Holocene alpine glaciation inferred from lacustrine sediments on northeastern Baffin Island,Arctic Canada

With accelerated melting of alpine glaciers, understanding the future state of the cryosphere is critical. Because the observational record of glacier response to climate change is short, palaeo‐records of glacier change are needed. Using proglacial lake sediments, which contain continuous and datable records of past glacier activity, we investigate Holocene glacier fluctuations on northeastern Baffin Island. Basal radiocarbon ages from three lakes constrain Laurentide Ice Sheet retreat by ca. 10.5 ka. High sedimentation rates (0.03 cm a^?1) and continuous minerogenic sedimentation throughout the Holocene in proglacial lakes, in contrast to organic‐rich sediments and low sedimentation rates (0.005 cm a^?1) in neighbouring non‐glacial lakes, suggest that glaciers may have persisted in proglacial lake catchments since regional deglaciation. The presence of varves and relatively high magnetic susceptibility from 10 to 6 ka and since 2 ka in one proglacial lake suggest minimum Holocene glacier extent ca. 6–2 ka. Moraine evidence and proglacial and threshold lake sediments indicate that the maximum Holocene glacier extent occurred during the Little Ice Age. The finding that glaciers likely persisted through the Holocene is surprising, given that regional proxy records reveal summer temperatures several degrees warmer than today, and may be due to shorter ablation seasons and greater accumulation‐season precipitation. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

壳聚糖和PDMDAAC改性膨润土用于处理含油废水的研究

含油废水污染范围广,对人类和生态环境危害大。采用常规方法(如浮选法、絮凝法、电化学法、膜分离法和生物法)处理的除油率不高于91%,成本较高,因此急需开发一种高效低廉的吸附剂。膨润土是一种优良的吸附剂,但用其直接处理含油废水的效果较低。本文选用壳聚糖和PDMDAAC两种有机物作为改性剂,对钠基膨润土改性,使膨润土能有效地处理含油废水。通过实验比较了两种有机改性膨润土处理含油废水的最佳去除条件,探讨了表征对其吸附性能的影响。去油效果结果表明:壳聚糖改性膨润土的除油率可达87.8%,PDMDAAC改性膨润土的除油率可达89.3%,处理所需时间少于15 min;除油效率和处理时间都优于常规方法。吸附性能表征结果显示,两种改性剂均以负载的方式和钠基膨润土颗粒结合,吸附性能良好;相比而言,PDMDAAC改性膨润土的处理效果比壳聚糖改性膨润土更好。PDMDAAC应用于含油废水的处理,具有成本低、效率高、操作简单的特点,在含油废水处理领域具有较好的应用前景。     

红外光谱/扫描电镜等现代大型仪器岩石矿物鉴定技术及其应用

传统的光学显微镜由于分辨率、放大倍数的限制,对于细微颗粒的定性分析不准确,矿物的定量分析存在一定的误差,对纳米-微米级矿物形貌及结构特征的观察束手无策。随着油气勘探及地质找矿的不断深入,需要提供岩石中所有矿物、孔隙及微量元素的信息,因此整合傅里叶红外光谱仪、X射线衍射仪、拉曼光谱仪、扫描电镜的优点,建立以大型仪器为基础的岩石矿物鉴定方法是当前地质工作的需要。红外光谱光谱范围为7500~370 cm-1,能对固、液、气样品中含量高于30%的矿物进行快速、准确的定性分析;主要用于有机质分析,其次还可对部分具有极性键的无机化合物及金属氧化物进行分析。X射线衍射仪能快速地对样品中含量大于15%的矿物进行较为准确的定量分析;现今主要用于各类晶质矿物的定性分析,同时也可对碳酸盐岩矿物等不含水矿物进行定量分析。拉曼光谱仪光谱范围为200~1000 nm,空间分辨率为横向0.5μm、纵向2μm,通过对包裹体进行测试能直接获得成岩过程中的温度、压力、流体成分等信息;目前主要用于流体包裹体成分的测试,其次还可对分子极化度会发生变化的液态、粉末及固体样品进行定性分析。扫描电镜分辨率达到1 nm,能清晰地观察到纳米-微米级矿物的形貌特征及矿物的结构特征;主要用于纳米-微米级的任何非磁性固体矿物的形貌及相关关系的观察。通过大型仪器建立的岩石矿物鉴定方法具有更高的分辨率,显著地提高了岩矿鉴定的精准度,大大拓宽了岩矿鉴定的范围(如鉴定纳米/微米级的矿物、矿物的不同变种等),能够全面、精准地提供岩石矿物的矿物含量和矿物组成、客观准确的成岩作用信息、清晰的矿物微观形貌及结构特征,而且仪器功能相互重叠,测试结果相互验证,保证了测试结果的可靠性。与传统光学显微镜鉴定方法相比,现代大型仪器岩石矿物鉴定技术为揭示矿物间的共生、反应、演化、岩石的成因、沉积/成岩环境等提供了依据,为地质工作提供准确、全面的矿物定性定量、组构特征及成岩作用等信息,为地质工作的顺利完成奠定了坚实的基础。     

A robust satellite technique for monitoring seismically active areas: The case of Bhuj–Gujarat earthquake

A robust satellite data analysis technique (RAT) has been recently proposed as a suitable tool for satellite TIR surveys in seismically active regions and already successfully tested in different cases of earthquakes (both high and medium–low magnitudes).In this paper, the efficiency and the potentialities of the RAT technique have been tested even when it is applied to a wide area with extremely variable topography, land coverage and climatic characteristics (the whole Indian subcontinent). Bhuj–Gujarat's earthquake (occurred on 26th January 2001, M_S  7.9) has been considered as a test case in the validation phase, while a relatively unperturbed period (no earthquakes with M_S ≥ 5, in the same region and in the same period) has been analyzed for confutation purposes. To this aim, 6 years of Meteosat-5 TIR observations have been processed for the characterization of the TIR signal behaviour at each specific observation time and location.The anomalous TIR values, detected by RAT, have been evaluated in terms of time–space persistence in order to establish the existence of actually significant anomalous transients. The results indicate that the studied area was affected by significant positive thermal anomalies which were identified, at different intensity levels, not far from the Gujarat coast (since 15th January, but with a clearer evidence on 22nd January) and near the epicentral area (mainly on 21st January). On 25th January (1 day before Gujarat's earthquake) significant TIR anomalies appear on the Northern Indian subcontinent, showing a remarkable coincidence with the principal tectonic lineaments of the region (thrust Himalayan boundary).On the other hand, the results of the confutation analysis indicate that no meaningful TIR anomalies appear in the absence of seismic events with M_S ≥ 5.     

The electrical conductivity of Posidonia black shales — from magnetotelluric exploration to rock samples

We carried out a magnetotelluric field campaign in the South–East Lower Saxony Basin, Germany, with the main goal of testing this method for imaging regional Posidonia black shale sediments. Two‐dimensional inversion results of the magnetotelluric data show a series of conductive structures correlating with brine‐saturated sediments but also with deeper, anthracitic Westphalian/Namurian coals. None of these structures can be directly related with the Posidonia black shale, which appears to be generally resistive and therefore difficult to resolve with the magnetotelluric method. This assumption is supported by measurements of electrical resistivity on a set of Posidonia shale samples from the Hils syncline in the Lower Saxony basin. These rock samples were collected in shallow boreholes and show immature (0.53% Ro), oil (0.88% Ro), and gas (1.45% Ro) window thermal maturities. None of the black shale samples showed low electrical resistivity, particularly those with oil window maturity show resistivity exceeding 10⁴ Ωm. Moreover, we could not observe a direct correlation between maturity and electrical resistivity; the Harderode samples showed the highest resistivity, whereas the Haddessen samples showed the lowest. A similar trend has been seen for coals in different states of thermal maturation. Saturation of the samples with distilled and saline water solutions led to decreasing electrical resistivity. Moreover, a positive correlation of electrical resistivity with porosity is observed for the Wickensen and Harderode samples, which suggests that the electrical resistivity of the Posidonia black shale is mainly controlled by porosity.     

川东地区古生界主要泥页岩最高古温度特征

泥页岩的热演化过程与其经历的古温度史相关,最高古温度决定它的最终热演化程度.本文利用古温标方法恢复了川东地区古生界主要泥页岩层系经历的最高古温度.研究结果表明,它们在距今80-90 Ma时达到最高古温度,龙潭组顶面最高古温度150~220℃,龙潭组底面最高古温度160~230℃,龙马溪组顶面最高古温度160~250℃,五峰组底面最高古温度170~260℃,筇竹寺组顶面最高古温度210~320℃,筇竹寺组底面最高古温度210~320℃.各层最高古温度平面展布特征相似,最高温出现在涪陵-丰都一带,向南与向北温度均呈降低趋势,在达州-开江一带局部出现较高温.此外,结合川东地区古热流史分析认为,川东古生界泥页岩热演化过程具有阶段性,现今处于高-过成熟状态,达到最高古温度后生烃作用停止.川东地区经历较高的最高古温度随后快速抬升剥蚀有利于页岩气的成烃与成藏.     

A helium stratified and ingassed lower mantle: resolving the helium paradoxes

It is generally believed a variation of 3He/4He isotopic ratios in the mantle is due to only the decay of U and Th,which produces4 He as well as heat.Here we show that not only3He/4He isotopic ratios but also helium contents can be fractionated by thermal diffusion in the lower mantle.The driving force for that fractionation is the adiabatic or convective temperature gradient,which always produces elemental and isotopic fractionation along temperature gradient by thermal diffusion with higher light/heavy isotopic ratio in the hot end.Our theoretical model and calculations indicate that the lower mantle is helium stratified,caused by thermal diffusion due to*400℃temperature contrast across the lower mantle.The highest3He/4He isotopic ratios and lowest He contents are in the lowermost mantle,which is a consequence of thermaldiffusion fractionation rather than the lower mantle is a primordial and undegassed reservoir.Therefore,oceanicisland basalts derived from the deepest lower mantle with high3He/4He isotopic ratios and less He contents—the long-standing helium paradox,is solved by our model.Because vigorous convection in the upper mantle had resulted in disordered or disorganized thermal-diffusion effects in He,Mid-ocean ridge basalts unaffected by mantle plume have a relatively homogenous and lower!3He/4He isotopic compositions.Our model also predicts that 3He/4He isotopic ratios in the deepest lower mantle of early Earth could be even higher than that of Jupiter,the initial He isotopic ratio in our solar system,because the temperature contrast across the lower mantle in the early Earth is the largest and less4 He had been produced by the decay of U and Th.Moreover,the early helium-stratified lower mantle owned the lowest He contents due to over-degassing caused by the largest temperature contrast.Consequently,succeeding evolution of the lower mantle is a He ingassed process due to secular cooling of the deepest mantle.This explains why significant amount of He produced by the decay of U and Th in the lower mantle were not released,another long-standing heat–helium paradox.     

热处理饱水致密砂岩的水相自吸与返排

致密砂岩气藏在开发过程中由于水相的侵入或滞留会在近井带或水力裂缝面造成水相圈闭损害,严重影响开发效益.储层高温热处理作为一种新型储层改造技术,已应用于解除近井地带水相圈闭损害.选取鄂尔多斯盆地典型致密砂岩岩样,分别采用干岩样、饱和蒸馏水、饱和3%KCl溶液以及饱和地层水的岩心开展了100～600℃的热处理实验;进行了超过阈值温度的高温热处理前后的岩心自吸、返排实验,并对热处理前后岩心的水相圈闭损害程度进行评价.研究表明,饱和蒸馏水和饱和3%KCl溶液的岩样在热处理后的增渗率明显大于干岩样和饱和地层水的岩样,且岩样热致裂的阈值温度明显降低,从干岩样时500℃降低到300℃;高温热处理增加致密砂岩孔隙度与渗透率,不仅使水相自吸量与自吸速率明显提高,而且岩心渗透率恢复率显著提升.致密岩石热致裂阈值温度可以降低,热增渗后不仅解除水相圈闭损害,而且可以预防后期作业储层水相圈闭损害.     

Study of the Interaction Mechanism in the Biosorption of Copper(II) Ions onto Posidonia oceanica and Peat

A systematic approach was used to characterize the biosorption of copper(II) onto two biosorbents, Posidonia oceanica and peat, focusing on the interaction mechanisms, the copper(II) sorption–desorption process and the thermal behavior of the biosorbents. Sorption isotherms at pH 4–6 were obtained and the experimental data were fitted to the Langmuir model with a maximum uptake (q_max) at pH 6 of 85.78 and 49.69 mg g^?1, for P. oceanica and peat, respectively. A sequential desorption (SD) with water, Ca(NO₃)₂, and EDTA was applied to copper‐saturated biosorbents. Around 65–70% copper(II) were desorbed with EDTA, indicating that this heavy metal was strongly bound. The reversibility of copper(II) sorption was obtained by desorption with HCl and SD. Fourier transform IR spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis detected the presence of peaks associated with OH groups in aromatic and aliphatic structures, CH, CH₂, and CH₃ in aliphatic structures, COO^? and COOH groups and unsaturated aromatic structures on the surface of both biosorbents, as well as peaks corresponding to Si? O groups on the surface of peat. The results of SEM‐EDX and FTIR analysis of copper‐saturated samples demonstrated that ion exchange was one of the mechanisms involved in copper(II) retention. Thermal analysis of biosorbent samples showed that copper(II) sorption–desorption processes affected the thermal stability of the biosorbents.     

The effect of varied dam release mechanisms and storage volume on downstream river thermal regimes

Temperature plays an essential role in the ecology and biology of aquatic ecosystems. The use of dams to store and subsequently re-regulate river flows can have a negative impact on the natural thermal regime of rivers, causing thermal pollution of downstream river ecosystems. Autonomous thermal loggers were used to measure temperature changes downstream of a large dam on the Macquarie River, in Australia’s Murray-Darling Basin to quantify the effect of release mechanisms and dam storage volume on the downstream thermal regime. The magnitude of thermal pollution in the downstream river was affected by different release mechanisms, including bottom-level outlet releases, a thermal curtain (which draws water from above the hypolimnion), and spill-way release. Dam storage volume was linked to the magnitude of thermal pollution downstream; high storage volumes were related to severe thermal suppressions, with an approximate 10 °C difference occurring when water originated from high and low storage volumes. Downstream temperatures were 8 ̶ 10 °C higher when surface releases were used via a thermal curtain and the spillway to mitigate cold water pollution that frequently occurs in the river. Demonstrating the effectiveness of engineering and operational strategies used to mitigate cold water pollution highlight their potential contribution to fish conservation, threatened species recovery and environmental remediation of aquatic ecosystems.