Surface features associated with transform faults: A comparison between observed examples and an experimental model

In several tectonic provinces where active ridge segments are offset, transform faults are expected but not observed. This paper discusses the evolution of the surface expression of some transform faults with the help of a few geological examples and a simple experimental clay model in which the importance of en-échelon fault systems is assessed. We conclude that the azimuth of observed fault traces may not coincide with the direction of movement, but be oblique to it. Thus we must be cautious when using a fieldobserved fault direction to infer a transform-fault direction for use in plate-tectonics models. This study also suggests the scale at which the assumption of rigid plates fails.     

Determination des echanges verticaux moyens dans la couche limite planetaire a partir des donnees statistiques obtenues par les radiosondages de temperature

We have studied the vertical structure of the planetary boundary layer (PBL) as well as the vertical exchanges between this layer and the free atmosphere, using average macroscopic temperature data obtained from radiosondes. For this study we have used, for seven months in 1972, twice-daily radiosondes (00 and 12 H) from Trappes (Paris area) and PointK (Atlantic Ocean). The vertical structure of the PBL is given in the first part of the present work in terms of monthly average statistical parameters (vertical temperature gradient, frequency and level of inversion layers, frequency and thickness of mixing layers). We have thus demonstrated for the continental station, the influence of the daily cycle on the vertical temperature gradient; we have determined the monthlyH _M level above which the daily variation is not noticed. However, for the oceanic station, the absence of a daily cycle makes the temperature gradients at 00 and 12 H identical. The study of temperature inversion layers clearly indicates a high probability of their existence between 1500 and 2000 m; this probability is more than 80% both in summer at PointK, and in winter at Trappes. Similarly, we have demonstrated the annual evolution of the level of these elevated inversions at the two stations. An identical process has been performed in the case of the mixing layers. In the second part of our study, we have used a relationship between the vertical temperature gradient and the coefficients of matter exchange (K _z ), obtained from natural radioactive tracers (Guedaliaet al., 1974). Statistics have thus been obtained on the values ofK _z in the various layers above the two stations. These statistics prove that for the two stations and above 1500 m, values of the coefficients between 1 and 5 m² s^?1 are the most frequent; on the other hand, below 1500 m, the distribution of the coefficientsK _z offers different characteristics according to the month and to the station considered. Finally, we have used the concept of ‘equivalent coefficient’ -K _e - to characterize the exchanges between two levels considered as a whole. We have made a comparison of the values ofK _e when in the 0–1000 m layer and when in the 0–2000 m layer. The equivalent coefficientK _e allows us to compare the average exchanges above the two areas; thus, in summer, between the 0 and 1000 m level, the exchanges are more important above Trappes than they are above Point K. On the other hand, whatever may be the vertical structure of the PBL below, the value ofK _e in the 0–2000 m-layer is always between 1 and 5 m² s^?1. A generalisation of such a study applied to better chosen continental and oceanic sites would allow a comprehensive view of the structure of the PBL as well as of the turbulent exchanges between the PBL and the free atmosphere.     

A review of lognormal estimators forin situ reserves

The term lognormal kriging does not correspond to a single well defined estimator. In fact, several types of lognormal estimators forin situ reserves are available, and this may cause confusion. These estimators are based on different assumptions—that is, different models. This paper presents a review of these estimators.     

Chronology and causes of the extinction of the Lava Mouse, Malpaisomys insularis (Rodentia: Muridae) from the Canary Islands

Understanding late Holocene extinctions on islands requires accurate chronologies for all relevant events, including multiple colonisations by humans and the introduction of alien species. The most widely held hypothesis on the causes of Holocene island vertebrate extinctions incorporates human impacts, although climatic-related hypotheses cannot be excluded. Both hypotheses have been suggested to account for the extinction of the endemic Lava Mouse, Malpaisomys insularis from the Canary Islands. Here we present the first accelerator mass spectrometer (AMS) ¹⁴C ages from collagen of M. insularis bones from ancient owl pellets collected at Fuerteventura (Canary Islands, eastern Atlantic Ocean). These new dates contribute to an understanding of the extinction of this species. We are able to exclude climatic causes, predation by invasive species, and competition with the house mouse, Mus musculus. The arrival of Europeans in the Canary Islands correlates with the extinction of Malpaisomys. The introduction of rats, Rattus spp., together with their parasites and diseases, emerges as the most reasonable hypothesis explaining the extinction of M. insularis.     

Multibeam bathymetry and sidescan imaging of the Rivera Transform–Moctezuma Spreading Segment junction, northern East Pacific Rise: New constraints on Rivera–Pacific relative plate motion

To better understand the recent motion of the Pacific plate relative to the Rivera plate and to better define the limitations of the existing Rivera–Pacific plate motion models for accurately predicting this motion, total-field magnetic data, multibeam bathymetric data and sidescan sonar images were collected during the BART and FAMEX campaigns of the N/O L'Atalante conducted in April and May 2002 in the area surrounding the Moctezuma Spreading Segment of the East Pacific Rise, located offshore of Manzanillo, Mexico, at 106°16′W, between 17.8°N and 18.5°N. Among the main results are: (1) the principle transform displacement zone of the Rivera Transform is narrow and well defined east of 107o15′W and these azimuths should be used preferentially when deriving new plate motion models, and (2) spreading rates along the Moctezuma Spreading Segment should not be used in plate motion studies as either seafloor spreading has been accommodated at more than one location since the initiation of seafloor spreading in the area of the Moctezuma Spreading Segment, or this spreading center is not a Rivera–Pacific plate boundary as has been previously assumed. Comparison of observed transform azimuths with those predicted by the best-fit poles of six previous models of Rivera–Pacific relative motion indicate that, in the study area, a significant systematic bias is present in the predictions of Rivera–Pacific motion. Although the exact source of this bias remains unclear, this bias indicates the need to derive a new Rivera–Pacific relative plate motion model.     

Lateglacial and Holocene climate oscillations in the South-western Alps: An attempt at quantitative reconstruction

The high topographic complexity of the Alpine region is the origin of important climate differences that characterise the different areas of the Alps. These differences might have had a strong influence on vegetation and on migrations of human populations in the past. Based on an improved database containing about 3000 modern pollen samples, the standard “Modern Analogue Technique” has been applied to five pollen sequences from the subalpine belt of the South-western Italian Alps (Laghi dell’Orgials, 2240 m, Lago delle Fate, 2130 m, Torbiera del Biecai, 1920 m, Rifugio Mondovì, 1760 m, Pian Marchisio, 1624 m) to provide quantitative climate estimates for the Lateglacial and Holocene periods. Consistent climate trends are reconstructed for the different sequences. Sites recorded in detail the climate variations when they were located at the limit of two ecotones. Sites above the tree line recorded lower temperature values and less important variations. Climate was cold and dry during the Oldest and Younger Dryas and close to present-day values during the Bølling/Allerød interstadial. At the beginning of the Holocene, climate changed to warmer and moister conditions; a high number of climate fluctuations are recorded at several sites. A climate optimum is recorded in the Atlantic period, which caused a development of fir above its present-day altitudinal distribution. Climatic differences recorded at the various sites are discussed taking into account the limits of the method.     

Selecting best mapping strategies for storm runoff modeling in a mountainous semi‐arid area

Accurate runoff and soil erosion modeling is constrained by data availability, particularly for physically based models such as OpenLISEM that are data demanding, as the processes are calculated on a cell‐by‐cell basis. The first decision when using such models is to select mapping units that best reflect the spatial variability of the soil and hydraulic properties in the catchment. In environments with limited data, available maps are usually generic, with large units that may lump together the values of the soil properties, affecting the spatial patterns of the predictions and output values in the outlet. Conversely, the output results may be equally acceptable, following the principle of equifinality. To studyhow the mapping method selected affects the model outputs, four types of input maps with different degrees of complexity were created: average values allocated to general soil map units (ASG1), average values allocated to detailed map units (ASG2), values interpolated by ordinary kriging (OK) and interpolated by kriging with external drift (KED). The study area was Ribeira Seca, a 90 km² catchment located in Santiago Island, Cape Verde (West Africa), a semi‐arid country subject to scarce but extreme rainfall during the short tropical summer monsoon. To evaluate the influence of rainfall on runoff and erosion, two storm events with different intensity and duration were considered. OK and KED inputs produced similar results, with the latter being closer to the observed hydrographs. The highest soil losses were obtained with KED (43 ton ha^{? 1} for the strongest event). To improve the results of soil loss predictions, higher accurate spatial information on the processes is needed; however, spatial information of input soil properties alone is not enough in complex landscapes. The results demonstrate the importance of selecting the appropriate mapping strategy to obtain reliable runoff and erosion estimates. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.