Moving beyond Component Research in Mountain Regions： Operationalizing Systems Integration .at Farm and Landscape Scales

Introduction Agricultural research continues to face criticism for its shortcomings in reversing current trends toward increased poverty and natural resource degradation. While some of these criticisms would be better attributed to broader structural constraints, shortcomings of the conventional agricultural research paradigm are nevertheless apparent. Researchers continue to frame research objectives, questions and methods with limited consultation of farmers and limited consideration of othe…     

基于非差观测的网络实时动态定位方法及其在连续运行基准站跨网服务中的应用

基于非差观测的网络实时动态定位(RTK)方法通过提供每颗卫星的误差改正量,使网内用户获得与网络RTK方法等价的快速精密单点定位服务。当用户跨越连续运行基准站(CORS)网内由不同参考站组成的子网(参考子网)甚至跨越不同CORS网时,都能有效避免因所选取的主参考站变化而引起的模糊度重新初始化,从而保持观测时段内用户定位结果的连续可靠和跨CORS网服务时算法上的无缝衔接。通过对海上实测动态数据处理结果的分析,验证该方法的定位精度、初始化时间与现有网络RTK方法在量级上的一致性,以及跨不同参考子网和CORS网时实现无缝衔接的有效性。     

Local modification of rock chemistry by deformation

Metabasalts subjected to progressive deformation in large-scale shear zones at Yellowknife display corresponding changes in major element abundances. Deformation, under conditions of greenschist facies metamorphism, has involved grain size reduction from 1200 m to <20 m, depletion of SiO₂ (5%) and Na₂O, together with hydration, and a decrease in specific gravity from 2.97 to 2.80. Chemical redistribution by deformation has been accomplished through a decrease in grain diameter of quartz and albite by intercrystalline diffusive mass transport (pressure solution), with concomitant transfer of material into extension veins. The degree of chemical modification is related to the finite strain. Deformation has involved a redistribution of 7.10¹⁵g of SiO₂ over a volume of about 50km³.The microstructure of an adamellite deformed in a shear zone at higher temperature, under conditions of amphibolite facies metamorphism is indicative of dominant dislocation creep. A low degree of tectonic grain refinement is present. Constant values of major element abundances and specific gravity determined across the shear zone at increasing states of strain imply isochemical and isovolumetric deformation. These results are taken to support the precept that crustal deformation is characterised by a low temperature deformation regime dominated by pressure solution, with local changes of rock chemistry and volume; and a high temperature regime in which strain is accommodated principally by dislocation creep, an isochemical and isovolumetric deformation mechanism.     

Recent iron ore formation in Lake Malawi,Africa

Nontronite, limonite (with opal) and vivianite are forming at present in the aereated, shallower parts (water depths <250 m) of Lake Malawi. They overlie diatomite or coarse grained clastic sediments. Our investigations indicate a precipitation of nontronite and limonite (and opal) at the sediment/oxic water interface from geothermal solutions rich in SiO₂ percolating through the sedimentary fill of the basin. Under reducing conditions and a pH less than 7 (as occurring in the deeper parts of our sediment cores) iron and manganese are leached and discharged into the lake. In the anoxic parts of the lake (water depth greater than 250 m) Fe³⁺- and Mn³⁺-hydroxide are precipitated within the lake's water in the mixing zone of the aerobic with the anaerobic water bodies. High dispersion and a strong supply of detrital material, however, prevent a stronger enrichment of the hydroxides in the sediment. The formation of vivianite can be explained by a dissolution of Ca-phosphate (fish debris) within the sediment and a re-deposition as Fe-phosphate in the uppermost sediment layers under reducing but slightly alkaline conditions. The results of our investigations on Recent iron formation in Lake Malawi offer an explanation for the genesis of certain sedimentary iron ores in the geological past. They indicate that a formation of iron-rich sediments — including the silicate facies — is not restricted to the marine environment.

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Zusammenfassung Nontronit, Limonit (und Opal) sowie Vivianit werden an zahlreichen Stellen des südlichen Malawi-Sees in Wassertiefen bis 250 m (aerober Bereich) abgeschieden und bilden dort die jüngste sedimentäre Einheit über Diatomit oder grobklastischem Sediment. Es muß angenommen werden, daß die Bildung der Eisenmineralien aus geothermalen Lösungen erfolgt, die reich an gelöster Kieselsäure und Fe²⁺ (untergeordnet Mn²⁺) sind, wobei Eisen und Mangan aus dem Sediment selber stammen, da heiße Quellen außerhalb des Malawi-Sees diese Elemente nicht enthalten. Die Auslösung von Eisen und Mangan erfolgt durch saure Lösungen im reduzierenden Milieu unter Bedingungen, wie sie im tieferen Teil der Sediment-Kerne angetroffen wurden (pH bis 3,6!). Beim Zusammentreffen dieser Lösungen mit dem sauerstoffhaltigen, schwach alkalischen Wasser des Malawi-Sees kommt es zur Ausfällung von Nontronit oder — bei wahrscheinlich höherem Redox-Potential — von Limonit und Opal. Beim Austritt der Fe²⁺, Mn²⁺- und SiO₂-reichen Lösungen in den anaeroben Teil des Malawi-Sees (Wassertiefen größer als 250 m) unterbleibt zunächst eine Ausfällung. Erst in der Mischzone des anoxischen mit dem oxischen Wasserkörper können Fe³⁺- und Mn³⁺-Hydroxide ausgeschieden werden, die jedoch infolge hoher Dispergierung und starker Zufuhr von klastischem Material eine starke Verdünnung erfahren. Für die Vivianit-Bildung kann angenommen werden, daß ein in den Sedimenten häufig vorhandener Apatit-Anteil (Fischreste) durch die sauren Lösungen aufgelöst und in den obersten Sedimentschichten (reduzierendes Milieu, pH jedoch >7) zusammen mit Fe²⁺ der Lösung als Vivianit abgeschieden wird. Die vorliegenden Untersuchungen geben Hinweise auf die Bildung bestimmter fossiler sedimentärer Eisenerze und zeigen gleichzeitig, daß die Genese eisenreicher Sedimente — auch von silikatischem Fazies-Typ — nicht an den marinen Ablagerungsraum gebunden ist.

     

Analysis of Temporal Structures of Seismic Events on Different Scale Levels

A statistical model for describing the energy scaling of the distribution of inter-event times is described. By considering the diverse region seismicity (natural and induced) on different scale (energy/magnitude) levels the self-similarity of the distribution has been determined. A comparison between the distribution of inter-event times on different scale levels and the most popular distributions of reliability theory has been carried out. The distribution of inter-event times for different scale levels is well approximated by the Weibull distribution. The Weibull distribution, with parameters which obey the scaling model and the Gutenberg-Richter law, has been tested.     

Mercury Input and Distribution in the Ecosystem Elements of the Sheksna Reservoir

Hg input into the ecosystem elements of the Sheksna Reservoir is studied. The accumulation and distribution of Hg in water, bottom sediment, fish, and snow falling onto the reservoir surfaces are considered. The distribution of Hg in water, bottom sediment, and snow is found to be specially nonuniform. The main sources of Hg are shown to be atmospheric precipitation and surface runoff from the watershed. The regularities of Hg accumulation in fish in different parts of the reservoir are studied.     

Hf and Nd isotopes in marine sediments: Constraints on global silicate weathering

The combined use of Lu–Hf and Sm–Nd isotope systems potentially offers a unique perspective for investigating continental erosion, but little is known about whether, and to what extent, the Hf–Nd isotope composition of sediments is related to silicate weathering intensity. In this study, Hf and Nd elemental and isotope data are reported for marine muds, leached Fe-oxide fractions and zircon-rich turbidite sands collected off the Congo River mouth, and from other parts of the SE Atlantic Ocean. All studied samples from the Congo fan (muds, Fe-hydroxides, sands) exhibit indistinguishable Nd isotopic composition (ε_Nd ~ ? 16), indicating that Fe-hydroxides leached from these sediments correspond to continental oxides precipitated within the Congo basin. In marked contrast, Hf isotope compositions for the same samples exhibit significant variations. Leached Fe-hydroxide fractions are characterized by ε_Hf values (from ? 1.1 to + 1.3) far more radiogenic than associated sediments (from ? 7.1 to ? 12.0) and turbidite sands (from ? 27.2 to ? 31.6). ε_Hf values for Congo fan sediments correlate very well with Al/K (i.e. a well-known index for the intensity of chemical weathering in Central Africa). Taken together, these results indicate that (1) silicate weathering on continents leads to erosion products having very distinctive Hf isotope signatures, and (2) a direct relationship exists between ε_Hf of secondary clay minerals and chemical weathering intensity.These results combined with data from the literature have global implications for understanding the Hf–Nd isotope variability in marine precipitates and sediments. Leached Fe-hydroxides from Congo fan sediments plot remarkably well on an extension of the ‘seawater array’ (i.e. the correlation defined by deep-sea Fe–Mn precipitates), providing additional support to the suggestion that the ocean Hf budget is dominated by continental inputs. Fine-grained sediments define a diffuse trend, between that for igneous rocks and the ‘seawater array’, which we refer to as the ‘zircon-free sediment array’ (ε_Hf = 0.91 ε_Nd + 3.10). Finally, we show that the Hf–Nd arrays for seawater, unweathered igneous rocks, zircon-free and zircon-bearing sediments (ε_Hf = 1.80 ε_Nd + 2.35) can all be reconciled, using Monte Carlo simulations, with a simple weathering model of the continental crust.