Evolution of oceanographic conditions off Baja California: 1997–1999

This paper examines the oceanic response off Baja California, Mexico, to the 1997–1998 El Niño and the transition to La Niña conditions. The data presented were gathered during seven cruises over a grid based on the CalCOFI station plan, from lines 100–130, out to station 80. T–S diagrams with data obtained during the peak phase of El Niño, demonstrate that warmer and saltier (spicier) than normal conditions prevailed in the upper 600 m over this region. Temperature and salinity anomalies calculated for CalCOFI line 120 revealed waters near the coast at 50 m depth to be up to 8.7 °C warmer and S=0.8 saltier than the climatology during October 1997. These large anomalies persisted through January 1998, with some slight diminution in the magnitudes near the surface. This study suggests that anomalously warm and salty waters were fed from a source of spicy water to the southwest, identified as Subtropical Surface Water (StSW), and that low-salinity Tropical surface waters (TSW) were blocked to the southeast in the vicinity of the tip of the Peninsula. Subsurface waters associated with the California undercurrent (CU), fed from the Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP), were also warmer and saltier than normal, and indicate a significant expansion in volume of the CU, presumably a result of intensification of poleward flow at depth. We postulate that the well defined near-surface and deep poleward flows in the study area reflect anomalous large-scale cyclonic circulation affecting the flow in the southeastern region of the North Pacific subtropical gyre east of 125°W. Following the El Niño event, warm and salty upper waters retreated to latitudes south of Punta Eugenia. With the return to normal and cooler conditions, equatorward flow over the sampling grid predominated with an increased meandering and mesoscale activity. Transition to La Niña conditions would have been associated with re-establishment of normal anticyclonic flow in the southeastern quadrant of the Pacific subtropical gyre.     

Response of the paleomagnetic record to environmental changes in the late Pleistocene

During revisiting the Upper Pleistocene Pekla loess-soil section located on the Sea of Azov coast of the Taman Peninsula, its lower 6 m were continuously sampled, which led to an increase in the age range from ∼50 to 400 ka. The detailed rock magnetic study of the structure, grain-size, and concentrations of magnetic mineral (natural remanent magnetization (NRM) carrier) in the collected rock samples revealed regular changes in rock magnetic characteristics along the section and their correlation with climatic fluctuations. Magnetite and hematite both deposited during the transport of sedimentary material and formed during pedogenesis, which involved the entire section to a varying extent, represent the main magnetic minerals in the examined rocks. Automorphic paleosoils that were formed during warm and humid periods corresponding to odd stages of the MIS scale are characterized by elevated concentrations of magnetic mineral (NRM, magnetic susceptibility (K _lf), saturation isothermal remanent magnetization (SIRM), and anhysteresis (ideal) remanent magnetization (ARM)) parameters and share of superparamagnetic particles (up to 80%, according to elevated values of the frequency-dependent magnetic susceptibility K _td) as well as by lowered rigidity parameter (B _cr) and grain size (ARM/K parameter). Such changes in the paleosoils may be explained by the occurrence of newly formed fine-grained magnetite particles close in size to its superparamagnetic and single-domain varieties due to the activation of bio/geochemical processes during warm stages. The growth of the above-mentioned rock magnetic parameters in automorphic soils may be considered as serving a quantitative criterion for defining the boundary between warm and cold periods even in poorly developed soils.     

Petrology and Rare Earth Elements Mineral Chemistry of Chadegan Metabasites (Sanandaj-Sirjan Zone,Iran): Evidence for Eclogite-Facies Metamorphism during Neotethyan Subduction

The metabasites of Chadegan, including eclogite, garnet amphibolite and amphibolite, are forming a part of Sanandaj–Sirjan Zone. These rocks have formed during the subduction of the Neo–Tethys ocean crust under Iranian plate. This subduction resulted in a subduction metamorphism under high pressuremedium temperature of eclogite and amphibolites facies condition. Then the metamorphic rocks were exhumed during the continental collision between the Afro–Arabian continent and the Iranian microcontinent. In the metabasite rocks, with typical MORB composition, garnet preserved a compositional zoning occurred during metamorphism. The magnesium (X_Mg) gradually increases from core to rim of garnets, while the manganese (X_Mn) decreases towards the rim. Chondrite–normalized Rare Earth Element patterns for these garnets exhibit core–to–rim increases in Light Rare Earth Elements. The chondrite–normalized REE patterns of garnets, amphiboles and pyroxenes display positive trend from LREEs to Heavy Rare Earth Elements (especially in garnet), which suggests the role of these minerals as the major controller of HREE distribution. The geochemical features show that the studied eclogite and associated rocks have a MORB origin, and probably formed in a deep–seated subduction channel environment. The geothermometry estimation yields average pressure of ~22 kbar and temperature of 470–520°C for eclogite fomation. The thermobarometry results gave T = 650–700°C and P ≈ 10–11 kbar for amphibolite facies.     

Trace elements contamination of agricultural soils affected by sulphide exploitation (Iberian Pyrite Belt,Sw Spain)

Agricultural soils of the Riotinto mining area (Iberian Pyrite Belt) have been studied to assess the degree of pollution by trace elements as a consequence of the extraction and treatment of sulphides. Fifteen soil samples were collected and analysed by ICP-OES and INAA for 51 elements. Chemical analyses showed an As–Cu–Pb–Zn association related with the mineralisation of the Iberian Pyrite Belt. Concentrations were 19–994 mg kg⁻¹ for As, 41–4,890 mg kg⁻¹ for Pb, 95–897 mg kg⁻¹ for Zn and of 27–1,160 mg kg⁻¹ for Cu. Most of the samples displayed concentrations of these elements higher than the 90th percentile of the corresponding geological dominium, which suggests an anthropogenic input besides the bedrock influence. Samples collected from sediments were more contaminated than leptosols because they were polluted by leachates or by mining spills coming from the waste rock piles. The weathering of the bedrock is responsible for high concentrations in Co, Cr and Ni, but an anthropogenic input, such as wind-blown dust, seems to be indicative of the high content of As, Cu, Pb and Zn in leptosols. The metal partitioning patterns show that most trace elements are associated with Fe amorphous oxy-hydroxides, or take part of the residual fraction. According to the results obtained, the following mobility sequence is proposed for major and minor elements: Mn, Pb, Cd, > Zn, Cu > Ni > As > Fe > Cr. The high mobility of Pb, Cu and Zn involve an environmental risk in this area, even in soils where the concentrations are not so high.     

Mechanism of loading on plates due to explosive detonation

This paper investigates the various mechanisms and parameters that are responsible for delivering impulse to a vehicle that is unfortunate enough to detonate a buried mine. Small scale tests are used to examine the effects of air blast or ejected sand in imparting impulse to a plate that is located above the surface of the saturated soil that contains the explosive. Parameters such as confinement, stand off distance, depth of burial of the explosive, density of the soil, and saturation level of the soil are also examined.     

Stratigraphy of Middle-Upper Jurassic deposits in the East Russian plate

The work is aimed at litho-, bio- and magnetostratigraphic subdivision of the Middle-Upper Jurassic sedimentary succession in the northeast of the Ul’yanovsk-Saratov depression (the East Russian plate). Problems of regional and interregional correlation of distinguished subdivisions are considered. As is shown, the ammonite biostratigraphy is most effective method for solving problems of chronostratigraphy.     

Limitations of an eddy-correlation technique for the determination of the carbon dioxide and sensible heat fluxes

A modified infrared CO₂ gas analyzer, a small thermocouple assembly, a heated-thermocouple anemometer for horizontal wind, and a propeller-type vertical wind sensor were used to measure the eddy fluxes of heat and CO₂ above a corn crop. Experimental results of these fluxes are discussed. The main sources of errors of the eddy fluxes using these instruments were estimated:

1. Sensors with a time constant of 0.5 s appear to be fast enough to detect most of the vertical CO₂ transfer as long as the sensors are located at least one meter above the crop surface.
2. The deviation from steady-state conditions for 10-min periods was found to have a significant effect on the eddy flux estimates.
3. Temperature fluctuations of the air sample passing through the CO₂ infrared gas analyzer were found to be non-negligible but could be easily corrected.
4. A 1° misalignment of the vertical anemometer affected these eddy fluxes by less than 10% under all circumstances studied.

     

Untersuchung der Sorptionseigenschaften des Kationenaustauschers KB-2M mit Makronetzstruktur zur Abtrennung von Zinkionen aus Ab- und Spülwässern

Study of Sorptional Properties of the Cation Exchanger KB-2M with Macroreticular Structure for Recovery of Zinc Ions from Sewage and Rinsing Water Although a number of ion-exchange methods have been employed for the recovery of some transition metals from industrial effluents, knowledge about ion-exchange resins with macroreticular structure is poor. The present paper describes the mechanism of sorption on such exchangers and their application for recovery of zinc from sewage rinsing water. Ion exchanger of macroreticular structure are polymers with long-chained cross-linking agents. We have synthesized carboxylic ion-exchange resins by hydrolysis of copolymerisates of methyl acrylate with different cross-linking agents: divinylbenzene, divinyl sulfide, divinyl ester of ethylene glycol and divinyl ester of di- or triethylene glycol. The sorption process on modifications of the carboxylic resins KB-2 of various structure was studied with different methods: potentiometric titration, infrared spectroscopy, electron microscopy, X-ray structural analysis. The initial zinc concentration in rinsing water was 0.05 mol/L at pH from 3 to 6. For the sorption, 0.2…1.0 g of resin were equilibrated with 100 mL of zinc solution. After equilibrium (12 h), the resin was separated from solution. The zinc ions were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry after stripping with 100 mL of 10% sulfuric acid. The distribution ratio D was calculated (D: mmole of Zn sorbed per gram of resin divided by mmole of Zn per millilitre of solution). By means of infrared spectroscopy, the mechanism of sorption of zinc ions from rinsing water was determined. There may be a possibility of the formation of complexes in the cation-exchange resin phase. It was found out in this paper that the cation-exchanger KB-2M of macroreticular structure is the most effective for the sorption of the Zn²⁺-ions from sewage and rinsing water.     

Activated release of alkalis during the vesiculation of molten basalts under high vacuum: implications for lunar volcanism

Knudsen cell-quadrupole mass spectrometry was used to study the high-temperature vaporization of Hawaiian basalts, plagioclase, tektites, and samples from the Allende meteorite. Procedures are described by which mass loss rates and vapor pressures of Na and K were measured quantitatively.Gas-rich glassy basalts were observed to vesiculate under vacuum over the 900–1000°C region and simultaneously evaporate alkalis in nonequilibrium fashion at rates (units of μg/g/hr) of approximately 200–300 Na and 75–250 K. Degassed residues of the same basalts demonstrated equilibrium evaporation rates (over the same temperature range) of 60–120 Na and 30–60 K. The gas-deficient plagioclase and tektite sample showed only equilibrium vaporization with rates of 60 Na, 10 K (plagioclase) and 10 Na, 5K (tektites) at 900–1000°C. The Allende meteorite vaporized at rates of 2400 Na and 200 K at 900–1000°C, possibly by the reaction of Na₂O and K₂O with C or S₂, or by the thermal decomposition of nepheline or sodalite.The nonequilibrium vaporization of alkalis from the gas-rich basalts is attributed to vigorous agitation of the melt during its vesiculation by a gas phase composed principally of SO₂, CO₂, H₂O, CO, and H₂S. The major gases released from the Allende meteorite at 900–1000°C are, in order of decreasing abundance, CO, S₂, CO₂, H₂O, SO₂, and H₂S.It is proposed that nonequilibrium vaporization of alkalis during the vesiculation of lunar lavas was responsible for the production of alkali-rich vapors which subsequently deposited plagioclase crystals in the vugs of lunar rocks. The vesiculative, nonequilibrium vaporization of Na and K during a lunar volcanic eruption should be expected to occur at a high rate upon initial extrusion of the lava into vacuum but then decrease by a factor of approximately three when degassing is nearing completion. Vaporization losses remain inadequate to explain the uniformly low alkali concentrations in lunar basalts.     

Analysis and prediction of household carbon emission in northwest China北大核心CSCD

The economic development, living standard of residents and carbon emissions in Northwest China are lower than the national average. However,with the favorable policies the economic development is being improved and the household living standard is gradually raised up which will lead to an increase of the residents living carbon emissions, and the emission pattern will also be affected. This is detrimental to the fragile ecological environment of the Northwest China. At present, most of the researches on residents' carbon emissions are focused on the eastern and southern regions of China where there are frequent and significant human activities and high carbon emissions, and less attention has been paid to the northwest region, but the increase of carbon emissions and the increase of environmental costs have a more far-reaching impact on the less developed areas. In addition, when researchers pay attention to the prediction of residents' carbon emissions, they usually focus on the quantitative prediction and ignore the spatial pattern prediction, which is not conducive to the coordinated development between regions. Based on the data of energy consumption and consumption expenditure in the five provinces of Northwest China, including Shaanxi, Gansu, Qinghai, Ningxia and Xinjiang from 1997 to 2016, this paper firstly used the direct coefficient method to measure the residents' direct carbon emissions, and the input-output method to calculate the indirect carbon emissions of the residents and analyzes the present situation of residents' carbon emissions in the northwest region. Secondly, based on standard deviation ellipse and Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average Model, the carbon emissions of residents in Northwest China were predicted in terms of quantity and spatial pattern from 2017 to 2021. Major results are listed as follows: From 1997 to 2016, household carbon emissions in Northwest China showed a rising trend with an initial slow pace followed by a quick pace. The direct carbon emissions were stabilized in the range from 0. 3 × 108 t to 0. 4 × 108 t,and the indirect carbon emissions reached 2. 38 × 108 t. The spatial distribution of household carbon emissions in Northwest China was generally steady with a direction pattern from northwest to southeast. And the moving trend of standard deviation ellipse was from northwest to southeast to northwest, and the center of standard deviation ellipse moved around the point of (99. 07 °E,38. 19°N). From 2017 to 2021, the direct household carbon emissions in Northwest China reach to 0.543 × 108 t and the indirect carbon emissions are 3. 631 × 108 t by 2021. With the development of the western region in China and the promotion of poverty alleviation,Xinjiang Province had a lower emission than Shaanxi,but it had the higher growth rate than Shaanxi. These factors are all driving the main areas of carbon emission northwestward. The purpose of this paper is to recommend how to coordinate between the population and consumption and the environment, leading citizens to establish the value of low-carbon consumption. © 2019 Science Press (China). All rights reserved.