Depositional history of artificial radionuclides in the Ross Ice Shelf,Antarctica

The annual fluxes of artificial radionuclides (²³⁸Pu,^239+240Pu,²⁴¹Am,¹³⁷Cs,⁹⁰Sr and³H) from the atmosphere to the Ross Ice Shelf in Antarctica were determined from measurements in strata dated by²¹⁰Pb. Recognizable sources include the U.S. tests (Mike-Ivy and Castle Hill) in the early 1950s, the U.S.S.R. tests of the early 1960s, the SNAP-9A burnup of 1964 and the French and Chinese tests in the late 1960s and 1970s. There are several problems still awaiting resolution: the differences in atmospheric chemistries of fission products and of transuranics produced in weapons tests and the anomalous fluxes of²³⁸Pu to the ice shelf which do not appear to reflect a one-year stratospheric residence. There is no evidence for a smearing of the fallout record as a consequence of diffusion of these radionuclides in the glacial column.     

Estimating present day extreme water level exceedance probabilities around the coastline of Australia: tropical cyclone-induced storm surges

The incidence of major storm surges in the last decade have dramatically emphasized the immense destructive capabilities of extreme water level events, particularly when driven by severe tropical cyclones. Given this risk, it is vitally important that the exceedance probabilities of extreme water levels are accurately evaluated to inform risk-based flood and erosion management, engineering and for future land-use planning and to ensure the risk of catastrophic structural failures due to under-design or expensive wastes due to over-design are minimised. Australia has a long history of coastal flooding from tropical cyclones. Using a novel integration of two modeling techniques, this paper provides the first estimates of present day extreme water level exceedance probabilities around the whole coastline of Australia, and the first estimates that combine the influence of astronomical tides, storm surges generated by both extra-tropical and tropical cyclones, and seasonal and inter-annual variations in mean sea level. Initially, an analysis of tide gauge records has been used to assess the characteristics of tropical cyclone-induced surges around Australia. However, given the dearth (temporal and spatial) of information around much of the coastline, and therefore the inability of these gauge records to adequately describe the regional climatology, an observationally based stochastic tropical cyclone model has been developed to synthetically extend the tropical cyclone record to 10,000 years. Wind and pressure fields derived for these synthetically generated events have then been used to drive a hydrodynamic model of the Australian continental shelf region with annual maximum water levels extracted to estimate exceedance probabilities around the coastline. To validate this methodology, selected historic storm surge events have been simulated and resultant storm surges compared with gauge records. Tropical cyclone induced exceedance probabilities have been combined with estimates derived from a 61-year water level hindcast described in a companion paper to give a single estimate of present day extreme water level probabilities around the whole coastline of Australia. Results of this work are freely available to coastal engineers, managers and researchers via a web-based tool (www.sealevelrise.info). The described methodology could be applied to other regions of the world, like the US east coast, that are subject to both extra-tropical and tropical cyclones.     

Uphill diffusion,zero-flux planes and transient chemical solitary waves in garnet

Diffusion profiles in minerals are increasingly used to determine the duration of geological events. For this purpose, the distinction between growth and diffusion zoning is critical; it requires the understanding of complex features associated with multicomponent diffusion. Seed-overgrowth interdiffusion experiments carried out in the range 1,050–1,250°C at 1.3 GPa have been designed to quantify and better understand Fe–Mg–Ca interdiffusion in garnet. Some of the diffusion profiles measured by analytical transmission electron microscope show characteristic features of multicomponent diffusion such as uphill diffusion, chemical solitary waves, zero-flux planes and complex diffusion paths. We implemented three different methods to calculate the interdiffusion coefficients of the D matrix from the experimental penetration curves and determined that with Ca as the dependent component, the crossed coefficients of the D matrix are negative. Experiments and numerical simulations indicate that: (1) uphill diffusion in garnet can be observed indifferently on the three components Fe, Mg and Ca, (2) it takes the form of complementary depletion/repletion waves and (3) chemical waves occur preferentially on initially flat concentration profiles. Derived D matrices are used to simulate the fate of chemical waves in time, in finite crystals. These examples show that the flow of atoms in multicomponent systems is not necessarily unidirectional for all components; it can change both in space along the diffusion profile and in time. Moving zero-flux planes in finite crystals are transitory features that allow flux reversals of atoms in the diffusion zone. Interdiffusion coefficients of the D matrices are also analyzed in terms of eigenvalues and eigenvectors. This analysis and the experimental results show that depending on the composition of the diffusion couple, (1) the shape of chemical waves and diffusion paths changes; (2) the width of the diffusion zone for each component may or may not be identical; and (3) the width of diffusion calculated at a given D and duration may greatly vary. D matrices were retrieved from thirteen sets of diffusion profiles. Data were cast in Arrhenius relations. Linear regressions of the data yield activation energies equal to 368, 148, 394, 152 kJ mol⁻¹ at 1 bar and frequency factors D_o equal to 2.37 × 10⁻⁶, −4.46 × 10⁻¹⁶, −1.31 × 10⁻⁵, 9.85 × 10⁻¹⁵ m² s⁻¹ for [(D)\tilde]_FeFe^Ca \tilde{D}_{FeFe}^{Ca} , [(D)\tilde]_FeMg^Ca \tilde{D}_{FeMg}^{Ca} , [(D)\tilde]_MgFe^Ca \tilde{D}_{MgFe}^{Ca} , [(D)\tilde]_MgMg^Ca \tilde{D}_{MgMg}^{Ca} , respectively. These values can be used to calculate interdiffusion coefficients in Fe–Mg–Ca garnets and determine the duration of geological events in high temperature metamorphic or magmatic garnets.     

Consistent patterns of the size distribution of thermokarst lakes

The purpose of this work is to study empirically the patterns of size distribution of thermokarst lakes within lacustrine thermokarst plains. Investigations were performed at 16 sites with various geomorphological, geocryological, and physical geographical conditions (Kolyma Lowland, Western Siberia, Lena River valley, Alaska). The accordance of the distribution area with the lognormal and exponential laws, and the accordance of the average diameter distribution with the normal law have been tested; the tested laws of distribution resulted from previous investigations. The results have shown that the lognormal law of distribution of thermokarst lake areas is valid for the vast majority of cases, and the other types of distribution are inconsistent with empirical data. This evidence favors the development pattern for lacustrine thermokarst plains, when thermokarst processes started simultaneously and the rate of lake growth was proportional to the density of heat loss through the side surface.     

Modern Bottom Sediments of Lake Onega: Structure,Mineralogical Composition,and Systematization of Rare-Earth Elements

The results of studying the structure and mineral composition of the Upper Holocene bottom sediments of Lake Onega are presented. It is established that there are two types of columns of bottom sediments, for which stratification of layers and formation of Fe–Mn crusts are determined by the diagenesis processes occurring under physicochemical conditions of sediment accumulation according to two scenarios. The distribution spectra of rare-earth elements (REEs) are different in the indicated types of columns, which is apparently attributed to the differences in the oxidation–reduction conditions at the water–sediment interface during the formation of REEs and possibly to the influence of hydrothermal processes.     

The role of metamorphic fluid transport in the Rb-Sr isotopic resetting of shear zones: evidence from Nordre Strømfjord,West Greenland

The Nordre Strømfjord shear zone is about 20 km wide and is exposed for 170 km along strike. It formed under granulite to amphibolite facies conditions as part of the 1,850 Ma-old Nagssugtoqidian orogeny affecting the largely Archean terrain of central West Greenland. We have made Rb-Sr isotope measurements on ca. 130 whole rock samples from the shear zone and have made microprobe analyses of biotite and plagioclase on 40 of them in order to evaluate the effects of shear zone formation on the Rb-Sr isotope system. Seven separate localities were sampled, four of them extensively; large whole rock samples and small, cm-scale thin slices were used in this study.The Rb-Sr isotope systems and the biotite compositions of the large whole rocks show variable degrees of re-equilibration during shear zone formation. Rb-Sr data for the least affected suites still scatter about Archean isochrons and the biotite compositions show wide variations both within and between samples. In other more affected suites, the Rb-Sr system was reset to approximate the age of shear zone formation on the scale of 10's of meters, and the biotite compositions are consistent within individual samples. The most strongly affected suites underwent profound chemical and isotopic changes. Whole rock suites preserve virtually no Rb-Sr isotopic record of their preshear zone history and the biotite compositions of entire suites are very homogeneous. The cm-scale suites of thin slices all show some degree of Proterozoic re-equilibration, although sharp Sr isotopic discontinuities between groups of lithologic layers are preserved.Among the suites of large whole rocks, the observed variations do not correlate with variations in shear strain, size of sampling domain, average Rb/Sr, range of Rb/Sr or ppm Sr. The combined Rb-Sr and microprobe data suggest that the responses are most likely to represent differences in total fluid/rock ratio in a system undergoing significant fluid transport. Our data suggest an uneven distribution of fluid pathways within the shear zone and a strongly preferred direction of fluid flow parallel to lithologic boundaries.Data from previous studies are also consistent with the conclusion that fluid transport is the major agent of Rb-Sr isotopic resetting in shear zones. This conclusion has implications for optimum sampling strategies in Rb-Sr dating of high strain events and for the processes by which Rb-Sr isotopic resetting occurs during regional metamorphism.     

Accumulation of sediment,organic matter and trace metals with space and time,in a creek along Mumbai coast,India

Two core sediment samples; one from inner part (ManI) and the other closer to the mouth (ManII); were collected from the intertidal regions of Manori, a tidally influenced creek near Mumbai, India. Both the cores were subjected to various geochemical analyses to determine parameters such as pH, sediment components, total organic carbon, total nitrogen, total phosphorus and selected metals viz., Fe, Mn, Cu, Pb, Co, Ni, Zn, Cr, Al, Ca and V. Analysis of ²¹⁰Pb activity was employed to assess the sediment deposition trend of the area. The data was further processed using factor and cluster analyses. The results indicate that the sediments from site ManI, had finer sediment composition, higher porosity, organic matter and metal contents but exhibited an erratic decline in ²¹⁰Pb activity downcore. Also ManI showed higher C:N ratio and enrichment factor values as compared to site ManII. The inner area (ManI) probably received a greater input of organic matter from the erosion of terrestrial matter as well as domestic and industrial discharge. Sediments from site ManII had typical marine organic matter composition (lower C:N ratio). The concentration of metals at this site was also low indicating the contents were getting diluted by freshwater and seawater mixing.     

Linear theory of the response of a two layer ocean to a moving hurricane‡

Abstract

This paper describes the linear response of an inviscid two‐layer model of a deep ocean on an f‐plane to a hurricane translating across the surface at constant speed. The forcing is a localized, radially‐symmetric pattern of positive wind stress curl and negative pressure anomaly. Only the steady state response is considered. The principal result is the identification of an internal wake in the lee of the storm, present when the translation speed of the storm exceeds the baroclinic long wave speed. The amplitude of the wake depends on the length of time over which the stress is experienced at a given point. The angle of the wedge filled by the wake is small, an effect due to the fact that the scale of a hurricane is typically larger than the baroclinic radius of deformation. After the wake disperses, a geostrophically balanced baroclinic ridge remains along the storm track.     

Microwave remote sensing of sea ice in the AIDJEX Main Experiment

During the AIDJEX Main Experiment, April 1975 through May 1976, a comprehensive microwave sensing program was performed on the sea ice of the Beaufort Sea. Surface and aircraft measurements were obtained during all seasons using a wide variety of active and passive microwave sensors. The surface program obtained passive microwave measurements of various ice types using four antennas mounted on a tracked vehicle. In three test regions, each with an area of approximately 1.5 × 10⁴ m², detailed ice crystallographic, dielectric properties, and brightness temperatures of first-year, multiyear, and first-year/multiyear mixtures were measured. A NASA aircraft obtained passive microwave measurements of the entire area of the AIDJEX manned station array (triangle) during each of 18 flights. This verified the earlier reported ability to distinguish first-year and multiyear ice types and concentration and gave new information on ways to observe ice mixtures and thin ice types. The active microwave measurements from aircraft included those from an X- and L-band radar and from a scatterometer. The former is used to study a wide variety of ice features and to estimate deformations, while both are equally usable to observe ice types. With the present data, only the scatterometer can be used to distinguish positively multiyear from first-year and various types of thin ice. This is best done using coupled active and passive microwave sensing.We dedicate this work to our beloved friend William NordbergHe pioneered in microwave ice observations, and his brilliance and enthusiasm inspired all of us.     

On the topographic bias in geoid determination by the external gravity field

The topographic bias is defined as the error/bias committed by continuing the external gravity field inside the topographic masses by a harmonic function. We study the topographic bias given by a digital terrain model defined by a spherical template, and we show that the topographic bias is given only by the potential of an inner-zone cap, and it equals the bias of the Bouguer shell, independent of the size of the cap. Then we study the effect on the real Earth by decomposing its topography into a template, and we show also in this case that the topographic bias is that of the Bouguer shell, independent of the shape of the terrain. Finally, we show that the topographic potential of the terrain at the geoid can be determined to any precision by a Taylor expansion outside the Earth’s surface. The last statement is demonstrated by a Taylor expansion to fourth order.