Size distribution of the Late Devonian ammonoid Prolobites: indication for possible mass spawning events

Worldwide, the ammonoid genus Prolobites is only known from a few localities, and from these fossil beds almost all of the specimens are adults as shown by the presence of a terminal growth stage. This is in marked contrast to the co-occurring ammonoid genera such as Sporadoceras, Prionoceras, and Platyclymenia. Size distribution of specimens of Prolobites from three studied localities show that, unlike in the co-occurring ammonoid species, most of the material belongs to adult individuals. The morphometric analysis of Prolobites delphinus (Sandberger & Sandberger 1851) demonstrates the intraspecific variability including variants with elliptical coiling and that dimorphism is not detectable. The Prolobites material shows close resemblance to spawning populations of Recent coleoids such as the squid Todarodes filippovae Adam 1975. Possible mass spawning events are discussed in the context of the size distribution and limited geographic range of Prolobites. Finally, the potential fecundity and brooding behaviour of Prolobites is hypothesized using the examples of post spawning egg care in Recent coleoids.     

Detecting space–time patterns of disease risk under dynamic background population

Journal of Geographical Systems - We are able to collect vast quantities of spatiotemporal data due to recent technological advances. Exploratory space–time data analysis approaches can...     

Spatial and temporal variability of Holocene temperature in the North Atlantic region

The early Holocene climate of the North Atlantic region was influenced by two boundary conditions that were fundamentally different from the present: the presence of the decaying Laurentide Ice Sheet (LIS) and higher than present summer solar insolation. In order to assess spatial and temporal patterns of Holocene climate evolution across this region, we collated quantitative paleotemperature records at sub-millennial resolution and synthesized their temporal variability using principal components analysis (PCA). The analysis reveals considerable spatial variability, most notably in the time-transgressive expression of the Holocene thermal maximum (HTM). Most of the region, but especially areas peripheral to the Labrador Sea and hence closest to the locus of LIS disintegration, experienced maximum Holocene temperatures that lagged peak summer insolation by 1000-3000 years. Many sites from the northeastern North Atlantic sector, including the Nordic Seas and Scandinavia, either warmed in phase with maximum summer insolation (11,000-9000 years ago) or were less strongly lagged than the Baffin Bay-Labrador Sea region. These spatially complex patterns of Holocene climate development, which are defined by the PCA, resulted from the interplay between final decay of the LIS and solar insolation forcing.     

Zur Frage der Geschwindigkeit des Deckenschubes

Zusammenfassung In den folgenden Ausführungen werden Daten über die Geschwindigkeit der Bewegung von Schubdecken in der Hauptbewegungsphase geliefert. Die hierfür verwendeten Beispiele stammen aus den Ostalpen und Westkarpaten. Eine sichere Geschwindigkeits-Bestimmung ist derzeit noch nicht durchführbar. Es können aber Minimalbewegungswerte von etwa 1,5 mm/Jahr errechnet werden. Die reale Transportgeschwindigkeit könnte auch wesentlich höher liegen, vielleicht bei 10–20 mm/Jahr.

---

This paper presents facts pertaining to the velocity of the overthrust of nappes during a tectonical phase by means of examples from the Eastern Alps and the Western Carpathians. An exact determination of this velocity is still not possible. One can calculate minimum values of near 1,5 mm/year. The real velocity of the overthrusts of nappes might be much higher, perhaps 10–20 mm/year.

---

Résumé L'article expose des données sur la vitesse des mouvements des nappes de charriage pendant la phase principale de transport. Les exemples présentés proviennent des Alpes orientales et des Carpathes occidentales. Il n'est pas possible jusqu'à présent de faire une détermination plus exacte de cette vitesse. Mais on peut calculer un minimum de transport d'environ 1,5 mm/an. La vitesse réelle des mouvements de translation pourrait même être nettement plus élevée, et atteindre peut-être 10–20 mm/ an.

---

. . . 1,5 /. , 10–20 /.

     

Heat blanketing envelopes and thermal radiation of strongly magnetized neutron stars

Strong (B?10⁹ G) and superstrong (B?10¹⁴ G) magnetic fields profoundly affect many thermodynamic and kinetic characteristics of dense plasmas in neutron star envelopes. In particular, they produce strongly anisotropic thermal conductivity in the neutron star crust and modify the equation of state and radiative opacities in the atmosphere, which are major ingredients of the cooling theory and spectral atmosphere models. As a result, both the radiation spectrum and the thermal luminosity of a neutron star can be affected by the magnetic field. We briefly review these effects and demonstrate the influence of magnetic field strength on the thermal structure of an isolated neutron star, putting emphasis on the differences brought about by the superstrong fields and high temperatures of magnetars. For the latter objects, it is important to take proper account of a combined effect of the magnetic field on thermal conduction and neutrino emission at densities ρ?10¹⁰ g?cm^?3. We show that the neutrino emission puts a B-dependent upper limit on the effective surface temperature of a cooling neutron star.     

Airborne near-real-time monitoring of assembly and parking areas in case of large-scale public events and natural disasters

A critical requirement for an effective and coordinated response by public entities tasked with management, security, and relief during large-scale public events or natural disasters is the availability of current situational information. However, today there is a lack of comprehensive operational systems allowing a near-real-time (NRT) collection, visualization, and provision of situational information for larger areas. In this study a methodological framework is proposed, which allows an NRT extraction and visualization of situational information based on aerial image acquisition. The framework combines digital image analysis using a generic supervised information extraction approach based on statistical modeling with a downstream web-based visualization component realized through an automatic update of web services. Even though being applicable for different scenarios, the workflow will be demonstrated for the specific use-case of a NRT monitoring of open spaces including assembly and parking areas. Compared to other approaches, image analysis results indicate a high robustness and a low demand for computational power sources (7 seconds per image). Due to a high degree of automation, the proposed workflow contributes to a NRT ‘end-to-end’ monitoring system, which was developed within the VABENE (German acronym for ‘traffic management under large-scale public events and disaster conditions’) project covering all parts from the acquisition of raw aerial imagery to the dissemination of information products to end-users.