Ostracode carbonate δ18O- and δ13C-signature of hydrological and climatic changes affecting Lake Neuchâtel,Switzerland, since the latest Pleistocene

Floating and grounded peat plateaus were studied in fens in the Yukon Territory (Canada). The peat deposit may be over 4 m thick and consists of a lower bed of aquatic peat overlain by humic fen peat, mesic fen peat and woody peat. Permafrost in the grounded peat plateaus is older than the 1200 year old White River Ash, whereas permafrost in the floating peat plateau is younger.Peat accumulation rates since 1200 years B.P. were greater in the fens (85–100 cm) than on the surface of the peat plateaus (25–55 cm). Where the peat plateau is free-floating, it will persist until the climate changes, causing the icy core to thaw. Where the peat plateau is frozen to the mineral substrate, it slowly drowns since the fen peat accumulates faster than the woody peat. This drowning results in degradation of the landform independently of the climate. Only degradation of floating peat plateaus can be used to identify climatic changes.This publication is the first paper in a series of papers presented at the session on Past Climatic Change and the Development of Peatlands at the ASLO and SWS Meetings in Edmonton, Canada, May 30–June 3, 1993. Dr. P. Kuhry and Dr S. C. Zoltai are serving as Guest Editors.     

Late Cretaceous reactivation of major crustal shear zones in northern Namibia: constraints from apatite fission track analysis

Namibia's passive continental margin records a long history of tectonic activity since the Proterozoic. The orogenic belt produced during the collision of the Congo and Kalahari Cratons in the Early Proterozoic led to a zone of crustal weakness, which became the preferred location for tectonism during the Phanerozoic. The Pan-African Damara mobile belt forms this intraplate boundary in Namibia and its tectonostratigraphic zones are defined by ductile shear zones, where the most prominent is described as the Omaruru Lineament–Waterberg Thrust (OML–WT). The prominance of the continental margin escarpment is diminished in the area of the Central and Northern Zone of the Damara belt where the shear zones are located. This area has been targeted with a set of 66 outcrop samples over a 550-km-long, 60-km-broad coast-parallel transect from the top of the escarpment in the south across the Damara sector to the Kamanjab Inlier in the north. Apatite fission track age and length data from all samples reveal a regionally consistent cooling event. Thermal histories derived by forward modelling bracket this phase of accelerated cooling in the Late Cretaceous. Maximum palaeotemperatures immediately prior to the onset of cooling range from ca. 120 to ca. 60 °C with the maximum occurring directly south of the Omaruru Lineament. Because different palaeotemperatures indicate different burial depth at a given time, the amount of denudation can be estimated and used to constrain vertical displacements of the continental crust. We interpret this cooling pattern as the geomorphic response to reactivation of basement structures caused by a change in spreading geometry in the South Atlantic and South West Indian Oceans.     

Hyperspectral imaging of drill core from the Steen River impact structure,Canada: Implications for hydrothermal activity and formation of suevite‐like breccias

Hyperspectral imaging can be used to rapidly identify and map the spatial distributions of many minerals. Here, hyperspectral mapping in three wavelength regions (visible and near‐infrared, shortwave infrared, and thermal infrared) was applied to drill cores (ST001, ST002, and ST003) penetrating a continuous sequence of crater‐fill breccias from the Steen River impact structure in Alberta, Canada. The combined data sets reveal distinct mineralogical layering, with breccias derived predominantly from sedimentary rocks overlying those derived from granitic basement. This stratigraphy demonstrates that the breccias were not appreciably disturbed following deposition, which is inconsistent with formation models of similar breccias (suevites) by explosive impact melt–fluid interaction. At Steen River, volatiles from sedimentary target rocks were an inherent part of forming these enigmatic breccias. Approximately three quarters of terrestrial impact structures contain sedimentary target rocks; therefore, the role of volatiles in producing so‐called suevitic breccias may be more widespread than previously realized. The hyperspectral maps, specifically within the SWIR wavelength region, also delineate minerals associated with postimpact hydrothermal activity, including ammoniated clay and feldspar minerals not detectable using traditional techniques. These nitrogen‐bearing minerals may have originated from microbial processes, associated with oil‐ and gas‐producing units in the crater vicinity. Such minerals may have important implications for the production of habitable environments by impact‐induced hydrothermal activity on Earth and Mars.     

Benthic habitat quality change as measured by macroinfauna community in a tidal flat on the west coast of Korea

Yellow Sea tidal flats are internationally recognised for their contribution to biological diversity and yet are under enormous pressure from reclamation, pollution and overexploitation. The benthic macroinfauna community is the dominant community on these tidal flats and a reliable indicator of benthic environmental changes. We surveyed the current benthic macroinfauna community of the Ganghwa Southern Tidal Flat, the largest remaining Korean mud flat in the Yellow Sea, in order to examine changes in the environmental situation of this benthic ecosystem. The results show a significant decline in species diversity from the last survey made in 2003, and a shift in species composition with appearances of polychaetes indicative of pollution and physical disturbances and other opportunistic species becoming dominant in both density and biomass. The benthic community shift observed during the two study periods may be associated with increased nutrient pollution as well as increased physical disturbances in this area. However, we recognise the limitations of the data both in frequency and scope but believe the significant changes to the composition of the benthic fauna are sufficient to warrant concern. Observations are required to examine the extent to which these human activities induce benthic community shift in this tidal flat.     

Influence of discrete step size on wind setup component of storm surge

Open coast storm surge water levels consist of wind setup due to wind shear at the water surface; a wave setup component caused by wind induced waves transferring momentum to the water column; an atmospheric pressure head component due to the atmospheric pressure deficit over the spatial extent of the storm system; a Coriolis forced setup or setdown component due to the effects of the rotation of the earth acting on the wind driven alongshore current at the coast; a possible seiche component due to resonance effects initiated by moving wind system, and, if astronomical tides are present, an astronomical tide component (although the tide is typically considered to be a forced astronomical event and not really a direct part of the external wind-driven meteorological component of storm surge). Typically the most important component of a storm surge is the wind setup component, especially on the U.S. East Coast and the Gulf of Mexico shorelines. In many approaches to storm surge modeling, a constant depth approximation is invoked over a limited step size in the computational domain. The use of a constant depth approximation has received little attention in the literature although can be very important to the resulting magnitude of the computed storm surge. The importance of discrete step size to the wind setup storm surge component is considered herein with a simple case computation of the wind setup component on a linear slope offshore profile. The present study findings show that the constant depth approximation to wind setup storm surge estimation is biased on the low side (except in extremely shallow water depths) and can provide large errors if discrete step size is not sufficiently resolved. Guidance has been provided on the error that one might encounter for various step sizes on different slopes.     

Some aspects of the succession and structure in the lower palaeozoic rocks of the southern uplands of scotland

Lower Palaeozoic successions in the Southern Uplands are much thicker than previously supposed and sedimentation may have lasted well into Ludlow times. Volcanic rocks are Arenig and Glenkiln in age and are often interbedded with greywackes and shales. Lapworth's concept of the structure as an anticlinorium and a synclinorium is rejected and it is suggested that the rocks have been folded into a series of compound monoclines which face north-westwards. These are probably cut by strike faults which bring up the older beds to the north.

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Zusammenfassung Die altpaläozoischen Schichtfolgen in den Südlichen Hochlanden sind viel mächtiger, als bisher angenommen wurde, und die Ablagerung kann bis ins Ludlow gereicht haben. Vulkanite haben Arenig- und Glenkiln-Alter; sie wechsellagern oft mit Grauwacken und Tonschiefern.Lapworths Vorstellung, der tektonische Bau sei ein Antiklinorium und ein Synklinorium, wird bestritten. Es wird angenommen, daß die Gesteine zu zusammengesetzten Monoklinen gefaltet wurden, deren steile Flügel nordwestwärts weisen. Sie werden wahrscheinlich durch streichende Verwerfungen zerschnitten, die die älteren Schichten im Norden herausheben.

     

Precambrian geology of the Adirondack highlands,a reinterpretation

The Precambrian geology of the Adirondack highlands was previously interpreted as a sedimentary terrane repeatedly invaded during the Grenville orogenic cycle by igneous intrusions to form successively the large anorthosite massif and satellites, numerous olivine gabbro and dolerite bodies, gneisses of the quartz-syenite and charnockite series, and granites. A reinterpretation is suggested.In two representative areas major bodies of anorthosite and gneisses of the quartz-syenite and charnockite series are shown to occupy cores of mantled domes and nappes. They are parts of an older basement complex formed during an earlier, pre-Grenville orogenic cycle. Most of the now-recognizable Grenville metasediments were supracrustal rocks deposited on the denuded surface of this basement terrane. Olivine-basaltic magma invaded both the basement and the supracrustal rocks, forming gabbro and ophitic dolerite bodies. The Grenville orogenic cycle (ca. 1100 m.y. B.P.) deformed and metamorphosed all these rocks to a complex of mantled domes, folds, and nappes. The geology of the older basement rocks is heavily masked by the Grenville orogeny.The pre-Grenville basement consists of relatively homogenous masses of metaanorthosite, metanorite, charnockite, and gneisses of granitic composition. The supracrustal rocks occur in well-defined stratigraphic sequences of varied metasediments, gneisses, and charnockites. Conglomerates, arkoses, and acidic volcanics may all metamorphose to foliated rocks of granitic composition. Charnockites formed by high-grade metamorphism of initially dry, pre-existing quartzofeldspathic rocks including metamorphic and plutonic igneous rocks in the basement complex and acidic volcanics in the supracrustal sequence. Water content of rocks also controlled the extent of magmatism during the Grenville orogenic period. Anatectic granite is mainly limited to small, nebulite-bordered granite bodies, and to the presence of venitic migmatites in metamorphosed rocks with granitic components.

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Zusammenfassung Die Gesteinsserien des Präkambriums in den Adirondack-Highlands wurde früher als Sedimente gedeutet, in welche während des Grenville-Orogenzyklus mehrfach Eruptiv-Intrusionen eindrangen. Dadurch sollen nacheinander das große Anorthosit-Massiv mit seinen Satelliten, zahlreiche Olivingabbro- und Dolerit-Körper, die Gneise der Quarz-Syenit- und Charnockit-Serie und die Granite entstanden sein. Eine andere Erklärung wird hier vorgeschlagen.In zwei typischen Gebieten werden größere Körper von Anorthosit und von Gneisen der Quarz-Syenit- und Charnockit-Serie beschrieben, welche die Kerne der ummantelten Gneisdome und der Decken einnehmen. Sie sind Teile eines älteren Grundgebirges, das in einem früheren Prä-Grenville-Zyklus entstanden ist. Die meisten der heute bekannten Grenville metasediments bestanden aus suprakrustalen Gesteinen, die auf der heute abgetragenen Oberfläche dieses Grundgebirges abgelagert wurden. Olivin-basaltisches Magma drang sowohl in das Grundgebirge als auch in die suprakrustalen Gesteine ein, wodurch Gabbro- und ophitische Doleritkörper entstanden. Der Grenville-Orogenzyklus (vor etwa 1,1×10⁹ Jahren) metamorphisierte diese Gesteine zu dem Komplex der ummantelten Gneisdome, Falten und Decken. Die Geologie des älteren Grundgebirges ist durch die Grenville-Orogenese stark verändert worden.Das Prä-Grenville-Grundgebirge besteht aus verhältnismäßig homogenen Meta-Anorthositen, Metanoriten, Charnockiten und Gneisen mit granitischer Zusammensetzung. Die suprakrustalen Gesteine kommen in gut bestimmten, stratigraphischen Abfolgen von verschiedenen Metasedimenten, Gneisen und Charnockiten vor. Konglomerate, Arkosen und saure Vulkanite dürften durch Metamorphose in geschieferte Gesteine granitischer Zusammensetzung übergegangen sein. Charnockite entstanden durch intensive Metamorphose der anfangs trockenen, vormals quarz- und feldspatreichen Gesteine, welche Metamorphite und Plutonite des Grundgebirges und saure Vulkanite der suprakrustalen Serie einschließen. Auch der Wassergehalt der Gesteine beeinflußte den Grad des Magmatismus während des Grenville-Orogenzyklus. Anatektischer Granit ist hauptsächlich an kleine, von Nebulit umgebene Granit-Körper und an die Anwesenheit von Venit-Migmatiten in metamorphen Gesteinen granitischer Zusammensetzung gebunden.

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Résumé L'interprétation géologique Précambrienne des plateaux de l'Adirondack était considérée jusqu'à ce jour comme un terrain sédimentaire envahi à plusieurs reprises pendant le cycle orogénique de Grenville par des intrusions ignées pour former successivement le grand massif anorthosite et ses satellites, de nombreux corps gabbro-olivines et dolérites, des gneiss de séries quartzsyénites et charnockites, et des granites. Nous suggérons une réinterprétation.Dans deux domaines représentatifs, les corps principaux d'anorthosite et les gneiss de séries quartz-syénite et charnockite se révèlent comme occupant les noyaux de dômes recouvertes et de nappes. Ce sont des parties d'un fond complexe plus ancien formé pendant un cycle orogénique pré-Grenville antérieur. La plupart des «métasédiments Grenville» maintenant reconnaissables étaient des roches sédimentaires et volcaniques, déposées sur la surface dénudée de ce terrain de fond. Le magma olivine-basaltique a envahi à la fois le fond et les roches sédimentaires et volcaniques, formant du gabbro et des corps ophitiques et dolérites.Le cycle orogénique de Grenville (ca. 1100 m. y. B. P.) a déformé et métamorphosé toutes ces roches en une completié de dômes recouvertes, de plis et de nappes. La géologie des roches de fond plus anciennes est lourdement masquée par l'orogénie de Grenville.Le fond pré-Grenville consiste en masses relativement homogènes de métaanorthosite, métanorite, charnockite et en gneiss de composition granitique. Les roches sédimentaires et volcaniques apparaissent en séries stratigraphiques bien définie d'une variété de métasédiments, de gneiss et de charnockite. Des conglomérates, des arkoses et des roches volcaniques acides peuvent toutes se métamorphoser en roches foliacées de composition granitique. Des charnockites ont dû leur formation à un métamorphisme à haut degré de roches quartzofeldspathiques pré-existantes, initialement sèches, y compris les roches ignées métamorphiques et plutoniques dans le système du fond et acidovolcaniques dans la roche sédimentaire et volcanique subséquente. Le contenu aqueux des roches contrôlait également l'importance du magmatisme pendant la période orogénique de Grenville. Le granite anatectique se réduit principalement à des corpuscules granitiques bordés de nébulite et à la présence de migmatites vénétiques dans des roches métamorphosées aux composants granitiques.

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Adirondack Highland'a (CACIII). .

     

Imaging Spectropolarimetry of Ti I 2231 nm in a Sunspot

Spectro-polarimetric observations at 2231 nm were made of NOAA 10008 near the west solar limb on 29 June 2002 using the National Solar Observatory McMath–Pierce Telescope at Kitt Peak and the California State University Northridge – National Solar Observatory infrared camera. Scans of spectra in both Stokes I and Stokes V were collected; the intensity spectra were processed to remove strong telluric absorption lines, and the Stokes V umbral spectra were corrected for instrumental polarization. The sunspot temperature is computed using the continuum contrast and umbral temperatures down to about 3700 K are observed. A strong Tii line at 2231.0 nm is used to probe the magnetic and velocity fields in the spot umbra and penumbra. Measurements of the Tii equivalent width versus plasma temperature in the sunspot agree with model predictions. Zeeman splitting measurements of the Stokes I and Stokes V profiles show magnetic fields up to 3300 G in the umbra, and a dependence of the magnetic field on the plasma temperature similar to that which was seen using Fei 1565 nm observations of the same spot two days earlier. The umbral Doppler velocity measurements are averaged in 16 azimuthal bins, and no radial flows are revealed to a limit of ±200 m s^–1. A Stokes V magnetogram shows a reversal of the line-of-sight magnetic component between the limb and disk center sides of the penumbra. Because the Tii line is weak in the penumbra, individual spectra are averaged in azimuthal bins over the entire penumbral radial extent. The averaged Stokes V spectra show a magnetic reversal as a function of sunspot azimuthal angle. The mean penumbral magnetic field as measured with the Stokes V Zeeman component splitting is 1400 G. Several weak spectral lines are observed in the sunspot and the variation of the equivalent width versus temperature for four lines is examined. If these lines are from molecules, it is possible that lines at 2230.67, 2230.77, and 2231.70 nm originate from OH, while the line at 2232.21 nm may originate from CN.