Early oxidation of organic matter in pelagic sediments of the eastern equatorial Atlantic: suboxic diagenesis

Pore water profiles of total-CO₂, pH, PO^3?₄, NO^?₃ plus NO^?₂, SO^2?₄, S^2?, Fe²⁺ and Mn²⁺ have been obtained in cores from pelagic sediments of the eastern equatorial Atlantic under waters of moderate to high productivity. These profiles reveal that oxidants are consumed in order of decreasing energy production per mole of organic carbon oxidized (O₂ > manganese oxides ~ nitrate > iron oxides > sulfate). Total CO₂ concentrations reflect organic regeneration and calcite dissolution. Phosphate profiles are consistent with organic regeneration and with the effects of release and uptake during inorganic reactions. Nitrate profiles reflect organic regeneration and nitrate reduction, while dissolved iron and manganese profiles suggest reduction of the solid oxide phases, upward fluxes of dissolved metals and subsequent entrapment in the sediment column. Sulfate values are constant and sulfide is absent, reflecting the absence of strongly anoxic conditions.     

Simulation of a Summer Urban Breeze Over Paris

Numerical simulations for an anticyclonic summer episode in the Paris area have been performed at the meso- scale for a 48-hour period, and compared to observations from a dense operational observational network. The meteorological stations have been classified, according to the extent of urbanization of their surroundings, into four classes (central Paris, urban, suburban, and rural). The atmospheric model, coupled with an urban surface scheme, correctly reproduces the temperature (within 1 K from the observations) and humidity. The intense urban heat island during the night is also well represented.Following the validation, the model is used to quantify atmospheric effects of Paris on the boundary layer, through a comparison with a purely rural simulation. At night, the model simulates a neutral or even slightly unstable boundary layer to a depth of 200 m over the city. In contrast, a very stable layer formed in the countryside. During the day, the boundary layer was more turbulent and 500 m deeper over Paris; vertical velocities of up to 1 m s^-1 were created over the city. This leads to an urban breeze with convergence at low levels (with winds around 5 to 7 m s^-1), and divergence at the boundary-layer top (with similar wind speeds). The horizontal extent of the breeze reaches for more than 50 km from the city centre, and could have an important impact on pollutant diffusion in the area for calm days.Finally, three other spring cases are presented briefly. These show that an urban breeze develops if the synoptic wind is weak enough or disorganized; an urban plume develops otherwise.     

Pre-orogenic upper crustal softening by lower greenschist facies metamorphic reactions in granites of the central Pyrenees

Pre-kinematic greenschist facies metamorphism is often observed in granites and basement units of mountain belts, but rarely dated and accounted for in orogenic cycle reconstructions. Studying pre-kinematic alteration is challenging because of its usual obliteration by subsequent syn-kinematic metamorphism often occurring at conditions typical of the brittle–ductile transition. It is, however, to be expected that pre-kinematic alteration has major implications for the rheology of the upper crust. In the 305 Ma-old Variscan basement of the Bielsa massif (located in the Axial Zone of the Pyrenees), successive fluid–rock interaction events are recorded in granites below 350°C. Combined microstructural and petrographic analysis, low-T thermobarometry and in situ U–Th/Pb dating of anatase, titanite and monazite show extensive pre-orogenic (pre-Alpine) and pre-kinematic alteration related to feldspar sericitization and chloritization of biotite and amphibole at temperatures of 270–350°C at 230–300 Ma. This event is followed by a second fluid–rock interaction stage marked by new crystallization of phyllosilicates at 200–280°C and is associated with the formation of mylonitic shear zones and fractures parallel to the shear planes. U–Pb anatase and monazite ages as well as the microtextural relationships of accessory minerals suggest an age for this event at 40–70 Ma, consistent with independent regional geology constraints. The Variscan basement was therefore softened at late to post-Variscan time, at least 150–200 Ma before the main Alpine shortening while Alpine-age compression (c. 35–50 Ma) leads to the formation of a dense net of mylonites. The associated deformation, both distributed at the scale of the Bielsa massif and localized at decametric scale in mylonitic corridors, precedes the strain localization along the major thrusts of the Axial Zone. The Bielsa massif is a good example where inherited, pre-orogenic upper crustal softening controls the deformation patterns in granitic basement units through low-grade metamorphic reactions.     

Rubber tapper identities: Political-economic dynamics,livelihood shifts,and environmental implications in a changing Amazon

Rubber tappers promoted extractive reserves as a sustainable alternative to forest destruction in the Brazilian Amazon. However, the significance of rubber tapping itself has declined since the creation of extractive reserves, which raises questions about the contemporary cultural content of the rubber tapper identity. This paper therefore evaluates rubber tapper identity, using the case of the Chico Mendes Extractive Reserve (CMER) in Acre, Brazil. We first draw on household survey data from the CMER to construct a statistical model of who self-identifies as a rubber tapper. The model shows that socio-economic background, household assets, institutional context, and knowledge of the CMER’s management plan are relevant to understanding rubber tapper self-identification, but not resource management practices, including rubber tapping itself. We therefore pursue qualitative analysis of key informant interviews to better apprehend contemporary understandings of the “rubber tapper” identity, particularly in light of recent shifts in livelihoods from rubber tapping toward cattle ranching. The qualitative analysis shows that there are now several different foundations for self-identifying as a “rubber tapper,” and that there are disagreements concerning the acceptability of cattle ranching among “rubber tappers.” These findings bear implications for research on the relationship of livelihood-based identities with resource management practices and environmental change, as well as public policies that seek to reconcile regional development with forest conservation.     

Raman spectroscopic properties and Raman identification of CaS‐MgS‐MnS‐FeS‐Cr2FeS4 sulfides in meteorites and reduced sulfur‐rich systems

Raman spectra were acquired on a series of natural and synthetic sulfide minerals, commonly found in enstatite meteorites: oldhamite (CaS), niningerite or keilite ((Mg,Fe)S), alabandite (MnS), troilite (FeS), and daubreelite (Cr₂FeS₄). Natural samples come from three enstatite chondrites, three aubrites, and one anomalous ungrouped enstatite meteorite. Synthetic samples range from pure endmembers (CaS, FeS, MgS) to complex solid solutions (Fe, Mg, Ca)S. The main Raman peaks are localized at 225, 285, 360, and 470 cm^?1 for the Mg‐rich sulfides; at 185, 205, and 285 cm^?1 for the Ca‐rich sulfides; at 250, 370, and 580 cm^?1 for the Mn‐rich sulfides; at 255, 290, and 365 cm^?1 for the Cr‐rich sulfides; and at 290 and 335 cm^?1 for troilite with, occasionally, an extra peak at 240 cm^?1. A peak at 160 cm^?1 is present in all Raman spectra and cannot be used to discriminate between the different sulfide compositions. According to group theory, none of the cubic monosulfides oldhamite, niningerite, or alabandite should present first‐order Raman spectra because of their ideal rocksalt structure. The occurrence of broad Raman peaks is tentatively explained by local breaking of symmetry rules. Measurements compare well with the infrared frequencies calculated from first‐principles calculations. Raman spectra arise from activation of certain vibrational modes due to clustering in the solid solutions or to coupling with electronic transitions in semiconductor sulfides.     

Monitoring volcanoes using seismic noise correlations

In this article, we summarize some recent results of measurements of temporal changes of active volcanoes using seismic noise cross-correlations. We first present a novel approach to estimate volcano interior temporal seismic velocity changes. The proposed method allows to measure very small velocity changes (≈ 0.1%) with a time resolution as small as one day. The application of that method to Piton de la Fournaise Volcano (La Réunion Island) shows velocity decreases preceding eruptions. Moreover, velocity changes from noise cross-correlations over 10 years allow to detect transient velocity changes that could be due to long-lasting intrusions of magma without eruptive activity or to pressure buildup associated to the replenishing of the magma reservoir. We also present preliminary results of noise cross-correlation waveform perturbation associated with the occurrence of dike injection and volcanic eruption. We show that such an analysis leads us to locate the areas of dike injection and eruptive fissures at Piton de la Fournaise Volcano. These recent results suggest that monitoring volcanoes using seismic noise correlations should improve our ability to forecast eruptions, their intensity and thus potential environmental impact.     

Magnetic fields in methanol maser condensations based on data for related regions. Seven sources: Observational parameters

Results of polarization observations of gas-dust condensations obtained on the Nançay radio telescope in the 1665 and 1667 MHz OH lines in all four Stokes parameters are reported. Seven OH maser sources associated with methanol masers were selected for this study. The goal was to estimate the magnetic fields in methanol condensations from the Zeeman splitting of OH maser lines associated with the methanol masers. The Gaussian parameters of features in the OH spectra are presented, and their polarization parameters are estimated: the degree of circular polarization m _C , flux density in linear polarization p, and degree of linear polarization m _L . The magnetic field intensity B has been estimated from the Zeeman splitting of the OH lines and approximation of the Stokes parameter V from the derivative of Stokes parameter I. B varies from ≤0.5 to 1.4 mG for different sources. The association of OH masers with methanol emission has been analyzed; the magnetic fields of OH masers in interstellar condensations associated with Class I methanol masers can be determined more reliably than the fields in interstellar condensations with OH masers associated with Class II methanol emission, and have higher values. The sizes of the studied regions suggest they may be bound structures such as Bok globules, small IRDC clouds, or protoplanetary disks.     

Modeling nutrients profiles at the sediment–water interface. Calibration and validation from two climatically contrasted estuaries: Seine (France) and Somone (Senegal)

The dialysis porewater sampler, type Hesslein, allows sampling of sediment interstitial water according to a continuous gradient between sediment and the water column. Its equilibration time fluctuates according to the nature of sediment, so it has to be measured in each kind of sediment. The aim of this work is to develop a physical diffusion model in order to determine an equilibration time without using extensive field experiments. The model is validated by real nutrient concentration profiles obtained on two estuaries under different climates, moderate climate (estuary of the Seine) and tropical dry climate (estuary of Somone, Senegal). The results highlight that the equilibration of the dialysis porewater sampler is not homogeneous over the full sediment height investigated. Other sediment characteristics as compaction, rate of bioturbation or bacterial density must be taken into account in order to find a well-calculated value of the equilibration time.     

Optical extinction due to aerosols in the upper haze of Venus: Four years of SOIR/VEX observations from 2006 to 2010

The variability of the aerosol loading in the mesosphere of Venus is investigated from a large data set obtained with SOIR, a channel of the SPICAV instrument suite onboard Venus Express. Vertical profiles of the extinction due to light absorption by aerosols are retrieved from a spectral window around 3.0 μm recorded in many solar occultations (～200) from September 2006 to September 2010. For this period, the continuum of light absorption is analyzed in terms of spatial and temporal variations of the upper haze of Venus. It is shown that there is a high short-term (a few Earth days) and a long-term (～80 Earth days) variability of the extinction profiles within the data set. Latitudinal dependency of the aerosol loading is presented for the entire period considered and for shorter periods of time as well.     

Stream depletion in alluvial valleys using the SDF semianalytical model

A semianalytical method commonly used for quantifying stream depletion caused by ground water pumping was reviewed for applicability in narrow alluvial aquifers. This stream depletion factor (SDF) method is based on the analytic Glover model, but uses a numerical model-derived input parameter, called the SDF, to partly account for mathematically nonideal conditions such as variable transmissivity and nearby aquifer boundaries. Using the SDF can improve and simplify depletion estimates. However, the method's approximations introduce error that increases with proximity to the impermeable aquifer boundary. This article reviews the history of the method and its assumptions. New stream depletion response curves are presented as functions of well position within bounded aquifers. A simple modification to modeled SDF values is proposed that allows the impermeable boundary to be accounted for with image wells, but without overaccounting for boundary effects that are already reflected in modeled SDFs. It is shown that SDFs for locations closer to the river than to the aquifer boundary do not reflect impermeable-boundary effects, and thus need no modification, and boundary effects in the other portion of the aquifer follow a predictable removable pattern. This method is verified by comparing response curves using modified SDFs with response curves from an extensively calibrated numerical model of a managed ground water recharge site. The modification improves SDF-based stream depletion estimates in bounded aquifers while still benefiting from the additional information contained in SDF maps and retaining their value as standardized references for water rights administration.