Late Pleistocene and Holocene terrestrial geomorphodynamics and soil formation in northeastern Germany: a review of geochronological data

ABSTRACT

This study is based on 616 geochronological ages from aeolian and colluvial sediments as well as paleosols, representing the largest database of geochronological data from northeastern Germany available to date. Cumulative probability density functions for radiocarbon data and kernel density estimates for luminescence data were created covering the last 15 ka. The data analysis aimed at the identification of changes and their drivers in geomorphodynamics and soil formation. The ages representing aeolian activity cluster in the Late Glacial, the Early Holocene, and the Late Holocene, where the first two clusters are assumed to result mostly from climatic impact with only a minor share of human impact triggering the mobilization of aeolian sediments. The third cluster is considered to result mainly from human impact. The Late Glacial to Early Holocene activity phase is interrupted by a phase of surface stability around 11.5–12.7 ka, which is indicated by the occurrence of initial soil formations of Finow and Usselo types. Colluvial sedimentation predominantly occurred during the last 7 ka and clearly accelerated since the last 1000 a. According to the ages of specific paleosol types, related soil-forming processes started already in the Late Glacial and were completed in the Holocene.     

Paleotemperature reconstruction in tropical Africa using fossil Chironomidae (Insecta: Diptera)

Fossil assemblages of chironomid larvae (non-biting midges) preserved in lake sediments are well-established paleothermometers in north-temperate and boreal regions, but their potential for temperature reconstruction in tropical regions has never before been assessed. In this study, we surveyed sub-fossil chironomid assemblages in the surface sediments of 65 lakes and permanent pools in southwestern Uganda (including the Rwenzori Mountains) and central and southern Kenya (including Mount Kenya) to document the modern distribution of African chironomid communities along the regional temperature gradient covered by lakes situated between 489 and 4,575 m above sea level (a.s.l). We then combined these faunal data with linked Surface-Water Temperature (SWTemp: range 2.1–28.1°C) and Mean Annual Air Temperature (MATemp: range 1.1–24.9°C) data to develop inference models for quantitative paleotemperature reconstruction. Here we compare and discuss the performance of models based on different numerical techniques [weighted-averaging (WA), weighted-averaging partial-least-squares (WA-PLS) and a weighted modern analogue technique (WMAT)], and on subsets of lakes with varying gradient lengths of temperature and other environmental variables. All inference models calibrated against MATemp have a high coefficient of determination ( r_\textjack² r_{\text{jack}}^{2}  = 0.81–0.97), low maximum bias (0.84–2.59°C), and low root-mean-squared error of prediction (RMSEP = 0.61–1.50°C). The statistical power of SWTemp models is generally weaker ( r_\textjack² r_{\text{jack}}^{2}  = 0.77–0.95; maximum bias 1.55–3.73°C; RMSEP = 1.39–1.98°C), likely because the surface-water temperature data are spot measurements failing to catch significant daily and seasonal variation. Models based on calibration over the full temperature gradient suffer slightly from the limited number of study sites at intermediate elevation (2,000–3,000 m), and from the presence of morphologically indistinguishable but ecologically distinct taxa. Calibration confined to high-elevation sites (>3,000 m) has poorer error statistics, but is less susceptible to biogeographical and taxonomic complexities. Our results compare favourably with chironomid-based temperature inferences in temperate regions, indicating that chironomid-based temperature reconstruction in tropical Africa can be achieved.     

Asteroseismology and interferometry

Asteroseismology provides us with a unique opportunity to improve our understanding of stellar structure and evolution. Recent developments, including the first systematic studies of solar-like pulsators, have boosted the impact of this field of research within astrophysics and have led to a significant increase in the size of the research community. In the present paper we start by reviewing the basic observational and theoretical properties of classical and solar-like pulsators and present results from some of the most recent and outstanding studies of these stars. We centre our review on those classes of pulsators for which interferometric studies are expected to provide a significant input. We discuss current limitations to asteroseismic studies, including difficulties in mode identification and in the accurate determination of global parameters of pulsating stars, and, after a brief review of those aspects of interferometry that are most relevant in this context, anticipate how interferometric observations may contribute to overcome these limitations. Moreover, we present results of recent pilot studies of pulsating stars involving both asteroseismic and interferometric constraints and look into the future, summarizing ongoing efforts concerning the development of future instruments and satellite missions which are expected to have an impact in this field of research.     

Coupled effects of impact and orogeny: Is the marine Lockne crater,Sweden, pristine?

Abstract— Our current understanding of marine‐impact cratering processes is partly inferred from the geological structure of the Lockne crater. We present results of a mapping campaign and structural data indicating that this crater is not pristine. In the western part of the crater, pre‐impact, impact, and post‐impact rocks are incorporated in Caledonian thrust slices and are subjected to folding and faulting. A nappe outlier in the central crater depression is a relic of the Caledonian nappe cover that reached a thickness of more than 5 km. The overthrusted crater is gently deformed. Strike of strata and trend of fold axes deviate from standard Caledonian directions (northeast‐southwest). Radially oriented crater depressions, which were previously regarded as marine resurge gullies formed when resurging seawater erosively cut through the crater brim, are interpreted to be open synclines in which resurge deposits were better preserved. The presence of the impact structure influenced orogenesis due to morphological and lithological anomalies of the crater: i) a raised crater brim zone acted as an obstacle during nappe propagation, (ii) the occurrence of a central crater depression caused downward sagging of nappes, and (iii) the lack of an appropriate detachment horizon (alum shale) within the crater led to an enhanced mechanical coupling and internal deformation of the nappe and the overthrusted foreland. Preliminary results of 3‐D‐analogue experiments suggest that a circular high‐friction zone representing the crater locally hinders nappe propagation and initiates a circumferentially striking ramp fault that delineates the crater. Crustal shortening is also partitioned into the crater basement and decreases laterally outward. Deformation of the foreland affected the geometry of the detachment and could be associated with the activation of a deeper detachment horizon beneath the crater. Strain gradients both vertically and horizontally result in non‐plane strain deformation in the vicinity of the crater. The strain tensors in the hanging and foot walls may deviate up to 90° from each other and rotated by up to 45° with respect to the standard regional orientation. The observed deflection of strata and fold axes within the Lockne crater area as revealed by field mapping is in agreement with the pattern of strain partitioning shown in the analogue models.     

Fish assemblages in Tanzanian mangrove creek systems influenced by solar salt farm constructions

Deforestation of mangrove forests is common occurrence worldwide. We examined fish assemblage composition in three mangrove creek systems in Tanzania (East Africa), including two creeks where the upper parts were partly clear-cut of mangrove forest due to the construction of solar salt farms, and one creek with undisturbed mangrove forest. Fish were caught monthly for one year using a seine net (each haul covering 170 m²) within three locations in each creek, i.e. at the upper, intermediate and lower reaches. Density, biomass and species number of fish were lower in the upper deforested sites compared to the mangrove-fringed sites at the intermediate and lower parts in the two creeks affected by deforestation, whereas there were no differences among the three sites in the undisturbed mangrove creek system. In addition, multivariate analyses showed that the structure of fish assemblages varied between forested and clear-cut sites within the two disturbed creeks, but not within the undisturbed creek. Across the season, we found no significant differences except for a tendency of a minor increase in fish densities during the rainy season. At least 75% of the fishes were juveniles and of commercial interest for coastal fisheries and/or aquaculture. Mugil cephalus, Gerres oyena and Chanos chanos were the most abundant species in the forested sites. The dominant species in the clear-cut areas were M. cephalus and Elops machnata, which were both found in relatively low abundances compared to the undisturbed areas. The conversion of mangrove forests into solar salt farms not only altered fish assemblage composition, but also water and sediment conditions. In comparison with undisturbed areas, the clear-cut sites showed higher salinity, water temperature as well as organic matter and chlorophyll a in the sediments. Our results suggest that mangrove habitat loss and changes in environmental conditions caused by salt farm developments will decrease fish densities, biomass and species numbers as well as alter the overall fish assemblage composition in the salt farm area but not downstream in the creek.     

Glacier mass balance variability in the Cordillera Blanca, Peru and its relationship with climate and the large-scale circulation

A 41-year-long reconstructed annual mean glacier mass balance record from the Cordillera Blanca, Peru, was investigated for its climate sensitivity toward temperature, humidity and precipitation, and its links with the large-scale atmospheric circulation. On interannual timescales precipitation variability appears to be the main driver for glacier mass balance fluctuations in the Cordillera Blanca. This is corroborated by an analysis of the relationship between mass balance variations and local- to regional-scale precipitation variability. Temperature tends to enhance precipitation in driving the mass balance signal, as dry years are often characterized by warm conditions, while wet years usually coincide with cold anomalies. In some years, however, warm and wet or cold and dry conditions coincide, under which circumstances temperature minimizes or even neutralizes the effects of precipitation. Surface energy balance studies have shown that changes in atmospheric humidity significantly affect the melt rates of tropical glaciers, but the lack of long and high-quality in-situ measurements precludes a detailed quantitative assessment of its role on interannual timescales in the Cordillera Blanca. Sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTA) in the tropical Pacific exert the dominant large-scale forcing on interannual time scales, leading to negative mass balance anomalies during El Niño and above average mass balance during La Niña episodes. In general the teleconnection mechanism linking ENSO with glacier mass balance is similar to what has previously been described for the Bolivian Altiplano region. Changes in the upper-tropospheric zonal flow aloft associated with ENSO conditions determine the amount of snowfall during the wet season and thereby significantly affect the glacier mass balance. Because this teleconnection mechanism is spatially unstable and oscillates latitudinally along the subtropical Andes, it affects the Cordillera Blanca in most, but not all years. The relationship between ENSO and glacier mass balance is therefore characterized by occasional ‘break downs’, more common since the mid-1970's, when El Niño years with above average mass balance and La Niña events with negative mass balance have been observed.     

Wave Propagation in Pulsating Stars

Lissajous diagrams are used to detect phase lags between radial velocity curves associated with different ions. Present in many kind of variable stars, this effect provides an important tool to study the atmosphere dynamics. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Automatic determination of 3D orientations of fossilized oyster shells from a densely packed Miocene shell bed

International Journal of Earth Sciences - Shell beds represent a useful source of information on various physical processes that cause the depositional condition. We present an automated method to...     

Mikrometeorologisch gemessene Energieumsätze eines Alocasiablattes

Zusammenfassung Die Energieumsätze eines Alocasiablattes setzen sich im wesentlichen aus dem sichtbaren und dem infraroten Strahlungsaustausch, den Konvektionsumsätzen und den Transpirationsverlusten zusammen. Sie wurden, getrennt in die Werte von Ober- und Unterseite des Blattes, unter verschiedenen Bedingungen in natürlichen Verhältnissen gemessen. Die Ergebnisse werden sowohl in der Form von Tagesläufen der Einzelkomponenten als auch in Bilanzen dargeboten.Die Ermittlungen wurden nach zwei Grundmethoden durchgeführt. Beide basierten einmal auf direkten Strahlungsmessungen, zum anderen entweder auf Bestimmungen der Wärmeübergangszahlen und der relativen Wasserbedeckungsfaktoren der Blattseiten oder auf Messungen der Temperatur- und Feuchtegradienten in Blattnähe. Beide Verfahren setzen die Kenntnis des Verhältnisses der Konvektionsverluste der beiden Blattseiten (das für das waagrechte Blatt meistens den Wert 1,0 annimmt) voraus, das zweitgenannte Verfahren dazu noch die des Verhältnisses der Austauschkoeffizienten für Wasserdampf und Wärme (das zu 1,00±0,05 gefunden wurde).Aus den Ergebnissen lassen sich Aussagen über die Eigenschaften des Alocasiablattes als Strahlungspartner im Sichtbaren und im Infraroten und über das Verhältnis der Transpirations- und der Konvektionsverluste eines besonnten Blattes und dessen Auswirkung auf die Blattemperatur herleiten. Die transpirationsbeeinflussende Wirkung der Strahlung erweist sich als groß, die des Windes als sehr gering, während die unabhängig voneinander reagierenden Stomata zu eigenartigen Schwankungen des Verhältnisses zwischen Ober- und Unterseitentranspiration Anlaß geben. Schließlich werden Wechselwirkungen zwischen Mikroklima und Wärmehaushalt besprochen.

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Summary The energy-balance of an Alocasia leaf is made up primarily of the radiation exchange in the visible and infra-red, of the convective transfer, and of the losses by transpiration. Each of these items has been split up into the values for the upper and for the lower surfaces of the leaf and was measured under different conditions in situ. Results are presented in the form of graphs showing the diurnal variations of the different energy components as well as in the form of balance sheets.Two methods were applied, both of which required direct radiation measurements. The first method further utilised determinations of the heat transfer coefficients and the relative wetness factors of the leaf surfaces, whereas the other method was based on measurements of the gradients of temperature and humidity close to the leaf. For both cases the ratio of the convective losses from both the surfaces of the leaf must be known (which for a horizontal leaf almost always is equal to unity). In addition to this, the second method requires information about the ratio of the Austausch coefficients for water vapour and heat (experimentally it was found to be 1,00±0.05).The results give some insight regarding the radiative properties of an Alocasia leaf in the visible and infra-red and regarding the ratio of the losses by transpiration and by convection and its effects on leaf temperature in sunshine. The effect of radiation on transpiration proves to be strong; wind, however, has only little effect. The stomata of both the leaf surfaces were functioning independently of each other, which resulted in peculiar variations in the ratio of the water lost by the upper and lower surfaces. Finally mutual relationships between energy exchange and microclimate are discussed.

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Résumé Le bilan énergétique d'une feuille d'Alocasia se compose principalement des échanges radiatifs de la lumière visible et infra-rouge ainsi que des échanges convectifs et des pertes de transpiration. Les composantes furent mesurées, séparément sur les surfaces supérieure et inférieure de la feuille, dans des conditions différentes en milieu naturel. Les résultats sont représentés par des bilans et, sous forme de graphiques, par les variations diurnes des différentes composantes d'énergie.A cet effet on a utilisé deux méthodes différentes qui se basent d'une part chacune sur des mesures directes du rayonnement, d'autre part, ou bien sur la détermination des échanges convectifs et des facteurs relatifs du recouvrement d'eau des surfaces de la feuille, ou bien sur des mesures des gradients de température et d'humidité a proximité de la feuille. Dans les deux méthodes on est sensé connaître le rapport des pertes de convection des deux surfaces de la feuille qui, en position horizontale est généralement de 1,0. Dans la seconde il faut encore connaître le rapport des coéfficients d'échange pour la vapeur d'eau et pour la chaleur qui fut trouvé être de 1,00±0,05.Les résultats obtenus permettent de nous renseigner au sujet des propriétés de la feuille d'Alocasia en ce qui concerne la radiation dans le domaine visible et infra-rouge, et le rapport des pertes de transpiration et de convection d'une feuille exposée au soleil et d'en déduire les effets sur la température de celle-ci. La radiation se révèle comme ayant une forte influence sur la transpiration, tandis que celle du vent est très faible. Les stomas des surfaces supérieure et inférieure réagissant séparément, provoquent de curieuses fluctuations du rapport de la transpiration de celles-ci. Finalement l'auteur discute encore les relations réciproques entre le microclimat et l'économie thermique.

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Mit 8 Textabbildungen

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Diese Arbeit wurde durch ein Stipendium der indischen Regierung im Rahmen des Indo-German Industrial Cooperation Scheme ermöglicht.