Antenna-coupled arrays of NbSi micro-bolometers

Microbolometers are at present the most sensitive detectors for mm and sub-mm Astronomy. They are in use in most of the present instruments in that bandwidth. We have developed filled arrays of NbSi-based planar antenna coupled microbolometers. The fabrication details are given, together with characterization of the NbSi thermometers and optical results. The optical performances are potentially good for ground-based mm-wave astronomy applications, while the overall detectors performances are limited by low-frequency excess noise in the thermometric NbSi high-impedance sensors (Anderson insulator).     

A general reduction scheme for reactive transport in porous media

We present a method to transform the governing equations of multispecies reactive transport in porous media. The reformulation leads to a smaller problem size by decoupling of equations and by elimination of unknowns, which increases the efficiency of numerical simulations. The reformulation presented here is a generalization of earlier works. In fact, a whole class of transformations is now presented. This class is parametrized by the choice of certain transformation matrices. For specific choices, some known formulations of reactive transport can be retrieved. Hence, the software based on the presented transformation can be used to obtain efficiency comparisons of different solution approaches. For our efficiency tests, we use the MoMaS benchmark problem on reactive transport.     

Soft-sediment deformation of Late Pleistocene sediments along the southwestern coast of the Baltic Sea (NE Germany)

A 1,460-m-long profile of a Late Glacial subglacial, glacio-fluvial, glacio-limnic and glacio-deltaic sequence exposed at a cliff section on Usedom Island (SW Baltic Sea coast) is described. The sequence is up to 31 m thick and shows sedimentary structures typical of a glacial setting. Soft-sediment deformation is encountered and is associated with changes in lithology. These deformations include liquefaction, slumping, and faulting. As the most plausible cause, earthquake-induced shaking is discussed. The associated neotectonic activity is seen as a consequence of the postglacial isostatic crustal rebound. As the deglaciation earthquake ratio diminishes with time and as the rebound is phasing out, no large earthquakes are anticipated for northern Germany, although in conclusion the lithosphere of the North German Basin has to be regarded as weakened by repeated ice loading and deloading.     

Multi-stage emplacement of the G?temar Pluton, SE Sweden: new evidence inferred from field observations and microfabric analysis, including cathodoluminescence microscopy

The emplacement of the Mesoproterozoic G?temar Pluton into Paleoproterozoic granitoid host rocks of the Transscandinavian Igneous Belt is re-examined by microfabric analysis, including cathodoluminescence microscopy. Field data on the pluton-host rock system are used to strengthen the model. The G?temar Pluton, situated on the Baltic Shield of SE Sweden, is a horizontally zoned tabular structure that was constructed by the intrusion of successive pulses of magma with different crystal/melt ratios, at an estimated crustal depth of 4–8?km. Initial pluton formation involved magma ascent along a vertical dike, which was arrested at a mechanical discontinuity within the granitoid host rocks; this led to the formation of an initial sill. Subsequent sill stacking and their constant inflation resulted in deformation and reheating of existing magma bodies, which also raised the pluton roof. This multi-stage emplacement scenario is indicated by complex dike relationships and the occurrence of several generations of quartz (Si-metasomatism). The sills were charged by different domains of a heterogeneous magma chamber with varying crystal/melt ratios. Ascent or emplacement of magma with a high crystal/melt ratio is indicated by syn-magmatic deformation of phenocrysts. Complex crystallization fabrics (e.g. oscillatory growth zoning caused by high crystal defect density, overgrowth and replacement features, resorbed and corroded crystal cores, rapakivi structure) are mostly related to processes within the main chamber, that is repeated magma mixing or water influx.     

Approaches to stress monitoring in deep boreholes for future CCS projects

There is no monitoring technology available to observe possible changes of stress in the rock mass of a CO₂ reservoir or its cap rock formations. Any development of a stress-monitoring technique must be related to the natural regional stress conditions and must be adjusted to the possibly changing in situ stress conditions due to CCS activity. As a step towards an in situ stress-monitoring probe, a lab scale device was developed and used for investigations on the practicability of a hard-inclusion tool for stress monitoring. In situ stress conditions, as deduced from the Altmark Gas Field, were applied to evaluate the efficiency and the limits of this stress-monitoring technique. At lab-scale the applied stresses resp. stress differences with moderate amounts of 9?C15?% of the vertical stress component Sv coincide sufficiently with the resulting strain answers of the hard inclusion tool (i.e., a steel tube corresponding to the liner in the borehole). Therefore, it was possible to re-calculate the stresses and to compare them with the applied ones. The resulting coincidence, however, can be disturbed at high pressure levels due to rock failure around the borehole with extended deformations. In addition, the results are influenced by the mechanical behaviour of the surrounding rock mass type. Nevertheless, a further development of a hard inclusion probe for monitoring of stress changes in deep boreholes can be successful and may be the only possible way to detect stress changes without fracturing damages in deep boreholes.     

Quaternary coastline evolution of Lake Ohrid (Macedonia/Albania)

Lake Ohrid (between FYR of Macedonia and Albania), situated in an active tectonic region of the Balkanides, is characterized by N ?? S trending active faults. To reconstruct the Holocene shoreline evolution we investigated the coastline using sediment cores and geophysical methods to image sedimentary and tectonic structures. We revealed areas of differing sedimentation regimes. The plains north and south of the lake are dominated by clastic input related to climate variations and uplift/erosion, whereas the steep western and eastern margins are controlled by recent tectonics. Furthermore, no evidence for a much higher lake-level during the Holocene was found in the plains north and south of the lake, except rare temporary floodings. This is supported by mappings of the limestone cliffs around Lake Ohrid, which yielded no evidence for abrasional platforms or notches as indicators for past highstands.     

Using Lead Isotopes to Determine Pottery Provenance in Cyprus: Clay Source Signatures and Comparison with Late Bronze Age Cypriote Pottery

This paper presents the lead isotopic composition of potential clay sources for pottery production, collected in the four major geological zones of Cyprus (Troodos Ophiolite, Circum Troodos Sedimentary Succession, Mamonia Terrane, Kyrenia Terrane) and evaluates its usefulness in Cypriote pottery provenance studies. The clay isotopic signatures from the four zones are compared to each other and to the isotopic composition of various utilitarian pottery wares from three Late Bronze Age sites, respectively located in southern Cyprus (Alassa‐Pano Mandilaris), east Cyprus (Enkomi), and southeast Cyprus (Hala Sultan Tekke). It also explores the potential of this method to better discriminate between potential raw materials used for the production of Base‐ring ware, one of the most characteristic fine pottery of Late Bronze Age Cyprus, which was widely spread in the Eastern Mediterranean (Courtois, 1981; Vaughan, 1991, 1994). Results show that three main lead isotopic fields can be distinguished among the Cypriote clay sources and the comparison of Plain sherds with the clay sources allows discrimination between local products and imports. They also clearly indicate that all the Base‐ring sherds analyzed in this study were made of the clays from the Kathikas Formation that crops out in only limited parts of southwest Cyprus.     

Long-term changes of (polar) mesosphere summer echoes

Strong VHF radar echoes have been observed not only during summer months at polar latitudes (polar mesosphere summer echoes, PMSE) but also at middle latitudes (mesosphere summer echoes, MSE). These echoes are closely connected with small ice particles, thus containing information about mesospheric temperature and water vapour content. But the (P)MSE also depend on the ionisation due to solar wave radiation and precipitating high energetic particles. Observations with VHF radars at Andenes (69.3°N; 16.0°E) since 1994 and at Kühlungsborn (54.6°N; 11.8°E) since 1998 are used for investigations of the solar and geomagnetic control of the (P)MSE as well as of possible long-term changes. The (P)MSE are positively correlated with the solar Lyman α radiation and the geomagnetic activity and have slightly positive trends. Due to the limited measuring period, the significance levels of the detected (P)MSE trends are small. Positive trends in noctilucent clouds (NLC) and polar mesospheric clouds (PMC) are in general agreement with (P)MSE trends.     

The U, Th and Pb elemental and isotope compositions of mantle clinopyroxenes and their grain boundary contamination derived from leaching and digestion experiments

Minerals from peridotites are known to be affected by trace element contamination on their grain boundaries. In this contribution we investigate the extent and origin of exogenous contamination associated with mantle clinopyroxenes from various localities (Middle Atlas, Beni Bousera [Morocco], Pyrenean Massif, Massif Central [France]) and test the efficacy of different leaching methodologies used to remove this contamination. In doing so we present new U-Th-Pb (double-spike) isotope and trace elemental data of clinopyroxenes and their leachates from spinel-facies sub-continental lithospheric mantle (SCLM, n = 18).Sequential leaching and dissolution of one clinopyroxene separate shows that multiple and short leaching attacks with dilute HCl at moderate temperatures (e.g., 120 °C) interspersed with rigorous ultra-pure water washes do not induce elemental fractionation and are sufficient to remove grain-boundary contamination. Short attacks with very dilute mixtures of HF and HCl induced strong parent/daughter elemental fractionation and significant elemental loss prior to the clinopyroxene digestion with HF/HNO₃. Such leaching is not suitable for studies investigating parent/daughter elemental or isotope ratios of mantle clinopyroxenes. Fluoride co-precipitates that formed in the presence of moderately dilute HF, used during leaching and typical HF/HNO₃ digestions, are an important sink for all trace elements studied here and lock up at least 60% of the trace elements considered.A suite of clinopyroxene-leachate pairs from Moroccan peridotites confirm extreme grain-boundary contamination and show that up to 65% of U, 82% of Th and 91% of Pb, respectively, are of exogenous origin. Pb isotopes of all leachates considered and nearly all reconstructed unleached clinopyroxenes have highly positive Δ7/4 and ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb-²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb systematics reminiscent of enriched mantle (particularly EM II), whereas the corresponding extensively leached clinopyroxenes have very different Pb isotope systematics (verified by replicate digestions). Furthermore, the leachates are often marked by remarkably high ²³²Th/²³⁸U (leachate ? bulk silicate Earth) in addition to ²³⁸U/²⁰⁴Pb and ²³²Th/²⁰⁴Pb that are seemingly consistent with depleted mantle (DM) and high ²³⁸U/²⁰⁴Pb (HIMU) mantle mixing. After leaching, clinopyroxenes may have highly elevated ²³⁸U/²⁰⁴Pb and ²³²Th/²⁰⁴Pb that are distinct from typical DM- and HIMU mantle, whereas corresponding leachates bear strong resemblance to anthropogenic Pb recovered from rainwater, snow and aerosols.In the light of the great potential of Pb isotope contamination associated with mantle clinopyroxene we have compiled literature data of mantle peridotites. These data seem to suggest that the SCLM is nearly devoid of HIMU signatures but ostensibly represents an important repository for enriched mantle signatures. However, the dominance of enriched mantle is not verified when ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ratios for the same database are considered. We highlight that the scarcity of HIMU-like SCLM and the alleged dominance of EM in continental roots may be reconciled if the current Pb isotope database of SCLM contains samples that were insufficiently leached prior to digestion and thus are contaminated by anthropogenic Pb. We stress the importance of replicate digestions, adequate leaching and leachate analysis to verify the U-Th-Pb elemental and isotope systematics of any given mantle (-derived) sample.     

Contamination risk and drinking water protection for a large-scale managed aquifer recharge site in a semi-arid karst region,Jordan

Karst aquifers in semi-arid regions are particularly threatened by surface contamination, especially during winter seasons when extremely variable rainfall of high intensities prevails. An additional challenge is posed when managed recharge of storm water is applied, since karst aquifers display a high spatial variability of hydraulic properties. In these cases, adapted protection concepts are required to address the interaction of surface water and groundwater. In this study a combined protection approach for the surface catchment of the managed aquifer recharge site at the Wala reservoir in Jordan and the downstream Hidan wellfield, which are both subject to frequent bacteriological contamination, is developed. The variability of groundwater quality was evaluated by correlating contamination events to rainfall, and to recharge from the reservoir. Both trigger increased wadi flow downstream of the reservoir by surface runoff generation and groundwater seepage, respectively. A tracer test verified the major pathway of the surface flow into the underground by infiltrating from pools along Wadi Wala. An intrinsic karst vulnerability and risk map was adapted to the regional characteristics and developed to account for the catchment separation by the Wala Dam and the interaction of surface water and groundwater. Implementation of the proposed protection zones for the wellfield and the reservoir is highly recommended, since the results suggest an extreme contamination risk resulting from livestock farming, arable agriculture and human occupation along the wadi. The applied methods can be transferred to other managed aquifer recharge sites in similar karstic environments of semi-arid regions.