Further evidence for a relatively high sea level during the penultimate interglacial: open-system U-series ages from La Marina (Alicante,East Spain)

The elevation and timing of high sea stands during Oxygen Isotope Stage (OIS) 7 are not as well constrained as those of OIS 5e. Conflicting values are reported from Mediterranean coastlines, and fossil dating is inaccurate because of ubiquitous open U-series systems. New morphostratigraphic data from La Marina (eastern Spain) supported by open-system U-series coral ages shed light on the maximum sea level during OIS 7. Fossil corals (Cladocora caespitosa) underlying an OIS 5e marine unit yielded U-series ages from 178 ± 10 to 208 ± 11 ka (±2s; n=7) with an outlier at 240 ± 18 ka. Mean open-system limit ages of 170 ± 10 (minimum age after correction for 234Th -230Th uptake) and 237 ± 20 ka (maximum age after correction for 238U - 234U uptake) were calculated to have a probable age closer to the minimum value, for an assignment of OIS 7a or 7c. The occurrence of a warm-water “Senegalese” fauna (Strombus bubonius) in OIS5e and OIS 7 marine units confirms the arrival of tropical species to the Mediterranean before the last interglacial period. Morpho-sedimentological and neotectonic studies suggest that the maximum paleo-sea level during OIS 7c or 7a was a few meters below that of OIS 5e.     

西昆仑塔什库尔干布伦阔勒群的岩石地球化学特征及变质P-T轨迹

西昆仑布伦阔勒群变质岩是西昆仑造山带的重要组成部分,但其成因一直存在争议.在塔什库尔干县的马尔洋地区,布伦阔勒群主要由石榴斜长角闪片麻岩和孔兹岩组成.根据地球化学特征,石榴斜长角闪片麻岩稀土元素配分曲线可以分为两种类型:一种稀土总量较高(∑REE=190.2×10-6 ～ 359.1×10-6),从轻稀土到重稀土逐渐亏损((La/Yb)N =4.28～5.79),与E-MORB类似;另一种稀土总量较低(∑REE=89.28×10-6～113.0×10-6),轻稀土亏损((La/Yb)N=0.59 ～0.84),重稀土曲线平坦((Gd/Yb)N =0.99 ～ 1.07),与N-MORB类似.微量元素蛛网图中石榴斜长角闪片麻岩具有Ba正异常,Sm、Cr、Zr、Hf和Ti的负异常,轻微的Nb、Ta的负异常,显示为岛弧拉斑玄武岩的特征.孔兹岩的原岩判别图解显示其原岩可能为岛弧环境沉积的页岩和硬砂岩.因此,推测塔什库尔干布伦阔勒群的石榴斜长角闪片麻岩和孔兹岩的原岩形成于岛弧环境.根据岩相学观察、矿物化学分析和温压计算,石榴斜长角闪片麻岩经历了三个变质阶段:M1为高压变质阶段,矿物组合为Grt+ Hbl(1)+ Pl1+ Qtz,变质温压条件为850～ 870℃/12.9 ～13.3kb;M2和M3为两期角闪岩相退变质阶段,矿物组合分别为Hbl2+ Pl2+Qtz和Hbl3+ Pl3+ Kfs+ Bt+ Qtz,变质温压条件分别为730 ～ 770℃/7.3～7.8kb和680 ～ 740℃/4.7 ～5.7kb.孔兹岩也经历了三个变质阶段,推测其早期M1阶段变质温压条件可能与石榴斜长角闪片麻岩的峰期变质阶段相同(850～870℃/12.9 ～ 13.3kb);峰期M2和峰期后M3阶段变质矿物组合分别为Grt2+ Pl2+ Bt2+ Sil+ Qtz和Grt3+ Pl3+ Bt3+Sil+ Mus+ Qtz,温压计算结果分别为800～830℃/7.9～9.2kb和670～700℃/5.1～5.6kb.孔兹岩的M1、M2和M3变质阶段对应于石榴斜长角闪片麻岩的M1、M2和M3变质阶段.上述温压计算结果形成顺时针的P-T轨迹,表现为峰期高压变质作用后叠加了由高角闪岩相-中压麻粒岩相到低角闪岩相的退变质作用,反映了西昆仑与碰撞相关的大地构造背景,这可能与海西期古特提斯洋的闭合有关,之后叠加了印支期构造抬升过程中的剪切作用.     

Steady-state frictional geostrophic circulation in a one-layer ocean model with thermodynamics

The governing equations are developed for a steady-state frictional geostrophic inhomogeneous 1.5-layer ocean model, with horizontal velocity field that is linearly sheared in the vertical coordinate. We show that in the adiabatic, thermally non-diffusive limit there are an infinite number of solutions for the temperature and depth fields of the subtropical gyre even with the constraint of identical mass within each temperature range. In the non-adiabatic case, a unique subtropical gyre solution exists that can exhibit a temperature front, containing an unbounded meridional gradient, in the northwest corner of the solution domain. The role of mixing of enthalpy in the western boundary layer (WBL) region was investigated by comparing the two extreme cases of no mixing and complete mixing of enthalpy in this region. Also investigated was the dependence of the meridional heat transport on the air–sea heat exchange coefficient, κ. The temperature field was found to be strongly influenced by mixing. However, both qualitatively and quantitatively, the heat transport is similar in the model with and without mixing. The heat transport attains a single local maximum at κ=κ_c, that lies within values that are oceanographically relevant.     

长江三角洲典型稻作区近地层二氧化碳等湍流通量的观测研究

利用1999年和2000年长江三角洲近地层大气与农田生态系统综合观测试验资料，对常熟地区水稻插秧、拔节、抽穗等不同生长期近地层二氧化碳和感热、潜热、动量等湍流通量特征及变化规律进行了初步研究. 研究结果表明, 平均而言在水稻各生长期，近地面为二氧化碳的汇，白天水稻通过光合作用吸收二氧化碳、夜间则放出二氧化碳，抽穗期消耗的二氧化碳要多于拔节和插秧期；近地面为大气的热源，主要以潜热方式加热大气，尤其是在抽穗期，感热与潜热之比仅为0.058；二氧化碳等湍流通量的变化与辐射平衡各分量及气象要素有显著关系.     

基于信息流的长三角城市群中心性及影响因子研究

信息流作为流空间的一种重要表现形式,为城市群网络研究提供了新视角。但目前利用信息流对城市群的研究多侧重于描述城市间的层级关系或网络结构的外部特征,对网络结构及其时空演变规律缺乏从点到面的系统分析,且较少考虑距离因素。该文提出假设:信息流会在远距离影响城市间的交互,据此利用2011年、2015年、2019年信息流研究长三角城市群地理中心性随距离的变化情况,并对城市间关联的影响机制进行分析。研究表明,长三角城市群网络的主体结构由以上海为核心向四周辐射的格局转换为以上海、苏州、南京、杭州4个城市构成的多核心结构;城市群内部各城市发展呈现由东向西递减趋势,短距离尺度上,距离增长导致城市间交互强度逐渐减弱,长距离尺度上,城市属性成为城市间交互的主导因素;选取的影响因子与信息流的相关性日益增长,其中距离因子与信息流强度呈负相关,表明流空间一定程度上减弱了距离因素对城市间关联强度的影响。     

Collision of the Ganges–Brahmaputra Delta with the Burma Arc: Implications for earthquake hazard

We take a fresh look at the topography, structure and seismicity of the Ganges–Brahmaputra Delta (GBD)–Burma Arc collision zone in order to reevaluate the nature of the accretionary prism and its seismic potential. The GBD, the world's largest delta, has been built from sediments eroded from the Himalayan collision. These sediments prograded the continental margin of the Indian subcontinent by  400 km, forming a huge sediment pile that is now entering the Burma Arc subduction zone. Subduction of oceanic lithosphere with > 20 km sediment thickness is fueling the growth of an active accretionary prism exposed on land. The prism starts at an apex south of the GBD shelf edge at  18°N and widens northwards to form a broad triangle that may be up to 300 km wide at its northern limit. The front of the prism is blind, buried by the GBD sediments. Thus, the deformation front extends 100 km west of the surface fold belt beneath the Comilla Tract, which is uplifted by 3–4 m relative to the delta. This accretionary prism has the lowest surface slope of any active subduction zone. The gradient of the prism is only  0.1°, rising to  0.5° in the forearc region to the east. This low slope is consistent with the high level of overpressure found in the subsurface, and indicates a very weak detachment. Since its onset, the collision of the GBD and Burma Arc has expanded westward at  2 cm/yr, and propagated southwards at  5 cm/yr. Seismic hazard in the GBD is largely unknown. Intermediate-size earthquakes are associated with surface ruptures and fold growth in the external part of the prism. However, the possibility of large subduction ruptures has not been accounted for, and may be higher than generally believed. Although sediment-clogged systems are thought to not be able to sustain the stresses and strain-weakening behavior required for great earthquakes, some of the largest known earthquakes have occurred in heavily-sedimented subduction zones. A large earthquake in 1762 ruptured  250 km of the southern part of the GBD, suggesting large earthquakes are possible there. A large, but poorly documented earthquake in 1548 damaged population centers at the northern and southern ends of the onshore prism, and is the only known candidate for a rupture of the plate boundary along the subaerial part of the GBD–Burma Arc collision zone.     

Investigating the presence of organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in wild and farmed gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) from the Western Mediterranean sea

The presence of organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in wild and farmed gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) from the Western Mediterranean, Spain, is investigated. These pollutants were determined in white and red muscle and liver by gas chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. Contaminant profiles present in both wild and farmed fish tissues include DDTs, PCBs and HCB. The highest concentrations of contaminants were found in liver, and an increase in pollutant levels was observed in autumn, before spawning. This fact is explained in light of increased food intake when sea water temperatures increase. Gilthead sea bream from Western Mediterranean populations showed significantly higher concentrations of DDTs and PCBs than farmed fish from the same area. This fact is attributed to the low level of organochlorine contaminants present in fish feed supplied to the cultured fish. The diet is highlighted as an important factor in understanding differences observed in organochlorine pollutants levels of fish tissues.     

Turbulent kinetic energy and sediment resuspension due to wave groups

Wave-induced sediment resuspension in nearshore regions has been observed occurring in an event-like manner and associated with the passage of wave groups. This paper describes field measurements of turbulent velocities obtained simultaneously with suspended sediment concentration and water surface elevation from Floreat Beach, Perth, Western Australia. The data were used to study the relationship between turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) on suspension events caused by wave groups and the intermittent nature of bottom turbulence production and sediment suspension. The field measurements showed the high TKE events occurred under wave crests, and sometimes under wave toughs, when the wave heights were increasing during the passage of a wave group; the TKE decreased after the maximum wave in the wave group had passed over the measurement location. High suspended sediment concentrations (ssc) and the intermittent high TKE events were not related rather the higher ssc events were associated with a secondary peak in the surface elevation, close to the maxima in the offshore velocity, and “burst” events in the Reynolds stress.     

Estimating the contribution of the authigenic mineral component to the long-term reactive silica accumulation on the western shelf of the Mississippi River Delta

Previous studies have shown how biogenic silica particles undergo conversion to aluminosilicate phases in large tropical deltaic systems, thus affecting the world ocean budget of major seawater cations. This study tackles the important question of the silica budget in the coastal zone of the Mississippi River Delta, providing evidence for the role of biogenic silica diagenesis in this subtropical system from direct examination of individual diatom particles, sediment leachates and pore-water composition. The estimated reactive silica stored in the study area (5990 km²) is based on operational leaches that account for altered biogenic silica particles and other authigenic aluminosilicate phases in addition to fresh biogenic silica. Early diagenesis of silica in the delta front occurs mainly where more siliceous material is deposited. An inner-shelf area, where hypoxic conditions are found, significantly contributes to the formation of authigenic products of Si alteration. Data suggest that the limiting factor of silica alteration processes is the availability of detrital phases such as Al and Fe. The estimated total reactive silica accumulation in the study area is 1.45×10¹⁰ mol Si year⁻¹, representing ∼2.2% of the long-term bulk sediment accumulation. On the basis of a conservative appraisal, the authigenic mineral components account for ∼40% of the long-term reactive silica storage. This study shows that non-tropical deltaic systems are significantly more important sinks of silica than previously thought and that, where conditions are favourable, a consistent portion of reactive silica not leaving the shelf is stored within the delta in the form of authigenic components.     

Estimation of strong seismic ground motion for engineering use in Perth Western Australia

Probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (PSHA) was performed to determine two alternate magnitude-distance combinations for the 475 yr event, and the worst-case scenario event in Perth, Western Australia. Regional strong ground motion (SGM) time histories on rock sites are used to modify an eastern North America (ENA) seismic model to suit southwest Western Australian (SWWA) conditions. This model is then used to stochastically simulate a set of 475 yr design events and a set of worst-case scenario event for rock sites in the Perth metropolitan area (PMA). The simulated time histories are then used as input to typical soft soil sites in the PMA to estimate surface ground motions. The spectral accelerations of the ground motions on rock and soil sites are calculated and compared with the corresponding design spectra defined in current and previous Australian earthquake loading code. Discussions of the adequacy of the code spectra and the differences to ours, along with implications on structural response and damage are made.