Beach cusp morphodynamics

Detailed measurements of three-dimensional beach cusp morphology were made on a steep gradient, low energy, microtidal beach in Perth, Western Australia. During the field campaign a variety of wave conditions and tidal ranges were experienced, and these differing hydrodynamic conditions were reflected in a consistent pattern of morphological changes to the beach cusp system. A useful parameter to delineate between trends of cusp destruction and re-formation appeared to be the surf similarity parameter ξ = tan β/√I₀/L₀, where H₀ is offshore wave height, L₀ is deep water wave length and tan β is beach gradient. For ξ < 1·2 the beach cusps were planed off, whereas cusp morphology was enhanced when ξ > 1·2. A small storm was experienced at the start of the field campaign period and resulted in considerable erosion of the beach face. The cusp morphology across the lower beachface was destroyed, but a subtle remnant of the pre-storm cusp morphology was preserved on the upper beachface. When cusps reformed after the storm, under the influence of declining wave conditions, they appeared at the same location and with the same dimensions as the pre-storm cusp morphology. Hence, it is considered that the cusp re-formation was controlled more by the antecedent morphology than the hydrodynamic conditions. This indicates that positive feedback between swash hydrodynamics and beachface morphology, necessary to form beach cusps, does not require a large variation in relief. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Hail frequency in the Pretoria — Witwatersrand area during 1962 to 1972

Summary Hail observations were made in the Transvaal, South Africa, during the decade 1962 to 1972. The hail-reporting network covered an area of 2800 km² with Pretoria in the northeast and the also densely-populated Witwatersrand in the south. A panel of about 800 voluntary observers contributed 10 560 hail reports during this period. Isopleths of hail frequency within the network were plotted. The pattern was strikingly similar to the isohyetal map. More rain and hail occurred in the urban areas than elsewhere and there was a relationship to topography. Pretoria received less hail than the Witwatersrand, a ridge about 300 m higher than Pretoria.     

Reproductive characteristics of invasive gammarids in the Rhine-Main-Danube catchment, South Germany

The gammarid composition at 25 sites in the rivers Danube, Main and the southern reaches of the Rhine were studied during the years 2002–2004. Dikerogammarus villosus and Echinogammarus ischnus were the most frequent species prevailing at 17 sites. Sympatric occurrence of D. villosus and E. ischnus was observed at 12 sites. Dikerogammarus haemobaphes was recorded at 7 sites; this species prevailed in the Danube, west of the Weltenburger Enge and in the Isar mouth where it co-existed with native species (Gammarus pulex and/or G. roeseli) at 6 sites. Dikerogammarus bispinosus and E. berilloni were found at only 1 site, where they co-existed with D. villosus and E. ischnus, and with D. villosus and native species, respectively. Investigation of reproductive characteristics at 3 sites showed that females of D. villosus and D. haemobaphes produced the biggest clutches with more than 100 eggs. Females of E. ischnus produced much smaller clutches (10–35 eggs on an average), but very big eggs. Clutch sizes and egg volumes of D. bispinosus and E. berilloni resembled those of native species. Our results suggest that the most successful invaders (D. villosus, D. haemobaphes and E. ischnus) display reproductive traits that facilitate their success. Both Dikerogammarus sp. allocate energy into production of many but small eggs, thus maximizing offspring number, while E. ischnus allocates its energy into production of fewer but large eggs which could be beneficial at sites where food is scarce.     

Beitrag zur Tektonik archaischer Sedimente im Barberton-Bergland (Transvaal-Südafrika)

Zusammenfassung Die Serien des Swaziland-Systems im Gebiet der Montrose Farm (25 km südwestlich von Barberton) zeigen ähnliche Deformationen wie die wesentlich jüngeren Serien des Moodies-Systems. Strukturbestimmende Störungen mit Versetzungsbeträgen von mehr als 1000 m sind in wesentlich stärkerem Maße vorhanden als bisher angenommen. Das zu beobachtende spröde bis plastische Verhalten von gebändertem Hornstein wird auf unterschiedlichen SiO₂-Gel-Gehalt zur Zeit der Deformation zurückgeführt. Eine Gliederung der orogenetischen Ereignisse für einen Teil der Swaziland-Geosynklinale wird gegeben.

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In the Montrose Farm area (25 km SW of Barberton) Series of the Swaziland System show similar deformations as the essentially younger series of the Moodies System. Thrustfaults with desplacements of more than 1000 m are developed more often than formerly assumed. The brittle to plastic behaviour of banded cherts is due to a different content of gelic SiO₂ during deformation. A possible development of a part of the Swaziland geosyncline is given.

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Résumé Dans les séries du système Swaziland dans la région de Montrose Farm (à 25 km sud-ouest de Barberton) il y a des déformations analogues aux séries beaucoup plus jeunes du Système Moodie. Des Failles avec des déplacements de plus de 1000 m se trouvent plus souvent qu'on n'avait supposé jusqu'à présent. La conduite mobile à solide du silex zoné s'explique par le différent contenu de Gel de SiO₂ au movement de la déformation. Les événements de la période orogénétique seront exposés pour une partie du Swaziland géosynclinal.

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Swaziland Montroes (25 - ). , Moodies. Swaziland.

     

Crustal contamination of mafic magmas: evidence from a petrological, geochemical and Sr–Nd–Os–O isotopic study of the Proterozoic Isortoq dike swarm, South Greenland

The mid-Proterozoic Isortoq dike swarm in the Gardar Province, South Greenland, comprises a variety of alkaline rocks ranging from gabbroic to syenitic in composition. Major magmatic mineral phases are olivine, clinopyroxene, Fe–Ti oxides, amphibole, plagioclase and alkali feldspar. Quartz occurs in some samples as a late magmatic phase. Liquidus temperatures of olivine-bearing samples range between 1120 and 1145 °C and solidus temperatures are 850–930 °C. Calculated silica activities are highly variable between 0.53 and unity. Oxygen fugacities vary from −3 to +1 log units relative to the fayalite–magnetite–quartz buffer.

The rocks have MgO contents <6 wt.% with Mg# between 53 and 17. Primitive mantle-normalized trace element patterns show a relative enrichment of LIL elements with Ba peaks and Nb troughs. Clinopyroxenes show a general enrichment in REE relative to chondritic values with variable slightly positive to prominent negative Eu anomalies. Two of the dikes were dated with Sm–Nd three-point isochrons at 1190±44 and 1187±87 Ma, respectively. Initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of mafic mineral separates range from 0.70289 to 0.70432 and initial _Nd values vary from +0.3 to −10.7. Whole-rock initial ¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os ratios are highly variable including very radiogenic values of up to 7.967. δ¹⁸O_v-smow values of separated clinopyroxene and amphibole range from +5.2‰ to +6.2‰ and fall within the range of typical mantle-derived rocks, although mixing with a lower crustal component is permitted by the data. Using energy-constrained assimilation-fractional crystallization (EC-AFC) modeling equations, the Sr–Nd isotope data of the more radiogenic samples can successfully be modeled by addition of up to 10% lower crustal granulite-facies Archean gneisses as contaminants. The Os isotopic data also suggest the involvement of old radiogenic crust. In accordance with seismic data, we conclude that a wedge of Archean crust extends from West Greenland further to the south below the present erosion level.     

A modified profile method for determining the vertical fluxes of NO,NO2, ozone,and HNO3 in the atmospheric surface layer

A modified profile method for determining the vertical deposition (or/and exhalation) fluxes of NO, NO₂, ozone, and HNO₃ in the atmospheric surface layer is presented. This method is based on the generally accepted micrometeorological ideas of the transfer of momentum, sensible heat and matter near the Earth's surface and the chemical reactions among these trace gases. The analysis (aerodynamic profile method) includes a detailed determination of the micrometeorological quantities (such as the friction velocity, the fluxes of sensible and latent heat, the roughness length and the zero plane displacement), and of the height-invariant fluxes of the composed chemically conservative trace gases with group concentrations c ₁=[NO]+[NO₂]+[HNO₃], c ₂=[NO₂]+[O₃]+3/2·[HNO₃], and c ₃=[NO]–[O₃]–1/2·[HNO₃]. The fluxes of the individual species are finally determined by the numerical solution of a system of coupled nonlinear ordinary differential equations for the concentrations of ozone and HNO₃ (decoding method). The parameterization of the fluxes is based on the flux-gradient relationships in the turbulent region of the atmospheric surface layer. The model requires only the vertical profile data of wind velocity, temperature and humidity and concentrations of NO, NO₂, ozone, and HNO₃.The method has been applied to vertical profile data obtained at Jülich (September 1984) and collected in the BIATEX joint field experiment LOVENOX (Halvergate, U.K., September 1989).     

Low-temperature coherent exsolution in alkali feldspars from high-grade metamorphic rocks of Sri Lanka

In the alkali feldspars of the amphibolite- and granulite-facies rocks of Sri Lanka, a late-stage, final exsolution event is observed which produced film lamellae and fine-scale spindles. These were investigated by optical, microprobe, single-crystal, transmission electron microscopy and atomic resolution microscopy techniques. The lamellae and spindles exsolved below the coherent solvus at temperatures as low as 300 to 350° C. Precession photographs and ARM micrographs show that the intergrowth is perfectly coherent. In sections (010) the rhombic section of the Pericline twins corresponds to analbite or high albite. The albite lamellae and spindles nucleated and grew at low temperatures in a metastable disordered structural state within a tweed-orthoclase matrix and became periodically twinned analbite or high albite, which subsequently developed only a slight increase in Al, Si order. The relationship between twin periodicity and lamellar width, predicted for coherent intergrowths by Willaime and Gandais (1972), is obeyed. In Or-rich grains, in which coherent exsolution is the only exsolution event, the film lamellae tend to be restricted to the rim, the fine-scale spindles to the centre of the grains. The films nucleated heterogeneously at grain boundaries and grew towards the grain centres. Fine-scale spindles probably nucleated homogeneously in the interior part of grains. Heterogeneous nucleation and coherent growth are not mutually exclusive.     

Origin,distribution, and alteration of asphalts at Chapopote Knoll,Southern Gulf of Mexico

Following the discovery of asphalt volcanism in the Campeche Knolls a research cruise was carried out in 2006 to unravel the nature of the asphalt deposits at Chapopote. The novel results support the concept that the asphalt deposits at the seafloor in 3000 m of water depth originate from the seepage of heavy petroleum with a density slightly greater than water. The released petroleum forms characteristic flow structures at the seafloor with surfaces that are ‘ropy’ or ‘rough’ similar to magmatic lava flows. The surface structures indicate that the viscosity of the heavy petroleum rapidly increases after extrusion due to loss of volatiles. Consequently, the heavy petroleum forms the observed asphalt deposit and solidifies. Detailed survey with a remotely operated vehicle revealed that the asphalts are subject to sequential alterations: e.g. volume reduction leading to the formation of visible cracks in the asphalt surface, followed by fragmentation of the entire deposit. While relatively fresh asphalt samples were gooey and sticky, older, fragmented pieces were found to be brittle without residual stickiness. Furthermore, there is evidence for petroleum seepage from below the asphalt deposits, leading to local up-doming and, sometimes, to whip-shaped extrusions. Extensive mapping by TV-guided tools of Chapopote Asphalt Volcano indicates that the main asphalt deposits occur at the south-western rim that borders a central, crater-like depression. The most recent asphalt deposit at Chapopote is the main asphalt field covering an area of ∼2000 m². Asphalt volcanism is distinct from oil and gas seepage previously described in the Gulf of Mexico and elsewhere because it is characterized by episodic intrusions of semi-solid hydrocarbons that spread laterally over a substantial area and produce structures with significant vertical relief. As Chapopote occurs at the crest of a salt structure it is inferred that asphalt volcanism is a secondary result of salt tectonism.     

用孔隙水中氯离子浓度异常估算天然气水合物含量

水分子与烃类气体沉积物孔隙中结合形成水合物的过程中,只吸取孔隙中的淡水,而盐类物质不能进入水合物的晶体结构,在水合物形成过程中会引起局部孔隙水离子浓度的浓缩,增加周围沉积物孔隙水的盐度;而当水合物分解时,孔隙水就会被稀释,使得钻孔获得的水合物样品比不含水合物的样品具有更低的盐度.因为C1-是浅层海洋没积物孔隙水中一种丰富且保守的离子,C1-离子浓度变化通常被用来监测天然气水合物的形成和分解.……