Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
In search of high-fidelity geomagnetic paleointensities : A comparison of single plagioclase crystal and whole rock Thellier-Thellier analyses

The strength of Earth's magnetic field, on timescales greater than a million years, is known primarily from Thellier-Thellier analyses of igneous rocks. In the Thellier-Thellier method, the natural remanent magnetization (NRM) is compared with a thermoremanent magnetization (TRM) imparted during heating in a known laboratory field. Unfortunately, the multiple heating steps required by the method often result in alteration of magnetic minerals in clay-bearing groundmass of whole rock samples. This alteration may result in the creation of new magnetic minerals that could affect TRM acquisition. Analyses of single plagioclase crystals, which contain magnetic inclusions that retain paleofield values, may offer a way to retrieve paleointensity data that is less affected by alteration. We test this hypothesis through a study of whole rocks and single plagioclase crystals from a mid-Cretaceous (113–115 Ma) basalt flow of the Rajmahal Traps (northeastern India). Magnetic hysteresis and thermal demagnetization data from plagioclase crystals and whole rock samples are similar, suggesting a common magnetic mineralogy. However, hysteresis data from heated whole rock samples indicate that a fine-grained magnetic phase has formed. This effect was either absent, or much less pronounced in the single plagioclase crystals tested. Paleointensity data from these crystals suggest a paleofield value of 65.1±5.3 μT (n=15). Data from whole rock samples overlap these values but are on average lower. We attribute the difference in this study to the preferential growth of new magnetic minerals in the whole rock samples, resulting in an enhanced acquisition of TRM and shallowing of the slope of NRM-lost versus TRM-gained curves. These data suggest that subtle alteration effects may bias Thellier-Thellier results from some whole rock samples toward low paleofield values. In these cases the single plagioclase crystal approach may yield more reliable estimates of geomagnetic paleointensity.
Late Quaternary Geomorphic Evolution of the Coastal Zone of Kachchh, Western India

Abstract The present study attempts to delineate the late Quaternary morphotectonic evolution of the coastal zone of Kachchh on the basis of detailed field mapping of the various coastal and fluvial landforms and lithostratigraphic studies of the associated sediments. The entire coastline has been divided into five morphologically distinct segments from west to east—Narayan Sarovar–Jakhau, Jakhau–Khuada, Khuada–Bhada, Bhada–Mundra, and Mundra–Surajbari segments. Major geomorphic features of interest are the variable width of the intertidal zone; development of beaches, bars, and spits; width of active and stabilised coastal dunes; raised mudflats; raised beaches; uplifted estuarine tidal terraces; and the development of a coastal alluvial plain in the Jakhau–Khuada and Bhada–Mundra segments. The coastal alluvial plain was formed by deposition of fluvial sediments over the peneplained Tertiary rocks during upper late Pleistocene in two separate tectonically created basins. Deeply incised fluvial valleys were formed in response to tectonic uplift of the coast due to movements along E-W trending faults further north during the early Holocene. The sea level was higher than present during 6–2 ka, which led to the deposition of coastal sediments, fluvial terraces along incised fluvial valleys, and formation of a cliffy coast in the Narayan–Sarovar–Jakhau segment. Emergent coastal features consisting of raised beaches, raised mudflats, abandoned coastal cliffs, uplifted estuarine tidal to fluvial terraces, and stabilised coastal dunes developed because of uplift during the last 2 ka. The various morphotectonic divisions of the coast are attributed to the role played by the inherent structural fabric, the subsurface Median high, and general uplift of the coast due to tectonic activity along the E-W trending faults to the north of the study area during the early Holocene and the last 2 ka.
Land applications of shear waves

Shear waves were discussed in terms of raypaths in the first article of this series. They may also be viewed as wavefronts. An excellent and brief tutorial treatment of compressional waves (P) and shear waves (S) is offered by R. Garotta in the brochure Land seismic shear waves produced by CGG (Technical Series No: 507.78.05). Garotta begins by stating that homogeneous and isotropic solids can transmit two types (see Figure 1) of elastic waves, compressional and shear, and provides a mathematical proof that their respective propagation velocities are different.
Anuário do Instituto de Geociências

Image analysis and feature extraction of remoted sensing data are significant for mapping irrigated agriculture areas as a source of information to improve water management and agricultural planning. This paper presents an image segmented base approach GEOBIA (Geographic Object-Based Image Analysis) to extract irrigated areas by Center Pivot Irrigation System (CPIS). This study suggests a semi-automated recognition of circular patterns for the mapping of irrigated regions by center pivots, using Sentinel-2 MSI images, 10 meters spatial resolution. A set of images from different seasons, humid and dry are used to maximize de CPIS’s occurrence. A multiresolution segmentation method was applied, and a large number of segment-based shape features was extracted and used as input to a feature selection procedure (shape descriptors: Area; Compactness; Circularity Factor; Length/Width; Radius of smallest enclosing ellipse; and Roundness). In addition, another shape descriptor “Circularity Factor” was developed in this research and played an important role during preliminaries classification processes. The accuracy assessment of preliminaries classifications has validated used the Circularity Factor together with the other chosen shape descriptors to reach better results to CPIS’s detection. Furthermore, 86.23% of the CPIS mapped in the classification process is in accordance with the ground truth map. This methodology can be used to map large areas in a relatively short time and provides a tool for monitoring irrigated areas.
Sulfur-isotope variations in Pennsylvanian shales of the midwestern United States

Conditions of sedimentation have affected isotopes in coarse-grained sulfides from Pennsylvanian shales. For example, the Mecca Shale Member (Desmoinesian Series) contains highly variable values for . delta. /sup 34/S (approx. = -10 per thousand, .sigma., standard deviation, approx. = 9) near the ancient shoreline of the Illinois basin, whereas equivalent strata in Missouri and Kansas, farther from the ancient shoreline, have more negative and less variable values (-14.5 per thousand; .sigma. approx. = 5). Sulfides from younger beds in the Missourian Series contain still lighter and less variable sulfur (.delta./sup 34/S approx. = -27 per thousand; .sigma. approx. = 3.1). Because low . delta. /sup 34/S values are typical of sediments deposited in anoxic deep waters, these results suggest that Missourian shales formed slowly in deep waters. The Desmoinesian shales may have been deposited more rapidly in shallower seas. Alternatively, secular shifts for . delta. /sup 34/S in sea-water SO/sub 4/ may have been stronger than previously realized.
Investigation of Groundwater Recharge under Agricultural Fields Using Transient Deep Vadose Zone Data

Groundwater recharge is primarily influenced by land use and climate. Nevertheless, it is the flow and transport processes that take place in the vadose zone that ultimately control the quantity and quality of groundwater replenishment. Vadose zone monitoring systems (VMSs) were implemented under agricultural fields. The VMSs provided continuous information on both the temporal variation in water content and the chemical composition of the sediment pore water at multiple depths in the deep vadose zone (∼20 m). Models for vertical unsaturated flow and chloride transport were calibrated to the transient data. The calibrated models were then used to investigate the temporal characteristics of groundwater recharge coupled with chloride fluxes under a crop field and a grapefruit orchard. Examination of the transient data obtained under the two sites provided insight into the percolation processes and solute mobility in the deep vadose zone. Model simulations resulted in average recharge fluxes of 131 mm yr−1 under the orchard and 199 mm yr−1 under the crop field, even though average annual water input into the irrigated orchard was 2.6 times higher than that into the crop field (rainfed). The model also predicted a 44% drop in average recharge, as well as significant chloride accumulation in the vadose zone as a consequence of a reduction of 19% in rain following climate change scenarios in the area.
Constraints on palaeodrainage evolution induced by uplift and exhumation on the southern flank of the Zagros–Iranian Plateau

Foreland sedimentary rocks from the northern Fars region of Iran contain a record of deformation associated with the Cenozoic collision between Arabia and Eurasia that resulted in formation of the Zagros orogen. The timing of the deformation associated with this event is poorly known. To address this we conducted a study of Miocene foreland sedimentary rocks (19.7–14.8 Ma) of the Chahar–Makan syncline using clast composition, clay mineralogy and low-temperature fission-track dating. The results showed that most of the sedimentary rocks were sourced from ophiolitic rocks. Detrital apatite fission-track (AFT) age signatures of Miocene sedimentary rocks record exhumation in the hanging wall of the Main Zagros Thrust and confirm that the change from underthrusting of the stretched Arabian margin to widespread crustal thickening and deformation in the Zagros region is no younger than 19.7 Ma. A transition from Late Oligocene to Mesozoic–Eocene AFT detrital age signatures between 19.7–16.6 Ma and 16.6–13.8 Ma is interpreted to reflect a possible rearrangement of palaeodrainage distribution that resulted from folding and expansion–uplift of the Zagros–Iranian Plateau region. Supplementary material: Details of the succession of the study area, a complete presentation of sample preparation and fission-track age measurements of apatite grains, and examples of X-ray diffractograms are available at http://www.geolsoc. org.uk/SUP18502.
Trace Elements Levels in Major Depressive Disorder—Evaluation of Potential Threats and Possible Therapeutic Approaches

The multifactorial etiology of major depressive disorder (MDD) includes biological, environmental, genetic, and psychological aspects. Recently, there has been an increasing interest in metallomic studies in psychiatry, aiming to evaluate the role of chosen trace elements in the MDD etiology as well as the progression of symptoms. This narrative review aims to summarize the available literature on the relationship between the concentration of chosen elements in the serum of patients with MDD and the onset and progression of this psychiatric condition. The authors reviewed PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases searching for elements that had been investigated so far and further evaluated them in this paper. Ultimately, 15 elements were evaluated, namely, zinc, magnesium, selenium, iron, copper, aluminium, cadmium, lead, mercury, arsenic, calcium, manganese, chromium, nickel, and phosphorus. The association between metallomic studies and psychiatry has been developing dynamically recently. According to the results of current research, metallomics might act as a potential screening tool for patients with MDD while at the same time providing an assessment of the severity of symptoms. Either deficiencies or excessive amounts of chosen elements might be associated with the progression of depressive symptoms or even the onset of the disease among people predisposed to MDD.
Origin and assessment of water repellency of a sandy South Australian soil

The water repellency of a sandy lucerne pasture soil is critically dependent on aqueous extraction and subsequent drying procedures. Freeze-drying converts a very severely water-repellent soil into a readily wettable soil, but subsequent rewetting and oven-drying regenerates water repellency. These changes are ascribed to changes in the molecular conformation of the organic matter. Prolonged shaking detaches organic matter coatings from sand particles and so reduces repellency. Allowing for these effects, it is shown that a sequence of alcohol-benzene extraction, acid leaching, and NaOH extraction removes the major part of the water-repellent substances present.
Mineral chemistry of the Mull-Morvern Tertiary lava succession, western Scotland

Abstract The 1800 m thick preserved remnant of the Tertiary lava succession of Mull and Morvern consists of three basic mantle-derived magma types, with compositions varying from tholeiitic to mildly alkalic, and from picritic basalts to trachytes. This results in a similarly wide range in mineral compositions. Contrary to the suggestions of previous workers the mineral chemistry of the lava succession (in conjunction with published major and trace element chemistry) is strongly supportive of a fractional crystallisation origin for the more evolved lavas. Resorped and regrown (with more basic material) plagioclase phenocrysts found in the more-evolved are indicative of magma mixing processes involving replenishment of an evolving magma chamber with more-basic magma. Lavas containing 15−20 vol.% plagioclase phenocrysts probably represent eruptions from the top of a magma chamber where flotation cumulates of plagioclase had developed. Fragmental phenocrysts found in some highly plagioclase phyric lavas (from near the top of the preserved lava succession) suggest that the eruption of lavas may have been explosive.
Simulated Drift of Dicamba and Glyphosate on Coffee Crop

Weed management in areas adjacent to coffee plantations makes herbicide drift a constant concern, especially with the use of nonselective products such as dicamba. The objective of this study was to evaluate the phytotoxic effects of the herbicide dicamba alone and mixed with glyphosate as a result of simulated drift in a coffee-producing area. The study was conducted in duplicate at two different coffee cherry development stages. The study was performed with a randomized block design and a 2 × 5 + 1 factorial scheme with four replications using two herbicide spray solutions (dicamba and dicamba + glyphosate) and five low doses (0.25; 1; 5; 10; and 20%). Additionally, a control treatment without herbicide application was also employed. In this study, we evaluated the phytotoxic damage and biometric and productive parameters. Visual damages were observed with the use of dicamba and dicamba + glyphosate doses reduced by 0.25% to 5% in the first days after application. The main symptoms were new leaf epinasty, changes in the internodal distance, and plagiotropic branch curvature. Low doses led to reduced plant height and branch length. The treatments did not reduce productivity and performance but altered the physical classifications of grains.
H and Cl isotope systematics of apatite in brecciated lunar meteorites Northwest Africa 4472, Northwest Africa 773, Sayh al Uhaymir 169, and Kalahari 009

We have investigated the H and Cl systematics in apatite from four brecciated lunar meteorites. In Northwest Africa (NWA) 4472, most of the apatites contain ∼2000–6000 ppm H2O with δD between −200 and 0‰, except for one grain isolated in the matrix, which contains ∼6000 ppm H2O with δD of ∼500–900‰. This low‐δD apatite contains ∼2500–7500 ppm Cl associated with δ37Cl of ∼15–20‰, while the high‐δD grain contains ∼2500 ppm Cl with δ37Cl of ∼7–15‰. In NWA 773, apatites in a first group contain ∼700–2500 ppm H2O with δD values averaging around ∼0 ± 100‰, while apatites in a second group contain ∼5500–16500 ppm H2O with δD ∼250 ± 50‰. In Sayh al Uhaymir (SaU) 169 and Kalahari (Kal) 009, apatites are similar in terms of their H2O contents (∼600–3000 ppm) and δD values (−100 to 200‰). In SaU 169, apatites contain ∼6000–10,000 ppm Cl, characterized by δ37Cl of ∼5–12‰. Overall, most of the analyzed apatite grains have δD within the range reported for carbonaceous chondrites, similar to apatite analyzed in ancient (>3.9 Ga) lunar magmatic. One grain in NWA 4472 has H and Cl isotope compositions similar to apatite from mare basalts. With an age of 4.35 Ga, this grain could be a representative of the oldest known lunar volcanic activity. Finally, since numerous evolved clasts in NWA 773 formed through silicate liquid immiscibility, the apatite grains with extremely high H2O contents, reaching pure hydroxylapatite composition, could provide insights into the effects of such process on the evolution of volatiles in lunar magmas.
Water Planning Under Climatic Uncertainty in Phoenix: Why We Need a New Paradigm

The uncertainties associated with global climate models pose substantial hurdles for urban water planning. Despite growing consensus among climatologists that the American Southwest is headed for a warmer and drier future, water planners in metropolitan Phoenix and elsewhere are reluctant to consider long-term climate change as a significant factor in increased risk of future water scarcity. A new paradigm for climate research and water planning is needed—one that is based on an assumption of uncertainty and a vision of multiple plausible futures, managing risk, and adaptive behaviors. To this end, we downscaled global climate models from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Third and Fourth Assessment Reports for the watersheds north of Phoenix and estimated changes in runoff using a hydrological model. Results then were used as inputs to WaterSim, an integrated simulation model of water supply and demand in Phoenix. The model simulated “what if” scenarios under varying policy decisions and future climates. Results of simulation experiments suggest that (1) current levels of per capita water consumption cannot be supported without unsustainable groundwater use under most climate model scenarios, (2) feasible reductions in residential water consumption allow the region to weather the most pessimistic of the climate projections, (3) delaying action reduces long-term sustainability of the groundwater resource under some climate scenarios, and (4) adaptive policy with appropriate monitoring to track groundwater provides warning that the need for use restrictions is approaching and avoids the need for drastic, ad hoc actions.
On the connection between South Pacific subtropical spiciness anomalies and decadal equatorial variability in an ocean general circulation model

n n Simulations from a 49-year, realistically forced numerical model experiment indicate that decadal variability of temperature and salinity along the equator originates from subsurface spiciness anomalies in the South Pacific. Through western boundary and interior pathways in the thermocline, the subsurface anomalies in the South Pacific are first transferred westward and then northward, eventually appearing along the equator. The large spiciness anomalies in the South Pacific are formed in the eastern subtropics where large unstable salinity gradients are present in conjunction with weak stratification and strong mixing during winters. Our analysis shows that positive anomalies are generated in late winter by diapycnal mixing across isopycnal surfaces that are not exposed to the surface, i.e., through the injection process, in agreement with Yeager and Large ( 2004). In addition, we show that spiciness anomalies can also be created along isopycnals that outcrop to the surface through the subduction process, although this process alone is not enough to explain a significant part of the decadal variability along the equator based upon an active tracer experiment. Both the injection and subduction processes are responsible for forming positive subsurface anomalies in the eastern subtropical South Pacific, while negative anomalies there can be generated by subduction of negative surface anomalies and accumulation via isopycnal advection.
The Spatial, Temporal, and Thermodynamic Characteristics of Southern-Atlantic United States Tornado Events

Tornadic storm environments are not well understood in regions beyond the Great Plains. Severe weather forecasting index values are derived for 129 Southern-Atlantic (SA) Coast (South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia) and 98 southern Great Plains (Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas) tornado days through spatial and temporal interpolations of the proximity balloon soundings. Analyses of these data suggest that the two regions are associated with significantly different environments. The SA storm environments would be considered benign by Great Plains standards. In fact, 95% of the SA tornado events fall below the threshold for severe thunderstorms for the Severe Weather Threat (SWEAT) index. Therefore, the universal use of index threshold values by forecasters is inappropriate. Cluster and density analysis of the spatial data found that tornado events in the SA region are clustered in three general regions. One of the regions is likely influenced by the existence of a Sea-Breeze front or the Piedmont trough. However, given the benign thermodynamic environment, mesoscale augmentation of shear and instability is likely in the other two clustered regions as well.
Statistical studies of impulsive events at high latitudes

A statistical study has been made of the high-latitude impulsive events that were observed during the 1985–1986 South Pole Balloon Campaign. The events were selected by searching for unipolar pulses ≥ 10 nT above background in the vertical component of the magnetic field on the ground and/or pedestal or “W” shaped horizontal electric field perturbations ≥ 10 mV/m in amplitude and accompanied by perturbations in the vertical electric field at balloon altitude. A main event list comprising 112 events was compiled from the 468 hours of data available. Three aspects of the events were examined: the solar wind conditions prior to the event, local time of observation, and intrinsic properties of the events. The local time distribution was obtained from the 112 entry main event list and was found to be nearly uniform across the dayside, with no midday gap. The event rate found using our low-amplitude selection criteria was 0.7 event/hr, comparable to expectations based on in situ studies of the magnetopause. A total of 42 events were found for which data were available from Interplanetary Monitoring Platform (IMP) 8. Of these events, 12 occurred when the ZGSM component (BZ) of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) was northward and 30 occurred when BZ was southward or fluctuating. Only three of the BZ northward cases and only five of the BZ southward cases were preceded by pressure pulses greater than 0.4 nPa in amplitude. Ten of the events were studied in detail by means of a model-fitting method discussed elsewhere. This method infers values of several parameters, including the total current flowing in a coaxial or monopole system and a two-dimensional dipole system. The intrinsic properties of the events showed that only ∼ 10% of the total current contributed to momentum transfer to the high-latitude ionosphere, that the direction of the motion depended more on local time of observation than IMF By, and that events were usually several hundred kilometers in size. The observed Bz control found in the 42 event list and the prevalence of coaxial current dominated events are inconsistent with the predictions of the pressure pulse model.