An introduction to the South China Sea throughflow: Its dynamics, variability, and application for climate

The South China Sea throughflow (SCSTF) involves the inflow through the Luzon strait and the outflow through the Karimata, Mindoro, and Taiwan straits. Recent studies have suggested that the SCSTF act as a heat and freshwater conveyor, playing a potentially important role in regulating the sea surface temperature pattern in the South China Sea and its adjoining tropical Indian and Pacific Oceans. In this introductory paper, we attempt to convey the progress that has recently been made in understanding the SCSTF. We first provide an overview of existing observations, theories, and simulations of the SCSTF. Then, we discuss its interaction with the Pacific western boundary current and Indonesian throughflow. Finally, we summarize issues and questions that remain to be addressed, with special reference to the SCSTF's dynamics, variability, and implication for climate.     

Peralkaline nephelinites. I. Comparative petrology of Shombole and Oldoinyo L'engai,East Africa

Shombole, a nephelinite-carbonatite volcano in south Kenya, erupted silicate lavas, carbonatite dikes and tuffs, and pyroclastic rocks similar to those at other East African alkaline centres. Shombole lavas containing cpx + nepheline + accessory minerals range from perovskite-bearing nephelinites (43% SiO₂, volatile-free) to sphene-bearing and phonolitic nephelinites (46–49% SiO₂) and phonolites (49–56% SiO₂) and have low peralkalinity ([Na+K]/Al 1.15) which does not correlate with SiO₂. Early fractionation of olivine and clinopyroxene strongly depleted Ni and Cr concentrations (10 ppm); fractionation of perovskite, melanite, sphene, and apatite produced negative correlations of all REE with SiO₂. Many lavas contain cognate intrusive xenoliths and xenocrysts and oscillatory zoning is a common feature of clinopyroxene, nepheline, and melanite crystals, indicating recycling of intrusive material. Irregular calcite-rich bodies in many samples are interpreted as quenched immiscible Ca-carbonatite liquid, and [Ca-carbonate]-silicate liquid immiscibility is observed in experiments with one nephelinite. Chemical variation in the Shombole suite can be modeled as a combination of crystal fractionation (clinopyroxene and heavy minor phases) and retention of neutral density nepheline derived from disaggregated xenoliths entrained during emplacement of dike swarms. Six newly analyzed lavas from Oldoinyo L'engai, northern Tanzania, are geochemically similar to Shombole nephelinites except that they have relatively high Na₂O+K₂O (average 18% vs 12%) and Zr (average 680 ppm vs 400 ppm). They are extremely peralkaline and are not typical of nephelinites from other centres. Three with [Na+K]/Al1.5 contain euhedral wollastonite phenocrysts; three with [Na+K]/Al2.0 contain combeite (Na₂Ca₂Si₃O₉) phenocrysts and pseudomorphs after wollastonite. Both types contain abundant sodalite phenocrysts (+nepheline+clinopyroxene+melanite+sphene). Seven other wollastonite nephelinite samples from L'engai have been described, but it is a lava type rarely seen in other centres. Combeite has been described from only two other locations (Mt. Shaheru, Zaire; Mayener Feld, Eifel). The hyperalkaline L'engai nephelinites have compositions similar to those of experimental silicate liquids immiscible with natrocarbonatite. Textural evidence for both carbonate-silicate (as carbonate globules) and silicate-silicate (as two optically discrete glasses with distinct compositions) liquid immiscibility is observed in the samples.     

Performance-based analysis and design for internal stability of MSE walls

ABSTRACT

Mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls must be designed with adequate margins of safety against internal stability failure described by tensile strength and pullout limit states. Probabilities of failure (or reliability index) will vary strongly with the accuracy of the underlying models that appear in limit state performance functions. In this paper, prior work by the authors and co-workers on this topic is reviewed. Relative performance is explored in the context of the reliability (or probability of failure) of steel and polymeric reinforcing elements in MSE walls using limit state performance functions with load and resistance models having different accuracy.     

Temporal shoreline change and infrastructure influences along the southern Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia

Jizan is one of the Saudi Arabian coastal cities endowed with diverse natural settings, which includes Ash Shuqayq in the north, Turfah in the centre and Jizan in the South. This work analysed specific environmental characteristics, such as spits, sabkhas and wadis. Assessments used Landsat imagery to examine coastal change between 1973 and 2011. The cumulative temporal change identified regression trends given by coefficients of determination that explained a significant percentage of data variation for Jizan (R ² = 69%) and Turfah (R ² = 72%), while Ash Shuqayq was insignificant (R ² = 14%). Inter-survey results predicted future change, although trends were not significant, i.e. Jizan (R ² = 22%), Turfah (R ² = 14%) and Ash Shuqayq (R ² = 3 and 61% with outlying value removed). Aerial photos showed regional coastal changes, which included a maximum accretion of 36.4 m and maximum erosion of 12.9 m. These are scientifically effective techniques to monitor regional coastal change, i.e. erosion and accretion and identified rates of 0.59, 1.80 and 3.53 myr^?1 for Ash Shuqayq, Turfah and Jizan. Changes were linked to infrastructure developments, e.g. tourism, port development and natural causes, e.g. spit formations and wadi outfalls.     

Millennial-scale sea-level control on avulsion events on the Amazon Fan

The Late Quaternary Amazon deep-sea fan provides a modern analogue to ancient fan systems containing coarse-grained hydrocarbon reservoirs. Sand lenses deposited within the Amazon Fan, due to abrupt shifts in channel pathways called avulsion events, were drilled as part of ODP Leg 155. The hemipelagic sediment directly on top of the avulsion sands was dated using primarily AMS radio carbon dating. This dating shows that these large sand lobes (1 km³) are triggered by relatively small, millennial scale changes in marine transgression and regression (±5–10 m). Relative sea level also controls the architecture of the Channel–levee distributive systems within the Amazon Fan. For example prior to 22 k calendar years BP there is a tripartite channel system. After 22 ka there is only one active Channel–levee system. Transitions between the multi-channel and single channel configurations are related to variations in the volume of sediment supply resulting in aggradation or erosion of channel floor and levee growth in the canyon-channel transition area. The sensitivity of the Amazon deep-sea Fan sedimentation to relatively small changes in sea level supports one of the central assumptions of the theory of Sequence Stratigraphy. In addition this study demonstrates how traps for hydrocarbons may have been formed in ancient fan systems.     

Fisheries: Hope or despair?

Recent work suggesting that fisheries depletions have turned the corner is misplaced because analysis was based largely on fisheries from better-managed developed-world fisheries. Some indicators of status show improvements in the minority of fisheries subjected to formal assessment. Other indicators, such as trophic level and catch time series, have been controversial. Nevertheless, several deeper analyses of the status of the majority of world fisheries confirm the previous dismal picture: serious depletions are the norm world-wide, management quality is poor, catch per effort is still declining. The performance of stock assessment itself may stand challenged by random environmental shifts and by the need to accommodate ecosystem-level effects. The global picture for further fisheries species extinctions, the degradation of ecosystem food webs and seafood security is indeed alarming. Moreover, marine ecosystems and their embedded fisheries are challenged in parallel by climate change, acidification, metabolic disruptors and other pollutants. Attempts to remedy the situation need to be urgent, focused, innovative and global.     

Environmental recovery in Sydney Harbour,Nova Scotia: Evidence of natural and anthropogenic sediment capping

Contaminants were assessed in Sydney Harbour during baseline and three years of remediation of a former coking and steel facility. Concentrations of PAHs; PCBs; and lead measured in surface sediments indicate overall spatial distribution patterns of historical contaminants remains unchanged, although at much lower concentrations than previously reported due to natural sediment recovery. Recovery rates were in broad agreement with predicted concentrations; or in some cases lower, despite remediation at the Sydney Tar Ponds (STP) site. Contaminants showed little temporal variability, except for detection of significant increases in PAH concentrations during onset of remediation compared to baseline which represented a short term interruption in the overall long term natural recovery of sediments in Sydney Harbour. Recovery (via “capping”) was enhanced following recent harbour dredging activities where less contaminated outer harbour sediments were discharged into a confined disposal facility (CDF) required for a new container in the inner harbour.     

贵州锦丰(烂泥沟)金矿床含砷黄铁矿和脉石英及其包裹体的稀土元素特征

贵州锦丰(烂泥沟)金矿是滇黔桂"金三角"目前已探明的最大的卡林型金矿床.含砷黄铁矿是该矿床最主要的载金矿物,脉石英是最显著的热液蚀变作用产物.含砷黄铁矿、脉石英及其包裹体具有相同的稀土元素特征,表现为轻重稀土分馏明显(LREE/HREE7.95～31.77,(La/Yb)N8.97～40.49);轻稀土有一定的分异((La/Sm)n3.20～5.29),曲线右倾程度大;重稀土分异不明显((Gd/Yb)n1.41～3.35),曲线平坦;负铕异常明显(δEu 0.59～0.71);微弱的铈负异常(δCe 0.97～0.98).代表成矿流体特征的脉石英包裹体稀土配分型式及特征值与区域上不同时代的幔源基性-超基性岩差别较大,而与矿床围岩、矿石、含砷黄铁矿及其包裹体稀土配分型式及特征值十分相似,具上部地壳普通沉积岩的特点,反映成矿流体主要不是来源于地幔,而是以壳源为主.Eu负异常反映了偏酸性(富CO2)、还原性的成矿环境;微弱的Ce负异常表明成矿流体来源于以沉积水和热脱水为主的盆地流体.     

A study of the chemistry of pore fluids and authigenic carbonates in methane seep environments: Kodiak Trench, Hydrate Ridge, Monterey Bay, and Eel River Basin

Analyses of the chemical and isotopic composition of carbonates rocks recovered from methane seepage areas of the Kodiak Trench, Hydrate Ridge, Monterey Bay Clam Flats, and the Eel River Basin, coupled with the studies of the chemistry of the pore fluids, have shown that these carbonates have grown within the sediment column. Geochemical profiles of pore fluids show that, in deep water seeps (Kodiak Trench—4450 m; Monterey Bay—1000 m; Hydrate Ridge—650 m), δ¹³C (DIC) values are low (isotopically light), whereas in the Eel River area ( 350–500 m), δ¹³C (DIC) values are much higher (isotopically heavier). In all cases, the δ¹³C values indicate that processes of methane oxidation, associated with sulfate reduction, are dominant in the shallow sediments. Data on the isotopic composition of authigenic carbonates found at sites in Kodiak Trench, Eel River Basin South, and Eel River Basin North indicate a variable composition and origin in different geochemical environments. Some of the authigenic carbonates from the study sites show a trend in their δ¹³C values similar to those of the pore fluids obtained in their vicinity, suggesting formation at relatively shallow depths, but others indicate formation at greater sediment depths. The latter usually consist of high magnesium calcite or dolomite, which, from their high values of δ¹³C (up to 23‰;) and δ¹⁸O (up to 7.5‰), suggest formation in the deeper horizons of the sediments, in the zone of methanogenesis. These observations are in agreement with observations by other workers at Hydrate Ridge, in Monterey Bay, and in the Eel River Basin.