A review of present techniques and methodological advances in analyzing Th in aquatic systems

The short-lived thorium isotope ²³⁴Th (half-life 24.1 days) has been used as a tracer for a variety of transport processes in aquatic systems. Its use as a tracer of oceanic export via sinking particles has stimulated a rapidly increasing number of studies that require analyses of ²³⁴Th in both marine and freshwater systems. The original ²³⁴Th method is labor intensive. Thus, there has been a quest for simpler techniques that require smaller sample volumes. Here, we review current methodologies in the collection and analysis of ²³⁴Th from the water column, discuss their individual strengths and weaknesses, and provide an outlook on possible further improvements and future challenges. Also included in this review are recommendations on calibration procedures and the production of standard reference materials as well as a flow chart designed to help researchers find the most appropriate ²³⁴Th analytical technique for a specific aquatic regime and known sampling constraints.     

Extreme rainfall events in Catalonia. The case of 12 November 1988

A study of the synoptic situation which produced the catastrophic floods of November 1988 in Catalonia (in the northeast of the Iberian Peninsula) is presented. Analyses of the vertical structure, potential instability, precipitable water, and instability index are made through the radiosounding data from Palma, Majorca. It is found that the 1988 situation is included in type I intense convective events in Catalonia (classification obtained from all the events since 1950, (Llasat, 1989)). It was characterized by:

Applicability of the H/V spectral ratio of microtremors in assessing site effects on seismic motion

The authors examine the reliability of site response estimations obtained by the horizontal to vertical (H/V) spectral ratios of microtremors by means of cross‐validation with the ratio of the horizontal spectra of earthquake motion with respect to reference sites. The data comprise microtremor and ground motion records recorded at 150 sites of Yokohama strong motion array. The use of non‐supervised pattern recognition techniques aims to group the sites with more objectivity. Attributes defining the overall shape of the amplification spectra serve as input in the computation of Euclidean distance similarity coefficients amongst sites. The implementation of the Ward clustering scheme leads to the attainment of a meaningful tree diagram. Its analysis shows the possibility of summarizing the results into six general patterns. A good coincidence of site effects estimates at 80 per cent of the sites becomes apparent. However, this coincidence appears poor for sites characterized by H/V amplification ratios around 2 or smaller and predominant periods longer than 0.5 s. In such cases, the presence of stiff, sandy sediments in the soil profile proves common. To proscribe H/V estimations, relying solely on the small spectral ratios criterion seems inadequate. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

K-Ar ages from the eastern Azores group (Santa Maria,São Miguel and the Formigas Islands)

Present estimates of the age of volcanic activity in the eastern Azores group are based on shelly fauna in a coquina zone separating the two basaltic sequences on Santa Maria. A Vindobonian (Middle Miocene) age has been assigned to the coquina zone. Our K-Ar data suggests that it was deposited 4–6 m.y. ago, i.e. Mio-Pliocene in age.The basaltic series exposed below the coquina zone on Santa Maria is 6–8 m.y. old and probably much older. The post-coquina basaltic complex is 4 m.y. old and younger. The Nordeste basaltic complex in the NE part of São Miguel and the basaltic flows of the Formigas Bank are also 4 m.y. old and younger. We suggest that the three latter basaltic sequences are chronostratigraphic equivalents.     

Lithogeochemical and mineralogical indicators of Andean precious-metal and polymetallic vein mineralization

Proximal and distal lithogeochemical alteration patterns associated with precious-metal and polymetallic vein mineralization in the Andes of Bolivia and Peru are delineated both by sulphophile elements such as Ag, As, Pb, S, Sb, Sn and Zn, and also by hydrothermal alteration indicators such as CaO/MgO, K₂O/Na₂O, Rb/K and Rb/Sr. In some cases, single-element, ratio and normalized data additive plots permit the detection of a vein at a distance of more than 100 m even when the visible alteration extends for less than 10 m. Asymmetric hanging-wall-footwall halos in both volcanic and sedimentary rocks provide a useful supra-ore/sub-ore indicator for inclined veins. The K₂O/Na₂O ratio appears to be the most reliable lithogeochemical guide to ore-related hydrothermal alteration.     

Using the DPFT approach to improve flash flood forecasting models

DPFT is a lumped approach for operational flash flood forecasting, based on the unit hydrograph. Using a multi-event alternating iterative algorithm, it identifies a robust and stable average transfer function and a consistent set of effective rainfall series associated with each event at the same time. This key ingredient allows an objective calibration of different loss functions, relating gauged precipitation and effective rainfall. A case study based on an operational French basin (545 km²) is presented. Three lumped production functions have been calibrated and compared. The results show that more elaborate models of loss functions must be proposed, and some possible directions for this are pointed out.     

Overview of some Colombian gold deposits and their development potential

Source rock gold deposits in Colombia include Proterozoic unconformity-related paleoplacers, Palaeozoic stratabound Au/Ag-Cu-Pb-V-U red bed-type ores, and Mesozoic/Tertiary hydrothermal vein systems of Cordilleran magmatic arcs. The younger metallogenic episode occurred some 8 Ma ago in the Western Cordillera. Epithermal deposits are generally small (> 10,000–1 Mt grading 5–10 g/t Au) and the precious-base metal (Cu, Zn, Fe) association was probably deposited within the temperature range 180–300 °C. Widespread palaeoplacers in Quaternary terraces with enrichment in old channels, as well as extensively dredged alluvial deposits in presently active sediments, are connected with ongoing Andean uplift and erosion. Palaeochannel and alluvial gold concentrations represent the most promising targets for future exploration. An additional output could also derive from the clastic-hosted, stratiform deposits of the shield and E Cordillera.     

The Gulf of Cadiz: an unstable giant contouritic levee

Recent multibeam bathymetry and acoustic imagery data provide a new understanding of the sedimentary system located in the Gulf of Cadiz which is under the influence of a strong current, the Mediterranean Outflow Water (MOW). When it comes out from the Strait of Gibraltar, the MOW is either channelled along major or secondary channels, or spills over a sedimentary levee. Frequent earthquakes and the constant current shearing generate widespread sediment deformation and instability of contourite deposits. Secondary channels can form by retrogression following an initial failure. At their mouth, sediment accumulates in the form of small sandy contourite lobes. These observations suggest that the Gulf of Cadiz system shares many similarities with channel–levee complexes formed by turbidity current activity. The main difference is that, in the Gulf of Cadiz, the main process is a strongly flowing saline current which locally interacts with gravity processes.