Northeastern Corner Research Articles

Kinematics of faults in Bengal Basin: Constraints from GPS measurements

The crustal deformation of Bengal Basin is constrained by motion on faults within the basin and those along the basin boundaries on all sides except the southern margin. Eocene Hinge Zone (EHZ), the most prominent structure within Bengal Basin, running through Kolkata-Ranaghat-Mymensingh, shows present day reactivation by hosting 8 earthquakes of magnitude 5.3 to 7.2 on or near its vicinity since 1906. Analysis of GPS derived velocities of stations around the hinge belt reveals a change in crustal kinematics across the belt. The predicted fault model that best fits the observed GPS station velocities on the surface shows that EHZ is a low angle east dipping fault which is locked to a depth of 10 km below the alluvium cover with a maximum slip rate deficit of 1.6 ± 0.7 mm/yr in its northern part at a shallow depth from surface while the deficit in the southern part of EHZ is 1.0 ± 0.6 mm/yr. The Garh-Moyna Khandaghosh fault running almost parallel to the western basin-shield margin does not show significant slip rate deficit. The basin-bounding faults are more active than the faults within and therefore they are greater sources of seismic hazard in the basin. The model results reveal that the Sylhet trough region in the northeastern corner is most vulnerable to future earthquakes as it undergoes deformation due to a maximum slip rate deficit of 9.5 ± 2.4 mm/yr on the shallowly dipping locked megathrust along the eastern margin of the basin plus that of 7.4 ± 2.6 mm/yr on the over thrusting Dapsi thrust and Dauki fault in the north.

EXCAVATIONS AT THE DARBAND-I RANIA PASS, KURDISTAN REGION OF IRAQ: REPORT ON THE 2016 AND 2017 SEASONS

This paper presents the results of the work of the new field initiative launched by the British Museum at the Darband-i Rania pass in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The pass is located at the northeastern corner of Lake Dokan, where, though now subsumed into the lake, the Lower Zab flows from the Peshdar into the Rania Plain. It is a strategic location on a major route from Mesopotamia into Iran, and control of both the road and the river must always have been important. The aim of the work, which commenced in autumn of 2016, is to explore a cluster of sites that commanded the pass, with a particular focus on the first millenniumb.c.Excavation is being carried out principally at two sites: Qalatga Darband, a large fortified site at the western end of the pass, and Usu Aska, a fort inside the pass itself. The occupations of these two sites are predominantly Parthian and Assyrian respectively. Smaller operations have also been carried out at Murad Rasu, a multi-period site situated on a headland across the waters on the southern shore of Lake Dokan. The results have included the discovery at Qalatga Darband of a monumental complex built of stone and roofed with terracotta roof tiles containing the smashed remains of Hellenistic statuary. Other features indicative of Hellenistic material culture are Mediterranean-type oil-presses and Corinthian column bases and capitals. At Usu Aska remains are being uncovered of an Assyrian fortification of massive proportions.

Evidence of Archaean metamorphism from the Yerrabali schist belt of Eastern Dharwar craton from EPMA dating of monazite

The Dharwar craton is divided in to the Western and Eastern Dharwar craton (WDC and EDC) by the N–S trending Chitradurga Shear zone. The EDC mainly consists of late Archean granites interspersed with N–S trending linear schist belts. The Yerrabali Schst belt (YSB) is located at the north-eastern corner of the EDC, near the Karimnagar granulite belt. The YSB is metamorphosed in middle-upper amphibolite facies and consists of Banded Magnetite Quartzite (BMQ), ferruginous quartzite, ultramafics, quartz–cordierite–gedrite ± garnet bearing quartzite, dolomite, amphibolite, deformed meta-pyroxenite, tremolite schist, sillimanite–garnet–cordierite schist, and dolerite dykes. We have dated monazites in the sillimanite–garnet–cordierite schist, exposed at the SW part of the YSB by EPMA chemical method. So far no dates are available from the YSB. The monazite chemical ages with three distinct populations, viz., 2658 ± 42, 2817 ± 19 and 3097 ± 34 Ma, probably correspond to three distinct metamorphic phases. The peak metamorphism at around 2800 Ma corresponds with the garnet and cordierite growth. A temperature of 673°C and a pressure of 4.7 kb have been estimated for peak metamorphism.

THE SILK ROUTE AND ITS REFLECTION ON KNOWLEDGE – SYNCRETISM AND IMAGES IN PAINTING AND ARCHITECTONIC FORMS IN MIDDLE-INNER ASIA A PARADIGM BEYOND SPACE AND TIME 13th – 15th CENTURIES AD

THE SILK ROUTE AND ITS REFLECTION ON KNOWLEDGE – SYNCRETISM AND IMAGES IN PAINTING AND ARCHITECTONIC FORMS IN MIDDLE-INNER ASIA A PARADIGM BEYOND SPACE AND TIME 13th – 15th CENTURIES AD

New Investigations on “The Square-Plan Building” at Dascyleum

During excavations in Dascyleum in 2011, a structure was discovered and was identified as a tower located on the slope east of an area called Hisartepe in Ergili, located in the Bandırma District of Balıkesir Province. The excavations revealed that this square-plan structure was constructed over four building phases. During the first phase, a wall at the bottom northeastern corner of the structure was constructed. The second phase added a support wall (glacis) with a stepped structure that is built on the first building phase, but on a different axis to fit on top of the walls built during the first phase. In the third phase, the area in the eastern part of the glacis was filled with soil and a square structure was built on top of it. In the fourth phase, a pavement-like architectural element was constructed to the east of the building, parallel to the eastern wall of the building. The present study includes the dating of the buildings’ remains and presents the initial conclusions as to the function of the square-plan structure. 

Moisture Recycling over the Iberian Peninsula: The Impact of 3DVAR Data Assimilation

In this paper, we have estimated the spatiotemporal distribution of moisture recycling over the Iberian Peninsula (IP). The recycling ratio was computed from two simulations over the IP using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model with a horizontal resolution of 15 km spanning the period 2010–2014. The first simulation (WRF N) was nested inside the ERA-Interim with information passed to the domain through the boundaries. The second run (WRF D) is similar to WRF N, but it also includes 3DVAR data assimilation every six hours (12:00 a.m., 6:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. UTC). It was also extended until 2018. The lowest values of moisture recycling (3%) are obtained from November to February, while the highest ones (16%) are observed in spring in both simulations. Moisture recycling is confined to the southeastern corner during winter. During spring and summer, a gradient towards the northeastern corner of the IP is observed in both simulations. The differences between both simulations are associated with the dryness of the soil in the model and are higher during summer and autumn. WRF D presents a lower bias and produces more reliable results because of a better representation of the atmospheric moisture.

Institutional Change on a Conservationist Frontier: Local Responses to a Grabbing Process in the Name of Environmental Protection

In a wave of global conservationism, Ecuador established two large protected areas in its Amazon region in 1979. One of these is the Reserva de Producción Faunística Cuyabeno (RPFC), located in the northeastern corner of the country. Given that this land was previously managed as commons by local indigenous groups, the establishment of protected areas has had numerous consequences for these people. The research conducted comprised three months’ fieldwork in three of the affected Siona communities, primarily through the use of participant observation. Based on the framework developed by Ensminger, this paper demonstrates how institutional change has occurred in the last few centuries with the arrival of various frontiers overriding the region. This has led to the almost total eradication of traditional institutions and the introduction of a new ideology, namely conservationism. In order to legitimize their existence in the Reserve, indigenous groups are compelled to argue in a conservationist discourse if they want to stay in their ancestral territory. The article discusses tourism as one key impact on the lives of the local Siona, alongside their response to the grabbing process, which takes the form of a re-creation of their identity, including institution shopping from below. This article contributes to the debate on commons grabbing from the perspective of local actors by arguing that institution shopping from below does not necessarily mean a loss of authenticity, considering different ontological perspectives in the process of identity construction.

Geology of the Alpha Regio (V-32) Quadrangle, Venus

ABSTRACT We present a 1:2,500,000 geological map of the Alpha Regio (V-32) quadrangle, Venus. The V-32 quadrangle extends from 0° to 25 S, 0°to 30° E with an area of approximately 7,600,000 km2. Geological mapping was conducted using full resolution (maximum 75 m/pixel) SAR, altimetry and stereo-derived topography data from NASA's Magellan mission in ArcGIS 10.5. Nearly 40,000 lineaments were mapped. The oldest unit, tessera terrain, is present in two major regions: Alpha Regio and Minu-Anni Tessera. Two major fracture belts, both oriented approximately NNW-SSE, and four minor fracture belts have been identified and characterized. Two previously unrecognized wrinkle ridge trends of radiating and circumferential orientation have also been identified in the northeastern corner of the quadrangle. A total of 77 geological units were mapped. Plains material, previously mapped as global regional plains units, was divided into 27 units. Earlier estimates of the diameters of several coronae have been extended by hundreds of kilometres.

Integrating LIDAR data and four-dimensional flux method to analyzing the transmission of PM2.5 in Shenzhen

With the increase economic growth and high energy consumption in Shenzhen, pollutant emission increases gradually which leads to air pollution and affect public health. In order to undertake effective measures for preventing and controlling air pollution, it is essential to understand the transmission characteristics of PM2.5 and identify the cause of air pollution in Shenzhen. Based on LIDAR data of Shenzhen, China, the transmission characteristics of PM2.5 across Shenzhen's borders in the winter of 2017 (from December 1, 2017 to February 28, 2018) were analyzed using a four-dimensional flux method. In addition, the sources of PM2.5 in Shenzhen from December 8 to 10, 2017 were analyzed. The results revealed that the East Asian winter monsoon was primarily responsible for the transmission of PM2.5 in Shenzhen, from north to south, and its surrounding areas, and high PM2.5 flux was primarily located at the altitude range of 500–1,500 m. During the monsoon transition period, the surface wind directions changed frequently, which resulted in varying transmission directions of PM2.5 fluxes across Shenzhen. During the period from December 8 to10, PM2.5 was continuously transported to the urban areas of Shenzhen via its northern border due to the influence of strong northerly wind. The PM2.5 fluxes were positive over Songgang station (in the northwestern corner of Shenzhen) and Xiapi station (in the northeastern corner of Shenzhen) from December 8 to 9. The analysis revealed that, the PM2.5 source contribution from regional transmission (representing other land areas within the model domain) reached approximately 50%, whereas the local source contribution was only approximately 10% in Shenzhen.

First record of the reef manta ray, Mobula alfredi, from the eastern Pacific

An opportunistic sighting of a reef manta ray (Mobula alfredi) along the northeastern corner of Cocos Island, Costa Rica, represents the first sighting of this species nearly 6000 km from the nearest confirmed sighting location in the Marquesas Islands and the first record of this species on either side of the American continent. Cocos Island is situated approximately 500 km away from mainland Costa Rica as well as any other suitable habitat for this species, suggesting the sighted individual may have migrated to this location. The individual was fitted with an acoustic transmitter (V16 Vemco Ltd., Nova Scotia, Canada) which will enable monitoring of its habitat use around the island and potential long-term residency patterns.

Prokaryotic Dynamics in the Meromictic Coastal Lake Faro (Sicily, Italy)

Lake Faro, in the North-Eastern corner of Sicily (Italy), shows the typical stratification of a meromictic tempered basin, with a clear identification of the mixolimnion and the monimolimnion, separated by an interfacial chemocline. In this study, an annual-scaled study on the space-time distribution of the microbial communities in water samples of Lake Faro was performed by both ARISA (Amplified Ribosomal Intergenic Spacer Analysis) and CARD-FISH (Catalyzed Reporter Deposition-Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization) approaches. A correlation between microbial parameters and both environmental variables (i.e., temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, redox potential, salinity, chlorophyll-a) and mixing conditions was highlighted, with an evident seasonal variability. The most significative differences were detected by ARISA between the mixolimnion and the monimolimnion, and between Spring and Autumn, by considering layer and season as a factor, respectively.

Pro remedio et pro salute animae nostrae. Memoria v srednjeveškem umetnostnem okrasju cisterce v Stični kot odsev tesne povezanosti s plemstvom

Članek prinaša sistematičen pregled nad listinskimi omembami pokopov laikov v cistercijanskem samostanu Stična in njihovim vplivom na umetnostno zasnovo cisterce. Najstarejši dokaz povezav s plemstvom je krog z grbovnim ščitkom tik nad nekdanjim nišnim grobom v severovzhodnem kotu križnega hodnika ob prvotnem meniškem vhodu v cerkev. Naslikan je bil pred obokanjem križnega hodnika, ki se postavlja v čas okrog leta 1228. Do tega leta arhivski viri med pokopanimi v samostanu omenjajo le soustanovitelje samostana, Višnjegorske grofe in njihovo rodbino. Po sredini 13. stoletja so v skladu s prakso v drugih cistercijanskih samostanih pokopi laikov postali pogostejši. Najstarejša listina, ki se najverjetneje nanaša na pokop laika v cerkvi, sega v leto 1293. Avtorica v članku argumentirano podaja številne nove interpretacije in razpravlja o identifikaciji grbov, mestu, kjer so bili pokopani soustanovitelji samostana, identifikaciji oseb, ki so bile pokopane v pokopališki kapeli, in nišnem grobu pod najstarejšim grbom v križnem hodniku.

Controlling factors of reservoir quality in low-permeability reservoir within a sequence stratigraphic framework: a case study of the lower Jurassic sandstones in the Northern margin of the Qaidam Basin, China

The Qaidam Basin, one of China’s most prolific petroliferous basins, is located in the northeastern corner of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Using analytical data from cores, thin-sections and seismic data, and combined with the previous sequence stratigraphy research results, research on the reservoir characteristics was undertaken. The main controlling factors of reservoir quality in the sequence stratigraphy framework in the Lenghu area are discussed. The Lower Jurassic includes lowstand system tract (LST) and transitional systems tract (TST); the highstand systems tract are missing owing to tectonic uplift. The Lower Jurassic sandstones are composed of moderately to poorly sorted, subrounded sandstone representing several representative environments, including fan-delta and lacustrine facies. The main types of the Lower Jurassic sandstones are mostly feldspathic litharenite and lithic sandstone. The pore types of the Lower Jurassic sandstones are mainly secondary dissolution pores with few fracture types. The Lower Jurassic sandstones have experienced strong compaction that resulted in the loss of primary porosity. Carbonate cementation of the LST sandstones is greater than in the TST sandstones. Dissolution, which has an important role in reservoir development, is mainly caused by acidic fluids from the matured source rocks in the LST and meteoric water ingression from the top sequence boundary in the TST. Distributary channel sandstones adjacent to coal and mudstones are favourable reservoirs with turbidite sandstones adjacent to the sequence boundary less favourable reservoirs.

Assessing the Potential Impact of Rising Production of Industrial Wood Pellets on Streamflow in the Presence of Projected Changes in Land Use and Climate: A Case Study from the Oconee River Basin in Georgia, United States

This study examines the impact of projected land use changes in the context of growing production of industrial wood pellets coupled with expected changes in precipitation and temperature due to the changing climate on streamflow in a watershed located in the northeastern corner of the Oconee River Basin. We used the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) for ascertaining any changes in streamflow over time. The developed model was calibrated over a seven-year period (2001–2007) and validated over another seven-year period (2008–2014). Any changes in streamflow were simulated for a combination of 10 land use and climate change cases, from 2015 to 2028, under the two scenarios of High and Low Demand for industrial wood pellets. Our results suggest that streamflow is relatively stable (<1% change) for land use and temperature-related cases relative to the base case of no change in land use and climate. However, changes in precipitation by ±10% lead to considerable changes (±25%) in streamflow relative to the base case. Based on our results, expected changes in precipitation due to the changing climate will determine any changes in the streamflow, rather than projected land use changes in the context of rising demand for industrial wood pellets for export purposes in the selected watershed, keeping land under urban areas as constant. This study contributes to our broader understanding of the sustainability of the transatlantic industrial wood pellet trade; however, we suggest undertaking similar research at a larger spatial scale over a longer time horizon for understanding trade-offs across carbon, biodiversity, and water impacts of the transatlantic industrial wood pellet trade.

Zircon U–Pb age, Hf isotope, and geochemistry of Late Permian to Triassic igneous rocks from the Jiapigou gold ore belt, NE China: Petrogenesis and tectonic implications

The Jiapigou gold ore belt is located in the northeastern corner of the wedge‐shaped North China Craton and is hosted by Neoarchean basement gneiss and amphibolite, along with late Palaeozoic and Mesozoic granitoids. In this paper, whole‐rock major and trace element geochemistry together with zircon U–Pb ages and Lu–Hf isotope compositions are reported for Late Permian to Triassic igneous rocks from the gold belt. The dominant population of zircons in all these rocks shows oscillatory growth zoning in CL images, and relatively high Th/U ratios (0.10–5.23) that are indicative of a magmatic origin. Zircon U–Pb data indicate that the igneous rocks formed during two major phases: ca. 252 Ma and ca. 230–213 Ma. Geochemically, the Late Permian (ca. 252 Ma) diorites are high‐K calc‐alkaline in composition and low total Fe2O3, MgO, and CaO contents, and represented by enrichment in LILEs relative to HFSEs and HREEs, all of which are indicative of a postcollision high‐K calc‐alkaline granite affinity. In contrast, the Late Triassic (ca. 230–213 Ma) igneous rocks are mainly quartz syenite porphyries, felsites, and granodiorites, and are variable medium‐ to high‐K calc‐alkaline series and exhibit a negative Eu anomaly with A‐type affinities, indicating an extensional environment. In addition, in situ Hf isotopic analyses of zircons from four dated samples reveal that they have εHf(t) values of −3.0 to +2.2, with two‐stage model (TDM2) ages range from 964 to 1,210 Ma, indicating that they probably originated from the partial melting of a dominantly Mesoproterozoic to Neoproterozoic crustal source. On the basis of the geochemical data and regional geological investigations, we further propose that the Jiapigou gold ore belt in the Late Permian was formed in a postcollisional tectonic setting, whereas an extensional tectonic setting in the Late Triassic that caused lithospheric thinning during a postorogenic event.

The Level VI North-East Temple at Tel Lachish

During the recent excavations at Tel Lachish a previously unknown Canaanite temple of the 12th century BCE was uncovered in the north-eastern corner of the mound. This article describes its possible place in the urban fabric of the city, the plan of the temple and its parallels, and some of the more special finds that were found in it. Based on the temple’s plan and the finds and installations uncovered in it, we wish to offer a glimpse into the cults that were associated with the temple, as well as a reconstruction of the temple’s life cycle.

Forum provinciae in Sarmizegetusa

L. F. Marsigli represented three archaeological structures on the map of Colonia Ulpia Traiana Sarmizegetusa, made in 1699 and published in 1726 – the city walls, the amphitheatre and a rectangular, double-walled building which encloses an empty space, and which has a square-shaped niche on one side (Pl. I/2). The map, compared in scale to the results of archaeological excavations and geophysical surveys shows an exact match with the currently known groundplan of the city wall, its northeastern corner and the amphitheatre. The third building may be identified as the centre of the provincial assembly (concilium provinciae)1 and the provincial imperial cult, namely the forum provinciae, that was situated within the territory of the Area sacra (Pl. I/1; Pl. II), approximately 20 metres to the northwest from the location given by Marsigli. The two textual fragments previously found in the area also support the assessment of the structure of forum provinciae. The dislocation of the third building on the map was presumably due to misprinting or Marsigli’s field error. Today, the area is still unexplored, only future archeological excavations can justify or refute the exact characteristics, structure and periodisation of the third building depicted on Marsigli’s map.

Potential biodiversity threats associated with the metal pollution in the Nile–Delta ecosystem (Manzala lagoon, Egypt)

Metal pollution may pose a high risk to the ecosystem stability. To evaluate the impact of the metal pollution on the biodiversity, metals concentrations in sediments, water, and molluscan shells were analyzed at sixteen sites in the Manzala lagoon, which is the largest in the Nile–Delta. The samples were collected along a gradient from the main agricultural drain, which brings mixed industrial, domestic, and agricultural wastes. An exponential trend of increasing metals concentration towards the main agricultural drain was observed. For sediment and faunal samples this trend was statistically significant in most cases, however, this trend was not found for all metals in water samples except for Zn. Partial Least Square (PLS) model confirmed that the distance to the drain is a second major predictor of the observed metal concentrations after sediment grain–size, while other physicochemical parameters have minor effects. Moreover, a significant correlation was found between most metals in the fauna and their respective sediments. In contrast, neither sediment nor faunal metal concentrations did correlate with water samples. Collectively, all pollution indices (enrichment factor, contamination factor, and geo–accumulation index) indicate high pollution by Cd and Pb and moderate pollution by Zn. UPGMA clustering and non–metric Multidimensional scaling (nMDS) classified the sites in the lagoon into three main categories: 1) highly polluted southeast corner around the drain, 2) moderately polluted northeastern corner, where the newly widened and deepened sea–outlet occur, 3) unpolluted northwestern part, which located away from the drain. Multiple regression analysis showed that the distance to the pollution source, salinity, and water depth are significantly predict the faunal diversity. Furthermore, the Pollution Load index (PLI) was significantly correlated with the diversity indices. Lower diversity and dominance of opportunistic taxa in the polluted sites are interpreted to be negative consequences of the metal pollution.

Colonial Ethnography and Understanding the ‘Other’ Through John Butler’s ‘Travels in Assam’

Both imperialism and colonialism is somewhat impelled by impressive ideological formations that include notions that certain territories and people require and beseech domination,which is well articulated through the vocabulary of classic nineteenth century colonial ethnography. John Butler was an administrator of the British colonial government in India, who was posted in Assam, a province in the Northeastern corner of India. His 'Travels in Assam' is a narrative that helps in understanding how the 'other' was being created and sustained in the colonial setting that sought to expand and consolidate the imperial hold.

Tracking sea surface salinity and dissolved oxygen on a river-influenced, seasonally stratified shelf, Mississippi Bight, northern Gulf of Mexico

River discharge, and its resulting region of freshwater influence (ROFI) in the coastal ocean, has a critical influence on physical and biogeochemical processes in seasonally stratified shelf ecosystems. Multi-year (2010–2016) observations of satellite-derived sea surface salinity (SSS) and in situ water column hydrographic data during summer 2016 were used to investigate physical aspects of the ROFI east of the Mississippi River Delta to better assess regional susceptibility to hypoxia in the summer months. Time series of SSS data indicate that the shelf region impacted by the seasonal expansion of freshwater can be as extensive as the well-known “dead zone” region west of the Delta, and hydrographic observations from a shelf-wide survey indicate strong stratification associated with the ROFI. Peak buoyancy frequencies typically ranged between 0.15 and 0.25 s−1 and were concentrated in a 2–3 m layer around 4–10 m deep across much of the shelf. This ROFI is expected to be influenced by local freshwater sources which, while individually small, make a notable contribution in aggregate to the region (annually averaged daily discharge of approximately 2880 m3 s−1). The dissolved oxygen (DO) conditions under this freshwater cap were spatially and temporally variable, with areas of hypoxia and near-hypoxic conditions over portions of the shelf, demonstrating the utility of satellite-derived SSS in identifying coastal areas potential vulnerability to hypoxia. These regions of low bottom dissolved oxygen persisted throughout the peak summer season at several sites on the shelf, with the northeastern corner of Mississippi Bight having the most intense and persistent hypoxia.