Recent accretion in mangrove ecosystems based on137Cs and210Pb

Accretion rates were measured in fringe and basin mangrove forests in river and tidally dominated sites in Terminos Lagoon, Mexico, and a basin mangrove forest in Rookery Bay, Florida, USA. Accretion rates were determined using the radionuclides²¹⁰Pb and¹³⁷Cs. Consolidation-corrected accretion rates for the Rookery Bay cores, ranged from 1.4 to 1.7 mm yr^?1, with an average rate of 1.6 mm yr^?1. Rates at the Mexico sites ranged from 1.0 to 4.4 mm yr^?1, with an average of 2.4 mm yr^?1. Determination of rates in these mangrove forests was greatly affected by the consolidation corrections which decreased the apparent accretion rate by over 50% in one case. Accretion rates at basin sites compare favorably with a reported 1.4 to 1.6 mm yr^?1 rate of sea-level rise, indicating little or no subsidence at inland locations. Accretion rates in fringe sites are generally greater than basin sites, indicating greater subsidence rates in these sediments over longer time intervals.     

A four-parameter,two degree-of-freedom block-spring model: Effect of the driver velocity

We analyze the effect of tectonic plate velocities in the earthquake pattern using a simple mass-spring model of the Burridge and Knopoff type with two blocks and a velocity-weakening friction law. Previous versions of the two-block model assume a steady driver during slip events (limit of zero driver velocity), which, in some cases makes necessary the introduction of artificial parameters to start the numerical integration of the equations of motion at impending slip of any block. Still maintaining the condition of zero driver velocity during slip, we shall introduce a procedure to start the numerical integration without introducing artificial parameters and this will be done by using a linearized version of the equations of motion valid for small velocities and considering nonzero driver velocity. We also introduce a four parameter model in which the driver velocity enters the equations during the whole simulation, and analyze the effect of the new parameter, the driver velocity, in the displacement and time patterns of blocks motion, directly related to earthquake statistics such as coseismic slips and average repeat times.     

Seismic activity related to the 1991 eruption of Colima Volcano,Mexico

Ten years after the last effusive eruption and at least 15 years of seismic quiescence, volcanic seismic activity started at Colima volcano on 14 February 1991, with a seismic crisis which reached counts of more than 100 per day and showed a diversity of earthquake types. Four other distinct seismic crises followed, before a mild effusive eruption in April 1991. The second crisis preceded the extrusion of an andesitic scoriaceous lava lobe, first reported on 1 March; during this crisis an interesting temporary concentration of seismic foci below the crater was observed shortly before the extrusion was detected. The third crisis was constituted by shallow seismicity, featuring possible mild degassing explosion-induced activity in the form of hiccups (episodes of simple wavelets that repeat with diminishing amplitude), and accompanied by increased fumarolic activity. The growth of the new lava dome was accompanied by changing seismicity. On 16 April during the fifth crisis which consisted of some relatively large, shallow, volcanic earthquakes and numerous avalanches of older dome material, part of the newly extruded dome, which had grown towards the edge of the old dome, collapsed, producing the largest avalanches and ash flows. Afterwards, block lava began to flow slowly along the SW flank of the volcano, generating frequent small incandescent avalanches. The seismicity associated with the stages of this eruptive activity shows some interesting features: most earthquake foci were located north of the summit, some of them relatively deep (7–11 km below the summit level), underneath the saddle between the Colima and the older Nevado volcanoes. An apparently seismic quiet region appears between 4 and 7 km below the summit level. In June, harmonic tremors were detected for the first time, but no changes in the eruptive activity could be correlated with them. After June, the seismicity decreasing trend was established, and the effusive activity stopped on September 1991.     

Discrete models for vertical vibrations of surface and embedded foundations

A five-parameter discrete model that approximates the dynamic force4isplacement relationship for rigid foundations undergoing vertical vibrations on a uniform elastic half-space is presented. The model involves a combination of two springs, two viscous dampers and a mass. Values of the parameters for circular, square and rectangular foundations placed on the surface or embedded in an elastic half-space are listed. The parameters are obtained by minimizing the discrepancy between the force4isplacement relation for the model and that obtained by solution of the mixed boundary-value problem of the rigid foundation on an elastic half-space. The definition of an appropriate input motion to represent wave excitation is also discussed. The input motion to the discrete model differs from the input motion that should be used in a continuum model.     

Evolution of polycyclic alkanes in the Espirito Santo Basin

The distributions of polycyclic alkanes were monitored in a Neocomian sequence (well 1-ESS-34) from the Espirito Santo Basin, southeast Brazil. The profiles included, apart from regular hopanes, significant concentrations of 18α(H), 28,30-bisnorhopane and subordinate amounts of gammacerane. Sterane concentrations, normally with hopane/sterane <5, were compatible with other geochemical data indicating a predominantly planktonic/microbial source of the deposited organic matter. Sample maturities ranged from very immature to the onset of oil generation, allowing biomarker distributions to be followed along a broad maturation range. The ability of certain molecular ratios (e.g. C₂₇ 17α(H)/17β(H)hopanes) to reflect a maturity sequence with depth in the closely-spaced strata of the immature upper levels (Jiquiá Stage) showed the value of molecular techniques over classical geochemical methods (e.g. vitrinite reflectance) for the study of immature sequences. The presence in the oils of southern Espirito Santo of 28,30-bisnorhopane, gammacerane and methyl steranes in similar concentrations as in extracts of the deepest levels of the 1-ESS-34 well qualify the Jiquia Stage as the probable source rock of oils accumulated in the basin.     

A Parametric Approach for Dealing with Compositional Rounded Zeros

In this work, a parametric approach for replacing data below the detection limit, also known as rounded zeros, in compositional data sets is proposed. Compositional rounded zeros correspond to small proportions of some whole that cannot be reliably detected by the analytical instruments under given operating conditions. This kind of zeros appear frequently in the data collection process in geosciences. They must be treated in an adequate way before some multivariate analysis can be applied. Our procedure results from a modification of the Expectation-Maximization (EM) algorithm and is based on the additive log-ratio transformation. Its coherence with the nature of compositional data and with basic operations in the simplex sample space is checked. Using real data sets, we find that this approach improves other parametric and non-parametric techniques for compositional rounded zeros.     

Some Insights into Topographic,Elastic and Self-gravitation Interaction in Modelling Ground Deformation and Gravity Changes in Active Volcanic Areas

Surface displacements and gravity changes due to volcanic sources are influenced by medium properties. We investigate topographic, elastic and self-gravitation interaction in order to outline the major factors that are significant in data modelling. While elastic-gravitational models can provide a suitable approximation to problems of volcanic loading in areas where topographic relief is negligible, for prominent volcanoes the rough topography could affect deformation and gravity changes to a greater extent than self-gravitation. This fact requires the selection, depending on local relief, of a suitable model for use in the interpretation of surface precursors of volcanic activity. We use the three-dimensional Indirect Boundary Element Method to examine the effects of topography on deformation and gravity changes in models of magma chamber inflation/deflation. Topography has a significant effect on predicted surface deformation and gravity changes. Both the magnitude and pattern of the geodetic signals are significantly different compared to half-space solutions. Thus, failure to account for topographic effects in areas of prominent relief can bias the estimate of volcanic source parameters, since the magnitude and pattern of deformation and gravity changes depend on such effects.