The dynamics of phytoplankton, bacteria and heterotrophic flagellates at two Banks near Magdeburg in the River Elbe (Germany)

The main objectives of this study were to describe the seasonal standing stock dynamics of phytoplankton, bacterioplankton and heterotrophic flagellates in the highly eutrophic River Elbe (Germany), and to compare the seasonal patterns observed with other streams. Emphasis was placed on examining and assessing abiotic and biotic controlling factors influencing the structure and dynamics of the riverine plankton. All the physico-chemical and biological parameters determined were within the range or somewhat higher (in the case of phytoplankton abundance and biomass) than reported for other large streams. The underwater light conditions resulting from atypically short phytoplankton growth periods of about 6 months per year and the low phytoplankton carbon to chl a ratio of 23 were identified as a major limiting factor for phytoplankton development in the River Elbe. The seasonal distribution pattern of bacterioplankton indicated probable tight trophodynamical coupling both with phytoplankton and with heterotrophic flagellates, whereas heterotrophic flagellates showed a more trophic link with bacterial densities. Although approximately constant DOC and DON levels throughout the year sustained bacterial growth rates, during the phytoplankton growing season an increase of bacterial standing stocks was observed. Although the left-bank sampling site of the Elbe is strongly influenced by the tributaries Mulde and Saale containing higher concentrations of chloride, nitrogen nutrients, heavy metals and organic pollutants, no clear differences were observed between the two sides of the river concerning the biological parameters measured. Possible reasons and the slightly higher phytoplankton abundance and diversity at the right bank are discussed.     

High-speed photography of the bubble generated by an airgun1

High-speed photography has been used visually to study the shape, surface, turbulence and behaviour of an underwater oscillating bubble generated by an airgun. The source was a BOLT airgun with a chamber volume of 1.6cu.in., placed in a 0.85m³ tank at 0.5m depth. Near-field signatures were also recorded in order to compare the instant photographs of the oscillating bubble with the pressure field recorded about 25 cm from the gun. Estimations of the bubble-wall velocity and bubble radius estimated from high-speed film sequences are also presented, and are compared with modelled results. The deviation between the modelled and measured bubble radii was at most 9%. In order to check the capacity for transmission of light through the bubble, a concentrated laser beam was used as illumination. We found that the air bubble is a strong scattering medium of laser light, hence the bubble is opaque.     

Magnetic field measurements in India during the last two centuries

Summary The direction of the geomagnetic field has changed substantially less in India than in Europe since the end of the 18th century.Whereas the European geomagnetic time series indicate a tendency of secular variation from which a remarkable westward drift of the non-axial field can be deduced, in India the field direction seems to have remained more or less fixed over the last two centuries. The drift of the non-axial field seems to be very small, or even eastward.     

On the causes of 18O-depletion and 18O/16O homogenization during regional metamorphism; the East Humboldt Range core complex,Nevada

 Previous stable isotope studies at Lizzies Basin revealed that metasedimentary rocks are ¹⁸O-depleted relative to protolith values, particularly in the lower parts of the section (Lower Zone) where the rocks are also isotopically homogeneous on a scale of hundreds of meters (quartz δ¹⁸O=+9.0 to +9.6 per mil). In contrast, metasedimentary rocks at higher levels at Lizzies Basin (Upper Zone) are less ¹⁸O-depleted and more heterogeneous in δ¹⁸O. In order to understand more fully the isotopic evolution of this terrane, a series of detailed, meter-scale traverses across various metamorphic and igneous lithologies were completed at Lizzies Basin, and at the structurally higher Angel Lake locality. Traverses in the Lizzies Basin Lower Zone and in the lower parts of Angel Lake (Angel Lake Lower Sequence) across various silicate lithologies, including abundant granitoids, reveal similar degrees of homogeneity, although the average δ¹⁸O values are higher at Angel Lake. In contrast, traverses which include substantial thicknesses of marble and calc-silicate gneiss and very little granitoid have more heterogeneous quartz δ¹⁸O values (+11.9 to +13.4 per mil), and also have a higher average δ¹⁸O (+12.9 per mil), than observed elsewhere. The scale of ¹⁸O/¹⁶O homogeneity in quartz observed at Lizzies Basin and Angel Lake (meters to hundreds of meters) requires fluid-mediated isotope exchange, which accompanied Tertiary metamorphism. There is a correlation between the degree of ¹⁸O-depletion in metasedimentary rocks, ¹⁸O/¹⁶O homogenization between lithologies, and the proportion of granitoids (leucogranites in particular) within any part of the section, and a corresponding anticorrelation with the proportion of marble. This points to a causal relationship, whereby the leucogranites (as well as the Tertiary hornblende diorite and biotite monzogranite) acted as both a relatively low-¹⁸O reservoir and a source of fluids to enhance exchange, while the marbles hindered isotope depletion and homogenization by acting as relatively high-¹⁸O reservoirs and impermeable layers. Material balance calculations help delineate the plausible mechanisms of exchange between granitoids and metasediments. Single-pass infiltration of magmatic fluids from the granitoids is not capable of reproducing all of the observations. Fluid-mediated exchange by convective recirculation of magmatic fluids on a scale of meters is the mechanism which explains all of the observations. The generalized model for the isotopic evolution of the East Humboldt Range core complex provides an excellent opportunity to establish the main causes and controlling factors of ¹⁸O-depletion and ¹⁸O/¹⁶O homogenization during regional metamorphism. Received: 27 July 1993 / Accepted: 1 July 1994     

Strontium and oxygen isotope profiles across marble-silicate contacts,Lizzies Basin,East Humboldt Range,Nevada: constraints on metamorphic permeability contrasts and fluid flow

 Sr isotope profiles across marble-silicate rock contacts are used in conjunction with previously published oxygen isotope profiles to constrain fluid movement, porosity and permeability contrasts in migmatitic rocks from Lizzies Basin in the East Humboldt Range, Nevada. The ¹⁸O/¹⁶O systematics in the high-grade sequence have been interpreted to reflect infiltration of ∼2×10² m³/m² of a relatively low ¹⁸O hydrous fluid through the sequence, but with preservation of δ¹⁸O anomalies in thin marble bands due to a 30-fold lower porosity in the marble compared with silicate rocks (Wickham and Peters 1992). The Sr isotope profiles confirm that tracer exchange between marble and silicate rock was primarily by diffusion, and in one case, indicate that porosities differed by less than a factor of four in the ∼10 cm boundary layer which exhibits diffusive modification of ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios. This contrasts with modelling of the oxygen isotope profiles which imply porosity contrasts >10 for one marble band and >50 for a second marble band. Either strontium and oxygen isotope diffusion reflect different events (possible if fluid Sr contents varied with time) or porosity varied substantially with the silicate rocks. Oxygen isotope profiles in the deeper part of the metamorphic section in which δ¹⁸O values of silicate rocks have been homogenised and lowered, indicate similar diffusion distances (and thus porosity-time evolution) to oxygen isotopic profiles higher in the section. Comparison of strontium and oxygen isotope diffusion distances constrains fluid Sr contents to between ∼50 and ∼500 ppm deep in the section, but less than ∼10 ppm higher in the section. The difference is related to release of relatively saline, Sr-rich fluids, by the abundant leucogranites and associated skarns deep in the section (cf. Peters and Wickham 1995). Received: 9 December 1994/Accepted: 13 April 1995     

Determination of period of oscillation and sensitivity of simple horizontal pendulums for tidal measurements

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