Comment on the postulate of three plane strain mechanisms

This note discusses the inconsistencies that are inherent in the postulate of three plane strain mechanisms. It is shown that this postulate violates the principle of invariance and one obtains different results depending on the choice of the reference axes. If formulated in the principal stress space, this postulate requires that the principal stress and principal plastic strain increment directions be coaxial. Constitutive models based on this postulate cannot be used for general loading situations involving principal stress rotation where significant non-coaxiality is obtained.     

Reunion de la Commission Gravimetrique Internationale

Sans résumé Bureau Gravimétrique International     

Investigations of the bottom current sculpted margin of Hatton Bank, NE Atlantic

The northwest Hatton Bank margin is an ideal locality to demonstrate the interaction between bottom currents and slope configuration in controlling the distribution and morphology of bottom current deposits. The slope area investigated is isolated from any major terrigenous sediment supply and at present is influenced by the Deep Northern Boundary Current (DNBC). Swath bathymetry and high resolution acoustic data allow us to evaluate both local and regional controls on slope sedimentation and the possible mechanisms for bottom-current velocity variability across a slope setting within the NW European continental margin. The slope exhibits sculpting by bottom currents that flow in a predominantly southwest to northeast direction, and is only locally modified by slope failures. Positive relief features such as the Endymion Spur play an important role in constraining and accelerating bottom-current flow and, consequently, in redistributing sediment along the margin. We demonstrate that the size, morphology and distribution of bottom-current deposits along the slope vary as a function of the interaction between bottom currents, regional slope orientation and local seafloor topography.     

Geochronological (U–Pb,U–Th–total Pb,Sm–Nd) and geochemical (REE, <Superscript>87</Superscript>Sr/<Superscript>86</Superscript>Sr, δ<Superscript>18</Superscript>O, δ<Superscript>13</Superscript>C) tracing of intraplate tectonism and associated fluid flow in the Warburton Basin,Australia

The Warburton Basin of central Australia has experienced a complex tectonic and fluid-flow history, resulting in the formation of various authigenic minerals. Geochemical and geochronological analyses were undertaken on vein carbonates from core samples of clastic sediments. Results were then integrated with zircon U–Pb dating and uraninite U–Th–total Pb dating from the underlying granite. Stable and radiogenic isotopes (δ¹⁸O, Sr and εNd), as well as trace element data of carbonate veins indicate that >200 °C basinal fluids of evolved meteoric origin circulated through the Warburton Basin. Almost coincidental ages of these carbonates (Sm–Nd; 432 ± 12 Ma) with primary zircon (421 ± 3.8 Ma) and uraninite (407 ± 16 Ma) ages from the granitic intrusion point towards a substantial period of active tectonism and an elevated thermal regime during the mid Silurian. We hypothesise that such a thermal regime may have resulted from extensional tectonism and concomitant magmatic activity following regional orogenesis. This study shows that the combined application of geochemical and geochronological analyses of both primary and secondary species may constrain the timing of tectonomagmatic events and associated fluid flow in intraplate sedimentary basins. Furthermore, this work suggests that the Sm–Nd-isotopic system is surprisingly robust and can record geologically meaningful age data from hydrothermal mineral species.     

Aggregate performance in managing marine ecosystems of 53 maritime countries

Fourteen indicators of marine living resource management performance by country, reflecting both their intention to sustainably use the resource within their Exclusive Economic Zones and the effectiveness of their policies, were developed and the performances of 53 maritime countries were assessed. Four rankings of the countries, which jointly account for over 95 percent of the world's marine fisheries landings, are presented here as aggregated scores of the fourteen indicators, using different schemes for weighting the indicators, each reflective of the management preferences identified by the Global Environment Outlook 4 (GEO4) future development scenarios: Market First; Policy First; Security First; and Sustainability First. The resulting rankings differed substantially between the weighting schemes for the top performing countries but less so for the countries performing poorly.     

Modeling large-scale cohesive sediment transport affected by small-scale biological activity

Biological activity on the bottom of the seabed is known to have significant influence on the dynamics of cohesive sediment on a small spatial and temporal scale. In this study, we aim to understand the large-scale effects of small-scale biological activity. Hereto, effects of biology are quantitatively incorporated into the process-based sediment transport module of Delft3D. This Bio-mud model is used to study cohesive sediment transport and deposition patterns in the Western Wadden Sea for a period of 1 year to capture seasonal changes.     

Physiography and deposition on a distal deep-sea system: The Valencia Fan (Northwestern Mediterranean)

The Valencia Fan developed as the distal fill of a deep-sea valley, detached from the continental slope and the main sedimentary source. A survey of side-scan sonar, Sea Beam and reflection seismics shows that the sediment is largely fed through the Valencia Valley. The upper fan comprises large channels with low-relief levees, and the middle fan has sinuous distributary channels. Depositional bedforms predominate on the valley floor and levees, and erosional bedforms are common in the valley walls. A change to slope on the fan apex and the presence of volcanoes on the upper fan are the main factors influencing fan-growth pattern.     

Near-infrared spectroscopy of probable impact melt from three large lunar highland craters

The composition of small areas within three large lunar highland craters are compared using near-infrared, Earth-based telescopic data. Spectra from many areas in the walls and central peaks of the craters indicate the presence of crystalline components which include olivine, two types of pyroxene, and sometimes Fe-bearing feldspar. Spectra from other regions suspected of being impact melt deposits, located on the floors and walls of the three craters, have remarkably similar, yet anomalous features. These features are interpreted to indicate the presence of pyroxene, Fe-bearing glass, and Fe-bearing feldspar. Pyroxene and feldspar are believed to occur primarily in the form of lithic clasts and rapidly recrystallized impact melt. The Fe-bearing glass is interpreted as impact melt glass.