Magnetic Study of the Heated and Unheated Sedimentary Fillings of Sebkha Mhabeul, Southeast Tunisia: A Geophysical Method for Paleoclimatic Investigation and Tephrochronological Dating

This paper is meant to investigate the climatic and volcanic signals within the sedimentary filling of sebkha Mhabeul through a thermomagnetic study of a 37 cm length core. Values of the magnetic susceptibility at ambient temperature show that the core encompasses four climatic stages: the Warming Present (WP), the Little Ice Age (Late LIA), Early Little Ice Age (ELIA), and the Medieval Climate Anomalies (MCA). Added to the subcycles, the spectral analysis shows the individualization of an 888 yr cycle probably related to solar activity. The heating at 250°C is good-for-nothing since it was useful neither for climatic investigation nor for tephras layers detection. Heating at 700°C generated the complete loss of the climatic signal. On the other hand, it allowed the detection of the previously identified tephras layers. Further, it highlighted the presence of other tephras layers. The extraction by the bromoform confirms the presence of these tephras. The use of the same methodology may allow the detection of tephras layers within other sebkhas

The Argyre Region as a Prime Target for in situ Astrobiological Exploration of Mars

At the time before ∼3.5 Ga that life originated and began to spread on Earth, Mars was a wetter and more geologically dynamic planet than it is today. The Argyre basin, in the southern cratered highlands of Mars, formed from a giant impact at ∼3.93 Ga, which generated an enormous basin approximately 1800 km in diameter. The early post-impact environment of the Argyre basin possibly contained many of the ingredients that are thought to be necessary for life: abundant and long-lived liquid water, biogenic elements, and energy sources, all of which would have supported a regional environment favorable for the origin and the persistence of life. We discuss the astrobiological significance of some landscape features and terrain types in the Argyre region that are promising and accessible sites for astrobiological exploration. These include (i) deposits related to the hydrothermal activity associated with the Argyre impact event, subsequent impacts, and those associated with the migration of heated water along Argyre-induced basement structures; (ii) constructs along the floor of the basin that could mark venting of volatiles, possibly related to the development of mud volcanoes; (iii) features interpreted as ice-cored mounds (open-system pingos), whose origin and development could be the result of deeply seated groundwater upwelling to the surface; (iv) sedimentary deposits related to the formation of glaciers along the basin's margins, such as evidenced by the ridges interpreted to be eskers on the basin floor; (v) sedimentary deposits related to the formation of lakes in both the primary Argyre basin and other smaller impact-derived basins along the margin, including those in the highly degraded rim materials; and (vi) crater-wall gullies, whose morphology points to a structural origin and discharge of (wet) flows

Advances in the Modelling of Thermodynamic Systems

Термодинамика - это распространенная область исследований, включающая множество различных специальностей, включая физику, химию, геологию и космологию. Термодинамика невероятно полезна для искусственных промышленных процессов, связанных с изучением материалов, возобновляемой энергией и многим другим. Специалистам важно быть в курсе событий в термодинамических системах, поскольку термодинамика оказывается жизненно важной для понимания естественных макропроцессов, связанных с геологией, ареологией и космологией. Обсуждаются последние достижения в моделировании термодинамических систем, а также современные промышленные процессы, созданные человеком, и природные процессы, происходящие на Земле и за ее пределами. В книге раскрывается междисциплинарное видение термодинамики от крошечного до необъятного. Этот ведущий справочный источник, охватывающий такие темы, как генерация энтропии, линейное моделирование и статистический анализ, является важным ресурсом для инженеров, химиков, физиков, механиков, геологов, космоИспользуемые программы Adobe AcrobatThermodynamics is a common field of study involving many different specialties including physics, chemistry, geology, and cosmology. Thermodynamics is incredibly useful for manmade industrial processes related to material studies, renewable energy, and more. It is essential for professionals to stay current with the developments in thermodynamic systems, as thermodynamics proves vital for understanding natural macroprocesses related to geology, areology, and cosmology.Advances in the Modelling of Thermodynamic Systems discusses the recent advances in modeling of thermodynamic systems as well as the state-of-the-art manmade industrial processes and natural processes taking place on Earth and beyond. It reveals an interdisciplinary vision of thermodynamics from the minuscule to the immense. Covering topics such as entropy generation, linear modeling, and statistical analysis, this premier reference source is an essential resource for engineers, chemists, physicists, mechanics, geologists, cosmologists, studen

PARALLEL EVOLUTION OF ENERGY CONSUMPTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION DURING THE ANTHROPOCENE

This work aims to follow the parallel evolution of energy consumption and environmental pollution during the Anthropocene. From 1700 onwards, the population growth has been the generator of energy consumption. This increase of energy consumption has led to pollution. All parameters related to pollution show parallel evolution with energy consumption. All graphs and clustering shows the individualization of the Anthropocene-Great Acceleration strata comparably with the Holocene. From 1700 to 1760, all parameters seem stable. From 1760 to 1850, some environmental parameters, but not all parameters (CO2) show a slight increase. From 1850 to 1950, the setting of the Anthropocene was recorded with dramatic increase. From 1950 onwards, the Great Acceleration is marked by an exponential increase of all parameters

Models of Formation and Activity of Spring Mounds in the Mechertate-Chrita-Sidi El Hani System, Eastern Tunisia: Implications for the Habitability of Mars

Spring mounds on Earth and on Mars could represent optimal niches of life development. If life ever occurred on Mars, ancient spring deposits would be excellent localities to search for morphological or chemical remnants of an ancient biosphere. In this work, we investigate models of formation and activity of well-exposed spring mounds in the Mechertate-Chrita-Sidi El Hani (MCSH) system, eastern Tunisia. We then use these models to explore possible spring mound formation on Mars. In the MCSH system, the genesis of the spring mounds is a direct consequence of groundwater upwelling, triggered by tectonics and/or hydraulics. As they are oriented preferentially along faults, they can be considered as fault spring mounds, implying a tectonic influence in their formation process. However, the hydraulic pressure generated by the convergence of aquifers towards the surface of the system also allows consideration of an origin as artesian spring mounds. In the case of the MCSH system, our geologic data presented here show that both models are valid, and we propose a combined hydro-tectonic model as the likely formation mechanism of artesian-fault spring mounds. During their evolution from the embryonic (early) to the islet (“island”) stages, spring mounds are also shaped by eolian accumulations and induration processes. Similarly, spring mounds have been suggested to be relatively common in certain provinces on the Martian surface, but their mode of formation is still a matter of debate. We propose that the tectonic, hydraulic, and combined hydro-tectonic models describing the spring mounds at MCSH could be relevant as Martian analogs because: (i) the Martian subsurface may be over pressured, potentially expelling mineral-enriched waters as spring mounds on the surface; (ii) the Martian subsurface may be fractured, causing alignment of the spring mounds in preferential orientations; and (iii) indurated eolian sedimentation and erosional remnants are common features on Mars. The spring mounds further bear diagnostic mineralogic and magnetic properties, in comparison with their immediate surroundings. Consequently, remote sensing techniques can be very useful to identify similar spring mounds on Mars. The mechanisms (tectonic and/or hydraulic) of formation and evolution of spring mounds at the MCSH system are suitable for the proliferation and protection of life respectively. Similarly, life or its resulting biomarkers on Mars may have been protected or preserved under the spring mounds