Composition of soluble organic matter in coals: relation to rank and liptinite fluorescence

Study of a series of twenty-six German high volatile bituminous B to low volatile bituminous coals of Upper Carboniferous age by recently refined analytical methods (‘flow-blending’ extraction, medium pressure liquid chromatography, HPLC, glass capillary gas chromatography and spectral fluorescence microscopy) reveals that yield and composition of soluble organic matter are strongly controlled by rank. In particular, the following points of inflection are noted in rank trends around 0.9% vitrinite reflectance: a maximum in yields of total soluble organic matter, aromatic hydrocarbons and n-alkanes; the most pronounced change in aromatic hydrocarbon composition; a trend reversal for pristane/ phytane ratios; a gradient change in the odd/even-predominance of long chain n-alkanes; appearance of a bimodal n-alkane distribution; and a sharp drop in concentration of individual n-, and isoprenoid alkanes. This discontinuity in rank trends around 0.9% Rm is interpreted to reflect a major change in reaction types, i.e. a shift from predominantly hydrocarbon generating to predominantly fragmentation reactions. Rank trends of maceral fluorescence exhibit the following pronounced changes over a similar but broader rank range: Different types of the maceral sporinite show a relatively abrupt shift of the fluorescence colour from yellow towards red between 0.8–0.9% Rm while up to about 1.0% Rm a sharp increase is recorded in the proportion of fluorescent vitrinite. This coincidence at a near-equal rank stage suggests a common cause for changes in yield and composition of the soluble organic matter and the maceral fluorescence of these coals.     

Organic and inorganic geochemistry of some coastal plain rivers of the southeastern United States

In a comprehensive study of the distribution of organic and inorganic constituents in natural waters, the chemical compositions of several rivers flowing through the Coastal Plain of southeast Georgia (the Satilla River, in particular) have been investigated. These streams are generally characterized by low suspended load, low ionic strength, low pH values, and a predominance of organic over inorganic constituents. The dominance of sodium and chloride among inorganic ions indicates that rainfall is a major factor in determining the distribution of major elements in these waters. The low pH values and the relatively high concentrations of iron and aluminum appear to result from the high concentrations of organic matter. Chemical analysis (total acidity, carboxyl groups, amino acid residues, and CHN analysis) and spectroscopic analysis (i.r. and NMR) indicate that river water organic matter is chemically similar to soil fulvic acids.The dominance of organic matter over inorganic constituents and the resultant low pH values of these waters are in direct contrast with the chemical compositions of most of the rivers of the world which have been previously studied. Many large tributaries draining from the low relief tropical basins of the Amazon and other tropical rivers are expected to show similar characteristics; however, none of these has been studied extensively.     

Zur graphischen Integration der Wirbelgleichung mit Berücksichtigung orographischer Effekte

Zusammenfassung Es wird eine Methode angegeben, die gestattet, die Wirbelgleichung unter Berücksichtigung orographischer Effekte graphisch zu integrieren; dabei werden barokline thermodynamische Prozesse nicht berücksichtigt. der Arbeit liegt folgende Vorstellung zu Grunde: Ein jedes Luftquantum, das einen Gebirgskamm überquert, erhält eine zusätzliche Vorticity. Demnach müssen alle diejenigen Teile des Wirbelfeldes, die zu Beginn der graphischen Integration stromaufwärts vom Gebirgskamm liegen-und zwar bis zur Entfernung, die dem Windweg des zur graphischen Integration verwendeten Zeitschrittes (24 Stunden) entspricht —, eine Korrektur erfahren. Mit Hilfe von Angaben vonKüttner über das durchschnittliche Verhalten der Vertikalgeschwindigkeit bei orographischer Beeinflussung gelingt es, die oben geforderten Korrekturen zu berechnen. Dadurch ist man in der Lage, die im Lee eines Gebirges bei Strömungsübersetzung auftretende Niveausenkung der 500 mb-Fläche zwanglos zu erklären.An einem Beispiel wird die Methode veranschaulicht. Der Alpenkamm und der Karpathenbogen werden von einer kräftigen Nordwestströmung überquert. Im Lee der Gebirge — Raum Italien-Griechenland—tritt innerhalb von 24 Stunden eine maximale Niveausenkung von 20 gpdm ein. Mittels der graphischen Integration der barotropen Wirbelgleichung kann man nur 10 bis 20%, mit Hilfe der hier angeführten Methode dagegen nahezu 100% der Senkung der 500 mg-Fläche arklären.

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Summary A procedure is developed for graphical integration of the vorticity equation incorporating orographic influences. Baroclinic effects due to thermodynamic processes are not considered. The investigation is based upon the following idea: Each air particle crossing the mountain range receives additional vorticity. Hence those parts of the vorticity distribution lying streamupwards from the mountain range up to a distance corresponding to the movement of the air particle during the timestep used for the integration have to be corrected. The magnitude of these corrections is evaluated usingKüttners results for the average changes of vertical velocity by orographic features. Thus it is possible to explain the decrease of height of the 500 mb surface in the lee of the mountain range.The method is illustrated by an actual example: The Alps and the Carpathians are crossed by a strong north-westerly flow. In the lee of the mountain range (Italy and Greece) a maximum decrease of height of the 500 mb surface of 20 gpdm within 24 hours is observed. The graphical integration of the barotropic vorticity equation explains only 10 to 20% of the depression, while the present method renders a result in almost complete agreement with the observations.

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Résumé L'auteur expose une méthode permettant d'intégrer graphiquement l'équation de tourbillon en tenant compte d'effets orographiques, mais en excluant des processus thermodynamiques barocliniques. Chaque quantum d'air franchissant une montagne reçoit une vorticity supplémentaire, de sorte que les parties du champ tourbillonnaire situées en amont d'une chaîne montagneuse, à une distance de 24 h. de chemin, doivent subir une correction. Celle-ci se calcule à l'aide de données deKüttner qui a établi l'allure moyenne de la composante verticale de vitesse au-dessus d'un obstache. On se trouve ainsi à même d'expliquer l'abaissement de la surface de 500 mb à l'aval d'une chaîne de montagnes.Un exemple illustre la méthode décrite. Par fort vent de Nord-Ouest au-dessus des Alpes et des Carpathes, il se produit sous le vent, dans la région Italie/Grèce, un abaissement maximum de 200 gpm de la surface de 500 mb. L'intégration graphique de l'équation barotrope de tourbillon rend compte de 10 à 20% seulement de cet abaissement, mais la méthode ici décrite l'explique entièrement.

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Cretaceous synsedimentary tectonics in the Atlas system of Central Morocco

Cretaceous sediments in Central Morocco were deposited in various depositional environments and comprise an undetermined Lower Cretaceous base up to Maastrichtian. The sedimentary columns show a similar facies evolution. Basal unconformities, conglomeratic layers and significant differences in thicknesses reflect pre- and synsedimentary vertical tectonic movements. These tectonic movements took place along large NE/SW striking fault systems, one of the major features of the present tectonic framework. Permanent displacement of the subsidince maxima in time and space indicate the development of small tectonic blocks which were tilted and/or compressed between the fault zones. High sedimentation rates in areas of strong subsidence, however, prevented the evolution of intraplatformbasins. Although tectonic influence was important, eustatic sea level changes ruled the whole sedimentary regime.

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Zusammenfassung Im Mittleren Atlas und der Haute Moulouya reichen die Kreidesedimente von nicht genauer datierbarer Unterkreide bis ins Maastricht. Sie entstanden unter ständig wechselnden Ablagerungsbedingungen. Die einzelnen Sedimentsäulen weisen jeweils große Ähnlichkeiten in ihrer Faziesentwicklung auf, welche hauptsächlich den eustatischen Meeresspiegelschwankungen folgten. Basale Diskordanzen, Konglomeratlagen und signifikante Unterschiede in den Sedimentmächtigkeiten zeigen ständige synsedimentäre Vertikalbewegungen an. Diese erfolgten hauptsächlich an ausgedehnten, NE-SW streichenden Störungssystemen. Die ständigen, sowohl räumlichen als auch zeitlichen Verschiebungen der Subsidenzmaxima deuten auf die Entstehung von kleinräumigen tektonischen Blöcken hin, die zwischen den Störungszonen entweder gefaltet oder gekippt wurden. Dabei verhinderten die hohen Sedimentationsraten und die geringe räumliche Ausdehnung der Subsidenzzonen die Entstehung von tieferen Becken. Trotz der permanenten tektonischen Bewegungen waren eustatische Meeresspiegelschwankungen bestimmend für die Faziesentwicklung im gesamten Sedimentationsraum.

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Résumé Dans le Moyen Atlas et la Haute Moulouya, la sédimentation crétacée s'est effectuée dans des environnements variables depuis l'Eo-Crétacé jusqu'au Maastrichtien. Les colonnes sédimentaires dans les différentes localités sont caractérisées par une grande analogie d'évolution de faciès. Les discordances basales, les niveaux conglomératiques et la différence des épaisseurs d'une localité à une autre traduisent les mouvements verticaux pré- et synsédimentaires; ceci est surtout clair le long des failles de direction NE-SW qui ont constamment influencé la sédimentation. Les variations de la subsidence dans le temps et dans l'espace trouvent leur explication dans un modèle de basculement ou de plissement de petits blocs entre les zones de failles. Dans les zones à subsidence élevée, le taux de sédimentation était également élevé, ce qui a empêché la formation de bassins profonds. Ainsi, en dépit de l'action tectonique, les changements eustatiques du niveau de la mer ont déterminé tout le régime sédimentaire.

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Age constraints on Pleistocene megafauna at Tight Entrance Cave in southwestern Australia

A well-stratified succession of fossiliferous sediments occurs in Tight Entrance Cave, southwestern Australia. These infill deposits contain the remains of megafauna and have accumulated intermittently since the Middle Pleistocene: >137, 137–119 and 50–29 ka, according to the results of ¹⁴C, U–Th, ESR and OSL dating techniques. Megafaunal species richness was highest in the latest part of the penultimate glacial maximum and during the subsequent last interglacial (137–119 ka), but remains are less abundant following an apparent 70 ka depositional hiatus in the sequence. Most megafaunal specimens from the upper (<44 ka) units are fragmentary, and reworking from older strata cannot yet be ruled out. However, one specimen of Simosthenurus occidentalis (a large extinct kangaroo), a pair of articulated dentaries showing no signs of secondary transportation, was found within a sedimentary layer deposited between 48 and 50 ka. This represents one of the youngest demonstrably in situ occurrences of an Australian megafaunal taxon.     

Buchbesprechungen

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Underutilized plant species in Far West Nepal

Underutilized plant species help to alleviate common food insufficiencies by providing alternative food supply. They also complement primary health care, furnishing raw materials where the cultivation of staple cereal crops is least feasible and health care is pursued indigenously. Research and promotion of extraction, utilization, and conservation of underutilized species lead to exploration of new staple crops and motivate people to consume in a sustainable manner. The present study describes the current status, uses, and management of underutilized plant species in Far West Nepal. The relative importance of 49 underutilized plant species was computed employing a Relative Importance (RI) technique. The use-values assigned to the species fall into six use-categories: beverage, fodder, food & edible, medicinal, vegetable and veterinary. A total of 22 species appeared in multiple use-categories, while the rest were characterized by a single use-category. Based on relative importance and frequency, Ficus semicordata, Debregesia longifolia, Girardinea diversifolia, Hydrocotyle nepalensis, Garuga pinnata, Aloe vera and Pyrus pashia offer the most potential for future. Underutilized plants proved important to folk medicine and food. These species persist because they remain useful to local people as means of subsistence, production, and primary health care. The findings are important so far as they point up the role of underutilized plants in national food security policy and health care, spelling out their potentialities and cross cutting relationships.     

Comments on FAO's State of Fisheries and Aquaculture, or ‘SOFIA 2010’

Comments are provided on a few sections of the FAO's 2010 edition of the bi-annual ‘State of the World's Fisheries and Aquaculture’ (SOFIA), i.e., its characterization of the present as a period of ‘stability’, the peculiar role of China's fisheries statistics, the under-reporting of much of the small-scale fisheries catch from developing countries as a key aspect of the deteriorating quality of statistical data submitted to the FAO by member countries, and some other minor topics (but not aquaculture). Overall, this SOFIA report, like its predecessors, provides an excellent starting point for debates about the status of global fisheries, rather than settling them, and a few vignettes are presented, which illustrate this. Moreover, this debate should be broader, e.g., involve more university- and civil society-based researchers, to provide the wide variety of views and analyses required to strengthen FAO in its laudable mission of providing dependable information on the state of global fisheries.     

Evaluation and legal assessment of certified seafood

This study presents a legal review of international treaties to derive sound definitions of overfishing. It examines seafood stocks that were certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) or Friend of the Sea (FOS). Stock size and fishing pressure were compared with the internationally agreed reference points which both organizations have accepted. No suitable status information was found for 11% (MSC) to 53% (FOS) of the certified stocks. For the stocks with available status information, 19% (FOS) to 31% (MSC) had overfished stock sizes and were subject to ongoing overfishing. An analysis of legal implications of certification of overfished stocks suggests that a certifying body cannot be held liable for a violation of internationally agreed standards unless the domestic law of its home country so regulates. States may ban the import of fish products from overfished stocks, but only in very specific cases. Possible causes for the certification of overfished stocks are discussed and recommendations are given on how the certifiers could improve their performance. The study concludes that it is still reasonable to buy certified seafood, because the percentage of moderately exploited, healthy stocks is 3–4 times higher in certified than in non-certified seafood.