Tracking recent recovery from eutrophication in a high arctic lake (Meretta Lake, Cornwallis Island, Nunavut, Canada) using fossil diatom assemblages

Meretta Lake (Resolute Bay, Cornwallis Island, Nunavut, Canada) is a high arctic lake that received raw sewage for almost 50 years from the Canadian Department of Transport Base. The lake was sampled from 1968–72 during the International Biological Programme, as part of the Char Lake Project. As the number of users at the Transport Base declined throughout the 1990s, so too did the lake's nutrient levels, and Meretta Lake is now classified as oligotrophic. A previous diatom-based paleolimnological study revealed marked species assemblage shifts coincident with sewage inputs beginning in the late 1940s; however, because the core was taken at a time when nutrient levels were still relatively high (i.e., 1993), the diatom record did not yet track any signs of recovery. In this present study, we examined fossil diatom assemblages from a sediment core taken in 2001. Our results indicate a shift to the pre-impact diatom assemblages in the most recent sediments, indicating that the paleolimnological record is tracking the decreased nutrient inputs to this high arctic lake, and confirms that no significant lags exist in these largely ice-covered lakes.     

Wrench tectonics flip at oblique subduction. A model from New Zealand

In eastern North Island New Zealand, oblique subduction of the Pacific Plate beneath the Australian Plate is associated with strain partitioning. Dextral along-strike component of displacement occurred first at Early Miocene major faults within the eastern fore-arc domain. These faults were active from Early Miocene to Pliocene times. Since Pliocene times, most of the movement occurs at western faults such as the Wellington Fault. The latter joins the back-arc domain to the north. The jump of wrench faulting is related to the oblique opening of the back-arc domain. Both phenomena are impeded southwards by the Hikurangi oceanic plateau entering the subduction zone. To cite this article: J. Delteil et al., C. R. Geoscience 335 (2003).     

南极乔治王岛中——新生代岩浆岩Sr—Nd—Pb同位素组成及源区特征

对乔治王岛１１个火山岩和２个侵入岩样品做了Ｓｒ－Ｎｄ－Ｐｂ同位素分析，其中（８７Ｓｒ／８６Ｓｒ）ｉ＝０．７０３２６～０．７０３９２，εＮｄ＝３．０２～６．７２，２０６Ｐｂ／２０４Ｐｂ＝１７．７７６～１８．５１５，２０７Ｐｂ／２０４Ｐｂ＝１５．．５０６～１５．５７１，２０８Ｐｂ／２０４Ｐｂ＝３７．８６８～３８．３０８。根据以上同位素组成及其相互关系并结合岩石学和微量元素特征及火山岩中熔融包裹体成分，得出以下结论：（１）研究的乔治王岛岩浆岩起源于亏损地幔（ＤＭＭ）和地幔流体交代成因的富集地幔ＥＭＩ混合形成的源区；（２）该源区具有广义Ｄｕｐａｌ异常，它正是由于ＥＭＩ组份加入即通过流体交代作用而产生的；（３）流体主要是俯冲深海沉积物脱碳酸盐作用而释放出的富ＣＯ２流体。     

Silica-rich Melts in Quartz Xenoliths from Vulcano Island and their Bearing on Processes of Crustal Anatexis and Crust-Magma Interaction beneath the Aeolian Arc, Southern Italy

Quartz-rich xenoliths in lavas and pyroclastic rocks from VulcanoIsland, part of the Aeolian arc, Italy, contain silicic meltinclusions with high SiO₂ (73–80 wt %) and K₂O (3–6wt %) contents. Two types of inclusions can be distinguishedbased on their time of entrapment and incompatible trace element(ITE) concentrations. One type (late, ITE-enriched inclusions)has trace element characteristics that resemble those of themetamorphic rocks of the Calabro-Peloritano basement of theadjacent mainland. Other inclusions (early, ITE-depleted) havevariable Ba, Rb, Sr and Cs, and low Nb, Zr and rare earth element(REE) contents. Their REE patterns are unfractionated, witha marked positive Eu anomaly. Geochemical modelling suggeststhat the ITE-depleted inclusions cannot be derived from equilibriummelting of Calabro-Peloritano metamorphic rocks. ITE-enrichedinclusions can be modelled by large degrees (>80%) of meltingof basement gneisses and schists, leaving a quartz-rich residuerepresented by the quartz-rich xenoliths. Glass inclusions inquartz-rich xenoliths represent potential contaminants of Aeolianarc magmas. Interaction between calc-alkaline magmas and crustalanatectic melts with a composition similar to the analysed inclusionsmay generate significant enrichment in potassium in the magmas.However, ITE contents of the melt inclusions are comparablewith or lower than those of Vulcano calc-alkaline and potassicrocks. This precludes the possibility that potassic magmas inthe Aeolian arc may originate from calc-alkaline parents throughdifferent degrees of incorporation of crustal melts. KEY WORDS: melt inclusions; crustal anatexis; magma assimilation; xenoliths; Vulcano Island     

Seismic signature of a phreatic explosion: hydrofracturing damage at Karthala volcano, Grande Comore Island, Indian Ocean

Karthala volcano is a basaltic shield volcano with an active hydrothermal system that forms the southern two-thirds of the Grande Comore Island, off the east coat of Africa, northwest of Madagascar. Since the start of volcano monitoring by the local volcano observatory in 1988, the July 11th, 1991 phreatic eruption was the first volcanic event seismically recorded on this volcano, and a rare example of a monitored basaltic shield. From 1991 to 1995 the VT locations, 0.5<M_l<4.3, show a crack shaped pattern (3 km long, 1 km wide) within the summit caldera extending at depth from –2 km to +2 km relative to sea level. This N-S elongated pattern coincides with the direction of the regional maximum horizontal stress as deduced from regional focal mechanism solutions. This brittle signature of the damage associated with the 1991 phreatic eruption is a typical pattern of the seismicity induced by controlled fluid injections such as those applied at geothermal fields, in oil and gas recovery, or for stress measurements. It suggests the 1991 phreatic eruption was driven by hydraulic fracturing induced by forced fluid flow. We propose that the extremely high LP and VT seismicity rates, relative to other effusive volcanoes, during the climax of the 1991 phreatic explosion, are due to the activation of the whole hydrothermal system, as roughly sized by the distribution of VT hypocenters. The seismicity rate in 1995 was still higher than the pre-eruption seismicity rate, and disagrees with the time pattern of thermo-elastic stress readjustment induced by single magma intrusions at basaltic volcanoes. We propose that it corresponds to the still ongoing relaxation of pressure heterogeneity within the hydrothermal system as suggested by the few LP events that still occurred in 1995.Editorial responsibility: H Shinohara     

海南博螯沿岸地貌与人类活动的潜在影响

The Boao coastal system along the eastern coast of Hainan Island is a dynamic delta-tidal inlet-barrier formed during the late Holocene. The delta developed inside a shallow lagoon barred by a sandy barrier with a narrow, shallow tidal inlet opening. Two major distributary channels separated by small islands characterize the delta. The lagoon is silting up receiving and trapping sediments from both the river and, in minor measure during storms, through the tidal inlet opening and barrier washovers. The barrier at the tidal inlet is highly dynamic and changes its form, accreting (migrating spit) against the inlet during fair-weather conditions and being eroded during storms and river floods.The delta has almost completely filled the lagoon and major concerns exist on the effect that ongoing large development plans may have on the environment. These concerns include the effect on floods and rate of siltation once banks of the islands have been stabilized and floodwater and sediment load are impeded from spreading over the lowlands, and the effect of increasing pollutant loads from the new facilities on the ecosystems of the increasingly restricting lagoon water and on the seashores.     

琼东北八所组ESR年龄及其构造意义

八所组是琼东北晚第四纪一个重要地层单位,同时也是河流Ⅱ级阶地（T2）的主要沉积地层,其形成年代对该区域晚第四纪以来的古环境演化及地壳运动的研究有着重要意义。为了限定其形成时代,文章采取ESR的方法,对广泛分布于琼东北珠溪河及古三江河一带的八所组地层进行了系统的测年。结果表明:该套地层形成于晚更新世中晚期（64.36 ka~18.40 ka BP）;沉积时代对应末次冰期MIS4~MIS2阶段;河流的下切与T2阶地的形成,一定程度上反映了该时期琼东北海平面的频繁波动及地壳的间歇性抬升;此外,分布于现代海岸风沙强烈作用地带的老红砂与八所组属同期异相的风成堆积,应与八所组地层加以区分。      

东天山古生代板块构造特点及其演化模式

东天山的古板块构造格局主要由塔里木陆壳板块、西伯利亚陆壳板块和哈萨克斯坦洋壳板块在古生代的活动所奠定的。在古生代，东天山的板块构造格局主要表现为多列岛弧及其间弧间盆地和弧后盆地的形式。自北而南依次发育：博格达－哈尔里克泥盆－石炭纪岛弧，吐哈弧间盆地，觉罗塔格泥盆－石炭纪岛弧，吐哈弧间盆地，觉罗塔格泥盆－石炭纪岛弧，中天山志留－石炭纪岛弧，南天山－红柳河弧后盆地和北山陆缘裂谷带。其主要成因是由于准噶尔洋壳板块向塔里木陆壳板块下俯冲，俯冲带不断后退所形成的。奥陶纪中后期，中天山由塔里木北缘分出，形成具有古老陆块基底的类似于现今日本列岛的中天山岛弧。在其后形成南天山－红柳河弧后盆地和北山陆缘裂谷带。泥盆纪早期，俯冲带后退至觉罗塔格北侧形成觉罗塔格岛弧。泥盆纪晚期，俯冲带后退至博格达－哈尔里克北缘，形成博格达－哈尔里克岛弧。中石炭世至早二叠世，博格达同准噶尔陆块碰撞造山，哈尔里克同麦钦乌拉岛弧碰撞造山。与此同时，南天山－红柳河弧后盆地和北山裂谷带也相继闭合，而吐哈弧间盆地则成为未被消减完的弧间盆地残留下来。东天山古生代板块演化可与现今印度尼西亚地区的板块演化相类比。     

探地雷达(GPR)在海南岛东北部海岸带调查中的应用 *

对海南岛东北部海岸带调查采用了探地雷达(GPR)研究海岸带沙体的结构、展布和沉积序列,取得了很好的效果。文章通过和有限的露头资料对比以及对反射波形态、结构的研究,确定了海滩脊、海岸沙丘的反射特征以及潜水面的位置。雷达图像显示五龙港古海滩脊由亚水平、不连续、高振幅和透镜状反射波组成;木兰头海岸沙丘已受到人类活动的扰动,短的、陡倾斜反射可能代表未受扰动的海岸风成沙的前积层。研究表明探地雷达是一种可靠、快速和经济的地球物理方法,在砂砾质海岸可产生高质量、高分辨率和连续的反射剖面,值得加以推广。     

East Asian monsoon variation and climate changes in Jeju Island, Korea, during the latest Pleistocene to early Holocene

A 4.96-m-long sediment core from the Hanon paleo-maar in Jeju Island, Korea was studied to investigate the paleoclimatic change and East Asian monsoon variations during the latest Pleistocene to early Holocene (23,000-9000 cal yr BP). High-resolution TOC content, magnetic susceptibility, and major element composition data indicate that Jeju Island experienced the coldest climate around 18,000 cal yr BP, which corresponds to the last glacial maximum (LGM). Further, these multi-proxy data show an abrupt shift in climatic regime from cold and arid to warm and humid conditions at around 14,000 cal yr BP, which represents the commencement of the last major deglaciation. After the last major deglaciation, the TOC content decreased from 13,300 to 12,000 cal yr BP and from 11,500 to 9800 cal yr BP, thereby reflecting the weakening of the summer monsoon. The LGM in Jeju Island occurred later in comparison with the Chinese Loess Plateau. Such a disparity in climatic change events between central China and Jeju Island appears to be caused by the asynchrony between the coldest temperature event and the minimum precipitation event in central China and by the buffering effect of the Pacific Ocean.