Deciphering signals of late Holocene fluvial and aeolian supply from a shelf sediment depocentre off Senegal (north‐west Africa)

High‐resolution climatic records of the late Holocene along the north‐west African continental margin are scarce. Here we combine sediment grain size, elemental distribution and mineral assemblage data to trace dust and riverine sources at a shallow‐marine sediment depocentre in the vicinity of the Senegal River mouth. The aim is to understand how these terrigenous components reflect climate variability during the late Holocene. Major element contents were measured and mineral identification was performed on three sub‐fractions of our sediment core: (i) fluvial material < 2 µm, (ii) aeolian material of 18–63 µm and (iii) a sub‐fraction of dual‐origin material of 2–18 µm. Results show that more than 80% of the total Al and Fe terrigenous bulk content is present in the fluviogenic fraction. In contrast, Ti, K and Si cannot be considered as proxies for one specific source off Senegal. The Al/Ca ratio, recording the continental river runoff, reveals two dry periods from 3010 to 2750 cal a BP and from 1900 to 1000 cal a BP, and two main humid periods from 2750 to 1900 cal a BP and from 1000 to 700 cal a BP. The match between (i) intervals of low river runoff inferred by low Al/Ca values, (ii) reduced river discharge inferred by integrated palynological data from offshore Senegal and (iii) periods of enhanced dune reactivation in Mali confirms this interpretation. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Experimental analysis of kaolinite particle orientation during triaxial path

The goal of this study was to analyze the relation between the behaviour of a clayey material at the macroscopic scale and its microfabric evolution. This may lead to a better understanding of macroscopic strain mechanisms especially the contractancy and dilatancy phenomena. The approach proposed in this paper is based on the study of clay particles orientation by SEM picture analysis after different phases of triaxial loading. In the initial state of the samples (one‐dimensional compression), the SEM observations highlight a microstructural anisotropy with a preferential orientation of the particles normal to the loading direction. During isotropic loading, densification of the clayey matrix occurs related to a random orientation of particles indicated by the term ‘depolarization’. In the earlier stages of constant σ₃ drained triaxial path on slightly overconsolidated specimens, the microstructural depolarization seems to persist inside a macroscopic domain, in which only the volumetric strains due to the isotropic part of the stress tensor evolve. Then, a rotation mechanism of the particles towards preferred directions seems to be activated. The phenomenon appears directly linked to the evolution of the deviatoric part of the stress tensor. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Nuclear spin temperature of ammonia in Comet 9P/Tempel 1 before and after the Deep Impact event

The Deep Impact mission succeeded in excavating inner materials from the nucleus of Comet 9P/Tempel 1 on 2005 July 04 (at 05:52 UT). Comet 9P/Tempel 1 is one of Jupiter family short period comets, which might originate in the Kuiper belt region in the solar nebula. In order to characterize the comet and to support the mission from the ground-based observatory, optical high-dispersion spectroscopic observations were carried out with the echelle spectrograph (UVES) mounted on the 8-m telescope VLT (UT2) before and after the Deep Impact event. Ortho-to-para abundance ratios (OPRs) of cometary ammonia were determined from the NH₂ emission spectra. The OPRs of ammonia on July 3.996 UT and 4.997 UT were derived to be 1.28±0.07 (nuclear spin temperature: Tspin=24±2 K) and 1.26±0.08 (Tspin=25±2 K), respectively. There is no significant change between before and after the impact. Actually, most materials ejected from the impact site could have moved away from the nucleus on July 4.997 UT, about 17 h after the impact. However, a small fraction of the ejected materials might remain in the slit of UVES instrument at that time because an excess of about 20% in the NH₂ emission flux is observed above the normal activity level was found [Manfroid, J., Hutsemékers, D., Jehin, E., Cochran, A.L., Arpigny, C., Jackson, W.M., Meech, K.J., Schulz, R., Zucconi, J.-M., 2007. Icarus. This issue]. If the excess of NH₂ on July 04.997 UT was produced from icy materials excavated by the Deep Impact, then an upper-limit of the ammonia OPR would be 1.75 (Tspin>17 K) for those materials. On the other hand, the OPR of ammonia produced from the quiescent sources was similar to that of the Oort cloud comets observed so far. This fact may imply that physical conditions where cometary ices formed were similar between Comet 9P/Tempel 1 and the Oort cloud comets.     

High elevation of low‐relief surfaces in mountain belts: does it equate to post‐orogenic surface uplift?

We present experiments of upraising and relaxing topographies showing that peneplanation can occur above the ultimate base level (sea level). After active uplift, the erosion of a topography bounded by a piedmont generates a final smooth and highly elevated topography. Smoothing at high elevation is even possible during active uplift if the evolution of topography is disrupted by the deposition of the products of erosion on its piedmont which is the case at the transition from underfilled to overfilled conditions in foreland basins.     

Modelling mean annual sediment yield using a distributed approach

In this paper a spatially distributed model for the calculation of sediment delivery to river channels is presented (SEDEM: SEdiment DElivery Model). The model consists of two components: (1) the calculation of a spatial pattern of mean annual soil erosion rates in the catchment using a RUSLE (Revised Soil Erosion Equation) approach; and (2) the routing of the eroded sediment to the river channel network taking into account the transport capacity of each spatial unit. If the amount of routed sediment exceeds the local transport capacity, sediment deposition occurs. An existing dataset on sediment yield for 24 catchments in central Belgium was used to calibrate the transport capacity parameters of the model. A validation of the model results shows that the sediment yield for small and medium sized catchments (10–5000 ha) can be predicted with an average accuracy of 41 per cent. The predicted sediment yield values with SEDEM are significantly more accurate than the predictions using a lumped regression model. Moreover a spatially distributed approach allows simulation of the effect of different land use scenarios and soil conservation techniques. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The climate of crete in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries

The climatic history of the eastern Mediterranean has been neglected; that of Crete is selected for initial investigation. The principal characteristics of twentieth century climate are surveyed. The most important documentary sources for the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries are introduced, their potentialities discussed and examples of documentary evidence given. Detailed consideration is given to the period 1548 to 1648, and its main climatic features tabulated. In some years, and groups of years, weather conditions occurred which were apparently anomalous by twentieth century standards, especially winter and spring droughts, exceptionally severe winters, and summer rain. Specific cases are discussed. Some winter droughts were longer-lasting and more extreme than any since instrumental measurements began. These could affect wide regions and are taken to have been caused by the extension of southerly air masses from the Sahara. The incidence of severe winters leads to consideration of evidence for snowfall having been heavier and longer lasting than in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Deluges seem to have been similar in intensity to twentieth century storm events, but some may have been more extreme and extended more widely. Records of summer rains were found to be rare compared with those of winter drought and severe winters. The period under review was one in which northern and central Europe experienced individual years and clusters of years in which weather conditions departed strongly from twentieth century means. It is surmised that climatic anomalies, which did not necessarily occur simultaneously in the eastern and western Mediterranean, were associated with low index situations, that is with weak circumpolar westerlies, and with blocking highs further north in Europe, causing diversion of depression tracks.     

Comparison between VELACS numerical ‘class A’ predictions and centrifuge experimental soil test results

The numerical ‘class A’ predictions performed within the framework of the VELACS Project are compared to the experimental results recorded in the centrifuge experiments. The comparisons are made in terms of: (1) the root mean square error of the predictions with respect to the mean of the experimental results; and (2) the size of a confidence interval centered at the predicted value which contains the estimated true value of the experimental results with a 75% probability. An assessment of the capability of various groups of constitutive soil models to predict excess pore pressures induced by dynamic loading is also presented.     

Helium isotopic ratio in Vulcano island fumaroles: temporal variations in shallow level mixing and deep magmatic supply

Intensive gas emanations occur throughout the island of Vulcano, Italy. Sharp fluctuations recorded in the crater gas composition suggest the presence of two separate volcanic reservoirs and continuous mixing with another source, “crustal” waters. This mixing differs between the beach and crater fumaroles. Gas samples from three crater fumaroles with temperatures ranging from 200 to 550 ° C were sampled repeatedly over a one year period. During the same interval of time, six samples from submarine and subaerial beach fumaroles and water well gases were also sampled. Gases from one crater fumarole (F5) showed variations of (³He/⁴He)_fumarole to (³He/⁴He)_air between 5 and 6 correlated with variations of several chemical species. High ³He/⁴He ratios for the beach fluids, similar to those of crater fluids, suggest the existence of a unique large magmatic reservoir at depth feeding both the crater and beach intermediate reservoirs. However, temporal changes clearly indicate variable degrees of fluids mixing, and the geographic distribution of the ³He/⁴He ratios as well as the chemical composition of the fluids suggest the existence between the magma reservoir and the surface of two intermediate different reservoirs, independently related to crater and to beach fumaroles.     

Esquisse paleogeographique et structurale des chaines alpines de la Mediterranee moyenne

Résumé L'ensemble italo-dinarique est défini tant sur le plan de la paléogéographie (avec distinction des paléogéographies successivement géosynclinale, tardigéosynclinale, postgéosynclinale), de la tectonique (avec distinction des structures mises en place à la fin des périodes successivement géosynclinale, tardigéosynclinale, postgéosynclinale), du métamorphisme et du magmatisme. Chaque chaîne constitutive de l'ensemble, Dinarides d'une part, Apennin d'autre part, témoigne d'une remarquable polarité marquée par un certain nombre de gradients décroissant de l'intérieur vers l'extérieur de la chaîne (gradients tectonique, orogénique, métamorphique, magmatique) et une certaine organisation paléogéographique, tels que l'ensemble ait une symétrie centripète.A chaque occasion, le versant Sud des Alpes orientales (Alpes calcaires méridionales) est replacé dans son contexte de sorte qu'il apparaît comme l'extrémité septentrionale de l'ensemble italo-dinarique, là où les zones isopiques de celui-ci se bouclent vers le Nord. Ce bouclage adriatique des zones isopiques italo-dinariques, s'ajoutant au charriage des Alpes orientales, conduit à la mise en évidence d'un mouvement longitudinal de l'ensemble italo-dinarique par rapport à l'arc alpin.

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The Italo-Dinarien Unit shows a typical paleogeographical, structural, metamorphic and igneous development. Both members display a centripetal symmetry; tectonics, metamorphism and magmatism gradually fade from inner portions towards their marginal zones.The Southern slope of Eastern Alps (Southern Kalkalpen) form an end of the unit there, where its isopic zones are bent to the North. This Adriatic curve of those zones merging into East-Alpine nappes seems to indicate a longitudinal movement of the Italo-Dinarian Unit in relation to the Alpine Arc.

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Zusammenfassung Die italo-dinarische Einheit ist durch Paläogeographie, Tektonik, Metamorphose und Magmatismus gekennzeichnet. Sowohl der Apennin als auch die Dinariden zeigen eine bemerkenswerte Polarität, die durch den abnehmenden Grad an Tektonik, Orogenese, Metamorphose und Magmatismus vom Inneren zum Äußeren der Ketten und durch eine zentripetale Symmetrie in der paläogeographischen Anlage gegeben ist.Der Südhang der Ostalpen (südliche Kalkalpen) wirkt stets dort als nördliches Ende der italo-dinarischen Einheit, wo ihre isopischen Zonen nach Norden umbiegen. Dieses adriatische Umbiegen der isopischen italo-dinarischen Zonen, die sich den Decken der Ostalpen anfügen, führt zur Augenscheinlichkeit einer Longitudinalverschiebung der italo-dinarischen Einheit im Vergleich mit dem Alpenbogen.

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87Rb-87Sr age of fragments and soils from the lunar sea of fertility

The Luna 16 materials were dated by the Rb-Sr method.An internal isochron age of 3.4 ± 0.2 has been determined for a 6 mg fragment.The Luna 16 total soil is poorer in radiogenic Sr than any other analyzed soil from the Moon. Apollo 14 and 15 soils have also been studied; all of them fall nearly on a 4.65 b.y. isochron with the ADOR initial ${}^{87}\text{Sr}{}^{86}\text{Sr}$ ratio.A comparison of the integrated $\text{Rb}\text{Sr}$ of the basalt source region and the $\text{Rb}\text{Sr}$ of the rocks suggests that these basaltic fragments have been generated with only minor $\text{Rb}\text{Sr}$ fractionation.The existence of an old Rb-rich subcrust which contaminated the basalts is also in agreement with the present results.