Deformation mechanism maps for feldspar rocks

Deformation mechanism maps for feldspar rocks were constructed based on recently published constitutive laws for dislocation and grain boundary diffusion creep of wet and dry plagioclase aggregates. The maps display constant temperature contours in stress-grain size space for strain rates ranging from 10⁻¹⁶ to 10⁻¹² s⁻¹.Two fields of dominance of grain boundary diffusion-controlled creep and dislocation creep are separated by a strongly grain size-sensitive transition zone. For wet rocks, diffusion-controlled creep dominates below a grain size of about 0.1–1 mm, depending on temperature, stress, strain rate and feldspar composition. Plagioclase aggregates containing up to 0.3 wt.% water as often found in natural feldspars are more than 2 orders of magnitude weaker than dry rocks. The strength of water-bearing feldspar rocks is moderately dependent on composition and water fugacity.For a grain size range of about 10–50 μm commonly observed in natural ultramylonites, the deformation maps predict that diffusion-controlled creep is dominant at greenschist to granulite facies conditions. Low viscosity estimates of 10¹⁸–10¹⁹ Pa·s from modeling postseismic stress relaxation and channel flow of the continental lower crust can only be reconciled with laboratory experiments assuming dislocation creep at high temperatures >900 °C or, at lower temperatures, diffusion creep of fine-grained rocks possibly localized in abundant high strain shear zones. For similar thermodynamic conditions and grain size, lower crustal rocks are predicted to be less than order of magnitude weaker than upper mantle rocks.     

Glacier mass balance variability in the Cordillera Blanca, Peru and its relationship with climate and the large-scale circulation

A 41-year-long reconstructed annual mean glacier mass balance record from the Cordillera Blanca, Peru, was investigated for its climate sensitivity toward temperature, humidity and precipitation, and its links with the large-scale atmospheric circulation. On interannual timescales precipitation variability appears to be the main driver for glacier mass balance fluctuations in the Cordillera Blanca. This is corroborated by an analysis of the relationship between mass balance variations and local- to regional-scale precipitation variability. Temperature tends to enhance precipitation in driving the mass balance signal, as dry years are often characterized by warm conditions, while wet years usually coincide with cold anomalies. In some years, however, warm and wet or cold and dry conditions coincide, under which circumstances temperature minimizes or even neutralizes the effects of precipitation. Surface energy balance studies have shown that changes in atmospheric humidity significantly affect the melt rates of tropical glaciers, but the lack of long and high-quality in-situ measurements precludes a detailed quantitative assessment of its role on interannual timescales in the Cordillera Blanca. Sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTA) in the tropical Pacific exert the dominant large-scale forcing on interannual time scales, leading to negative mass balance anomalies during El Niño and above average mass balance during La Niña episodes. In general the teleconnection mechanism linking ENSO with glacier mass balance is similar to what has previously been described for the Bolivian Altiplano region. Changes in the upper-tropospheric zonal flow aloft associated with ENSO conditions determine the amount of snowfall during the wet season and thereby significantly affect the glacier mass balance. Because this teleconnection mechanism is spatially unstable and oscillates latitudinally along the subtropical Andes, it affects the Cordillera Blanca in most, but not all years. The relationship between ENSO and glacier mass balance is therefore characterized by occasional ‘break downs’, more common since the mid-1970's, when El Niño years with above average mass balance and La Niña events with negative mass balance have been observed.     

Simulation of the development of gypsum maze caves

The development of gypsum maze caves under artesian conditions has been simulated. The numerical model simulations show that the evolution of maze caves in this type of setting requires structural preferences such as laterally extended fissure networks in a horizon of the gypsum layer. Without any structural preferences vertical shafts rather than maze caves are predicted to develop. The most important stage for the development of horizontal caves under artesian conditions is found to be the initial karstification period. During this period the structure of the mature conduit system is established. The solutional enlargement of conduits is spatially extended, total dissolution rates are higher than the later ones.     

Der Einfluß der mechanischen Zerkleinerung auf den Kalium-Gehalt von Biotitfraktionen

Zusammenfassung Die vorliegenden Untersuchungen zeigen, daß durch das Vermählen und Zerreiben von Biotiten Korngrößenfraktionen mit sehr unterschiedlichen Kaliumgehalten entstehen. Zuerst ist mit abnehmender Korngröße ein leichter Anstieg der Kaliumwerte in den Fraktionen 300–100 m ø zu verzeichnen, dann fallen sie in den Siebfraktionen unterhalb 100 m ø sehr stark ab.Die am stärksten differierenden Werte wurden beim Biotit des Granits von der Kösseine beobachtet, bei welchem die Fraktion 200–100 m ø einen Kaliumgehalt von 7,11±0,08 Gew.-% und die Fraktion <25 m ø einen Wert von 4,39±0,05 Gew.-% aufweist. Gerade dieser Biotit besitzt ein besonders starkes Defizit in der Schicht der 12-koordinierten Alkaliionen. Diese Schicht ist im Mittel nur mit 1,67 positiven Valenzen pro Elementarzelle besetzt, was einem Unterschuß von 16,5% entspricht.Es ist naheliegend, daß bei mechanischen Beanspruchungen die Glimmerschichten bevorzugt in den Bereichen solcher Fehlordnung und schwächerer chemischer Bindung auseinanderreißen. Stärker gestörte Gitterteile werden also schneller und leichter zerkleinert und gelangen beim Sieben in die feinen Kornfraktionen. Daher ergeben die stärker von ihren fehlerhaften Schichten befreiten mittleren Korngrößen die höchsten Kaliumwerte. Die großen, von der mechanischen Zerlegung noch nicht so intensiv erfaßten Kristalle haben ein wenig niedrigere Kaliumgehalte, während in den feinsten Fraktionen als Sammelplatz der instabileren Teilchen die niedrigsten Werte beobachtet werden.Die Untersuchungsergebnisse lassen vermuten, daß sich für andere Elemente, wie z.B. Na, Rb, Pb und Sr, ähnliche Fraktionierungseffekte durch die mechanische Aufbereitung, Korngrößenklassierung und Separation von Biotiten ergeben.

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As a result of grinding the potassium values of the divers size fractions of biotite were found to be very different. The fractions between 300 and 100 m grain size show the highest potassium contents. Below 100 m grain size K decreases very strong.The structural formulas of these biotites indicate deficits in alkali ion positions of mica lattice up to 16,5%. This might suggest that the smaller mechanic stability of a part of the biotite components is related to disordering of lattice domains. After grinding these disordered particles are concentrated in the fractions of minor grain sizes.

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Herrn Dr. W. Harre, Hannover, danke ich für zahlreiche Diskussionen und die Anfertigung der Kaliumanalysen.     

Assessment of Cyto‐ and Genotoxic Effects of a Variety of Chemicals Using Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Saccharomyces cerevisiae as the most simple eukaryotic organism is broadly accepted as a laboratory model organism. For the detection of potential toxic effects of pure compounds and complex composed samples like wastewater a miniaturised short‐term in vitro cyto‐ and genotoxicity screening assay was developed. The assay based on genetically modified S. cerevisiae cells deleted in the prominent drug efflux transporters Pdr5, Snq2, and Yor1 that facilitate pleiotropic drug resistance. The yeast strain devoid of these proteins that mediate the efflux of structurally diverse hydrophobic compounds exhibited an increased sensitivity to a variety of organic compounds. The DNA damage inducible RAD54 promoter fused to a yeast optimized derivative of the GFP (green fluorescent protein) gene from the jelly fish Aequorea victoria served as an indicator of DNA damage in this strain. Various pure compounds including the direct‐acting genotoxins methyl‐N‐nitro‐N‐nitrosoguanidine (MNNG), 4‐nitroquinoline‐N‐oxide (4‐NQO), methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) and hydroxyurea as well as the heavy metals cadmium and chromium(VI), the insecticide lindane and the central nervous system stimulant caffeine were tested exhibiting dose dependent induction of green fluorescence. All compounds were in parallel examined for chronic toxicity. A bioassay detecting simultaneously geno‐ and cytotoxic effects of potential toxicants in a single assay can be an important tool with a variety of applications in environmental monitoring and aquatic ecotoxicology. By partial automation and miniaturisation to microtitration scale this bioassay enables sensitive and fast biomonitoring for a multitude of samples.     

Perch larvae (Perca fluviatilis L.) survive better in dilute sea water

Larvae of perch (Perca fluviatilis L.) reared in tanks for 27 days survived better in lake water to which 2% of artificial sea water had been added (46.6% average survival rate) than in lake water only (13.5% survival). One week after hatching, over 90% of the larvae had their guts filled in all tanks. During the following week the populations divided into floaters (fish with an inflated swimbladder) and sinkers (fish apparently lacking a functional swim-bladder). Although they continued feeding, sinkers remained smaller than floaters and most of them died.     

Potential Impacts of Climate Change on Fire Regimes in the Tropics Based on Magicc and a GISS GCM-Derived Lightning Model

Investigations of the ecological, atmospheric chemical, and climatic impacts of contemporary fires in tropical vegetation have received increasing attention during the last 10 years. Little is known, however, about the impacts of climate changes on tropical vegetation and wildland fires. This paper summarizes the main known interactions of fire, vegetation, and atmosphere. Examples of predictive models on the impacts of climate change on the boreal and temperate zones are given in order to highlight the possible impacts on the tropical forest and savanna biomes and to demonstrate parameters that need to be involved in this process. Response of tropical vegetation to fire is characterized by degradation towards xerophytic and pyrophytic plant communities dominated by grasses and fire-tolerant tree and bush invaders. The potential impacts of climate change on tropical fire regimes are investigated using a GISS GCM-based lightning and fire model and the Model for the Assessment of Greenhouse Gas-Induced Climate Change (MAGICC).     

Development and decay of a lithalsa in Northern Québec: A geomorphological history

The complete life cycle of a permafrost mound is reconstructed from its growth until its degradation. The study site is a lithalsa, which is the subject of a long-term monitoring that includes geocryological observations, measurements of permafrost properties on cores, ground temperature measurements, and observations of landform changes. The landform likely grew as a palsa under cold climatic conditions in the past. The peat cover was subsequently eroded. Early stages of degradation are witnessed since 2003 as a new thermokarst pond is starting to form though mound collapse. Settlement of the structure has been observed, and a rim ridge has begun to form. Ultimately, the lithalsa shall disappear and be replaced by a circular thermokarst pond surrounded by a rampart, similar to many other ones in the study area. The monitoring of the thermal regime of the lithalsa illustrates the pattern of internal warming and points to the causes of its degradation.     

Simulations of VLBI observations of a geodetic satellite providing co-location in space

We performed Monte Carlo simulations of very-long-baseline interferometry (VLBI) observations of Earth-orbiting satellites incorporating co-located space-geodetic instruments in order to study how well the VLBI frame and the spacecraft frame can be tied using such measurements. We simulated observations of spacecraft by VLBI observations, time-of-flight (TOF) measurements using a time-encoded signal in the spacecraft transmission, similar in concept to precise point positioning, and differential VLBI (D-VLBI) observations using angularly nearby quasar calibrators to compare their relative performance. We used the proposed European Geodetic Reference Antenna in Space (E-GRASP) mission as an initial test case for our software. We found that the standard VLBI technique is limited, in part, by the present lack of knowledge of the absolute offset of VLBI time to Coordinated Universal Time at the level of microseconds. TOF measurements are better able to overcome this problem and provide frame ties with uncertainties in translation and scale nearly a factor of three smaller than those yielded from VLBI measurements. If the absolute time offset issue can be resolved by external means, the VLBI results can be significantly improved and can come close to providing 1 mm accuracy in the frame tie parameters. D-VLBI observations with optimum performance assumptions provide roughly a factor of two higher uncertainties for the E-GRASP orbit. We additionally simulated how station and spacecraft position offsets affect the frame tie performance.