Palynofacies and sea-level changes in the Upper Cretaceous of the Vocontian Basin, southeast France

Upper Cretaceous platform carbonates of the Vocontian Basin (southeastern France) have been investigated in a cross-section from the proximal deposits exposed in the lower Rhône Valley to the distal part of the basin in the Southern Subalpine Ranges north of Nice. The stratigraphic interval studied in detail spans the uppermost Turonian and Coniacian.Palynofacies patterns were used to detect eustatic signals at a third-order scale and are the tool for correlation of proximal and distal platform deposits. The organic constituents observed in the studied samples have been grouped into a continental fraction, including higher plant debris (phytoclasts) and sporomorphs, and a marine fraction with dinoflagellate cysts, acritarchs, prasinophytes, and foraminiferal test linings. The main factors influencing the stratigraphic and spatial distribution of land-derived, allochthonous, and marine, relatively autochthonous, organic particles are the proximity of land, the organic productivity, the degree of biodegradation and the hydrodynamic conditions of the depositional system. Palynofacies parameters used for the sequence stratigraphic interpretation are: (1) the ratio of continental to marine constituents (CONT/MAR ratio); (2) the ratio of opaque to translucent phytoclasts (OP/TR ratio); (3) the phytoclast particle size and shape; and (4) the relative proportion and species diversity of marine plankton. Ternary diagrams illustrating significant proximality changes were used to decipher transgressive-regressive trends within the succession.High amounts of translucent phytoclasts and decreasing values of the CONT/MAR ratio occur during the phase of relative sea-level rise in the upper Turonian. The stratigraphic interval of maximum flooding around the Turonian/Coniacian boundary is marked by the highest abundance and species diversity of dinoflagellate cysts, and by high percentages of opaque, equidimensional particles within the phytoclast group. The OP/TR ratio is still high within the lower Coniacian representing the early highstand deposits, whereas the relative abundance of marine constituents is again decreasing. Sedimentary organic matter of the upper Coniacian is dominated by large, blade-shaped, mainly opaque phytoclasts, which are a characteristic palynofacies signature of late highstand deposits.The present study demonstrates the high potential of palynofacies analysis in high-resolution stratigraphy and correlation of sedimentary series of shallow epeiric seas.     

Quick-look assessments to identify optimal CO2 EOR storage sites

A newly developed, multistage quick-look methodology allows for the efficient screening of an unmanageably large number of reservoirs to generate a workable set of sites that closely match the requirements for optimal CO₂ enhanced oil recovery (EOR) storage. The objective of the study is to quickly identify miscible CO₂ EOR candidates in areas that contain thousands of reservoirs and to estimate additional oil recovery and sequestration capacities of selected top options through dimensionless modeling and reservoir characterization. Quick-look assessments indicate that the CO₂ EOR resource potential along the US Gulf Coast is 4.7 billion barrels, and CO₂ sequestration capacity is 2.6 billion metric tons. In the first stage, oil reservoirs are screened and ranked in terms of technical and practical feasibility for miscible CO₂ EOR. The second stage provides quick estimates of CO₂ EOR potential and sequestration capacities. In the third stage, a dimensionless group model is applied to a selected set of sites to improve the estimates of oil recovery and storage potential using appropriate inputs for rock and fluid properties, disregarding reservoir architecture and sweep design. The fourth stage validates and refines the results by simulating flow in a model that describes the internal architecture and fluid distribution in the reservoir. The stated approach both saves time and allows more resources to be applied to the best candidate sites.     

Management of the commons for biodiversity: lessons from the North Pacific

The North Pacific has the world's largest groundfish fisheries, with a value in excess of $1 billion annually. The North Pacific also is home to the largest population of Steller sea lions (SSL), an ancient species that is now endangered. Decline of the western stock of SSL in the 1970–1990s coincided with the US nationalization and exponential growth in the Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands groundfish fishery.The article treats five aspects of the competition between the fishery and protection of the endangered species. First, we analyze competition of interests in the use, management, and preservation of the North Pacific commons, including offshore and near-shore fisheries, environmental organizations, governments (federal, state, and local), and the scientific community. Second, the article compares and contrasts provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the Magnuson–Stevens Act (as amended in 1996 by the Sustainable Fisheries Act).Third, we examine the regulatory environment with a focus on the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and its relationship to the North Pacific Fishery Management Council. We illustrate how NMFS establishes fishery management plans and the methods, such as crafting biological opinions and environmental-impact-statements, it uses to resolve conflicts. Fourth, we investigate how the dual pressures on the agency—to increase fisheries production for the benefit of the industry and to preserve endangered marine species—have affected its culture (behavioral norms and operational codes). Then, the article explains agency changes in terms of crises, competition among affected interests, and development of new scientific knowledge.The article concludes by drawing lessons from the SSL controversy in the North Pacific which may pertain to national and global biodiversity conflicts. These concern the role of law in biodiversity protection, the role of science, and agency capacity for change.     

Ecological characteristics of Walleye pollock eggs and larvae in the southeastern Bering Sea during the late 1970s

Walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) is an ecologically and economically important groundfish in the eastern Bering Sea. Its population size fluctuates widely, driving and being driven by changes in other components of the ecosystem. It is becoming apparent that dramatic shifts in climate occur on a decadal scale, and these “regime shifts” strongly affect the biota. This paper examines quantitative collections of planktonic eggs and larvae of pollock from the southeastern Bering Sea during 1976–1979. Mortality, advection, and growth rates were estimated, and compared among the years encompassing the 1970s’ regime shift. These data indicate that pollock spawning starts in late February over the basin north of Bogoslof Island. Over the shelf, most spawning occurs north of Unimak Island near the 100 m isobath in early or mid April. Pollock eggs are advected to the northwest from the main spawning area at 5–10 cm/sec. Larvae are found over the basin north of Bogoslof Island in April, and over the shelf between Unimak Island and the Priblof Islands in May. Compared to 1977, the spawning period appeared to be later in 1976 (a cold year) and earlier in 1978 (a warm year) in the study area. At the lower temperatures in 1976, egg duration would be longer and thus egg mortality would operate over a longer period than in the other years. Mean larval growth appeared to be lower in 1976 than in 1977 and 1979. Estimated egg mortality rate in 1977 was 0.6 in April and 0.3 in early May.     

Climatic changes and alluvial-sedimentation settings in southeastern Transbaikalia in the Middle-Late Holocene (by the example of the Ilya floodplain)

Climatic changes in southeastern Transbaikalia in the Middle and Late Holocene and their influence on alluvial sedimentation environments are reconstructed from the results of study of the Ilya floodplain sediments (Alkhanai National Park). At the beginning of the Subboreal period, the regional climate became more arid, which led to a significant increase in steppe species communities in the landscapes. Intense climate aridization also took place at the beginning and at the end of the Subatlantic period of the Holocene. The alluvial-sedimentation rate increased during the weakening of aridization and decreased during cooling and the intensification of aridization. The obtained regional data are compared with data on the adjacent areas and the global climatic changes in the Northern Hemisphere.     

湘东南及湘粤赣边区中生代地质构造发展框架的厘定

湘东南及湘粤赣边区属南岭中段北部,是研究华南中生代构造背景与演化的良好窗口.通过同位素年代学和地质地球化学研究,确定了区内中生代3个时代花岗岩的时限与构造环境,并结合对区内中生代不同时代陆相盆地和火山岩的性质与形成机制,构造变形和成矿作用的期次与特征等研究,厘定出研究区中生代地质事件序列的框架.从早至晚分为早三叠世-中三叠世早期前造山阶段（Ⅰ）、中三叠世后期-中侏罗世初陆内造山阶段（Ⅱ）、中侏罗世早期-晚侏罗世后造山阶段（Ⅲ）、白垩纪板内裂谷阶段（Ⅳ）等4个大的地质发展阶段,其中陆内造山阶段（Ⅱ）进一步划分为4个亚阶段（Ⅱ1～Ⅱ4）.前造山阶段（Ⅰ）为稳定海相沉积阶段.中三叠世后期（Ⅱ1）为陆内俯冲汇聚高峰期,形成大量NNE向为主的逆冲断裂与褶皱,并使陆壳增厚.中三叠世末-晚三叠世后期（Ⅱ2）挤压相对松弛,大量壳源花岗岩浆形成并侵位（233～210Ma）.晚三叠世末-早侏罗世（Ⅱ3）为同造山上隆伸展环境,形成NNE向裂陷含煤盆地,高Na低K的拉斑玄武岩喷发.中侏罗世初期（Ⅱ4）为NNE向左旋汇聚走滑造山,发育逆冲断裂且前期裂陷盆地反转成为山前冲断收缩盆地.中侏罗世早期-晚侏罗世后造山阶段（Ⅲ）,大量后造山花岗岩侵位（174～135Ma）,同时发生大规模成矿作用;侏罗纪末期发生过短暂的挤压事件.白垩纪板内裂谷阶段（Ⅳ）形成盆-岭构造和变质核杂岩构造、双峰式火山岩和次火山岩、酸性岩脉及具有AA型花岗岩特征的上堡小型岩体等组合.文章最后就华南地区燕山早期构造环境和中生代不同阶段构造-岩浆活动特征的形成机制等问题进行了讨论.     

Long-term hydrological,biogeochemical, and climatological data from Walker Branch Watershed,East Tennessee,USA

In 1967, the original Walker Branch Watershed (WBW) project was established to study elemental cycling and mass balances in a relatively unimpacted watershed. Over the next 50+ years, findings from additional experimental studies and long-term observations on WBW advanced understanding of catchment hydrology, biogeochemistry, and ecology and established WBW as a seminal site for catchment science. The 97.5-ha WBW is located in East Tennessee, USA, on the U.S. Department of Energy's Oak Ridge Reservation. Vegetation on the watershed is characteristic of an eastern deciduous, second-growth forest. The watershed is divided into two subcatchments: the West Fork (38.4 ha) and the East Fork (59.1 ha). Headwater streams draining these subcatchments are fed by multiple springs, and thus flow is perennial. Stream water is high in base cations due to weathering of dolomite bedrock and nutrient concentrations are low. Long-term observations of climate, hydrology, and biogeochemistry include daily (1969–2014) and 15-min (1994–2014) stream discharge and annual runoff (1969–2014); hourly, daily, and annual rainfall (1969–2012); daily climate and soil temperature (1993–2010); and weekly stream water chemistry (1989–2013). These long-term datasets are publicly available on the WBW website (https://walkerbranch.ornl.gov/long-term-data/ ). While collection of these data has ceased, related long-term measurements continue through the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON), where WBW is the core terrestrial and aquatic site in the Appalachian and Cumberland Plateau region (NEON's Domain 7) of the United States. These long-term datasets have been and will continue to be important in evaluating the influence of climatic and environmental drivers on catchment processes.     

Late Quaternary climate and environmental change derived from glacial deposits in the Parlung Zangbo Valley,southeastern Tibetan Plateau

ABSTRACT

This study investigated the late Quaternary climate and environmental characteristics of two tributary valleys (Xingmu and Depu Valleys) in the Parlung Zangbo Valley, southeastern Tibetan Plateau. Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) samples collected from moraines at the mouth of Xingmu Valley produce a wide age range from 13.9 ka to 76 ka. The ages measured from the lenticular sand are consistent with the relative geomorphic sequence of the landforms. Lenticular sand layers below the moraine were dated to 37.9 ka and 44.7 ka, indicating that fluvial processes were likely dominant in the valley during Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 3. The outer moraine ridges at the valley mouth were formed during 13.9 ka and 26.5 ka, corresponding to MIS2. At Depu Valley, OSL samples from two sets of lateral and terminal moraines close to the modern glacier, provide ages from 1.4 ka to 29.2 ka. The paleosol layer widely developed during 2.6 cal ka BP and 8.7 cal ka BP in the study area, reflecting a relatively warm condition during the mid-Holocene.     

桂东南新地-安平地区辉长岩的年代学、地球化学特征及其地质意义

桂东南新地-安平地区的辉长岩体主要沿着岑溪-梧州深大断裂带两侧分布,与早古生代地层或震旦纪地层呈侵入接触关系,并被白垩纪地层覆盖。岩相学研究表明,其主体岩性以角闪辉长岩和紫苏角闪辉长岩为主,还有少量的含长辉石岩、辉长闪长岩和辉绿(玢)岩。LA-MC-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb定年结果显示,角闪辉长岩的形成年龄为249.1±2.8 Ma(MSWD=0.44),相当于早三叠世。地球化学特征研究表明,这些辉长岩体具有较低MgO(2.13%~3.59%)和较高Fe_2O_3T(16.42%~33.53%)、P_2O_5(0.58%~1.18%)和TiO_2(1.52%~2.31%)的特征;岩体相对富集大离子亲石元素(LILE,如Ba、Rb和U),而Nb-Ta、Zr-Hf和Ti等高场强元素相对亏损,显示出与俯冲带有关的岛弧岩浆岩相似的地球化学特征,表明其可能形成于与俯冲-消减作用有关的活动大陆边缘(大陆弧)环境。结合区域地质特征分析认为,扬子板块和华夏板块结合带(称之为钦-杭结合带)西南段有古生代洋盆的存在,该洋盆一直延续至中三叠世的印支运动才最终闭合,本区广泛发育的大陆弧型辉长岩应为该洋盆发生俯冲-消减作用的地质记录。     

浙江南部丽水盆地地层时代及构造演化

位于浙江南部的丽水盆地是华南东部典型的白垩纪火山岩盆地。对盆地中5个凝灰岩夹层样品进行了锆石LA-MC-ICPMS U-Pb同位素年代学分析,结果给出了(114±1)Ma,(114±2)Ma,(118±1)Ma,(122±1)Ma和(112±1)Ma的主体谐和年龄。结合区域沉积-构造接触关系,本文将盆地内火山-沉积序列分为上、下2个组合:下火山-沉积组合包括馆头组和朝川组,其形成时代在124~112 Ma;上火山-沉积组合以方岩组为代表,其时代在104~91 Ma。这两套岩石组合的形成记录了盆地两期伸展断陷事件。结合区域构造变形和古构造应力场反演结果,本文认为丽水盆地早白垩世经历了两个伸展-挤压旋回的构造演化过程,每一旋回的古构造应力场均以NW-SE伸展和NWSE挤压应力场的交替演化为特征。NW-SE伸展事件控制了盆地的初始张开、断陷和沉积物充填作用,其产生的动力背景与古太平洋板块俯冲过程中因俯冲板片后撤(roll-back)诱发的弧后扩张作用有关。NW-SE挤压事件导致盆地的构造反转,下白垩统普遍褶皱,并形成区域角度不整合面,其形成与俯冲板片的深部几何学变化或大陆碰撞的远程效应有关。丽水盆地伸展-挤压事件的幕式交替反映了弧后扩张过程中复杂的深部动力学背景。