Cenozoic Evolution of Sediments and Climate Change and Response to Tectonic Uplift of the Northeastern Tibetan Plateau

Through a comprehensive study of magnetostratigraphy and sedimentology of several basins in the northeastern Tibetan Plateau, we reveal that the study area mainly experienced six tectonic uplift stages at approximately 52 Ma, 34–30 Ma, 24–20 Ma, 16–12 Ma, 8–6 Ma, and 3.6–2.6 Ma. Comprehensive analyses of pollen assemblages from the Qaidam, Linxia, Xining, and West Jiuquan Basins show that the northeastern Tibetan Plateau has undergone six major changes in vegetation types and climate: 50–40 Ma for the warm-humid forest vegetation, 40–23 Ma for the warm-arid and temperate-arid forest steppe vegetation, 23–18.6 Ma for the warm-humid and temperatehumid forest vegetation, 18.6–8.5 Ma for the warm-humid and cool-humid forest steppe vegetation, 8.6–5 Ma for the temperate sub-humid savanna steppe vegetation, and 5–1.8 Ma for the cold-arid steppe vegetation. Comprehensive comparisons of tectonic uplift events inferred from sedimentary records, climatic changes inferred from pollen, and global climate changes show that in the northeastern Tibetan Plateau the climate in the Paleogene at low altitude was mainly controlled by the global climate change, while that in the Neogene interval with high altitude landscapes of mountains and basins is more controlled by altitude and morphology.     

The ecological fallacy in a time series context: evidence from Spanish regional unemployment rates

The ecological fallacy (EF) is a common problem regional scientists have to deal with when using aggregated data in their analyses. Although there is a wide number of studies considering different aspects of this problem, little attention has been paid to the potential negative effects of the EF in a time series context. Using Spanish regional unemployment data, this paper shows that EF effects are not only observed at the cross-section level, but also in a time series framework. The empirical evidence obtained shows that analytical regional configurations are the least susceptible to time effects relative to both normative and random regional configurations, while normative configurations are an improvement over random ones.

Roles of Melting and Metasomatism in the Formation of the Lithospheric Mantle beneath the Leizhou Peninsula, South China

This study characterizes the nature of fluid interaction andmelting processes in the lithospheric mantle beneath the Yingfenglingand Tianyang volcanoes, Leizhou Peninsula, South China, usingin situ trace-element analyses of clinopyroxene, amphibole andgarnet from a suite of mantle-derived xenoliths. Clinopyroxenesfrom discrete spinel lherzolites exhibit large compositionalvariations ranging from extremely light rare earth element (LREE)-depletedto LREE-enriched. Trace-element modelling for depleted samplesindicates that the Leizhou lherzolites are the residues of amantle peridotite source after extraction of 1–11% meltgenerated by incremental melting in the spinel lherzolite fieldwith the degree of melting increasing upwards from about 60km to 30 km. This process is consistent with gradational meltingat different depths in an upwelling asthenospheric column thatsubsequently cooled to form the current lithospheric mantlein this region. The calculated melt production rate of thiscolumn could generate mafic crust 5–6 km thick, whichwould account for most of the present-day lower crust. The formationof the lithospheric column is inferred to be related to Mesozoiclithosphere thinning. Al-augite pyroxenites occur in compositexenoliths; these are geochemically similar to HIMU-type oceanisland basalt. These pyroxenites postdate the lithospheric columnformation and belong to two episodes of magmatism. Early magmatism(forming metapyroxenites) is inferred to have occurred duringthe opening of the South China Sea Basin (32–15 Ma), whereasthe most recent magmatic episode (producing pyroxenites withigneous microstructures) occurred shortly before the eruptionof the host magmas (6–0·3 Ma). Trace-element traversesfrom the contacts of the Al-augite pyroxenite with the spinelperidotite wall-rock in composite xenoliths record gradientsin the strength and nature of metasomatic effects away fromthe contact, showing that equilibrium was not attained. Significantenrichment in highly incompatible elements close to the contacts,with only slight enrichment in Sr, LREE and Nb away from thecontact, is inferred to reflect the different diffusion ratesof specific trace elements. The observed geochemical gradientsin metasomatic zones show that Sr, La, Ce and Nb have the highestdiffusion rates, other REE are intermediate, and Zr, Hf andTi have the lowest diffusion rates. Lower diffusion rates observedfor Nb, Zr, Hf and Ti compared with REE may cause high fieldstrength element (HFSE) negative anomalies in metasomatizedperidotites. Therefore, metasomatized lherzolites with HFSEnegative anomalies do not necessarily require a carbonatiticmetasomatizing agent. KEY WORDS: China; lithosphere; mantle xenoliths; clinopyroxene trace elements; mantle partial melting; mantle metasomatism; trace-element diffusion rates     

Best of two worlds? Towards ethical electronics repair,reuse, repurposing and recycling

International trade of discarded electronics (e-waste) has become a matter of concern over the last decade because of the actual and potential harms associated with their hazardous materials. An initiative under the aegis of the UN called the Best-of-Two-Worlds (Bo2W) philosophy is one solution to the e-waste problem that has gained some traction. Our dual purpose is to examine the ethical grounds of Bo2W and to propose an alternative program for action. We call this alternative ethical electronics repair, reuse, repurposing, and recycling (EER4). To explore the ethical grounds of Bo2W and to articulate EER4 as an alternative, we draw on notions of ethics, technology, and organization developed in science and technology studies (STS) and diverse economies literatures while empirically we explore a mixed methods case study of a small recycling firm in northern Mexico. Conceptually and empirically, our analysis points to a need for a richer imagination of the possibilities for economic action oriented toward managing discarded electronics. More broadly, our findings may act as a reminder that the space between use and discard proliferates the literal and figurative resources for enriching the imagination and enactment of diverse economic possibilities via the action of repair, reuse, repurposing, and recycling.     

Unexpected fast rate of morphological evolution of geologically-active continental margins during Quaternary: Examples from selected areas in the Italian seas

In the last few decades, seafloor imagery systems have drastically changed our vision of a mostly regular and depositional marine landscape, evidencing how erosive and mass-wasting processes are widespread in the marine environments, with particular reference to geologically-active areas. Most of the previous studies have focused on the characterization of these features, whereas a very few ones have tried to estimate what is the extent and order of magnitude of erosion rates in these areas. In this paper, we show several examples from some of the most geologically-active margins off Southern Italy aimed to a) quantify the spatial extent of such processes, b) better understand the role of submarine erosion in the morphogenesis of the coastal sector, and c) try to roughly estimate the order of magnitude of erosion rates in these areas. The results are impressive, with mass-wasting features widespread from coast down to −2600, affecting from the 52% up to 97% of the whole continental slope. Because of the narrow or totally lacking shelves in these areas, mass-wasting processes often occur close to the coast and match embayment of the coast, so indicating a key role in the morphogenesis of coastal sector, with significant implication on the related geohazard. Finally, based on a morphological approach integrated by available stratigraphic constraints we have roughly estimated average erosion rates in these areas, ranging from (at least) some mm/year to a few cm/year, i.e., some hundreds of meters up to kilometers eroded in each eustatic cycle. Despite the large uncertainties of these estimates as well as their spatial and temporal variability in response to regional and local factors, the obtained values are very high and they should be considered for future model of margin evolution, source-to-sink computation and marine/coastal geohazard assessment.     

Time series video analysis of bubble release processes at natural hydrocarbon seeps in the Northern Gulf of Mexico

This research quantifies the rate and volume of oil and gas released from two natural seep sites in the Gulf of Mexico: lease blocks GC600 (1200 m depth) and MC118 (850 m depth). Our objectives were to determine variability in release rates and bubble size at five individual vents and to investigate the effects of tidal fluctuations on bubble release. Observations with autonomous video cameras captured the formation of individual bubbles as they were released through partially exposed deposits of gas hydrate. Image processing techniques determined bubble type (oily, gaseous, and mixed: oily and gaseous), size distribution, release rate, and temporal variations (observation intervals ranged from 3 h to 26 d). A semi-automatic bubble counting algorithm was developed to analyze bubble count and release rates from video data. This method is suitable for discrete vents with small bubble streams commonly seen at seeps and is adaptable to multiple in situ set-ups. Two vents at GC600 (Birthday Candles 1 and Birthday Candles 2) were analyzed. They released oily bubbles with an average diameter of 5.0 mm at a rate of 4.7 bubbles s⁻¹, and 1.3 bubbles s⁻¹, respectively. Approximately 1 km away, within the GC600 seep site, two more vents (Mega Plume 1 and Mega Plume 2) were analyzed. These vents released a mixture of oily and gaseous bubbles with an average diameter of 3.9 mm at a rate of 49 bubbles s⁻¹, and 81 bubbles s⁻¹, respectively. The fifth vent at MC118 (Rudyville) released gaseous bubbles with an average diameter of 3.0 mm at a rate of 127 bubbles s⁻¹. Pressure records at Mega Plume and Rudyville showed a diurnal tidal cycle (24.5 h). Rudyville was the only vent that demonstrated any positive correlation (ρ = 0.60) to the 24.5 h diurnal tidal cycle. However, these observations were not conclusive regarding tidal effects on bubble release.     

城市富营养化湖泊的外源污染负荷与贡献解析——以武汉市后官湖为例

为探究城市湖泊富营养化的污染负荷来源及其贡献率,选择长江流域中下游典型富营养化湖泊(武汉后官湖)为研究对象,结合实测法、平均浓度法与排污系数法,解析了后官湖的外部污染来源(包括点源和面源,面源又进一步划分为农村生活、农业种植、水产养殖、畜禽养殖和城市径流).结果表明:化学需氧量(COD)主要来源于点源,入湖贡献为54%;总磷主要来源于面源,入湖贡献为71%.进一步筛选面源中污染物的主要来源发现,总磷主要来自农业种植和水产养殖,入湖贡献分别为41%和30%;面源中COD、氨氮和总氮贡献最大的是城市径流,入湖贡献率分别为61%、53%和37%.行政区污染排放贡献率中,COD、氨氮、总氮和总磷排放贡献率最大的分别为沌口街办(25. 24%)、蔡甸街办(23.28%)、永丰街办(24.04%)和大集街办(26.15%).开展沌口街办和永丰街办的点源治理可有效消减入湖COD与氨氮负荷,而大集街办的农业面源污染防治则是后官湖流域总磷治理的重点.     

淀山湖底泥生态疏浚适宜深度判定分析

通过室内模拟实验,对淀山湖东部湖区的沉积物进行研究,测定沉积物在不同疏浚深度和疏浚温度下的铵态氮(NH₄⁺-N)、正磷酸盐(NH₄^3--P)和溶解性有机碳(DOC)的释放速率,并对该区域沉积物的理化指标进行检测.结果表明:淀山湖表层沉积物近年来总磷和有机质含量有较大增加.淀山湖东部湖区NH₄⁺-N和DOC存在着释放趋势,NH₄^3--P在夏季会从沉积物中向上覆水中释放,在年内会形成"源"和"汇"的转化.整个淀山湖东部湖区按不同研究区域划分,疏浚深度以10~20 cm最佳,疏浚季节以秋季为佳.通过对淀山湖东部湖区的沉积物在不同疏浚深度和疏浚时间下的污染物释放速率的研究,可以为淀山湖和其它类似湖泊的疏浚工作提供相应的科学依据.     

初始场和长波辐射对气候模拟的影响

对CCM2 (T42L18) 模式运行10次，每次初始状态稍微变化。试验结果表明了CCM2模式对初始场的响应，10次运行长波辐射（LWR）加热率的标准差在全球许多地方和谱的许多尺度上超过10%。相似的结果也可以从云和温度的计算结果中发现。从CCM2算法的10次运行和应用CCM2、MOR和NMC三种不同的LWR算法的3次运行的试验比较中发现，不同LWR算法模式运行之间的变率比没有LWR算法变化的初始场作用大得多。在CCM2模式中，比较应用CCM2、MOR和NMC三种不同的LWR算法的气候模拟，我们发现CCM2和MOR的算法比较接近，而和NMC的差别较大。但三种不同的LWR算法3次运行积分结果的平均值和不同算法间的绝对差值在全球许多地方和不同尺度上的差别都超过10%，远远大于初始场对气候模拟的作用。     

渤海地区^210Pb、^137Cs同位素测年的研究现状

近百年来环渤海地区的沉积作用是影响该区近现代地质环境变化的重要因素。本文收集了该区迄今公开发表的用于确定现代沉积速率的84组^210Pb、^137Cs柱状剖面（包括210Pb样柱52组，^210Pb、^137Cs样柱32组），其中海区39组，潮间带及沿海低地地区45组。环渤海地区的^210Pb放射性活度的深度分布曲线主要表现为3种形式：理想指数衰变型、近等幅摆动型和海洋特殊动力事件影响型。根据由陆向海方向沉积速率的变化，可初步划分为沿岸低沉积速率带、开放潮坪高沉积速率带及海区低沉积速率区；区域性差异则表现为渤海湾开放潮坪区上部由北（蓟运河口）向南（老狼坨子）沉积速率表现为高-低-高，辽东湾从其西侧的锦州湾向东至辽河河口的开放潮坪地区，沉积速率递减，黄河三角洲地区及其附近海域属于间歇式快速沉积区，莱州湾西部为高速沉积区。