A predictive numerical model for potential mapping of the gas hydrate stability zone in the Gulf of Cadiz

This paper presents a computational model for mapping the regional 3D distribution in which seafloor gas hydrates would be stable, that is carried out in a Geographical Information System (GIS) environment. The construction of the model is comprised of three primary steps, namely: (1) the construction of surfaces for the various variables based on available 3D data (seafloor temperature, geothermal gradient and depth-pressure); (2) the calculation of the gas function equilibrium functions for the various hydrocarbon compositions reported from hydrate and sediment samples; and (3) the calculation of the thickness of the hydrate stability zone. The solution is based on a transcendental function, which is solved iteratively in a GIS environment.The model has been applied in the northernmost continental slope of the Gulf of Cadiz, an area where an abundant supply for hydrate formation, such as extensive hydrocarbon seeps, diapirs and fault structures, is combined with deep undercurrents and a complex seafloor morphology. In the Gulf of Cadiz, the model depicts the distribution of the base of the gas hydrate stability zone for both biogenic and thermogenic gas compositions, and explains the geometry and distribution of geological structures derived from gas venting in the Tasyo Field (Gulf of Cadiz) and the generation of BSR levels on the upper continental slope.     

Tectonically-driven mud volcanism since the late Pliocene on the Calabrian accretionary prism,central Mediterranean Sea

Mud volcanoes recently discovered on the offshore Calabrian Arc are investigated at two sites 60 km apart, in water depths of 1650--2300 m, using swath bathymetry, 2D&3D multichannel seismic and cores. The seabed and subsurface data provide information on their formation and functioning in relation to tectonic activity during the rapid Plio-Quaternary advance of the accretionary prism. Fore-arc extension and thrust-belt compression are seen to have involved two main phases of activity, separated by a regional unconformity recording a mid-Pliocene (3.5–3.0 Ma) tectonic reorganization. The two sites of mud volcanism lie in contrasting tectonic settings (inner fore-arc basin vs central fold-and-thrust belt) and record differing forms of seabed extrusive activity (twin mud cones and a caldera vs a broad mud pie). At both sites, subsurface data show that mud volcanism took place throughout the second tectonic phase, since the late Pliocene; differing forms of mud extrusion were accompanied by subsidence to form depressions beneath and within extrusive edifices up to 1.5 km thick. The basal subsidence depressions point to sources within the succession of thrusts underlying the inner to central Arc, consistent with microfossils within cored mud breccias from both sites that are derived from strata as old as Late Cretaceous.     

Scleractinian cold-water corals in the Gulf of Cádiz—First clues about their spatial and temporal distribution

This paper presents the first compilation of information on the spatial distribution of scleractinian cold-water corals in the Gulf of Cádiz based on literature research and own observations (video footage, sediment samples). Scleractinian cold-water corals are widely distributed along the Spanish and Moroccan margins in the Gulf of Cádiz, where they are mainly associated with mud volcanoes, diapiric ridges, steep fault escarpments, and coral mounds. Dendrophyllia cornigera, Dendrophyllia alternata, Eguchipsammia cornucopia, Madrepora oculata and Lophelia pertusa are the most abundant reef-forming species. Today, they are almost solely present as isolated patches of fossil coral and coral rubble. The absence of living scleractinian corals is likely related to a reduced food supply caused by low productivity and diminished tidal effects. In contrast, during the past 48 kyr scleractinian corals were abundant in the Gulf of Cádiz, although their occurrence demonstrates no relationship with main climatic or oceanographic changes. Nevertheless, there exists a conspicuous relationship when the main species are considered separately. Dendrophylliids are associated with periods of relatively stable and warm conditions. The occurrence of L. pertusa mainly clusters within the last glacial when bottom current strength in the Gulf of Cádiz was enhanced and long-term stable conditions existed in terms of temperature. Madrepora oculata shows a higher tolerance to abrupt environmental changes.     

利用水系沉积物高程定量恢复古地貌的技术方法——以鲁西白彦地区白彦砾岩为例

主要分析了构造抬升对水系和地形的影响和恢复,以从古生代灰岩围岩中大面积但零星出露的岩溶砾岩点为研究对象,对区域古水系和地形地貌恢复和反演做出了新的尝试。在收集资料和实测的基础上,尝试性探讨了利用稳定水体参照物高程反演抬升高度以及邻区山峰点的古高程、古水系,恢复区域上古地形地貌的技术方法。并以白彦地区为例,通过白彦岩溶砾岩的分布、产状、金刚石矿物含量、岩性等地质特征,恢复白彦地区古地形线、古水系位置和流向等古地理地貌,指出在白彦期时代,该区总体发育4个水系,邹城市大石墙水系、枣庄水系、平邑水系、费县水系,水系中金刚石含量较为丰富的砾岩点大多分布在凤凰山隆起中心,其中在平邑水系推测存在一个山地峡谷中的古湖泊。认为蒙山凸起中已知的常马庄地区的金伯利岩脉所含有金刚石可能主要供应平邑区水系,其他3个地区水系的金刚石可能来源于凤凰山及其东部隆起剥蚀地区。     

鄂尔多斯盆地宜川地区二叠纪孢粉化石组合特征

通过对延长油矿延223井晚古生代孢粉组合研究以及古植被的恢复,探讨了该区晚古生代孢粉植物化石组合的地层学和古气候意义。根据孢粉化石主要属种的时代分布及其在各样品中百分含量的规律性变化,自下而上建立了3个孢粉组合:Gulisporites cochlearius-Laevigatosporites minimus组合、Sinulatisporites-Florinites组合和Lueckeisporites permianus-Platysaccus radialis组合。根据对划分孢粉组合的特征分析,通过与邻区及华北地区晚古生代孢粉组合的对比,探讨了孢粉组合的时代意义。通过孢粉组合,推测了相应时期的古植被类型,并与前人在相同地质时期所建立的大植物化石带进行了对比,分析了各地质时期植被的兴起、发展、繁盛以及衰退绝灭的历史过程,研究区二叠纪植物群属于典型的华夏植物群,反映了一种温暖潮湿的热带雨林气候,二叠纪晚期随着松柏类植物所占比例的增加,气候有变干旱的趋势。     

抗差卡尔曼滤波在聊城古建筑动态数据处理中的应用

古建筑在日照、风压等因素的影响下,易产生老化变形,一般会采用及时补救的方法,有时并没有分析其根本原因,本文在布设动态监控网,获得监控数据后,用抗差卡尔曼滤波对监控数据进行分析的方法,对变形方向进行预测,预测值与平差值的误差均在限差范围内,且变化方向大致相同,可以将它作为古建筑变形方向的预报,做到防患于未然。     

The Holocene tephrostratigraphic record of Lake Shkodra (Albania and Montenegro)

Two cores were recovered in the southeastern part of Lake Shkodra (Montenegro and Albania) and sampled for identification of tephra layers. The first core (SK13, 7.8 m long) was recovered from a water depth of 7 m, while the second core (SK19, 5.8 m long) was recovered close to the present‐day shoreline (water depth of 2 m). Magnetic susceptibility investigations show generally low values with some peaks that in some cases are related to tephra layers. Naked‐eye inspection of the cores allowed the identification of four tephra layers in core SK13 and five tephra layers in core SK19. Major element analyses on glass shards and mineral phases allowed correlation of the tephra layers between the two cores, and their attribution to six different Holocene explosive eruptions of southern Italy volcanoes. Two tephra layers have under‐saturated composition of glass shards (foiditic and phonolitic) and were correlated to the AD 472 and the Avellino (ca. 3.9 cal. ka BP) eruptions of Somma‐Vesuvius. One tephra layer has benmoreitic composition and was correlated to the FL eruption of Mount Etna (ca. 3.4 cal. ka BP). The other three tephra layers have trachytic composition and were correlated to Astroni (ca. 4.2 cal. ka BP), Agnano Monte Spina (ca. 4.5 cal. ka BP) and Agnano Pomici Principali (ca. 12.3 cal. ka BP) eruptions of Campi Flegrei. The ages of tephra layers are in broad agreement with eight ¹⁴C accelerator mass spectrometric measurements carried out on plant remains and charcoal from the lake sediments at different depths along the two cores. The recognition of distal tephra layers from Italian volcanoes allowed the physical link of the Holocene archive of Lake Shkodra to other archives located in the central Mediterranean area and the Balkans (i.e. Lake Ohrid). Five of the recognised tephra layers were recognised for the first time in the Balkans area, and this has relevance for volcanic hazard assessment and for ash dispersal forecasting in case of renewed explosive activity from some of the southern Italy volcanoes. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

可可西里地区乌兰乌拉湖湖泊环境变迁及古人类活动遗迹

通过对可可西里地区及在乌兰乌拉湖所发现古人类活动遗迹的综合研究，认为乌兰乌拉湖地区自晚更新世末期以来，湖泊环境发生了由湿润（3×104aB．P．以前）──温暖（2×104aB．P．前后）──干暖（1×104aB．P．以前）──冷干（1×104aB．P．以来）的变化，湖水也产生了多次进退变化，与之相适应的古人类活动也发生了迁徒变化。     

Sedimentary Features of Shallow Ancient River Channels on the Northern Shelf of the South China Sea1

Abstract Quaternary buried ancient river channels are widespread in the shallow-level sediments of the northern shelf of the South China Sea. The sedimentary sequence mainly of fluvial deposits comprise an important component part of the low-stand system tract and transgressive system tract in the study region. The plannar variation and spatial association of the sedimentary features such as incised valley fillings, deltaic foreset wedges and block slides of shelf-marginal fans reflect the palaeogeographic environment during the fall of the regional sea level in the northern part of the South China Sea. Based on the high-resolution seismic reflection data and gelogical data from boreholes, the present paper makes an integrated interpretation of the Quaternary ancient river channels in the shallow sediments of the study area, studies the sedimentary features of the ancient channels such as their spatial distribution, seismic facies reflection indicators, sedimentary facies and sand-body types, and discusses their formational setting and evolutionary model, with the main purpose to render a service to the hydrocarbon resources exploration and development and marine engineering in the northern shelf of the South China Sea.     

Nonseismic phenomena in the generation and augmentation of tsunamis

While earthquakes generate about 90% of all tsunamis, volcanic activity, landslides, explosions, and other nonseismic phenomena can also result in tsunamis. There have been 53 000 reported deaths as a result of tsunamis generated by landslides and volcanoes. No death tolls are available for many events, but reports indicate that villages, islands, and even entire civilizations have disappeared. Some of the highest tsunami wave heights ever observed were produced by landslides. In the National Geophysical Data Center world-wide tsunami database, there are nearly 200 tsunami events in which nonseismic phenomena played a major role. In this paper, we briefly discuss a variety of nonseismic phenomena that can result in tsunamis. We discuss the magnitude of the disasters that have resulted from such events, and we discuss the potential for reducing such disasters by education and warning systems.