DEVEX-disdrometer evaluation experiment: Basic results and implications for hydrologic studies

Increasing our understanding of the small scale variability of drop size distributions (DSD), and therefore of several bulk characteristics of rainfall processes, has major implications for our interpretation of the remote sensing based estimates of precipitation and its uncertainty. During the spring and summer of 2002 the authors conducted the DEVEX experiment (disdrometer evaluation experiment) to compare measurements of natural rain made with three different types of disdrometers collocated at the Iowa City Municipal Airport in Iowa City, Iowa in the Midwestern United States. This paper focuses on the evaluation of the instruments rather than analysis of the hydrometeorological aspects of the observed events. The comparison demonstrates discrepancies between instruments. The authors discuss the systematic and random effects in terms of rainfall quantities, drop size distribution properties, and the observed drop size vs. velocity relationships. Since the instruments were collocated, the effects of the natural variability of rain are reduced some with time integration, isolating the instrumental differences. The authors discuss the status of DSD measurement technologies and the implications for a range of hydrologic applications from remote sensing of rainfall to atmospheric deposition to soil erosion and sediment transport in the environment. The data set collected during the DEVEX experiment is made available to the research community.     

Vegetation changes in the Jornada Basin from 1858 to 1998

Notes made by land surveyors in 1858 were utilized to estimate cover of grasses and shrubs on the Jornada Experimental Range (JER) and the Chihuahuan Desert Range Research Center (CDRRC) in the northern Chihuahuan Desert in southern New Mexico, USA. Portions of these areas have been previously assessed for historical vegetation dynamics but the entire 84,271 ha assessed in the 19th century has not been examined in total. In 1858, fair to very good grass cover occurred on 98% and 67% of the JER and CDRRC, respectively. Shrubs were present throughout both properties but 45% of the JER and 18% of the CDRRC were shrub free. Reconnaissance surveys, made to determine carrying capacity for livestock were made in 1915–1916 and 1928–1929 on the JER and in 1938 on the CDRRC, show that shrubs had made large increases in area occupied at the time of the surveys. Vegetation type maps were made of both properties in 1998. Mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) was the primary dominant on 59% of the JER in 1998 and creosotebush (Larrea tridentata) was the primary dominant on 27% of the area. On the CDRRC mesquite and creosotebush were primary dominants on 37% and 46% of the area, respectively. Grass cover has decreased greatly with the increase in shrubs and only shrub control efforts have maintained the once abundant black grama (Bouteloua eriopoda) as a primary dominant on 1% or less of the area on both properties.     

Oxygen Isotope Composition of Zircons from the Talnakh Economic Intrusion of the Noril’sk Province: First Data

Doklady Earth Sciences - This study presents the first results of oxygen isotope analyses (δ18O) collected on zircons from the Talnakh economic intrusion within the Noril’sk province....     

The GTC: An Advanced 10m Telescope for the ORM

The Gran Telescopio CANARIAS (GTC) is a high performance 10-m class telescope whose construction has been promoted by the IAC (Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias). It will be installed at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory (ORM), in the island of La Palma. First light is planned for end-2002. The key science drivers for the project are image quality, operational efficiency and reliability, as emphasized in the Conceptual Design Document which was finished in mid-97. The Preliminary Design is now proceeding on all aspects of the project. The GTC Project is presently funded at the 70% level by Spain. The scientific drives behind the GTC project are described here, as well as the current technical, managerial, and operational baseline. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Geochemische Untersuchung der Eisenerzooide des Doggersandsteins im nordöstlichen Bayern

Zusammenfassung Die Mineralzusammensetzung der Nadeleisenerzooide Ostbayerns aus dem Dogger wurde optisch, röntgenographisch und die chemische Zusammensetzung spektralanalytisch ermittelt. In den Ooidkernen wurden folgende Minerale festgestellt: Nadeleisenerz, Quarz, Ilmenit und seine Verwitterungsprodukte, Zirkon, Rutil, Magnetit, Hämatit, Turmalin und Granat. In der Ooidschale wurde außer Nadeleisenerz Kaolinit (10–15%) und etwas Illit nachgewiesen.Die Art der Ooidkerne, die Festlandsnähe und die geochemischen Befunde weisen auf eine exogen sedimentäre Bildung der Eisenerzlagerstätte in dem Dogger Ostbayerns hin.     

Pleistocene sediments of the eastern barents sea (Central Deep and Murmansk Bank Areas): Communication 1. Occurrence conditions and main structural features

The areal geological-geophysical study of Quaternary sediments was carried out in two areas of the eastern Barents Sea (Central Deep and Murmansk Bank). This communication is mainly dedicated to the results of seismoacoustic investigations. It has been established that the Quaternary sequence unconformably overlying the pre-Cenozoic strata in the studied areas is as follows (from bottom to top): marine-glaciomarine Late Glacial-Holocene sediments, massive diamictons (the main part of the section), and glaciotectonites formed after the underlying Mesozoic unconsolidated sediments. The Pleistocene diamictons, origin of which is still debatable, are the main studied object. They constitute two seismostratigraphic complexes (SSC). According to the accepted stratigraphic subdivision, they are represented by the Upper Weichselian SSC III (Maximum Last Glaciation) and Lower Weichselian SSC V (Middle Weichselian SSC IV is eroded here). Complexes SSC V and SSC III composed of till overlie the older sediments with the exaration unconformity. Complex SSC V is preserved locally, while SSC III is characterized by the regional distribution. Complex SSC III is universally enveloped unconformably without erosional surface by an acoustically uniform thin-bedded member of Late Glacial-Holocene glaciomarine and marine sediments (SSC II+I). Unlike SSC V, SSC III demonstrates lateral heterogeneity in both studied areas consisting of two seismofacies, one of which forms very specific acoustically transparent bodies (ATBs). Sediments of SSC III avoided subsequent erosion. Therefore, their glacial nature is distinctly reflected in the complex distribution of thickness and peculiar morphology of corresponding bodies.     

Environmental zonation across the Australian arid region based on long-term vegetation dynamics

Zonation of landscapes is generally based on broad scale biophysical data, field surveys, imagery and expert knowledge. Such zonation represents a static view of the environment and does not reflect dynamics and function. Arid environments are however often highly dynamic, and spatial and temporal patterns may be expressed over long periods of time. These dynamics need to be understood for management. Our aim is to understand the dynamics and functional response of vegetation in the Australian arid zone, and use this to inform and potentially improve the currently employed stratification. Principal component analysis of 25 years of satellite imagery identified underlying factors influencing patterns of arid vegetation growth, and regions of similar long-term response. Dominant factors of variation were identified as the spatial distribution of total vegetation growth, seasonality of growth, magnitude of seasonal variability in growth, and regularity of variation in growth. Additional variation resulted from episodic vegetation growth of limited spatial extent and duration. Classes expressing these functional components were compared with the existing biogeographical regions, revealing agreement in some instances, and in other cases adding information previously not available. The study demonstrates a new approach to Australian landscape zonation that has potential for much wider application.     

Assessing the water resources and ecological state of the Samur river (Eastern Caucasus)

The behavior of long-term changes in water resources of the transboundary Samur river is considered. It is found that there has been taking place a decrease in the river water flow rate over the course of the last four decades. Results from analyzing the ecological releases indicate that they would suffice to maintain the ecosystem of the river near its mouth in an acceptable state.     

Microdiamonds — Frontier of ultrahigh-pressure metamorphism: A review

This is a comprehensive review paper devoted to microdiamonds from ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic (UHPM) terranes incorporated in orogenic belts formed at convergent plate boundaries in Paleozoic-Mesozoic-Alpine time. When in 1980 the first small diamonds were discovered within “amphibolite-granulate facies” metamorphic rocks, it came as a great surprise that buoyant continental crust could be subducted to depths of hundreds of kilometers and then subsequently exhumed. Since then, much progress has been made in understanding the mechanism of these diamonds' formation, and the number of new diamond-bearing UHPM terranes was significantly increased, especially within European orogenes. Moreover, new variations in tectonic settings in which UHP rocks can be formed and exhumed came to the attention of geologists simply due to the finding of diamonds in places previously “forbidden” for their formation—e.g., oceanic islands, ophiolites, and forearc environments. Over the past decade, the rapidly moving technological advancement has made it possible to examine microdiamonds in detail and to learn that part of them has a polycrystalline nature; that they contain nanometric, multiphase inclusions of crystalline and fluid phases; and that they keep a “crustal” signature of carbon isotopes. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy, focused-ion-beam techniques, synchrotron infrared spectroscopy, micro X-ray diffraction, and nano-secondary ion mass spectrometry studies of these diamonds provide evidence that they keep traces of fluid originated from both crustal and mantle reservoirs, and that they probably interacted with deep mantle plumes. Hypotheses proposed for diamond formation in subduction zones founded on both analytical and experimental studies are discussed. The paper also emphasizes that the discovery of these microdiamonds (as well as coesite) triggered a major revision in the understanding of deep subduction processes, leading to a clear realization of how continental materials can be recycled into the Earth's mantle and geochemically rejuvenate it.