The geological and geodynamic evolution of the eastern Black Sea basin: insights from 2-D and 3-D tectonic modelling

Subsidence mechanisms that may have controlled the evolution of the eastern Black Sea have been studied and simulated using a numerical model that integrates structural, thermal, isostatic and surface processes in both two- (2-D) and three-dimensions (3-D). The model enables the forward modelling of extensional basin evolution followed by deformation due to subsequent extensional and compressional events. Seismic data show that the eastern Black Sea has evolved via a sequence of interrelated tectonic events that began with early Tertiary rifting followed by several phases of compression, mainly confined to the edges of the basin. A large magnitude (approximately 12 km) of regional subsidence also occurred in the central basin throughout the Tertiary. Models that simulate the magnitude of observed fault controlled extension (β=1.13) do not reproduce the total depth of the basin. Similarly, the modelling of compressional deformation around the edges of the basin does little to enhance subsidence in the central basin. A modelling approach that quantifies lithosphere extension according to the amount of observed crustal thinning and thickening across the basin provides the closest match to overall subsidence. The modelling also shows that deep crustal and mantle–lithosphere processes can significantly influence the rate and magnitude of syn- to post-rift subsidence and shows that such mechanisms may have played an important role in forming the anomalously thin syn-rift and thick Miocene–Quaternary sequences observed in the basin. It is also suggested that extension of a 40–45 km thick pre-rift crust is required to generate the observed magnitude of total subsidence when considering a realistic bathymetry.     

Policy options to streamline the carbon market for agricultural nitrous oxide emissions

The majority of emissions of nitrous oxide – a potent greenhouse gas (GHG) – are from agricultural sources, particularly nitrogen fertilizer applications. A growing focus on these emission sources has led to the development in the United States of GHG offset protocols that could enable payment to farmers for reducing fertilizer use or implementing other nitrogen management strategies. Despite the development of several protocols, the current regional scope is narrow, adoption by farmers is low, and policy implementation of protocols has a significant time lag. Here we utilize existing research and policy structures to propose an ‘umbrella’ approach for nitrogen management GHG emissions protocols that has the potential to streamline the policy implementation and acceptance of such protocols. We suggest that the umbrella protocol could set forth standard definitions common across multiple protocol options, and then modules could be further developed as scientific evidence advances. Modules could be developed for specific crops, regions, and practices. We identify a policy process that could facilitate this development in concert with emerging scientific research and conclude by acknowledging potential benefits and limitations of the approach.

Key policy insights

• Agricultural greenhouse gas market options are growing, but are still underutilized

• Streamlining protocol development through an umbrella process could enable quicker development of protocols across new crops, regions, and practices

• Effective protocol development must not compromise best available science and should follow a rigorous pathway to ensure appropriate implementation

     

A wind shift: Integrating curriculum for education for sustainable development

Abstract:  For seven years, trainee teachers in the Pre-Service Secondary Teacher Education Programme at Massey University College of Education, Albany campus, have integrated their curriculum areas to model the processes school students could follow in environmental education and education for sustainable development using Motutapu, an island adjoining Rangitoto in the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park, as the context for their actions. Evaluation of the programme indicates that it is empowering to learn about connections between subject areas and the potential for school students to have a hand in creating a sustainable future and to participate in real world concerns.     

Connecting Local to Global: Geographic Information Systems and Ecological Footprints as Tools for Sustainability

Tools that support public engagement with sustainability are essential for local sustainability planning. This research investigates the ability of two geographic information system (GIS)-based tools to promote discussion of sustainability in a suburban context. A local ecological footprint tool and a community environmental atlas (an environmentally themed online mapping system) were created for seven suburban boroughs of Montreal. Variations of both tools have been used to support sustainability efforts, but their use has not been widely evaluated. Working from a public participation GIS (PPGIS) framework that recognizes the powerful influence of data representation, this research uses focus groups to evaluate how well these tools address three criteria that have emerged from the literature on public engagement in sustainability: interdependency across systems, reflexivity about personal and social decision making, and interactions across spatial scales. Whereas the atlas remains advantageous for discussing local spatial specifics, it was found that the ecological footprint helped people see the interconnections among systems, integrate local and global aspects of sustainability, and reflect on the values and assumptions underlying current social and economic structures.     

Using Domestic Well Records to Determine Fractured Bedrock Watersheds and Recharge Rates

This study presents an approach for delineating groundwater basins and estimating rates of recharge to fractured crystalline bedrock. It entailed the use of completion report data (boring logs) from 2500 domestic wells in bedrock from the Coventry Quadrangle, which is located in northeastern Connecticut and characterized by metamorphic gneiss and schist. Completion report data were digitized and imported into ArcGIS^® for data analysis. The data were processed to delineate groundwater drainage basins for the fractured rock based on flow conditions and to estimate groundwater recharge to the bedrock. Results indicate that drainage basins derived from surface topography, in general, may not correspond with bedrock drainage basins due to scale. Estimates of recharge to the bedrock for the study area indicate that only a small fraction of the precipitation or the amount of water that enters the overburden recharges the rock. The approach presented here can be a useful method for water resource‐related assessments that involve fractured rock aquifers.     

Transparent Exopolymer Particles (TEP) in a River-Dominated Estuary: Spatial–Temporal Distributions and an Assessment of Controls upon TEP Formation

Transparent exopolymer particle (TEP) distributions were examined in North Carolina’s Neuse River Estuary (NRE) over a 1-year period, and experiments were conducted to examine controls upon TEP formation. TEP-carbon averaged 16% of the total organic carbon pool in the NRE. From May to early August 2007, TEP ranged from 805 to 1,801 μg xanthan gum (XG) L⁻¹. A large phytoplankton bloom peaked in early August and then subsequently declined. Within 2 weeks of the bloom’s peak, TEP concentrations increased to >3,500 μg XG L⁻¹ and remained elevated through mid-December. Decreasing water temperatures and enhanced retention due to drought conditions in Fall 2007 likely aided in the persistence of TEP concentrations during this timeframe. Thereafter, TEP decreased coincident with increased river flow and flushing of the estuary that began in January 2008, and TEP remained low (ranging from 991 to 1,712 μg XG L⁻¹) until the end of April 2008. TEP was positively correlated with salinity, suggesting that cation availability (which co-varies with salinity and stabilizes the structural integrity of TEP) may play a role in estuarine TEP formation. In two cation addition experiments using water from the mesohaline region, TEP concentrations tended to be higher in treatments with vs. without cations added. Statistically significant relationships were also found between in situ TEP concentrations and pH, mixing, and temperature, suggesting that a complex suite of environmental parameters affect TEP formation and its distribution in estuaries.     

Perceptions and responses to climate policy risks among California farmers

This paper considers how farmers perceive and respond to climate change policy risks, and suggests that understanding these risk responses is as important as understanding responses to biophysical climate change impacts. Based on a survey of 162 farmers in California, we test three hypotheses regarding climate policy risk: (1) that perceived climate change risks will have a direct impact on farmer's responses to climate policy risks, (2) that previous climate change experiences will influence farmer's climate change perceptions and climate policy risk responses, and (3) that past experiences with environmental policies will more strongly affect a farmer's climate change beliefs, risks, and climate policy risk responses. Using a structural equation model we find support for all three hypotheses and furthermore show that farmers’ negative past policy experiences do not make them less likely to respond to climate policy risks through participation in a government incentive program. We discuss how future research and climate policies can be structured to garner greater agricultural participation. This work highlights that understanding climate policy risk responses and other social, economic and policy perspectives is a vital component of understanding climate change beliefs, risks and behaviors and should be more thoroughly considered in future work.     

Fracture toughness and subcritical crack growth during high-temperature tensile deformation of Westerly granite and Black gabbro

The double torsion testing method has been used to determine catastrophic and subcritical crack propagation parameters for pre-cracked specimens of Westerly granite and Black gabbro under a number of environmental conditions.The critical stress intensity factor for catastrophic crack propagation (fracture toughness) of granite and gabbro has been measured at temperatures from 20 to 400°C, in a vacuum. At 20°C, the fracture toughness of Westerly granite was $\text{1.79 ± 0.02}\text{MPa}\text{·}\text{m}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$, and for two blocks of Black gabbro it was $\text{3.03 ± 0.08}\text{MPa}\text{·}\text{m}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ and $\text{2.71 ± 0.15}\text{MPa}\text{·}\text{m}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$, respectively. These values are very close to those reported by other investigators for tests conducted in air of ambient humidity at room temperature. For both rocks, fracture toughness at first increased slightly, and then decreased steadily on raising the temperature above ambient conditions. This behaviour is explained in terms of the density and distribution of thermally induced microcracks, as determined by quantitative optical microscopy.Subcritical crack growth behaviour has been studied at temperatures up to 300°C, and under water vapour at pressures of 0.6 to 15 kPa. Both the load relaxation and incremental constant displacement rate forms of the double torsion testing method were utilised to generate stress intensity factor/crack velocity diagrams. Crack growth was measured over the velocity range 5 × 10^?3 to 10^?7 m · s^?1. Increasing both temperature and water vapour pressure resulted in substantially higher crack growth rates. The overall effect of raising the temperature over the range studied here (20–300°C) was to increase the crack growth rate in granite and gabbro by ～5 and 7 orders of magnitude, respectively, at constant stress intensity factor and vapour pressure of water. For both rocks, the slopes of stress intensity factor/crack velocity curves were sensitive to changes in both temperature and water vapour pressure at low values of the latter parameter. Slopes fell substantially on raising the water vapour pressure, but were relatively insensitive to changes in temperature at these higher pressures. No subcritical crack growth limit was encountered.Estimates of the uncertainty in our experimental data are given. From the results of multiple load relaxation experiments on Westerly granite specimens, we estimate the uncertainty in position of stress intensity factor/crack velocity curves along the stress intensity axis to be c. 10% of the fracture toughness, and the uncertainty in slope of such curves to be c. 12%.Problems associated with the extrapolation of our experimental data to regions of higher effective confining pressure in the Earth's crust are discussed.