Depositional environments of the Senonian chert, phosphorite and oil shale sequence in Israel as deduced from their organic matter composition

In the Upper Cretaceous sequence of the Negev (southern Israel) the organic matter in phosphorites and cherts differs from that associated with oil shales in its higher content of humic substances and lower kerogen content, and in its more intensive microbial alteration. The n-alkane distribution pattern of the oil shales, phosphorites and cherts indicates that marine biota, probably algae, are the main organic precursors of their organic matter. In some of the oil shales, however, some contribution of terrestrial organic matter is also evident. Similar high phytane/pristane ratios indicate that the organic matter in the oil shales as well as in the phosphorites and cherts accumulated under reducing conditions. The main differences in the organic matter composition are attributed to early diagenetic processes rather than to different biotic precursors or to late modifications due to temperature-induced maturation. The depositional model suggested for the sequence involves upwelling conditions at the boundary between the deep Tethys and the shallow shelf, which induced high organic productivity deep into the inner shelf. Bottom water circulation enabled intensive microbial alteration of the organic matter, followed by a winnowing process leading to phosphorite formation. Since humification is considered an oxygen-consuming reaction, these processes favoured the formation of oxygen-enriched humic substances and the oxidation of humic substances already present. These humic substances are relatively resistant to further alteration and their conversion into kerogen is thus retarded. Subsequently, syndepositional tectonic activity resulted in the introduction of less saline water, restriction of bottom-water circulation and the establishment of a density stratification in the water body. Consequently, aeration of the bottom layer and the sediments was inhibited, microbial alteration was reduced and later winnowing processes were prevented. Such conditions favoured the formation of kerogen directly, rather than through humic substances, and also favoured the preservation of most of the organic matter in the form of oil shale deposits instead of phosphorites.     

The Petrogenesis of A-type Magmas from the Amram Massif, Southern Israel

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Trend analysis and change point detection of annual and seasonal precipitation and temperature series over southwest Iran

This paper presents results of trend analysis and change point detection of annual and seasonal precipitation, and mean temperature (TM), maximum temperature (TMAX) and minimum temperature (TMIN) time series of the period 1950–2007. Investigations were carried out for 50 precipitation stations and 39 temperature stations located in southwest Iran. Three statistical tests including Pettitt’s test, Sequential Mann–Kendall test (SQ-MK test) and Mann–Kendall rank test (MK-test) were used for the analysis. The results obtained for precipitation series indicated that most stations showed insignificant trends in annual and seasonal series. Out of the stations which showed significant trends, highest numbers were observed during winter season while no significant trends were detected in summer precipitation. Moreover, no decreasing significant trends were detected by statistical tests in annual and seasonal precipitation series. The analysis of temperature trends revealed a significant increase during summer and spring seasons. TMAX was more stable than TMIN and TM, and winter was stable compared to summer, spring and autumn seasons. The results of change point detection indicated that most of the positive significant mutation points in TM, TMAX and TMIN began in the 1990s.     

Doppler SODAR observations of the temperature structure parameter during monsoon season over a tropical rural station,Gadanki

Doppler SODAR (Sound Detection and Ranging) measurements over a tropical Indian station at National Atmospheric Research Laboratory (NARL), Gadanki (13.5°N, 79.2°E) during two consecutive monsoon seasons, 2007 and 2008, are investigated to study the influence of mechanically generated turbulence on temperature structure parameter (C_T²)_{\rm T}^{2}) in the convective boundary layer. Increase in the C_T²_{\rm T}^{2} is observed after the arrival of monsoon for both seasons. Contribution of vertical wind shear in horizontal wind component to C_T²_{\rm T}^{2} due to zonal winds is responsible for the increase observed in the temperature structure parameter which is inferred from the results obtained. C_T²_{\rm T}^{2} is found to be increased by an order of 2 in both the lower and upper altitudes, respectively. Magnitude of wind speed is reported to be doubled with the arrival of monsoon. It is also observed that, southwest monsoon wind modulates the day-to-day variations of wind pattern over this station during the onset phase of monsoon season. The lower variability observed at lower height is attributed to the complex topography surrounding this region.     

THE MICROMORPHOLOGY OF GYPSUM AND HALITE IN REG SOILS—THE NEGEV DESERT,ISRAEL

Gypsum and halite are the most common salts in reg soils developed on alluvial parent material under extremely arid conditions in the Negev Desert, Israel. The aim of this paper is to document the changes in the micromorphology of these salts at different stages of Reg soil development on two alluvial fan chronosequences. The micromorphological analyses included thin section observations and scanning electron microscope and electron microprobe analyses. In this arid soil environment, gypsum and halite possess a variety of crystal forms which may change with depth in a single profile and/or between profiles of different ages. The variety of crystal forms results from changes in the microenvironmental conditions that occur in desert reg soils over time. Poikilitic lenticular gypsum is found in all Reg soils and is distributed throughout the profiles. The conditions needed for such crystals to form are high ionic impurities and deposition in a void system where space is not limiting. Microcrystalline alabastrine gypsum is only found in mature Reg soils and is crystallized when the profile has high amounts of fine material and a well-developed desert pavement. In a well-developed Reg soil, profile indicators, such as a well-developed desert pavement and high amounts of fine earth, limit the leaching depth and cause gypsum deposition from supersaturated soil solutions under high evaporation rates close to the surface. Prismatic and fibrous gypsum are less common. Low amounts of prismatic gypsum are found in young and mature soils while fibrous gypsum is found only in mature soils in re-cemented shattered gravel. The halite crystal form is mainly cubic with low amounts of host material incorporated into the crystal. It occurs predominantly in mature Reg soil profiles through the crystallization from supersaturated soil solutions at the depth of maximum water penetration. Although the alabastrine, prismatic and fibrous gypsum and cubic halite are deposited in a displacive manner, no correlation was found between their occurrence and the distribution of shattered gravel in the soil profile.