Pelagic tar, dissolved/dispersed petroleum hydrocarbons and plastic distribution in the Cretan Sea, Greece

During the first cruise of R/V ‘Philia’ in July 1997 within the framework of the TALOS programme supported by the Greek Ministry of Physical Planning and Public Works, the sampling of floating tar, litter and sea water for dissolved/dispersed petroleum hydrocarbons (DDPH) was carried out in the Cretan Sea. Analysis of these data has allowed a first assessment of the status of floating marine pollution in the region. DDPH measurements showed a mean concentration of 0.145 μg/l of chrysene equivalents (n = 24). Tar and plastics concentrations were in the range of 1–4280 and 0–1160 μg/m², respectively. Mean pelagic tar concentration was 318 μg/m², more than two times higher than what was reported for the area in previous studies. Based on in situ hydrographic observations there is strong evidence that most of the floating tar enters the Cretan Sea through the Ionian Sea.     

东亚地区现代地壳运动特征与构造变形

根据“中国地壳运动观测网络”首次发布的GPS观测结果以及国际地球自转服务中心在 2 0 0 0年发布的ITRF97下的站速度矢量和“东南亚地球动力学项目”GPS网的观测结果 ,讨论了东亚地区现今地壳运动和构造变形特征。在ITRF97参考系下 ,中国大陆东部现今地壳运动以向南东方向(12 0 130°)运动为主 ,量值平均为 35mm/a ,西部受印度板块向北东碰撞的影响 ,运动方向发生偏转 ,呈显北东—近东西向运动 ,但这种影响涉及的范围达到了准噶尔盆地北缘一线 ,说明碰撞型板块边界对板内变形的影响远大于俯冲型板块边界。平均来看 ,75 %以上的印度板块相对于欧亚板块间的南北向缩短是通过地壳增厚变形来吸收的 ,这意味着在调节整个青藏高原构造变形的过程中 ,逆断和地壳增厚起了主要的作用。东南亚块体总体上与欧亚板块的运动有所差异 ,相对于欧亚大陆有 10mm/a左右向东的运动。菲律宾板块南部向西的运动速度只有 2 4mm/a。包括华南地块在内的东南亚块体的运动不仅仅是与印度板块的碰撞过程有关 ,也应当与沿着东南亚块体东边界的俯冲过程有关。     

Patterns in the sand: A pleistocene hominin signature along the South African coastline?

The Cape south coast of South Africa boasts one of the richest Middle Stone Age (MSA) archaeological records in the world. Here coastal caves and rock shelters contain well-documented archives of early humans, including early evidence of human adornment and jewelry, rock engraving and rock paSabstextinting. It has been suggested that palaeoenvironmental conditions in the area were critical to the survival of the human species. Humans travelled over dune surfaces, interdune areas and beaches during this period. These are now preserved as palaeosurfaces in aeolianites and cemented foreshore deposits, through which the ancient landscapes can be interpreted. Such contemporary sand surfaces may have formed potential canvases on which foraging behaviour or the creation of patterns or symbols could have been recorded. We question whether MSA humans left evidence of their presence other than their footprints when moving over these surfaces, and if so, whether such evidence can be discerned and interpreted today, as a hominin signature preserved in exposures of aeolianite and cemented foreshore deposits. We discuss other agents that could have caused similar patterns, and we consider the merits of eight sites that we have identified on the Cape south coast. In combination they encapsulate the complexity, challenges and potential of such study. We conclude that evidence at some of these sites suggests an anthropic origin, potentially constituting a previously undocumented form of MSA hominin expression and activity.     

The KwaZulu-Natal sardine run: shoal distribution in relation to nearshore environmental conditions, 1997–2007

The nearshore presence of sardine Sardinops sagax on the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) coast was investi-gated using sightings data collected by the KZN Sharks Board from 1997 to 2007. The spatio-temporal distribution of sardine was described in relation to that of their predators and to environmental conditions, and subjected to generalised linear model (GLM) and generalised additive model (GAM) analyses. Variables describing spatio-temporal conditions performed best in the models (r² = 0.52) with seasonal effects, specifically June and July, making the greatest contribution towards sardine presence. The contribution of the years 2003, 2006 and 2007, and the KZN North Coast, was signif-icantly lower. The predator variables were highly significant (r² = 0.48) with Cape gannets Morus capensis, followed by the sharks/gamefish and common dolphins Delphinus capensis, being most closely associated with sardine presence. Environmental variables were not as influential in the GLM models (r² = 0.23), but some variables were useful in describing conditions favouring sardine presence, namely calm current conditions, light north-westerly land breezes and stable atmospheric conditions. Increasing sea surface temperature (SST), moderate north to south currents, large swells and turbid water had a negative impact upon sardine presence. North-easterly and north-westerly winds and north to south currents had a cooling effect upon nearshore SSTs, whereas south-easterly winds and increasing air temperatures caused nearshore warming. Results are discussed in the context of developing an understanding of the mechanisms that govern fine-scale movements of sardine shoals during the KZN sardine run, with a view to predicting such movements.     

华北克拉通古元古代晚期地壳演化和荆山群形成时代制约——胶东地区变质中-基性侵入岩锆石SHRIMP U-Pb定年

胶东地区的荆山群呈近东西向环绕太古宙TTG花岗质片麻岩展布,主要由成熟度高的含石墨变泥砂质岩石、钙硅酸岩和大理岩组成,变质程度达高角闪岩相-麻粒岩相,具孔兹岩系性质.变质中-基性岩侵入到荆山群.它们的侵位时代对于探讨华北克拉通东部元古宙构造演化以及对荆山群沉积时代的制约,都有重要意义.锆石SHRIMP U-Pb定年结果...     

Influence of Wind on Dynamics and Flushing of Shallow Estuaries

Observations of two small estuaries in Cape Cod, U.S.A. indicate large variations in salinity structure that are forced by variations in along-estuary wind stress. During onshore winds, the estuarine circulation is reduced, and the along-estuary salinity gradient increases as freshwater accumulates. During offshore winds, the surface outflow is enhanced, freshwater is flushed out of the estuary, and the along-estuary salinity gradient becomes weak. Constrictions block the wind-induced flushing, resulting in strong salinity fronts across the constrictions. The residence time of one of the estuaries varies by more than a factor of three in response to variations in wind-induced flushing. The other estuary has little variation of flushing associated with winds, due to a constriction at the mouth that inhibits the wind-induced exchange. The strong influence of winds on the flushing of these estuaries is due in part to their shallow depths, which accentuates the influence of wind stress relative to the effects of the horizontal density gradient. In addition, the residence times of the estuaries are comparable to the time scale of wind forcing, allowing large changes in water properties during wind events.     

Biostratigraphy of Jurassic-Cretaceous boundary sediments in the Eastern Crimea

The Dvuyakornaya Formation section in the eastern Crimea is described and subdivided into biostratigraphic units based on ammonites, foraminifers, and ostracodes. The lower part of the formation contains first discovered ammonites of the upper Kimmeridgian (Lingulaticears cf. procurvum (Ziegler), Pseudowaagenia gemmellariana Olóriz, Euvirgalithacoceras cf. tantalus (Herbich), Subplanites sp.) and Tithonian (?(Lingulaticeras efimovi (Rogov), Phylloceras consaguineum Gemmellaro, Oloriziceras cf. schneidi Tavera, and Paraulacosphinctes cf. transitorius (Oppel)). Based on the assemblage of characteristic ammonite species, the upper part of the formation is attributed to the Berriasian Jacobi Zone. Five biostratigraphic units (zones and beds with fauna) distinguished based on foraminifers are the Epistomina ventriosa-Melathrokerion eospirialis Beds and Anchispirocyclina lusitanica-Melathrokerion spirialis Zone in the upper Kimmeridgian-Tithonian, the Protopeneroplis ultragranulatus-Siphoninella antiqua, Frondicularia cuspidiata-Saracenaria inflanta zones, and Textularia crimica Beds in the Berriasian. The Cyrherelloidea tortuosa-Palaeocytheridea grossi Beds of the Upper Jurassic and Raymoorea peculiaris-Eucytherura ardescae-Protocythere revili Beds of the Berriasian are defined based on ostracodes. A new biostratigraphic scale is proposed for the upper Kimmeridgian-Berriasian of the eastern Crimea. The Dvyyakornaya Formation sediments are considered as deepwater facies accumulated on the continental slope.     

Deformation History of the Kunavaram Complex, Eastern Ghats Belt, India: Implications for Alkaline Magmatism Along the Indo-Antarctica Suture

The Kunavaram alkaline complex is a NE-SW trending elongate body located along a major lineament, the Sileru Shear Zone (SSZ) that is regarded as a Proterozoic suture related to Indo-Antarctica collision. The complex is hosted within migmatitic quartzofeldspathic gneisses, mafic granulites retrogressed to amphibolites, and quartzites. The structural evolution of the country rocks and the alkaline complex are similar. The first phase of deformation, D₁, produces a pervasive segregation banding (S₁) in all rock units within and outside the complex. A second deformation phase D₂ isoclinally folded S₁ along subvertical axial planes with shallow plunging axes. F₂ isoclinal folds are ubiquitous in the country rocks and the eastern extremity of the complex. In the interior of the alkaline body, D₂ strain decreases and S₁ is commonly subhorizontal. While amphibolite to granulite facies conditions prevailed during deformation, post-D₂ annealing textures testify to persisting high grade conditions. In the west, a NNE-SSW trending dextral shear zone with strike-slip sense (D₃) truncates the complex. Within this shear zone, quartzofeldspathic country rocks are plastically deformed, while hornblende-K-feldspar assemblages of the complex are retrogressed to biotite and plagioclase. Warping related to D₃ shears also resulted in fold interference patterns on the subhorizontal S₁ foliation in low D₂ strain domains. Based on its steep dip, north-easterly trend, and non-coaxial nature with dextral strike-slip sense, the D₃ shear zone can be correlated with the SSZ. Since this shear zone, i.e., the SSZ, is not associated with primary igneous fabrics and resulted in solid state deformation of the complex, it cannot be considered as a conduit for alkaline magmatism, but is probably responsible for the post-tectonic disposition of the pluton.     

华宁盘溪金山-大石山泥盆纪珊瑚礁的基本特征

滇东华宁盘溪火车站以北的金山—大石山地区发育中、晚泥盆世的丘状珊瑚礁。以Ａｌｖｅｏｌｉｔｅｓ和Ｔｈａｍｎｏｐｏｒａ为代表的床板珊瑚为造礁生物。纵剖面上岩相变化的记录清楚地表明，该礁体经历了定殖、繁殖和衰亡三个阶段。海水变浅及其盐化是导致礁体衰亡的直接原因