Mechanisms of collapse of the cretaceous helvetiafjellet formation at Kvalvågen,eastern Spitsbergen

Coastal cliffs at Kvalvågen, eastern Spitsbergen, expose palaeolandslide blocks and related slope failure features that record local collapse of an otherwise undisturbed succession of paralic sediments. The collapse occurred along a shallow sloping shelf at the edge of an epicontinental sea in the Early Cretaceous. The event was coincident with a rise in relative sea level along a coast that had just previously experienced a major paralic regression across a muddy marine environment. The low relief environment in which the slope failure structures formed, as well as the timing of the collapse raise questions regarding the cause of the topographic instability and the possible influence of sea level changes or tectonic activity. These outcrops have been previously interpreted as the collapse of a deltaic system triggered by local seismic activity or collapse of a shelf break in the headwall regions of submarine canyons. This paper presents new structural and stratigraphic data that refine and adjust the previous interpretations through the evaluation of a variety of possible mechanisms for collapse based on the new data. Our data suggest that active delta deposition was not occurring at Kvalvågen at the time of collapse and that the collapse was likely due to allogenic forcing. Despite the possible influence of pore fluids and rheological controls on the collapse, we find that the geometry and kinematics of landslide slip planes, synsedimentary folds, and other slope failure related features require over-steepened topography and that these are most consistent with westward-directed collapse off of a north striking escarpment with elevated topography on the east side. Fault exposures, a large contrast in palaeo-elevation, and liquifaction features support previous interpretations of a tectonic cause for the collapse and suggest that this topographic feature may have been a fault or fold scarp. This study demonstrates the importance of combining stratigraphic and sedimentological data with structural data and kinematic analysis in the interpretation of sedimentary processes.     

Calibration and use of continuous heat-type automated seepage meters for submarine groundwater discharge measurements

Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) assessments were conducted both in the laboratory and at a field site in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico, using a continuous heat-type automated seepage meter (seepmeter). The functioning of the seepmeter is based on measurements of a temperature gradient in the water between downstream and upstream positions in its flow pipe. The device has the potential of providing long-term, high-resolution measurements of SGD. Using a simple inexpensive laboratory set-up, we have shown that connecting an extension cable to the seepmeter has a negligible effect on its measuring capability. Similarly, the observed influence of very low temperature (≤3 °C) on seepmeter measurements can be accounted for by conducting calibrations at such temperatures prior to field deployments. Compared to manual volumetric measurements, calibration experiments showed that at higher water flow rates (>28 cm day⁻¹ or cm³ cm⁻² day⁻¹) an analog flowmeter overestimated flow rates by ≥7%. This was apparently due to flow resistance, turbulence and formation of air bubbles in the seepmeter water flow tubes. Salinity had no significant effect on the performance of the seepmeter. Calibration results from fresh water and sea water showed close agreement at a 95% confidence level significance between the data sets from the two media (R² = 0.98). Comparatively, the seepmeter SGD measurements provided data that are comparable to manually-operated seepage meters, the radon geochemical tracer approach, and an electromagnetic (EM) seepage meter.     

Nitrous oxide production and denitrification rates in estuarine intertidal saltmarsh and managed realignment zones

Increasing concerns over habitat loss and rising costs of sea defence maintenance due to rising sea levels, has seen increases in the practice of managed realignment and reflooding of former reclaimed areas of intertidal saltmarsh and mudflat around the world. These practices are taking place with little knowledge of their impact on soil biogeochemical processes. Rates of denitrification (using the acetylene inhibition technique) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) production were measured from a long-established saltmarsh (SM) and an adjacent, recently re-flooded managed realignment (MR) site comprising former arable land in the estuary of the River Torridge, Devon, UK. Incubations were carried out in closed chambers in which patterns of tidal flooding were simulated automatically. Measurements were made during periods of flood and non-flood over a total of four tidal inundations with estuarine water. During the latter two flooding episodes floodwater was amended with nitrate (NO₃⁻). Nitrous oxide production in the SM soil generally was lower than in the MR soil, with mean values and standard errors over the whole incubation of 0.27 ± 0.16 mg N₂O-N m⁻² h⁻¹ and 0.65 ± 0.15 mg N₂O-N m⁻² h⁻¹ respectively. Denitrification rates demonstrated a similar trend although generally were an order of magnitude higher than N₂O production, with mean rates and standard errors of 2.88 ± 1.12 mg N₂O-N m⁻² h⁻¹ in the SM soil and 3.39 ± 1.16 mg N₂O-N m⁻² h⁻¹ in the MR soil. The data suggest that both soils are net sinks for NO₃⁻ and net sources for N₂O. Both patterns of tidal inundation and floodwater chemistry affect the process rates in each soil differently. The impact of flooding with NO₃⁻ – amended water was greater on the SM soil than the MR soil, and it is likely that decomposing vegetation buried in the accreting sediments following reflooding at the MR site were supplying a source of N in the soil, and so process rates were less dependent upon external supplies. The act of managed realignment in intertidal zones could therefore result in an increase in mean production of N₂O in intertidal zones, at least in the short term.     

Changes in Venice Lagoon dynamics due to construction of mobile barriers

The MoSE project (construction of mobile barrier to safeguard the Lagoon of Venice) entails changes to the structure of the lagoon's inlets. This could have consequences for the areas near the inlets and for the dynamics of the lagoon ecosystem as a whole. In order to predict the effects of the proposed alterations on the hydrodynamics of the lagoon, a well-tested hydrodynamic-dispersion model was applied. Simulations were carried out considering both idealised and realistic tide and wind scenarios.     

A joint distribution of significant wave height and characteristic surf parameter

The paper provides a joint distribution of significant wave height and characteristic surf parameter. The characteristic surf parameter is given by the ratio between the slope of a beach or a structure and the square root of the characteristic wave steepness in deep water defined in terms of the significant wave height and the spectral peak period. The characteristic surf parameter is used to characterize surf zone processes and is relevant for e.g. wave run-up on beaches and coastal structures. The paper presents statistical properties of the wave parameters as well as an example of results corresponding to typical field conditions.     

青岛海洋趋磁球菌QH-3 的鞭毛特征

趋磁细菌(magnetotactic bacteria,MTB)是一类能够沿着磁力线运动的特殊细菌。MTB在胞内磁小体的导向下借助自身鞭毛进行趋磁趋氧运动,以到达适宜的生境。本研究在青岛潮间带沉积物中发现大量的趋磁球菌,通过光镜与透射电镜对其运动方式与显微结构进行观察。结果显示优势趋磁细菌为卵球形,大小为2.5μm×2.1μm,宽长比为0.85,将其命名为QH-3。QH-3为趋北型(North-seeking)MTB,运动速度88μm/s,细胞内两侧各有一条由棱柱形颗粒组成的磁小体链。QH-3在菌体同一侧有两个由直径62 nm±9 nm的鞘包裹7根鞭毛组成的鞭毛束。这种特殊的鞭毛结构与已报道的致病菌的不同,而与法国地中海趋磁球菌MO-1的相似。     

聚合物驱组合段塞分注实验研究

萨尔图油田南二区东部140号断层以东地区葡11—4油层,以多段多韵律和正韵律沉积为主,平均孔隙度30．0％,平均空气渗透率1980×10^-3μm2。水驱结束时该油层平均含水92％,采出程度39．5％。计划对该区块实施聚合物驱开采。以往经验认为,组合段塞调整注聚技术能够有效改善流度控制作用。然而对组合注入情况下如何进一步提高驱油效果、注入井分注时机、层段注入强度对开发效果有何影响却很少探讨。通过室内驱油实验,在聚驱的组合段塞注入不同时机（水驱空白阶段、含水下降阶段、含水稳定阶段、含水回升阶段）下调整注入强度实施分注以及在含水回升分注基础上进一步调整注入强度,同时对比不分注实验,评价各方案驱油效果。实验表明：不实施分注时聚驱采收率在水驱基础上提高了19．07个百分点,而组合段塞注入时实施分注均能够在不分注基础上进一步提高驱油效果;空白水驱时实施分注采收率提高幅度最大,为26．55个百分点;随着分注时机的滞后采收率提高幅度增加值依次递减,分注时机越早越好。     

南堡凹陷4号构造带蛤坨断层特征与油气成藏关系

南堡凹陷4号构造带断裂发育,既发育沟通烃源岩的深断裂,也发育沟通浅层圈闭的次级断裂。综合利用地震、测井、岩性等资料分析断层的空间展布,计算蛤坨断层的生长指数和断层泥比率（SGR）,分析断层的活动性、封堵性,评价其输导性能,并结合其与烃源岩生排烃期的匹配关系研究断裂与油气运移、聚集的关系及控制规律。在典型油气藏剖面解剖的基础上,建立了4号构造带油气运聚成藏模式。     

两郧断裂郧县盆地段地质与地球物理特征研究

通过野外地质调查,结合地球物理探测手段,研究两郧断裂郧县盆地段地质与地球物理特征;参照两郧断裂带多个位置采集断层物质的SEM、TL测试成果,并结合本次对断层上断点沉积物OSL测年数据,对两郧断裂该段第四纪活动性进行分析。研究结果表明,两郧断裂在郧县盆地段埋深相对较深;断裂特征主要为逆断层,部分分支断裂显示为正断性质;断裂带最新活动时代为中更新世晚期-晚更新世早期。     

江汉盆地典型二级构造带特征分析

在三维地震资料的基础上,依据构造带划分原则,把江汉盆地构造带划分为三大类,分别为断裂、盐构造及古潜山,共25个,并分别在3个类别中选取一个典型构造带进行讨论研究。