The 1.5-ka varved record of Lake Montcortès (southern Pyrenees,NE Spain)

The karstic Lake Montcortès sedimentary sequence spanning the last 1548 yr constitutes the first continuous, high-resolution, multi-proxy varved record in northern Spain. Sediments consist of biogenic varves composed of calcite, organic matter and detrital laminae and turbidite layers. Calcite layer thickness and internal sub-layering indicate changes in water temperature and seasonality whereas the frequency of detrital layers reflects rainfall variability. Higher temperatures occurred in Lake Montcortès in AD 555–738, 825–875, 1010–1322 and 1874–present. Lower temperatures and prolonged winter conditions were recorded in AD 1446–1598, 1663–1711 and 1759–1819. Extreme and multiple precipitation events dominated in AD 571–593, 848–922, 987–1086, 1168–1196, 1217–1249, 1444–1457, 1728–1741 and 1840–1875, indicating complex hydrological variability in NE Spain since AD 463. The sedimentary record of Lake Montcortès reveals a short-term relation between rainfall variability and the detrital influx, pronounced during extended periods of reduced anthropogenic influences. In pre-industrial times, during warm climate episodes, population and land use increased in the area. After the onset of the industrialization, the relationship between climate and human activities decoupled and population dynamics and landscape modifications were therefore mostly determined by socio‐economic factors.     

Growth of magnesio-aluminate spinel in thin-film geometry: in situ monitoring using synchrotron X-ray diffraction and thermodynamic model

Polycrystalline spinel layers were grown experimentally at the contacts between single-crystal corundum substrates and initially amorphous, then polycrystalline MgO thin films. The growth behavior of the spinel layers was monitored in situ using synchrotron X-ray diffraction. The change in the integrated intensity of the 111 spinel Bragg peak was correlated with the thickness of the layer as determined from ex situ TEM characterization of the run products. At \(900\,^{\circ }\hbox {C},\) a transition from linear growth, corresponding to interface reaction control, to parabolic growth, corresponding to diffusion control, occurred at a layer thickness of less than 10 nm. At 1,000 \(^{\circ }\hbox {C},\) growth was largely linear up to a layer thickness in excess of 300 nm. A thermodynamic model was applied to extract the kinetic parameters characterizing interface motion and long-range diffusion from this growth behavior.     

Determining the dependence of the power supply to the ocean on the length and time scales of the dynamics between the meso-scale and the synoptic scale,from satellite data

Ocean Dynamics - The input of mechanical power to the ocean due to the surface wind stress, in regions which correspond to different regimes of ocean dynamics, is considered using data from...     

Lamellar pyroxene-spinel symplectites in lunar olivine from the Luna 24 regolith

Cr-Ca lamellae in a magnesian olivine grain (section 1611) from the Luna 24 regolith were investigated in detail by electron microprobe analysis (EMPA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It was found that the lamellae are parallel to the (100) plane of oxygen closest packing in olivine and consist of regular vermicular intergrowths of two phases, diopside (Di) and chromite (Chr), in the volume proportion Di: Chr ≈ 3: 1. The bulk chemical composition of the lamellae is approximated as Ca₂Mg₂Fe²⁺(Cr³⁺)₂Si₄O₁₆. They are identical in phase composition to type A, F, and E symplectites from Apollo lunar samples [9]. Based on morphology and phase composition, the lamellar aggregates in the olivine grain from the Luna 24 regolith were classified as pyroxene (Px)-spinel (Spl) symplectites of a lamellar type, the formation of which was related to olivine oxidation at IW ≤ logfO₂ ≤ QFM. The obtained data indicate a solid-phase mechanism of lamella formation and the existence of a lamellar precursor phase, which transformed subsequently into the Px-Spl symplectite. It was supposed that uvarovite-knorringite garnet produced by the oxidation of olivine at high pressures and t > 800°C could be the transitional phase during symplectite formation. The subsequent conversion of the garnet into the low-pressure assemblage of Px-Spl symplectites could occur via cellular decomposition in accordance with the reaction Ca₂MgCr₂Si₃O₁₂ + (Mg,Fe)₂SiO₄ = 2CaMgSi₂O₆ + FeCr₂O₄. The reported results are the first data of a detailed nanomineralogical investigation of lamellar Px-Spl symplectites in lunar olivine.     

Nanoscale porosity in SAFOD core samples (San Andreas Fault)

With transmission electron microscopy (TEM) we observed nanometer-sized pores in four ultracataclastic and fractured core samples recovered from different depths of the main bore hole of the San Andreas Fault Observatory at Depth (SAFOD). Cutting of foils with a focused ion beam technique (FIB) allowed identifying porosity down to the nm scale. Between 40 and 50% of all pores could be identified as in-situ pores without any damage related to sample preparation. The total porosity estimated from TEM micrographs (1–5%) is comparable to the connected fault rock porosity (2.8–6.7%) estimated by pressure-induced injection of mercury. Permeability estimates for cataclastic fault rocks are 10^? 21–10^? 19 m² and 10^? 17 m² for the fractured fault rock. Porosity and permeability are independent of sample depth. TEM images reveal that the porosity is intimately linked to fault rock composition and associated with deformation. The TEM-estimated porosity of the samples increases with increasing clay content. The highest porosity was estimated in the vicinity of an active fault trace. The largest pores with an equivalent radius > 200 nm occur around large quartz and feldspar grains or grain-fragments while the smallest pores (equivalent radius < 50 nm) are typically observed in the extremely fine-grained matrix (grain size < 1 μm). Based on pore morphology we distinguish different pore types varying with fault rock fabric and alteration. The pores were probably filled with formation water and/or hydrothermal fluids at elevated pore fluid pressure, preventing pore collapse. The pore geometry derived from TEM observations and BET (Brunauer, Emmett and Teller) gas adsorption/desorption hysteresis curves indicates pore blocking effects in the fine-grained matrix. Observations of isolated pores in TEM micrographs and high pore body to pore throat ratios inferred from mercury injection suggest elevated pore fluid pressure in the low permeability cataclasites, reducing shear strength of the fault.     

Texture and anisotropy analysis of Qusaiba shales

Scanning and transmission electron microscopy, synchrotron X‐ray diffraction, microtomography and ultrasonic velocity measurements were used to characterize microstructures and anisotropy of three deeply buried Qusaiba shales from the Rub’al‐Khali basin, Saudi Arabia. Kaolinite, illite‐smectite, illite‐mica and chlorite show strong preferred orientation with (001) pole figure maxima perpendicular to the bedding plane ranging from 2.4–6.8 multiples of a random distribution (m.r.d.). Quartz, feldspars and pyrite crystals have a random orientation distribution. Elastic properties of the polyphase aggregate are calculated by averaging the single crystal elastic properties over the orientation distribution, assuming a nonporous material. The average calculated bulk P‐wave velocities are 6.2 km/s (maximum) and 5.5 km/s (minimum), resulting in a P‐wave anisotropy of 12%. The calculated velocities are compared with those determined from ultrasonic velocity measurements on a similar sample. In the ultrasonic experiment, which measures the effects of the shale matrix as well as the effects of porosity, velocities are smaller (P‐wave maximum 5.3 km/s and minimum 4.1 km/s). The difference between calculated and measured velocities is attributed to the effects of anisotropic pore structure and to microfractures present in the sample, which have not been taken into account in the matrix averaging.     

Microstructural evolution during experimental albitization of K-rich alkali feldspar

Crystals of K-feldspar (C2/m), in contact with highly concentrated aqueous NaCl solutions at 500°C and 200 MPa, are pseudomorphically replaced by high albite (C[`1]) (C\bar{1}) as a result of an interface-coupled dissolution/reprecipitation process. The reaction occurs at an extremely sharp reaction front (<10 nm) and involves the complete breakdown of the initial framework structure. This results in the release of tetrahedrally incorporated elements such as Fe³⁺ and Ti⁴⁺ and a significant increase in Si/Al disorder across the reaction interface. The evolving microstructure is controlled by crystallographic relations between the phases. This leads to highly anisotropic, sawtooth-shaped intergrowths of albite and initial K-feldspar, resulting in the least structural misfit between the two framework structures. As a result, the newly formed interfaces appear to be semicoherent, and cracks across the reaction fronts even indicate elastic strain. The reaction produces 2 distinctive albite types (albite-1 and albite-2). Both are polycrystalline, with albite-2 showing significantly larger subgrain sizes. This indicates a secondary coarsening step driven by the reduction in interfacial energy within the polycrystalline replacement product. The reaction also produces a highly porous rim. However, the porosity is not evenly distributed resulting in a porous albite-1 and a non-porous albite-2 that mostly surrounds large, euhedral pores. Despite the substantial volume fraction of porosity in albite-1, no significant 3D interconnectivity could be detected, making the presence of a pervasive porosity unlikely. However, the result of coarsening is the continuous modification of the 3D porosity distribution. This could potentially provide a mechanism for fluid transport through the replacement rim until textural and chemical equilibration is achieved.     

Water and Iron effect on the P-T-x coordinates of the 410-km discontinuity in the Earth upper mantle

We performed multi-anvil experiments in the system MgO-SiO₂ ± H₂O at 13.0–13.7 GPa and 1,025–1,300°C and in the system MgO-FeO-SiO₂ ± H₂O, under reducing conditions, at 11.0–12.7 GPa and 1,200°C, to depict the effect of H₂O on the P-T-x coordinates of the 410-km discontinuity, i.e. the olivine–wadsleyite phase boundary. The charges were investigated with Electron Microprobe (EMP), Raman Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS) and Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy (EELS). We observe in the MgO-SiO₂-H₂O system at 1,200°C a 0.6 GPa shift of the phase boundary to lower pressure compared to dry conditions, due to the stronger water fractionation into wadsleyite (wad) rather than in olivine (ol). In the MgO-FeO-SiO₂-H₂O system, we reproduced the triple point, i.e. observed coexisting hydrous ol, wad and ringwoodite (ring). SIMS H quantifications provided partitioning coefficients for water: D_\textwad/ol^\textwater D_{\text{wad/ol}}^{\text{water}}  ~ 3.7(5) and D_\textring/ol^\textwater D_{\text{ring/ol}}^{\text{water}}  ~ 1.5(2) and D_{\textwad/ring}^\textwater D_{\text{wad/ring}}^{\text{water}}  ~ 2.5(5). For a bulk composition of x _Fe = 0.1, our data indicate only a slight difference in the width of the loop of the two phase field ol–wad under hydrous conditions compared to dry conditions, i.e. no broadening with respect to composition but a shift to lower pressures. For bulk compositions of x _Fe > 0.2, i.e. in regions where wad–ring and ol–ring coexist, we observe, however, an unexpected broadening of the loops with a shift to higher iron contents. In total, the stability field of hydrous wad expands in both directions, to lower and higher pressures. Fe³⁺ concentrations as determined by EELS are very low and are expected to play no role in the broadening of the loops.     

DME/TACAN interference mitigation for GNSS: algorithms and flight test results

The Galileo E5a/E5b signals and the Global Positioning System (GPS) L5 signal lie within the aeronautical radionavigation services (ARNS) band. They suffer interference from the services in this frequency band, in particular, pulsed signals from distance measuring equipment (DME) and tactical air navigation (TACAN) systems. To maintain system accuracy and integrity, interference mitigation is beneficial and necessary. We first present the real DME/TACAN environment at Stanford, CA as an example to illustrate the need for mitigating DME/TACAN interference. We then propose a time and frequency joint mitigation algorithm—Hybrid Blanking and its simplified version, frequency domain adaptive filtering (FDAF) for hardware implementation. Finally, a flight measurements campaign was performed over a European DME/TACAN hotspot near Frankfurt, Germany, to record a worst-case DME interference environment. Recorded data from the flight tests mixed with injected GNSS signals verify the effectiveness of the proposed mitigation algorithm.     

Evidence of the North Atlantic Oscillation in varve composition and diatom assemblages from recent, annually laminated sediments of Lake Belau, northern Germany

The recent sediment record of Lake Belau (Schleswig–Holstein, Germany), deposited in the period 1945–2002, was compared with instrumental meteorological and limnological data. The sediments deposited during this period are annually laminated. A varve chronology was established and supported by ¹³⁷Cs measurements. Micro-facies and diatom assemblage composition analyses were confirmed in thin sections and compared statistically with limnological and meteorological data. Comparison of phytoplankton data with diatom assemblage data from the sediment for the time interval from 1988 to 1999 proved that the sediments reflect limnological processes in the lake and record seasonal changes in the primary producer communities. Among the climatological data, the number of contiguous ice days (days with maximal temperatures ≤0 °C) and the state of the winter NAO are strong predictors for micro-facies development and diatom assemblage composition. Furthermore, solar and local (nutrient input) influences are visible in the diatom assemblage compositions. Our study illustrates the high potential for using analyses of micro-facies and diatom assemblages to reconstruct past weather conditions in varved sediments of Lake Belau.