Seismites in the Dasheng Group: New evidence of strong tectonic and earthquake activities of the Tanlu Fault Zone

More than 80 layers of seismites were recognized from the Early Cretaceous Dasheng Group in the Mazhan and Tancheng graben basins in the Tanlu Fault Zone, eastern China. The responsible seismic events took place about 110–100 Ma in the Early Cretaceous. The fault zone was affected at the time by strong tectonics, due to tension-related stretching and scattered squeezing by strike-slip faults. These tectonic activities induced a series of strong earthquakes with Richter magnitudes(M) of 5–8.5. The earthquakes affected saturated or semi-consolidated flood and lake sediments, and produced intra-layer deformations by several processes, including liquefaction, thixotropy, drop, faulting, cracking, filling and folding, which resulted in the formation of various soft-sediment deformation structures, such as dikes and veins of liquefied sand, liquefied breccias, liquefied homogeneous layers, load structures, flame structures, ball-and-pillow structures, boudinage, diapirs, fissure infillings, a giant conglomerate wedge, and syn-sedimentary faults. The seismites are new evidence of tectonic and seismic activities in the Tanlu Fault Zone during the Early Cretaceous; the series of strong seismic events that can be deduced from them must be considered as a response to the destruction of the North China Craton.     

The Black Band Disease of Atlantic Reef Corals.

Abstract. The cyanophyte (Cyanobaclerium) that causes black band disease of Atlantic reef corals is described under the name Phormidium corallyticum , new species (family Oscillatoriaceae) , and its generic placement is discussed from the standpoint of the GEITLERian (classical) and D rouet systems. Distinguishing characters include densely interwoven filaments that form a blackish mat and trichomes without significant cell wall constrictions, almost isodiametric cells (4.2 μm mean width, 4.0μm mean length) tapering end cells, and thin (0.1 μm or less) mucilaginous wall coating. Transmission electron microscopy shows typical cyanophyte cell walls, sheath, nucleoplasm, and cytoplasmic inclusions, but an unusual thylakoid of straight, and, as seen in cell cross section, radiating lamellae. The dark coloration is due to a high concentration of phycocyanin and some phycoerythrin. The species is similar to Oscillatoria (= Phormidium) submembranacea , which differs in several morphological features and does not infect coral tissue. It is concluded that Phormidium should be used for this and related species that have external mucilage but not the distinct sheath found in Lyngbya.     

The record of historic earthquakes in lake sediments of Central Switzerland

Deformation structures in lake sediments in Central Switzerland can be attributed to strong historic earthquakes. The type and spatial distribution of the deformation structures reflect the historically documented macroseismic intensities thus providing a useful calibration tool for paleoseismic investigations in prehistoric lake sediments.The Swiss historical earthquake catalogue shows four moderate to strong earthquakes with moment magnitudes of M_w=5.7 to M_w=6.9 and epicentral intensities of I₀=VII to I₀=IX that affected the area of Central Switzerland during the last 1000 years. These are the 1964 Alpnach, 1774 Altdorf, 1601 Unterwalden, and 1356 Basel earthquakes. In order to understand the effect of these earthquakes on lacustrine sediments, four lakes in Central Switzerland (Sarner See, Lungerer See, Baldegger See, and Seelisberg Seeli) were investigated using high-resolution seismic data and sediment cores. The sediments consist of organic- and carbonate-rich clayey to sandy silts that display fine bedding on the centimeter to millimeter scale. The sediments are dated by historic climate and environmental records, ¹³⁷Cs activity, and radiocarbon ages. Deformation structures occur within distinct zones and include large-scale slumps and rockfalls, as well as small-scale features like disturbed and contorted lamination and liquefaction structures. These deformations are attributed to three of the abovementioned earthquakes. The spatial distribution of deformation structures in the different lakes clearly reflects the historical macroseismic dataset: Lake sediments are only affected if they are situated within an area that underwent groundshaking not smaller than intensity VI to VII. We estimate earthquake size by relating the epicentral distance of the farthest liquefaction structure to earthquake magnitude. This relationship is in agreement with earthquake size estimations based on the historical dataset.     

Contemporary state of stress and neotectonic deformation in the Carpathian-Pannonian region

The Carpathian-Pannonian region has been characterized by a two-stage tectonic evolution since the beginning of the Neogene. During early and mid-Miocene the lateral eastward escape of the Pannonian Fragment caused thrusting and folding in the Outer Carpathian Mountains, south- and westward directed subduction of the Eurasian lithosphere, calc-alkaline volcanism along the Inner Carpathian bend, and localized fault-controlled subsidence of basins in the Pannonian region. This style of tectonic deformation ceased by the end of the mid-Miocene. The neotectonic stage began in the late Miocene. It is characterized by differential regional subsidence with maximum rates in the west and east and minimum rates in the centre of the Pannonian Basin. Further characteristics of the central Pannonian Basin are the anomalous high heat flow values, the thin crust and lithosphere. The neotectonic stress field has been determined by in situ stress measurements, the analyses of borehole breakouts and fault-plane solutions of earthquakes. In situ stress measurements by the doorstopper and triaxial strain cell methods indicate high compressional stresses in the western Pannonian Basin with its maximum in WNW-ESE to NW-SE direction. In contrast to its western part, the central Pannonian Basin shows tensional stresses near the Earth's surface with maximum tension in the same WNW-ESE direction. Borehole breakout data indicate a general WNW-ESE orientation of maximum horizontal stress in the western part of the Pannonian Basin and in the eastern part as well, whereas in the central Pannonian Basin this direction is the preferred azimuth of minimum horizontal stress. It is suggested that the neotectonic deformations and stresses in the Carpathian-Pannonian region have a sublithospheric origin. Asthenospheric convection with an upwelling mantle flow below the centre of the Pannonian Basin and downwelling flows along the cold lithospheric roots below the eastern Carpathians and the Alps seems to be most plausible. Accordingly, the relative uplift of the central Pannonian Basin, the high heat flow and also the tensional stresses are explained as the surface expression of an upstreaming branch of a localized convection cell below the Pannonian Basin.     

Analysis of the geometric characteristics of clinothems and the relationship with shelf-edge trajectories of the Plio-Pleistocene continental slope in the Qiongdongnan Basin,South China Sea

Based on high-quality two-dimensional seismic profiles and well data, the seismic reflection characteristics from the late Pliocene and Pleistocene succession of the Qiongdongnan Basin in the South China Sea have been analysed. The result will help in understanding the sedimentological development of slope areas. Twenty coeval clinothems are recognized and four major clinothem types are distinguished. In addition, three types of shelf-edge trajectories are recognized. The various parameters of the clinothems are analysed quantitatively and the relationships between the various clinothem types are studied in combination with the controlling roles. It is concluded that: (i) the shelf-edge trajectories are related to the type of clinothem; (ii) fluctuations in the relative sea level, in combination with variations in sediment supply, result in different clinothem types and geometric parameters; these parameters show interdependencies; (iii) the alternations of progradation and aggradation of clinothems may provide information of the relative sea level and changes in sediment supply; (iv) some lowstand fans could develop at the foot of the slope in the central–eastern part of the basin when the relative sea level started to fall or began to rise. The results of the present study are consequently significant for further quantitative analyses of the characteristics and development of the continental slope, not only in the Qiongdongnan Basin, but also in other basins.     

Coral Diseases in the Indo-Pacific: A First Record

Abstract. . The so-called "band" diseases of reef corals, the White Band Disease (WBD) and the Black Band Disease (BBD), were observed in the Red Sea and in the Philippines. Since they were previously known only from the western Atlantic, this is the first record for the Indo-Pacific region. WBD is neither infectious nor contagious and the pathogen is unknown. BBD is highly infectious and contagious and is caused by the cyanophyte Phormidium corallyticum. Susceptibility to WBD occurs throughout the order Scleractinia, but the effects of the disease are most severe among Acroporidae. Susceptibility to BBD seems to be restricted to Faviidae, with Platygyra and Goniastrea species the most heavily afflicted. WBD cannot be influenced by any parameter tested so far. BBD can be enhanced by light and by water eutrophication, and its advance can be stopped by antibiotics. An active WBD seems to be a precondition for the origin of BBD.     

Morphodynamic effects of riparian vegetation growth after stream restoration

The prediction of the morphological evolution of renaturalized streams is important for the success of restoration projects. Riparian vegetation is a key component of the riverine landscape and is therefore essential for the natural rehabilitation of rivers. This complicates the design of morphological interventions, since riparian vegetation is influenced by and influences the river dynamics. Morphodynamic models, useful tools for project planning, should therefore include the interaction between vegetation, water flow and sediment processes. Most restoration projects are carried out in USA and Europe, where rivers are highly intervened and where the climate is temperate and vegetation shows a clear seasonal cycle. Taking into account seasonal variations might therefore be relevant for the prediction of the river morphological adaptation. This study investigates the morphodynamic effects of riparian vegetation on a re‐meandered lowland stream in the Netherlands, the Lunterse Beek. The work includes the analysis of field data covering 5 years and numerical modelling. The results allow assessment of the performance of a modelling tool in predicting the morphological evolution of the stream and the relevance of including the seasonal variations of vegetation in the computations. After the establishment of herbaceous plants on its banks, the Lunterse Beek did not show any further changes in channel alignment. This is here attributed to the stabilizing effects of plant roots together with the small size of the stream. It is expected that the morphological restoration of similarly small streams may result in important initial morphological adaptation followed by negligible changes after full vegetation establishment. Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.