Deciphering late Devonian–early Carboniferous P–T–t path of mylonitized garnet-mica schists from Prins Karls Forland,Svalbard

Quartz-in-garnet inclusion barometry integrated with trace element thermometry and calculated phase relations is applied to mylonitized schists of the Pinkie unit cropping out on the island of Prins Karls Forland, western part of the Svalbard Archipelago. This approach combines conventional and novel techniques and allows deciphering of the pressure–temperature (P–T) evolution of mylonitic rocks, for which the P–T conditions could not have been easily deciphered using traditional methods. The results obtained suggest that rocks of the Pinkie unit were metamorphosed under amphibolite facies conditions at 8–10 kbar and 560–630°C and mylonitized at ~500 to 550°C and 9–11 kbar. The P–T results are coupled with in-situ Th–U-total Pb monazite dating, which records amphibolite facies metamorphism at c. 359–355 Ma. This is the very first evidence of late Devonian–early Carboniferous metamorphism in Svalbard and it implies that the Ellesmerian Orogeny on Svalbard was associated with metamorphism up to amphibolite facies conditions. Thus, it can be concluded that the Ellesmerian collision between the Franklinian margin of Laurentia and Pearya and Svalbard caused not only commonly accepted brittle deformation and weak greenschist facies metamorphism, but also a burial and deformation of rock complexes at much greater depths at elevated temperatures.     

TraceeElements in Leccinum scabrum mushrooms and topsoils from Kłodzka Dale in Sudety Mountains, Poland

In the current study, we determined concentrations and transfer rates of Ag, Al, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, P, Rb, Sr and Zn to Brown Birch Scaber Stalks (Leccinum scabrum) mushrooms emerged in the area of Sudety Mountains (Sudetes) in Poland. Fruiting bodies and topsoil samples beneath L. scabrum were collected form the K odzka Dale. The trace elements were determined using validated method and inductively coupled plasma - atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) for final measurement. Mushrooms contained Ag, Cr, Hg, Co, Ni and Sr at < 1.0 μg/g dry weight; Ba and Pb at ~1.0 μg/g dw; Cd at < 5 μg/g dw; Cu and Mn at > 10 μg/g dw; Al and Ca at ~100 μg/g dw; Fe, Na, Rb and Zn at 100 to 500 μg/g dw, Mg at ~1,000 μg/g dw; P at ~5,000 μg/g dw and K at ~30,000 μg/g dw. Ca, Mn and Ni were nearly equally distributed between stipes and caps; stipes compared to caps were enriched in Ba, Na and Sr, while caps were enriched in Ag, Al, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, P, Pb, Rb and Zn. The values of bioconcentration factor (BCF) varied highly depending on chemical element and were >1 for Ag, Cd, Cu, K, Mg, Na, P, Rb and Zn, while <1 for Al, Ba, Ca, Co, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Sr. Topsoil showed elevated content of lead and mean concentration was 99 ± 32 μg/g dw, while cadmium was at 0.41 ± 0.15 and those two highly toxic to human elements occurred in edible caps of L. scabrum at 4.5 ± 2.2 and 2.9 ± 2.0 μg/g dw, respectively.     

Increased hydrocarbon recovery and CO2 management, a Croatian example

Enhanced oil recovery based on CO₂ injection is expected to increase recovery from Croatian oil fields. Large quantities of CO₂ are generated during hydrocarbon processing produced from gas and gas condensate fields situated in the north-western part of Croatia. First CO₂ injection project will be implemented on the Ivani? Oil Field. Numerical modelling based on Upper Miocene sandstone core samples testing results have shown the decrease of oil viscosity during CO₂ injection. Some of the characteristics of the testing samples are porosity 21.5–23.6 %, permeability 14–80 × 10^?15 m² and initial water saturation 28–38.5 %. Water alternating foam (WAF) and water alternating gas (WAG) simulations have provided satisfactory results. The WAF injection process has provided better results, but due to the process sensitivity and costs WAG is recommended for future application. During the pilot project 16 × 10⁶ m³ CO₂ and 5 × 10⁴ m³ of water were injected. Additional amounts of hydrocarbons (4,440 m³ of oil and 2.26 × 10⁶ m³ of gas) were produced which confirmed injection of CO₂ as a successful tertiary oil recovery mechanism in Upper Miocene sandstone reservoirs in the Croatian part of the Pannonian Basin System.     

The changing social relations of a community-based mangrove forest project in Zanzibar

Coastal areas in East Africa are experiencing rapid economic, resource management, demographic and technological shifts. In response diverse Community-based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) applications have been embraced to provide mutual conservation and use benefits. These initiatives have met with mixed success in practice. Reflecting on the limitations of past research using common pool resources theory theory to study CBNRM we use insights from actor oriented theory combined with satellite image analysis to describe and discuss the forces dynamically influencing institutional and mangrove forest cover change at Kisakasaka, Zanzibar focussing on the formal CBNRM project period between 1996 and 2001, but also considering the period before and after this. We examine the shifting social relations that affected the performance and viability of the formal CBNRM arrangements. An integrated approach was taken to the presentation and discussion of results where it was possible to enrich and expand explanations of socio-environmental change, which was driven by a lack of government support, the undermining effects of party political divisions, and the lack of institutional adaptive capacity. We conclude that this was a useful approach to explain CBNRM intervention events at Kisakasaka.     

Increased hydrocarbon recovery and CO2 storage in Neogene sandstones,a Croatian example: part II

During 2003–2006, a pilot project of alternating water and CO₂ injection was performed on a limited part of the Upper Miocene sandstone oil reservoir of the Ivani? Field. During the test period oil and gas recovery was significantly increased. Additionally 4,440 m³ of oil and 2.26 × 10⁶ m³ of gas were produced. It has initiated further modelling of sandstone reservoirs in the Ivani? Field in order to calculate volumes available for CO₂ injection for the purpose of increasing hydrocarbon production from depleted sandstone reservoirs in the entire Croatian part of the Pannonian Basin System. In the first phase, modelling was based on results of laboratory testing on the core samples. It considered applying analogies with world-known projects of CO₂ subsurface storage and its usage to enhance hydrocarbon production. In the second phase, reservoir variables were analysed by variograms and subsequently mapped in order to reach lithological heterogeneities and to determine reliable average values of reservoir volumes. Data on porosity, depth and reservoir thickness for the “Gamma 3” and the “Gamma 4” reservoirs, are mapped by the ordinary kriging technique. Calculated volume of CO₂ expressed at standard condition which can be injected in the main reservoirs of the Ivani? Field at near miscible conditions is above 15.5 billion m³.     

Organic matter production of American lobsters (Homarus americanus) during impoundment in Maine,United States

Lobster impoundments are dammed coastal embayments utilised to hold American lobsters (Homarus americanus) before shipping to market. The impacts of lobster impoundments on the environment have not been previously studied. Here, the digestive functioning of American lobsters was examined to assess the quantity and quality (TVS, total volatile solids) of lobster faeces produced under the temperatures and feeding regimens these animals were subjected to during the impoundment period. Overall it was determined that quantity and quality of faeces did not differ among the experimental temperatures (5, 10, and 15°C), and that animals fed every 1–2 days produced greater quantity and quality of faeces than those fed every 3–18 days, or those animals fed less than every 18 days. As a first estimate of organic matter production in active lobster impoundments, it was calculated that a typical lobster impoundment produced 0.79 ± 0.35 (average ± 1 SD) g TVS m^‐2 day^‐1 during the impoundment period, equivalent to 3.11 ± 0.60% of the total weight of lobsters stocked into the impoundment. This level of organic matter production is below the level produced by other aquaculture operations, and that at which benthic impacts might be expected.     

U‐Pb zircon dating of metaigneous rocks from the Nordbreen Nappe of Svalbard’s Ny‐Friesland suggests their affinity to Northeast Greenland

SIMS U‐Pb zircon dating of metaigneous rocks of the Nordbreen Nappe from the West Ny‐Friesland terrane (Eastern Basement Province of Svalbard) yields crystallization ages of 1,761 ± 4 Ma for a felsic metatuff and 1,373 ± 4 Ma for a metagabbro dyke. The Palaeoproterozoic age of the metatuff is similar to previously obtained ages for various felsic rocks from the study area, whereas the Mesoproterozoic age of the metagabbro has not been thus far documented on Svalbard. However, a similar age pattern has been reported from Northeast Greenland. Therefore, we conclude that the West Ny‐Friesland terrane can be correlated with age equivalent units of Northeast Greenland. We also explore similarities and dissimilarities between the study area and other terranes of Svalbard and speculate on regional‐scale correlations. Together, the presented new ages provide critical piercing points in palaeogeographic reconstructions of the relatively poorly understood circum‐Arctic region.     

Floods at the northern foothills of the Tatra Mountains — A Polish-Swiss research project

The present paper introduces the topical area of the Polish-Swiss research project FLORIST (Flood risk on the northern foothills of the Tatra Mountains), informs on its objectives, and reports on initial results. The Tatra Mountains are the area of the highest precipitation in Poland and largely contribute to flood generation. The project is focused around four competence clusters: observation-based climatology, model-based climate change projections and impact assessment, dendrogeomorphology, and impact of large wood debris on fluvial processes. The knowledge generated in the FLORIST project is likely to have impact on understanding and interpretation of flood risk on the northern foothills of the Tatra Mountains, in the past, present, and future. It can help solving important practical problems related to flood risk reduction strategies and flood preparedness.