An examination of in situ rock stress estimation using the Kaiser effect

When rock cores are loaded in uniaxial compression, acoustic emission occurs when the stress reaches a level greater than that which the rock has previously experienced. This phenomenon, known as the Kaiser Effect, has been used as an indirect method of estimating the in situ stress field in rock masses. If the procedure is valid, then the Kaiser Effect method has the advantage that the stress field can be estimated through laboratory tests on rock cores, rather than the field drillhole methods of overcoring and hydraulic fracturing. However, the Kaiser Effect method is an enigma: on the one hand, there are good reasons why the method cannot be valid; on the other hand, there are reports in the literature of it being successfully applied. In this paper, we explore the variety of geological and mechanical factors involved and report on a case example for the Olkiluoto crystalline rock site in western Finland. We conclude that the Kaiser Effect method for stress measurement is only likely to be successful if it is supported by key geological and other stress measurement information and if certain procedures are followed as explained in the paper.     

Community structure in boreal lakes with recurring blooms of the nuisance flagellate Gonyostomum semen

Blooms of the nontoxic raphidophyte Gonyostomum semen have shown a recent increase in frequency and distribution in the Fennoscandian region. Due to large cell size and several grazer-avoidance strategies, G. semen is hypothesized to be inedible for most zooplankton species and therefore may constitute a bottleneck for the transfer of energy and nutrients in pelagic food webs. Repression of other phytoplankton through increased competition and induced mortality could further exacerbate this effect. In a field study of four lakes with recurring blooms of G. semen and four lakes without blooms, we found significant differences in community structure between the two lake groups during the bloom period. Bloom-lakes had lower biovolumes of small chrysophytes and chlorophytes and zooplankton assemblages were predominated by small, potentially bacterivorous cladocerans, suggesting a limited availability of edible phytoplankton and an increased importance of microbial pathways during G. semen blooms. Low biovolumes of large cladocerans in bloom-lakes may be due to interference of G. semen with filter feeding. Moreover, high abundances of the phantom midge Chaoborus flavicans in bloom-lakes suggest that the flow of energy and nutrients is directed more towards this invertebrate predator than fish. This could have negative impacts on fish populations, especially if bloom periods are prolonged.     

Constraints on incipient charnockite formation from zircon geochronology and rare earth element characteristics

We present high spatial resolution ion-microprobe U–Th–Pb geochronology and rare earth element (REE) data combined with cathodoluminescence (CL) and back-scattered electron (BSE) imaging for complex zircons in incipient charnockites from Söndrum, SW Sweden. Examination of closely paired samples across the dehydration zone demonstrates that incipient charnockite formation at Söndrum is a zircon-forming process. We determined the age of the dehydration event (i.e. charnockitisation) to 1,397 ± 4 Ma (2σ, MSWD = 1.7). This is the first successful attempt to date incipient charnockite formation using U–Pb systematics of zircon. Internal structure, chemical and isotopic characteristics of zircon indicate that the granitic pegmatite in the core of the incipient charnockite is a melting zone. Commonly observed bulk rock HREE depletion in incipient charnockites is not caused by zircon dissolution but by involvement of garnet as a reactant in the dehydration reactions. Moreover, REE patterns of the newly formed zircon are HREE-enriched, indicating non-concurrent growth and suggesting that the degree of charnockite depletion in HREE might be controlled by the volume of newly formed zircon.     

Character and origin of variably deformed granitoids in central southern Sweden: implications from geochemistry and Nd isotopes

We present major and trace element data for eighteen 1.71–1.66 Ga granitoid samples, and Sm–Nd whole‐rock isotope data for eleven of these samples, in a transect across the border between the Transscandinavian Igneous Belt (TIB) and the Eastern Segment in central southern Sweden. The geochemistry of the granitoids varies from alkalic to alkali‐calcic and peraluminous in the east to predominantly calc‐alkaline and metaluminous in the west. Rocks in the west also have lower SiO₂ contents. Trace element signatures favour formation in an active continental margin setting. Nd isotope data are completely overlapping along the transect and initial ε_Nd values are mildly depleted in the range +0.3 to +2.6. The combined data suggest that the magmas were derived mainly from juvenile, pre‐existing crust, increasingly mafic and less alkaline towards the west. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An assessment of estimates of integrated water vapor from ground-based GPS data

Summary A network of ground-based Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers is used to continuously obtain information on variations in the integrated water vapor (IWV) in the atmosphere. We use GPS data from 1996–1998 to compare the IWV estimates with radiosonde data. The spatial correlation of estimation errors is important when the GPS results are to be used in assimilation models. We study and model this effect by comparing the horizontal correlations of the IWV time series derived from the radiosonde network and the GPS data analysis. Under ideal conditions this method separates the IWV features from the underlying correlation function for the estimation errors in the GPS data. A sparse radiosonde network limits the quality of the obtained results. We foresee continued studies including more data and simulations of the errors associated with the GPS technique. Received November 21, 2000 Revised April 2, 2001     

A study of wind speed modification and internal boundary-layer heights in a coastal region

Wind profile data within the first two kilometres of a coast have been used to study the wind field modification downstream of this surface discontinuity. The land area is generally very flat, having an overall roughness length of 0.04 m. A wind model, suitable for practical applications and inexpensive to run, has been tested against the data and was found to give satisfactory results. Knowing the climatological statistics of wind and stratification, e.g., at the coast, the model may thus be used to estimate, on a climatological basis, how the wind field is modified with distance inland, at least in areas with only minor topography. This type of information is of great importance when locating wind turbines. It is in these cases also important to know the statistics of the internal boundary-layer (IBL) height, as the turbulence intensity may be quite different in and above the IBL, which in turn may influence load and fatigue calculations. Using the wind profile data, the IBL height was clearly discernible in the majority of cases. Having very unstable stratification over land, the IBL height could, however, not be determined from the wind profiles, as the wind in these cases did not decrease inland. This result was also obtained using the wind model. A simple model of the type z _IBL = a · x ^b, was instead tested, and was shown to give reasonable results.     

Double-layer structure in the boundary layer over the baltic sea

Double-layered structures found over the Baltic Sea are investigated using radiosoundings and lidar measurements. Situations with double-layer structures are also simulated with the regional model REMO in a realistic manner. The double layer consists of two adjacent well-mixed layers, with a sharp inversion in between.Results from radiosoundings show that the double-layer structure over the Baltic Sea mainly occurs during the autumn with thermally unstable stratification near the surface. The structure is present in about 50 % of the radiosoundings performed during autumn. The presence of the double-layer structure cannot be related to any specific wind direction, wind speed or sea surface temperature.The lidar measurements give a more continuous picture of the time evolution of the double-layer structure, and show that the top of the lower layer is not a rigid lid for vertical transport. Two possible explanations of the double-layer structure are given, (i) the structure is caused by `advection' of land boundary-layer air over the convective marine boundary layer or, (ii) by development of Sc clouds in weak frontal zones connected to low pressure systems. Also the forming of Cu clouds is found to be important for the development of a double-layer structure.     

A scenario based analysis of land competition between food and bioenergy production in the US

Greenhouse gas abatement policies will increase the demand for renewable sources of energy, including bioenergy. In combination with a global growing demand for food, this could lead to a food-fuel competition for bio-productive land. Proponents of bioenergy have suggested that energy crop plantations may be established on less productive land as a way of avoiding this potential food-fuel competition. However, many of these suggestions have been made without any underlying economic analysis. In this paper, we develop a long-term economic optimization model (LUCEA) of the U.S. agricultural and energy system to analyze this possible competition for land and to examine the link between carbon prices, the energy system dynamics and the effect of the land competition on food prices. Our results indicate that bioenergy plantations will be competitive on cropland already at carbon taxes about US $20/ton C. As the carbon tax increases, food prices more than double compared to the reference scenario in which there is no climate policy. Further, bioenergy plantations appropriate significant areas of both cropland and grazing land. In model runs where we have limited the amount of grazing land that can be used for bioenergy to what many analysts consider the upper limit, most of the bioenergy plantations are established on cropland. Under the assumption that more grazing land can be used, large areas of bioenergy plantations are established on grazing land, despite the fact that yields are assumed to be much lower (less than half) than on crop land. It should be noted that this allocation on grazing land takes place as a result of a competition between food and bioenergy production and not because of lack of it. The estimated increase in food prices is largely unaffected by how much grazing land can be used for bioenergy production.     

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.     

An Evaluation of Information Meetings as a Tool for Addressing Fear of Large Carnivores

Managing authorities in Scandinavia arrange public information meetings when members of the public express fear because wolves or brown bears approach human settlements. This study aimed to increase the understanding of the potential effect of information meetings on self-reported fear of wolves and brown bears. In total, 198 participants completed questionnaires before and after the information meetings. Nine follow-up interviews were held 1 year later. The quantitative analyses revealed that participants who found the information credible reported a significant increase in social trust and a decrease in vulnerability and fear. The qualitative analyses pointed to the importance of information content and meta-communication, for example, nonverbal cues. It is proposed that, among participants who find the information credible, information meetings may change the appraisal of wolves and brown bears, and therefore they might prove useful as an intervention to address fear of these animals.