GGR Biennial Review: Reference Materials in Geoanalytical and Environmental Research – Review for 2008 and 2009

This review gives an overview of the literature on reference materials of geochemical and environmental interest for the two-year period 2008–2009. Reference materials play an increasingly important role in all fields of geoanalytical research. This is demonstrated by the large number of publications containing data on reference materials. Although many reference materials exist, there is still a great need for certified samples, so-called delta zero materials for stable isotopic work and homogeneous microanalytical reference materials. This review focuses on six topics: developments of certification processes of reference materials mainly postulated in ISO guidelines and the IAG protocol, new developments of the GeoReM database, investigations of powdered rock reference materials, Chinese reference materials published in Chinese journals, microanalytical reference materials and isotopic reference materials.     

GGR Biennial Review: Isotope Ratio Determination in the Earth and Environmental Sciences 2008–2009

This review documents developments and applications in the field of isotope ratio determination, as reflected in the literature for the Earth and environmental sciences for the years 2008 and 2009. The emphasis is predominantly on applications, reflecting the enormous diversity of problems to which isotopic analysis can now be applied, but viewed in the context of rapid development of new analytical methodologies as significant new drivers of research output.     

GGR Biennial Review: Key Advances in Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry in the Geological Sciences during the Period 2008–2009

Secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS or ion microprobe) remains one of the most powerful techniques in the analytical geochemist’s toolkit. The key strength of SIMS is its capacity to provide trace element and isotope data at sampling sizes which are not approached by other methods. As compared with the main competing technique of laser ablation-ICP-MS, SIMS commonly provides a total sampling mass some 10 to 500 times smaller; this feature can be the deciding factor as to whether an analytical objective is technically achievable. Additional strengths of SIMS lie in the areas of depth profiling and trace element imaging. Though perhaps not as commonly used in the geosciences, these two operational modes represent unique capabilities of SIMS.     

GGR Critical Review of Analytical Developments in 2008–2009: An Introduction

This collection of articles represents the fourth in a series of reviews in which authors have aimed at capturing the key advances in a range of analytical fields ( Hergt et al. 2005, 2006, 2008 ). The publication period under review is 2008–2009 and the intention here is to provide readers with a summary of the most influential developments published during this period, across a broad range of topics appropriate to the Earth and environmental sciences. Most authors comment on the ways in which the emphases of research in their specific fields of examination have changed over time. All note an increase in rigour and focus on data quality. Whether advances have taken place in instrumentation, sample manipulation or data deconvolution, there are a large number of dedicated scientists out there contributing to the high quality of geochemical data employed in geological and environmental research.     

Long-Term Variability of Nutrients and Chlorophyll in the Chesapeake Bay: A Retrospective Analysis, 1985–2008

A retrospective analysis of freshwater discharge, riverine dissolved nutrient loads, dissolved nutrients, and chlorophyll in the Chesapeake Bay from 1985 to 2008 is presented. It is evident that each field displays an interannual variability averaged over the Bay. The N and P loads peaked in 1997 and have fluctuated with a decreasing trend since early 2004. Dissolved nutrient concentrations in the Bay appear to be largely controlled by riverine nutrient loads. The temporal variability of chlorophyll is positively correlated with nutrient loads and concentrations. Over the study period, N:P (DIN:DIP) molar ratios were consistently higher than the Redfield ratio (N:P?=?16:1) and strongly correlated with river discharge (R ²?=?0.68, p??16:1), and N is the limiting nutrient in summer and early autumn (N:P?4 from anoxic sediments. Long-term climate indices, such as El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), appear to exert only a moderate control over the riverine discharge to the Bay or over the ecosystem response in terms of chlorophyll in the Bay. While not all related mechanisms can be inferred from available data, this analysis should help in determining future data needs for monitoring water quality and human and climate influence on the health of the Bay.     

<Emphasis Type="Bold">Petrology and Geochemistry of Late Archaean Granitoids in the Northern Part of Eastern Dharwar Craton,Southern India: Implications for Transitional Geodynamic Setting</Emphasis> by B.C. Prabhakar,M. Jayananda,Mohamed Shareef and T. Kano. Jour. Geol. Soc. India,v.74, 2009, pp.299–317.

Discussion

Petrology and Geochemistry of Late Archaean Granitoids in the Northern Part of Eastern Dharwar Craton, Southern India: Implications for Transitional Geodynamic Setting by B.C. Prabhakar, M. Jayananda, Mohamed Shareef and T. Kano. Jour. Geol. Soc. India, v.74, 2009, pp.299–317.