Autochthonous inheritance of zircon through Cretaceous partial melting of Carboniferous plutons: the Arthur River Complex,Fiordland, New Zealand

TIMS and SHRIMP U–Pb analyses of zircons from Milford Orthogneiss metadiorite (P = 1–1.4 GPa; T ≥ 750°C) of the Arthur River Complex of northern Fiordland reveal a bimodal age pattern. Zircons are predominantly either Paleozoic (357.0 ± 4.2 Ma) and prismatic with oscillatory zoning, or Cretaceous (133.9 ± 1.8 Ma) and ovoid with sector or patchy zoning. The younger age component is not observed overgrowing older grains. Most grains of both ages are overgrown by younger Cretaceous (~120 Ma) metamorphic zircon with very low U and Th/U (0.01). We interpret the bimodal ages as indicating initial igneous emplacement and crystallisation of a dioritic protolith pluton at ~357 Ma, followed by Early Cretaceous granulite-facies metamorphism at ~134 Ma, during which a significant fraction (~60%) of the zircon grains dissolved, and subsequently reprecipitated, effectively in situ, in partial melt pockets. The remaining ~40% of original Paleozoic grains were apparently not in contact with the partial melt, remained intact, and show only slight degrees of Pb loss. Sector zoning of the Cretaceous grains discounts their origin by solid state recrystallisation of Paleozoic grains. The alternative explanation—that the Paleozoic component represents a 40% inherited component in an Early Cretaceous transgressive dioritic magma—is considered less likely given the relatively high solubility of zircon in magma of this composition, the absence of 134 Ma overgrowths, the single discrete age of the older component, equivalent time-integrated ¹⁷⁷Hf/¹⁷⁶Hf compositions of both age groups, and the absence of the Cambrian-Proterozoic detrital zircon that dominates regional Cambro-Ordovician metasedimentary populations. Similar bimodal Carboniferous-Early Cretaceous age distributions are characteristic of the wider Arthur River Complex; 8 of 12 previously dated dioritic samples have a Paleozoic component averaging 51%. Furthermore, the age and chemical suite affinity of these and several more felsic rocks can be matched with those of the relatively unmetamorphosed Carboniferous plutonic terrane along the strike of the Mesozoic margin in southern Fiordland, also supporting the in situ derivation of the Carboniferous “inherited” component.     

An Atlas of ShakeMaps and population exposure catalog for earthquake loss modeling

We present an Atlas of ShakeMaps and a catalog of human population exposures to moderate-to-strong ground shaking (EXPO-CAT) for recent historical earthquakes (1973–2007). The common purpose of the Atlas and exposure catalog is to calibrate earthquake loss models to be used in the US Geological Survey’s Prompt Assessment of Global Earthquakes for Response (PAGER). The full ShakeMap Atlas currently comprises over 5,600 earthquakes from January 1973 through December 2007, with almost 500 of these maps constrained—to varying degrees—by instrumental ground motions, macroseismic intensity data, community internet intensity observations, and published earthquake rupture models. The catalog of human exposures is derived using current PAGER methodologies. Exposure to discrete levels of shaking intensity is obtained by correlating Atlas ShakeMaps with a global population database. Combining this population exposure dataset with historical earthquake loss data, such as PAGER-CAT, provides a useful resource for calibrating loss methodologies against a systematically-derived set of ShakeMap hazard outputs. We illustrate two example uses for EXPO-CAT; (1) simple objective ranking of country vulnerability to earthquakes, and; (2) the influence of time-of-day on earthquake mortality. In general, we observe that countries in similar geographic regions with similar construction practices tend to cluster spatially in terms of relative vulnerability. We also find little quantitative evidence to suggest that time-of-day is a significant factor in earthquake mortality. Moreover, earthquake mortality appears to be more systematically linked to the population exposed to severe ground shaking (Modified Mercalli Intensity VIII+). Finally, equipped with the full Atlas of ShakeMaps, we merge each of these maps and find the maximum estimated peak ground acceleration at any grid point in the world for the past 35 years. We subsequently compare this “composite ShakeMap” with existing global hazard models, calculating the spatial area of the existing hazard maps exceeded by the combined ShakeMap ground motions. In general, these analyses suggest that existing global, and regional, hazard maps tend to overestimate hazard. Both the Atlas of ShakeMaps and EXPO-CAT have many potential uses for examining earthquake risk and epidemiology. All of the datasets discussed herein are available for download on the PAGER Web page (). T. I. Allen and M. G. Hearne—contracted through Synergetics Incorporated.     

柴达木盆地北缘古生代超高压带中花岗质岩浆作用

祁连南缘古生代超高压变质带 (榴辉岩年龄为 4 6 6～ 4 95 Ma)上一套中高级变质岩系 (达肯大坂片麻岩 )中存在三类花岗岩组合 : 类 :石英二长闪长岩 -花岗闪长岩 -二长花岗岩 , 类 :二长花岗岩 -二云母花岗岩-含白云母花岗岩 -正长花岗岩 , 类 :花岗闪长岩 -二长花岗岩 -黑云母花岗岩。 类岩石组合中的二长花岗岩锆石SHRIMP年龄为 4 73Ma, 类岩石组合中的正长花岗岩锆石 SHRIMP年龄为 4 4 6 Ma, 类岩石组合中的二长花岗岩锆石 SHRIMP年龄为 397Ma。从三类花岗岩组合的组成矿物来看 , 类和 类的矿物组合主要为斜长石、角闪石、石英、碱性长石、黑云母 , 类的矿物组合为钾长石、石英、白云母、黑云母、斜长石 ;从岩石地球化学特征上看 , 类和 类花岗岩为 型花岗岩 ,岩石的 Si O2 =6 1%～ 6 9% ,Na2 O/ K2 O>1,ANK<1,δEu=0 .7～ 1.0 ; 类花岗岩为 S型花岗岩 ,岩石的 Si O2 =70 %～ 76 % ,Na2 O/ K2 O<1,ANK>1,δEu=0 .1～ 0 .3;从构造环境上看 , 类花岗岩形成于岛弧环境或活动大陆边缘 , 类花岗岩形成于同碰撞 , 类花岗岩形成于碰撞后。结合区域地质特征 ,我们认为 ,早奥陶世 ,南祁连洋板块向北俯冲于祁连陆块之下 ,规模不大的南祁连洋很快闭合 ,但俯冲下去的大洋板块仍拖动柴达木陆块继续俯冲 ,俯冲     

American pragmatism: Towards a geographical introduction

The purposes of the paper are to provide a historical and thematic review of some of the variants of American philosophical pragmatism (old and new), and to point to its potential relevance for geography. The paper is divided into three sections. The first, discusses the origins of American pragmatism focussing on four figures: John Dewey, Oliver Wendell Holmes, William James, and Charles Sanders Peirce. Following the argument of Louis Menand (2001) in The Metaphysical Club, I will suggest that pragmatism took on its peculiar American character as a response to the deep fissures and wounds caused by that country’s Civil War. That war produced a loss of faith, undermining notions of universal progress and absolute truth. Pragmatism was the reaction. The second section brings pragmatism to the present, by focussing on three connected contemporary American pragmatists: Richard Rorty, Richard Bernstein, and Richard Shusterman. The hallmark of their work, and which justifies treating them as a group, is a willingness to stretch pragmatism: first, by making linkages with other anti-foundational, practice-based philosophical traditions, especially those within Continental European philosophy, and which had been shut out of Anglo-American philosophy after the Second World War by the rise of analytic philosophy; and second, by applying pragmatist ideas to issues like the body and popular culture to which it had never been applied. Finally, in the conclusion the paper reflects on the prospects of tethering pragmatism to the work of human geographers. Given the anti-architectonic impulses of pragmatism, such a project cannot simply be one of holus-bolus transferring pragmatism to geography. A different approach is needed, and which is schematically outlined and briefly illustrated using the idea of place.     

Real-time Seismic Amplitude Measurement (RSAM): a volcano monitoring and prediction tool

Seismicity is one of the most commonly monitored phenomena used to determine the state of a volcano and for the prediction of volcanic eruptions. Although several real-time earthquake-detection and data acquisition systems exist, few continuously measure seismic amplitude in circumstances where individual events are difficult to recognize or where volcanic tremor is prevalent. Analog seismic records provide a quick visual overview of activity; however, continuous rapid quantitative analysis to define the intensity of seismic activity for the purpose of predicing volcanic eruptions is not always possible because of clipping that results from the limited dynamic range of analog recorders. At the Cascades Volcano Observatory, an inexpensive 8-bit analog-to-digital system controlled by a laptop computer is used to provide 1-min average-amplitude information from eight telemetered seismic stations. The absolute voltage level for each station is digitized, averaged, and appended in near real-time to a data file on a multiuser computer system. Raw realtime seismic amplitude measurement (RSAM) data or transformed RSAM data are then plotted on a common time base with other available volcano-monitoring information such as tilt. Changes in earthquake activity associated with dome-building episodes, weather, and instrumental difficulties are recognized as distinct patterns in the RSAM data set. RSAM data for domebuilding episodes gradually develop into exponential increases that terminate just before the time of magma extrusion. Mount St. Helens crater earthquakes show up as isolated spikes on amplitude plots for crater seismic stations but seldom for more distant stations. Weather-related noise shows up as low-level, long-term disturbances on all seismic stations, regardless of distance from the volcano. Implemented in mid-1985, the RSAM system has proved valuable in providing up-to-date information on seismic activity for three Mount St. Helens eruptive episodes from 1985 to 1986 (May 1985, May 1986, and October 1986). Tiltmeter data, the only other telemetered geophysical information that was available for the three dome-building episodes, is compared to RSAM data to show that the increase in RSAM data was related to the transport of magma to the surface. Thus, if tiltmeter data is not available, RSAM data can be used to predict future magmatic eruptions at Mount St. Helens. We also recognize the limitations of RSAm data. Two examples of RSAM data associated with phreatic or shallow phreatomagmatic explosions were not preceded by the same increases in RSAM data or changes in tilt associated with the three dome-building eruptions.     

Integrating agriculture and energy to assess GHG emissions reduction: a methodological approach

Agriculture is responsible for approximately 25% of anthropogenic global GHG emissions. This significant share highlights the fundamental importance of the agricultural sector in the global GHG emissions reduction challenge. This article develops and tests a methodology for the integration of agricultural and energy systems modelling. The goal of the research is to extend an energy systems modelling approach to agriculture in order to provide richer insights into the dynamics and interactions between the two (e.g. in competition for land-use). We build Agri-TIMES, an agricultural systems module using the TIMES energy systems modelling framework, to model the effect of livestock emissions and explore emissions reduction options. The research focuses on Ireland, which is an interesting test case for two reasons: first, agriculture currently accounts for about 30% of Ireland's GHG emissions, significantly higher than other industrialized countries yet comparable with global levels (here including emissions associated with other land-use change and forestation); second, Ireland is both a complete and reasonably sized agricultural system to act as a test case for this new approach. This article describes the methodology used, the data requirements, and technical assumptions made to facilitate the modelling. It also presents results to illustrate the approach and provide associated initial insights.

Policy relevance

Most of the policy focus with regard to climate mitigation targets has been on reducing energy-related CO₂ emissions, which is understandable as they represent by far the largest source of emissions. Non-energy-related GHG emissions – largely from agriculture, industrial processes, and waste – have received significantly less attention in policy discourse. Going forward, however, if significant cuts are made in energy-related CO₂ emissions, the role of non-energy-related GHG emissions will grow in importance. It is therefore crucial that climate mitigation analyses and strategies are not limited to the energy system. This article shows the value of using integrated energy and agriculture techno-economic modelling techniques to draw evidence for new comprehensive climate policy strategies able to discern between the full range of technical solutions available. It enables the production of economy-wide least-cost climate mitigation pathways.     

Trouble in paradise: resilience and Vancouver’s second life in the “new economy”

Resilience is an increasingly important concept within urban studies, economic geography, and evolutionary economics for measuring the capacity of city-regions to respond to economic shocks. In this article, we provide a sympathetic critique of the resilience metaphor in urban studies, which we explicate through an analysis of the recent history of the Vancouver economy. On the surface, Vancouver seemingly showed resilience when it overcame the abrupt decline of its resource-based economy in the 1980s, and established an alternative flourishing “new economy” by the 1990s. But over the last five years, the key local “creative” industries such as video game development and film production have suffered, with a number of large firms leaving Vancouver, and industry employment declining sharply. Drawing on more than 40 interviews conducted over a five-year period with members of the local video game community, our paper documents the rise and more recent decline of Vancouver’s “new economy” sector. Our research raises questions about the value of the resilience metaphor in urban studies and highlights the difficulties facing city-regions reliant on highly mobile “new economy” industries.     

Lunar occultation of Saturn. I. The diameters of Tethys,Dione, Rhea,Titan, and Iapetus

The diameters of Tethys, Dione, Rhea, Titan and Iapetus were determined from observations of their March 30, 1974, lunar occultations, made with the Mauna Kea 224 and 61 cm telescopes. Light curves were obtained simultaneously in four colors, and the difference between the time of occultation at the two telescopes provided a direct measurement of the slope of the lunar limb, found to be small in all cases. The satellite diameters were determined by least-squares fits of model occultation light curves to the data. In these fits the diameter and degree of limb darkening of the satellite are correlated variables, requiring the limb darkening to be specified before the diameter can be determined, or vice versa. However, for Titan the signal-to-noise ratio is sufficiently high to allow some assessment of the amount of limb darkening, which was found to be substantial. Titan's diameter must be at least 5800 km, much larger than the currently accepted value of 5000 km, making it the largest satellite in the solar system. This larger diameter implies a low mean density. For the other four satellites arguments are presented in favor of accepting the occultation diameters corresponding to limb darkened disks. Except for Titan, the lunar occultation diameters generally agree with previous diskmeter and radiometric determinations.     

Viking 1 Lander on the surface of mars: Revised location

Late in 1977, the periapsis altitude of the Viking Orbiters was lowered from 1500 to 300 km. The higher resolution of pictures taken at the lower altitude (8 m/pixel) permitted a more accurate determination of the location of the Viking 1 Lander by correlating topographic features seen in the new pictures with the same features in lander pictures. The position of the lander on Viking Orbiter picture 452B11 (NGF Rectilinear) is line 293, sample 1099. This location of the Viking 1 Lander has been used in a revision of the control net of Mars (M.E. Davies, F.Y. Katayama, and J.A. Roth, R2309 NASA, The Rand Corp., Feb. 1978). The new areographic coordinates of the lander are lat 22.483° N and long 47.968° W. The new location is estimated to be accurate to within 50 m.     

Double-diffusive convection with a nonlinear equation of state: Part II. Laboratory experiments and their interpretation

The term cabbeling describes the convection that can occur when a mixture of two oceanic water masses is more dense than both of the parent water masses. When the two water masses are situated one above the other, the temperature and salinity distributions are in the correct senses for double-diffusive convection to occur and it is found that the prime effects of the nonlinearity of the equation of state are firstly to drive a greater level of double-diffusive convective activity in the lower layer than in the upper layer, and secondly, to make the lower edge of the interfacial region less gravitationally stable. Both of these effects cause the interface to migrate upwards as the lower layer grows at the expense of the upper layer. We introduce a nondimensional parameter $\text{δ}$ (called the cabbeling parameter) which represents the importance of the nonlinearity of the equation of state:—$\text{δ}$ is zero when the equation of state is linear and when cabbeling is normally thought to be possible, $\text{δ}$ is greater than unity. Experiments set up in both the finger and diffuse sense show how the nondimensional measure of the upward interface migration (called the “entrainment” parameter $\text{E}$) varies with the density anomaly ration R_? for various values of $\text{δ}$ between zero and 2.0 and that no abrupt change in this behaviour occurs at $\text{δ}\text{= 1.0}$. It is impossible to explain these observation by neglecting double-diffusive convection and considering only the convection driven by the conventional cabbeling instability. The successful interpretation of the laboratory results relies on considering the effects of a non-linear equation of state on the double-diffusive convection process.