The radio–optical correlation in steep-spectrum quasars

Using complete samples of steep-spectrum quasars, we present evidence for a correlation between radio and optical luminosity which is not caused by selection effects, nor caused by an orientation dependence (such as relativistic beaming), nor a by-product of cosmic evolution. We argue that this rules out models of jet formation in which there are no parameters in common with the production of the optical continuum. This is arguably the most direct evidence to date for a close link between accretion on to a black hole and the fuelling of relativistic jets. The correlation also provides a natural explanation for the presence of aligned optical/radio structures in only the most radio-luminous high-redshift galaxies.     

Holocene vegetation change in northernmost Fennoscandia and the impact on prehistoric foragers 12 000–2000 cal. a BP – A review

While single pollen records are widely used in reconstructing the environment for nearby prehistoric settlements, they are less helpful when addressing large‐scale issues of variation in human settlement patterns. In order to assess the impact of vegetation change on regional prehistoric settlement and subsistence patterns in an ecotone sensitive area, we inferred the general change in main vegetation types based on palaeobotanical investigations from across northernmost Fennoscandia. Tundra vegetation was predominant during the Lateglacial and earliest parts of the Holocene. Maritime birch forests rich in ferns started to expand c. 11 000 cal. a BP and became dominant from 10 000 cal. a BP. Pine expanded from the NE of the investigation area and pine‐birch forest dominated in the inland around 8000 cal. a BP. A gradual degeneration of forest towards more open birch woodland started c. 6000 cal. a BP with the most marked change around 3500 cal. a BP. Along the northern outer coast, this eventually led to open heathland. Comparison with the archaeological setting suggests a general correlation between low forest cover and extensive mobility patterns, while widespread and varied forest cover appear to have led to a more sedentary way of life. The background for this is arguably that the forested landscapes hosted a larger diversity of resources within a shorter foraging distance, while areas and periods with low forest cover required longer travels to obtain the desired prey and materials.     

Diatom stratigraphy in five offshore sediment cores from the northwestern Baltic proper implying large scale circulation changes during the last 8500 years

Five Holocene sediment cores from the northwestern Baltic proper were analysed for lithology, siliceous microfossil assemblages and geochemical parameters. The data indicate that surface water salinity and redox conditions below the halocline have changed drastically at least four times since the Baltic Sea changed from a fresh water lake (the Ancylus Lake) to a semi-enclosed brackish water sea (the Litorina Sea) c. 8500 yrs BP. These variations appear to be mainly effects of changes in water depth at the thresholds of inlet areas. Based on these changes, and earlier studies of the shoreline displacement in the inlet areas, we propose a tentative model for changes of large scale water circulation in the Baltic Sea during the last c. 8500 yrs.At the transition from fresh to brackish water 8500 ¹⁴C yrs BP, upwelling of nutrient rich bottom water started to occur, causing a slight increase in primary production. Diatom assemblages in sediments indicate a slow rise in surface water salinity during this period.At 7000-6500 ¹⁴C yrs BP, surface water salinity and primary production simultaneously increased, as anoxic bottom conditions were established at depth below the halocline. We suggest that high primary production was caused by increased input of oceanic water, leading to increased upwelling of nutrient rich bottom water. At the anoxic bottoms laminated sediments formed until 5000-4500 ¹⁴C yrs BP. This period (c. 7000-4500 ¹⁴C BP) was contemporaneous with the post-glacial transgression maximum in Öresund, and we suggest it represents the most saline phase of the Baltic Sea post-glacial history.Due to a regression in Öresund starting 4500 ¹⁴C yrs BP, upwelling decreased and the halocline was lowered, resulting in decreased primary productivity and hence oxic deep water conditions. The diatom assemblages of the sediments indicate a lowering of salinity at the beginning of this period.We suggest that the second period of anoxic bottom conditions c. 2000-1500 ¹⁴C yrs BP was caused by a change of dominating inflows from the Öresund to the Belt Sea. This resulted in decreased salinity of the inflowing water which did not penetrate to the deepest parts of the basin as frequently as before. The diatom record indicates both a second lowering of salinity and a change in the large scale water circulation at the beginning of this period.     

Estimation of sea surface topography in the Norwegian sea using gravimetry and Geosat altimetry

An analysis of the quasi-stationary sea surface topography (QSST) is carried out in the Norwegian Sea region (54°<ø<72°, -25°<<20°) using marine gravimetry and one year of Geosat ERM altimetry. As reference models the geopotential model OSU91A and the QSST model OSU89D were used. Two procedures to extract the QSST from mean sea surface heights and gravity anomalies were tested. Spherical FFT techniques were applied in both procedures. The results show that QSST associated with wavelength shorter than 4000 km exists. Relative to the OSU89D model the QSST was found to have a variance of (0.219 m)² and a correlation length of 1.105°. The circulation pattern recovered in this paper agree with results of oceanographic analysis.     

Spatial and Temporal Variability of Benthic Respiration in a Scottish Sea Loch Impacted by Fish Farming: A Combination of In Situ Techniques

The effects of fish farm activities on sediment biogeochemistry were investigated in Loch Creran (Western Scotland) from March to October 2006. Sediment oxygen uptake rates (SOU) were estimated along an organic matter gradient generated from an Atlantic salmon farm using a combination of in situ techniques: microelectrodes, planar optode and benthic chamber incubations. Sulphide (H₂S) and pH distributions in sediment porewater were also measured using in situ microelectrodes, and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) fluxes were measured in situ using benthic chambers. Relationships between benthic fluxes, vertical distribution of oxidants and reduced compounds in the sediment were examined as well as bacterial abundance and biomass. Seasonal variations in SOU were relatively low and mainly driven by seasonal temperature variations. The effect of the fish farm on sediment oxygen uptake rate was clearly identified by higher total and diffusive oxygen uptake rates (TOU and DOU, respectively) on impacted stations (TOU: 70 ± 25 mmol O₂ m^?2 day^?1; DOU: 70 ± 32 mmol O₂ m^?2 day^?1 recalculated at the summer temperature), compared with the reference station (TOU: 28.3 ± 5.5 mmol O₂ m^?2 day^?1; DOU: 21.5 ± 4.5 mmol O₂ m^?2 day^?1). At the impacted stations, planar optode images displayed high centimetre scale heterogeneity in oxygen distribution underlining the control of oxygen dynamics by small-scale processes. The organic carbon enrichment led to enhanced sulphate reduction as demonstrated by large vertical H₂S concentration gradients in the porewater (from 0 to 1,000 μM in the top 3 cm) at the most impacted site. The impact on ecosystem functions such as bioirrigation was evidenced by a decreasing TOU/DOU ratio, from 1.7 in the non-impacted sediments to 1 in the impacted zone. This trend was related to a shift in the macrofaunal assemblage and an increase in sediment bacterial population. The turnover time of the organic load of the sediment was estimated to be over 6 years.     

The stabilisation of wet sediment cores by means of a polyethylene glycol/freeze-drying treatment for display and permanent storage

A reversible method is presented to transform waterlogged sediment cores into dry and stable specimens which can go on exhibition or into permanent storage, needing no special precautions. Wet sediment core segments are bath-impregnated with polyethylene glycol of molecular weight 3,350 (PEG 3,350) dissolved in water. The samples are then subjected to a freeze-drying process, during which the PEG forms a stabilising and bonding porous network structure in the capillary system of the sediment. Standard sediment cores at least 1 m long become strong enough to stand upright. Sediment types ranging from muddy deep-sea sediments to very coarse littoral Halimeda sand were successfully stabilised. For standard cores of 10-cm diameters split length-wise, impregnation times vary from 2 weeks for coarse sand to 6–10 weeks for more compacted sediments. With regard to the stability of the samples and the visual clarity of detail, best results were obtained by impregnation with 25 to 60% solutions of PEG 3,350, coarse sediments needing more PEG than finer ones. Colour changes are systematic – the processed samples are lighter in appearance and the contrasts are enhanced, but there is no serious shift in colour tones. The PEG can easily be re-dissolved and washed out of the sediments. Display specimens can thus be made available for research again.     

Multi-satellite ocean tide modelling—the K1 constituent

All major ocean tide constituents are aliased into signals with periods less than 90 days from TOPEX/POSEIDON altimetry, except the K₁ constituent. The aliased K₁ has a period of 173 days. Consequently, it might be confounded with height variations caused by the semiannual cycle having a period of 183 days.The correlation between K₁ and the semiannual signal has been investigated both locally and globally using combinations of T/P, ERS-1 and GEOSAT observations. Subsequently, two empirical methods have been investigated to improve the mapping of K₁ from multiple satellites.At high latitudes, where the presence of crossing tracks cannot separate K₁ from the semiannual signal from TOPEX/POSEIDON, the importance of including ERS-1 and GEOSAT observations was demonstrated. A comparison with 29 pelagic and coastal tide gauges in the Southern Ocean south of 50°S gave 5.59 (M₂), 2.27 (S₂) and 5.04 (K₁) cm RMS agreement for FES95.1 ocean tide model. The same comparison for the best empirical estimated constituents based on TOPEX/POSEIDON + ERS-1 + GEOSAT gave 4.32, 2.21, and 4.29 cm for M₂, S₂ and K₁, respectively.