Post-LGM sedimentation on the outer shelf-upper slope of the northernmost part of the São Paulo Bight, southeastern Brazil

Sedimentary and isotope data as well as ¹⁴C AMS dating on 15 box cores were used to identify the main post-Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) processes in the outer shelf and upper slope of the northernmost part of the São Paulo Bight, southeastern Brazil. Results show slight but significant variations in calcium carbonate, total sulphur and nitrogen contents as well as carbon and oxygen isotope ratios. Sedimentation rates, varying from 5 to 184 mm kyr⁻¹ are controlled by the shelf and upper slope morphology, the Brazil Current meander dynamics, and the Coastal Water offshore motion.     

Metal concentrations and metallothionein-like protein levels in deep-sea fishes captured near hydrothermal vents in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge off Azores

The knowledge of metal contamination in deep-sea fishes living in the surroundings of hydrothermal vents is very scarce, along with the detoxification mechanisms that allow them to live near one of the most metal contaminated marine environments. Six deep-sea fish species, although not vent endemic were collected near three Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR) hydrothermal vents (Menez Gwen, Lucky Strike and Rainbow) and the gills, muscle and liver were selected for this study due to their importance in metal metabolism and storage. The concentrations of seven metals (Ag, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Ni) and a metal-related biomarker (metallothionein-like proteins–MTL) were assessed. Major differences in metal accumulation among fish species are related to their feeding habits and vent site of their capture. The liver and gills are in general the most important tissues for metal accumulation compared to the muscle, but tissue partitioning is very dependent on the fish species considered. Compared to other deep-sea fishes, fish capture in the vicinity of hydrothermal vents accumulates higher amounts of metals in general. However, MTL levels are not considerably different from what is found in commercial coastal fishes, and is poorly correlated with metal concentrations in the tissues. Therefore, MTL may not constitute one major detoxification system for deep-sea species living in the vicinity of three important MAR vent sites.     

Ultimate grout-to-soil bond strength of micropiles in glacial deposits

Acta Geotechnica - This paper analyzed the ultimate grout-to-soil bond strength based on a database of 40 full-scale static load tests conducted on micropiles in glacial deposits in the province of...     

A simple and general methodology to calibrate seismic instruments for debris flow quantification: application to Cotopaxi and Tungurahua volcanoes (Ecuador)

Debris flows are hazardous phenomena occurring at volcanoes, and monitoring them has proved as challenging as imperative in several cases. The use of seismic instruments to measure and study the physical properties of debris flows has witnessed significant progress in the last years, with the use of improved sensors, innovative methodologies and high-resolution analysis. However, the application of such studies to the practical task of providing early warnings remains limited by the significant amount of infrastructural and technological resources commonly required for their deployment. In Ecuador, debris flows at volcanoes are detected by means of seismic instruments which are usually part of broader monitoring networks, thus requiring calibration to provide quantitative information about the flows and feed early-warning systems. In the present work, a theoretical approach based on the Buckingham Π-theorem is used to determine an expression that linearly correlates the seismic signal produced by a transiting debris flow with its discharge rate, for instruments installed in different substrata and at variable distances from the drainage. The expression is experimentally tested with Acoustic Flow Monitors and Broad-band seismometers installed in the vicinity of drainages at Tungurahua and Cotopaxi volcanoes, where actual debris flows occurred in relation to eruptive activity. The experiments consist in comparing the measured peak amplitude values of the seismic signal envelopes with the estimated peak discharge rates of several events. The results confirm the validity of the theoretical expression with linear correlations observed between the seismic amplitudes and the discharge rates, thus defining calibration expressions that can be generally applied to varied environments and instruments. The seismic instruments calibrated through this methodology can provide instantaneous and reliable predictions of debris flow discharge rates within less than an order of magnitude and only requiring limited data processing and storage. Such level of prediction could help to improve early warning systems based on seismic instruments installed in locations where more developed instrumental arrays are unavailable or unpractical.

     

Chronology and dispersal characteristics of recently (last 5000 years) erupted tephra of Cotopaxi (Ecuador): implications for long-term eruptive forecasting

Cotopaxi, the highest active volcano on earth and one of the most dangerous of Ecuador is constituted by a composite cone made up of lava and tephra erupted from the summit crater. The activity of the present volcano begun with large-volume plinian eruptions followed by a succession of small-volume lava emissions and pyroclastic episodes which led to the edification of a symmetrical cone. The growth of the cone was broken by an episode of slope failure, the scar of which is now obliterated by recent and historical products. Volcanic history, eruptive frequency and characteristics of the activity were investigated by studying the stratigraphy of tephra and carrying out fifteen new ¹⁴C dating on paleosols and charcoals. The investigated period is comprised between the slope failure and the present. The deposit of the volcanic landside (dry debris avalanche of Rio Pita), previously believed to be between 13,000 and 25,000 yr B.P., is now considered to have an age slightly older than 5000 yr B.P. The stratigraphy of tephra of the last 2000 years reveals the existence of 22 fallout layers. Seven of them were dated with ¹⁴C whereas three were ascribed to the eruptions of 1534, 1768 and 1877 on the basis of comparison with historical information.Maximum clast size distribution (isopleths) of 9 tephra layers points out that the sustained explosive eruptions of Cotopaxi during the last 2000 years are characterized by very high dispersive power (plinian plumes with column heights between 28 and 39 km) and high intensity (peak mass discharges from 1.1 to 4.1 × 10⁸kg/s). The magnitude (mass) of tephra fallout deposits calculated from distribution of thickness (isopaches) are, however, moderate (from 0.8 to 7.2 × 10¹¹ kg). The limited volume of magma erupted during each explosive episode is consistent with the lack of caldera collapses. Small-volume pyroclastic flows and surges virtually accompanied all identified tephra fallouts. During such an activity large scale snow/ice melting of the summit glacier produced devastating mudflows comparable in scale to those of 1877 eruption. By assuming a 1:1 correspondence between fallout episodes and generation of large-scale lahar, we have estimated an average recurrence of one explosive, lahartriggering event every 117 years over the last two millennia. This value compares well with that calculated by considering the period since Spanish Conquest. The probability of having an eruption like this in 100 or 200 years is respectively of 0.57 and 0.82. Such an high probability underscores the need for quick actions aimed at the mitigation of Cotopaxi lahar hazard along all the main valleys which originate from the volcano.     

Trans-alkaline magmatism in the Serrinha–Pedro Velho Complex,Borborema Province,NE Brazil and its correlations with the magmatism in eastern Nigeria

The Solânea Complex (572 ± 8 Ma) comprises various intrusions that total 200 km². It cuts Palaeoproterozoic migmatized orthogneisses of the Serrinha–Pedro Velho Complex, which is part of the São José do Campestre Massif, North Tectonic Domain of the Borborema Province, NE Brazil. It is a post-collisional intrusion constituted of coarse-grained biotite–amphibole monzogranites, fine-grained leucogranites and diorites. Major, trace and rare earth elements data, used to constrain the origin and nature of these rocks, indicate that the monzogranites display chemical features of weakly peraluminous ferro-potassic trans-alkaline granitoids, similar to coeval occurrences described in eastern Nigerian. Sm–Nd data together with the whole rock geochemical data suggest that: (I) the monzogranites were generated by partial melting of tonalitic gneiss from the lower crust, leaving behind a granulitic residue; (II) the diorites originated by partial melting of an enriched lithospheric mantle; (III) the evolution of the Solânea Complex involved magma mixing between the monzogranites and diorites. K-feldspar and amphibole fractionation appear to have occurred during the evolution of the monzogranites.Leucogranites constituting an elliptical shaped intrusion (80 km²), the Dona Inês Pluton, are intruded to the north of the Solânea Complex. They also occur as small intrusions cross-cutting the border of the Solânea Complex. Geochemical and isotopic data suggest that the leucogranites were generated by melting of crustal Palaeoproterozoic rocks. Rb–Sr data gave an age of 544 ± 16 Ma.Trans-alkaline magmatism is associated with ductile–brittle deformation in the Serrinha–Pedro Velho Complex of the São José do Campestre Massif. This event follows the peak of an extensional-related high-temperature metamorphism (upper amphibolite to granulite facies), with estimated age of 578 to 574 Ma. If a pre-Gondwana reconstruction is considered, this event is seen to extend to the African side of Gondwana in eastern Nigeria.     

The Winchcombe meteorite—A regolith breccia from a rubble pile CM chondrite asteroid

The Winchcombe meteorite is a CM chondrite breccia composed of eight distinct lithological units plus a cataclastic matrix. The degree of aqueous alteration varies between intensely altered CM2.0 and moderately altered CM2.6. Although no lithology dominates, three heavily altered rock types (CM2.1–2.3) represent >70 area%. Tochilinite–cronstedtite intergrowths (TCIs) are common in several lithologies. Their compositions can vary significantly, even within a single lithology, which can prevent a clear assessment of alteration extent if only TCI composition is considered. We suggest that this is due to early alteration under localized geochemical microenvironments creating a diversity of compositions and because later reprocessing was incomplete, leaving a record of the parent body's fluid history. In Winchcombe, the fragments of primary accretionary rock are held within a cataclastic matrix (~15 area%). This material is impact-derived fallback debris. Its grain size and texture suggest that the disruption of the original parent asteroid responded by intergranular fracture at grain sizes <100 μm, while larger phases, such as whole chondrules, splintered apart. Re-accretion formed a poorly lithified body. During atmospheric entry, the Winchcombe meteoroid broke apart with new fractures preferentially cutting through the weaker cataclastic matrix and separating the breccia into its component clasts. The strength of the cataclastic matrix imparts a control on the survival of CM chondrite meteoroids. Winchcombe's unweathered state and diversity of lithologies make it an ideal sample for exploring the geological history of the CM chondrite group.     

An analysis of the spectrophotometric and photometric observations of comets 1967II, 1968I, 1968V,and 1968VI

Emission fluxes of CN, C₂ and C₃ carbon-bearing molecular species observed in the coma of comets Rudnicki (1967II), Ikeya-Seki (1968I), Whitaker-Thomas (1968V), and Honda (1968VI) are analysed in the framework of Haser model. CN, C₃ and C₃ production rates are determined using recently derived fluorescence efficiencies. The dependence of CN, C₂ and C₃ production rates on the heliocentric distance and the possible correlations among these radicals is studied. It is shown that comets Ikeya-Seki (1968I) and Honda (1968VI) have the same mean color indices (B-V) and (U-B).     

Biomass allometric equation and expansion factor for a mountain moist evergreen forest in Mozambique

Background

Worldwide, forests are an important carbon sink and thus are key to mitigate the effects of climate change. Mountain moist evergreen forests in Mozambique are threatened by agricultural expansion, uncontrolled logging, and firewood collection, thus compromising their role in carbon sequestration. There is lack of local tools for above-ground biomass (AGB) estimation of mountain moist evergreen forest, hence carbon emissions from deforestation and forest degradation are not adequately known. This study aimed to develop biomass allometric equations (BAE) and biomass expansion factor (BEF) for the estimation of total above-ground carbon stock in mountain moist evergreen forest.

Methods

The destructive method was used, whereby 39 trees were felled and measured for diameter at breast height (DBH), total height and the commercial height. We determined the wood basic density, the total dry weight and merchantable timber volume by Smalian’s formula. Six biomass allometric models were fitted using non-linear least square regression. The BEF was determined based on the relationship between bole stem dry weight and total dry weight of the tree. To estimate the mean AGB of the forest, a forest inventory was conducted using 27 temporary square plots. The applicability of Marzoli’s volume equation was compared with Smalian’s volume equation in order to check whether Marzoli’s volume from national forest inventory can be used to predict AGB using BEF.

Results

The best model was the power model with only DBH as predictor variable, which provided an estimated mean AGB of 291?±?141 Mg ha^?1 (mean?±?95% confidence level). The mean wood basic density of sampled trees was 0.715?±?0.182 g cm^?3. The average BEF was of 2.05?±?0.15 and the estimated mean AGB of 387?±?126 Mg ha^?1. The BAE from miombo woodland within the vicinity of the study area underestimates the AGB for all sampled trees. Chave et al.’s pantropical equation of moist forest did not fit to the Moribane Forest Reserve, while Brown’s equation of moist forest had a good fit to the Moribane Forest Reserve, having generated 1.2% of bias, very close to that generated by the selected model of this study. BEF showed to be reliable when combined with stand mean volume from Marzoli’s National Forestry Inventory equation.

Conclusion

The BAE and the BEF function developed in this study can be used to estimate the AGB of the mountain moist evergreen forests at Moribane Forest Reserve in Mozambique. However, the use of the biomass allometric model should be preferable when DBH information is available.

     

A graph-based algorithm to define urban topology from unstructured geospatial data

Interpretation and analysis of urban topology are particularly challenging tasks given the complex spatial pattern of the urban elements, and hence their automation is especially needed. In terms of the urban scene meaning, the starting point in this study is unstructured geospatial data, i.e. no prior knowledge of the geospatial entities is assumed. Translating these data into more meaningful homogeneous regions can be achieved by detecting geographic features within the initial random collection of geospatial objects, and then by grouping them according to their spatial arrangement. The techniques applied to achieve this are those of graph theory applied to urban topology analysis within GIS environment. This article focuses primarily on the implementation and algorithmic design of a methodology to define and make urban topology explicit. Conceptually, such procedure analyses and interprets geospatial object arrangements in terms of the extension of the standard notion of the topological relation of adjacency to that of containment: the so-called ‘containment-first search’. LiDAR data were used as an example scenario for development and test purposes.