Trends and low-frequency variability of storminess over western Europe, 1878–2007

This study analyzes extremes of geostrophic wind speeds derived from sub-daily surface pressure observations at 13 sites in the European region from the Iberian peninsula to Scandinavia for the period from 1878 or later to 2007. It extends previous studies on storminess conditions in the Northeast (NE) Atlantic-European region. It also briefly discusses the relationship between storminess and the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). The results show that storminess conditions in the region from the Northeast Atlantic to western Europe have undergone substantial decadal or longer time scale fluctuations, with considerable seasonal and regional differences (especially between winter and summer, and between the British Isles-North Sea area and other parts of the region). In the North Sea and the Alps areas, there has been a notable increase in the occurrence frequency of strong geostrophic winds from the mid to the late twentieth century. The results also show that, in the cold season (December–March), the NAO-storminess relationship is significantly positive in the north-central part of this region, but negative in the south-southeastern part.     

Multi-level filtering segmentation to measure individual tree parameters based on Lidar data: Application to a mountainous forest with heterogeneous stands

This paper presents a method for individual tree crown extraction and characterisation from a canopy surface model (CSM). The method is based on a conventional algorithm used for localising LM on a smoothed version of the CSM and subsequently for modelling the tree crowns around each maximum at the plot level. The novelty of the approach lies in the introduction of controls on both the degree of CSM filtering and the shape of elliptic crowns, in addition to a multi-filtering level crown fusion approach to balance omission and commission errors. The algorithm derives the total tree height and the mean crown diameter from the elliptic tree crowns generated. The method was tested and validated on a mountainous forested area mainly covered by mature and even-aged black pine (Pinus nigra ssp. nigra [Arn.]) stands. Mean stem detection per plot, using this method, was 73.97%. Algorithm performance was affected slightly by both stand density and heterogeneity (i.e. tree diameter classes’ distribution). The total tree height and the mean crown diameter were estimated with root mean squared error values of 1.83 m and 1.48 m respectively. Tree heights were slightly underestimated in flat areas and overestimated on slopes. The average crown diameter was underestimated by 17.46% on average.     

Deciphering the weathering processes using environmental mineralogy and geochemistry: Towards an integrated model of laterite and podzol genesis in the Upper Amazon Basin

This article reports major results from collaborative research between France and Brazil on soil and water systems, carried out in the Upper Amazon Basin. It reveals the weathering processes acting in the partly inundated, low elevation plateaus of the Basin, mostly covered by evergreen forest. Our findings are based on geochemical data and mineral spectroscopy that probe the crystal chemistry of Fe and Al in mineral phases (mainly kaolinite, Al- and Fe-(hydr)oxides) of tropical soils (laterites). These techniques reveal crystal alterations in mineral populations of different ages and changes of metal speciation associated with mineral or organic phases. These results provide an integrated model of soil formation and changes (from laterites to podzols) in distinct hydrological compartments of the Amazon landscapes and under altered water regimes.     

Characterization of the glide planes of the [001] screw dislocations in olivine using electron tomography

A San Carlos olivine polycrystal has been deformed under uppermost mantle conditions, by compression at 900 °C, at a strain rate of 1.1 × 10^?5 s^?1, under a confining pressure of 300 MPa, using the Paterson press. Transmission electron tomography of dislocations has been performed by scanning transmission electron microscopy, by conventional transmission electron microscopy using the weak-beam dark-field technique, associated with precession or not, in order to determine the glide planes of [001] screw dislocations. This recent technique is the most suitable one since most [001] dislocations exhibit straight screw segments due to the high lattice friction on this character at low temperature. We find that [001] dislocations glide in (100), (010) and {110} as already reported, but also more unexpectedly in {120} and {130}. We show that at 900 °C, [001] {110} glide is dominant in polycrystals. We have, however, noted and characterized numerous cross-slip events in the specimen.     

Microwave assisted extraction and hydrolysis: An alternative to pyrolysis for the analysis of recalcitrant organic matter? Application to a forest soil (Landes de Gascogne,France)

A comparison was made between the composition of the recalcitrant organic matter (ROM) isolated from a sandy forest soil, as revealed with microwave assisted extractions and/or hydrolysis, and using common pyrolysis techniques. Successive microwave irradiation treatments were performed in H₂O, 0.1 and 1 M HCl and 0.1 and 1 M KOH. At each step the insoluble residue was examined via Curie point pyrolysis (CuPy) and Curie point thermally assisted hydrolysis and methylation (CuTHM). Sequential irradiation treatment resulted in ca. 35% degradation of the ROM. Compounds released on microwave irradiation in H₂O and in HCl were dominated by glucose, suggesting the occurrence of carbohydrate-containing molecular associations in the soil organic matter (SOM) which were not disrupted during acid hydrolysis and extraction as applied for the isolation of the ROM. The product distribution from the microwave irradiation in KOH showed an important contribution to the ROM from the higher plant polyesters cutin and suberin, and to a lesser extent from lignin. Different lignin-derived compounds were specifically released upon microwave acid or base hydrolysis. This suggested that two types of lignin monomers, ether- or ester-linked, occurred in the ROM. The changes in the composition of the CuPy pyrolysates of the residues from the different microwave hydrolyses are consistent with the near complete removal of carbohydrates by microwave HCl hydrolysis. The changes in the composition of the CuTHM pyrolysates of the residues from the different microwave acid and base hydrolyses are in agreement with a major release of cutin- and suberin-derived compounds upon microwave KOH hydrolysis. The CuPy and CuTHM pyrolysates of the final residue consist predominantly of lignin-derived compounds. The study emphasizes the potential of microwave assisted hydrolysis to give a better estimate of the actual contribution of cutin to ROM than pyrolysis. However, the technique appears to be unable to completely release the lignin-based constituent of the ROM. Microwave irradiation appears to provide great potential as a tool for extraction and chemical characterisation of complex OM and could be an attractive additional technique to pyrolysis.     

Sensitivity of simulated Asian and African summer monsoons to orbitally induced variations in insolation 126, 115 and 6 kBP

We have conducted four numerical experiments with an atmospheric general circulation model (AGCM) to investigate the sensitivity of Asian and African monsoons to small changes (–5 to +12%), with respect to present-day, in incoming solar radiation at the top of the atmosphere. We show that, during the mid-Holocene (6 kBP where kBP means thousands of years before present-day) and the last interglacial (126 kBP), the Northern Hemisphere seasonal contrast was increased, with warmer summers and colder winters. At the time of glacial inception (115 kBP) however, summers were cooler and winters milder. As a consequence, Asia and tropical North Africa experienced stronger (weaker) summer monsoons 6 and 126 kBP (115 kBP), in agreement with previous numerical studies. This present study shows that summer warming/cooling of Eurasia and North Africa induced a shift of the main low-level convergence cell along a northwest/southeast transect. When land was warmer (during the summer months 6 and 126 kBP), the monsoon winds converged further inland bringing more moisture into northern India, western China and the southern Sahara. The southern tips of India, Indochina and southeastern China, as well as equatorial North Africa became drier. When land was cooler (during the summer 115 kBP), the main convergence zone was located over the west Pacific and the wet (dry) areas were those that were dry (wet) 6 and 126 kBP. The location and intensity of the simulated precipitation maxima were therefore very sensitive to changes in insolation. However the total amount of monsoon rain in Asia as well as in Africa remained remarkably stable through the time periods studied. These simulated migrations of convective activities were accompanied by changes in the nature of precipitation events: increased monsoon rains in these experiments were always associated with more high precipitation events (> 5 mm day ^–1), and fewer light showers (1 mm day^–). Rainy days with rates between 1 and 5 mm day^–1 were almost unchanged.     

Extreme deuterium enrichment of organic radicals in the Orgueil meteorite: Revisiting the interstellar interpretation?

The insoluble organic matter of the carbonaceous meteorites contains radicals having a polyaromatic structure and a heterogeneous distribution. By using Hyperfine Sublevel Correlation spectroscopy (HYSCORE) in pulsed Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (pulsed-EPR), whereby nuclear frequencies of magnetic nuclei and their hyperfine interaction with electron spin of radicals are detected with high resolution, the radicals are shown to be considerably enriched in deuterium in the Orgueil meteorite, with a D/H ratio of 1.5 ± 0.5 × 10⁻². These radicals hold 3.6 ± 1.2 × 10⁻³ H relative to total organic H.Analysis of hydrogen and deuterium hyperfine interactions indicates that the deuterium atoms are localized in the benzylic position, on aliphatic carbons bonded to aromatic radical moieties. This type of C-H bond exhibits one of the smallest bond energy, reinforcing the recent finding that the lower the C-H bond energy the higher the deuterium-enrichment (Remusat L., Palhol F., Robert F., Derenne S. and France-Lanord C. (2006) Enrichment of deuterium in insoluble organic matter from primitive meteorites: a solar system origin? Earth Planet. Sci. Lett.243, 15-25). Such a behavior is difficult to reconcile with the usual interpretation according to which high D/H ratios represent survivals of interstellar grains. More likely, the deuterium-enrichment process took place after the formation of organic grains whose initial isotopic compositions was close to the protosolar D/H ratio. These grains were possibly loaded at the surface of the protosolar disk where they exposed to the intense solar UV irradiation, triggering an isotopic exchange with deuterium-rich highly reactive ions.     

Bioavailability of sediment-borne lead for ragworms (Hediste diversicolor) investigated by lead isotopes

The Seine estuary possesses a heavily industrialised catchment area that contrasts significantly with that possessed by the smaller Authie estuary. For both of these northern French estuaries, Pb isotopic compositions and concentrations have been determined on specimens of Hediste diversicolor (ragworms) and on HCl leachates performed on related mudflat sediment. Three sampling campaigns were completed in 2003. As expected, the reactive Pb obtained by 1 M HCl leaching, shows higher concentrations and a more anthropogenic signature in samples from the Seine estuary than in samples from the Authie. However, neither of the two sites is free from the influence of anthropogenic Pb. Possible contaminant sources are discussed through comparisons with previously published data. For the more highly contaminated Seine estuary, most of the ragworm Pb signatures are similar to those of the sediments. In contrast, ragworms from the Authie site exhibit a higher proportion of anthropogenic Pb than the corresponding sediments. Various hypotheses are discussed to explain this significant discrepancy: (1) analytical artifacts, (2) migration of ragworm populations, (3) diet and feeding behaviour, and as the most likely explanation (4) an unsuitable leaching method for the extraction of bioavailable Pb.     

The last 750 ka in loess–palaeosol sequences from northern France: environmental background and dating of the western European Palaeolithic

This study presents an overview of Middle Pleistocene loess–palaeosol sequences (LPS) in northern France and discusses the palaeoclimatic significance of the pedosedimentary record in the context of western European LPS and of global climatic cycles for the last 750 ka. In this area, the oldest loess deposits (early Middle Pleistocene) are preserved in sedimentary traps (leeward scarps of fluvial terraces and dissolution sinkholes). They result from local deflation processes reworking Pleistocene sandy fluvial deposits or relicts of Tertiary sands. A large extension of typical calcareous loess over the landscape, the Loess Revolution, is then observed during MIS 6, with heavy mineral assemblages testifying to long-distance transport from the polar desert area of the dried eastern Channel. A correlation scheme is proposed between the global records of northern France in continental environments and both global palaeoclimatic records and other main western European LPS. After 30 years of research, northern France LPS stand as a fundamental archive of the impact of interglacial–glacial climatic cycles as well as millennial events. Finally, these works provide a robust chronoclimatic framework for the study of the western European Late Acheulean and Middle Palaeolithic and for the relative dating of the various fluvial terraces that they fossilise.