Sequence stratigraphy of Holocene incised-valley fills and coastal evolution in the Gulf of Cádiz (southern Spain)

This first sedimentary interpretation of two incised-valley fills in the Gulf of Cádiz (southern Spain), which accumulated during the last fourth-order eustatic cycle in response to fluvial incision, changes of sea level, and correlative deposition, relates the filling of the estuarine basins and their barriers with four regional progradation phases, H₁ to H₄. The cases studied are the wave-dominated Guadalete, and the mixed, tide and wave-dominated Odiel-Tinto estuaries. The sequence boundary is a type-1 surface produced during the lowstand of the Last Glacial period ca. 18 000 ¹⁴C yr BP. No fluvial lowstand deposits were found in the area. Due to rapid transgression the valley fills consist of transgressive and highstand sediments. The maximum landward advance of the estuarine barriers occurred ca. 6500–6000 ¹⁴C yr BP during the maximum of the Flandrian transgression, but there is no evidence of sea level rising appreciably above the present. A large part of the estuaries was filled during H₁ (ca. 6500–4400 ¹⁴C yr BP) but ravinement by shifting tidal inlets destroyed most of the coeval barriers. During the H₂ phase (ca. 4200–2550 ¹⁴C yr BP) sedimentation was favoured by arid conditions and concentrated in the axial estuarine zones and the barriers. Between H₂ and H₃ prevailing winds changed from W to WSW, increasing spit growth to the east and south-east. Progradation of bay-head deltas and flood-plains during H₃ (ca. 2300–800 ¹⁴C yr BP) and H₄ (500 yr ago to the present) further reduced the accommodation space in the largely-filled valleys, and sediment by-passed the estuaries and accumulated in the estuarine barriers as fast-growing spits. Arid conditions and increasing human activity have caused rapid coastal modifications.     

A model that helps explain Sr-isotope disequilibrium between feldspar phenocrysts and melt in large-volume silicic magma systems

Feldspar phenocrysts of silicic volcanic rocks are commonly in Sr-isotopic disequilibrium with groundmass. In some cases the feldspar is more radiogenic, and in others it is less radiogenic. Several explanations have been published previously, but none of these is able to accommodate both senses of disequilibrium. We present a model by which either more- or less-radiogenic feldspar (or even both within a single eruptive unit) can originate. The model requires a magma body open to interaction with biotite- and feldspar-bearing wall rock. Magma is incrementally contaminated as wall rock melts incongruently. Biotite preferentially melts first, followed by feldspar. Such melting behavior, which is supported by both field and experimental studies, first contaminates magma with a relatively radiogenic addition, followed by a less-radiogenic addition. Feldspar phenocrysts lag behind melt (groundmass of volcanic rock) in incorporating the influx of contaminant, thus resulting in Sr-isotopic disequilibrium between the crystals and melt. The sense of disequilibrium recorded in a volcanic rock depends on when eruption quenches the contamination process. This model is testable by isotopic fingerprinting of individual feldspar crystals. For a given set of geologic boundary conditions, specific core-to-rim Sr-isotopic profiles are expectable. Moreover, phenocrysts that nucleate at different times during the contamination process should record different and predictable parts of the history. Initial results of Sr-isotopic fingerprinting of sanidine phenocrysts from the Taylor Creek Rhyolite are consistent with the model. More tests of the model are desirable.     

CFG桩垫层效应研究

利用载荷试验研究了CFG桩桩顶的中粗砂、砾砂、碎石褥垫层的桩土应力比.对褥垫层性质及厚度进行了讨论.并建议CFG桩的桩顶褥垫层采用10～20cm厚,碎石层为宜.     

Relationship between waterfowl and the seagrassRuppia maritima in a Southwestern Atlantic coastal lagoon

We evaluated the distribution of waterfowl in relation to a seagrass (Ruppia maritima) patch, to infauna, and on its relationship with substrate characteristics. An experiment performed in the Mar Chiquita coastal lagoon (37°46′S, 57°27′W; Argentina) was used to evaluate the effect of herbivory on widgeon grass,R. maritima. Control plots of equal size, located between bird exclosures, were exposed to herbivory. The experiment ran for 31 d, starting on December 1, 1994. Censuses showed that black-necked swan ( $\bar x = 50$ birds ha^?1, SD = 37, n = 10) and coots ( $\bar x = 42$ birds ha^?1, SD = 28, n = 10) were the most important (always present) of the waterfowl seen feeding onR. maritima. The results of the experiment showed greater leaf lengths, lower belowground (rhizomes and roots) biomass, greater aboveground (leaves and shoots) biomass, and greater abundance of the polychaeteHeteromastus similis in exclosure plots. There were no exclosure effects on total biomass (belowground plus aboveground), reproductive parts (fruits and pre- and postpollination flowers), or abundance of most benthic infauna. Topographic surveys showed that sediment surface was higher within theR. maritima patches, but there were no significant differences in granulometric composition. Surveys also showed that bird distribution was strongly associated with the presence ofR. maritima.     

Dust Plasma Interactions at Jupiter

This is a review of recent in situ and remote sensing observations, and theoretical advances of our understanding dust plasma interactions in Jupiter's magnetosphere. Dust grains exposed to plasmas and UV radiation collect electrostatic charges and their dynamics can be altered due to electric and magnetic fields. Hence, magnetospheric effects can shape the size and spatial distributions of micron sized and smaller dust grains. The ring/halo region, the dust streams and the captured ring at Jupiter are recent examples where dust plasma interaction effects can best explain the observations. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

PKS2250-41 and the Role of Jet Cloud Interactions in Powerful Radio Galaxies

We have studied the effects of the interaction between the radio jet and the ambient gas in the powerful radio galaxy PKS2250-41 (z = 0.31). Our results show that the gas has been accelerated, compressed, heated and collisionally ionized by the shock. This study helps us to understand the processes which determine the observed properties of many high redshift radio galaxies. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The GTC: An Advanced 10m Telescope for the ORM

The Gran Telescopio CANARIAS (GTC) is a high performance 10-m class telescope whose construction has been promoted by the IAC (Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias). It will be installed at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory (ORM), in the island of La Palma. First light is planned for end-2002. The key science drivers for the project are image quality, operational efficiency and reliability, as emphasized in the Conceptual Design Document which was finished in mid-97. The Preliminary Design is now proceeding on all aspects of the project. The GTC Project is presently funded at the 70% level by Spain. The scientific drives behind the GTC project are described here, as well as the current technical, managerial, and operational baseline. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.