A review of various factors influencing the stable carbon isotope ratio of organic lake sediments by the change from glacial to post-glacial environmental conditions

A survey is made of various factors influencing the ${}^{13}\text{C}{}^{12}\text{C}$ ratio of the organic component in lake sediments, focusing on the behaviour at the change from glacial to post-glacial environmental conditions.Increase in the ¹³C content of the organic sediment is caused by increase in temperature and the corresponding decrease of the supply of molecular CO₂ in the water of the lakes. An increase in the rate of organic production in the lakes may also, perhaps, cause a corresponding ¹³C increase. An increase of the fermentation of organic mud in the lakes may also have an effect in the same direction.Decrease in the ¹³C content of the organic sediment is caused by the change of the relative amounts of production of plankton and submersed macrophytes in the lakes from mainly submersed macrophytes to mainly plankton. A decrease towards almost complete absence of bicarbonate and CO₂ originating from carbonate rocks will also lead to a ¹³C decrease in the organic sediments. The same effect has the change of the terrestrial vegetation cover from almost complete absence to complete cover. A possible decrease of the ¹³C content in the atmospheric CO₂ has an effect in the same direction.     

Gravity and S-wave modelling across the Jan Mayen Ridge,North Atlantic; implications for crustal lithology

The horizontal components from fourteen Ocean Bottom Seismometers deployed along four profiles focused along the western margin of the Jan Mayen microcontinent, North Atlantic, have been modelled with regard to S-waves, based on P-wave models obtained earlier. The seismic models have furthermore been constrained by 2D gravity modelling. High V _p/V _s-ratios (2.3–7.9) within the Cenozoic sedimentary section are attributed to significant porosities, whereas V _p/V _s-ratios in the order of 1.9–2.2 for the Mesozoic and Paleozoic sedimentary rocks indicate shale-dominated lithology throughout the area. The eastern side of the Jan Mayen Ridge is interpreted as a passive, volcanic margin, based on relatively high crustal V _p/V _s-ratios (1.9), whereas lower V _p/V _s-ratios (1.75–1.8) suggest the presence of intermediate composition crust and non-volcanic margin on the western side of the ridge. In the westernmost part of the Jan Mayen Basin, slightly increased upper mantle V _p/V _s-ratios may indicate some degree of serpentization of upper mantle peridotites.     

On lipid surface films on the sea. I. A simple method for sampling and studies of composition

A method for collection of surface films on the sea has been developed and tested at various places along the Swedish West Coast. Considerable amounts of lipids on the sea surface were found even when no seaslicks were observed. Triglycerides, free fatty acids, and wax esters are the dominating constituents, and there are characteristic deviations in the fatty-acid patterns compared to the corresponding lipids dissolved in the sub-surface water. Organochlorine residues, phthalic acid esters and heavy metals also occur in considerable amounts.     

Remedial measures against radioactive Caesium in Swedish lake fish after Chernobyl

The aim of this work is to give a summary of the work on Cs-137 in Swedish lakes carried out mainly by our group (the Liming-mercury-caesium project) between 1986 and 1990. The focus is on results from extensive field experiments carried out in 41 lakes testing various remedial measures to speed up the natural recovery of Cs-137 in lakes: Lake liming and wet land liming with primary rock lime, sedimentary rock lime and so-called mixed lime, which also contains nutrients; potash treatment and intensive fishing. Selected results: The remedies have given the intended water-chemical response. None of the methods used works effectively as cure, i.e., no rapid and clear reduction in the concentrations of radioactive caesium in fish is obtained in comparison with lakes where the waterchemical or biological conditions are not changed. In lakes with long water turnover time and with low values of, foremost, conductivity, hardness and potassium, the fish had relatively higher concentrations at the same fallout levels. The differences present between the lakes as regards the continued magnitude of the change in concentration in fish can foremost be linked to factors controlling the secondary load (i.e., the internal loading and the input from the catchment). A successful potash treatment (in oligotrophic lakes) may imply that the natural recovery will be at the most 5% faster compared to no treatment. This would give quite positive implications in the long run since the ecological half-life for Cs-137 in pike (the top predator in these lake types) is very long. The time interval between the remedies and the latest fish analyses (about 2 years on average) is not sufficient to obtain (statistically) clear-cut results on these the small effects of the remedies. A longer time series of data is required for this.     

The border as an engine for mobility and spatial integration: A study of commuting in a Swedish–Norwegian context

The purpose of the study was to analyse how cross-border commuting differed from intranational commuting in Sweden, and how cross-border mobilities affected spatial integration. The authors analysed patterns and spatial flows of cross-border commuting by comparing them with characteristics of intranational commuting. In the article, they explore the assumption that the border constitutes an ‘engine’ for work-related mobility, which affects processes of spatial integration in cross-border areas. The empirical material comprised data from surveys of commuting from the Swedish county of Värmland to Norway and commuting within Värmland. The findings showed that cross-border commuting shared common features with intranational commuting, including how the frequency of commuting was dependent on distance. The motives for commuting differed, and the reasons for working in Norway were economic rather than professional. In terms of spatial integration, cross-border commuting was mainly one-directional, from Sweden to Norway, while leisure mobility and migration tended to be in the opposite direction. The authors conclude that the border region is characterised by integration through specialisation, which involves a permanent state of ‘transient’ mobility. Thus, a win-win situation can be distinguished, in which the border serves as a resource and an ‘engine’ for cross-border integration, mobility and economic activities.     

The importance and limitations of social networks and social identities for labour market integration: The case of Ghanaian immigrants in Bergen,Norway

Whereas refugees and larger immigrant groups’ integration in the Norwegian labour market has received considerable research attention, less is known about the labour market integration of small, non-refugee immigrant groups from West African countries such as Ghana. The purpose of the article is to examine the role of social networks and social identities for the differentiated labour market integration outcomes among Ghanaian immigrants in the city of Bergen. Based on data produced through in-depth interviews, participant observation and informal conversations, the authors argue that Ghanaian immigrants’ ability to obtain jobs is determined by more than simply having the appropriate educational and language qualifications, and largely depends on having favourable social identities and being embedded in social networks beyond the Ghanaian immigrant community. They find that those who mainly relied on Ghanaian networks found it difficult to circumvent labour market hindrances and they predominantly obtained menial jobs. The authors conclude that Norwegian job-seekers networks played a crucial role in the immigrants’ opportunities and for potential Norwegian employers’ perception of their employability, especially in professional and semi-professional jobs.     

Quaternary denudation of southern Fennoscandia – evidence from the marine realm

Throughout the last 1.1 million years repeated glaciations have modified the southern Fennoscandian landscape and the neighbouring continental shelf into their present form. The glacigenic erosion products derived from the Fennoscandian landmasses were transported to the northern North Sea and the SE Nordic Seas continental margin. The prominent sub‐marine Norwegian Channel trough, along the south coast of Norway, was the main transport route for the erosion products between 1.1 and 0.0 Ma. Most of these erosion products were deposited in the North Sea Fan, which reaches a maximum thickness of 1500 m and has nearly 40 000 km³ of sediments. About 90% of the North Sea Fan sediments have been deposited during the last 500 000 years, in a time period when fast‐moving ice streams occupied the Norwegian Channel during each glacial stage. Back‐stripping the sediment volumes in the northern North Sea and SE Nordic Seas sink areas, including the North Sea Fan, to their assumed Fennoscandian source area gives an average vertical erosion of 164 m for the 1.1–0.0 Ma time period. The average 1.1–0.0 Ma erosion rate in the Fennoscandian source area is estimated to be 0.15 mm a^?1. We suggest, however, that large variations in erosion rates have existed through time and that the most intense Fennoscandian landscape denudation occurred during the time period of repeated shelf edge ice advances, namely from Marine Isotope Stage 12 (c. 0.5 Ma) onwards.     

Design Methodology for Grout Curtains Under Dams Founded on Rock

Geotechnical and Geological Engineering - Grout curtains are commonly constructed under dams to reduce the seepage through the rock foundation. In the design of grout curtains, empirical methods...     

Conditioning geological surfaces to horizontal wells

Computational Geosciences - Kriging is a standard method for conditioning surfaces to observations. Kriging works for vertical wells, but may produce surfaces that cross horizontal wells between...