Deformations and Manifestations of Degassing in the Sedimentary Cover of the Equatorial Segment of the West Atlantic: Implications for Lithospheric Geodynamics

Manifestations of fluids and deformations in the sedimentary cover, which are both factors of brightening (blanking anomalies) in seismoacoustic records, in the equatorial segment of the Atlantic coincide with the sublatitudinal zones of the activated passive parts of transform faults and with zones of lower gravity anomalies and higher values of remnant magnetization, which form as a result of serpentinization. The cause-and-effect sequence of intraplate phenomena includes: the contrasting geodynamic state → horizontal movements that form macrofractures → water supply to the upper mantle → serpentinization of rocks in the upper mantle → deformations associated with vertical uplift of basement and sedimentary cover blocks, coupled with fluid generation → and fluid accumulation in the sedimentary cover, accompanied by the formation of anomalies in seismoacoustic records. Based on the seismic data, we have identified imbricate-thrust deformations, diapir structures, stamp folds, and positive and negative flower structures, indicating the presence of strike-slip faults in the passive parts of transform faults. The general spatial distribution of deformation structures shows their concentration in cold mantle zones. Correlative comparison of the structural characteristics of deformations shows the direct relationship between the heights of structures and the development of serpentinization processes. As per the age of the basement, deformations range from 27–38 to 43–53 Ma; a quite thick sedimentary cover makes it possible to reveal them based on the characteristic types of seismoacoustic records. The formation of the Antilles arc ca. 10 Ma ago affected the equatorial segment of the Atlantic; it formed kink bands where lithospheric blocks underwent displacements with counterclockwise rotations, deformations related to compression and vertical uplift of crustal fragments, and local extension that favored degassing of endogenous fluids. Sublatitudinally oriented imbricate-thrust deformations with different vergences indicate irregularity and alternating strike-slip directions as blocks between fractures were laterally influenced.     

Nonlinear dynamics of gravity flows in sloping channels

Doklady Earth Sciences -     

A minimalistic approach for evapotranspiration estimation using the Prophet model

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to evaluate the potential of the recently introduced Prophet model for estimating reference evapotranspiration (ETo). A comparative study was conducted for benchmarking the model results with support vector regression (SVR) and temperature-based empirical models (Thornthwaite and Hargreaves) in southern Japan. The performance of the Prophet, SVR and temperature-based empirical models was evaluated by Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) and coefficient of determination (R²). The results indicate that temperature-based Prophet and SVR models have greater accuracy than the empirical models. The Prophet model with sole input of relative humidity, sunshine hours or windspeed showed acceptable accuracy (NSE > 0.80; R² > 0.80), while SVR models with similar inputs showed greater errors. Accuracy improved with increasing number of input parameters, giving excellent performance (NSE > 0.95; R² > 0.95) with all input parameters. Hence, the Prophet model is a new promising approach for modelling ETo with limited input variables.     

A hydrogeological type section for the Duna-Tisza Interfluve, Hungary

The Duna-Tisza Interfluve, Hungary has an agricultural economy but is plagued by severe problems of soil and wetland salinization despite 200 years of intensive research. The study’s objective was to determine the origin of salts and the mechanisms of salinity distribution. To this end, flow-patterns and chemistry of groundwater were evaluated in a 100 km?×?65 km area, with emphasis on the Kolon- and Kelemenszék Lakes region. The lakes are located 13 km apart and have chemically contrasting water and soil types. Two groundwater flow-domains were identified: a gravity-drive meteoric fresh water and an over-pressured deeper domain of saline water. The waters are channeled by a highly permeable gravel aquifer to the surface and may merge near Kelemenszék Lake, causing it to be saline. Kolon Lake receives meteoric groundwater only, hence its fresh chemical character. The cross-formational ascent of the deep waters, combined with the gravitational systems’ geometry and the flow-channeling effect of the near-surface rocks, explains the contrasting chemistry between lakes, and the origin and pattern of soil salinization. The scheme is proposed as a generally valid hydrogeological profile for the interfluve, and has been named the Duna-Tisza Interfluve Hydrogeological Type Section.     

Some comments on physical processes at and near the tropopause

The major physical processes at and near the tropopause are evaluated; these processes are radiation, convection and turbulence, advection and vertical convergence. Calculations of instantaneous long wave radiative temperature change for observed and postulated moisture distributions show that radiation usually acts to smooth the temperature profile. Observations and the principle of continuity show that convection is infrequent and unimportant in establishing the tropopause. General principles and numerical integration of the heat conduction equation for special cases show that turbulence will act to smooth the temperature profile unless flux has a certain relationship to hydrostatic stability. Observations, calculations and the principle of continuity show that advection and vertical convergence cannot be universal mechanisms of tropopause formation.

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Zusammenfassung Die grundlegenden physikalischen Prozesse an und in der Nähe der Tropopause werden bestimmt; diese Prozesse sind Strahlung, Konvektion und Turbulenz, Advektion und Vertikalakonvergenz. Berechnungen von momentanen Temperaturänderungen durch langwellige Strahlung für beobachtete und vorgegebene Feuchtigkeitsverteilungen lassen erkennen, daß die Strahlung gewöhnlich das Temperaturprofil auszugleichen sucht. Beobachtungen und das Kontinuitätsprinzip zeigen, daß Konvektion selten und für die Bildung der Tropopause unwichtig ist. Allgemeine Prinzipien und numerische Integration der Wärmeleitungsgleichung für spezielle Fälle zeigen, daß die Turbulenz das Temperaturprofil auszugleichen sucht, außer wenn der Wärmestrom in spezieller Beziehung zur hydrostatischen Stabilität steht. Beobachtungen, Berechnungen und das Kontinuitätsprinzip führen zu der Feststellung, daß Advektion und vertikale Konvergenz nicht als allgemeine Mechanismen für die Bildung der Tropopause angesehen werden können.

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Résumé L'auteur évalue les processus physiques fondamentaux de la tropopause et à sa proximité; ces processus sont le rayonnement, la convection et la turbulence, l'advection et la convergence verticale. Le calcul de variations instantanées de la température dûes au rayonnement de grande longueur d'onde, par une distribution observée et supposée de l'humidité, montre qu'en général le rayonnement semble atténuer et égaliser le profil de la température. Les observations et le principe de continuité font admettre que la convection est rare et de peu d'importance pour la formation de la tropopause. Des principes généraux et une intégration numérique de l'équation de transmission de chaleur pour des can spéciaux montrent que la turbulence tend à égaliser le profil de température à moins que le flux de chaleur ne soit en relation spécifique avec la stabilité hydrostatique. Des observations, des calculs et le principe de continuité prouvent que l'advection et la convergence verticale ne peuvent être considérées comme étant des mécanismes généraux pour la formation de la tropopause.

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With 4 Figures

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The research reported here was supported in part by the Geophysical Research Directorate, A. F. Cambridge Research Center.     

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sediments,mussels and crustacea around a former gasworks site in Shoreham-by-Sea,UK

Concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons have been determined in sediments, mussels and crustacea in the vicinity of a former gasworks site by Shoreham Harbour, UK. Very high concentrations of PAH were found in the substrate, an ash-like material deposited on the former gasworks site, which exhibited a profile consistent with the major source of contamination being coal or coke tar produced during the period of gas production at the site. Elevated PAH concentrations were also found in mussels both from the beach below the former gasworks site, and from sites further to the east in Portslade and Hove. The significance of these concentrations were assessed using an approach which involved the calculation of benzo[a]pyrene equivalent conoentrations (BaPEs), summing concentrations of individual PAH on the basis of their comparative potency as carcinogens. BaPE ranged from values of, or close to, zero for crustacea, to 336 microg kg(-1) wet weight in mussels from Southwick Beach. The contaminated mussels are not exploited commercially but may be taken by casual gatherers, and notices have been posted to warn potential consumers.     

Additional Horizontal Traces of Ground Reflections on Ionograms from the Interkosmos-19 Satellite in the Night Trough

Geomagnetism and Aeronomy - Additional horizontal traces of ground reflections were observed in a studied series of high-latitude, Kp sounding ionograms from the Interkosmos-19 satellite. The...     

The geochronology and origin of mantle sources for late cenozoic intraplate volcanism in the frontal part of the Arabian plate in the Karacadağ neovolcanic area of Turkey. Part 1. The results of isotope-geochronological studies

This paper considers results from isotope-geochronological (K-Ar) studies of the products of Neogene-Quaternary volcanism in the Karacada? area, which is situated within the northern frontal part of the Arabian plate. It was found that magmatic activity has been evolving at this location for at least the last 11–10 Myr and was distinctly discrete in character. Three stages of volcanism have been identified: (I) Early or Miocene, ～11–6.7 Ma; (II) Middle or Pliocene-Early Quaternary, 4–1 Ma; and (III) Late or Late Quaternary, 0.4–0.1 Ma. The most recent manifestations of magmatic activity in the region date back to about 100000 years ago. An analysis of the spatial distribution of volcanic centers of different ages in the Karacada? neovolcanic area shows that the magmatism of that region involved a lateral migration of activity from northwest to southeast along a major regional tectonic fault. The migration was caused by the movement of local tension zones where the lithosphere was thinner and deep-seated mantle magmas were ascending.     

Ultraviolet radiation diagnostics of the flare transient layer

The correlation between the pulsed and smooth components of ultraviolet radiation and hard X-rays from solar flares has been interpreted on the basis of the time behavior of the energy flux penetrating from the magnetic field reconnection region to the boundary of the heated region. It has been shown that the time behavior of the primary flare energy flux is easily reconstructed from the time profile of the intensity of hard X-rays, and the time profile of the intensity of ultraviolet radiation represents the release of the flare energy in the flare transient layer. The smooth or pulsed component of the ultraviolet radiation depends on the form of the primary energy release. Information on the dynamics of the heating process and the formation and equalization of the gas pressure in the flare transient layer has been obtained from the observed temperature dependence of the emission measure. The described scheme explains the set of flare phenomena and the correlation between hard X-rays with pulsed ultraviolet bursts.     

Influence of Redox Mediators and Electron Donors on the Anaerobic Removal of Color and Chemical Oxygen Demand from Textile Effluent

Color removal was evaluated in anaerobic assays using synthetic (SE) and real (RE) effluents containing the dye Direct Black 22 (DB22). The focus was on the individual influence of two electron donors (EDs), sucrose and ethanol; and their combination with two redox mediators (RMs), lawsone and riboflavin. In addition to SE assays, the EDs were combined with sulfate which was present in the RE. Distinct behavior was observed with both assays. In the case of SE, using the EDs sucrose and ethanol resulted in DB22 removal efficiency of 93 and 83%, respectively; but only 27% in the control. The respective removal rates were 27.8‐ and 4.4‐fold higher than that of the control. Using the EDs with the RM lawsone resulted in color removal higher than that with riboflavin. Interestingly, in the ethanol + sulfate assay, late release of the last was observed, possibly due to the desulfonation reaction of the aromatic structures during the DB22 molecule breakdown. In the case of RE, no improvement was observed with either EDs; and some combinations with the RMs even resulted in decreased color removal. Therefore, the used EDs and RMs showed positive effect on color removal in SEs; but unexpectedly not in REs.