Formation of chemogenic calcite in super-anoxic seawater — Framvaren, southern Norway

Framvaren, a super-anoxic fjord in southern Norway, contains 7–8 mmoll⁻¹ of sulphide and a total carbonate concentration of 18.5 mmol kg⁻¹ in the bottom water. The chemistry of calcium has been studied, considering sources, biogenic and chemical processes and sedimentary sinks. Calcium associated with the bacteria biomass at the redox interface (18m depth) appears to be the primary source of dissolved calcium in the deep, anoxic water. Excess calcium and high total carbonate cause supersaturation of calcite, which is precipitated chemogenically. Calcite (and presumably some aragonite) is identified both in sediment trap material and the bottom sediments below the depth of supersaturation.     

Relation of the observed far ultraviolet solar irradiance to the solar magnetic sector structure

Comparison of the observed solar far ultraviolet irradiance and the observed solar sector structure during 1969 through 1972 shows a tendency for EUV maxima to be located near sector boundaries.     

A model combining the polar and the sector structured solar magnetic fields

A phenomenological model of the interplay between the polar magnetic fields of the Sun and the solar sector structure is discussed. Current sheets separate regions of opposite polarity and mark the sector boundaries in the corona. The sheets are visible as helmet streamers. The solar sector boundary is tilted with respect to central meridian, and boundaries with opposite polarity change are oppositely tilted. The tilt of a given type of boundary [(+, ?) or (?, +)] changes systematically during the sunspot cycle as the polarity of the polar fields reverses. Similar reversals of the position of the streamers at the limbs takes place. If we consider (a) a sunspot cycle where the northern polar field is inward (?) during the early part of the cycle and (b) a (+, ?) sector boundary at central meridian then the model predicts the following pattern; a streamer at high northern latitudes should be observed over the west limb together with a corresponding southern streamer over the east limb. The current sheet runs now NW-SE. At sunspot maximum the boundary is more in the N-S direction; later when the polar fields have completed their reversal the boundary runs NE-SW and the northern streamer should be observed over the east limb and the southern streamer over the west limb. Observational evidence in support of the model is presented, especially the findings of Hansen, Sawyer and Hansen and Koomen and Howard that the K-corona is highly structured and related to the solar sector structure.     

The history of environmental change and adaptation in eastern Saloum–Senegal—Driving forces and perceptions

Environmental change in the Sahel–Sudan zone of West Africa has been a major issue in development debates over the last decades. Using remote sensing based land cover change analysis, archival data, national and international statistical data, and household interviews, we analyze the drivers of environmental change in Eastern Saloum in Central East Senegal as well as the local perceptions of these changes and adaptation. Being part of the ground nut basin, Eastern Saloum has witnessed rapid environmental degradation caused by the conversion of forest and savanna areas to agricultural land during the last 20–30 years and by a combination of decline in precipitation, soil degradation, a diversity of policies with little concern for the environment, fluctuating markets and population pressure. Farmers perceive the environmental change mainly as land degradation and poor soil fertility, though recent extensification of agriculture counters this effect and has led to increased vegetation cover in marginal areas. They identified erratic climate, agricultural policies, insufficient food production and desire to increase income as the main drivers of change in the area. We conclude that while climate variability has influenced environmental change in the area, various types of State interventions in agriculture and global market fluctuations appear to have been the main underlying causes of environmental degradation.     

中国稻田甲烷产生和排放研究 Ⅱ.模式研究和减排措施

主要介绍了近 2 0年来稻田甲烷排放的模式研究和排放量的估算以及减少稻田甲烷排放的措施。数值模式是估算稻田甲烷排放量的一条有效途径 ,模式的研究现在正处于发展阶段。介绍了几个主要的模型 ,既有物理过程模型也有经验模型。年排放量的估算范围为 6 79～ 4 1 4Tg ,随着技术的发展和大量实验的进行估算值的精度正得到不断的提高。减排措施是减少稻田甲烷排放的必要手段 ,但是目前的减排技术均处于研究阶段 ,应用还不成熟     

Diagenetic disturbances of marine sedimentary records from methane‐influenced environments in the Fram Strait as indications of variation in seep intensity during the last 35 000 years

The effect of seeping of methane on marine sediment records has been studied in four gravity cores from Vestnesa Ridge, Svalbard margin. The area shows acoustic signs in the form of flares indicating active methane gas seepage. For a better understanding of the timing and variability of the flux of methane in the past and the effects on potential proxies, a detailed study of the diagenetic processes that may affect the composition and structure of both sediments and foraminiferal shells is needed. Here we discuss deep‐sea records from methane‐influenced environments in three cores from an active and very heterogeneous seep‐area (pockmark) and one core from outside the pockmark for background. The results include the distribution and stable isotopes of authigenic carbonates and of benthic and planktonic foraminifera, magnetic susceptibility, AMS‐¹⁴C dates, sedimentary data and biostratigraphy. Extremely low δ¹³C values recorded in both benthic and planktonic foraminifera during the Bølling‐Allerød interstadials indicate possible increased methane flux beginning at late Heinrich event H1. The recorded low values are mainly a result of diagenetic overprint by methane‐derived authigenic carbonates. The δ¹⁸O signals of authigenic carbonates are close to those of foraminiferal calcite and thus the δ¹⁸O records remain a valid stratigraphical tool in methane seep sites, except in the case of severely encrusted samples. In addition, the records from the active pockmark show nearly constant values of low magnetic susceptibility in contrast to higher and more variable magnetic susceptibility values from the control station and other published records from normal sediments west of Svalbard. This phenomenon is probably caused by dissolution of magnetic minerals in the reducing environmental conditions of methane seep sediments, associated with anaerobic oxidation of methane and formation of paramagnetic minerals (pyrite). This process enables magnetic susceptibility to be used as a common diagnostic tool for identifying methane‐related palaeo‐reductive environments.     

Termites and global methane—another assessment

New CH₄ emission data from a number of Northern and Southern Hemispheric, tropical and temperate termites, are reported, which indicate that the annual global CH₄ source due to termites is probably less than 15 Tg. The major uncertainties in this estimate are identified and found to be substantial. Nevertheless, our results suggest that termites probably account for less than 5% of global CH₄ emissions.