The secular behavior of X-ray and radio emission from supernova remnants

General models for the secular behavior of the radio and X-ray emission from supernova remnants are examined and compared with the observations. Hot plasma and synchrotron models for the X-ray emission are considered. Among other things, it is concluded that (1) the total kinetic energy released in most supernova outbursts is probably less than about 10⁵¹ ergs; (2) continuous injection probably occurs for at least 10 yr in every case and about 1000 yr in most supernova remnants, in which case the supernova remnants 3C392, W28, Pup A and IC443 should produce 1–10 keV X-ray fluxes 10^–10 ergs/cm² sec; and (3) the X-ray sources in the Crab Nebula, Cas A and Tycho can be explained in terms of a model wherein continuous injection occurs for 300 yr for the Crab Nebula, much less than 250 yr for Cas A and much longer than 400 yr for Tycho. Finally, it is shown that if Tycho and Cas A contain an X-ray star such as NP0532, it is quite possible that the X-ray emission from those sources is predominantly due to the X-ray star.Supported by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research under Contract No. F44620-67-C-0065.     

Changshanian Maximum Flooding Event in China and Its Global Correlation

Various orders of condensed sections are recognized in the Cambrian of North China Carbonate Platform. Study of comparative sedimentology proves that CS4-CS5 in the Changshanian age is the maximum sea flooding sediments in the Cambrian, regardless of the distribution, thickness, internal structure of the condensed section series and K2O abundance. It is a two-layered composite condensed section series, characterized by the enrichment of such elements as K, P, Mn, Ti, Co, V, Cr, Cu, Zr, Ni, Li, Th, La, Ce, Nd, Dy, Y, Sc and Be. The Changshanian maximum flooding event can be correlated on a global scale, and the corresponding sedimentary records are discovered in 26 intercontinental sections in N. Europe, N. America, and Tarim and the Yangtze Platform of China. Through detailed sedimentological research, meter-scale cycle analysis and Fischer plots, it is concluded that the Changshanian maximum flooding was a composite effect of the second-order eustacy superimposed by the third-and fourth-order eustacy,     

Organic,mineralogic and magnetic indications of metamorphism in the Tapley Hill Formation,Adelaide Geosyncline

The dispersed carbonaceous matter (kerogen), illite, and magnetic response of the Tindelpina Shale Member in the lower part of the thick, extensive Tapley Hill Formation provide three complementary methods for zoning the incipient metamorphic character of rocks comprising the late Precambrian Adelaide System where they crop out between Adelaide, Olary, and Marree in the Adelaide Geosyncline. The methods are based on the following parameters: kerogen structure (as determined by X-ray diffraction) and composition (percentage carbon, hydrogen to carbon atomic ratio, δ ¹³C_PDB); illite crystallinity; and amplitude and type of aeromagnetic anomalies.Kerogen is the most definitive indicator of metamorphic change in the Tindelpina Shale. It has been used to delineate a western subgraphitic zone (85–91%C, H/C > 0.10) which is separated from an eastern graphitic zone (91–98%C, H/C < 0.10) by a north-trending line through Adelaide, Mintaro, Orroroo, and Baratta. A similar two-fold zonation appears to exist in the Mouth Painter—Copley—Marree area. Metamorphic adjustment of the stable carbon isotopic composition of the kerogen is also evident. Kerogen rank correlates well with illite crystallinity. Illites in the western zone have Weaver indices of less than six. Crystallinity increases to the east where 2M illite becomes the dominant illite polymorph. The eastern graphitic zone largely coincides in location and extent with a zone of linear aeromagnetic anomalies of amplitude exceeding 100 gammas. In the lower Tapley Hill Formation the anomaly is attributed to remanent magnetism, probably associted with metamorphic growth of magnetite.All three indicators suggest an increase in metamorphic grade from west to east across the geosyncline, in agreement with published observations based on conventional petrographic analysis of pelitic (and to a lesser extent, carbonate) rocks. Illite and chlorite, characteristic of the anchizone of burial diagenesis, are the dominant sheet silicates in the shales studied, although incipient metamorphic alteration of chlorite to biotite has occurred in some specimens from the graphitic zone. The subgraphitic and graphitic facies of the Tindelpina Shale correspond with the chlorite and biotite (and higher) zones, respectively, of low-pressure intermediate-type metamorphism previously established for the Mount Lofty and Flinders Ranges.Greater depth of burial of the lower Tapley Hill Formation in the eastern half of the geosyncline would account for the metamorphic trend observed in its organic matter and clay mineral content. Differential burial does not, however, adequately explain the magnetics, nor the absence of biotite-grade rocks in the central Flinders Ranges. Other magnetically anomalous beds are found throughout the Adelaide System and in overlying Cambrian strata. For the magnetism in these different stratigraphic intervals to be of metamorphic derivation, a regional thermal event, perhaps related to the Cambro-Ordovician Delamerian Orogeny, must be postulated.     

Coesite micro-inclusions and the U/Pb age of zircons from the Hareidland Eclogite in the Western Gneiss Region of Norway

We have identified by laser micro-Raman spectroscopy that inclusions of coesite occur together with other eclogite-facies mineral phases within metamorphic zircons separated from the large eclogite body at Ulsteinvik–Dimnøy on Hareidland. This is the first identification of coesite from this portion of the northwestern Western Gneiss Region (WGR) and supports continuity of ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamorphism between the documented coesite occurrences on Stadlandet to the south and the microdiamond and coesite pseudomorph localities on Fjørtoft in the Nordøyene to the north. The zircons, first analysed by U–Pb TIMS in 1973, have been re-analysed and have yielded a much more precise age of 401.6±1.6 Ma, that overlaps with the previously determined age. Our discovery of coesite and the indication of a close to 402 Ma formation age add to a growing number of mid–late Early Devonian ages that signal that the UHP metamorphism in this part of west Norway occurred relatively late in the Caledonian orogenic cycle. These observations should be incorporated in geodynamic models for the exhumation of these rocks and for the metastable preservation of eclogite-facies mineralogies.     

Heavy rainfall in complex terrian: insights from a numerical model

Summary A numerical model is employed to study heavy rainfall events in complex terrain. The model uses a limited-fine-mesh grid and a nested grid, but does not utilize the same set of equations on both grids. Two similar, heavy rainfall cases are contrasted with each other and with a moderate precipitation case. Sensitivity experiments illustrate the effects of topography, synoptic forcing and diabatic heating on these episodes. Model results indicate that heavy rainfall in complex terrain requires a suitable superposition of mass, momentum and moisture fields in relation to the topography. It is the mass and momentum fields, however, which primarily control the location of heaviest precipitation. Synoptically similar events may be different in their underlying causes. The diabatic heating distribution may in some cases be essential to creating such episodes heavy rain.With 22 Figures     

Neoproterozoic nappes and superposed folding of the Itremo Group, west-central Madagascar

The Precambrian geology of west-central Madagascar is reviewed and re-interpreted in light of new field observations, Landsat Thematic Mapper image analysis, and U–Pb geochronology. The bedrock of the area consists of: (1) late Archean (to Paleoproterozoic) migmatite gneiss and schist; (2) Mesoproterozoic stratified rocks (Itremo, Amborompotsy, and Malakialina Groups) perhaps deposited unconformably on the older metamorphic rocks (1, above); (3) Proterozoic ( 1000 Ma–720 Ma) plutonic rocks emplaced into both units above (1 and 2), and; (4) latest Neoproterozoic to middle Cambrian ( 570–520 Ma) granitoids emplaced as regionally discordant and weakly foliated plutons throughout the regions.

The effects of Neoproterozoic orogenic processes are widespread throughout the region and our observations and isotopic measurements provide important constraints on the tectonic history of the region: (i) Archean gneisses and Mesoproterozoic stratified rocks are the crystalline basement and platformal sedimentary cover, respectively, of a continental fragment of undetermined tectonic affinity (East or West Gondwanan, or neither). (ii) This continental fragment (both basement and cover) was extensively invaded by subduction-related plutons in the period from  1000 Ma to  720 Ma that were emplaced prior to the onset of regional metamorphism and deformation. (iii) Continental collision related to Gondwana's amalgamation began after  720 Ma and before  570 Ma. Collision related deformation and metamorphism continued throughout the rest of the Neoproterozoic with thermal effects that lasted until  520 Ma. The oldest structures produced during continental collision were km-scale fold- and thrust-nappes with east or southeast-directed vergence (present-day direction). They resulted in the inversion and repetition of Archean and Proterozoic rocks throughout the region. During this early phase of convergence warm rocks were thrust over cool rocks thereby producing the present distribution of regional metamorphic isograds. The vergence of the nappes and the distribution of metamorphic rocks are consistent with their formation within a zone of west or northwest-dipping continental convergence (present-day direction). (iv) Later upright folding of the nappes (and related folds and thrusts) produced km-scale interference fold patterns. The geometry and orientation of these younger upright folds is consistent with E–W horizontal shortening (present-day direction) within a sinistral transpressive regime. We relate this final phase of deformation to motion along the Ranotsara and related shear zones of south Madagascar, and to the initial phases of lower crustal exhumation and extensional tectonics within greater Gondwana.     

Responding to flood risk in Louisiana: the roles of place attachment,emotions, and location

Natural Hazards - Drawing from protection motivation theory (PMT), we examined how place attachment and negative emotions, alongside threat and coping appraisals, personal experiences, and...     

Impact of vegetation on erosion: Insights from the calibration and test of a landscape evolution model in alpine badland catchments

While it is well recognized that vegetation can affect erosion, sediment yield and, over longer timescales, landform evolution, the nature of this interaction and how it should be modeled is not obvious and may depend on the study site. In order to develop quantitative insight into the magnitude and nature of the influence of vegetation on catchment erosion, we build a landscape evolution model to simulate erosion in badlands, then calibrate and evaluate it against sediment yield data for two catchments with contrasting vegetation cover. The model couples hillslope gravitational transport and stream alluvium transport. Results indicate that hillslope transport processes depend strongly on the vegetation cover, whereas stream transport processes do not seem to be affected by the presence of vegetation. The model performance in prediction is found to be higher for the denuded catchment than for the reforested one. Moreover, we find that vegetation acts on erosion mostly by reducing soil erodibility rather than by reducing surface runoff. Finally, the methodology we propose can be a useful tool to evaluate the efficiency of previous revegetation operations and to provide guidance for future restoration work. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

U–Pb Geochronology of VMS mineralization in the Iberian Pyrite Belt

A geochronology study using U-Pb isotope dilution TIMS analyses of zircon has been conducted to determine the ages of volcanic-associated massive sulfide (VMS) deposits in the Iberian Pyrite Belt (IPB), the world's most prolific VMS province. Ages have been determined for host rocks to four VMS systems that span the IPB: the giant Rio Tinto and Aljustrel districts in the central region, Lagoa Salgada to the west, and Las Cruces to the east. A sample of chloritized quartz porphyritic dacite/rhyolite in the footwall of the San Dionisio massive sulfide deposit of the Rio Tinto district is 349.76ǂ.90 Ma. This is taken as the best age estimate of the mineralization in the Rio Tinto district, probably the world's largest volcanogenic massive sulfide system. Two xenocrystic zircons from the same sample yielded ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ages of 414 and 416 Ma, which provide a minimum estimate for the age of the inherited component. A biotite tonalite from the Campofrio area, 3.5 km north of the center of the Rio Tinto district, is chemically similar to the felsic host rock protolith at Rio Tinto. The Campofrio sample has an age of 346.26ǂ.81 Ma, slightly younger and outside of the 2C error for the Rio Tinto age; therefore, this phase of this intrusion was not a heat source for the hydrothermal system that formed the deposits of the Rio Tinto district. The Campofrio sample also has three zircon analyses with ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb minimum ages of 534, 536, and 985 Ma, indicating inheritance from Ordovician and Neoproterozoic sources. In the Aljustrel VMS district, a U-Pb zircon age of 352.9ǃ.9 Ma characterizes the altered Green Tuff host rock of the Algares deposit, which is slightly older than the Rio Tinto age. Two zircons with ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ages of 531 and 571 Ma from this sample indicate inheritance from a Cambrian or older source. The age of mineralization at Lagoa Salgada is given by essentially identical ages of 356.21ǂ.73 and 356.4ǂ.8 Ma, for footwall and hanging wall samples, respectively. The hanging wall sample has two zircon analyses with ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ages of 464 and 466 Ma, indicating inheritance from an Ordovician or older source. The age for an altered dacite tuff sample from the hanging wall of the Las Cruces deposit is 353.97ǂ.69 Ma. One zircon analysis from the Las Cruces sample has a ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb age of 1048 Ma, indicating inheritance from a Neoproterozoic source. These U-Pb ages refine the IPB geochronology provided by previous studies, and they suggest that either volcanism progressed toward the center of the IPB, or that volcanism was broadly static and the strata were progressively rifted to the margins during transtensional basin formation. The zircon inheritance provides direct evidence for Proterozoic to Ordovician sources, reflecting either basement rocks beneath the Phyllite-Quartzite Group during VMS formation in late Tournaisian times, or a Proterozoic to Ordovician detrital component in Phyllite-Quartzite Group source rocks. The presence of an older crustal component is consistent with VMS formation during rift development at a continental margin.