Decorative marbles from the Krkonoše-Jizera Terrane (Bohemian Massif,Czech Republic): provenance criteria

Marbles from western part of the Krkonoše-Jizera Terrane (northern part of the Bohemian Massif) have been studied to obtain mineropetrographic and chemical reference data for provenance studies. Samples from six different quarries were analysed by mineralogical-petrographic and geochemical methods (optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction, stable isotope ratio analysis, cathodoluminescence, bulk magnetic susceptibility). Petrographic characteristics permit a distinction between fine-grained to medium-grained marbles from the Jizera Mts (amphibolite metamorphic facies) and fine-grained marbles from the Ještěd Mts (low-grade greenschist facies). The samples studied are mainly calcitic, with the exception of those from Raspenava in which dolomite is abundant in two types. The mineralogical composition of the insoluble residues is clinochlore ± serpentine ± tremolite ± diopside ± pyrite + magnetite in case of the locality Raspenava and clinochlore + muscovite ± quartz ± pyrite ± rutile ± haematite in case of the localities from the Ještěd Mts. δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O variations in primary and secondary carbonate phases allow to distinguish genetically different carbonate veins and permit quarry separation in one case (Raspenava, Jizera Mts). The δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O values of the groundmass range from −1 to +3‰ and from −8 to −20‰ (PDB), respectively. The δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O values of secondary carbonate veins decrease to −3‰ and reach more negative values up to −26‰ in case of δ¹⁸O. The fabric of cathodomicrofacies allows the distinction between calcite and dolomite, except three localities (Pilínkov, Horní Hanychov, Jitrava—rose type) with majority of quenchers (high content of iron in carbonate). The genetically different calcite is characterised by a pale and dark orange luminescence distribution. Serpentine, tremolite, forsterite, opaque minerals and quartz have no luminescence and very dull luminescence, respectively. The majority of studied marbles exhibits low values of the bulk magnetic susceptibility, with the exception of those from Raspenava rich in magnetite.     

Observations of acoustic-gravity waves in the ionosphere generated by severe tropospheric weather

Atmospheric waves influence the dynamics and energetic budget of the upper atmosphere. Using the continuous HF Doppler sounder, we study the wave activity in the ionosphere during tropospheric convective storms in western and central part of the Czech Republic. The study is focused on acoustic-gravity waves in the period range 2–30 minutes. We discuss possible methods of distinguishing the waves emitted by meteorological sources from waves of different origin, particularly waves of geomagnetic origin. In two cases out of twenty-five analysed, we found waves in the infrasonic period range which might be generated by exceptionally intense meteorological activity in the troposphere. The results differ considerably from those previously obtained in North America. In the central part of the United States, infrasonic waves were frequently observed during convective storms. As a possible reason, we discuss different intensity and dynamics of weather systems in both regions.     

Homogeneous Velocity Models of The West Bohemian Swarm Region Obtained By Grid Search

West Bohemian earthquake swarms are used to determine the parameters of simple homogeneous velocity models of the individual subregions of the given area, based on a group of earthquakes that occurred in these subregions. The grid search method is used for location. Models yielding the minimum sum of squares of the travel-time residua in locating the whole group of earthquakes in the given subregion are considered suitable. Relocation obtained by grid search is compared with that obtained by the FASTHYPO method. The computations indicate that the subregions under consideration can be, from the point of view of earthquake location, sufficiently represented by homogeneous models, but the models differ for the data from different subregions. The velocities of these models are given. The models under consideration are compared with some of the previously published 1-D models of the broader region of Western Bohemia.     

Video Observations of the 2006 Leonid Outburst

We carried out double station observations of the Leonid meteor shower outburst, which occurred in the morning hours of November 19, 2006. Using image-intensified cameras we recorded approximately 100 Leonid meteors. As predicted, the outburst was rich especially in fainter meteors. The activity profile shows that the peak of the outburst occurred at 4:40 ± 0:05 UT. The maximum reached flux was 0.03 meteoroids km⁻² hod⁻¹ for meteors brighter than +6.5 magnitude.     

Ground-air temperature tracking and multi-year cycles in the subsurface temperature time series at geothermal climate-change observatory

Long-term observations of air, near-surface (soil) and ground temperatures, collected between 1994 and 2011, monitored in the Geothermal Climate Change Observatory at Spo?ilov, Prague (GCCO) are analyzed to better understand the relationship between these quantities and to describe the mechanism of heat transport at the land-atmosphere boundary layer. The 17 years long monitoring series provided a surprisingly small mean ground-air temperature offset of only 0.31 K with no clear annual course and with the offset value changing irregularly even on a daily scale. Such value is substantially lower than similar values (1–2 K and more) found elsewhere, but it may be well characteristic for a mild temperate zones, when all so far available information referred rather to more southern locations. As many other observed geophysical data, temperature time series consist of a systematic pattern (usually a set of identifiable components) contaminated by random noise, which makes the identification of the proper pattern difficult. To identify the existing systematic patterns (cycles) of the temperature-time series at several depth levels in the investigated depth interval 0–40 m, the observed data were processed with the help of the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) and Recurrence Quantification Interval (RQI) analysis. The latter represents recently developed powerful technique to uncover hidden periodicities in a noisy time environment. At low frequency band the RQI may provide far finer resolution than the conventional FFT technique. The results proved considerable similarity for all investigated depth levels. In addition to the annual wave all measured series proved to have a more complex pattern including predominantly 8-year and 11 years long periodicities. The results were compared with similar analysis of the meteorological air temperature series as well as with the results of other similar studies. The potential dynamics explaining the occurrence of the 8-year wave is briefly discussed.     

Analysis of uncertainties in regional climate model outputs over the Czech Republic

In this study we present results of uncertainty analysis in eight regional climate model (RCM) outputs over the area of the Czech Republic. The RCM simulations come from the EU 5th Framework program project PRUDENCE (Prediction of Regional scenarios and Uncertainties for Defining EuropeaN Climate change risks and Effects). Using the analysis of variance we have found that the main source of uncertainty in projected changes of mean seasonal air temperature is the driving global climate model. In case of precipitation changes, the RCM is the largest source of uncertainty in all seasons except for the spring. With the second method, the Reliability Averaging method, we have focused on the uncertainty coming from the RCM itself. The results of both methods showed that the relative contribution of the regional climate model to the uncertainty of simulated mean seasonal air temperature and precipitation changes is largest in summer and smallest in winter.