Annual dynamics of pelagic primary production and respiration in a shallow coastal basin

The Wadden Sea (North Sea, Europe) is a shallow coastal sea with high benthic and pelagic primary production rates. To date, no studies have been carried out in the Wadden Sea that were specifically designed to study the relation between pelagic respiration and production by comparable methods. Because previous studies have suggested that the import of primary-produced pelagic organic matter is important for benthic Wadden Sea carbon budgets, we hypothesised that on an annual average the northern Wadden Sea water column is autotrophic. To test this hypothesis, we studied annual dynamics of primary production and respiration at a pelagic station in a shallow tidal basin (List Tidal Basin, northern Wadden Sea). Since water depth strongly influences production estimates, we calculated primary production rates per unit area in two ways: on the basis of the mean water depth (2.7 m) and on the basis of 1 m depth intervals and their respective spatial extent in the List Tidal Basin. The latter more precise estimate yielded an annual primary production of 146 g C m^− 2 y^− 1. Estimates based on the mean water depth resulted in a 40% higher annual rate of 204 g C m^− 2 y^− 1. The total annual pelagic respiration was 50 g C m^− 2 y^− 1. The P/R ratio varied between seasons: from February to October the water column was autotrophic, with the highest P/R ratio of 4–5 during the diatom spring bloom in April/May. In autumn and winter the water column was heterotrophic. On an annual average, the water column of the List Tidal Basin was autotrophic (P/R 3). We suggest that a large fraction of the pelagic produced organic matter was respired locally in the sediment.     

Geochemistry of the Drahotín and Mutěnín intrusions, West Bohemian shear zone, Bohemian massif: contrasting evolution of mantle-derived melts

In western Bohemia, the Drahotín (gabbro-diorite) and Mutěnín (gabbronorite-diorite-syenite) intrusions show different origins and patterns of geochemical evolution. Parental magmas of the Drahotín intrusion were derived predominantly from enriched mantle sources, and the melts have undergone a significant degree of assimilation-fractional crystallization (AFC) during their ascent and/or emplacement into the crust. In contrast, the compositional variation of the complex Mutěnín intrusion cannot be explained by simple AFC processes, but more likely reflects the involvement of several parental magmas. The gabbronorite was derived from a depleted mantle source, whereas the diorite/syenite stem from a mixed mantle-crust reservoir. The contrasting evolution of the Drahotín and Mutěnín intrusions may be due to their melt derivation and magma emplacement under different tectonothermal regimes at different times.     

Assessing organizational resilience to climate and weather extremes: complexities and methodological pathways

This paper offers insights for assessing organizational resilience to the effects of climate change, specifically to climate and weather extremes. The assessment of organizational resilience to climate and weather extremes brings about several challenges due to (1) uncertainties about future climate change outcomes across temporal and spatial scales and (2) a lack of insight into what lead to organizational resilience, or which variables should be measured in a given study. We suggest methodological pathways for organizational managers to identify properties of future climate and weather extremes and to include them in resilience assessments. We also suggest approaches to identify factors that promote organizational resilience to selected climate and weather extremes. Findings are intended to help managers to understand how organizational resilience to climate and weather extremes can be enhanced.     

Aspects of CO2 advection measurements

Observations of vegetation–atmosphere exchange of carbon dioxide (CO₂) by the eddy covariance (EC) technique are limited by difficult conditions such as nighttime and heterogeneous terrain. Thus, advective flux components are included into the net ecosystem exchange (NEE) budget. However, advection measurements are experimentally challenging and do not always help to solve the night flux problem of the EC technique. This study investigates alternative methods for the observation of horizontal advection, in particular horizontal concentration gradients, as well as different approaches to coordinate rotation and vertical advection. Continuous high-frequency measurements of the horizontal CO₂ concentration field are employed and compared to the often used discontinuous sequential sampling. Significant differences were found in the case of 30-min mean concentration values between the conventional discontinuous sampling approach and the complete observation of the time series by continuous sampling. Estimates of vertical advection rely on accurate estimates of vertical wind velocity ( $\emph{w}$ ). Therefore, different approaches to the planar fit coordinate rotation have been investigated. Sector-wise rotation was able to eliminate directional dependencies of mean $\emph{w}$ . Furthermore, the effect of the data set length used for rotation (window length) was investigated and was found to have significant impact on estimates of vertical advection, with larger window lengths yielding about 50% larger vertical advection. A sequential planar fit with controlled window length is proposed to give reproducible results. The different approaches to the measurement and calculation of horizontal and vertical advection presented are applied to data obtained during the exchange processes in mountainous region experiment at the FLUXNET site Waldstein–Weidenbrunnen (DE-Bay). Estimates of NEE including advection are compared to NEE from turbulent and storage flux alone without advection. NEE including vertical advection with sector-wise planar fit rotation and controlled window length and including horizontal advection from continuous gradient measurements, which were comprehensively bias corrected by a new approach, did compare well with the expected night flux error, with meteorological drivers of the fluxes and with soil chamber measurements. Unrealistically large and noisy values of horizontal advection from the conventional discontinuous sampling approach, which lead to unrealistic values of NEE, could be eliminated by the alternative approaches presented. We therefore suggest the further testing of those approaches at other sites in order to improve the accuracy of advection measurements and, subsequently, estimates of NEE.     

Impact of horizontal diffusion, radiation and cloudiness parameterization schemes on fog forecasting in valleys

Fog and low stratus forecasting experiments have been carried out with the numerical weather prediction model ALADIN on a case of long lasting fog. The model has been used with different radiation, cloud diagnosing and horizontal diffusion schemes, different representation of orography, increased vertical resolution and with or without prognostic condensates and turbulent kinetic energy (TKE). Some of the numerical set-ups are able to reproduce the fog (low stratus) field as seen in the satellite images as well as the measured 2m temperature and relative humidity diurnal cycles. The results show that cloud diagnosing schemes and overlap assumptions play a more important role than a more sophisticated radiation scheme, or introduction of prognostic cloud water, ice, rain, snow or TKE. More realistic orography representation and a more physical horizontal diffusion scheme significantly improve the modelled low stratus and 2m temperature in the areas with variable orography.     

Late Pleistocene spread of (cool-)temperate forests in Northeast China and climate changes synchronous with the North Atlantic region

The results presented here from the annually laminated sedimentary sequence of Sihailongwan lake provide the first comprehensive palaeoecological record covering the Late Pleniglacial to the Early Holocene (16,700–10,600 cal yrs. BP) from Northeast China. High-resolution pollen analyses have enabled the vegetational and climatic changes of the last glacial-interglacial transition to be reconstructed in more detail than has been previously possible. Moreover, a reliable chronology has been provided by both varve counting and 40 calibrated AMS ¹⁴C age determinations.Palaeobotanical evidence indicates predominantly steppe and open taiga-like woodland communities, with abundant Betula, Larix, Alnus fruticosa, Artemisia, grasses and sedges, which are typical of cold and dry conditions between 16,700 and 14,450 cal yrs. BP. The beginning expansion of Ulmus and Fraxinus marks the onset of the Late-glacial climatic amelioration at 14,450 cal yrs. BP. Dense deciduous forests, predominantly consisting of thermophilous broadleaf taxa, become established and widespread during the Early Holocene.Two short-term climatic reversals to colder and/or dryer conditions are recorded in the proxy data between 13,900 and 13,800 cal yrs. BP and 13,100 and 12,900 cal yrs. BP, correlating with the Oldest Dryas/Greenland Interstadial (GI) 1d event and the Gerzensee/Killarney/GI-1b oscillation, respectively. The prominent reappearance of Picea and Larix, coupled with a marked decrease in broadleaved trees, prior to the start of the Holocene, implies a climatic reversal compatible with the Younger Dryas event in the circum-Atlantic region. The evident synchroneity of climate changes in the North Atlantic region and East Asia supports the theory of strong atmospheric coupling between both regions.     

Biological Impact of Elevated Ocean CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Concentrations: Lessons from Animal Physiology and Earth History

CO₂ currently accumulating in the atmosphere permeates into ocean surface layers, where it may impact on marine animals in addition to effects caused by global warming. At the same time, several countries are developing scenarios for the disposal of anthropogenic CO₂ in the worlds' oceans, especially the deep sea. Elevated CO₂ partial pressures (hypercapnia) will affect the physiology of water breathing animals, a phenomenon also considered in recent discussions of a role for CO₂ in mass extinction events in earth history. Our current knowledge of CO₂ effects ranges from effects of hypercapnia on acid-base regulation, calcification and growth to influences on respiration, energy turnover and mode of metabolism. The present paper attempts to evaluate critical processes and the thresholds beyond which these effects may become detrimental. CO₂ elicits acidosis not only in the water, but also in tissues and body fluids. Despite compensatory accumulation of bicarbonate, acid-base parameters (pH, bicarbonate and CO₂ levels) and ion levels reach new steady-state values, with specific, long-term effects on metabolic functions. Even though such processes may not be detrimental, they are expected to affect long-term growth and reproduction and may thus be harmful at population and species levels. Sensitivity is maximal in ommastrephid squid, which are characterized by a high metabolic rate and extremely pH-sensitive blood oxygen transport. Acute sensitivity is interpreted to be less in fish with intracellular blood pigments and higher capacities to compensate for CO₂ induced acid-base disturbances than invertebrates. Virtually nothing is known about the degree to which deep-sea fishes are affected by short or long term hypercapnia. Sensitivity to CO₂ is hypothesized to be related to the organizational level of an animal, its energy requirements and mode of life. Long-term effects expected at population and species levels are in line with recent considerations of a detrimental role of CO₂ during mass extinctions in the earth's history. Future research is needed in this area to evaluate critical effects of the various CO₂ disposal scenarios. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Colquiriit,ein neues Fluoridmineral aus der Zinnlagerstätte von Colquiri in Bolivien

Zusammenfassung Colquiriit tritt in Vergesellschaftung mit Ralstonit, Gearksutit, Zinkblende, Madocit und Pyrit im Bereich der Zinnlagerstätte von Colquiri in Bolivien auf. Das als selten zu betrachtende Mineral bildet maximal cm-große xenomorphe durchscheinende bis durch-sichtige Körner von weißlicher Farbe. Es zeigt keine Spaltbarkeit. Härte ca. 4; Dichte (gem.) 2,94, (ber.) 2,95 g/cm³;n 1,385±0.002,n 1,388±0,002, einachsig oder schwach zweiachsig, negativ. Colquiriit kristallisiert trigonal, Raumgruppe oderP31c,a ₀ 5,02,c ₀ 9,67 Å,Z=2. Stärkste Linien des Pulverdiagramms: 3,98(7) ; 3,23(10) ; 2,22(9) ; 1,736(8) . Eine chemische Analyse ergab: Li 3,1, Na 0,34, Mg 0,55, Ca 22,8, Al 13,4, F 58,0, Gewichtsverlust (105 °C) 0,5, Summe 98,69%, woraus sich die idealisierte Formel LiCaAlF₆ ableiten läßt. Beim Erhitzen wird das Gitter zwischen 800 und 900°C zerstört.

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Colquiriite, a new fluoride mineral from the Colquiri tin deposit in Bolivia

Summary Colquiriite occurs at the Colquiri tin deposit in Bolivia and is associated with ralstonite, gearksutite, sphalerite, madocite and pyrite. The mineral, which probably is a rare species, forms anhedral translucent to transparent white grains reaching up to 1 cm in size. No cleavage; hardness about 4; density (meas.) 2.94, density (calc.) 2.95 g/cm³;n 1.385±0.002,n 1.388±0.002, uniaxial or weakly biaxial, negative. Colquiriite is trigonal,a ₀ 5.02,c ₀ 9.67 Å, space group orP31c,Z=2. The strongest lines of the powder pattern are: 3.98(7) ; 3.23(10) ; 2.22(9) ; 1.736(8) . The chemical analysis gave: Li 3.1, Na 0.34, Mg 0.55, Ca 22.8, Al 13.4, F 58.0, weight loss (105 °C) 0.5, sum 98.69%, leading to the idealized formula LiCaAlF₆. Heating experiments show that the lattice breaks down between 800 and 900 °C. The new mineral and its name have been approved by the I.M.A. Commission on New Minerals and Mineral Names.

     

Isotopenvariationen des Stickstoffs humoser und bituminöser natürlicher organischer Substanzen

gd¹⁵N-values and nitrogen contents of a series of humic and bituminous organic sediments of different ranks were determined. The change of the isotopic abundance of nitrogen was investigated during heating in model experiments, using a gas flame coal.In the case of humic carbon coals the relative nitrogen contents vary from 0.8 to 1.4% and the δ¹⁵N-values from +3.5 to +6.3%. increasing from the brown coal to anthracite ranks. During the coalification process both the δ¹⁵N-values and the relative nitrogen contents do not vary continuously with the rank, but pass through maxima and minima. Model experiments using a gas flame coal show the same trend. Nitrogen with δ¹⁵N-values of +2.8 or ?7%. was released in pyrolysis experiments, applying a gas flame coal and a steam coal at temperatures of 650 and 1000°C, respectively.The investigated bitmuinous sediments yielded relative amounts of 0.1 to 0.8% with δ¹⁵N-values of + 4.2 to + 10.7%.The obtained results are discussed with respect to the elucidation of nitrogen genesis in natural gas deposits.