Magma dynamics at mid-ocean ridges by noble gas kinetic fractionation: Assessment of magmatic ascent rates     

《Earth and Planetary Science Letters》2006,241(1-2):138-158

Despite its impact in understanding oceanic crust formation and eruptive styles of related volcanism, magma dynamics at mid-ocean ridges are poorly known. Here, we propose a new method to assess ascent rates of mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB) magmas, as well as their pre- and sin-eruptive dynamics. It is based on the idea that a rising magma can reach a variable degree of both CO₂ supersaturation in melt and kinetic fractionation among noble gases in vesicles in relation to its ascent rate through the crust. To quantify the relationship, we have used a model of multicomponent bubble growth in MORB melts, developed by extending the single-component model of Proussevitch and Sahagian [A.A. Proussevitch, D.L. Sahagian, Dynamics and energetics of bubble growth in magmas: analytical formulation and numerical modeling, J. Geophys. Res. 103 (1998), 18223–18251.] to CO₂–He–Ar gas mixtures. After proper parameterization, we have applied it to published suites of data having the required features (glasses from Pito Seamount and mid-Atlantic ridges). Our results highlight that the investigated MORB magmas display very different ranges of ascent rates: slow rises of popping rock forming-magmas that cross the crust (0.01–0.5 m/s), slightly faster rates of energetic effusions (0.1–1 m/s), up to rates of 1–10 m/s which fall on the edge between lava effusion and Hawaiian activity. Inside a single plumbing system, very dissimilar magma dynamics highlight the large differences in compressive stress of the oceanic crust on a small scale. Constraints on how the systems of ridges work, as well as the characteristics of the magmatic source, can also be obtained. Our model shows how measurements of both the dissolved gas concentration in melt and the volatile composition of vesicles in the same sample are crucial in recognizing the kinetic effects and definitively assessing magma dynamics. An effort should be made to correctly set the studied samples in the sequence of volcanic submarine deposits where they are collected. Enhanced knowledge of a number of physical properties of gas-bearing MOR magmas is also required, mainly noble gas diffusivities, to describe multicomponent bubble growth at a higher confidence level.  相似文献   

Large internal waves in Massachusetts Bay transport sediments offshore     

《Continental Shelf Research》2006,26(17-18):2029-2049

A field experiment was carried out in Massachusetts Bay in August 1998 to assess the role of large-amplitude internal waves (LIWs) in resuspending bottom sediments. The field experiment consisted of a four-element moored array extending from just west of Stellwagen Bank (90-m water depth) across Stellwagen Basin (85- and 50-m water depth) to the coast (24-m water depth). The LIWs were observed in packets of 5–10 waves, had periods of 5–10 min and wavelengths of 200–400 m, and caused downward excursions of the thermocline of as much as 30 m. At the 85-m site, the current measured 1 m above bottom (mab) typically increased from near 0 to 0.2 m/s offshore in a few minutes upon arrival of the LIWs. At the 50-m site, the near-bottom offshore flow measured 6 mab increased from about 0.1 to 0.4–0.6 m/s upon arrival of the LIWs and remained offshore in the bottom layer for 1–2 h. The near-bottom currents associated with the LIWs, in concert with the tidal currents, were directed offshore and sufficient to resuspend the bottom sediments at both the 50- and 85-m sites. When LIWs are present, they may resuspend sediments for as long as 5 hours each tidal cycle as they travel westward across Stellwagen Basin. At 85-m water depth, resuspension associated with LIWs is estimated to occur for about 0.4 days each summer, about the same amount of time as caused by surface waves.  相似文献   

A quarter century of TOMS total column ozone measurements over Brazil     

《Journal of Atmospheric and Solar》2007,69(12):1447-1458

The Earth's atmosphere has been probed since 1978 by the total ozone mapping spectrometer (TOMS) experiment. In polar orbits around the Earth, Nimbus 7, Meteor 3, and Earth Probe satellites have carried TOMS to measure the backscattered solar ultraviolet radiation, which is processed by Version 8 TOMS algorithm for the retrieval of column ozone values. These TOMS data and their behavior are reported and investigated in this work for some sites in the equatorial and tropical zones of Brazil. Comparison with measurements from Brewer and Dobson spectrophotometers in some cases is provided. An average difference as low as 1.5% between TOMS and Brewer measurements was obtained. In addition, more than two decades of TOMS monthly average column ozone measurements were applied to the calculation of ozone trends. Although small and in general negative, these trends were statistically significant for all sites in the winter season.  相似文献   

Statistical observations of spatial characteristics of Pi1B pulsations     

《Journal of Atmospheric and Solar》2007,69(15):1775-1796

We have examined the spatial and temporal correlation of high-latitude Pi1B and Pi2 pulsations, mid-latitude Pi2 pulsations, and auroral substorm onsets identified in the IMAGE far ultraviolet imager (FUV) data. Numerous search coil and fluxgate magnetometers at high latitudes (65–80° in Antarctica and Greenland) and mid-latitude fluxgate magnetometers are used. We find that Pi1B onset times agree well with onset times of intense isolated auroral substorms identified by the IMAGE FUV instrument: Pi1B onsets occurred within the 2 min cadence of the imager. For any given event, we find that Pi1B are localized to approximately 4 h of local time and 7° of magnetic latitude relative to the initial auroral brightening location as observed by IMAGE FUV. Not surprisingly, we also find that Pi1B pulsations occur typically between 2100 and 0200 MLT. Comparison to Pi2 records from these and other lower-latitude stations shows that in almost all cases Pi1B activity coincides within ±2 min with Pi2 activity. Power law fits showed that Pi1B amplitude fell off with distance^−2.9 for two strong events (i.e., similar to the r⁻³ falloff of the signal from a dipolar source), and only slightly more rapidly than the falloff of Pi2 activity (d^−2.8). Given the global nature of Pi2 pulsations versus the localized nature of Pi1B events in this study, we conclude that the mechanism that drives Pi1B pulsations is likely different from that responsible for Pi2 pulsations.  相似文献   

Aeolian–fluvial interaction and climate change: source-bordering dune development over the past ∼100 ka on Cooper Creek,central Australia     

《Quaternary Science Reviews》2007,26(3-4):386-404

This study provides an interpretation of interrelated Quaternary fluvial and aeolian activity related to climate change on Cooper Creek in the Lake Eyre Basin in southwestern Queensland, central Australia. The extensive muddy floodplain is characterised by buried sandy palaeochannels now almost entirely invisible but stratigraphically connected to source-bordering dunes that emerge as distinctive sandy islands through the floodplain surface. Luminescence dating has identified pronounced periods of fluvial activity represented by abundant sandy alluvium from Marine Isotope Stages (MIS) 8–3. While all these sandy fluvial episodes on Cooper Creek were much more powerful than anything subsequent, they appear to be ranked in order of declining activity. MIS 8–6 saw reworking of almost the entire floodplain whereas subsequent phases of reworking were far less extensive. Source-bordering dunes were derived from active sandy channels in late MIS 5 (∼85–80 ka) and mid MIS 3 (50–40 ka). After ∼40 ka sand-channel activity largely ceased and the floodplains and channels were inundated with mud, isolating the dunes as emergent features. Although aeolian reworking of the upper parts of some dunes has continued to the present, they show remarkable resilience, having survived without appreciable migration for at least 40 ka. Whilst the channels once determined the location of source-bordering dunes, in an interesting role reversal the remnant dunes now determine the position of many contemporary flood-channels and waterholes by deflection and confinement of overbank flows.  相似文献   

Half a century of progress in research on terrestrial impact structures: A review     

《Earth》2009,93(3-4):99-116

The author, who investigated the Wolfe Creek, Australia, in 1962 and edited two Benchmark Sets of Readings on Meteorite Craters and possible Astroblemes in 1977 and 1979, reviews the state of knowledge at the present time. The text is concerned with terrestrial impact structures, geological features, without any consideration of extraterrestrial analogues. A handful of definitive publications are drawn on to present the story of terrestrial impact in a single article. The text covers historical aspects (briefly); the effect of target variations; the paucity of human observation of such large-scale events; distinction from volcanic (endogenous) structures; modification by geological processes; the transience of the crater initially formed on the target, and its subsequent modifications; the global geographic distribution of the 174 structures now listed (of which a number are dubious attributions); their distribution in geological time (many ages being known only known to wide limits, maximum or minimum values); their size distribution; calculations of impact frequencies; shock effects; processes on impact; the stages of formation; impact into shallow marine and deep sea targets; impacts on ice (about which little is known); and finally the input of impact into biotic extinctions. In this last lengthy section, the summaries of the conclusions of scientists researching impact on Earth and palaeontologists researching biotic impact are set side by side. It is concluded that, if the recent foraminiferal evidence obtained by Gerta Keller and associates is taken at its face value, the case of impact as a sole agent in extinction is non-existent: biotic extinction is clearly a complex process involving a number of causes, in some cases it was staggered in time, and different sets of organisms responded quite differently and surprisingly, even in the same extinction event. Extraterrestrial impact may have been one of the causes in some cases, but it may have been regional rather than global in its effects. We may never know how much input it had into the record of biotic extinction on Earth? An enormous amount of new knowledge has arisen from detailed studies of this new family of remarkable geological structures.  相似文献   

Quantitative,molecular and growth analyses of Ulva microscopic propagules in the coastal sediment of Jiangsu province where green tides initially occurred     

《Marine environmental research》2012

From 2007 to 2011, large-scale green tides formed by unattached filamentous alga, Ulva prolifera in Ulva linza–procera–prolifera complex, have initially occurred in Jiangsu coasts of China. The real niche or the substrate(s) on which U. prolifera attaches before it starts to float is still under debate. However, great numbers of Ulva propagules would be supposed to exist in the microscopic, overwintering stage for the next spring's bloom in coastal environments. This study was designed to confirm the above prediction and investigate abundance, species composition and growth characteristics of Ulva propagules in the sediments. Quantification result showed that Ulva propagules widely distributed in the sediments and the abundance of these isolates did not change much over a 3-month testing period at low temperature in darkness. Molecular data based on three DNA markers revealed that four Ulva species existed in the sediments, among which green-tide forming alga, U. prolifera, was included. Elevated levels of temperature, irradiance as well as nutrients in seawater greatly facilitated recovery and growth of propagules. Results of this investigation indicated the possibility of microscopic propagules turning directly into floating biomass in season when temperature, irradiance and nutrients together meet the required levels in questioned coastal water area.  相似文献   

Evaluation of induction of metallothionein-like proteins (MTLPs) in the polychaetes for biomonitoring of heavy metal pollution in marine sediments     

《Marine pollution bulletin》2009,58(6-12):544-551

Polychaetes are suitable organisms for evaluation of impact of sediment pollution. We evaluated toxicity of cadmium and copper and measured metallothionein-like proteins (MTLPs) in the polychaete Perinereis nuntia. At the same concentration ranges copper was unexpectedly more toxic than cadmium. Copper also caused no significant increase in MTLPs in the polychaetes. When P. nuntia and another polychaete species, Cirratulus cirratus were cultured in the contaminated sediments collected from Lake Sihwa (Korea), a high mortality of 80% was observed on day 6 in P. nuntia in the sediment with the highest metal concentration. However, no mortality was observed up to 35 days in C. cirratus in any sediment. MTLP contents between two species also varied. These findings suggest that MTLP induction response in the polychaetes varies with the metal type and species and it may be used as a biomarker of sediment pollution in the polychaetes after further validation and field trials.  相似文献   

Geochemical features of nickel-laterite deposits from the Balkan Peninsula and Gordes,Turkey: The genetic and environmental significance of arsenic     

《Ore Geology Reviews》2012

Iron–nickel-laterite deposits in the Balkan Peninsula and Turkey, located in the Mirdita–Sub-Pelagonian and Pelagonian geotectonic zones, extending into the Anatolides zone are a major source of nickel. Repeated marine transgression and regression, and the multistage development of allochthonous laterite deposits by re-working and re-deposition in a shallow sea environment are demonstrated by the alternation of Fe–Ni-laterite layers within marine sequences.Geochemical study of these Fe–Ni laterite deposits shows that arsenic contents are generally low, ranging from less than 2 to a few tens of ppm. However, in the Aghios Ioannis deposit, Lokris, Central Greece As varies significantly and attains values up to 0.26 wt.% As and in the Gordes deposit of W. Turkey, the As content ranges from 0.004 to 1.07 wt.% As (average 0.34), reaching values up to 1.94 in the hematite zone. Investigation of the mineral chemistry (SEM-EDS) shows that goethite is the main host of As, ranging between 0.5 and 1.2 wt.% As₂O₃ in the Aghios Ioannis deposit, and between 1.2 to 6.9 wt.% As₂O₃ in the Gordes deposit, whereas, in co-existing calcite As was not detectable. Goethite occurs in fine-grained porous and concretionary, concentric textures. As values are higher in concretionary goethite. Positive correlation (r > 0.74) between As and Al₂O₃, TiO₂ and ∑ REE contents in the laterite deposits of Greece, coupled with the As-enrichment only in certain laterite deposits points to post depositional As-enrichment.Assuming that high pH facilitates the adsorption of As by goethite, due to its high surface area and low values of the activation energy of adsorption (literature data) As-adsorption by goethite is considered to play an important role in its retention. Elevated As-contents in goethite (Fe-oxides) in Fe–Ni-laterites of Greece and Turkey, due to its absorption capacity, are considered to be of particular significance in the remediation of aquifer and soil contamination rather than being a source of environmental risk.  相似文献   

An evaluation of the exposure in nadir observation of the JEM-EUSO mission     

《Astroparticle Physics》2013

We evaluate the exposure during nadir observations with JEM-EUSO, the Extreme Universe Space Observatory, on-board the Japanese Experiment Module of the International Space Station. Designed as a mission to explore the extreme energy Universe from space, JEM-EUSO will monitor the Earth’s nighttime atmosphere to record the ultraviolet light from tracks generated by extensive air showers initiated by ultra-high energy cosmic rays. In the present work, we discuss the particularities of space-based observation and we compute the annual exposure in nadir observation. The results are based on studies of the expected trigger aperture and observational duty cycle, as well as, on the investigations of the effects of clouds and different types of background light. We show that the annual exposure is about one order of magnitude higher than those of the presently operating ground-based observatories.  相似文献