Climate-related variations in crustal trace elements in Dome C (East Antarctica) ice during the past 672 kyr

Cr, Fe, Rb, Ba and U were determined by inductively coupled plasma sector field mass spectrometry (ICP-SFMS) in various sections of the 3,270 m deep ice core recently drilled at Dome C on the high East Antarctic plateau as part of the EPICA program. The sections were dated from 263 kyr bp (depth of 2,368 m) to 672 kyr bp (depth of 3,062 m). When combined with the data previously obtained by Gabrielli and co-workers for the upper 2,193 m of the core, it gives a detailed record for these elements during a 672-kyr period from the Holocene back to Marine Isotopic Stage (MIS) 16.2. Concentrations and fallout fluxes of all elements are found to be highly variable with low values during the successive interglacial periods and much higher values during the coldest periods of the last eight climatic cycles. Crustal enrichment factors indicates that rock and soil dust is the dominant source for Fe, Rb, Ba and U whatever the period and for Cr during the glacial maxima. The relationship between Cr, Fe, Rb, Ba and U concentrations and the deuterium content of the ice appears to be similar before and after the Mid-Brunhes Event (MBE, around 430 kyr bp). Mean concentration values observed during the successive interglacials from the Holocene to MIS 15.5 appear to vary from one interglacial to another at least for part of the elements. Concentrations observed during the successive glacial maxima suggest a decreasing trend from the most recent glacial maxima (MIS 2.2 and 4.2) to the oldest glacial maxima such as MIS 14.2, 14.4 and 16.2, which could be linked with changes in the size distribution of dust particles transported from mid-latitude areas to the East Antarctic ice cap.     

Sponge disease in the Adriatic Sea

A mass mortality episode involving three marine dyctioceratid sponges, Ircina variabilis, Sarcotragus spinosulus and Spongia officinalis, was observed on ‘Scoglio del Trave’ (Conero Promontory, North Adriatic Sea) in late summer 2009. In this area, calm sea and high temperatures throughout summer created unfavorable environmental conditions, leading to the outbreak of the disease. Affected specimens showed evident necrotic areas and portions with bare skeleton, and many specimens of S. spinosulus were covered with a white mat of cyanobacteria. In September 2009, about 22% of these demosponges suffered from this disease. The mortality event ceased when sea temperature dropped below 20 °C. Small specimens turned out to be more sensitive to the diseases, whereas the damaged tissues of large specimens were able to recover. In October, the damaged specimens were detached by the rough sea and more than 900 beached sponges were found along the 1‐km‐long beach, showing the seriousness of the phenomenon, which probably involved not only the area studied but also areas adjacent to it.     

Multiple cosmogenic nuclides document complex Pleistocene exposure history of glacial drifts in Terra Nova Bay (northern Victoria Land, Antarctica)

Geomorphological and glacial geological surveys and multiple cosmogenic nuclide analyses (¹⁰Be, ²⁶Al, and ²¹Ne) allowed us to reconstruct the chronology of variations prior to the last glacial maximum of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet (EAIS) and valley glaciers in the Terra Nova Bay region. Glacially scoured coastal piedmonts with round-topped mountains occur below the highest local erosional trimline. They represent relict landscape features eroded by extensive ice overriding the whole coastal area before at least 6 Ma (pre-dating the build-up of the Mt. Melbourne volcanic field). Since then, summit surfaces were continuously exposed and well preserved under polar condition with negligible erosion rates on the order of 17 cm/Ma. Complex older drifts rest on deglaciated areas above the younger late-Pleistocene glacial drift and below the previously overridden summits. The combination of stable and radionuclide isotopes documents complex exposure histories with substantial periods of burial combined with minimal erosion. The areas below rounded summits were repeatedly exposed and buried by ice from local and outlet glaciers. The exposure ages of the older drift(s) indicate multiple Pleistocene glacial cycles, which did not significantly modify the pre-existing landscape.     

Single-crystal polarized FTIR spectroscopy and neutron diffraction refinement of cancrinite

We relate a single-crystal FTIR (Fourier transform infrared) and neutron diffraction study of two natural cancrinites. The structural refinements show that the oxygen site of the H₂O molecule lies off the triad axis. The water molecule is almost symmetric and slightly tilted from the (0001) plane. It is involved in bifurcated hydrogen bridges, with Ow···O donor–acceptor distances >2.7 Å. The FTIR spectra show two main absorptions. The first at 3,602 cm^?1 is polarized for E ⊥ c and is assigned to the ν₃ mode. The second, at 3,531 cm^?1, is also polarized for E ⊥ c and is assigned to ν₁ mode. A weak component at 4,108 cm^?1 could possibly indicate the presence of additional OH groups in the structure of cancrinite. Several overlapping bands in the 1,300–1,500 cm^?1 range are strongly polarized for E ⊥ c, and are assigned to the vibrations of the CO₃ group.     

Observations of surface radon in Central Italy

Two years of in situ radon concentration measurements in the atmospheric surface layer have been collected in a central Italy town (L’Aquila), located in the Aterno river valley. These data have been analyzed in order to study the controlling mechanisms of surface radon abundance; observations of coincident meteorological parameters confirmed the role of dynamics on the local removal rate of this tracer. The relatively high negative correlation of hourly data of surface wind speed and radon activity concentration (R = −0.54, on annual scale) suggests that dynamical removal of radon is one of the most important controlling processes of the tracer accumulation in the atmospheric surface layer. An attempt is made to quantify the precipitation impact on radon soil fluxes. No anticorrelation of radon and precipitation comes out from the data (R = −0.15), as in previous studies. However, since the main physical parameter affecting the ground radon release is expected to be the soil accumulation of water, snow or ice, the emission flux has also been correlated with soil moisture; in this way a much clearer anticorrelation is found (R = −0.54).     

Abiotic and Biotic Links Work Two Ways: Effects on the Deposit at the Cliff Foot Induced by Mechanical Action of Date Mussel Harvesting (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Lithophaga lithophaga</Emphasis>)

The existence of linkages between ecological and geomorphological processes and the influence of human activities both on the biota and on geomorphology is well known for terrestrial environments, while it has been seldom reported for submerged ones. A survey in the Noli-Bergeggi area (NW Mediterranean Sea) has been carried out to test the hypothesis that the harvesting of Lithophaga lithophaga has an impact not only on the hammered rock, but also on the sediments at the cliff foot. Size and roundness of pebbles have been measured at different stations and statistical analyses have been used to test the differences between impact and control situations. Results show a dependence of the roundness of pebbles on the date mussel harvesting, indicating a decrease both of the roundness index and of its variability at the cliff foot in impacted sites. Conclusions stress the biogeomorphological nature of this activity, not limited to the present location.     

Thirty-Element Active Antenna Array as a Prototype of a Huge Low-Frequency Radio Telescope

An effective wide-band (10 to 60 MHz) active antenna element has been developed. The cost of one short (3 m), thin dipole with built-in amplifier and metal construction is less than 45 euro. It was shown both theoretically and experimentally that the upper limiting frequency is at least 60 MHz, the dynamic range is 90 dB/V and the share of the amplifier noise to the background antenna temperature is about 10%. The developed active dipole was tested by building a 30-element antenna array and comparing its parameters with one of the subpart of the UTR-2 radio telescope having passive dipoles of 8.6 m in length and 1.8 m in diameter. The 3C461 ionospheric scintillation spectra observed in the experiments show that the sensitivities and noise-immunities of both antennas are close. This proves the availability using of a short cheap active dipole in new generation giant radio telescopes.     

The 18.7 ka phreatomagmatic flank eruption on Etna (Italy): relationship between eruptive activity and sedimentary basement setting

This paper documents a phreatomagmatic flank eruption that occurred 18 700 ± 100 a BP , on the lower north-eastern slope of Etna during the Ellittico volcano activity, which produced fall and surge deposits. This type of eruption is connected to a sedimentary basement ridge at Etna. The interaction between the rising magma and the shallow groundwater hosted in the volcanic pile overlying the impermeable sediments resulted in phreatomagmatic instead of strombolian activity. Three eruptive phases are distinguished based on field and analytical data: (i) an explosive phreatomagmatic opening, (ii) a main phase producing coarse lithic-rich fallout and a strombolian deposit, and (iii) the final pulsating surge-forming phase. The discovery of this phreatomagmatic flank eruption, which occurred at lower altitude, raises important issues for previous hazard assessments at Etna.