40Ar/39Ar ages of blueschist facies pelitic schists from Qingshuigou in the Northern Qilian Mountains, western China

Abstract   Pelitic schists from Qingshuigou in the Northern Qilian Mountains of China contain mainly glaucophane, garnet, white mica, clinozoisite, chlorite and piemontite. Isotopic age dating of these schists provides new constraints on the formation of the high-grade blueschists at Qingshuigou. White mica ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages range from 442.1 to 447.5 Ma (total fusion age of single grain) and from 445.7 to 453.9 Ma (integrated age of white mica concentrates). These ages (442.1–453.9 Ma) represent the peak metamorphic ages or cooling ages of the blueschists during exhumation shortly after peak metamorphism. The ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dates in the present study are similar to ages previously reported for eclogites and blueschists in the area; this suggests that both the eclogites and pelitic sediments underwent high-grade metamorphism during the same subduction event. From this chronological evidence and the presence of well-developed Silurian remnant-sea flysch and Devonian molasse, it is concluded that the Northern Qilian Ocean had closed by the end of the Ordovician, and rapid orogenic uplift followed in the Devonian.     

Potential Impacts of Climate Change on Fire Regimes in the Tropics Based on Magicc and a GISS GCM-Derived Lightning Model

Investigations of the ecological, atmospheric chemical, and climatic impacts of contemporary fires in tropical vegetation have received increasing attention during the last 10 years. Little is known, however, about the impacts of climate changes on tropical vegetation and wildland fires. This paper summarizes the main known interactions of fire, vegetation, and atmosphere. Examples of predictive models on the impacts of climate change on the boreal and temperate zones are given in order to highlight the possible impacts on the tropical forest and savanna biomes and to demonstrate parameters that need to be involved in this process. Response of tropical vegetation to fire is characterized by degradation towards xerophytic and pyrophytic plant communities dominated by grasses and fire-tolerant tree and bush invaders. The potential impacts of climate change on tropical fire regimes are investigated using a GISS GCM-based lightning and fire model and the Model for the Assessment of Greenhouse Gas-Induced Climate Change (MAGICC).     

Trondhjemites,tonalites and diorites in the South Portuguese Zone and their relations to the vulcanites and mineral deposits of the Iberian Pyrite Belt

In the South Portuguese Zone close associations of diorites, tonalites and trondhjemites occur north of the Pyrite Belt. The period of their emplacement is Pre-Carboniferous and not, as has generally been assumed, Variscanpostorogen. The trondhjemitic intrusive suite and the Lower Carboniferous spilite-keratophyre association are related through their comagmatic derivation. Both series share sodium dominance, low concentrations of large-ion lithophile elements, indicators of a water-rich original magma and a deficient scorification of the element potential, which was acummulated in the sulphide and manganese deposits of the Pyrite Belt through post-volcanic hydrothermal processes. The mineralogically and geochemically primitive composition of both plutomtes and vulcanites, their mode of eruption from acid to basic facies as well as their position in the orogenic process indicate that they represent products of a successively proceeding partial melting of subducting oceanic crust. The trondhjemitic intrusives are the initialites in the magmatic-orogenic development.

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Zusammenfassung In der Südportugiesischen Zone treten nördlich des Pyritgürtels enge Vergesellschaftungen von Dioriten, Tonaliten und Trondhjemiten auf. Der Zeitraum ihrer Platznahme ist päkarbonisch und nicht, wie bisher allgemein angenommen, variszisch-postorogen. Die trondhjemitische Intrusivsequenz und die unterkarbonische Spilit-Keratophyr-Assoziation sind in weiten Bereichen durch komagmatische Herkunft verbunden. Gemeinsamkeiten beider Abfolgen sind ihre Na-Dominanz, die niedrigen Gehalte an gro\ionigen Elementen, die Anzeichen für ein wasserreiches Ausgangsmagma und die mangelhafte Verschlackung des Elementpotentials, das in den Sulfid- und Manganlagerstätten des Pyritgürtels während postvulkanischer, hydrothermaler Proze\e angereichert wurde. Die mineralogisch wie geochemisch primitive Zusammensetzung sowohl der Plutonite wie der Vulkanite, ihr Eruptionsmodus von saurer zu basischer Fazies sowie ihre Position im orogenen Ablauf deuten darauf hin, da\ sie die Produkte einer sukzessiv fortschreitenden Aufschmelzung subduzierender, ozeanischer Kruste darstellen. Die trondhjemitischen Intrusiva sind die Initialite innerhalb der magmatisch-orogenen Entwicklung.

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Résumé Dans la zone sud du Portugal, il existe, au nord de la ceinture pyriteuse, des associations étroites de diorites, de tonalites et de trondhjémites. Leur mise en place date de la période pré-carbonifère et non, comme on l'avait généralement admis jusqu'à présent, de la période varisque post-orogénique. Le faisceau intrusif trondhjémitique et l'association spilite-kératophyre du Carbonifère inférieur sont liés par une origine comagmatique. Les points communs des deux successions sont leur dominante sodique, les faibles teneurs en éléments à gros ions, les indices d'un magma de départ aquifère et la scorification réduite du potentiel d'éléments qui, dans les gisements de sulfure et de manganèse de la ceinture pyriteuse a été enrichi par des processus post-volcaniques et hydrothermaux. La composition primitive, tant minéralogique que géochimique, de la plutonite comme de la vulcanite, leur mode d'éruption qui va du type acide au type basique, ainsi que leur position dans le processus orogénique indiquent qu'il s'agit de produits successifs de la fusion partielle d'une croûte océanique en voie de subduction. Les intrusions trondhjémitiques représentent le stade initial dans l'évolution orogéno-magmatique.

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Field and geochemical characteristics of the Mesoarchean ( 3075 Ma) Ivisaartoq greenstone belt, southern West Greenland: Evidence for seafloor hydrothermal alteration in supra-subduction oceanic crust

The Mesoarchean (ca. 3075 Ma) Ivisaartoq greenstone belt in southern West Greenland includes variably deformed and metamorphosed pillow basalts, ultramafic flows (picrites), serpentinized ultramafic rocks, gabbros, sulphide-rich siliceous layers, and minor siliciclastic sedimentary rocks. Primary magmatic features such as concentric cooling-cracks and drainage cavities in pillows, volcanic breccia, ocelli interpreted as liquid immiscibility textures in pillows and gabbros, magmatic layering in gabbros, and clinopyroxene cumulates in ultramafic flows are well preserved in low-strain domains. The belt underwent at least two stages of calc-silicate metasomatic alteration and polyphase deformation between 2963 and 3075 Ma. The stage I metasomatic assemblage is composed predominantly of epidote (now mostly diopside) + quartz + plagioclase ± hornblende ± scapolite, and occurs mainly in pillow cores, pillow interstitials, and along pillow basalt-gabbro contacts. The origin of this metasomatic assemblage is attributed to seafloor hydrothermal alteration. On the basis of the common presence of epidote inclusions in diopside and the local occurrence of epidote-rich aggregates, the stage I metasomatic assemblage is interpreted as relict epidosite. The stage II metasomatic assemblage occurs as concordant discontinuous layered calc-silicate bodies to discordant calc-silicate veins commonly associated with shear zones. The stage II metasomatic assemblage consists mainly of diopside + garnet + amphibole + plagioclase + quartz ± vesuvianite ± scapolite ± epidote ± titanite ± calcite ± scheelite. Given that the second stage of metasomatism is closely associated with shear zones and replaced rocks with an early metamorphic fabric, its origin is attributed to regional dynamothermal metamorphism. The least altered pillow basalts, picrites, gabbros, and diorites are characterized by LREE-enriched, near-flat HREE, and HFSE (especially Nb)-depleted trace element patterns, indicating a subduction zone geochemical signature. Ultramafic pillows and cumulates display large positive initial ε_Nd values of + 1.3 to + 5.0, consistent with a strongly depleted mantle source. Given the geological similarities between the Ivisaartoq greenstone belt and Phanerozoic forearc ophiolites, we suggest that the Ivisaartoq greenstone belt represents Mesoarchean supra-subduction zone oceanic crust.     

Limonit vom Hohen Sarstein,Oberösterreich

Zusammenfassung Von einem Limonit aus der Umgebung der Steinhüttelalm am Hohen Sarstein im Dachsteingebiet (Oberösterreich) werden die Ergebnisse der Durchlicht-, Auflicht-und Elektronenmikroskopie, der DTA, Röntgen- und chemischen Untersuchungen mitgeteilt. Das Hauptmineral ist Nadeleisenerz, -FeOOH. Die Entstehung wird kurz erörtert.

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Summary Limonite from the environment of Steinhüttelalm at Hoher Sarstein in the Dachstein area (Upper Austria) is described. The results of microscopy in transmitted and reflected light, electron microscopy, DTA, X-ray, and chemical investigations are communicated. The main mineral is goethite, -FeOOH. The genesis is discussed.

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Mit 4 Textabbildungen

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Herrn Professor Dr.F. Machatschki zum 70. Geburtstag gewidmet.     

Effects of the Changjiang river discharge on sea surface warming in the Yellow and East China Seas in summer

This study explores the effects of the Changjiang (also called the Yangtze River) river discharge (CRD) on the density stratifications and associated sea surface temperature (SST) changes using a global ocean general circulation model with regional focus on the Yellow and East China Seas (YECS). It is found that CRD increases the SST in summer through a barrier layer (BL) formation that tends to enhance stratification at the mixed layer base, and thus reduces both vertical mixing and entrainment. This process is effective, particularly in August, after the CRD reaches its maximum in July. The SST difference between the composites of flood and drought years confirms that the surface warming is related to surface freshening by the CRD. This result suggests that the BL induced by the CRD is an important contributor to the surface heat budget in the YECS.     

Problems associated with extrapolating ecological traits to higher-than-species level exemplified in the description of the larvae of Potamophylax haidukorum Malicky, 1999, Potamophylax winneguthi (Klapálek, 1902) and Melampophylax austriacus Malicky, 1990

Functional diversity, e.g. based on feeding types, is frequently used for assessment procedures. By using Trichoptera genera Potamophylax and Melampophylax as examples, we demonstrate that functional diversity, based on mandible morphology, is low in the former, but high in the latter. When using functional feeding types for assessment procedures, this strictly questions identification at higher than species level and underlines the importance of providing taxonomic information by describing hitherto unknown larvae.Based on mandible morphology, the close species pair Potamophylax haidukorum and P. winneguthi, both endemics of the Dinaric Western Balkan, are omnivorous shredders, a character shared with all other known larvae of genus Potamophylax. In existing keys, P. haidukorum and P. winneguthi may be separated from morphologically close species (e.g. Allogamus spp., Micropterna spp., Potamophylax spp., Leptotaulius gracilis Schmid and Parachiona picicornis (Pictet)) by the lack of a large posterior sclerite at the lateral protuberance, by the lack of additional face setae at mid and hind femora, by the absence of numerous black spines at the pronotal surface and by the shape of metanotal sclerites. Melampophylax austriacus, an endemic of the Eastern Alps, has spoon-shaped scraper mandibles lacking teeth. This character is shared with M. mucoreus (Hagen) and M. nepos (McLachlan), whereas in M. melampus (McLachlan) teeth are present at the mandibles as it is common for omnivorous shredders. Such intra-generic functional diversity questions trait classifications on higher taxonomic units like genus or family.     

What causes the spread of model projections of ocean dynamic sea-level change in response to greenhouse gas forcing?

Sea levels of different atmosphere–ocean general circulation models (AOGCMs) respond to climate change forcing in different ways, representing a crucial uncertainty in climate change research. We isolate the role of the ocean dynamics in setting the spatial pattern of dynamic sea-level (ζ) change by forcing several AOGCMs with prescribed identical heat, momentum (wind) and freshwater flux perturbations. This method produces a ζ projection spread comparable in magnitude to the spread that results from greenhouse gas forcing, indicating that the differences in ocean model formulation are the cause, rather than diversity in surface flux change. The heat flux change drives most of the global pattern of ζ change, while the momentum and water flux changes cause locally confined features. North Atlantic heat uptake causes large temperature and salinity driven density changes, altering local ocean transport and ζ. The spread between AOGCMs here is caused largely by differences in their regional transport adjustment, which redistributes heat that was already in the ocean prior to perturbation. The geographic details of the ζ change in the North Atlantic are diverse across models, but the underlying dynamic change is similar. In contrast, the heat absorbed by the Southern Ocean does not strongly alter the vertically coherent circulation. The Arctic ζ change is dissimilar across models, owing to differences in passive heat uptake and circulation change. Only the Arctic is strongly affected by nonlinear interactions between the three air-sea flux changes, and these are model specific.

     

Structure and Evolution of Supergranulation from Local Helioseismology

Supergranulation is visible at the solar surface as a cellular pattern of horizontal outflows. Although it does not show a distinct intensity pattern, it manifests itself indirectly in, for example, the chromospheric network. Previous studies have reported significant differences in the inferred basic parameters of the supergranulation phenomenon. Here we study the structure and temporal evolution of a large sample of supergranules, measured by using local helioseismology and SOHO/MDI data from the year 2000 at solar activity minimum. Local helioseismology with f modes provides maps of the horizontal divergence of the flow velocity at a depth of about 1 Mm. From these divergence maps supergranular cells were identified by using Fourier segmentation procedures in two dimensions and in three dimensions (two spatial dimensions plus time). The maps that we analyzed contain more than 10⁵ supergranular cells and more than 10³ lifetime histories, which makes possible a detailed analysis with high statistical significance. We find that the supergranular cells have a mean diameter of 27.1 Mm. The mean lifetime is estimated to be 1.6 days from the measured distribution of lifetimes (three-dimensional segmentation), with a clear tendency for larger cells to live longer than smaller ones. The pair and mark correlation functions do not show pronounced features on scales larger than the typical cell size, which suggests purely random cell positions. The temporal histories of supergranular cells indicate a smooth evolution from their emergence and growth in the first half of their lives to their decay in the second half of their lives (unlike exploding granules, which reach their maximum size just before they fragment).     

Civil society and sanitation hydropolitics: A case study of South Africa’s Vaal River Barrage

The Vaal River Barrage, situated on the south-eastern border of the Gauteng Province, has been part of the hydrological landscape of South Africa’s most populous and economically active region for more than eight decades. After its completion in 1923 the Barrage was compromised by the construction, upstream, of the Vaal Dam (1930-1933). Today the Vaal River Barrage is primarily a storage facility of sewage and industrial waste water. South Africa’s transition to a multi-racial democracy in 1994 saw a number of socio-economic and political transformations that affected the water infrastructure. In the field of sanitation infrastructure in particular, conditions have deteriorated to the extent that the health of people in many parts of the country is being compromised.Using the Vaal River Barrage as a case study, this article outlines the efforts by civil society to make the relevant government sectors aware of this hazardous state of affairs. particular attention is given to save our Vaal environment (SAVE), a non-governmental organisation, at the helm of an active campaign to reduce pollution in the Vaal River Barrage.