Predicting riverine dissolved silica fluxes to coastal zones from a hyperactive region and analysis of their first-order controls

Silicate weathering and resulting transport of dissolved matter influence the global carbon cycle in two ways. First by the uptake of atmospheric/soil CO₂ and second by providing the oceanic ecosystems via the fluvial systems with the nutrient dissolved silica (DSi). Previous work suggests that regions dominated by volcanics are hyperactive or even “hot spots” concerning DSi-mobilization. Here, we present a new approach for predicting DSi-fluxes to coastal zones, emphasizing “first-order” controlling factors (lithology, runoff, relief, land cover and temperature). This approach is applied to the Japanese Archipelago, a region characterized by a high percentage of volcanics (29.1% of surface area). The presented DSi-flux model is based on data of 516 catchments, covering approximately 56.7% of the area of the Japanese Archipelago. The spatial distribution of lithology—one of the most important first order controls—is taken from a new high resolution map of Japan. Results show that the Japanese Archipelago is a hyperactive region with a DSi-yield 6.6 times higher than the world average of 3.3 t SiO₂ km⁻² a⁻¹, but with large regional variations. Approximately 10% of its area exceeds 10 times the world average DSi-yield. Slope constitutes another important controlling factor on DSi-fluxes besides lithology and runoff, and can exceed the influence of runoff on DSi-yields. Even though the monitored area on the Japanese Archipelago stretches from about 31° to 46°N, temperature is not identified as a significant first-order model variable. This may be due to the fact that slope, runoff and lithology are correlated with temperature due to regional settings of the Archipelago, and temperature information is substituted to a certain extent by these factors. Land cover data also do not improve the prediction model. This may partly be attributed to misinterpreted land cover information from satellite images. Implications of results for Earth System and global carbon cycle modeling are discussed.     

Comparison of atmospheric turbulence characteristics and turbulent fluxes from two urban sites in Essen, Germany

From September 2006 to September 2007, the intersite variability of turbulence characteristics and turbulent heat fluxes was analysed at two urban stations in Essen, Germany. One site was situated within an urban residential setting while the other was located at the border of an urban park and suburban/urban residential housing. Therefore, the surroundings at both sites contributing to surface–atmosphere exchange differed in terms of surface cover and surface morphology. During the 1-year measurement period, 19% of data were characterised by stable atmospheric stratification. Since observations of urban turbulence characteristics under stable stratification are scarce, so far, this work adds additional input to this discussion. Turbulence characteristics, i.e. normalised standard deviations of wind components, were in agreement to empirical fits from other urban observations under both instable and stable atmospheric stratification. However, differences in magnitude of turbulence characteristics between sites were observable. Comparison of turbulent heat fluxes indicated typical urban features in the site located in the urban setting with increased surface heating and higher surface heat fluxes by about 30%. Also the temporal evolution of heat fluxes on the diurnal course was affected. Differences in momentum flux were of minor magnitude with about 6% variation on average between sites. Findings indicate that multiple urban flux measurements within one city may be characterised by general similarities in terms of turbulent characteristics but are still significantly influenced by differences in the surface cover of the flux footprint.     

A crustal section across the Eastern Alps based on gravity and seismic refraction data

Summary Existing gravity and seismic refraction data are used to deduce a crustal cross section across the Eastern Alps along the meridian 11°.4 East. The results suggest that a high density body of the Ivrea type is present under the southern margin of the Alps, that the Apennines do not have a crustal root extending to a depth of 50 km and that a profound discontinuity extending to the base of the crust exists between the Apennines and the Po Valley.Lamont-Doherty Contribution No. 1590.     

Low-temperature heat capacity of magnesioferrite (MgFe2O4)

The low-temperature heat capacity of magnesioferrite (MgFe₂O₄) was measured between 1.5 K and 300 K, and thermochemical functions were derived from the results. No heat capacity anomaly was observed. From our data, we suggest a standard entropy (298.15 K) for magnesioferrite of 120.8±0.6 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹, which is about 2.4 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹ higher than previously reported calorimetric studies; but is in rough agreement with predictions from sets of internally consistent thermodynamic data.     

Do clay mineral dissolution rates reach steady state?

The temporal evolution of natural illite du Puy dissolution rates was measured from Si release rates in single-pass flow-through experiments lasting at least 100 days at 25°C and pH ranging from 2 to 12. Si release rates decreased by a factor of five and three at pH 12 and 2, respectively, during the experiments. These observations are interpreted to stem from changes in illite du Puy reactive surface area during these experiments. As the edges of clay minerals dissolve faster than the basal planes, dissolution tends to change clay mineral morphology decreasing the percentage of reactive edge sites. This continuously changing morphology prevents illite dissolution rates from attaining steady state during laboratory experiments lasting 100 to 200 days. A similar temporal decrease in dissolution rates is evident for many different sets of clay mineral dissolution rate data available in the literature. It seems reasonable, therefore, to expect that clay mineral dissolution does not attain steady state in nature, but rather their dissolution rates decrease continuously during their dissolution.     

The oxygen isotope fractionation behaviour of kyanite in experiment and nature

The oxygen isotope fractionation between kyanite and calcium carbonate has been investigated experimentally at four temperatures in the range between 625 and 775 °C at 13 kbar. Because of low exchange rates, the isotopic reaction was enhanced by polymorphic transformation of andalusite to kyanite. With this experimental modification a close approach to equilibrium was reached in all runs. The temperature dependence of the equilibrium fractionation is described by the equation 1000 ln _ky-cc=−2.62×10⁶/T ². Application of the experimental results to natural quartz-kyanite-garnet assemblages indicates the preservation of the oxygen isotope composition of kyanite acquired during its formation, reflecting its extremely low oxygen diffusivity. This refractory behaviour restricts the use of kyanite for thermometry but opens the possibility to use its O-isotope composition as an indicator for recognition of polymetamorphic rock histories and reconstruction of the prograde evolution of a metamorphic sequence. Received: 8 June 1998 / Accepted: 24 August 1998