Unexpected waves: Intermediate depth simulations and comparison with observations

In an earlier study, we defined an “unexpected wave” as, for example, a wave twice as high as any of the preceding 30 waves. Here we extend earlier deep water simulations to allow for the greater crest enhancement in water of finite depth and find that the predicted frequency of unexpected waves increases significantly. We also analyze data obtained by wave buoys off the east and west coasts of Canada. In both deep and intermediate depth water, the occurrence of unexpected waves is in reasonable accord with our simulations, supporting our assumption of random superposition of waves though with local crest enhancement by the non-resonant second harmonic.     

Upward continuation of Dome-C airborne gravity and comparison with GOCE gradients at orbit altitude in east Antarctica

An airborne gravity campaign was carried out at the Dome-C survey area in East Antarctica between the 17th and 22nd of January 2013, in order to provide data for an experiment to validate GOCE satellite gravity gradients. After typical filtering for airborne gravity data, the cross-over error statistics for the few crossing points are 11.3 mGal root mean square (rms) error, corresponding to an rms line error of 8.0 mGal. This number is relatively large due to the rough flight conditions, short lines and field handling procedures used. Comparison of the airborne gravity data with GOCE RL4 spherical harmonic models confirmed the quality of the airborne data and that they contain more high-frequency signal than the global models. First, the airborne gravity data were upward continued to GOCE altitude to predict gravity gradients in the local North-East-Up reference frame. In this step, the least squares collocation using the ITGGRACE2010S field to degree and order 90 as reference field, which is subtracted from both the airborne gravity and GOCE gravity gradients, was applied. Then, the predicted gradients were rotated to the gradiometer reference frame using level 1 attitude quaternion data. The validation with the airborne gravity data was limited to the accurate gradient anomalies (T_XX, T_YY, T_ZZ and T_XZ) where the long-wavelength information of the GOCE gradients has been replaced with GOCO03s signal to avoid contamination with GOCE gradient errors at these wavelengths. The comparison shows standard deviations between the predicted and GOCE gradient anomalies T_XX, T_YY, T_ZZ and T_XZ of 9.9, 11.5, 11.6 and 10.4 mE, respectively. A more precise airborne gravity survey of the southern polar gap which is not observed by GOCE would thus provide gradient predictions at a better accuracy, complementing the GOCE coverage in this region.     

Sediment budgeting of short-term backfilling processes: The erosional collapse of a Carolingian canal construction

Sediment budgeting concepts serve as quantification tools to decipher the erosion and accumulation processes within a catchment and help to understand these relocation processes through time. While sediment budgets are widely used in geomorphological catchment-based studies, such quantification approaches are rarely applied in geoarchaeological studies. The case of Charlemagne's summit canal (also known as Fossa Carolina) and its erosional collapse provides an example for which we can use this geomorphological concept and understand the abandonment of the Carolingian construction site. The Fossa Carolina is one of the largest hydro-engineering projects in Medieval Europe. It is situated in Southern Franconia (48.9876°N, 10.9267°E; Bavaria, southern Germany) between the Altmühl and Swabian Rezat rivers. It should have bridged the Central European watershed and connected the Rhine–Main and Danube river systems. According to our dendrochronological analyses and historical sources, the excavation and construction of the Carolingian canal took place in AD 792 and 793. Contemporary written sources describe an intense backfill of excavated sediment in autumn AD 793. This short-term erosion event has been proposed as the principal reason for the collapse and abandonment of the hydro-engineering project. We use subsurface data (drillings, archaeological excavations, and direct-push sensing) and geospatial data (a LiDAR digital terrain model (DTM), a pre-modern DTM, and a 3D model of the Fossa Carolina] for the identification and sediment budgeting of the backfills. Dendrochronological findings and radiocarbon ages of macro remains within the backfills give clear evidence for the erosional collapse of the canal project during or directly after the construction period. Moreover, our quantification approach allows the detection of the major sedimentary collapse zone. The exceedance of the manpower tipping point may have caused the abandonment of the entire construction site. The spatial distribution of the dendrochronological results indicates a north–south direction of the early medieval construction progress. © 2020 The Authors. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd     

Precise station positions from VLBI observations to satellites: a simulation study

Very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) tracking of satellites is a topic of increasing interest for the establishment of space ties. This shall strengthen the connection of the various space geodetic techniques that contribute to the International Terrestrial Reference Frame. The concept of observing near-Earth satellites demands research on possible observing strategies. In this paper, we introduce this concept and discuss its possible benefits for improving future realizations of the International Terrestrial Reference System. Using simulated observations, we develop possible observing strategies that allow the determination of radio telescope positions in the satellite system on Earth with accuracies of a few millimeters up to 1–2 cm for weekly station coordinates. This is shown for satellites with orbital heights between 2,000 and 6,000 km, observed by dense regional as well as by global VLBI-networks. The number of observations, as mainly determined by the satellite orbit and the observation interval, is identified as the most critical parameter that affects the expected accuracies. For observations of global positioning system satellites, we propose the combination with classical VLBI to radio sources or a multi-satellite strategy. Both approaches allow station position repeatabilities of a few millimeters for weekly solutions.     

Spatial and temporal variations of pCO2, dissolved inorganic carbon and stable isotopes along a temperate karstic watercourse

This study investigated CO₂ degassing and related carbon isotope fractionation effects in the Wiesent River that drains a catchment in the karst terrain of the Franconian Alb, Southern Germany. The river was investigated by physico‐chemical and stable isotope analyses of water and dissolved inorganic carbon during all seasons along 65‐km long downstream transects between source and mouth. Calculated pCO₂ values at the source were 21 400 ± 2400 µatm. The pCO₂ rapidly decreased in the river water and dropped to an average of 1240 ± 330 µatm near the mouth. About 90% of this decrease occurred within the first 6 km of the river. The river was supersaturated with respect to CO₂ over its entire course and must have acted as a continuous year‐round CO₂ source to the atmosphere. The average CO₂ flux from the karst river was estimated with 450 mmol m^?2 day^?1 with higher fluxes up to 5680 mmol m^?2 day^?1 at the source. At the source, δ¹³C_DIC values showed no seasonal variations with an average of ?14.2 ± 0.2‰. This indicated that groundwater retained high pCO₂ mainly from soil CO₂. The contribution of soil CO₂ to dissolved inorganic carbon was estimated at 65% to 72%. The downstream CO₂ loss caused a positive shift in δ¹³C_DIC values of 2‰ between source and mouth because of the preferential loss of the ¹²C isotope during degassing. Considering the findings of this study and the fact that carbonate lithology covers a significant part of the earth's surface, CO₂ evasion from karst regions might contribute notably to the annual carbon dioxide release from global freshwater systems. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.