Paleo-oceanography of the Norwegian Sea during the past 130,000 years: coccolithophorid and foraminferal data

Faunal, floral and sedimentological properties of Norwegian Sea core V27-86 were examined in order to reconstruct the paleo-oceanographic history of this region. Downcore variations in the relative abundance of three microfossil groups and several sediment properties exhibit three different climate response patterns (CRP). Each pattern is judged to represent the response of a different part of the climate system. The covariance patterns among coccoliths, henthic foraminifera, and other properties suggest that the Norwegian Sea has been ice-free and productive during the present interhlacial. the penultimate interglacial (isotopic-stage se) and at least partially ice-free during an intermediate climatic regime (stages sa-d). A maximum change in these measures occurs at the boundary between isotopic stage 5a (an intermediate climatic regime)and isotopic stage 4 (a glacial climatic regime). In contrast, planktic foraminiferal assemblages and oxygen isotope measurements on planktic foraminifera show a major change at the end of stage 5e (the penultimate interglacial). The contrasting behavior of these two sets of observations is explained by a model which postulates a low-salinity surface layer 115,000 to 75,000 years ago (stages 5a-d).     

Neotectonics

Neotectonics is the study of Earth movements of late Cenozoic age, especially those in harmony with contemporary horizontal and vertical crustal motions. Precise information about the character, frequency and rate of recent movements is an essential part of planning how to reduce earthquake hazard, and it also allows tectonicians to devise realistic models of crustal behaviour.     

Monazite–xenotime miscibility gap thermometry. I. An empirical calibration

Rare earth element (REE) and yttrium concentrations of coexisting monazite and xenotime were determined from a suite of seven metapelites from the Variscan fold belt in NE Bavaria, Germany. The metapelites include a continuous prograde, mainly low-P (3–5 kbar) metamorphic profile from greenschist (c. 400 °C) to lower granulite facies conditions (c. 700 °C). The LREE (La–Sm) are incorporated preferentially in monoclinic monazite (REO₉ polyhedron), whereas the HREE plus Y are concentrated in tetragonal xenotime (REO₈ polyhedron). The major element concentrations of both phases in all rocks are very similar and do not depend on metamorphic grade. Monazite consists mainly of La, Ce and Nd (La_0.20–0.23, Ce_0.41–0.45, Nd_0.15–0.18)PO₄, all other elements are below 6 mol%. Likewise, xenotime consists mainly of YPO₄ with some Dy and Gd solid solutions (Y_0.76–0.80, Dy_0.05–0.07, Gd_0.04–0.06). In contrast, the minor HREE concentrations in monazite increase strongly with increasing metamorphic grade: Y, Dy and Gd increase by a factor of 3–5 from greenschist to granulite facies rocks. Monazite crystals often show zonation with cores low in HREE and rims high in HREE that is interpreted as growth zonation attained during prograde metamorphism. Similarly, Sm and Nd in xenotimes increase by a factor of 3–4 with increasing metamorphic grade. Prograde zonation in single crystals of xenotime was not observed. The X_HREE+Y in monazite and X_LREE in xenotime of the seven rocks define two limbs along the strongly asymmetric miscibility gap from c. 400 °C to 700 °C. The empirical calibration of the monazite miscibility gap limb coexisting with xenotime is appropriate for geothermometry. Due to its contents of U and Th, monazite has often been used for U–Pb age determination. The combination of our empirical thermometer on prograde zoned monazite along with possible age determination of zoned single crystals may provide information about prograde branches of temperature–time paths.     

ENHANCING THE DECONVOLUTION OF NOISY CHROMATOGRAPHIC DATA BY JANSSON''S METHOD

In previous papers Jansson's method was found to be successful at deconvolving severely overlapped gaschromatographic peaks.In the most recent paper the method was evaluated with respect to quantitativeaceuracy,peak area and retention time repeatability.The problems associated with deconvolving noisydata and some alternatives which can improve the ability of Jansson's method to deconvolve noisy dataare discussed.These alternatives include presmoothing the data with a nine-point,third-order polynomialfilter and data reblurring.This paper will test these methods on peaks with various degrees of resolutionand signal-to-noise ratios.     

MIXTURE ANALYSIS USING FACTOR ANALYSIS.Ⅱ:SELF-MODELING CURVE RESOLUTION

One of the major applications of factor analysis in the chemical literature,self-modeling curve resolution(SMCR),is covered in this review,including a historical account of the inethods derived from Lawtonand Sylvestre's original method.Papers treating the theory or applications of SMCR are included.Qualitative and quantitative applications are described where appropriate.