Plankton in the Norwegian-Greenland Sea: from living communities to sediment assemblages —an actualistic approach

A synoptic study is carried out to reconstruct the development of the plankton community in the late Quaternary in the Norwegian-Greenland Sea. It comprises quantitative analyses of coccolithophores, dinoflagellate cysts, diatoms and radiolarians. An actualistic approach is applied to evaluate the different fossil records of these plankton groups. The preliminary results of the current investigation are reported here.The composition and distribution of living communities of coccolithophores are presented as an example. A close relationship between the distribution of regional groups and surface water masses is observed. Seasonal vertical fluxes of coccolithophores and radiolarians through the water column show similar patterns within different years. However, diatoms are highly variable, both in absolute fluxes and species composition. The differentiation of sporadic and periodic processes is evident only after several years of observation. During settling and sedimentation biotic and abiotic processes such as grazing, dissolution and lateral transport alter the assemblages.Investigation of death assemblages in surface sediments reveals that in spite of these alteration processes the abundance and species distribution are related to surface water masses. Higher abundances and diversities are usually found in sediments underlying the warm Norwegian Current. Concentrations decrease to the north-west towards the cold polar water masses.The sediment assemblages of all groups are strongly altered relicts of former living communities. They are characterized by distinct changes in species composition and absolute abundances related to palaeo-oceanographic development. Their variation through the sedimentary record is used to distinguish four ecostratigraphic units during the late Weichselian and Holocene.     

Relations of field line resonances and upstream waves and the winter attenuation of pulsations

Using data on the occurrence frequency of geomagnetic pulsations of different periods from three observatories in Central Europe, conclusions are drawn about the occurrence of field line resonances and pulsations directly driven by upstream waves at L-values below 3. It was found that both types occur during the interval studied (first 6 months of the year 1991), but both the occurrence frequency of the two types and the characteristic period of the field line resonance change significantly as compared to other intervals. During Northern winter, pulsation activity is severely damped in solar maximum years, including the year 1991. The decrease in the activity of the pulsations is more significant at shorter periods.     

Solid-solute phase equilibria: From thermodynamic basis information to multicomponent systems

Solubility equilibria in aqueous media are a powerful source of information on Gibbs energy functions of pure ionic compounds and solid-solutions. Because solid-solid phase transformations and/or recrystallizations are often much slower than equilibration between solids and solutes, it is sometimes possible to obtain reliable data from measurements on metastable systems.Thermodynamic quantities of geochemically and industrially important sparingly soluble metal oxides, hydroxides, carbonates and sulfides have been determined by solubility techniques. Activity coefficient variations of the reacting species are either minimized by the method of constant ionic media, or else corrected for by using the Pitzer equations. Measurements carried out at various fixed ionic strengthsI may be used to calculate the value of the solubility constantK _s ⁰ at infinite dilution. Given the availability of Pitzer parameters of sufficient quality, values ofK _s ⁰ extrapolated by this method lead to accurate Gibbs energies of formation. Moreover, when Pitzer parameters are known up to saturation, solubilities of highly soluble salts can easily be exploited for the calculation of Gibbs functions.A consistent set of equilibrium constants for the homogeneous and heterogeneous reactions occurring in the systems under investigation is used in the general Gibbs energy minimizing program ChemSage. Master variables for the depiction of the pertinent solid-solute phase diagrams are deduced from generalized Gibbs-Duhem equations. Application of the resulting data to geochemical and industrial problems is discussed.     

Climate—Change or variation?

Several definitions of climate change, climate variation and related terms are reviewed here. It is concluded that incompatible definitions produce considerable differences in the actual usage of the terms depending on context and author. While this, perhaps, is not a problem within the scientific community, it is argued that difficulties may arise when climatological information is interpreted by non-specialists, for example, in a political or socio-economic context. The problem may be caused by inadvertent misinterpretations or even deliberate distortion of the terms by parties with vested interests. Within a scientific context a relative time-scale is usually preferred, while an absolute time-scale is more relevant for practical applications. To promote further discussions, this assumption and some other basic objectives are used to suggest a framework for how climatological terms can be defined and used in a way that is internally consistent, as well as consistent with current usage as far as possible.     

Gaussian components of cloud amount frequency distributions

Summary Interannual variability of meteorological conditions produces cloud amount sequences that statistically cannot be regarded as samples from the same population. Consequently in order to treat cloud amount distributions the traditional methods of mathematical statistics are useless. In this paper a method is presented that enables to approximate the cloud amount histograms by means of mixtures of Gaussian components. When a component can be found that is common to the histograms of different years, it may be regarded as a characteristic of a quasistationary cloudiness regime that is induced by stable meteorological conditions above the respective target area during the given period.The procedure to separate a cloud amount frequency distribution into Gaussian components is demonstrated on the basis of an example of March–May cloudiness analysis in the mid-ocean regions of the belt 0°–13.5° S. The monthly mean cloud amount data in the (500 km)² squares have been determined from Nimbus-7 short-wave albedo measurements in 1979–1986. It has been demonstrated that even in the years that are not affected by the El Niño event the interannual variability of the autumn cloud amount histograms is essential at the 95% significance level. But separating the frequency distributions into Gaussian components, a part can be found that is common to all the autumns and, thus, may be regarded as a characteristic of the contemporary climate.With 6 Figures     

Rise and fall of an isolated,unstable carbonate platform: The Cambrian of Southwestern Sardinia

Strong effects of tensional tectonics dominate the Lower and Middle Cambrian sequence of Southwestern Sardinia. A thinning of the continental crust and the possible development of a passive margin in the Cambrian is indicated by different stages of evolution of a mainly carbonatic platform: (a) Clastic-carbonatic homoclinal ramp with algal-archaeocyathan mounds (Epiphyton/Renalcis) in the west, clastic shallow marine to tidal sequences in the east. (b) Carbonatic-clastic ramp or rimmed shelf with an ooid shoal complex, prograding towards the west. The back-shoal area contains peloidal mudstones, algal-archaeocyathan biostromes (Girvanella) and increasingly tidal deposits (clastic and carbonatic) towards the east. (c) Isolated platform, aggraded to sea level, rimmed by slope deposits with slumps and breccia-beds in the southeast and northwest. (d) Isolated, flooded platform; barriers towards the open sea partly broke down. (e) Isolated platform with raised rims and deep interior, often with thick breccia-beds in uppermost parts. (f) Break-down of the platform (late Early Cambrian), marked by nodular limestones and limestoneshale intercalations. (g) Terrigenous clastics cover the former platform.

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Zusammenfassung Starke Auswirkungen von Dehnungstektonik prägen die unter- und mittelkambrische Abfolge Südwest-Sardiniens. Diese belegen eine Ausdünnung der kontinentalen Kruste, die mit der Entwicklung eines passiven Kontinentalrandes während des Kambriums verbunden sein könnte. Hierfür sprechen die beobachteten verschiedenen Entwicklungsstadien einer Plattform: (a) Siliciklastisch-karbonatische, homoklinale Rampe mit Algen-Archaeocyathen-Mounds (Epiphyton/Renalcis) im Westen, flachmarinen bis gezeitenbeeinflu\ten Bereichen im Osten. (b) Karbonatisch-siliciklastische Rampe oder Schelf mit einem randlichen Ooid-Untiefen-Komplex, der sich gegen Westen vorschob; im geschützten östlichen Bereich treten Peloid-Mudstones, Algen-Archaeocyathen Biostrome (Girvanella) und klastisch-karbonatische Gezeitenbildungen auf. (c) Isolierte Karbonatplattform, die sich bis zum Meeresspiegel hochbaute, im Südosten und Nordwesten des Gebietes von Bekkenbereichen mit Slumping und Breccienbildungen begrenzt. (d) Isolierte, überflutete Karbonatplattform; Barrieren zum offenen Meer brachen teilweise zusammen. (e) Isolierte Karbonatplattform mit erhöhten Rändern und tieferem Inneren; zahlreiche Breccienkörper treten in höchsten Teilen dieser Abfolge auf. (f) Zusammenbruch der Karbonatplattform (höchstes Unterkambrium), angezeigt durch Knollenkalke und Kalkschiefer. (g) Siliciklastika überlagern die Plattform.

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Résumé La série stratigraphique du Cambrien inférieur et moyen du sud-ouest de la Sardaigne a été fortement influencée par une tectonique de distension, qui implique un amincissement de la croûte continentale, sans doute lié au développement d'une marge passive au cours du Cambrien. Les arguments à l'appui de ce modèle sont fournis par les stades d'évolution successifs d'une plateforme, essentiellement carbonatée: (a) une rampe homoclinale, détritique-carbonatée, comportant à l'ouest des mounds à algues et archéocyathes (Epiphyton/Renalcis) et à l'est un milieu marin peu profond sous influence tidale; (b) une rampe carbonatéedétritique ou plateforme de haut-fond à ooÏdes qui s'est avancée vers l'ouest. La zone est d'arrière-barre comporte des mudstones à péloÏdes, des biostromes à algues (Girvanella) et archéocyathes et des sédiments carbonatés-détritiques de milieu intertidal; (c) une plateforme carbonatée isolée qui s'est développée jusqu'au niveau de la mer, bordée au sud-est et nord-ouest par des bassins à slumping et brèches; (d) une plateforme carbonatée isolée, inondée, dont les barrières vers la pleine mer se sont en partie détruites; (e) une plateforme carbonatée isolée dont les bords sont élevés et l'intérieur déprimé, recouverte par de nombreux corps bréchiques; (f) destruction de la plateforme carbonatée (partie supérieur de la Cambrien inférieur), indiquée par des calcaires à nodules et des calcschistes; (g) siliciclastes recouvrant la plateforme.

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The seasonal productivity cycle of phytoplankton and controlling factors in Lake Constance

Annual phytoplankton productivity in Lake Constance is about 300 g C m⁻², a value typical for mesoeutrophic lakes. Seasonal variations in phytoplankton biomass and productivity are exceptionally great because of a sequence of factors controlling the production process. During winter productivity is controlled by low energy inputs and high respiratory losses due to deep water column mixing. Biomass is low and water transparancy high. The spring phytoplankton growth is triggered by the thermal stabilization of the water column. The summer phytoplankton biomass maximum mainly depends on phosphorus availability. However, biomass yields comprise only 15–20% of values to be expected from the Redfield ratio because large proportions of POM are detritus and non-algal biota. Moreover, sedimentation during the second half of the year removes biomass from the euphotic zone. Water transparency and thus vertical distribution of algal photosynthesis is highly dependent on phytoplankton biomass. Self-shading causes considerably smaller seasonal variations in areal biomass and photosynthetic rates than in volume-based values. By light-shade adaptation effects of seasonal fluctuations in mean daily surface radiance fluxes on algal photosynthesis can to a significant extent be compensated for. At any given level of biomass daylength is the major determinant of daily production rates. Dedicated to Professor Elster on his 80th birthday.     

Modelling the responses of mature forest trees to air pollution

Systems analysis of the responses of forest trees to air pollutants led to mathematical models which represent the essential life processes of mature trees (photosynthesis, respiration, growth etc.) under ‘normal’ conditions and — especially — under pollution strees. Computer simulations using these models have made it possible to test and analyse the consequences of — known or hypothetical — pollution effects. The simulation runs have led to the identification of three distinct behavioural modes (growth, stagnation, breakdown) and corresponding stable and unstable system states. The results have produced new insights and contributed to the understanding of the dieback process of spruce and beech trees. The presentation will concentrate on the most recent and most complex of the hitherto existing models, theBeech model.     

Fluid evolution,wallrock alteration,and ore mineralization associated with the Rodalquilar epithermal gold-deposit in southeast Spain

At Rodalquilar gold mineralization is found in Late Tertiary volcanic rocks of the Sierra del Cabo de Gata and is related to a caldera collapse. Radial and concentric faults were preferred sites for gold deposition. Hydrothermal activity produced a specific alteration zoning around gold-bearing vein structures, grading from an innermost advanced argillic via an argillic into a more regionally developed propylitic zone. Advanced argillic alteration with silica, pyrophyllite, alunite, and kaolinite extends down to several hundred m indicating a hypogene origin. High-grade gold mineralization in vein structures is confined to the near-surface part of the advanced argillic alteration. Fine-grained gold is associated with hematite, jarosite, limonite, or silica. At a depth of about 120 m, the oxidic ore assemblage grades into sulfide mineralization with pyrite and minor chalcopyrite, covellite, bornite, enargite, and tennantite. Two types of fluids from different sources were involved in the hydrothermal system. Overpressured and hypersaline fluids of presumably magmatic origin initiated the hydrothermal system. Subsequent hydrothermal processes were characterized by the influx of low-salinity solutions of probable marine origin and by interactions between both fluids. Deep-reaching, advanced argillic alteration formed from high-salinity fluids with 20–30 equiv. wt% NaCl at about 225°C. Near-surface gold precipitation and silification are related to fluids with temperatures of about 175°C and 3–4 equiv. wt% NaCl. Gold was transported as Au(HS) ₂ ^– , and precipitation resulted from boiling with a concomitant decrease in temperature, pressure, and pH and an increase in fO₂. All features of the Rodalquilar gold deposit reveal a close relationship to acid-sulfate-type epithermal gold mineralization.     

Dynamics of aircraft exhaust plumes in the jet-regime

A computational model describing the two-dimensional, turbulent mixing of a single jet of exhaust gas from aircraft engines with the ambient atmosphere is presented. The underlying assumptions and governing equations are examined and supplemented by a discussion of analytical solutions. As an application, the jet dynamics of a B747-400 aircraft engine in cruise and its dependence on key parameters is investigated in detail. The computer code for this dynamical model is computationally fast and can easily be coupled to complex chemical and microphysical models in order to perform comprehensive studies of atmospheric effects from aircraft exhaust emissions in the jet regime.