Characterisation of Tensile Damage in Rock Samples Induced by Different Stress Paths

Cracks, induced by different stress states, are studied systematically on thin slices of crinoidal limestone samples. Samples damaged by tension are compared to samples in which first damage is induced by compressive stresses, followed by tensile stresses. To quantify the effect of the compressive stresses, samples only damaged by compression are also studied. The tensile stresses cause the occurrence of an intergranular crack. When the sample is first damaged by compressive stresses, former induced damage influences the growth of this crack. It results in an intergranular crack with a zigzag profile. The average orientation of the intergranular crack is, however, the same as in the samples damaged by tension only.     

Atmospheric concentrations and deposition of heavy metals over the North Sea: A literature review

A literature review of the atmospheric concentration rates and dry and wet deposition fluxes of particulate Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn to the North Sea and adjacent areas is given. The results of direct measurements of dry and wet deposition fluxes are compared to indirect estimates and to modelling values. This work points out the large uncertainties in results of different studies on atmospheric input of trace elements into the North Sea. The current knowledge about the dependence of the deposition velocity upon the particle size and about the processes controlling wet deposition fluxes, and the quality and completeness of the emission data are still inadequate for describing the environmental cycle and impact of heavy metals in the North Sea.     

Elemental Composition of Mineral Aerosol Generated from Sudan Sahara Sand

Eighteen soil samples from central Sudan were fractionated by dry sieving ina size fraction from <45 m to >300 m while aerosols generatedfrom these soils were fractionated in the particle size range from 0.25 mto >16 m. The elemental concentrations of soil samples were determinedby energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence, while the elemental concentrationsof generated aerosols were analysed by particle-induced X-ray emission. Theelements Al, K and Rb show a slight positive fractionation with decreasingparticle size throughout the particle size range studied. The concentrationsof Ca, Mn, Fe, Sr and Y are maximum in the small soil size fraction (<45m) and decrease for the coarse soil size fractions, while in the mineralaerosol particle sizes (0.25– > 16 m) the concentrations remainmore or less constant. The size distributions for Cr, Ti and Zr show a maximumin the particle size range 45–100 m and the concentrations of theseelements decrease sharply in the aerosol fraction down to 16 m to remainconstant in the smaller aerosol fractions.Enrichment factors for the elements were calculated relative to five referencematerials: average crustal rock, average soil, the investigated Sahara bulksoil, the finest fraction of this soil and the aerosol generated from thissoil, and using four reference elements: Al, Si, Ti and Fe. The enrichmentfactors were found to vary significantly depending on the choice of thereference material or the reference element. The enrichment factors for theSudan mineral aerosol were almost identical to those for Khartoum atmosphericaerosol but different from those for Namib mineral aerosol and Israelatmospheric aerosol following dust storms. Multivariate display methods(cluster analysis, principal component analysis and linear discriminantanalysis) were applied to the element ratios in the mineral aerosol from theSahara and Namib and this showed that these mineral aerosol can bedifferentiated into different groups. An attempt was also made to relate themineral aerosol to its parent soil through the use of these multivariatetechniques and the elemental ratios in both the mineral aerosols and the bulksoils (Namib and Sahara). It was also possible using the elemental ratios andthe multivariate display methods to associate the crustal component to themineral aerosol generated from the Sahara.     

Changes in seabed morphology, mud temperature and free gas venting at the Håkon Mosby mud volcano, offshore northern Norway, over the time period 2003–2006

The Håkon Mosby mud volcano is a 1.5-km-diameter geological structure located on the Southwest Barents Sea slope at a water depth of 1,270 m. High-definition seabed mapping of the mud volcano has been carried out in 2003 and 2006. A comparative analysis of the bathymetry and backscatter maps produced from the two surveys shows subtle morphological changes over the entire crater of the mud volcano, interpreted to be the consequence of mud eruption events. Mud temperature measurements point to a persistently warm mud at shallow depth in the crater. This is explained by upward fluid advection, rather than conductive cooling of mud flows. The small-scale spatial variability in the temperature distribution may be related to mud outflows or changes in the fluid flow regime. Furthermore, the locations of free gas venting observed in 2006 were found to differ from those of 2003. Our observations of overall similar topographic profiles across the mud volcano in 2003 and 2006 suggest that eruption events would have been modest. Nevertheless, the data bring evidence of significant change in activity even over short time intervals of only 3 years. This may be a characteristic shared by other submarine mud volcanoes, notably those considered to be in a quiescent stage.     

Societal need for improved understanding of climate change, anthropogenic impacts, and geo-hazard warning drive development of ocean observatories in European Seas

Society’s needs for a network of in situ ocean observing systems cross many areas of earth and marine science. Here we review the science themes that benefit from data supplied from ocean observatories. Understanding from existing studies is fragmented to the extent that it lacks the coherent long-term monitoring needed to address questions at the scales essential to understand climate change and improve geo-hazard early warning. Data sets from the deep sea are particularly rare with long-term data available from only a few locations worldwide. These science areas have impacts on societal health and well-being and our awareness of ocean function in a shifting climate.Substantial efforts are underway to realise a network of open-ocean observatories around European Seas that will operate over multiple decades. Some systems are already collecting high-resolution data from surface, water column, seafloor, and sub-seafloor sensors linked to shore by satellite or cable connection in real or near-real time, along with samples and other data collected in a delayed mode. We expect that such observatories will contribute to answering major ocean science questions including: How can monitoring of factors such as seismic activity, pore fluid chemistry and pressure, and gas hydrate stability improve seismic, slope failure, and tsunami warning? What aspects of physical oceanography, biogeochemical cycling, and ecosystems will be most sensitive to climatic and anthropogenic change? What are natural versus anthropogenic changes? Most fundamentally, how are marine processes that occur at differing scales related?The development of ocean observatories provides a substantial opportunity for ocean science to evolve in Europe. Here we also describe some basic attributes of network design. Observatory networks provide the means to coordinate and integrate the collection of standardised data capable of bridging measurement scales across a dispersed area in European Seas adding needed certainty to estimates of future oceanic conditions. Observatory data can be analysed along with other data such as those from satellites, drifting floats, autonomous underwater vehicles, model analysis, and the known distribution and abundances of marine fauna in order to address some of the questions posed above. Standardised methods for information management are also becoming established to ensure better accessibility and traceability of these data sets and ultimately to increase their use for societal benefit. The connection of ocean observatory effort into larger frameworks including the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) and the Global Monitoring of Environment and Security (GMES) is integral to its success. It is in a greater integrated framework that the full potential of the component systems will be realised.     

Tracing groundwater nitrate sources in the Dakar suburban area: an isotopic multi‐tracer approach

The Dakar region is a mega city with multiple contaminant sources from urban expansion as well as industrial and agricultural activities. The major part of the region is underlain by unconfined sandy aquifer, which is vulnerable to contaminants derived from human land use. At present, the contaminated groundwater which extends over a large area in the suburban zone of Thiaroye poses a threat to the future of this valuable resource, and more specifically, a health threat. This study focuses on nitrate pollution occurrences and associated processes using nitrate isotope data (¹⁵N_NO3, ¹⁸O_NO3) combined with environmental isotopic tracers (¹⁸O, ²H, and ³H). Samples from 36 wells were collected to determine the level, distribution, and sources of contamination in relation to land use. Results indicate that shallow groundwater in the urbanized area of Thiaroye shows distinct evidence of surface contamination with nitrate as much as 300 mg/l NO₃^?. In rural area not serviced by water supply distribution network, much higher NO₃^? contents were found in few wells due to household and livestock feedlots. In most groundwater samples δ¹⁵N values ranged from + 10 to + 22‰, indicative of predominantly human and animal wastes. This was confirmed by environmental isotope data which suggest a mixture of polluted recharge waters. By using the dual δ¹⁵N vs δ¹⁸O as well as δ¹⁵N vs NO₃^? approach, denitrification may occur to some extent but it is blurred by mixing with new infiltrated nitrates and cycling derived from continuous leaky septic system. Results suggest that nitrate contamination of the aquifer is a consequence of unregulated urbanisation (homemade latrines), continuing contaminant transfer in shallow water depth where aerobic conditions prevail. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Spatio-temporal variability of benthic macroalgae in a coral reef system highly influenced by fluvial discharge: Veracruz,Gulf of Mexico

The Veracruz Reef System, in the southern Gulf of Mexico, is a suitable area for the study of the temporal and spatial variability of macroalgae abundance, at reef settings influenced by the fluvial discharge of the Jamapa River, and by human activities in the city and port of Veracruz. With this purpose, the bottom cover of each morpho-functional group of benthic macroalgae (frondoses, turf, and crustose corallines), and hermatypic corals, was determined at ten selected coral reefs, on a seasonal basis (rainy and dry seasons), for the 2009–2015 period. The average cover of benthic macroalgae was high (53.1%), with turf as the dominant morpho-functional group (31.9%), as in several reef ecosystems in the tropical Atlantic, followed by crustose corallines (15.2%), and frondoses (6.1%). Although turf macroalgae is dominant, due to their high temporal and spatial variability, the Veracruz Reef System could not be considered to be in a stable state, but just in an intermediate unstable equilibrium state, which is highly influenced by a high sediment load. As expected, nearshore reefs presented higher macroalgae covers, and unexpectedly, the outer-shelf reefs presented the highest cover of frondoses. Despite fluvial discharge influence, no differences in cover were found between the rainy and dry seasons. There was a negative and significantly correlation between the cover of frondoses and turf, which suggests that the driver/s of the abundance of these macroalgae, act in opposite ways for each group. Three clusters of reefs, defined by community structure and conservation degree, were determined: nearshore or degraded, offshore or moderately conserved, and conserved; and the entire Veracruz Reef System is considered to be in a moderately state of conservation.     

Paleomagnetic determination of emplacement temperatures of pyroclastic deposits: an under-utilized tool

Paleomagnetic data from lithic clasts collected from Mt. St. Helens, USA, Volcán Láscar, Chile, Volcán de Colima, Mexico and Vesuvius, Italy have been used to determine the emplacement temperature of pyroclastic deposits at these localities and to highlight the usefulness of the paleomagnetic method for determining emplacement temperatures. At Mt. St. Helens, the temperature of the deposits (T _dep ) at three sites from the June 12, 1980 eruption was found to be ≥532°C, ≥509°C, and 510–570°C, respectively. One site emplaced on July 22, 1980 was emplaced at ≥577°C. These new paleomagnetic temperatures are in good agreement with previously published direct temperature measurements and paleomagnetic estimates. Lithic clasts from pyroclastic deposits from the 1993 eruption of Láscar were fully remagnetized above the respective Curie temperatures, which yielded a minimum T _dep of 397°C. Samples were also collected from deposits thought to be pyroclastics from the 1913, 2004 and 2005 eruptions of Colima. At Colima, the sampled clasts were emplaced cold. This is consistent with the sampled clasts being from lahar deposits, which are common in the area, and illustrates the usefulness of the paleomagnetic method for distinguishing different types of deposit. T _dep of the lower section of the lithic rich pyroclastic flow (LRPF) from the 472 A.D. deposits of Vesuvius was ~280–340°C. This is in agreement with other, recently published paleomagnetic measurements. In contrast, the upper section of the LRPF was emplaced at higher temperatures, with T _dep ~520°C. This temperature difference is inferred to be the result of different sources of lithic clasts between the upper and lower sections, with the upper section containing a greater proportion of vent-derived material that was initially hot. Our studies of four historical pyroclastic deposits demonstrates the usefulness of paleomagnetism for emplacement temperature estimation.     

The contribution of lateritization processes to the formation of the kaolin deposits from eastern Amazon

The eastern region of the Amazon is home to the most important kaolin bauxite producing district in Brazil, referred to as the Paragominas-Capim kaolin bauxite district, which has a reserve of at least 1.0 billion tons of high-quality kaolin used in the paper coating industry. The kaolin deposits are closely related to sedimentary rocks of the Parnaíba basin and their lateritic cover. Two large deposits are already being mined: IRCC (Ipixuna) and PPSA (Paragominas). The geology of the IRCC mine is comprised of the kaolin-bearing lower unit (truncated mature laterite succession derived from the Ipixuna/Itapecuru formation) and the upper unit (immature lateritized Barreiras formation). The lower kaolin unit is characterized by a sandy facies at the bottom and a soft (ore) with flint facies at the top. It is formed by kaolinite, quartz, some iron oxi-hydroxides, mica and several accessories and heavy minerals. The <2 μm kaolinite crystallites only correspond to 41.3–58.3% of the soft kaolin, and large booklets of 15–300 μm are common. The degree of structure order of kaolinite decreases towards the flint kaolin. The chemical composition of the soft kaolin is similar to the theoretical chemical composition of kaolinite, with low iron content, and can be well correlated to most kaolin deposits in the region. The distribution pattern of chemical elements from sandy to flint kaolin (lower unit) suggests a lateritic evolution and erosive truncation. This is quite distinct from the upper unit, which has a mineralogical and chemical pathway relating it to a complete immature lateritic profile. The geological evolution of the IRCC kaolin is similar to that of other deposits in the eastern Amazon region, being comprised of: parent rocks formed in an estuarine marine and fluvio-laccustrine environment during the early Cretaceous; establishment of mature lateritization with the formation of kaolin in the Eocene; marine transgression and regression – (Pirabas and Barreiras formation) with kaolin profile erosion and forward movement of deferruginization and flintization during the Miocene after partial mangrove covering; and immature lateritization – partial kaolin ferruginization during the Pleistocene.     

LavAtmos: An open-source chemical equilibrium vaporization code for lava worlds

To date, over 500 short-period rocky planets with equilibrium temperatures above 1500 K have been discovered. Such planets are expected to support magma oceans, providing a direct interface between the interior and the atmosphere. This provides a unique opportunity to gain insight into their interior compositions through atmospheric observations. A key process in doing such work is the vapor outgassing from the lava surface. LavAtmos is an open-source code that calculates the equilibrium chemical composition of vapor above a dry melt for a given composition and temperature. Results show that the produced output is in good agreement with the partial pressures obtained from experimental laboratory data as well as with other similar codes from literature. LavAtmos allows for the modeling of vaporization of a wide range of different mantle compositions of hot rocky exoplanets. In combination with atmospheric chemistry codes, this enables the characterization of interior compositions through atmospheric signatures.