A New Model for Heat Flow in Extensional Basins: Estimating Radiogenic Heat Production

Radiogenic heat production (RHP) represents a significant fraction of surface heat flow, both on cratons and in sedimentary basins. RHP within continental crust—especially the upper crust—is high. RHP at any depth within the crust can be estimated as a function of crustal age. Mantle RHP, in contrast, is always low, contributing at most 1 to 2 mW/m² to total heat flow. Radiogenic heat from any noncrystalline basement that may be present also contributes to total heat flow. RHP from metamorphic rocks is similar to or slightly lower than that from their precursor sedimentary rocks. When extension of the lithosphere occurs—as for example during rifting—the radiogenic contribution of each layer of the lithosphere and noncrystalline basement diminishes in direct proportion to the degree of extension of that layer. Lithospheric RHP today is somewhat less than in the distant past, as a result of radioactive decay. In modeling, RHP can be varied through time by considering the half lives of uranium, thorium, and potassium, and the proportional contribution of each of those elements to total RHP from basement. RHP from sedimentary rocks ranges from low for most evaporites to high for some shales, especially those rich in organic matter. The contribution to total heat flow of radiogenic heat from sediments depends strongly on total sediment thickness, and thus differs through time as subsidence and basin filling occur. RHP can be high for thick clastic sections. RHP in sediments can be calculated using ordinary or spectral gamma-ray logs, or it can be estimated from the lithology.     

极地冰芯中记录的火山作用及其对气候的影响

大多数火山喷发以强酸 (主要是硫酸 )的形式在极地冰芯中留下痕迹 ,通过冰芯连续电导率 (ECM)或各个雪冰样品SO42 - 浓度测定能够恢复历史上的火山作用。极地冰芯中已知年代的火山喷发还可用于冰芯定年。极地冰芯记录的火山信号大小依赖于火山喷发的规模和类型 ,火山喷发的地理位置和酸性气体组成 ,大气气溶胶传输 ,以及沉降地点的年积累率和沉积后生过程等。单个火山喷发通常会导致数月至数年的半球乃至全球范围的气候相对变冷 (这种现象在极区变得更明显 ) ,但过去大规模的爆炸性火山喷发对气候的影响及其与气候变化之间的联系仍有待于进一步研究     

大陆岩石圈导电性的研究方法

随着地球科学的进展 ,大陆岩石圈导电性结构的研究越来越引起人们的重视 ,而超宽频带大地电磁测深则是目前用于探测岩石圈导电性最有效的地球物理先进技术。它把现代性能优良的宽频带大地电磁系统 (MT 2 4NS或V5 2 0 0 0 )与长周期智能化大地电磁系统 (LIMS)配套使用 ,采集地面上频率范围为n× 10 -4～n× 10 2 Hz的天然电磁场信号 ,并通过一系列数据处理和反演计算 ,获得深达下地壳和上地幔的地下导电性结构模型。此模型不仅可以提供有关岩石圈地质构造轮廓的信息 ,更重要的是可以间接反映现今地下深部的热结构特征和物质状态分布特点。多年来 ,应用超宽频带大地电磁测深对青藏高原岩石圈导电性结构的研究表明 ,高原的中、下地壳确实是良导电性的 ;它可能说明西藏地壳中普遍存在岩石的局部熔融 ,或地热流体。沿着应县—商河剖面的大地电磁测深研究结果从电性的角度证明了太行山山前断裂为一组向东倾斜的深断裂 ,华北地区岩石圈以其为界划分为东、西两区 ;东区为低阻区 ,与构造活动区的岩石圈导电性特征相符 ;西区为高阻区 ,表现出稳定大陆区岩石圈导电性结构的特点。