Manganese and iron in hydrothermal plumes resulting from the 1996 Gorda Ridge Event

We sampled hydrothermal plumes over the N. Gorda Ridge four times between March and August 1996 to document Mn and Fe discharge resulting from a magmatic intrusion/seafloor eruption. Two separate event plumes, EP96A and B, and chronic hydrothermal emissions lasting 6 months were characterized. Shipboard time-series measurements of an event plume sample were used to calibrate an Fe phase clock useful for estimating sample age up to 6 days after fluid discharge. Samples collected from EP96A and B had Mn/heat (<0.15 nmol J^-1) and Fe/Mn (>2 mol mol^-1) ratios similar to historical event plume observations. We suggest these “signature” ratio values are generally characteristic of event plumes and hypothesize that Mn and Fe may be supplied to event plumes by different processes: Mn by entrainment of fluids from an extant shallow subseafloor reservoir, and Fe by short-lived, high-temperature water-rock reaction coincident with dike emplacement. Calculations based on the Fe phase clock indicate that the two event plumes were released more than a month apart. The largest event plume, EP96A (2.3×10⁶ M Mn and 13×10⁶ M Fe), formed 7 March soon after seismic activity began. The smaller EP96B (0.49×10⁶ M Mn and 3.5×10⁶ M Fe) was not discharged until 11 April, 3 weeks after the cessation of seismic activity detectable by SOSUS T-phase monitoring. We hypothesize that the subseafloor disturbance that triggered EP96B also resulted in the episodic flushing of a reservoir of chronic-plume-like fluids. Total event plume inventories of Mn and Fe at N. Gorda Ridge are much smaller than those associated with the 1986 event at N. Cleft segment of the Juan de Fuca Ridge, but comparable to event plume inventories at N. Cleft segment in 1987 and CoAxial segment in 1993. Mn/heat values for chronic plumes over the eruption site underlying EP96A evolved from moderate (0.25 oonmol J^-1, reflecting probable admixture with event plume formation fluids) to high (0.7 nmol J^-1, typical of chronic plumes) to low (0.1 nmol J^-1, similar to diffuse vent fluid values), marking a complete episode of intrusion/eruption-induced hydrothermal discharge.     

Hydraulics of interrill overland flow on rough,bare soil surfaces

A set of laboratory experiments on bare, rough soil surfaces was carried out to study the relationship between soil surface roughness and its hydraulic resistance. Existing models relating roughness coefficients to a measure of surface roughness did not predict the hydraulic resistance well for these surfaces. Therefore, a new model is developed to predict the hydraulic resistance of the surface, based on detailed surface roughness data. Roughness profiles perpendicular to the flow are used to calculate the wet cross‐sectional area and hydraulic radius given a certain water level. The algorithm of Savat is then applied to calculate the hydraulic resistance. The value for the equivalent roughness, which is used in the algorithm of Savat, could be predicted from the roughness profiles. Here, the tortuosity of the submerged part of the surface was used, which means that the calculated roughness depends on flow depth. The roughness increased with discharge, due to the fact that rougher parts of the surface became submerged at higher discharges. Therefore, a single measure of surface roughness (e.g. random roughness) is not sufficient to predict the hydraulic resistance. The proposed model allows the extension of the flow over the surface with increasing discharge to be taken into account, as well as the roughness within the submerged part of the surface. Therefore, the model is able to predict flow velocities reasonably well from discharge and roughness data only. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Asbestos in lake and reservoir waters of Staten Island,New York: Source,concentration, mineralogy,and size distribution

There is strong evidence indicating that the six commonly recognized varieties of asbestos are cancer-producing agents Epidemiological and experimental data indicate that, although response to inhalation exposure is most marked, exposure by ingestion probably also entails a risk of excess tumor incidence. The toxicity of mineral fibers can be related to fiber dimensions, mineralogy, chemistry, and surface-active properties. In the Silver Lake Reservoir in Staten Island, New York, where chrysotile from serpentinite bedrock exposures is a potential source of contamination, chrysotile asbestos levels of 15 to 86 million fibers per liter (MFL) were measured, with an average of 53 MFL Much lower levels (average 0 3 MFL) were observed in small lakes and ponds with clayey bottoms on the Staten Island Serpentinite.     

Automated Analyte Separation by Ion Chromatography Using a Cobot Applied to Geological Reference Materials for Li Isotope Composition

The demand for large and reliable data sets on isotopic composition has increased in geochemistry and environmental sciences over recent years. We present an automated ion chromatographic separation method using a robotic pipetting arm, termed ‘ChemCobOne’, to reduce sample separation time. Its performance was tested for lithium isotope separation in geological reference materials using a single‐step separation with HCl (0.2 mol l^?1) and a 2 ml resin volume. This refined lithium purification method does not forfeit precision, accuracy or purity compared with manual sample processing. In addition, a δ⁷Li value for NASS‐6 of 30.99 ± 0.50‰ (2s) (95% CI = 0.14‰, n = 44) was determined and the first δ⁷Li values for the granite rock reference material GS‐N (?0.57 ± 0.25‰ (2s), 95% CI = 0.15‰, n = 15), and for the soil reference material NIST SRM 2709a (?0.37 ± 0.67‰ (2s), 95% CI = 0.15‰, n = 63) are proposed.     

Observations of the initial 3D flow from a ship's propeller

The present paper was aimed at presenting the time-averaged velocity and turbulence intensity at the initial plane from a ship's propeller. The flow characteristics of a ship's propeller jet are of particular interest for the researchers investigating the jet induced seabed damage as documented in the previous studies. Laser Doppler Anemometry (LDA) measurements show that the axial component of velocity is the main contributor to the velocity magnitude at the initial plane of a ship's propeller jet. The tangential component contributes to the rotation while the radial component which contributes to the diffusion, are the second and third largest contributors to the velocity magnitude. The maximum tangential and radial velocity components at the initial plane are approximately 82% and 14% of the maximum axial velocity component, respectively. The axial velocity distribution at the initial plane shows two peaked ridges with a low velocity core at the rotation axis. The turbulence intensity distribution shows a three-peaked profile at the initial plane.     

Phases d'érosion—comblement de la vallée de la Papenoo et volcanisme subrécent à Tahiti,en relation avec l'évolution des iles de la Société (Pacifique Sud)

A detailed mapping and data from borings support the conclusion that there is a late lava flow inside the Papenoo valley, the main valley of Tahiti island. This last volcanic manifestation which took place 400,000 years ago came after the phase of erosion corresponding to the Illinoian glacial period. It is one of the four phases of erosion followed by filling observed in the cross section of the Papenoo valley.     

Solar pulsations observed from the geographic South Pole: Initial results

Initial results of round-the-clock observations of solar oscillations at the South Pole are briefly summarized by describing the Figures 1 to 4.Proceedings of the 14th ESLAB Symposium on Physics of Solar Variations, 16–19 September 1980, Scheveningen, The Netherlands.