Evidence of Saharan dust in upper Pleistocene reworked palaeosols of North‐west Sardinia,Italy: palaeoenvironmental implications

A multi‐disciplinary approach was followed to investigate two thick palaeosol strata that alternate with wind‐blown dominated deposits developed along the Alghero coast (North‐west Sardinia, Italy). Optically stimulated luminescence ages reveal that both palaeosols were developed during cooler drier periods: the first one at around 70 ka Marine Isotope Stage 4 and the latter around 50 ka (Marine Isotope Stage 3). In contrast, the pedological features indicate that the palaeosols underwent heavy weathering processes under warm humid to sub‐humid conditions, characteristic of the Sardinian climate during the last interglacial stage (Marine Isotope Stage 5e). To reconcile this apparent data discrepancy, a range of sedimentological and pedological analyses were conducted. These analyses reveal that the palaeosols possess a complex history, with accumulation and weathering occurring during Marine Isotope Stage 5e, and erosion, colluviation and final deposition taking place during the following cold stages. Thus, even if these reddish palaeosols were last formed during the glacial period, the sediments building up these strata probably record the climate of the last interglacial stage (Marine Isotope Stage 5e). Trace element and X‐ray diffraction analyses, together with scanning electron microscope images, reveal the presence of Saharan dust in the parent material of the palaeosols. However, no evidence of any far‐travelled African dust has been observed in the Marine Isotope Stage 4–3 aeolian deposits. It is possible to conclude that in the West Mediterranean islands, Saharan dust input, even if of modest magnitude, is preserved preferentially in soils accumulated and weathered during interglacial stages.     

Hydrocarbons in sediments of a chronically contaminated bay: the challenge of source assignment

Aliphatic hydrocarbons and 39 PAH (parental and alkylated homologs) determined in ca. 100 sediment samples from the Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro, were evaluated for source discrimination using new approaches. Concentrations of total PAH were in the range of 96-135,000 μg kg(-1) similar to other coastal urbanized embayment. Traditional diagnostic ratios were not as efficient PAH source indicators, e.g. biomass combustion was assigned as the major source of the pyrolytic PAH although the hydrographic basin is highly industrialized and urbanized. It is proved petrogenic imprint cannot be detected if only the 16 USEPA PAH are determined. The high production in the eutrophic system is not apparent in the aliphatic fraction dominated by land derived n-alkanes due to the effectiveness of microbial degradation. The present work demonstrates the complexity of hydrocarbon forensics when applied to chronically contaminated environments.     

澳门土壤剪切波速的相关性分析

土壤的剪切波速(VS),是抗震设计的一个重要参数,但有关澳门土层的相关资料则十分稀少。研究的主要目的是根据近期野外测试的结果,探讨澳门土层的VS与标准贯入试验的打击锤数(N)的关系,并以简单之幂函数建立VS与N值的关系式。作为澳门轻轨交通系统之勘察计划,研究进行了五组下孔法(DH),地震波圆锥触探试验(S-CPT)以及标准贯入试验(SPT)的测试。根据试验结果所得的关系式估算剪切波速高于较澳门轻轨设计大纲的建议值,而使用另一有关澳门土层的数据库来验证新的关系式,亦可获得合理的决定系数。