Recovery of thermohaline circulation under CO2 stabilization and overshoot scenarios

In this study we examine the behavior of the thermohaline circulation, as simulated by the Community Climate System Model version 3 (CCSM3), for several centuries following CO₂ stabilization for the SRES B1 and A1B scenarios and for an “overshoot” scenario in which CO₂ levels temporarily reach the same level as in the A1B scenario before declining to an ultimate stabilization level that is identical to the B1 case. While we find no evidence for irreversible changes of the thermohaline circulation in the overshoot experiment, the interplay of the different timescales of the temperature response of the surface and interior ocean does lead to a number of differences in the long-term response of the ocean between it and the B1 stabilization scenario where the same GHG levels are approached by different paths. The stronger initial warming and its slow penetration into the deeper ocean, followed by a transient surface cooling in the overshoot scenario leads to lower static stability, deeper mixing, and a more rapid recovery of the thermohaline circulation than in the B1 stabilization scenario. While the overshoot scenario recovers surface conditions (e.g. SST, sea ice extent) very similar to the B1 scenario shortly after reaching the same GHG levels, the additional accumulation of heat in the interior ocean during the period of higher forcing causes the global mean ocean temperature and steric sea level to remain higher than in the B1 stabilization scenario for at least another several centuries.     

Regional-scale hydrothermal alteration in the Central Blake River Group,western Abitibi subprovince,Canada: implications for VMS prospectivity

The Late Archean Blake River Group is a thick succession of predominantly mafic volcanic rocks within the southern zone of the Abitibi greenstone belt. It contains a number of silicic volcanic centers of different size, including the large Noranda volcanic complex, which is host to 17 past-producing volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits. The Noranda complex consists of a 7- to 9-km-thick succession of bimodal mafic and felsic volcanic rocks erupted during five major cycles of volcanism. Massive sulfide formation coincided with a period of intense magmatic activity (cycle III) and the formation of the Noranda cauldron. Hydrothermal alteration in these rocks is interpreted to reflect large-scale hydrothermal fluid flow associated with rapid crustal extension and rifting of the volcanic complex. The alteration includes abundant albite, chlorite, epidote and quartz (silicification), which exhibit broad stratigraphic and structural control and correlate with previously mapped whole-rock oxygen isotope zonation. The Mine Sequence volcanic rocks are characterized by abundant iron-rich chlorite (Fe/Fe+Mg >0.5), hydrothermal amphibole (ferroactinolite) and coarse-grained epidote of clinozoisite composition (<10 wt% Fe ₂O ₃). Volcanic rocks of the pre-cauldron sequences, which contain only subeconomic stringer mineralization, are characterized by less abundant chlorite and mainly fine-grained epidote (>10 wt% Fe ₂O ₃) lacking the clinozoisite solid solution. Alteration in the Mine Sequence volcanic rocks persists along strike well beyond the limits of the main ore deposits (as far as several tens of kilometers) and can be readily distinguished from greenschist facies metamorphic assemblages at a regional scale. The lack of similar alteration in the pre-cauldron sequences is consistent with limited ¹⁸O-depletion and suggests that the early history of the volcanic complex did not support large-scale, high-temperature fluid flow in these rocks. Comparisons with a much smaller, barren volcanic complex in nearby Ben Nevis township reveal important differences in the alteration mineralogy between volcanoes of different size, with implications for area selection during regional-scale mineral exploration. The Ben Nevis Complex consists of a 3- to 4-km-thick succession of mafic, intermediate and felsic volcanic rocks centered on a small subvolcanic intrusion. Alteration of the volcanic rocks comprises mainly low-temperature assemblages of prehnite, pumpellyite, magnesium-rich chlorite (Fe/Fe+Mg <0.5), iron-rich epidote (>10 wt% Fe ₂O ₃) and calcite. Actinolite ± magnetite alteration occurs proximal to the intrusive core of the complex, but the limited extent of this alteration indicates only local high-temperature fluid circulation adjacent to the intrusion. A distal zone of carbonate alteration is located 4–6 km from the center of the volcano. Although iron-bearing carbonates are present locally within this zone, the absence of siderite argues against a high-temperature origin for this alteration. These observations do not offer positive encouragement for the existence of a fossil geothermal system of sufficient size or intensity to have produced a large massive sulfide deposit.     

Importance of geochemical transformations in determining submarine groundwater discharge-derived trace metal and nutrient fluxes

Seasonal (Spring and Summer 2002) concentrations of dissolved (<0.22 μm) trace metals (Ag, Al, Co, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb), inorganic nutrients (NO₃, PO₄, Si), and DOC were determined in groundwater samples from 5 wells aligned along a 30 m shore-normal transect in West Neck Bay, Long Island, NY. Results show that significant, systematic changes in groundwater trace metal and nutrient composition occur along the flowpath from land to sea. While conservative mixing between West Neck Bay water and the groundwaters explains the behavior of Si and DOC, non-conservative inputs for Co and Ni were observed (concentration increases of 10- and 2-fold, respectively) and removal of PO₄ and NO₃ (decreases to about half) along the transport pathway. Groundwater-associated chemical fluxes from the aquifer to the embayment calculated for constituents not exhibiting conservative behavior can vary by orders of magnitude depending on sampling location and season (e.g. Co, 3.4 × 10²– 8.2 × 10³ μmol d⁻¹). Using measured values from different wells as being representative of the true groundwater endmember chemical composition also results in calculation of very different fluxes (e.g., Cu, 6.3 × 10³ μmol d⁻¹ (inland, freshwater well) vs. 2.1 × 10⁵ μmol d⁻¹(seaward well, S = 17 ppt)). This study suggests that seasonal variability and chemical changes occurring within the subterranean estuary must be taken into account when determining the groundwater flux of dissolved trace metals and nutrients to the coastal ocean.     

The Hellenic ophiolites: eastward or westward obduction of the Maliac Ocean, a discussion

Ophiolitic bodies in the Dinaro-Hellenic mountain belt are among the most important ones in the Peri-Mediterranean Alpine chains. The characteristic feature of this ophiolitic belt is its Middle to Late Jurassic age of obduction. The ophiolitic bodies form two major belts on each side of the Pelagonian zone: an east Pelagonian belt in the Vardarian domain and a Supra-Pelagonian ophiolitic belt (SPO) to the west. The different hypotheses relative to the origin of the SPO present geodynamic evolution models accounting for most of the available data: a mid-Triassic episode of rifting; a Ladinian–Jurassic episode of sea-floor spreading forming notably the Maliac Ocean; a Middle to Late Jurassic convergent period with subduction and obduction episodes, and finally, a late episode of Tertiary compressional deformation responsible for the westward thrusting of the Jurassic ophiolitic nappes over the external zones. Despite many studies dating from the early 1970s, the eastern or western Pelagonian origin of these ophiolites, especially the SPO, is still under dispute. Whatever the adopted hypothesis, we consider that the main SPO bodies (N-Pindos, Vourinos, Othris, Evia, Argolis) have the same origin because of their geographic continuity and of the similarities in their geological characteristics. We propose that this ocean corresponds everywhere to the Maliac Ocean, defined in Othris from the well-preserved sedimentary (oceanic margin) and ophiolitic nappes thrust during the Late Jurassic obduction onto the Pelagonian platform. There is strong evidence for the existence of two deep basins on both sides of the Pelagonian continental ridge during Triassic–Jurassic times. They correspond, respectively, to the Vardar area to the east and the Pindos domain to the west, one of these domains being at the origin of the SPO. The hypothesis of an eastward emplacement of the SPO from the Pindos domain is based mainly on sedimentological data from the margin series and on structural analyses of ophiolitic bodies. However, we conclude the westward obduction of the Maliac Ocean, originating from the Vardar area, to be the best fitting model. This westward model is supported by paleogeographic and structural constraints on regional scale. Notably, the absence of obducted ophiolites in the Jurassic series of the Koziakas units (units attributed to the western Pelagonian margin) and of the Parnassus domain (on the eastern side of the Pindos basin) is difficult to reconcile with an eastward obduction from the Pindos domain. Other observations, such as the distribution of ophiolitic detritus in the internal and external zones, also promote the westward Late Jurassic obduction of the Maliac Ocean. Our preferred model offers a consistent explanation for the mechanism and timing of the emplacement of the SPO, as well as providing insight on the origin and emplacement of the Vardarian ophiolites. Following this hypothesis, there is no need for a clear boundary between the SPO and the west Vardarian ophiolitic bodies as they were obducted from the same oceanic basin and during the same Jurassic tectonic event. In this paper, we develop evidence in favor of the eastern Pelagonian origin for the SPO (our adopted model) and provide discussion on the data supporting the main alternative hypothesis (western origin for the SPO).     

Eliminierung und Rückgewinnung von Metallionen aus Abwässern — eine Übersicht

The present state and the trends of the recovery of heavy metals from wastewaters are presented. The classical precipitation techniques are insatisfactory due to increases of solubility in the presence of impurity ions and/or complexing agents. At present, ion-exchange processes constitute the most frequently used method of metal recycling with an effective enrichment of metal ions. For the effective separation of metals from solutions of a low concentration the electrolytic reduction demands large electrode surface areas. In cells with fixed-bed or fluidized cathodes one can obtain specific electrode surface areas of some 10³ m²/m^m3. For the future, processes of extraction and especially membrane separation will gain in importance. In the past few years, a large number of highly selective metal extracting agents as well as the liquid membrane permeation with suitable carriers were developed. Combinations of membrane separation processes with chemical reactions may attain the same importance, as e.g. ultrafiltration in connection with the fixation of metal ions to watersoluble polymers. In the long run, especially techniques will prevail which will not only result in metal enrichment but also in the recovery of the raw material water.     

Deriving rules from activity diary data: A learning algorithm and results of computer experiments

 Activity-based models consider travel as a derived demand from the activities households need to conduct in space and time. Over the last 15 years, computational or rule-based models of activity scheduling have gained increasing interest in time-geography and transportation research. This paper argues that a lack of techniques for deriving rules from empirical data hinders the further development of rule-based systems in this area. To overcome this problem, this paper develops and tests an algorithm for inductively deriving rules from activity-diary data. The decision table formalism is used to exhaustively represent the theoretically possible decision rules that individuals may use in sequencing a given set of activities. Actual activity patterns of individuals are supplied to the system as examples. In an incremental learning process, the system progressively improves on the selection of rules used for reproducing the examples. Computer experiments based on simulated data are performed to fine-tune rule selection and rule value update functions. The results suggest that the system is effective and fairly robust for parameter settings. It is concluded, therefore, that the proposed approach opens up possibilities to derive empirically tested rule-based models of activity scheduling. Follow-up research will be concerned with testing the system on empirical data. Received: 31 January 2001 / Accepted: 13 September 2001