Bathymetry of the Tonga Trench and Forearc: a map series

Four new bathymetric maps of the Tonga Trench and forearc between 14 °S and 27 °S display the important morphologic and structural features of this dynamic convergent margin. The maps document a number of important geologic features of the margin. Major normal faults and fault lineaments on the Tonga platform can be traced along and across the upper trench slope. Numerous submarine canyons incised in the landward slope of the trench mark the pathways of sediment transport from the platform to mid- and lower-slope basins. Discontinuities in the trench axis and changes in the morphology of the landward slope can be clearly documented and may be associated with the passage and subduction of the Louisville Ridge and other structures on the subducting Pacific Plate. Changes in the morphology of the forearc as convergence changes from normal in the south to highly-oblique in the north are clearly documented. The bathymetric compilations, gridded at 500- and 200-m resolutions and extending along 500 km of the landward trench slope and axis, provide complete coverage of the outer forearc from the latitude of the Louisville Ridge-Tonga Trench collision to the northern terminus of the Tonga Ridge. These maps should serve as a valuable reference for other sea-going programs in the region, particularly the Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) and the National Science Foundation MARGINS initiative.     

Two-dimensional power series solution for non-axisymmetrical transport in a radially convergent tracer test with scale-dependent dispersion

It has been known for many years that dispersivity increases with solute travel distance in a subsurface environment. The increase of dispersivity with solute travel distance results from the significant variation of hydraulic properties of heterogeneous media and was identified in the literature as scale-dependent dispersion. This study presents an analytical solution for describing two-dimensional non-axisymmetrical solute transport in a radially convergent flow tracer test with scale-dependent dispersion. The power series technique coupling with the Laplace and finite Fourier cosine transform has been applied to yield the analytical solution to the two-dimensional, scale-dependent advection–dispersion equation in cylindrical coordinates with variable-dependent coefficients. Comparison between the breakthrough curves of the power series solution and the numerical solutions shows excellent agreement at different observation points and for various ranges of scale-related transport parameters of interest. The developed power series solution facilitates fast prediction of the breakthrough curves at any observation point.     

Ar/Ar thermochronologic constraints on deformation, metamorphism and cooling/exhumation of a Mesozoic accretionary wedge, Otago Schist, New Zealand

Structural thickening of the Torlesse accretionary wedge via juxtaposition of arc-derived greywackes (Caples Terrane) and quartzo-feldspathic greywackes (Torlesse Terrane) at 120 Ma formed a belt of schist (Otago Schist) with distinct mica fabrics defining (i) schistosity, (ii) transposition layering and (iii) crenulation cleavage. Thirty-five ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar step-heating experiments on these micas and whole rock micaceous fabrics from the Otago Schist have shown that the main metamorphism and deformation occurred between 160 and 140 Ma (recorded in the low grade flanks) through 120 Ma (shear zone deformation). This was followed either by very gradual cooling or no cooling until about 110 Ma, with some form of extensional (tectonic) exhumation and cooling of the high-grade metamorphic core between 109 and 100 Ma. Major shear zones separating the low-grade and high-grade parts of the schist define regions of separate and distinct apparent age groupings that underwent different thermo-tectonic histories. Apparent ages on the low-grade north flank (hanging wall to the Hyde-Macraes and Rise and Shine Shear Zones) range from 145 to 159 Ma (n=8), whereas on the low-grade south flank (hanging wall to the Remarkables Shear Zone or Caples Terrane) range from 144 to 156 Ma (n=5). Most of these samples show complex age spectra caused by mixing between radiogenic argon released from neocrystalline metamorphic mica and lesser detrital mica. Several of the hanging wall samples with ages of 144–147 Ma show no evidence for detrital contamination in thin section or in the form of the age spectra. Apparent ages from the high-grade metamorphic core (garnet–biotite–albite zone) range from 131 to 106 Ma (n=13) with a strong grouping 113–109 Ma (n=7) in the immediate footwall to the major Remarkables Shear Zone. Most of the age spectra from within the core of the schist belt yield complex age spectra that we interpret to be the result of prolonged residence within the argon partial retention interval for white mica (430–330 °C). Samples with apparent ages of about 110–109 Ma tend to give concordant plateaux suggesting more rapid cooling. The youngest and most disturbed age spectra come from within the ‘Alpine chlorite overprint’ zone where samples with strong development of crenulation cleavage gave ages 85–107 and 101 Ma, due to partial resetting during retrogression. The bounding Remarkables Shear zone shows resetting effects due to dynamic recrystallization with apparent ages of 127–122 Ma, whereas overprinting shear zones within the core of the schist show apparent ages of 112–109 and 106 Ma. These data when linked with extensional exhumation of high-grade rocks in other parts of New Zealand indicate that the East Gondwana margin underwent significant extension in the 110–90 Ma period.     

塔木察格盆地南贝尔凹陷东次凹构造转换带与油气成藏关系

塔木察格盆地位于蒙古国东部,与中国的海拉尔盆地同属一个盆地,为叠置于兴蒙造山带之上的拉张一挤压型中新生代陆相断陷盆地.南贝尔凹陷位于海拉尔一塔木察格盆地中部断陷带的中部,面积为3 200 km2.南贝尔凹陷东次凹南一北洼槽构造转换带位于南贝尔凹陷东次凹中部,为反向聚敛叠覆型构造转换带,是重要的含油气构造带.转换带对油气...     

剥蚀型汇聚板块边缘大地震成因机理研究:来自国际综合大洋钻探344航次的报告

旨在探究剥蚀型汇聚板块边缘大地震成因机理的国际综合大洋钻探(IODP)344航次于2012年10月23日至12月11日在中美洲地震频发的哥斯达黎加西部海域实施钻探。介绍了钻探区域的大地构造特征、该航次的主要科学目标、执行情况、所取得的初步成果以及对航次后研究工作的展望等。航次后更多深入细致的研究工作正在进行中,所取得的研究成果将集中在2014年南京召开的航次后学术研讨会上汇报、交流、集成、总结,从而提升对剥蚀型汇聚板块边缘大地震起源机理的认识。     

Divergent and convergent margins in the North-Western alps confrontation to actualistic models

Abstract

Divergent and convergent margins actualistic models arc reviewed and applied to the history of the western Alps. Tethyan rifting history and geometry are analyzed : (he northern European margin is considered as an upper plate whereas the southern Apulian margin is a lower plate; the Bréche basin is regarded as the former break-away trough; the internal Bríançonnais domain represents the northern rift shoulder whilst the more external domains are regarded as the infill of a complex rim basin locally affected by important extension (Valaisan and Vocontian trough).

The Schistes lustres and ophioliles of the Tsaté nappe are compared to an accretionary prism : the imbrication of this nappe elements is regarded as a direct consequence of the accretionary phenomena already active in early Cretaceous; the Gels/Simme complex could originate from a more internal part of the accretionary prism. Some eclogitic basements represent the former Apulian margin substratum (Sesia) others (Mont-Rose) are interpreted as the former edge of the European margin. The history of the closing Tethyan domain is analyzed and the remaining problems concerning the cinematics, the presence/absence of a volcanic arc and the eoalpine melamorphism are discussed.     

汇聚造山带变质矿物冠状反应边及生长环带

哀牢山、澜沧江、高黎贡山、念青唐古拉山等汇聚造山带变质岩中,发现一些标型或特征变质矿物间形成冠状反应边或生长环带。它们是变质过程的真实记录,反映了变形变质环境条件的不断变化,完整或直观地表现了不同地体或构造带PTt轨迹特征。可帮助恢复汇聚造山带中不同地体构造属性,为研究造山带PTtD轨迹和PTDX轨迹,提供准确资料。可从另一侧面了解汇聚造山带的演化史。     

深海钻探与南海

本文从南海北部陆缘，南部陆缘和南海中央海盆的地质构造与地球物理主要特下及尚未解决的重要地质问题来阐述在南海进行深海钻探的意义。南海北部陆缘是离散型大陆边缘，在陆壳与洋壳之间的磁静区是两者的过渡区。对它的研究直接关系到南海的形成演化与沉积盆地的成因，深海钻探需要解决的主要问题是了解磁静区基底下的物质是减薄的过渡壳还是古洋壳。地海南部南缘与北部陆缘不同，是聚敛型大陆边缘，它的构造与地球物理场特征与北部     

Hot Air: University Climate Action Plans and Disarticulated Federalism

Individual states and academic institutions have taken leadership on climate change policy in the United States. Without unified national policy, a patchwork of state policies fosters geographic variation among climate action plans (CAPs) for American College and Universities Presidents’ Climate Commitment signatories. Correlation among indexes rating state climate policy and signatory CAPs and spatial analysis indicate that states with aggressive climate policy foster aggressive policy within their academies. Reflection on the national scale suggests that although state policies help combat climate change, they could be more significant if articulated within a more comprehensive national policy.