Eccentric Dipole Evolution during the Last Reversal, Last Excursions, and Holocene Anomalies. Interpretation Using a 360-Dipole Ring Model

The eccentric dipole (ED) is the next approach of the geomagnetic field after the generally used geocentric dipole. Here, we analyzed the evolution of the ED during extreme events, such as the Matuyama-Brunhes polarity transition (~780 ka), the Laschamp (~41 ka) and Mono Lake (~34 ka) excursions, and during the time of two anomalous features of the geomagnetic field observed during the Holocene: the Levantine Iron Age Anomaly (LIAA, ~1000 BC) and the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA, analyzed from ~700 AD to present day). The analysis was carried out using the paleoreconstructions that cover the time of the mentioned events (IMMAB4, IMOLEe, LSMOD.2, SHAWQ-Iron Age, and SHAWQ2k). We found that the ED moves around the meridian plane of 0–180° during the reversal and the excursions; it moves towards the region of the LIAA; and it moves away from the SAA. To investigate what information can be extracted from its evolution, we designed a simple model based on 360-point dipoles evenly distributed in a ring close to the inner core boundary that can be reversed and their magnitude changed. We tried to reproduce with our simple model the observed evolution of the ED, and the total field energy at the Earth’s surface. We observed that the modeled ED moves away from the region where we set the dipoles to reverse. If we consider that the ring dipoles could be related to convective columns in the outer core of the Earth, our simple model would indicate the potential of the displacement of the ED to give information about the regions in the outer core where changes start for polarity transitions and for the generation of important anomalies of the geomagnetic field. According to our simple model, the regions in which the most important events of the Holocene occur, or in which the last polarity reversal or excursion begin, are related to the regions of the Core Mantle Boundary (CMB), where the heat flux is low.

Guttulatic calcite: A carbonate microtexture that reveals frigid formation conditions

The paragenesis of carbonate pseudomorphic textures in the rock record that are inferred to represent replaced metastable ikaite (CaCO3·6H2O), which forms at frigid temperatures, is uncertain. Petrographic analysis of Mono Lake (California, USA) Pleistocene tufas allowed recognition of a distinctive calcite microtexture, termed guttulatic calcite, that forms during carbonate dehydration and is diagnostic for precursor ikaite. The texture is characterized by pseudo-hexagonal or spherical low-Mg cores, which likely formed initially as vaterite, with an ellipsoidal overgrowth, and a secondary high-Mg sparry or micritic cement. Observations of Mono Lake ikaite pseudomorphs, combined with a review of more ancient examples, indicate that guttulatic texture records carbonate dehydration of precursor ikaite and can be used to infer frigid paleotemperatures.

Tokorhabditis n. gen. (Rhabditida, Rhabditidae), a comparative nematode model for extremophilic living

Life in extreme environments is typically studied as a physiological problem, although the existence of extremophilic animals suggests that developmental and behavioral traits might also be adaptive in such environments. Here, we describe a new species of nematode, Tokorhabditistufae, n. gen., n. sp., which was discovered from the alkaline, hypersaline, and arsenic-rich locale of Mono Lake, California. The new species, which offers a tractable model for studying animal-specific adaptations to extremophilic life, shows a combination of unusual reproductive and developmental traits. Like the recently described sister group Auanema, the species has a trioecious mating system comprising males, females, and self-fertilizing hermaphrodites. Our description of the new genus thus reveals that the origin of this uncommon reproductive mode is even more ancient than previously assumed, and it presents a new comparator for the study of mating-system transitions. However, unlike Auanema and almost all other known rhabditid nematodes, the new species is obligately live-bearing, with embryos that grow in utero, suggesting maternal provisioning during development. Finally, our isolation of two additional, molecularly distinct strains of the new genus—specifically from non-extreme locales—establishes a comparative system for the study of extremophilic traits in this model.

Multilayer modelling of waves generated by explosive submarine volcanism

Theoretical source models of underwater explosions are often applied in studying tsunami hazards associated with submarine volcanism; however, their use in numerical codes based on the shallow water equations can neglect the significant dispersion of the generated wavefield. A non-hydrostatic multilayer method is validated against a laboratory-scale experiment of wave generation from instantaneous disturbances and at field-scale submarine explosions at Mono Lake, California, utilising the relevant theoretical models. The numerical method accurately reproduces the range of observed wave characteristics for positive disturbances and suggests a previously unreported relationship of extended initial troughs for negative disturbances at low dispersivity and high nonlinearity parameters. Satisfactory amplitudes and phase velocities within the initial wave group are found using underwater explosion models at Mono Lake. The scheme is then applied to modelling tsunamis generated by volcanic explosions at Lake Taupō, New Zealand, for a magnitude range representing ejecta volumes between 0.04–0.4 km3. Waves reach all shores within 15 minutes with maximum incident crest amplitudes around 4 m at shores near the source. This work shows that the multilayer scheme used is computationally efficient and able to capture a wide range of wave characteristics, including dispersive effects, which is necessary when investigating submarine explosions. This research therefore provides the foundation for future studies involving a rigorous probabilistic hazard assessment to quantify the risks and relative significance of this tsunami source mechanism.

Owens Valley nesting willow flycatcher under pressure

Willow flycatchers (Empidonax traillii; WIFL) nest along the Owens River and Horton Creek in the Owens Valley. Migrating WIFL visit these sites as well as many other tributaries to both the Owens River and Mono Lake. We estimate there are approximately 35 WIFL territories in the Owens valley, or 5% of territories in California. Nesting WIFL in the Owens Valley are likely the federally endangered southwestern subspecies (E. t. extimus; SWIFL). The Chalk Bluff nesting site is particularly important as large nesting areas tend to be both rare and important for SWIFL and it contains more than half (63%) of all known WIFL territories in the region, which also represents 12% of all nesting SWIFL in California. Between 2014 and 2016, WIFL territory numbers declined from 37 to 27 across the three largest breeding sites. Territory numbers may have been influenced by drought conditions or brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater; BHCO) nest parasitism. In 2015 and 2016, comprehensive nest monitoring found nest parasitism rates were >40%, and nest success was lower in parasitized nests (16%; N = 5/31) compared with non-parasitized nests (60%; N = 31/52). BHCO management could potentially improve nest success for WIFL as well as many other open-cup nesting riparian birds in the Owens Valley.

A 62-ka geomagnetic palaeointensity record from the Taymyr Peninsula, Russian Arctic

This work represents the first palaeomagnetic study carried out on the sedimentary record of lake Levinson-Lessing, which is the deepest lake in northern Central Siberia. Palaeomagnetic analyses were carried out on 730 discrete samples from the upper 38 m of the 46 m-long core Co1401, which was recovered from the central part of the lake. Alternating field demagnetisation experiments were carried out to obtain the characteristic remanent magnetisation. The relative palaeointensity is determined using the magnetic susceptibility, the anhysteretic remanent magnetization and the isothermal remanent magnetization for normalization of the partial natural remanent magnetization. The chronology of Co1401 derives from accelerated mass spectrometer radiocarbon ages, optically stimulated luminescence dating, and correlation of the relative palaeointensity of 642 discrete samples with the GLOPIS-75 reference curve. This study focuses on the part >10 ka but although includes preliminary results for the upper part of the core. The record includes the geomagnetic excursions Laschamps and Mono Lake, and resolves sufficient geomagnetic features to establish a chronology that continuously covers ~62 ka. The results reveal continuous sedimentation and high sedimentation rate between 45 and 95 cm ka−1. High lock-in depths are suggested from the low variability of the magnetic record compared to data sets of reference records with lower sedimentation rate. Although the horizontal component of the characteristic remanent magnetization can only be used with caution because Co1401 was cored without core segment overlap, the magnetic record of Co1401 is the only high-resolution record of relative palaeointensity and palaeosecular variations from the Arctic tangent cylinder going back to ~62 ka.

Supplemental Material: Thermodynamic evaporation and freshwater mixing models to test salinity proxies for late Pleistocene lake levels, Mono Lake, California

A Python-based computer code used for automating the simulation used to predict the geochemical evolution of Mono Lake waters since the last glacial period.<br>

Supplemental Material: Thermodynamic evaporation and freshwater mixing models to test salinity proxies for late Pleistocene lake levels, Mono Lake, California

A Python-based computer code used for automating the simulation used to predict the geochemical evolution of Mono Lake waters since the last glacial period.<br>

Colonial choanoflagellate isolated from Mono Lake harbors a microbiome

Choanoflagellates offer key insights into bacterial influences on the origin and early evolution of animals. Here we report the isolation and characterization of a new colonial choanoflagellate species, Salpingoeca monosierra, that, unlike previously characterized species, harbors a stable microbiome. S. monosierra was isolated from Mono Lake, California and forms large spherical colonies that are more than an order of magnitude larger than those formed by the closely related S. rosetta. By designing fluorescence in situ hybridization probes from metagenomic sequences, we found that S. monosierra colonies are colonized by members of the halotolerant and closely related Saccharospirillaceae and Oceanospirillaceae, as well as purple sulfur bacteria (Ectothiorhodospiraceae) and non-sulfur Rhodobacteraceae. This relatively simple microbiome in a close relative of animals presents a new experimental model for investigating the evolution of stable interactions among eukaryotes and bacteria.

Shannon Information of the geomagnetic field during the excursions

&lt;p&gt;The Shannon Information or Information Content is a statistical measure of a system characterising its properties of organisation (maximum value) or disorder (minimum value). Once it is introduced the scalar potential of the geomagnetic field in terms of a spherical harmonic expansion, it is straightforward to define the Shannon Information by an expression including the Gauss coefficients [De Santis et al., EPSL, 2004]. Some recent models of the past geomagnetic field, including also the two most recent excursions, i.e. Laschamp (~41 ka) and Mono Lake (~34 ka) events, allow us to calculate the Shannon Information in the periods of those events and compare each other. It is expected that when approaching to excursions, the Shannon Information decreases, i.e. the disorder of the system increases. From the behaviour in time of the Shannon Information calculated from the Gauss coefficients of three geomagnetic field reconstructions that span the last excursions, i.e. IMOLE, GGF100k and LSMOD2, it is observed a decrease of the Shannon Information that seems to anticipate the occurrence of the impending excursions some time in advance. This result must be taken with caution because the reconstructions used are based on sedimentary data, which could present some smoothing effects related to the acquisition of the magnetisation mechanism.&lt;/p&gt;