A ~565 Ma old glaciation in the Ediacaran of peri-Gondwanan West Africa

International Journal of Earth Sciences - In the Cadomian orogen of the NE Bohemian Massif and of SW Iberia, a post-Gaskiers glacial event dated at c. 565 Ma has been detected. Such...     

Assessment of spatial transferability of process‐based hydrological model parameters in two neighbouring catchments in the Himalayan Region

Estimating the hydrological regime of ungauged catchments in the Himalayan region is challenging due to a lack of sufficient monitoring stations. In this paper, the spatial transferability of the model parameters of the process‐oriented J2000 hydrological model was investigated in 2 glaciated subcatchments of the Koshi river basin in eastern Nepal. The catchments have a high degree of similarity with respect to their static landscape features. The model was first calibrated (1986–1991) and validated (1992–1997) in the Dudh Koshi subcatchment. The calibrated and validated model parameters were then transferred to the nearby Tamor catchment (2001–2009). Sensitivity and uncertainty analyses were carried out for both subcatchments to discover the sensitivity range of the parameters in the two catchments. The model represented the overall hydrograph well in both subcatchments, including baseflow, rising and falling limbs; however, the peak flows were underestimated. The efficiency results according to both Nash–Sutcliffe (ENS) and the coefficient of determination (r²) were above 0.84 in both catchments (1986–1997 in Dudh Koshi and 2001–2009 in Tamor). The ranking of the parameters in respect to their sensitivity matched well for both catchments while taking ENS and log Nash–Sutcliffe (LNS) efficiencies into account. However, there were some differences in sensitivity to ENS and LNS for moderately and less‐sensitive parameters, although the majority (13 out of 16 for ENS and 16 out of 16 for LNS) had a sensitivity response in a similar range. The generalized uncertainty likelihood estimation results suggest that the parameter uncertainty are most of the time within the range and the ensemble mean matches very good (ENS: 0.84) with observed discharge. The results indicate that transfer of the J2000 parameters to a neighbouring catchment in the Himalayan region with similar physiographic landscape characteristics is viable. This indicates the possibility of applying a calibrated process‐based J2000 model to other ungauged catchments in the Himalayan region, which could provide important insights into the hydrological system dynamics and provide much needed information to support water resources planning and management.     

The mean energy of a decaying magnetic field in MHD-turbulence

A magnetic field which is contained in a turbulent, electrically conducting fluid is supposed to decay. The decay time of the mean energy of the fluctuating part of the magnetic field – in contrast with the energy of the mean field – is shown to be determined by the molecular magnetic diffusivity and the correlation length of the turbulence. The investigation is carried out for weak magnetic fields in homogeneous isotropic mirror-symmetric turbulence and in the framework of the second-order correlations approximation.     

3D Evolution of Jets in Clusters of Galaxies – A comparison with Herbig-Haro Flows

A comparison is drawn between jet propagation in molecular clouds and jets launched by galaxies in clusters. The biggest difference between the two types of jets is found in the density contrast. While the cocoon plasma in extragalactic jets has now been detected in X-rays, the corresponding cocoon gas for Herbig-Haro flows is barely visible.     

Biogeochemical responses to late-winter storms in the Sargasso Sea,II: Increased rates of biogenic silica production and export

Previous studies measuring biogenic silica production in the Sargasso Sea, all conducted when no phytoplankton bloom was in progress, have reported a mean rate of 0.4 mmol Si m^?2 d^?1 and maximum rate of 0.9 mmol Si m^?2 d^?1, the lowest rates yet recorded in any ocean habitat. During February/March of 2004 and 2005 we studied the effects of late-winter storms prior to seasonal stratification on the production rate, standing stock and vertical export of biogenic silica in the Sargasso Sea. In 2004, alternating storm and stratification events provided pulsed input of nutrients to the euphotic zone. In contrast, nearly constant storm conditions in 2005 caused the mixed layer to deepen to ～350 m toward the end of the cruise. Biogenic silica production rates in the upper 140 m were statistically indistinguishable between years, averaging ～1.0 mmol Si m^?2 d^?1. In early March 2004, a storm event entrained nutrients into the euphotic zone and, upon stabilization, vertically integrated biogenic silica in the upper 140 m nearly doubled in 2 days. Within 4 days, 75–100% of the accumulated biogenic silica was exported, sustaining a flux to 200 m of ～0.5 mmol Si m^?2 d^?1 (4× greater than export measured during February and March in the mid-1990s). In 2005, destabilization without stratification increased biogenic silica flux at 200 m up to two-fold above previously measured export in late winter, with little or no increase in water-column biogenic silica. Despite comprising <5% of total chlorophyll, diatoms accounted for an estimated 25–50% of the nitrate uptake in the upper 140 m and 35–97% of the particulate organic nitrogen export from the upper 200 m during both cruise periods. These previously unobserved brief episodes of diatom production and export in response to late-winter storms increase the estimated production and export of diatom-derived material in the Sargasso Sea in late winter by >150%, and increase estimated annual biogenic silica production in this region by ～8%.     

Brown trout (Salmo trutta) removal by rotenone alters zooplankton and phytoplankton community composition in a shallow mesotrophic reservoir

Brown trout (Salmo trutta) are known to have effects on multiple trophic levels in New Zealand streams, but their impacts on lower trophic levels are less well understood within lentic systems. We examined the effects of brown trout removal using rotenone on zooplankton and phytoplankton community composition in the Upper Karori Reservoir, New Zealand. Significant shifts were observed in zooplankton and phytoplankton composition following removal of brown trout from the reservoir. Shifts in zooplankton community composition did not occur immediately following trout removal (February), but instead followed the likely timing of galaxiid spawning (July). The removal of brown trout likely resulted in reduced predation pressure on galaxiids. A major change occurred in the zooplankton community with the dominance shifting from larger crustaceans to smaller rotifers, indicating an increased predation pressure from the larval native galaxiid. A delayed response in zooplankton community composition change indicates rotenone was not the direct cause of this. A major shift in phytoplankton community composition occurred immediately following trout removal. This was not consistent with the trophic cascade hypothesis of reduced grazing pressure from larger zooplankton due to increased galaxiid predation as a result of brown trout removal.     

Unconventional reservoir potential of the upper Permian Zechstein Group: a slope to basin sequence stratigraphic and sedimentological evaluation of carbonates and organic-rich mudrocks, Northern Germany

The Late Permian Zechstein Group in northeastern Germany is characterized by shelf and slope carbonates that rimmed a basin extending from eastern England through the Netherlands and Germany to Poland. Conventional reservoirs are found in grainstones rimming islands created by pre-existing paleohighs and platform-rimming shoals that compose steep margins in the north and ramp deposits in the southern part. The slope and basin deposits are characterized by debris flows and organic-rich mudstones. Lagoonal and basinal evaporites formed the seal for these carbonate and underlying sandstone reservoirs. The objective of this investigation is to evaluate potential unconventional reservoirs in organic-rich, fine-grained and/or tight mudrocks in slope and basin as well as platform carbonates occurring in this stratigraphic interval. Therefore, a comprehensive study was conducted that included sedimentology, sequence stratigraphy, petrography, and geochemistry. Sequence stratigraphic correlations from shelf to basin are crucial in establishing a framework that allows correlation of potential productive facies in fine-grained, organic-rich basinal siliceous and calcareous mudstones or interfingering tight carbonates and siltstones, ranging from the lagoon, to slope to basin, which might be candidates for forming an unconventional reservoir. Most organic-rich shales worldwide are associated with eustatic transgressions. The basal Zechstein cycles, Z1 and Z2, contain organic-rich siliceous and calcareous mudstones and carbonates that form major transgressive deposits in the basin. Maturities range from over–mature (gas) in the basin to oil-generation on the slope with variable TOC contents. This sequence stratigraphic and sedimentologic evaluation of the transgressive facies in the Z1 and Z2 assesses the potential for shale-gas/oil and hybrid unconventional plays. Potential unconventional reservoirs might be explored in laminated organic-rich mudstones within the oil window along the northern and southern slopes of the basin. Although the Zechstein Z1 and Z2 cycles might have limited shale-gas potential because of low thickness and deep burial depth to be economic at this point, unconventional reservoir opportunities that include hybrid and shale-oil potential are possible in the study area.