Improved Background Correction in the Analysis Of Cadmium by Flame Atomic Absorption

Cadmium signals obtained by direct aspiration of highly concentrated solutions of rocks and other geochemical samples are swamped by strong matrix background signals. Mainly because of iron interference, the deuterium source or other continua are not satisfactory for background correction. In order to isolate atomic absorption by cadmium the total signal and the background signal have to be measured precisely. Sequential measurements in the double beam mode with electrodeless discharge lamps of cadmium and arsenic at 228.80 and 228.81 nm produced a set of uninterfered data for cadmium within marginally useful detection limits of (0.10 ppm in granite, 0.16 ppm Cd in limestone). Simple extraction of the sample powders with nitric acid dissolves only part of the sample matrix but most of the cadmium. In this way higher relative and absolute cadmium concentrations in solution and better detection limits are obtained (e.g. 0.02 ppm Cd in granite). This approach allows cadmium in geosamples at levels below 0.3 ppm to be determined more accurately than via hydrofluoric acid dissolution.     

Total waterborne carbon export and DOC composition from ten nested subarctic peatland catchments—importance of peatland cover,groundwater influence,and inter‐annual variability of precipitation patterns

Waterborne carbon (C) export from terrestrial ecosystems is a potentially important flux for the net catchment C balance and links the biogeochemical C cycling of terrestrial ecosystems to their downstream aquatic ecosystems. We have monitored hydrology and stream chemistry over 3 years in ten nested catchments (0.6–15.1 km²) with variable peatland cover (0%–22%) and groundwater influence in subarctic Sweden. Total waterborne C export, including dissolved and particulate organic carbon (DOC and POC) and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), ranged between 2.8 and 7.3 g m^–2 year^–1, representing ~10%–30% of catchment net ecosystem exchange of CO₂. Several characteristics of catchment waterborne C export were affected by interacting effects of peatland cover and groundwater influence, including magnitude and timing, partitioning into DOC, POC, and DIC and chemical composition of the exported DOC. Waterborne C export was greater during the wetter years, equivalent to an average change in export of ~2 g m^–2 year^–1 per 100 mm of precipitation. Wetter years led to a greater relative increase in DIC export than DOC export due to an inferred relative shift in dominance from shallow organic flow pathways to groundwater sources. Indices of DOC composition (SUVA₂₅₄ and a₂₅₀/a₃₆₅) indicated that DOC aromaticity and average molecular weight increased with catchment peatland cover and decreased with increased groundwater influence. Our results provide examples on how waterborne C export and DOC composition might be affected by climate change. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fluid influence on mineral reactions in ultrahigh-pressure granulites: a case study in the Śnieżnik Mts. (West Sudetes, Poland)

Small tectonic slices of undeformed eclogites and ultrahigh-pressure granulites occur in three tectonic units of the Śnieżnik Mts. (SW Poland). Ultrahigh-pressure granulite/eclogite transitions with peak metamorphic conditions between 21 and 28 kbar at 800 to 1000 °C occur only in the Złote unit. Conventional U-Pb multigrain analyses of zircons from a mafic granulite provided ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ages between 360 to 369 Ma which are interpreted to approximate timing of original crystallisation from a melt. Diffusion kinetics and the restricted availability of a fluid phase mainly controlled the conversion from granulite to eclogite, although some bulk-chemical differences were also recognised. The ultrahigh-pressure granulites from the Złote unit exclusively contain H₂O-rich inclusions with variable salinities which distinguishes them from high-temperature (HT)-granulites world-wide. This is also in contrast to the fluid regime (H₂O-N₂-CO₂) recognised in the lower-temperature eclogites (600–800 °C) from the closely associated Międzygórze and Śnieżnik units. The variation in fluid composition between the lower-temperature eclogites and ultrahigh-pressure granulites on the one hand and ultrahigh-pressure granulites and HT-granulites on the other hand probably indicates contrasting P-T-t paths as a result of different tectonic environments. Received: 15 June 1998 / Accepted: 2 March 1999     

Shifting frames for local people and forests in a global heritage: the Thung Yai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary in the context of Thailand’s globalization and modernization

Focusing on the case of the World Heritage Site and Wildlife Sanctuary Thung Yai Naresuan, the paper sketches the interdependences of international and national forest and conservation policies in Thailand since the middle of the 19th century. In the context of Thailand’s globalization and modernization, these policies resulted in a coercing conservationism which focuses increasingly on the so-called ‘hill tribe’ ethnic minority groups. The shifting cultural and political framings of the area that became a national wildlife sanctuary and a ‘global heritage’ reflect external economic, political, and ideological interests. The people of the Karen ethnic minority group who live in the sanctuary are conceived of as a disruptive factor and never have had a chance to participate in these framings. After the designation of the area as a World Heritage Site, the remaining villages face increasing pressure from the Royal Forest Department which is trying to remove them with the help of the Military. Drawing on the different vested interests and the relativity of cultural conceptualizations, the paper questions the external framing, pointing to three major problems that are raised with regard to Thung Yai, but are symptomatic of modern conservationism at large: inconsistencies between normative claims and political practice; distortions of scale between conceptions designed at different levels of social space from the local to the global, and; the problem to reconcile conflicting cultural patterns and conceptualizations. The paper argues for a reframing of the conflict to conceive the Karen in Thung Yai as an integral part of the ‘global heritage’.     

Untersuchungen der Tektonik der Hunsrückrandstörungszone zwischen Münster-Sarmsheim und Kirn an der Nahe

Zusammenfassung Der NW-Flügel der Nahe-Mulde wird durch die Hunsrücksüdrandstörungszone geprägt. Dieses Lineament erstreckt sich vom SE-Rand des Taunus über die Nahe- und Prims-Mulde und das Saargebiet bis nach Frankreich, wo es in die Metzer Störung übergeht. Im Arbeitsgebiet reicht die Verwerfung in große Tiefen hinab und verwirft noch die Moho.Zwischen Münster-Sarmsheim und Argenschwang ist das Devon auf das Rotliegende aufgeschoben. Von Allenfeld an nach SW ändert sich der Charakter der Störungszone. Sie spaltet in zwei bzw. drei streichende Verwerfungen auf, wodurch die beschriebene Schollengliederung des Arbeitsgebietes entsteht.Die NW-Scholle lagert diskordant auf dem varistischen Gebirge mit einem Einfallen von max. 20° SE. Sie wird vom NW-Ast der Hunsrücksüdrandstörungszone nach SE begrenzt. Im Abschnitt Argenschwang/Hochstetten schlieBt sich eine Grabenscholle an. In ihr lagern sowohl Gesteine des Unter- wie des Oberrotliegenden. Im Abschnitt Hochstetten/Kirn trennt der NW-Ast der Hunsrücksüdrandstörungszone die NW-Scholle von der Zentralscholle, die relativ gehoben erscheint. SE der SE-Grabenrandverwerfung bzw. der Störung SE der Zentralscholle des Abschnittes Hochstetten/Kirn, folgt eine gefaltete Zone.Durch eine Störung getrennt, schlieBt sich nach SE eine Scholle an, auf der die Schichten zunächst mit 60° SE einfallen. In Richtung auf die Muldenachse der Nahe-Mulde biegen sie zu flacher Lagerung um. Der Bereich um Kirn ist durch die zahlreichen Magmatite geprägt, die in enger Verbindung zur Tektonik stehen.Eine tektonische Aktivität ist nach Ablagerung der Lebacher- bzw. der Tholeyer Gruppe möglich. Die Hauptbewegungsphase fällt in das Oberrotliegende. Es entfällt die Saalische Phase mit ihrer Diskordanz zwischen Unter- und Oberrotliegendem. Lokale Diskordanzen sind auf die Intrusionstektonik zurückzuführen. Die endgültige Ausgestaltung der Nahe-Mulde dürfte wahrend der Pfälzischen Phase der varistischen Gebirgsbildung erfolgt sein.Die Querstörungen sind jünger als alle streichenden Elemente. Teilweise haben sie tertiäres Alter. Zu dieser Zeit ist vermutlich die Aufschiebung des Devons auf das Rotliegende im Abschnitt Argenschwang/Hochstetten erfolgt. Rezente Bewegungen lassen sich bis in die heutige Zeit an Hand von Erdbeben nachweisen. Die Antwort nach der Ursache der tektonischen Bewegungen bleibt spekulativ. Bei der Größe dieses Lineaments muß man jedoch an eine Plattengrenze denken.

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The NW-side of the Nahe-Mulde (tray) is characterized by a fault zone at the southern rim of the Hunsrück-mountains (= Hunsrücksüdrandstörungszone = HRS). This lineament extends from the SE-periphery of the Taunus-mountains over the Nahe-Mulde and the Prims-Mulde and the Saar-district up to France, where it passes into the Metz-disturbance. In this range the faulting reaches great depths and also faults the Moho.The treated part of the HRS between Münster-Sarmsheim and Kirn an der Nahe shows a division into three parts from NE to SW. Between Münster-Sarmsheim and Argenschwang the Devonian is faulted up onto the Rotliegendes (Lower Permian). Between Argenschwang and Allenfeld the character of the faulting zone changes. It is divided into two resp. three fault strikes by what the described block division of this range results.In the area Argenschwang/Hochstetten and Hochstetten/Kirn the NW-block is deposited discordantly on the variscan formation with a maximum dip of 20° SE. It is limited to the SE by the NW-branch of the HRS. Adjacent to this lies a grabenblock in the area Argenschwang/Hochstetten. There we find rocks of the Lower as of the Upper-Rotliegenden. In the area Hochstetten-Kirn, the NW-branch of the HRS divides the NW-block from the central block, which seems to be relatively emerged. A folded zone follows in the SE of the SE-marginal graben rim fault resp. of the disturbance in the SE of the central block of the area Hochstetten/Kirn. This zone is closely locked to the SE-branch of the HRS and does not reach beyond it in the NW. Another block is adjecant to this in the SE and divided from it by a disturbance. Next to it the layers dip 60° SE and bend to a flat bedding near the axis of the Nahe-Mulde. The area around Kirn is characterized by numerous magmatic rocks, closely connected to the tectonic structures.Already structured in the Carboniferous, the HRS first represents the dividing element between the sedimentation area of the Saar-Nahe-depression and the variscan mountains. In the Lower-Rotliegendes the sedimentation then reaches beyond the fault and the Permian material is deposited discordantly on the folded Devonian.A tectonic activity is possible after the deposition of the Lebacher-resp. the Tholeyergroup. The main movements however happened within the Oberrotliegendes. Here the today identifiable longitudinal disturbances with all their phenomenas as grahen genesis, folding and intrusions are formed. The Saalische Phase with its discordance between Unter- and Oberrotliegendem is inapplicable, because the last one is concordantly following. Local discordances are explained by intrusion tectonics.The final shopping of the Nahe-Mulde might be a result of the Pfälzische Phase of the variscian orogenesis.The crossfaults were later than all the longitudinal elements.In some cases they have tertiary age. At this time also the upfaulting of the Devonian on the Rotliegendes in the part Argenschwang/Hochstetten took place. Up to our time recent movements are provable on the basis of earthquakes. Considering the dimension of this lineament one however has to be thougth of a plate boundary. However, it remains to further investigations to show this with security.

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Résumé Le côte NW de la dépression de la Nahe est marquée par la »Hunsrücksüdrandstörungszone«. Ce linéament s'étend du bord SE du Taunus, par la dépression de la Nahe et du Prims et le Saargebiet jusqu'en France, où il passe à la faille de Metz. Dans la région de ce travail, le rejet s'étend jusqu'aux grandes profondeurs et déplace encore la Moho.Pour le segment traité de la »Hunsrücksüdrandstörungszone« entre Münster-Sarmsheim et Kirn an der Nahe il en résulte une structure en trois sections du NE au SW. Entre Münster-Sarmsheim et Argenschwang le Dévonien est refoulé sur le Permien. A partir de Allenfeld et dans la direction SW, le caractère de la zone dérangée change. Elle se scinde en deux ou bien trois failles longitudinales, par lesquelles se forme la structure décrite du bloc de la région.Dans les segments Argenschwang/Hochstetten et Hochstetten/Kirn, le bloc NW étudiée repose d'une façon discordante sur le terrain varistique avec un pendage de 20° SE maximum. Il est limité dans la direction du SE par la branche NW de la »Hunsrücksüdrandstörungszone«. Dans le segment Argenschwang/Hochstetten se joint le massif affaissé. A l'intérieur de celui-ci, il y a, aussi bien des roches du »Unter«-que du »Oberrotliegendem«. Dans le segment Hochstetten/Kirn, la branche NW de la »Hunsrücksüdrandstörungszone« sépare le bloc-NW du bloc central qui se montre relativement élevé. Au SE la faille marginale SE du graben ou bien de la faille SE du bloc central du segment Hochstetten/Kirn, suit une zone plissée. Cette zone est liée très étroitement à la branche-SE de la »Hunsrücksüdrandstörungszone« et ne la sillit pas dans le NW. A la zone plissée et séparée par une faille, se joint un blov vers le SE, sur lequel les strates inclinent d'abord de 60°. Dans la direction de l'axe synclinal du Nahe-mulde, elles s'incurvent et prennent une faibel inclinaison. Le segment de Kirn est marqué de nombreuses magmatites qui sont en relation étroite avec la tectonique.Déjà structurée au carbonifêre, la »Hunsrücksüdrandstörungszone« représente 1'élément séparant l'aire sedimentaire de la Saar-Nahe-Senke et le terrain varistique. Dans le »Unterrotliegendem« la sédimentation s'entend au delá de la faille et la Permien repose en discordance.Une véritable activité tectonique est possible après la sédimentation du groupe Lebacher ou du groupe Tholeyer. La phase principale est cependant dans le »Oberrotliegende«. Ici se forment les failles longitudinales, aujoud'hui reconniassables, avec tous leurs phénomènes, comme formation de fosses tectoniques, plis et instrusions. La »Saalische« phase avec sa discordance entre »Unter«- et »Oberrotliegendem« échappe, parce que ce dernier est déposé de façon concordante sur les roches de base. On peut ramener les discordances locales à la tectonique de l'intrusion. La formation définitive pourrait avoir lieu pendant la »Pfälzische Phase« de l'orogénèse varistique.Les failles transversales sont plus jeunes que tous les éléments longitudinaux. Elles sont en partie d'âge sou-tertiare. Le lévement du Dévonien sur le Permien dans le segment Argenschwang/Hochstetten s'est vraissemblablement produit à cette époque. Des mouvements récents se laissent démontrer jusqu'à nos jours au moyen des tremblements de terre. La réponse a la cause des mouvements reste spéculative. Cependant, en voyant la grandeur de ce linéament, on doit penser à une limite de plaque. Cette réalité nécessiterait toute fois d'autres recherches.

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The drivers of Chinese CO2 emissions from 1980 to 2030

China's energy consumption doubled within the first 25 years of economic reforms initiated at the end of the 1970s, and doubled again in the past 5 years. It has resulted of a threefold CO₂ emissions increase since early of 1980s. China's heavy reliance on coal will make it the largest emitter of CO₂ in the world. By combining structural decomposition and input–output analysis we seek to assess the driving forces of China's CO₂ emissions from 1980 to 2030. In our reference scenario, production-related CO₂ emissions will increase another three times by 2030. Household consumption, capital investment and growth in exports will largely drive the increase in CO₂ emissions. Efficiency gains will be partially offset the projected increases in consumption, but our scenarios show that this will not be sufficient if China's consumption patterns converge to current US levels. Relying on efficiency improvements alone will not stabilize China's future emissions. Our scenarios show that even extremely optimistic assumptions of widespread installation of carbon dioxide capture and storage will only slow the increase in CO₂ emissions.     

Height datum definition,height datum connection and the role of the geodetic boundary value problem

Vertical datum definition is identical with the choice of a potential (or height) value for the fundamental bench mark. Also the connection of two adjacent vertical datums poses no principal problem as long as the potential (or height) value of two bench marks of the two systems is known and they can be connected by levelling. Only the unification of large vertical datums and the connection of vertical datums separated by an ocean remains difficult. Two vertical datums can be connected indirectly by means of a combination of precise geocentric positions of two points, as derived by space techniques, their potential (or height) value in the respective height datum and their geoid height difference. The latter requires the solution of the linear geodetic boundary value problem under the assumption that potential and gravity anomalies refer to a variety of height datums. The unknown off-sets between the various datums appear in the solution inside and outside the Stokes integral and can be estimated in a least squares adjustment, if geocentric positions, levelled heights and adequate gravity material are available for all datum zones. The problem can in principle also be solved involving only two datums, in case a precise global gravity field becomes available purely from satellite methods.