Deep structure of the Racha earthquake source zone from seismic tomography data

The Racha earthquake of 1991 was the strongest of the earthquakes recorded in the Caucasus. It was studied by an international epicentral expedition. Unique data gathered by this expedition included records of aftershocks whose swarm was very intense. A 3-D velocity model is obtained from analysis of these data by the method of local earthquake tomography. The ancient crystalline basement and the sedimentary-volcanic Mesozoic-Cenozoic cover could be identified from cross sections of the P wave field. The eastern and western boundaries of an uplift in the basement of the Dzirulskii Massif are delineated. Linear low velocity heterogeneities correlating with the active Kakheti-Lechkhumi fault zone and two Trans-Caucasian linear fault zones are discovered in the basement. The cloud of aftershock hypocenters is shown to correlate with a reflector coinciding with the cover-basement interface.     

Stable carbon isotope ratios in lake and swamp sediments as a proxy for prehistoric forest clearance and crop cultivation in the Neotropics

Close correspondence between stable carbon isotope ratios ( ¹³ C), pollen, and charcoal profiles in sediment cores from Laguna Zoncho and Machita swamp, Costa Rica, shows that prehistoric forest clearance and crop cultivation can be detected in the stable carbon isotope ratios of total organic carbon ( ¹3C _TOC ). Analyses of δ 13C _TOC complement evidence from pollen, charcoal, and phytoliths and provide a proxy that is sensitive to the intensity and/or proximity to core sites of prehistoric forest clearance and agriculture in watersheds. Stable carbon isotope analyses are particularly useful in situations in which other evidence of forest clearance and agriculture is limited.     

Specific features of early-middle carboniferous sedimentation in the southern part of the east european platform

The work discusses peculiarities of sedimentation during the onset and middle phase of the postrift subsidence in the southern part of the East European Platform corresponding to the Early and Middle Carboniferous epochs, which were marked by an accumulation of the most contrasting (in lithology and formation setting) sediments: coals and radiolaria-bearing domanikoid rocks. These are the early-middle Visean (Early Carboniferous) and late Bashkirian-early Moscovian (Middle Carboniferous) epochs. It should be noted that precisely these epochs were marked by a substantial renewal in faunal and floral communities, which also resulted from the new phase of the postrift subsidence. Radiolaria-bearing domanikoid facies were formed in the marine basin with normal salinity. The reconstruction of sedimentation settings indicates that shallow-water sediments (algal limestones) of the inner shelf were separated from deep-sea domanikoid facies of the outer shelf and, probably, continental slope by a chain of bioherms with an apron of organogenic-detrital limestones or spiculebearing facies.     

Microseismicity within a karstified rock mass due to cracks and collapses as a tool for risk management

Seismometer arrays have been widely applied to record collapse by controlled explosion in mines and caves. However, most underground failures are natural events, and because they can occur abruptly, underground failures represent a serious geological hazard. An accelerometric array installed on 4 September 2008 has been used to manage the geological risk of the Peschiera Springs drainage plant of Rome??s aqueduct, which is located in the Central Apennines approximately 80?km from Rome, Italy. The plant occupies a karstified carbonatic slope that is extensively involved in gravitational deformations, which are responsible for underground failures such as cracks and collapses. To distinguish among different types of recorded events, an automated procedure was implemented based on the duration, peak of ground acceleration (PGA) and PGA variation in the recordings of the plant??s accelerometric stations. The frequencies of earthquakes and micro-earthquakes due to underground failures are, in general, well correlated. Nevertheless, many underground failure sequences can be directly associated with the continuous deformations that affect the slope. The cumulative Arias intensity trend derived for the underground failures combined with the failure and earthquake frequencies enabled the definition of a control index (CI) that identifies alarming or emergency conditions. The CI can be used as a tool for managing the geological risk associated with the deformational processes that affect the drainage plant.     

European Phanerozoic metallogenesis

Phanerozoic metallogenesis in Europe displays divergent characteristics which may be related to the variable nature of the three great European Phanerozoic orogens: Caledonian, Variscan and Alpine. These reflect different geodynamic processes. The Caledonian orogen resulted from the interaction of essentially oceanic with continental lithosphere, whilst the Variscan and Alpine orogens evolved mainly from continent-continent collisions with the involvement of a series of smaller oceanic basins. Each major stage of the orogenic processes is characterised by a typical metallogeny. The occurrence of subduction-related processes in the Caledonian orogeny gave rise to extensive VHMS deposition with characteristic Zn:Cu ratio signatures. The relative lack of abundance of metal-rich, Andean-type porphyry-type mineralisation remains unexplained, unless present erosional levels have prevented the preservation of such deposits. Continent-continent collisions do not appear to result in extensive mineralisation unless elevated heat flows result, possibly as a result of lithospheric delamination at the peak collisional stage. The development of late stage and peri-orogenic sedimentary basins are characterised by extensive Pb-Zn-Ba-F mineralisation as expressions of basinal fluid flow of regional dimensions.     

Phytoplankton of the Barents Sea at the Polar Front in Spring

Oceanology - This paper describes the comprehensive studies of phytoplankton carried out in April 2018 in the northwestern Barents Sea, in the Polar Front region (74.8°–76.2° N), at...     

Baja California 边缘PC14 岩芯海水表层温度及生产力变化的百年尺度记录

加利福尼亚流是北太平洋环流的重要组成部分,它的变化对全球气候及碳循环有重要影响.对位于东北太平洋低纬区BajaCalifornia外海的PC14柱状样进行了有机地球化学分析,重建了过去14ka来这一地区百年尺度的海水表面温度及生产力变化,发现其存在明显的B/A(Bling-Aller)和YD(Younger Drays)事件,但B/A和YD事件温度变化幅度小于中纬度地区.与中纬度加利福尼亚流系早中全新世温度降低不同,PC14全新世温度无明显变化趋势.这些结果表明了东太平洋低纬地区对高纬地区的气候响应以及沿岸上升流和ENSO现象对加利福尼亚流系中纬和低纬地区的影响不同.从冰消期到全新世,PC14生产力呈现阶段上升趋势,指示了由E1 Nino气候向La Nifia气候的转化以及沿岸上升流加强的总体趋势.在全新世中后期(6.5-3.8ka)生产力的降低,则可能是受ENSO加强的影响.在B/A暖期,PC14生产力增加不多,但氧最小层强度增加,这表明生产力变化不是东太平洋边缘海的氧最小层强化的控制因素.     

Investigation of a eutrophic tidal basin: part 1—factors affecting the distribution and biomass of macroalgae

The distribution and biomass of macroalgae, principally Enteromorpha spp., have been estimated in Langstone Harbour, a 19 km² tidal basin in southenrn England. Comprehensive mapping was carried out annually at the time of maximum biomass and monthly mapping of selected areas allowed seasonal changes to be studied. Aerial false-colour photography and ground-level mapping were used for assessing the area and density of cover of macroalgae, but have identified no continuous trends between 1973 and 1982. In nine years, some 48% of the intertidal mudflat has supported >75% macroalgal cover at some stage, but generally only one-third of this potential has been achieved annually. The average peak biomass was determined by a stratified sampling method and varied about a mean of 38.5 g dry weight per square metre and showed significant annual differences. The processes controlling macroalgal growth and distribution reviewed, but, in general, factors other than nutrient availability are effective in determining areas supporting high macroalgal cover in any particular year.