Morphology and curvature of delta slopes in Swiss lakes: lessons for the interpretation of clinoforms in seismic data

Seismic surveys were conducted and bathymetric data obtained from four alpine lakes in Switzerland. The curvature of the delta slopes was analysed with mathematical equations. Linear or exponential profiles are observed, representing planar or concave morphologies respectively. Planar profiles are interpreted to represent sediment that rests at the angle-of-repose. The slope angle of these profiles shows a correlation with sediment calibre. Exponential profiles do not show a clear correlation between sediment calibre and slope angle; they do not rest at the angle-of-repose, and different kinds of sediment can rest at the same slope angle. At the transition from lower slope to toe- of-slope, the exponential equation fails to predict the present-day morphology. The toe-of-slope lies above the predicted trend. This is attributed to a drastic increase in turbidite deposition that provides additional sediment and raises the basin-floor profile above the predicted trend. The breaks between delta plain and slope are sharp, reflecting an abrupt change from transport by river flow and waves to gravity-driven transport. In these lakes, the base-level fluctuations relative to supply are small and insufficient to alter this sharp topographic break. The absence of sigmoidal profiles on the Swiss deltas is attributed to the high rate of progradation coupled with small fluctuations in base level.     

Triassic carbonate buildup flanks in the Dolomites, northern Italy: breccias, boulder fabric and the importance of early diagenesis

The flanks of Middle Triassic carbonate buildups in the Dolomites show well‐developed clinostratification, with typical angles of 30–40°. This paper focuses on the metre‐scale fabric of these clinoforms and sets these within the context of their large‐scale and microscopic features. Clinoform stratification is caused by fibrous cement crusts, by stylolites paralleling a vague stratification and by pelagic limestone interbedded with the lower portions of the clinoforms. These parts of the clinoforms locally exhibit a boulder fabric. A fracture system, subvertical to clinostratification, is filled by fibrous cements and marine internal sediment. The analysis of clinoform fabric indicates that parts consist of in situ automicrite. Other parts of the clinoforms are made up of breccia. The breccias occur as isolated pockets and lenses with random orientation and dimensions ranging from a few square decimetres to hundreds of square metres. The breccias have gradual contacts with the unbrecciated host rock. Breccia components are mostly angular, show a microfacies similar to that of the unbrecciated host rock and are composed of millimetre‐ to decimetre‐sized particles that generally float in radiaxial‐fibrous cement. Matching grain boundaries are common. Calcite cement typically makes up 20 and 40 vol.% of the brecciated areas. Clinostratification, the fracture system, brecciation and boulder fabric point to gravity induced deformation of in situ flank deposits rather than gravity induced depositional processes. Brecciation appears to result from translational sliding (millimetres to metres) on the steep buildup flanks, which caused fracturing of the vaguely stratified automicrite, followed by displacive growth of fibrous cement. Cementation occurred in a (shallow) burial, marine phreatic environment, because cement clasts are virtually absent from the flank‐derived gravity flows in the adjoining basinal sediments. Displacive cement growth indicates a volume increase of the clinoforms during diagenesis of up to 20–40 vol.% and can account for the local drag of buildup interior limestones. Similarly, the boulder fabric appears to be a diagenetic feature, which resulted from differential settling of incompletely lithified boundstone and grainstone, and the interbedded pelagic limestone.     

Microbially induced cementation of carbonate sands: are micritic meniscus cements good indicators of vadose diagenesis?

Characteristic fabrics such as micrite envelopes, calcified filaments and micritic grain-to-grain bridges are observed in a modern subtidal firmground (Wood Cay, Bahamas) and in a variety of firm- and hardgrounds of Lower Cretaceous and Upper Jurassic platform carbonates (Swiss and French Jura Mountains). Their similarity to microbial fabrics described in grapestones and in intertidal to continental vadose environments suggests that microbial activity played an important role in the initial stabilization and cementation of carbonate sands. 'Meniscus-type cements' (to distinguish them from vadose meniscus cements), which clearly formed in subtidal environments, are related to filament calcification, trapping of percolating micrite and microbially induced carbonate formation. Such meniscus-type cements are commonly micritic, but meniscus-shaped precipitation of fibrous aragonite or sparitic calcite around organic filaments is also observed. Therefore, an interpretation of vadose early diagenesis should not be based on meniscus cements alone. Similarly, subtidally formed filamentous structures can strongly resemble alveolar septal structures and be interpreted incorrectly as related to subaerial exposure.     

Methane Production, Emission and Possible Control Measures in the Rice Agriculture

In the rice field methane is produced in the soil layer with depths of 2-25 cm. The vertical profile of methane production rate in the paddy soil during the water covering period differs from that in the paddy soil in dry phase. Only a small part, about 30%. of the produced methane is emitted to the atmosphere through rice plant, air bubbles, and molecular diffusion. Therefore, the methane emission rate from the rice field depends not only on the methane production rate in the soil, but also on the transport efficiency of the rice plant, air bubble formation that in turn depends on the production rate, and molecular diffusion.Field measurements show that methane emission rates from a particular rice field have very large diurnal, seasonal and interannual variations, which are related to soil characteristics, water regime, farming procedure, local climate, and rice growing activities. The relationship between the methane emission rate and the above mentioned factors is very complicated. The emission rate     

The role of the university in interdisciplinary global change research: Structural constraints and the potential for change. An editorial

Adapted from Global Change: Newsletter of. the Project for the Integrated Study of Global Change, University of Michigan Vol. 1, No. 4, November/December 1991, pp. 6–7.     

Two examples of subaqueously welded ash-flow tuffs: the Visean of southern Vosges (France) and the Upper Cretaceous of northern Anatolia (Turkey)

Pyroclastic deposits interpreted as subaqueous ash-flow tuff have been recognized within Archean to Recent marine and lacustrine sequences. Several authors proposed a high-temperature emplacement for some of these tuffs. However, the subaqueous welding of pyroclastic deposits remains controversial.The Visean marine volcaniclastic formations of southern Vosges (France) contain several layers of rhyolitic and rhyodacitic ash-flow tuff. These deposits include, from proximal to distal settings, breccia, lapilli and fine-ash tuff. The breccia and lapilli tuff are partly welded, as indicated by the presence of fiamme, fluidal and axiolitic structures. The lapilli tuff form idealized sections with a lower, coarse and welded unit and an upper, bedded and unwelded fine-ash tuff. Sedimentary structures suggest that the fine-ash tuff units were deposited by turbidity currents. Welded breccias, interbedded in a thick submarine volcanic complex, indicate the close proximity of the volcanic source. The lapilli and fine-ash tuff are interbedded in a thick marine sequence composed of alternating sandstones and shales. Presence of a marine stenohaline fauna and sedimentary structures attest to a marine depositional environment below storm-wave base.In northern Anatolia, thick massive sequences of rhyodacitic crystal tuff are interbedded with the Upper Cretaceous marine turbidites of the Mudurnu basin. Some of these tuffs are welded. As in southern Vosges, partial welding is attested by the presence of fiamme and fluidal structures. The latter are frequent in the fresh vitric matrix. These tuff units contain a high proportion of vitroclasis, and were emplaced by ash flows. Welded tuff units are associated with non-welded crystal tuff, and contain abundant bioclasts which indicate mixing with water during flowage. At the base, basaltic breccia beds are associated with micritic beds containing a marine fauna. The welded and non-welded tuff sequences are interbedded in an alternation of limestones and marls. These limestones are rich in pelagic microfossils.The evidence above strongly suggest that in both examples, tuff beds are partly welded and were emplaced at high temperature by subaqueous ash flows in a permanent marine environment. The sources of the pyroclastic material are unknown in both cases. We propose that the ash flows were produced during submarine fissure eruptions. Such eruptions could produce non-turbulent flows which were insulated by a steam carapace before deposition and welding. The welded ash-flow tuff deposits of southern Vosges and northern Anatolia give strong evidence for existence of subaqueous welding.     

Attenuation of peak ground acceleration in central california from observations of the 17 october, 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake

The strong ground motion produced by the 17 October, 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake in northern California was recorded at over 100 stations. Accelerograms were generated at sites with significantly different geology, including land fill and soft sedimentary soil sites. In this study, the attenuation characteristics of the peak vertical and horizontal ground accelerations are studied for freefield recording conditions within 100 km of the source by the application of a non-linear multi-regression procedure. Two sets of attenuation models for weighted and unweighted observations are compared with those reported by other investigators for this earthquake and for regional and worldwide data. The peak ground acceleration (PGA) observations for this earthquake exceed previous predictions of standard attenuation models, particularly beyond 30 km (approximately 60 percent at 50 km). Higher attenuation of the vertical component compared to the horizontal is confirmed. The regression considers site geology as an independent parameter. Soil sites display as much as 23 per cent amplification relative to rock sites for horizontal PGA and as much as 40 per cent for vertical PGA. Amplification of the ground motion at sites characterized by soft soil geology is examined by comparing the recorded PGA with the corresponding prediction at sites underlain by stiff soil. Eight of ten of the soft soil sites display significant amplification relative to stiff soil sites (as much as 300 per cent for horizontal and 200 per cent for vertical components). Particular attention is paid to the so-called anomalous observations at distances beyond 50 km. The anomalous observations between 50 and 80 km may be attributed to various factors such as geology, basic geometry, azimuthal dependence, source mechanism and normal scatter of observations.