Comparison of gravity current mixing parameterizations and calibration using a high-resolution 3D nonhydrostatic spectral element model

In light of the pressing need for development and testing of reliable parameterizations of gravity current entrainment in ocean general circulation models, two existing entrainment parameterization schemes, K-profile parameterization (KPP) and one based on Turner’s work (TP), are compared using idealized experiments of dense water flow over a constant-slope wedge using the HYbrid Coordinate Ocean Model (HYCOM). It is found that the gravity current entrainment resulting from KPP and TP differ significantly from one another. Parameters of KPP and TP are then calibrated using results from the high-order nonhydrostatic spectral element model Nek5000. It is shown that a very good agreement can be reached between the HYCOM simulations with KPP and TP, even though these schemes are quite different from each other.     

Thermodynamic modelling of non-convergent ordering in orthopyroxenes: a comparison of classical and Landau approaches

The excess Gibbs free energy due to non-convergent ordering is described by a Landau expansion in which configurational and non-configurational entropy contributions are separated:

Nb–Ta–(Ti–Sn) oxide mineral chemistry as tracer of rare-element granitic pegmatite fractionation in the Borborema Province,Northeastern Brazil

The Borborema Pegmatitic Province (BPP), northeastern Brazil, is historically important for tantalum mining and also famous for top-quality specimens of exotic Nb–Ta oxides and, more recently, for the production of gem quality, turquoise blue, ‘Paraíba Elbaite.’ With more than 750 registered mineralized rare-element granitic pegmatites, the BPP extends over an area of about 75 by 150 km in the eastern part of the Neoproterozoic Seridó Belt. The Late Cambrian pegmatites are mostly hosted by a sequence of Neoproterozoic cordierite–sillimanite biotite schists of the Seridó Formation and quartzites and metaconglomerates of the Equador Formation. The trace-element ratios in feldspar and micas allow to classify most pegmatites as belonging to the beryl–columbite phosphate subtype. Electron microprobe analyses (EMPA) of columbite, tapiolite, niobian–tantalian rutile, ixiolite and wodginite group minerals from 28 pegmatites in the BPP are used to evaluate the effectiveness of Nb–Ta oxide chemistry as a possible exploration tool, to trace the degree of pegmatite fractionation and to classify the pegmatites. The columbite group mineral composition allows to establish a compositional trend from manganoan ferrocolumbite to manganocolumbite and on to manganotantalite. This trend is typical of complex spodumene- and/or lepidolite-subtype pegmatites. It clearly contrasts with another trend, from ferrocolumbite through ferrotantalite to ferrowodginite and ferrotapiolite compositions, typical of pegmatites of the beryl–columbite phosphate subtype. Large scatter and anomalous trends in zoned crystals partially overlap and conceal the two main evolution patterns. This indicates that a large representative data set of heavy mineral concentrate samples, collected systematically along cross-sections, would be necessary to predict the metallogenetic potential of individual pegmatites. Other mineral species, e.g. garnets and/or tourmaline, with a more regular distribution than Nb–Ta oxides, would be more appropriate and less expensive for routine exploration purposes. The currently available Nb–Ta oxide chemistry data suggest the potential for highly fractionated Ta–Li–Cs pegmatites in the BPP, so far undiscovered, and encourages further, more detailed research.     

Earthquakes and strength in the laminated lower crust —Can they be explained by the “corset model”?

We present a model that may explain deep crustal earthquakes observed, in particular, in several areas of highly reflective (laminated) lower continental crust. We combine observations from earthquake seismology, crustal reflection seismics and tectonic-rheological concepts. The study concentrates on parts of the northern Alpine foreland where many earthquakes occur inside the laminated lower crust, which is generally considered to be warm and weak. Thin mafic/ultramafic, sill-like intrusions and invisible dykes are assumed to form a corset-like network with high strength. This model can explain the observed strong and multiple reflections and the occurrence of rupture inside a stable structure within a weak lower crust. Tectonic stress transfer (from the Alpine collision zone or/and the Upper Rhine Graben) and its release may follow classical friction concepts. In addition, the heterogeneity of the laminated lower crust may also favour various viscous instabilities.     

Seasonal and interannual variability of the planktic foraminiferal flux in the vicinity of the Azores Current

Planktic foraminiferal (PF) flux and faunal composition from three sediment trap time series of 2002–2004 in the northeastern Atlantic show pronounced year-to-year variations despite similar sea surface temperature (SST). The averaged fauna of the in 2002/2003 is dominated by the species Globigerinita glutinata, whereas in 2003/2004 the averaged fauna is dominated by Globigerinoides ruber. We show that PF species respond primarily to productivity, triggered by the seasonal dynamics of vertical stratification of the upper water column. Multivariate statistical analysis reveals three distinct species groups, linked to bulk particle flux, to chlorophyll concentrations and to summer/fall oligotrophy with high SST and stratification. We speculate that the distinct nutrition strategies of strictly asymbiontic, facultatively symbiontic, and symbiontic species may play a key role in explaining their abundances and temporal succession. Advection of water masses within the Azores Current and species expatriation result in a highly diverse PF assemblage. The Azores Frontal Zone may have influenced the trap site in 2002, indicated by subsurface water cooling, by highest PF flux and high flux of the deep-dwelling species Globorotalia scitula. Similarity analyses with core top samples from the global ocean including 746 sites from the Atlantic suggest that the trap faunas have only poor analogs in the surface sediments. These differences have to be taken into account when estimating past oceanic properties from sediment PF data in the eastern subtropical North Atlantic.     

Comment on ‘Where are the halo stars?’

We comment briefly on a recent paper by Fuhrmann which claims that about half of the sample of halo stars in the solar neighbourhood presented by Fuchs and Jahreiß [A&A 329 (1998) 81] are actually thick disc stars. By referring to star counts in the CADIS survey we argue that this is rather unlikely.     

Center-to-limb analysis of the solar oxygen lines

Several lines of neutral oxygen observed at various positions on the solar disk were used to study the influence of (1) the temperature distribution, (2) the velocity field, and (3) the damping on the line profiles and the abundance of oxygen in the photosphere. Theoretical profiles were calculated on the basis of four different model atmospheres in LTE. It was found that the model proposed by Holweger (1967) best reproduced the center-to-limb observations of the lines studied. The weighted mean of the oxygen abundance turned out to be log _O = 8.83 on the basis of log _H = 12.00.