Petrogenesis of continental mafic dykes from the Izera Complex, Karkonosze-Izera Block (West Sudetes, SW Poland)

The Izera Complex (West Sudetes) contains widespread bodies of metagabbro, metadolerite and amphibolite (the Izera metabasites), and less abundant dykes of weakly altered dolerites, emplaced in a continental setting. The primary magmas of the Izera metabasites were probably formed through adiabatic decompression melting of upwelling asthenosphere (mantle plume) that was associated with the early Palaeozoic fragmentation of Gondwana (initial rift). The rocks are mildly alkaline, transitional-to-tholeiitic basalts and have OIB-like trace element patterns. Trace element modelling reveals that the mafic magmas were generated by variable degrees of partial melting (1–7%) of fertile, garnet-bearing asthenospheric source similar in composition to primitive mantle. Together with an increase in degree of partial melting, the compositional affinity of the magmas and the depth of segregation changed progressively from ca. 70–90 km (mildly alkaline magmas of the metadolerites and amphibolites) to ca. 60–75 km (transitional-to-tholeiitic magmas of the metagabbros). The systematics of incompatible versus compatible element distribution, and major and trace element modelling, indicate that some rocks experienced low-pressure (<5 kbar) differentiation resulting in up to 50% fractionation of clinopyroxene, olivine and minor plagioclase and ilmenite. The genetically distinct weakly altered dolerites are basaltic andesite in composition and possibly related to late- or post-orogenic events in the Karkonosze-Izera Block. These rocks are calc-alkaline, with relatively flat MREE–HREE patterns, enrichment in LREE and other highly incompatible elements relative to primitive mantle, and negative Nb–Ta, Ti, P anomalies. The geochemical features and geochemical modelling, indicate that their primary magmas segregated at depths ≤70 km and were produced by ~2% melting of a metasomatized sublithospheric mantle source presumably containing small amounts of hydrated phases. Although the present study is inconclusive as to the origin of the metasomatic component in the source (? slab-derived fluid/melts, OIB-like alkaline melt percolation of subcontinental lithosphere), the genesis of the Izera basaltic andesites is seemingly related to upwelling of asthenosphere and heat flow triggered by a postulated decoupling of the mantle lithosphere and post-collisional extensional collapse and uplift in the Karkonosze-Izera Block.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Salvinia natans</Emphasis> in medieval wetland deposits in Gdańsk,northern Poland: evidence for the early medieval climate warming

Large numbers of sub-fossil remains of the aquatic fern Salvinia natans (L.) All. have been found in several early medieval sites in Gdańsk, N. Poland. This record indicates a population expansion of this species around 7th–8th century A.D., similar to the recently observed rapid spread and high population dynamics of S. natans in northern Poland, which recent studies have attributed to climate warming. Our results suggest that in the Vistula deltaic area the S. natans expansion in the Early Middle Ages (7th–8th century A.D.) was similarly stimulated by climate warming, while its subsequent decline was mainly due to climate cooling, especially during the Little Ice Age. Warmer winters and springs and a longer growing season seem to be the most important factors forcing the expansion of S. natans in medieval times. According to our data, the co-occurrence of S. natans with other aquatic plant species was similar in both the medieval and present-day vegetation. Also, the high density of S. natans in the medieval population caused impoverishment of the local ecosystems in a way that has been observed in recent water bodies affected by invasive pleustophytes (free-floating plants).     

Reservoir rainfall–runoff geomorphological model. I: application and parameter analysis

This article describes and formulates a model designed to simulate runoff in wet weather events, called reservoir rainfall–runoff geomorphological model (R³GeM). In these wetlands, soil saturation is the main mechanism for the generation of surface runoff. To determine the saturated areas, the model applies a relationship based on the topographic index, between watershed storage and saturated surface. Precipitation is separated into surface runoff by saturation, subsurface runoff and losses; then, the flow of surface and subsurface runoff is performed. This hydrological model has five parameters and has been implemented in 37 events in Aixola watershed and 15 in Oiartzun watershed, both located on the Cantabrian coast of Spain. We analysed the influence of these five parameters in their behaviour, and we have proven, noting the efficiency gains, that the proposed model is valid to simulate the rainfall–runoff process. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Modelling of hydrogeochemical potential of three lake catchments in Polesie region (Eastern Poland)

Total dissolved solids (TDS) in lake and catchment water is a result of geological structure, as well as duration of rock and water contact and human activity. In this paper, a potential dissolved solids (PtDS) in three ??czna–W?odawa Lake catchments was determined using extraction and computer software (GIS and AquaChem). Human pressure on water quality was estimated as a difference of the TDS and a catchment hydrogeochemical potential (TPtDS, total potential dissolved solids). TPtDS coefficient included hydrogeological features of the aquifer, soil cover impact on infiltrated water quality, and sediments susceptibility to denudation. The main advantage of the model is a possibility of its employment for every catchment or other areas (e.g. administrative) on both microscale and mesoscale. The highest TPtDS occurred in the catchment, favoured with underground supply, which was located in the vicinity of the Cretaceous mesoregional unit (Che?m Hills). The lowest value was observed in the catchment built with organogenic sediments and coarse material. A seasonal constancy of TPtDS values proved a stability of the lake‐catchment systems under study. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Impact of environmental variables on spatial and seasonal internal phosphorus loading in a mesoeutrophic lake

Strzeszynskie Lake was formerly a slightly eutrophic (meso-eutrophic) water body. The aim of the current research was to define variables on both spatial and seasonal internal phosphorus loading from bottom sediments at five stations located in zones varying in depth, oxygenation, macrophyte presence, and uses of the neighboring catchment area. Ex situ experiments done with the use of intact bottom sediment cores have shown that the highest phosphorus release occurred in the deepest part of the lake and reached 3.6?mg?P/m²d under anoxic conditions during summer thermal stratification. In turn, the internal loading from littoral sediments, which were well aerated all year round, was clearly lower. Furthermore, phosphorus accumulation in the bottom sediment was observed to reach a maximum of 1.45?mg?P/m² d in autumn. A comparison of the internal loading intensity in lake zones with different land uses of the neighboring catchment area has shown slightly higher values at stations adjacent to the forest catchment area than those used for recreation. Changes in the land use of the catchment area of Strzeszynskie Lake, especially the increase in impermeable surfaces, have led to an increased inflow of external loads after heavy rains, resulting in deterioration in water quality and a delayed increase in internal loading.     

Narrower grid structure of artificial reef enhances initial survival of in situ settled coral

The initial factors that cause a decline in the survival of in situ settled corals remain poorly understood. In this study, we demonstrated through field experiments that the design of artificial grid plates may influence the initial survival of Acropora corals, with narrower grids being the most effective. In fact, grid plates with a 2.5-cm mesh presented the highest recorded survival rate (14%) at 6 months after settlement (representing approximately 50 corals per 0.25 m² of plate). This is the first study where such high survival rates, matching those of cultures under aquarium conditions, were obtained in the field without using additional protective measures, such as guard nets against fish grazing after seeding. Therefore, our results provide a foundation for establishing new and effective coral restoration techniques for larval seeding, in parallel to clarifying the details of the early life stages of reef-building corals.     

Constraining the degree of the dominant mode in QQ Vir

We present early results of the application of a method which uses multicolor photometry and spectroscopy for ? discrimination. This method has been successfully applied to the pulsating hot subdwarf Balloon?090100001. Here we apply the method to QQ?Vir (PG1325+101). This star was observed spectroscopically and photometrically in 2008. Details on spectroscopy can be found in Telting et al. (Astrophys. Space Sci. 2010, this volume), while photometry and preliminary results on ? discrimination are provided here. The main aim of this work was to compare the value of the ? parameter derived for the main mode in QQ?Vir to previously published values derived by using different methods.     

Modelling of Shape Changes of the Nuclei of Comets C/1995 O1 Hale–Bopp and 46P/Wirtanen Caused by Water Ice Sublimation

The aim of this modelling work is to assess shape changes of cometary nuclei caused by sublimation of ices. The simplest possible model is assumed with the nucleus being initially spherical and its thermal conductivity being neglected. We have calculated the time-dependent sublimation flux versus cometographic latitude. If the rotation axis of the comet is inclined to the orbital plane, then sublimation leads to non-symmetrical changes of the nucleus shape. Calculations were performed for the nuclei of comets Hale–Bopp and Wirtanen.     

Effect of partial mining of shaft protection pillar in terms of reliability index

ABSTRACT

The work presents calculations of shaft support reliability index during partial extraction of protection pillar deposit and the related seismic phenomena. It has been assumed that the probability of failure caused by seismic phenomena depends on the velocity random variable of the shaft support vibrations. The random vibration velocity is a function of random variables of energy, shock distance and vibration frequency. Estimations of probability distributions for energy and frequency have been based on the actual measurement data from a mine. Failure probability has been estimated by means of methods based on so-called Hasofer-Lind reliability index β.     

Normal form,Lie-Poisson structure and reduction for the Henon-Heiles system

The reduced Henon-Heiles system is investigated as a Hamiltonian dynamical system obtained by applying the normalization of the HamiltonianH=1/2(p ₁ ² +p ₂ ² +q ₁ ² +q ₂ ² )+1/3q ₁ ³ –q ₁ q ₂ ² to fourth-degree terms. The related equations of motion are bi-Hamiltonian and possess the Lie-Poisson structure. Each Lie-Poisson structure possesses an associated Casimir function. When reduced to level sets of these functions, the equations of motion take various symplectic forms. The various reductions give different coordinate representations of the solutions. These coordinate representations are used to seek the simplest representation of the solutions.