Strain analysis of a seismically imaged mass‐transport complex,offshore Uruguay

Strain style, magnitude and distribution within mass‐transport complexes (MTCs) are important for understanding the process evolution of submarine mass flows and for estimating their runout distances. Structural restoration and quantification of strain in gravitationally driven passive margins have been shown to approximately balance between updip extensional and downdip contractional domains; such an exercise has not yet been attempted for MTCs. We here interpret and structurally restore a shallowly buried (c. 1,500 mbsf) and well‐imaged MTC, offshore Uruguay using a high‐resolution (12.5 m vertical and 15 × 12.5 m horizontal resolution) three‐dimensional seismic‐reflection survey. This allows us to characterise and quantify vertical and lateral strain distribution within the deposit. Detailed seismic mapping and attribute analysis shows that the MTC is characterised by a complicated array of kinematic indicators, which vary spatially in style and concentration. Seismic‐attribute extractions reveal several previously undocumented fabrics preserved in the MTC, including internal shearing in the form of sub‐orthogonal shear zones, and fold‐thrust systems within the basal shear zone beneath rafted‐blocks. These features suggest multiple transport directions and phases of flow during emplacement. The MTC is characterised by a broadly tripartite strain distribution, with extensional (e.g. normal faults), translational and contractional (e.g. folds and thrusts) domains, along with a radial frontally emergent zone. We also show how strain is preferentially concentrated around intra‐MTC rafted‐blocks due to their kinematic interactions with the underlying basal shear zone. Overall, and even when volume loss within the frontally emergent zone is included, a strain difference between extension (1.6–1.9 km) and contraction (6.7–7.3 km) is calculated. We attribute this to a combination of distributed, sub‐seismic, ‘cryptic’ strain, likely related to de‐watering, grain‐scale deformation and related changes in bulk sediment volume. This work has implications for assessing MTCs strain distribution and provides a practical approach for evaluating structural interpretations within such deposits.     

Diurnal changes in the bio-optical properties of the phytoplankton in the Alborán Sea (Mediterranean Sea)

The changes in the phytoplankton absorption properties during a diurnal cycle were investigated at one station located in the north-western area of the Alborán Sea. The experiment was performed in spring when the water column was strongly stratified. This hydrological situation permitted the establishment of a deep chlorophyll a (chl a) fluorescence maximum (DFM) which was located on average close to the lower limit of the mixed layer and the nutricline. The relative abundance of pico-phytoplankton (estimated as its contribution to the total chl a) was higher in the surface, however, micro-phytoplankton dominated the community at the DFM level. Chl a specific absorption coefficient (a*(λ)) also varied with optical depth, with a* (the spectrally average specific absorption coefficient) decreasing by 30% at the DFM depth with respect to the surface. A significant negative correlation between the contribution of the micro-phytoplankton to the total chl a and a* was obtained indicating that a* reduction was due to changes in the packaging effect. Below the euphotic layer, a* increased three-fold with respect to the DFM, which agrees with the expected accumulation of accessory pigments relative to chl a as an acclimation response to the low available irradiance. The most conspicuous change during the diurnal cycle was produced in the euphotic layer where the chl a concentration decreased significantly in the afternoon (from a mean concentration of 1.1 μg L⁻¹ to 0.7 μg L⁻¹) and increased at dusk when it averaged 1.4 μg L⁻¹. In addition, a* and the blue-to-red absorption band ratio increased in the afternoon. These results suggest that a*(λ) diurnal variability was due to increase in photo-protective and accessory pigments relative to chl a. The variation ranges of a*(λ) at 675 and 440 nm (the absorption peaks in the red and blue spectral bands, respectively) in the euphotic layer were 0.01–0.04 and 0.02–0.10 m² mg⁻¹ chl a, respectively. Approximately 30% out of this variability can be attributed to the diurnal cycle. This factor should therefore be taken into account in refining primary production models based on phytoplankton light absorption.     

我国部分市郊农田的重金属污染与防治途径

分析了我国部分主要城市农田土壤及农作物重金属污染状况，以了解土壤中与农作物中重金属污染物间的相互关系、变化趋势及造成污染的影响因素。结果表明，我国各大城市的农田土壤及农作物都存在不同程度的重金属污染，北方地区的土壤及农作物受重金属污染程度普遍高于南方。重金属在农作物与土壤中的含量一般呈正相关关系，受多种因素影响。对于已污染的土壤，可采用农业工程措施、生物修复法和施用改良剂等予以治理。     

Exploring the Impact of Contextual Information on Student Performance and Interest in Open Humanitarian Mapping

The opportunity to engage university students in authentic, open humanitarian mapping raises important questions about how to guide the quality and productivity of volunteer spatial contributions while providing a valuable learning experience. It presents the unique chance to pique new mappers’ interest, satisfaction, and confidence in spatial technologies in particular, and technology in general, as well as pique their interest in the people and places that are served by the humanitarian mapping projects. This article shares the findings of a study that explores the importance of sharing authentic contextual information about the purpose of the humanitarian mapping task. Two groups of beginner mappers were given mapping tasks, with only one group being provided details on the purpose. Comparisons were made on their respective performance and changes in affective response to a series of questions about technology, education, good citizenship, and empathy. Measures of the quantity and quality of spatial data produced; their respective levels of interest, satisfaction, and confidence in technology; and affective responses before and after mapping show the relative effects of contextual information. Results provide insights about the potential effectiveness of authentic instruction on the performance of mapping as well as the potential effect on mappers themselves. Key Words: citizenship, data quality, empathy, humanitarian mapping, volunteered geographic information.     

雅鲁藏布江缝合带东段白垩纪混杂岩归属及其构造意义

采用野外地质点观察、岩相分析及碎屑锆石U-Pb定年方法,对雅鲁藏布江缝合带东段南侧的朗县白垩纪混杂岩（KL）进行研究。分析结果显示,以乃东-金东-莫洛断裂为界,该断裂南侧具有以板岩/千枚岩为主夹砂岩、粉砂岩的特征,属于海底扇沉积,其碎屑锆石年龄谱有230Ma和530Ma 2个峰值,与南部的上三叠统复理石郎杰学群极其相似;而该断裂北侧狭长地带的KL则主要为陆棚相板岩与大理岩,属于拉萨南缘沉积。为此认为,南部主体属于上三叠统郎杰学群,暗示印度大陆与欧亚大陆在西藏东南部的缝合碰撞边界可能是乃东-金东-莫洛断裂,而不是北侧的泽当-加查-朗拉岗则断裂或南侧的乃东-曲松-白露断裂。     

新疆伊吾阿勒吞昆多蛇绿混杂岩特征

前人将唐巴勒-卡拉麦里缝合线置于伊吾县以南哈尔里克山塔水河一线。1993年巴瑞士等在伊吾西北大黑山发现超镁铁岩-镁铁岩洋壳残片,认为卡拉麦里蛇绿岩从伊吾西北大黑山一带向东延伸。2009年笔者参与伊吾县阿尔通盖一带1∶5万区域地质矿产调查工作,于伊吾县以北阿勒吞昆多一带发现阿勒吞昆多蛇绿混杂岩,该蛇绿岩中斜长花岗岩形成于早石炭世((351±6)Ma),大地构造为哈萨克斯坦-准噶尔板块及准噶尔微板块、唐巴勒-卡拉麦里古生代沟弧体系。在研究前人资料基础上,提出阿勒吞昆多蛇绿混杂岩为卡拉麦里蛇绿岩(属唐巴勒-卡拉麦里缝合线)向东延伸部分,唐巴勒-卡拉麦里缝合线(沟弧体系)西起唐巴勒,向东经达拉布特-卡拉麦里-塔克扎勒-大黑山至伊吾县阿勒吞昆多一带,可能延伸至蒙古境内。     

The contribution of nano- and micro-planktonic assemblages in the surface layer (0-30 m) under different hydrographic conditions in the upwelling area off Concepción, central Chile

In the highly productive region off central Chile, the structure and temporal and spatial variability of planktonic assemblages, and the factors that determine changes in this structure are poorly understood. In the region, wind-driven upwelling, heating by solar radiation and freshwater inputs are highly seasonal processes, which, together with higher frequency events, can promote changes in the planktonic communities, especially in the upper layer. This study focuses on the structure of nano- through to micro-planktonic assemblages (2-200 μm) of unicellular organisms (protists) in surface waters (0-30 m) during different hydrographic conditions. Samples were taken from a fixed shelf station off Concepción (COPAS time series Station 18) on eight occasions between September 2003 and August 2004. The nano-plankton flagellate-dominated fraction was numerically important during the whole period. Maxima in flagellate abundance and biomass occurred during the upwelling period (November-April samplings) but these maxima appear to be unrelated to the degree of water column stratification. The micro-plankton diatom-dominated fraction was usually the largest component in terms of biomass during the study period and the diatoms made important numerical contributions during the upwelling period, with maxima in abundance and biomass when water column stability was lowest. The dominant genera and morphotypes in each functional group were found throughout the study period, with maxima in abundance and biomass co-occurring under similar environmental upwelling conditions. The mean macro-nutrient concentrations (nitrate and silicate) were relatively high in the top 30 m during both upwelling and non-upwelling periods, and did not explain the maxima in plankton or functional group replacements. The persistence of the dominant taxa in the planktonic assemblages suggests a high degree of flexibility, though probably not at the specific level, to withstand the highly variable environmental conditions in this upwelling area.     

Sensitivity of the surface temperature to changes in total solar irradiance calculated with the WRF model

The temperature sensitivity of the WRF model to changes in Total Solar Irradiance (TSI). The simulations were performed for a region centered over the North Atlantic Ocean, including portions of Eastern North America, Western Europe and Northwest Africa. Four simulations were run with different TSI values. Also, a fifth simulation was performed in which we varied the initial atmospheric conditions, in order to compare the effect on the temperature of both, changes in the TSI and initial atmospheric conditions. Comparing temperature monthly averages we found that changes in TSI and in the initial conditions have a measurable impact on temperature in the region of study. The sensitivity of the model using non-dimensional parameters was also estimated. The numerical experiments show some features that might allow to distinguish between the effects on the temperature due to changes in TSI from those caused by initial conditions. However, TSI changes are of the same order of magnitude than those of disturbances in the initial conditions. We also found that the mean monthly values of temperature over the full grid, did not present significant variations due to changes of either initial conditions or TSI.     

太阳表面米粒结构观测对比度分析

分析以观测系统焦面上和探测器测到的太阳表面米粒结构的对比度与观测系统口径，大气湍流相干长度以及系统探测灵敏度的关系，给出了不同口径，不同大气湍流相干长度以及不同系统探测灵敏度时的米粒结构对比值计算结果，此外还给出了实验结果。     

西风爆发事件对暖池厄尔尼诺和冷舌厄尔尼诺的作用——一个概念模型得到的结果

本文通过1个概念模型讨论了西风爆发事件对暖池厄尔尼诺与冷舌厄尔尼诺两种事件的作用,并讨论了它们对应的物理机制。结果表明,由西风爆发所诱导的纬向平流异常和海洋波动对厄尔尼诺的多样性有着至关重要的作用。由于模型包含了最基本的海-洋与大气物理变量及其相互作用机制,本结果可为解释西风爆发事件对厄尔尼诺多样性影响研究提供最基本的框架。