Indicators of the Anthropocene: is there a case for conservation?     

Hannah Jordan  Colin Prosser 《Geology Today》2014,30(2):61-66

The Earth's atmosphere, biosphere and lithosphere are increasingly being modified by human activity. Given this anthropogenic influence on the natural environment, the case for recognizing an Anthropocene Epoch has recently been made and there is ongoing debate as to whether, and how, to formally characterize and define such an epoch. As a contribution to this debate, this article explores whether or not the landscapes, deposits, landforms and key marker horizons that may be used to characterize and define an Anthropocene Epoch could, and should, be identified and conserved in the same manner as other parts of the geological succession. Anthropogenic features pose a conservation challenge, however, as they often cross cut existing conservation frameworks which tend to focus on the natural, historic or cultural environment. Developing a coherent approach to the conservation of the indicators of an Anthropocene Epoch would, therefore, require an integrated system of describing, auditing and designating features for conservation. A major benefit of such an approach would be the opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration between the wide range of researchers interested or involved in studying and conserving the record of anthropogenic activity.  相似文献   

The 18-cm light curves of the luminous radio supernova candidates in Arp 220     

E. Rovilos  P. J. Diamond  C. J. Lonsdale  H. E. Smith  C. J. Lonsdale 《Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society》2005,359(3):827-834

We present multi-epoch observations of Arp 220 with the VLBA and focus on the continuum emission from the luminous radio supernovae (RSNe) whose 1.6-GHz light curves are shown. The supernovae seem to be generally stable or only slowly decaying in flux with time, a result which deviates from the model of Type IIn RSNe. Hints of new eruptions confirm that they are indeed new sources and not supernova remnants, which could be several hundred years old. The slow decay of the sources for which monitoring data were available forces us to reconsider the starburst model for Arp 220 and adopt a more modest value of 0.7 yr⁻¹ for the supernova rate based on these new eruptions. The starburst efficiency should also be modified accordingly which gives rise to the issue of an active nucleus once more. The question is raised whether it is the starburst which creates this active nucleus, something which could affect the evolution of starburst galaxies as a group.  相似文献   

Self-diffusion of water and its dependence on temperature and ionic strength in highly compacted montmorillonite, illite and kaolinite     

Ftima Gonzlez Snchez  Luc R. Van Loon  Thomas Gimmi  Andreas Jakob  Martin A. Glaus  Larryn W. Diamond 《Applied Geochemistry》2008,23(12):3840-3851

The effect of temperature and ionic strength on the diffusion of HTO parallel to the direction of compaction through 5 highly compacted clay minerals (bulk dry density, ρ_b,d = 1.90 ± 0.05 Mg/m³), namely montmorillonite (Na- and Ca-form), illite (Na- and Ca-form), and kaolinite, was studied. The diffusion experiments were carried out at temperatures between 0 °C and 60 °C and at ionic strengths of 0.01 M and 1 M NaCl for the Na-form clays and kaolinite, and of 0.005 M and 0.5 M CaCl₂ for the Ca-form. The ionic strength had an insignificant influence on the values of the effective diffusion coefficient (variation by less than 10%) for the clays under study at this degree of compaction. The effective diffusion coefficients followed the order Na-montmorillonite < Ca-montmorillonite < Ca-illite < Na-illite  kaolinite. It is thought that the differences between Na- and Ca-montmorillonite originate from the larger size particles, and thus the lower tortuosity of the latter; whereas the differences between Na- and Ca-illite are related to the different degree of solvation of the Na and Ca cations. The activation energies were successfully calculated using the Arrhenius law. Swelling clays (Na- and Ca-montmorillonite) had slightly larger activation energy values (20 kJ/mol) compared to bulk water (17 kJ/mol); Ca-illite (16 kJ/mol), Na-illite (13 kJ/mol) and kaolinite (14.4 kJ/mol) lower values than that of bulk water. The low activation energies of the last three clays may be related to weaker H-bonds between water and the clay surfaces compared to those in bulk water.  相似文献   

Isoprene and Its Oxidation Products Methyl Vinyl Ketone, Methacrolein, and Isoprene Related Peroxides Measured Online over the Tropical Rain Forest of Surinam in March 1998   总被引：2，自引：0，他引：2  

C. Warneke  R. Holzinger  A. Hansel  A. Jordan  W. Lindinger  U. Pöschl  J. Williams  P. Hoor  H. Fischer  P. J. Crutzen  H. A. Scheeren  J. Lelieveld 《Journal of Atmospheric Chemistry》2001,38(2):167-185

Airborne measurements of volatile organic compounds (VOC) were performed overthe tropical rainforest in Surinam (0–12 km altitude,2°–7° N, 54°–58° W) using the proton transferreaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) technique, which allows online monitoringof compounds like isoprene, its oxidation products methyl vinyl ketone,methacrolein, tentatively identified hydroxy-isoprene-hydroperoxides, andseveral other organic compounds. Isoprene volume mixing ratios (VMR) variedfrom below the detection limit at the highest altitudes to about 7 nmol/molin the planetary boundary layer shortly before sunset. Correlations betweenisoprene and its product compounds were made for different times of day andaltitudes, with the isoprene-hydroperoxides showing the highest correlation.Model calculated mixing ratios of the isoprene oxidation products using adetailed hydrocarbon oxidation mechanism, as well as the intercomparisonmeasurement with air samples collected during the flights in canisters andlater analysed with a GC-FID, showed good agreement with the PTR-MSmeasurements, in particular at the higher mixing ratios.Low OH concentrations in the range of 1–3 × 10⁵molecules cm^-3 averaged over 24 hours were calculated due to lossof OH and HO₂ in the isoprene oxidation chain, thereby stronglyenhancing the lifetime of gases in the forest boundary layer.  相似文献   

Nutrient flux in a landscape: Effects of coastal land use and terrestrial community mosaic on nutrient transport to coastal waters   总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1  

David L. Correll  Thomas E. Jordan  Donald E. Weller 《Estuaries and Coasts》1992,15(4):431-442

Long-term interdisciplinary studies of the Rhode River estuary and its watershed in the mid-Atlantic coastal plain of North America have measured fluxes of nitrogen and phosphorus fractions through the hydrologically-linked ecosystems of this landscape. These ecosystems are upland forest, cropland, and pasture; streamside riparian forests; floodplain swamps; tidal brackish marshes and mudflats; and an estuarine embayment. Croplands discharged far more nitrogen per hectare in runoff than did forests and pastures. However, riparian deciduous hardwood forest bordering the cropland removed over 80 percent of the nitrate and total phosphorus in overland flows and about 85 percent of the nitrate in shallow groundwater drainage from cropland. Nevertheless, nutrient discharges from riparian forests downslope from croplands still exceeded discharges from pastures and other forests. The atomic ratio of nitrogen to phosphorus discharged from the watersheds into the estuary was about 9 for total nutrients and 6 for inorganic nutrient fractions. Such a low N:P ratio would promote nitrogen rather than phosphorus limitation of phytoplankton growth in the estuary. Estuarine tidal marshes trapped particulate nutrients and released dissolved nutrients. Subtidal mudflats in the upper estuary trapped particulate P, released dissolved phosphate, and consumed nitrate. This resulted in a decrease in the ratio of dissolved inorganic N:P in the estuary. However, the upper estuary was a major sink for total phosphorus due to sediment accretion in the subtidal area. Bulk precipitation accounted for 31 percent of the total nongaseous nitrogen influx to the landscape, while farming accounted for 69 percent. Forty-six percent of the total non-gaseous nitrogen influx was removed as farm products, 53 percent either accumulated in the watershed or was lost in gaseous forms, and 1 percent entered the Rhode River. Of the total phosphorus influx to the landscape, 7 percent was from bulk precipitation and 93 percent was from farming. Forty-five percent of the total phosphorus influx was removed as farm products, 48 percent accumulated in the watershed, and 7 percent entered the Rhode River. These nitrogen and phosphorus discharges into the Rhode River, although a small fraction of total loadings to the watershed, were large enough to cause seriously overenriched conditions in the upper estuary.  相似文献   

Generalized seismological data functionals   总被引：3，自引：0，他引：3  

Lind S. Gee  Thomas H. Jordan 《Geophysical Journal International》1992,111(2):363-390

  相似文献   

INTERPRETING THE LARGE LIMB ERUPTION OF JULY 9, 1982     

Jordan  Stuart  Garcia  Adriana  Bumba  Vaclav 《Solar physics》1997,173(2):359-376

A time series of K3 spectroheliograms taken at the Coimbra Observatory exhibits an erupting loop on the east limb on July 9, 1982 in active region NOAA 3804. The Goddard SMM Hard X-Ray Burst Spectrometer (HXRBS) observations taken during this period reveal a hard X-ray flare occurring just before the loop eruption is observed, and SMS-GOES soft X-ray observations reveal a strong long-duration event (LDE) following the impulsive phase of the flare. A Solwind coronagram exhibits a powerful coronal mass ejection (CME) associated with the erupting loop. H flare and prominence observations as well as centimeter and decimeter radio observations of the event are also reviewed. A large, north–south-oriented quiescent prominence reported within the upper part of the CME expansion region may play a role in the eruption as well. The spatial and temporal correlations among these observations are examined in the light of two different current models for prominence eruption and CME activation: (1) The CME is triggered by the observed hard X-ray impulsive flare. (2) The CME is not triggered by a flare, and the observed soft X-ray flare is an LDE due to reconnection within the CME bubble. It is concluded that this event is probably of a mixed type that combines characteristics of models (1) and (2). The July 9 event is then compared to three other energetic CME and flare eruptions associated with the same active-region complex, all occurring in the period July 9 through September 4, 1982. It is noted that these four energetic events coincide with the final evolutionary phase of a long-lasting active-region complex, which is discussed in a companion paper (Bumba, Garcia, and Jordan, 1997). The paper concludes by addressing the solar flare myth controversy in the light of this work.  相似文献   

Balanced Sediment Fluxes in Southern California’s Mediterranean-Climate Zone Salt Marshes   总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1  

Jordan A. Rosencranz  Neil K. Ganju  Richard F. Ambrose  Sandra M. Brosnahan  Patrick J. Dickhudt  Glenn R. Guntenspergen  Glen M. MacDonald  John Y. Takekawa  Karen M. Thorne 《Estuaries and Coasts》2016,39(4):1035-1049

Salt marsh elevation and geomorphic stability depends on mineral sedimentation. Many Mediterranean-climate salt marshes along southern California, USA coast import sediment during El Niño storm events, but sediment fluxes and mechanisms during dry weather are potentially important for marsh stability. We calculated tidal creek sediment fluxes within a highly modified, sediment-starved, 1.5-km² salt marsh (Seal Beach) and a less modified 1-km² marsh (Mugu) with fluvial sediment supply. We measured salt marsh plain suspended sediment concentration and vertical accretion using single stage samplers and marker horizons. At Seal Beach, a 2014 storm yielded 39 and 28 g/s mean sediment fluxes and imported 12,000 and 8800 kg in a western and eastern channel. Western channel storm imports offset 8700 kg exported during 2 months of dry weather, while eastern channel storm imports augmented 9200 kg imported during dry weather. During the storm at Mugu, suspended sediment concentrations on the marsh plain increased by a factor of four; accretion was 1–2 mm near creek levees. An exceptionally high tide sequence yielded 4.4 g/s mean sediment flux, importing 1700 kg: 20 % of Mugu’s dry weather fluxes. Overall, low sediment fluxes were observed, suggesting that these salt marshes are geomorphically stable during dry weather conditions. Results suggest storms and high lunar tides may play large roles, importing sediment and maintaining dry weather sediment flux balances for southern California salt marshes. However, under future climate change and sea level rise scenarios, results suggest that balanced sediment fluxes lead to marsh elevational instability based on estimated mineral sediment deficits.  相似文献   

Reorganisation of the Triassic stratigraphic nomenclature of northern Switzerland: overview and the new Dinkelberg,Kaiseraugst and Zeglingen formations     

Peter Jordan 《Swiss Journal of Geoscience》2016,109(2):241-255

  相似文献   

Light and dark soils at the apollo 16 landing site     

D. Heymann  J. R. Walton  J. L. Jordan  S. Lakatos  A. Yaniv 《Earth, Moon, and Planets》1975,13(1-3):81-110

On the basis of inert gas systematics alone, the soilsnow near the surface at the Apollo 16 landing site can be divided into three major groups: Group I (North Ray Crater Soils), Group II (Light Soils), and Group III (Dark Soils). Only five soils do not fit this scheme. The inert gas-based classification is correlated with the chemistry of the soils. Group I soils are relatively poor in K, Fe, Ti and Zn, compared to Group II and III soils. The classification is also correlated with reflectivity. Group I and II soils are generally the light soils in the landing area, while the Group III soils are the dark soils. The groups are not randomly distributed in the landing area. Group I soils occur only at stations 11 and 13 on the ejecta blanket of North Ray Crater. Group II soils occur abundantly at stations 1 and 2, and in spots on Stone Mountain. Group III soils are abundant on Stone Mountain and at station 10. We suggest here that Group I soils are principally derived from the light friable unit, one of the three units inside North Ray Crater, as described by Ulrich. We suggest that Group II soils are mainly derived from the light matrix breccia unit. Group III soils are mixtures of materials from all three units. We conclude that soils with the properties of Group III soils have been at the surface continuously for long times. However, going backwards in time, these soils probably had increasingly larger (Ar⁴⁰/Ar³⁶)t ratios. The ejecta blanket of North Ray Crater is a temporary ‘anomaly’ in the landing site. However, soils with the properties of Group I soils, but with larger (Ar⁴⁰/Ar³⁶)t ratios may turn up in Apollo 16 core tubes. The Group II soils show a record of solar wind exposure in the distant past (i.e., they have relatively large Art ⁴⁰/ARt ³⁶ ratios). From this we conclude that the regolith at Apollo 16 contains sizeable ‘pockets’ or horizons at depth which are the sources of the Group II soils. The materials in these pockets may be akin to soil 61 220.  相似文献