Fate of Point‐Source Pesticide Spill in Clayey Till after 15 Years

This study investigated the development of pesticide pollution two, three, and 17 years after spills of the herbicides dichlorprop, mecoprop (MCPP), MCPA, 2,4‐D (phenoxy acids), simazine, and terbutylazine (triazines) in a former orchard machinery service yard. The spills had occurred over several decades on a 23‐m thick, mainly anaerobic fractured clayey till aquitard. Angled monitoring wells were installed in the aquitard 3 years after the spills ceased in 1989. In 1993, monitoring revealed that high groundwater concentrations of dichlorprop (677 µg/L) and MCPP (139 µg/L) were accumulated as a zone of maximum pollution in anaerobic and largely immobile pore water at 5 to 6 m depth in the aquitard profile. In contrast, 2,4‐D was determined in only one water sample, and MCPA and simazine and terbutylazine were determined only in low concentrations (below10 µg/L), although these pesticides had been handled at the site in greater amounts than dichlorprop and MCPP according to detailed historic information obtained for the site. Repeated monitoring in the same wells after a further 14 years in 2007 revealed that no identifiable degradation of MCPP had occurred, while dichlorprop had degraded by 75% to 80% (estimated half‐life of approximately 5 years). Furthermore, degradation products related to the phenoxy acids had accumulated, especially 4‐CPP with a maximum concentration of 218 µg/L. In the same zone, MCPA and simazine had almost disappeared. As the pollution was mainly accumulated in largely immobile pore water of the aquitard clayey matrix, and the groundwater recharge was low (30 to 60 mm/year), only minor vertical displacement of the zone with maximum pollution zone had occurred during the 15 years of monitoring. However, concentrations of dichlorprop (0.01 to 0.02 µg/L), MCPP (0.1 to 0.2 µg/L), and 4‐CPP (0.6 to 0.7 µg/L) had spread along textural heterogeneities in the aquitard into the underlying sandy aquifer at 23‐m depth.     

Debris entrainment by basal freeze‐on and thrusting during the 1995–1998 surge of Kuannersuit Glacier on Disko Island,west Greenland

Kuannersuit Glacier, a valley glacier on Disko Island in west Greenland, experienced a major surge from 1995 to 1998 where the glacier advanced 10·5 km and produced a ～65 m thick stacked sequence of debris‐rich basal ice and meteoric glacier ice. The aim of this study is to describe the tectonic evolution of large englacial thrusts and the processes of basal ice formation using a multiproxy approach including structural glaciology, stable isotope composition (δ¹⁸O and δD), sedimentology and ground‐penetrating radar. We argue that the major debris layers that can be traced in the terminal zone represent englacial thrusts that were formed early during the surge. Thrust overthrow was at least 200–300 m and this lead to a 30 m thick repetition of basal ice at the ice margin. It is assumed that the englacial thrusting was initiated at the transition between warm ice from the interior and the cold snout. The basal debris‐rich ice was mainly formed after the thrusting phase. Two sub‐facies of stratified basal ice have been identified; a lower massive ice facies (S_M) composed of frozen diamict enriched with heavy stable isotopes overlain by laminated ice facies (S_L) consisting of millimetre thick lamina of alternating debris‐poor and debris‐rich ice. We interpret the stratified basal ice as a continuum formed mainly by freeze‐on processes and localized regelation. First laminated basal ice is formed and as meltwater is depleted more sediment is entrained and finally the glacier freezes to the base and massive diamict is frozen‐on. The increased ability to entrain sediments may partly be associated with higher basal freezing rates enhanced by loss of frictional heat from cessation of fast flow and conductive cooling through a thin heavily crevassed ice during the final phase of the glacier surge. The dispersed basal ice facies (D) was mainly formed by secondary processes where fine‐grained sediment is mobilized in the vein system of ice. Our results have important implications for understanding the significance of basal ice formation and englacial thrusting beneath fast‐flowing glaciers and it provides new information about the development of landforms during a glacier surge. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Species pool versus site limitations of macrophytes in urban waters

Biodiversity in urban areas is affected by a multitude of stressors. In addition to physico-chemical stress factors, the native regional species pool can be greatly reduced in highly urbanized landscapes due to area loss and fragmentation. In this study, we investigated how macrophyte composition and diversity in urban water systems are limited by the regional species pool and local environmental conditions. Canonical correspondence analysis of the macrophyte species composition revealed that urban and semi-natural water systems differed and differences could be related to local abiotic variables such as pH and iron concentrations. Macrophytes in the semi-natural area were typical for slightly acid and oligotrophic conditions. In urban water systems, exotic species characteristic of eutrophic conditions were present. In the semi-natural areas, the number of macrophyte species exceeded the number of species expected from species–area relationships of artificial water bodies in rural areas. In urban areas, the number of macrophyte species was similar to artificial water systems in rural areas. Macrophyte species present in the study areas also were generally found within 20–30 km distance to the study area. Macrophyte species composition in urban water systems and semi-natural water systems appeared to be influenced by the regional species pool within approximately 30 km of the locations. Nevertheless, site limitation ultimately determined the local macrophyte species composition and diversity in urban water systems and in semi-natural water systems.     

Ionospheric temperature and density measurements by means of spherical double probes

Rocket-borne double probes for electric field measurements can be intermittently operated in special, diagnostic modes involving current bias and low-impedance shunts to obtain information on the properties of the ambient ionospheric plasma along the flight path. Several such modes, and the information that they can provide, are analyzed. For example, in a low-impedance mode with asymmetric bias, the attenuation ratio (i.e. signal amplitude in this mode over the signal amplitude in the electric-field measuring mode) is in a simple way related to the electron temperature of the ambient plasma. The special surface coatings (Aquadag or vitreous carbon) normally used for electric field probes provide very homogeneous surface properties, a feature which also contributes to the reliability of the electron temperature measurements. In addition to electron temperature, the modes analyzed can be used to measure electron density and to give some information on ion temperature. The data from four rocket flights from ESRANGE are discussed in the light of these results. Electron temperature was measured in three of these flights. In all cases the temperature profile is in good agreement with theoretically predicted profiles based on the CIRA 1965 reference atmosphere and the solar illumination prevailing during the respective flights (twilight). Electron density profiles obtained by means of the double probe are in good agreement with the density measured by the Langmuir probe in the two flights for which both kinds of data are available. They are also in agreement with the electron density data available from ionosondes. Finally, pulses occurring when one of the probes passed through the rocket's shadow, are used to determine the photoelectron yield of the probe coatings (Aquadag or vitreous carbon). The values obtained, (7 ± 3) × 10^?6 A/m² for Aquadag and (4 ± 2) × 10^?6 A/m² for vitreous carbon are in good agreement with expectations based on laboratory data and solar Lyman α radiation.     

Vaca Muerta mesosiderite strewnfield

Abstract A field investigation is presented of the strewnfield of the mesosiderite Vaca Muerta, originally found in 1861. The area, 11.5 km long, 2.1 km wide, is located about 60 km southeast of Taltal, Chile, in the Atacama Desert. It has yielded 80 meteorites with a total mass exceeding 3782 kg. Most fragments were found in an undisturbed state, but some had been broken by prospectors. The present studies, in connection with historical records, indicate that the original mass of Vaca Muerta exceeded 6 metric tons. One impact feature, somewhat modified by man, consists of a 10.5-m diameter, 1.7-m deep hole, without an uplifted rim. Small masses were scattered up to 85 m from the hole.     

Evaluation of Horner plot-corrected log-derived temperatures in the Danish Central Graben,North Sea

A small dataset comprising all temperature available data from reliable Horner plots from the Danish Central Graben was examined. Temperatures obtained by extrapolation using standard Horner plots were determined to be lower than true formation temperatures, as interpreted from DST data. Excellent agreement between true formation temperatures and Horner plot temperatures was achieved when the Horner plot temperatures (T_HP) were corrected upward by an amount proportional to the slope (A) of the Horner plot using the equation where the temperatures and the slope are in degrees Celsius. The standard deviation of the error in the corrected Horner plot temperatures was 2.1°C, indicating that this method is consistent. Further studies using larger numbers of Horner plots from a variety of geographic areas should be carried out to test and refine the hypotheses presented here. Efforts also should be made to understand the causes of variability in slopes of Horner plots.     

Ordovician faunas, island arcs and ophiolites in the Scandinavian Caledonides

Ordovician faunal data from the Scandinavian Caledonides is tested with new geochemical information from zircons to give U/Pb ages and source origins of volcanic arc and ophiolite sequences. Early Ordovician (Arenig-Llanvirn), low latitude, Toquima-Table Head faunas from the upper Upper Allochthon are associated with an island arc system formed adjacent to Laurentia. Contemporaneous mafic magmas were contaminated by crustal material during subduction and associated granites contain inherited zircons of Archaean age. The nearest source for such rocks is on the Laurentian rather than the Baltic side. Higher latitude Celtic province faunas from the upper Upper Allochthon are from one insular site accessible to forms from both Laurentia and Baltica.
The late Ordovician low-latitude Holorhynchus and subtropical Hirnantia faunas occur in overstep sequences above deeply eroded early Ordovician arc complexes. The transgression appears to be coeval with a second generation of spreading-related complexes. Single detrital zircons from sediments show sources from Archaean, Proterozoic and early Ordovician terranes. This suggests that deposition was in a basin situated along the same continental margin (Laurentia) to which the early Ordovician ophiolite/arc sequences had already become accreted. The late Ordovician faunas link both Laurentia and Baltica at a time of narrowing of lapetus.
The new geochemical data together with the faunal information is supported by recent palaeomagnetic studies.     

Magnetotellurics along the Fennoscandian Long Range profile

Summary. Estimates of magnetotelluric transfer functions along the Fennoscandian Long Range (FENNOLORA) profile are presented and discussed in relation to the major lithotectonic subdivisions of the Swedish part of the Baltic shield. None of the transfer functions are found to be consistent with a one-dimensional earth structure, thereby making a quantitative interpretation difficult. However, the geological units are found to display characteristic differences in the obtained transfer functions, and in some areas a quantitative interpretation can be justified. The most interesting structure indicated is a low resistive (4 μm) crustal structure of lateral extension more than 150 km centred around the Skellefte ore district. A minimum thickness for this structure of 15 km is inferred.     

Gas-Phase OH Oxidation of Monoterpenes: Gaseous and Particulate Products

Smog chamber experiments have beenconducted in which cyclic monoterpenes were oxidisedin the gas phase by OH. The evolved secondary organicaerosol (SOA) was analysed by LC-MSⁿ and thegas-phase products were analysed by FT-IR. Theconcentrations of the identified compoundscorresponded to carbon mass balances in the range of40%–90%. The identified compounds in the particularphase corresponded to 0.5%–4.2% of the reactedcarbon. The most abundant compounds in SOA fromterpenes with an endocyclic C=C double bond wereC₁₀-keto-aldehydes, C₁₀-keto-carboxylicacids, C₁₀-hydroxy-keto-carboxylic acids, andC₁₀-hydroxy-keto-aldehydes (pinonaldehyde,pinonic acid, hydroxy-pinonic acid isomers, andhydroxy-pinonaldehyde isomers from -pinene;3-caronaldehyde, 3-caronic acid, hydroxy-3-caronicacid isomers, and hydroxy-3-caronaldehyde isomers from3-carene). The most abundant compounds in SOA fromterpenes with an exocyclic C=C double bond wereC₉-ketones, C₉-dicarboxylic acids, andC₁₀-hydroxy-keto-carboxylic acids (nopinone,pinic acid, and hydroxy-pinonic acid isomers from-pinene; sabinaketone, sabinic acid andhydroxy-sabinonic acid isomers from sabinene).Decarboxylated analogues of most of the compounds werepresent in SOA in minor concentrations, such asC₉-keto-carboxylic acids (norpinonic acid,nor-3-caronic acid) and C₈-dicarboxylic acids(norpinic acid, nor-3-caric acid, norsabinic acid). InSOA from limonene, which contains an endocyclic aswell as an exocyclic C=C double bond, the mostabundant compounds were a C₁₀-keto-aldehyde andits oxo-derivative (limononaldehyde and keto-limononaldehyde) together with hydroxy-derivatives of aC₁₀-keto-carboxylic acid (isomers ofhydroxy-limononic acid). Also aC₁₀-keto-carboxylic acid (limononic acid) waspresent together with minor concentrations of aC₉-dicarboxylic acids (limonic acid), itsoxo-derivative (keto-limonic acid), and itsdecarboxylated analogue (norlimonic acid). Mechanisticpathways for the formation of these products, some ofwhich are identified here for the first time, areproposed.