Accelerated plate motion and rates of volcanicity as controls on Archean climates

Although vulcanicity is seen as a possible mechanism of climatic change, under present rates of eruptions it is difficult to envisage volcanic activity acting independently of other factors in causing significant and lasting global climate changes. This note considers the global plate-tectonic regime which may have prevailed during the Archean, and which, as a consequence, should have resulted in rates of volcanic eruptions significantly higher than at present. From this would follow atmospheric CO₂ levels significantly higher than those which prevail today. In this note we attempt to establish a link between the Archean global plate-tectonic regime and the high atmospheric CO₂ levels which are thought to have existed at that time.     

Zur Staubdichte in Reflexionsnebeln

Assuming an isotropic scattering function of interstellar grains from a discussion of the Hubble relation of the reflection nebulae it follows that for such objects with the illuminating star outside of the nebula a lower limit of the dust density depending on the absolute magnitude of the illuminating star is necessary in order to image the nebula on the Palomar Observatory Sky Survey. The albedo of the grains is larger than γ = 0.6.     

International wood trade and forest change: A global analysis

Throughout history, humans have transformed natural forests into agricultural land, settlement areas and managed forests. Studies on the dynamics of forest change are one of the mainstays in land change science. The forest transition theory offers a powerful tool to analyze changes in human interference with forests. At the national level, a range of factors have been found to influence a country's forest change. The role of international wood product trade has, however, rarely been studied based on empirical data. We offer a global assessment of how this trade helps shape observed forest change, by relating forest stock change to net trade of wood products for the period 1997-2007 and by localizing the origin of wood consumed in a given nation. For many nations, traded wood products have a relevant impact on the course of ongoing forest transitions. We develop a general typology of how wood product trade can influence forest change and place various nations within this framework. We find that many wealthy nations with returning forests seem to accelerate this return by importing wood products. These imports appear to be provided by two main types of wood exporters: (a) by wealthy countries with low population densities and stable forests and (b) by relatively poor countries with declining forests, employing increasing population and welfare levels. We discuss these findings in the light of general theories on land use transitions and forest change and conclude by highlighting implications for national forest policies and global environmental governance, aiming at reducing negative impacts of wood products and enhancing the positive role they can play in replacing more fossil fuel intensive products.     

Hydraulic fracturing wastewater in Germany: composition, treatment, concerns

When studying technical methods and measures that could be applicable for flowback treatment, recycling and/or disposal, it is important to characterize the volumes and composition of hydraulic fracturing flowback. In this work, water volumes and water quality data are considered for investigating flowback at three selected drilling sites in Germany. The analysis highlighted an increase of chloride concentrations up to saturation limit over the time. High salinity concentrations were used as indicator for estimating the percentage of hydraulic fracturing fluid and formation water in flowback. For the studied shale gas well a proportion of formation water, 69 %, and hydraulic fracturing fluid, 31 %, in flowback were derived. Thus, 92 % of the hydraulic fracturing fluid remained in the formation. The physical/chemical properties of flowback were categorized in groups to enable the allocation of applicable treatment methods. The analysis revealed that no single technology can meet suitable effluent characteristics, thus two or more treatment systems might be used in series operation. In particular, for flowback containing high salinity concentrations the only treatment options are evaporation or crystallization. Hence, methodological distinctions need to be made between concentration, elimination, disposal and recycling, whereby for the existing concentrate treatment or disposal measures need to be completed and scaled up into the process.     

南天山西部山前新生代晚期三期构造活动:来自乌鲁克恰提剖面砾石统计的证据

天山是印度与欧亚板块碰撞过程中,欧亚大陆内重新复活的一条重要的造山带,其拓展过程一直备受关注.南天山西部山前新生代晚期巨厚的砾岩层为构造变形和磁性地层研究带来了困难,限制了该地区新生代晚期造山带拓展过程的研究.本文选取南天山西部山前乌鲁克恰提剖面,对新生代晚期的阿图什组和西域组地层进行详细的描述、测量,并对砾石出露点进行砾石统计.结果显示南天山西部山前乌鲁克恰提地区新生代晚期阿图什组存在3期沉积旋回,第一旋回由冲积扇远端、河流相变为该旋回上部的冲积扇扇中沉积环境.砾石统计结果显示由该旋回中部至上部砾石磨圆度变差、大粒径砾石增多.第二旋回沉积环境以较为平静的湖相及少许河流相开始,变为该旋回上部的冲积扇环境.砾石统计结果也显示出与第一旋回相似的变化特征,即由该旋回中部至上部砾石磨圆度变差、大粒径砾石增多.第三旋回下部为冲积扇远端、冲积扇扇中环境,上部变为扇根环境.砾石统计显示该旋回下部至上部,火成岩和变质岩等不稳定成分增多,磨圆度则呈现棱角状砾石显著增多的趋势,砾石粒径也明显增大.西域组则延续第三旋回的趋势,表现为山前快速堆积砾石沉积,砾石磨圆、分选呈显著变差趋势,粒径持续变大.从阿图什组第一旋回至西域组,砾石的磨圆度呈现变差的趋势,而粒径则表现为明显的增大趋势,这表明晚新生代(5.6Ma以来),褶皱冲断带不断向盆地拓展,物源区距离沉积区越来越近.这些结果表明南天山西部山前新生代晚期(5.6Ma以来)存在3期构造活动,为南天山山前晚新生代的多期拓展提供了证据.     

青藏高原东北部隆升：来自宁夏同心小洪沟剖面的证据

青藏高原边界地区的研究,尤其是砾石研究,对探讨青藏高原的隆升过程及隆升机制具有重要意义。本文选取青藏高原东北部香山山前小洪沟剖面,对出露的新生界各层位的砾石进行统计。统计结果显示,该剖面寺口子组上段、红柳沟组下段、红柳沟组上段、第四系以及现今河床出露的砾石成分主要为砂岩和石英砂岩,这与香山地区岩性相符合;砾石主要呈次圆状和次棱角状;长短轴比主要为1至2之间,为近圆状;砾石主要集中在中砾和小砾类别;分选好至中等好。砾石粒径分布显示出向细粒成分偏的特征,主要呈尖峰正态分布。这些特征表明各层位砾石相似的搬运过程,为中距离山前河流冲积砾石。沉积分析表明该砾石与气候振荡无必然联系,为构造隆升的产物。砾石沉积年龄由邻区磁性地层定年结果来限定。砾石特征结合邻区沉积分析表明香山地区在寺口子组沉积时（始新世）沉积之前已具有相当大的高程;至清水营组沉积时（渐新世）,该山体被剥蚀剥蚀夷平;到红柳沟组沉积时（中新世早、中期）,香山经历了再次的隆升;至干河沟组沉积时（中新世晚期到上新世）,构造趋于稳定;到更新世时,再次出现隆升事件。始新世香山山体可能与晚白垩世至新生代早期的构造事件有关,中新世的隆升时间可以作为印－藏碰撞效应到达香山地区的时限,显示青藏高原东北边界新生代的变形隆升时间较前人研究结果早,且存在多期隆升。     

DuneXpress

The DuneXpress observatory will characterize interstellar and interplanetary dust in-situ, in order to provide crucial information not achievable with remote sensing astronomical methods. Galactic interstellar dust constitutes the solid phase of matter from which stars and planetary systems form. Interplanetary dust, from comets and asteroids, represents remnant material from bodies at different stages of early solar system evolution. Thus, studies of interstellar and interplanetary dust with DuneXpress in Earth orbit will provide a comparison between the composition of the interstellar medium and primitive planetary objects. Hence DuneXpress will provide insights into the physical conditions during planetary system formation. This comparison of interstellar and interplanetary dust addresses directly themes of highest priority in astrophysics and solar system science, which are described in ESA’s Cosmic Vision. The discoveries of interstellar dust in the outer and inner solar system during the last decade suggest an innovative approach to the characterization of cosmic dust. DuneXpress establishes the next logical step beyond NASA’s Stardust mission, with four major advancements in cosmic dust research: (1) analysis of the elemental and isotopic composition of individual interstellar grains passing through the solar system, (2) determination of the size distribution of interstellar dust at 1 AU from 10^− 14 to 10^− 9 g, (3) characterization of the interstellar dust flow through the planetary system, (4) establish the interrelation of interplanetary dust with comets and asteroids. Additionally, in supporting the dust science objectives, DuneXpress will characterize dust charging in the solar wind and in the Earth’s magnetotail. The science payload consists of two dust telescopes of a total of 0.1 m² sensitive area, three dust cameras totaling 0.4 m² sensitive area, and a nano-dust detector. The dust telescopes measure high-resolution mass spectra of both positive and negative ions released upon impact of dust particles. The dust cameras employ different detection methods and are optimized for (1) large area impact detection and trajectory analysis of submicron sized and larger dust grains, (2) the determination of physical properties, such as flux, mass, speed, and electrical charge. A nano-dust detector searches for nanometer-sized dust particles in interplanetary space. A plasma monitor supports the dust charge measurements, thereby, providing additional information on the dust particles. About 1,000 grains are expected to be recorded by this payload every year, with 20% of these grains providing elemental composition. During the mission submicron to micron-sized interstellar grains are expected to be recorded in statistically significant numbers. DuneXpress will open a new window to dusty universe that will provide unprecedented information on cosmic dust and on the objects from which it is derived.