Ultrahigh-Temperature Metamorphism and Multistage Evolution of Garnet-Orthopyroxene Granulites from the Proterozoic Epupa Complex, NW Namibia

Migmatitic semipelitic granulites of the Proterozoic Epupa Complex,NW Namibia, underwent ultrahigh-temperature metamorphism asis indicated by the high alumina contents of orthopyroxene (8–11wt % Al₂O₃) coexisting with garnet. Peak P–T conditionsof     

Geophysical profile of the Roter Kamm impact crater,Namibia

Abstract— New gravity and magnetic data were obtained along ground profiles across the Roter Kamm impact crater in the southern Namib desert of Namibia. As the traverses of previous studies did not extend sufficiently beyond the crater rim, it had not been possible to adequately determine the regional background values. The gravity results of this study are similar to those obtained by Fudali in 1973, in that a negative, near-symmetrical anomaly was obtained over the crater center. This anomaly conforms to the results expected for a sediment and impact breccia-filled, simple bowl-shaped crater. The magnetic results of this study, however, are different to those previously reported, which is most probably as a result of the longer profiles used in this new study. A slight positive magnetic anomaly was obtained over the crater interior. Short-wavelength, high-amplitude anomalies observed in the vicinity of the crater rim reflect magnetization contrasts that are probably related to brecciation and block rotation. Modelling of the positive magnetic anomaly indicates the possibility of a small magnetic body or lining at the crater floor-breccia interface in the interior of the crater. Also presented is a 10 m contour digital elevation model of the crater and its environs.     

A proposed adiabatic formulation of 3‐dimensional global atmospheric models based on potential vorticity

A 2‐time‐level finite difference atmospheric general circulation model based on the semi‐Lagrangian advection of pseudo potential vorticity (which becomes potential vorticity in that part of the domain where the hybrid vertical coordinate becomes isentropic) has been formulated. At low levels, the hybrid vertical coordinate is terrain following. The problem of isentropic potential vorticity possibly becoming ill‐defined in the regions of planetary boundary layer is thus circumvented. The divergence equation is a companion to the (pseudo) potential vorticity equation and the model is thus called a PV‐D model. Many features of a previously developed shallow water PV‐D model are carried over: a modification of the PV equation needed to give computational stability of long Rossby waves; a semi‐Lagrangian semi‐implicit treatment of both the linear and the nonlinear terms; the use of an unstaggered grid in the horizontal; the use of a nonlinear multigrid technique to solve the nonlinear implicit equations. A linear numerical stability analysis of the model's gravity–inertia waves indicates that the potential temperature needs to be separated into horizontal mean and perturbation parts. This allows an implicit treatment of the vertical advection associated with the mean in the thermodynamic equation. Numerical experiments with developing baroclinic waves have been carried out and give realistic results.     

Upper‐amphibolite facies partial melting of paragneisses from the Epupa Complex,NW Namibia,and relations to Mesoproterozoic anorthosite magmatism

The evolution of the mineral assemblages and P–T conditions during partial melting of upper‐amphibolite facies paragneisses in the Orue Unit, Epupa Complex, NW Namibia, is modelled with calculated P–T–X phase diagrams in the Na₂O–CaO–K₂O–FeO–MgO–Al₂O₃–SiO₂–H₂O system. The close concordance of predictions from the phase diagrams to petrographic observations and thermobarometric results documents that quantitative phase diagrams are suitable to explain the phase relationships in migmatitic upper‐amphibolite facies low‐ and medium‐pressure metapelites, which occur in many high‐grade metamorphic terranes worldwide. Different mineral assemblages in the migmatitic metapelites of the Orue Unit reflect regional discrepancies in the metamorphic grade: in a Northern Zone, early biotite–sillimanite–quartz assemblages were replaced via melt‐producing reactions by cordierite‐bearing assemblages. In a Southern Zone, they were replaced via melt‐producing reactions by garnet‐bearing assemblages while cordierite is restricted to rare metapelitic granofelses, which preserve Grt–Sil–Crd–Bt peak assemblages. Peak‐metamorphic conditions of 700–750 °C at 5.5–6.7 kbar in the Southern Zone and of ～750 °C at 4.5 kbar in the Northern Zone are estimated by integrating thermobarometric calculations with data from calculated mineral composition isopleths. Retrograde back‐reactions between restite and crystallizing melt are recorded by the replacement of garnet by biotite–sillimanite and/or biotite–muscovite intergrowths. Upper‐amphibolite facies metamorphism and partial melting (c. 1340–1320 Ma) in the rocks of the Southern Zone of the Orue Unit, which underwent probably near‐isobaric heating–cooling paths, are attributed to contact metamorphism induced by the coeval (c. 1385–1319 Ma) emplacement of the Kunene Intrusive Complex, a huge massif‐type anorthosite body. The lower‐pressure metapelites of the Northern Zone are interpreted to record contact metamorphism at an upper crustal level.     

WINTER RADIATION EXTINCTION AND REFLECTION IN A BOREAL PINE CANOPY: MEASUREMENTS AND MODELLING

Predicting the rate of snowmelt and intercepted snow sublimation in boreal forests requires an understanding of the effects of snow-covered conifers on the exchange of radiant energy. This study examined the amount of intercepted snow on a jack pine canopy in the boreal forest of central Saskatchewan and the shortwave and net radiation exchange with this canopy, to determine the effect of intercepted snow and canopy structure on shortwave radiation reflection and extinction and net radiation attenuation in a boreal forest. The study focused on clear sky conditions, which are common during winter in the continental boreal forest. Intercepted snow was found to have no influence on the clear-sky albedo of the canopy, the extinction of short wave radiation by the canopy or ratio of net radiation at the canopy top to that at the surface snow cover. Because of the low albedo of the snow-covered canopy, net radiation at the canopy top remains positive and a large potential source of energy for sublimation. The canopy albedo declines somewhat as the extinction efficiency of the underlying canopy increases. The extinction efficiency of short wave radiation in the canopy depends on solar angle because of the approximately horizontal orientation of pine branches. For low solar angles above the horizon, the extinction efficiency is quite low and short wave transmissivity through the canopy is relatively high. As the solar angle increases, extinction increases up to angles of about 50°, and then declines. Extinction of short wave radiation in the canopy strongly influences the attenuation of net radiation by the canopy. Short wave radiation that is extinguished by branches is radiated as long wave, partly downwards to the snow cover. The ratio of net radiation at the canopy top to that at the snow cover surface increases with the extinction of short wave radiation and is negative for low extinction efficiencies. For the pine canopy examined, the daily mean net radiation at the snow cover surface became positive when daily mean solar angles exceeded 22° in late March. Hence, canopy structure and solar angle control the net radiation at the snow cover surface during clear sky conditions and will govern the timing and rate of snowmelt. Models of intercepted snow sublimation and forest snowmelt could beneficially incorporate the canopy radiation balance, which can be extrapolated to stands of various canopy densities, coverage and heights in a physically based manner. Such models could hence avoid ‘empirical’ temperature index measures that cannot be extrapolated with confidence.     

A REVIEW OF RESERVOIR DESILTATION

I INTRODUCTIONThe number of dam constructions has increased during the last decades, pafticularly in the tropics andsemi-arid areas where high sediment yields are prominent, and therefore also the problems of reservoirsedimentation. In 1900 there were 42 large dams, i.e. higher than 15 m, while in 1950 and 1986 therewere 5,268 and about 39,000 respectively (ICOLD, 1988). In the period 1975 to 1990, the regions withthe largest increase of large dams were Central and South America, Asia …     

Suevite at the Roter Kamm impact crater,Namibia

Abstract— A small area littered with loose decimeter-sized fragments of glass and melt fragment-bearing suevite has been discovered on the western rim of the Roter Kamm impact crater in southern Namibia. The clast population and results of major and trace element chemical analyses are consistent with this breccia having been formed from granitoid basement lithologies only, without contribution from the metasedimentary Gariep and Cenozoic cover sequences. It is assumed that the limited amount of impact melt observed in the Roter Kamm structure could be the result of melt dissipation due to explosive shock-induced devolatilization of the significant marble component of the Gariep supracrustal cover. Preservation of very limited remnants of impact breccia on the rim of the Roter Kamm crater suggests a relatively deep level of erosion of the crater rim.