Seasonal connections between meteoric water and streamflow generation along a mountain headwater stream

In snowmelt-driven mountain watersheds, the hydrologic connectivity between meteoric waters and stream flow generation varies strongly with the season, reflecting variable connection to soil and groundwater storage within the watershed. This variable connectivity regulates how streamflow generation mechanisms transform the seasonal and elevational variation in oxygen and hydrogen isotopic composition (δ¹⁸O and δD) of meteoric precipitation. Thus, water isotopes in stream flow can signal immediate connectivity or more prolonged mixing, especially in high-relief mountainous catchments. We characterized δ¹⁸O and δD values in stream water along an elevational gradient in a mountain headwater catchment in southwestern Montana. Stream water isotopic compositions related most strongly to elevation between February and March, exhibiting higher δ¹⁸O and δD values with decreasing elevation. These elevational isotopic lapse rates likely reflect increased connection between stream flow and proximal snow-derived water sources heavily subject to elevational isotopic effects. These patterns disappeared during summer sampling, when consistently lower δ¹⁸O and δD values of stream water reflected contributions from snowmelt or colder rainfall, despite much higher δ¹⁸O and δD values expected in warmer seasonal rainfall. The consistently low isotopic values and absence of a trend with elevation during summer suggest lower connectivity between summer precipitation and stream flow generation as a consequence of drier soils and greater transpiration. As further evidence of intermittent seasonal connectivity between the stream and adjacent groundwaters, we observed a late-winter flush of nitrate into the stream at higher elevations, consistent with increased connection to accumulating mineralized nitrogen in riparian wetlands. This pattern was distinct from mid-summer patterns of nitrate loading at lower elevations that suggested heightened human recreational activity along the stream corridor. These observations provide insights linking stream flow generation and seasonal water storage in high elevation mountainous watersheds. Greater understanding of the connections between surface water, soil water and groundwater in these environments will help predict how the quality and quantity of mountain runoff will respond to changing climate and allow better informed water management decisions.     

First seismic record for intra-arc strike-slip tectonics along the Liquiñe-Ofqui fault zone at the obliquely convergent plate margin of the southern Andes

A temporal seismic network recorded local seismicity along a 130 km long segment of the transpressional dextral strike-slip Liquiñe-Ofqui fault zone (LOFZ) in southern Chile. Seventy five shallow crustal events with magnitudes up to M_w 3.8 and depths shallower than 25 km were observed in an 11-month period mainly occurring in different clusters. Those clusters are spatially related to the LOFZ, to the volcanoes Chaitén, Michinmahuida and Corcovado, and to active faulting on secondary faults. Further activity along the LOFZ is indicated by individual events located in direct vicinity of the surface expression of the LOFZ. Focal mechanisms were calculated using deviatoric moment tensor inversion of body wave amplitude spectra which mostly yield strike-slip mechanisms indicating a NE–SW direction of the P-axis for the LOFZ at this latitude. The seismic activity reveals the present-day activity of the fault zone. The recent M_w 6.2 event near Puerto Aysén, Southern Chile at 45.4°S on April 21, 2007 shows that the LOFZ is also capable of producing large magnitude earthquakes and therefore imposing significant seismic hazard to this region.     

An experimental study of the grain-scale processes of peridotite melting: implications for major and trace element distribution during equilibrium and disequilibrium melting

The grain-scale processes of peridotite melting were examined at 1,340°C and 1.5 GPa using reaction couples formed by juxtaposing pre-synthesized clinopyroxenite against pre-synthesized orthopyroxenite or harzburgite in graphite and platinum-lined molybdenum capsules. Reaction between the clinopyroxene and orthopyroxene-rich aggregates produces a melt-enriched, orthopyroxene-free, olivine + clinopyroxene reactive boundary layer. Major and trace element abundance in clinopyroxene vary systematically across the reactive boundary layer with compositional trends similar to the published clinopyroxene core-to-rim compositional variations in the bulk lherzolite partial melting studies conducted at similar P–T conditions. The growth of the reactive boundary layer takes place at the expense of the orthopyroxenite or harzburgite and is consistent with grain-scale processes that involve dissolution, precipitation, reprecipitation, and diffusive exchange between the interstitial melt and surrounding crystals. An important consequence of dissolution–reprecipitation during crystal-melt interaction is the dramatic decrease in diffusive reequilibration time between coexisting minerals and melt. This effect is especially important for high charged, slow diffusing cations during peridotite melting and melt-rock reaction. Apparent clinopyroxene-melt partition coefficients for REE, Sr, Y, Ti, and Zr, measured from reprecipitated clinopyroxene and coexisting melt in the reactive boundary layer, approach their equilibrium values reported in the literature. Disequilibrium melting models based on volume diffusion in solid limited mechanism are likely to significantly underestimate the rates at which major and trace elements in residual minerals reequilibrate with their surrounding melt. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Food Preferences of Dominant Salt Marsh Herbivores and Detritivores

Abstract. Food preferences of six dominant salt marsh invertebrates were studied to identify detritivores and to assess differences in their diets. Animals fed on agar suspensions of dead and live foods in petri dishes with four compartments. Only two foods were included in each dish. Relative palatability was assessed by measuring the amount of suspension removed or by counting the number of feeding marks left on the surface of the suspensions.
Feeding marks reflected differences in mouth parts and feeding mechanisms of the six invertebrates. Melampus bidentatus, Orchestia grillus , and Philoscia vittata preferred dead litter over live tissues of marsh graminoids, blue-green algae, and sulfur bacteria. No preference for detritus from different graminoids was shown by M. bidentatus. Orchestia grillus fed preferentially on Spartina patens detritus. Philoscia vittata preferred detritus from S. alterniflora and S. patens. Blue-green algae and sulfur bacteria were preferred over detritus by Littorina saxatalis , but detritus was preferred over live graminoids. Littorina saxatalis fed preferentially on Juncus gerardi detritus. Blue-green algae, sulfur bacteria, and live graminoids were preferred over detritus by L. littorea. Talorchestia longicornis also preferred blue-green algae.
On the basis of their food preferences, Littorina saxatalis, Melampus bidentatus, Orchestia grillus , and Philoscia vittata were classified as detritivores. Feeding on detritus from different plant species could result in a partitioning of this food resource in the detritus-based food chains of the salt marsh ecosystem.     

遥感和GIS支持下的分布式融雪径流过程模拟研究

基于遥感(RS)和地理信息系统(GIS)技术,设计和构建了一个分布式融雪径流模型,整个分布式融雪径流过程的模拟计算基于能量平衡和水量平衡,由分布式栅格融雪过程、分布式栅格产流过程以及分布式栅格汇流过程组成,融雪以及产汇流过程全部基于栅格尺度,全面实现了融雪过程的分布式模拟.分布式栅格融雪过程中对"度日法"加以改进,引入了"单元时段"的概念,从而得到了"度分融雪模型";针对融雪过程中颇为复杂的冻融反复性难题,提出了旨在解释积雪冻融反复性物理机制的"冻融系数"的重要概念,对于准确把握融雪过程的物理机制具有重要意义.同时基于GIS开发了分布式融雪径流模拟系统,为分布式融雪径流模型的运行提供了平台和技术支持,二者均为融雪洪水预警决策支持系统的核心模块部分.基于由MODlS等遥感数据得到的积雪信息、地表温度等下垫面信息,基础地理信息数据如DEM及其空间分析数据和大量野外同步观测数据(积雪信息、气象数据),对典型研究区新疆军塘湖流域2006年春季典型融雪期(2006-03-06,11:00-2006-03-10,11:00)内的洪水过程进行了模拟,模拟结果精度较高,平均精度0.82,达到了融雪洪水预警预报的业务需求标准.     

基于分区的局域神经网络时空建模方法研究

区域数据表现为两种尺度的空间特性:反映全局特征的空间依赖性和反映局域特征的空间波动性.空间波动性表现为空间数据在局部地区的聚集或高低交错现象.在研究区域数据时空预测性建模时,从降低数据的空间波动和不平稳性对模型预测能力的影响角度出发,提出了一种基于分区的局域神经网络时空非线性建模的思路.分区过程由基于空间邻接关系的K-means聚类算法完成.不同的分区方案通过相关性、波动性、紧凑性等指标进行评价和优选.在确定最优分区方案的基础上,对各子区分别采用两层前馈网络进行建模,模型的输入不仅要考虑本区内单元的作用,而且要考虑相邻子区的边界效应.各神经网络模型的时空预测能力通过平均相均差和动态相似率等指标进行衡量.最后,通过对法国94个县每周流感报告病例的时空建模分析表明,与全局神经网络模型相比,基于分区的局域神经网络模型具有更好的预测能力.     

山区煤田地震勘探中静校正存在的问题及其改进方法

在山区或地表复杂地区进行地震勘探,采用基于地表一致性假设的静校正将会严重影响勘探效果,该影响主要源于地表一致性假设存在着不合理因素。如较高的低速带、巨厚的低速带、基岩裸露、地形起伏较大等。为分析一致性假设静校正偏差产生的原因及大小．构建一地形起伏、基岩出露的复杂模型,通过正演其射线路径,对比其时距曲线与理论时距曲线的差异,以及二者静校正量误差大小。模型分析证实该差异与偏移距、地震波穿透深度及基准面高程之间存在直接的联系,据此提出了改进方法,如浮动基准面校正及分块静校正等。理论模型和实际地震资料试算表明,使用改进的方法可有效改善地震时间刮面同相轴聚焦效果及连续性。     

Structural architecture of a highly oblique divergent plate boundary segment

The Reykjanes Peninsula in southwest Iceland is a highly oblique spreading segment of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge oriented about 30° from the direction of absolute plate motion. We present a complete and spatially accurate map of fractures for the Reykjanes Peninsula with a level of detail previously unattained. Our map reveals a variability in the pattern of normal, oblique- and strike-slip faults and open fractures which reflects both temporal and spatial strain partitioning within the plate boundary zone. Fracture density varies across the length and width of the peninsula, with density maxima at the ends and at the northern margin of the zone of volcanic activity. Fractures with similar strike cluster into distinct structural domains which can be related to patterns of faulting predicted for oblique extension and to their spatial distribution with respect to volcanic fissure swarms. Additional structural complexity on the Reykjanes Peninsula can be reconciled with magmatic periodicity and associated temporal strain partitioning implied by GPS data, as well as locally perturbed stress fields. Individual faults show variable slip histories, indicating that they may be active during both magmatic and amagmatic periods associated with different strain fields.     

Strain partitioning and preservation of Ar/Ar ages during Variscan exhumation of a subducted crust (Malpica–Tui complex, NW Spain)

The Malpica–Tui complex (NW Iberian Massif) consists of a Lower Continental Unit of variably deformed and recrystallized granitoids, metasediments and sparse metabasites, overridden by an upper unit with rocks of oceanic affinities. Metamorphic minerals dated by the ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar method record a coherent temporal history of progressive deformation during Variscan metamorphism and exhumation. The earliest stages of deformation (D1) under high-pressure conditions are recorded in phengitic white micas from eclogite-facies rocks at 365–370 Ma. Following this eclogite-facies peak-metamorphism, the continental slab became attached to the overriding plate at deep-crustal levels at ca. 340–350 Ma (D2). Exhumation was accompanied by pervasive deformation (D3) within the continental slab at ca. 330 Ma and major deformation (D4) in the underlying para-autochthon at 315–325 Ma. Final tectonothermal evolution included late folding, localized shearing and granitic intrusions at 280–310 Ma.

Dating of high-pressure rocks by the ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar method yields ages that are synchronous with published Rb–Sr and Sm–Nd ages obtained for both the Malpica–Tui complex and its correlative, the Champtoceaux complex in the French Armorican Massif. The results indicate that phengitic white mica retains its radiogenic argon despite been subjected to relatively high temperatures (500–600 °C) for a period of 20–30 My corresponding to the time-span from the static, eclogite-facies M1 peak-metamorphism through D1-M2 eclogite-facies deformation to amphibolite-facies D2-M3. Our study provides additional evidence that under certain geological conditions (i.e., strain partitioning, fluid deficiency) argon isotope mobility is limited at high temperatures, and that ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar geochronology can be a reliable method for dating high pressure metamorphism.     

Researches on Cartographic Database-Based Interactive Three-Dimensional Topographic Map

With the development of computer graphics, the three-dimensional (3D) visualization brings new technological revolution to the traditional cartography. Therefore, the topographic 3D-map emerges to adapt to this technological revolution, and the applications of topographic 3D-map are spread rapidly to other relevant fields due to its incomparable advantage. The researches on digital map and the construction of map database offer strong technical support and abundant data source for this new technology, so the research and development of topographic 3D-map will receive greater concern. The basic data of the topographic 3D-map are rooted mainly in digital map and its basic model is derived from digital elevation model (DEM) and 3D-models of other DEM-based geographic features. In view of the potential enormous data and the complexity of geographic features, the dynamic representation of geographic information becomes the focus of the research of topographic 3D-map and also the prerequisite condition of 3D query and analysis. In addition to the equipment of hardware that are restraining, to a certain extent, the 3D representation, the data organization structure of geographic information will be the core problem of research on 3D-map. Level of detail (LOD). space partitioning, dynamic object loading (DOL) and object culling are core technologies of the dynamic 3D representation. The objectselection, attribute-query and model-editing are important functions and interaction tools for users with 3D-maps provided by topographic 3D-map system, all of which are based on the data structure of the 3D-model. This paper discusses the basic theories, concepts and cardinal principles of topographic 3I)-map,expounds the basic way to organize the scene hierarchy of topographic 3D-map based on the node mechanism and studies the dynamic representation technologies of topographic 3D-map based on LOD, space partitioning, DOL and object culling. Moreover. such interactive operation functions are explored, in this paper, as spatial query, scene editing and management of topographic 3D-map. Finally, this paper describes briefly the applications of topographic 3D-map in its related fields.