Cenozoic Plate interaction of the Australia and Philippine Sea Plates: “hit-and-run” tectonics     

Manuel Pubellier  Jason Ali  Christophe Monnier 《Tectonophysics》2003,363(3-4):181-199

Recent studies in northwest New Guinea have shown the presence of at least two marginal basins of different age, both of which formed in back-arc settings. The older basin opened between the Middle Jurassic and Early Cretaceous, a remnant of which is now preserved as the New Guinea Ophiolite. Its obduction started at 40 Ma and it was finally emplaced on the Australian margin at 30 Ma. The younger basin was active during the Oligocene to Middle Miocene and was obducted in the Early Pliocene. Studies of the western edge of the Philippine Sea also reveal an important deformation of the Philippine arc in the Oligocene, which hitherto has remained unexplained. Using information from these systems, paleomagnetic results, kinematic reconstructions and geochemistry of the supra-subduction ophiolite, we present a plate model to explain the region's Eo–Oligocene development. We suggest that an extensive portion of oceanic crust extended the Australian Plate a considerable distance north of the Australian Craton. As Australia began its steady 7–8 cm/year northward drift in the Early Eocene, this lithosphere was subducted. Thus, the portion of the Philippine Sea Plate carrying the Taiwan–Philippine Arc to its present site may have actually been in contact with the ophiolite now in New Guinea and obduction led to deformation of the Philippine Sea Plate itself. Neogene Plate kinematics transported the deformed belt in contact with the Sunda block in the Late Miocene and Pliocene. This interpretation has implications for the origin for the Philippine Sea Plate and the potential incorporation of continental fragments against its boundaries.  相似文献   

Palynological Evidence for Climatic Change and Human Activity during the Holocene on Minorca (Balearic Islands)     

Errikarta-Imanol Yll  Ramon Perez-Obiol  Jose Pantaleon-Cano  Joan Maria Roure 《Quaternary Research》1997,48(3):339-347

Four pollen diagrams from Minorca (Balearic Islands) have been correlated with other previously studied sequences from Majorca and Minorca to define a Holocene landscape sequence for the region from 8000 yr B.P. to the present. The lower part of the pollen diagrams reflects a climatic phase with more rain and less-marked seasonality than today. Significant quantities ofCorylus, Buxus,and mesophilous taxa are found. In the middle part, between 5000 and 4000 yr B.P., a strong change is recorded in composition and structure of the vegetational landscape, with vegetation appearing that was adapted to Mediterranean conditions. This episode coincided with the first human colonization of the island and also with a widespread climatic change in the western Mediterranean region. The change in taxa was complex and some sclerophyllous taxa suchOleaplayed an important role in the transformation of the landscape physiognomy from the mid-Holocene until the present. Although human activities have removed much of the Mediterranean vegetation on the Balearic Islands, it seems clear that the changes have been brought about, in part, by increasing dryness.  相似文献   

The Influence of Geomorphologic Heritage on Present Nival Erosion: Peñalara, Spain     

David Palacios  & Manuel García Sánchez-Colomer 《Geografiska Annaler: Series A, Physical Geography》1997,79(1-2):25-40

This article examines how snow plays a role in current erosive processes in a high mountain area (1800—2400 m a.s.l.) known as Peñalara, located in Spain's Central Range (40°50' N; 3°58' W). The hypothesis maintains that snow becomes an important erosive factor when it accumulates over sedimentary or weathered materials, therefore geomorphological heritage is a key factor in nival erosion. To test this hypothesis, the authors identified the landforms in the study area and determined their relative ages by weathering and lichenometry ( Rizocarpon geographicum ag. ), differentiating between preglacial, glacial (Recent Pleistocene) and postglacial (Holocene) forms. The information was used to plot a reticulate pattern of observation sites for the study area. Snow depth and the movement of selected blocks at each site were recorded from October 1991 to June 1995. The relationship between late-lying snowpatches, geomorphological heritage and current erosive processes was determined. Between 1800 and 2000 m a.s.l., there is an indirect relationship between snowpatches and predominant processes (stream incision and gelifluction) on terminal moraines. Between 2000 and 2200 m, direct action is present where there are late-laying snowpatches on lateral moraines and some glacial steps. Between 2200 and 2400 m, gelifraction and gravity processes are also in direct relation to snowpatches.  相似文献   

Fractals in engineering geology preface     

Luis E. Vallejo 《Engineering Geology》1997,48(3-4):159-160

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Foliation fields and 3D cartography in geology: Principles of a method based on potential interpolation   总被引：4，自引：0，他引：4  

Christian Lajaunie  Gabriel Courrioux  Laurent Manuel 《Mathematical Geology》1997,29(4):571-584

A modeling method that takes into account known points on a geological interface and plane orientation data such as stratification or foliation planes is described and tested. The orientations data do not necessarily belong to one of the interfaces but are assumed to sample the main anisotropy of a geological formation as in current geological situations. The problem is to determine the surfaces which pass through the known points on interfaces and which are compatible with the orientation data. The method is based on the interpolation of a scalar field defined in the space the gradient in which is orthogonal to the orientations, given that some points have the same but unknown scalar value (points of the same interface), and that scalar gradient is known on the other points (foliations). The modeled interfaces are represented as isovalues of the interpolated field. Preliminary two-dimensional tests carried-out with different covariance models demonstrate the validity of the method, which is easily transposable in three dimensions.  相似文献   

The impact of hydrological changes on travertine deposits related to thermal springs in the Pamukkale area (SW Turkey)   总被引：2，自引：0，他引：2  

Dilsiz  Cüneyt  Marques  José Manuel  Carreira  Paula Maria Mimo 《Environmental Geology》2004,45(6):808-817

Pamukkale thermal waters (35 °C), exhibiting calcium-bicarbonate-sulfate composition and high carbon dioxide concentration, are of a predominantly meteoric origin. The meteoric fluid, circulating through faults and fractures, is heated by magmatic intrusions at great depth, and ascends from deep reservoirs to the surface. Mixing with relatively cold groundwater in the near surface zone promotes different saturation conditions with respect to calcium carbonate that later precipitates at depth and/or the surface. Dissolution-deposition processes of calcium carbonate both at surface and depth environments may help to reconstruct past climate direction in the field. During wet climate conditions a high-rate of calcium carbonate accumulation would be expected to occur at the surface because thermal fluid would be under-saturated with respect to calcium carbonate at depth because of a relatively higher mixing ratio with cold groundwater. During dry climate conditions the thermal fluid would be super-saturated at depth because of the highly acidic environment. Hydrometeorological studies reveal that the annual precipitation at the Pamukkale hydrothermal field tends to decrease with time. This climatic change in the area was also detected from geological records. While humid climate conditions prevailed during the late Quaternary, the area has recently been affected by arid/semi-arid climate conditions, followed by some episodic transitions. This study has shown how the system has possibly reacted to different climate conditions since antiquity.  相似文献   

Cuyania: An Exotic Block to Gondwana — Introduction     

Graciela I. Vujovich  Luis A.D. Fernandes  Victor A. Ramos 《Gondwana Research》2004,7(4):1005-1007

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Induced seismicity around the Tous New Dam (Spain)   总被引：2，自引：0，他引：2  

Federico Torcal  Inmaculada Serrano  Jens Havskov  José Luis Utrillas  José Valero 《Geophysical Journal International》2005,160(1):144-160

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Estimate of differential stress in the upper crust from variations in topography and strike along the San Andreas fault   总被引：3，自引：0，他引：3  

Yuri Fialko  Luis Rivera  Hiroo Kanamori 《Geophysical Journal International》2005,160(2):527-532

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An approach for quantifying geomorphological impacts for EIA of transportation infrastructures: a case study in northern Spain   总被引：2，自引：0，他引：2  

Jaime Bonachea  Viola Maria Bruschi  Juan Remondo  Alberto Gonzlez-Díez  Luis Salas  Jurjen Bertens  Antonio Cendrero  Csar Otero  Cecilia Giusti  Andrea Fabbri  Jos Ramn Gonzlez-Lastra  Jos María Aramburu 《Geomorphology》2005,66(1-4):95

A methodological proposal for the assessment of impacts due to linear infrastructures such as motorways, railways, etc. is presented. The approach proposed includes a series of specific issues to be addressed for each geomorphological feature analysed—both ‘static’ and ‘dynamic’—as well as a series of steps to be followed in the process.Geomorphic characteristics potentially affected were initially identified on the basis of a conceptual activities/impacts model that helps to single out geomorphic impacts related to environmental concerns for the area. The following issues were addressed for each individual impact: nature of potential effects; indicators that can be used to measure impacts; criteria of ‘geomorphologic performance’; procedure for measurement/prediction of changes; translation of geomorphologic impacts into significant terms from the viewpoint of human concerns; possible mitigation and/or compensation measures.The procedure has been applied to a case study corresponding to a new motorway in the Basque Country, northern Spain. Geomorphological impacts considered in this analysis included: (1) consumable resources; (2) sites of geomorphological interest; (3) land units with high potential for use, high productivity or value for conservation; (4) visual landscape; (5) slope instability processes. The procedure has been designed for implementation in a Geographic Information System (GIS) environment. Details are given on the application of the method to each individual impact analysed and results are presented in both numerical and map form.Impacts assessed were initially expressed by means of heterogeneous magnitudes, depending on the geomorphological feature considered. Those geomorphological impacts were then translated into significant terms and homogeneous magnitudes. Integration was carried out on the basis of impact values thus obtained. Final integrated results were also expressed in numerical and map form.The method proposed enables comparison of alternatives as well as ‘prediction’ and assessment of impacts in terms directly related to geomorphic characteristics. It also facilitates the expression of those impacts in terms that allow integration with other types of environmental impacts.  相似文献