Quantifying the local influence at a tall tower site in nocturnal conditions

The influence of the local terrestrial environment on nocturnal atmospheric CO₂ measurements at a 329-m television transmitter tower (and a component of a CO₂ monitoring network) was estimated with a tracer release experiment and a subsequent simulation of the releases. This was done to characterize the vertical transport of emissions from the surface to the uppermost tower level and how it is affected by atmospheric stability. The tracer release experiment was conducted over two nights in May of 2009 near the Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site (SRS) in South Carolina. Tracer was released on two contrasting nights—slightly stable and moderately stable—from several upwind surface locations. Measurements at the 329-m level on both nights indicate that tracer was able to mix vertically within a relatively short (～24 km) distance, implying that nocturnal stable conditions do not necessarily prevent vertical dispersion in the boundary layer and that CO₂ measurements at the tower are at least partly influenced by nearby emissions. A simulation of the tracer release is used to calculate the tower footprint on the two nights to estimate the degree to which the local domain affects the tower readings. The effect of the nocturnal boundary layer on the area sampled by the tower can be seen clearly, as the footprints were affected by changes in stability. The contribution of local sources to the measurements at the tower was minimal, however, suggesting that nocturnal concentrations at upper levels are contributed mostly by regional sources.     

Age and geotectonic setting of Late Neoproterozoic juvenile mafic gneisses and associated paragneisses from the Ribeira belt (SE Brazil) based on geochemistry and Sm–Nd data — Implications on Gondwana assembly

Mafic gneisses and associated paragneisses from the Cabo Frio Tectonic Domain in the southeastern part of the Ribeira Belt, along the coast of Rio de Janeiro State in southeast Brazil, were subjected to a geochemical and Sm–Nd isotope study. Four lithotypes are distinguished: aluminous paragneisses (mainly sillimanite–kyanite–garnet–biotite gneiss), calcsilicate lenses, quartzo–feldspathic metasedimentary gneisses and mafic–ultramafic lenses. The whole-rock major and trace, including rare earth element distributions in the mafic–ultramafic intercalations indicate that derivation from subalkaline basalt/gabbro of tholeiitic affinity with E-MORB signature from a non-subduction environment. These mafic rocks have positive ε_Nd(t) and T_DM of 1.1 Ga. The metasedimentary rocks have negative ε_Nd(t) and T_DM of 1.7 Ga. A Sm–Nd whole rock isochron of mafic rocks yielded an age of 604 ± 38 Ma for the crystallization. This matches with the age of some detrital zircon grains from the paragneisses. The depositional basin, named Buzios–Palmital, was active at least until 620 Ma (age of the youngest detrital zircon) and was subsequently deformed and metamorphosed at ca. 525 Ma (age of metamorphic zircons) during the Buzios Orogeny. It is interpreted as a back arc basin with relation to the 630 Ma magmatic arc of the Oriental Terrane in the Ribeira Belt to the NW. However, after 600 Ma, the Buzios–Palmital basin changed to an active margin setting because the arc collided with the continental margin and the subduction shifted to the back arc environment. By 610 Ma, most of the Brasiliano belts registered collisional events related to multiple convergent blocks. The stress fields and paleocontinent shapes would have allowed the occurrence of extensional areas with not only sedimentary deposition but also ocean floor spreading. Its remnants are preserved in this Brazilian coastal region as an ancient suture, reworked intensively during the Mesozoic rifting events. The reconnaissance of Late Neoproterozoic basins in the Brasiliano–Pan-African belts is of major importance to partially unravel the final amalgamation events of SW Gondwana. Considering that the Buzios–Palmital basin rock units are mostly covered by the marginal Atlantic basins, it is possible that other evidence could be preserved in the coastal regions of SW-Africa and SE-South America.     

Thermal‐infrared remote sensing of surface water–groundwater exchanges in a restored anastomosing channel (Upper Rhine River,France)

Ecohydrological processes are a key element to consider in functional river restorations. In the framework of a LIFE+ European restoration program, we have investigated the potential for airborne thermal‐infrared remote sensing to map surface water–groundwater exchanges and to identify their driving factors. We focused our attention on anastomosing channels on an artificial island of the Upper Rhine River (Rohrschollen), where a new channel was excavated from the floodplain to reconnect an older channel in its upstream part. These hydraulic engineering works led to an increased inflow from the Rhine Canal. Here, we propose an original data treatment chain to (a) georeference the thermal‐infrared images in geographic information system based on visible images, (b) detect and correct data errors, and (c) identify and locate thermal anomalies attributed to groundwater inputs and hyporheic upwellings. Our results, which have been compared to morpho‐sedimentary data, show that groundwater upwelling in the new channel is controlled by riffle–pool sequences and bars. This channel is characterized by large bedload transport and morphodynamic activity, forming riffles and bars. In the old channel, where riffle–pool sequences no longer exist, due to impacts of engineering works and insufficient morphodynamic effects of the restoration, thermal anomalies appeared to be less pronounced. Groundwater inputs seem to be controlled by former gravel bars outcropping on the banks, as well as by local thinning of the low‐permeability clogging layer on the channel bed.     

Large-volume silicic volcanism in Kamchatka: Ar–Ar and U–Pb ages,isotopic, and geochemical characteristics of major pre-Holocene caldera-forming eruptions

The Kamchatka Peninsula in far eastern Russia represents the most volcanically active arc in the world in terms of magma production and the number of explosive eruptions. We investigate large-scale silicic volcanism in the past several million years and present new geochronologic results from major ignimbrite sheets exposed in Kamchatka. These ignimbrites are found in the vicinity of morphologically-preserved rims of partially eroded source calderas with diameters from ～ 2 to ～ 30 km and with estimated volumes of eruptions ranging from 10 to several hundred cubic kilometers of magma. We also identify and date two of the largest ignimbrites: Golygin Ignimbrite in southern Kamchatka (0.45 Ma), and Karymshina River Ignimbrites (1.78 Ma) in south-central Kamchatka. We present whole-rock geochemical analyses that can be used to correlate ignimbrites laterally. These large-volume ignimbrites sample a significant proportion of remelted Kamchatkan crust as constrained by the oxygen isotopes. Oxygen isotope analyses of minerals and matrix span a 3‰ range with a significant proportion of moderately low-δ¹⁸O values. This suggests that the source for these ignimbrites involved a hydrothermally-altered shallow crust, while participation of the Cretaceous siliceous basement is also evidenced by moderately elevated δ¹⁸O and Sr isotopes and xenocryst contamination in two volcanoes. The majority of dates obtained for caldera-forming eruptions coincide with glacial stages in accordance with the sediment record in the NW Pacific, suggesting an increase in explosive volcanic activity since the onset of the last glaciation 2.6 Ma. Rapid changes in ice volume during glacial times and the resulting fluctuation of glacial loading/unloading could have caused volatile saturation in shallow magma chambers and, in combination with availability of low-δ¹⁸O glacial meltwaters, increased the proportion of explosive vs effusive eruptions. The presented results provide new constraints on Pliocene–Pleistocene volcanic activity in Kamchatka, and thus constrain an important component of the Pacific Ring of Fire.     

530 Ma syntectonic syenites and granites in NW Namibia — Their relation with collision along the junction of the Damara and Kaoko belts

The Lower Ugab and Goantagab structural domains are located at the junction between the N–S trending Kaoko and the E–W trending Damara belts (NW Namibia), where Neoproterozoic metavolcano-sedimentary sequences were intruded by several syenitic/granitic plutons. We present here new U–Pb ages on zircon grains from the Voetspoor and Doros plutons. Together with petrological, geochemical and structural data we evaluate the timing of the deformation and relation to the geodynamics during the final stage of Gondwana amalgamation.The plutons are composed of three main rock types: hornblende quartz-syenite, syenodiorite and biotite granite. The two former are predominant and show genetic correlation such as magma mingling structures and similar geochemical signatures. The biotite granite occurs in the SW parts of the intrusions and clearly cuts the syenitic rocks. Although the plutons are mainly isotropic, the structures around them demonstrate that their intrusion occurred during a second deformation phase (D2) with a component of sinistral solid state rotation with respect to the wall rocks in response to D2 transpression. Four samples were dated using U–Pb SHRIMP methodology in single zircon grains. A hornblende monzodiorite from the Voetspoor pluton yielded an age of 534 ± 4.5 Ma. A hornblende monzonite from the Doros pluton produced an age of 528 ± 5 Ma. The biotite granite facies was sampled in the Doros intrusion and yielded an age of 530 ± 4.5 Ma. In addition, a granitic vein folded by D2 close to the northeastern contact of the Doros pluton with the encasing phyllites (Amis River Formation) was also dated, yielding an age of 533 ± 6 Ma. The data show that all granite–syenite from Doros and Voetspoor intrusions are contemporaneous and crystallized in the period between 539 and 522 Ma within the errors. D1–D2 deformational phases took place under greenschist facies (biotite zone) conditions and during D3 the metamorphic grade was slightly lower. We interpret that the plutons are coeval to peak metamorphism of the region (530–520 Ma) and that D2 and D3 sinistral transpressional phases are due to collision in the Damara Belt. The E–W compressional event and second metamorphic episode in the Kaoko Belt occurred between 580 and 560 Ma and are apparently unrelated to the thermo-tectonic evolution described here, although D1 might be partially related to this event. The sinistral transpressional D2 phase resulted probably from the position of the area considered at the junction between the belts, and not in the frontal Damara collision further to the east. This new interpretation is consistent with the Ar–Ar ages for the region (about 500 Ma), interpreted to reflect cooling of the orogen. The enrichment in LREE, K, Rb, Ba and Sr, and depletion in Nb of these basic to intermediate alkalic rocks could indicate that they partially derived from melting of a subcontinental lithospheric mantle that was affected by subduction and the granitic rock types represent lower crust contamination. We interpret that they could be related to heating in the mantle caused by asthenosphere influx in a zone of slab-breakoff during collision between Kalahari and Congo cratons.     

Dynamo action in an ambient field

The origin of global magnetic fields in celestial bodies is generally ascribed to dynamo action by fluid motions in their electrically conducting interiors. Some objects – e.g. close‐in extra‐solar planets or the moons of some giant planets – are embedded in ambient magnetic fields which modify the generation of the internal field in these bodies. Recently, the feedback of the magnetospheric field by Chapman‐Ferraro currents in the magnetopause onto the interior dynamo has been proposed to explain the observed weakness of the intrinsic magnetic field of planet Mercury. We study a simplified mean‐field dynamo model which allows us to analytically address various issues like positive and negative feedback situations, stationary versus time‐dependent solutions, and the stability of weak and strong field branches. We discuss the influence of the response function on the solutions when the external field depends on the strength of the intrinsic field like in the situation of the feedback dynamo of Mercury. We find that the feedback mechanism works only for a narrow range of dynamo numbers in the case of Mercury which makes him unique in our solar system. We conclude with some implications for extra‐solar planets (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

NIR spectral trends of HED meteorites: Can we discriminate between the magmatic evolution, mechanical mixing and observation geometry effects?

The Howardite–Eucrite–Diogenite (HED) suite is a family of differentiated meteorites that provide a unique opportunity to study the differentiation of small bodies. The likely parent-body of this meteorite group, (4) Vesta is presently under study by the Dawn mission, scrutinizing its surface in the visible and NIR infrared range. Here, we discuss how well the magmatic trends observed in HED might be retrieved from NIR spectroscopy, by studying laboratory spectra of 10 HED meteorites together with spectra from the RELAB database. We show that although an exsolution process did occur for most eucrites (i.e. decomposition of a primary calcic pyroxene into a high-Ca and low-Ca pyroxene), it does not affect the “bulk pyroxene” trend retrieved from the location of the pyroxene crystal field bands (Band I with a maximum of absorption around at about 1 μm and Band II around 2 μm). Absolute values of the chemical composition appears however to deviate from the expected chemical composition. We show that mechanical mixture (i.e. impact gardening) will produce a linear mixing in the pyroxenes band position diagram (Band I position vs Band II position). This diagram also reveals that howardite are not pure mixtures of an average eucrite and average diogenite. Because asteroid surfaces are expected to show topography, we also study the effect of observation geometry on the NIR spectra of an eucrite and a diogenite by measuring the bi-directional reflectance spectra from 0.4 to 4.6 μm. Results show that these meteorites tend to act as forward scatterers, leading to a decrease of integrated band area (relative to the continuum) at high phase angles. The position of the two strong crystal field bands shows only small variability with observation geometry. Retrieval of the magmatic trends from the Band I vs Band II diagram should not be affected by observation geometry effects. Finally we performed NIR reflectance measurement on olivine diogenites. The presence of olivine can be suggested by using the Band Area Ratio vs Band I diagram, but this phase might affect the retrieval of pyroxene composition from the position of Band I and Band II.     

Quaternary bimodal volcanism in the Niğde Volcanic Complex (Cappadocia,central Anatolia,Turkey): age,petrogenesis and geodynamic implications

The late Neogene to Quaternary Cappadocian Volcanic Province (CVP) in central Anatolia is one of the most impressive volcanic fields of Turkey because of its extent and spectacular erosionally sculptured landscape. The late Neogene evolution of the CVP started with the eruption of extensive andesitic-dacitic lavas and ignimbrites with minor basaltic lavas. This stage was followed by Quaternary bimodal volcanism. Here, we present geochemical, isotopic (Sr–Nd–Pb and δ¹⁸O isotopes) and geochronological (U–Pb zircon and Ar–Ar amphibole and whole-rock ages) data for bimodal volcanic rocks of the Ni?de Volcanic Complex (NVC) in the western part of the CVP to determine mantle melting dynamics and magmatic processes within the overlying continental crust during the Quaternary. Geochronological data suggest that the bimodal volcanic activity in the study area occurred between ca. 1.1 and ca. 0.2 Ma (Pleistocene) and comprises (1) mafic lavas consisting of basalts, trachybasalts, basaltic andesites and scoria lapilli fallout deposits with mainly basaltic composition, (2) felsic lavas consisting of mostly rhyolites and pumice lapilli fall-out and surge deposits with dacitic to rhyolitic composition. The most mafic sample is basalt from a monogenetic cone, which is characterized by ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr = 0.7038, ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd = 0.5128, ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 18.80, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 15.60 and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 38.68, suggesting a moderately depleted signature of the mantle source. Felsic volcanic rocks define a narrow range of ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd isotope ratios (0.5126–0.5128) and are homogeneous in Pb isotope composition (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 18.84–18.87, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 15.64–15.67 and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 38.93–38.99). ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr isotopic compositions of mafic (0.7038–0.7053) and felsic (0.7040–0.7052) samples are similar, reflecting a common mantle source. The felsic rocks have relatively low zircon δ¹⁸O values (5.6 ± 0.6 ‰) overlapping mantle values (5.3 ± 0.3 %), consistent with an origin by fractional crystallization from a mafic melt with very minor continental crustal contamination. The geochronological and geochemical data suggest that mafic and felsic volcanic rocks of the NVC are genetically closely related to each other. Mafic rocks show a positive trend between ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and Th, suggesting simultaneous assimilation and fractional crystallization, whereas the felsic rocks are characterized by a flat or slightly negative variation. High ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr gneisses are a potential crustal contaminant of the mafic magmas, but the comparatively low and invariant ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr in the felsic volcanics suggests that these evolved dominantly by fractional crystallization. Mantle-derived basaltic melts, which experienced low degree of crustal assimilation, are proposed to be the parent melt of the felsic volcanics. Geochronological and geochemical results combined with regional geological and geophysical data suggest that bimodal volcanism of the NVC and the CVP, in general, developed in a post-collisional extensional tectonic regime that is caused by ascending asthenosphere, which played a key role during magma genesis.     

Geochemical tracing and hydrogeochemical modelling of water–rock interactions during salinization of alluvial groundwater (Upper Rhine Valley,France)

In the southern Upper Rhine Valley, groundwater has undergone intensive saline pollution caused by the infiltration of mining brines, a consequence of potash extraction carried out during the 20th century. Major and trace elements along with Sr and U isotopic ratios show that groundwater geochemical characteristics along the saline plumes cannot reflect conservative mixing between saline waters resulting from the dissolution of waste heaps and one or more unpolluted end-members. The results imply the occurrence of interactions between host rocks and polluted waters, and they suggest that cationic exchange mechanisms are the primary controlling process. A coupled hydrogeochemical model has been developed with the numerical code KIRMAT, which demonstrates that cationic exchange between alkalis from polluted waters and alkaline-earth elements from montmorillonite present in the host rock of the aquifer is the primary process controlling the geochemical evolution of the groundwater. The model requires only a small amount of montmorillonite (between 0.75% and 2.25%), which is in agreement with the observed mineralogical composition of the aquifer. The model also proves that a small contribution of calcite precipitation/dissolution takes places whereas other secondary mineral precipitation or host rock mineral dissolution do not play a significant role in the geochemical signature of the studied groundwater samples. Application of the model demonstrates that it is necessary to consider the pollution history to explain the important Cl, Na and Ca concentration modifications in groundwater samples taken over 2 km downstream of waste heaps. Additionally, the model shows that the rapidity of the cationic exchange reactions insures a reversibility of the cation fixation on clays in the aquifer.     

Active and Passive Seismic as an Indicator of Large Equipment Interactions with the Oil Sand

The strain softening of oil sand in the underfoot of ultra class mobile mining equipment, due to the loading action of large mobile mining equipment such as trucks and shovels, yields a highly unstable condition for the operation of this ultra-class equipment. Soft ground conditions in oil sand, due to the low stiffness of the material a condition especially present in the summer, can cause high rack, pitch, and roll in trucks, leading to fatigue failure in structural components. For shovels, poor ground stability can cause twists in car bodies and undercarriages, resulting in major damages. Track and shovel frame failures due to this instability result in high maintenance costs. The authors carried out a geophysical study of the oil sand in order to evaluate the ground conditions under large mobile mining equipment. A geophysical investigation performed in summer 2001 encountered 6–8 m of thick soft material, commensurate with very low velocities, caused by the loosening of the surface material by heavy mining machinery and excavation; and a transition zone of up to 25–26 m depth approaching the in situ oil sand below. The depth of the oil sand zones can be calculated by using the refraction analysis technique. Spectral Analysis of Surface Waves was used to estimate the ground stiffness. A new technique is proposed to evaluate the changing ground stiffness during the use of ultra-class mobile mining equipment.