Analysis and modeling of the seasonal South China Sea temperature cycle using remote sensing

The present paper describes the analysis and modeling of the South China Sea (SCS) temperature cycle on a seasonal scale. It investigates the possibility to model this cycle in a consistent way while not taking into account tidal forcing and associated tidal mixing and exchange. This is motivated by the possibility to significantly increase the model’s computational efficiency when neglecting tides. The goal is to develop a flexible and efficient tool for seasonal scenario analysis and to generate transport boundary forcing for local models. Given the significant spatial extent of the SCS basin and the focus on seasonal time scales, synoptic remote sensing is an ideal tool in this analysis. Remote sensing is used to assess the seasonal temperature cycle to identify the relevant driving forces and is a valuable source of input data for modeling. Model simulations are performed using a three-dimensional baroclinic-reduced depth model, driven by monthly mean sea surface anomaly boundary forcing, monthly mean lateral temperature, and salinity forcing obtained from the World Ocean Atlas 2001 climatology, six hourly meteorological forcing from the European Center for Medium range Weather Forecasting ERA-40 dataset, and remotely sensed sea surface temperature (SST) data. A sensitivity analysis of model forcing and coefficients is performed. The model results are quantitatively assessed against climatological temperature profiles using a goodness-of-fit norm. In the deep regions, the model results are in good agreement with this validation data. In the shallow regions, discrepancies are found. To improve the agreement there, we apply a SST nudging method at the free water surface. This considerably improves the model’s vertical temperature representation in the shallow regions. Based on the model validation against climatological in situ and SST data, we conclude that the seasonal temperature cycle for the deep SCS basin can be represented to a good degree. For shallow regions, the absence of tidal mixing and exchange has a clear impact on the model’s temperature representation. This effect on the large-scale temperature cycle can be compensated to a good degree by SST nudging for diagnostic applications.     

Thermal alteration of coal in the Khasyn coalfield, Magadan region, Russia

The Early Cretaceous coal deposits of the Khasyn coalfield are intruded by Palaeogene diabase dikes. The coal has vitrinite reflectance values of 2.0–2.5% R_o, and characteristics of normal anthracite at some distance from the dikes, but at direct contact with the dike two morphological coal varieties occur: coal inclusions in the diabase dike and dispersed carbonaceous matter within the dike rock. Both types of coaly matter have properties typical of anthracites: strong anisotropy, altered internal structure and high vitrinite reflectance values ranging from 3.8 to 5.5% R_o. The X-ray diffraction measurements of the interplanar spacing d(002) and the crystallite sizes Lc and La show rather similar values for coal inclusions in the dike and dispersed carbonaceous matter. The additional reflection at 3.37 Å, corresponding to semi-graphite admixture, occurs in the coal and carbonaceous matter inside the dike and is absent in the natural coal outside the dike.     

U–Pb SHRIMP monazite ages of the giant Morro Velho and Cuiabá gold deposits, Rio das Velhas greenstone belt, Quadrilátero Ferrífero, Minas Gerais, Brazil

U–Pb SHRIMP results of 2672 ± 14 Ma obtained on hydrothermal monazite crystals, from ore samples of the giant Morro Velho and Cuiabá Archean orogenic deposits, represent the first reliable and precise age of gold mineralization associated with the Rio das Velhas greenstone belt evolution, in the Quadrilátero Ferrífero, Brazil. In the basal Nova Lima Group, of the Rio das Velhas greenstone belt, felsic volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks have been dated between 2792 ± 11 and 2751 ± 9 Ma, coeval with the intrusion of syn-tectonic tonalite and granodiorite plutons, and also with the metamorphic overprint of older tonalite–trondhjemite–granodiorite crust. Since cratonization and stable-shelf sedimentation followed intrusion of Neoarchean granites at 2612 + 3/− 2 Ma, it is clear that like other granite–greenstone terranes in the world, gold mineralization is constrained to the latest stages of greenstone evolution.     

On the quantitative evaluation of metamorphic fluid composition: Verification of the results of physicochemical simulations for water-mineral-rock reactions

This paper reports the results of a comparison of the qualitative physicochemical simulations (by the Winsel program complex) of the composition of the reacting fluid with experimental data on the water-electrolyte (NaCl, HCl, NaOH, and KOH)-mineral (quartz, corundum, microcline, and plagioclase) system and the water-electrolyte-rock (granite and pelite) system at 400–800°C and 1–10 kbar. Constraints are proposed for the temperature, pressure, and the composition of the electrolyte at which the simulation results are consistent with the experimental data.     

Analysis of currents near the Sakhalin southeastern coast from instrumental measurements

Field experimental materials on the sea current measurements, carried out by the Sakhalin Research Institute for Fishery and Oceanography in September–December 2004 near the Sakhalin southeastern coast, are analyzed. The experiment included the installation of two coastal and one more remote autonomous buoy stations. The tidal flows in this region, unlike those on the northeastern shelf of the island, are relatively small and do not play a significant role in the dynamics of the coastal zone. The character of currents at coastal stations is determined primarily by their response to the wind effect. In particular, significant water temperature falls of 6–8°C, observed from 2–3 days to a week, are indicative of coastal upwelling induced by the wind. During the passage of a deep cyclone that caused a storm wave 1 m high, the flow velocity at coastal stations increased up to 1.5 knots. At a more remote station, in the region of Cape Svobodnyi, the flow character was determined by the East Sakhalin Current, whose autumn intensification was observed in the second ten-day period of October. It manifested itself in a sharp intensification of the flow, directed southward and southeastward throughout the entire water column, which practically was not pronounced at the coastal stations.