Entrainment and emplacement of englacial debris bands near the margin of Storglaciären,Sweden

Internal structure, stable isotope composition and tritium concentration were measured in and around debris‐bearing ice at the margin of Storglaciären, where englacial debris bands have previously been inferred to form by thrusting. Two types of debris bands were distinguished: (i) an unsorted diamicton band that is laterally continuous for more than 200 m, and (ii) well‐sorted sand and gravel bands that are lenticular and discontinuous. Above‐background tritium levels and enrichment of δ¹⁸ O and δD in ice from the diamicton band indicate entrainment by basal freeze‐on since 1952. Isotopic enrichment and tritium‐free ice in the sandy debris bands also indicate entrainment in freezing water, but prior to 1952. The lenticular cross‐section, sorting and stratification of the sandy bands suggest that they were deposited englacially. The basally accreted diamicton band has been elevated tens of metres above the bed and presently overlies the englacially deposited sandy bands, suggesting that the stratigraphy has been disrupted. Three interpretations could account for these observations: (i) thrusting of fast‐moving ice over slow, marginal ice uplifting recently accreted basal ice along the fault; (ii) folding near the margin, elevating young basal ice over older basal and englacial ice; and (iii) debris‐band formation by an unknown mechanism and subsequent contamination of ice geochemical properties by meltwater flow through debris bands. Although none of these interpretations is consistent with all measurements, folding is most compatible with observations and local ice‐flow kinematics.     

Application of array data processing techniques to a network of ordinary seismograph stations

Summary Array data processing techniques, which are based upon signal similarity between the stations, offer important tools in seismic signal analysis.P waves recorded in the Fennoscandian network in general exhibit the signal resemblance required for applying array processing methods. The largest station separation in this network is about 1800 km, and the site structures range from sedimentary rocks in Denmark to the homogeneous crust of the Baltic shield. Inother words, we can consider the Fennoscandian station network as a super-large aperture seismic array (SLASA). An analysis of the background noise shows that application of even very simple processing techniques results in very effective noise suppression.A general adaptation of array processing techniques to ordinary seismograph stations is considered possible. Such methods will greatly improve our ability to extract reliable information from ordinary seismograms. Although theC-D (compression-dilatation) readings are usually correct, they often do not refer to the very first signal onset. Records of nuclear explosions from stations all over the world exhibit a high degree of signal similarity.     

Application of array data processing techniques to the swedish seismograph stations

Summary An efficient tool in seismic signal analysis is offered by the array data processing techniques which are based upon similarity of pulse shapes between stations. Records at the six Swedish stations in general exhibit the signal resemblance required by the array methods. By applying a simple processing technique, the signal-to-noise ratio is increased by a factor of about 2, and the accuracy ofP-wave readings is improved. High similarity is found not only between the same phase (P, pP) at different stations, but also between different phases (P, pP) at the same or different stations. Altogether, records of eleven earthquakes were investigated in detail. The Swedish station network can be considered as a super-large aperture seismic array (SLASA), despite some differences in instrumental equipment. A general adaptation of array techniques to SLASA systems is discussed. Such methods will greatly improve the seismological information which can be extracted from ordinary station records, provided the stations are located on geologically homogeneous ground.     

Characterization of sediments by high-frequency echo-sounding

A high-frequency echo-sounder (200 kHz) was used to characterize the sediments of the shallow Öre Estuary in the Gulf of Bothnia, northern Sweden. The acoustic signal patterns of the echogram were used to differentiate between fine-grained and coarse-grained sediment bottoms according to four major criteria: roughness of the line surface, line thickness, and occurrence of white line and double echo. The echogram characteristics were calibrated against physical properties of the sediment determined in the laboratory. It can be concluded that high-frequency echo-sounding offers an easily applied and reliable method for determining the spatial extent of different bottom sediments (e.g., fine-grained) in shallow waters.     

Near surface climate in an urban vegetated park and its surroundings

Summary Near surface climate was observed through temperature profiling from the surface to 2.47 m height in an urban vegetated park and its surroundings in central Stockholm, Sweden. Measurements were conducted during three summer days by mobile traverses. Air temperature differences between the built-up area and the park were in the range of 0.5–0.8 °C during the day and reached a maximum of 2 °C at sunset. The thermal stratification of the air was mainly stable in the park and unstable in the built-up area. Inverse air temperature profiles in the park were less stable in open than in shady areas, and close to neutral at midday. The most unstable air was found in the north–south orientated canyons in the early afternoon. Possible heat advection from the surroundings, and thus uncoupling between the surface and the air, was identified through temperature gradients pointing at different directions within the 2.47 m profile. Examples at midday indicated that warm air advected as far as 150 m into the park.     

Rating curve uncertainty and change detection in discharge time series: case study with 44‐year historic data from the Nyangores River,Kenya

The intersection of the developing topic of rating curve and discharge series uncertainty with the topic of hydrological change detection (e.g., in response to land cover or climatic change) has not yet been well studied. The work herein explores this intersection, with consideration of a long‐term discharge response (1964–2007) for a ~650‐km² headwater basin of the Mara River in west Kenya, starting with stream rating and daily gauge height data. A rating model was calibrated using Bayesian methods to quantify uncertainty intervals in model parameters and predictions. There was an unknown balance of random and systemic error in rating data scatter (a scenario not likely unique to this basin), which led to an unknown balance of noise and information in the calibrated statistical error model. This had implications on testing for hydrological change. Overall, indications were that shifts in basin's discharge response were rather subtle over the 44‐year period. A null hypothesis for change using flow duration curves (FDCs) from four different 8‐year data intervals could be either accepted or rejected over much of the net flow domain depending on different applications of the statistical error model (each with precedence in the literature). The only unambiguous indication of change in FDC comparisons appeared to be a reduction in lowest baseflow in recent years (flows with >98% exceedance probability). We defined a subjective uncertainty interval based on an intermediate balance of random and systematic error in the rating model that suggested a possibility of more prevalent impacts. These results have relevance to management in the Mara basin and to future studies that might establish linkages to historic land use and climatic factors. The concern about uncertain uncertainty intervals (uncertainty²) extends beyond the Mara and is relevant to testing change where non‐random rating errors may be important and subtle responses are investigated. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Soil frost effects on soil water and runoff dynamics along a boreal transect: 2. Simulations

A physically based SVAT‐model was tested with soil and snow physical measurements, as well as runoff data from an 8600 m² catchment in northern Sweden in order to quantify the influence of soil frost on spring snowmelt runoff in a moderately sloped, boreal forest. The model was run as an array of connected profiles cascading to the brook. For three winter seasons (1995–98) it was able to predict the onset and total accumulation of the runoff with satisfactory accuracy. Surface runoff was identified as only a minor fraction of the total runoff occurring during short periods in connection with ice blocking of the water‐conducting pores. Little surface runoff, though, does not mean that soil frost is unimportant for spring runoff. Simulations without frost routines systematically underestimated the total accumulated runoff. The possibility of major frost effects appearing in response to specific combinations of weather conditions were also tested. Different scenarios of critical initial conditions for the winter, e.g. high water saturation and delayed snow accumulation leading to an increased frost penetration, were tested. These showed that under special circumstances there is potential for increased spring runoff due to soil frost. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Deciphering a non-glacial/glacial landscape mosaic in the northern Swedish mountains

Relict surfaces contain information on past surface processes and long-term landscape evolution. A detailed investigation of relict non-glacial surfaces in a formerly glaciated mountain landscape of northern Sweden was completed, based on interpretation of colour infrared aerial photographs, analysis in a GIS, and fieldwork. Working backwards from landscape to process, surfaces were classified according to large- and small-scale morphologies that result from the operation of non-glacial processes, the degree of weathering, regolith characteristics, and the style of glacial modification. Surfaces were also compared in the GIS according to elevation, slope angle, and bedrock lithology. The study revealed five types of relict non-glacial surfaces but also two types of extensively weathered glacial surfaces that were transitional to relict non-glacial surfaces, illustrating spatially variable processes and rates of non-glacial and glacial landscape evolution. Rather than being static preglacial remnants, relict non-glacial surfaces are dynamic features that have continued to evolve during the Quaternary. The classification provides hypotheses for landscape evolution that can be field tested through, for example, terrestrial cosmogenic nuclide studies and geochemical analyses of fine matrix materials. The classification may be applicable to relict non-glacial surfaces in other formerly glaciated landscapes.     

The Tarfala Mass Balance Programme

The Tarfala mass balance programme currently comprises seven glaciers distributed in two, one southerly and one northerly, east-west trending profiles. Of the studied glaciers, Storglaciären has the longest record spanning 1945 to present. The purpose of the programme is to study gradients in mass balance parameters across the northern Scandinavian mountains. The measurements of both winter and summer balance are carried out with significant redundancy each year. In order to maintain such a large programme with limited personnel, different measurement techniques and strategies are applied to the different glaciers according to a priority scale. Storglaciären is the most important glacier in the network and is measured with high accuracy and measurement density. Storglaciren is also used as a reference for all other glaciers in the programme. The other glaciers have sparser measurement systems and are sometimes measured using alternative methods such as snow radar. In general, Swedish glaciers are still responding to the major climatic warming around 1910–1920 by retreat, and the effect of very long response times. However, measured volume change indicates that most glaciers are close to or varying around a quasi-steady state.