Fractionation of Th, Pa, and Be induced by particle size and composition within an opal-rich sediment of the Atlantic Southern Ocean

This study centers on the question: How sensitive are ²³¹Pa/²³⁰Th and ¹⁰Be/²³⁰Th to sediment composition and redistribution? The natural radionuclides ²³¹Pa, ²³⁰Th and ¹⁰Be recorded in deep sea sediments are tracers for water mass advection and particle fluxes. We investigate the influence of oceanic particle composition on the element adsorption in order to improve our understanding of sedimentary isotope records. We present new data on particle size specific ²³¹Pa and ¹⁰Be concentrations. An additional separation step, based on settling velocities, led to the isolation of a very opal-rich phase. We find that opal-rich particles contain the highest ²³¹Pa and ¹⁰Be concentrations, and higher ²³¹Pa/²³⁰Th and ¹⁰Be/²³⁰Th isotope ratios than opal-poor particles. The fractionation relative to ²³⁰Th induced by the adsorption to opal-rich particles is more pronounced for ²³¹Pa than for ¹⁰Be. We conclude that bulk ²³¹Pa/²³⁰Th in Southern Ocean sediments is most suitable as a proxy for past opal fluxes. The comparison between two neighboring cores with rapid and slow accumulation rates reveals that these isotope ratios are not influenced significantly by the intensity of sediment focusing at these two study sites. However, a simulation shows that particle sorting by selective removal of sediment (winnowing) could change the isotope ratios. Consequently, ²³¹Pa/²³⁰Th should not be used as paleocirculation proxy in cases where a strong loss of opal-rich material due to bottom currents occurred.     

西北太平洋俯冲带大地幔楔及地幔过渡带各向异性证据和特征

地震层析成像研究清晰给出了地球深部俯冲板片的大尺度形态,但与俯冲过程相关的地幔流动特征仍不明确.在俯冲地幔楔系统中,前人观测到了与海沟平行和垂直的快波偏振方向.本文研究了西北太平洋俯冲板片在地幔过渡带中停滞形成的"大地幔楔"中的各向异性特征.对具有长期稳定观测数据的MDJ台站SKS震相和区域深源地震的直达S波震相进行了...     

Mapping diversified peri-urban agriculture – potential of object-based versus per-field land cover/land use classification

High spatial resolution satellite data contribute to improving land cover/land use (LCLU) classification in agriculture. A classification procedure based on Quickbird satellite image data was developed to map LCLU of diversified agriculture at sub-communal and communal level (7 km²). Segmentation performance of the panchromatic band in combination with high pass filters (HPF) was tested first. Accuracy of field boundary delineation was evaluated by an object-based segmentation, a per-field and a manual classification, along with a quantitative accuracy assessment. Sub-communal classification revealed an overall accuracy of 84% with a κ coefficient of 0.77 for the per-field vector segmentation compared to an overall accuracy of 56–60% and a κ coefficient of 0.37–0.42 for object-based approaches. Per-field vector segmentation was thus superior and used for LCLU classification at communal level. Overall accuracy scored 83% and the κ coefficient 0.7. In diversified agriculture, per-field vector segmentation and classification achieved higher classification results.     

Hydrological impact of roadside ditches in an agricultural watershed in Central New York: implications for non‐point source pollutant transport

Nonpoint source pollution and hydromodification are the leading causes of impairment to our nation's rivers and streams. Roadside ditch networks, ubiquitous in both rural and urban landscapes, intercept and shunt substantial quantities of overland runoff and shallow groundwater to stream systems. By altering natural flowpaths, road ditches contribute not only to hydromodification but also potentially to nonpoint‐source (NPS) pollution by acting as hydrological links between agricultural fields and natural streams. Unfortunately, the impacts of these alterations on watershed hydrology and water quality are not well understood. Through a series of field measurements, including field surveys and discharge monitoring, this study examined the effect of road ditch networks on basin morphometry, field‐ and watershed‐scale hydrology, and pollutant transport in a 38 km² agricultural watershed in south‐central NY. Salient findings include the following: (i) 94% of road ditches discharged to natural streams, effectively doubling the drainage density; (ii) on average, road ditches increased peak and total event flows in their receiving streams by 78% and 57%, respectively, but displayed significant variation across ditches; and (iii) ditches intercepted large quantities of surface and subsurface runoff from agricultural fields and therefore represent efficient conduits for the transport of agricultural NPS pollutants to sensitive receiving waterbodies. Our results provide useful information for hydrologists who wish to further understand how artificial drainage may be affecting watershed hydrology and for managers and engineers tasked with designing appropriate flood and NPS pollution control measures. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Thermal and chemical variations in subcrustal cratonic lithosphere: evidence from crustal isostasy

The Earth's topography at short wavelengths results from active tectonic processes, whereas at long wavelengths it is largely determined by isostatic adjustment for the density and thickness of the crust. Using a global crustal model, we estimate the long-wavelength topography that is not due to crustal isostasy. Our most important finding is that cratons are generally depressed by 300 to 1500 m in comparison with predictions from pure crustal isostasy. We conclude that either: (1) cratonic roots may be 50 to 300 °C colder than previously suggested by thermal models, or (2) cratonic roots may be, on average, less depleted than suggested by studies of shallow mantle xenoliths. Alternatively, (3) some combination of these conditions may exist. The thermal explanation is consistent with recent geothermal studies that indicate low cratonic temperatures, as well as seismic studies that show very low seismic attenuation at long periods (150 s) beneath cratons. The petrologic explanation is consistent with recent studies of deep (>140 km) mantle xenoliths from the Kaapvaal and Slave cratons that show 1–2% higher densities compared with shallow (<140 km), highly depleted xenoliths.