Beyond light: Physical, geological, and geochemical parameters as possible submersed aquatic vegetation habitat requirements

When determining the suitability of a certain area as a habitat for submersed aquatic vegetation (SAV), light and parameters that modify light (epiphytes, total suspended solids, chlorophyll concentration, nutrients) are the first factors to be taken into consideration. As a result, in the past 10 years, light has been the major focus of SAV research. Even so, we are still unable to explain why SAV often occurs in one area but is absent just a few meters away. Recent studies have shown that SAV may not occur in areas where light levels are adequate but other parameters like wave energy and sulfide concentrations are excessive. It is time to look beyond light when determining SAV habitat requirements. This paper summarizes the impact that physical (waves, currents, tides, and turbulence), geological (sediment grain size and organic matter), and geochemical (mainly sulfide) parameters may have on SAV habitat suitality. Light remains an integral part of the discussion but the focus shifts from maximum depths of distribution (determined mainly by light) to the range SAV can colonize between the maximum and minimum depths of distribution (determined mainly by physical forces). This paper establishes minimum depths of occurrence resulting from the effects of tides and waves, preferred ranges in particle size, organic content, and sulfide, as well as lilfide, as well as limits on currents and waves as related to the capacity to stay rooted at one extreme and diffusive boundary layer constrains at the other.     

Zur Bildung von Artefakten und deren Vermeidung bei der Bestimmung leichtflüchtiger Halogenkohlenwasserstoffe in Wasser mittels Headspace-Gaschromatographie unter den Bedingungen der DIN 38407 Teil 5 (DEV-F5). Teil II: Überhöhte Trihalogenmethanbefunde in gechlortem Schwimmbeckenwasser

Formation of Artefacts and its Suppression during the Determination of Volatile Halogenated Hydrocarbons in Water by Means of Headspace Gas Chromatography under the Standard Conditions of DIN 38407-F5. Part II: Increased Trihalomethane Formation in Chlorinated Swimming-pool Water A comparison of two analytical standard procedures for the determination of trihalomethanes (THM) in water (headspace gas chromatography and pentane extraction/gas chromatography) yielded strongly differing results. Under the conditions recommended by the German Standard Method DIN 38407-F5 (60…80°C for at least 60 min) degradation of thermo-labile chlorination products occurs resulting in elevated THM concentrations. The reactions involved are partly pH-dependant, and these can be suppressed by sample acidification. The degradation of trihalogen acetic acids, however, can only be influenced by minimizing the equilibration time and temperature. Other intermediate chlorination products (haloacetonitriles) are also degraded to THM after preceding hydrolysis to the corresponding carboxylic acids. Comparative results obtained with a purge and trap method at ambient temperature, i.e. without thermal stress during the enrichtment step, are lower than with static headspace GC but still high in comparison to the pentane extraction method. Presumably volatile THM-precursors are also trapped and subsequently decomposed upon thermal desorption from the trap. As the static headspace GC is the most rational method of LHKW determination available, the recommended experimental sample handling conditions should be modified in a way that deterioration reactions are reduced as far as possible.     

Tropical soils could dominate the short-term carbon cycle feedbacks to increased global temperatures

Results of a simple model of the effects of temperature on net ecosystem production call into question the argument that the large stocks of soil carbon and greater projected warming in the boreal and tu ndra regions of the world willlead to rapid efflux of carbon from these biomes to the atmosphere. We show that low rates of carbon turnover in these regions and a relatively greater response of net primary production to changes in temperature may lead to carbon storage over some limited range of warming. In contrast, the high rates of soil respiration found in tropical ecosystems are highly sensitive to small changes in temperature, so that despite the less pronounced warming expected in equatorial regions, tropical soils are likely to release relatively large amounts of carbon to the atmosphere. Results for high-latitude biomes are highly sensitive to parameter values used, while the net efflux of carbon from the tropics appears robust.     

Long-term variations in thermal comfort in Vienna

Summary A human energy balance model is calculated using the homogeneous data set of Vienna, Austria (48°N and 16° E). Variations in the different stages of comfort since 1873 are discussed. The historical data are then used to generate scenarios of a changing climate and calculate the impact of these variations on thermal comfort.With 5 Figures     

Paleointensity in the Quaternary West Eifel volcanic field, Germany: preliminary results

Preliminary paleointensity results are presented from 36 sites with virtual geomagnetic pole (VGP) latitudes of about 30–90° normal polarity in the Quaternary West Eifel volcanic field. A strong correlation between VGP latitude and the Earth's virtual magnetic dipole moment (VDM) is observed, with low intensities for low VGP latitudes indicating possibly an emplacement during an excursion or event of the Brunhes epoch. The age distribution of the West Eifel volcanics is, as yet, poorly known. Also, the mean VDM value for sites with high VGP latitudes is considerably lower than the present day dipole moment of the Earth.     

Error study for the determination of the center of mass of the earth from Pageos observations

The least squares adjustment for the station coordinates of the worldwide satellite triangulation net gives, in addition to the station positions, the positions of the satellites observed in a simultaneous event from two or more stations. Through successive events short arcs can be fitted and the coordinates of the center of mass of the earth can be determined. It is shown that the center of mass will be obtained with an accuracy consistent with the accuracy of the station positions, if well distributed Pageos arcs of about one quarter of a revolution are taken and if three events per arc are given.     

Uniqueness and existence for the geodetic boundary value problem using the known surface of the earth

The geodetic boundary value problem using the known surface of the earth is defined and shown to have at most one solution. Furthermore it is proved that the solution exists and that its harmonic part can be represented by the potential of a simple layer under the sufficient condition that at the surface of the earth directions are known which lie differentially close to the gradients of the gravity field. The advantages of this boundary value problem are outlined in comparison to the boundary value problem formulated by Molodensky.     

Daily Weather Observations in Sixteenth-Century Europe

Thirty-two weather diaries written in astronomical calendars in central Europe in the late fifteenth and sixteenth centuries are presented and discussed. Systematic weather observations were promoted by the rise of planetary astronomy and its application in astro-meteorology. The practice of keeping weather diaries spread from Cracow (Poland) to Ingolstadt (Germany) and from there to other universities. The data obtained from these sources provided the backbone for setting up series of precipitation indices for Poland, Germany and Switzerland. Monthly statistics of days with precipitation, snowfall and frost were computed by counting the relevant entries in the most important diaries. The results were compared with either those obtained from instrumental measurements in the same place or with those from modern instrumental measurements in a neighbouring place. The final results show that autumn was considerably colder in the early sixteenth century. April was considerably drier and July was wetter during the period 1508-1531 than during 1901-1960. In order to highlight the impact of weather patterns on grain prices in a year of crisis, the timing of wet and dry spells in southern Poland and southern Germany is compared for the year 1529. Winters became 1.7°C colder from 1564 to 1576 and the month of July tended to be wetter than in 1901-1960. Details noted in the diaries kept between 1585 and 1600 by the astronomers Brahe (near Copenhagen) and Fabricius (in the Ostfriesland region of northwestern Germany) closely agree. It rained more often in June and July and temperatures dropped. The winter months were more frequently dominated by winds from easterly directions, the frequency of snowfall was higher and a deficit occurred in precipitation. This points to a higher frequency of high pressure in the Fennoscandian area with cold air advection from the east or northeast.