Mineral composition variation in Alpine Schist, Southern Alps, New Zealand: Implications for recrystallization and exhumation

Abstract Compositional variation of silicates (plagioclase, K-feldspar, epidote, titanite, garnet, white mica, biotite, chlorite), ilmenite, carbonates (calcite, ankerite) and apatite, in quartzofeldspathic lithologies of the Alpine Schist, New Zealand, is discussed in terms of increasing metamorphic grade and possible isograd-producing reactions. The mineral data, in conjunction with geological considerations, are used to determine polychronous P-T arrays of an early high P/T event (c. 16°C/kb; 5°C/km) overprinted by a lower P/T event (c. 50°C/kb; 15°C/km) that provides an estimation of Mesozoic and Cenozoic exhumation of schist of 11 to 13 km and 19 to 22 km respectively. The effects of possible shear heating and recrystallization to form K-feldspar zone schist near the Alpine Fault is consistent with movement along a mid to lower crustal detachment surface during Cenozoic shortening, and near isothermal exhumation of the schists to form the Southern Alps.     

Diurnal freeze–thaw depth in rockwalls: Field measurements and theoretical considerations

Rock temperatures were monitored for a year at two alpine rockwalls in the Akaishi Range, Japan, where permafrost is absent. Diurnal frost and thaw penetration depths were evaluated from subsurface isotherms drawn on the basis of the temperature records at 0, 10 and 40 cm depths. The surface of the rockwalls experienced more than 100 diurnal freeze-thaw cycles, most of which accompanied a frost or thaw penetration shallower than 50 cm, and several long duration cycles with deeper frost or thaw penetration. Theoretical frost and thaw depths were also calculated by incorporating the surface freezing indices into the modified Berggren equation, the results from which were then compared with the actual values. The modified Berggren equation provided values that showed a strong correlation with observed depths, despite somewhat underestimating the actual values. Using the modified Berggren equation, the seasonal frost depth in the observed winter was estimated to be about 4·5 m. The frost and thaw depths are considered to give the maximum estimation of the depth to which frost-induced cracking can propagate in the bedrock.     

The rate of bedrock weathering by frost action: Field measurements and a predictive model

Shattering rate, surface temperature, moisture content, and the physical and strength properties of bedrock were measured in four rockwall sites of the Japanese Alps. Five-year observations revealed that the bedrock shattering rate was usually much higher in the freeze-thaw period from October to next May than in the frost-free period from June to September. This indicates that frost action is the most important shattering process, although unusual heavy rainstorms in summer are also responsible for the shattering. A combination of some empirical relationships derived from recent laboratory experiments leads to a predictive model of the frost shattering rate. This model shows that the annual shattering rate is dependent on the annual freeze-thaw frequency on the rock surface, and the degree of saturation and tensile strength of the rock masses. The coefficients involved in the model were determined using the field data.     

Cyclotella-taxa (Bacillariophyceae) in lakes of the Alpine region and their relationship to environmental variables

Surface sediment diatom assemblages for 86 Alpine lakes were analysed focusing on the dominant genusCyclotella and corresponding environmental data. The range of morphological variability of theCyclotella bodanica/radiosa, C. distinguenda, C. ocellata, C. comensis andC. stelligera complexes was documented. Significance tests included in the canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) indicated that total phosphorus, conductivity and surface water temperature were significantly correlated withCyclotella taxa assemblage distribution. Numerical species optima and tolerances were calculated in respect to these significant variables using weighted averaging (WA) regression and calibration. CCA and WA were able to provide information about the environmental preferences of the various morphotypes observed.     

Rockfall hazard in the Daisekkei Valley, the northern Japanese Alps, on 11 August 2005

This paper describes a rockfall event in the Daisekkei Valley of Mount Shirouma-dake (2,932 m), the northern Japanese Alps. The rockfall occurred on a steep cliff comprising well-jointed felsites and produced debris of ≥8,000 m³. Most debris was deposited on an elongated snowpatch located immediately beneath the cliff, and it caused casualties among people who were trekking along a trail on the snowpatch. Additionally, a large rock block slipped 1 km on the snowpatch. The rockfall could have been due to the differential retreat of the rockwall, which contains areas of high- and low-density joints. Seasonal and diurnal freeze–thaw activities and snow avalanches and wash appear to be important factors responsible for the retreat. Although some rock blocks that can collapse further remain on the rockwall, the position of the mountain trail in the Daisekkei Valley is fixed. Fundamental reform of tourism systems for climbers, including education on natural hazards, is required.     

全球气候变化下青藏公路沿线冻土变化响应模型的研究

利用英国Hadley气候预测与研究中心GCM模型HADCM2预测的气温变化背景，分别提取青藏公路沿线地区在2009年，2049年和2099年的气温参数，考虑年平均气温和年平均地温的关系及年平均地温与海拔，纬度的关系模型，多年冻土下界分布模型和地温带分带，建立青藏公路沿线多年冻土下界分布的响应模型和多年冻土地温带的响应模型，研究结果表明，2009年青藏公路沿线的冻土变化较小，多年冻土极稳定带,稳定带和基本稳定带仅发生微弱的变化，基本稳定过渡带和不稳定带变化较大，多年冻土,逐渐退化，2049年青藏公路沿线多年冻土各地温带变化较大，但仍以基本稳定过渡带和不稳定带变化最大，多年冻土发生较大范围的退化；2099年后青藏公路沿线冻土发生了很大的变化，多年冻土发生大面积的退化，融区面积逐渐增大，多年冻土地温带也发生了较大的变化，其中多年冻土上带仅保留了稳定带，极稳定带全部消失，稳定带和基本稳定带全部转化为不稳定带。     

黑北公路冻土路基设计原则及病害特征

依据位于小兴安岭地区的黑北公路沿线退化多年冻土特征，以及地质、水文、气候等工程环境条件，分析了黑北公路路基可能会发生的病害和发展过程，提出了适合于黑经公路的路基设计与病害防治措施，以便比选与优化退化型多年冻土地区的路基稳定性设计原则及结构形式，同时在路基设计形式和病害处理上提出了一些初步设想和建议。     

小兴安岭黑大公路沿线多年冻土分布及退化状态

黑大公路沿线多年土主要分布于黑河－北安段，属小兴安岭岛状多年冻土区，该区存在的多年冻土是晚全新世寒冷时期的产物，现处于欧亚多年冰土南界边缘，多年冻土发育在低洼、地表积水、塔头草生长茂密、草炭和泥炭发育的沼泽化湿地当中，沼泽湿地独特的热交换特性决定了其中发育的多年冻土处于退化的最晚阶段，冻土的退化在自然条件下可能依赖于由于至上的地下热流。多年冻土的地温剖面表现为零梯度曲且冰土温度接近于0℃，由此决定了多年冻土对人为活动干扰的敏感性。