Capelinhos: The disappearing volcano

The 1957–58 eruption of Capelinhos, on Faial, in the Azores, built a new volcano at the west end of the island. Erosion by the sea has subsequently destroyed over two-thirds of this structure and will probably continue to remove much of the rest of the volcano over the next few decades.     

Oil-weathering behavior in Arctic environments

Oil-weathering processes in ice-free subarctic and Arctic waters include spreading, evaporation, dissolution, dispersion of whole-oil droplets into the water column, photochemical oxidation, water-in-oil emulsification, microbial degradation, adsorption onto suspended particulate material, ingestion by organisms, sinking, and sedimentation. While many of these processes also are important factors in ice-covered waters, the various forms of sea ice (depending on the active state of ice growth, extent of coverage and/or decay) impart drastic, if not controlling, changes to the rates and relative importance of different oil-weathering mechanisms. Flow-through seawater wave-tank experiments in a cold room at −35°C and studies in the Chukchi Sea in late winter provide data on oil fate and effects for a variety of potential oil spill scenarios in the Arctic. Time-series chemical weathering data are presented for Prudhoe Bay crude oil released under and encapsulated in growing first-year columnar ice through spring breakup.     

Preservation of planar laminae due to migration of low-relief bed waves over aggrading upper-stage plane beds: comparison of experimental data with theory

Experimental studies of the formation of planar laminae by migration of low-relief bed waves over aggrading upper-stage plane beds show that the average thickness of laminae at a point increases with both aggradation rate and the variance of the heights of bed waves passing that point. In general, the preserved laminae represent only a small proportion (generally less than 50%) of the height of the largest bed waves in the population. The theory developed by Paola & Borgman (1991), relating the probability density function of stratal thickness to that of bed wave height for the case of no net aggradation, was adapted for aggrading conditions and shown to agree well with data. These results suggest that the theory can be used to estimate, from the distribution of thickness of planar laminae, either the distribution of bed wave heights, mean aggradation rate, mean bed wave length or mean bed wave celerity, provided the other parameters can be estimated.     

Developing a modern pollen–climate calibration data set for Norway

Bjune, A. E., Birks, H. J. B., Peglar, S. M. & Odland, A. 2010: Developing a modern pollen–climate calibration data set for Norway. Boreas, Vol. 39, pp. 674–688. 10.1111/j.1502‐3885.2010.00158.x. ISSN 0300‐9483. Modern pollen–climate data sets consisting of modern pollen assemblages and modern climate data (mean July temperature and mean annual precipitation) have been developed for Norway based on 191 lakes and 321 lakes. The original 191‐lake data set was designed to optimize the distribution of the lakes sampled along the mean July temperature gradient, thereby fulfilling one of the most critical assumptions of weighted‐averaging regression and calibration and its relative, weighted‐averaging partial least‐squares regression. A further 130 surface samples of comparable taphonomy, taxonomic detail and analyst became available as a result of other projects. These 130 samples, all from new lakes, were added to the 191‐lake data set to create the 321‐lake data set. The collection and construction of these data sets are outlined. Numerical analyses involving generalized linear modelling, constrained ordination techniques, weighted‐averaging partial least‐squares regression, and two different cross‐validation procedures are used to asses the effects of increasing the size of the calibration data set from 191 to 321 lakes. The two data sets are used to reconstruct mean July temperature and mean annual precipitation for a Holocene site in northwest Norway and a Lateglacial site in west‐central Norway. Overall, little is to be gained by increasing the modern data set beyond about 200 lakes in terms of modern model performance statistics, but the down‐core reconstructions show less between‐sample variability and are thus potentially more plausible and realistic when based on the 321‐lake data set.     

Maximum extent of the Eurasian ice sheets in the Barents and Kara Sea region during the Weichselian

Based on field investigations in northern Russia and interpretation of offshore seismic data, we have made a preliminary reconstruction of the maximum ice-sheet extent in the Barents and Kara Sea region during the Early/Middle Weichselian and the Late Weichselian. Our investigations indicate that the Barents and Kara ice sheets attained their maximum Weichselian positions in northern Russia prior to 50 000 yr BP, whereas the northeastern flank of the Scandinavian Ice Sheet advanced to a maximum position shortly after 17 000 calendar years ago. During the Late Weichselian (25 000-10 000 yr BP), much of the Russian Arctic remained ice-free. According to our reconstruction, the extent of the ice sheets in the Barents and Kara Sea region during the Late Weichselian glacial maximum was less than half that of the maximum model which, up to now, has been widely used as a boundary condition for testing and refining General Circulation Models (GCMs). Preliminary numerical-modelling experiments predict Late Weichselian ice sheets which are larger than the ice extent implied for the Kara Sea region from dated geological evidence, suggesting very low precipitation.     

The 1996 Eruption of Karymsky Volcano, Kamchatka: Historical Record of Basaltic Replenishment of an Andesite Reservoir

The simultaneous eruption in 1996 of andesite from Karymskyvolcano and of basalt from the Academy Nauk vent 6 km away appearsto provide a case of mafic recharge of an andesite reservoirfor which the time of recharge is exactly known and direct samplesof the recharging magma are available. The explosive phreato-magmaticeruption of basalt was terminated in less than 24 h, whereasandesite erupted continuously during the following 4 years.Detailed petrological study of volcanic ash, bombs and lavasof Karymsky andesite erupted during the period 1996–1999provides evidence for basaltic replenishment at the beginningof the eruptive cycle, as well as a record of compositionalvariations within the Karymsky magma reservoir induced by basalticrecharge. Shortly after the beginning of the eruption the compositionof the matrix glass of the Karymsky tephra became more maficand then, within 2 months, gradually returned to its originalstate and remained almost constant for the following 3 years.Further evidence for basaltic replenishment is provided by thepresence of xenocrysts of basaltic origin in the andesite ofKarymsky. A conspicuous portion of the plagioclase phenocrystsin the Karymsky andesite has calcic cores, with compositionsand textures resembling those of plagioclases in the AcademyNauk basalt. Similarly, the earlier portion of the andesiteof the eruption sequence contains rare olivines, which occuras resorbed cores in pyroxenes. The composition of the olivinematches that of olivines in the Academy Nauk basalt. The sequenceof events appears to be: (1) injection of basaltic magma intothe Karymsky chamber with immediate, compensating expulsionof pre-existing chamber magma from the Karymsky central vent;(2) direct mixing of basaltic and andesitic magmas with dispersalof phenocrysts associated with the basalt throughout the andesiteso that newly mixed magma appeared at the vent within 2 months;(3) re-establishment of thermal and chemical equilibrium withinthe reservoir involving crystallization in the new hybrid liquid,which returned the melt composition to ‘normal’,formed rims on inherited calcic plagioclase, and caused theresorption of dispersed olivine xenocrysts. Taken together,these findings indicate that the Karymsky magma reservoir wasrecharged by basalt at the onset of the 1996 eruptive cycle.The rapidity and thoroughness of mixing of the basalt with thepre-existing andesite probably reflects the modest contrastin temperature, viscosity, and density between the two magmas. KEY WORDS: Karymsky; Kamchatka; magma mixing; andesite; volcanic glass; plagioclase     

A New Interpretation of Centimetre-scale Variations in the Progress of Infiltration-driven Metamorphic Reactions: Case Study of Carbonated Metaperidotite, Val d'Efra, Central Alps, Switzerland

Progress () of the infiltration-driven reaction, 4olivine +5CO₂ + H₂O = talc + 5magnesite, that occurred during Barrovianregional metamorphism, varies at the cm-scale by a factor of3·5 within an 3 m³ volume of rock. Mineral and stableisotope compositions record that X_CO2, ¹⁸O_fluid, and ¹³C_fluidwere uniform within error of measurement in the same rock volume.The conventional interpretation of small-scale variations in in terms of channelized fluid flow cannot explain the uniformityin fluid composition. Small-scale variations in resulted insteadbecause (a) reactant olivine was a solid solution, (b) initiallythere were small-scale variations in the amount and compositionof olivine, and (c) fluid composition was completely homogenizedover the same scale by diffusion–dispersion during infiltrationand subsequent reaction. Assuming isochemical reaction, spatialvariations in image variations in the (Mg + Fe)/Si of the parentrock rather than the geometry of metamorphic fluid flow. Ifinfiltration-driven reactions involve minerals fixed in composition,on the other hand, spatial variations in do directly imagefluid flow paths. The geometry of fluid flow can never be determinedfrom geochemical tracers over a distance smaller than the oneover which fluid composition is completely homogenized by diffusion–dispersion. KEY WORDS: Alpine Barrovian metamorphism; diffusion; metamorphic fluid composition; metamorphic fluid flow; reaction progress     

Generation of Porphyritic and Equigranular Mafic Enclaves During Magma Recharge Events at Unzen Volcano, Japan

Mafic to intermediate enclaves are evenly distributed throughoutthe dacitic 1991–1995 lava sequence of Unzen volcano,Japan, representing hundreds of mafic recharge events over thelife of the volcano. This study documents the morphological,textural, chemical, and petrological characteristics of theenclaves and coexisting silicic host lavas. The eruptive productsdescribed in this study appear to be general products of magmamingling, as the same textural types are seen at many othervolcanoes. Two types of magmatic enclaves, referred to as Porphyriticand Equigranular, are easily distinguished texturally. Porphyriticenclaves display a wide range in composition from basalt toandesite, are glass-rich, spherical and porphyritic, and containlarge, resorbed, plagioclase phenocrysts in a matrix of acicularcrystals and glass. Equigranular enclaves are andesitic, non-porphyritic,and consist of tabular, medium-grained microphenocrysts in amatrix glass that is in equilibrium with the host dacite magma.Porphyritic enclaves are produced when intruding basaltic magmaengulfs melt and phenocrysts of resident silicic magma at theirmutual interface. Equigranular enclaves are a product of a moreprolonged mixing and gradual crystallization at a slower coolingrate within the interior of the mafic intrusion. KEY WORDS: mafic enclaves; quenched mafic inclusions; magma mingling; Unzen volcano; Unzen Scientific Drilling Project; resorbed plagioclase     

前陆冲断带复杂构造解析与建模——以准噶尔盆地南缘第一排背斜带为例

构造解析应从构造的变形机制、变形过程、变形量和变形时间四个方面入手,合理的构造解释方案是构造解析的基础,论文将等倾角区划分和轴面分析等几何学方法应用到地震解释中,从以上4个方面对准噶尔盆地南缘第一排背斜带做了系统的构造解析。地层结构揭示第一排背斜带深部发育楔状构造,楔状构造由5个古生界—中生界组成的断层转折褶皱叠加而成,是潜在的勘探目标群。在构造楔沿侏罗系西山窑组煤层向北扩展过程中,台阶状逆断层的大部分位移量沿构造楔顶部的反冲断层向南消减,另一部分位移量则沿西山窑组煤层向北传递至第二排背斜带,在总位移量保持稳定的前提下,第一排背斜带和第二排背斜带在走向上的此消彼长,反映位移量在南、北两个方向上的转换。     

Plio-Pleistocene sedimentation in coastal grabens,north-east Rhodes,Greece

The stratigraphy of marine Plio-Pleistocene sediments from northeast Rhodes (Dodecanese islands, Greece) is revised in the light of facies mapping and the recognition of three major transgression–regression cycles. Before late Pliocene submergence, metamorphosed Mesozoic limestones formed a high-relief karstic landscape. During subsequent transgressions, subsiding basins with spectacular cliffed and bioeroded margins were infilled by a mosaic of carbonate-dominated sediments, sourced by high rates of carbonate productivity on narrow shelves rimming the basins and their drowning islands. Periods of relative sea-level fall superimposed a complex series of ‘fossil’ coastal geomorphological features such as cliffs, abrasion platforms, surf caves, notches, boulder beaches and palaeokarsts. These created the rugged present day topography of the island's northeast coast. Three main lithostratigraphic units, the Kritika, Rhodes and Lindos Acropolis Formations, are defined. The Rhodes and Lindos Acropolis Formations are subdivided into mappable facies groups rather than members, as the lithofacies are strongly diachronous. The Kritika and Rhodes Formations were each subaerially exposed and partly eroded before re-transgression. Although there is a general pattern of lithological succession, details vary across the study area and some facies groups are restricted in development, indicating differences in tectonic behaviour and palaeo-geomorphology between neighbouring basins. A preliminary process-response model is presented for the sedimentation history of the Rhodes and Lindos Acropolis Formations, using sedimentological, palaeontological, palaeoecological and ichnological data.