Use of an expert system to map forest soils from a geographical information system

Abstract

Mapping forest soils using conventional methods is time consuming and expensive. An expert system is described and applied to the mapping of five forest soil-landscape units formed on a single granitoid parent material. Three thematic maps were considered important in influencing the distribution of soils. The first showed the distribution of nine classes of native eucalypt forests, and the second and third were derived from a digital elevation model and represented slope gradient and a soil wetness index combined with topographical position. These layers were input to a raster based geographical information system (GIS) and then geometrically co-registered to a regular 30 m grid. From a knowledge of soil distributions, the relationships between the soil-landscape units and the three data layers were quantified by an experienced soil scientist and used as rules in a rule based expert system. The thematic layers accessed from the GIS provided data for the expert system to infer the forest soil-landscape unit most likely to occur at any given pixel. The soil-landscape map output by the expert system compared favourably with a conventional soil-landscape map generated using interpretation of aerial photographs.     

H2O Abundance in Depleted to Moderately Enriched Mid-ocean Ridge Magmas; Part I: Incompatible Behaviour, Implications for Mantle Storage, and Origin of Regional Variations

The H₂O contents and trace-element abundances are presentedfor two well-studied suites of mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB)glasses from the Northern East Pacific Rise (EPR, 9–11°N)and the South East Indian Ridge (SEIR, 127–129°E).Exactly the same region of the glass samples has been analysedfor these components using microbeam techniques. Our data allowexamination of the fine details of H₂O geochemical behaviourduring MORB genesis. We demonstrate that relative H₂O contents[i.e. H₂O/(another incompatible element)] vary systematicallywith increasing (La/Sm)_N in MORB glasses from both the EPR andSEIR. This indicates that H₂O behaves like other incompatible(in peridotite mineralogies) elements during MORB petrogenesis,and is primarily controlled by solid–melt partitioning.However, the relative H₂O contents of MORB glasses from theSEIR are higher than in glasses from the EPR at a given (La/Sm)_N,demonstrating global variations in the H₂O contents of MORB.Despite regional differences in relative H₂O contents, the incompatiblebehaviour of H₂O is similar in both studied regions. The relativeincompatibility of H₂O varies systematically with increasing(La/Sm)_N: in depleted MORB, H₂O is similar to La whereas inEMORB, H₂O is similar to Ce. Similar patterns of varying relativeincompatibility (to REE) are displayed by Zr, Hf, and P. Ourdata are best explained if H₂O is stored in the mantle in thesame phase with LREE (clinopyroxene?) at sub-solidus. Regionalvariations in relative H₂O contents in EMORB that have moreradiogenic Sr, Nd and Pb isotopes might be explained by differencesin the nature of enriched components recycled via subductionprocesses. However, when EMORB have the same radiogenic isotopecompositions as NMORB within a segment, relative H₂O contentsin EMORB probably reflect local processes that lead to enrichmentin incompatible elements. Regional differences in relative H₂Ocontents of NMORB may reflect either initial variations in theEarth’s mantle or inhomogeneities left after formationof the continental crust. KEY WORDS: glass; geochemistry; H₂O; MORB; petrology     

Historical Constraints on Slope Movement Age: a Case Study at Broadway, United Kingdom

The Broadway area of the Cotswolds has been extensively investigated in an attempt to delineate areas of slope instability, including'relict'landslides, which may have been initiated under periglacial climatic conditions. It is, therefore, useful both in terms of the geomorphology and of the understanding of the evolution of the area, to investigate the rates and timing of any reactivation and subsequent movements of landslides in this area. The remains of ridge and furrow cultivation can be seen extensively throughout the Cotswolds. This particular agricultural practice, which documentary evidence suggests dates back to Anglo-Saxon times (approximately 10th century AD), has been disturbed in many places by slope movements. A detailed study of Parish Records and other local his-torical sources has revealed that ridge and furrow cultivation ceased on Parliamentary Enclosure, which in this area, occurred in 1771. Therefore, it is possible to identify patterms of slope movement between these dates. Landslides have been identified by ground mapping and aerial photography, and can be divided into three categories. Firstly, active landslides which are those which have shown evidence of movement during the study period. Secondly, suspended landslides, which show evidence of movement, but have not been observed to move during the study period. In this context, this has been taken to mean landslides, which have shown evidence of movement since 1771. Thirdly, relict landslides which have shown no evidence of movement since 1771 and thus were probably active under a different climatic regime. By incorporating historical data with the geomorphological survey it has been possible to identify areas of potentially difficult ground for engineering geomorphological purposes.     

MOUNTAIN GEOGRAPHY

ABSTRACT. Although mountains have been studied for centuries, they are the subject of only a slender body of formal literature. Instead, those who study high places in specific regions construct working definitions and continually recraft bibliographies. Studies of mountains often focus on comparatively limited themes: physical processes, ecology, or sacred spaces, for example. As scholars become interested in environmental degradation and the development of mountains, there is all the more need to develop a mountain geography literature that expands the study of mountains to include the political, economic, cultural, and social dimensions of their environments and peoples. Three areas‐cultural geography, political ecology, and conservation theory‐are suggested for additional research.     

P-T Conditions and the Influence of Graphite on Pelitic Phase Relations in the Ballachulish Aureole, Scotland

Pressure-temperature conditions of pelites in the Ballachulishaureole, Scotland, have been determined from a calibrated petrogeneticgrid and from published geothermometers and geobarometers. Tocalibrate the mineral reactions in the grid, thermodynamic datafor appropriate end members of Ms, Chi, Qtz, And, Sil, Ky, Crn,Crd, Kfs, and Bt were derived from experimental data. This approachwas hampered by the unknown compositions of many of the mineralsused in the experiments, and by apparent inconsistency betweenthe experiments. A best compromise grid that satisfies mostof the data was obtained, which is applicable to the Ballachulishand other contact aureoles. In this grid, the first developmentof sillimanite is constrained to lie between the Richardsonet al. (1969) and Holdaway (1971) andalusite-sillimanite boundaries. A pressure estimate of 3.0 + 0.5 kb is obtained from the calibratedgrid, within 0.3 kb of estimates from geobarometry and fromtwo other independent petrological studies. Temperatures rangedfrom 560?20?C at the first development of cordierite in theassemblage Ms+Qtz+Chl+Crd+Bt to 750–800?C in Grt+Crd+Hyassemblages in pelitic screens within the igneous complex. In graphitic slates, in contrast to non-graphitic pelites, anentire andalusite-bearing subzone is developed, and initialcordierite development occurs further from the igneous contacts.The presence of graphite lowered a_H2o in the slaters, expandingthe stability field of the andalusite-bearing assemblage And+Qtz+Bt+Ms+Crdrelative to the assemblage Kfs+Qtz+Bt+Ms+Crd developed in non-graphiticunits. Initial development of cordierite in the assemblage Ms+Qtz+Chl+Crd+Btwas also promoted by reduced a_H2o in graphitic slates. The regular sequence and spacing of mineral zones in the aureolesuggests that gross equilibrium was attained during contactmetamorphism, even though the thermal metamorphic pulse is estimatedto have been less than 0.2 Ma (Buntebarth, in press). Thereis no evidence for reaction overstepping in cordierite-producingreactions.     

Geochemical diagenetic trends during phosphorite formation – economic implications: The case of the Negev Campanian phosphorites,Southern Israel

Research on the Upper Campanian (Upper Cretaceous) Negev phosphorites (Mishash Formation), based on microprobe analyses, Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy, wet chemistry, microtextural (Scanning Electron Microscopy) studies and mineralogical analyses, together with quantified rates of sedimentation and P accumulation, enables the chemistry of these rocks to be better constrained across the Negev area and allows their suitability for the manufacture of P fertilizers to be better determined. Two phosphorite facies are differentiated: (i) a pristine phosphorite facies of low P content, more typical of basinal sections and (ii) a reworked, granular phosphorite facies commonly enriched in P, found predominantly near palaeo‐highs and forming most of the economic phosphates. The distribution of F/P₂O₅, CO₂/F, U(IV), Cd, Zn and other trace metals (Mo, Ni, Cr, Cu, V and Y), rare‐earth elements concentration, Ce and Eu anomalies and heavy rare earth elements enrichment, are controlled by these two facies. F/P₂O₅ in carbonate‐fluorapatite is much lower (0·090 to 0·107) in the pristine than in the reworked facies (0·107 to 0·120); in addition, the lower F/P₂O₅ in the pristine facies is coupled with: (i) higher Cd, Zn, Mo, Ni, Cr, Cu and V concentrations; (ii) a considerably reduced (< 10%) U(IV) fraction of total U; (iii) lower rare earth elements/P₂O₅ and Y/P₂O₅ ratios; (iv) less negative Ce and Eu anomalies and lower heavy rare earth elements (Lu/La) enrichment; (v) an increase in Fe‐rich smectites in the clay fraction; and (vi) presence of OH in the carbonate‐fluorapatite structure. Sedimentary reworking of previously formed pristine phosphate, together with its redeposition near structural highs in more oxic bottom conditions, results in considerable diagenetic changes in the chemistry of the phosphorites, making them more suitable for economic exploitation. The results presented here provide geochemical criteria for identifying pristine phosphate in other phosphorite sequences and may help to better locate phosphate strata chemically suitable for the phosphate industry elsewhere.     

Diagenetic formation of gypsum and dolomite in a cold‐water coral mound in the Porcupine Seabight,off Ireland

Authigenic gypsum was found in a gravity core, retrieved from the top of Mound Perseverance, a giant cold‐water coral mound in the Porcupine Basin, off Ireland. The occurrence of gypsum in such an environment is intriguing, because gypsum, a classic evaporitic mineral, is undersaturated with respect to sea water. Sedimentological, petrographic and isotopic evidence point to diagenetic formation of the gypsum, tied to oxidation of sedimentary sulphide minerals (i.e. pyrite). This oxidation is attributed to a phase of increased bottom currents which caused erosion and enhanced inflow of oxidizing fluids into the mound sediments. The oxidation of pyrite produced acidity, causing carbonate dissolution and subsequently leading to pore‐water oversaturation with respect to gypsum and dolomite. Calculations based on the isotopic compositions of gypsum and pyrite reveal that between 21·6% and 28·6% of the sulphate incorporated into the gypsum derived from pyrite oxidation. The dissolution of carbonate increased the porosity in the affected sediment layer but promoted lithification of the sediments at the sediment‐water interface. Thus, authigenic gypsum can serve as a signature for diagenetic oxidation events in carbonate‐rich sediments. These observations demonstrate that fluid flow, steered by environmental factors, has an important effect on the diagenesis of coral mounds.