Entropy-Based Weighting in One-Dimensional Multiple Errors Analysis of Geological Contacts to Model Geological Structure

In each step of geological modeling, errors have an impact on measurements and workflow processes and, so, have consequences that challenge accurate three-dimensional geological modeling. In the context of classical error theory, for now, only spatial positional error is considered, acknowledging that temporal, attribute, and ontological errors—and many others—are part of the complete error budget. Existing methods usually assumed that a single error distribution (Gaussian) exists across all kinds of spatial data. Yet, across, and even within, different kinds of raw data (such as borehole logs, user-defined geological sections, and geological maps), different types of positional error distributions may exist. Most statistical methods make a priori assumptions about error distributions that impact their explanatory power. Consequently, analyzing errors in multi-source and conflated data for geological modeling remains a grand challenge in geological modeling. In this study, a novel approach is presented regarding the analysis of one-dimensional multiple errors in the raw data used for model geological structures. The analysis is based on the relationship between spatial error distributions and different geological attributes. By assuming that the contact points of a geological subsurface are decided by the geological attributes related to both sides of the subsurface, this assumption means that the spatial error of geological contacts can be transferred into specific probabilities of all the related geological attributes at each three-dimensional point, which is termed the “geological attribute probability”. Both a normal distribution and a continuous uniform distribution were transferred into geological attribute probabilities, allowing different kinds of spatial error distributions to be summed directly after the transformation. On cross-points with multiple raw data with errors that follow different kinds of distributions, an entropy-based weight was given to each type of data to calculate the final probabilities. The weighting value at each point in space is decided by the related geological attribute probabilities. In a test application that accounted for the best estimates of geological contacts, the experimental results showed the following: (1) for line segments, the band shape of geological attribute probabilities matched that of existing error models; and (2) the geological attribute probabilities directly show the error distribution and are an effective way of describing multiple error distributions among the input data.

     

Seasonal along-isobath geostrophic flows on the west Florida shelf with application to Karenia brevis red tide blooms in Florida's Big Bend

TOPEX/Poseidon/Jason1 (T/P/J) sea surface height (SSH) measurements along tracks 91 and 15, crossing the wide West Florida continental shelf (WFS), were used to estimate seasonal across-shelf SSH gradients. SSH gradients and the knowledge that geostrophic flow approximately follows the isobaths enable estimation of the seasonal along-isobath geostrophic flows. The calculated along-isobath geostrophic flows are southeastward from December to March and northwestward in June, August, and September. The along-isobath geostrophic component of the flow is most likely small during the remaining months and, thus, not discernable in T/P/J SSH measurements. In agreement with previous theoretical, modeling, and observational work, the mid-shelf seasonal surface flow appears to be driven largely by the seasonal along-shore wind stress. Theory for flow driven by seasonal heat flux suggests negligible flow near the surface and on the bulk of the shelf away from the shelf break.     

Eruptive conditions and depositional processes of Narbona Pass Maar volcano,Navajo volcanic field,Navajo Nation,New Mexico (USA)

Phreatomagmatic deposits at Narbona Pass, a mid-Tertiary maar in the Navajo volcanic field (NVF), New Mexico (USA), were characterized in order to reconstruct the evolution and dynamic conditions of the eruption. Our findings shed light on the temporal evolution of the eruption, dominant depositional mechanisms, influence of liquid water on deposit characteristics, geometry and evolution of the vent, efficiency of fragmentation, and the relative importance of magmatic and external volatiles. The basal deposits form a thick (5–20 m), massive lapilli tuff to tuff-breccia deposit. This is overlain by alternating bedded sequences of symmetrical to antidune cross-stratified tuff and lapilli tuff; and diffusely-stratified, clast-supported, reversely-graded lapilli tuffs that pinch and swell laterally. This sequence is interpreted to reflect an initial vent-clearing phase that produced concentrated pyroclastic density currents, followed by a pulsating eruption that produced multiple density currents with varying particle concentrations and flow conditions to yield the well-stratified deposits. Only minor localized soft-sediment deformation was observed, no accretionary lapilli were found, and grain accretion occurs on the lee side of dunes. This suggests that little to no liquid water existed in the density currents during deposition. Juvenile material is dominantly present as blocky fine ash and finely vesiculated fine to coarse lapilli pumice. This indicates that phreatomagmatic fragmentation was predominant, but also that the magma was volatile-rich and vesiculating at the time of eruption. This is the first study to document a significant magmatic volatile component in an NVF maar-diatreme eruption. The top of the phreatomagmatic sequence abruptly contacts the overlying minette lava flows, indicating no gradual drying-out period between the explosive and effusive phases. The lithology of the accidental clasts is consistent throughout the vertical pyroclastic stratigraphy, suggesting that the diatreme eruption did not penetrate below the base of the uppermost country rock unit, a sandstone aquifer ∼360 m thick. By comparison, other NVF diatremes several tens of kilometers away were excavated to depths of ∼1,000 m beneath the paleosurface (e.g., Delaney PT. Ship Rock, New Mexico: the vent of a violent volcanic eruption. In: Beus SS (ed) Geological society of America Centennial Field Guide, Rocky Mountain Section 2:411–415 (1987)). This can be accounted for by structurally controlled variations in aquifer thickness beneath different regions of the volcanic field. Variations in accidental clast composition and bedding style around the edifice are indicative of a laterally migrating or widening vent that encountered lateral variations in subsurface geology. We offer reasonable evidence that this subsurface lithology controlled the availability of external water to the magma, which in turn controlled characteristics of deposits and their distribution around the vent. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Observational implications of precessing protostellar discs and jets

We consider the dynamics of a protostellar disc in a binary system where the disc is misaligned with the orbital plane of the binary, with the aim of determining the observational consequences for such systems. The disc wobbles with a period approximately equal to half the orbital period of the binary and precesses on a longer time-scale. We determine the characteristic time-scale for realignment of the disc with the orbital plane as a result of dissipation. If the dissipation is determined by a simple isotropic viscosity then we find, in line with previous studies, that the alignment time-scale is of the order of the viscous evolution time-scale. However, for typical protostellar disc parameters, if the disc tilt exceeds the opening angle of the disc, then tidally induced shearing within the disc is transonic. In general, hydrodynamic instabilities associated with the internally driven shear result in extra dissipation that is expected to drastically reduce the alignment time-scale. For large disc tilts the alignment time-scale is then comparable with the precession time-scale, while for smaller tilt angles δ , the alignment time-scale varies as (sin δ )⁻¹. We discuss the consequences of the wobbling, precession and rapid realignment for observations of protostellar jets and the implications for binary star formation mechanisms.     

The relationship between degassing and ground deformation at Soufriere Hills Volcano, Montserrat

We examine the correlations between SO₂ emission rate, seismicity and ground deformation in the month prior to the 25 June 1997 dome collapse of the Soufriere Hills Volcano, Montserrat. During this period, the volcano exhibited a pattern of cyclic inflation and deflation with an 8–14 h period. We find that SO₂ emission rates, measured by COSPEC, correlate with the amplitude of these tilt cycles, and that higher rates of SO₂ emission were associated with stronger ground deformation and enhanced hybrid seismicity. Within tilt cycles, degassing peaks coincide with maximum deformation gradients. Increases in the amount of gas in the magma conduit feeding the dome, probably due to increases in volatile content of ascending magma volume can account for the observed increases in tilt amplitude, hybrid seismicity and SO₂ emission rate.     

Very low mass stars in binaries: a theoretical look

We have undertaken a series of hydrodynamic + N ‐body simulations in order to explore the binary properties of young stars. We find that multiple stars are a natural outcome of collapsing turbulent flows, with a high incidence of N > 2 multiples, specially among the higher mass objects. We find a positive correlation of multiplicity with primary mass and a companion frequency that decreases with age, during the first few Myr after formation. Binary brown dwarfs are rarely formed, in conflict with observations. Brown dwarfs as companions are predominantly found orbiting binaries or triples at large separations. The paucity of ultra low mass and low mass ratio binaries has been investigated further, and we tentatively conclude that their formation is intricately related to an appropriate selection of initial conditions and an accurate modelling of disc accretion and evolution. (© 2005 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Holocene floristic diversity and richness in northeast Norway revealed by sedimentary ancient DNA (sedaDNA) and pollen

We present a Holocene record of floristic diversity and environmental change for the central Varanger Peninsula, Finnmark, based on ancient DNA extracted from the sediments of a small lake (sedaDNA). The record covers the period c. 10 700 to 3300 cal. a BP and is complemented by pollen data. Measures of species richness, sample evenness and beta diversity were calculated based on sedaDNA sampling intervals and 1000‐year time windows. We identified 101 vascular plant and 17 bryophyte taxa, a high proportion (86%) of which are still growing within the region today. The high species richness (>60 taxa) observed in the Early Holocene, including representatives from all important plant functional groups, shows that modern shrub‐tundra communities, and much of their species complement, were in place as early as c. 10 700 cal. a BP. We infer that postglacial colonization of the area occurred prior to the full Holocene, during the Pleistocene‐Holocene transition, Younger Dryas stadial or earlier. Abundant DNA of the extra‐limital aquatic plant Callitriche hermaphroditica suggests it expanded its range northward between c. 10 200 and 9600 cal. a BP, when summers were warmer than present. High values of Pinus DNA occur throughout the record, but we cannot say with certainty if they represent prior local presence; however, pollen influx values >500 grains cm^?2 a^?1 between c. 8000 and 7300 cal. a BP strongly suggest the presence of pine woodland during this period. As the site lies beyond the modern tree limit of pine, it is likely that this expansion also reflects a response to warmer Early Holocene summers.     

Grain‐scale dependency of metamorphic reaction on crystal plastic strain

The Breaksea Orthogneiss in Fiordland, New Zealand preserves water‐poor intermediate and mafic igneous rocks that were partially recrystallized to omphacite granulite and eclogite, respectively, at P ≈ 1.8 GPa and T ≈ 850°C. Metamorphic reaction consumed plagioclase and produced grossular‐rich garnet, jadeite‐rich omphacite, clinozoisite and kyanite. The extent of metamorphic reaction, identified by major and trace element composition and microstructural features, is patchy on the grain and outcrop scale. Domains of re‐equilibration coincide with areas that exhibit higher strain suggesting a causal link between crystal plastic strain and metamorphic reaction. Quantitative orientation analysis (EBSD) identifies gradual and stepped changes in crystal lattice orientations of igneous phenocrysts that are surrounded by homophase areas of neoblasts, characterized by high grain boundary to volume ratios and little to no internal lattice distortion. The narrow, peripheral compositional modification of less deformed garnet and omphacite phenocrysts reflects limited lattice diffusion in areas that lacked three‐dimensional networks of interconnected low‐angle boundaries. Low‐angle boundaries acted as elemental pathways (pipe diffusion) that enhanced in‐grain element diffusion. The scale of pipe diffusion is pronounced in garnet relatively to clinopyroxene. Strain‐induced mineral transformation largely controlled the extent of high‐T metamorphic reaction under relatively fluid‐poor conditions.