Late Weichselian environmental change in southern Sweden and Denmark

A synthesis is presented of the envronmental and climatic variations that are inferred to have occurred in southern Sweden (up to latitude 59°N) and Denmark during the Weichselian Late-glacial (14-9 ka BP). The chronology and characteristics of the main phases of deglaciation, sea-level change, periglacial activity, soil development, vegetation cover and climate change are summarised. A curve representing the main changes in temperature, including quantitative estimates based upon beetle data and using the ‘mutual climatic range’ method, is presented.     

The spectral hardening associated with the westward travelling surge

Photometer recordings of auroral emissions from N⁺₂ and OI have demonstrated that the ratios between the emissions show a characteristic plateau just prior to the passage of a westward travelling surge. The plateau may be interpreted as a temporary (approx. 1 min) cessation in the spectral hardening of the precipitating particles associated with the surge. The characteristic energy of the plateau is about one keV above the level prior to the beginning of the surge. The results have been interpreted in terms of an instability that is switched on during the time of the plateau and then turned off when the electron density is increased above a certain limit.     

Climate variations,an overlooked factor influencing the recent marine environment. An example from Gullmar Fjord,Sweden, illustrated by benthic foraminifera and hydrographic data

Like most sill fjords, Gullmar Fjord on the Swedish west coast, is subject to periods of stagnation. Deep water is usually renewed annually, but since the late 1970s several low-oxygen events have been documented in the deepest part of the fjord. These events occurred during a time when the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) was in a highly positive phase. We investigated how the benthic environment, in the deepest part of the fjord, has varied during the 20th century, using benthic foraminifera and an extensive history of instrumental hydrographic data. The foraminifera have undergone one major faunal change and two minor modifications during this time. The major faunal change occurred in the late 1970s to early 1980s, when the common Skagerrak-Kattegat fauna was replaced by one dominated by the opportunistic, low-oxygen-tolerant species,Stainforthia fusiformis. This major faunal change appears to be related to the severe low-oxygen event in 1979–1980. In the latter part of the 1990s the fauna changed again; the concentration ofS. fusiformis was still high, but other low-oxygen-tolerant species also became important. This minor faunal modification occurred in connection with the 2-yr stagnation period between 1996 and 1998 when a low-oxygenevent evolved, the most severe recorded in Gullmar Fjord. Between 1930 and 1980, there was little faunal variation, and a stable fjord environment is indicated. During this time, negative NAO indexes dominated and climate was more continental, with an increase in winds from the northeast and east. In connection with a climate transition indicated by the NAO index switching from positive to negative, a minor faunal change occurred in the late 1920s to early 1930s: the concentration of the Skagerrak-Kattegat fauna increased markedly in the fjord. The fauna characterizing the positive NAO phase between 1900 and the late 1920s is very different from the present positive NAO fauna. The foraminiferal record laid down between approximately 1914 and 2001 indicates that between 1930 and 1980 Gullmar Fjord was a stable fjord environment. During the last 20 yr, it experienced conditions that were more fluctuating and changing. For the most part, changes in the foraminiferal fauna are caused by changes in the deep-water renewal, their extent and frequency, which in turn are caused by climatic oscillations.     

160 Ma of magmatic/hydrothermal and metamorphic activity in the Gällivare area: Re–Os dating of molybdenite and U–Pb dating of titanite from the Aitik Cu–Au–Ag deposit, northern Sweden

Host rocks to the Aitik Cu–Au–Ag deposit in northern Sweden are strongly altered and deformed Early Proterozoic mica(-amphibole) schists and gneisses. The deposit is characterised by numerous mineralisation styles, vein and alteration types. Four samples were selected for Re–Os molybdenite dating and 12 samples for U–Pb titanite dating in order to elucidate the magmatic/hydrothermal and metamorphic history following primary ore deposition in the Aitik Cu–Au–Ag deposit. Samples represent dyke, vein and alteration assemblages from the ore zone, hanging wall and footwall to the deposit. Re–Os dating of molybdenite from deformed barite and quartz veins yielded ages of 1,876±10 Ma and 1,848±8 Ma, respectively. A deformed pegmatite dyke yielded a Re–Os age of 1,848±6 Ma, and an undeformed pegmatite dyke an age of 1,728±7 Ma. U–Pb dating of titanite from a diversity of alteration mineral associations defines a range in ages between 1,750 and 1,805 Ma with a peak at ca. 1,780 Ma. The ages obtained, together with previous data, bracket a 160-Ma (1,890–1,730 Ma) time span encompassing several generations of magmatism, prograde to peak metamorphism, and post-peak cooling; events resulting in the redistribution and addition of metals to the deposit. This multi-stage evolution of the Aitik ore body suggests that the deposit was affected by several thermal events that ultimately produced a complex ore body. The Re–Os and U–Pb ages correlate well with published regional Re–Os and U–Pb age clusters, which have been tied to major magmatic, hydrothermal, and metamorphic events. Primary ore deposition at ca. 1,890 Ma in connection with intrusion of Haparanda granitoids was followed by at least four subsequent episodes of metamorphism and magmatism. Early metamorphism at 1,888–1,872 Ma overlapping with Haparanda (1,890–1,880 Ma) and Perthite-monzonite (1,880–1,870 Ma) magmatism clearly affected the Aitik area, as well as late metamorphism and Lina magmatism at 1,810–1,774 Ma and TIB1 magmatism at 1,800 Ma. The 1,848 Ma Re–Os ages obtained from molybdenite in a quartz vein and pegmatite dyke suggests that the 1,850 Ma magmatism recorded in parts of northern Norrbotten also affected the Aitik area.     

Fluid flow impact on slope failure from 3D seismic data: a case study in the Storegga Slide

Analysis of three‐dimensional (3D) seismic data from the headwall area of the Storegga Slide on the mid‐Norwegian margin provides new insights into buried mass movements and their failure mechanisms. These mass movements are located above the Ormen Lange dome, a Tertiary dome structure, which hosts a large gas reservoir. Slope instabilities occurred as early as the start of the Plio‐Pleistocene glacial–interglacial cycles. The 3D seismic data provide geophysical evidence for gas that leaks from the reservoir and migrates upward into the shallow geosphere. Sediments with increased gas content might have liquefied during mobilization of the sliding and show different flow mechanisms than sediments containing less gas. In areas where there is no evidence for gas, the sediments remained intact. This stability is inherited by overlying strata. The distribution of gas in the shallow subsurface (<600 m) may explain the shape of the lower Storegga headwall in the Ormen Lange area.     

Herbivory-Mediated Responses of Selected Boreal Forests to Climatic Change

Recent efforts to project vegetationresponses to climatic warming have emphasized thetight linkages between climate and vegetationdistribution. Here we provide several examplesindicating that the direct effects of climatic warmingon boreal vegetation can be qualitatively differentthan the indirect effects mediated by climaticresponses of herbivores. These herbivore-mediatedvegetation responses to climatic warming will likelyvary regionally. In southern Fennoscandia, we projectthat the climatically induced changes in animalpopulations should enhance the density of spruce atthe expense of pine and broadleafed trees. In northernFennoscandia we project reduced herbivory onbroadleafed trees and increased herbivory on pine,leading to an increase in broadleafed trees and spruceand a reduction in pine. Climatic warming in interiorAlaska may reduce herbivory on broadleafed trees andincrease herbivory on evergreen spruce, thusreinforcing the impact of increased fire frequency.     

Spodic Material for In Situ Treatment of Arsenic in Ground Water

The leaching of chromium-copper-arsenic salts from old wood preservation sites is a threat to ground water at many places in Sweden. The installation of in situ reactive barriers is an attractive "passive' technique to prevent the further spreading of contaminants. The use of peat as a reactive barrier material has been suggested for heavy metals, but this material was expected to be unsatisfactory for arsenic (As). Therefore, the feasibility of using spodic B horizon material for the retention of arsenic was tested in laboratory column experiments. Contaminated soil was taken from an old preservation site and leached under conditions designed to imitate the field conditions. The arsenic load during the three-month duration of the test corresponded to a load at the field site during three years. The B horizon material proved to be efficient for retention of arsenic, despite the observation that As(III) dominated the As speciation. The As(III) concentration was reduced from 1 to 3 mg dm⁻³ to < 0.02 mg dm⁻³. Pure peat was, as expected, not suited as a reactive barrier for As, and a mixed B horizon/peat reactive barrier also proved unsatisfactory for the removal of As. It is therefore important to separate the B horizon material from any peat that is used to sorb heavy metals. Before applying the B horizon reactive barrier technique in the field, the effect of the naturally occurring variability of the reactive compounds should be tested. The inclusion of oxidizing agents in the barrier could possibly improve the lifetime considerably. Furthermore, the influence of the flow rate should be evaluated since the kinetics of the arsenic adsorption is relatively slow.     

Sulphate reducing bacteria to precipitate mercury after electrokinetic soil remediation

Combined treatment with electroremediation and sulphate reducing bacteria (SRB) was tested in laboratory and pilot scale. The contaminated soil came from a chlor-alkali factory and contained about 100 mg/kg Hg. Iodide/iodine complexing agent was used to mobilize mercury. Mercury iodide complexes were moved to the anode solution using an electric field. The anode solution was then mixed with hydrogen sulphide (H₂S) containing water, causing precipitation of mercury sulphide. The H²S was produced at site by a SRB reactor. Precipitation problems arising from the nature of the anode solution were expected, since this solution is highly acidic, very oxidised and may contain iodide/iodine that strongly complexes mercury and can hinder mercury sulphide precipitation. Mercury concentrations in the anode solution were up to 65.7 mg/L (field) and 15.4 mg/L (lab. scale). Reduction of mercury in the water was >93% at all times. Iodide did not hinder the process: Nonetheless, in the lab system, iodide concentration was high in the anode solution but mercury reduction was> 99.9%. The redox potential was sufficiently low for HgS precipitation during the experiments, except for a short period, when the mercury removal decreased to 94%. Sulphate reducing bacteria are shown as a viable tool for the treatment of mercury contaminated, acidic, oxidative, iodide containing water, such as that produced by electrokinetic remediation. A second SRB step or other water treatment is required to reduce the mercury concentration to environmentally acceptable levels. Redox potential is the most sensitive factor in the system.