Scientists’ framing of the ocean science–policy interface

Scientists’ ideas, beliefs, and discourses form the frames that shape their choices about which research to pursue, their approaches to collaboration and communicating results, and how they evaluate research outputs and outcomes. To achieve ocean sustainability, there are increasing calls for new levels of engagement and collaboration between scientists and policy-makers; scientists’ willingness to engage depends on their current and evolving frames. Here, I present results about how scientists involved in diverse fields of ocean research perceived their role as scientists working at or near the ocean science–policy interface and how this related to their perceptions regarding ocean research priorities. The survey of 2187 physical, ecological and social scientists from 94 countries showed that scientists held different perspectives about their appropriate level of engagement at the ocean science–policy interface and the relative primacy of science versus politics in formulating ocean policy. Six clusters of scientists varied in their frames; three clusters accounted for 94% of the sample. Of 67 research questions identified from 22 research prioritization and horizon scanning exercises, the top eight were shared among all three clusters, showing consistency in research priorities across scientists with different framings of their role at the science–policy interface. Five focused on the mechanisms and effects of global change on oceans, two focused on data collection and management for long-term ocean monitoring, and one focused on the links between biodiversity and ecological function at different scales. The results from this survey demonstrated that scientists’ framings of the role of ocean science at the science–policy interface can be quantified in surveys, that framing varies among scientists, and that research priorities vary according to the framings.     

席状岩浆房中的岩浆冷却及动力稳定性

关于岩浆房中岩浆的结晶分异方式一直存在着争议,其基本矛盾在于对岩浆冷却历史及热不稳定性可能引起的对流形式的理解各不相同。本文在充分考虑席状岩浆房的基本物理特征的基础上,建立了稳定岩浆体系的动态冷却模型,并以攀枝花层状岩体为例,计算了相应的温度场、密度场及粘度场。同时,提出了一种基于能量守恒的、对热不稳定性进行分析的新方法。计算了热不稳定性可能引起的对流强度、对流区域及对流时间,并深入讨论了在一定的热不稳定状态下,不同的岩浆屈服强度对对流特征参量的影响。结果表明,在该岩体的整个固化过程中,如果曾发生过自发对流,其对流也是极微弱而短暂的,不会影响中下部岩浆房中岩浆的固化和结晶。这一结论与对该岩体的实际观察相符。     

Palaeozoic multiphase magmatism at Barleik Mountain,southern West Junggar,Northwest China: implications for tectonic evolution of the West Junggar

The West Junggar lies in the southwest part of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB) and consists of Palaeozoic ophiolitic mélanges, island arcs, and accretionary complexes. The Barleik ophiolitic mélange comprises several serpentinite-matrix strips along a NE-striking fault at Barleik Mountain in the southern West Junggar. Several small late Cambrian (509–503 Ma) diorite-trondhjemite plutons cross-cut the ophiolitic mélange. These igneous bodies are deformed and display island arc calc-alkaline affinities. Both the mélange and island arc plutons are uncomfortably covered by Devonian shallow-marine and terrestrial volcano-sedimentary rocks and Carboniferous volcano-sedimentary rocks. Detrital zircons (n = 104) from the Devonian sandstone yield a single age population of 452–517 million years, with a peak age of 474 million years. The Devonian–Carboniferous strata are invaded by an early Carboniferous (327 Ma) granodiorite, late Carboniferous (315–311 Ma) granodiorites, and an early Permian (277 Ma) K-feldspar granite. The early Carboniferous pluton is coeval with subduction-related volcano-sedimentary strata in the central West Junggar, whereas the late Carboniferous–early Permian intrusives are contemporary with widespread post-collisional magmatism in the West Junggar and adjacent regions. They are typically undeformed or only slightly deformed.

Our data reveal that island arc calc-alkaline magmatism occurred at least from middle Cambrian to Late Ordovician time as constrained by igneous and detrital zircon ages. After accretion to another tectonic unit to the south, the ophiolitic mélange and island arc were exposed, eroded, and uncomfortably overlain by the Devonian shallow-marine and terrestrial volcano-sedimentary strata. The early Carboniferous arc-related magmatism might reflect subduction of the Junggar Ocean in the central Junggar. Before the late Carboniferous, the oceanic basins apparently closed in this area. These different tectonic units were stitched together by widespread post-collisional plutons in the West Junggar during the late Carboniferous–Permian. Our data from the southern West Junggar and those from the central and northern West Junggar and surroundings consistently indicate that the southwest part of the CAOB was finally amalgamated before the Permian.     

Comparison of the return period for landslide-triggering rainfall events in Japan based on standardization of the rainfall period

The intensity of rainfall events with potential to cause landslides has varying temporal characteristics. In this study, the time at which the 72-h accumulated rainfall reached its maximum was used to standardize the period of rainfall measurement. The proposed standardization of the rainfall period was used in conjunction with the return level of rainfall intensity, obtained from intensity–duration–frequency curves, to investigate rainfall intensity anomalies associated with 10 hazardous rainfall events that triggered numerous landslides at the regional scale in Japan. These landslides included shallow landslides in volcanic and non-volcanic areas, as well as deep-seated landslides. The rainfall events that triggered the shallow landslides were divided into two types: downpours that repeatedly reached close to the 100-year return level within approximately 3–4 h, and accumulated rainfall that reached close to 200–400 mm over longer time intervals but within 72 h. Lithological differences seemed unrelated to the differences between the two types of shallow-landslide-triggering rainfall; however, precipitation >1000 mm was necessary to trigger deep-seated landslides. Although the characteristics of the hyetographs differed markedly among the landslide-triggering rainfall events, all the landslides could have been triggered when the mean rainfall intensity reached the 100-year rainfall level during the standardized period. Thus, the landslide trigger can be evaluated indirectly based on the increase in the return level of the mean rainfall intensity, which could provide a means for estimating the time of landslide occurrence.     

Evolutionary biogeography on Ophiocordyceps sinensis:An indicator of molecular phylogeny to geochronological and ecological exchanges

The fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis is endemic to the vast region of the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau(QTP).The unique and complex geographical environmental conditions have led to the "sky island" distribution structure of O.sinensis.Due to limited and unbalanced sample collections,the previous data on O.sinensis regarding its genetic diversity and spatial structure have been deemed insufficient.In this study,we analyzed the diversity and phylogeographic structures of O.sinensis using internally transcribed spacer region(ITS) and 5-locus datasets by a large-scale sampling.A total of 111 haplotypes of ITS sequences were identified from 948 samples data of the fungus O.sinensis,with representing high genetic diversity,and 8 phylogenetic clades were recognized in O.sinensis.Both the southeastern Tibet and the northwestern Yunnan were the centers of genetic diversity and genetic differentiation of the fungus,and they were inferred as the glacial refugia in the Quaternary.Three distribution patterns were identified to correspond to the 8 clades,including but not limited to the coexistence of widely and specific local distributive structures.It also revealed that the differentiation pattern of O.sinensis did not fit for the isolation-by-distance model.The differentiation into the 8 clades occurred between 1.56 Myr and6.62 Myr.The ancestor of O.sinensis most likely originated in the late Miocene(6.62 Myr) in the northwestern Yunnan,and the Scene A-C of the Qinghai-Tibetan movements may have played an important role in the differentiation of O.sinensis during the late Miocene-Pliocene periods.Our current results provide a much clearer and detailed understanding of the genetic diversity and geographical spatial distribution of the endemic alpine fungus O.sinensis.It also revealed that the geochronology resulting from paleogeology could be cross-examined with biomolecular clock at a finer scale.     

Differences in flood hazard projections in Europe – their causes and consequences for decision making

This paper interprets differences in flood hazard projections over Europe and identifies likely sources of discrepancy. Further, it discusses potential implications of these differences for flood risk reduction and adaptation to climate change. The discrepancy in flood hazard projections raises caution, especially among decision makers in charge of water resources management, flood risk reduction, and climate change adaptation at regional to local scales. Because it is naïve to expect availability of trustworthy quantitative projections of future flood hazard, in order to reduce flood risk one should focus attention on mapping of current and future risks and vulnerability hotspots and improve the situation there. Although an intercomparison of flood hazard projections is done in this paper and differences are identified and interpreted, it does not seems possible to recommend which large-scale studies may be considered most credible in particular areas of Europe.

EDITOR D. Koutsoyiannis

ASSOCIATE EDITOR not assigned     

Seismic structure of the Helan–Liupan–Ordos western margin tectonic belt in North-Central China and its geodynamic implications

We study high-resolution three-dimensional P-wave velocity (Vp) tomography and anisotropic structure of the crust and uppermost mantle under the Helan–Liupan–Ordos western margin tectonic belt in North-Central China using 13,506 high-quality P-wave arrival times from 2666 local earthquakes recorded by 87 seismic stations during 1980–2008. Our results show that prominent low-velocity (low-V) anomalies exist widely in the lower crust beneath the study region and the low-V zones extend to the uppermost mantle in some local areas, suggesting that the lower crust contains higher-temperature materials and fluids. The major fault zones, especially the large boundary faults of major tectonic units, are located at the edge portion of the low-V anomalies or transition zones between the low-V and high-V anomalies in the upper crust, whereas low-V anomalies are revealed in the lower crust under most of the faults. Most of large historical earthquakes are located in the boundary zones where P-wave velocity changes drastically in a short distance. Beneath the source zones of most of the large historical earthquakes, prominent low-V anomalies are visible in the lower crust. Significant P-wave azimuthal anisotropy is revealed in the study region, and the pattern of anisotropy in the upper crust is consistent with the surface geologic features. In the lower crust and uppermost mantle, the predominant fast velocity direction (FVD) is NNE–SSW under the Yinchuan Graben and NWW–SEE or NW–SE beneath the Corridor transitional zone, Qilian Orogenic Belt and Western Qinling Orogenic Belt, and the FVD is NE–SW under the eastern Qilian Orogenic Belt. The anisotropy in the lower crust may be caused by the lattice-preferred orientation of minerals, which may reflect the lower-crustal ductile flow with varied directions. The present results shed new light on the seismotectonics and geodynamic processes of the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau and its northeastern margin.     

Importance of hydrogeological conditions during formation of the karstic bauxite deposits,Central Guizhou Province,Southwest China: A case study at Lindai deposit

Karstic bauxite deposits are widespread in Central Guizhou Province, SW China, and high-grade ores are frequently sandwiched with overlying coal and underlying iron-rich layers and form a special “coal–bauxite–iron” structure. The Lindai deposit, which is one of the most representative karstic bauxite deposits in Central Guizhou Province, was selected as a case study. Based on textural features and iron abundances, bauxite ores in the Lindai deposit are divided into three types of ores, i.e., clastic, compact, and high-iron. The bauxite ores primarily comprise diaspore, boehmite, kaolinite, illite, and hematite with minor quartz, smectite, pyrite, zircon, rutile, anatase, and feldspar. The Al₂O₃ (53–76.8 wt.%) is the main chemical contents of the bauxite ore samples in the Lindai district, followed by SiO₂, Fe₂O₃, TiO₂, CaO, MgO, S, and P etc. Our geological data on the Lindai deposit indicated that the ore-bearing rock series and its underlying stratum have similar rare earth elements distribution pattern and similar Y/Ho, Zr/Hf, and Eu/Eu¹ values; additionally, all ore-bearing rock samples are rich in MgO (range from 0.16 wt.% to 0.68 wt.%), and the plots of the dolomites and laterites lie almost on or close to the weathering line fit by the Al-bearing rocks in Zr vs. Hf and Nb vs. Ta diagrams; suggesting that the underlying Middle Cambrian Shilengshui Formation dolomite is the parent rock of bauxite resources in the Lindai district.Simulated weathering experiments on the modern laterite from the Shilengshui Formation dolomite in the Lindai bauxite deposit show that hydrogeological conditions are important for karstic bauxite formation: Si is most likely to migrate, its migration rate is several magnitudes higher than those of Al and Fe under natural conditions; the reducing inorganic acid condition is the most conducive to Al enrichment and Si removal; Fe does not migrate easily in groundwater, Al enrichment and Fe removal can occur only in acidic and reducing conditions with the presence of organic matter.The geological and experimental studies show that “coal–bauxite–iron” structure in Lindai deposit is formed under certain hydrogeological conditions, i.e., since lateritic bauxite or Al-rich laterite deposited upon the semi-closed karst depressions, Si can be continuously removed out under neutral/acidic groundwater conditions; the coal/carbonaceous rock overlying the bauxitic materials were easily oxidized to produce acidic (H₂S, H₂SO₄, etc.) and reductant groundwater with organic materials that percolated downward, resulting in enrichment of Al in underlying bauxite; it also reduced Fe³⁺ to its easily migrating form Fe²⁺, moving downward to near the basal carbonate culminated in precipitating of ferruginous (FeS₂, FeCO₃, etc.) strata of the “coal–bauxite–iron” structure. Thus, the bauxitic materials experienced Al enrichment and Si and Fe removal under above certain hydrogeological conditions forming the high-quality bauxite.     

Lu–Hf constraints on pre-, syn,and post-collision associations of the Gurupi Belt,Brazil: Insights on the Rhyacian crustal evolution

The Gurupi Belt (together with the São Luís cratonic fragment), in north-northeastern Brazil, has been described in previous studies that used extensive field geology, structural analysis, airborne geophysics, zircon U–Pb dating, and whole-rock Sm–Nd isotope and geochemical data as a polyphase orogenic belt, with the Rhyacian being the main period of crust formation. This was related to a 2240 Ma to 2140 Ma accretionary processes that produced juvenile crust, which has subsequently been reworked during a collisional event at 2100 ± 20 Ma, with little evidence of Archean crust. In this study, we use Lu–Hf isotopic data in zircon from granitoids (including gneiss) of variable magmatic series, and amphibolite to improve the knowledge of this scenario, and investigate additional evidence of recycling of Archean basement. Pre-collisional high Ba-Sr and ferroan granitoids and amphibolite formed in island arc (2180–2145 Ma), show only zircons with suprachondritic εHf values (ca. +1 to +8) indicating the large predominance of juvenile magmas. Only 10% of the data show slightly negative εHf values (0 to ?4), which have been observed in granodiorite-gneiss formed in continental arc (2170–2140 Ma), and in strongly peraluminous collisional granites (2125–2070 Ma), indicating the rework of older Paleoproterozoic to Archean components (Hf_TDM = 2.11–3.69 Ga). A two-component mixing model using both Hf and published Nd isotope data are in line with this interpretation and indicate more than 90% of juvenile material, and less influence of Archean materials. Comparing with other Rhyacian terranes that are interpreted to have been close to Gurupi in a pre-Columbia configuration (ca. 2.0 Ga), our results differ from those of SE-Guiana Shield, which show strong influence of Archean protoliths, and are very similar to those of the central-eastern portion of the Baoulé-Mossi Domain of the West African Craton, which has also been formed largely by juvenile magmas in an accretionary-collisional orogen.