Limnologische Beiträge zur Glazialgeologie

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Will the tropical land biosphere dominate the climate–carbon cycle feedback during the twenty-first century?

Global warming caused by anthropogenic CO₂ emissions is expected to reduce the capability of the ocean and the land biosphere to take up carbon. This will enlarge the fraction of the CO₂ emissions remaining in the atmosphere, which in turn will reinforce future climate change. Recent model studies agree in the existence of such a positive climate–carbon cycle feedback, but the estimates of its amplitude differ by an order of magnitude, which considerably increases the uncertainty in future climate projections. Therefore we discuss, in how far a particular process or component of the carbon cycle can be identified, that potentially contributes most to the positive feedback. The discussion is based on simulations with a carbon cycle model, which is embedded in the atmosphere/ocean general circulation model ECHAM5/MPI-OM. Two simulations covering the period 1860–2100 are conducted to determine the impact of global warming on the carbon cycle. Forced by historical and future carbon dioxide emissions (following the scenario A2 of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), they reveal a noticeable positive climate–carbon cycle feedback, which is mainly driven by the tropical land biosphere. The oceans contribute much less to the positive feedback and the temperate/boreal terrestrial biosphere induces a minor negative feedback. The contrasting behavior of the tropical and temperate/boreal land biosphere is mostly attributed to opposite trends in their net primary productivity (NPP) under global warming conditions. As these findings depend on the model employed they are compared with results derived from other climate–carbon cycle models, which participated in the Coupled Climate–Carbon Cycle Model Intercomparison Project (C4MIP).

Preparation and characterization of antibacterial silver/vermiculites and silver/montmorillonites

The reason for the preparation and characterization of the novel antibacterial silver/vermiculites (Ag/V) together with the silver/montmorillonites (Ag/M) was that the information on the vermiculite structure change and stability of Ag/V in water as well as its effect on bacteria are sporadic. The vermiculite (V), (Si_3.02Al_0.98)^IV (Mg_2.27Al_0.12Ti_0.07)^VI O₁₀(OH)₂ Ca_0.09Na_0.21K_0.50 from West China and montmorillonite (M), (Si_3.96Al_0.04)^IV (Al_1.20Mg_0.42Ti_0.02)^VI O₁₀ (OH)₂Ca_0.15Na_0.14K_0.08 from Ivan?ice (Czech Republic), fraction <0.4 μm were the starting clay materials for sample preparation. The samples V1 and M1 were prepared via reaction of the V and M with the 0.01 mol L⁻¹ AgNO₃ aqueous solution. The samples V2 and M2 were treated with the aqueous solution of AgNO₃ for two times. The cation exchange and reduced metallic silver on M1 and V1 evoked the specific surface area (SSA) diminution, the mean particle-size diameter extension and appearance of micropores with radius (<0.4 nm). Repeated silver cation exchange in M2 and V2 reduced particle size, increased slightly SSA and micropores with radius of 0.4-0.5 nm. Samples Ag/V and Ag/M showed higher content of pores with radius 0.5-1.0 nm than original V and M. The Ag concentration was found higher in Ag/V than in Ag/M and higher in repeatedly treated samples: 0.9 wt.% Ag in V1, 1.4 wt.% Ag in V2, 0.6 wt.% Ag in M1 and 1.0 wt.% Ag in M2. Vermiculite structure consisting of the hydrated interstratified phases and the mica-like phase changed to the cation-one-zero layer hydrate interstratification structure in V1 and to the random of two-one layer hydrate interstratifications in V2. Infrared and Mössbauer spectroscopy revealed no changes in the structure of the clay minerals that could be related directly to the sorption and crystallization of silver. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the silver nanoparticles size distribution was much narrower for the samples Ag/M than for Ag/V. The mean size of the Ag particles was between 40 and 50 nm. Although the Ag nanoparticles did not adhere sufficiently at the clay minerals surface and migrated moderately into water, all samples under study were approved to be effective inhibitors of the bacterial growth persisting for the whole testing period of 6 days. Silver/vermiculite was antimicrobial more efficient against Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa than silver/montmorillonite.     

Future changes in daily summer temperature variability: driving processes and role for temperature extremes

Anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions are expected to lead to more frequent and intense summer temperature extremes, not only due to the mean warming itself, but also due to changes in temperature variability. To test this hypothesis, we analyse daily output of ten PRUDENCE regional climate model scenarios over Europe for the 2071–2100 period. The models project more frequent temperature extremes particularly over the Mediterranean and the transitional climate zone (TCZ, between the Mediterranean to the south and the Baltic Sea to the north). The projected warming of the uppermost percentiles of daily summer temperatures is found to be largest over France (in the region of maximum variability increase) rather than the Mediterranean (where the mean warming is largest). The underlying changes in temperature variability may arise from changes in (1) interannual temperature variability, (2) intraseasonal variability, and (3) the seasonal cycle. We present a methodology to decompose the total daily variability into these three components. Over France and depending upon the model, the total daily summer temperature variability is projected to significantly increase by 20–40% as a result of increases in all three components: interannual variability (30–95%), seasonal variability (35–105%), and intraseasonal variability (10–30%). Variability changes in northern and southern Europe are substantially smaller. Over France and parts of the TCZ, the models simulate a progressive warming within the summer season (corresponding to an increase in seasonal variability), with the projected temperature change in August exceeding that in June by 2–3 K. Thus, the most distinct warming is superimposed upon the maximum of the current seasonal cycle, leading to a higher intensity of extremes and an extension of the summer period (enabling extreme temperatures and heat waves even in September). The processes driving the variability changes are different for the three components but generally relate to enhanced land–atmosphere coupling and/or increased variability of surface net radiation, accompanied by a strong reduction of cloudiness, atmospheric circulation changes and a progressive depletion of soil moisture within the summer season. The relative contribution of these processes differs substantially between models.     

Improved regional scale processes reflected in projected hydrological changes over large European catchments

For the fourth assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the recent version of the coupled atmosphere/ocean general circulation model (GCM) of the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology has been used to conduct an ensemble of transient climate simulations These simulations comprise three control simulations for the past century covering the period 1860–2000, and nine simulations for the future climate (2001–2100) using greenhouse gas (GHG) and aerosol concentrations according to the three IPCC scenarios B1, A1B and A2. For each scenario three simulations were performed. The global simulations were dynamically downscaled over Europe using the regional climate model (RCM) REMO at 0.44° horizontal resolution (about 50 km), whereas the physics packages of the GCM and RCM largely agree. The regional simulations comprise the three control simulations (1950–2000), the three A1B simulations and one simulation for B1 as well as for A2 (2001–2100). In our study we concentrate on the climate change signals in the hydrological cycle and the 2 m temperature by comparing the mean projected climate at the end of the twenty-first century (2071–2100) to a control period representing current climate (1961–1990). The robustness of the climate change signal projected by the GCM and RCM is analysed focussing on the large European catchments of Baltic Sea (land only), Danube and Rhine. In this respect, a robust climate change signal designates a projected change that sticks out of the noise of natural climate variability. Catchments and seasons are identified where the climate change signal in the components of the hydrological cycle is robust, and where this signal has a larger uncertainty. Notable differences in the robustness of the climate change signals between the GCM and RCM simulations are related to a stronger warming projected by the GCM in the winter over the Baltic Sea catchment and in the summer over the Danube and Rhine catchments. Our results indicate that the main explanation for these differences is that the finer resolution of the RCM leads to a better representation of local scale processes at the surface that feed back to the atmosphere, i.e. an improved representation of the land sea contrast and related moisture transport processes over the Baltic Sea catchment, and an improved representation of soil moisture feedbacks to the atmosphere over the Danube and Rhine catchments.     

Ocean dynamics determine the response of oceanic CO2 uptake to climate change

The increase of atmospheric CO₂ concentrations due to anthropogenic activities is substantially damped by the ocean, whose CO₂ uptake is determined by the state of the ocean, which in turn is influenced by climate change. We investigate the mechanisms of the ocean’s carbon uptake within the feedback loop of atmospheric CO₂ concentration, climate change and atmosphere/ocean CO₂ flux. We evaluate two transient simulations from 1860 until 2100, performed with a version of the Max Planck Institute Earth System Model (MPI-ESM) with the carbon cycle included. In both experiments observed anthropogenic CO₂ emissions were prescribed until 2000, followed by the emissions according to the IPCC Scenario A2. In one simulation the radiative forcing of changing atmospheric CO₂ is taken into account (coupled), in the other it is suppressed (uncoupled). In both simulations, the oceanic carbon uptake increases from 1 GT C/year in 1960 to 4.5 GT C/year in 2070. Afterwards, this trend weakens in the coupled simulation, leading to a reduced uptake rate of 10% in 2100 compared to the uncoupled simulation. This includes a partial offset due to higher atmospheric CO₂ concentrations in the coupled simulation owing to reduced carbon uptake by the terrestrial biosphere. The difference of the oceanic carbon uptake between both simulations is primarily due to partial pressure difference and secondary to solubility changes. These contributions are widely offset by changes of gas transfer velocity due to sea ice melting and wind changes. The major differences appear in the Southern Ocean (?45%) and in the North Atlantic (?30%), related to reduced vertical mixing and North Atlantic meridional overturning circulation, respectively. In the polar areas, sea ice melting induces additional CO₂ uptake (+20%).     

Holistic, adaptive management of the terrestrial carbon cycle at local and regional scales

Actions to manage carbon dioxide (and other greenhouse gas) emissions at regional and local scales take place amid multiple requirements, participants, and agents. To address and solve tensions that emerge from diverse objectives and stakeholder needs, participatory decision processes and information tools are required. This paper explores how regional carbon budget information can contribute to the broader goal of holistic, adaptive regional development. We sketch the characteristics of a novel integrative framework for adaptive carbon management in the context of multiple criteria. An ex-post case study on carbon mitigation from Chiapas, Mexico, demonstrates challenges and trade-offs in a real-world setting.     

Rain and dewdrops on titan based on in situ imaging

The Descent Imager/Spectral Radiometer (DISR) of the Huygens probe was in an excellent position to view aspects of rain as it descended through Titan's atmosphere. Rain may play an important part of the methane cycle on Titan, similar to the water cycle on Earth, but rain has only been indirectly inferred in previous studies. DISR detected two dark atmospheric layers at 11 and 21 km altitude, which can be explained by a local increase in aerosol size by about 5-10%. These size variations are far smaller than those in rain clouds, where droplets grow some 1000-fold. No image revealed a rainbow, which implies that the optical depth of raindrops was less than ∼0.0002/km. This upper limit excludes rain and constrains drizzle to extremely small rates of less than 0.0001 mm/h. However, a constant drizzle of that rate over several years would clear the troposphere of aerosols faster than it can be replenished by stratospheric aerosols. Hence, either the average yearly drizzle rate near the equator was even less (<0.1 mm/yr), or the observed aerosols came from somewhere else. The implied dry environment is consistent with ground-based imaging showing a lack of low-latitude clouds during the years before the Huygens descent. Features imaged on Titan's surface after landing, which might be interpreted as raindrop splashes, were not real, except for one case. This feature was a dewdrop falling from the outermost baffle of the DISR instrument. It can be explained by warm, methane-moist air rising along the bottom of the probe and condensing onto the cold baffle.     

Stratigraphic and geochemical evidence for the depositional environment of the early archaean isua supracrustal belt,southern west greenland

The highly deformed c. 3800 Ma Isua supracrustal belt is a fragment of a more extensive Early Archaean sedimentary and volcanic succession intruded by and tectonically intercalated with tonalitic and granitic Amftsoq gneisses in the period 3800-3600 Ma. The supracrustal rocks recrystallised under amphibolite facies conditions between 3800 and 3600 Ma, in the Late Archaean and locally at c. 1800 Ma. Layered sequences of rock of sedimentary and probable volcanic origin form over 50% of the belt. Bodies of high MgAl basic rocks and ultramafic rocks were intruded into the layered sequences prior to isoclinal folding and intrusion of Amitsoq gneisses. The layered rocks which are < 1 km thick are divided into two sequences, that are in faulted contact with each other. The way-up of these sequences has been determined from facing-directions of locally-preserved graded layering in felsic metasediments at several localities. The overall upwards change in sedimentary succession is interpreted as showing change from dominantly basic to dominantly felsic volcanism which provided the major clastic component of the sediments. Clastic sedimentation took place against a background of chemical sedimentation, shown by interlayers of banded iron formation, metachert and calc-silicate rocks throughout the sequences. The felsic rocks locally preserve graded bedding and possible conglomerate structures, indicating deposition from turbidite flows and possibly as debris flows. Nodules in the felsic rocks contain structures interpreted as fiammé. There is an irregular enrichment in K₂O/Na₂O in many of the felsic rocks at constant SiO₂ and Al₂O₃ content, interpreted as owing to alteration of original andesitic to dacitic volcanic rocks. Banded iron formations locally contain conglomeratic structures suggesting sedimentary reworking, possibly under shallow water conditions. Lithological and geochemical characters of the clastic components of the supracrustal sequences are consistent with derivation from felsic and basic volcanic rocks and do not require a continental source.