Noble gas composition,cosmic-ray exposure age, 39Ar-40Ar,and I-Xe analyses of ungrouped achondrite NWA 7325

Northwest Africa (NWA) 7325 is an anomalous achondrite that experienced episodes of large-degree melt extraction and interaction with melt under reducing conditions. Its composition led to speculations about a Mercurian origin and provoked a series of studies of this meteorite. We present the noble gas composition, and results of ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar and ¹²⁹I-¹²⁹Xe studies of whole rock splits of NWA 7325. The light noble gases are dominated by cosmogenic isotopes. ²¹Ne and ³⁸Ar cosmic-ray exposure ages are 25.6 and 18.9 Ma, respectively, when calculated with a nominal whole rock composition. This ³⁸Ar age is in reasonable agreement with a cosmic-ray exposure age of 17.5 Ma derived in our ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating study. Due to the low K-content of 19 ± 1 ppm and high Ca-content of approximately 12.40 ± 0.15 wt%, no reliable ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age could be determined. The integrated age strongly depends on the choice of an initial ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar ratio. An air-like component is dominant in lower temperature extractions and assuming air ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar for the trapped component results in a calculated integrated age of 3200 ± 260 (1σ) Ma. This may represent the upper age limit for a major reheating event affecting the K-Ar system. Results of ¹²⁹I-¹²⁹Xe dating give no useful chronological information, i.e., no isochron is observed. Considering the highest ¹²⁹Xe*/¹²⁸Xe_I ratio as equivalent to a lower age limit, we calculate an I-Xe age of about 4536 Ma. In addition, elevated ¹²⁹Xe/¹³²Xe ratios of up to 1.65 ± 0.18 in higher temperature extractions indicate an early formation of NWA 7325, with subsequent disturbance of the I-Xe system.     

Dynamics of carbon pools in post-agrogenic sandy soils of southern taiga of Russia

Background  

Until recently, a lot of arable lands were abandoned in many countries of the world and, especially, in Russia, where about half a million square kilometers of arable lands were abandoned in 1961-2007. The soils at these fallows undergo a process of natural restoration (or self-restoration) that changes the balance of soil organic matter (SOM) supply and mineralization.     

Features of the Comacchio ecosystem transformed during persistent bloom of picocyanobacteria

The big Comacchio lagoons (NW Adriatic coast) have been experiencing a super-dense, long-term bloom of picocyanobacteria (PCB) since 1985. This bloom has caused profound transformations in their ecosystem and has resulted in the loss of valuable fish and clam resources. The composition, density and seasonal dynamics of this bloom and its impact on the ecosystem were studied between spring and autumn 1995 and in the summer of 2001. The density of the blooming phytoplankton assemblages varied from 8 to 35 × 10⁶ cells ml⁻¹, and biomass from 20 to 40 g m⁻³, thus demonstrating a quasi-stable status since 1993. The share of pico + nanocyanobacterial fraction of the total phytoplankton biomass was 98% in spring to early summer, and 92% in autumn. The remaining 0.2–5% comprised eukaryotic nano-algae. All components of the animal food web were found to be drastically depleted in the lagoons. Their biomass range in the open lagoons areas were: 2 to 20 mg m⁻³ of microzooplankton, 10 to 40 mg m⁻³ mesozooplankton, and 5 to 12 g m⁻² macrozoobenthos. The share of filtering fauna in the whole ecosystem metabolism was less than 2%. The malfunction of the deteriorated animal food web resulted in the hyper-accumulation of non-grazed microplankton biomass and detritus in the water column and in bottom sediments. The sequence brought the acceleration of sulfide production and the accumulation of acid soluble sulfides in the upper sediment layer of up to 700–800 mg S dm⁻³ of wet silt. The results of this study provide evidence that the state of ecological collapse continues in the lagoons since 1993.     

Numerical analysis of the Black Sea currents and mesoscale eddies in 2006 and 2011

Two prognostic experiments taking into account real atmospheric forcing for 2006 and 2011 were carried out based on the eddy-resolving numerical model with a horizontal resolution of 1.6 km for the Black Sea. The main dynamic features such as the Rim Current, the Sevastopol, and Batumi anticyclones are reproduced in both experiments. The model results are confirmed via observation data. We accomplished the analysis of simulated circulation and energetics. The results demonstrate that both the vertical viscosity and vertical diffusion along with the energy inflow from the wind have been the main contributors to the annual and seasonal budgets of kinetic and potential energies of the Black Sea circulation. It is shown that two regimes of the Black Sea general circulation are implemented depending on a magnitude of wind contribution to the kinetic energy in winter. Intensive mesoscale eddy formation was observed along the Anatolian, Caucasian, and Crimean coasts. The analysis of the Black Sea circulation and eddy energetics allowed us to conclude that the generation and development of the mesoscale coastal eddies is associated with the barotropic instability in case of intensive coastal currents and is associated with both the barotropic and baroclinic instability in case of weak coastal currents.     

Lessons from JI and GIS for post-2012 carbon finance mechanisms in Russia and Ukraine

The main incentives for Russia's and Ukraine's participation in the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol were its mechanisms. The opportunities that the anticipated post-2012 mechanisms will offer Russia and Ukraine are explored in light of the lessons from Joint Implementation (JI) and the Green Investment Scheme (GIS) during this first period. Four key factors that explain the success of these mechanisms are identified: the design of the mechanisms, the role of the private sector in their implementation, the coordination required, and the political will gained. Even though a weak rule of law, problems with policy implementation, and the ambiguous role of private-sector actors are not ‘make or break’ issues, they are likely to defer future mechanisms. Success and failure will, rather, hinge on the priority these factors are accorded by the top leadership. It is likely that simple mechanisms that only involve a few actors will be less complicated to set up and run than, for instance, emissions trading schemes (which require domestic burden sharing). Project-based options in which domestic actors have gained experience may be better suited. However, any lessons prior to the new mechanisms taking a clearer shape must be considered as preliminary.

Policy relevance

The Kyoto Protocol mechanisms, despite their problems, provided Russia and Ukraine with their main incentives for participation in the Protocol's first commitment period. As the chances that these countries will participate in the second commitment period seem slim, the opportunities that the anticipated post-2012 mechanisms will offer Russia and Ukraine are explored in light of the lessons from JI and GIS. The key factors that have determined the success and failure of these mechanisms are likely to be of relevance to future mechanisms. It is argued that – of the post-2012 options available – simple mechanisms with few actors involved should be chosen. Project-based options rather than emissions trading schemes may be more likely to succeed due to experience gained by domestic actors.     

望天鹅火山喷发时限的激光40Ar/39Ar年代学

在中国东北地区,望天鹅火山的覆盖范围仅次于长白山,前人测得的K-Ar年龄主要集中在2～3Ma,但其精确的啧发年代一直没有很好的限定.这是因为第四纪以来的火山岩40 Ar/39 Ar定年与较老的地质样品有显著的不同,测试过程中极其微小的偏差会呈指数方式放大,带来测年结果的极大误差,难以严格限定火山喷发的年代.本文选用的激...     

Debris flows triggered from non-stationary glacier lake outbursts: the case of the Teztor Lake complex (Northern Tian Shan,Kyrgyzstan)

One of the most far-reaching glacier-related hazards in the Tian Shan Mountains of Kyrgyzstan is glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) and related debris flows. An improved understanding of the formation and evolution of glacial lakes and debris flow susceptibility is therefore essential to assess and mitigate potential hazards and risks. Non-stationary glacier lakes may fill periodically and quickly; the potential for them to outburst increases as water volume may change dramatically over very short periods of time. After the outburst or drainage of a lake, the entire process may start again, and thus these non-stationary lakes are of particular importance in the region. In this work, the Teztor lake complex, located in Northern Kyrgyzstan, was selected for the analysis of outburst mechanisms of non-stationary glacial lakes, their formation, as well as the triggering of flows and development of debris flows and floods downstream of the lakes. The different Teztor lakes are filled with water periodically, and according to field observations, they tend to outburst every 9–10 years on average. The most important event in the area dates back to 1953, and another important event occurred on July 31, 2012. Other smaller outbursts have been recorded as well. Our study shows that the recent GLOF in 2012 was caused by a combination of intense precipitation during the days preceding the event and a rapid rise in air temperatures. Analyses of features in the entrainment and depositional zones point to a total debris flow volume of about 200,000 m³, with discharge ranging from 145 to 340 m³ s^?1 and flow velocities between 5 and 7 m s^?1. Results of this study are key for a better design of sound river corridor planning and for the assessment and mitigation of potential GLOF hazards and risks in the region.     

Thermodynamic data for phases in the FeO-MgO-SiO2 system and phase relations in the mantle transition zone

Based on the available experimental data on phase equilibria in the FeO -MgO -SiO₂ system the mixing properties of the solid solutions (olivine, β- and γ-spinel, pyroxene, majorite, ilmenite and perovskite and magnesiowustite), the enthalpies of FeO and fictive FeSiO₃ phases with ilmenite and majorite structures have been assessed. The entropies, temperature dependance of heat capacities for fictive FeSiO₃ end-members were estimated from structural analogies. The calculated phase diagrams for Mg₂SiO₄-Fe₂SiO₄ and MgSiO₃ — FeSiO₃ systems at pressures up to 30 GPa and temperatures between 1000 and 2100 K are quite consistent with the available experimental determinations except for the fine features of the phase diagram at 2073 K.