东南极Windmill群岛与罗迪尼亚超大陆聚合相关构造热事件的时代:来自Bailey半岛镁铁质片麻岩和淡色片麻岩锆石SHRIMP U-Pb年龄的约束

东南极Windmill群岛变质杂岩经历的变质和岩浆事件与西澳大利亚Albany-Fraser造山带在时间上相对应,并可能与罗迪尼亚超大陆的拼合有关。Windmill群岛Bailey半岛的镁铁质片麻岩(角闪石-单斜辉石-斜方辉石-黑云母-斜长石-石英-磁铁矿-锆石)被认为具有较早的形成年龄,其中还出露属于正片麻岩的淡色片麻岩(斜长石-钾长石-石英-黑云母-锆石)。对这两种片麻岩中的锆石分别进行了SHRIMP U-Pb年龄测定,首次获得该区镁铁质片麻岩锆石核部207Pb/206Pb加权平均年龄1403±28 Ma,该年龄记录了本区中元古代早期岩浆事件,这是Windmill群岛地区记录的最早一期岩浆事件,可能受到了东部莫森大陆(Mawson Continent)构造岩浆活动的影响。铁镁质片麻岩锆石增生边的年龄为1318±34 Ma,则记录了早期构造热事件。淡色片麻岩中锆石核部年龄为1257±51 Ma,与Bailey半岛的片麻状含石榴子石花岗岩侵位年龄一致,共同记录了该区的一期岩浆活动。淡色片麻岩中锆石增生边的年龄为1197±26 Ma,记录了晚期的变质事件。这些新的年龄数据强烈支持1375~1151 Ma期间东南极Windmill群岛与西澳大利亚Albany-Fraser造山带相连接的构造模型,同时也为罗迪尼亚超大陆拼合过程提供了重要的年代学约束。      

DETERMINATION OF TRACE ELEMENTS IN 11 CHINESE GEOLOGICAL REFERENCE MATERIALS BY ICP-MS

More than 40 trace elements in 11 Chinese geological reference materials (stream sediments) GSD-1 to GSD-7 and GSD-9 to GSD-12 were determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Open acid digestions were used to prepare samples for the determination of most elements. However, for the measurement of Y, Zr and Hf, it was found necessary to use an alkali fusion in order to make fully quantitative measurements. The results obtained in this work are generally in good agreement with the recommended values from the sub-ppm level to > several hundred ppm and illustrate the versatility of the technique, particularly for some less well characterised elements.     

Characterization of organic-rich mineral debris revealed by rapid glacier retreat,Indren Glacier,European Alps

In the summer of 2003 and 2004, characterized by a rapid glacier retreat, a stony surface covered by well-structured organic-rich mineral debris was observed very close to the Indren glacier terminus(Monte Rosa Massif, NW Italy, 3100 m ASL), on an area covered by the glacier tongue till the year before. The origin and type of this organicrich material were investigated, in order to detect their characteristics, potential sources and fate within the foreland system. The deposits were dated using Carbon-14 and analyzed for the chemical characteristics of the organic component, the elemental composition of the mineral fraction and presence of microbial markers. The material, granular and dark in color, had a total organic carbon(TOC) content ranging between 17.4 ± 0.39 and 28.1 ± 0.63 g kg-1 dry weight(dw), significantly higher than the surrounding glacial till(～ 1.4 g kg-1 dw), although only 0.33% of it was in water soluble form. Microbial carbon(C) and nitrogen(N) accounted for 10.6% and 3.13% of TOC and total N, respectively. Dissolved nitrogen(N), mainly present as ammonium, represented 2.40% of the total N. The low aromatic component and large presence of nitrogen(N)-derived compounds suggested that most of the organic carbon(OC) in these organic-rich mineral deposits was derived from microbial cells, although the high average radiocarbon age of about 2900 years may also point to the contribution of aeolian depositions of anthropogenic or natural origin. Elemental composition and the crustal enrichment factor of trace elements in the mineral fraction of the aggregates corroborated the hypothesis that most part of the accumulated material derived from ice meltwater. Some indicators of the colonization of these deposits by microbial communities were also reported, from the abundance of DNA and phylogenetic markers, to the presence of bacterial taxa commonly able to thrive in similar habitats. All these elements suggested that such kind of deposits may have a potential role as energy and nutrient sources in recently deglaciated areas, highlighting the necessity to better understand the processes underlying their formation and their evolution.     

FREEZE/THAW EFFECTS ON RILL AND GULLY EROSION IN THE NORTHWESTERN WHEAT AND RANGE REGION

Hydrology of the Northwestern Wheat and Range Region （NWRR） of the Pacific Northwest USA is dominated by winter events. Fifty-five to sixty-five percent of the precipitation occurs from November through March, and formation of impermeable frost, intensified by excessive tillage and tillage pans, has long been a major factor in rill and gully formation in the region. Saturated zones can form above tillage pans, freeze solid, and significantly reduce infiltration. Frost heaved surface soils thaw and weaken with warming temperatures or rain. Under these conditions, runoff from rain or snowmelt or a combination of the two is inevitable, concentrating in rills and channels, and carrying with it the loosened soil. Slopes are frequently quite steep and there may be little deposition above the toe slope. Classical over-fall head-cut gullies are uncommon. Concentrated flow channels form because of collection of water from impervious areas such as conventionally tilled fall seeded small grains and bare grass seed fields. In some soils, gullies are created by seepage from saturated layers above permanent restrictive layers in the soil. Gullies can also result from terrace failures due to rodent burrows and low compaction at the time of construction. In naturally unconsolidated soil, rodent activity can lead to piping failures that remove large quantities of subsurface soil and can become gullies. Rill measurements on conventionally tilled fields in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho were used to determine coefficients for relationships between slope length and steepness and size of rills. This paper describes these studies and the results as well as analysis of long-term erosion and weather records from southeastern Washington.     

Tectonic and climatic controls on Holocene channel migration,incision and terrace formation by the Rio Grande in the Palomas half graben,southern Rio Grande rift,USA

In order to evaluate potential effects of tectonics and climate change on the behaviour of the axial Rio Grande in the Rio Grande rift, a 16·5 km stretch of modern floodplain and Holocene terraces were mapped in the tectonically active Palomas half graben, south‐central New Mexico, USA. In addition, 51 cores and natural exposures were logged and 20 radiocarbon dates were obtained from charcoal, bulk organic matter, mollusc shells and pedogenic calcite. The Holocene alluvium comprises four terraces above the modern floodplain, each of which formed by a period of river incision followed by stability and renewed floodplain construction to a level below that of the previous terraces. Estimated times of incision between Terraces I and II, II and III, and III and IV are after 12 400, 8040 to 5310, and 760 to 550 yr bp , respectively, whereas the incision between Terrace IV and the modern floodplain occurred within the last 260 years. Although there is some evidence for tectonic control on river behaviour in the southern part of the basin, terrace formation is interpreted as being related to climate change, with periods of incision corresponding to times of increased aridity and low sediment/water discharge ratio in the Rio Grande. This process may have resulted from a reduction in intensity and magnitude of summer storms which supply sediment to the axial river, coupled with an increase in spring discharge peak caused by snowmelt in upstream mountain catchments.     

In situ acoustic measurements of marine gravel threshold and transport

Measurements of the nearbed turbulent current flow and the bedload transport of marine gravel have been made over three tidal cycles. The turbulence in the bottom boundary layer was measured using two electromagnetic current meters, and the gravel transport was measured using a passive acoustic system which monitored the interparticle collision noise of locally mobile material. Visual estimates of bedload were also obtained with an underwater TV camera. The acoustic technique, unlike a conventional bedload sampler, has allowed estimates of transport to be obtained with a temporal resolution comparable with the turbulence data collected. This has enabled a detailed comparison to be made between the turbulent flow and the sediment response to the instantaneous flow conditions. The results of the study show that of the turbulent bursting events which contribute towards the Reynolds stress, only the sweeps and outward interactions play a significant role in the transport of coarse sedimentary material. The measurements show that it is the instantaneous increases in the horizontal turbulent velocity fluctuations that generate excess shear stresses which drive the transport process.     

Comparisons between acoustic measurements and predictions of the bedload transport of marine gravels

Continuous, detailed records of marine gravel transport have been obtained acoustically and compared with bedload transport rates (q_b) predicted by five bedload transport equations using measurements of the near-bed turbulent current flow. When mean flow data are used in these equations, total q_b estimates are similar to those measured. However, when instantaneous flow data are used, total q_b is over-estimated by approximately one order-of-magnitude. Based on the acoustic measurements, an empirical equation has been obtained that gives accurate estimates of total q_b over a tidal cycle and simulates well the intermittent characteristics of marine bedload transport.     

QUANTIFYING UNCERTAINTY IN USING MULTIPLE DATASETS TO DETERMINE SPATIOTEMPORAL ICE MASS LOSS OVER 101 YEARS AT KÅRSAGLACIÄREN,SUB‐ARCTIC SWEDEN

Glacier mass balance and mass balance gradient are fundamentally affected by changes in glacier 3D geometry. Few studies have quantified changing mountain glacier 3D geometry, not least because of a dearth of suitable spatiotemporally distributed topographical information. Additionally, there can be significant uncertainty in georeferencing of historical data and subsequent calculations of the difference between successive surveys. This study presents multiple 3D glacier reconstructions and the associated mass balance response of Kårsaglaciären, which is a 0.89 ± 0.01 km² mountain glacier in sub‐arctic Sweden. Reconstructions spanning 101 years were enabled by historical map digitisation and contemporary elevation and thickness surveys. By considering displacements between digitised maps via the identification of common tie‐points, uncertainty in both vertical and horizontal planes were estimated. Results demonstrate a long‐term trend of negative mass balance with an increase in mean elevation, total glacier retreat (1909–2008) of 1311 ± 12 m, and for the period 1926–2010 a volume decrease of 1.0 ± 0.3 × 10^–3 km³ yr^–1. Synthesising measurements of the glaciers’ past 3D geometry and ice thickness with theoretically calculated basal stress profiles explains the present thermal regime. The glacier is identified as being disproportionately fast in its rate of mass loss and relative to area, is the fastest retreating glacier in Sweden. Our long‐term dataset of glacier 3D geometry changes will be useful for testing models of the evolution of glacier characteristics and behaviour, and ultimately for improving predictions of meltwater production with climate change.     

Field measurements of the flux and speed of wind-blown sand

A field experiment was conducted to measure the flux and speed of wind-blown sand under known conditions in a natural setting. The experiment, run at Pismo Beach, California, involved a tract 100 m long (parallel with the wind) by 20 m wide. The site was instrumented with four arrays of anemometers to obtain wind velocity profiles through the lower atmospheric boundary-layer, temperature probes to determine atmospheric stability and wind vanes to determine wind direction. From these measurements, wind friction speeds were derived for each experimental run. In order to measure sand saltation flux, a trench 3 m long by 10 m wide (transverse to the wind direction) by 0·5 m deep was placed at the downwind end of the tract and lined with 168 collector bins, forming an ‘egg-box’ pattern. The mass of particles collected in each bin was determined for four experimental runs. In order to assess various sand-trap systems used in previous experiments, 12 Leatherman traps, one Fryberger trap and one array of Ames traps were deployed to collect particles concurrently with the trench collection. Particle velocities were determined from analysis of high-speed (3000 and 5000 frames per second) motion pictures and from a particle velocimeter. Sand samples were collected from the trench bins and the various sand traps and grain size distributions were determined. Fluxes for each run were calculated using various previously published expressions, and then compared with the flux derived from the trench collection. Results show that Bagnold's (1941) model and White's (1979) equation most closely agree with values derived from the trench. Comparison of the various collector systems shows that the Leatherman and Ames traps most closely agree with the flux derived from the trench, although these systems tended to under-collect particles. Particle speeds were measured from analysis of motion pictures for saltating particles in ascending and descending parts of their trajectories. Results show that particle velocities from the velocimeter are in the range 0·5–7·0 m s^?1, compared to a wind friction velocity of 0·32–0·43 m s^?1 and a wind velocity of 2·7–3·9 m s^?1 at the height of the particle measurements. Descending particles tended to exceed the speeds of ascending particles by ～ 0·5 m s^?1.