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At least 397 records · Page 22Linked to original sources

Metamorphic waters from the Pacific tectonic belt of the west coast of the United States

Waters unusually rich in ammonia, boron, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and hydrocarbons are found in more than 100 localities along the Pacific coast of the United States. The waters are believed to be products of low-grade metamorphism of marine sediments. The marine sedimentary rocks would have to be tectonically emplaced below crystalline rocks in many places. Mercury are deposits are probably also products of the low-grade metamorphism.

Pacific coast↗

Prevalence, environmental loading, and molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium and Giardia</i isolates from domestic and wild animals along the Central California Coast

The risk of disease transmission from waterborne protozoa is often dependent on the origin (e.g., domestic animals versus wildlife), overall parasite load in contaminated waterways, and parasite genotype, with infections being linked to runoff or direct deposition of domestic animal and wildlife feces. Fecal samples collected from domestic animals and wildlife along the central California coast were screened to (i) compare the prevalence and associated risk factors for fecal shedding of Cryptosporidium and Giardia species parasites, (ii) evaluate the relative importance of animal host groups that contribute to pathogen loading in coastal ecosystems, and (iii) characterize zoonotic and host-specific genotypes. Overall, 6% of fecal samples tested during 2007 to 2010 were positive for Cryptosporidium oocysts and 15% were positive for Giardia cysts. Animal host group and age class were significantly associated with detection of Cryptosporidium and Giardia parasites in animal feces. Fecal loading analysis revealed that infected beef cattle potentially contribute the greatest parasite load relative to other host groups, followed by wild canids. Beef cattle, however, shed host-specific, minimally zoonotic Cryptosporidium and Giardia duodenalis genotypes, whereas wild canids shed potentially zoonotic genotypes, including G. duodenalis assemblages A and B. Given that the parasite genotypes detected in cattle were not zoonotic, the public health risk posed by protozoan parasite shedding in cattle feces may be lower than that posed by other animals, such as wild canids, that routinely shed zoonotic genotypes.

California↗

Age, composition, and tectonic setting of the granite island, Hon Trung Lon, off the coast of South Vietnam

Hon Trung Lon , a granite island off the coast of South Vietnam , is composed solely of a unique, extremely differentiated, high-silica alkali granite of Cretaceous age . An adjacent island , Hon Trung Nho, is composed solely of rhyolitic rock of similar composition . The Hon Trung Nho rhyolite may be a fine-grained equivalent of the granite . Whole-rock potassium-argon analysis suggests that the age of the Hon Trung Lon granite is greater than 70 m.y. and less than 100 m.y. This age implies a previously unrecognized period of intrusion for the zone of granitic rocks outcropping along the northeast side of the Gulf of Thailand. Extensive investigation of the Mesozoic and Tertiary igneous rocks of Southeast Asia, particularly Indochina, including reliable geochronological work, is needed to trace the geologic events that produced the complicated structural features and orogenic history of this region. Existing data suggest that Southeast Asia has been the site of active orogeny since the Paleozoic and that the Hon Trung Lon granite was emplaced through a sialic crust which has been evolving in this area for at least the last 400 m.y.

south Vietnam Islands↗

Faulting in the Burro Mountain area, California Coast Ranges, and its relation to the Nacimiento fault

The northwest-striking Nacimiento fault, in the southern Coast Ranges of California, has generally been regarded as the boundary between two major structural blocks: the Nacimiento block to the southwest, in which the basement rocks belong to the Franciscan Formation (Upper Jurassic to Upper Cretaceous), and the Salinian block to the northeast, in which the basement rocks are granitic and high-grade metamorphic. It has been found, however, that in the Burro Mountain area of the southern Santa Lucia Range, the “Nacimiento” fault of Jennings (1959) is nearly vertical and is within the Nacimiento block. In this area, the Franciscan Formation crops out northeast of the “Nacimiento” fault through windows in an older, low-angle thrust fault that brings the Asuncion Group of Taliaferro (1943) (Upper Cretaceous) over the Franciscan Formation. The fault boundary between the Nacimiento and the Salinian blocks must therefore lie farther to the northeast, where it may be buried beneath the Asuncion Group and younger strata. This conclusion is supported by Hanna's recent aeromagnetic work (1969).

California↗

Quartz gabbro and anorthositic gabbro: Markers of offset along the San Andreas fault in the California Coast Ranges

Large-scale lateral movement on the San Andreas fault zone is suggested by the distribution of gabbroic rocks that may be slivered remnants of oceanic crust. Distinctive and unusual hornblende quartz gabbro and anorthositic gabbro that are virtually identical both petrographically and chemically are exposed at Logan and Gold Hill in the Coast Ranges along the San Andreas fault. The hornblende quartz gabbro is made up of labradorite to bytownite plagioclase, hornblende, and quartz, with very minor biotite and pyroxene, and accessory metallic opaques and apatite. The coarse-grained anorthositic gabbro with anorthositic layers and associated gneiss is made up mainly of labradorite to bytownite plagioclase, hornblende, lesser clinopyroxene, and, locally, orthopyroxene. The present 100 mi of separation between these two gabbro bodies is probably due to displacement along the San Andreas fault of what was originally one gabbro mass. Somewhat similar quartz gabbro and anorthositic gabbro associated with ultramafic rocks near Eagle Rest Peak in the San Emigdio Mountains may represent a source for the Logan and Gold Hill slivers. This suggests a minimum right-lateral movement of about 200 mi on the San Andreas fault zone. Anorthositic gabbro clasts from Cretaceous conglomerate in the Gualala area have strong resemblance to gabbroic rocks at Logan, Gold Hill, and Eagle Rest Peak and speculatively suggest 350 mi of right-lateral movement on the fault zone. It is tentatively suggested that the gabbro clasts of Gualala may have been shed from a large area of exposed gabbroic oceanic crust, pieces of which occur as fault slivers at Gold Hill and Logan. It is further suggested that the Eagle Rest Peak locality may be a relatively in-place exposure of this gabbroic oceanic crust that lies near a continental-oceanic interface. This interface, thought to represent a fossil subduction zone between Franciscan and Sierran basements, appears to be overlain depositionally by Eocene sedimentary rocks. If these Eocene deposits do “seal over” the possible subduction zone, it suggests that movement on such a zone ceased before the Eocene deposition, and that the new and different pattern of right-lateral movement on the San Andreas fault zone probably began sometime later.

California↗

Age of the Mesozoic oceanic crust in the California Coast Ranges

K-Ar ages of approximately 155 m.y. were measured on minerals from ophiolites at two localities in the California Coast Ranges. Upper Jurassic rocks of the Great Valley sequence are in depositional contact with underlying ophiolites, which are interpreted as Mesozoic oceanic crust that formed during differentiation of mantle material at a spreading ridge some 15 m.y. before deposition of the Great Valley sequence began.

California↗

Nodal tidal cycle of 18.6 yr.: Its importance in sea-level curves of the east coast of the United States and its value in explaining long-term sea-level changes

The 18.6-yr cycle of the Moon's nodes dominates the annual means of high water, low water, and range at Boston and at other East Coast harbors. The maxima and minima of the high-water and range curves agree closely with the 180° and 0° long. yr, respectively, of the Moon's ascending node, and are fairly well accounted for by tide-prediction equations. The curve of annual mean sea level also reflects the cycle, but more weakly. Recognition of the cyclical nature of tidal data both simplifies and clarifies assessments of longer term sea-level trends and points to the need to include only multiples of entire cycles in the computations of these trends. When the curves of mean high water and range are used, it is possible to recognize long-term sea-level trends rapidly and to determine whether these are attributable to tidal or nontidal causes. The data suggest that the secular sea-level rise during the 20th century is tidal in origin and may be caused by vertical movement of the oceanic floor. This has the effect of reducing the volume of ocean basins, and, by changing basin geometry, alters the characteristics of terrestrial tidal constituents (standing waves).

Atlantic Ocean↗

Radioisotopic and biostratigraphic age relations in the Coast Range Ophiolite, northern California: Implications for the tectonic evolution of the Western Cordillera

The Coast Range ophiolite (CRO) in northern California includes two distinct remnants. The Elder Creek ophiolite is a classic suprasubduction zone ophiolite with three sequential plutonic suites (layered gabbro, wehrlit-pyroxenite, quartz diorite), a mafic to felsic dike complex, and mafic-felsic volcanic rocks; the entire suite is cut by late mid-oceanic-ridge basalt (MORB) dikes and overlain by ophiolitic breccia. The Stonyford volcanic complex (SFVC) comprises three volcanic series with intercalated chert horizons that form a submarine volcano enclosed in sheared serpentinite. Structurally below this seamount are mélange blocks of CRO similar to Elder Creek. U/Pb zircon ages from plagiogranite and quartz diorites at Elder Creek range in age from 165 Ma to 172 Ma. U/Pb zircon ages obtained from CRO mélange blocks below the SFVC are similar (166–172 Ma). 40 Ar- 39 Ar ages of alkali basalt glass in the upper SFVC are all younger at ≈164 Ma. Radiolarians extracted from chert lenses intercalated with basalt in the SFVC indicate that the sedimentary strata range in age from Bathonian (Unitary Association Zone 6–6 of Baumgartner et al., 1995a ) near the base of the complex to late Callovian to early Kimmeridgian (Unitary Association Zones 8–10) in the upper part. The SFVC sedimentary record preserves evidence of a major faunal change wherein relatively small sized, polytaxic radiolarian faunas were replaced by very robust, oligo-taxic, nassellarian-dominated faunas that included Praeparvicingula spp. We suggest that CRO formation began after the early Middle Jurassic (172–180 Ma) collision of an exotic or fringing arc with North America and initiation of a new or reconfigured east-dipping subduction zone. The data show that the CRO formed prior to the Late Jurassic Nevadan orogeny, probably by rapid forearc extension above a nascent subduction zone. We infer that CRO spreading ended with the collision of an oceanic spreading center ca. 164 Ma, coincident with the oldest high-grade blocks in the structurally underlying Franciscan assemblage. We further suggest that the “classic” Nevadan orogeny represents a response to spreading center collision, with shallow subduction of young lithosphere causing the initial compressional deformation and with a subsequent change in North American plate motion to rapid northward drift (J2 cusp) causing sinistral transpression and transtension in the Sierra foothills. These data are not consistent with models for Late Jurassic arc collision in the Sierra foothills or a backarc origin for the CRO.

California↗

Geologic history of Siletzia, a large igneous province in the Oregon and Washington Coast Range: Correlation to the geomagnetic polarity time scale and implications for a long-lived Yellowstone hotspot

Siletzia is a basaltic Paleocene and Eocene large igneous province in coastal Oregon, Washington, and southern Vancouver Island that was accreted to North America in the early Eocene. New U-Pb magmatic, detrital zircon, and 40 Ar/ 39 Ar ages constrained by detailed field mapping, global nannoplankton zones, and magnetic polarities allow correlation of the volcanics with the 2012 geologic time scale. The data show that Siletzia was rapidly erupted 56–49 Ma, during the Chron 25–22 plate reorganization in the northeast Pacific basin. Accretion was completed between 51 and 49 Ma in Oregon, based on CP11 (CP—Coccolith Paleogene zone) coccoliths in strata overlying onlapping continental sediments. Magmatism continued in the northern Oregon Coast Range until ca. 46 Ma with the emplacement of a regional sill complex during or shortly after accretion. Isotopic signatures similar to early Columbia River basalts, the great crustal thickness of Siletzia in Oregon, rapid eruption, and timing of accretion are consistent with offshore formation as an oceanic plateau. Approximately 8 m.y. after accretion, margin parallel extension of the forearc, emplacement of regional dike swarms, and renewed magmatism of the Tillamook episode peaked at 41.6 Ma (CP zone 14a; Chron 19r). We examine the origin of Siletzia and consider the possible role of a long-lived Yellowstone hotspot using the reconstruction in GPlates, an open source plate model. In most hotspot reference frames, the Yellowstone hotspot (YHS) is on or near an inferred northeast-striking Kula-Farallon and/or Resurrection-Farallon ridge between 60 and 50 Ma. In this configuration, the YHS could have provided a 56–49 Ma source on the Farallon plate for Siletzia, which accreted to North America by 50 Ma. A sister plateau, the Eocene basalt basement of the Yakutat terrane, now in Alaska, formed contemporaneously on the adjacent Kula (or Resurrection) plate and accreted to coastal British Columbia at about the same time. Following accretion of Siletzia, the leading edge of North America overrode the YHS ca. 42 Ma. The voluminous high-Ti basaltic to alkalic magmatism of the 42–35 Ma Tillamook episode and extension in the forearc may be related to the encounter with an active YHS. Clockwise rotation of western Oregon about a pole in the backarc has since moved the Tillamook center and underlying Siletzia northward ∼250 km from the probable hotspot track on North America. In the reference frames we examined, the YHS arrives in the backarc ∼5 m.y. too early to match the 17 Ma magmatic flare-up commonly attributed to the YHS. We suggest that interaction with the subducting slab may have delayed arrival of the plume beneath the backarc.

Oregon, Vancouver, Washington↗

Fault geometry and cumulative offsets in the central Coast Ranges, California: Evidence for northward increasing slip along the San Gregorio-San Simeon-Hosgri fault

Estimates of the dip, depth extent, and amount of cumulative displacement along the major faults in the central California Coast Ranges are controversial. We use detailed aeromagnetic data to estimate these parameters for the San Gregorio–San Simeon–Hosgri and other faults. The recently acquired aeromagnetic data provide an areally consistent data set that crosses the onshore-offshore transition without disruption, which is particularly important for the mostly offshore San Gregorio–San Simeon–Hosgri fault. Our modeling, constrained by exposed geology and in some cases, drill-hole and seismic-reflection data, indicates that the San Gregorio–San Simeon–Hosgri and Reliz-Rinconada faults dip steeply throughout the seismogenic crust. Deviations from steep dips may result from local fault interactions, transfer of slip between faults, or overprinting by transpression since the late Miocene. Given that such faults are consistent with predominantly strike-slip displacement, we correlate geophysical anomalies offset by these faults to estimate cumulative displacements. We find a northward increase in right-lateral displacement along the San Gregorio–San Simeon–Hosgri fault that is mimicked by Quaternary slip rates. Although overall slip rates have decreased over the lifetime of the fault, the pattern of slip has not changed. Northward increase in right-lateral displacement is balanced in part by slip added by faults, such as the Reliz-Rinconada, Oceanic–West Huasna, and (speculatively) Santa Ynez River faults to the east.

Lithosphere↗

Chapter 22: Environments and facies of existing bays on the central Texas coast

The estuaries and neritic waters along the central Texas coast are characterized by broad ranges of environmental factors, providing conditions favorable to temperate organisms in winter and tropical organisms in summer. Dredging in the coastal waters revealed a number of distinct faunal facies, the distribution of which appears to be controlled primarily by salinity. Characteristic assemblages are found in the following areas: closed bays, polyhaline bays, a highly saline lagoon, passes, beaches on the open Gulf, and shallow waters of the open gulf. In the closed bays three subfacies are recognized-one in the bay heads, one on the reefs, and one in the interreef areas; in the open gulf the assemblages living close to shore are differentiated from those found 2-4 miles off shore. In most stations each facies is characterized by an abundance of certain living forms. Dead shells and other skeletal parts are much more widely distributed, but many such strays may be recognized as transported elements by their rarity or by their eroded surfaces. Each group of organisms has one or more centers of maximum development in numbers of species. The Foraminifera, for example, attain their greatest development in the polyhaline bays and near the heads of passes, the ostracodes near the bay heads, mollusks in the polyhaline bays and in the Gulf, and diatoms under normal marine conditions in the Gulf. The reef assemblage of the closed bays is poor in numbers of species, but the individuals are so numerous that they form extensive deposits.

Texas↗

U–Pb geochronology of Late Cretaceous and early Tertiary plutons in the northern Coast Mountains batholith

U–Pb geochronologic studies demonstrate that steeply dipping, sheetlike tonalitic plutons along the western margin of the northern Coast Mountains batholith were emplaced between ~83 and ~57 (perhaps ~55) Ma. Less elongate tonalitic–granodioritic bodies in central portions of the batholith yield ages of 59–58 Ma, coeval with younger phases of the tonalitic sheets. Large granite–granodiorite bodies in central and eastern portions of the batholith were emplaced at 51–48 Ma. Trends in ages suggest that the tonalitic bodies generally become younger southeastward and that, at the latitude of Juneau, plutonism migrated northeastward across the batholith at ~0.9 km/Ma. Variations in the age, shape, location, and degree of fabric development among the various plutons indicate that Late Cretaceous – Paleocene tonalitic bodies were emplaced into a steeply dipping, dip-slip shear zone that was active along the western margin of the batholith. Postkinematic Eocene plutons were emplaced at shallow crustal levels. Inherited zircon components in these plutons range in age from mid-Paleozoic to Early Proterozoic and are coeval with detrital zircons in adjacent metasedimentary rocks. These old zircons, combined with evolved Nd isotopic signatures for most plutons, record assimilation of continental crustal or supracrustal rocks during the generation and (or) ascent of the plutons.

Alaska↗

Genetic variation in steelhead ( Salmo gairdneri ) from the north coast of Washington

Steelhead ( Salmo gairdneri ) collected from various sites in nine drainages in northwestern Washington were genetically characterized at 65 protein-coding loci by starch-gel electrophoresis. Genetic differentiation within and among drainages was not significant, and genetic variation among drainages was much less than that reported in British Columbia; these results may be the consequence of gene flow from hatchery stocks that have been released in Washington since the 1940's. Allele frequencies varied significantly among year-classes (hence, genetic characterization studies must include data from several year-classes), and also between hatchery fish (including a stock developed with local wild fish) and wild fish, indicating that few wild fish have been successfully and routinely included in hatchery brood stocks. Conservation of genetic diversity along the north coast of Washington should be facilitated by reducing the numbers of hatchery fish that spawn in streams and by including wild fish in hatchery brood stocks.

Washington↗

Shallow landsliding, root reinforcement, and the spatial distribution of trees in the Oregon Coast Range

The influence of root reinforcement on shallow landsliding has been well established through mechanistic and empirical studies, yet few studies have examined how local vegetative patterns influence slope stability. Because root networks spread outward from trees, the species, size, and spacing of trees should influence the spatial distribution of root strength. We documented the distribution and characteristics of trees adjacent to 32 shallow landslides that occurred during 1996 in the Oregon Coast Range. Although broadly classified as a conifer-dominated forest, we observed sparse coniferous and abundant hardwood trees near landslide scars in an industrial forest (Mapleton) that experienced widespread burning in the 19th century. In industrial forests that were burned, selectively harvested, and not replanted (Elliott State Forest), swordfern was ubiquitous near landslides, and we observed similar numbers of live conifer and hardwood trees proximal to landslide scarps. We demonstrate that root strength quantified in landslide scarps and soil pits correlates with a geometry-based index of root network contribution derived from mapping the size, species, condition, and spacing of local trees, indicating that root strength can be predicted by mapping the distribution and characteristics of trees on potentially unstable slopes. In our study sites, landslides tend to occur in areas of reduced root strength, suggesting that to make site-specific predictions of landslide occurrence slope stability analyses must account for the diversity and distribution of vegetation in potentially unstable terrain.

Oregon↗

Tree species and soil nutrient profiles in old-growth forests of the Oregon Coast Range

Old-growth forests of the Pacific Northwest provide a unique opportunity to examine tree species &ndash; soil relationships in ecosystems that have developed without significant human disturbance. We characterized foliage, forest floor, and mineral soil nutrients associated with four canopy tree species (Douglas-fir ( Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirbel) Franco), western hemlock ( Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.), western redcedar ( Thuja plicata Donn ex D. Don), and bigleaf maple ( Acer macrophyllum Pursh)) in eight old-growth forests of the Oregon Coast Range. The greatest forest floor accumulations of C, N, P, Ca, Mg, and K occurred under Douglas-fir, primarily due to greater forest floor mass. In mineral soil, western hemlock exhibited significantly lower Ca concentration and sum of cations (Ca + Mg + K) than bigleaf maple, with intermediate values for Douglas-fir and western redcedar. Bigleaf maple explained most species-based differences in foliar nutrients, displaying high concentrations of N, P, Ca, Mg, and K. Foliar P and N:P variations largely reflected soil P variation across sites. The four tree species that we examined exhibited a number of individualistic effects on soil nutrient levels that contribute to biogeochemical heterogeneity in these ecosystems. Where fire suppression and long-term succession favor dominance by highly shade-tolerant western hemlock, our results suggest a potential for declines in both soil Ca availability and soil biogeochemical heterogeneity in old-growth forests.

Oregon↗

Spring migration routes and chronology of surf scoters (Melanitta perspicillata): A synthesis of Pacific coast studies

Understanding interconnectivity among wintering, stopover, and breeding areas of migratory birds is pivotal to discerning how events occurring in each might have a cross-seasonal effect on another. Such information can guide the location and timing of conservation efforts. Thus, we examined spring migration routes, chronology, and stopover use of 85 surf scoters ( Melanitta perspicillata (L., 1758)) marked with satellite transmitters at four Pacific Flyway wintering sites: San Quintin Bay, Baja California; San Francisco Bay, California; Puget Sound, Washington; and Strait of Georgia, British Columbia. Eighty-three percent of marked scoters followed two main routes to the breeding area: a Southern Inland route involving staging in Puget Sound and Strait of Georgia and protracted inland migration, or a Northern Coastal route characterized by short movements along the Pacific coast of British Columbia and southeast Alaska with inland migration initiating from Lynn Canal and surrounding areas. Route choice was related to nesting site latitude in the Canadian Northern Boreal Forest. Data from birds tracked over 2 years indicated strong migration route fidelity, but altered chronology and stopover locations between years. Departure date varied by wintering site, but arrival and apparent settling dates were synchronous, suggesting individuals adjusted migration timing to meet an optimized reproductive schedule.

British Columbia, California, Washington↗

iCoast – Did the Coast Change?: Storm-impact model verification using citizen scientists

The USGS provides model predictions of severe storm impacts prior to landfall based on pre-storm morphology and predicted total water levels, including waves and surge. Presented in near real time on the USGS Coastal Change Hazard Portal, they provide coastal residents, scientists, and emergency managers valuable coastal response information. iCoast – Did the Coast Change?, an online tool for comparing pre- and post-storm photography, allows volunteer citizen scientist help researchers classify storm impacts through aerial photography. Using spatially matched pre- and post-storm image pairs from Hurricane Sandy, iCoast users identified the coastal processes seen in each image. These classifications were compared to the predictive model probabilities just prior to Sandy’s landfall. User classifications agreed with the model predictions with a high degree of confidence for dune erosion and overwash. However, for inundation, user classifications, limited to observations of island breaching, were less confident and should be used with caution

Conference Paper↗

Influence of ENSO on flood frequency along the California coast

The influence of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon on flooding in California coastal streams is investigated by analyzing the annual peak floods recorded at 38 gauging stations. The state of ENSO prior to and during flooding is characterized by the multivariate ENSO index (MEI), where MEI < −0.5 is defined as the La Niña phase and MEI > 0.5 as the El Niño phase. Flood magnitude in all 20 streams located south of 35°N has a significant positive correlation ( r = 0.3 to 0.6), whereas in 3 of the 4 streams located north of 41°N flood magnitude has a significant negative correlation ( r = −0.3 to −0.4), with MEI from −2.2 to +3.2. Correlations with MEI are uniformly weak and insignificant, however, when the floods are subdivided into El Niño and non–El Niño phases. A comparison of the geometric mean El Niño flood to the geometric mean non–El Niño flood determined that the means were statistically different at gauging stations south of 35°N and north of 41°N. For 20 streams located south of 35°N, the geometric mean of annual peak floods recorded at a stream gauge during El Niño phases is 2–14 times the geometric mean of annual peak floods recorded during non–El Niño phases. Thus, south of 35°N along the California coast, floods are significantly larger during an El Niño phase than a non–El Niño phase. For the three streams located north of 41°N, the geometric mean of annual peak floods during an El Niño phase was less than 70% of the geometric mean of annual peak floods during a non–El Niño phase. The relative strength of the El Niño phase, however, has, at most, a weak influence on flood magnitude. Flood exceedance probabilities for the El Niño and non–El Niño periods were calculated for all gauging stations using a three-parameter log gamma distribution. For exceedance probabilities from 0.50 to 0.02, the ratio of the El Niño to non–El Niño floods varies from greater than 10 near 32°N to less than 0.7 near 42°N. Latitude explains 76%–90% of the observed variation in the relative magnitude of El Niño versus non–El Niño floods over the range of exceedance probabilities.

Journal of Climate↗