The Energy Balance Experiment EBEX-2000. Part I: overview and energy balance

An overview of the Energy Balance Experiment (EBEX-2000) is given. This experiment studied the ability of state-of-the-art measurements to close the surface energy balance over a surface (a vegetative canopy with large evapotranspiration) where closure has been difficult to obtain. A flood-irrigated cotton field over uniform terrain was used, though aerial imagery and direct flux measurements showed that the surface still was inhomogeneous. All major terms of the surface energy balance were measured at nine sites to characterize the spatial variability across the field. Included in these observations was an estimate of heat storage in the plant canopy. The resultant imbalance still was 10%, which exceeds the estimated measurement error. We speculate that horizontal advection in the layer between the canopy top and our flux measurement height may cause this imbalance, though our estimates of this term using our measurements resulted in values less than what would be required to balance the budget. The National Center for Atmospheric Research is supported by the National Science Foundation     

Combination of soil-water balance models and water-table fluctuation methods for evaluation and improvement of groundwater recharge calculations

Despite a long history of related research, quantifying and verifying recharge is still a major challenge. The combination and comparison of conceptually different methods has been recommended as a strategy for evaluating recharge estimates. In this article, recharge estimates from water-table fluctuation (WTF) methods are combined with and compared to the results of the spatially and temporally discretized soil-water-balance model PROMET (processes of radiation, mass and energy transfer). As PROMET and WTF methods rely on different measurable variables, a comparison of these two contrasting techniques allows improved assessment of the plausibility of recharge estimates. An enhanced approach to WTF methods is presented. The approach assumes that in the case of no recharge, there exists a maximum possible potential decline for any given groundwater level. The primary conclusion is that WTF methods are excellent for determining the plausibility of spatially distributed regional-groundwater-recharge estimation approaches and for detecting inconsistencies in available models. Recharge estimates derived from WTF approaches alone are, however, not suitable for regional-scale recharge estimation due to (1) their strong dependency on local data, applicability of which is limited to only very specific conditions, and (2) their sensitivity to influences other than recharge.     

Variability of carbon dioxide flux from tropical (Cerrado) hydroelectric reservoirs

Hydroelectric reservoirs generate energy without significant combustion of fossil fuels. However, these systems can, potentially, emit greenhouse gases (GHG’s) at a rate which may be significant at the global scale, and, possible, co-equal, per kilowatt-hour, to that from conventional coal or oil-fired systems. Although much of the new construction of hydroelectric reservoirs is in the tropics, most of the data on GHG emissions comes from temperate regions. Further, much of the existing data on reservoir gas emissions comes from single sites, usually near the terminal dams. Large tropical reservoirs often involve the impoundments of river systems with complex morphology which in turn can cause spatial heterogeneity in gas flux. We evaluated spatial and seasonal variability in CO₂ concentrations and gas flux for five large (50–1,400 km²) reservoirs in the Cerrado region of Brazil. Most of data set (87% of all measurements) showed CO₂ supersaturation and net efflux to the atmosphere. There was as much or more variation in pCO₂ over space and among seasons. The large studied reservoirs showed different zones in terms of CO₂ emission because those fluxes are dependent on flooded biomass, watershed input of organic matter and dam operation regime. Here we demonstrate that the reservoirs in the Brazilian Cerrado have low rates of CO₂ emissions compared to existing global comparisons. Our results suggest that ignoring the spatial variability can lead to more than 25% error in total system gas flux.     

A siliceous chrysophycean cyst-based pH transfer function for Central European lakes

The surface sediments of 50 Central European low to high mountain, acid-sensitive lakes were examined for chrysophycean stomatocysts. One hundred and twenty sic siliceous stomatocyst morphotypes were differentiated by using scanning electron microscope (SEM), counted and illustrated (light microscopy and SEM). Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) showed that pH is the most important measured variable in explaining the cyst distributions, with a strong correlation to the first axis (r²=-0.78). Simple Weighted Averaging (WA) regression and calibration was performed to generate a transfer function for lake water pH. Finally, the transfer function was evaluated by reconstructing pH for a short annually laminated and ¹³⁷Cs dated core from Lake Plené, a strongly acid lake, in the Bohemian Forest. A comparison of the measured and inferred pH values indicates that the model has good predictive power. The cyst-inferred pH and the diatom-inferred pH both indicate that pH was low during the 1970s and that the lake has experienced recovery in recent years.     

U/Pb zircon ages of basement gneisses and discordant felsic dykes from Vestranden,westernmost Baltic Shield and central Norwegian Caledonides

Four new U/Pb-zircon ages are reported from northern Vestranden, the northernmost part of the Western Gneiss Region of Norway, Scandinavian Caledonides. The age of a basement tonalite (1819±6 Ma), together with earlier datings on granites, indicates that the dominantly granitoid basement in Vestranden began to form more than 1800 Ma years ago. The minimum age of a subsequent Precambrian migmatization event is given by a U/Pb age of 1630±80 Ma found a granite dyke which cuts migmatitic veining in the basement gneisses. While age and lithology suggest general similarity and thereby favour a correlation between the basement granites of the northern part of Vestranden and Svecofennian granites farther to the east, no detailed chronological information is at present available that support such a correlation.No Sveconorwegian-Grenvillian ages have previously been reported from northern Vestranden. Also in the presently studied cases events between c. 1630 Ma and 430 Ma ago did not affect the U-Pb isotope system of zircons. About 430 Ma ago, substantial parts of Vestranden experienced Caledonian high-grade metamorphism and partial anatectic melting. Migmatite neosomes in northern Vestranden, yielded an U/Pb zircon age of 434±22 Ma. Relatively high temperatures persisted throughout much of the Silurian and probably into the Devonian. Large amounts of pegmatite intruded at the end of this period. One of these dykes yielded an U/Pb-zircon age of 404±2 Ma.

---

Zusammenfassung Vier neue U-Pb-Zirkonalter liegen aus dem nördlichen Vestranden-Bereich des westnorwegischen Gneissgebiets vor. Das Alter einer Tonalitintrusion (1819±6 Ma) bestätigt zusammen mit anderen Altersbestimmungen, daß das präkambrische Fundament der zentralskandinavischen Kaledoniden sich im Vestrandengebiet bereits vor mehr als 1800 Ma zu bilden begann. Das Minimalalter einer darauf folgenden präkambrischen Migmatisierung wird durch ein 1630±20 Ma Alter durchsetzender Granitgänge begrenzt. Zwar deuten die bisher vorliegenden Ergebnisse eine Gleichaltrigkeit der Granitgesteine im nördlichen Vestranden und den Svekofenniden weiter östlich an, ermöglichen aber derzeit noch keine präzise Korrelation des geologischen Geschehens.Sveconorwegische (Grenville) Isotopenalter sind bisher nicht aus dem nördlichen Vestranden bekannt. Auch die neuen Daten weisen keine Störung der U-Pb-Isotopensysteme zwischen etwa 1630 und 430 Ma auf.Beträchtliche Teile des Vestrandenbereiches wurden vor ca. 430 Ma einer kaledonischen, höhergradigen Metamorphose und anatektischer Aufschmelzung unterworfen. Die Neosome eines Migmatites ergaben ein Alter von 434±22 Ma, was erneut die Existenz zweier verschiedener Migmatisierungsetappen im Präkambrium bzw. in Silur bestätigt. Höhere Temperaturen bestanden danach bis in das Devon. Größere Pegmatitmengen wurden am Ende dieser Zeitspanne gebildet. Einer dieser Pegmatitkörper ergab ein U-Pb-Zirkonalter von 404±2 Ma.

---

Résumé Cette note fait état de 4 nouvelles déterminations d'âge (méthode U/Pb sur zircon) dans le Vestranden septentrional, qui forme la partie nord de la région gneissique occidentale de la Norvège (Calédonides). L'âge d'une tonalite (1819±6 Ma), joint à des datations antérieures effectuées sur des granites, indique que la formation du socle granitoîde dans le Vestranden a commencé il y a plus de 1800 Ma. L'âge maximal d'une migmatitisation précambrienne ultérieure est donné par la mesure de 1630±80 Ma effectuée sur un dyke de granite qui recoupe le rubanement migmatitique. L'âge et la lithologie indiquent une similitude d'ensemble et, partant, suggèrent une corrélation entre les granites du nord du Vestranden et ceux des Svécofennides situés plus à l'est; toutefois, on ne dispose aujourd'hui d'aucune donnée chronologique à l'appui d'une telle corrélation.Jusqu'à présent, aucun âge svéconorvégien-grenvillien n'a été enregisré dans le Vestranden septentrional. De même, dans les cas étudiés ici, aucun événement n'a affecté le système isotopique U-Pb entre 1630 et 430 Ma. A environ 430 Ma, des parties importantes du Vestranden ont enregistré un métamorphisme calédonien de degré élevé et une fusion anatectique partielle. Les néosomes d'une migmatite ont fourni un âge U/Pb sur zircon de 434±22 Ma. Des températures relativement élevées se sont maintenues pendant la plus grande partie du Silurien et jusqu'au cours du Dévonien. De grandes quantités de pegmatite ont été intrudées à la fin de cette période; un de ces dykes a donné un âge U/Pb sur zircon de 404±2 Ma.

---

- - . 1819±6 . , , - 1800 . . , , 1630±80 . , . , .- - 1630-430 . . . 434=22 . . , , , ; , , -, 404=2 . .

     

Isotopic age determinations of crystalline rocks of the Upper Harz Mountains,Germany

Dating of crystalline rocks occurring in the Upper Harz Mountains was carried out by means of U-Pb isotope investigations on zircons and sphene as well as by Rb-Sr isotope measurements on whole-rock samples and biotites.U-Pb data of euhedral and rounded, detrital zircons of the allochthonous block of the Ecker gneiss point to an age (upper intercept) of the source area of the predominantly metasedimentary rocks of about 1.6 Ga or older. The lower intercept indicates a possible metamorphic event at ca. 560 Ma in the Ecker gneiss or in the source rock of the zircons of this complex. The concordant data point of a sphene fraction from a metavolcanic sample documents contact metamorphic influence on the Ecker gneiss by the Variscan intrusions of the Upper Harz Mountains.Emplacement of the intrusions of the Harzburg gabbronorite and the Brocken and Oker granites occurred contemporaneously 293–297 Ma ago within the analytical error limits. This points to a common geotectonic cause of the ascent of the magmas. Uplift of the Ecker gneiss block, now squeezed in between Harzburg gabbronorite and Brocken granite, was connected to these processes.The mineral ages of the plutonites are close to the intrusion ages indicating fast cooling processes in shallow crustal levels.

---

Zusammenfassung Eine altersmäßige Einstufung der im Oberharz vorkommenden kristallinen Gesteine wurde durch U-Pb-Isotopenuntersuchungen an Zirkonen und Titanit sowie Rb-Sr-Isotopenmessungen an Gesamtgesteinsproben und Biotiten durchgeführt.U-Pb-Daten von idiomorphen und runden, detritischen Zirkonen der allochthonen Eckergneis-Scholle deuten auf ein Alter des Ursprungsgebietes der weitgehend metasedimentären Gesteine von etwa 1. 6 Ga oder älter hin und sie weisen ferner auf ein mögliches Metamorphose-Ereignis vor rund 560 Ma im Eckergneis oder im Liefergestein der Zirkone des Eckergneises hin. Der konkordante Datenpunkt bei ca. 295 Ma einer Titanit-Fraktion aus einer Metavulkanit-Probe dokumentiert die kontaktmetamorphe Beeinflussung des Eckergneises durch die variskischen Intrusionen des Oberharzes.Die Platznahme der Intrusionen der Gesteine des Harzburger Gabbronorit-Massivs sowie des Brokken- und Oker-Granits erfolgten innerhalb der analytischen Fehlergrenzen zeitgleich vor 293–295 Ma. Dies deutet auf eine gemeinsame geotektonische Ursache des Aufdringens der Magmen. Damit verbunden war der Aufstieg der Eckergneis-Scholle, die jetzt zwischen Harzburger Gabbronorit und Brockengranit »eingeklemmt« ist.Mineralalter der Plutonite liegen nahe bei den Intrusionsaltern und weisen auf rasche Abkühlungsvorgänge in seichtem Krustenniveau hin.

---

Résumé Des mesures d'âge ont été effectuées sur des roches cristallines de l'Oberharz par les méthodes de l'U-Pb sur zircon et sphène et du Rb-Sr sur roches totales et sur biotites. La méthode U-Pb, appliquée aux zircons idiomorphes et détritiques arrondis de l'écaille allochtone des gneiss d'Ecker, fournit un âge (intersection supérieure) d'environ 1,6 Ga au moins pour la source des matériaux surtout métasédimentaires. L'intersection inférieure indique la possibilité d'un événement métamorphique à ± 560 Ma soit dans les gneiss d'Ecker, soit dans les roches-sources de leurs zircons. Un résultat concordant à ± 295 Ma fourni par le sphène d'une métavolcanite enregistre l'action du métamorphisme de contact engendré dans les gneiss d'Ecker par les intrusions varisques.La mise en place des intrusions du massif gabbronoritique du Harzburg et celle des granite de Brocken et d'Ocker ont été contemporaines: âges de 293 à 297 Ma, compris dans l'intervalle d'approximation des mesures. Ce résultat est en faveur d'une même cause géotectonique pour l'ascension de ces magmas. C'est en relation avec ce processus que s'est produit le soulèvement de l'écaillé des gneiss d'Ecker, actuellement coincée entre le gabbro du Harzburg et le granite de Brocken.Les âges minéraux des plutons sont voisins des âges d'intrusion, ce qui indique un refroidissement rapide dans un niveau crustal peu profond.

---

- , - . - 1,6 , , , , 560 . , , 295 . , 293 295 ; . — . , . , .

     

Hydrogen incorporation in orthopyroxene: interaction of different trivalent cations

The incorporation of hydrogen into ferrosilite, Fe-bearing enstatite and orthopyroxene containing different trivalent cations (Cr³⁺ and Al³⁺, Cr³⁺ and Fe³⁺) was investigated experimentally at 25 kbar. Hydrogen concentration was determined by FTIR-spectroscopy on oriented crystal sections and by secondary ion mass spectroscopy, whereas Mößbauer spectroscopy and optical spectroscopy were used to characterise the valence state of Fe in orthopyroxene. Results suggest that hydrogen incorporation in ferrosilite is achieved by a similar mechanism as in pure enstatite. In Cr-bearing samples, however, hydrogen incorporation is reduced by the presence of other trivalent cations by an increased tendency to form Tschermaks substitutions, e.g. Si _T ⁴⁺ + Mg _M1 ²⁺ ? Al _T ³⁺ + Cr _M1 ³⁺ . Thus, hydrogen solubility in natural orthopyroxenes from the Earth’s mantle, containing significant amounts of Cr³⁺, Al³⁺, and Fe³⁺, may be much more limited than expected from their trivalent cation content, as a large fraction of the trivalent cations does not participate in H-incorporating reactions as 2 Mg _M1 ²⁺ ? M _M1 ³⁺ + V_M1 + H _i ⁺ .     

Restriction on the motion of a solid in a gravitational field

As is well known, the orbital and rotational motions of a solid are coupled, and the integrals of energy and angular momentum (in a gravitational field with spherical symmetry) impose restrictions on them. We study the regions allowed to the motion in configurational space. It turns out that even in the crudest model (planar motion of a triple rod) the restrictions on the libration angle and the orbital radius of the center of mass are coupled, so that excessive ellipticity of the orbit excludes stabilization in the neighbourhood of the spoke equilibrium position by gravitational forces only.Chargé de Cours.     

Metabolised Tritium and Radiocarbon in Lichens and Their Use as Biomonitors

Lichens are now well known for their potential as bio-indicators of environmental pollution, but less is known about their suitability as quantitative biomonitors for atmospheric emissions of tritium (mainly as tritiated water, HTO) and radiocarbon (as ¹⁴CO₂) from nuclear facilities, although both radionuclides could result in non-trivial individual or collective radiation doses due to their high environmental mobility and their long half-lives. ³H and ¹⁴C are fixed in lichens mainly by the photosynthesis of the algal partner and then stored in the organic molecules of both alga and fungus. They have the advantage of allowing the monitoring of atmospheric water vapour without interference of soil water or soil organic substances as long as soil-inhabiting species are avoided. Lichens were collected in the surroundings of (military and civil) nuclear facilities, in areas away from any direct source of contamination and some were transplanted from a contaminated area to a non-contaminated one. The influence of the nuclear facilities can be clearly traced, sometimes in a spectacular way and the first results of analyses after transplants give a base for estimating the effective half-life of ³H in lichens.