3‐D mesoscale simulation of crack‐permeability coupling in the Brazilian splitting test

In this paper, mesoscale hydromechanical simulations are performed to study (1) fracture features and (2) crack‐gas permeability coupling evolution in the context of the tensile splitting test. The mesostructure is based on a 2‐phase 3‐D representation of heterogeneous materials, such as concrete, where stiff aggregates are embedded into a mortar matrix. To take into account these heterogeneities without any mesh adaptation, a weak discontinuity is introduced into the strain field. In addition, a strong discontinuity is also added to take into account microcracking. This mechanical model is cast into the framework of the enhanced finite element method. Concerning the coupling with gas permeability, a double‐porosity method is used to simulate the flow through the cracks and the porosity. The apparent gas permeability is afterwards evaluated by a homogenization method. On the basis of finite element simulations, influence of aggregate size on ultimate crack opening, macroscopic ultimate tensile stress, total dissipated energy, and gas permeability evolution is numerically investigated. Furthermore, gas permeability evolution is also compared with experimental results from the literature. In addition, in the spirit of a sequential multiscale approach, macroscale gas permeability equations are identified from the hydromechanical results coming from the mesoscale computations. These equations lead to a relation between macroscale gas permeability evolution and crack opening. Besides, we show how the aggregate size influences the percolation threshold and that after this threshold, a cubic relation between macroscale gas permeability and crack opening is obtained.     

Changes in ostracod assemblages and morphologies during lake‐level variations of Lago Cardiel (49°S), Patagonia,Argentina, over the last 15.6 ka

Changes in the ostracod assemblages from two sediment cores collected from Lago Cardiel in southeastern Patagonia (49°S) reflect the main regional abrupt climatic changes over the last 15.6 cal. ka BP. Shifts in species abundance and switches in dominances suggest that these were mainly driven by variable salinity. During the Late Pleistocene, Limnocythere rionegroensis was abundant and dominant, indicating waters with high salinity and prevalence of evaporative processes. Between 12.6 and 10.8 cal. ka BP, Lago Cardiel expanded markedly and reached an Early Holocene highstand of +55 m above present lake level. A major change in ostracod assemblage in which Limnocythere patagonica appears as the dominant species in parallel with the disappearance of L. rionegroensis and Eucypris aff. cecryphalium mirrored this transitional period between the cold and dry Late Pleistocene and the humid and warm Early Holocene. Over the last 4 cal. ka BP, L. rionegroensis returned to the species assemblage and Riocypris whatleyi increased its abundance pointing towards increasing salinities. The variations in size, shape and ornamentation of L. rionegroensis and R. whatleyi fossil valves were examined using geometric morphometric techniques and further compared to those of modern Patagonian sites. Limnocythere rionegroensis specimens displayed high morphological variability during the evolution of Lago Cardiel. More specifically, the switch in reproductive mode – from sexual to parthenogenetic– and the increase in valve ornamentation around 12.7 cal. ka BP suggest that these changes were promoted by the hydrological alteration that occurred in the Late Pleistocene. This exercise provides a robust range of morphological variation for these proxies, which will be useful in further taxonomic and palaeoenvironmental studies adding more information about different factors influencing the observed morphological trends.     

The effect of recent climatic trends on Urticaceae pollination in two bioclimatically different areas in the Iberian Peninsula: Malaga and Vigo

Malaga (Mediterranean coast) and Vigo (Atlantic coast) are representative of two bioclimatically different areas belonging to the Mediterranean and the Eurosiberian region, respectively. This contribution represents a study on recent trends in the principal meteorological parameters in these areas and their influence on the phenology of Urticaceae (nettle family) atmospheric pollen, one of the main causes of pollinosis in Spain. The study covers the period 1991–2006 for Malaga and 1995–2005 for Vigo, and compares the differences in climate and phenological behaviour observed at both localities. The sampling of atmospheric pollen was performed with Hirst volumetric pollen traps. The two localities present different tendencies as far as temperature is concerned: while the mean annual temperature in the Mediterranean region has increased by 0.06°C/year, the same parameter has decreased in the Atlantic area by 0.1°C/year. This tendency is even more pronounced as far as the minimum temperatures are concerned, especially during spring in Malaga and autumn in Vigo. On the other hand, wind speed has tended to increase, periods of calm have diminished and winds blowing off the sea have increased in both places. These changes in meteorological parameters have advanced the end of the pollen season in Malaga and delayed its start in Vigo. Total annual pollen counts have decreased in Vigo, while the number of pollen-free days has increased in both areas.     

“Granite tectonics” revisited: insights from comparison of K-feldspar shape-fabric,anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS), and brittle fractures in the Jizera granite,Bohemian Massif

In the Jizera granite of the Krkonoše–Jizera Plutonic Complex, northern Bohemian Massif, contrasting patterns of magmatic K-feldspar fabrics and brittle fractures characterize different structural levels of the pluton. The uppermost exposed level at ∼800–1,100 m above sea level is dominated by flat foliation that overprints two steep foliations. In contrast, K-feldspar shape-fabric in an underground tunnel (∼660 m above sea level) shows complex variations in orientation and intensity. Magnetic fabric carried by coaxial contributions of biotite, magnetite, and maghemite is homogeneous along the examined section of the tunnel, and is decoupled from the K-feldspar fabric. The Jizera granite is crosscut by two regional sets of subvertical fractures (∼NE–SW and ∼NW–SE) and by near-surface exfoliation joints. The multiple fabrics are inferred to reflect a complex magmatic strain history at different structural levels of the pluton, bearing little or no relationship to the fracture network. In contrast to the original concept of Hans Cloos (“granite tectonics”), we conclude that no simple genetic relationship exists between fabrics and fractures in plutons. An alternative classification of fractures in plutons thus should avoid relationships to magmatic fabrics and should instead consist of cooling, syntectonic, uplift, and post-uplift fractures.     

Comparative characterization of humic substances from the open ocean, estuarine water and fresh water

Humic substances were isolated from ocean, estuarine water and fresh water using a two column array of XAD-8 and XAD-4 resins in series. The extracted fulvic acids and XAD-4 fraction from different origins were characterized using UV–vis., molecular fluorescence, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and cross polarization magic angle spinning (CPMAS)-¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The isolation procedure allowed us to obtain the necessary amount of sample for characterization, even in the case of open ocean water, which has a very low amount of dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Humic substances from the open ocean showed the lowest chromophore and fluorophore contents and showed relatively greater fluorescence at lower wavelengths than those from fresh water. FTIR and ¹³C NMR spectra highlighted the idea that humic substances from a marine environment have a more branched aliphatic structure and less aromatic structure than those highly influenced by terrestrial sources. The spectra also suggest that the open ocean humic substances have a higher content of olefinic carbons than aromatic- or alkyl-substituted carbons.     

The evolution of massive black hole seeds

We investigate the evolution of high-redshift seed black hole masses at late times and their observational signatures. The massive black hole seeds studied here form at extremely high redshifts from the direct collapse of pre-galactic gas discs. Populating dark matter haloes with seeds formed in this way, we follow the mass assembly of these black holes to the present time using a Monte Carlo merger tree. Using this machinery, we predict the black hole mass function at high redshifts and at the present time, the integrated mass density of black holes and the luminosity function of accreting black holes as a function of redshift. These predictions are made for a set of three seed models with varying black hole formation efficiency. Given the accuracy of present observational constraints, all three models can be adequately fitted. Discrimination between the models appears predominantly at the low-mass end of the present-day black hole mass function which is not observationally well constrained. However, all our models predict that low surface brightness, bulgeless galaxies with large discs are least likely to be sites for the formation of massive seed black holes at high redshifts. The efficiency of seed formation at high redshifts has a direct influence on the black hole occupation fraction in galaxies at   z = 0  . This effect is more pronounced for low-mass galaxies. This is the key discriminant between the models studied here and the Population III remnant seed model. We find that there exist a population of low-mass galaxies that do not host nuclear black holes. Our prediction of the shape of the M _BH–σ relation at the low-mass end is in agreement with the recent observational determination from the census of low-mass galaxies in the Virgo cluster.     

Formative pre-Hispanic agricultural soils in northwest Argentina

Our study area is from an early agricultural archaeological site named “El Tolar” (1st to 9th century AD), located in Tafí Valley (Tucumán, northwest Argentina). The objective was to identify geochemical signatures generated by the sustained agrarian use of soils. Chemical and pedological studies were made in different archaeological contexts. Physical and chemical features, such as bulk density, pH, organic and inorganic phosphorus, and available copper, manganese and iron, were taken into account. The results suggested that a buried paleosol identified was contemporary with the occupation of the site. It also showed characteristics clearly related to pre-Hispanic agrarian production. The concentrations of organic phosphorus and iron in agricultural soils probably reflect the use of fertilizers. The application of geoscience techniques allowed us to obtain important information on their behaviour and socio-economic development. This paper constitutes the first pedogeochemical approach to the study of Argentinean pre-Hispanic agricultural soils.     

Canonical correlation analysis as a tool in the provenance study of overbank sediments from the small mountainous watersheds

Canonical correlation analysis (CCA) is used in this study in order to trace the lineage of overbank sediment from the initial erosion of the parent rocks down to deposition of detrital material in alluvium of the small mountainous watersheds of the Žumberak area, Croatia. It helps to elucidate relations between the hierarchically structured systems (rocks, minerals, elements) represented by the ensembles of lithological, mineralogical and geochemical variables. Taking their place in the vertical order of hierarchical complexity, geochemistry and mineralogy of the recent material are considered dependent variable regarding the related watershed lithology, with geochemical variables (major and trace elements) last in the chain. Three canonical models are built and cross-compared in order to unravel the between-level relationships and infer the basic patterns of mineral and geochemical flux from the source rocks to basin. From these, the two hierarchical (provenance) chains epitomized in recombination of the first two canonical functions have been derived highlighting complementary provenances, weathering styles, and dispersion avenues in alluvial sedimentation of the study area. The first clearly separates carbonate from siliciclastic sedimentary source while the second illuminates the origin of phyllosilicate and ferric oxyhydroxide phases with associated suite of elements in absence of clear carbonate signal.