Synchroneity between marine and terrestrial responses to millennial scale climatic variability during the last glacial period in the Mediterranean region

Land-sea climatic proxies have been obtained from the Last Glacial section of IMAGES core MD95-2043 (western Mediterranean Sea). Vegetation and alkenone derived SST curves indicate rapid (~150 years) and synchronous terrestrial and marine climatic changes, paralleling the Dansgaard-Oeschger (D-O) climatic variability over Greenland. This frequency of climate change can be related to shifts between the two modes of operation of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). Transfer functions applied to the pollen data indicate that there was an amplification of the climatic signal during Heinrich events (HEs) in comparison with other D-O stadials. The development and persistence of both Scandinavian and Atlantic Mobile Polar Highs over southwestern Europe may explain the extreme cooling (~10 °C) and dryness (400 mm) during Heinrich events 5 and 4 in the Mediterranean region. Comparison of the results of core MD95-2043 with similar climatic data from IMAGES core MD95-2042, located off Portugal, indicates that thermal and precipitation gradients occurred between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic sides of Iberia within HEs. HEs 4 and 5 are associated with more humid conditions in the Atlantic (by 200 mm) than in the Mediterranean site, as is the case at the present time. This comparison also illustrates the different behaviour of these areas during the D-O stadials. In contrast with the Mediterranean site, the Atlantic site shows similar precipitation and temperature drops for all the D-O stadials, including those related to the HEs. Here we propose the operation of different Mobile Polar Highs (MPH) as the driving mechanism for this difference in behaviour between the Atlantic and Mediterranean sides of Iberia. HEs are related to a stronger influence of the Scandinavian MPH, forcing a severe aridification and cooling of the full Iberian Peninsula. The Atlantic MPH may have been dominant during the other stadials, which would preferentially affect Southwestern Iberia.     

Rifting and basin inversion in the eastern margin of the Japan Sea

Abstract Extensional basin formation and subsequent basin inversion in the southern area of the eastern margin of the Japan Sea were studied on the basis of the interpretation of seismic profiles (total length approximately 15 000 km) and the fossil analyses of 77 sea-bottom samples. Rift (Early to Early Middle Miocene), post-rift (Middle to Late Miocene), pre-inversion (Late Miocene to Pliocene) and inversion stages (Pliocene to Quaternary) were differentiated by the extension and contraction of the crust. Many small-scale rifts were formed in the Sado Ridge and the Mogami Trough during the rift stage, simultaneous with back-are spreading of the Japan Sea. Most of the rifts were east- or southeast-facing, rotational half-grabens bounded by west-dipping normal faults at their eastern boundaries. The syn-rift sequence can be divided into lower and upper units by an erosional surface. The sequences are presumed to be composed mainly of fining-upward sediments. The trend of most rifts is north-northeast with the remainder being of east-northeast-bias. The north-northeast trending rifts are distributed widely in the Sado Ridge and Mogami Trough and do not show an en échelon arrangement, suggesting that they were formed mainly by pure extension nearly perpendicular to the arc. The east-northeast trending rifts are presumed to have been developed by a north-northwest extension in the late rift stage, which may have accompanied a right-lateral movement in the eastern margin of the Japan Sea. During the post-rift stage, the rifts and adjacent horsts subsided and became covered by the post-rift sequence, characterized by parallel and continuous reflections. This suggested no significant tectonic movements in this period. In the pre-inversion stage many of the rifts subsided again, presumably because of down-warping due to weak compressional stress. The normal faults reactivated as reverse faults during the inversion stage due to an increase in compressional stress. Many of the rifts have been uplifted and transformed into east-vergent asymmetric anticlines. The basin inversion is greatest in the Sado Ridges and in the Dewa Bank Chain, while it is least developed in the Mogami Trough and in the western slope of the Sado Ridge, in which some normal faults have not been reactivated. The increase and decrease of the inversion corresponds to the peak and trough of undulation at an interval of about 50 km trending parallel to the arc.     

A model of the gravitational field of Amalthea

Utilizing the topographic model of Jovian moon Amalthea (Stooke, 1994) and supposing that its mass density is constant we derived its basic geometrical and dynamical characteristics. For calculations the harmonic model of topography of the degree and order 18 was selected. The model appears to fit the entire surface to a mean accuracy of a few hundred meters, except in the regions localized around longitudes 0° and 180°. On the basis of the harmonic expansion of the topography we estimated the volume (V = 2.43 ± 0.02 km³) and the mean radius of topographyr ₀ = (79.7 ± 0.2) km. Generalized moments of inertia up to the order 2, principal moments of inertia and orientation of the principal axes with respect to the original reference frame were also calculated. The results show that although Amalthea has extremely irregular shape it may be treated dynamically as an almost symmetric body (B C). Finally, the set of the Stokes coefficients up to the degree and order 9 was evaluated. The results are verified by direct numerical integration.     

地学信息基础数据库系统-GIS-dB3的基本结构

本文介绍了立足于微机和超级微机上的地学信息基础数据库管理系统的基本结构。它采用通用的中西文关系数据库dBASEⅢ编译语言,统一管理地学信息的质量、数量、时间、空间以及信息传输等5个方面的特性数据,以FORTRAN和BASCI编译等系统软件进行数据处理及图形的显示和绘出,即采用各系统软件所长组成了一个地学的基础系统。该系统的空间特性数据中的\     

Visual clutter reduction in zoomable proportional point symbol maps

ABSTRACT

Proportional point symbols are commonly used in map displays. However, when such displays are zoomed out, the available map space shrinks and consequently symbols overlap and the display suffers from visual clutter. Therefore, solutions are needed to reduce visual clutter in zoomable map displays that contain proportional point symbols. The authors add to the body of knowledge through the investigation of the performance of three solutions: aggregation of unit areas, the displacement of overlapping symbols, and modified symbolization; four variations of modified symbolization are examined in detail. The original study begins with a consideration of the strengths and weaknesses of the solutions, with an emphasis on information loss. Thereafter, user sessions with 165 participants are arranged to gain empirical evidence of the performance of the solutions. The results reveal that although participants zoom out the map to zoom levels that implement visual clutter reduction techniques, they tend to zoom in the map and pan it to examine specific areas. Moreover, they willingly use the map with aggregated unit areas in cases when the solution facilitates task accomplishment. A certain amount of skepticism attaches to the solution that displaces overlapping symbols.     

Seasonal Dynamics in Dissolved Organic Carbon Concentrations in a Coastal Water-Table Aquifer at the Forest-Marsh Interface

The seasonal dynamics of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in a subterranean estuary were examined in a coastal water-table aquifer extending across a forest-marsh interface into an adjacent tidal creek that leads to North Inlet (SC). The aquifer is characterized by groundwater flow from the forest recharge area towards the creek. DOC concentrations range from 50 to 140 mg L^-1 in the shallow portions of the aquifer below the forest and undergo seasonal changes that are inversely related to temperature and precipitation conditions. Markedly lower DOC concentrations (<10 mg L^-1) in the deep portion of the aquifer are consistent with the loss of a large fraction of the original DOC along the groundwater flow paths. Mass balance estimates indicate that over 60% of the DOC losses are due to sorption reactions whereas the rest appear to be caused by heterotrophic decay. Groundwater DOC discharge from the forest, which occurs in a restricted zone of the high marsh, is 5.5 mg carbon m^-2 d^-1 and accounts for a minor component of the annual carbon export from North Inlet. In contrast, moderately saline (2–12 ppt) ground waters below the marsh display elevated DOC concentrations (20 mg L^-1) that appear to be the result of mixing of fresh ground waters and surface seawater during tidal seepage and concentration during evapotranspiration. The flux of DOC associated with the discharge of these saline ground waters is 600 mg carbon m^-2 d^-1, which represents a significant fraction of the annual DOC budget for North Inlet.     

Occurrence and Distribution of the Eggs and Larvae of Anchovy, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Engraulis japonicus</Emphasis>, in Jeju Strait,Korea, with Descriptions of Environmental Characteristics

The occurrence and distribution of eggs and larvae of anchovy, Engraulis japonicus, in Jeju Strait, Korea from May to November 2002 were investigated, and the relationships between the abundances of anchovy eggs and larvae and the oceanographic conditions, including meteorological data, were analyzed. During the sampling periods, the anchovy eggs occurred from May to October and about 95% of total egg abundance occurred in only two months from July to August, suggesting that the main spawning season of anchovies is confirmed in summer from July and August in Jeju Strait. The spawning area of anchovies gradually moved to the southern part of the survey area with time. The predominant anchovy larvae collected in this study were mostly smaller than 16.0 mm TL. Correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis showed that the anchovy egg abundance in the study area depended strongly on the wind conditions, especially less than 10 m/s, and increasing water temperature. Salinity variations also had significant effects on the abundance of anchovy larvae.     

Heavy metals in sediments as evidence for recent pollution and quasi-estuarine processes: an example from Lake Druzno,Poland

This article presents the results of a geochemical investigation of sediments from Lake Druzno (northern Poland), a reservoir fed by freshwater from the catchment, with periodic input of brackish water from Vistula Lagoon. This study analyzed the spatial variation in heavy metal content in surface sediments as well as the temporal changes in metal content in two sediment cores dated using the ²¹⁰Pb method. In the surface sediments, the highest metal concentrations were recorded in the northern part of the lake, with lower concentrations in the central and southern parts. Absolute values of metal concentrations in the cores were low, but normalization with respect to Al showed an increase during the second half of the 20th century. Mean enrichment factors (EF) in sediments from the second half of the 20th century ranged from insignificant (1–1.2) for Fe to (1.55–3.3) for Cu, Cd, Pb and Zn. The sediments deposited before 1950 had lower EF values (>1.5) and had low variability. Results from both the surface sediments and the cores indicate that the main source of lake pollution is brackish water intrusion from the Vistula Lagoon via the contaminated River Elbląg.     

Effect of fault bend on the rupture propagation process of stick-slip

An experimental study of stick-slip is performed to examine the effect of a fault bend on the dynamic rupture propagation process. A granite sample used in the experiment has a pre-cut fault that is artificially bent by an angle of 5.6° at the center of the fault along strike, and accordingly the fault consists of two fault segments. The rupture propagation process during stick-slip instability is investigated by analyzing the records of shear strain and relative displacement measured with strain gauge sensors together with the hypocenters of AE (acoustic emission) events detected with piezoelectric transducers. The observed rupture propagation process of typical stick-slip events is as follows. (1) The dynamic rupture started on a fault segment is stopped near the fault bend. (2) The rupture propagation is restarted near the bend on the other fault segment 10.8 ms to 3.5 s after the stop of the first rupture. The delay time of the second rupture decreases with an increase in the slip amount of the first rupture or a decrease in the normal stress acting on the fault segment where the second rupture started. (3) The restarted rupture is not arrested by the presence of a fault bend, and slip occurs over the entire fault. We theoretically analyze the stress concentration near the fault bend to find that the normal stress produced by the preceding slip near the fault bend plays an important part in controlling the rupture propagation. A numerical simulation based on a rate- and state-dependent friction law is performed to interpret physically the retarded rupture in the experiment. The observed time interval of 10.8 ms to 3.5 s between the first rupture and the second is explained by the numerical simulation, suggesting that the rate- and state-dependence of rock friction is a possible mechanism for the retarded rupture on the fault.     

Coversand and Pleistocene palaeosols in the Landes region,southwestern France

New sections in the coversand of the Landes region, southwestern France, show at least two main depositional phases corresponding to the Upper Pleniglacial and the Lateglacial, which are separated by palaeosols. The lower palaeosol, a gleyic to histic cryosol overlying a net of sand wedges and dated to ca. 23 ¹⁴C ka BP, testifies to a short occurrence of permafrost. Impeded drainage due to the frozen subsoil is assumed to be the main factor involved in lowered aeolian transport and soil formation. Pollen analysis indicates a shrub tundra‐type environment. The overlying coversand unit is associated with small transverse ridges or sheet‐like deposits, and corresponds to the maximal extension of the sands, Upper Pleniglacial in age. An incipient podzol developed on the dunes under a boreal pine forest, and has been dated to 11.5–12 ¹⁴C ka BP, i.e. to the Allerød period. This has been buried by the second coversand unit during the Younger Dryas, typified by abundant denivation features and root imprints. Although preliminary, the chronology of sand deposition in the Landes region appears thus to be roughly similar to that found for the other European coversands, showing that all were the result of similar western European climatic changes, i.e. repeated episodes of increasing aridity related to the Upper Pleniglacial and the Younger Dryas episode. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.