The Zedong terrane: An intra-oceanic magmatic arc assemblage, Tibet

Recent geochemical and field studies confirm that the Zedong terrane represents remnants of an intra-oceanic magmatic arc. These rocks are exposed within the Zedong tectonic window of Yin et al. (1994, 1999) located within the Yarlung-Zangbo suture zone, south eastern Tibet. Aitchison et al. (2000) have interpreted the Zedong terrane as representing an arc component of a Tethyan intra-oceanic subduction system. Fragments of elements of this intra-oceanic subduction system, the ophiolitic Dazhugu terrane and chert-dominated Bainang terrane are also exposed within the Zedong window. These three are components are juxtaposed against each other and the Indian terrane to their south by south-dipping thrusts related to the Renbu-Zedong thrust system. The Zedong terrane consists of tectonic fragments of a sequence of igneous and volcaniclastic rocks juxtaposed against the ophiolitic Dazhuqu terrane along one of the south-dipping thrust. Individual fragments incorporate overturned sequences of igneous and sedimentary rocks comprising pillow lavas, cherts, limestones, andesite tuffs, volcaniclastics, basaltic-andesites, andesites, andesite breccias, dacites, rhyolites, diorites and leucogranites. The main body of the Zedong terrane consists of undifferentiated autoclastic and epiclastic breccias cut by ubiquitous andesite dykes in the upper section. Key sections indicate that these breccias developed above a basement of basaltic pillow lavas characteristic of an intra-oceanic arc assemblage that are overlain by radiolarian cherts. Preliminary geochemical studies of volcanic rocks from the Zedong terrane indicate that they have tholeiitic affinity unlike calc alkaline volcanics associated with continental margin magmatic activity in the Lhasa terrane. Recent geochronological data also confirm an origin distinct from proximal volcanics of the Lhasa terrane. Evidence from Ar/ Ar dating and U-Pb ion microprobe analyses of igneous rocks from the Zedong terrane indicate that magmatism occured in the Late Jurassic (McDermid et al., 2001)

Large upper tropospheric ozone enhancements above midlatitude North America during summer: In situ evidence from the IONS and MOZAIC ozone measurement network

The most extensive set of free tropospheric ozone measurements ever compiled across midlatitude North America was measured with daily ozonesondes, commercial aircraft and a lidar at 14 sites during July-August 2004. The model estimated stratospheric ozone was subtracted from all profiles, leaving a tropospheric residual ozone. On average the upper troposphere above midlatitude eastern North America contained 15 ppbv more tropospheric residual ozone than the more polluted layer between the surface and 2 km above sea level. Lowest ozone values in the upper troposphere were found above the two upwind sites in California. The upper troposphere above midlatitude eastern North America contained 16 ppbv more tropospheric residual ozone than the upper troposphere above three upwind sites, with the greatest enhancement above Houston, Texas, at 24 ppbv. Upper tropospheric CO measurements above east Texas show no statistically significant enhancement compared to west coast measurements, arguing against a strong influence from fresh surface anthropogenic emissions to the upper troposphere above Texas where the ozone enhancement is greatest. Vertical mixing of ozone from the boundary layer to the upper troposphere can only account for 2 ppbv of the 16 ppbv ozone enhancement above eastern North America; therefore the remaining 14 ppbv must be the result of in situ ozone production. The transport of NOx tracers from North American anthropogenic, biogenic, biomass burning, and lightning emissions was simulated for the upper troposphere of North America with a particle dispersion model. Additional box model calculations suggest the 24 ppbv ozone enhancement above Houston can be produced over a 10 day period from oxidation reactions of lightning NOx and background mixing ratios of CO and CH4. Overall, we estimate that 69–84% (11–13 ppbv) of the 16 ppbv ozone enhancement above eastern North America is due to in situ ozone production from lightning NOx with the remainder due to transport of ozone from the surface or in situ ozone production from other sources of NOx