Unique desert caves as a valuable geological resource: first detailed geological heritage assessment of the Sannur Cave,Egypt

Arabian Journal of Geosciences - Surface albedo is a key parameter in earth energy budget and global climate change studies. In this aspect, variation in vegetation covers is one of the most...     

Sand dune migration as a factor of geoheritage loss: Evidence from the Siwa Oasis (Egypt) and implications for geoheritage management

Anthropogenic damage of geoheritage is documented widely, but natural processes can also lead to geoheritage loss. For instance, sand dune migration causes submergence of unique geological and palaeontological sites in desert environments of the Sahara. The Siwa Oasis in the Western Desert of Egypt boasts rich geoheritage, which is represented in many localities. Three of them in the southern part of the oasis are outcrops of highly-fossiliferous limestones. Palaeontological, sedimentary, palaeogeographical, and geomorphological types of geoheritage are recognized there. Sand dune activity on the study area is registered both visually and with remote sensing techniques. Denudation and destruction of naturally-exposed rocks is documented. Evidence of outcrop submergence with sand is found in all cases. The localities are situated in the pathway of rapid (up to ?10 m/yr) dune migration. One locality may disappear within one–two years. Sand dune migration has to be considered as a factor of geoheritage loss in the Siwa Oasis, and the relevant protection of the studied localities is necessary. Geopark creation and improvement of water use in the oasis can also help significantly, as well as the reference to archaeological experience of excavation and protection of heritage sites submerged by sands. More generally, geoheritage conservation should be integrated with a program for sustainable oasis development.     

A scheme to set preferred magnitudes in the ISC Bulletin

One of the main purposes of the International Seismological Centre (ISC) is to collect, integrate and reprocess seismic bulletins provided by agencies around the world in order to produce the ISC Bulletin. This is regarded as the most comprehensive bulletin of the Earth’s seismicity, and its production is based on a unique cooperation in the seismological community that allows the ISC to complement the work of seismological agencies operating at global and/or local-regional scale. In addition, by using the seismic wave measurements provided by reporting agencies, the ISC computes, where possible, its own event locations and magnitudes such as short-period body wave m _b and surface wave M _S . Therefore, the ISC Bulletin contains the results of the reporting agencies as well as the ISC own solutions. Among the most used seismic event parameters listed in seismological bulletins, the event magnitude is of particular importance for characterizing a seismic event. The selection of a magnitude value (or multiple ones) for various research purposes or practical applications is not always a straightforward task for users of the ISC Bulletin and related products since a multitude of magnitude types is currently computed by seismological agencies (sometimes using different standards for the same magnitude type). Here, we describe a scheme that we intend to implement in routine ISC operations to mark the preferred magnitudes in order to help ISC users in the selection of events with magnitudes of their interest.     

Bottom water flows in the tropical fractures of the Northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge

The goal of this paper is to study the flows of Antarctic Bottom Water through the fracture zones in the northern part of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge based on the Conductivity-Temperature-Depth and Lowered Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler observations in 2014, 2015, and 2016. We measured the thermohaline properties and velocities and analyzed the flows of bottom water in the Strakhov, Bogdanov, nameless (07°28′N), Vernadsky, Doldrums, Arkhangelsky, Ten Degree, Vema, Marathon, Fifteen Twenty, and Kane fracture zones. These abyssal channels connect the deep basins of the East and West Atlantic. In addition to the known fact that the main portion of water propagates through the Vema Fracture Zone (11°N), we estimated that additionally a half of this volume propagates through the other fractures. Nevertheless, the pathway for the coldest water is located in the Vema Fracture Zone. Velocities of bottom currents in this fracture reach 45 cm/s. We found strong difference in the structure and transport through the Vema Fracture Zone based on four sections across the fracture occupied in 3 years from 2014 to 2016. The transport varies from 0.7 to 1.2 Sv. The core of maximum velocity in the main channel of this fracture changes its depth between 4000 m and the bottom at 4650 m. The total transport through the other fracture zones is as high as 0.48 ± 0.05 Sv.     

Preparation and Certification of Re-Os Dating Reference Materials: Molybdenites HLP and JDC

Two Re-Os dating reference material molybdenites were prepared. Molybdenite JDC and molybdenite HLP are from a carbonate vein-type molybdenum-(lead)-uranium deposit in the Jinduicheng-Huanglongpu area of Shaanxi province, China. The samples proved to be homogeneous, based on the coefficient of variation of analytical results and an analysis of variance test. The sampling weight was 0.1 g for JDC and 0.025 g for HLP. An isotope dilution method was used for the determination of Re and Os. Sample decomposition and pre-concentration of Re and Os prior to measurement were accomplished using a variety of methods: acid digestion, alkali fusion, ion exchange and solvent extraction. Negative thermal ionisation mass spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry were used for the determination of Re and ¹⁸⁷Os concentration and isotope ratios. The certified values include the contents of Re and Os and the model ages. For HLP, the Re content was 283.8 ± 6.2 μg g⁻¹, ¹⁸⁷Os was 659 ± 14 ng g⁻¹ and the Re-Os model age was 221.4 ± 5.6 Ma. For JDC, the Re content was 17.39 ± 0.32 μg g⁻¹, ¹⁸⁷Os was 25.46 ± 0.60 ng g⁻¹ and the Re-Os model age was 139.6 ± 3.8 Ma. Uncertainties for both certified reference materials are stated at the 95% level of confidence. Three laboratories (from three countries: PR. China, USA, Sweden) joined in the certification programme. These certified reference materials are primarily useful for Re-Os dating of molybdenite, sulfides, black shale, etc.     

Development and skill assessment of a real-time hydrologic-hydrodynamic-wave modeling system for Lake Champlain flood forecasting

Ocean Dynamics - In response to record-breaking flooding on Lake Champlain in 2011, the International Joint Commission launched a 5-year study to explore solutions to flooding in the binational...     

Input of organic carbon as determinant of nutrient fluxes,light climate and productivity in the Ob and Yenisey estuaries

Spectral light attenuation profiles and concentrations of total and dissolved carbon (C), nutrients and chlorophyll a (Chla) were studied along transects running from the river mouth to the Kara Sea during late summer 2003 for the Yenisey and fall 2005 for the Ob estuaries. Earth Observation data were used to generate composite images of water color and Chla distribution over the estuaries and the Kara Sea to reveal the spatial impact of the river efflux in terms of optical properties.     

Study of the filamentary infrared dark cloud G192.76+00.10 in the S254–S258 OB complex

We present results of a high resolution study of the filamentary infrared dark cloud G192.76+00.10 in the S254-S258 OB complex in several molecular species tracing different physical conditions. These include three isotopologues of carbon monoxide(CO), ammonia(NH3) and carbon monosulfide(CS). The aim of this work is to study the general structure and kinematics of the filamentary cloud, and its fragmentation and physical parameters. The gas temperature is derived from the NH3(J, K) =(1,1),(2, 2) and ~(12)CO(2-1) lines, and the ~(13)CO(1-0), ~(13)CO(2-1) emission is used to investigate the overall gas distribution and kinematics. Several dense clumps are identified from the CS(2-1)data. Values of the gas temperature lie in the range 10-35 K, and column density N(H2) reaches the value 5.1 x 10~(22) cm~(-2). The width of the filament is of order 1 pc. The masses of the dense clumps range from ～ 30 M_☉ to ～ 160 M_☉. They appear to be gravitationally unstable. The molecular emission shows a gas dynamical coherence along the filament. The velocity pattern may indicate longitudinal collapse.     

Eddy energy sources and mesoscale eddies in the Sea of Okhotsk

Based on eddy-permitting ocean circulation model outputs, the mesoscale variability is studied in the Sea of Okhotsk. We confirmed that the simulated circulation reproduces the main features of the general circulation in the Sea of Okhotsk. In particular, it reproduced a complex structure of the East-Sakhalin current and the pronounced seasonal variability of this current. We established that the maximum of mean kinetic energy was associated with the East-Sakhalin Current. In order to uncover causes and mechanisms of the mesoscale variability, we studied the budget of eddy kinetic energy (EKE) in the Sea of Okhotsk. Spatial distribution of the EKE showed that intensive mesoscale variability occurs along the western boundary of the Sea of Okhotsk, where the East-Sakhalin Current extends. We revealed a pronounced seasonal variability of EKE with its maximum intensity in winter and its minimum intensity in summer. Analysis of EKE sources and rates of energy conversion revealed a leading role of time-varying (turbulent) wind stress in the generation of mesoscale variability along the western boundary of the Sea of Okhotsk in winter and spring. We established that a contribution of baroclinic instability predominates over that of barotropic instability in the generation of mesoscale variability along the western boundary of the Sea of Okhotsk. To demonstrate the mechanism of baroclinic instability, the simulated circulation was considered along the western boundary of the Sea of Okhotsk from January to April 2005. In April, the mesoscale anticyclonic eddies are observed along the western boundary of the Sea of Okhotsk. The role of the sea ice cover in the intensification of the mesoscale variability in the Sea of Okhotsk was discussed.     

Mesoscale eddies and baroclinic instability over the eastern Sakhalin shelf of the Sea of Okhotsk: a model-based analysis

Based on an eddy-permitting numerical model, the mesoscale variability in the East-Sakhalin Current is investigated during the winter-spring period. Analysis of necessary conditions for the development of baroclinic instability showed that the nearshore component of the East-Sakhalin Current is potentially baroclinic unstable in the first half-year. The simulated circulation uncovered a generation of anticyclonic eddies on the eastern Sakhalin shelf. It was established that a spatial scale of these eddies and the first baroclinic Rossby radius of deformation are values of the same order; a lifetime of these eddies varies from 4 to 6 weeks, given the Rossby number varies from 0.05 to 0.2. Analysis of the rate of eddy energy conversion on the eastern Sakhalin shelf showed that the generation of the revealed mesoscale eddies results from, mainly, baroclinic instability, whereas barotropic instability can be both favoring and preventing to the generation of these eddies.