Polymetamorphose und Deckenbau der Strand-Halbinsel/SW-Norwegen

Zusammenfassung Die Metamorphite der Halbinsel Strand / SW-Norwegen gehören zu einem Deckensystem präkambrischer Gesteine, das während der kaledonischen Orogenese von NNW her auf den Baltischen Schild geschoben worden ist (Sigmond Kildal 1978). Eine hangende Deckeneinheit umfa\t Metagranite, Melagabbroide und Gneise. Ihr granulitfazieller Mineralbestand (Metamorphosealter 1,5 Milliarden Jahre) wurde wahrscheinlich vor 1,18 Milliarden Jahren grünschieferfaziell retrograd überprägt. Die Decke ist nur noch in kleinen Erosionsinseln vorhanden. Eine liegende Dekkeneinheit besteht aus metasedimentären Gesteinen. Sie weist Mineralbestände der höheren Amphibolitfazies auf, die ebenfalls grünschieferfaziell überprägt wurden. Die Al^VI-Gehalte der bei beiden metamorphen Prozessen gebildeten Amphibole deuten bei Anwendung eines Diagramms vonRaase (1974) an, da\ die retrograde Metamorphose hier bei höheren Drücken ablief als die ältere Metamorphose. Ein Gesamtgesteinsalter von 1,16 Milliarden Jahren scheint für diese grünschieferfazielle Metamorphose das gleiche orogene Ereignis anzuzeigen wie für die hangende Einheit. Produkt der schwachen kaledonischen Metamorphose (400 Millionen Jahre) ist Stilpnomelan, der auch im Grundgebirge des Baltischen Schildes auftritt.

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The Strand Peninsula, Stavanger district, Southwestern Norway, has become well known, when V. M.Goldschmidt (1920) published his hypothesis of regional metasomatism. All rocks of the Strand area were assumed to be situated in autochthonous position. The main point ofGoldschmidt's hypothesis was progarde metamorphism of argillaceous sediments and their transformation to albite schists and plagioclase gneisses by metasomatic solutions given off from intruded trondhjemitic magmas.However, in contrast toGoldschmidt's ideas, the granitoid sill of the Ormakam-Moldhesten area, Strand Peninsula, and its wall rocks, which played an important role inGoldschmidt's discussion, are now found to be parts of a polymetamorphous thrust unit.Granulite facies assemblages, mainly consisting of orthopyroxene +clinopyroxene+plagioclase+hastingsite±orthoclase and quartz, have been partially replaced by lowgrade assemblages. Probably, the high-grade metamorphism has an age of about 1.5 Ga (Andresen &Heier 1975) whereas the age of the greenschist facies event may be conform to an orogenic cycle at about 1.15 Ga (Sigmond Kildal 1978).A lower nappe, covering the Strand Peninsula for its most parts, was subject of a petrologic re-examination using the microscope and the microprobe analyser. Its contacts with the hanging nappe as well as those with the underlying gneissic basement are characterized by thrust planes and horizons of phyllonites and cataclasites inside of the nappe and by local brecciation in the uppermost zones of the basement.The rocks of the lower nappe have been formed a long with the upper amphibolite facies as indicated by the following mineral assemblage: andesine + hastingsite and Mg-hornblende + quartz +biotite.Obviously, an inverse order of temperature regimes is recognizable in the allochthonous units. Maximum temperature of the upper nappe reached 800C (Müller &Herbert 1984) whereas T_max of the lower nappe did not exceed 750C.Using a diagram ofRaase (1974) the Al^VI-contents of the primary hastingsitic hornblendes of the lower nappe rocks indicate pressures which range distinctly below 5 kbars, whereas the secondary pargasitic hornblendes were formed at pressures of about 5 kbars. Probably the thrusting happened before the formation of secondary hornblendes took place. The load pressure in the lower nappe (< 5 kbars) was distinctly increased when the upper nappe was thrusted upon the lower one. Consequently the Al^VI-contents of secondary hornblendes indicate increased pressure ( 5 kbars).In the gneisses of the lower nappe late fractures were filled by stilpnomelane, chlorite and quartz. Very probably this depends on thrust movements during the Caledonian orogeny.Verschure et al. (1980) found a similar stilpnomelane formation in adjacent terrains of the basement and proposed a weak Caledonian metamorphism of about 400 my.

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Résumé Les roches métamorphiques de la presqu'Île de Strand (sud-ouest de la Norvège) appartiennent à un empilement de nappes formées de roches pré-cambriennes et charriées vers le SSE sur le bouclier baltique au cours de l'orogenèse calédonienne (Sigmond Kildal 1978).Une nappe supérieure comprend des métagranites, des mélagabbroÏdes et des gneiss. Leurs paragenèses, du facies des granulites (âge du métamorphisme: 1,5 Ga) ont été rétromorphosées dans le facies des schistes verts il y a probablement 1,18 Ga. Cette nappe ne subsiste qu'en petits fragments épargnés par l'érosion.Une nappe inférieure est composée de roches métasédimentaires. Ces roches présentent des paragenèses du faciès supérieur des amphibolites, également rétromorphosées dans le facies des schistes verts. L'application du diagramme de Raase (1974) aux teneurs en Al^VI des amphiboles formées lors des deux processus métamorphiques indique que la rétromorphose s'est déroulée à une pression supérieure à celle du métamorphisme ancien. Un âge de 1,16 Ga sur roche totale semble indiquer que le mÊme processus orogénique a servi de cadre à la rétromorphose en facies des schistes verts dans les deux nappes.Du stilpnomélane, présent tant dans la nappe inférieure que dans le bouclier baltique autochtone, témoigne d'un métamorphisme calédonien (400 Ma) de faible degré.

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Structure of the upper mantle in the Northeastern Atlantic close to the azores-gibraltar ridge from surface-wave and body-wave observations

Phase velocities of teleseismic Rayleigh waves have been measured in the central North Atlantic on both sides of the Azores-Gibraltar Ridge (AGR) by means of a specially designed long-period station network. The dispersion data obtained were regionalized and then subjected to a “hedgehog” inversion, which gives a set of upper mantle models compatible with the observational data within specified error bounds.Reasonable model solutions were selected by using regional body-wave observations, such as P_n- and S_n-wave velocities determined from earthquakes along the AGR. The S_(itn) velocities measured indicate that the shear-wave velocity in the mantle part of the lithosphere is much higher on the northern side of the AGR. Strongly negative P-wave residuals in this area indicate faster seismic propagation than implied by the Jeffreys-Bullen travel-time tables, while propagation is much slower in the Gulf of Cadiz area. Furthermore the residuals show a clear difference for paths through oceanic and continental domains and suggest that the transition between these two domains extends much further into the ocean on the southern side of the AGR than on the northern side.The proposed model for the structure of the upper mantle in that region shows that there exists a pronounced velocity contrast across the AGR. Thickening of the lithospheric plate with increasing plate age is indicated to the south of the ridge. The greatest thickness is reached close to the continental margin within a zone about 500 km wide, whose velocity close to the Canary Islands and Madeira is significantly lower, probably due to the well-known volcanic activity there. These observations together with the travel time residuals reveal that this zone seems to be of a transitional nature somewhere between a continental and oceanic structure.     

Correlation of the Quaternary terrace sequence in the Lower Rhine valley and northern Alpine foothills of central Europe

Thirteen glacial terraces are known from the western part of the northern Alpine foothills between the Lech and Iller Rivers. In the Lower Rhine region of West Germany, a similar number of terraces are capped by interglacial floodloams and soils. Whereas the environment during individual interglaciations did not differ substantially, the glaciations were progressively more severe. The Main Terrace system of the Rhine may be an exception. The duration of the Quaternary, starting at the base of Praetiglian, is estimated at approximately 2 million yr by paleomagnetic dating. The major cold-warm climatic cycles of the earliest Pleistocene lasted approximately 100,000 yr, the same as those of the Brunhes Chron. The intervening Main Terrace system has not yet been climatically subdivided. Correlation with the Netherlands is possible because of an abundance of paleobotanic and paleomagnetic evidence. In the Alpine foothills, stratigraphically useful indicators of warm climates are missing, but analogies in terrace development permit comparison with the Lower Rhine and Danube. The terrace sequence in the Alpine foothills is incomplete, as are those along most of the other rivers in Europe. Some of the older terraces may have been eroded.     

Crustal structure beneath Spain from deep seismic sounding experiments

Major tectonic units of Spain have been investigated by deep seismic sounding experiments since 1974 to determine crustal structures and to delineate their differences. These areas are the central part of the Hercynian Meseta, and the Alpine chains: the Betic Cordillera in the south, including the Balearic promontory and the Alboran Sea, and the Pyrenees in the north.The main features of the crust and the upper mantle along a NNE-SSW cross-section from the Pyrenees to the Alboran Sea are described.The crust under the Meseta is typical of Hercynian areas found elsewhere in Europe, with an average thickness of 31 km, whereas the two Alpine regions are characterized by very large lateral inhomogeneities, such as rapid thickening of the crust to 50 and 40 km under the Pyrenees and the Betics, respectively. The deep-reaching E-W-trending North Pyrenean fault has a throw of 10–15 km at the base of the crust. A P_n velocity of 8.1 km s^?1 is found under the entire Iberian Peninsula.In the Alboran Sea, strongly varying thicknesses of sediments, shallow variable depths to the Moho (～ 13 km under the Alboran ridge), and strong variations of P_n velocity between 7.5 and 8.2 km s^?1 have been found.     

A friction damped base isolation system with fail-safe characteristics

An experimental study of a Coulomb friction damped aseismic base isolation system with fail-safe characteristics is described in this paper. The base isolation system utilized commercially made natural rubber bearings and a skid system which comes into operation at preset-levels of relative horizontal displacement between the structure and the foundation. The fail-safe skid provides hysteretic damping and prevents failure of the isolation system in the event of displacements larger than those assumed in the original design. The isolation system can be designed for an earthquake which can be reasonably expected within the lifetime of the structure; in the event of an earthquake of unanticipated intensity the failsafe system will prevent collapse of the structure. The testing of the system involved an 80,000lb model, approximately 1/3 scale to a real structure mounted on the 20′ × 20′ shaking table at EERC and subject to a variety of earthquake inputs. The results show that the hysteretic effect of the fail-safe system does not greatly increase the accelerations experienced by the structure but considerably reduces the relative displacements at the isolation bearings. The action of the fail-safe system was tested by using an earthquake input that produced a resonant response in the isolated mode of the model. The stability limit of the isolation system was exceeded and the bearings failed but complete failure of the isolation system and thus collapse of the model was prevented by the fail-safe system. The implementation of the system in full scale structures poses no technical or construction problems. An equivalent linearization technique was developed for this system for design purposes using response spectra. The accuracy of this approach was verified by comparison with the experimental results.     

Human response to environmental change in the perspective of future, global climate

Human response to severe environmental stress is conceived and implemented by individuals, but must be approved by the group. These decisions are made with respect to perceived circumstances. Societies are enmeshed within adaptive systems that provide a matrix of opportunities and constraints for a wide range of potential behavioral variability. Such systems repeatedly readjust to short-term crises, e.g., droughts, but persistent and severe environmental stress may require substantial revision of adaptive strategies. The Sahel drought of 1968–1973 is an example of a brief but severe crisis, recurring along the Saharan margins perhaps once every 30 years. Closer inspection shows links between intensified intertribal warfare and ecological stress in the lower Omo Valley. The decline of the Egyptian New Kingdom during the 12th century B.C., in response to economic stagnation, sociopolitical instability, dynastic weakness, foreign pressures, and poor Nile floods over 50–70 years, represents a more complex and fundamental modification, with systemic simplification lasting 450 years. Such insights can be applied to future, global climatic change due to increasing atmospheric CO₂. Simulation and paleoclimatic experience suggest a drier climate for the North American and Soviet breadbaskets, to threaten world food supplies at a time of maximum demographic pressures and declining resources. Public perception and remedial planning should receive the attention of Quaternary scientists, in order to preempt an involuntary, global, systemic simplification.     

Spatial variability of water vapor turbulent transfer within the boundary layer

Although the physics of evaporation within the inner region of the boundary layer is believed to be well understood, observations of mass-energy exchange processes have been hindered by the limitations of point sensors. A combination of point sensors and active remote sensing, namely, water-Raman Lidar measurements, offers new opportunities to study relatively large areas at temporal and spatial scales previously unattainable. Results from experiments over uniform canopies both confirm some traditional theories and challenge some of the underlying assumptions concerning the homogeneity of the surface-atmosphere interface and the use of point sensors to characterize large areas.This work was performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy. The authors would like to thank F. Archuleta, J. Archuleta, F. Barnes, W. Clements, K. Muller and W. Porch of LANL, R. Whitis of USDA, R. Jackson and P. Pinter of USDA-WCL, and L. Balick of EG&G for their invaluable time and support.     

The role of wind direction in eolian transport on a narrow sandy beach

Comparison of eolian transport during five high-velocity wind events over a 29 day period on a narrow estuarine beach in Delaware Bay, New Jersey, USA, reveals the temporal variability of transport, due to changes in direction of wind approach. Mean wind speed measured 6 m above the dune crest for the five events ranged from 8·5 to 15·9 ms^?1. Mean wind direction was oblique to the shoreline (63° from shore-normal) during one event but was within 14° of shore-normal during the other events. Eolian transport is greatest during low tide and rising tide, when the beach source area is widest and when drying of surface sediments occurs. The quantity of sediment caught in a vertical trap for the five events varied from a total of 0·07 to 113·73 kgm^?1. Differences in temperature, relative humidity and moisture and salt content of surficial sediments were slight. Mean grain sizes ranged from 0·33 to 0·58 mm, causing slight differences in threshold shear velocity, but shear velocities exceeded the threshold required for transport during all events. Beach width, measured normal to the shoreline, varied from 15·5 to 18·0 m; beach slope differed by 0·5°. The oblique wind during one event created a source width nearly double the width during other days. Beach slope, measured in the direction of the wind, was less than half as steep as the slope measured normal to the shoreline. The amount of sand trapped during the oblique wind was over 20 times greater than any other event, even those with higher shear velocities. The ability of the beach surface to supply grains to the air stream is limited on narrow beaches, but increased source width, due to oblique wind approach, can partially overcome limitations of surface conditions on the beach.