Imaging DOAS for volcanological applications

The simultaneous quantitative determination of two-dimensional bromine monoxide (BrO) and sulphur dioxide (SO₂) distributions in volcanic gas plumes is described. Measurements at the fumarolic field on the island Vulcano (autumn 2004) and in the plume of Mt. Etna volcano (spring 2005) were carried out with an Imaging DOAS instrument. The SO₂ fluxes of several fumaroles were estimated from two-dimensional distributions of SO₂. Additionally, the first two-dimensional distributions of BrO within a volcanic plume were successfully retrieved. Slant column densities of up to 2.6 × 10¹⁴ molecules per square centimetre were detected in the plume of Mt. Etna. The investigation of the BrO/SO₂ ratio, calculated from the two-dimensional distributions of SO₂ and BrO, shows an increase from the centre to the edge of the volcanic plume. These results have significance for the involvement of ozone during BrO formation processes in volcanic emissions.     

Generating MODFLOW grids from boundary representation solid models

Complex stratigraphy can be difficult to simulate in MODFLOW models. MODFLOW uses a structured grid that requires that each grid layer be continuous throughout the model domain. This makes it difficult to explicitly represent common features such as pinchouts and embedded seams in a MODFLOW model. In this paper, we describe a method for automatically generating MODFLOW-compatible grids from boundary-representation solid models. Solid models are data structures developed originally for computer-aided design applications that define the geometry of three-dimensional objects. Solid models can be used to represent arbitrarily complex stratigraphy. The elevations defined by the solids are then extracted from the solids in a manner that preserves the continuous-layer requirement imposed by MODFLOW. Two basic approaches are described: The first method adjusts the MODFLOW grid dimensions (layer elevations) to fit the solid model boundaries, and the second method creates a regular MODFLOW grid and adjusts the material properties to match the changes in stratigraphy. One of the main benefits of using solid models to define stratigraphy for MODFLOW models is that it provides a grid-independent definition of the layer elevations that can be used to immediately re-create the MODFLOW grid geometry after any change to the grid resolution.     

A zone of mylonite and related ductile deformation beneath the alpujarride nappe complex,betic cordilleras,S. Spain

A zone of mylonite is commonly developed beneath the Alpujarride nappe complex. The contact with the underlying Nevado-Filabride Complex is marked by a zone of calc mylonite, dolomitic breccia, iron-rich carbonate rocks, and marble. These lie on a thin zone of ultramylonite derived from Nevado-Filabride schist. Related ductile deformation decreases downwards, but may extend up to 400 m beneath the contact. This deformation produces a characteristic platy foliation, a strong elongation lineation, and a proto-mylonitic microstructure. Kinematic analysis of these rocks may help determine the direction of nappe transport.Mylonitic or protomylonitic microstructures are not developed in the Alpujarride rocks, although these are strongly deformed adjacent to the contact. Microstructural evidence suggests that deformation occurred by pressure-solution in these rocks, and not by the crystal-plastic processes that operated in the Nevado-Filabride protomylonitic schists.

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Zusammenfassung Im Liegenden des Deckengebäudes der Alpujarriden findet sich an vielen Stellen eine Mylonitzone. Der Kontakt mit den unterlagernden nevado-filabriden Gesteinen ist durch Kalkmylonite, Dolomitbrekzien, eisenreiche Karbonate und Marmore markiert. Diese liegen auf einer dünnen Zone von Ultramylonit, der sich aus nevado-filabriden Glimmerschiefern entwickelt hat. Diese plastische Verformung nimmt zum Liegenden hin ab, kann aber bis zu 400 m unterhalb des Deckenkontaktes reichen. Sie erzeugt eine charakteristische, plattige Schieferung, eine stark ausgeprägte Streckungslineation und eine protomylonitische Mikrostruktur. Mit einer kinematischen Analyse dieser Gesteine kann die Transportrichtung der Deckeneinheiten bestimmt werden.Die Glimmerschiefer und Phyllite alpujarrider Zuordnung besitzen keine mylonitische Mikrostruktur, obwohl sie stark deformiert sind. Dies deutet darauf hin, daß, im Gegensatz zum intrakristallinen Gleiten in den nevado-filabriden Protomyloniten, vor allem Drucklösung als Deformationsmechanismus anzusehen ist.

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Resumen Bajo el complejo de mantos de los Alpujárrides se observa comunmente el desarrollo de una zona milonitica. El contacto de dicho complejo con el de Nevado-Filabride está señalado por una zona de calcomilonitas, brechas dolomiticas, rocas carbonatadas ricas en hierro y mármoles. Estos se situan en una zona estrecha de ultramilonitas que se derivan de los esquistos del Nevado-Filabride, La deformación dúctil asociada decrece en sentido descendente, pero puedo extenderse hasta 400 m por debajo del contacto. Esta deformation produce una foliación planar characterística, una lineación de extensión muy pronunciada y una microestructura protomilonítica. Los análisis cinemáticos de éstas rocas pueden ayudar a determinar la dirección de transporte de los mantos.Las microestructuras miloníticas y protomyloníticas no se desarrollan en las rocas Alpujárrides, aunque dichas rocas están fuertemente deformadas junto al contacto. Las observaciones microestructurales sugieren que la deformación tuvo lugar por «pressure-solution» y no por procesos de plasticidad cristalina como los operantes en los esquistos protomiloníticos del Nevado-Filabride.

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Galaxy evolution in Hickson compact groups: the role of ram-pressure stripping and strangulation

Galaxies in compact groups tend to be deficient in neutral hydrogen compared to isolated galaxies of similar optical properties. In order to investigate the role played by a hot intragroup medium (IGM) for the removal and destruction of H  i in these systems, we have performed a Chandra and XMM–Newton study of eight of the most H  i deficient Hickson compact groups. Diffuse X-ray emission associated with an IGM is detected in four of the groups, suggesting that galaxy–IGM interactions are not the dominant mechanism driving cold gas out of the group members. No clear evidence is seen for any of the members being currently stripped of any hot gas, nor for galaxies to show enhanced nuclear X-ray activity in the X-ray bright or most H  i deficient groups. Combining the inferred IGM distributions with analytical models of representative disc galaxies orbiting within each group, we estimate the H  i mass-loss due to ram-pressure and viscous stripping. While these processes are generally insufficient to explain observed H  i deficiencies, they could still be important for H  i removal in the X-ray bright groups, potentially removing more than half of the interstellar medium in the X-ray bright HCG 97. Ram pressure may also have facilitated strangulation through the removal of galactic coronal gas. In X-ray undetected groups, tidal interactions could be playing a prominent role, but it remains an open question whether they can fully account for the observed H  i deficiencies.     

Tenerife – the big pyramid

There is nothing like a good controversy in geology, when vehemently held conflicting opinions set the adrenaline running. The debate over hot spots or mantle plumes is developing in this way; as such it is pertinent to look at the Canary Islands archipelago where hot spot ideas have been in place for some time.     

An assessment of the climate change impacts on groundwater recharge at a continental scale using a probabilistic approach with an ensemble of GCMs

This study used 16 Global Climate Models and three global warming scenarios to make projections of recharge under a 2050 climate for the entire Australian continent at a 0.05° grid resolution. The results from these 48 future climate variants have been fitted to a probability distribution to enable the results to be summarised and uncertainty quantified. The median results project a reduction in recharge across the west, centre and south of Australia and an increase in recharge across the north and a small area in the east of the continent. The range of results is quite large and for large parts of the continent encompasses both increases and decreases in recharge. This makes it difficult to utilise for water resources management so the results have been analysed with a risk analysis framework; this enables the future projections for groundwater recharge to be communicated to water managers in terms of likelihood and consequence of a reduction in recharge. This highlights an important message for water resource managers that in most areas of Australia they will be making decisions on water allocations under considerable uncertainty as to the direction and magnitude of recharge change under a future climate and that this uncertainty may be irreducible.     

A ring-width-based reconstruction of June–July minimum temperatures since AD 1245 from white spruce stands in the Mackenzie Delta region,northwestern Canada

We present a reconstruction of June–July minimum temperatures since AD 1245 for the Mackenzie Delta region based on a 29-site network of white spruce (Picea glauca) ring-width series. Most but not all trees experienced a divergent temperature–growth response, similar to the divergence that has affected other white spruce trees across Yukon and Alaska. However, divergence in the study region began as early as AD 1900 and we have documented our methods to avoid including divergent signals in the reconstruction. Calibration/verification testing based on local temperature data, and multi-century coherence with nearby and large-scale temperature proxy records, confirm that our reconstruction is robust. The reconstruction shows cool conditions in the late 13th, early 18th and early 19th centuries, corresponding with solar minima and increased volcanism. These cool periods are interrupted by warm periods consistent with early to mid-20th century warmth. The late 20th century is the warmest interval, and the last decade is estimated to be 1.4°C warmer than any decade before the mid-20th century. The reconstructed climate history corroborates other proxy-based inferences and supports the notion that high-latitude regions such as the Mackenzie Delta have experienced rapid warming in recent decades that is exceptional in the last eight centuries.     

Honing safety and reliability aspects for the second generation of Eurocode 7

ABSTRACT

Ten years after their publication, the Eurocodes, including Eurocode 7 for Geotechnical design, are being revised taking into account experiences with their use and developments in design concepts and practices since their publication to produce a second generation of the Eurocodes. The objectives for this second generation of Eurocode 7 are to improve its ease of use, harmonise its structure with the other Eurocodes, reduce the number of nationally determined parameters, include measures for robustness and include sections on topics not covered in the current Eurocode 7, such as numerical methods, reinforced soil and ground improvement. The evolution of Eurocode 7 aims to hone its safety and risk assessment aspects by developing the concept of Geotechnical Categories, expanding the supervision, monitoring and maintenance requirements, and explicitly allowing for reliability differentiation.     

Experimental constraints on hydrogen diffusion in garnet

The incorporation mechanisms and diffusional loss of hydrogen in garnet have been experimentally investigated. A suite of gem-quality hydrous spessartine- and grossular-rich garnets were analysed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and by ion microprobe (SHRIMP-SI) to determine the calibration coefficients for quantification of FTIR data. The excellent agreement between measured absorption and OH/O indicates that the same molar extinction coefficient can be used for spessartine and grossular. The coefficient of 14400 l mol^??1 cm^??2 proposed by Maldener et al. (Phys Chem Miner 30:337–344, 2003) seems the most appropriate for both minerals. A grossular with 6.4% andradite and 1.6% almandine containing 834 ppm H₂O, and an almost pure spessartine with 282 ppm H₂O, were selected for diffusion experiments. 1.5-mm cubes of garnets were heated between 12 h and 10 days at 1 atm under various temperature (750–1050 °C) and oxygen fugacity (\({f_{{{\text{O}}_2}}}\)) conditions, (ΔQFM +?15.2 to ??3.0). Diffusion profiles were acquired from sections through the cubes using FTIR, with a deconvolution algorithm developed to assess peak-specific behaviour. Different families of peaks have been identified based on their diffusive behaviour, representing hydrogen incorporated in different H-bearing defects. A dominant, fast, strongly \({f_{{{\text{O}}_2}}}\)-dependent oxidation-related diffusion mechanism is proposed \(\left( {\{ {{\text{M}}^{2+}}+{{\text{H}}^+}\} +\frac{1}{4}{{\text{O}}_2}={{\text{M}}^{3+}}+\frac{1}{2}{{\text{H}}_2}{\text{O}}} \right)\) (M=Fe, Mn) with a relatively low activation energy (158?±?19 kJ mol^??1). This diffusion mechanism is likely restricted by availability of ferrous iron in grossular. At low oxygen fugacity, this diffusion mechanism is shut off and the diffusivity decreased by more than three orders of magnitude. A second, slower hydrogen diffusion mechanism has been observed in minor bands, where charge balance might be maintained by diffusion of cation vacancies, with much higher activation energy (≈?200–270 kJ mol^??1). Spessartine shows clear differences in peak retentivity suggesting that up to four different H sites might exist. This opens exciting opportunities to use hydrogen diffusion in garnet as speedometer. However, it is essential to constrain the main diffusion mechanisms and the oxygen fugacity in the rocks investigated to obtain timescales for metamorphic or igneous processes.