New paleomagnetic results from the Aegean extensional province

Various Oligocene formations from NE Greece (ignimbrites from the Medousa area, rhyolites from Zagradenia, granodiorites from Elatia) show discordant paleomagnetic signatures, in each case indicating small cw (clockwise) rotation and also inclination flattening. Marls from Pithion were partly remagnetized in a present-day field. Samples that contain ancient magnetization components also indicate small cw rotation and inclination flattening. However, the magnetization of andesites from Peplos reflects a considerably larger rotation, likely owing to local tectonics. In the context of previous work in the area, these results are used to propose a subdivision of NE Greece into four structural zones of distinctive rotational behaviour (from east to west): sites in zone 1, east of the Kavala-Xanthi-Komotini fault (KXK), show various cw and ccw (counterclockwise) rotation angles owing to complex kinematics resulting from the interaction of the KXK and the north-Anatolian fault zone. However, zone 2, between the KXK and the Strymon valley, is structurally homogeneous ( 10° cw rotation). The paleomagnetic signature of the Vertiskos massif (zone 3) implies a larger (> 30°) cw rotation, whereas sites in the Vardar basin (zone 4) contain a paleomagnetic signature similar to that of zone 2. This suggests a motion of the Vertiscos massif, a meta-ophiolitic nappe, relative to underlying strata. Indeed, zones 2 and 4 may be parts of the same structural unit which underlies this nappe.     

Experimental evidence for diamond-facies metamorphism in the Dora-Maira massif

The peak metamorphic conditions of subducted continental crust in the Dora-Maira massif (Western Alps) have been revised by combining experimental results in the KCMASH system with petrologic information from whiteschists. Textural observations in whiteschists suggest that the peak metamorphic assemblage garnet+phengite+kyanite+coesite±talc originates from the reaction kyanite+talc↔garnet+coesite+liquid. In the experimentally determined petrogenetic grid, this reaction occurs above 45 kbar at 730 °C. At lower pressures, talc reacts either to orthopyroxene and coesite or, together with phengite, to biotite, coesite and kyanite. The liberated liquid contains probably similar amounts of H₂O and dissolved granitic components. The composition of the liquid in the whiteschists at peak metamorphic conditions, a major unknown in earlier studies, was probably very similar to the liquid composition produced in the experiments. Therefore, the experimentally determined petrogenetic grid represents a good model for the estimation of the peak metamorphic conditions in whiteschists. Experimentally determined Si-isopleths for phengite further constrain peak pressures to 43 kbar for the measured Si=3.60 of phengite in the natural whiteschists. All these data provide evidence that the whiteschists reached diamond-facies conditions.

The fluid-absent equilibrium 4 kyanite+3 CELADONITE=4 coesite+3 muscovite+pyrope has been calibrated on the basis of garnet and phengite compositions in the experiments and serves as a geothermobarometer for ultra-high-pressure (UHP) metapelites. For graphite-bearing metapelites and kyanite–phengite eclogites, forming the country rocks of the whiteschists, peak metamorphic pressures of about 44±3 kbar were calculated from this barometer for temperatures of 750 °C estimated from garnet–phengite thermometry. Therefore, the whole ultra-high-pressure unit of the Dora-Maira massif most likely experienced peak metamorphic conditions in the diamond stability field. While graphite is common in the metapelites, diamond has not been found so far. The absence of metamorphic microdiamonds might be explained by the low temperature of metamorphism, the absence of a free fluid phase in the metapelites and a short residence time in diamond-facies conditions resulting in kinetic problems in the conversion of graphite to diamond.     

Accessibility for High Asia： Comparative Perspectives on Northern Pakistan＇s Traffic Infrastructure and Linkages with Its Neighbours in the Hindukush-Karakoram- Himalaya

Starting with a discussion of development concepts which were applied in practice and which followed the developmentalist paradigm the expansion of traffic infrastructure in colonial and post-colonial periods is presented for the High Asian mountain rim. Selective railways and roads are the major feature of this development, which aimed first on serving the convenience of hill station visitors and followed strategic considerations later on. This bias between regional planning and implementation remains a characteristic feature. At the same time traffic infrastructure without asphalt roads is important for the mountain areas, thus breaking up the strong correlation between development and asphalt roads.     

Sedimentary Deposits from the 17 July 2006 Western Java Tsunami,Indonesia: Use of Grain Size Analyses to Assess Tsunami Flow Depth,Speed, and Traction Carpet Characteristics

The 2006 western Java tsunami deposited a discontinuous sheet of sand up to 20 cm thick, flooded coastal southern Java to a depth of at least 8 m and inundated up to 1 km inland. In most places the primarily heavy mineral sand sheet is normally graded, and in some it contains complex internal stratigraphy. Structures within the sand sheet probably record the passage of up to two individual waves, a point noted in eyewitness accounts. We studied the 2006 tsunami deposits in detail along a flow parallel transect about 750 m long, 15 km east of Cilacap. The tsunami deposit first becomes discernable from the underlying sediment 70 m from the shoreline. From 75 to 300 m inland the deposit has been laid down in rice paddies, and maintains a thickness of 10–20 cm. Landward of 300 m the deposit thins dramatically, reaching 1 mm by 450 m inland. From 450 m to the edge of deposition (around 700 m inland) the deposit remains <1 mm thick. Deposition generally attended inundation—along the transect, the tsunami deposited sand to within about 40 m of the inundation limit. The thicker part of the deposit contains primarily sand indistinguishable from that found on the beach 3 weeks after the event, but after about 450 m (and roughly coinciding with the decrease in thickness) the tsunami sediment shifts to become more like the underlying paddy soil than the beach sand. Grain sizes within the deposit tend to fine upward and landward, although overall upward fining takes place in two discrete pulses, with an initial section of inverse grading followed by a section of normal grading. The two inversely graded sections are also density graded, with denser grains at the base, and less dense grains at the top. The two normally graded sections show no trends in density. The inversely graded sections show high density sediment to the base and become less dense upward and represents traction carpet flows at the base of the tsunami. These are suggestive of high shear rates in the flow. Because of the grain sorting in the traction carpet, the landward-fining trends usually seen in tsunami deposits are masked, although lateral changes of mean sediment grain size along the transect do show overall landward fining, with more variation as the deposit tapers off. The deposit is also thicker in the more seaward portions than would be produced by tsunamis lacking traction carpets.     

TNOs are Cool: A Survey of the Transneptunian Region

Over one thousand objects have so far been discovered orbiting beyond Neptune. These trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs) represent the primitive remnants of the planetesimal disk from which the planets formed and are perhaps analogous to the unseen dust parent-bodies in debris disks observed around other main-sequence stars. The dynamical and physical properties of these bodies provide unique and important constraints on formation and evolution models of the Solar System. While the dynamical architecture in this region (also known as the Kuiper Belt) is becoming relatively clear, the physical properties of the objects are still largely unexplored. In particular, fundamental parameters such as size, albedo, density and thermal properties are difficult to measure. Measurements of thermal emission, which peaks at far-IR wavelengths, offer the best means available to determine the physical properties. While Spitzer has provided some results, notably revealing a large albedo diversity in this population, the increased sensitivity of Herschel and its superior wavelength coverage should permit profound advances in the field. Within our accepted project we propose to perform radiometric measurements of 139 objects, including 25 known multiple systems. When combined with measurements of the dust population beyond Neptune (e.g. from the New Horizons mission to Pluto), our results will provide a benchmark for understanding the Solar debris disk, and extra-solar ones as well.     

Modeling Spatio-temporal Drought Events Based on Multi-temporal,Multi-source Remote Sensing Data Calibrated by Soil Humidity

Inspired by recent significant agricultural yield losses in the eastern China and a missing operational monitoring system, we developed a comprehensive drought monitoring model to better understand the impact of individual key factors contributing to this issue. The resulting model, the ‘Humidity calibrated Drought Condition Index’(HcDCI) was applied for the years 2001 to 2019 in form of a case study to Weihai County, Shandong Province in East China. Design and development are based on a linear ...     

Grundzüge der allgemeinen atmosphärischen Zirkulation auf der Südhalbkugel

Zusammenfassung Nach vergleichenden Untersuchungen der bei der “Schwabenland”-Expedition 1938/39 verwendeten Radiosondentypen wird die — vom Strahlungseinflu? befreite — mittlere Temperaturverteilung auf einem Schnitt durch die freie Atmosph?re der Südhalbkugel im Sommer bis 20 km H?he für 10°-Breitenzonen berechnet und mit allen vorliegenden Mittelwerten anderer Stationen verglichen. Eine ?hnliche Zusammenstellung für den Winter liefert wenigstens unterhalb 5 km einigerma?en vergleichbare Resultate. Für die relative und die spezifische Feuchtigkeit in der Troposph?re (bis 8 km) werden gleichfalls schematische Meridionalschnitte abgeleitet. Aus der Verteilung der (virtuellen) Temperatur werden die Topographien der Hauptisobarenfl?chen bis zur 17 mb-Fl?che berechnet und hieraus ein Meridionalschnitt der Zonalkomponente des H?henwindes für den Südsommer bis 30 km H?he abgeleitet. Hierbei ergab sich eine Berichtigung der vertikalen Temperaturverteilung über der ?quatorialregion und ihre Erg?nzung bis 26 km, sowie eineeinwandfreier Zusammehang zwischen Temperatur und Windrichtung. Auch für den Südwinter werden angen?herte Mittelwerte der Zonalkomponente berechnet und mit den entsprechenden Werten der Nordhalbkugel verglichen. Abschlie?ende Betrachtungen befassen sich mit den geringfügigen zonalen Unterschieden auf der Südhalbkugel, mit dem Vergleich zwischen. Arktis und Antarktis, welch letztere im Sommer wie im Winter um 5 bis 12° k?lter ist als die Arktis, sowie mit den jahreszeitlichen Unterschieden in der Zirkulation der Hochstratosph?re und ihren Ursachen.

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Summary After discussion of the different types of radiosondes during the German Antarctic Expedition in 1938/39, the mean distribution of temperature — corrected for radiation — will be given in a cross-section of the free atmosphere up to a level of 20 kms., over the Southern Hemisphere, and will be compared with all available mean values of other aerological stations in the Southern Hemisphere. A similar collection of winter temperature data, at least below the 5 km. level, also shows comparable results. Merdional cross-sections are derived for the relative and specific humidity below 8 kms. From the distribution of virtual temperature are computed the heights of the standard isobaric surfaces up to 17 mbs, of which is derived a meridional cross-section up to 30 kms. of the zonal component of upper winds for the summer in the Southern Hemisphere. Hereof follows a correction of the vertical distribution of temperature over the equatorial belt and its extrapolation up to 26 kms. as well as an indisputable relationship between temperature and wind direction. Similarly, there are computed for the southern winter approximate mean values of the zonal component, and are compared with the appropriate data for the Northern Hemisphere. Concluding investigations deal with minor zonal differences in the Southern Hemisphere, with a comparison of the Arctic and the Antarctic — which in summer and winter is 5–12° colder than the Arctic — and with seasonal variations in the circulation system of the upper stratosphere, and their causes.

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Résumé Après avoir comparé les types de radio-sondes employées lors de l'expédition du “Schwabenland” en 1938/39, l'auteur a établi la distribution moyenne de la température de l'atmosphère libre (débarrassée de l'influence du rayonnement) le long d'un profil méridien de l'hémisphère austral, en été jusqu'à 20 km. de hauteur, et pour des zones de 10° de latitude; il compare ces valeurs à toutes celles dont on dispose dans d'autres stations aérologiques. Un profil analogue se rapporte à l'hiver et fournit des résultats à peu près comparables, au moins jusqu'à 5 km. Le même procédé est appliqué à l'humidité relative et spécifique de la troposphère (jusqu'à 8 km). La distribution de la température virtuelle permet le calcul de la topographie des principales surfaces isobares jusqu'à celle de 17 mb., ce qui conduit à une coupe méridienne des composantes zonales du vent pendant l'été austral jusqu'à une hauteur de 30 km. Ce matériel a permis de donner une meilleure distribution verticale de la température au-dessus des régions équatoriales et de la compléter jusqu'à 26 km.; on a en outre établi une correspondance parfaite entre la température et la direction du vent. On a de plus calculé les mêmes valuers moyennes approximatives des composantes zonales pour l'hiver austral et on les a comparées à celles de l'hémisphère boréal. Quelques considérations finales se rapportent à certaines divergences zonales de l'hémisphère sud, à la comparaison entre l'Arctique et l'Antarctique laquelle est, hiver comme été, plus froide de 5° à 12° que la région boréale, et enfin aux variations saisonnières de la circulation de la haute stratosphère et à leurs causes.

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Mit 12 Textabbildungen.