Estimating periphyton standing crop in streams: a comparison of chlorophyll a sampling and visual assessments

Periphyton standing crop is often measured as chlorophyll a but there is increasing interest in using visual assessments of periphyton cover. Visual methods are rapid and require no sample analysis, but can be regarded as subjective with high inter-operator variability. We investigated variability in periphyton standing crop across operators, rivers and time, as determined visually and from chlorophyll a measurements. We found that visual assessments (comprising percentage cover estimates of up to eight periphyton categories) distinguished sites and occasions as effectively as chlorophyll a. Furthermore, an estimate of chlorophyll a could be derived from the visual assessments. Because our surveys were conducted in only three rivers, general applicability of the derivation of estimated chlorophyll a from the visual assessments warrants further investigation. The current recommendation of 20 views was sufficient for realistic visual assessments of average cover. Overall, our results indicated that inter-operator variability in visual assessments need not be a major concern, given adequate training.     

Fluid-assisted granulite metamorphism: A continental journey

Lower crustal granulites, which constitute the base of all continents, belong to two series: high-pressure granulites generated by crustal thickening (subduction) and (ultra)high-temperature granulites associated with crustal extension. Fluid inclusions and metasomatic features indicate that the latter were metamorphosed in the presence of low-water activity fluids (high-density CO₂ and brines), which have invaded the lower crust at peak metamorphic conditions (fluid-assisted granulite metamorphism). High-pressure and (ultra)high-temperature granulites commonly occur along elongated paired belts. They were formed, from the early Proterozoic onwards, during a small number of active periods lasting a few hundreds of m.y. These periods were separated from each other by longer periods of stability. Each period ended with the formation of a supercontinent whose amalgamation coincided with low- to medium pressure (ultra)high-temperature granulite metamorphism, immediately before continental break-up. It is proposed that large quantities of mantle-derived CO₂ stored in the lower crust at the final stage of supercontinent amalgamation, are released into the hydro- and atmosphere during breakup of the supercontinent. Fluid-assisted granulite metamorphism, therefore, appears to be an important mechanism for transferring deep mantle fluids towards the Earth's surface. Possible consequences were, for example, the sudden end of Proterozoic glaciations, as well as the post-Cambrian explosion of life.     

Major and trace element compositions of melt particles and associated phases from the Yaxcopoil‐1 drill core,Chicxulub impact structure,Mexico

Abstract— Melt particles found at various depths in impactites from the Yaxcopoil‐1 borehole into the Chicxulub impact structure (Yucatán) have been analyzed for their major and trace element abundances. A total of 176 electron microprobe and 45 LA‐ICP‐MS analyses from eight different melt particles were investigated. The main purpose of this work was to constrain the compositions of precursor materials and secondary alteration characteristics of these melt particles. Individual melt particles are highly heterogeneous, which makes compositional categorization extremely difficult. Melt particles from the uppermost part of the impactite sequence are Ca‐ and Na‐depleted and show negative Ce anomalies, which is likely a result of seawater interaction. Various compositional groupings of melt particles are determined with ternary and binary element ratio plots involving major and trace elements. This helps distinguish the degree of alteration versus primary heterogeneity of melt phases. Comparison of the trace element ratios Sc/Zr, Y/Zr, Ba/Zr, Ba/Rb, and Sr/Rb with compositions of known target rocks provides some constraints on protolith compositions; however, the melt compositions analyzed exceed the known compositional diversity of possible target rocks. Normalized REE patterns are unique for each melt particle, likely reflecting precursor mineral or rock compositions. The various discrimination techniques indicate that the highly variable compositions are the products of melting of individual minerals or of mixtures of several minerals. Small, angular shards that are particularly abundant in units 2 and 3 represent rapidly quenched melts, whereas larger particles (>0.5 mm) that contain microlites and have fluidal, schlieric textures cooled over a protracted period. Angular, shard‐like particles with microlites in unit 5 likely crystallized below the glass transition temperature or underwent fragmentation during or after deposition.     

Cretaceous evolution of a metamorphic core complex,the Veporic unit,Western Carpathians (Slovakia): P–T conditions and in situ40Ar/39Ar UV laser probe dating of metapelites

Alpine metamorphism, related to the development of a metamorphic core complex during Cretaceous orogenic events, has been recognized in the Veporic unit, Western Carpathians (Slovakia). Three metamorphic zones have been distinguished in the metapelites: 1, chloritoid + chlorite + garnet; 2, garnet + staurolite + chlorite; 3, staurolite + biotite + kyanite. The isograds separating the metamorphic zones have been modelled by discontinuous reactions in the system K₂O–FeO–MgO–Al₂O₃–SiO₂–H₂O (KFMASH). The isograds are roughly parallel to the north‐east‐dipping foliation related to extensional updoming along low‐angle normal faults. Thermobarometric data document increasing P–T conditions from c. 500 °C and 7–8 kbar to c. 620 °C and 9–10 kbar, reflecting a coherent metamorphic field gradient from greenschist to middle amphibolite facies. ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar data obtained by high spatial resolution in situ ultraviolet (UV) laser ablation of white micas from the rock slabs constrain the timing of cooling and exhumation in the Late Cretaceous. Mean dates are between 77 and 72 Ma; however, individual white mica grains record a range of apparent ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages indicating that cooling below the blocking temperature for argon diffusion was not instantaneous. The reconstructed metamorphic P–T–t path is ‘clockwise’, reflecting post‐burial decompression and cooling during a single Alpine orogenic cycle. The presented data suggest that the Veporic unit evolved as a metamorphic core complex during the Cretaceous growth of the Western Carpathian orogenic wedge. Metamorphism was related to collisional crustal shortening and stacking, following closure of the Meliata Ocean. Exhumation was accomplished by synorogenic (orogen‐parallel) extension and unroofing in an overall compressive regime.     

Recent advances in understanding ice sheet dynamics

Glaciers and ice sheets play a dynamic role in Earth's climate system, influencing regional- and global-scale climate and responding to climate change on time scales from years to millennia. They are also an integral part of Earth's landscape in alpine and polar regions, where they are an active agent in isostatic, tectonic, and Earth surface processes. This review paper summarizes recent progress in understanding and modelling ice sheet dynamics, from the microphysical processes of ice deformation in glaciers to continental-scale processes that influence ice dynamics. Based on recent insights and research directions, it can be expected that a new generation of ice sheet models will soon replace the current standard. Improvements that can be foreseen in the near future include: (i) the addition of internally-consistent evolutionary equations for ice crystal fabric (anisotropic flow laws), (ii) more generalized flow laws that include different deformation mechanisms under different stress regimes, (iii) explicit incorporation of the effects of chemical impurities and grain size (dynamic recrystallization) on ice deformation, (iv) higher-order stress solutions to the momentum balance (Stokes' equation) that governs ice sheet flow, and (v) the continued merger of ice sheet models with increasingly complex Earth systems models, which include fully-coupled subglacial hydrological and geological processes. Examples from the Greenland Ice Sheet and Vatnajökull Ice Cap, Iceland are used to illustrate several of these new directions and their importance to glacier dynamics.     

Hot springs of Rhodesia: Their noble gases,isotopic and chemical composition

Four of Rhodesia's hottest spring complexes (54–100°C) were studied. Tritium contents were very low, compared to adjacent rivers, indicating that the samples studied were indigenous, deep-seated water which had undergone negligible intermixing with surface water.The noble-gas measurements revealed: (1) the waters are meteoric; (2) the noble gases were kept in closed-system conditions in the ground; (3) paleotemperatures are 26–31°C; (4) the boiling Binga springs lost part of their noble gases.Independently, measurements of stable isotopes indicate the meteoric origin of the springs. The chemical composition of the waters clearly reflects their origin from two groups of rocks — one from Karroo sediments and one from crystalline rocks.     

地震的感应磁效应（一）——三维电磁感应的数值理论

地震的感应磁效应包括两部分:（一）三维电磁感应的数值理论;（二）地震感应磁效应的模拟计算。本文是其中的第一部分,从Maxwell方程推得的扩散方程出发,给出了一般三维电磁感应的基本方程、边界条件和求解方法,建立了完整的三维电磁感应的数值理论。计算结果将另文讨论。     

MIGRATION IN THE PRESENCE OF A RUGGED INTERFACE WITH HIGH VELOCITY CONTRAST*

In the western coal-mining area of Ruhrkohle AG, reflection seismic prospecting for the Carboniferous coal measures is severely impaired by structures with halokinetic features. These structures make the interface between Mesozoic and Paleozoic layers, i.e., the top of Zechstein in general, very rugged. Unfortunately the velocity contrast at this interface is very high in that area, the ratio of velocities being 1.5 to 2.0. Therefore, migration and stacking become a problem. Three types of migration are presented:

• 1 (f, x)-time-migration with vertical time-to-depth conversion as a second step.
• 2 Kirchhoff migration down to a level determined approximately by the highest points of the top of Paleozoics, i.e., 0.35 s, and Kirchhoff-downward continuation for all times exceeding 0.35 s. Intermediate static corrections for these latter times with subsequent (f, k)-time-migration and final vertical time-to-depth conversion.
• 3 Direct depth migration in the (f, x)-domain using three interval velocities.

In all cases an intermediate picking of the velocity interfaces is necessary. In case 2 this occurs at an earlier stage of the process than in case 1, and in case 3 at a still earlier stage. The results of the second and third migration procedures are superior to those of the first. Possibilities for misinterpretation of faults are reduced considerably when the second or third migration procedure is applied.     

APPLICATION OF REFRACTION SEISMICS TO SUBSALT TECTONIC PROBLEMS IN A DEEP SALTDOME BASIN*

Despite the use of CDP and digital methods the Zechstein base is still the deepest horizon in the vast salt-dome basin of Central Europe for which continuous information can be obtained by reflection seismics. Thus in North-western Germany, in addition to reflection seismics, the refraction seismic method has been increasingly used for a reliable survey of deeper horizons. The first part of the paper deals with the investigation of the various possibilities and limitations of refraction seismics with regard to the investigation of Pre-Zechstein layers in a basin with a tectonically very complicated overburden. The recording techniques specially developed for continuous profiling of the desired refraction seismic arrivals and the data processing methods are described. The main problems of interpretation are then discussed, in particular with regard to depth representation. The advantages and disadvantages of the various methods, e.g. Gardner's, Hales' and Wyrobek's, and of the wave-front method, are compared. On account of the tectonically complicated overburden Thornburgh's wave-front method proved to be the most useful. In a further section the various possibilities for velocity determinations are mentioned, e.g. Wyrobek's determination of the overburden velocity, for which the wave-front method automatically furnishes the necessary corrections to a deep datum. Finally, some examples are given for the results obtained, including some incidental information on the deeper crust.     

X-ray and optical-to-infrared follow-up observations of the transient X-ray burster SAX J1810.8–2609

We have performed a ROSAT follow-up observation of the X-ray transient SAX J1810.8–2609 on 1998 March 24 and detected a bright X-ray source (named RX J1810.7–2609) which was not detected during the ROSAT all-sky survey in September 1990. Optical-to-infrared follow-up observations of the 10" radius ROSAT HRI X-ray error box revealed one variable object ( R =19.5±0.5 on March 13, R >21.5 on 1998 August 27) which we tentatively propose as the optical/IR counterpart of RX J1810.7–2609≡SAX J1810.8–2609.