Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Deglacial history of glacial lake windermere, UK: implications for the central British and Irish Ice Sheet

In the UK, a combination of outcrop mapping, satellite digital elevation models, high‐resolution marine geophysical data and a range of dating techniques have constrained the maximum limit and overall retreat behaviour of the British and Irish Ice Sheet (BIIS). The changing styles of deglaciation have been most extensively studied in the west and north‐western sectors of the BIIS, primarily using offshore geophysical surveys. The surviving record in the southern, terrestrial sector is fragmentary, permitting only large‐scale (tens of kilometres) and longer timescale (c. 1 ka) reconstructions of ice‐margin movement, with limited information on deglacial processes. Here we present a high‐resolution study of the retreat behaviour for a section of the southern ice‐margin from Windermere in the Lake District, using high‐resolution two‐dimensional multi‐channel seismic data, processed using prestack depth migration. By combining the seismic stratigraphy with landform morphologies, extant cores and seismic velocity measurements, we are able to distinguish between: over‐consolidated till; recessional moraines; De Geer moraines; flowed till/ice‐front fan; supra‐/en‐glacial melt‐out till; and subsequent glaciolacustrine/lacustrine sedimentation. The results reveal a complex and active valley glacier withdrawal from Windermere that changed character between basins and produced two small, localized areas of ice‐stagnation and downwasting. This study indicates that similar active ice‐margin retreats probably took place in other valleys of the Lake District during the Late Devensian deglaciation rather than the previously held view of rapid ice‐stagnation and downwasting. When combined with the regional terrestrial record, this supports a model of early ice loss in terrestrial England compared with other parts of the UK. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Surface motions and intraplate continental deformation in Alaska driven by mantle flow

The degree to which the lithosphere and mantle are coupled and contribute to surface deformation beneath continental regions remains a fundamental question in the field of geodynamics. Here we use a new approach with a surface deformation field constrained by GPS, geologic, and seismicity data, together with a lithospheric geodynamic model, to solve for tractions inferred to be generated by mantle convection that (1) drive extension within interior Alaska generating southward directed surface motions toward the southern convergent plate boundary, (2) result in accommodation of the relative motions between the Pacific and North America in a comparatively small zone near the plate boundary, and (3) generate the observed convergence within the North American plate interior in the Mackenzie mountains in northwestern Canada. The evidence for deeper mantle influence on surface deformation beneath a continental region suggests that this mechanism may be an important contributing driver to continental plate assemblage and breakup.
Deltaic and Associated Deposits of Difunta Group (Late Cretaceous to Paleocene), Parras and La Popa Basins, Northeastern Mexico

Abstract Approximately 6,000 m of terrigenous sediment were deposited marginal to the ancestral Gulf of Mexico in the Parras and La Popa basins. Detritus, predominately volcanic, was derived from the west and fed by separate high-gradient rivers to each basin. Lobate deltas were constructed by the interplay between distributaries that supplied sand-and silt-rich sediment to a marine basin characterized by moderate waves and low tides. Four major cycles of delta progradation and marine transgression are recorded in each basin. Lateral progradation of at least 200 km is recorded in the Parras basin. Most deltaic facies are hundreds of meters thick because of the high rate of basin subsidence. Delta-plain deposits are lenticular varicolored siltstone and claystone beds that include repetitious upward-coarsening and upward-fining lake deposits, locally including soil zones, that are interrupted by distributary-channel sandstone beds from 200 to 600 m wide and 3 to 10 m thick. Larger, multistory fluvial-distributary sandstones are present only locally. Delta-front sheet sandstone units, 3 to 15 m thick and up to 20 km wide, are characterized by parallel laminae and lesser trough cross-beds, Ophiomorpha, and transported oysters. Delta-platform deposits are characterized by bioturbated clayey siltstone beds with marine molluscs that are intercalated with laminated sandstone beds introduced by flood discharge, many of which foundered to form ball-and-pillow structures. Some sand flowed down the prodelta slope as turbidity currents to produce flysch-like interbeds of turbidites and bioturbated background mudstone beds that contain forminifers, Exogyra, and ammonites. Delta-flank deposits include mudstone, oyster reefs, marine mud- and sand-flat deposits, and mixed terrigenous sand-oolite deposits. Shelf deposits include rare, thin glauconite beds, phosphatic limestone beds, and 9 lenticular biostromes. The latter are up to 300 m thick and 19 km long, and are red-algal packstones that contain sparse rudists and other frame builders. Several biostromes are marginal to evaporite diapirs that may have been active during Late Cretaceous time.
An investigation of Martian northern high‐latitude and polar impact crater interiors: Atypical interior topographic features and cavity wall slopes

Abstract– We examine Martian northern high‐latitude and polar impact craters (NPICs) to better understand the north polar materials and polar processes. We examine topographic characteristics for 346 NPICs and compare them to global fit data (e.g., Garvin et al. 2003 ; Boyce and Garbeil 2007 ) as well as to a small set (N = 92) of southern high‐latitude and polar impact craters (SPICs). We find that the NPIC population above 57° N is significantly shallower than the global crater population. This suggests that the NPICs (1) were initially shallow due to target properties of polar geologic units; (2) were once deeper, but have been infilled due to polar processes; or (3) a combination of both. Indeed, many of the NPICs exhibit considerable noncentral peak interior topographic features (IFTs), which may be indicative of infilling processes. The NPIC IFTs also appear to display trends in their preferential orientation within the crater cavity; some SPICs display similar interior features, but do not show a clear preference in their orientation within the crater cavity. In addition, the NPIC population displays cavity wall slope trends that seem to indicate steepening of slopes with increasing crater diameter in comparison to the global slope trend ( Garvin et al. 2003 ). These trends suggest that the NPICs are unique in their geometry when compared to the global data set as well as with the SPICs further indicating that the north polar region may exhibit target properties and polar processes not seen in the south polar region or elsewhere on Mars.
Resistant Nonparametric Analysis of the Short Term Rate

Ait Sahalia (1996), Stanton (1997) and Jiang (1998) apply nonparametric and semi-parametric estimators to the short term interest rate and find strong nonlinearities in the drift function. In this paper we apply resistant techniques to the estimation of the drift and diffusion function. We show how the influential observations resulting from a resistant estimation of drift and diffusion may be used as a diagnostic tool to understand whether the estimated drift and diffusion function are broadly consistent with the assumed diffusion process. In an empirical exercise using Stanton’s (1997) and Ait-Sahalia’s (1996) data we find a clustering of influential observations in the pre 1982 period, in particular in the 1972-1974 and 1979-1982 period, suggesting that a regime change may be the dominant feature in the data rather than nonlinearities in the drift. As an additional result, we show that the bias reported in Chapman and Pearson (2000) is exaggerated because of the extrapolation of interest rate values outside the range of the simulated series.
From the Source to the Outlet: understanding the Distribution of Invasive Knotweeds along a North American River

Understanding the drivers of exotic plant invasions along waterways is crucial for helping environmental managers devise effective control strategies. We combined a field survey, molecular data and a logistic regression model to further our understanding of the spatial distribution of Japanese (Fallopia japonica) and Bohemian (Fallopia × bohemica) knotweeds along the entire course (185 km) of a river located in Québec (Canada). Both knotweeds were abundant along the river, but each had a distinct spatial distribution pattern. Only one genotype for each knotweed species or hybrid was found, suggesting that the individuals established along the Chaudière River resulted from the propagation of rhizome or stem fragments. The distance from the nearest town or village was the only explanatory variable significantly correlated to the spatial distribution of knotweeds. However, spatial autoregressive coefficients were significant, indicating that knotweeds were more likely to occur close to other knotweeds. In summary, the invasion was probably initiated by the introduction, in riverside towns and villages, of a few individuals of the same genotype. The clones then spread vegetatively, probably during spring floods. The rhizome and stem fragments spread over short distances, dispersing downstream from urban centres. The introduction of just two knotweed genotypes along the Chaudière River was sufficient to initiate a massive riverside colonization, as few riparian vegetation types were apparently able to resist knotweed invasion. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Late Ordovician Conulariids from Manitoba, Canada

Abstract Six species of conulariids, assigned to four genera, were recovered from the type locality of the Cat Head Member of the Red River Formation in southern Manitoba, Canada. These are middle Katian (Late Ordovician) in age. The most abundant conulariid species from this locality, Conularia porcella, is new, and is represented by 21 specimens. Additionally, 28 three-dimensionally preserved micromorphic conulariids, assigned to Eoconularia aff. loculata, were recovered using acetic acid preparation from limestone samples of late Katian (Late Ordovician) age. These samples had been collected from Churchill, northern Manitoba, by the Geological Survey of Canada's J. B. Tyrrell in 1894. These taxa are unusually abundant for conulariids, which are normally represented by only a few specimens from any given locality, and this abundance may be a reflection of the exceptional preservation at these two localities.
Public Involvement in Fairfax County's Watershed Management Program: The Little Hunting Creek Watershed Project

Fairfax County has initiated a comprehensive watershed management program for protecting and restoring the ecological health of streams throughout the County. The county adopted a collaborative approach for involving the community and for gaining support for the watershed plans developed through the program. Rather than reinventing the public involvement process for each of the County’s 30 watersheds, a template for this process was developed and is being applied to each watershed project. As part of the scope of work for the Little Hunting Creek Watershed Management Plan, Woolpert LLP and the University of Virginia’s Institute for Environmental Negotiation (IEN) developed the public involvement process guidelines for the County’s watershed planning program. Since smaller watersheds will be grouped together, it is anticipated that the process will actually be applied to 15 separate watershed plan projects. The public involvement process used by Fairfax County consists primarily of the formation of a steering committee of diverse community representatives and key stakeholders for each watershed project. Their primary role is to advise each County/consultant project team and to play an integral role in conducting outreach to their own constituencies, and to help get the public to attend a series of four predefined forums or workshops: the Issues Scoping Forum, Community Watershed Forum, Draft Plan Review Workshop, and Final Plan Review Workshop. This approach promotes collaboration, encourages engagement of citizens, and helps to build consensus from the community throughout the development of each watershed plan.
A new boreopterid pterosaur from the Lower Cretaceous of western Liaoning, China, with a reassessment of the phylogenetic relationships of the Boreopteridae

Abstract A new species of boreopterid pterosaur from the new fossil locality, Heichengzi, Beipiao, western Liaoning, China allows a reassessment of the Boreopteridae. In this new analysis, three species, Boreopterus cuiae, Boreopterus giganticus n. sp. , and Zhenyuanopterus longirostris, are included within the Boreopteridae united by the autopomorphic occurrence of two main tooth morphologies, an equal length of the tibia and femur, and weak feet. Other taxa previously placed within the Boreopteridae are not in a monophyletic group with the former three species. Boreopterus has fewer teeth and a shorter tooth row than that in Zhenyuanopterus. This new Boreopterus species has a large size, a piriform orbit, an extensively fenestrated lacrimal, and a posteriorly directed lacrimal process, that differs from Boreopterus cuiae.
Geography of China : environment, resources, population, and development

GENERAL SURVEY: THE ENVIRONMENT-RESOURCE-POPULATION-DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM Physical Features Natural Resources Historical Background Agricultural Development Modern Industry Modern Transportation and Foreign Trade Ethnic Groups The Population Dilemma Urban Development Environmental Problems and Natural Hazards The Land-Food-Population System REGIONAL GEOGRAPHY Northeast China North China Subtropical China Tropical South China Inner Mongolian Grassland Northwest Desert Tibetan Plateau Appendix Index.
Geochemical and Sr-Nd Isotopic Characteristics of Post-Collisional Calc-Alkaline Volcanics in the Eastern Pontides (NE Turkey)

Major, trace element, K-Ar age and Sr-Nd isotopic data are presented for the Eocene Torul volcanics in the eastern Pontide orogenic belt (NE Turkey). The studied rocks are composed of basaltic andesitic, andesitic, trachyandesitic, and minor trachydacitic lavas associated with their pyroclastics. These rocks contain plagioclase (An2-44), hornblende (Mg#= 0.78-0.98), clinopyroxene (Wo43-46 En41-43 Fs10-15), biotite, quartz, and minor sanidine phenocrysts. K-Ar ages on hornblendes ages range from 43.99 (±2.59) to 33.45 (±2.32) Ma, within the Middle to Late Eocene. The volcanic rocks show calc-alkaline affinities and have medium to high K contents. They are enriched in large ion lithophile (LILE) and light rare earth elements (LREE), with pronounced depletion of high field strength elements (HFSE). The chondrite-normalized REE patterns (Lacn/Lucn= 4.0-9.8) show low to medium enrichment, indicating similar sources for the rock suite. Initial 87Sr/86Sr values vary between 0.70457 and 0.70511 and initial 143Nd/144Nd values between 0.51264 and 0.51278. The main solidification processes involved in the evolution of the volcanics consist of fractional crystallization with minor amounts of crustal contamination ± magma mixing. All evidence supports the conclusion that the parental magma(s) of the rocks probably derived from an enriched upper mantle, previously modified by subduction- induced metasomatism in a post-collisional geodynamic setting.
The morphology and evolution of channels on the Wax Lake Delta, Louisiana, USA

River deltas are classic depositional systems, but a growing body of literature shows that their channel networks can be erosional. Furthermore, this erosion can attack channel beds of consolidated mud that acts as bedrock. To better understand the channel networks of natural deltas and engineered river diversions, we investigate bathymetric and planimetric change, bed cover, and sediment transport in the Wax Lake Delta (WLD) in coastal Louisiana, USA. Channels have eroded up to 40% of modern flow depth between the WLD's initiation in 1973 and 1999. Aerial image analysis shows that channels have widened by 11% between 1991 and 2009, forcing the downstream migration of islands. Channel beds are composed of 85–98% muddy bedrock, with the remainder covered by alluvial sands. Water velocity, grain size, and suspended sand concentration measurements during the 2009 spring flood show that almost all available grain sizes are transported in suspension. Flow was supply limited during this period, with the calculated sand concentration at the height of the bed load layer is 1–4 orders of magnitude smaller than predicted for saturated sand transport. We test “the cover effect” and “the tools effect” previously proposed for bedrock erosion in upland river channels. Bedrock erosion and alluvial cover are anti‐correlated (the cover effect), but the observations do not closely follow previously proposed relationships. The difference in erosion rate between clear water and sand‐rich water shows that abrasion by sand (the tools effect) accounts for 51% ± 56% of bedrock erosion when it is present.
Version 2 Goddard Satellite-Based Surface Turbulent Fluxes (GSSTF2)

The global air-sea fluxes of momentum, latent and sensible heat, radiation, and freshwater (precipitation-evaporation) are required for driving Ocean models and validating coupled ocean- atmosphere global models. Wind stress is the major forcing for driving the oceanic circulation, while evaporation is a key component of hydrological cycle and surface heat budget. We have produced a 13.5-year (July 1987-December 2000) dataset containing daily, monthly, and climatological surface fluxes of momentum, latent and sensible heat over the global Oceans from the Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I) radiance easurements. This dataset is called version 2 Goddard Satellite-based Surface Turbulent Fluxes (GSSTF-2). The GSSW-2 has a spatial resolution of 1.0deg x 1.0deg lat-long. In addition, evaporation has been combined with the satellite-retrieved precipitation to produce monthly freshwater fluxes over the global Ocean for the same period. Daily turbulent fluxes are derived from the S S M surface winds and surface air humidity, and 2-m air and sea surface temperatures (SST) of the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis, using an improved stability-dependent bulk flux algorithm based on the surface layer similarity theory. Hourly fluxes computed from the GSSTF-2 bulk flux algorithm using the observed hourly input variables validate well against those of ten experiments observed by the research ships over the tropical and midlatitude oceans. In addition, daily wind stresses, latent heat fluxes, wind speeds, surface air humidity and SSTs of the GSSTF-2 compare reasonably well with those of the collocated in situ measurements of the ten experiments. The global distributions of 1988-2000 annual- and seasonal-mean turbulent fluxes show reasonable patterns related to the atmospheric general circulation and its seasonal variations. The comparison of zonally-averaged wind stress and latent heat fluxes of the GSSTF-2 with those of other satellite products as well as the NCEPNCAR and ECMWF reanalyses for the annual mean and seasonal variations during 1992-93 will be discussed.
Forest Harvesting and Water: the Lake States Experience

: The impact of forests on water has- been a subject of argument for more than a century. It still is; and many studies conform that there is no single right answer in the debate. In the Lake States, clearcutting natural peatlands will not change annual stream-flow nor will it seriously impact water quality if logging is done on frozen soils. However, clearcutting will cause water tables to fluctuate more, ranging from 9 cm higher to 19 cm lower than in peatlands with mature forests. Clearcutting upland hardwoods or conifers will increase annual strearnflow by 9 to 20 cm (a 30- to 80-percent increase). Streamfiow returns to preharvest levels in 12 to 15 years. Annual peak flows are at least doubled and snowmelt flood-peak increases may persist for 15 years. Water quality is not widely impacted, but operating logging equipment in stream channels will cause channel clogging by filamentous algae and loss of fish habitat. Permanent changes from forest to agricultural and urban land use on two-thirds or more of a watershed will significantly increase the size of flood peaks in the 2- to 30-year return interval storm or snowmelt.
Hunger in India - Facts and Challenges

A very large data set on the incidence of children with an anthropometric status below standard norms in India has recently been made available to the international research community. This paper is a preliminary attempt to provide a “map” of the anthropometric status of children in the region (developments over time, by state, and the urban/rural divide). Of special interest is that the question of differences along gender lines can be examined for a considerably larger and more representative set of observations (up to 46 000 children from all Indian states) than has feasible earlier. The surprising result – in sharp contrast to previous findings and conventional wisdom – is that there are no systematic or significant differences in the frequency of male and female children below the height and weight norms. Some tentative hypotheses for this result is offered in the paper, but more thorough examination and tests are work in progress.
Palaeoceanographic events in the Middle Cenomanian of Northwest Europe

Six rhythmic (chalk/marl) mid-Cenomanian sections have been studied: Culver Cliff, Southerham, Folkestone and Cap Blanc Nez (Anglo-Pads Basin); Speeton, South Ferriby (Cleveland Basin, UK). Individual beds can be correlated on lithology, macrofauna and trace fossils. Sections span rhythms B33-C14 of Gale (1989). Planktonic foraminiferan percentage increases above rhythm C10. Lyropecten (Aequipecten) arlesiensis and Actinocamax primus only occur in marls B41 and C1, respectively. Together with Syncyclonema membranacea and Oxytoma seminudum, they accompany a double-peaked δ13C excursion. The first, weaker peak occurs in chalk B41; the second at the C1-C2 boundary. The excursion is not diagenetic in origin and peaks result from burial of organic carbon during transgressions following sea level falls. Total organic carbon content is always <0.6%, with weak peaks coincident with the δ13C peaks at Folkestone, but not at Southerham. Microbiotic responses across the excursion include: temporary absence of Tritaxia macfadyeni and brief appearance of Favusella washitensis; reduction in maximum size of planktonic foraminifera; and decline in dinoflagellate cyst abundance but little change in their diversity. The mid-Cenomanian carbon excursion is weaker (maximum shift 1%) than the late Cenomanian excursion and not associated with any extinctions.
The Graves of Tarim: Genealogy and Mobility across the Indian Ocean

List of Illustrations Acknowledgments Note on Dates, Abbreviations, and Transliteration Preface: Hadrami Society, an Old Diaspora I. BURIAL 1. The Society of the Absent 2. Geography, a Pathway through History 3. A Resolute Localism Conclusion to Part I: Making Tarim a Place of Return II. GENEALOGICAL TRAVEL 4. Ecumenical Islam in an Oceanic World 5. Hybrid Texts: Genealogy as Light and as Law 6. Creole Kinship: Genealogy as Gift Conclusion to Part II: Local Cosmopolitans III. RETURNS 7. Return as Pilgrimage 8. Repatriation 9. The View from the Verandah 10. Evictions Concluding Remarks: Names beyond Nations Bibliography Index