Quantifying terrain controls on runoff retention and routing in the Northern Prairies

The role of hummocky terrain in governing runoff routing and focussing groundwater recharge in the Northern Prairies of North America is widely recognised. However, most hydrological studies in the region have not effectively utilised information on the surficial geology and associated landforms in large-scale hydrological characterization. The present study uses an automated digital elevation model (DEM) analysis of a 6500-km² area in the Northern Prairies to quantify hydrologically relevant terrain parameters for the common types of terrains in the prairies with different surficial deposits widespread in the prairies, namely, moraines and glaciolacustrine deposits. Runoff retention (and storage) capacity within depressions varies greatly between different surficial deposits and is comparable in magnitude with a typical amount of seasonal snowmelt runoff generation. The terrain constraint on potential runoff retention varies from a few millimetres in areas classified as moraine to tens of millimetres in areas classified as stagnant ice moraine deposits. Fluted moraine and glaciolacustrine deposits have intermediate storage capacity values. The study also identified the probability density function describing a number of immediate upstream neighbours for each depression in a fill-and-spill network. A relationship between depression parameters and surficial deposits, as well as identified depression network structure, allows parametrisation of hydrologic models outside of the high-resolution DEM coverage, which can still account for terrain variation in the Prairies.     

Evidence for compressionally induced high subsidence rates in the Kurile Basin (Okhotsk Sea)

A combined volcanological, geochemical, paleo-oceanological, geochronological and geophysical study was undertaken on the Kurile Basin, in order to constrain the origin and evolution of this basin. Very high rates of subsidence were determined for the northeastern floor and margin of the Kurile Basin. Dredged volcanic samples from the Geophysicist Seamount, which were formed under subaerial or shallow water conditions but are presently located at depths in excess of 2300 m, were dated at 0.84±0.06 and 1.07±0.04 Ma with the laser ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar single crystal method, yielding a minimum average subsidence rate of 1.6 mm/year for the northeast basin floor in the Quaternary. Trace element and Sr–Nd–Pb isotope data from the volcanic rocks show evidence for contamination within lower continental crust and/or the subcontinental lithospheric mantle, indicating that the basement presently at 6-km depth is likely to represent thinned continental crust. Average subsidence rates of 0.5–2.0 mm/year were estimated for the northeastern slope of the Kurile Basin during the Pliocene and Quaternary through the determination of the age and paleo-environment (depth) of formation of sediments from a canyon wall. Taken together, the data from the northeastern part of the Kurile Basin indicate that subsidence began in or prior to the Early Pliocene and that subsidence rates have increased in the Quaternary. Similar rates of subsidence have been obtained from published studies on the Sakhalin Shelf and Slope and from volcanoes in the rear of the Kurile Arc. The recent stress field of the Kurile Basin is inferred from the analysis of seismic activity, focal mechanism solutions and from the structure of the sedimentary cover and of the Alaid back-arc volcano. Integration of these results suggests that compression is responsible for the rapid subsidence of the Kurile Basin and that subsidence may be an important step in the transition from basin formation to its destruction. The compression of the Kurile Basin results from squeezing of the Okhotsk Plate between four major plates: the Pacific, North American, Eurasian and Amur. We predict that continued compression could lead to subduction of the Kurile Basin floor beneath Hokkaido and the Kurile Arc in the future and thus to basin closure.     

Testing the consistency of Holocene and Last Glacial Maximum spatial correlations in temperature proxy records

Holocene temperature proxy records are commonly used in quantitative synthesis and model-data comparisons. However, comparing correlations between time series from records collected in proximity to one another with the expected correlations based on climate model simulations indicates either regional or noisy climate signals in Holocene temperature proxy records. In this study, we evaluate the consistency of spatial correlations present in Holocene proxy records with those found in data from the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). Specifically, we predict correlations expected in LGM proxy records if the only difference to Holocene correlations would be due to more time uncertainty and more climate variability in the LGM. We compare this simple prediction to the actual correlation structure in the LGM proxy records. We found that time series data of ice-core stable isotope records and planktonic foraminifera Mg/Ca ratios were consistent between the Holocene and LGM periods, while time series of Uk'37 proxy records were not as we found no correlation between nearby LGM records. Our results support the finding of highly regional or noisy marine proxy records in the compilation analysed here and suggest the need for further studies on the role of climate proxies and the processes of climate signal recording and preservation.     

On the absence of winds in advection-dominated accretion flows

We show that recently published assertions that advection-dominated accretion flows (ADAFs) require the presence of strong winds are unfounded because they assume that low radiative efficiency in flows accreting at low rates on to black holes implies vanishing radial energy and angular momentum fluxes through the flow (which is also formulated in terms of the 'Bernoulli function' being positive). This, however, is a property only of self-similar solutions which are an inadequate representation of global accretion flows. We recall general properties of accretion flows on to black holes and show that such, necessarily transonic, flows may have either d positive or negative Bernoulli function depending on the flow viscosity. Flows with low viscosities ( α ≲0.1 in the α -viscosity model) have a negative Bernoulli function. Without exception, all 2D and 1D numerical models of low-viscosity flows constructed to date experience no significant outflows. At high viscosities the presence of outflows depends on the assumed viscosity, on the equation of state and on the outer boundary condition. The positive sign of the Bernoulli function invoked in this context is irrelevant to the presence of outflows. As an illustration, we recall 2D numerical models with moderate viscosity that have positive values of the Bernoulli function and experience no outflows. ADAFs, therefore, do not differ from this point of view from thin Keplerian discs: they may have, but they do not have to have, strong winds.     

Data reporting norms for 40Ar/39Ar geochronology

Data reported in ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar geochronology studies are commonly insufficient to allow computation of ages. This deficiency renders it difficult to compare ages based on different standards or constants, and often hinders critical evaluation of the results. Herein are presented an enumeration of the data that should be reported in all ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar studies, including a discussion in support of these requirements. The minimum required data are identified and distinguished from parameters that are useful but may be derived from them by calculation. Finally, recommendations are made for metadata needed to document age calculations (e.g., from age spectrum or isochron analyses).     

Mo isotope composition in Mo-rich high- and low-T hydrothermal systems from the Swiss Alps

We analyzed the molybdenum (Mo) isotope compositions (IC) of 59 samples from two molybdenite mineralizations (Alpjahorn and Grimsel) and from a Mo-rich hydrothermal breccia (Grimsel) from the Aar Massif, Switzerland. The formation temperature of the Late Paleozoic Mo mineralizations (300-600 °C) is much higher than that of the Pliocene breccia (100-160 °C). The Mo IC of the molybdenites varies over 1.35‰. Even in a single hand specimen it spans 0.45‰, indicating that fractionation processes during molybdenite precipitation can vary on a cm scale. The Mo IC of most molybdenites analyzed here are significantly heavier than that of the host rock (δ^98/95Mo = (0.05 ± 0.1)‰) and show a bimodal distribution centered around δ^98/95Mo ≈ 1.1‰ and 0.2‰. This result rules out single stage Rayleigh fractionation as the relevant formation mechanism and instead, redox variations are suggested to be a main factor controlling the Mo IC of the studied high-temperature Mo deposits. The range of the Mo IC in one single deposit, the Alpjahorn, overlaps with the variation range of almost all other published values for Mo IC in Mo deposits. Compared to the molybdenites, the breccia shows an even wider variation of 3.0‰ (δ^98/95Mo between −1.6‰ and +1.4‰). In contrast to the high-T molybdenite deposits, here the Mo was transported via oxidized surface waters into the breccia system, where it was reduced and precipitated. This indicates that oxidation and reduction of Mo complexes may lead to highly variable Mo IC in hydrothermal systems.     

中亚造山带中的燃烧变质事件及其年代学研究

Combustion metamorphic(pyrometamorphic)complexes produced by prehistoric natural coal fires are widespread inCentral Asia,namely at the interfaces between mountain systems and the flanking sedimentary basins.Large-scale and prolonged firesaccompanied the initial orogenic stages as unweathered coal-bearing formations became exposed into the aeration zone.Pyrometamorphic rocks are comparable to sanidinite facies rocks in formation conditions and in alteration of sedimentary material but,unlike these,their protolith underwent different melting degrees to produce either ferrous basic paralavas or glazed clinkers.The phasecomposition of the newly-formed melted rocks are favorable for~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar dating of combustion metamorphic events which are coeval tothe onset of the main stage of recent orogenic events.We suggest a new algorithm providing correct ~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar dating ofpyrometamorphic rocks followed by well-grounded geological interpretation.We studied pyrometamorphic rocks in the western Salairzone of the Kuznetsk coal basin where combustion metamorphism under temperatures above 1000℃acted upon large volumes of coal-bearing sediments.Samples of paralavas were dated by the step heating ~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar method checked against internal(plateau andisochrone ages)and external("criterions of couple")mineralogical criterions,and against preliminary dating from geological andstratigraphic evidence.As a result,we distinguished two groups of dates for combustion metamorphic events.The first one(1.2±0.4Ma)is drawn towards the west boundary of Prokopyevsk-Kiselevsk block of Salair zone,while the second one(0.2±0.3Ma)isconfined to its east boundary.The former ages represent rocks in the western edge of the Prokopievsk-Kiselevsk block of the Salair zoneand the latter ages correspond to those in its eastern edge.The dates record the time when the fault boundaries of the blocks wererejuvenated during recent activity and the block accreted to the Salair orogenic area as a piedmont step.These are the first absolute agesobtained for the onset of uplift of the northern edge of the Ahai-Sayan area,the key event of its neotectonic history.The suggestedapproach to the choice of objects,classification of rocks,and interpretation of~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar data is universal and can be practiced in anyarea subjected to combustion metamorphism.     

纬向平均环流预报的系统性误差及其改进

大量的月预报实例分析表明,纬向平均环流(本指高度场纬向平均分量)存在明显的系统性预报误差,且在总误差中占有可观的份额。国内外其它模式也存在类似的现象。为克服这一困难,本尝试了“结合”(hybrid)的途径。应用重构相空间理论和非线性时空序列预测方法,在大量历史资料的基础上,构造了月尺度逐侯纬向平均高度场(零波分量)距平场的非线性预报模型。然后,将非线性预报和谱模式动力预报结合起来,即将非线性预报结果转化为模式需要的颅报量,再在模式积分过程中的每一步取代其相应部分,实施过程订正。初步试验结果表明,这种途样合效地减少了模式纬向环流的预报误差;特别是通过非线性波流相互作用,还改善了部分波动分量的预报。     

Spheroidal equal angular DEMs: The specificity of morphometric treatment

Digital elevation models (DEMs) are commonly constructed using two main types of regular grids: plane square grids and spheroidal equal angular grids. Methods and algorithms intended for plane square‐gridded DEMs should not be directly applied to spheroidal equal angular DEMs. This is because these grids have fundamentally different geometry. However, some researchers continue to apply square‐grid algorithms to spheroidal equal angular DEMs. It seems appropriate to consider once again the specifity of morphometric treatment of spheroidal equal angular DEMs. This article, first, demonstrates possibilities of direct calculation of local, nonlocal, and combined morphometric variables from spheroidal equal angular DEMs exemplified by slope gradient, catchment area, and topographic index. Second, the article shows computational errors when algorithms for plane square‐gridded DEMs are unreasonably applied to spheroidal equal angular DEMs. The study is exemplified by two DEMs. A medium‐resolution DEM of a relatively small, high‐mountainous area (Mount Elbrus) was extracted from the SRTM1 DEM. A low‐resolution DEM of a vast region with the diverse topography (the central and western regions of Kenya) was extracted from the SRTM30_PLUS DEM. The results show that application of square‐grid methods to spheroidal equal angular DEMs leads to substantial computational errors in models of morphometric variables.     

Cryptophyta Flagellates of Meromictic Lakes Shira and Shunet(Khakassia,Russia):Mechanisms of Vertical Distribution and Trophic Role

正1 Introduction Many of the stratified lakes are characterized by the presence of large populations of cryptomonads in their chemocline zones(Reynolds,1992;Gervais et al,2003;Pedro's-Alio'et al.,1995).These populations are adapted to low light intensity and high sulfide concentration;they have a mixotrophic ability and form the so-called"deep chlorophyll maxima"(Gervais,1998;Marsha"and Laybourn-Parry,2002).A similar Cryptomonas sp.