Preprints
Filtering by Subject: Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Geostatistical characterisation of internal structure of mass-transport deposits from seismic reflection images and borehole logs
Published: 2019-07-24
Subjects: Earth Sciences, Geophysics and Seismology, Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Seismic reflection images of mass-transport deposits often show apparently chaotic, disorded or low-reflectivity internal seismic facies. The lack of laterally coherent reflections can prevent horizon-based interpretation of internal structure. This study instead inverts for geostatistical parameters which characterise the internal heterogeneity of mass-transport deposits from depth-domain [...]
Using T. C. Chamberlins Approach for Determining the forces that Move the Earths Tectonic Plates
Published: 2019-07-24
Subjects: Earth Sciences, Physical Sciences and Mathematics, Tectonics and Structure
The approach in this paper stems primarily from the application of principles of the philosophy of science to determine if current ideas on the forces of plate tectonics are plausible. The philosophic principles (1) Bacons scientific method using T. C. Chamberlins idea of examining multiple hypothesis; and (2) the characteristics of a good theory. it is shown that the driving forces of plate [...]
Giant meandering channel systems controlled by sediment supply to the deep-water Campos basin
Published: 2019-07-24
Subjects: Earth Sciences, Geology, Physical Sciences and Mathematics, Stratigraphy
Large meandering submarine-channel systems are important conduits for mass transfer to continental margins; wider and deeper channels, with larger meanders, reflect larger sediment discharge. Some large meandering channel systems are known to receive voluminous sediment from the largest rivers in the world, such as the Ganges-Brahmaputra, Amazon, Indus, Mississippi, and Zaire (Congo); however, [...]
Considering fault interaction in estimates of absolute stress along faults in the San Gorgonio Pass region, southern California
Published: 2019-07-23
Subjects: Earth Sciences, Physical Sciences and Mathematics, Tectonics and Structure
Present-day shear tractions along faults of the San Gorgonio Pass region can be estimated from stressing rates provided by three-dimensional forward crustal deformation models. Modeled dextral shear stressing rates on the San Andreas and San Jacinto faults differ from rates resolved from the regional loading due to fault interaction. In particular, fault patches with similar orientations and [...]
Investigating the role of faults in fluid migration and gas hydrate formation along the southern Hikurangi Margin, New Zealand
Published: 2019-07-22
Subjects: Earth Sciences, Geophysics and Seismology, Physical Sciences and Mathematics
The Hikurangi Margin off the east coast of the North Island (Te Ika-a-Māui) is a tectonically active subduction zone and the location of New Zealand’s largest gas hydrate province. Faults are internally complex volumetric zones that may play a significant role in the migration of fluids beneath the seafloor. The combined processes of deformation and fluid migration result in the formation of [...]
Are we in the right path in using early warning systems?
Published: 2019-07-21
Subjects: Earth Sciences, Geophysics and Seismology, Physical Sciences and Mathematics
This article focusses on the recent tsunami in Indonesia, and the factors led to a large number of fatalities. We also discussed the failure of early warning systems, steps, methods and technologies, in general, to improve the early warning systems in the future to mitigate the loss of lives and property during these impending disasters. This article is timely as Indonesia has seen one of the [...]
Base-Salt Relief Controls Salt-Related Deformation in the Outer Kwanza Basin, offshore Angola
Published: 2019-07-21
Subjects: Earth Sciences, Physical Sciences and Mathematics, Tectonics and Structure
We use a 3D seismic dataset from Offshore Angola to document the salt-influenced translation and evolution of structures on the margin.
What is Trishear?
Published: 2019-07-20
Subjects: Earth Sciences, Geology, Physical Sciences and Mathematics, Tectonics and Structure
The kinematics of fault-propagation folds, formed above the tips of upward propagating normal faults, is typically inferred from numerical and physical models. Trishear is a forward kinematic model in which deformation occurs in a triangular zone in front of the propagating fault tip, with the geometry of this zone, and the geometry and growth of the resulting fold, related to several parameters [...]
Contrasting TiO2 compositions in Early Cenozoic mafic sills of the Faroe Islands: an example of basalt formation from distinct melting regimes
Published: 2019-07-20
Subjects: Earth Sciences, Geology, Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Abstract: The Paleocene lava succession of the Faroe Islands Basalt Group (FIBG), which is a part of the North Atlantic Igneous Province (NAIP), is intruded by numerous basaltic sills. These can be grouped into three main categories according to their geochemical characteristics: A low-TiO2 sill category (TiO2 = 0.7-0.9), a relatively high-TiO2 sill category (TiO2 = 1.95-2.6) and an [...]
Tornado damage ratings estimated with cumulative logistic regression
Published: 2019-07-18
Subjects: Meteorology, Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, Physical Sciences and Mathematics, Statistics and Probability
Empirical studies have led to improvements in evaluating and quantifying the tornado threat. However more work is needed to put the research onto a solid statistical foundation. Here the authors begin to build this foundation by introducing and then demonstrating a statistical model to estimate damage rating probabilities. A goal is to alert researchers to available statistical technology for [...]
Interaction of Sea-Level Pulses with Periodically Retreating Barrier Islands
Published: 2019-07-18
Subjects: Earth Sciences, Geology, Geomorphology, Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Barrier deposits preserved on continental shelf seabeds provide a record of the paleocoastal environment from the last glacial maximum through the Holocene. The formation of these offshore deposits is often attributed to intermittent periods of rapidly rising sea levels, especially glacial meltwater pulses, which are expected to lead to partial or complete drowning—overstepping—of migrating [...]
The contribution of submesoscale over mesoscale eddy iron transport in the open Southern Ocean
Published: 2019-07-18
Subjects: Oceanography, Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, Physical Sciences and Mathematics
In order to examine the roles of ocean dynamics in supplying iron, the limiting nutrient in the open Southern Ocean, to the surface where it can be effectively utilized for photosynthesis, we run a flat-bottom zonally re-entrant channel model configured to represent the Antarctic Circumpolar Current region and couple it to a full biogeochemical model. The model was forced with monthly varying [...]
Can barrier islands survive sea-level rise? Quantifying the relative role of tidal deltas and overwash deposition
Published: 2019-07-18
Subjects: Civil and Environmental Engineering, Civil Engineering, Earth Sciences, Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Geology, Geomorphology, Oceanography, Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, Physical Sciences and Mathematics, Sedimentology
Accepted open-access publication available at: https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL085524 Barrier island response to sea-level rise depends on their ability to transgress and move sediment onto and behind the barrier, either through flood-tidal delta deposition, or via overwash. Our understanding of these processes over decadal or longer timescales, however, is limited. Here we [...]
Evolution of a shear zone before, during and after melting
Published: 2019-07-18
Subjects: Earth Sciences, Geology, Physical Sciences and Mathematics, Tectonics and Structure
Partial melt in the deforming mid/lower continental crust causes a strength decrease and drives formation of lithological heterogeneities. However, mechanisms of formation of syn-melt deformation zones and strain partitioning in partially molten rock remain poorly understood. We use field and microstructural observations to unravel the evolution of a partial melt shear zone, Seiland Igneous [...]
Evaluating precipitation datasets for large-scale distributed hydrological modelling
Published: 2019-07-18
Subjects: Earth Sciences, Hydrology, Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Over the past decades, a variety of valuable research studies has helped to advance our understanding of the advantages and limitations of satellite derived precipitation datasets as a forcing to hydrological models, in combination with or as an alternative to gauge data. However, most studies have assessed the performance of only one single dataset (or a few), have used global precipitation [...]