‘PALEOVAN’, International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP): site survey results and perspectives

Lake Van is the fourth largest terminal lake in the world (volume 607 km³, area 3570 km², maximum depth 460 m), extending for 130 km WSW–ENE on the Eastern Anatolian High Plateau, Turkey. The sedimentary record of Lake Van, partly laminated, has the potential to obtain a long and continuous continental sequence that covers several glacial–interglacial cycles (ca 500 kyr). Therefore, Lake Van is a key site within the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP) for the investigation of the Quaternary climate evolution in the Near East (‘PALEOVAN’). As preparation for an ICDP drilling campaign, a site survey was carried out during the past years. We collected 50 seismic profiles with a total length of ～850 km to identify continuous undisturbed sedimentary sequences for potential ICDP locations. Based on the seismic results, we cored 10 different locations to water depths of up to 420 m. Multidisciplinary scientific work at positions of a proposed ICDP drill site included measurements of magnetic susceptibility, physical properties, stable isotopes, XRF scans, and pollen and spores. This core extends back to the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), a more extended record than all the other Lake Van cores obtained to date. Both coring and seismic data do not show any indication that the deepest part of the lake (Tatvan Basin, Ahlat Ridge) was dry or almost dry during past times. These results show potential for obtaining a continuous undisturbed, long continental palaeoclimate record. In addition, this paper discusses the potential of ‘PALEOVAN’ to establish new results on the dynamics of lake level fluctuations, noble gas concentration in pore water of the lake sediment, history of volcanism and volcanic activities based on tephrostratigraphy, and paleoseismic and earthquake activities.     

Stellung des Experimentes im Rahmen tektonischer Forschung

Zusammenfassung Die Genese tektonischer Strukturen ist nicht direkt beobachtbar. Unsere einzige Arbeitsgrundlage sind die Spuren der Deformation im Fels, also das tektonische Gefüge. Im Gegensatz zu den meisten anderen naturwissenschaftlichen und technischen Fächern ist in der Tektonik ein Vergleich der Vorgänge im Experiment mit denen im Objekt im allgemeinen nicht möglich. Hieraus erklärt sich, daß das Experiment in der Tektonik bisher nur eine geringe Bedeutung erlangt hat. Jede tektonische Deutung ist aber ein Analogieschluß, bei dem Erfahrungen aus dem täglichen Leben oder die anderer Naturwissenschaften eingesetzt werden. Dieses Vorgehen muß durch ein exakteres, nämlich durch den Einsatz gezielter Experimente, abgelöst werden.Da aus dem obengenannten Grunde die Rückkopplung zwischen Experiment und Natur nur unvollkommen durchzuführen ist, besteht der Sinn tektonischer Experimente nicht darin, eine bestimmte natürliche Struktur nachzubilden, sondern darin, die Reaktionsmöglichkeiten von Festkörpern bei Deformation kennenzulernen. Experimente und Naturbeobachtung zeigen, daß es nur eine begrenzte Zahl von Reaktionsarten festen Materials bei Deformationen gibt. Diese Reaktionsarten unterscheiden sich nach der Art der Gefügeelemente, die bei der Deformation ausgebildet werden (Abb. 1). Bei den hier besprochenen Gefügeelementen handelt es sich um Trennbrüche (Spalten), Verschiebungsbrüche, Knickzonen und Normalfalten. Die Faltenachsenfläche der Knickzonen liegt einer Ebene größter Scherung etwa parallel, die der Normalfalten senkrecht zur Richtung größter Einengung.Die einzelnen Gefügeelemente treten in verschiedenen räumlichen Anordnungen auf, die als Gefügetypen bezeichnet werden. Die folgenden Ausführungen beschränken sich auf Gefügetypen mit rhombischer und monokliner Symmetrie.Die Abb. 1 stellt einen Ausschnitt aus einem System der Gefügetypen dar, in dem die einzelnen Gefügetypen entsprechend ihrer gegenseitigen Verwandtschaft angeordnet sind. Dieses System erlaubt es uns, die bisherigen tektonischen Experimente zu ordnen und auf Lücken unserer experimentellen Erfahrung hinzuweisen.

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Because the formation of tectonic structures cannot be observed directly, the study of such structures is restricted to an investigation of the traces of deformation within the rock itself, i.e. the tectonic fabric. In contrast to most other fields of research in science and technology the study of tectonics does not allow a direct comparison between experimental and natural processes, and for this reason, experimentation has until now played only a minor role in tectonic research. All tectonic interpretations, however, are based on analogies with observations made in everyday life or phenomena in related scientific fields. Clearly this procedure should be replaced by more accurate methods, which include objective experiments.Since the link between experiment and nature is at best incomplete, the goal of tectonic experimentation is not to simulate specific natural structures, but to investigate the different ways by which solids may react to deformations. Experiments and observations show that solid material may undergo only a limited number of such reactions. These reactions differ due to the form of fabric elements formed during deformation (Fig. 1).The discussion below is restricted to the following fabric elements: tension fissures, faults, kink-bands, and normal folds. The axial plane of kink-bands nearly parallels the plane of maximum shearing strain. The axial plane of normal folds is normal to the direction of maximum shortening.The various fabric elements are found in different spatial arrangements called fabric types. The discussion below is restricted to fabric types with orthorhombic and monoclinic symmetry.Fig. 1 illustrates part of a fabric type system in which the different fabric types are arranged according to their reciprocal relationship. This system allows the ordering of previous tectonic experiments and indicates the gaps in our experimental knowledge.

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Résumé La genèse des structures tectoniques n'est pas directement observable. Nos seules bases de travail sont les traces de la déformation dans les roches, autrement dit la texture tectonique. A l'opposé de la plupart des autres branches des sciences naturelles et des branches techniques, on ne peut généralement pas comparer, en tectonique, les processus fournis par l'expérimentation avec ceux qui en font l'objet. Ce qui explique que jusqu'à présent, l'expérimentation en tectonique n'a eu qu'une portée médiocre. Chaque interprétation tectonique est en fait liée à une finalité analogique tirée de comportements dans la vie quotidienne ou dans d'autres sciences naturelles. Ce procédé doit faire place à un autre, plus exact, principalement par la mise en oeuvre d'expériences bien orientées.Comme, pour les raisons citées plus haut, le couplage entre l'expérimentation et la nature ne peut être réalisé que de façon imparfaite, il faut que le sens de l'expérimentation tectonique consiste, non pas à reproduire une structure naturelle donnée, mais à reconnaître quelles sont les possibilités de réaction des corps solides à la déformation. L'expérimentation et l'observation de la nature montrent que les modalités réactionelles des matériaux solides vis-à-vis de la déformation existent seulement en nombre limité. Ces modalités différent selon les éléments structuraux impliqués dans la déformation. Les éléments texturaux discutés ici sont les fissures, les plans de glissement, les zones en chevron et les plis normaux. Le plan axial des zones en chevrons es parallèle à un plan de fort cisaillement; celui des plis normaux est perpendiculaire à la direction de plus grand resserrement.Chacun des éléments texturaux répond à différentes dispositions spatiales dont la signification est celle de types texturaux. Les déductions qui suivent se limitent à des types texturaux à symétrie rhombique et monoclinique.La fig. 1 représente une coupe dans un système de types texturaux dans lequel chacun de ceux-ci a été rangé conformément à leur parenté réciproque. Ce système nous permet de mettre de l'ordre dans les expériences tectoniques poursuivies jusqu'à ce jour, et de mettre en évidence les lacunes dans notre pratique expérimentale.

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Aus dem SFB 77 - Felsmechanik - Karlsruhe.

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Die Untersuchungen über Gefügetypen im Gelände und im Experiment wurden dankenswerterweise von der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft, seit 1970 im Rahmen des Sonderforschungsbereichs Felsmechanik, unterstützt. Meinen Mitarbeitern, Herrn Dipl.-Phys. H.Mischke, Herrn Dipl.-Ing.Klaus Müller und Herrn Dr. G.Schäfer danke ich für ihre Hilfe bei der Abfassung des Manuskriptes.     

Forecasting Groundwater Temperature with Linear Regression Models Using Historical Data

Although temperature is an important determinant of many biogeochemical processes in groundwater, very few studies have attempted to forecast the response of groundwater temperature to future climate warming. Using a composite linear regression model based on the lagged relationship between historical groundwater and regional air temperature data, empirical forecasts were made of groundwater temperature in several aquifers in Switzerland up to the end of the current century. The model was fed with regional air temperature projections calculated for greenhouse‐gas emissions scenarios A2, A1B, and RCP3PD. Model evaluation revealed that the approach taken is adequate only when the data used to calibrate the models are sufficiently long and contain sufficient variability. These conditions were satisfied for three aquifers, all fed by riverbank infiltration. The forecasts suggest that with respect to the reference period 1980 to 2009, groundwater temperature in these aquifers will most likely increase by 1.1 to 3.8 K by the end of the current century, depending on the greenhouse‐gas emissions scenario employed.     

Investigations on the runoff generation at the profile and plot scales,Swiss Emmental

This article describes an investigation on runoff generation at different scales in the forested catchment of the Sperbelgraben in the Emmental region (Swiss Prealps) where studies in the field of forest hydrology have a history of 100 years. It focuses on the analysis of soil profiles and the subsequent sprinkling experiments above them (1 m²), as well as on surface runoff measurements on larger plots (50 to 110 m²). In the Sperbelgraben investigation area, two very distinct runoff reactions could be observed. On the one hand, very high production of saturation overland flow was registered on wet areas of gleyic soils, with runoff coefficients between 0·39 and 0·94 for profile irrigation. On the other hand, almost no surface runoff was measured on Cambisols, with the exception at some sites of a hydrophobic reaction detected at the beginning of storms after dry periods (coefficients for profile irrigation: 0·01–0·16). This pattern was observed during 1 m² soil plot irrigation and on surface runoff plots. Apart from a less distinctive signal of the water‐repellent litter layer on the larger surface runoff plots, the dominant hydrological processes at the two scales are the same. The determined runoff reaction at the two scales corresponds well with information from a forest site type map describing soil and vegetation characteristics and used as a substitute for a soil map in this study. Theoretical considerations describing forest influence on flood discharge are discussed and evaluated to be in good agreement with observations. These findings are a sound foundation for application in hydrological catchment modelling. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Trace metals in the Göta river estuary

The concentrations of the trace metals Cd, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb and Zn in the Göta River estuary have been investigated. The following metal fractions have been determined: acid-leachable, dissolved, labile and particulate.The estuary represents a salt wedge type estuary and is situated in a densely populated region of Sweden. The metal concentrations found for the dissolved fraction is in the range of what can be considered as background levels for freshwater. It is difficult to evaluate any estuarine processes other than conservative mixing for Cd, Cu, Ni and Zn. The dissolved levels in the freshwater end member are Cd, 9–25 ngl^?1; Cu, 1·1–1·4 μgl^?1; Fe, 20–75 μg l^?1: Ni, 0·7–0·9 μg l^?1: Pb 0·09–0·2 μg l^?1; and Zn, 6–7 μg l^?1:The results from the acid-leachable fraction show that at high suspended load the particles sediment in the river mouth. The trace metal levels in this fraction are subject to large variations.     

Statistical arguments for asteroidal jet streams

The distribution of asteroid orbits in space is studied and a detailed investigation for Hirayama's Flora family is presented. Some tendencies to (5-dimensional) clustering are found by means of comparing actual with random distribution simulated on a computer.     

Challenges in global ballast water management

Ballast water management is a complex issue raising the challenge of merging international regulations, ship's specific configurations along with ecological conservation. This complexity is illustrated in this paper by considering ballast water volume, discharge frequency, ship safety and operational issues aligned with regional characteristics to address ecological risk for selected routes. A re-estimation of ballast water volumes gives a global annual level of 3500 Mton. Global ballast water volume discharged into open sea originating from ballast water exchange operations is estimated to approximately 2800 Mton. Risk based decision support systems coupled to databases for different ports and invasive species characteristics and distributions can allow for differentiated treatment levels while maintaining low risk levels. On certain routes, the risk is estimated to be unacceptable and some kind of ballast water treatment or management should be applied.     

A multi-proxy approach for revealing recent climatic changes in the Russian Altai

For the first time we present a multi-proxy data set for the Russian Altai, consisting of Siberian larch tree-ring width (TRW), latewood density (MXD), δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O in cellulose chronologies obtained for the period 1779–2007 and cell wall thickness (CWT) for 1900–2008. All of these parameters agree well between each other in the high-frequency variability, while the low-frequency climate information shows systematic differences. The correlation analysis with temperature and precipitation data from the closest weather station and gridded data revealed that annual TRW, MXD, CWT, and δ¹³C data contain a strong summer temperature signal, while δ¹⁸O in cellulose represents a mixed summer and winter temperature and precipitation signal. The temperature and precipitation reconstructions from the Belukha ice core and Teletskoe lake sediments were used to investigate the correspondence of different independent proxies. Low frequency patterns in TRW and δ¹³C chronologies are consistent with temperature reconstructions from nearby Belukha ice core and Teletskoe lake sediments showing a pronounced warming trend in the last century. Their combination could be used for the regional temperature reconstruction. The long-term δ¹⁸O trend agrees with the precipitation reconstruction from the Teletskoe lake sediment indicating more humid conditions during the twentieth century. Therefore, these two proxies could be combined for the precipitation reconstruction.