Stratosphere key for wintertime atmospheric response to warm Atlantic decadal conditions

There is evidence that the observed changes in winter North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) drive a significant portion of Atlantic Multi Decadal Variability (AMV). However, whether the observed decadal NAO changes can be forced by the ocean is controversial. There is also evidence that artificially imposed multi-decadal stratospheric changes can impact the troposphere in winter. But the origins of such stratospheric changes are still unclear, especially in early to mid winter, where the radiative ozone-impact is negligible. Here we show, through observational analysis and atmospheric model experiments, that large-scale Atlantic warming associated with AMV drives high-latitude precursory stratospheric warming in early to mid winter that propagates downward resulting in a negative tropospheric NAO in late winter. The mechanism involves stratosphere/troposphere dynamical coupling, and can be simulated to a large extent, but only with a stratosphere resolving model (i.e., high-top). Further analysis shows that this precursory stratospheric response can be explained by the shift of the daily extremes toward more major stratospheric warming events. This shift cannot be simulated with the atmospheric (low-top) model configuration that poorly resolves the stratosphere and implements a sponge layer in upper model levels. While the potential role of the stratosphere in multi-decadal NAO and Atlantic meridional overturning circulation changes has been recognised, our results show that the stratosphere is an essential element of extra-tropical atmospheric response to ocean variability. Our findings suggest that the use of stratosphere resolving models should improve the simulation, prediction, and projection of extra-tropical climate, and lead to a better understanding of natural and anthropogenic climate change.     

Modeling of Landslide‐Generated Tsunamis with GRASS

The following research aims to enhance and spread the capacity of assessing risk due to landslide‐generated tsunamis by fostering the use of a GIS (Geographic Information System), and in this particular instance, an Open Source GIS (where “Open Source” can be loosely defined as freely available source code). For this purpose, we tested a procedure to be spatially implemented in the Open Source GRASS GIS through developing a module named r.impact.tsunami that simulates landslide‐generated tsunami. In this article we present its application in a case study performed on Como Lake (Lago di Como) in northern Italy. The review of the results identified sources of uncertainties while the model sensitivity outlined the influence of the parameters governing the model. Moreover, in order to verify the model validity, we implemented a new module (r.swe), that simulates the tsunami propagation and run‐up with the shallow water equations, and compared the results. Notwithstanding non‐negligible differences, the two models produced results of the same magnitude; this confirmed the validity of both models, although a rigorous validation of the models could not be performed due to the lack of observed data.     

Kinematic and geochronological constraints on shear deformation in the Ferriere-Mollières shear zone (Argentera-Mercantour Massif,Western Alps): implications for the evolution of the Southern European Variscan Belt

International Journal of Earth Sciences - In the Western Alps, a steeply dipping km-scale shear zone (the Ferriere-Mollières shear zone) cross-cuts Variscan migmatites in the...     

Redox Potential and Seasonal Porewater Biogeochemistry of Three Mountain Wetlands in Southeastern Kentucky, USA

Redox potentials (Eh) were monitored bimonthly and porewater chemistry was analyzed seasonally at three slightly-acidic, high-elevation Kentucky wetlands that differed in hydrology, parent materials, and vegetation. At all sites, Eh values were below 300 mV, which indicated that reducing conditions persisted within the upper 90 cm and fluctuated mainly within the range of iron and sulfate reduction. Significant relationships of Eh values with depth were observed only at the Martins Fork wetland, where precipitation was the primary water source. The strongest and most stable reducing conditions, observed at the Kentenia site, reflected consistently high water levels, which were sustained by ground water. The third wetland (Four Level) was distinguished by irregular Eh fluctuations coinciding with strong seasonal ground-water upwelling. Although Fe³⁺ and SO₄ ²⁻ were the primary terminal electron acceptors in all wetlands, porewater chemistry also varied significantly by season and soil depth in response to piezometric water level fluctuations. Additional factors that influenced porewater chemistry included: (1) the presence of limestone parent materials that affected porewater pH, Ca²⁺, and Mg²⁺; and (2) the prevalence of sphagnum moss or graminoid species that influenced dissolved organic carbon, CO₂, and CH₄. Results from this study indicated the diverse range and importance of multiple factors in controlling biogeochemical processes and properties in small, high-elevation Appalachian wetlands.     

Intense drought and flooding events in the Rio Negro and relation with the tropical Pacific and Atlantic variability modes

The relationship of the hydrological variability of the Rio Negro in Manaus and the dominant large-scale climate variability patterns for the 1902–2007 period is investigated using the quantile method and composite analyses. Variations of the Rio Negro Level (RNL) during its 3-month high (May to July—MJJ) and low (October to December—OND) phases are examined separately. The El Niño (La Niña) related maximum warming (cooling) in the central tropical Pacific during its mature and decaying stages modulates the atmospheric circulation in the tropics and displaces the Walker circulation cell eastward (westward), so that its sinking (rising) branch occurs over western Amazon and causes negative (positive) precipitation anomalies in this region. These anomalous climate conditions occur before the Rio Negro high phase (MJJ) and contribute to reduce (increase) the RNL and lead to a very low (very high) event in the river. On the other hand, the SST variability modes in the tropical Atlantic mainly during the transition from wet to dry season modulate the precipitation variations over western Amazon in OND. The very high events are more frequent after the 1960’s decade and the very low events, before the 1930’s decade. Therefore, the occurrence of these events contains a multidecadal scale variability. The results also indicate that the variations in the rainfall in western Amazon occur up to 9 months in advance and modulate the RNL in Manaus. The results presented here might be useful for monitoring purposes of the RNL.

     

Microbial dynamics in cyclonic and anticyclonic mode-water eddies in the northwestern Sargasso Sea

The EDdy Dynamics, mixing, Export, and Species composition (EDDIES) project provided a unique opportunity to evaluate the response of the microbial community and further understand the biological and biogeochemical consequences of mesoscale perturbation events in an oligotrophic system. In order to characterize microbial dynamics, we performed measurements of bacterial biomass (BB) and production (BP) and phytoplankton pigment analyses in two upwelling eddies in the Sargasso Sea sampled in 2004 and 2005. We also observed a 3-fold increase in BP at the Bermuda Atlantic Time-series Study (BATS) site during the passage of a cyclonic eddy in 2003. Although the integrated BB and BP over 140 m in 2004 and 2005 eddies remained within the climatological range measured at the BATS site, there was systematic variability in bacterioplankton dynamics across both eddies. Cyclonic eddy C1 demonstrated decreased BP at the feature's center relative to its periphery, and BP was not correlated with total chlorophyll a (TChl a) variability. However, BP correlated with prymnesiophyte pigments throughout the feature. In contrast, mode-water eddy A4 showed an enhancement in BP at the eddy center (EC) relative to its edges and was coincident with elevated TChl a, high primary production measurements, and a high concentration of diatoms. In eddy A4, the tight relationship between enhanced BP, TChl a and specific phytoplankton taxa implies that the phytoplankton community structure was an important factor influencing BP variability. While the heterotrophic bacterial response in C1 and A4 was not enhanced relative to BATS summer climatology, these data and the presence of similar nutrient fields across both eddies suggest that BP and BB were influenced by the eddy perturbations and responded to changes in the phytoplankton community.     

The Late Holocene tephra record of the central Mediterranean Sea: Mapping occurrences and new potential isochrons for the 4.4–2.0 ka time interval

Five cores from the southern Tyrrhenian and Ionian seas were studied for their tephra and cryptotephra content in the 4.4–2.0 ka time interval. The chronological framework for each core was obtained by accelerator mass spectrometry ¹⁴C dating, the occurrence of distinct marker tephra and stratigraphic correlation with adjacent records. Tephrochronology allowed us to correlate the analyzed deposits with tephra markers associated with Somma-Vesuvius (79 ad ), Ischia Island (Cretaio), Mt Etna (FG, FL and FS) and Campi Flegrei (Astroni-Agnano Monte Spina) events. For the first time in the marine setting, a large single glass data set is provided for the Late Holocene Etnean marker beds including the FS tephra (ca. 4.3 ka). Moreover, unknown deposits from Lipari (ca. 2.2–2.0 ka) and Vulcano (3.6–3.3 ka) are also recognized at more distal sites than previously reported. These results contribute to improve the high-resolution tephrostratigraphic framework of the central Mediterranean Sea. They also provide new insights into the chemical composition and dispersal pattern of tephras that can be used as inter-archive tools for regional and ‘local’ stratigraphic correlations and for addressing paleoclimate research.     

Mélanges and other types of block-in-matrix formations in the Cantabrian Zone (Variscan Orogen,northwest Spain): origin and significance

Block-in-matrix formations in the Variscan foreland of Spain (Cantabrian Zone) occur in two different geological settings. The major block-in-matrix formations are mélanges, which appear as carpets beneath or ahead of submarine thrust systems. These mélanges may reach up to kilometric thickness and are mostly composed of broken formations (boudinaged sequences) of late Carboniferous age and scattered ‘exotic’ blocks derived from older Palaeozoic formations. Moreover, the mélanges in the Cantabrian Zone also include subordinate debris flow deposits with a chaotic block-in-matrix fabric (olistostromes). The source of the mélange blocks was the front of advancing nappes, chiefly the upper part of the nappe stacks. Therefore, the Cantabrian mélanges are interpreted as originated through submarine sliding and slumping associated with steep slopes at the orogenic front. The different types of rock bodies of these mélanges may be related to the degree of lithification of the sediments or rocks during slumping. So, broken formations are boudinaged sequences where the boudins or blocks resulted from extensional faults developed in lithified or semilithified limestones and sandstones, whereas the unlithified muddy matrix underwent continuous deformation. The scattered ‘exotic’ blocks ranging in age from early Cambrian to early Carboniferous were incorporated into the mélanges as individual blocks from competent well-lithified formations, originally located in the lower part of the nappe stacks. Although the Cantabrian Zone mélanges include olistostromic intervals, most of the olistostromes of this zone occur in a different geological setting. They are usually intercalated in the normal marine deposits of the Variscan foreland basin and, in contrast to the mélanges, they are mostly related to the margins of carbonate platforms, ahead of moving nappes. Finally, other instances of olistostromes are related to slopes generated by limb rotation of growth folds, which developed on submarine wedge-top successions.     

The Geoarchaeology of Utica,Tunisia: The Paleogeography of the Mejerda Delta and Hypotheses Concerning the Location of the Ancient Harbor

Although the ancient site of Utica has been studied since the 19th century, the location of its harbors remains unresolved as they were buried under sediments as the Mejerda delta prograded and left Utica 10 km inland. Using relief data and a coring survey with sedimentological analysis, we identify the dynamics of the delta's progradation, which produced a double system of alluvial fans. These show that the ancient bay of Utica silted up faster and earlier than was thought, probably before the end of the Punic period. Combined with the radiocarbon dates from coring, this suggests that the harbor lay on the north‐western side of the Utica promontory, communicating with the sea by a marine corridor west of the northern compartment of the delta. As the infilling of the ancient bay progressed, this corridor narrowed until it disappeared completely in the early 5th/mid‐6th century A.D., when a peat bog developed on the northern side of the promontory, sealing the fate of Utica as a port. This relative environmental stability ended in the 9th–10th century A.D. when about 4 m of sediment, probably of fluvial origin, covered the peat bog, leaving the site more than 4.5 m above the local sea level.