Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Moho Depth And Poisson's Ratio In The Western–Central Alps From Receiver Functions, D. Lombardi, Jochen Braunmiller, E. Kissling, D. Giardini

School of Geosciences Faculty and Staff Publications

Current knowledge about deep crustal structure of the Alpine orogen has mainly been derived from P-wave velocity models obtained from active and passive seismic experiments. A complementary S-wave model to provide lithological constraints necessary for unique structural interpretation has been missing to date. In this paper, we present important new information on S-wave velocity model in the Alps. We applied the receiver function method using 6 yr of high quality data from 61 permanent and temporary stations sampling the Western–Central Alps. We determined first-order crustal features Moho depth (H) and average Vp/Vs ratio …

Earth Scientists And Public Policy: Have We Failed New Orleans?, Timothy H. Dixon, Roy K. Dokka

School of Geosciences Faculty and Staff Publications

Earth scientists rarely influence public policy or urban planning. In defiance of geologic reality, cities are established on or expanded into floodplains, wetlands, earthquake faults, and active volcanoes. One exception to our lack of influence is that shortly after a major natural disaster, there is a brief window of heightened public awareness that may lead to sensible regulation or relocation of infrastructure. After the 1933 Long Beach earthquake, for example, California building codes were improved to reduce earthquake hazard. After Mississippi River flooding in 1993, several U.S. cities designated parts of their low-lying flood-plain as green space.

A Large New Species Of Lobatus (Gastropoda: Stromnidae) From The Neogene Of The Dominican Republic, With Notes On The Genus, Bernard M. Landau, Gijs C. Kronenberg, Gregory S. Herbert

School of Geosciences Faculty and Staff Publications

No abstract provided.

Scărişoara. The Realm Of Scărişoara, Robert Brinkmann

Studia UBB Geologia

No abstract provided.

In Memoriam

Studia UBB Geologia

nicorici-ionesi

Mammut Borsoni (Hays 1834) From The Early Pliocene Of Husnicioara (Mehedinţi District, Romania), Vlad Codrea, Florina Diaconu

Studia UBB Geologia

A mastodon tooth has been found at Husnicioara coal open pit, in Mehedinţi district (southwestern Romania). It originates from the Lower Pliocene (Dacian) gravel and sand deposits lying just above the coal bed IV, mined in this quarry. The tooth exposing zygodont features undoubtedly belongs to Mammut borsoni (“Borson’s mastodont”). Although this species is very common in the Pliocene vertebrate faunas from this part of Europe, until now it was missing from the Lower Pliocene (Dacian) assemblage’s lists in our country.

On The Cretaceous Occurrences Of Ammogloborotalia Zheng, 2001 (Foraminifera), Michael A. Kaminski, Claudia Cetean, Andrew Henderson, Sorin Filipescu

Studia UBB Geologia

Three species of agglutinated foraminifera from Cretaceous deep-water deposits that have been described as trochamminids are here transferred to the genus Ammogloborotalia ZHENG, 2001. These species are Trochammina abrupta GEROCH, 1959; Trochammina quinqueloba GEROCH, 1959, and Ammoanita globorotaliaeformis Gradstein and Kaminski, 1999. A fourth species, Ammogloborotalia sp.1, which is probably a new species from the Turonian of the southern East Carpathians of Romania is reported here for the first time. We hereby extend the known stratigraphic range of the genus Ammogloborotalia to the Late Jurassic (Tithonian).

What Is Cczn-Armalcolite? A Crystal-Chemical Discussion And An Ad-Hoc Incursion In The Crichtonite-Minerals Group, Gavril Sabau, Augusta Alberico

Studia UBB Geologia

The status of CCZN-armalcolite, commonly still believed to be a variety of armalcolite s.s., is questionable in view of partial evidence suggesting that it would represent a distinct phase, as initially claimed by its discoverers. Because of the rarity of the mineral, combined with its habitual small grain-size, no successful structural investigation could be undertaken so far. Therefore we attempted a chemical overview of existing and original data pertaining to CCZN-armalcolite. With the view of systematizing structure-composition relationships, we analyzed the topology of large cations – bearing close-packed oxides, while extending the nomenclature in use in order to accommodate further …

Uppermost Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous Carbonate Deposits From Fara San Martino (Maiella, Italy): Biostratigraphic Remarks, Roberta Bruni, Ioan I. Bucur, Alain Preat

Studia UBB Geologia

The Uppermost Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous limestone succession in the Maiella region of Italy has been investigated in a profile covering more than 400 m stratigraphical thickness at Fara San Martino. The succession mainly consists of peritidal limestones, intertidal and supratidal sequences being dominant, together with subtidal lagoonal facies. As a consequence, the microfossil assemblages are generally poorly developed, Microfossils occur within the subtidal lagoonal facies of this suite of restricted sediments. This feature led us to recognise five informal biostratigraphic intervals, which are facies related – instead of biozones, each of the intervals being characterized by specific micropaleontological associations. The occurrence …

Biostratigraphy Of The Cretaceous Deposits In The Western Transylvanides From Ampoi Valley (Southern Apuseni Mountains, Romania), Ramona Balc, Erika Suciu-Krausz, Florin Borbei

Studia UBB Geologia

The present study is an approach of the issues related to the biostratigraphy of the Western Transylvanides. The research provided exact age data for the Feneş Formation, Valea lui Paul Formation, Bozeş Formation and Râmeţi Formation. The age of the formations was established based on the calcareous nannoplankton assemblages in Barremian-Campanian range. The lithological features together with the new age data allowed us to modify the boundaries between formations; accordingly the knowledge on the structure of South Apuseni Mountains required changes, too. The new data also imply the modification of the existent geological maps of the region. Based on the …

Early Medieval Ceramics From The Viile Tecii Archaeological Site (Romania): An Optical And Xrd Study, Corina Ionescu, Lucretia Ghergari, Marius Horga, Gabriela Rădulescu

Studia UBB Geologia

Mineralogical and petrographic studies of Early Medieval potshards exhumed in the Viile Tecii archaeological site (North Transylvania, Romania) show a ceramic body composed of a microcrystalline to amorphous matrix, various clasts and voids. The microscopical features and XRD patterns indicate that illitic-kaolinitic clays were used as raw materials, together with quartzitic sands as tempering material. The ceramic vessels were obtained with the potter’s wheel, but the fabric is only slightly oriented, due either to the fast modeling or to the coarseness of the clayish paste. The thermal alteration of mineral phases points to relatively high firing-temperatures, between 800 and 900°C.

The Sarmatian Vertebrates From Draxeni (Moldavian Platform), Vlad Codrea, Laurentiu Ursachi

Studia UBB Geologia

Middle Miocene (Sarmatian) vertebrates had been unearthed at Draxeni (Vaslui district). The site is located in the northern area of the Moldavian Platform. There, the sand belonging to Şcheia Formation (Bessarabian) is mined in a restricted open pit. This sand is related to a littoral environment (shoreface and foreshore). Some of its levels are rich in mollusc debris. Vertebrate remains, carried into the Bessarabian brackish basin are present too, but in smaller amounts. Mastodon, rhinoceros, hipparionine, tortoise remains had been collected there over several years. All teeth and bones are isolated and bear the marks of intensive rolling by waves …

Petrology And Geochemistry Of The Muntele Mare Granitoid (Northern Apuseni Mountains), Romania, Lucretia Ghergari, Cristina Maris

Studia UBB Geologia

The paper brings new data on the petrography and geochemistry of the Muntele Mare Granitoid (MMG), from its northernmost outcropping area (Mănăstireni-Bedeci area, Gilău Massif, Apuseni Mountains), where MM\G is are actively quarried for quartz and feldspar that are used in the ceramics industry. The MMG mined in the Bedeci quarry has a pegmatitic hypidiomorphous – inequigranular fabric, and a low melanocratic index (ca. 7%). It consists of quartz, plagioclase (two generations: acidic andesine-basic oligoclase (34-35% An), and albite (9-11% An)), orthoclase ± perthite in various substitution stages by microcline (intermediary), as well as microcline maximum, muscovite and biotite. Accessories …

High-Temperature And “Exotic” Minerals From The Cioclovina Cave, Romania: A Review, Bogdan P. Onac, Herta S. Effenberger, Radu C. Breban

Studia UBB Geologia

This paper reports on the identification of four rare minerals in the phosphate deposit in Cioclovina Cave, Romania. Berlinite, AlPO4 and hydroxylellestadite, Ca5[(Si,P,S)O4]3(OH,F,Cl) are minerals that can form only at high temperatures, and would not be expected in a sedimentary environment. In this study we review the characteristics of berlinite and hydroxylellestadite from a heated sedimentary sequence in Cioclovina Cave (Romania) and refine their structure from single-crystal X-ray data. Two other minerals, churchite-(Y), YPO4⋅2H2O and foggite, CaAl(PO4)(OH)2⋅H2O are, for the first time, described from a cave environment. The minerals were documented by means of single-crystal X-ray investigations, X-ray powder diffraction, …

Derek Ford Oral History Interview With Dr. Philip Van Beynen, January 24, 2008, Derek Ford (Interviewee), Philip Van Beynen (Interviewer)

Environmental Sustainability Oral Histories

Dr. Derek Ford, karst science authority and author, begins the interview discussing his childhood in and around the city of Bath, England and the beginnings of his interest in rock climbing, cave diving, and cave mapping. Special attention is given to his relationship to the transition from the physiographic approach to geography to a quantitative approach. He elaborates on his friendship with eminent geomorphologist Paul Williams and how they came to write their book together. The conversation continues with an in-depth discussion of Dr. Ford's major scientific breakthroughs and notable publications with various research partners. He reflects on his career …

Henry Schwarcz Oral History Interview With Dr. Bogdan Onac, January 22, 2008, Henry Schwarcz (Interviewee), Bogdan Onac (Interviewer)

Environmental Sustainability Oral Histories

Dr. Henry Schwarcz, karst scientist of McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, begins the interview with background information about his childhood and education. He mentions how proximity to great karst scientists and a "hot bed" of research was highly influential while seeking his undergraduate and graduate level degrees. The bulk of the interview consists of Dr. Schwarcz chronologically discussing breakthroughs in various processes for determining the age of karst samples. He details the progression in the theory of dating karst and the increasingly sophisticated scientific apparatus involved in dating karstic samples. Dr. Schwarcz closes by expressing concern over what he …

Rethinking Early Earth Phosphorus Geochemistry, Matthew A. Pasek

School of Geosciences Faculty and Staff Publications

Phosphorus is a key biologic element, and a prebiotic pathway leading to its incorporation into biomolecules has been difficult to ascertain. Most potentially prebiotic phosphorylation reactions have relied on orthophosphate as the source of phosphorus. It is suggested here that the geochemistry of phosphorus on the early Earth was instead controlled by reduced oxidation state phosphorus compounds such as phosphite (HPO₃ ²⁻), which are more soluble and reactive than orthophosphates. This reduced oxidation state phosphorus originated from extraterrestrial material that fell during the heavy bombardment period or was produced during impacts, and persisted in the mildly reducing atmosphere. …

Patterns Of Upper Layer Circulation Variability In The South China Sea From Satellite Altimetry Using The Self-Organizing Map, Yonggang Liu, Robert H. Weisberg, Yaochu Yuan

Yonggang Liu

Patterns of the South China Sea (SCS) circulation variability are extracted from merged satellite altimetry data from October 1992 through August 2004 by using the self-organizing map (SOM). The annual cycle, seasonal and inter-annual variations of the SCS surface circulation are identified through the evolution of the characteristic circulation patterns. The annual cycle of the SCS gener- al circulation patterns is described as a change between two opposite basin-scale SW-NE oriented gyres embedded with eddies: low sea surface height anomaly (SSHA) (cyclonic) in winter and high SSHA (anticyclonic) in summer half year. The transition starts from July--August (January--February) with a …

Carbon Dioxide Concentration In Air Within The Nerja Cave (Malaga, Andalusia, Spain), Cristina Liñán, Iñaki Vadillo, Francisco Carrasco

International Journal of Speleology

From 2001 to 2005 the CO₂ concentration of the air in the interior and exterior of the Nerja Cave was studied and its relation with the air temperature and visitor number. The average annual CO₂ concentration outside of the cave is 320 ppmv, whilst inside, the mean concentration increases to 525 ppmv during autumn and winter, and in the order of 750 ppmv during spring and summer. The temporal variation of CO₂ content in the air of the cave is strongly influenced by its degree of natural ventilation which is, in turn, determined by the difference between …

The Environmental Features Of The Monte Corchia Cave System (Apuan Alps, Central Italy) And Their Effects On Speleothem Growth, L. Piccini, G. Zanchetta, R. N. Drysdale, J. Hellstrom, I. Isola, A. E. Fallick, G. Leone, M. Doveri, M. Mussi, F. Mantelli, G. Molli, L. Lotti, A. Roncioni, E. Regattieri, M. Meccheri, L. Vaselli

International Journal of Speleology

The Monte Corchia cave system, one of the most famous and popular caves in Italy, has in recent times been the subject of investigation on its speleothems as paleoclimate archives. This paper describes the geology, geomorphology and water chemistry of the cave system with the aim to elucidate the processes that have generated these speleothems and the properties they contain that are so useful for paleoclimatology. Some general conclusions can be drawn: i) the Corchia system is a cave developed over different altitudes during progressive uplift of the mountain chain in which it is located, probably under drainage conditions very …

Late Pleistocene Cryogenic Calcite Spherolites From The Malachitdom Cave (Ne Rhenish Slate Mountains, Germany): Origin, Unusual Internal Structure And Stable C-O Isotope Composition, Detlev Konrad Richter, Dana Felicitas Christine Riechelmann

International Journal of Speleology

Cryogenic calcites yielded U-series ages in the range from 15.61±0.20 ka to 14.48±0.12 ka, which is the youngest age obtained so far for this type of cryogenic cave carbonates in Europe. Most of these particles of the Malachitdom Cave (NE Brilon, Sauerland, North Rhine-Westphalia) are complex spherolites usually smaller than 1 cm. They show δ¹³C-values between –1 and –5 ‰ VPDB and δ¹⁸O-values ranging from –7 to –16 ‰ VPDB, the δ¹³C-values increase and the δ¹⁸O-values decrease from centre to border. The complex spherolites are interpreted to be formed in slowly freezing …

The Origin Of The Bemaraha Tsingy (Madagascar), Márton Veress, Dénes Lóczy, Zoltán Zentai, Gábor Tóth, Roland Schläffer

International Journal of Speleology

On Madagascar the most representative occurrences of tsingy are at Ankarana and Bemaraha. The tsingy are built up of giant grikes developed along cracks as well as karren features of much smaller size which cover the surfaces between grikes. We investigated the Bemaraha tsingy of Madagascar (surveyed profiles, measured grike directions, etc.) in order to reconstruct their development. The observations indicate that the majority of grikes of the tsingy are created from caves formed under the karst water table and subsequently opened up to the surface. The predominant processes may have been downward progressing dissolution or the collapse of cave …

Report Of A Three-Year Monitoring Programme At Heshang Cave, Central China, Chaoyong Hu, Gideon M. Henderson, Junhua Huang, Zhenghong Chen, Kathleen R. Johnson

International Journal of Speleology

Heshang Cave is situated in central China (30°27’N, 110°25’E; 294 m) in the middle reaches of the Yangtze Valley, a region strongly impacted by the East Asian Monsoon. It contains large annually-laminated Holocene and late Pleistocene stalagmites which capture past monsoon behaviour with seasonal resolution, and could enhance understanding of the amplitude and frequency of monsoon behaviour in different climate states. In this paper, we present results of a 3-year monitoring programme at Heshang. T loggers outside the cave agree closely with T data from nearby meteorological stations. T at the site of growth of the largest recovered stalagmite averages …

Critical Axial Load, Walt Wells

Undergraduate Journal of Mathematical Modeling: One + Two

Our objective in this paper is to solve a second order differential equation for a long, simply supported column member subjected to a lateral axial load using Heun's numerical method. We will use the solution to find the critical load at which the column member will fail due to buckling. We will calculate this load using Euler's derived analytical approach for an exact solution, as well as Euler's Numerical Method. We will then compare the three calculated values to see how much they deviate from one another. During the critical load calculation, it will be necessary to calculate the moment …

Evaluation Of 1,3,5 Trimethylbenzene Degradation In The Detailed Tropospheric Chemistry Mechanism, Mcmv3.1, Using Environmental Chamber Data, A. Metzger, J. Dommen, J. Duplissy, A. S.H. Prevot, J. Kleffmann, Yasin F. Elshorbany, A. Wisthaler, U. Baltensperger

USF St. Petersburg campus Faculty Publications

The degradation mechanism of 1,3,5-trimethyl-benzene (TMB) as implemented in the Master Chemical Mechanism version 3.1 (MCM) was evaluated using data from the environmental chamber at the Paul Scherrer Institute. The results show that the MCM provides a consistent description of the photo-oxidation of TMB/NO(x) mixtures for a range of conditions. In all cases the agreement between the measurement and the simulation decreases with decreasing VOC-NO(x) ratio and in addition with increasing precursor concentration. A significant underestimation of the decay rate of TMB and thus underestimation of reactivity in the system, consistent with results from previous appraisals of the MCM, was …

Superior Karst Management Through Superior Data Management: The Karst Information Portal, E. Spencer Fleury, George H. Veni, Todd A. Chavez, Penelope J. Boston, Diana E. Northup, H. Len Vacher, Pat Seiser

Todd A. Chavez

Effective stewardship of caves and karst areas requires access to and efficient analysis of a diverse range of information. Vital data are scattered throughout specialty mainstream journals, which even for a single project could include fields such as ecology, hydrogeology, contaminant transport, toxicology, engineering geology and law. Additionally, volumes of crucial information often lie in diffi­cult-to-find gray literature. Management recommendations and decisions should be based on assessments of state-of-the-art information, but fall short when im­portant patterns and relationships are overlooked.

The Karst Information Portal (KIP) offers a solution to these problems. Con­ceived in 2005 and launched in June 2007, KIP …

Criteria Pollutant Concentration, Victor Neese

Undergraduate Journal of Mathematical Modeling: One + Two

With the assistance of Assistant Professor Jeff Cunningham (Civil & Environmental Engineering Department, USF) a study was carried out pertaining to the amount of CO and NOx pollutants emitted from a highway having two lanes in each direction. The receptor of the pollutants is a hypothetical housing development located near the highway. The concentrations were found by utilizing information regarding meteorological conditions, estimated emissions rates, and distances from the highway less than or equaling 2 km.

Collection Of Nitrate In A Denuder, Hannah Feig

Undergraduate Journal of Mathematical Modeling: One + Two

Data are given for aerosol nitrate (NO_3-) size distributions in the atmosphere as recorded by a cascade impactor and by an annular denuder. Using this data, our goal is to find the percent of nitrate in the atmosphere that the denuder is able to detect. This requires that we find the size distribution of nitrate that enters the denuder. From these data and calculations, we find that 32.8% of nitrate in the atmosphere can be detected by the denuder. Nitrate was measured to study its affects on seagrass in the Tampa Bay and to compare nitrate levels with …

Algae Bloom In A Lake, David Sanabria

Undergraduate Journal of Mathematical Modeling: One + Two

The objective of this paper is to determine the likelihood of an algae bloom in a particular lake located in upstate New York. The growth of algae in this lake is caused by a high concentration of phosphorous that diffuses to the surface of the lake. Our calculations, based on Fick's Law, are used to create a mathematical model of the driving force of diffusion for phosphorous. Empirical observations are also used to predict whether the concentration of phosphorous will diffuse to the surface of this lake within a specified time and under specified conditions.

Superior Karst Management Through Superior Data Management: The Karst Information Portal, E. Spencer Fleury, George H. Veni, Todd A. Chavez, Penelope J. Boston, Diana E. Northup, H. Len Vacher, Pat Seiser

Academic Resources Faculty and Staff Publications

Effective stewardship of caves and karst areas requires access to and efficient analysis of a diverse range of information. Vital data are scattered throughout specialty mainstream journals, which even for a single project could include fields such as ecology, hydrogeology, contaminant transport, toxicology, engineering geology and law. Additionally, volumes of crucial information often lie in diffi­cult-to-find gray literature. Management recommendations and decisions should be based on assessments of state-of-the-art information, but fall short when im­portant patterns and relationships are overlooked.

The Karst Information Portal (KIP) offers a solution to these problems. Con­ceived in 2005 and launched in June 2007, KIP …