Geological evolution of Mount Etna volcano (Italy) from earliest products until the first central volcanism (between 500 and 100 ka ago) inferred from geochronological and stratigraphic data

We present an updated geological evolution of Mount Etna volcano based on new ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age determinations and stratigraphic data integrating the previous K/Ar ages. Volcanism began at about 500 ka ago through submarine eruptions on the Gela–Catania Foredeep basin. About 300 ka ago fissure-type eruptions occurred on the ancient alluvial plain of the Simeto River forming a lava plateau. From about 220 ka ago the eruptive activity was localised mainly along the Ionian coast where fissure-type eruptions built a shield volcano. Between 129 and 126 ka ago volcanism shifted westward toward the central portion of the present volcano (Val Calanna–Moscarello area). Furthermore, scattered effusive eruptions on the southern periphery of Etna edifice occurred until about 121 ka ago. The stabilization of the plumbing system on the Valle del Bove area is marked by the building of two small polygenic edifices, Tarderia and Rocche volcanoes. Their eruptive activity was rather coeval ending 106 and 102 ka ago, respectively. During the investigated time-span volcanism in Etna region was controlled by a main E–W extensional tectonic related to the reactivation of Malta Escarpment fault system in eastern Sicily. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article () contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. An erratum to this article can be found at     

泰山酸雨特征及影响因素分析

利用2006—2015年泰山气象站的降水pH、电导率、降水量和风向风速资料,统计分析了泰山酸雨特征和变化趋势,探讨了降水量和风向风速对酸雨的影响。结果表明,泰山降水年均pH变化范围为4.31～4.99,酸雨发生频率达到69.3%;pH随降水量的增加而趋于5.60（中性）;5月至次年1月的月均pH与月平均过程降水量的变化趋势一致;月均电导率与月平均过程降水量的变化趋势相反。泰山降水期间盛行西南风,在南风和东北风条件下,酸雨出现频率最高且酸性最强,这主要是风速风向因素和人为排放源分布共同导致的。近10 a泰山降水酸性程度有所减弱,酸雨频率明显下降,表明近年来酸雨污染情况有所改善,有利于保护泰山生态环境。     

Glass geochemical compositions from widespread tephras erupted over the last 200 years from Mount St. Helens

Building reliable chronologies from lake sediments, peat and other paleoenvironmental archives can be challenging, especially for historical times where radiocarbon is unreliable. Nineteenth- and 20th-century eruptions from Mount St. Helens (MSH) provide important chronostratigraphic markers for regional paleoenvironmental studies within this time frame, but are constrained by poorly geochemically characterized tephra and/or limited published data. Here, we present glass geochemistry from the most significant eruptions from this time. This includes proximal, medial and distal deposits of the 18 May 1980 MSH eruption, layer T ( ad 1799/1800), a new tephra that we argue represents the ad 1842 eruption, and the 22 July 1980 eruption that had reported ashfall in Canada. Our results indicate that most tephras ejected during these eruptions, within a time frame of ~200 years, have distinct glass geochemical characteristics that can be used to identify distal deposits for tephrochronological studies. Layer T is on trend with analyses of the 1980 eruption but has a distinct dacitic glass population. The 1980 and ad 1842 eruptions are similar, both having rhyolitic glass compositions, but the ad 1842 event can be differentiated by a more constrained SiO₂ range in the main geochemical population, and the presence of a unique SiO₂ sub-population.     

Fault rupture–foundation interaction: selected case histories

The 1999 earthquakes in Turkey and Taiwan, offering a variety of case histories with structures subjected to large tectonic displacements, have refueled the interest of the earthquake engineering community on the subject. While several structures were severely damaged or even collapsed, there were numerous examples of satisfactory performance. Even more astonishingly, in specific cases the surface fault rupture was effectively diverted due to the presence of a structure. For the purpose of developing deeper insights into the main mechanisms controlling this fascinating interplay, this article documents selected field case histories of fault rupture–foundation interaction from (a) the M_w 7.4 Kocaeli (August 17) 1999 earthquake in Turkey, (b) the M_w 7.1 Düzce-Bolu (November 12) 1999 earthquake in Turkey, (c) the M_w 7.6 Chi–Chi (September 21) 1999 earthquake in Taiwan, and (d) surface faulting in Mount Etna. A subset of the case histories presented herein is analysed numerically, using the methods developed in the companion paper. It is shown that relatively “heavy” or stiff structures supported by continuous and rigid foundations may divert the fault rupture. Such structures are subjected to rigid body rotation, without substantial structural distress. In contrast, structures on structurally–resilient foundation systems or on isolated supports are prone to substantial damage.     

Snow in Lebanon: a preliminary study of snow cover over Mount Lebanon and a simple snowmelt model / Etude préliminaire du couvert neigeux et modèle de fonte des neige pour le Mont Liban

Abstract

The physical properties of snow, including apparent density, snow cover distribution and snowmelt in the Nahr El Kelb basin (Mount Lebanon), were studied in order to design a simple empirical snowmelt model. In February 2001, snow covered an area of 1600 km² on Mount Lebanon, representing a water equivalent of 1.1 x 10⁹ m³. The snow surface area was calculated by combining TM5 images with a digital elevation model, and field observations made every three days, from 1400 to 2300 m altitude. The depletion of snow cover was measured from the end of December 2000 to the end of June 2001. The snowmelt was measured from surface depletion on a degree-day basis. A simple model relating the daily snowmelt to the product of wind speed and average positive daily air temperature, is presented and discussed. For Mount Lebanon, this model gave a better approximation of snowmelt than a simple degree-day model.     

泰山南坡沉积物特征及第四纪冰缘环境探讨

针对泰山第四纪冰川有无的争议,在泰山南坡采集沉积物样品进行分析研究。孢粉分析结果显示优势植物种群为“松属＋中华卷柏＋蒿属＋藜科”,指示的沉积环境为湿冷环境。扫描电镜观察石英颗粒表面,显示出边缘棱角清晰、具贝壳状断口和解理片的冰川环境特征。通过热释光测试得样品年龄为（30．54±2．59）kaB．P．,相当于末次冰期主冰期中的Paudorf-Stillfried间冰阶。根据泰山现代气候环境推演泰山古气候温度和降水量,得出泰山地区在末次冰期时具备了形成冰川的基本气候条件。鉴于Paudorf—Stillfried间冰阶持续的时间较短,因此初步推断该沉积物指示的古气候环境为冰缘环境。     

江西三清山国家地质公园内的重大地质事件记录

江西三清山于2005年3月批准为国家地质公园,2008年7月入选世界自然遗产名录,以花岗岩地质与花岗岩峰林地貌著称。拥有10亿年演化历史的三清山,不仅是一个地学等多个领域具有全球研究对比意义的地学宝库,而且是拥有重要科学价值及科普意义的地质遗迹。在申报世界地质公园野外考察的基础上,本文综述了三清山地质遗迹代表性的9个重大地质事件,这也是世界自然遗产开发和保护基础工作以及地质公园管理的要求。     

生态-经济系统对冰冻圈变化的适应能力评价——以玉龙雪山地区为例

以玉龙雪山地区为例,基于关联性、全面性与合理性、可操作性原则,结合玉龙雪山地区冰冻圈变化的特点与主要影响,从生态、水资源、经济与社会系统4个方面遴选了20个指标,构建了生态-经济系统对冰冻圈变化的适应能力评价体系,运用层次分析法和多目标线性加权函数法建立了冰冻圈变化适应能力指数模型,对玉龙雪山地区冰冻圈变化适应能力进行了综合评价.结果表明:就子系统而言,1980-2008年除水资源系统的适应能力呈下降态势外,生态、经济与社会系统对冰冻圈变化的适应能力均呈上升趋势.水资源总量减少是水资源系统适应能力降低的主要影响因素.玉龙雪山地区冰冻圈变化的综合适应能力增强,经济系统对综合适应能力的贡献达到37%,居首位,其次为社会系统,为29%.旅游业发展驱动下的生态环境保护,地区经济实力增强,交通设施建设,居民收入增加共同助推了该地区综合适应能力的提升.     

泰山地区古元古代末期基性岩墙形成时代厘定——斜锆石U-Pb精确定年

华北克拉通经过吕梁运动在～1.85Ga完成克拉通化,之后从1.80Ga至1.32Ga发育大量标志哥伦比亚超级大陆裂解的地质记录。本文利用高精度热电离质谱法(ID-TIMS)和离子探针质谱法(SIMS),对发育于泰山红门景区的辉长辉绿岩墙进行了斜锆石U-Pb同位素年龄测定,获得了在误差范围内一致的辉长辉绿岩侵位年龄1621.1±8.8Ma(ID-TIMS)和1632.4±4.2Ma(SIMS)。该研究成果修正了前人对泰山红门景区辉长辉绿岩侵位年龄的模糊认识,证明了红门景区辉长辉绿岩是与华北克拉通南缘龙王碱性花岗岩、华北克拉通北缘大红峪期碱性火山岩和岩床同期的岩浆事件的产物,是哥伦比亚超级大陆初始裂解作用在华北克拉通的岩浆作用响应。