Application of sedimentary pyrite in paleo-environment:a case study of Meihe Formation

The indices related to sedimentary pyrite are widely used in paleo-environmental studies;however its application principles and flaws have not been presented in detail so far , therefore it is necessary to review the controlling factors of them .In this study the authors described the application principles in detail , including py-rite morphology, C/S ratio, DOP, size distribution, sulfur isotope, and further discussed the C-S-Fe system in oil shale in Meihe Formation which indicates oxic or suboxic conditions during oil shale deposition .The concen-tration of TOC and S in the oil shale in Meihe Formation is more than that in background mudstone , and the py-rite formation is limited by sulfate .Therefore studying the indices related to pyrite proves to be of great impor-tance.     

黑河流域气象要素与全球性大气环流特征量的多尺度遥相关分析

黑河流域生态-水文过程集成研究是我国近年来干旱半干旱地区的研究热点,气候变化条件下流域生态-水文过程的响应机制是其中一个重要科学问题。基于1956-2015 年黑河流域气温、湿度、降水观测数据及多个大气环流特征量监测资料,采用小波分析方法研究了流域气象要素与大气环流特征量的周期性及遥相关。结果表明：（1）流域气温与大气环流特征量的遥相关关系最为明显,湿度、降水次之。（2）气温与Niño3.4 SSTA、SOI 的显著遥相关共同周期为12～16 a,与NAO、AO为9～11 a,与WP遥相关周期为5～9 a,与PDO为8～15 a。（3）湿度与NAO遥相关周期为4～5 a,与POL为3～6 a,与WP为9～15 a,与PNA为2～8 a。（4）降水与Niño3.4 SSTA遥相关周期为9～15 a,与NAO为2～4 a,与AO为3～7 a,与POL为11～19 a,与WP为9～14 a。（5）上述各遥相关周期的地域分布、显著时段与时滞特征各有差异。本文研究有助于加深流域气象要素对环流特征量响应机制的认识,为我国干旱半干旱地区内陆河流域严峻的水-生态问题的解决及水资源管理提供依据。     

Geochemical characteristics of stream sediments from an urban-volcanic zone,Central Mexico: Natural and man-made inputs

Geochemical characteristics of stream sediments [n = 31; Upstream section: Zahuapan River (1–12) and Atoyac River (13–20); Downstream section (21–31)] from Atoyac River basin of Central Mexico have been evaluated. The study focuses on the textural, petrography and chemical composition of the fluvial sediments with the aim of analyzing their provenance, the chemical weathering signature and their potential environmental effects. The fluvial sediments are mostly composed of sand and silt sized particles dominated by plagioclase, pyroxenes, amphiboles, K-feldspar, biotite, opaque and quartz. The sediments were analyzed for determination of major (Al, Fe, Ca, Mg, Na, K, P, Si, Ti), trace elements (As, Ba, Be, Co, Cr, Cu, Mo, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sc, V, Y, Zn, Zr, Ga) and compared with Upper continental crust (UCC), source area composition and local background values. The elemental concentrations were comparable with the average andesite and dacitic composition of the source area and the local background values except for enrichment of Cu (56.27 ppm), Pb (34 ppm) and Zn (235.64 ppm) in the downstream sediments suggesting a significant external influence (anthropogenic). The fluvial sediments of Atoyac River basin display low CIA and PIA values implying predominantly weak to moderate weathering conditions in the source region. Based on the provenance discrimination diagrams and elemental ratios, it is understood that the collected sediments are derived from intermediate to felsic volcanic rocks dominated in the study region. Metal contamination indices highlight the enrichment of Cu, Pb, Zn, Mo, Cr and S clearly indicating the influences from natural (weathering and volcanic activity) and external (anthropogenic) sources. Ecological risk assessment results indicate that Cr, Ni and Zn will cause adverse biological effects to the riverine environment.     

Geochemistry of sericite deposits at the base of the paleoproterozoic aravalli supergroup, Rajasthan, India: Evidence for metamorphosed and metasomatised precambrian paleosol

Fine grained sericite deposits occur at the interface between Archean Mewar Gneiss Complex and the Proterozoic Aravalli Supergroup independent of shearing. They show a gradational contact with the basement granites and gneisses and a sharp contact with the overlying quartz pebble conglomeratic quartzites. Rip-up clasts of these sericite schists are found in the overlying conglomerates. The sericite schists are rich in sericite towards the top and contain chlorite towards the base. The sericite in these schists was formed by metasomatic alteration of kyanite and not from the feldspars of the basement granitoids and gneisses. Uni-directional variations of SiO₂ and Al₂O₃, high Al₂O₃ content (>30%), positive correlation between Al₂O₃ and TiO₂, Ti/Al and Ti/Zr ratios, high pre-metasomatic chemical indices of alteration (> 90), and enrichment of heavy rare earth elements relative to the parent granites and gneisses—all these chemical characteristics combined with field evidence suggest that the sericite schists are formed from a paleosol protolith, which developed on Archean basement between 2.5 and ~2.1 Ga in the Precambrian of Rajasthan. The superimposed metasomatic alteration restricts the use of Fe²⁺/Ti and Fe³⁺/Ti ratios of these paleosols for interpretation of PO₂ conditions in the atmosphere.     

海南岛北部玄武岩上土壤发生的化学特性研究

海南岛北部不同时期喷发的玄武岩上发育的土壤构成一个风化成土时间系列。对这一土壤系列的化学特性研究表明，随风化成土时间的增加，pH值不断下降，但至富铁土后，pH趋于稳定，而土壤CEC7，盐基饱和度下降。同时，土体中Al2O3、Fe2O3、TiO2含量增加，而Ca、Mg、K、Na淋失强烈，SiO2含量也不断降低。以土壤中大量元素含量为基础计算多数指标难以反映热带地区碱金属和碱土金属元素迅速而强烈淋失的成土风化过程。常用的土体分子硅铝率和硅铁铝率并不能指示所有土壤的风化成土作用程度。     

CAPE values and hailstorms on northwestern Spain

A study has been carried out in León (in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula) on atmospheric convection during summer periods, by analyzing the values of the Convective Available Potential Energy (CAPE) around 07:00 UTC. The project analyzed the data provided by a network of voluntary observers, a hailpad network, and a meteorological station on a sample of 224 days. The CAPE values found were not high: they never reached 2000 J/kg, not even on hail days, i.e. on days with high convective activity. These values are much lower than the ones measured in convective situations in tropical regions, but they are within the usual values found in Europe. The same happens with the wet bulb potential temperature measured in León. The frequency distribution of the CAPE values shows a clear prevalence of very low or zero values. The group of days with the lowest CAPE value is that which included days with no storm. The mean value increases on storm days, and it is even higher for the days with recorded hailfalls. All these differences are significantly marked. Nevertheless, the differences across the years are not significant enough to be able to speak of an influence of the climatic change on the CAPE. The correlation of the CAPE with some of the variables previously used for hail forecasts was analyzed, and the correlation found was higher for the lifted index. The possible use of the CAPE as a thunderstorm and hailstorm forecasting method was considered. The results were encouraging, especially for hail forecasting, although the CAPE should not be used as the only variable, but combined with other parameters. Moreover, the relationships between the CAPE and the wet bulb potential temperature and between the CAPE and the physical parameters of the hailstones were also analyzed. A relationship was observed with the parameters of the hailstone size distribution. Nonetheless, these results are provisional, and they should be confirmed by analyzing a more representative sample. With a more detailed analysis of these and other relationships, the present forecast model used by the Laboratory for Atmospheric Physics at the University of León is expected to be greatly improved by including the CAPE in this model.     

The value of teaching about geomorphology in non-traditional settings

Academics usually teach about geomorphology in the classroom, where the audience is enthusiastic, but generally small. Less traditional settings offer opportunities to reach a wider audience, one that is equally enthusiastic, given its love of geomorphic features in the National Parks, but one which has little knowledge of the science behind what they are seeing. I have “taught” geomorphology in four non-traditional settings: at a summer camp, a state wildlife refuge, on community field trips, and at meetings for clubs and government boards. This paper discusses my experiences and offers suggestions to others who may wish to follow this less-traveled educational path.As Head of Nature Programs at Camp Pemigewassett in New Hampshire, I have worked, over the last 33 years, with thousands of campers ranging from 8 to 15 years old. Our setting, in a glaciated valley on a small lake, exhibits a wide range of geomorphic features and offers many opportunities for direct learning through field investigations. I have found that even 8-year olds can do real science, if we avoid the jargon. Once “taught” they carry their knowledge about landforms and processes with them and eagerly share it with their friends and family on outings and trips, thus reaching an even wider public.Parks, wildlife refuges, nature preserves, and other similar areas generally have nature trails, often with educational information about the environment. Generally, interpretive signs are prepared by biologists and the content ignores the site's physical features, as well as the connections between ecological communities and the underlying geology and geomorphology. My students and I have addressed this situation at two places in Connecticut, one a state wildlife management area, also used for training teachers to teach Environmental Education, and the other, a town recreation area. We catalogued the geomorphic features, looked at relationships of the community level ecology to those features, and prepared interpretive signs that added this perspective to the trails. The public response has been extremely favorable.Geomorphology can also be taught by leading field trips for community organizations. I have done this twice, once for the Manchester (NH) Historical Society and once for a small watershed association. The attendance and interest surprised me. We finally had to limit the Manchester trip to one full busload (45) and the watershed trip, which was part of a “trails day,” drew over 90 people.Finally, I have found that organizations such as Sierra Club chapters and town conservation boards are frequently looking for speakers for their periodic meetings. Why not a geomorphologist? After all, much of what conservationists do is related to what geomorphologists do. I have given several of these presentations and the receptions have always been enthusiastic.While the work involved in preparing to teach in one of these non-traditional settings is frequently substantial, the rewards are equally large. It is a way to reach masses of people who know little about the science of geomorphology and to demonstrate its importance to them. Taking our message directly to the public in these settings is an effective way to put geomorphology in the public eye.     

The Interpretation of Segregation Indices in Context: The Case of P in Singapore

The article argues that the interpretation of segregation indices has been deeply conditioned by U.S. and U.K. studies. Using an empirical example of the P index on data pertaining to Singapore's public housing residents, the article investigates the “exposure” dimension of segregation for Singapore's three main ethnic groups: Chinese, Malay, and Indians/Others. While the figures yielded are low in comparison to those in Western studies, the article demonstrates that low index values are nonetheless sociologically significant. The figures generated for Malay isolation in higher–quality public housing were argued to be qualitatively different from those for Indian isolation in lower–quality public housing. The former demands an appreciation of household structure and kinship ties, while the latter involves atomized individuals in a highly urbanized setting. Blind application and interpretation of indices run the risk of coming to erroneous conclusions. A contextual approach is needed for a better appreciation of the diverse ways in which segregation is manifested and experienced.     

Impact of flow variability on the morphology of a low-energy meandering river

Few studies have precisely documented the response of stream channels to short-term flow variability. This paper examines the impact of sequential flows of various magnitudes on the morphology of a low-energy river in northeastern Illinois, U.S.A. Between June 1986 and November 1988 channel cross-sections were surveyed on a semiannual basis at 26 locations along a 7.2 km stretch of the Des Plaines River. During this period an estimated 100-year flood, several bankfull flows, and an extreme low flow associated with a severe drought occurred. The response of the river channel to each of these events was relatively minor. Mean changes for the reach were generally less than 3 per cent for mean depth and less than 1 per cent for width. Statistical analysis indicates that net changes in width and depth over the entire period were not significantly different from zero. This lack of geomorphic response is attributable to low stream power, low hydrologic variability, fine bed materials, and cohesive banks along this stretch of river. Although dramatic changes in channel morphology did not occur, subtleties in geomorphic response were observed that reflect the temporal ordering of hydrologic events.