Experimental deformation of a synthetic dunite at high temperature and pressure. II. Transmission electron microscopy

We have performed detailed transmission electron microscope on most of the deformed synthetic dunite specimens prepared in the study by Zeuch and Green (1984). We have identified three basic types of sub-boundaries, simple tilt walls in (100) and (001). composed by b = [100] and b = [001] edge dislocations, respectively, and twist boundaries in (010) composed of b = [100] and b = [001] screws. We have also observed more complex, asymmetric lilt boundaries in (100) and (001). Like the (010) twist boundaries, these asymmetric tilt walls are common only at the highest temperatures and lowest strain rates. Subgrain development is extensive at the higher temperatures and lower strain rates, and subgrains are composed of the above-mentioned three types of sub-boundaries; edge components in (100) and (001) ire “knitted” to screw components in (010) as described by Kirby and Wegner (1978) for naturally deformed olivine. In many areas of the samples which we studied, subgrain development is not observed, but parallel arrays of tilt boundaries of one type or the other are present. At higher temperatures and lower strain rates. “(100) organization” (Durham et al., 1977) is common; this structure consists of parallel arrays of (100) tilt boundaries with b = [100] screws connecting the sub-boundaries. At lower temperatures we have observed an analogous arrangement of (001) sub-boundaries and b = [001] screws, which we refer to as “(001) organization”. Under all experimental conditions, dislocations with b = [100] and b = [001] are present in approximately equal numbers. However, the two types of dislocations also have distinctly different geometries under all test conditions. We suggest that the transition from slip parallel to [001] to slip parallel to [100] with increasing temperature, which has been reported in earlier studies may also depend upon water content. The substructures which we observe are virtually identical to those seen in many naturally deformed peridolites. and we conclude that the mechanisms involved in both natural and laboratory deformation of olivine polycrystals are similar. On the other hand, the substructures reported here are very different from those observed in experimentally deformed olivine single crystals. It seems likely that these substructural differences reflect fundamental differences in the behavior oh single crystals and polycrystals. which are in turn reflected in different measured creep strengths.     

Modelling how vegetation cover affects climate change impacts on streamflow timing and magnitude in the snowmelt‐dominated upper Tuolumne Basin,Sierra Nevada

We investigated, through hydrologic modelling, the impact of the extent and density of canopy cover on streamflow timing and on the magnitude of peak and late summer flows in the upper Tuolumne basin (2600–4000 m) of the Sierra Nevada, California, under current and warmer temperatures. We used the Distributed Hydrology Soil Vegetation Model for the hydrologic modelling of the basin, assuming four vegetation scenarios: current forest (partial cover, 80% density), all forest (uniform coverage, 80% density), all barren (no forest) and thinned forest (partial cover, 40% density) for a medium‐high emissions scenario causing a 3.9 °C warming over a 100‐year period (2001–2100). Significant advances in streamflow timing, quantified as the centre of mass (COM) of over 1 month were projected for all vegetation scenarios. However, the COM advances faster with increased forest coverage. For example, when forest covered the entire area, the COM occurred on average 12 days earlier compared with the current forest coverage, with the rate of advance higher by about 0.06 days year^?1 over 100 years and with peak and late summer flows lower by about 20% and 27%, respectively. Examination of modelled changes in energy balance components at forested and barren sites as temperatures rise indicated that increases in net longwave radiation are higher in the forest case and have a higher contribution to melting earlier in the calendar year when shortwave radiation is a smaller fraction of the energy budget. These increases contributed to increased midwinter melt under the forest at temperatures above freezing, causing decreases in total accumulation and higher winter and early spring melt rates. These results highlight the importance of carefully considering the combined impacts of changing forest cover and climate on downstream water supply and mountain ecosystems. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The rheology of olivine and spinel magnesium germanate (Mg2GeO4): TEM study of the defect microstructures

Synthetic polycrystals of α-Mg₂GeO₄ (with the olivine structure) and γ-Mg₂GeO₄ (with the spinel structure) deformed at high temperature and pressure in their respective stability fields were investigated by analytical transmission electron microscopy. Specimens with a mean grain size of 20–30 µm deform by dislocation glide and/or climb. The predominance of glide versus climb depends on stress and grain orientation. The defect microstructures of both polymorphs are very similar to those observed in their respective silicate analogues, α- and γ-(Mg,Fe)₂SiO₄, and, in the case of the spinel phase, very similar to those observed in magnesium aluminate spinels. These observations suggest that Mg₂GeO₄ is a good rheological analogue for the Earth’s upper mantle. A spinel specimen deformed under the same conditions of temperature and strain rate as an olivine specimen was approximately three times stronger than olivine. In specimens of both phases deformed at or above 1400 K, a thin amorphous film composed of Mg, Ge, and O was detected along some grain boundaries. Grains ≤10 µm diameter surrounded by a film of amorphous phase (>10 nm thick) exhibited low dislocation densities, and deformation appeared to have occurred by grain boundary sliding.     

Linking snowmelt‐derived fluxes and groundwater flow in a high elevation meadow system,Sierra Nevada Mountains,California

Quantifying snowmelt‐derived fluxes at the watershed scale within hillslope environments is critical for investigating local meadow scale groundwater dynamics in high elevation riparian ecosystems. In this article, we investigate the impact of snowmelt‐derived groundwater flux from the surrounding hillslopes on water table dynamics in Tuolumne Meadows, which is located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California, USA. Results show water levels within the meadow are controlled by a combination of fluxes at the hillslope boundaries, snowmelt within the meadow and changes in the stream stage. Observed water level fluctuations at the boundaries of the meadow show the hydrologic connection and subsequent disconnection between the hillslope and meadow aquifers. Timing of groundwater flux entering the meadow as a result of spring snowmelt can vary over 20 days based on the location, aspect, and local geology of the contributing area within the larger watershed. Identifying this temporal and spatial variability in flux entering the meadow is critical for simulating changes in water levels within the meadow. Model results can vary significantly based on the temporal and spatial scales at which watershed processes are linked to local processes within the meadow causing errors when boundary fluxes are lumped in time or space. Without a clear understanding of the surrounding hillslope hydrology, it is difficult to simulate groundwater dynamics within high elevation riparian ecosystems with the accuracy necessary for understanding ecosystem response. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.