Optimizing fixed observational assets in a coastal observatory

Proliferation of coastal observatories necessitates an objective approach to managing of observational assets. In this article, we used our experience in the coastal observatory for the Columbia River estuary and plume to identify and address common problems in managing of fixed observational assets, such as salinity, temperature, and water level sensors attached to pilings and moorings. Specifically, we addressed the following problems: assessing the quality of an existing array, adding stations to an existing array, removing stations from an existing array, validating an array design, and targeting of an array toward data assimilation or monitoring.     

Palynological evidence for Jurassic strata in the Panagarh area, West Bengal, India

The Rajmahal Traps were discovered in the Panagarh area, West Bengal, during the exploration for coal resources. A Gondwana succession was found beneath the traps, consisting of the Early Cretaceous Intratrappean Rajmahal Formation, the Early Triassic Panchet Formation and the Late Permian coal-bearing Raniganj Formation. The present palynological study was aimed at confirming the age of the Panchet Formation. As a result of this study it has been found that Jurassic sediments are also included in the Panchet Formation. The study has revealed that the Panchet Formation, defined on a lithological basis, is a time-transgressive unit extending from the Early Triassic to the Late Jurassic, with a phase of non-deposition between the Middle Triassic and Middle Jurassic.     

Holocene rockfalls in the southern Negev Desert,Israel and their relation to Dead Sea fault earthquakes

Rockfall ages in tectonically active regions provide information regarding frequency and magnitude of earthquakes. In the hyper-arid environment of the Dead Sea fault (DSF), southern Israel, rockfalls are most probably triggered by earthquakes. We dated rockfalls along the western margin of the DSF using terrestrial cosmogenic nuclides (TCN). At each rockfall site, samples were collected from simultaneously exposed conjugate boulders and cliff surfaces. Such conjugate samples initially had identical pre-fall (“inherited”) TCN concentrations. After boulder detachment, these surfaces were dosed by different production rates due to differences in post-fall shielding and geometry. However, in our study area, pre-rockfall inheritance and post-rockfall production rates of TCN cannot be evaluated. Therefore, we developed a numerical approach and demonstrated a way to overcome the above-mentioned problems. This approach can be applied in other settings where rockfalls cannot be dated by simple exposure dating. Results suggest rockfall ages between 3.6 ± 0.8 and 4.7 ± 0.7 ka. OSL ages of sediment accumulated behind the boulders range between 0.6 ± 0.1 and 3.4 ± 1.4 ka and support the TCN results. Our ages agree with dated earthquakes determined in paleoseismic studies along the entire length of the DSF and support the observation of intensive earthquake activity around 4–5 ka.     

Towards an operational use of space imagery for oil pollution monitoring in the Mediterranean basin: a demonstration in the Adriatic Sea

Studies of operational pollution carried out by European commission - Joint Research Centre in the Mediterranean Sea for the years 1999-2004 are briefly introduced. The specific analysis of the Adriatic Sea for the same period demonstrates that this area has been characterized by a relevant number of illegal discharges from ships. After setting the historical background of the project AESOP (aerial and satellite surveillance of operational pollution in the Adriatic Sea), the content, partners and aim of the project are presented. Finally, the results of the first phase of the AESOP project are presented. The results seem very encouraging. For the first time in the Adriatic, real time detection of oil spills in satellite images and an immediate verification by the Coast Guard has been undertaken. An exploratory activity has also been carried out in collaboration with the University of Ljubljana to use automatic information system (AIS) to identify the ships detected in the satellite images.     

Geochemical Characteristics of Volcanic Rocks from ODP Site 794, Yamato Basin: Implications for Deep Mantle Processes of the Japan Sea

Deep mantle processes and the dynamic mechanism of magmatism in the Japan Sea Basin are important processes that have not been studied in detail. In this paper, systematic evaluation of basalt samples from the ocean drilling program Site 794 in the Japan Sea was performed, which included petrography, whole-rock major- and trace-element analysis, Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic composition, and electron microprobe analysis of plagioclase and clinopyroxene. These basalts belong to the tholeiitic series with porphyritic texture and massive Ca-rich plagioclase, clinopyroxene, and minor olivine phenocrysts. The basalts are characterized as flat rare earth elements and high-field-strength elements with remarkably low ratios of(La/Yb)N(0.75–2.51), significant positive anomalies of Ba, Sr, and Rb and no Eu anomaly(δEu = 0.99–1.36). The samples showed relatively high 87Sr/86Sr(0.70425–0.70522), 207Pb/204Pb(15.511–15.610), and 208Pb/204Pb(38.064–38.557) values and a low 143Nd/144 Nd ratio(0.51271–0.51295). The basalts from Site 794 can be divided into upper, middle, and lower volcanic rocks(UVR, MVR, and LVR) on the basis of their stratigraphic level. The MVR was geochemically derived from the depleted mantle, whereas the UVR and LVR originated from a nondepleted and relatively enriched mantle source with contributions from subducted Pacific plate fluid and sediments. Use of geothermobarometers indicates that the crystallization pressure for the UVR and LVR(6.25–11.19 kbar) was significantly higher than that of the MVR(3.48–5.84 kbar). The UVR and LVR may have been derived from the low-degree(5%–10%) partial melting of spinel lherzolite, while the MVR originated from a shallower mantle source with a high degree(10%–20%) of partial melting. In addition, the geochemical characteristics of the samples are consistent with a younger age(13–17 Ma) and the depleted composition of the MVR and an older age(17–23 Ma) and slightly enriched composition of the UVR and LVR. Therefore, temporal changes in the mantle source from old and enriched to young and depleted and subsequently to old and nondepleted may have been associated with progressive lithospheric extension and thinning, as well as at least two episodes of diverse asthenospheric upwelling and pull-apart tectonic motion in the Yamato Basin.     

Tides in the Tongan Region of the Pacific Ocean

Tidal levels and currents in the Tongan region of the Pacific were simulated using a two-dimensional frequency-domain finite element model. The eight major diurnal and semidiurnal tidal constituents were modeled successfully, using open boundary conditions taken from a global tidal model based on the Topex/Poseidon satellite altimeter. Comparison of model results with observations from the single tide gauge site in the area were later used to adjust the boundary conditions. The validity of omitting horizontal eddy viscosity from the finite element model was checked by running an equivalent finite difference model. The results show that although the submarine Tongan ridge does not appear to trap tidal energy, there are residual tidal currents and possible recirculations which are capable of influencing biological productivity around Tonga. The model results are reduced to a simple method for predicting tidal heights in outlying areas, based only on the tidal calendar for the capital, Nuku'alofa.     

流体包裹体在建立四川盆地古地温剖面研究中的应用

根据四川盆地沉积－埋藏史、主要地热事件、井下Ｒ０部面及钻井测温资料的综合分析,应用流体包裹体均一温度资料推算了四川盆地中部各地质时期地层的古地温,并建立了古地温梯度表,用此表可计算四川盆地各地期地层古地温。根据包裹体均一温度确定的古地温表明：四川盆地地层地温梯度由古至今逐渐降低,现今地温状况对古地温状况有明显的继承性。东吴运动（地裂运动）峨嵋山玄武岩大规模喷溢时期是盆地地温梯度最高时期,推算其地温     

东昆仑阿拉克湖地区第四纪水系演化过程及其趋势

根据第四系沉积物的沉积时代、沉积类型及盆山耦合与迁移规律,将东昆仑阿拉克湖地区第四纪水系变迁划分了4个阶段：早更新世小型内陆盆地无序水系阶段;中更新世冰川水系与东流水系阶段;晚更新世柴达木盆地内陆水系向南溯源侵蚀阶段;全新世黄河外泄水系形成与发展阶段。根据研究区及相邻地区黄河水系和柴达木盆地内陆水系的溯源侵蚀发展历史及趋势分析,认为研究区未来水系发展趋势不一定是加鲁河袭夺鄂陵湖、扎陵湖两湖及黄河水系,而可能是黄河加快下蚀作用和溯源侵蚀,鄂陵湖和扎陵湖将逐渐消失成为河流,黄河水系最终将袭夺柴达木内陆盆地水系。     

南海上层环流观测研究进展

回顾了近50a来南海环流研究的进展，重点介绍了近期有关南海上层总环流的观测研究成果，并就南海季风急流、南海暖流、南海南部的次海盆尺度环流，以及南海东北部环流的几个问题进行了专门讨论。     

松辽盆地西部斜坡英台地区姚二、三段辫状河三角洲沉积特征研究

松辽地区西部斜坡英台地区姚家组二、三段,是在干旱一半干旱、源近流短、东倾陡坡背景下,在洪积扇前,由辫状河入湖形成的辫状河三角洲沉积。可明显区分出狭窄的辫状河三角洲平原,河口坝不太发育的辫状河三角洲前缘和夹浊积砂的辫状河前三角洲三种沉积亚相。辫状河三角洲平原由灰色含砾砂岩,粗、中砂岩,少量细砂岩,粉砂岩夹紫红色泥岩组成。具有明显的正韵律为特征。辫状河三角洲前缘沉积为灰色-绿灰色中、粗砂岩、细砂岩、少量的含砾砂岩,成正韵律或反韵律夹在灰绿色、灰黑色泥质岩中。辫状河前三角洲沉积多为灰绿色、灰黑色泥质岩,可夹少量砂质浊积岩。上述沉积特征明显地区别于正常河流三角洲沉积和扇三角洲沉积。