Arctic climate change in 21st century CMIP5 simulations with EC-Earth

The Arctic climate change is analyzed in an ensemble of future projection simulations performed with the global coupled climate model EC-Earth2.3. EC-Earth simulates the twentieth century Arctic climate relatively well but the Arctic is about 2 K too cold and the sea ice thickness and extent are overestimated. In the twenty-first century, the results show a continuation and strengthening of the Arctic trends observed over the recent decades, which leads to a dramatically changed Arctic climate, especially in the high emission scenario RCP8.5. The annually averaged Arctic mean near-surface temperature increases by 12 K in RCP8.5, with largest warming in the Barents Sea region. The warming is most pronounced in winter and autumn and in the lower atmosphere. The Arctic winter temperature inversion is reduced in all scenarios and disappears in RCP8.5. The Arctic becomes ice free in September in all RCP8.5 simulations after a rapid reduction event without recovery around year 2060. Taking into account the overestimation of ice in the twentieth century, our model results indicate a likely ice-free Arctic in September around 2040. Sea ice reductions are most pronounced in the Barents Sea in all RCPs, which lead to the most dramatic changes in this region. Here, surface heat fluxes are strongly enhanced and the cloudiness is substantially decreased. The meridional heat flux into the Arctic is reduced in the atmosphere but increases in the ocean. This oceanic increase is dominated by an enhanced heat flux into the Barents Sea, which strongly contributes to the large sea ice reduction and surface-air warming in this region. Increased precipitation and river runoff lead to more freshwater input into the Arctic Ocean. However, most of the additional freshwater is stored in the Arctic Ocean while the total Arctic freshwater export only slightly increases.     

Winter climate anomalies in Europe and their associated circulation at 500 hPa

Regional anomalies of the surface climate over Europe are defined by a simultanous EOF-analysis of the normalized monthly mean sea level pressure, temperature and precipitation fields of 100 winters (December–February, 1887–1986) at 40 stations. The monthly amplitudes of the first EOF (about 25% of the total variance) are used as an index for the monthly winter climate anomaly. They characterize a high (low) pressure cell over central Europe associated with a positive (negative) temperature and precipitation anomaly over northern (central-southern) Europe as indicated by a northward (southward) shift of the tail end of the cross-Atlantic cyclone track. These patterns resemble the phenomenological anticyclonic (cyclonic) Grosswetter classification and the European blocking (enhanced zonal flow) regime. The second EOF is of similar magnitude and gives latitudinal corrections to these two basic flow regimes. The joint probability distribution of both amplitudes shows a weak bimodality mainly associated with the first EOF. Further insight into the underlying physical processes of the climate anomaly patterns in Europe is obtained from the extended Eliassen-Palm flux diagnostics of the barotropic transient eddy-mean flow interaction (Hoskins et al. 1983) and the stationary wave propagation (Plumb 1985). The diagnostics confined to the barotropic components and applied to the regression and the composite anomaly fields of the transient and stationary eddy flows of the 500 hPa geopotential (1946–87, north of 20°N) leads to the following results: (1) The bandpass filtered transient eddy variances of the 500 hPa geopotential show a shift of the cross-Atlantic storm track: In high (low) pressure situations over Europe the cross-Atlantic storm track intensity is enhanced (reduced) and its tail end is shifted northward (remains zonal); the North Pacific storm track extends further (less) eastward and thus closer to the west coast of North America. (2) The extreme high pressure system over Europe tends to be supported by an anomalous transient eddy forcing of the mean flow stream-function: it enhances the zonal wind to its north and generates anticyclonic vorticity about 10° upstream from its center. In the low pressure composite the anomalous cyclonic vorticity is generated reducing the zonal flow to its north. (3) The occurrence (lack) of a strong eastward stationary wave activity flux over the Atlantic is associated with the high (low) pressure situations over Europe. Finally, a positive feedback is conjectured between the stationary wavetrain modifying the tail end of the cross-Atlantic storm track and the transient eddies intensifying this anomaly.     

The I-Xe record of alteration in the allende CV chondrite

Complex I-Xe and mineralogical studies have been performed on four heavily-altered Allende fine-grained spinel-rich Ca, Al-rich inclusions (CAIs) and four Allende dark inclusions (DIs) showing various degrees of iron-alkali metasomatic alteration. The CAIs are largely composed of Fe-rich spinel, Al-diopside, and secondary nepheline and sodalite. The DIs consist of chondrules and Allende-like matrix composed of lath-shaped fayalitic olivine, nepheline, sodalite, and Ca, Fe-rich pyroxene ± andradite ± FeNi-sulfide nodules. Chondrule phenocrysts are extensively or completely replaced by fayalitic olivine, nepheline, and sodalite; metal nodules are replaced by FeNi-sulfides, andradite and Ca, Fe-rich pyroxenes. The chondrules and matrices are crosscut by Ca, Fe-rich pyroxene ± FeNi-sulfide ± fayalitic olivine veins. DIs are surrounded by continuous Ca-rich rims composed of andradite, wollastonite, kirschsteinite, and Ca, Fe-rich pyroxenes, whereas the outer portions of the inclusions are depleted in Ca.Three CAIs yield well-defined I-Xe isochrons with ages 3.1 ± 0.2, 3.0 ± 0.2 and 3.7 ± 0.2 Ma younger than the Shallowater internal standard (4566 ± 2 Ma). Similar release profiles suggest the same iodine carrier (most probably sodalite) for all four CAIs. The Allende DIs yield I-Xe ages from 0.8 ± 0.3 to 1.9 ± 0.2 Ma older than Shallowater. Based on the petrographic observations, we infer that the DIs experienced at least two-stage alteration. During an early stage of the alteration, which took place in an asteroidal setting, but not in the current location of the DIs, chondrule silicates were replaced by secondary fayalitic olivine, nepheline, and sodalite. Calcium lost from the chondrules was redeposited as Ca, Fe-rich pyroxene veins and Ca, Fe-rich pyroxene ± andradite nodules in the matrix. The second stage of alteration resulted in mobilization of Ca from the DIs and its re-deposition as Ca-rich rims composed of Ca, Fe-rich pyroxenes, andradite, and wollastonite, around the DIs. We interpret I-Xe ages of the DIs as time of their alteration prior incorporation into Allende. The younger I-Xe ages of the fine-grained spinel-rich CAIs may reflect hydrothermal alteration of the Allende host, which could have occurred contemporaneously with the second stage of alteration of the Allende DIs. The lack of evidence for the disturbance of I-Xe system in the Allende DIs may suggest that fluid responsible for the alteration of the Allende CAIs was in equilibrium with the I- and Xe-bearing phases of the DIs.     

Genesis of acid/basic rock associations: a case study The Kallithea intrusive complex,Samos, Greece

The Kallithea intrusive complex on Samos forms part of the Miocene granitoid province of the central Aegean. The complex consists of numerous composite dikes consisting of different I-type diorites, monzodiorites, (quartz) monzonites, granodiorites, and granites, as well as rare pegmatites. Within individual dikes the different rock types display various structural relationships to each other, most of which indicate that multiple intrusion was the main process responsible for the association of different rock types. Petrographical, geochemical, and Sr isotope data prove that at least some of the different magma pulses were genetically unrelated. For others, a comagmatic relationship cannot be excluded. The most spectacular feature of the composite dikes are net-veined parts in which spherical (pillow-like) to angular bodies of microdiorite are surrounded by a network of more felsic rocks of varying compositions (monzonites, granodiorites, and monzogranites). — For the microdiorite/monzogranite pairs, a formation by unmixing due to liquid immiscibility is suggested by the following facts: (a) the presence of monzogranite ocelli within the microdiorite bodies, (b) similar compositions of those minerals present in both the basic and felsic parts, (c) the enrichment of HFS elements in the basic parts and the depletion of these elements in the acid parts, (d) similar Sr isotope initial ratios. Such an origin, however, is excluded for the other net-veined parts having felsic veins of either monzonitic or granodioritic compositions. In these pairs, the HFS elements are enriched in the acid parts, common minerals may have different compositions, and Sr isotope initial ratios are different. These net-veined parts can only be explained by the model of multiple injections whereby a felsic melt intruded into a basic magma.     

Determination of Reference Values for NIST SRM 610–617 Glasses Following ISO Guidelines

We present new reference values for the NIST SRM 610–617 glasses following ISO guidelines and the International Association of Geoanalysts’ protocol. Uncertainties at the 95% confidence level (CL) have been determined for bulk‐ and micro‐analytical purposes. In contrast to former compilation procedures, this approach delivers data that consider present‐day requirements of data quality. New analytical data and the nearly complete data set of the GeoReM database were used for this study. Data quality was checked by the application of the Horwitz function and by a careful investigation of analytical procedures. We have determined quantitatively possible element inhomogeneities using different test portion masses of 1, 0.1 and 0.02 μg. Although avoiding the rim region of the glass wafers, we found moderate inhomogeneities of several chalcophile/siderophile elements and gross inhomogeneities of Ni, Se, Pd and Pt at small test portion masses. The extent of inhomogeneity was included in the determination of uncertainties. While the new reference values agree with the NIST certified values with the one exception of Mn in SRM 610, they typically differ by as much as 10% from the Pearce et al. (1997) values in current use. In a few cases (P, S, Cl, Ta, Re) the discrepancies are even higher.     

The Preparation and Preliminary Characterisation of Three Synthetic Andesite Reference Glass Materials (ARM‐1, ARM‐2, ARM‐3) for In Situ Microanalysis

Three synthetic reference glasses were prepared by directly fusing and stirring 3.8 kg of high‐purity oxide powders to provide reference materials for microanalytical work. These glasses have andesitic major compositions and are doped with fifty‐four trace elements in nearly identical abundance (500, 50, 5 µg g^?1) using oxide powders or element solutions, and are named ARM‐1, 2 and 3, respectively. We further document that sector‐field (SF) ICP‐MS (Element 2 or Element XR) is capable of sweeping seventy‐seven isotopes (from ⁷Li to ²³⁸U, a total of sixty‐eight elements) in 1 s and, thus, is able to quantify up to sixty‐eight elements by laser sampling. Micro‐ and bulk analyses indicate that the glasses are homogeneous with respect to major and trace elements. This paper provides preliminary data for the ARM glasses using a variety of analytical techniques (EPMA, XRF, ICP‐OES, ICP‐MS, LA‐Q‐ICP‐MS and LA‐SF‐ICP‐MS) performed in ten laboratories. Discrepancies in the data of V, Cr, Ni and Tl exist, mainly caused by analytical limitations. Preliminary reference and information values for fifty‐six elements were calculated with uncertainties [2 relative standard error (RSE)] estimated in the range of 1–20%.     

YANGTZE DISCHARGE MEMORY

We present a review on studies focusing on memories in hydrological time series in the Yangtze Basin based on observational and reconstructed historical data.Memory appears as scaling of power spectra,S(f)～f-β,with 0 <β≤ 1.The presence of scaling is noteworthy in daily river discharge time series:1)from weeks to a couple of years,power spectra follow flicker noise,that is β≈ 1;2)beyond years,spectral scaling appraaclTes β≈0.3.In historical time series of floods and draughts,power spectra also shows scaling with β≈ 0.38 ～0.52.Furthermore,a 70-year peak is detected in historical maritime events series,which also appears in other past climate indicators.Presence of memory in these hydrological time series implies clustering of extremes and scaling of their recurrence times,therefore,probabilistic forecast potential for extremes can be derived.On the other hand,although several physical processes,for example,soil moisture storage and high intermittency of precipitation,have been suggested to be the possible candidates contributing to the presence of long term memory,they remain open for future research.     

Neodymium and Strontium Isotope Data for USGS Reference Materials BCR-1, BCR-2, BHVO-1, BHVO-2, AGV-1, AGV-2, GSP-1, GSP-2 and Eight MPI-DING Reference Glasses

We have measured ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and ¹⁴³ Nd/¹⁴⁴ Nd isotope ratios in different batches and aliquots of the new US Geological Survey (USGS) reference materials (RMs) BCR-2, BHVO-2, AGV-2 and GSP-2 and the original USGS RMs BCR-1, BHVO-1, AGV-1 and GSP-1 by thermal ionisation mass spectrometry. In addition, we also analysed the eight Max-Planck-Institut-Dingwell (MPI-DING) reference glasses. Nearly all isotope ratios obtained in the different aliquots and batches agree within uncertainty limits indicating excellent homogeneity of the USGS powders and the MPI-DING glasses. With the exception of GSP-2, the new USGS RMs are also indistinguishable from the ratios found in the original USGS RMs (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr: 0.704960, 0.704958 (BCR-1, -2), 0.703436, 0.703435 (BHVO-1, -2), 0.703931, 0.703931 (AGV-1, -2); ¹⁴³ Nd/¹⁴⁴ Nd: 0.512629, 0.512633 (BCR-1, -2), 0.512957, 0.512957 (BHVO-1, -2); 0.512758, 0.512755 (AGV-1, -2)). This means that for normalisation purposes in Sr and Nd isotope geochemistry BCR-2, BHVO-2 and AGV-2 can well replace BCR-1, BHVO-1 and AGV-1 respectively.