Mapping fuels at the wildland-urban interface using colour ortho-images and LiDAR data

Fuel type mapping of the wildland-urban interface (WUI) in support of fire spread simulation modelling should include both natural and urban features. The objective of this study was to evaluate the utility of (1) Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) structural data, (2) ortho-image data and (3) a combination of both as input to an object-based classification approach for mapping fuels within two WUI areas in San Diego, California. A separability analysis was utilized to determine the surface topographical and spectral layers most influential for discriminating WUI fuels. An accuracy assessment revealed that the combination of LiDAR and ortho-image data inputs substantially increased classification accuracy by 20–30% and achieved overall accuracies?>?80%. Results from the study provide knowledge on how reliable fuel types within the WUI can be mapped using high-resolution LiDAR and ortho-image data while presenting new insights into fuel type mapping.     

Effects of solar activity on myocardial infarction deaths in low geomagnetic latitude regions

We study the effect of solar activity on the incidence of myocardial infarction deaths (MID) in Mexico. We work with 129,917 cases along 1996–1999, grouping the data by sex and age, and considering the solar cycle phases. At higher frequencies the circaseptan is the most persistent periodicity in MID occurrence. During solar minimum the circaseptan period is not detectable compared with solar maximum. During Forbush decreases and geomagnetic activity, most cases present a higher average MID occurrence. Furthermore the MID rate is higher as the level of the geomagnetic perturbation increases. Male MID rates are in general higher than female rates and the difference increases as the geomagnetic perturbation increases. The age group with the lowest MID incidence is 25 to 44 years, the age group of 65 years is the most vulnerable. We conclude that solar activity does affect MID at low geomagnetic latitudes and that the solar maximum is the most hazardous time for MID incidence.     

Sn-polymetallic greisen-type deposits associated with late-stage rapakivi granites, Brazil: fluid inclusion and stable isotope characteristics

Tin-polymetallic greisen-type deposits in the Itu Rapakivi Province and Rondônia Tin Province, Brazil are associated with late-stage rapakivi fluorine-rich peraluminous alkali-feldspar granites. These granites contain topaz and/or muscovite or zinnwaldite and have geochemical characteristics comparable to the low-P sub-type topaz-bearing granites. Stockworks and veins are common in Oriente Novo (Rondônia Tin Province) and Correas (Itu Rapakivi Province) deposits, but in the Santa Bárbara deposit (Rondônia Tin Province) a preserved cupola with associated bed-like greisen is predominant. The contrasting mineralization styles reflect different depths of formation, spatial relationship to tin granites, and different wall rock/fluid proportions. The deposits contain a similar rare-metal suite that includes Sn (±W, ±Ta, ±Nb), and base-metal suite (Zn–Cu–Pb) is present only in Correas deposit. The early fluid inclusions of the Correas and Oriente Novo deposits are (1) low to moderate-salinity (0–19 wt.% NaCl eq.) CO₂-bearing aqueous fluids homogenizing at 245–450 °C, and (2) aqueous solutions with low CO₂, low to moderate salinity (0–14 wt.% NaCl eq.), which homogenize between 100 and 340 °C. In the Santa Bárbara deposit, the early inclusions are represented by (1) low-salinity (5–12 wt.% NaCl eq.) aqueous fluids with variable CO₂ contents, homogenizing at 340 to 390 °C, and (2) low-salinity (0–3 wt.% NaCl eq.) aqueous fluid inclusions, which homogenize at 320–380 °C. Cassiterite, wolframite, columbite–tantalite, scheelite, and sulfide assemblages accompany these fluids. The late fluid in the Oriente Novo and Correas deposit was a low-salinity (0–6 wt.% NaCl eq.) CO₂-free aqueous solution, which homogenizes at (100–260 °C) and characterizes the sulfide–fluorite–sericite association in the Correas deposit. The late fluid in the Santa Bárbara deposit has lower salinity (0–3 wt.% NaCl eq.) and characterizes the late-barren-quartz, muscovite and kaolinite veins. Oxygen isotope thermometry coupled with fluid inclusion data suggest hydrothermal activity at 240–450 °C, and 1.0–2.6 kbar fluid pressure at Correas and Oriente Novo. The hydrogen isotope composition of breccia-greisen, stockwork, and vein fluids (δ¹⁸O_quartz from 9.9‰ to 10.9‰, δD_H2O from 4.13‰ to 6.95‰) is consistent with a fluid that was in equilibrium with granite at temperatures from 450 to 240 °C. In the Santa Bárbara deposit, the inferred temperatures for quartz-pods and bed-like greisens are much higher (570 and 500 °C, respectively), and that for the cassiterite-quartz-veins is 415 °C. The oxygen and hydrogen isotope composition of greisen and quartz-pods fluids (δ¹⁸O_qtz-H2O=5.5–6.1‰) indicate that the fluid equilibrated with the albite granite, consistent with a magmatic origin. The values for mica (δ¹⁸O_mica-H2O=3.3–9.8‰) suggest mixing with meteoric water. Late muscovite veins (δ¹⁸O_qtz-H2O=−6.4‰) and late quartz (δ¹⁸O_mica-H2O=−3.8‰) indicate involvement of a meteoric fluid. Overall, the stable isotope and fluid inclusion data imply three fluid types: (1) an early orthomagmatic fluid, which equilibrated with granite; (2) a mixed orthomagmatic-meteoric fluid; and (3) a late hydrothermal meteoric fluid. The first two were responsible for cassiterite, wolframite, and minor columbite–tantalite precipitation. Change in the redox conditions related to mixing of magmatic and meteoric fluids favored important sulfide mineralization in the Correas deposit.     

Feeding ecology of flatfish juveniles (pleuronectiformes) in Mar Chiquita coastal lagoon (Buenos Aires, Argentina)

During a two-year period in Mar Chiquita coastal lagoon (Buenos Aires, Argentina), the diet of juvenileParalichthys orbignyanus andOncopterus darwinii sorted according to size, area, and season was analyzed. Sampling was carried out using a beach seine net in three zones of different salinity. The small size of the individuals collected and the high percentage of full stomachs, corresponding with high food availability in the lagoon, indicated that Mar Chiquita is used as a nursery ground. The diet ofP. orbignyanus consisted of crustaceans and polychaetes, whereasO. darwinii fed predominantly on small crustaceans (gammarid amphipods, harpacticoid copepods, mysids, and ostracods); polychaetes were less important. Diet of both flatfish species varied with length. Smaller individuals were microphagous, while bigger specimens included larger prey in their diet. Prey taxa number increased for both species, seawards to the mouth of the lagoon, probably related to the salinity gradient. Prey diversity forP. orbignyanus was highest in autumn and spring, and the lowest percentage of stomachs with food occurred in winter. Prey diversity was lowest forO. darwinii in spring and the highest percentage of empty stomachs was found in autumn.     

Thermal and mechanical structure of the central Iberian Peninsula lithosphere

The central Iberian Peninsula (Spain) is made up of three main tectonic units: a mountain range, the Spanish Central System and two Tertiary basins (those of the rivers Duero and Tajo). These units are the result of widespread foreland deformation of the Iberian plate interior in response to Alpine convergence of European and African plates. The present study was designed to investigate thermal structure and rheological stratification in this region of central Spain. Surface heat flow has been described to range from 80 to 60 mW m⁻². Highest surface heat flow values correspond to the Central System and northern part of the Tajo Basin. The relationship between elevation and thermal state was used to construct a one-dimensional thermal model. Mantle heat flow drops from 34 mW m⁻² (Duero Basin) to 27 mW m⁻² (Tajo Basin), and increases with diminishing surface heat flow. Strength predictions made by extrapolating experimental data indicate varying rheological stratification throughout the area. In general, in compression, ductile fields predominate in the middle and lower crusts and lithospheric mantle. Brittle behaviour is restricted to the first 8 km of the upper crust and to a thin layer at the top of the middle crust. In tension, brittle layers are slightly more extended, while the lower crust and lithospheric mantle remain ductile in the case of a wet peridotite composition. Discontinuities in brittle and ductile layer thickness determine lateral rheological anisotropy. Tectonic units roughly correspond to rheological domains. Brittle layers reach their maximum thickness beneath the Duero Basin and are of least thickness under the Tajo Basin, especially its northern area. Estimated total lithospheric strength shows a range from 2.5×10¹² to 8×10¹² N m⁻¹ in compression, and from 1.3×10¹² to 1.6×10¹² N m⁻¹ in tension. Highest values were estimated for the Duero Basin.Depth versus frequency of earthquakes correlates well with strength predictions. Earthquake foci concentrate mainly in the upper crust, showing a peak close to maximum strength depth. Most earthquakes occur in the southern margin of the Central System and southeast Tajo Basin. Seismicity is related to major faults, some bounding rheological domains. The Duero Basin is a relative quiescence zone characterised by higher total lithospheric strength than the remaining units.     

Deformation patterns in a high-viscosity lava flow inferred from the crystal preferred orientation and imbrication structures: an example from Salina (Aeolian Islands,southern Tyrrhenian Sea,Italy)

Shape-preferred orientation and imbrication structures of crystals have been measured on samples representative of the base, centre and top of a highly viscous lava flow on Salina (Aeolian Islands, southern Tyrrhenian Sea). The data allow zones with different deformation patterns to be identified. In the base and top of the flow, deformation leads to the development of discrete preferred orientation and imbrication of the elongate crystals. The sense of shear is right-lateral at the base and left-lateral at the top of the flow. Shear strain can be estimated by the analysis of crystal preferred orientation. Deformation increases from the flow centre to the outer, more viscous boundary layers. Random orientation of crystals in the inner zone supports the presence of plug flow in a pseudoplastic lava. The textural features of the studied lava may be related to different mechanisms (i.e. lateral expansion). We conclude that the observed crystal alignments and imbrication structures may be related to a plug flow moving between two non-deforming walls. The walls are represented by the solidified, broken upper and basal crust of the flow. The low shear strain values calculated in the outer margins of the flow are indicative of the last deformation event. Crystal preferred orientation and imbrication structures may be related to the occurrence of velocity gradients existing between the inner zone of the flow and its solidus or near-solidus outer margins.     

The 1669 eruption at Mount Etna: chronology,petrology and geochemistry,with inferences on the magma sources and ascent mechanisms

 Analysis of the petrochemical characters of the 1669 Etnean lavas shows that they can be grouped into two sets: SET1 lavas were erupted from 11 to 20 March and are more primitive in composition than SET2, erupted later until the end of activity. Both sets may be interpreted as the result of crystallization under different conditions of two primary magmas which are compositionally slightly distinct and which fractionate different volumetric proportions of minerals. To explain why more mafic lavas (SET1) were erupted earlier than more acid ones (SET2), we argue that new deeper magma rose up into a reservoir where residing magma was fractionating. Density calculations demonstrate that new magma is less dense and may originate a plume, rapidly rising through the residing magma which is cooler and more volatile-depleted than the new magma. Calculations of uprise velocity assuming laminar flow are consistent with this hypothesis. Received: 20 November 1995 / Accepted: 2 August 1996     

Multistage crystallization of tonalitic enclaves in granitoid rocks (Hercynian belt,Spain): implications for magma mixing

The crystallization sequence, nucleation density and crystal index (n = nucleation density/mode) of tonalitic enclaves from different granitoids of the Hercynian orogeny indicate that they are pieces of magma partially crystallized in the interior of synplutonic bodies of basic magma, which was injected into a silicic magma chamber. A rapid cooling stage can be identified from the high nucleation density and high n-values of minerals. A final stage of slow cooling, is identified by a low nucleation density and low n-values. At this stage a residual melt crystallized in thermal equilibrium to the cooling rate of the whole magma chamber. Thermal equilibrium and convection are necessary conditions for mixing. Enclaves can be interpreted as the remaining, non-disaggregated portions of an early injected mafic magma, which in turn underwent hybridization during injection. Their presence indicates the existence of magma mixing processes and the possibility that the host granitoid was a hybrid rock.

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Zusammenfassung Die Kristallisationsabfolge, Keimdichte und der Kristallindex (n = Keimdichte/Modus) von tonalitischen Einschlüssen verschiedener Granitoide des variszischen Orogens zeigen, daß sie Teile eines Magmas sind, das teilweise im Inneren von basischen synplutonischen Magmenkörpern auskristallisierte und in eine silikatische Magmenkammer injiziert wurde. Eine Zeit schnellen Abkühlens kann an Hand der hohen Keimdichte und der niedrigen n-Werte festgestellt werden. Zu diesem Zeitpunkt kristallisierte eine Restschmelze unter thermischen Gleichgewichtsbedingungen und der Abkühlungsgeschwindigkeit der ganzen Magmenkammer aus. Thermisches Gleichgewicht und Konvektion sind für das Mischen notwendig. Einschlüsse können als nichtzerfallene Reste eines früh injizierten mafischen Magmas angesehen werden, welches während der Injizierung eine Hybridisierung erfuhr. Ihre Gegenwart zeigen das Vorhandensein von Magmenmischungsvorgängen und die Möglichkeit, daß der Muttergranitoid ein Hybridgestein war, an.

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Resumen La secuencia de cristalización, densidad de nucleación e índice cristalino (n = densidad de nucleación/moda) de enclaves tonalíticos de diferentes granitoides hercínicos, indican que dichos enclaves representan fragmentas de magma parcialmente cristalizados en el interior de cuerpos simplutónicos de magma básico, que originalmente fue inyectado en una cámara magmática félsica. Se puede identificar una etapa de enfriamiento rápido a partir de los altos valores de n y alta densidad de nucleación de los minerales. Una etapa final de enfriamiento lento es detectada por una baja densidad de nucleación y bajos valores de n de determinados minerales. Un líquido residual cristalizó en esta etapa lenta en equilibrio térmico y a la misma tasa de enfriamiento que toda la cámara magmática en conjunto. Equilibrio térmico y convección son condiciones necesarias para que se produzca mezcla. Los enclaves pueden ser interpretados como porciones no hibridadas de magma que han sido homogéneamente distribuidos dentro del granitoide encajante. Su presencia indicaría la existencia de procesos de mezcla de magmas y la posibilidad de que el granitoide encajante sea una roca híbrida.

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