Estimation of winter leaf area index and sky view fraction for snow modelling in boreal coniferous forests: consequences on snow mass and energy balance

Leaf area index (LAI) and canopy coverage are important parameters when modelling snow process in coniferous forests, controlling interception and transmitting radiation. Estimates of LAI and sky view factor show large variability depending on the estimation method used, and it is not clear how this is reflected in the calculated snow processes beneath the canopy. In this study, the winter LAI and sky view fraction were estimated using different optical and biomass‐based approximations in several boreal coniferous forest stands in Fennoscandia with different stand density, age and site latitude. The biomass‐based estimate of LAI derived from forest inventory data was close to the values derived from the optical measurements at most sites, suggesting that forest inventory data can be used as input to snow hydrological modelling. Heterogeneity of tree species and site fertility, as well as edge effects between different forest compartments, caused differences in the LAI estimates at some sites. A snow energy and mass balance model (SNOWPACK) was applied to detect how the differences in the estimated values of the winter LAI and sky view fraction were reflected in simulated snow processes. In the simulations, an increase in LAI and a decrease in sky view fraction changed the snow surface energy balance by decreasing shortwave radiation input and increasing longwave radiation input. Changes in LAI and sky view fraction affected directly snow accumulation through altered throughfall fraction and indirectly snowmelt through the changed surface energy balance. Changes in LAI and sky view fraction had a greater impact on mean incoming radiation beneath the canopy than on other energy fluxes. Snowmelt was affected more than snow accumulation. The effect of canopy parameters on evaporation loss from intercepted snow was comparable with the effect of variation in governing meteorological variables such as precipitation intensity and air temperature. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Thermal structure and tectonic evolution of the Scandian orogenic wedge,Scottish Caledonides: integrating geothermometry,deformation temperatures and conceptual kinematic‐thermal models

In the Caledonides of northwest Scotland, two independent geothermometers (Fe‐Mg exchange and quartz c‐axis fabric opening angle) are used to characterize the thermal structure of the lower part of the Scandian (435–420 Ma) orogenic wedge within the Moine, Ben Hope and Naver‐Sgurr Beag thrust sheets. Traced from west (foreland) to east (hinterland), Fe‐Mg exchange thermometry yields peak or near‐peak temperatures ranging from 484 ± 50 °C to 524 ± 50 °C in the immediate hangingwall of the Moine thrust to 601 ± 50 °C in the immediate hangingwall of the Ben Hope thrust, to 630 ± 50 °C in the Naver thrust sheet. Preserved metamorphic facies and textural relationships are consistent with thermometric estimates. Deformation temperatures calculated from quartz c‐axis fabric opening angles across two similar orogen‐perpendicular transects also yield systematic increases (Glen Golly – Ben Klibreck, 520–630 °C; Ullapool‐Contin, 465–632 °C) traced towards the Naver and Sgurr Beag thrusts. In addition, deformation temperatures show a pronounced increase along the leading edge of the Moine thrust sheet moving south towards the Assynt window, which is interpreted to reflect deeper exhumation of the thrust plane above the Assynt footwall imbricate stack. Because temperatures calculated from metamorphic assemblages are within error of the quartz fabric‐derived deformation temperatures that are of demonstrably Scandian age, the metamorphic sequence between the Moine and Naver‐Sgurr Beag thrusts is interpreted to have developed during the Scandian orogeny. Integration of our results with previous 2D thermal‐mechanical studies allows development of new conceptual thermal‐kinematic models of Scandian orogenesis that may be broadly applicable to other collisional systems. Furthermore, it highlights the critical nature of coupling between orogen kinematic and thermal evolution.     

Application of micro-computed X-ray tomography for improving the hole erosion test analysis on high plastic clay

Acta Geotechnica - The hole erosion test (HET) was developed to simulate piping erosion and to study the erosion parameters of cohesive soils. The erosion rate in the HET is evaluated by the...     

Tephrochronological dating of varved interglacial lake deposits from Piànico‐Sèllere (Southern Alps,Italy) to around 400 ka

The sediment record from the Piànico palaeolake in the southern Alps is continuously varved, spans more than 15 500 years, and represents a key archive for interglacial climate variability at seasonal resolution. The stratigraphic position of the Piànico Interglacial has been controversial in the past. The identification of two volcanic ash layers and their microscopic analysis provides distinct marker layers for tephrochronological dating of these interglacial deposits. In addition to micro‐facies analyses reconstructing depositional processes of both tephra layers within the lake environment, their mineralogical and geochemical composition has been determined through major‐element electron probe micro‐analysis on glass shards. Comparison with published tephra data traced the volcanic source regions of the Piànico tephras to the Campanian volcanic complex of Roccamonfina (Italy) and probably the Puy de Sancy volcano in the French Massif Central. Available dating of near‐vent deposits from the Roccamonfina volcano provides a robust tephrochronological anchor point at around 400 ka for the Piànico Interglacial. These deposits correlate with marine oxygen isotope stage (MIS) 11 and thus are younger than Early to Middle Pleistocene previously suggested by K/Ar dating and older than the last interglacial as inferred from macrofloral remains and the geological setting. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Aufzucht von Bachforellenbesatzfischen mit Trockenfutter

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Experimentelle Untersuchungen über das Verhalten der Bachforellenbrut in der Laichgrube

Ohne Zusammenfassung Herrn Professor Dr. Fritz Baltzer zum 80. Geburtstag gewidmet     

Long-Term Stability Of Geoidal Geopotential FromTopex/Poseidon Satellite Altimetry 1993–1999

The TOPEX/POSEIDON (T/P) satellite altimeter data from January 1, 1993to October 24, 1999 (cycles 11–261) was used for investigating thelong-term variations in the geoidal geopotential W₀ and/orin the geopotential scale factor R₀ = GM/W₀ (GM is theadopted geocentric gravitational constant). The mean valuesdetermined for the whole period covered are: W₀ =(62 636 856.161 ± 0.002) m² s^-2, R₀ =(6 363 672.5448 ± 0.0002) m. The actual accuracy is limited bythe altimeter calibration error (2–3 cm) and it isestimated to be about ± 0.5 m² s^-2 (± 5 cm).The yearly variations of the above mean values are at the formalerror level. No long-term trend in W₀, representing the oceanvolume change, was found for the seven years period 1993–9 on thebasis of T/P altimeter (AVISO) data. No sea surface topography modelwas used in the solution. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The time dependent magnetization of fine-grained iron in lunar breccias

Lunar breccias of low metamorphic grade offer a unique opportunity to investigate the magnetic properties of dispersed fine grained iron. These rocks exhibit a pronounced time dependent magnetization whose acquisition and decay are well explained by Ne´el's single domain theory. The effect is due to iron grains in the range of 120A?to 150A?in diameter which covers the transition from superparamagnetic to stable single domain behavior.     

Dendrochronology for the last 1400 years in eastern Tibet

Twentyfour tree-ring chronologies of various tree-species(Picea, Abies, Larix, Juniperus) from sites near the upper timberline in eastern Tibet were established, the longest one dating back to 620 A.D. A new classification of pointer intervals is presented, distinguishing between different kinds of signatures in a tree-ring series and amount of growth change in relation to the previous year. The various types of signatures can be related to meteorological events like cold winters and summers, summer drought or to recreation reactions after years of reduced growth. The distribution pattern and type of pointer intervals combined with ring width variation enables the detection of periods of favourable or unfavourable growth conditions with regard to climate history. Based on far-distance correlations and signature analysis regions of similar tree-growth are mapped out.