An intercomparison of seawater filtration procedures

Filtration systems, used for the preparation of coastal seawater samples for trace analysis, have been intercompared to determine the extent of contamination arising during the filtration process. The results show that all the systems intercompared are able to provide uncontaminated filtrates for copper, nickel, cobalt and manganese and, with two exceptions, for cadmium and iron, at levels that would be encountered in uncontaminated coastal waters.     

Trace gas measurements during aircraft flights in the tropopause region over Europe and North Africa

During aircraft flights in May 1981 from Munich (40°N) to north of the Spitsbergen Islands (82°N) and to Monrovia, Liberia (6°N), air samples were obtained in the altitude range of 8 to 11 km and during the ascents and descents near the airports. These samples have been analyzed for the trace gas mixing ratios of CH₄, CO and N₂O. The results of these analyses are presented and discussed.The results provide new evidence of tropospheric-stratospheric exchange events in the vicinity of the subpolar and subtropical tropopause foldings and possibly show a case of transport of CO-enriched air in the upper troposphere above the North Atlantic Ocean.     

The southern agglomeration zone of the GDR — Regional structure and development

Agglomeration areas in the GDR are those regions, which are characterized by an above average level of regional concentration of productive forces and their conditions of reproduction. The economic potential concentrated in these regions represents a large part of the national economy. It is possible to describe the territorial structure of these agglomeration areas by general indices (agglomeration core — agglomeration field — agglometation fringe; polycentric node-band-structure), but also the individual features of each one of these regions are to be attended. They are expressed for the first time by several forms of localization of plants and by the structure of settlements and settlement networks. The present main tendencies in the development of the agglomeration regions are:

They succeeded in minimizing the regional disparities of productivity between different agglomeration regions and within them, and in stabilizing the economic position of these regions by systematic measures for investment and rationalization and the hereby influenced structural changes.

At present and up to 1990 the completion of housing programme is of foremost importance by which the main activities will shift from the urban fringe to the centres of the cities; provincial towns and smaller settlements will also participate in this programme.

The main target of these activities is to remove imperfect structures and other burning problems of the agglomeration regions step by step. Geographical Institutes are dealing with the management of these tasks too.     

Possible influences of solar radiation variations on the atmospheric circulation in the northern hemisphere of the earth

The strength of the circumpolar zonal circulation of the atmosphere in the northern hemisphere, expressed by an index calculated from the air pressure gradient between 35° N and 65°N, shows a remarkable secular change in this century in the years 1935 to 1938, and probably again in the years after 1970. A contemporary change and parallel course with a high positive correlation can be found in a solar radiation index calculated by means of sunspot numbers and solar faculae areas. A good correlation was also found between this solar radiation index and a series of UV measurements on Mt. Wilson. The possible mechanism of action in the atmosphere will be discussed, and it is shown that this solar radiation index is also correlated with circulation parameters in the troposphere and stratosphere over Europe. There are indications of a decrease of the action from the upper to the lower atmosphere. The consequences of this secular change of circulation for the climatic history in the 20th century in Europe are presented and from that a hypothetical retrospective view of the European climatic history before the 20th century, based on the total series of sunspot numbers, is briefly discussed. In a general view with smoothed data it can be concluded that the sun seems to determine the basic structure of the north hemispheric circulation in middle latitudes, if a strong influence of sunspots and solar faculae on the solar radiation is assumed.     

Transport rate of drifting snow and the mean wind speed profile

Transport rates, measured by weighing snow blown into a filter fabric trap, were greater over hard snow or ice than for the same wind speed over soft, fresh snow surfaces. Analysis of wind speed profiles from nine blizzards showed that friction between moving particles and the surface was less, and particle speeds were greater over hard surfaces. Transport rates at a given wind speed increased rapidly as aerodynamic roughness decreased in the rough-smooth transition region. Bagnold's theory for bed load transport provided a useful framework for the analysis.     

The tropospheric distribution of formaldehyde during TROPOZ II

A series of 149 measurements of the HCHO mixing ratio were made between 0 and 10 km altitude and 70° N to 60° S latitude during TROPOZ II. The data show a vertical decrease of the HCHO mixing ratio with altitude at all latitudes and a broad latitudinal maximum in the HCHO mixing ratio between 30° N and 30° S at all altitudes. The measured mixing ratios of HCHO are considerably higher than those expected from CH₄ oxidation alone, but agree broadly with the average latitude by altitude distribution of HCHO derived by a 2D model including emissions of C₁–C₇ hydrocarbons. A number of the regional scale deviations of the measured HCHO distribution from the average modelled one can be explained in terms of the local wind field.     

Cyclotella-taxa (Bacillariophyceae) in lakes of the Alpine region and their relationship to environmental variables

Surface sediment diatom assemblages for 86 Alpine lakes were analysed focusing on the dominant genusCyclotella and corresponding environmental data. The range of morphological variability of theCyclotella bodanica/radiosa, C. distinguenda, C. ocellata, C. comensis andC. stelligera complexes was documented. Significance tests included in the canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) indicated that total phosphorus, conductivity and surface water temperature were significantly correlated withCyclotella taxa assemblage distribution. Numerical species optima and tolerances were calculated in respect to these significant variables using weighted averaging (WA) regression and calibration. CCA and WA were able to provide information about the environmental preferences of the various morphotypes observed.     

Vertical profiles of wind speed,snow concentration,and humidity in blowing snow

To estimate the sublimation rate of snow during relocation by wind, sizes and concentration of ice crystal fragments were measured at 6 levels in the lowest 1 m, during ten 10-min runs, in a nocturnal blizzard. Power-law functions of height described the decrease in mean particle diameter and concentration. The vertical gradient of water vapor, measured with a thermocouple psychrometer, was approximately linear from 0.2 to 1.0m above the surface. Evaporation of blowing snow over 3 km of transport distance was estimated to be 39% of transport rate, under conditions of the experiment.     

A comparison between the fabric camera and texture goniometer methods of fabric analysis by X-ray diffraction

The effects of grain size on the analysis of fabrics by X-ray diffraction using both the fabric camera and the texture goniometer are discussed. Simple calculations show the interdependance between the mean grain diameter and the number of crystals which are measured by each instrument. The effects of both grain size and modal composition of the specimen are illustrated by comparative analyses. Both the fabric camera and texture goniometer are well suited to the analysis of specimens in which the mean grain diameter is between approximately 10 and 100 microns. The texture goniometer is more suitable when the grain size is less than this, while the fabric camera is better suited when the grain size is coarser, especially when the specimen is not monomineralic.