Retrospective analysis: bile hydrocarbons and histopathology of demersal rockfish in Prince William Sound,Alaska, after the Exxon Valdez oil spill

Demersal rockfish are the only fish species that have been found dead in significant numbers after major oil spills, but the link between oil exposure and effect has not been well established. After the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill in Prince William Sound, Alaska, several species of rockfish (Sebastes spp.) from oiled and reference sites were analyzed for hydrocarbon metabolites in bile (1989-1991) and for microscopic lesions (1990 and 1991). Biliary hydrocarbons consistent with exposure to Exxon Valdez oil were elevated in 1989, but not in 1990 or 1991. Significant microscopic findings included pigmented macrophage aggregates and hepatic megalocytosis, fibrosis, and lipid accumulation. Site differences in microscopic findings were significant with respect to previous oil exposure in 1991 (P=0.038), but not in 1990. However, differences in microscopic findings were highly significant with respect to age and species in both years (P<0.001). We conclude that demersal rockfish were exposed to Exxon Valdez oil in 1989, but differences in microscopic changes in 1990 and 1991 were related more to age and species differences than to previous oil exposure.     

On depth and temperature biases in bathythermograph data: Development of a new correction scheme based on analysis of a global ocean database

The World Ocean Database 2005 as of May 2009 is used to estimate temperature and sample depth biases of expendable (XBT) and mechanical (MBT) bathythermographs by comparing bathythermograph temperature profiles with more accurate bottle and conductivity/temperature/depth (CTD) data. It is shown that the application of depth corrections estimated earlier from side-by-side XBT/CTD inter-comparisons, without accounting for a pure thermal bias, leads to even larger disagreement with the CTD and bottle reference temperatures. Our calculations give evidence for a depth-variable XBT fall-rate correction with the manufacturer-derived depth being underestimated in the upper 200 m and overestimated below this depth. These results are in agreement with side-by-side inter-comparisons and direct fall-rate estimates. Correcting XBT sample depths by a multiplicative factor which is constant with depth does not allow an effective elimination of the total temperature bias throughout the whole water column. The analysis further suggests a dependence of the fall rate on the water temperature which was reported earlier in the literature. Comparison among different correction schemes implies a significant impact of systematic biases on the estimates of the global ocean heat content anomaly.     

Tracing glacier wastage in the Northern Tien Shan (Kyrgyzstan/Central Asia) over the last 40 years

The status and dynamics of glaciers are crucial for agriculture in semiarid parts of Central Asia, since river flow is characterized by major runoff in spring and summer, supplied by glacier- and snowmelt. Ideally, this coincides with the critical period of water demand for irrigation. The present study shows a clear trend in glacier retreat between 1963 and 2000 in the Sokoluk watershed, a catchment of the Northern Tien Shan mountain range in Kyrgyzstan. The overall area loss of 28% observed for the period 1963–2000, and a clear acceleration of wastage since the 1980s, correlate with the results of previous studies in other regions of the Tien Shan as well as the Alps. In particular, glaciers smaller than 0.5 km² have exhibited this phenomenon most starkly. While they registered a medium decrease of only 9.1% for 1963–1986, they lost 41.5% of their surface area between 1986 and 2000. Furthermore, a general increase in the minimum glacier elevation of 78 m has been observed over the last three decades. This corresponds to about one-third of the entire retreat of the minimum glacier elevation in the Northern Tien Shan since the Little Ice Age maximum.     

Determinants of corporate adaptation to climate change in winter tourism: An econometric analysis

While corporate adaptation strategies in response to climate change have been characterized, the determinants of adaptation have not been comprehensively analyzed. Knowledge of these determinants is particularly useful for policy makers to provide favorable conditions in support of corporate adaptation measures. Based on unique data from a survey of Swiss ski lift operators, this paper empirically examines such determinants at the business level. Our econometric analysis with linear regression and count data models finds a positive influence of the awareness of possible climate change effects on the scope of corporate adaptation. Surprisingly, no significant influence of the vulnerability to climate change effects on the scope of adaptation could be found. Finally, the dependency on the affected business and the ability to adapt influence the specific strategic directions of corporate adaptation.     

Nucleonic gamma-ray production in pulsar wind nebulae

Observations of the inner radian of the Galactic disk at very high energy (VHE) gamma-rays have revealed at least 16 new sources. Besides shell type super-nova remnants, pulsar wind nebulae (PWN) appear to be a dominant source population in the catalogue of VHE gamma-ray sources. Except for the Crab nebula, the newly discovered PWN are resolved at VHE gamma-rays to be spatially extended (5–20 pc). Currently, at least 3 middle aged (t>10 kyrs) PWN (Vela X, G18.0-0.7, and G313.3+0.6 in the “Kookaburra” region) and 1 young PWN MSH 15-52 (t=1.55 kyrs) have been identified to be VHE emitting PWN (sometimes called “TeV Plerions”). Two more candidate “TeV Plerions” have been identified and have been reported at this conference (Carrigan, These proceedings, in preparation). In this contribution, the gamma-ray emission from Vela X is explained by a nucleonic component in the pulsar wind. The measured broad band spectral energy distribution is compared with the expected X-ray emission from primary and secondary electrons. The observed X-ray emission and TeV emission from the three middle aged PWN are compared with each other.     

Die Untersuchung des Morondavadeltas,Madagaskar

Zusammenfassung In den Jahren 1969 bis 1971 wurden in der Morondava-Küstenebene im Westen Madagaskars umfangreiche hydrogeologische Untersuchungen durchgeführt, in deren Zusammenhang mit Hilfe von geoelektrischen Sondierungen der Aufbau der oberen 150 m des quartären bis neogenen Untergrundes der Ebene geklärt werden konnte. Durch die Interpretation der geoelektrischen Sondierprofile und deren Anordnung in einer Profilkarte war eine Korrelation von Schichtkomplexen hohen Widerstandes möglich. Die Untersuchung ergab, da\ der Untergrund der Küstenebene ein Delta darstellt, das von zwei Flu\systemen geschüttet wurde. Die Mündungen der heutigen Flüsse Morondava und Andranomena sind gegenüber den alten Flu\systemen nach Süden verschoben.

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In 1969 to 1971 comprehensive hydro-geological investigations were carried out in the Morondava Plains in western Madagaskar. In the scope of these investigations, the structure of the upper 150 m of the quaternary and neogene deposits in the coastal plains were determined by means of geo-electrical soundings. The interpretation of the soundings by establishing a profile map, allowed for a correlation of the sequences with high electric resistivity. The investigation showed that the underground of the coastal plains represents a delta, deposited by two rivers. The mouths of the actual Morondava and Andranomena rivers are shifted towards the south in relation to the ancient river systems.

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Résumé D'importantes investigations hydro-géologiques ont été effectuées de 1969 à 1971 dans la plaine de Morondava à l'ouest de Madagascar, grâce auxquelles, en procédant également à des sondages géo-électriques, il a été possible de déterminer la structure des 150 m supérieurs du sous-sol quaternaire à néogène.Par l'interprétation des sondages géo-électriques et leur transposition sur une carte des profils, il a été possible d'obtenir une corrélation des couches à haute resistivité. Des recherches ont montré que le sous-sol de la plaine cÔtière représente un delta, remblayé par deux systèmes fluviaux. L'embouchure des fleuves actuels Morondava et Andranomena est déplacée vers le sud par rapport aux anciens systèmes fluviaux.

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Vortrag, gehalten am 28. Februar 1974 in Bochum anlä\lich der 64. Jahrestagung der Geologischen Vereinigung.     

Natural and synthetic ferroglaucophane

Amphiboles approximating the composition of the ferroglaucophane end member, Na₂Fe₃Al₂Si₈O₂₂(OH)₂, have not been found in nature prior to 1969. Chemical, physical and petrologic data of four specimens of that mineral are given, two from Southern Italy and two from New Caledonia (Black, 1970). The ferroglaucophane end member was synthesized in seeded runs at 500° C, 5000 bars fluid pressure with oxygen fugacity defined by the wüstite-magnetite (WM) buffer. X-ray data and cell dimensions (a=9.686 Å, b=17.89, c=5.317, β=103° 45.2′ V=894.9 ų) are presented along with microprobe data that confirm the end member composition. Under these conditions of synthesis the ferroglaucophane grew metastably, however. Stability relations of the synthetic end member and of one natural specimen were investigated in a temperature range from 250° C to 500° C and at 3 and 5 kb with different oxygen buffers. At relatively low oxygen fugacities (WM buffer, QFM buffer) ferroglaucophane breaks down above 350–360° C. Under more oxidizing conditions (HM buffer) ferroglaucophane may not be stable even at very low temperatures. Mineral facies and chemical bulk composition of rocks that would favor the natural occurrence of ferroglaucophane are discussed. As assemblages with ferroglaucophane can have crystallized only below a very specific upper temperature limit, it is proposed to direct some attention towards that mineral.     

Spatial Variability of Trends in the Rainfall-Runoff Relationship: A Mesoscale Study in the Mosel Basin

The spatial variability of observed trends in rainfall structure over the last 5 decades and its effects on the spatial variability of maximum daily water levels in the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg (Europe) were investigated in 9 sub-basins of the Mosel river. Over the past 25 years, an increase in westerly atmospheric circulation types during winter months has caused an increase in winter rainfall totals, duration and intensity. More specifically, the spatial variability of trends having affected winter rainfall totals, duration and intensity have led to spatially varying positive trends in maximum daily water levels. Observed trends in rainfall characteristics and maximum daily water levels during winter show closely linked spatial patterns that are strongly related to the topography of the study area.