Determining groundwater degradation from irrigation in desert-marginal northern China

Groundwater degradation from irrigated agriculture is of concern in semi-arid northern China. Data-scarcity often means the causes and extent of problems are not fully understood. An irrigated area in Inner Mongolia was studied, where abstraction from an unconfined Quaternary aquifer has increased threefold over 20 years to 20 million m³/year; groundwater levels are falling at up to 0.5 m/year; and groundwater is increasingly mineralised (TDS increase from 400 to 700–1,900 mg/L), with nitrate concentrations up to 137 mg/L N. Residence-time (chlorofluorocarbons), stable-isotope and hydrogeochemical indicators helped develop a conceptual model of groundwater system evolution, demonstrating a direct relationship between modern water proportion and the degree of groundwater mineralisation, indicating that irrigation-water recycling is reducing groundwater quality. The investigations suggest that before irrigation development, active recharge to the aquifer from wadis significantly exceeded groundwater inflow from nearby mountains, previously held to be the main groundwater input. Away from active wadis, groundwater is older with a probable pre-Holocene component. Proof-of-concept groundwater modelling supports geochemical evidence, indicating the importance of wadi recharge and irrigation return flows. Engineering works protecting the irrigated area from flooding have reduced good quality recharge; active recharge is now dominated by irrigation returns, which are degrading the aquifer.     

Dissolved organic matter in pore water of carbonate sediments from Bermuda

Pore water samples from seven nearshore areas in Bermuda were obtained under in situ conditions and analyzed for dissolved organic carbon, dissolved carbohydrates, dissolved free amino acids and dissolved humic substances. The concentration of dissolved organic carbon is higher than in the overlying nearshore waters indicating significant diagenetic remobilization of carbon in these recently deposited carbonate sediments. Dissolved carbohydrates decrease with depth due to microbial utilization.     

Seasonal changes in surface level of a salt marsh creek

Nineteen surveys were carried out over a two-year period to determine the surface height of a salt marsh creek located on the north side of the River Esk, Cumbria, England. An AGA 112 electromagnetic distance measurer mounted on a Wild TI theodolite was used in conjunction with acrylic reflectors to follow the form of the ground. The results showed that there were no significant net trends in surface level, although seasonal variations of the order of 2 cm occurred. Vegetated areas responded in similar fashion to bare surfaces. It is thought that the elevational changes were attributable to the swelling of clay particles during the winter months rather than the effects of erosion and accretion.     

Stable isotopic fingerprint of a hyporheic–hypolentic boundary in a reservoir

Stable isotopes of H₂O are used to define the hyporheic–hypolentic boundary in Ledbetter Creek as it discharges to Kentucky Lake, a constructed reservoir in western Kentucky, USA. High-resolution (centimeter-scale) sample collection and analysis were utilized to determine one-dimensional variations in δ²H and δ¹⁸O of H₂O and chloride (Cl⁻) across the boundary. During reservoir low stand in winter, the hyporheic–hypolentic zone contains water from Ledbetter Creek and groundwater separated by an interface at ~10 cm below the channel bottom. Following reservoir-stage increase in spring and summer, water from Kentucky Lake infiltrates into the hyporheic–hypolentic zone to a depth of at least 18 cm below the channel bottom. Reservoir-stage decline in autumn causes source-water mixing, largely obscuring the hyporheic–hypolentic boundary. Stable isotopes provide an effective complement to conventional tracers for delineation of water masses within the hyporheic–hypolentic zone.

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Resumen Se han utilizado isótopos estables del agua para definir el límite hiporreico-hipoléntico en Ledbetter Creek, que constituye una zona de descarga del lago Kentucky, una presa construida al Oeste de Kentucky, USA. Se ha llevado a cabo una recogida de muestras de alta resolución (a escala centimétrica) y se utilizaron los resultados para determinar las variaciones unidimensionales en δ²H y δ¹⁸O del H₂O y los cloruros (Cl⁻) alrededor del límite. Durante la época de niveles bajos en invierno, la zona hiporreica-hipolentica tiene agua procedente de Ledbetter Creek y de agua subterránea separada por una interfase de ~10 cm debajo del límite del canal. Siguiendo el incremento de los niveles en la presa en primavera y verano, el agua del Lago Kentucky se infiltra en la zona hiporreica-hipoléntica hasta una profundidad de, al menos, 18 cm bajo el límite hiporreico-hipoléntico. Los isótopos estables aportan un complemento efectivo a los trazadores convencionales para la delimitación de masas de agua dentro de la zona hiporreica-hipoléntica.

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Résumé L’utilisation des isotopes stables de la molécule d’eau a permis de définir l’interface hyporhéique-hypolentique dans la Ledbetter Creek, au point de déversement dans le réservoir artificiel que constitue le Kentucky Lake (Ouest du Kentucky, Etats-Unis). Une campagne de prélèvements à haute résolution (échelle centimétrique) a contribué à déterminer les variations unidimensionnelles des valeurs de δ2H et de δ18O de la molécule d’eau et de la concentration en chlorures (Cl⁻) de part et d’autre de l’interface. En hiver, lorsque le niveau du réservoir est minimal, la zone hyporhéique-hypolentique contient de l’eau de la Ledbetter Creek et de l’eau souterraine, séparées par un interface situé environ 10 cm sous le fond du chenal. Suite aux recharges printanières et estivales, l’eau du Kentucky Lake envahit la zone hyporhéique-hypolentique sur plus de 18 cm sous le fond du chenal. En automne, la baisse de niveau dans le réservoir occasionne un mélange des eaux, rendant diffus l’interface hyporhéique-hypolentique. Les isotopes stables constituent ainsi un complément efficace aux traceurs conventionnels pour la délimitation des masses d’eau dans la zone hyporhéique-hypolentique.

     

Formation and growth of deep mantle plumes

Summary. If whole mantle convection occurs in the Earth's mantle, then the core–mantle boundary constitutes the lower boundary layer for mantle convection. This boundary layer appears to be unstable on a small scale, and thus may be a source of plumes of hot matter which penetrate the mantle and occasionally even the lithosphere (producing hot spots). A finite-amplitude numerical code is used to study the formation of such plumes and their growth through the mantle. The plumes are restricted to being two-dimensional sheets rather than cylinders. The initial conditions consist of a steadily convecting mantle, and plumes are produced by introducing a perturbation in the form of either a pulse or a steady stream of heat into the bottom of the mantle. Two main results are obtained: (1) A critical perturbation size has been found for a mantle with a Rayleigh number of 10⁷. Small perturbations produce plumes which fail to penetrate the mantle, and instead are swept up by the pre-existing convective pattern, while large perturbations succeed in penetrating the mantle and reaching the lithosphere. The critical perturbation size is shown empirically to be proportional to the effective bouyancy and to a factor related to the shape of the perturbation. A perturbed region 150km wide and 60 km deep should produce a successful plume when the temperature perturbation is 200K or more. (2) Deep mantle plumes appear to require on the order of 50–100Myr to penetrate the mantle; episodic plumes on shorter time-scales appear unlikely. A similar time is required for plumes forming in an initially static, uniform temperature mantle.     

Geochemical and Nd‐Sr‐Pb isotopic evidence on the origin and geodynamic evolution of mid‐Cretaceous continental arc volcanic rocks of the Spences Bridge Group,south‐central British Columbia

The mid‐Cretaceous Spences Bridge Group (SBG) comprises a series of basaltic to rhyolitic lavas and related volcaniclastic rocks (Pimainus Formation) overlain by a succession of mainly amygdaloidal andesites (Spius Formation) related to the closure of the Methow–Tyaughton basin and accretion of the Insular terrane in the North American Cordillera. Geochemical variation in the SBG is related primarily to metasomatic processes in the mantle wedge. Pimainus lavas include low‐ to high‐K, tholeiitic and calc‐alkaline types, and have isotopic compositions (ε_Nd(100Ma) = + 5.2 to + 7.0, ε_Sr(100Ma) = − 10 to − 20, ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 18.82 to 18.91, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 15.55 to 15.60, ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 38.24 to 38.43) between the ranges for primitive arcs and accreted terrane crust. Crustal sources are identified only for some low–medium K dacite and rhyolite compositions. The occurrence of intermediate compositions with high MgO contents (up to 6 wt%) and the presence of adakitic trace element features in medium–high K felsic lavas attests to metasomatism of the mantle wedge by slab melts during Pimainus volcanism. Spius lavas have comparable K₂O and Pb isotopic compositions to the Pimainus, even higher MgO (up to 9.2 wt%), and display a mild intraplate character in having up to 0.6 wt% P₂O₅, 15 ppm Nb, and 240 ppm Zr. Spius Nd−Sr isotopic compositions (ε_Nd(100Ma) = + 5.3 to + 6.9, ε_Sr(100Ma) = − 14 to − 25) define an array extending from Pimainus to alkaline seamount compositions. The low ε_Sr values, elevated high field strength element contents, and moderate silica contents suggest Spius volcanism was related to the introduction of small melt fractions from the asthenosphere into the mantle wedge which had previously generated Pimainus melts. The range of compositional types in the Pimainus Formation constrains tectonic scenarios to include an elevated slab thermal regime, likely from approach of an ocean ridge system toward the continental margin. Spius volcanism may have been generated by asthenospheric upwelling triggered by slab window development or slab‐hinge roll‐back on closure of the Methow–Tyaughton basin. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

东北太平洋胡安·德富卡隆起西翼晚第四纪以来的碳酸盐记录

通过对东北太平洋胡安·德富卡隆起西翼沉积柱样中的碳酸盐含量和浮游有孔虫氧同位素测试以及浮游有孔虫丰度、溶解指数和粗组分的统计,发现在晚第四纪约65 ka以来碳酸盐含量变化幅度大(0 4%~77 2%),相差非常悬殊,但其变化未呈现出冰期时溶解作用减弱、间冰期时溶解作用强烈这样明显的旋回性。粗组分分析结果显示,地层中有明显的浊流沉积发育。另外,碳酸盐含量和浮游有孔虫丰度分析结果揭露了研究区的 CCD在3 500 m左右。研究认为,在约65 ka来水深浅于3 500 m的区域碳酸盐含量的无规律性变化应与浊流沉积影响有直接的关系,而水深深于3 500 m的区域碳酸盐含量主要受控于深海碳酸盐的溶解作用。     

Carbon-rich chondritic clast PV1 from the Plainview H-chondrite regolith breccia: Formation from H3 chondrite material by possible cometary impact

Chondritic clast PV1 from the Plainview H-chondrite regolith breccia is a subrounded, 5-mm-diameter unequilibrated chondritic fragment that contains 13 wt% C occurring mainly within irregularly shaped 30-400-μm-size opaque patches. The clast formed from H3 chondrite material as indicated by the mean apparent chondrule diameter (310 μm vs. ∼300 μm in H3 chondrites), the mean Mg-normalized refractory lithophile abundance ratio (1.00 ± 0.09×H), the previously determined O-isotopic composition (Δ¹⁷O = 0.66‰ vs. 0.68 ± 0.04‰ in H3 chondrites and 0.73 ± 0.09‰ in H4-6 chondrites), the heterogeneous olivine compositions in grain cores (with a minimum range of Fa1-19), and the presence of glass in some chondrules. Although the clast lacks the fine-grained, ferroan silicate matrix material present in type 3 ordinary chondrites, PV1 contains objects that appear to be recrystallized clumps of matrix material. Similarly, the apparent dearth of radial pyroxene and cryptocrystalline chondrules in PV1 is accounted for by the presence of some recrystallized fragments of these chondrule textural types. All of the chondrules in PV1 are interfused indicating that temperatures must have briefly reached ∼1100°C (the approximate solidus temperature of H-chondrite silicate). The most likely source of this heating was by an impact. Some metal was lost during impact heating as indicated by the moderately low abundance of metallic Fe-Ni in PV1 (∼14 wt%) compared to that in mean H chondrites (∼18 wt%). The carbon enrichment of the clast may have resulted from a second impact event, one involving a cometary projectile, possibly a Jupiter-family comet. As the clast cooled, it experienced hydrothermal alteration at low water/rock ratios as evidenced by the thick rims of ferroan olivine around low-FeO olivine cores. The C-rich chondritic clast was later incorporated into the H-chondrite parent-body regolith and extensively fractured and faulted.     

Bayesian dynamic modeling for large space-time datasets using Gaussian predictive processes

In this paper, we extend the applicability of a previously proposed class of dynamic space-time models by enabling them to accommodate large datasets. We focus on the common setting where space is viewed as continuous but time is taken to be discrete. Scalability is achieved by using a low-rank predictive process to reduce the dimensionality of the data and ease the computational burden of estimating the spatio-temporal process of interest. The proposed models are illustrated using weather station data collected over the northeastern United States between 2000 and 2005. Here our interest is to use readily available predictors, association among measurements at a given station, as well as dependence across space and time to improve prediction for incomplete station records and locations where station data does not exist.