Petrological influence on differential weathering and inselberg development in the Kora area of central Kenya

In the Kora area of central Kenya domed inselbergs are well developed on outcrops of granitoid migmatite, while positive relief features are rare on the surrounding gneiss. Block-strewn, vegetated hills occur on restricted areas of granoblastite, gabbro, and metagabbro. Schmidt Hammer measurements have shown that the apparent differences in resistance to weathering and erosion are not due to variations in rock hardness, since all the rock types have similar ‘R’ values. The results of geochemical analyses have shown that the migmatites are significantly more potassic than the surrounding gneiss. Samples of migmatite from the inselbergs were also found to be slightly richer in potassium than migmatite samples from the inter-inselberg areas. The variations in potassium content probably reflect differences in protolith composition, chemical fractionation during partial melting, and the effects of metasomatism. These findings support earlier suggestions that, other things being equal, potassium-rich granitoid rocks weather more slowly than less potassic rocks.     

利用“3S”技术进行北京地区土壤水分监测应用技术研究

该文主要对适合于北京地区的土壤水分卫星遥感监测方法，利用GIS及GPS工具，提高对土壤水分卫星遥感监测结果的分析能力进行了探讨。在分析研究北京地区土壤水分卫星遥感监测模式及适宜使用的下垫面状况和时段的基础上，提出了一批具有一定物理意义和应用价值的遥感模式。利用GIS和GPS技术实现包括遥感信息在内的多种数据的复合，以影像的方式，将地表地理状况与土壤水分卫星遥感监测结果结合起来，实现了RS、GIS及GPS的融合，提高了土壤水分卫星遥感监测的精度。     

半干旱草地地表土壤热通量的计算及其对能量平衡的影响

利用2008年7月兰州大学半干旱气候与环境观测(SACOL)站的观测资料,对比分析了地表土壤热通量的三种计算方法,即谐波法、温度预报校正法(TDEC法)以及结合自校正热通量板(HFP01SC)测量的温度积分法(ITHP法);进而分析了三种不同方法的计算结果对地表能量平衡的影响。比较5cm深度处谐波法和TDEC法的计算结果与HFP01SC的实测结果,三者的相位基本一致,相互之间均具有很好的线性关系;谐波法与TDEC法的计算值较为接近,但分别比HFP01SC的实测值偏大了2%和6%(主要发生在夜间)。对于地表的土壤热通量(G0),谐波法与TDEC法两者的计算结果仅偏差约1%;TDEC法与ITHP法的计算结果之间也具有很好的线性关系(R2=0.99),但偏差达到9%左右。相对于HFP01SC的实测结果,由谐波法和TDEC法计算的G0可将SACOL站的地表能量闭合率分别提高6%和7%左右;利用温度积分法将HFP01SC的实测结果校正到地表后,地表能量闭合率也提高了约6%。因此,在对涡动相关通量做了常规订正的情况下,当充分考虑了土壤热存储后,SACOL站的地表能量闭合率可提高6%～7%,达到82%～83%左右。     

黑河中下游荒漠区植物多样性分布对土壤水分变化的响应

基于对黑河流域中下游荒漠区植被和土壤生境的调查分析,以土壤水分在各调查样地中的差异来反映研究区的生态水文特征,采用种的丰富度和多度来代表荒漠植物多样性研究了荒漠植物,包括隐花植物多样性分布对土壤水分变化的响应。土壤水分变化不仅直接影响着荒漠植物的多样性,而通过影响其它生境因子又间接地影响着多样性的维持。因此,如何维持中下游相对稳定的土壤水分来源是该区荒漠植物多样性保育今后所要面临的挑战。     

滇西腾冲地块高黎贡山群早志留世变质花岗岩体的年代学、地球化学特征及意义

西南特提斯构造带广泛发育的早古生代岩浆岩是冈瓦纳大陆边缘原特提斯洋增生造山作用的产物,目前报导的岩浆岩侵位时代在536~448Ma。本文通过LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb定年,在腾冲地块东缘高黎贡山群中首次发现了年轻至~437Ma的片麻状花岗质岩体,并结合其锆石Hf同位素和全岩主微量地球化学特征,进一步制约原特提斯洋构造演化过程。样品主量元素显示此片麻状花岗岩体具有高硅(SiO_2=72.78%~73.69%)、富碱(K_2O+Na_2O=7.23%~8.70%)的过铝质(A/CNK=1.08~1.12)特征,微量元素显示此岩体相对富集轻稀土元素、大离子亲石元素(K、Rb)和Pb,亏损高场强元素(Nb、Ta、P、Zr、Ti)以及Ba、Sr、Eu。综合岩石样品的矿物组合特征和地球化学特征,判断该岩体为S型花岗岩,源于以砂屑岩为主的沉积岩类的部分熔融,且源区有斜长石的残留。锆石εHf(t)值(-9.8~-6.2)和二阶段模式年龄tDM2(2.0~1.8Ga)也表明其源于古老地壳沉积物,且无幔源物质加入。根据全岩锆饱和温度计和锆石Ti温度计得出其岩浆从源区发生部分熔融到固结的过程中,温度从794℃左右下降到约754℃。熔浆温度较高,推测源区部分熔融过程中有地幔热的供给。综合前人研究成果,冈瓦纳大陆边缘在早古生代依次经历了原特提斯洋板片俯冲(ca.530~510Ma)、地块群增生与洋板片断离(ca.510~490Ma)、岩石圈挤压增厚(ca.490~475Ma)和岩石圈地幔拆沉(ca.470~460Ma)。岩石圈地幔拆沉将导致软流圈上涌及随后大陆岩石圈的持续伸展。腾冲地块侵位于~437Ma的花岗质岩体系该拆沉构造后的伸展环境中,以砂屑岩为主的古老地壳沉积岩在地幔热的供给下发生部分熔融的产物。     

A comparative study of soil erosion modelling by MMF,USLE and RUSLE

The quantitative assessment of spatial soil erosion is valuable information to control the erosion. The study area in a part of Narmada river in central India is selected. The main objective is to assess and compare the results obtained from three soil erosion models using GIS platform. Variation in the rate of erosion of the three models is compared considering varying slope, soil and land use of the area. Three models selected are Morgan–Morgan–Finney (MMF), Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) and Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE). The best fit or the most reliable model for the study area is selected after validation with the observed sedimentation data. The results give –39.45%, –9.60% and 4.80% difference in the values of sedimentation by MMF, USLE and RUSLE, respectively, from the observed data. Finally, RUSLE model has been found to be most reliable for the study area.     

Impact of lightning on organic matter-rich soils: influence of soil grain size and organic matter content on underground fires

A detailed study was carried out on a piece of land that had been struck by lightning during the violent rainstorm that raged over the Island of S?o Miguel (Azores Archipelago) in late October 2006. Temperature and gas measurements (CO₂, CO, H₂S and CH₄) were performed in four study trenches, dug in an area of ∼3 m², where an underground fire had been initiated by the impact with a lightning stroke, followed by the emission of a column of gases and smoke. The soil under study was originally a well-pedogenized about 80 cm thick bed, made of volcanic clayey to silty tephra fallouts and contained 5.5–9.7% of organic matter. The underground fire was monitored for one week and revealed a peak release of 404 ppm CO and 3.4% CO₂ originating from a horizon located about 45 cm under the soil surface. Measurements of temperature, performed one week after the impact, indicated a maximum value of 326°C inside the soil, while 516.5°C were measured on the surface of a lava block interred about 20 cm under the surface. Subsequently, a stratigraphic and sedimentologic study proved the role of the grain-size of the soil and of the organic matter content of the different horizons of the impact area, in determining the ratio between anoxic/oxidised combustion conditions and in the progress of the process itself. It was also noticed that combustion was not total all over in the soil bed and that the process had slightly migrated toward SW during the observation period. The combustion process went on for about ten days, in spite of several other violent rainstorms, until it was artificially extinguished through the excavations made to obtain study trenches. This particular circumstance evidenced the potential natural hazard represented by this kind of atmospheric event, especially in a land where the volcanic nature of the soil may easily mislead inexperienced observers and, consequently, delay proper action.     

Disruption rates for one vulnerable soil in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument,Arizona, USA

Rates of soil disruption from hikers and vehicle traffic are poorly known, particularly for arid landscapes. We conducted an experiment in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument (ORPI) in western Arizona, USA, on an air-dry very fine sandy loam that is considered to be vulnerable to disruption. We created variable-pass tracks using hikers, an all-terrain vehicle (ATV), and a four-wheel drive vehicle (4WD) and measured changes in cross-track topography, penetration depth, and bulk density. Hikers (one pass = 5 hikers) increased bulk density and altered penetration depth but caused minimal surface disruption up to 100 passes; a minimum of 10 passes were required to overcome surface strength of this dry soil. Both ATV and 4WD traffic significantly disrupted the soil with one pass, creating deep ruts with increasing passes that rendered the 4WD trail impassable after 20 passes. Despite considerable soil loosening (dilation), bulk density increased in the vehicle trails, and lateral displacement created berms of loosened soil. This soil type, when dry, can sustain up to 10 passes of hikers but only one vehicle pass before significant soil disruption occurs; greater disruption is expected when soils are wet. Bulk density increased logarithmically with applied pressure from hikers, ATV, and 4WD.     

Iodine concentrations of soils near Trabzon, Turkey: a region of endemic goiter

Iodine contents of soils developed over the major rock formations of the northern zone of the Eastern Pontide Tectonic Belt (Northeastern Turkey) have been investigated with respect to soil-parent rock relationship, effect of topography, elevation, and climate to construe its effect on the health of the local population. Samples were collected from the A and B horizons of the soils developed over the major stratigraphic units constituting the eastern Pontides, including the Lower Basic Complex of Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous age, the Berdiga limestone (Jurassic-lower Cretaceous), the Dagbasi granitoid (Upper Cretaceous), volcano-sedimentary sequence of Upper Cretaceous age, ore-bearing and barren dacites of Upper Cretaceous age, and Neogene alkaline basalts. Chemical analyses of soil samples indicate significantly lower iodine abundances for all the soils studied (5–28 ppm) in comparison to the average abundance of iodine in analogous soils of other parts of the world (22–93 ppm). The concentration of iodine in soils developed over the same geologic formation decrease with increasing elevation. In certain cases, this decrease may reach up to 70%. Goiter is highly common throughout this region in Turkey. The results of this study suggest that the iodine deficiency of region’s soils may be a principal underlying cause for this area of Turkey being an endemic goiter region.     

Generating soil thickness maps by means of geomorphological-empirical approach and random forest algorithm in Wanzhou County,Three Gorges Reservoir

Soil thickness, intended as depth to bedrock, is a key input parameter for many environmental models. Nevertheless, it is often difficult to obtain a reliable spatially exhaustive soil thickness map in wide-area applications, and existing prediction models have been extensively applied only to test sites with shallow soil depths. This study addresses this limitation by showing the results of an application to a section of Wanzhou County (Three Gorges Reservoir Area, China), where soil thickness varies from 0 to ～40 m. Two different approaches were used to derive soil thickness maps: a modified version of the geomorphologically indexed soil thickness (GIST) model, purposely customized to better account for the peculiar setting of the test site, and a regression performed with a machine learning algorithm, i.e., the random forest, combined with the geomorphological parameters of GIST (GIST-RF). Additionally, the errors of the two models were quantified, and validation with geophysical data was carried out. The results showed that the GIST model could not fully contend with the high spatial variability of soil thickness in the study area: the mean absolute error was 10.68 m with the root-mean-square error (RMSE) of 12.61 m, and the frequency distribution residuals showed a tendency toward underestimation. In contrast, GIST-RF returned a better performance with the mean absolute error of 3.52 m and RMSE of 4.56 m. The derived soil thickness map could be considered a critical fundamental input parameter for further analyses.