Influence of oblique basement strike–slip faults on the Mesozoic evolution of the south-eastern segment of the Mid-Polish Trough

A series of analogue models are used to demonstrate how the multistage development of the Mid‐Polish Trough (MPT) could have been influenced by oblique basement strike–slip faults. Based on reinterpretation of palaeothickness, facies maps and published syntheses of the basin development, the following successive stages in the Mesozoic history of the south eastern part of the MPT were simulated in the models: (1) Oblique extension of the NW segment of the MPT connected with sinistral movement along the Holy Cross Fault (HCF, Early Triassic–latest Early Jurassic). (2) Oblique extension of both NW and SE segment of the MPT, parallel to the HCF (latest Early and Middle Jurassic). (3) Oblique extension of the SE segment of the MPT and much lesser extension of its NW segment connected with dextral movement along the HCF (Early Oxfordian–latest Early Kimmeridgian). (4) Oblique extension of the SE segment of the MPT and much lesser extension of its NW segment connected with dextral movement along the Zawiercie Fault (ZF, latest Early Kimmeridgian–Early Albian). (5) Oblique inversion of the NW segment of the MPT connected with dextral movement along the HCF (Early Albian–latest Cretaceous). (6) Oblique inversion of the SE segment of the MPT along the W–E direction (latest Cretaceous–Palaeogene). The different sense of movements of these two basement strike–slip faults (HCF and ZF) resulted in distinct segmentation of the basin and its SW margin by successive systems of extensional en‐echelon faults. The overall structure of this margin is controlled by the interference of the border normal faults with the en‐echelon fault systems related to successive stages of movement along the oblique strike–slip faults. This type of en‐echelon fault system is absent in the opposite NE‐margin of the basin, which was not affected by oblique strike–slip faults. The NE‐margin of the basin is outlined by a typical, steep and distinctly marked rift margin fault zone, dominated by normal and dip–slip/strike–slip faults parallel to its axis. Within the more extended segment of the basin, extensive intra‐rift faults and relay ramps develop, which produce topographic highs running across the basin. The change in the extension direction to less oblique relative to the basin axis resulted in restructuring of the fault systems. This change caused shifting of the basin depocentre to this margin. Diachronous inversion of the different segments of the basin in connection with movement along one of the oblique basement strike–slip faults resulted in formation of a pull‐apart sub‐basin in the uninverted SE‐segment of the basin. The results of the analogue models presented here inspire an overall kinematic model for the southeastern segment of the MPT as they provide a good explanation of the observed structures and the changes in the facies and palaeothickness patterns.     

Heat flow–heat production relationship not found: what drives heat flow variability of the Western Canadian foreland basin?

International Journal of Earth Sciences - Heat flow high −80 ± 10 mW/m2 in the northern western parts of the Western Canadian foreland basin is in large...     

FE-studies on the influence of initial void ratio,pressure level and mean grain diameter on shear localization

The paper is concerned with shear localization in the form of a spontaneous shear zone inside a granular material during a plane strain compression test. The influence of an initial void ratio, pressure and a mean grain diameter on the thickness of a shear zone is investigated. A plane strain compression test with dry sand is numerically modelled with a finite element method taking into account a polar hypoplastic constitutive relation which was laid down within a polar (Cosserat) continuum. The relation was obtained through an extension of a non-polar hypoplastic constitutive law according to Gudehus and Bauer by polar quantities: rotations, curvatures, couple stresses and a characteristic length. It can reproduce the essential features of granular bodies during shear localization. The material constants can be easily calibrated. The FE-calculations demonstrate an increase in the thickness of the shear zone with increasing initial void ratio, pressure level and mean grain diameter. Polar effects manifested by the appearance of grain rotations and couple stresses are only significant in the shear zone. A comparison between numerical calculations and experimental results shows a satisfying agreement. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Jurassic Progonocimicidae (Hemiptera) from China and phylogenetic evolution of Coleorrhyncha

The fossil record of Progonocimicidae of Hemiptera suborder Coleorrhyncha from China is reviewed. Ovicimex laiyangensis Hong et Wang, 1990, from the Lower Cretaceous of Laiyang, is excluded from Coleorrhyncha. The available generic name Mesocimex Hong, 1983 is resurrected from synonymy and proposed for replacement of the preoccupied name and junior homonym Mesoscytina Hong, 1983, non Mesoscytina Tillyard, 1919. It resulted in following new combinations: Mesocimex abditus (Yu. Popov, 1982) comb. n., Mesocimex ambiguus (Yu. Popov, 1985) comb. n., Mesocimex brunneus (Hong, 1983), comb. n., Mesocimex fidus (Yu. Popov, 1982) comb. n., Mesocimex intermedius (Yu. Popov, 1985) comb. n., Mesocimex kuzbasicus (Yu. Popov, 1985) comb. n., Mesocimex liliputus (Yu. Popov, 1988) comb. n., Mesocimex minutus (Yu. Popov, 1982) comb. n., Mesocimex modestus (Yu. Popov, 1985) comb. n., Mesocimex paulinus (Yu. Popov, 1982) comb. n., Mesocimex cognatus (Yu. Popov, 1982) comb. n. An annotated list of species of Mesocimex is given. In addition, a new species, Mesocimex lini sp. nov., is described based on well-preserved specimens with wings and bodies from the Middle Jurassic of Daohugou, China. This discovery supports the Middle Jurassic age of Daohugou Lagerstatte, since all species of Mesocimex are confined to the Lower-Middle Jurassic. The phylogenetic evolution of Coleorrhyncha is discussed: Cicadocorinae, Karabasiinae, Hoploridiinae, and Peloridiidae are monophyletic clades whereas Progonocimicinae and Karabasidae are clearly paraphyletic groups.     

Formaldehyde in Various Forms of Atmospheric Precipitation and Deposition from Highly Urbanized Regions

Formaldehyde levels were determined in various forms of atmospheric precipitation (rain, snow, road and roof runoff, throughfall) and deposition (rime, hoarfrost, dew) collected over twelve months at various locations in two large urban agglomerations and along two highways. HCHO was found in 303 of 500 samples analyzed, with concentrations ranging from 0.05 to 10.7 mg/dm³. The results confirmed the significant effect of vehicular traffic on formaldehyde levels in various forms of wet deposition. Correlations of formaldehyde levels with other parameters commonly monitored in precipitation and/or deposition were also examined. No correlation was found between HCHO levels and rain volume. On the other hand, positive correlations were found for hydrogen peroxide, non-sea-salt sulphate, nitrate, ammonia, and total organic carbon (TOC). In addition, the effect of selected meteorological parameters (temperature, wind speed, wind direction, rainfall) on the concentration of formaldehyde in various forms of precipitation and runoff (road runoff, roof runoff, throughfall) was studied. The only correlation found was that between HCHO concentration and daily rainfall.     

Order-disorder model of cation exchange in silicates

Order-disorder theory has been used to treat ion-exchange equilibrium for ions of A and B on a uniform group of exchange sites more numerous than the number of monovalent cations required for electrical neutrality. The method allowed consideration of the effects of extra relaxation energy terms arising from one, two or three of the pairs AA, AB and BB on two nearest neighbour sites. These energies are additional to the energies of 2(OA), (OA + OB) and 2(OB) respectively where O denotes an empty site. Isotherms and thermodynamic equilibrium constants have been compared for different site co-ordination numbers, ion valences, and choices of the three extra energies and of the ratio, n, of the total number of sites to the number of cationic charges needed for electrical neutrality. Miscibility gaps in the isotherms occurred less readily the larger the value of n and the smaller the co-ordination number. Such gaps were also less in evidence when the two exchange ions carried different charges. The model has been considered in relation to the random interstratification of cation layers sometimes observed in clay minerals.     

Integrating X‐ray mapping and microtomography of garnet with thermobarometry to define the P–T evolution of the (near) UHP Międzygórze eclogite,Sudetes, SW Poland

Detailed X‐ray compositional mapping and microtomography have revealed the complex zoning and growth history of garnet in a kyanite‐bearing eclogite. The garnet occurs as clusters of coalesced grains with cores revealing slightly higher Ca and lower Mg than the rims forming the coalescence zones between the grains. Core regions of the garnet host inclusions of omphacite with the highest jadeite, and phengite with the highest Si, similar to values in the cores of omphacite and phengite located in the matrix. Therefore, the core compositions of garnet, omphacite, and phengite have been chosen for the peak pressure estimate. Coupled conventional thermobarometry, average P–T, and phase equilibrium modelling in the NCKFMMnASHT system yields P–T conditions of 26–30 kbar at 800–930°C. Although coesite is not preserved, these P–T conditions partially overlap the coesite stability field, suggesting near ultra‐high–pressure (UHP) conditions during the formation of this eclogite. Therefore, the peak pressure assemblage is suggested to have been garnet–omphacite–kyanite–phengite–coesite/quartz–rutile. Additional lines of evidence for the possible UHP origin of the Mi?dzygórze eclogite are the presence of rod‐shaped inclusions of quartz parallel to the c‐axis in omphacite as well as relatively high values of Ca‐Tschermak and Ca‐Eskola components. Late zoisite, rare diopside–plagioclase symplectites rimming omphacite, and minor phlogopite–plagioclase symplectites replacing phengite formed during retrogression together with later amphibole. These retrograde assemblages lack minerals typical of granulite facies, which suggests simultaneous decompression and cooling during exhumation before the crustal‐scale folding that was responsible for final exhumation of the eclogite.     

Groundwater supply of lakes: the case of Lake Raduńskie Górne (northern Poland,Kashubian Lake District)

ABSTRACT

The aim of the study was to locate and describe groundwater outflows in a selected lake basin and measure the spring output of water and the physical characteristics of the studied waters (temperature and conductivity). The final aim was to gauge the effects of the spring output on the lake hydrology. The time scope of the work included the period from January 2011 to September 2012. The spatial scope of the work included the area of Lake Raduńskie Górne and its direct catchment located in the Kashubian Lake District in northern Poland. Four groundwater outflows were located in the course of the study. Their total output was 4.6 L s^?1 and ranged between 0.5 and 2.5 L s^?1. This produces an annual yield of about 145 000 m³ year^?1. These results confirm that one of the forms of supply to the lakes are the under-lake springs. For lakes located in the area of young glacial accumulation this can be decisive.

Editor D. Koutsoyiannis Associate editor D. Gerten     

#Earthquake: Twitter as a Distributed Sensor System

Social media feeds are rapidly emerging as a novel avenue for the contribution and dissemination of information that is often geographic. Their content often includes references to events occurring at, or affecting specific locations. Within this article we analyze the spatial and temporal characteristics of the twitter feed activity responding to a 5.8 magnitude earthquake which occurred on the East Coast of the United States (US) on August 23, 2011. We argue that these feeds represent a hybrid form of a sensor system that allows for the identification and localization of the impact area of the event. By contrasting this with comparable content collected through the dedicated crowdsourcing ‘Did You Feel It?’ (DYFI) website of the U.S. Geological Survey we assess the potential of the use of harvested social media content for event monitoring. The experiments support the notion that people act as sensors to give us comparable results in a timely manner, and can complement other sources of data to enhance our situational awareness and improve our understanding and response to such events.     

A GIS-based approach to multiple criteria group decision-making

Abstract

The multiple criteria group decision-making problem involves a set of feasible alternatives that are evaluated on the basis of multiple, conflicting and noncommensurate criteria by a group of individuals. This paper is concerned with developing a GIS-based approach to group decision-making under multiple criteria. The approach integrates, within a raster GIS environment, the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) and Borda's choice rule. TOPSIS orders the feasible alternatives according to their closeness to the ideal solution. It is used to derive the individual preference orderings. Borda's method combines the individual preferences into a group preference or consensus/compromise ranking. The approach is implemented within the IDRISI GIS and illustrated on a hypothetical decision situation.