Early postglacial chironomid succession in southwestern British Columbia,Canada, and its paleoenvironmental significance

Chironomids typical of cold, well-oxygenated, oligotrophic environments are common in late-Pleistocene deposits, but these taxa are rare in Holocene sediments of most small temperate lakes. Hypotheses to explain the demise of these taxa include variations in climate, lake trophic state, lake levels, terrestrial vegetation, and/or sediment composition. In southwestern British Columbia, this demise correlates with palynological evidence for a lodgepole pine decline, and for rapid climatic amelioration, at about 10 000 yr B.P. Faunal changes are poorly correlated with lithological boundaries. The similar timing of the declines among lakes suggests that a regional influence, climate, has possibly been the principal determinant of early chironomid faunal succession.This is the eleventh of a series of papers to be published by this journal that was presented in the paleolimnology sessions organized by R.B. Davis for the XIIth Congress of the International Union for Quaternary Research (INQUA), which took place in Ottawa, Canada in August 1987. Dr. Davis is serving as guest editor of this series.     

Kinematic link between episodic trapdoor collapse of the Negra Muerta Caldera and motion on the Olacapato-El Toro Fault Zone, southern central Andes

A combined geochronological and structural analysis of the Miocene Negra Muerta Caldera was designed to better understand caldera formation associated with prominent faults on the central Andean plateau. Rb–Sr ages of the caldera outflow facies indicate that caldera formation occurred in two volcano-tectonic episodes. The first episode commenced with explosive eruption of the 9.0±0.1 Ma andesitic Acay Ignimbrite followed by a period of volcanic quiescence and moderate tectonic activity. Dominant volcanic and tectonic activity occurred during the second episode, which is bracketed by eruption of the 7.6±0.1 Ma rhyolitic Toba 1 Ignimbrite and effusive discharge of the 7.3±0.1 Ma rhyodacitic to andesitic lava flows. Structural relationships between rocks of the Negra Muerta Volcanic Complex and collapse-induced normal faults, notably NE-striking normal faults, agree with simultaneous volcanic activity and floor subsidence of the caldera during the second episode. Floor subsidence was achieved by tilting on an outward dipping reverse fault to the northwest of the caldera floor around a hinge zone located south of the caldera floor. This induced horizontal extension of the caldera floor and was accomplished by fragmentation of, and intrusion of dikes into, the floor. Collapse-induced and post-collapse fault populations of the caldera do not differ significantly in the directions of their axes of maximum extension and are in this respect kinematically compatible with left-lateral slip on the nearby Olacapato-El Toro Fault Zone. This furnishes evidence for a kinematic control by prominent faults on the formation of collapse calderas in the central Andes. The structural analysis of the Negra Muerta Caldera shows that collapse calderas can serve as deformation markers that contribute in elucidating the regional kinematic regime and the time of activity of prominent dislocations genetically related to collapse calderas.     

Magnesium inhibition of calcite dissolution kinetics

We present evidence of inhibition of calcite dissolution by dissolved magnesium through direct observations of the (104) surface using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and vertical scanning interferometry (VSI). Far from equilibrium, the pattern of magnesium inhibition is dependent on solution composition and specific to surface step geometry. In CO₂-free solutions (pH 8.8), dissolved magnesium brings about little inhibition even at concentrations of 0.8 × 10⁻³ molal. At the same pH, magnesium concentrations of less than 0.05 × 10⁻³ molal in carbonate-buffered solutions generate significant inhibition, although no changes in surface and etch pit morphology are observed. As concentrations exceed magnesite saturation, the dissolution rate shows little additional decrease; however, selective pinning of step edges results in unique etch pit profiles, seen in both AFM and VSI datasets. Despite the decreases in step velocity, magnesium addition in carbonated solutions also appears to activate the surface by increasing the nucleation rate of new defects. These relationships suggest that the modest depression of the bulk rate measured by VSI reflects a balance between competing reaction mechanisms that simultaneously depress the rate through selective inhibition of step movement, but also enhance reactivity on terraces by lowering the energy barrier to new etch pit formation.     

The control of Phanerozoic atmosphere and seawater composition by basalt–seawater exchange reactions

We present results from a long term geochemical cycling model, with a focus on the sensitivity of atmospheric carbon dioxide, oxygen, and the major element composition of seawater to seafloor spreading rates. This model incorporates rock weathering, basalt–seawater exchange reactions, and the formation and destruction of chemical sediments and organic matter. Hydrothermal reactions between seafloor and seawater involving calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, sulfate and carbon are the high temperature counterparts to low temperature redox, weathering, precipitation and diagenetic reactions. A major source of uncertainty is the extent to which these exchange fluxes are controlled by seafloor spreading rate. In addition, the return fluxes of these components to the atmospheric and primary silicate reservoirs reflect not only the overall rates of subduction and metamorphism, but the distribution of the overlying sedimentary burden and authigenic minerals formed during basalt alteration as well. In particular, we show how the stoichiometry of exchange fluxes (Mg/Ca and SO₄/Ca) may buffer atmospheric CO₂ and O₂ concentrations.     

Organic compounds in the early atmosphere formed abiotically from atomic carbon

The recent discovery that atomic carbon occurs plentiful in olivines from mantle-derived rocks opens new aspects for the chemical evolution of the early atmosphere and the origin of life. It has been shown conclusively that atomic carbon which is dissolved in the model oxide MgO is capable of reacting in an O₂-free atmosphere with the lattice oxygen to give CO₂ and with the lattice hydrogen, derived from OH^–, to give a profuse variety of hydrocarbons.The diffusional processes and low temperature gas/solid interface reactions involved in these processes are expected to introduce, purely abiotically, isotope fractionation resulting in a¹³C enrichment of the CO₂ fraction and in a¹³C depletion of the hydrocarbon fraction which may be confused with the¹²C/¹³C isotope fractionation along biological pathways.Atomic carbon dissolved in olivines and in basalts shows a similar behaviour and yields similar quantities as C in MgO: 1–2 mg/g CO₂ and 25–100g/g hydrocarbons degassing between 400 and 1000 °C. On a geological scale this means that each cubic kilometer of basaltic magma degassing in an O₂-free atmosphere has the capacity of sending off about 3–6·10⁹ kg (2·10⁹ m³) of CO₂ and about 1–3·10⁸ kg (2·10⁸ m³) of hydrocarbons. The presence of water modifies the composition to give, among others, alcohols and organic acids.On the basis of these results we are led to the conclusion that the early atmosphere of the earth may have contained a very high concentration of abiotically formed organic compounds of great chemical complexity.

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Zusammenfassung Die Entdeckung des atomar gelösten Kohlenstoffs in Olivinen aus Mantelgesteinen führt zu neuen Vorstellungen über die Zusammensetzung der Uratmosphäre und Entwicklungsbedingungen des Lebens. Atomarer Kohlenstoff im MgO ist in der Lage, in einer O₂-freien Atmosphäre mit dem Gittersauerstoff zu CO₂ zu reagieren und mit dem aus OH^– stammenden Gitterwasserstoff eine große Vielfalt von organischen Verbindungen zu bilden.Diffusionsprozesse und Gas-Festkörper-Austauschreaktionen, die an diesen Reaktionen beteiligt sind, führen nach ersten Untersuchungen zu einer¹³C-Anreicherung im CO₂ und einer¹³C-Abreicherung bei den Kohlenwasserstoffen. Diese¹²C/¹³C-Fraktionierung ist gleichsinnig mit der biologischen¹²C/¹³C-Fraktionierung.Atomarer Kohlenstoff in Olivinen und Basalten zeigt ein sehr ähnliches Reaktionsverhalten wie im MgO und führt zu ähnlichen Reaktionsprodukten: 1–2 mg/g CO₂ und 25–100g/g Kohlenwasserstoffe zwischen 400–1000 °C. Übertragen auf geologische Verhältnisse bedeutet dies, daß jeder km³ eines entgasenden basaltischen Magmas 3–6·10⁹ kg (2·10⁹ m³) CO₂ und 1–3·10⁸ kg (2·10⁸ m³) abwüschen Kohlenwasserstoff abgeben kann. Die Anwesenheit von Wasser führt zur Bildung von Alkoholen und organischen Säuren. Diese Ergebnisse deuten darauf hin, daß die Uratmosphäre und die Ursuppe viel reicher waren als bisher angenommen an komplexen organischen Verbindungen, die rein thermisch entstanden sind.

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Résumé La découverte du carbone atomique dans les olivines du manteau entraîne de nouvelles idées sur la composition de l'atmosphère originelle et sur les conditions du développement de la vie. Comme l'est le cas pour le MgO, le carbone atomique dans les olivines est capable de réagir, dans une atmosphère exempte de O₂, avec l'oxygène du réseau cristallin en formant du CO₂, et avec l'hydrogène provenant des groupements OH^– du réseau, pour former une grande variété de composés organiques.Les processus de diffusion et d'échange gas-solide liés à ces réactions provoquent, d'après les premiers résultats, un enrichissement en¹³C dans le CO₂ et un appauvrissement en¹³C dans les hydrocarbures formés. Ceci ressemble au fractionnement dû à des réactions biologiques.Le comportement du carbone atomique et sa réactivité se retrouvent dans les basaltes et les olivines. La gamme des produits de réaction et leur quantité ressemble à celle du MgO: 1–2 mg/g CO₂ et 25–100g/g composés organiques. A l'échelle géologique ceci implique que chaque km³ de magma basaltique dégazé en contact avec une atmosphère exempte d'oxygène pouvait émettre 3–6·10⁹ kg, soit 2·10⁹ m³ de CO₂ et 1–3·10⁸ kg, soit 2·10⁸ m³ d'hydrocarbures abiotiques. La présence d'eau entraîne la formation d'alcools et d'acides organiques.La conclusion tirée de ce travail indique que l'atmosphère originelle et la»soupe primordiale» étaient plus riches qu'on ne l'a admis jusqu'à présent en composés organiques dûs à des processus purement thermiques, et donc abiotiques.

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. MgO , COg, -, , . , , — — ¹³ ₂ . ¹²/¹³ , . , , - : 1–2 / O₂ 25–100 / , 400–1000 . , 3–6·109 (2·10^{9 3}) ₂ 1– 3·10⁸ (2·10^{8 3}) . . , , , , .

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Presented in part at the meeting Precambrian Problems, Copenhagen, March 1981.     

Homogeneous reprocessing of GPS,GLONASS and SLR observations

The International GNSS Service (IGS) provides operational products for the GPS and GLONASS constellation. Homogeneously processed time series of parameters from the IGS are only available for GPS. Reprocessed GLONASS series are provided only by individual Analysis Centers (i. e. CODE and ESA), making it difficult to fully include the GLONASS system into a rigorous GNSS analysis. In view of the increasing number of active GLONASS satellites and a steadily growing number of GPS+GLONASS-tracking stations available over the past few years, Technische Universität Dresden, Technische Universität München, Universität Bern and Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich performed a combined reprocessing of GPS and GLONASS observations. Also, SLR observations to GPS and GLONASS are included in this reprocessing effort. Here, we show only SLR results from a GNSS orbit validation. In total, 18 years of data (1994–2011) have been processed from altogether 340 GNSS and 70 SLR stations. The use of GLONASS observations in addition to GPS has no impact on the estimated linear terrestrial reference frame parameters. However, daily station positions show an RMS reduction of 0.3 mm on average for the height component when additional GLONASS observations can be used for the time series determination. Analyzing satellite orbit overlaps, the rigorous combination of GPS and GLONASS neither improves nor degrades the GPS orbit precision. For GLONASS, however, the quality of the microwave-derived GLONASS orbits improves due to the combination. These findings are confirmed using independent SLR observations for a GNSS orbit validation. In comparison to previous studies, mean SLR biases for satellites GPS-35 and GPS-36 could be reduced in magnitude from \(-35\) and \(-38\)  mm to \(-12\) and \(-13\)  mm, respectively. Our results show that remaining SLR biases depend on the satellite type and the use of coated or uncoated retro-reflectors. For Earth rotation parameters, the increasing number of GLONASS satellites and tracking stations over the past few years leads to differences between GPS-only and GPS+GLONASS combined solutions which are most pronounced in the pole rate estimates with maximum 0.2 mas/day in magnitude. At the same time, the difference between GLONASS-only and combined solutions decreases. Derived GNSS orbits are used to estimate combined GPS+GLONASS satellite clocks, with first results presented in this paper. Phase observation residuals from a precise point positioning are at the level of 2 mm and particularly reveal poorly modeled yaw maneuver periods.     

Sedimentary evolution and environmental history of Lake Van (Turkey) over the past 600 000 years

The lithostratigraphic framework of Lake Van, eastern Turkey, has been systematically analysed to document the sedimentary evolution and the environmental history of the lake during the past ca 600 000 years. The lithostratigraphy and chemostratigraphy of a 219 m long drill core from Lake Van serve to separate global climate oscillations from local factors caused by tectonic and volcanic activity. An age model was established based on the climatostratigraphic alignment of chemical and lithological signatures, validated by ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages. The drilled sequence consists of ca 76% lacustrine carbonaceous clayey silt, ca 2% fluvial deposits, ca 17% volcaniclastic deposits and 5% gaps. Six lacustrine lithotypes were separated from the fluvial and event deposits, such as volcaniclastics (ca 300 layers) and graded beds (ca 375 layers), and their depositional environments are documented. These lithotypes are: (i) graded beds frequently intercalated with varved clayey silts reflecting rising lake levels during the terminations; (ii) varved clayey silts reflecting strong seasonality and an intralake oxic–anoxic boundary, for example, lake‐level highstands during interglacials/interstadials; (iii) CaCO₃‐rich banded sediments which are representative of a lowering of the oxic–anoxic boundary, for example, lake level decreases during glacial inceptions; (iv) CaCO₃‐poor banded and mottled clayey silts reflecting an oxic–anoxic boundary close to the sediment–water interface, for example, lake‐level lowstands during glacials/stadials; (v) diatomaceous muds were deposited during the early beginning of the lake as a fresh water system; and (vi) fluvial sands and gravels indicating the initial flooding of the lake basin. The recurrence of lithologies (i) to (iv) follows the past five glacial/interglacial cycles. A 20 m thick disturbed unit reflects an interval of major tectonic activity in Lake Van at ca 414 ka bp . Although local environmental processes such as tectonic and volcanic activity influenced sedimentation, the lithostratigraphic pattern and organic matter content clearly reflect past global climate changes, making Lake Van an outstanding terrestrial archive of unprecedented sensitivity for the reconstruction of the regional climate over the last 600 000 years.     

Iodine Chemistry and its Role in Halogen Activation and Ozone Loss in the Marine Boundary Layer: A Model Study

A detailed set of reactions treating the gas and aqueous phase chemistry of the most important iodine species in the marine boundary layer (MBL) has been added to a box model which describes Br and Cl chemistry in the MBL. While Br and Cl originate from seasalt, the I compounds are largely derived photochemically from several biogenic alkyl iodides, in particular CH2I2, CH2ClI, C2H5I, C3H7I, or CH3I which are released from the sea. Their photodissociation produces some inorganic iodine gases which can rapidly react in the gas and aqueous phase with other halogen compounds. Scavenging of the iodine species HI, HOI, INO2, and IONO2 by aerosol particles is not a permanent sink as assumed in previous modeling studies. Aqueous-phase chemical reactions can produce the compounds IBr, ICl, and I2, which will be released back into the gas phase due to their low solubility. Our study, although highly theoretical, suggests that almost all particulate iodine is in the chemical form of IO-3. Other aqueous-phase species are only temporary reservoirs and can be re-activated to yield gas phase iodine. Assuming release rates of the organic iodine compounds which yield atmospheric concentrations similar to some measurements, we calculate significant concentrations of reactive halogen gases. The addition of iodine chemistry to our reaction scheme has the effect of accelerating photochemical Br and Cl release from the seasalt. This causes an enhancement in ozone destruction rates in the MBL over that arising from the well established reactions O(1D) + H2O 2OH, HO2 + O3 OH + 2O2, and OH + O3 HO2 + O2. The given reaction scheme accounts for the formation of particulate iodine which is preferably accumulated in the smaller sulfate aerosol particles.     

Cenozoic intra-plate magmatism in the Darfur volcanic province: mantle source, phonolite-trachyte genesis and relation to other volcanic provinces in NE Africa

Chemical and Sr, Nd and Pb isotopic compositions of Late Cenozoic to Quaternary small-volume phonolite, trachyte and related mafic rocks from the Darfur volcanic province/NW-Sudan have been investigated. Isotope signatures indicate variable but minor crustal contributions. Some phonolitic and trachytic rocks show the same isotopic composition as their primitive mantle-derived parents, and no crustal contributions are visible in the trace element patterns of these samples. The magmatic evolution of the evolved rocks is dominated by crystal fractionation. The Si-undersaturated strongly alkaline phonolite and the Si-saturated mildly alkaline trachyte can be modelled by fractionation of basanite and basalt, respectively. The suite of basanite–basalt–phonolite–trachyte with characteristic isotope signatures from the Darfur volcanic province fits the compositional features of other Cenozoic intra-plate magmatism scattered in North and Central Africa (e.g., Tibesti, Maghreb, Cameroon line), which evolved on a lithosphere that was reworked or formed during the Neoproterozoic.     

Animal production and climate variation in the Faeroe Islands in the 19th century

The article deals with aspects of the historical geography of the Faeroe Islands in the 19th century with a focus on animal production, i.e. sheep and cows. It is based on material from the Regional Archive, Føroya Landsskjalasavn. The tithe lists showing the King's third from Norderöe district, 1801–1859, are analysed in detail and compared with the statements from another series of documents, the Sheriff s half-yearly reports on the state of the district. Together these two sets of records give a detailed picture of the development and variation in the number of cows, paying “butter-tithe” and the number of sheep slaughtered, paying “wool-tithe”. The number of cows surviving the winter, depended on the amount and quality of winter fodder or hay, which was produced in the infield the preceding summer. The sheep, on the other hand, that can survive the winter while grazing in the outfield, are dependent on the severity or mildness of the winter as well as their condition in the lambing period. The two series provide data on summer as well as winter weather conditions. The analysis makes an attempt, using the concepts known from the critical realist theory of science, to find the mechanisms as well as necessary and contingent conditions involved in the two processes.