Metamorphic and deformational imprint of Cambrian–Lower Ordovician rifting in the Ossa-Morena Zone (Iberian Massif, Spain)

The high-temperature metamorphism recorded in the Valuengo and Monesterio areas constitutes a rare occurrence in the Ossa-Morena Zone of Southwest Iberia, where low-grade metamorphism dominates. The metamorphism of the Valuengo area has been previously considered either Cadomian or Variscan in age, whereas that of Monesterio has been interpreted as a Cadomian imprint. However, these areas share important metamorphic and structural features that point towards a common tectonometamorphic evolution. The metamorphism of the Valuengo and Monesterio areas affects Late Proterozoic and Early Cambrian rocks, and is syn-kinematic with a top-to-the-north mylonitic foliation, which was subsequently deformed by early Variscan folds and thrusts. The U–Pb zircon age (480±7 Ma) we have obtained for an undeformed granite of the Valuengo area is consistent with our geological observations constraining the age of the metamorphism. We propose that this high-temperature metamorphic imprint along a NW–SE ductile extensional shear zone is related to the crustal extension that occurred in the Ossa-Morena Zone during the Cambro-Ordovician rifting. In the same way, the tectonothermal effect of the preorogenic rifting stage may have been wrongly attributed to orogenic processes in other regions as well as in this one.     

Computational study of tetrahedral Al–Si and octahedral Al–Mg ordering in phengite

 As part of a wider study of the nature and origins of cation order–disorder in micas, a variety of computational techniques have been used to investigate the nature of tetrahedral and octahedral ordering in phengite, K₂ ^[6](Al₃Mg)^[4](Si₇Al)O₂₀(OH)₄. Values of the atomic exchange interaction parameters J _n used to model the energies of order–disorder were calculated. Both tetrahedral Al–Si and octahedral Al–Mg ordering were studied and hence three types of interaction parameter were necessary: for T–T, O–O and T–O interactions (where T denotes tetrahedral sites and O denotes octahedral sites). Values for the T–T and O–O interactions were taken from results on other systems, whilst we calculated new values for the T–O interactions. We have demonstrated that modelling the octahedral and tetrahedral sheets alone and independently produces different results from modelling a whole T–O–T layer, hence justifying the inclusion of the T–O interactions. Simulations of a whole T–O–T layer of phengite indicated the presence of short-range order, but no long-range order was observed. Received: 8 August 2002 / Accepted: 14 February 2003 Acknowledgements The authors are grateful to EPSRC (EJP) and the Royal Society (CIS) for financial support. Monte Carlo simulations were performed on the Mineral Physics Group's Beowulf cluster and the University of Cambridge's High Performance Computing Facility.     

The Upper Neoproterozoic-Lower Cambrian of the Central Iberian Zone, Spain: chemical and isotopic (Sm-Nd) evidence that the sedimentary succession records an inverted stratigraphy of its source

The Upper Neoproterozoic-Lower Cambrian sedimentary succession in the Central Iberian Zone has recently been divided into 12 sedimentary units (I to XII). Units I to IV are of Late Neoproterozoic age, and units V to XII are Early Cambrian.Throughout the stratigraphic section, shales with similar ranges of SiO₂ and Al₂O₃ have TiO₂ and Zr contents that are coupled and vary gradually from the bottom (unit I, TiO₂ = 1.0-1.1%, Zr = 245-287 ppm) to the top (unit XII, TiO₂ = 0.74-0.86%, Zr = 141-192 ppm). These two parameters clearly distinguish Upper Neoproterozoic from Lower Cambrian compositions, as do certain elemental ratios (Al₂O₃/TiO₂, Rb/Zr, Nb/Ti), which vary from low values at the bottom of the section to high at the top. However, other elements (the rare earth elements [REEs], Y) do not fit this general trend, with heavy REEs and Y showing extreme concentrations in some Lower Cambrian units, which also have negative Ce anomalies.Units I to III and units XI to XII have uniform T_DM neodymium model ages (∼1.1 and 1.7 Ga, respectively), but the units between these two groups have erratic values between 1.4 Ga (unit VII) and 3.4 Ga (unit VIII). Thus, the bottom and top units have neodymium isotope ratios that indicate the presence of two source compositions: a composition that records a juvenile contribution younger than 1.1 Ga and a composition mainly derived from an old basement. Some samples from Lower Cambrian units have disturbed REE abundances and neodymium isotope ratios that are attributed to extensive chemical alteration that resulted in REE and Y redistribution. This alteration probably affected the material now preserved as unit IV during a period of relative sea level fall at the end of the Late Neoproterozoic. Both elemental and isotopic results support the suggestion that the Upper Neoproterozoic-Lower Cambrian stratigraphic section records an inverse stratigraphy of a source hinterland composed of a cover sequence of relatively juvenile crustal materials underlain by an older basement. Through time, the deeper crust gradually increased its contribution to the sediments in the basin from Late Neoproterozoic to Lower Cambrian times. These results are compatible with data from many other European zones.     

Change detection in Sal forest in Dehradun Forest Division using remote sensing and geographical information system

The review of study site have revealed the change in vegetation cover of Sal Dense to Sal Medium and Sal Open in 6 forest Mosaics owing to biotic and abiotic conditions prevailing in the specific areas. Analysis carried out using thematic map derived from aerial photograph of 1976 and satellite data of IRS 1C LISS III False Colour Composite (FCC) of March 1999 revealed the cause for change in forest density classes. Deforestation, encroachment and agriculture have been identified as the underlying causes, which have affected some specific locations to a marked extent. There has been a progressive and remarkable change among vegetation classes from 1976 to 1999. It is evident from forest type and density map that Sal density has significantly reduced from Sal Dense 65.61 % in 1976 to Sal Dense 11.12% in the year 1999 followed by Sal Open 11.18 % and Sal Medium 18.24 %. The overall change has been estimated to be 42.11% of the total forested area.     

Estimation of recent glacial variations in baspa basin using remote sensing technique

The Himalayas has one of the largest concentrations of glaciers outside the Polar Regions. Various reports suggest that significant number of mountain glaciers is shrinking due to climatic variations. Monitoring of these glaciers is important to assess future availability of water resources in the Himalayan region. However, Himalayan glaciers are normally difficult to monitor due to the rugged, mountainous terrain. Therefore, images of Indian Remote Sensing Satellite were used to monitor glaciers in the Baspa basin. Investigations have shown the presence of 30 glaciers in the basin, with areal extent of 167 km2. Out of these, 19 glaciers, with areal extent of 140 km² were selected to estimate retreat. Investigation suggests that almost all glaciers are retreating in the study basin and overall 19% deglaciation has been observed from 1962 to 2001. In general, altitude distribution appears to have significant influence on glacial retreat. Glaciers located around 5000 m altitude range are showing 24% loss as compared to 14% by glaciers located in altitude range higher than 5400 m. In addition, mean altitude of glacier terminus is shifted upward by 88 m, i.e. from 4482 to 4570 m in last 39 years. The glacial volumes were estimated using regression relationship between area and depth. The investigations have suggested that 19.10 km³ of glacial water stored in the 19 glaciers in 1962, has been reduced to 14.71 km³ in 2001, respectively, an overall loss of 23 percent in a period between 1962 and 2001. These investigations suggest that all glaciers in the Baspa Basin are reducing and in long term, such reducing trend can create scarcity of water in the region.     

Remote sensing and gis applications in the identification of aquaculture hotspots at village level

Interpretation of IRS LISS II and LISS III imagery has revealed the various landforms as well as land use/land cover features in a part of the Godavari delta coastal belt. A comparative analysis of geomorphological vs. land use/land cover maps suggested that the landforms exert a certain degree of control over human land use activities even in this monotonously plain area. Further, an analysis of the sequential imagery pertaining to 1992 and 2001 aimed at detecting the land use/land cover change has indicated that the aquaculture has phenomenally increased by 9,293.5 ha during the 9-year period. At the same time, the cropland which occupied about 29,104 ha in 1992 has been reduced to 19,153.9 ha by 2001 mainly due to the encroachment of aquaculture. Village level data on temporal variation in land use/land cover extracted through GIS analysis revealed that in 14 out of the total 39 villages in the area, the conversion of cropland into aquaculture ponds was more than 30% with the highest conversion rate of 89.8% in Gondi village. These fourteen villages, which are designated as ‘aquaculture hotspots’ are grouped into 4 priority classes based on the intensity of conversion.     

HUBEX强化观测期雷达测雨在水文过程模拟中的应用(英)

选择全球能量与水循环亚洲季风试验区的淮河黄泥庄水文站控制的史河流域(805 km2)为研究区域,基于数字高程模型,生成栅格水流流向,构建数字流域及空间拓扑关系;然后,将阜阳雷达观测数据经过订正校准后作为研究区内每一栅格单元上的雨量输入,并在每一栅格上应用新安江模型构建产流模型;再根据每一栅格至流域出口断面-黄泥庄水文站的距离,运用Muskingum方法进行汇流演算,从而获得黄泥庄站的流量过程。计算结果显示,从1998年5月31日-8月3日的强化观测期内模型确定性系数为92.41％,其间4场洪水的确定性系数分别为85.64％、86.62％、92.57％和83.91％,高于应用地面雨量计观测的数据计算的结果。这说明雷达测雨数据具有较高的时空分辨率,当它应用于水文过程模拟时优于地面雨量计资料,基于栅格的水文模型为充分利用雷达数据提供了良好平台。     

青藏高原上中尺度对流系统(MCSs)的个例分析及其比较

对1995年7月25—28日高原上连续数日出现MCSs的现象进行了红外云图特征及其演变、大尺度环境背景场和对流有效位能的分析。可以发现，所有这些MCSs有着相似的日变化演变过程；它们的初始对流在中午由于日射加热开始活跃，之后迅速发展，这些MCSs在后下午形成，在傍晚达到最强，之后逐渐减弱。其中26日MCS最为强大，它是在单一的强大的近于圆形的高原反气旋高压背景下受强的低层热力强迫和条件不稳定的驱动而发生的。这些发生条件都与高原本身的热力作用紧密相关，所以它的发生发展主要与高原特有的较为纯粹的热力因子相联系。28日MCS是另一个很强的MCS，它明显地受到中纬度西风槽的斜压区的影响，这二个很强的MCS有着不同的发展机制和显著不同的表现特征。     

GPS折射角资料的变分同化试验

越来越多的新型观测资料为数值天气预报水平的进一步提高提供了许多新的机会。在各种新型的观测资料中,GPS(全球定位卫星系统)折射角资料无疑是非常重要的。GPS折射角资料具有分辨率高、全天候探测、覆盖全球等优点,实现对GPS折射角资料的变分同化,将具有非常重要的意义。文中介绍了如何获得及同化GPS折射角资料的原理。对GPS折射角资料的变分同化可以分为两种:间接同化和直接同化,文中对这两种方法都作了具体介绍。在变分同化的最小化过程中,计算效率无疑是最重要的,而优化步长的计算又直接关系到算法效率的成败。根据最小化算法的特点,通过数学推导,得出一种适合于各种最小化算法的计算优化步长的自适应方法。最后,还利用1995年10月11日的GPS折射角资料进行了数值试验,结果表明了变分同化方法和计算优化步长方法的有效性。