Geochemistry of organic matter and elements of black shale during weathering in Northern Guizhou,Southwestern China: Their mobilization and inter-connection

Different from previous studies on effect of weathering upon geochemical variation along a single weathered profile, this paper provides a new methodology validated by comparing a weathered outcrop samples and their stratigraphic counterpart un-weathered core samples in a nearby shallow borehole. This outcrop and borehole penetrated the Ordovician-Silurian Wufeng–Longmaxi shales, located in the same anticline structure in the northern part of Guizhou Province, Southern China. The mineral composition, major, trace and rare earth elements (REEs) composition and Rock-Eval parameters of outcrop and core samples were analyzed and compared. Organic matter (OM) was observed in the microscope and extracted for elements analysis. The results show that short-term weathering still has significant influence on OM, mineral and elemental composition of black shales. The elements composition shows the outcrop profile was moderately weathered. The REEs compositions do not alter much during weathering process and the REEs composition and their relative ratios still are valid for rock origin determination. The OM, mainly composed by graptolite and bitumen, even entering the highly-over thermal maturity, is still sensitive to the weathering with a systematic loss 30–50% of TOC along the outcrop profile, which suggests that the OM consumption is predominantly controlled by weathering duration and the distance from the weathering surface. In turn, OM has significant influence on the trace elements transportation behavior during weathering. Some trace elements associated with the OM such as V, Cr, Th, U, Ni and Co, change significantly in their absolute concentration during weathering, but their relative ratios do not necessarily change too much and might be still reliable proxies for paleo-environmental determination. The mobility of shale minerals during weathering is in the following order: plagioclase?>?potassium feldspar and dolomite >pyrite and OM. Short-term weathering can also result in considerable transportation of elements and significant variation of minerals content in black shale, which may pose potentially high environmental and engineering risk in the regions rich in black shale.     

Semantic and syntactic interoperability in online processing of big Earth observation data

ABSTRACT

The challenge of enabling syntactic and semantic interoperability for comprehensive and reproducible online processing of big Earth observation (EO) data is still unsolved. Supporting both types of interoperability is one of the requirements to efficiently extract valuable information from the large amount of available multi-temporal gridded data sets. The proposed system wraps world models, (semantic interoperability) into OGC Web Processing Services (syntactic interoperability) for semantic online analyses. World models describe spatio-temporal entities and their relationships in a formal way. The proposed system serves as enabler for (1) technical interoperability using a standardised interface to be used by all types of clients and (2) allowing experts from different domains to develop complex analyses together as collaborative effort. Users are connecting the world models online to the data, which are maintained in a centralised storage as 3D spatio-temporal data cubes. It allows also non-experts to extract valuable information from EO data because data management, low-level interactions or specific software issues can be ignored. We discuss the concept of the proposed system, provide a technical implementation example and describe three use cases for extracting changes from EO images and demonstrate the usability also for non-EO, gridded, multi-temporal data sets (CORINE land cover).     

The Digital Belt and Road program in support of regional sustainability

The Belt and Road initiative has a significant focus on infrastructure, trade, and economic development across a vast region, and it also provides significant opportunities for sustainable development. The combined pressure of climate variability, intensified use of resources, and the fragility of ecosystems make it very challenging, however, to achieve future sustainability. To develop the path in a sustainable way, it is important to have a comprehensive understanding of these issues across nations and evaluate them in a scientific and well-informed approach. In this context, the Digital Belt and Road (DBAR) program was initiated as an international venture to share expertise, knowledge, technologies, and data to demonstrate the role of Earth observation science and technology and big Earth data applications to support large-scale development. In this paper, we identify pressing challenges, present the research priorities and foci of the DBAR program, and propose solutions where big Earth data can make significant contributions. This paper calls for further joint actions and collaboration to build a digital silk road in support of sustainable development at national, regional and global levels.     

Geochemical constraints on the distribution of trace elements and volatiles in fluorapatite from the Panasqueira tin-tungsten deposit (Portugal)

A large, euhedral crystal of fluorapatite (ca. 19.5 × 20.0 mm) from the Panasqueira tin-tungsten deposit (Portugal) was investigated in terms of the distribution of trace elements by using several microanalytical techniques. The studied material represents almost pure fluorapatite with minor amounts of other cations (mainly Sr, Mn, REE and Fe), OH and Cl. Particular interest was given to the distribution of rare earth elements with respect to the crystallographic orientation. A broad range of analytical techniques were used, including optical microscopy coupled with cathodoluminescence imaging, electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), laser ablation – inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICPMS), Raman microspectroscopy, and simultaneous thermal analysis coupled with mass spectrometry. The investigated crystal consists of the main crystal with a distinct core and rim (Ap_2core and Ap_2rim, respectively), which grew on a previous, euhedral crystal (Ap₁). The fluorapatite demonstrates various types of zoning: regular oscillatory, irregular, and internal sectoring, which is also reflected in trace elements concentrations. The rim Ap_2rim has lower concentrations of Mn, Sr and Fe, and significantly higher concentrations of REE compared to the core Ap_2core and older crystal Ap₁. Furthermore, the rim Ap_2rim is strongly depleted in Th, U and Pb. The entire crystal shows elevated Eu contents, expressed as a strong positive anomaly in chondrite-normalized REE patterns. With regards to the volatiles, F concentrations are constant in Ap₁, Ap_2core and Ap_2rim, whereas Cl is below the EPMA detection limit. The Ap_2rim was the only part of the investigated material containing OH and CO₃, which were observed in the Raman spectra. Furthermore, part of the crystal Ap_2core is extensively altered, likely due to fluid-induced metasomatic processes. LA-ICPMS U-Pb dating yielded highly discordant dates due to common Pb content. A lower intercept age of 297 ± 13 Ma (MSWD = 0.13) indicates the age of the fluorapatite crystallization. The overall analytical data constrain growth and post-growth processes, including crystallization of Ap₁ and Ap_2core, which both have typical hydrothermal Sn-W deposit characteristics, whereas Ap_2rim is related to a carbonate stage of the mineralization in the Panasqueira deposit.     

On the origin of bleaching phenomena in red bed sediments of Triassic Buntsandstein deposits in Central Germany

The Lower Triassic Buntsandstein in Central Germany comprises one of the major clastic, lithified hydrocarbon reservoirs, it is a major groundwater aquifer and it is considered as a potential underground gas storage lithology. Thus, sandstones of the Buntsandstein from Thuringia and NE Hesse were used to analyse their geochemical composition combined with mineralogical data in order to investigate the origin of several bleaching phenomena in primary red beds, since these give a hint for mineral alteration, mineral formation and mineral reactivity in the course of fluid-rock-interactions. This is relevant for e.g. recent Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) efforts. The origin of the observed bleaching phenomena is diverse and it is linked to certain stages of diagenesis and different episodes of fluid flow: (1) eodiagenetic bleaching coupled with palaeosoil formation and iron mobilisation, (2) mesodiagenetic bleaching as a result of hydrocarbon migration, (3) Tertiary bleaching due to CO₂ degassing from Miocene volcanism, (4) Tertiary telodiagenetic bleaching due to weathering under humid climate conditions, and (5) weathering processes related to recent telodiagenesis/pedogenesis. This study emphasizes the multiple nature of fluids, which can induce iron mobilisation and bleaching of red beds.     

太阳辐射管理地球工程对海洋酸化影响的模拟研究

研究地球工程对海洋酸化的影响对于评估地球工程对全球气候和环境的影响有重要意义。文中使用中等复杂程度的地球系统模式,模拟了典型CO₂高排放情景RCP8.5下,实施太阳辐射管理地球工程对海洋表面的pH和文石（碳酸钙的一种亚稳形态）饱和度的影响,并定量分析了各环境因子对海洋酸化影响的机理。模拟结果表明,在RCP8.5情景下,到2100年,相对于工业革命前水平,全球海洋表面平均pH下降了0.43,文石饱和度下降了1.77。相对于RCP8.5情景,2100年地球工程情景下全球海洋表面平均pH增加了0.003,而文石饱和度降低了0.16。地球工程通过改变溶解无机碳、碱度、温度等环境因子影响海洋酸化。相对于RCP8.5情景,实施地球工程引起的溶解无机碳浓度的增加使pH和文石饱和度均减小,碱度的增加使pH和文石饱和度均增大,温度的降低使pH增大而使文石饱和度减小。总体而言,太阳辐射管理地球工程可以降低全球温度,但无法减缓海洋酸化。     

2004年印尼8.7级强震前昌黎台的远场电性异常特征探讨

分析了在2004年12月26日印尼8.7级地震前河北昌黎台记录到的自然电位及电场异常, 结果显示昌黎台自电位、 电场正常时段观测到的半日、 半月潮汐波周期变化在震前1个多月发生畸变, 周期消失, 变化幅度相应减小, 震后快速恢复, 且潮汐波记录比震前正常时段更加清晰。 该台地电阻率的观测结果显示起始下降变化比较平缓, 震前一周左右, 变化加剧, 出现多次阶变。 究其原因, 在强震发生前断层的蠕滑作用导致孔隙压力变化, 产生一种可以在岩石中传播的应变波, 由于台站下方岩土层对小应变信号具有很好的放大作用, 所以记录到了这种小幅度的应变波, 也就是远场的静态应变效应。 随着地震临近, 应力作用加强, 远程应变波引起台站下方水位、 水化学性质以及岩石孔隙度、 渗透率等的改变, 导致电阻率、 电场大幅度的阶变, 这反映了远场应变波的动态效应。 当然就异常幅度而言, 应变波的效应还嫌弱一些, 因此昌黎台异常变化可能还叠加了震源区激发的电磁波。     

地心和月心引力常数及月球形心与质心的确定

指出了地心引力常数GMe、月心引力常数GMl及月球形状中心和月球质量中心的意义和重要性;介绍了用空间探测器观测数据测定GMe与GMl及月球形状中心和月球质量中心的原理和方法;综合给出了利用空间探测器测定的数值。     

地理学的特点

现代地理学强调过程与演变的研究,在定量研究方面取得了显著的进步。但在热衷于建立各种模型时,地理学的特点或性质却被忽视,这在国内尤其明显。认识地理学的本质特点,对于学习地理学、发展地理学科和从事地理学研究非常重要。地理学的特点可概括为4方面:即地理学是“研究行星地球表面的科学”、“研究关系的科学”、“强调位置的科学”和“考察分布的科学”。这4个方面缺少任何一方,都不能反映有别于其他任何学科的地理学自身的特点。     

Earth rotation parameter estimation by GPS observations

The methods of Earth rotation parameter （ERP） estimation based on IGS SINEX file of GPS so- lution are discussed in detail. There are two different ways to estimate ERP： one is the parameter transformation method, and the other is direct adjustment method with restrictive conditions. By comparing the estimated results with independent copyright program to IERS results, the residual systemic error can be found in estimated ERP with GPS observations.