Earth rotation,ocean circulation and paleoclimate

During the 20 Ka glaciation maximum Earth's rate of rotation was significantly faster. The subsequent glacial eustatic rise in sea level meant an increase of the equatorial radius and hence led to a general deceleration in the Earth's rate of rotation. At about 6000 BP the glacial eustatic rise in sea level finished and a new situation began which was characterized by feedback interchanges of angular momentum between the solid Earth and the hydrosphere. There is a strong linkage between Earth's rate of rotation — total as well as differential — and the changes in ocean surface circulation. The ocean circulation changes are, in their turn, strongly linked to the paleoclimatic evolution of the boardering land masses. This is due to the high heat-storing capacity of the oceans, the ocean/ atmosphere heat flux, and the ocean/land interaction via heat transport by the winds. Consequently, we see a causal connection between Earth's rotation, oceanic circulation, ocean/atmosphere heating, atmospheric (wind) heat transport and continental paleoclimatic changes. We propose that the paleoclimatic changes on the decadal to millennial time scale are primarily driven by this mechanism. Observational data of changes in ocean water masses and paleoclimate are presented for the 20 Ka situation, for the high-amplitude changes 13-10 Ka ago, for the decadal-to-century changes during the Holocene, for the last centuries' instrumental data and for the ENSO-events. This implies that the oceanic system (the ocean surface circulation system) has a much more important role than previously appreciated.     

History of the Hungarian Holocene mollusc fauna

Based on phylogenetical, palaeoecological and biostratigraphical studies on the Holocene malacofauna of Hungarian medium high mountains and flatlands, four faunal periods could be recognised in the mountains, while three ones on the flat regions. They are defined by correlation (using anthracotomical, palynological, vertebrate palaeontological, archaeological and radiometric data, as well as by the Central European malacozones) as biozones of regional value.The mollusc fauna may be regarded as the main palaeoecological indicator for the Hungarian Quaternary, because it is generally abundant, in contrast to the vertebrate fauna. On the other hand, the Hungarian Quaternary fauna mostly consists of species still living in the area. The ecological demands of recent species are generally well known. Most of the ecological data about the Quaternary formations were yielded by the examination of the Hungarian mollusc fauna.The Quaternary mollusc fauna is not only suitable for palaeoecological reconstructions but it helps in the stratigraphical division of the sequences, as well, mainly due to Endre Krolopp's activity (Krolopp 1983). This study and investigations of Holocene molluscs enabled us to make an attempt (Füköh 1990) in describing the history of the last ten thousand years.     

Correcting for crystal tilt in HRTEM images of minerals: the case of orthopyroxene

High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) is a powerful technique for crystal structure imaging and real structure analysis. It is theoretically possible to resolve inter-atomic distances with modern high resolution microscopes. In practice, however, the effects of sample and lens parameters such as crystal tilt and phase contrast transfer function (CTF) distort the images, reduce the resolution offered, and make image interpretation difficult. We have analyzed to what extent it is possible to reconstruct interpretable images of a tilted mineral by image processing.HRTEM images of orthopyroxene were simulated for a series of crystal tilts and thicknesses under Scherzer defocus condition using the parameters of a 400 kV microscope. The tilted images were reconstructed by crystallographic image processing. After correcting for crystal tilt, the images were as good as electron density maps calculated from X-ray diffraction structure factors.     

Experimental and thermodynamic study of heterogeneous and homogeneous equilibria in the system NaAlSiO4-SiO2

Internally consistent thermodynamic datasets available at present call for a further improvement of the data for nepheline (Holland and Powell 1988; Berman 1991). Because nepheline is a common rock-forming mineral, an attempt has been made to improve on the present state of knowledge of its thermodynamic properties. To achieve that goal, two heterogeneous reactions involving nepheline, albite, jadeite and a-quartz in the system NaAlSiO₄-SiO₂ have been reversed bylong duration runs in the range 460 ≤ T(°C) ≤ 960 and 10 ≤ P(kbar) ≤ 22. Given sufficiently long run times, thealbite run products approach internal equilibrium with respect to their Al,Si order-disorder states. Using appropriate thermochemical, thermophysical, and volumetric data, Landau expansion for albite, and the relevant reaction reversals, a refined thermodynamic dataset (Δ_fH_i⁰ and S_i⁰) has been derived for nepheline, jadeite, a-quartz, albite, and monalbite. Our refined data agree very well with theircalorimetric counterparts, but have smaller uncertainties. The refined dataset for Δ_fH_i⁰ and S_i⁰, including their uncertainties and correlation, help generate the NaAlSiO₄-SiO₂ phase diagram including 2a confidence interval for eachP-T curve (Fig. 5). Editorial responsibility: W. Schreyer     

The Sudbury Structure (Ontario,Canada): a tectonically deformed multi-ring impact basin

The occurrence of shock metamorphic features substantiates an impact origin for the 1.85 Ga old Sudbury Structure, but this has not been universally accepted. Recent improvements in knowledge of large-scale impact processes, combined with new petrographic, geochemical, geophysical (LITHOPROBE) and structural data, allow the Sudbury Structure to be interpreted as a multi-ring impact structure. The structure consists of the following lithologies: Sudbury Breccia —dike breccias occurring up to 80 km from the Sudbury Igneous Complex (SIC); Footwall rocks and Footwall Breccia — brecciated, shocked crater floor materials, in part thermally metamorphosed by the overlying SIC; Sublayer and Offset Dikes, Main Mass of the SIC and Basal Member of the Onaping Formation (OF) — geochemically heterogeneous coherent impact melt complex ranging from inclusion-rich basal unit through a dominantly inclusion-free to a capping inclusion-rich impact melt rock; Grey Member of OF — melt-rich impact breccia (suevite); Green Member of OF — thin layer of fall back ejecta; Black Member of OF — reworked and redeposited breccia material; Onwatin and Chelmsford Formations — post-impact sediments. Observational and analytical data support an integrated step-by-step impact model for the genesis of these units. Analysis of the present spatial distribution of various impact-related lithologies and shock metamorphic effects result in an estimated original rim-to-rim diameter of the final crater of 200 or even 280 km for the Sudbury Structure, prior to tectonic thrusting and deformation during the Penokean orogeny.     

Evidence for vertical ozone redistribution since 1967

Long-term measurements of the ozone concentration in the vicinity of the city of Berlin have been performed with ground based Dobson spectrophotometers and balloon borne systems. The respective experiments cover the past 24 years. All data have been reevaluated and corrected towards uniform calibration standards, leading to the longest European data set of total column density, altitude-dependent ozone partial pressures and the corresponding temperatures. Smoothing algorithms unravel significant long-term trends.The analysis shows an increase of ozone concentration within the middle stratosphere (below 31 km height) as well as in the troposphere over the past 24 years. On the contrary, ongoing ozone depletion in the lower stratosphere has been found.The large scale vertical redistribution of atmospheric ozone in the troposphere and the lower stratosphere seems to be in agreement with model calculations and trend predictions that have their roots in changes of the chemical composition and the ozone photochemistry due to anthropogenically induced trace gas concentrations.Deutscher Wetterdienst, Meteorologisches Observatorium Potsdam.Deutscher Wetterdienst, Meteorologisches Observatorium Lindenberg.     

Geochemische Untersuchung der Eisenerzooide des Doggersandsteins im nordöstlichen Bayern

Zusammenfassung Die Mineralzusammensetzung der Nadeleisenerzooide Ostbayerns aus dem Dogger wurde optisch, röntgenographisch und die chemische Zusammensetzung spektralanalytisch ermittelt. In den Ooidkernen wurden folgende Minerale festgestellt: Nadeleisenerz, Quarz, Ilmenit und seine Verwitterungsprodukte, Zirkon, Rutil, Magnetit, Hämatit, Turmalin und Granat. In der Ooidschale wurde außer Nadeleisenerz Kaolinit (10–15%) und etwas Illit nachgewiesen.Die Art der Ooidkerne, die Festlandsnähe und die geochemischen Befunde weisen auf eine exogen sedimentäre Bildung der Eisenerzlagerstätte in dem Dogger Ostbayerns hin.     

Structural elements in southeastern Quebec,northwestern Appalachians,Canada

An attempt is made to correlate and separate in terms of style and time two contrasting sets of structural elements in the northwestern part of the Appalachian Uplands in the Province of Quebec, Canada. There is sufficient evidence to indicate that a fold system with north-south trending axes is superimposed on a fold system with east-west axes. It is suggested that the two sets of structures represent pulses of one long-continued deformation accompanied by corresponding early and late phases of metamorphism.

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Zusammenfassung Es wurde versucht, in den Appalachen des südöstlichen Teiles der Provinz Quebec, Kanada, zwei ungleichzeitige tektonische Systeme verschiedenen Baustils zu trennen. Die komplexen Kleinstrukturen zeigen, da\ Ost-West streichende Faltenachsen von einer jüngeren Nord-Süd-Faltung überprägt worden sind. Der Autor ist der Meinung, da\ die zwei tektonischen Systeme, die von einer frühen und späten Phase der Metamorphose begleitet werden, den zeitlich getrennten Verformungsstadien einer Orogenese entsprechen.