spartina in Mariager Fjord,Denmark: The effect on sediment parameters

The analysis of 3 subsamples from each of 12 sediment cores from a micro-tidal flat shows that spreading of Spartina effects sediment parameters. The effect diminishes with distance to vegetation.     

Groundwater flow patterns in the San Luis Valley,Colorado, USA revisited: an evaluation of solute and isotopic data

Groundwater systems in the San Luis Valley, Colorado, USA have been re-evaluated by an analysis of solute and isotopic data. Existing stream, spring, and groundwater samples have been augmented with 154 solute and isotopic samples. Based on geochemical stratification, three groundwater regimes have been identified within 1,200 m of the surface: unconfined, upper active confined, and lower active confined with maximum TDS concentrations of 35,000, 3,500 and 600 mg/L, respectively. The elevated TDS of northern valley unconfined and upper active confined systems result from mineral dissolution, ion exchange and methanogenesis of organic and evaporate lake sediments deposited in an ancient lake, herein designated as Lake Sipapu. Chemical evolutions along flow paths were modeled with NETPATH. Groundwater ages, and δ¹³C, δ²H and δ¹⁸O compositions and distributions, suggest that mountain front recharge is the principle recharge mechanism for the upper and lower confined aquifers with travel times in the northern valley of more than 20,000 and 30,000 ¹⁴C years, respectively. Southern valley confined aquifer travel times are 5,000 ¹⁴C years or less. The unconfined aquifer contains appreciable modern recharge water and the contribution of confined aquifer water to the unconfined aquifer does not exceed 20%.     

Ionospheric specification and forecasting based on observations from European ionosondes participating in DIAS project

There are two main objectives of the DIAS (European Digital Upper Atmosphere Server) project. First, it establishes a pan-European repository of raw and derived digital data describing the state of ionospheric part of the upper atmosphere, which is capable of ingesting real-time information and maintaining historical data collections provided by most operating ionospheric stations in Europe. Second, the DIAS system produces and distributes, based on the raw data collection, several operational products required by various user groups for ionospheric nowcasting, prediction and forecasting purposes. The project completed on May 2006 and the DIAS server operates since then continuously. The basic products that are delivered are real-time and historical ionograms from all DIAS-affiliated ionospheric stations, frequency plots and maps of the ionosphere over Europe based on the foF2, M(3000)F2, MUF and electron density parameters, as well as long term prediction and short term forecasting up to 24 hour ahead. The paper describes use of the ionospheric measurements in the DIAS modelling techniques for specification, predict-tion and forecasting of the ionosphere over the European region, and details the final products available to the DIAS user community.     

Neotectonic faulting and the Late Weichselian shoreline gradients in SW Norway

The Younger Dryas (YD) maximum highstand shoreline in SW Norway has traditionally been considered as being slightly concave, gradually steepening in the direction of uplift. This phenomenon is attributed to geoidal and isostatic effects near the former ice-sheet margin. On the basis of isolation basin data from the region, we have reconstructed this shoreline, and a Bølling-Allerød (B-A) lowstand shoreline, along three profiles in SW Norway. Along all profiles there are shore levels which, within the error limits estimated, cannot be captured by a single straight (or curved) shoreline. The anomalous shore levels occur near major fault zones and are interpreted to reflect differential uplift rates on opposite sides of faults, superimposed on the general glacio-isostatic tilting of the region. The inferred faulting is consistent with observations previously reported as neotectonic ‘claims’ in the region and shed new light on the deformational structures observed in seismic profiles of the fjord sediments. Excluding the anomalous shore levels, a straight shoreline with gradient ca. 1.1 m/km provides the best and most consistent representation of the YD shore levels along the three profiles. The B-A lowstand shoreline is constrained by fewer data points, but is approximately parallel-dipping the highstand shoreline. Our reconstructions imply a less steep YD maximum highstand shoreline compared to previous reconstructions, where gradients up to 1.4 m/km have been inferred. This may imply that the ice load effect on the lithosphere in SW Norway during the YD is less than previously assumed.     

Land Cover Classification Using High‐Resolution Aerial Photography in Adventdalen,Svalbard

A methodology was tested for high‐resolution mapping of vegetation and detailed geoecological patterns in the Arctic Tundra, based on aerial imagery from an unmanned aerial vehicle (visible wavelength – RGB, 6 cm pixel resolution) and from an aircraft (visible and near infrared, 20 cm pixel resolution). The scenes were fused at 10 and 20 cm to evaluate their applicability for vegetation mapping in an alluvial fan in Adventdalen, Svalbard. Ground‐truthing was used to create training and accuracy evaluation sets. Supervised classification tests were conducted with different band sets, including the original and derived ones, such as NDVI and principal component analysis bands. The fusion of all original bands at 10 cm resolution provided the best accuracies. The best classifier was systematically the maximum neighbourhood algorithm, with overall accuracies up to 84%. Mapped vegetation patterns reflect geoecological conditioning factors. The main limitation in the classification was differentiating between the classes graminea, moss and Salix, and moss, graminea and Salix, which showed spectral signature mixing. Silty‐clay surfaces are probably overestimated in the south part of the study area due to microscale shadowing effects. The results distinguished vegetation zones according to a general gradient of ecological limiting factors and show that VIS+NIR high‐resolution imagery are excellent tools for identifying the main vegetation groups within the lowland fan study site of Adventdalen, but do not allow for detailed discrimination between species.     

Nivation forms and processes in unconsolidated sediments,NE Greenland

In the periglacial unconsolidated sediment landscape of Zackenberg in High Arctic NE Greenland, perennial and seasonal snowpatches dominate the geomorphological development in large areas and control the distribution of the vegetation. The existence and distribution of snowpatches and their associated landforms are mainly controlled by the dominating winter wind direction and the amount of snow precipitation, with aspect exerting much less influence. This makes them an important source of information on past environmental change, and knowledge of the combination of geomorphological processes and forms that result from their existence is thus essential. The main nivation processes are backwall failure, sliding and flow, niveo-aeolian sediment transport, supra- and ennival sediment flows, niveo-fluvial erosion, development of pronival stone pavements, accumulation of alluvial fans and basins, and pronival solifluction. The importance of failure, sliding and flow in the continuous retrogressive extension of nivation hollows and niches is emphasized under the term backwall failure. A morphological assemblage of landforms clearly demonstrates the direct nival sediment transfer link between the eroded nivation hollows, their associated meltwater eroded channels and the pronival alluvial fans or basins. All landform elements and their formative processes are integrated into a comprehensive model. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The Rainstorm of August 1998 in the Abisko Area, Northern Sweden: Preliminary Report on Observations of Erosion and Sediment Transport

Several rainstorms with strong erosional effects have been recorded in Scandinavia during recent decades. The erosion occurs by the release of rapid mass movements on mountain slopes or through fluvial incision and bank collapse along streams and rivers. Various factors, such as terrain characteristics and seasonal timing of the rainstorm event, are thought to favour the predominance of either of the two types of erosion for particular events. A new example of this variable impact of rainstorms is briefly described, and related research issues are outlined.     

Comparison of geomorphological field mapping and 2D‐InSAR mapping of periglacial landscape activity at Nordnesfjellet,northern Norway

The ability to continuously monitor the dynamic response of periglacial landforms in a climate change context is of increasing scientific interest. Satellite radar interferometry provides information on surface displacement that can be related to periglacial processes. Here we present a comparison of two‐dimensional (2D) surface displacement rates and geomorphological mapping at periglacial landform and sediment scale from the mountain Nordnesfjellet in northern Norway. Hence, 2D Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) results stem from a 2009–2014 TerraSAR‐X dataset from ascending and descending orbits, decomposed into horizontal displacement vectors along an east–west plane, vertical displacement vectors and combined displacement velocity. Geomorphological mapping was carried out on aerial imagery and validated in the field. This detailed landform and sediment type mapping revealed an altitudinal distribution dominated by, weathered bedrock blockfields, surrounded primarily by slightly, to non‐vegetated solifluction landforms at the mountain tops. Below, an active rockslide and associated rockfall deposits are located on the steep east‐facing side of the study area, whereas glacial sediments dominate on the gentler western side. We show that 2D InSAR correctly depicts displacement rates that can be associated with typical deformation patterns for flat‐lying or inclined landforms, within and below the regional permafrost limit, for both wet and dry areas. A net lowering of the entire landscape caused by general denudation of the periglacial landforms and sediments is here quantified for the first time using radar remote sensing. Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Composition and structure of an iron-bearing, layered double hydroxide (LDH) - Green rust sodium sulphate

Mixed-valent Fe(II),Fe(III)-layered hydroxide, known as green rust, was synthesized from slightly basic, sodium sulphate solutions in an oxygen-free glove box. Solution conditions were monitored with pH and Eh electrodes and optimized to ensure a pure sulphate green-rust phase. The solid was characterised using Mössbauer spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. The composition of the solution from which the green rust precipitated was established by mass and absorption spectroscopy. The sulphate form of green rust is composed of brucite-like layers with Fe(II) and Fe(III) in an ordered distribution. The interlayers contain sulphate, water and sodium in an arrangement characteristic for the nikischerite group. The crystal structure is highly disordered by stacking faults. The composition, formula and crystallographic parameters are: NaFe(II)₆Fe(III)₃(SO₄)₂(OH)₁₈·12H₂O, space group P-3, a = 9.528(6) Å, c = 10.968(8) Å and Z = 1. Green rust sodium sulphate, GR_Na,SO4, crystallizes in thin, hexagonal plates. Particles range from less than 50 nm to 2 μm in diameter and are 40 nm thick or less. The material is redox active and reaction rates are fast. Extremely small particle size and high surface area contribute to rapid oxidation, transforming green rust to an Fe(III)-phase within minutes.