Vegetation and Climate Reconstruction of the Planalto in Rio Grande do Sul, South Brazil (Late Glacial and Holocene)

A 405 cm long core was drilled in the Aparados da Serra National Park (Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil) at the end of 1999, and in all, 23 samples were taken for palynological investigation. The cores′ age is estimated at 27 000 a BP based on three radiocarbon dates taken from different depths of the core. Palynological methods were used to reconglacial conditions mainly influenced by the South Pole throughout several transition stages to today's humid warm climate, mainly being influenced by the Brazil stream.     

Taphonomic aspects of the Pleistocene vertebrate assemblage of Itaboraí, state of Rio de Janeiro,southeastern Brazil

Pleistocene vertebrates from Itaboraí Basin have not been taphonomically studied prior to this work, limiting the understanding of the deposition and preservation of the only Pleistocene vertebrate accumulation known for the state of Rio de Janeiro. In this work, the taphonomic signatures of the Pleistocene vertebrate assemblage of Itaboraí are identified and interpreted in order to increase the knowledge about the formation of this fossil association and the paleoecology of the region of Rio de Janeiro during the late Pleistocene. Our analysis shows that the thanatocoenosis was exposed to the biostratinomic processes during a small time span; that it is parautochthonous; and experienced short transport distances by normal fluvial streams and floods. Subsequently, the fossiliferous horizon was quickly covered by the superjacent soil. Yet, the skeletal elements were fractured and deformed during the sedimentary compaction. The differential preservation of megamammal bones is associated to the bone resistance against those destructive processes and to the specific anatomical features. Comparison between Itaboraí and other Brazilian Pleistocene vertebrate accumulations shows that the Itaboraí fossil accumulation was less affected by taphonomic processes, although it is also a time-averaged fossil concentration. Finally, some of the taphonomic features indicate an arid paleoclimate.     

Spatial and temporal variability of seawater properties,current velocity and SPM concentration off Cassino Beach-Rio Grande-Southern Brazil

Water column profiles and near-bed time series of pressure, current velocity, suspended-particulate matter (SPM) concentration and seawater temperature and salinity were collected during three short cruises carried out in May 2005 in the shoreface and inner shelf area adjacent to Cassino Beach, southern Brazil. The measurements were part of the Cassino Experiment, a project conducted at an open, sandy coastal area known for the occurrence of patches of fairly large amounts of muddy sediments that are sporadically fluidized, transported onshore and eventually stranded on the beach. The study area is close to the Patos Lagoon mouth, being influenced by its water and suspended-sediment discharge. The presence of the Patos Lagoon outflow on the inner shelf was detected in one of the cruises (May 13) through measurements of near-surface salinity: while close to shore salinity was 29.4, a minimum value of 13.8 was measured at ∼10 km from the coast. Four days later, no trace of the plume was detected in the area. Regarding seawater temperature, no large temporal or spatial variability was documented with measured values ranging from 19.3 to 20 °C. Water column currents were prominently to N and NE, except at the outermost station, located ∼42 km from the coast, where NW-directed flows were observed at surface and mid-depth. Maximum near-bed current velocity oscillated between 18 and 42 cm s⁻¹ in the east–west direction and between 14 and 42 cm s⁻¹ in the north–south direction. Near-surface concentration of SPM oscillated between 11 and 99 mg L⁻¹, in general one order of magnitude lower than near-bed values. However, near-bed concentration of SPM showed large spatial variability: the highest value (2200 mg L⁻¹) was yielded by a water sample collected at ∼8 m water depth, at a station located ∼2 km away from the shoreline; two water samples collected 500 m, apart from this station, yielded SPM concentrations of 148 and 205 mg L⁻¹, one order of magnitude lower. Spectral analyses of near-bed current speed and SPM concentration indicate the relevance of oscillations in the low-frequency (<0.05 Hz) range. Detailed sampling of bottom sediment indicated that in May 2005 the mud patch was centered at ∼8.5 m water depth.     

The favela and its touristic transits

The article discusses the development of the favela into a tourist attraction. Rocinha, Rio de Janeiro, is the paradigmatic “tourist favela”, with tours taking place regularly since the early 1990s and with three thousand tourists visiting the site each month. The development of the favela into a tourist destination is seen as part of the so-called reality tours phenomenon and of the global circulation of the favela as a trademark. The methodology included different strategies: long interviews with qualified informants, field observation, and participant observation in different tours. The article concludes with some thoughts on tourism activities in impoverished areas.     

Spatial distribution of metals in sediments of the Ribeira Bay, Angra dos Reis, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

This study aims to analyze the spatial distributions of several metals in sediments from five sites in Ribeira Bay, Brazil. Ribeira Bay is a very important area to the local community, due to its artisan fishery, and it also has a biological relevance for many marine species that use mangroves as nursery and feeding sites. According to the results, the area was not considered a metal polluted area. Despite not having a significant source of metals inside the Bay nowadays, Ilha Grande Bay harbors a shipyard, an oil terminal, and a commercial port, as well as two thermonuclear power plants (Angra I e II), all of which indirectly influence the study area.     

Behavior of radium,thorium and uranium in groundwater near the Buena Lagoon in the Coastal Zone of the State of Rio de Janeiro,Brazil

Groundwater found near the head of the Buena Lagoon in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, has high salinity and low pH values. There is a strong correlation between concentrations of radium and light rare earth elements (LREEs) that suggests the leaching of monazite as a common source. Radium is present predominantly as ²²⁸Ra. The factors responsible for high radium mobility in groundwater seem to be high levels of salinity resulting in the competition for adsorption sites, and low pH values resulting in the limited adsorption of Ra²⁺ on the positively-charged surface of adsorbents. The behavior of uranium and thorium is also influenced by their speciation and low pH conditions. Uranium is present as a positively charged uranyl ion UO₂²⁺ in low pH samples and is very mobile. Similarly, the presence of positively charged Th⁴⁺ and thorium complexes with sulfate result in relatively high thorium concentrations at a low pH range. On the other hand, the mobility of phosphate released by dissolving monazite is probably reduced due to its adsorption and precipitation close to its source.     

The Rhyacian E1 Cortijo suture zone： Aeromagnetic signature and insights for the geodynamic evolution of the southwestern Rio de la Plata craton,Argentina

The amalgamation of the southern Río de la Plata craton involves two possibly coeval Rhyacian sutures associated with the Transamazonian orogeny,rather than a single one as previously envisaged,i.e.the El Cortijo suture zone and the Salado suture.We circumscribe the Tandilia terrane to the region between these two sutures.The El Cortijo suture zone runs along a roughly WNW oriented magnetic low aligned along the southern boundary of the Tandilia terrane,i.e.boundary between the Tandilia and Balcarce terranes.This extensive magnetic low,ca.300 km long,and ca.90 km wide,would be caused by demagnetization associated with shearing.At a more local scale,the trend of the El Cortijo suture zone often turns toward the EeW.At this scale,WNW trending tholeiitic dykes of Statherian age are seen to cut the Rhyacian El Cortijo suture zone.Spatially associated with the El Cortijo suture zone,there are small magnetic highs interpreted to be related to unexposed basic bodies of ophiolitic nature related to those forming part of the El Cortijo Formation.We envisage the pre-Neoproterozoic evolution of the Tandilia belt to have been initiated by the extension of Neoarchean(w2650 Ma)crust occurred during Siderian times(2500e2300 Ma),causing the separation between the Balcarce,Tandilia and Buenos Aires terranes,and the development of narrow oceans at both north and south sides of the Tandilia terrane,accompanied by w2300e2200 Ma sedimentation over transitional econtinental to oceanice crust,and arc magmatism developed in the Tandilia terrane.The island arc represented by the El Cortijo Formation was also developed at this time.At late Rhyacian times,it occurred in both the closure of the narrow oceans developed previously,the entrapment of the El Cortijo island arc,as well as anatectic magmatism in the Balcarce terrane.     

Policy review and outlook on China’s sustainable development since 1992

The Road to Rio+20 is the journey of countries in the world pursuing the sustainable development.As the first country to release the national Agenda 21,China’s experience and lessons are of great significance for both China itself and other countries.The paper reviews the progress made and problems remained in pursuing the sustainable development in China with regard to policy formulation,institutional arrangements,planning and management.In the past five years,the mandatory targets-driven approach,which focused on energy efficiency and key pollutants reduction,played a very important role and made China comprehensive outcomes for sustainability.In order to achieve the targets,China adopted an integrated policy package including legal,administrative,economic and technology instruments.During the 12th Five-Year Plan period(2011-2015),China will continue and strengthen the approach above and mainstream the transformation of economic development pattern through realizing the idea of green and low-carbon development.By summarizing policy trends in the world,the paper points out two directions,i.e.,integration approach and taking prioritized and concrete actions for a sustainable future beyond 2012.The paper also presents policy approaches and recommendations for sustainable development in the next 10 years in China.     

Tributary confluences and discontinuities in channel form and sediment texture: Rio Chama,NM

Numerous morphological changes can occur where two channels of distinct sediment and flow regimes meet, including abrupt shifts in channel slope, cross‐sectional area, planform style, and bed sediment size along the receiving channel. Along the Rio Chama between El Vado and Abiquiu Dams, northern New Mexico, arroyo tributaries intermittently deliver sediment from erodible sandstone and shale canyon walls to the mainstem channel. Much of the tributary activity occurs in flash floods and debris flows during summer thunderstorms, which often load the channel with sand and deposit coarser material at the mainstem confluence. In contrast, mainstem channel flow is dominated by snowmelt runoff. To examine tributary controls, we systematically collected cross‐section elevation and bed sediment data upstream and downstream of 26 tributary confluences along a 17 km reach. Data from 203 cross‐sections were used to build a one‐dimensional hydraulic model for comparing estimated channel parameters at bankfull and low‐flow conditions at these sites As compared to intermediate reaches, confluences primarily impact gradient and bed sediment size, reducing both parameters upstream of confluences and increasing them downstream. Cross‐section area is also slightly elevated above tributary confluences and reduced below. Major shifts in slope and bed sediment size at confluences appear to drive variations in sediment entrainment and transport capacity and the relative storage of sand along the channel bed. The data were analyzed and compared to models of channel organization based on lateral inputs, such as the Network Variance Model and the Sediment Link Concept. At a larger scale, hillslope ? channel coupling increases in the downstream third of the study reach, where the canyon narrows, resulting in steeper slopes and more continuous coarse bed material along the mainstem, and thus, limiting the contrast with tributary confluences. However, channel form and sediment characteristics are highly variable along the study reach, reflecting variations in the size and volume of sediment inputs related to the surface geology in tributary watersheds, morphology of the Rio Chama at the junction (i.e. bends, confinement), and the relative magnitude and location of past depositional events. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

西非Rio Muni盆地深水水道特征与成因

深水水道沉积构型及其演化一直是沉积学界研究的热点。基于Rio Muni盆地深水区470 km²高分辨率三维地震数据,在精细地震解释的基础上,对研究区发育的深水水道的沉积构型、演化进行探讨。主要取得4点认识：(1)深水水道的弯曲度主要受控于物源供给和海底坡度,研究区发育弯曲水道、顺直水道2类深水水道;(2)起源于陆架边缘的深水水道,物源供给相对充分,弯曲度高,其剖面往往不对称,水道壁发育滑塌或阶地,垂向演化具有侧向迁移特征,发育废弃水道;(3)而起源于中上陆坡的深水水道,其弯曲度低,剖面具有U形特征,水道壁光滑无滑塌或阶地, 主要以垂向加积为主。由于物源供给不足,顺直水道逐渐被深海泥质披覆沉积充填;(4)同一条深水水道,由上陆坡向下陆坡,随着海底坡度的降低,其弯曲度呈增大趋势。