Tectonic inversion events in the western San Jorge Gulf Basin from seismic,borehole and field data

The San Jorge Gulf Basin, located in Central Patagonia, has been interpreted as a Jurassic-Cretaceous rift basin that was later inverted mainly in its western sector. Consequently, the Bernardides System formed as a set of foreland contractional structures that constitute the core of the Patagonian broken foreland, exhuming continental deposits of the Cretaceous Chubut Group, 500 km away from the Pacific trench. In spite of the intense research done in the San Jorge Gulf Basin many aspects remain under discussion, particularly those regarding the age of uplift of the Bernárdides System. In order to unravel the tectonic evolution of the western San Jorge Gulf Basin (Río Mayo Sub-Basin), we analyzed subsurface information (2D and 3D seismic lines and oil wells) located in the western area of the basin and compared this with surface data of the southern Bernárdides System. Based on our interpretation, the western part of the basin could have been uplifted in a series of deformational events that began as early as late Early Cretaceous, related to the initial uplift of the Patagonian broken foreland, during the early stages of South Atlantic opening. Subsequent stages of tectonic reactivation identified in this system have selectively inverted previous extensional structures according to the variable direction of the greatest horizontal stress (σ1) acting at each time.     

额尔齐斯碰撞带东段结构与形成时代

阿尔泰地体与萨吾尔岛弧之间的额尔齐斯碰撞带其结构与形成时代是中亚造山带构造演化研究的热点问题之一。本文报道了额尔齐斯碰撞带东段结构与形成时代的研究结果。新的结果显示:额尔齐斯碰撞带东段由4个走向NWNNW陡立的韧性变形带组成,剖面上呈扇状挤压变形的结构;这4个韧性变形带的应变类型为收缩应变与平面应变;片理带的变形从宏观到微观都表现出对称的结构,不同变形带不同地段可具变化的流动方向而表现出"奶油饼结构",其可能整体形成于共轴挤压机制;玉勒肯与老山口韧性变形带花岗闪长质糜棱岩、花岗闪长质超糜棱岩中变质重结晶锆石U-Pb定年结果显示韧性变形时间约为360Ma。这可能意味着早石炭世时卡拉先格尔地区已进入碰撞阶段,即萨吾尔岛弧与阿尔泰地体间在360Ma时已发生碰撞。     

中天山地块暗色岩墙LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年龄和岩石地球化学特征

中天山地块发育有大量的暗色岩墙,主要走向为北北西。对中天山暗色岩墙进行LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb测年,获得的年龄为304.8±1.5Ma,表明其形成于晚石炭世。这些暗色岩墙具有较高的Si O2,较低的Mg、Cr、Ni含量。它们富集大离子亲石元素(Rb、Ba、Th),亏损高场强元素(Nb、Ta、Ti),显示俯冲相关特征。上述特征暗示,中天山暗色岩墙可能是由俯冲板片流体交代的地幔楔部分熔融形成的。这一发现表明,准噶尔洋的闭合应该发生在晚石炭世之后。     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S167498711400108X

We present three 3D numerical models of deep subduction where buoyant material from an oceanic plateau and a plume interact with the overriding plate to assess the influence on subduction dynamics,trench geometry,and mechanisms for plateau accretion and continental growth.Transient instabilities of the convergent margin are produced,resulting in:contorted trench geometry;trench migration parallel with the plate margin;folding of the subducting slab and orocline development at the convergent margin;and transfer of the plateau to the overriding plate.The presence of plume material beneath the oceanic plateau causes flat subduction above the plume,resulting in a "bowed" shaped subducting slab.In plateau-only models,plateau accretion at the edge of the overriding plate results in trench migration around the edge of the plateau before subduction is re-established directly behind the trailing edge of the plateau.The plateau shortens and some plateau material subducts.The presence of buoyant plume material beneath the oceanic plateau has a profound influence on the behaviour of the convergent margin.In the plateau + plume model,plateau accretion causes rapid trench advance.Plate convergence is accommodated by shearing at the base of the plateau and shortening in the overriding plate.The trench migrates around the edge of the plateau and subduction is re-established well behind the trailing edge of the plateau,effectively embedding the plateau into the overriding plate.A slab window forms beneath the accreted plateau and plume material is transferred from the subducting plate to the overriding plate through the window.In all of the models,the subduction zone maintains a relatively stable configuration away from the buoyancy anomalies within the downgoing plate.The models provide a dynamic context for plateau and plume accretion in Phanerozoic accretionary orogenic systems such as the East China Orogen and the Central Asian Orogen(Altiads),which are characterised by accreted ophiolite complexes with diverse geochemical affinities,and a protracted evolution of accretion of exotic terranes including oceanic plateau and terranes with plume origins.     

华中地区历史物候记录与1850-2008年的气温变化重建

根据历史日记中的华中地区春季植物物候、清代档案中的湖南4地降雪日数记载和区内5个树轮宽度年表,以及植物物候期、雪日观测记录等代用资料;以器测的华中整个地区的逐年气温距平为校准序列,采用逐步回归方法,结合逐一剔除法验证和方差匹配技术,重建了1850-2008年华中地区年均气温变化序列。结果表明:1自1850年以来,华中地区气温变化以年际至年代尺度波动为主要特征;但至1990年以后则迅速增暖,并超出了原有的年代际波动水平;而1920s中期至1940s中期的温暖尽管也持续了20年,但其温暖程度显著低于1990s-2000s。其间,最寒冷年代则分别出现在1860s、1890s及1950s,最寒冷的年份为1893年。2华中地区1850年以来的气温年代际波动周期为10~20年和准35年,其中1920s以前主要为12~14年,但自1940s开始则转为18~20年以及准35年。     

中国与俄罗斯及中亚地区的贸易格局分析

作为上海合作组织成员国及丝绸之路经济带的重点区域,俄罗斯及中亚地区与中国经贸关系日益密切,对中国内陆开放及地缘政治安全具有重大意义。利用贸易强度指数、贸易互补性指数、出口集中指数等,对1992-2012年中国与俄罗斯及中亚地区的贸易发展历程及空间格局、进出口产品格局进行深入分析。结果显示双方贸易强度不断提升,且贸易互补性增强,同时俄罗斯及中亚出口产品种类明显增加。当前双方贸易格局呈现以下特点:俄罗斯及中亚形成了以资源类初级产品为绝对主导的出口产品结构,中国则以机械设备及纺织服装等为主;中国对其出口贸易格局是边境贸易与地区产业专业化格局叠加的结果,进口贸易格局则受边境贸易及能源需求格局的影响。     

基于遥感技术的近30年中亚地区主要湖泊变化

在全球气候变暖的背景下,研究中亚干旱半干旱地区主要湖泊的变化不仅对内陆水资源管理和可持续发展有着重要意义,也为进一步研究湖泊变化对气候变化和人类活动的响应提供基础。获取1978年MSS、1989年TM、1998年TM及2010年ETM的同季相4期遥感图像数据,通过人工解译提取中亚地区7个湖泊信息,获得近30 a的湖泊面积变化;利用T/P和Envisat雷达高度计提取1992—2012年的湖泊水位信息;基于湖泊面积和水位的时空变化特征分析了湖泊变化的影响因素。结果表明:近30 a来,由于湖泊类型的不同,除萨雷卡梅什湖外的其他6个湖泊均出现不同程度的面积缩减;其中,平原尾闾湖面积变化最显著,高山封闭湖相对平稳,吞吐湖泊的面积变化相对复杂;湖泊的水位变化模式因流域和湖泊类型而异;高山封闭湖泊受气候的影响较大,而吞吐湖泊受人为因素影响显著。     

西准噶尔蛇绿混杂岩中洋岛玄武岩研究新进展

洋岛玄武岩(OIB)起源研究是当代固体地球岩石学及地球化学最基本问题之一,通常被认为源于地幔柱。西准噶尔位于中亚造山带的西南缘,该地区发育多条蛇绿混杂岩带,主要包括唐巴勒、玛依勒、达尔布特及克拉玛依蛇绿混杂岩带,它们组成相似,主要为蛇纹岩、蛇纹石化方辉橄榄岩、二辉橄榄岩、纯橄岩、铬铁矿、辉石岩、辉长岩、辉绿岩、玄武岩(拉斑质和碱性)、硅质岩及斜长花岗岩。随着研究的不断深入,在西准噶尔蛇绿混杂岩带中不断有不同时代OIB被识别。这些玄武岩属于碱性玄武岩系列,具有高TiO2和FeOt,低MgO,强烈富集轻稀土元素特征,没有明显Nb、Ta负异常,与日喀则及夏威夷洋岛玄武岩地球化学特征极为相似,可能形成于大洋板内的海山或洋底高原,认为其成因与地幔柱相关,表明在西准噶尔(洋)的演化过程中,不仅是洋内俯冲系统,还伴有地幔柱活动。结合前人研究,认为中亚造山带可能是洋内俯冲+地幔柱复合的演化模型。同时,对中亚造山带中的OIB及OIB型玄武岩形成时代进行系统总结发现,它们不仅时代宽度大,并且具有连续发育的特点。对正确认识地幔柱活动在显生宙中亚造山带地壳增生过程中的贡献提供新的资料和证据。     

Mobile bodies: Animal migration in North American history

North Americans have had a profound affect on wildlife, especially migratory animals such as elk, bison, salmon, and many species of birds. Migration is a vital adaptation for these and other species. Yet despite this importance and the myriad ways in which people have influenced and understood migration, environmental geographers have devoted scant attention to it. This paper examines the role of animal migration in North American history. North Americans have affected and managed animal migrants in six primary ways: transforming migrant habitats; harvesting migrants; obstructing and facilitating migrants; working across borders; visualizing migrants; and accepting and resisting migrants. I examine these different aspects of animal migration history in North America and end with a discussion of how other geographers such as environmental historical geographers, political ecologists, and animal geographers can employ this framework.     

“Yes to Peace”? Environmental peacemaking and transboundary conservation in Central America

The use of transboundary conservation as tools for improving interstate relations has become a widely supported initiative in nature conservation. The rationale follows the environmental peacemaking hypothesis, which argues that seemingly neutral environmental issues can provide a sound basis for cooperation between states. The paper investigates the hypothesis’ premise through the case of International System of Protected Areas for Peace (Si-A-Paz), a transboundary protected area shared by Costa Rica and Nicaragua. In recent years, both countries have been involved in a number of border conflicts within Si-A-Paz and linked to the use of the San Juan River, contested land areas, and oil resources. The case of Si-A-Paz shows that transboundary environmental issues can provide arguments for maintaining or even strengthening conflicts rather than fostering peace between states. The case also shows the emergence of environmental issues as a new arena for geopolitical play, where actors not only justify their actions through an environmental discourse but also, the environmental discourse is stretched to include a variety of issues through which actors can obtain international support. The events in Nicaragua and Costa Rica raise questions about the role of transboundary conservation as a peacebuilding tool.