Recent behaviour of the Debeli Namet glacier,Durmitor, Montenegro

A small cirque glacier is present in a north‐east facing cirque on the mountain of ?ljeme (2455 m a.s.l.) in the Durmitor massif, Montenegro. Sediment ridges in front of this glacier are interpreted as moraines and can be attributed to recent glacier activity over the past 130 years. Lichenometry was applied to determine the relative ages of different moraines using Aspicilia calcarea agg. One set of moraines dates from about 1878 AD, whilst another set of inner moraines dates from about 1904 AD. The most recent moraines appear to have formed within the last 11 years in front of an active glacier margin. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Lipid composition of a Recent Polynesian microbial mat sequence

The extractable lipid composition of four layers of a microbial mat from Hao, French Polynesia, shows differences that reflect both the imprint of their microbial populations and the selective diagenetic transformations of specific microbial compounds.The uppermost layers, principally composed of cyanobacteria and other bacteria, contain lipids typical of such microbes, namely n-heptadecane, heptadecene, hexadecanoic acid, and various sterols. With increasing depth the selective degradation of lower n-alkane homologues occurs; n-alkenes also show enhanced degradation.The predominant sterols in the bottom horizon of the mat are C₂, and C₃₀ components, including dinosterol and other 4-methylsterols presumably derived from dinofiagellates. In addition, there is an increase in the proportion of stanols with depth, perhaps arising from preferential degradation of δ⁵-stenols.     

Sustainability of tropical small-scale fisheries: Integrated assessment in French Guiana

Like many tropical small-scale fisheries, the French Guiana coastal fishery is characterized by the high fish biodiversity of its ecosystem, the weak selectivity of the fleets exploiting the resources, and the heterogeneity of the vessels in terms of size and fishing techniques. The Rapfish method is used to assess sustainability within 11 fishery systems by means of 27 attributes relating to ecological, economic, social, and technological fields. Overall results indicate an average performance in the weak sustainability range. Comparisons made among the FSs show a gradient of sustainability performance from the western portion of the coast to the eastern portion. Several recommendations are formulated to raise the current “sustainability” status, such as the reduction of discards. This study is used as a complementary tool to the bioeconomic model in order to define a sustainable management plan for the French Guiana coastal fishery.     

Two‐layer scree/snow‐avalanche triggered by rockfall (Eastern Alps): Significance for sedimentology of scree slopes

Rockfalls that trigger scree‐laden snow avalanches are common in mountain ranges, but the resulting avalanche development and its role in understanding the sedimentology of scree slopes are rarely described in detail. On Riepenwand (2774 m above sea‐level, Kalkkögel range, Alps), on 6 May 2011 a 5800 m³ rockfall of dolostone detached from the flank of a gorge in the upper part of the mountain. After first collapsing into the gorge, the fragmented rock mass fell down freely for 150 m onto a talus covered by coarse‐granular snow. Rockfall impact triggered a medium‐scale avalanche that developed: (i) a lower layer A of entrained, pure snow; and (ii) an upper layer B of clay‐sized to boulder‐sized fragments mixed with snow. This ‘two‐layer scree/snow avalanche’ halted in the distal slope segment of the talus. Boulders within layer B mainly came to rest in the distal part of the avalanche deposit. Fragments smaller than cobble‐size grade did not show obvious downslope segregation. With snowmelt, the rockfall fragments dispersed in layer B were concentrated to a clast‐supported veneer that was draped over the older talus surface upon slower melting of avalanche layer A. In the grain‐size fraction ≤16 mm, a mean of 5 wt% matrix (silt‐sized to clay‐sized grains) of the rockfall‐derived scree of layer B is similar to a mean matrix content of 7 wt% within stratified talus slopes of the Kalkkögel range. This similarity suggests that a major share of matrix – widespread in stratified talus – stems from rockfalls. The characteristics of the scree veneer as melt‐lag of a scree‐laden snow avalanche will be blurred with time. Fossil talus successions may contain a substantial proportion of scree carried down by snow avalanches. The formation of a distinct sedimentary facies of snow avalanche‐deposited scree is impeded by processes of redeposition and deposit modification on talus.     

The influence of landsliding on sediment supply and channel change in a steep mountain catchment

Rates of sediment supply by landsliding to an alluvial channel in a small catchment in central Switzerland were estimated over an 11-month study period. Fluvial sediment transport in the channel is independently monitored at the upstream and downstream ends of the study reach, yielding a unique opportunity to quantitatively compare the volume of sediment supplied to the channel with the volume in fluvial transport. Landslide-derived sediment discharge to the channel was greatest during the winter and spring months, while most of the fluvial sediment transport occurred during short, intense summer storms. Approximately 98 m³ of sediment was delivered directly to the study reach by landsliding,  80 m³ was transported into the reach from upstream, and  70 m³ was transported out of the reach. Thus, there was a net accumulation of  100 m³ of sediment during the 11-month study. Decadal-scale channel aggradation was independently assessed by comparing channel longitudinal profiles in 1993 and 2004. During this 11-year period, a total of  1500 m³ of sediment has accumulated in the study reach. Aggradation has occurred largely in two broad zones that correspond with both the locations of major landslide complexes and reaches of high channel slope, indicating that hillslope sediment input left an imprint on the morphology of the channel bed that appears to be stable over at least decadal time scales.     

Structural and metamorphic evolution of the phengite‐bearing schists of the northern Adula Nappe (Central Alps,Switzerland)

Phengite‐bearing schists of the northern Adula Nappe experienced a polymetamorphic and polycyclic evolution that was associated with five deformation episodes. Evidence of a pre‐Alpine metamorphic event is preserved within garnet cores of some amphibole‐bearing schists. The D1 and D2 deformation episodes are recorded by S1 and S2 foliations preserved only within metre‐scale domains of low‐D3 strain. S1 is a relict foliation. Blueschist‐facies conditions at 565 ± 10°C and 11.5 ± 1.5 kbar were attained during D2 and were associated with the development of isoclinal folding and an S2 foliation. The D3 episode took place at 665 ± 50°C and 11.5 ± 2.1 kbar and was responsible for the development of a transpositive S3 foliation. The D4 episode took place at T < 550 ± 10°C and was associated with the development of a discrete S4 foliation and S‐C structures. The D5 episode is recorded by sub‐vertical metre‐scale open folds or centimetre‐scale kinks. The structural and metamorphic evolution described here indicates that the northern and central parts of the Adula Nappe were distinct continental crustal fragments and were brought together under amphibolite‐facies conditions. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

阿尔卑斯山山体效应及其对林线的影响分析

阿尔卑斯山是欧亚大陆上著名的山地,对欧洲的地理生态格局具有重要的影响.山体效应产生的原因在于隆起的高原或山地吸收了更多的太阳辐射.因此,论文以阿尔卑斯山为研究对象,利用收集到的气象台站观测数据、林线、数字高程数据,以及基于半球视域算法计算得到的太阳辐射数据等,分析阿尔卑斯山气温的空间分布格局以及最热月、最冷月、全年的太...     

Accelerated sediment delivery to continental margins during post-orogenic rebound of mountain ranges

Changes in sediment flux to continental margins are commonly interpreted in terms of tectonic growth of topography or climatic change. Here, we show that variations in sediment yield from orogenic systems, previously considered as resulting from climate change, drainage reorganisation or mantle processes can be explained by intrinsic mechanisms of mountain belt/foreland basin systems naturally evolving during post-orogenic decay. Numerical modelling indicates an increase of sediment flux leaving the orogenic system synchronous with the cessation of deposition in the foreland basin and the transition from late syn- to post-orogenesis. Experiments highlight the importance of lithospheric flexure that causes the post-orogenic isostatic rebound of the foreland basin. Erosion of the rebounding foreland basin combined with continued sediment flux from the thrust wedge drives an acceleration in sediment outflux towards continental margins. Sediment budget records in natural settings such as the Northern Pyrenees or Western European Alps also indicate accelerated post-orogenic sediment delivery to the Bay of Biscay and Rhône Delta respectively. These intrinsic processes that determine sediment yield to continental margins must be accounted for prior to consideration of additional external tectonic or climatic controls.