrale et la zone méridionale de l'orogène. Les deux plaques, celle du toit et celle du mur, de ce chevauchement furent déformées entre approximativement 550 et 520 M. a. Ces structures ouvertes, déversées vers le nord, se formèrent dans la plaque septentrionale, pendant que des nappes en plis naissaient simultanément, sous l'influence d'une forte so sollicitation, dans la marge méridionale de l'orogène damaranique, ce qui entraÎna le ploiement de la zone magmatique centrale sous la zone méridionale. Ce pli est la forme sous laquelle apparaÎt aujourd'hui le linéament de Okahandja.Deux modèles tectoniques sont proposés pour expliqeur les structures ainsi reconnues dans les zones centrale et méridionale de l'orogène, sur la base du fait d'un bras le long de la cÔte septentrionale de l'orogène.

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Karst springs in the Vale of Kashmir

The Vale of Kashmir is an ovoid basin surrounded by Triassic limestone mountains rising to over 4000 m. At the eastern end of the Vale a group of five large karst springs occurs with a combined mean annual discharge of 9 m³/sec. Two of the springs could be supplied by their immediate limestone hinterlands. Leakage from clastic rocks into the limestone mass must partially supply two other springs. A dye test was carried out to confirm the hydrologic connection between the fifth spring and sinks along the bank of the Bringi River, 14 km from this spring. There was no structural or lithologic control for the spring positions, which were at the lowest hydrologic points of the limestone blocks.     

The Role of non-timber forest products as safety-nets: A review of evidence with a focus on South Africa

Poor, rural communities are vulnerable to adversity. To secure their livelihoods, people adopt multiple livelihood strategies, including using non-timber forest products (NTFPs). NTFPs have been identified as important to rural livelihoods, as an alternative land-use option as well as in fulfilling an important safety-net function although empirical evidence on the latter’s strength is limited. Whilst NTFPs may contribute towards alleviating poverty, this safety-net function needs more critical and quantitative investigation. This includes the establishment of an applicable definition so this function can be communicated to policy makers and taken into account in national poverty alleviation strategies and, in attempts to promote resource-conserving behaviour by highlighting the value of natural resources (including NTFPs) compared to alternative land-use options. Poverty in rural households is complex and households are vulnerable to a range of shocks. During adversity households can turn to a range of possible safety-nets. What determines the use of NTFPs as a safety-net, how this safety-net function manifests and the strength of this function is poorly understood and there is need for further investigation.     

Challenging a place myth: New Zealand's clean green image meets the biotechnology revolution

The 'clean green image' of New Zealand is a well-known example of what has been called a 'place myth'. But more recently, emerging alongside this place myth is an image that the government is trying to co-create of New Zealand as an innovator in biotechnology. In nationwide focus groups, whilst a matter of pride, participants typically saw this clean green myth as a temporally distant utopia. However, when considered alongside the futures proposed by biotechnology, clean green New Zealand was mobilized into the present moment to defend a general reluctance to take up these practices. Alternately, some participants saw the possibility for co-evolution of the place myths, with biotechnology enabling the re-construction of a 'picture-perfect', clean green country.