Steady-state observations of geomagnetically trapped energetic heavy ions and their implications for theory

Measurements of energetic heavy ions using the Explorer 45 and ATS-6 satellites are reviewed and the resulting implications for theory are evaluated. The measured ions are basically protons and helium ions in the energy range from 0.1 to 1 MeV/nucleon. The equatorial energetic ion distributions inside L = 4.5 are found to be very stable for extended periods of time. These ions are very closely confined to the equatorial plane and are sharply peaked as a function of L around a value designated as L_max. Beyond L = 5.0 the fluxes of these ions are more variable with order of magnitude variations being observed at L = 6.6 on the time scales of minutes, hours, or days. The region inside L = 4.5 appears to be well described by radial diffusive transport driven by fluctuations in the geomagnetic field coupled with losses due to charge exchange and Coulomb interactions with ambient hydrogen geocorona and terrestrial plasma environment. From an analysis relating the position in L-value of the maximum intensity, L_max, observed for a given ion species and energy, it is argued that the influence of fluctuations in the convection electric field as discussed by Cornwall (1972) are not effective in radially diffusing in L ions with energies greater than a few hundred kiloelectron volts per nucleon. The source of these ions remains basically undetermined and its determination must await further measurements.     

Hydrographische Untersuchungen in der Brackwasserzone der Elbe

Zusammenfassung An Hand des reichhaltigen Materials an Strömungs- und Salzgehaltsmessungen des Wasser- und Schiffahrtsamtes Cuxhaven wird die Brackwasserzone im Mündungsgebiet der Elbe festgelegt und die Verschiebung ihres Schwerpunktes flußabwärts während der letzten Jahrzehnte nachgewiesen. Die qualitativen Eigenschaften im Mündungsgebiet eines Tideflusses werden untersucht; auf die Schwierigkeiten der Salzgehaltsmessung im Brackwasser wird eingegangen. Von besonderer Bedeutung ist der Reichtum der Brackwasserzone an Kolloiden und der hiermit im Zusammenhang stehende Schlickfall in den Häfen und auf den Untiefen dieses Gebietes. Der Mischungsvorgang des salzreichen Seewassers mit dem Flußwasser der Elbe in seiner Abhängigkeit von den Gezeitenströmen wird verfolgt. Für den Gang des Salzgehaltes an der Oberfläche mit der Tide wird eine charakteristische Kurve gefunden, die nicht nur für die Elbe, sondern für die Gezeitenflüsse überhaupt typisch zu sein scheint.

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Hydrographic studies of the zone of brackish water in the estuary of the Elbe river

Summary With the aid of a rich material of measurements of tidal currents and salinity observations from the Wasser- und Schiffahrtsamt Cuxhaven, the author determines the zone of brackish water in the estuary of the Elbe river and proves that its centre has been displaced downstream during the recent decades. The qualitative features of the estuary of a river are investigated; the difficulties encountered in determining the salinity of brackish water are discussed. The abundance in colloids in brackish water is of special importance, giving rise to increased precipitation of mud particles in the ports and on the shoals of the area in question. The mixing process of the saltwater with the fresh water of the Elbe river as depending on the tidal streams is pursued. A curve is found which is characteristic of the variations in surface salinity under the influence of tides; this curve seems to be typical not only of the Elbe estuary but also of other tidal rivers.

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Études hydrographiques de la région de l'eau saumâtre dans l'estuaire de l'Elbe

Résumé À l'aide d'un grand nombre de mesures de courants et d'observations de salinité du Wasser- und Schiffahrtsamt Cuxhaven l'auteur précise la région de l'eau saumâtre dans l'embouchure de l'Elbe et prouve que son centre s'est déplacé en aval pendant les dernières dizaines d'années. Les caractéristiques qualitatives rencontrées dans l'estuaire d'un fleuve sont examinées et les difficultés que l'on rencontre en déterminant la salinité de l'eau saumâtre sont exposées. La richesse en colloides de la zone saumâtre est d'une grande importance parce qu'elledonne lieu à la précipitation plus intensive des particules vaseuses dans les ports et sur les bas-fonds de cette région. Les procès de mélange de l'eau salée avec l'eau douce de l'Elbe sous l'influence des courants de marée sont poursuivis. Une courbe caractéristique est dessinée qui montre les variations de la salinité à la surface causées par les marées; elle semble être typique non seulement pour l'estuaire de l'Elbe mais encore pour d'autres fleuves à mareé.

     

Alkaline Degradation of Dissolved Organic Matter

The degradation of dissolved organic matter (DOM) was studied in alkaline solution. The products were characterised using UV/vis spectroscopy, size‐exclusion chromatography (SEC), and by the analysis of low‐molecular‐weight organic acids (LMWOA). The degradation experiments were performed with water from a brown water lake or its isolated fulvic acid fraction and sodium hydroxide at different reaction times and temperatures. Depending on the wavelength and the reaction time, the UV/vis absorbance between 230 nm and 600 nm increased or decreased. The behaviour of model compounds during reactions in alkaline media was compared to the UV/vis spectroscopic behaviour of DOM. The release of LMWOA was described by kinetic data and compared to the data of model reactions. Evidence was given for the carboxylic esters playing a significant role in the release of LMWOA only during the beginning of the alkaline degradation. The results gained by SEC with on‐line UV and DOC detection showed that the average size of DOM was decreasing, and that a major part of the degradation products consisted of low‐molecular‐weight mono‐ and dicarboxylic acids.     

Lunar helium-3 in marine sediments: Implications for a late Eocene asteroid shower

A late Eocene asteroid shower to the Earth-Moon system resulted in an increased flux of impact ejected ³He-rich lunar matter to Earth, which is recorded by a 2 Ma enduring ³He-anomaly in marine sediments.     

Petrographic, geochemical and geochronological investigation on granitic pebbles from Permotriassic metasediments of the Tisia terrain (eastern Papuk, Croatia)

Granitic pebbles occurring in the Permotriassic metasedimentary sequence of eastern Papuk, Slavonian Mountains, Croatia, were recognized to represent a coherent group of felsic, muscovite-albite metagranites. Fabrics, modal compositions and geochemical data imply that the rocks are derivatives of S-type granites formed through a combination of igneous and subsequent metasomatic processes. A Variscan formation age is demonstrated by K-Ar dating on coarse muscovite (range of 329?C317?Ma) as well as by electron microprobe based Th-U-Pb monazite dating (338?±?15?Ma). Additionally to the Variscan metasomatic processes of albitization and greisenisation, which led to an almost complete replacement of K-feldspar and biotite by albite and coarse muscovite, pebbles were affected by a younger phase of alteration resulting in the formation of a fine-grained sericitic matrix. The fine sericite yields K-Ar ages of 91?C83?Ma. A substantial reheating of the rocks during the Cretaceous is also indicated by the growth of new monazite dated at 106?±?10?Ma. Yttrium-contents of the Cretaceous monazite from the granite pebbles (0.3?C0.9?wt% Y₂O₃) are compatible with metamorphic temperatures of ~350?C400°C. These data confirm recent concepts according to which large parts of the Slavonian Mountains received a pervasive Cretaceous low-T regional metamorphic overprint. Furthermore, the pebbles provide useful information on the nature of the eroded Variscan crust of the Tisia Terrain, which has obviously contained considerable amounts of evolved high-level S-type granites modified through albitization and greisenization.     

Internal structural geometry of the Paleozoic of Graz

The Paleozoic of Graz is an isolated nappe complex of about 1,500 km² size and belongs to the Austroalpine units of the eastern European Alps. Despite more than 500 publications on stratigraphy, paleontology and local structure, many aspects of the internal geometry of this complex as a whole remained unclear. In this contribution, we present integrated geological profiles through the entire nappe complex. Based on these profiles, we present (1) a simplified lithological subdivision into 13 rock associations, (2) a modified tectonostratigraphy where we consider only two major tectonic units: an upper and a lower nappe system and in which we abandon the traditionally used facies nappe concept, and (3) a modified paleogeography for the whole complex. Finally, we discuss whether the internal deformation of the Paleozoic of Graz is of Variscan or Eo-Alpine age and which of the published models best explain the tectonic evolution of the Paleozoic of Graz.     

A review of terrestrial radar interferometry for measuring surface change in the geosciences

This paper presents a review of the current state of the art in the use of terrestrial radar interferometry for the detection of surface changes related to mass movement. Different hardware‐types and acquisition concepts are described, which use either real or synthetic aperture for radar image formation. We present approaches for data processing procedures, paying special attention to the separation of high resolution displacement information from atmospheric phase variations. Recent case studies are used to illustrate applications in terrestrial radar interferometry for change detection. Applications range from detection and quantification of very slow moving (millimeters to centimeters per year) displacements in rock walls from repeat monitoring, to rapid processes resulting in fast displacements (~50 m/yr) acquired during single measurement campaigns with durations of only a few hours. Fast and episodic acting processes such as rockfall and snow avalanches can be assessed qualitatively in the spatial domain by mapping decorrelation caused by those processes. A concluding guide to best practice outlines the necessary preconditions that have to be fulfilled for successful application of the technique, as well as in areas characterized by rapid decorrelation. Empirical data from a Ku‐band sensor show the range of temporal decorrelation of different surfaces after more than two years for rock‐surfaces and after a few seconds to minutes in vegetated areas during windy conditions. The examples show that the displacement field can be measured for landslides in dense grassland, ice surfaces on flowing glaciers and snowpack creep. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Arsenic — a Review. Part I: Occurrence,Toxicity, Speciation,Mobility

In natural waters arsenic concentrations up to a few milligrams per litre were measured. The natural content of arsenic found in soils varies between 0.01 mg/kg and a few hundred milligrams per kilogram. Anthropogenic sources of arsenic in the environment are the smelting of ores, the burning of coal, and the use of arsenic compounds in many products and production processes in the past. A lot of arsenic compounds are toxic and cause acute and chronic poisoning. In aqueous environment the inorganic arsenic species arsenite (As(III)) and arsenate (As(V)) are the most abundant species. The mobility of these species is influenced by the pH value, the redox potential, and the presence of adsorbents such as oxides and hydroxides of Fe(III), Al(III), Mn(III/IV), humic substances, and clay minerals.