Evolving Earth最新文献

{"title":"Magnetostratigraphic perspectives and palaeoenvironmental implications of Deccan volcano-sedimentary succession within the Malwa subprovince, Central India","authors":"Sarvendra Pratap Singh ,&nbsp;Mohammad Arif ,&nbsp;Arvind Kumar Singh ,&nbsp;Shreya Mishra ,&nbsp;Vivesh Vir Kapur ,&nbsp;Vandana Prasad ,&nbsp;Mamilla Venkateshwarlu ,&nbsp;Amiya Shankar Naik","doi":"10.1016/j.eve.2025.100061","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eve.2025.100061","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The present study examines a composite section representing four basaltic and three intertrappean successions at Gujri locality, Malwa subprovince, Central India. An integrated palaeomagnetic, sedimentological, mineralogical, and palaeontological approach has been utilized to understand the palaeoenvironmental changes in a stratigraphic context. The palaeomagnetic results reveal the presence of C30n/C29r and C29r/C29n magnetic reversals providing the C30n-C29r-C29n magnetostratigraphy for the region that spans almost the entire eruption history of the Deccan volcanism. As the Malwa lava flows contain C30n magnetochron, it represents the earliest basalt flows of Deccan volcanism compared to the Western Ghats sequences. Additionally, the record of the younger C29n magnetochron suggests that the Malwa and Mandla lava flows are magnetostratigraphically correlatable and experienced synchronous volcanic activity with the Western Ghats sequences during the main (C29r) and late (C29n) phases of Deccan volcanic eruption. Sedimentological and palaeontological data support that the intertrappean sediments at the Gujri locality were deposited in a dominantly low to moderate-energy freshwater palustrine-lacustrine environment under tropical to sub-tropical humid conditions with seasonal precipitation. However, data from the topmost intertrappean unit at Gujri possibly hints at ‘Mock’ aridity across the C29r/C29n transition.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100516,"journal":{"name":"Evolving Earth","volume":"3 ","pages":"Article 100061"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143437555","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Combination of large- and small-scale nature-based solutions for enhancing the performance of urban drainage systems","authors":"W. Sadiqi ,&nbsp;M. Sediqmal ,&nbsp;M.A. Mayar ,&nbsp;R. Rahmani","doi":"10.1016/j.eve.2025.100077","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eve.2025.100077","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Urban flooding poses increasing risks to cities, requiring solutions that integrate hydrological effectiveness with governance feasibility. This study evaluates the combined application of large- and small-scale nature-based solutions (NBS) to improve urban drainage system performance. Using the Storm Water Management Model (SWMM), three stakeholder-defined NBS combinations were tested under design storm scenarios for a selected study area in Cali, Colombia. The prioritization of measures was guided by Multi-Attribute Value Theory (MAVT), which incorporated input from municipal authorities, planners, and academia through structured scoring of hydrological, technical, and societal criteria. The calibrated and validated SWMM model showed that combined NBS interventions reduced peak runoff by up to 32 percent in major flood events and enhanced delay of peak flow compared to baseline conditions. Simulations under multiple rainfall return periods confirmed the robustness of the results. In addition to hydrological performance, the study highlights co-benefits of NBS such as biodiversity support, urban cooling, and recreational potential, which strengthen their relevance for integrated planning. Unlike optimization-based approaches, the proposed framework emphasizes stakeholder-driven prioritization, ensuring that selected measures align with local governance capacity and community preferences. The findings demonstrate that combining large- and small-scale NBS can provide resilient and socially grounded solutions for urban flood risk management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100516,"journal":{"name":"Evolving Earth","volume":"3 ","pages":"Article 100077"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145104660","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Contact metamorphism of coals in the Southern Piceance Basin, USA: Volatile matter generation, pyrolytic carbon accumulation, and δ13C trends","authors":"Susan M. Rimmer ,&nbsp;Lois E. Yoksoulian ,&nbsp;Darren R. Gröcke","doi":"10.1016/j.eve.2025.100063","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eve.2025.100063","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Four transects of coal were studied to determine petrographic, geochemical, and δ¹³C changes due to contact with thin sills. Approaching the sills, vitrinite and coke reflectance increases from ∼0.75% to ∼7%, while volatile matter (VM) and H/C decrease. Despite extensive VM loss, the coals do not follow normal burial maturation pathways. Alteration above the sills exceeds that below, and the width of the contact aureole is large compared to that of the sills. This may suggest prolonged magma transport within the sills. Additionally, multiple fractures contain coke, pyrolytic carbon, and minerals, which suggests migration of fluidized coal, VM, and hot fluids. Incipient mosaic and anisotropic coke structures (fine-grained circular mosaic, with minor medium-grained circular mosaic) are observed within the aureole, consistent with intrusion of a high volatile bituminous coal. Devolatilization vacuoles, more abundant in altered collodetrinite than collotelinite, increase in number and size approaching the sills. Pyrolytic carbon occurs as fracture fills, spherulites, and botryoidal aggregates; spherulitic forms are more abundant at higher maturation levels. δ¹³C of the altered coal/coke varies only minimally from that of the unaltered coal and overall trends are ambiguous. Factors affecting δ¹³C may include maceral composition, rank at the time of intrusion, extent of alteration, size of the carbon reservoir, redeposition of pyrolytic carbon, and openness of the system. It is possible that the rapid heating and high temperatures associated with contact metamorphism limit carbon isotopic fractionation. In turn, this may imply that the intrusion of coal results in minimal liberation of isotopically light CH₄.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100516,"journal":{"name":"Evolving Earth","volume":"3 ","pages":"Article 100063"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143488232","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Organic petrographical, geochemical, and mineralogical features of the Permian Coalbrook Sub-basin, South Africa: Reconstruction of paleo-depositional conditions","authors":"F. Zonke Chitlango,&nbsp;Ofentse M. Moroeng,&nbsp;Nicola J. Wagner","doi":"10.1016/j.eve.2025.100067","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eve.2025.100067","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Coal samples from four boreholes drilled as part of an exploration project in the Vereeniging-Sasolburg Coalfield, Coalbrook Sub-basin, South Africa, were studied to understand the depositional environments using organic petrography (macerals, microlithotypes, and vitrinite reflectance), inorganic geochemistry, and mineralogy. Given that South Africa is projected to remain reliant on coal for its energy needs in the short-to medium-term, the study aims to expand on the limited knowledge regarding this part of the Main Karoo Basin (MKB). The samples are classified as low-rank A sub-bituminous to medium-rank D bituminous, with variable maceral composition, with very low to moderate vitrinite (5.8–48.0 vol%, mineral matter free basis, mmf) although most samples are dominated by inertinite (from 42.0 to 90.6 vol%, mmf). The vitrinite to inertinite ratio (V/I) varies from 0.06 to 1.14, indicative of generally dry and oxidizing environments with frequent paleofires. The dominant minerals in the studied coals are kaolinite and quartz. Angular to rounded quartz grains suggest a detrital origin, whereas kaolinite is both detrital and authigenic, the latter also occurring within telovitrinite cell lumens. In contrast, detrital kaolinite mainly occurs in association with inertodetrinite, sporinite, and the detrital quartz. This indicates allochthonous deposition for the detrital minerals and the associated organic matter (including charcoal), likely reflecting flooding of the paleomire. The Al₂O₃/TiO₂ ratios indicate that the minerals were mostly derived from intermediate and felsic sources. Total sulphur (TS) values are generally low, suggesting freshwater conditions. The microlithotype facies plot suggests that the Coalbrook Sub-basin coals were deposited in lacustrine and lower deltaic environments, related to the undulating paleotopography at the base of the coalfield owing to the presence of karst features. This distinguishes the Vereeniging-Sasolburg from the other coalfields of the MKB (e.g., Witbank, Highveld, and Ermelo), which have the Dwyka diamictite at their base and formed in deltaic and fluvial environments. The paleotopography of the basement thus had a strong influence on peat accumulation in this coalfield, including in the Coalbrook Sub-basin.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100516,"journal":{"name":"Evolving Earth","volume":"3 ","pages":"Article 100067"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143876654","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Into thin air: The loss of the pliocene giant volant birds","authors":"Alan Cannell ,&nbsp;Federico J. Degrange","doi":"10.1016/j.eve.2024.100055","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eve.2024.100055","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Four genera of distantly phylogenetically very large volant birds existed for most of the Pliocene: Pelagornithidae seabirds; the large North American Teratornithidae, the stork <em>Leptoptilos falconeri</em> in Africa and Asia, and the gigantic vulture <em>Dryornis pampeanus</em> in Argentina. All became extinct around 2 to 3 Ma. The reasons for their demise are puzzling, as the Pelagornithidae had a world-wide evolutionary history of more than 50 Ma, smaller teratorns were still extant in the Holocene, and smaller stork and vulture species continue to be successful today. Extant large birds have a common critical takeoff airspeed suggesting biomechanical constraints in terms of power, risk and launch speed. Atmospheric mass is not constant over time and estimates for Late Pliocene atmospheric density, based on the difference between marine and terrestrial derived pCO₂ and isotopes in amber, suggest a value equivalent to about 1.2 bar that dropped to the present level over the period from ∼3.3 to 2.0 Ma. Simulations of the flight of these extinct species suggest that in the present atmosphere at sea level (∼1) bar their takeoff airspeeds would have exceeded critical values; however, at 1.2 bar all the extinct species present takeoff airspeeds similar to those of large extant volant birds and which are within their muscle power and kinetic energy limits. A loss in atmospheric density may therefore have caused biomechanical and ecological stress contributing to their extinction and/or evolution of smaller forms.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100516,"journal":{"name":"Evolving Earth","volume":"3 ","pages":"Article 100055"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143097472","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Insights into greener Miocene biomes and globally enhanced terrestrial productivity from fossil leaves","authors":"Tammo Reichgelt ,&nbsp;Christopher K. West","doi":"10.1016/j.eve.2025.100058","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eve.2025.100058","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Leaf megafloras represent a snapshot of local environmental conditions in Earth's history. As such, they are an important way to understand terrestrial climate analogues for future warmer climate scenarios. Here, we present paleoclimate, productivity, and biome reconstructions of 108 globally distributed Miocene leaf megafloras using a standardized method based on leaf physiognomy. Our results show that the Miocene had higher than modern zonal temperature, precipitation and net primary productivity (NPP) averages, especially for precipitation at latitudes &gt;30°N/°S, suggesting enhanced poleward moisture transport in both hemispheres and a greener biosphere. There is a dearth of Miocene data in the tropics and notably an absence of data points in equatorial localities that have high modern NPP (rainforests), which makes a direct comparison complicated. 89% of investigated sites underwent a precipitation decrease from the Miocene to modern, whereas 66% underwent a temperature decrease, and 60% underwent both a precipitation and a temperature decrease. 67% of sites had more productive biomes during the Miocene than today. Most notably, forested biomes were replaced by more open woodland/shrubland or grassland biomes. Correspondingly, the average NPP decrease from the Miocene to today of our investigated localities was conservatively ∼250 gC m⁻² yr⁻¹ or ∼450 gC m⁻² yr⁻¹ by comparison of zonal averages. Considered collectively, leaf megafloras reveal an overall greener Miocene world that appears to be largely driven by greater moisture availability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100516,"journal":{"name":"Evolving Earth","volume":"3 ","pages":"Article 100058"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143097917","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessing the potential of hard rock terrain to store groundwater using AHP techniques in the Vedavathi River Basin, India","authors":"Krishna Kumar S ,&nbsp;S.A. Ahmed ,&nbsp;Jyothika Karkala ,&nbsp;Sanjay Kumar","doi":"10.1016/j.eve.2025.100057","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eve.2025.100057","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In recent years, human activities and uneven development have significantly reduced groundwater recharge, which is a crucial resource. Understanding the potential for groundwater is essential for managing and extending research areas. Designing and implementing structures to correct groundwater replenishment requires this knowledge. The Vedavathi River basin shows that groundwater availability varies over time and geography, necessitating a comprehensive assessment. Using a weighted overlay method, the Vedavathi River basin has been categorized into Groundwater Potential Zone (GWPZ): extremely high (1849.912 km²), high (7320.034 km²), moderate (9038.448 km²), low (4804.256 km²), and very low (283.6686 km²). The graphic illustrates that the basin's midland has significant groundwater potential, with substantial groundwater zones found in areas of heavy rainfall and significant infiltration. Our study's GWPZ were cross-validated using data from the Central Groundwater Board (CGWB) observation wells. The map's accuracy was confirmed by matching it with well-yield data. The model's performance was assessed using the Receiver-operation characteristics (ROC) curve, revealing that the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP)-based map achieved an 89% accuracy. This result aligns well with the predicted potential zones and well-yield data. The application of GIS and AHP methods to delineate GWPZ is relevant for river basin planning and development in tropical and subtropical regions with varied geological environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100516,"journal":{"name":"Evolving Earth","volume":"3 ","pages":"Article 100057"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143140577","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Geomorphometry using UAV-PPK for mapping inselberg landforms","authors":"Geraldo Marcelo Lima,&nbsp;José Rafael Santos de Jesus,&nbsp;Pablo Santana Santos,&nbsp;Carolina de Almeida Poggio","doi":"10.1016/j.eve.2025.100088","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eve.2025.100088","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":100516,"journal":{"name":"Evolving Earth","volume":"3 ","pages":"Article 100088"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145750153","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Organic matter characteristics in black shales of the southwestern paleogene N'kapa formation, Douala Sub-basin Cameroon: Evidence from stable isotopes and rock-eval pyrolysis","authors":"Ngong Roger Ngia ,&nbsp;Elie Fosso Menkem ,&nbsp;Alexandrine N'nanga ,&nbsp;Christopher Fuanya ,&nbsp;Median Yongye","doi":"10.1016/j.eve.2025.100074","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eve.2025.100074","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Shallow marine black shales from outcrops, river channels, drilled and dug wells in Dibombari<strong>-</strong>Kompina-Mian (Stage-1) and Pendanboko (Stage-2) of the Paleogene N'kapa Formation in Douala Sub-basin were studied. Paleoclimate, paleoredox and paleoproductivity was examined, and the mechanism of organic matter accumulation and enrichment in shales and mudstones of N'kapa Formation was formulated. It provides detailed analysis of organic matter richness and hydrocarbon generation potentials of black shales. The rocks were analyzed using elemental geochemistry, SEM, TOC, organic carbon isotope, sulfur isotopes (pyrite sulfur and organic bound), total sulfur and Rock-Eval pyrolysis. Paleoclimate proxies show that the rocks were deposited under humid to semi-arid conditions. Paleoredox proxies reveal that the sediments were deposited dominantly under suboxic to anoxic conditions. The parameters for paleoproductivity: biogenic barium, δ³⁴S_py, δ¹³C_org, TOC, Mo/Al, P_org/Al, Cu/Al and S/¹³C_org ratios indicate that the humid-to semi-arid climate and reducing conditions were suitable for high primary productivity and favorable for the accumulation and enrichment of organic matters. The model of organic matter accumulation reveals that high primary productivity, suboxic-to-dominantly anoxic sulfidic bottom water, bacterial sulfate reduction (BSR) and supply of nutrient materials were responsible for accumulation and preservation of organic matter. The black shales have fair to good source rock richness for gaseous hydrocarbon generation, except for samples KO6-9, KO10-1 and KO13-2 having good gas/oil source rock potentials. The rocks are mainly type III kerogen, with few mixed type II/III kerogens present. Most samples are thermally immature, with three exceptional samples at marginally early mature stage for hydrocarbon generation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100516,"journal":{"name":"Evolving Earth","volume":"3 ","pages":"Article 100074"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144826632","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Anaerobic photoferrotrophy and hydrothermal influence in the Mesoarchean Girar banded iron formation: insights from micropaleontology and geochemistry","authors":"Arif H. Ansari ,&nbsp;Yogmaya Shukla ,&nbsp;Gaurav K. Singh ,&nbsp;Archana Sonker ,&nbsp;Mohammad Arif Ansari ,&nbsp;Arunaditya Das","doi":"10.1016/j.eve.2025.100073","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eve.2025.100073","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Banded Iron Formations (BIFs) serve as critical archives of early biosignatures; however, uncertainties remain regarding the biological affinities, metabolic pathways, and their role in Earth's early oxidation history. This study investigates the Mesoarchean Girar BIF (2850 ± 26 Ma) from the Bundelkhand craton using an integrated micropaleontological and geochemical approach to address these questions. Well-preserved spheroidal microfossils, morphologically similar to <em>Huroniospora</em>, are documented. The organic carbon isotopic signatures (δ¹³C-org ranging from −27.8 ‰ to −35.2 ‰) indicate a biological origin mainly linked to anoxygenic photosynthesizers, methanogenic archaea, or methanotrophic bacteria, and to some extent cyanobacterial activity. These observations suggest that Fe²⁺ oxidation within the Girar-Baraitha BIF was predominantly driven by anaerobic photoferrotrophs, rather than abiotic processes. Geochemical proxies, including Sm/Yb versus Eu/Sm ratios, point to hydrothermal fluid and seawater mixing in proportions of 1:1000 to 1:100, supported by a pronounced positive Eu/Eu∗ (&gt;2), indicating substantial hydrothermal Fe input. Collectively, these findings provide evidence that anaerobic photosynthesis, particularly photoferrotrophy, played a central role in iron deposition in the Girar-Baraitha BIF. Abiotic oxidation, while present, was likely a secondary process facilitated by localized oxidative conditions. This study contributes to a more nuanced understanding of early Earth's biogeochemical cycles, microbial ecosystems, and the mechanisms driving surface oxidation and iron formation during the Mesoarchean.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100516,"journal":{"name":"Evolving Earth","volume":"3 ","pages":"Article 100073"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144714391","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}