The separation of the influence of nutrients and climate on the varve time-series of baldeggersee, Switzerland

The varve data-set from a freeze-core taken in the deepest part of Baldeggersee was subjected to different multivariate statistical analyses in order to estimate the amount of variance in the varve thickness measures explicable by past climate and by the trophic state of the lake. A comparison of two different time-periods (1902 to1992 versus 1920 to 1980) revealed that the lake restoration programme since 1982 has had a significant impact on the formation of the seasonal layers. Results of the partitioning of the variance in the varve thickness measures showed that about two thirds of the variance are unexplained by a climate and trophic state model and that trophic state explains 6%, whereas climate accounts for about 28% of the variance before the effect of lake restoration had a strong impact on the varves. Among the climate parameters the amount of annual precipitation is a strong predictor for explaining the thickness of both dark layer and total couplet thickness, whereas summer precipitation is important for the thickness of the light layer.     

Mesoproterozoic Fraser Complex: Geochemical evidence for multiple subduction‐related sources of lower crustal rocks in the Albany‐Fraser Orogen,Western Australia

The 1300 Ma Fraser Complex in the Albany‐Fraser Orogen of Western Australia is a thrust stack of mainly gabbroic rocks metamorphosed to granulite facies. This package of fault‐bounded units was elevated from a deep crustal level onto the margin of the Yilgarn Craton during continental collision between the Mawson and Yilgarn Cratons. Incompatible trace‐element distributions demand at least three mantle sources. Primitive‐mantle‐normalised incompatible‐element distributions show strong negative Ta–Nb anomalies, typical of subduction‐derived magmas. Three lines of evidence indicate that the mafic magmas did not acquire these anomalies by assimilation of crustal rocks: (i) major‐element compositions do not allow appreciable contamination with felsic material; (ii) Ni contents of many mafic rocks are too high for a significant contribution from a felsic assimilant; and (iii) Sr and Nd isotopic data support a largely juvenile source for the magmas that produced the Fraser Complex. Hence, the Ta–Nb anomalies are interpreted to reflect subduction‐related magmatic sources. On multielement diagrams, depletions in Sr, Eu, P, and Ti can be explained by fractional crystallisation, whereas Th and Rb depletions in many of the Fraser Complex rocks probably reflect losses during granulite‐facies metamorphism. These results suggest that the lower crust in this region at 1300 Ma was dominantly of arc origin, and there is no evidence to support mantle plume components. The Fraser Complex is interpreted as remnants of oceanic arcs that were swept together and tectonically interleaved with the margin of the Mawson Craton just before, or during, collision with the Yilgarn Craton at 1300 Ma.     

The influence of salinity on the solubility of Zn and Cd sulphides in the Scheldt estuary

In the estuary of the river Scheldt, where an oxygen gradient exists in addition to the salinity gradient, redox processes will be of major importance for trace metal mobilisation. In this study, the influence of salinity and pH on the redox processes of dissolved Zn and Cd sulphides is investigated together with the effects on the ratio of the dissolved Zn and Cd concentrations. The speciation of these metals is calculated with the chemical equilibrium programme +. Zn sulphides are oxidised at lower oxygen concentrations than Cd sulphides, due to lower stability constants, causing a sudden increase or peak in the dissolved Zn/Cd ratio. The formation of dissolved Cd chloride complexes when oxidation occurs at high salinities (S=15) increases the mobility of Cd, causing a decrease in the Zn/Cd peak of the total dissolved concentrations. The peak is three to four times smaller at S=15 than when oxidation occurs at S=2. The simple model calculations compare very well with field data. The Scheldt estuary is suitable to illustrate these calculations. In the 1970s, the anoxic part of the estuary reached S=15–20, but since the early 1980s it has dropped to S=2–10. Historic data on metals in the estuary from 1978, 1987 and the 1990s were used to compare with the equilibrium calculations. The increase of the dissolved Zn/Cd peak at low salinity as a consequence, of the decreasing anoxic region is confirmed well by the data. The good agreement between model calculations and field data is a proof of the extreme importance of redox processes for the solubility of Zn and Cd sulphides in the estuary.     

Ecohydrographic constraints on biodiversity and distribution of phytoplankton and zooplankton in coral reefs of the Red Sea,Saudi Arabia

An integral concept of ecological research is the constraint of biodiversity along latitudinal and environmental gradients. The Red Sea features a natural example of a latitudinal gradient of salinity, temperature and nutrient richness. Coral reefs along the Red Sea coasts are supported with allochthonous resources such as oceanic and neritic phytoplankton and zooplankton; however, relatively little is known about how the ecohydrography correlates with plankton biodiversity and abundance. In this article we present the biodiversity of phytoplankton and zooplankton in Red Sea coral reefs. Oceanographic data (temperature, salinity), water samples for nutrient analysis, particulate organic matter, phytoplankton and zooplankton, the latter with special reference to Copepoda (Crustacea), were collected at nine coral reefs over ~1500 km distance along the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia. The trophic state of ambient waters [as indicated by chlorophyll a (Chl a)] changed from strong oligotrophy in the north to mesotrophy in the south and was associated with increasing biomasses of Bacillariophyceae, picoeukaryotes and Synechococcus as indicated by pigment fingerprinting (CHEMTAX) and flow cytometry. Net‐phytoplankton microscopy revealed a Trichodesmium erythraeum (Cyanobacteria) bloom north of the Farasan Islands. Several potentially harmful algae, including Dinophysis miles and Gonyaulax spinifera (Dinophyceae), were encountered in larger numbers in the vicinity of the aquaculture facilities at Al Lith. Changes in zooplankton abundance were mainly correlated to the phytoplankton biomass following the latitudinal gradient. The largest zooplankton abundance was observed at the Farasan Archipelago, despite high abundances of copepodites, veligers (Gastropoda larvae) and Chaetognatha at Al Lith. Although the community composition changed over latitude, biodiversity indices of phytoplankton and zooplankton did not exhibit a systematic pattern. As this study constitutes the first current account of the plankton biodiversity in Red Sea coral reefs at a large spatial scale, the results will be informative for ecosystem‐based management along the coastline of Saudi Arabia.     

Microwave diagnostics of energetic electrons in flares

Electrons accelerated during solar flares are revealed by their electromagnetic radiation in different spectral ranges, emitted at different heights in the solar atmosphere. The observational analysis points to a common and continuous injection of particles. Based on this result, a quantitative investigation of the hard X-ray and microwave emissions observed during the 29 June, 1980 flare at 11: 40 UT has been performed. This is the first modelisation that takes into account both the inhomogeneity of the microwave source region and the dynamical evolution of the electron population. First results of our model computations demonstrate that during the most energetic phase of the event both hard X-rays and microwaves are described by electron populations resulting from the same injection function, and that the total numbers of electrons required for both emissions are compatible. Account for the inhomogeneity of the microwave source is shown to be a necessary condition for the interpretation of observed spectra.Proceedings of the Workshop on Radio Continua during Solar Flares, held at Duino (Trieste), Italy, 27–31 May, 1985.     

Differential subduction and exhumation of crustal slices in the Sulu HP-UHP metamorphic terrane: insights from mineral inclusions, trace elements, U-Pb and Lu-Hf isotope analyses of zircon in orthogneiss

Based on new evidence the Sulu orogen is divided from south‐east to north‐west into high‐pressure (HP) crustal slice I and ultrahigh‐pressure (UHP) crustal slices II and III. A combined set of mineral inclusions, cathodoluminescence images, U‐Pb SHRIMP dating and in situ trace element and Lu‐Hf isotope analyses was obtained on zircon from orthogneisses of the different slices. Zircon grains typically have three distinct domains that formed during crystallization of the magmatic protolith, HP or UHP metamorphism and late‐amphibolite facies retrogression, respectively: (i) oscillatory zoned cores, with low‐pressure (LP) mineral inclusions and Th/U > 0.38; (ii) high‐luminescent mantles (Th/U < 0.10), with HP mineral inclusions of Qtz + Grt + Arg + Phe + Ap for slice I zircon and Coe + Grt + Phe + Kfs + Ap for both slices II and III zircon; (iii) low‐luminescent rims, with LP mineral inclusions and Th/U < 0.08. Zircon U‐Pb SHRIMP analyses of inherited cores point to protolith ages of 785–770 Ma in all seven orthogneisses. The ages recorded for UHP metamorphism and subsequent retrogression in slice II zircon (c. 228 and c. 215 Ma, respectively) are significantly older than those of slice III zircon (c. 218 and c. 202 Ma, respectively), while slice I zircon recorded even older ages for HP metamorphism and subsequent retrogression (c. 245 and c. 231 Ma, respectively). Moreover, Ar‐Ar biotite ages from six paragneisses, interpreted as dating amphibolite facies retrogression, gradually decrease from HP slice I (c. 232 Ma) to UHP slice II (c. 215 Ma) and UHP slice III (c. 203 Ma). The combined data set suggests decreasing ages for HP or UHP metamorphism and late retrogression in the Sulu orogen from south‐east to north‐west. Thus, the HP‐UHP units are interpreted to represent three crustal slices, which underwent different subduction and exhumation histories. Slice I was detached from the continental lithosphere at ～55–65 km depth and subsequently exhumed while subduction of the underlying slice II continued to ～100–120 km depth (UHP) before detachment and exhumation. Slice III experienced a similar geodynamic evolution as slice II, however, both UHP metamorphism and subsequent exhumation took place c. 10 Myr later. Magmatic zircon cores from two types of orthogneiss in UHP slices II and III show similar mid‐Neoproterozoic crystallization ages, but have contrasting Hf isotope compositions (εHf_(～785) = ?2.7 to +2.2 and ?17.3 to ?11.1, respectively), suggesting their formation from distinct crustal units (Mesoproterozoic and Paleoproterozoic to Archean, respectively) during the breakup of Rodinia. The UHP and the retrograde zircon domains are characterized by lower Th/U and ¹⁷⁶Lu/¹⁷⁷Hf but higher ¹⁷⁶Hf/¹⁷⁷Hf(t) than the Neoproterozoic igneous cores. The similarity between UHP and retrograde domains indicates that late retrogression did not significantly modify chemical and isotopic composition of the UHP metamorphic system.     

A PETROGRAPHICAL STUDY OF THE CHINESE AGALMATOLITES

Ⅰ. INTRODUCTION. The most popular Chinese agalmatolites are Shoushanshih (壽山石), Changhuashih (昌化石), Chingtienshih (青田石) and Kwanglushih (廣綠石). They are named after the names of places, as the name Shoushanshih is from     

Unified modeling of flow liquefaction and cyclic mobility

Flow liquefaction and cyclic mobility are two different phenomena that are encountered during strong earthquakes. Flow liquefaction is associated with the contractive behavior of loose granular materials and cyclic mobility is associated with the dilative response of both loose and dense granular materials at low confining stresses. These two types of response pertain to the same material and therefore should be modeled in a consistent manner. Whether a soil in a given state exhibits contractive or dilative behavior is dependent on its dilatancy, d=d_v^p/d_q^p. A form of the dilatancy d=d(η,ψ,C) is proposed, where η=q/p is the stress ratio, and ψ and C denote the internal state variables and the intrinsic properties, respectively. It has been shown that such a state-dependent dilatancy is effective in describing both the contractive and dilative behavior. This allows the soil behavior associated with flow liquefaction and cyclic mobility during earthquakes to be modeled in a unified way.     

Full scale decay test of a tanker: field data and theoretical analysis

This paper presents results from a full scale decay test made with a tanker in a relatively protected area in the Brazilian coast. In at least two tests the environmental loads (wind, waves and current) were very small and the time history of the surge motion was well behaved, making it possible to check some proposed models for the damping in the hull and mooring lines. Field data seem to confirm that the damping is indeed of the fluid viscosity type and the theoretical models are able to recover roughly 75% of the observed damping, the energy dissipation in the mooring lines being, by far, the major contribution. The remaining 25% are likely due to non modeled effects, such as the environment influence, which although small and not measured certainly exists, and to the friction between the mooring lines and the seabed.