Interaction of various flow systems in small alpine catchments: conceptual model of the upper Gurk Valley aquifer,Carinthia, Austria

Small alpine valleys usually show a heterogeneous hydraulic situation. Recurring landslides create temporal barriers for the surface runoff. As a result of these postglacial processes, temporal lakes form, and thus lacustrine fine-grained sedimentation intercalates with alluvial coarse-grained layers. A sequence of alluvial sediments (confined and thus well protected aquifers) and lacustrine sediments (aquitards) is characteristic for such an environment. The hydrogeological situation of fractured hard-rock aquifers in the framing mountain ranges is characterized by superficially high hydraulic conductivities as the result of tectonic processes, deglaciation and postglacial weathering. Fracture permeability and high hydraulic gradients in small-scaled alpine catchments result in the interaction of various flow systems in various kinds of aquifers. Spatial restrictions and conflicts between the current land use and the requirements of drinking-water protection represent a special challenge for water resource management in usually densely populated small alpine valleys. The presented case study describes hydrogeological investigations within the small alpine valley of the upper Gurktal (Upper Carinthia, Austria) and the adjacent Höllenberg Massif (1,772 m above sea level). Hydrogeological mapping, drilling, and hydrochemical and stable isotope analyses of springs and groundwater were conducted to identify a sustainable drinking-water supply for approximately 1,500 inhabitants. The results contribute to a conceptual hydrogeological model with three interacting flow systems. The local and the intermediate flow systems are assigned to the catchment of the Höllenberg Massif, whereas the regional flow system refers to the bordering Gurktal Alps to the north and provides an appropriate drinking water reservoir.     

Use of targets to track 3D displacements in highly vegetated areas affected by landslides

Monitoring landslides with terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) is currently a well-known technique. One problem often encountered is the vegetation that produces shadow areas on the scans. Indeed, the points behind a given obstacle are hidden and thus occluded on the point cloud. Thereby, locations monitored with terrestrial laser scanner are mostly rock instabilities and few vegetated landslides, being difficult or even impossible to survey vegetated slopes using this method with its classical non-full wave form. The Peney landslide (Geneva, Switzerland) is partially vegetated by bushes and trees, and in order to monitor its displacements during the drawdown of the Verbois reservoir located at its base, an alternative solution has been found. We combined LiDAR technique with 14 targets made of polystyrene placed at different locations inside and outside the landslide area. The obtained displacements were compared with classical measurement methods (total station and extensometer), showing good resemblance of results, indicating that the use of targets in highly vegetated areas could be an efficient alternative for mass movements monitoring.     

Tectonic significance of Triassic mafic rocks in the June Complex,Sanandaj–Sirjan zone,Iran

This study concentrates on the petrological and geochemical investigation of mafic rocks embedded within the voluminous Triassic June Complex of the central Sanandaj–Sirjan zone (Iran), which are crucial to reconstruct the geodynamics of the Neotethyan passive margin. The Triassic mafic rocks are alkaline to sub-alkaline basalts, containing 43.36–49.09 wt% SiO₂, 5.19–20.61 wt% MgO and 0.66–4.59 wt% total alkalis. Based on MgO concentrations, the mafic rocks fall into two groups: cumulates (Mg# = 51.61–58.94) and isotropic basaltic liquids (Mg# = 24.54–42.66). In all samples, the chondrite-normalized REE patterns show enrichment of light REEs with variable (La/Yb)_N ratios ranging from 2.48 to 9.00, which confirm their amalgamated OIB-like and E-MORB-like signatures. Enrichment in large-ion lithophile elements and depletion in high field strength elements (HFSE) relative to the primitive mantle further support this interpretation. No samples point to crustal contamination, all having undergone fractionation of olivine + clinopyroxene + plagioclase. Nevertheless, elemental data suggest that the substantial variations in (La/Sm)_PM and Zr/Nb ratios can be explained by variable degrees of partial melting rather than fractional crystallization from a common parental magma. The high (Nb/Yb)_PM ratio in the alkaline mafic rocks points to the mixing of magmas from enriched and depleted mantle sources. Abundant OIB alkaline basalts and rare E-MORB appear to be linked to the drifting stage on the northern passive margin of the Neotethys Ocean.     

Satellite estimates and subpixel variability of rainfall in a semi-arid grassland

卫星估雨精度的不确定性受到当地降雨类型和像元内降雨非均匀性影响,而结合这两个关键因素开展半干旱草原卫星估雨的研究有限.2009年夏,我们在中国锡林郭勒半干旱草原用多部微雨雷达和雨量计构建了9 km卫星像元降雨观测网,观测了像元内降雨非均匀性(空间变异系数CV),并评估了卫星估雨精度.结果表明:(1)CV值受像元内平均降雨量,降雨类型,降雨云面积及移向等影响,如高Cv值的降雨过程大多为平均降雨量小,对流性降雨过程,降雨云边缘像元CV值较高;(2)TRMM 3B42V7卫星估雨产品适用性较好,CMORPH和PERSIANN次之,但TRMM 3B42V7易在半干旱草原湖泊处高估降雨.     

Ex situ cultivation of Aplysinaaerophoba close to in situ conditions: ecological, biochemical and histological aspects

Sponges provide the largest number of biologically active natural products known from the marine environment and continue to be a very well studied phylum of marine fauna. The Mediterranean sponge Aplysina aerophoba accumulates brominated isoxazoline alkaloids such as Aplysinamisin-1, Aerophobin-2, Isofistularin-3 and the biotransformation product Aeroplysinin-1, which possesses, for example, antibiotic and cytotoxic properties. Until now, it is still being discussed which organisms – the sponge itself or associated microorganisms – are responsible for metabolite production. For cultivating Aplysina individuals under ex situ conditions, we surveyed relevant ecological factors in situ and controlled them in our aquarium system. We maintained A. aerophoba for more than 9 months and analysed changes of metabolite content and composition, microbial association as well as morphology in situ and ex situ under different light exposure. Although sponges showed slight reduction during maintenance, ex situ cultivation similar to in situ conditions provides a promising method to keep sponges and obtain their bioactive metabolites.     

On the occurrence and origin of anthropogenic radionuclides found in a fragment of the Chelyabinsk (LL5) meteorite

A piece of the 2013 Chelyabinsk meteorite was investigated for its content of anthropogenic radionuclides. In addition to traces of cesium‐137 that had been previously reported for this particular fragment, we found an unusually high amount of strontium‐90, which indicates that the source of this contamination was the Kyshtym accident (1957). A high Sr‐90/Cs‐137 activity ratio is characteristic for Kyshtym‐derived contaminations. Based on the cesium‐137 content in the soil from the finding site, it is estimated that the fragment was contaminated with soil particles in the milligram range upon impact. Investigation of the soil revealed very unusual ferromagnetic characteristics and an iron‐rich chemical composition. Mössbauer spectroscopy indicated the presence of steel components in this soil, suggesting that the investigated meteorite fragment was found in an industrial dumping site rather than natural soil.     

Observations of some sedimentary processes acting on a tidal flat

In order to examine sedimentary processes acting on tidal flats, eighteen foot valves were “plumbed” into a small tidal cove in southern New Hampshire. Transport of suspended sediment was determined by comparing concentrations (determined by filtering) at 15 and 30 cm above the tidal flats throughout a tidal cycle. In general, sediment resuspension occurs more readily on the flood tide than the ebb. The concentration of suspended sediment follows the water mass distribution and is affected to a lesser degree by tidal currents and small amplitude waves. Deposition occurs during slack water shortly after high tide primarily in the bottom regime (15 cm); it is probably related to coarser particle sedimentation. The water mass distribution was not a simple rise and fall perpendicular to the bottom contours, but rather followed a slow clockwise gyre. The net effect on the suspended sediments was to impart a “longshore” component of drift to the suspended load during the tidal cycle.     

Metamorphic evolution of the palaeozoic series of the Betic Cordilleras (Nevado-Filabride complex,SE Spain) and its relationship with the alpine orogeny

The Palaeozoic rocks of the Veleta nappe (Nevado-Filábride complex, Betic Cordilleras, Southern Spain) consist of graphite-mica schists with oxychlorite — chloritoid — albite — garnet porphyroblasts. Crystal chemistry of the minerals, their phase relations and microfabrics are consistent with a normal prograde metamorphic evolution and a slight retrograde overprint. The basis of the overlying Mulhacén nappe consists also of Palaeozoic graphite-mica schists, but with clear signs of polymetamorphic development. An early low-pressure metamorphism with andalusite and chloritoid is overprinted by high-pressure metamorphism with kyanite and Mg-rich chloritoid. This later development is of Alpine age, which is demonstrated by the metamorphic conditions of Permo-Triassic rocks in the upper part of the Mulhacén nappe, included formation of eclogites, followed by an amphibolite facies overprint. The metamorphism of the Veleta nappe is regarded as pre-Alpine: a possible Alpine overprint did not cause an increase in temperatures. No inverse metamorphic gradient exists between Veleta and Mulhacén nappes, because of the different ages of metamorphism.

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Zusammenfassung Die paläozoischen Gesteinsserien der Veletadecke im Nevado-Filábride Komplex (Betische Kordillere, Südspanien) bestehen aus Graphitglimmerschiefern mit Oxichlorit — Chloritoid — Albit — Granat — Porphyroblasten. Die Kristallchemie der Minerale, ihre Phasenbeziehungen und Mikrogefüge sind konsistent mit einer normalen prograden Metamorphoseentwicklung und leichter retrograder Überprägung. Die Basis der darüberliegenden Mulhacendecke besteht ebenfalls aus paläozoischen Graphitglimmerschiefern, die jedoch deutliche Anzeichen für polymetamorphe Entwicklung zeigen: Eine frühe Niedrigdruckmetamorphose mit Andalusit und Chloritoid wird überprägt von einer Hochdruckmetamorphose mit Disthen und Mg-reichem Chloritoid. Diese spätere Entwicklung ist, wie die Metamorphosebedingungen der im Hangenden folgenden permotriadischen Gesteine der Mulhacendecke zeigen, frühalpin und schließt Eklogitbildung mit ein, gefolgt von einer amphibolitfaziellen Überprägung. Die Metamorphose der Veletadecke wird als präalpine Metamorphose angesehen: Eine mögliche alpine Überprägung hat keinen Temperaturanstieg verursacht. Zwischen Mulhacendecke und Veletadecke besteht kein inverser Metamorphosegradient, sondern ein Sprung in den Metamorphosealtern.

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Résumén El Paleozoico del Manto del Veleta (complejo Nevado-Filábride, Cordilleras Béticas, suroeste de España) está formado por micasquistos grafitosos con porfiroblastos de oxicloritas — chloritoide — albita — granate. La cristalquímica de los minerales, sus relaciones de fase y microfábrica son coherentes con una evolución metamórfica progresiva normal y con un ligero retrometamorfismo. La base del suprayacente Manto del Mulhacén está también formado por micasquistos grafitosos paleozoicos, pero muestran signos evidentes de un desarrollo polimetamórfico. El metamorfismo más antiguo tiene unas caracteristicas de baja presión con la formación de andalucita y cloritoide. Estas rocas sufren los efectos de un nuevo proceso metamorfico de edad alpina, lo que puede ser demostrado por comparación con las rocas Permo-Triásicas de la parte superior del Manto del Mulhacén, en las cuales las eclogitas formadas en la primera fase son afectadas por otra en la facies de las anfibolitas. El metamorfismo del Manto del Veleta puede ser probablemente considerado como pre-Alpino: si está afectado por el metamorfismo alpino, éste no ha causado un incremento de temperatura. No existe, por tanto, inversión del gradiente metamórfico entre los Mantos del Veleta y del Mulhacén puesto que la edad del metamorfismo en ambos es diferente.

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