Mesozoic rift magmatism in the North Sea region: <Superscript>40</Superscript>Ar/<Superscript>39</Superscript>Ar geochronology of Scanian basalts and geochemical constraints

More than 100 volcanic necks composed of basanites and melanephelinites occur in Scania, southern Sweden, at the junction of two major tectonic lineaments, the Phanerozoic Sorgenfrei-Tornquist Zone (STZ) and the Proterozoic Protogine Zone. New ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar isotope analyses of whole rock fragments of nine selected basalt necks suggest that the Mesozoic alkaline volcanism in the Scanian province commenced earlier than previously reported and comprised three separate volcanic episodes that span a total period of ca. 80 Myr: a first Jurassic (191–178 Ma), a second at the Jurassic/Cretaceous boundary (ca. 145 Ma), and a final middle Cretaceous episode (ca. 110 Ma). The new results allow for precise time correlations between eruption events in the Scanian and those in the North Sea volcanic provinces. The older, early Jurassic event in Scania is largely synchronous with that in the Egersund Basin and the Forties field whereas the event at ca. 145 Ma is correlated with activity in the Central Graben. These volcanic episodes also correlate in age with Kimmerian tectonic activity. Volcanic activity in the middle Cretaceous period has also been dated in the triple junction in the North Sea and offshore in the Netherland Sector. The correlation of basalt volcanism in Scania with the Egersund nephelinites strongly suggest that volcanism was triggered by repeated tectonic activity along the STZ. Geochemical data of alkaline mafic rocks in the Scanian and the North Sea volcanic provinces imply that different provinces have largely unique geochemical signatures in favour of a heterogeneous mantle in the North Sea volcanic region. However, basalts of different generations in one and the same province cannot be readily separated on the basis of geochemistry, suggesting that the same lithospheric mantle was the source of repeated volcanism over time in each province. The data suggest a low degree of melting of a volatile-bearing mantle lherzolite enriched in incompatible elements with the exception of the Forties basalts in the rift centre, produced by larger degree of melting and evolved by fractional crystallization.     

Non-dimensional wind and temperature profiles in the atmospheric surface layer: A re-evaluation

Previous results of non-dimensional wind and temperature profiles as functions of ( = z/L) show systematic deviations between different experiments. These discrepancies are generally believed not to reflect real differences but rather instrumental shortcomings. In particular, it is clear that flow distortion has not been adequately treated in most previous experiments. In the present paper, results are presented from a surface-layer field experiment where great care was taken to remove any effects from this kind of error and also to minimize other measuring errors. Data from about 90 30-min runs with turbulence measurements at three levels (3, 6, and 14 m) and simultaneous profile data have been analysed to yield information on flux-gradient relationships for wind and temperature.The flux measurements themselves show that the fluxes of momentum and sensible heat are constant within ± 7% on average for the entire 14 m layer in daytime conditions and when the stratification is slightly stable. For more stable conditions, the flux starts to decrease systematically somewhere in the layer 6 to 14 m. From a large body of data for near-neutral conditions (¦¦ 0.1), values are derived for von Kármán's constant: 0.40 ± 0.01 and for _h at neutrally, 0.95 ± 0.04. The range of uncertainty indicated here is meant to include statistical uncertainty as well as the effect of possible systematic errors.Data for _m and _h for an extended stability range (1 > > – 3) are presented. Several formulas for _m and _h appearing in the literature have been used in a comparative study. But first all the formulas have been modified in accordance with the following assumptions: = 0.40 and ( _h ) _{= 0} = 0.95; deviations from this result in the various studies are due to incomplete correction for flow distortion. After new corrections are introduced, the various formulas were compared with the present measurements and with each other. It is found that after this modification, the most generally used formulas for _m and _h for unstable conditions, i.e., those of Businger et al. (1971) and Dyer (1974) agree with each other to within ± 10% and with the present data. For stable conditions, the various formulas still disagree to some extent. The conclusion in relation to the present data is not as clear as for the unstable runs, because of increased scatter. It is, however, found that the modified curve of Businger et al. (1971) for _h fits the data well, whereas for _m , Dyer's (1974) curve appears to give slightly better agreement.     

Modelling multi-species interactions in the Barents Sea ecosystem with special emphasis on minke whales and their interactions with cod, herring and capelin

The Barents Sea ecosystem, one of the most productive and commercially important ecosystems in the world, has experienced major fluctuations in species abundance the past five decades. Likely causes are natural variability, climate change, overfishing and predator–prey interactions. In this study, we use an age-length structured multi-species model (Gadget, Globally applicable Area-Disaggregated General Ecosystem Toolbox) to analyse the historic population dynamics of major fish and marine mammal species in the Barents Sea. The model was used to examine possible effects of a number of plausible biological and fisheries scenarios. The results suggest that changes in cod mortality from fishing or cod cannibalism levels have the largest effect on the ecosystem, while changes to the capelin fishery have had only minor effects. Alternate whale migration scenarios had only a moderate impact on the modelled ecosystem. Indirect effects are seen to be important, with cod fishing pressure, cod cannibalism and whale predation on cod having an indirect impact on capelin, emphasising the importance of multi-species modelling in understanding and managing ecosystems. Models such as the one presented here provide one step towards an ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management.     

Determination of Trace Elements in the Quartz Reference Material UNS-SpS and in Natural Quartz Samples by ICP-MS

A procedure for the digestion and analysis of quartz samples was developed to measure trace element concentrations in natural quartz. The certified glass sand reference material UNS-SpS was chosen to assess the precision, accuracy and detection limit of the analytical method. Quartz was digested with HF/HNO₃ in a closed glassy carbon vessel and analysed by means of quadrupole ICP-MS with external calibration. Analyte concentrations of the sand UNS-SpS were compared with certified and other values from the literature. The abundances of a number of elements (Pr, Gd, Ho and Er) in the reference material are reported here for the first time. The procedure was then applied to three quartz samples from different geological settings to show that trace element data by ICP-MS can distinguish the origin of the sample.     

The Cadomian Orogeny in Saxo-Thuringia, Germany: geochemical and Nd–Sr–Pb isotopic characterization of marginal basins with constraints to geotectonic setting and provenance

The Cadomian basement and the Cambro-Ordovician overstep sequence in Saxo-Thuringia is characterized by clastic sedimentation from the Late Neoproterozoic to the Ordovician. Magmatism in the Avalonian–Cadomian Arc preserved in Saxo-Thuringia occurred between ca. 570 and 540 Ma. Peri-Gondwanan basin remnants with Cadomian to Early Palaeozoic rocks are exposed as very low-grade metamorphosed rocks in six areas (Schwarzburg Anticline, Berga Anticline, Doberlug Syncline, North Saxon Anticline, Lausitz Anticline, and Elbe Zone). A hiatus in sedimentation between 540 and 530 Ma (Cadomian unconformity) is related to the Cadomian Orogeny. A second gap in sedimentation occurred during the Upper Cambrian (500 to 490 Ma) and is documented by a disconformity between Lower to Middle Cambrian rocks and overlying Tremadocian sediments. Major and trace-element signatures of the Cadomian sediments reflect an active margin (“continental arc”), those of the Ordovician sediments a passive margin. The Cambrian sediments have inherited the arc signature through the input of relatively unaltered Cadomian detritus. Initial Nd and Pb isotope data from the six Saxo-Thuringian areas demonstrate that there is no change in source area with time for each location, but that there are minor contrasts among the locations. (1) Cadomian sediments from the Lausitz Anticline, the Doberlug Syncline and the Elbe Zone have lower ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb than all other areas. (2) The core of the Schwarzburg Anticline, which is overprinted by greenschist facies conditions and detached, is isotopically heterogeneous. One part of its metasedimentary units has less radiogenic Nd than sediments from other low-grade units of similar age in the same area. (3) Cadomian sediments from the Schwarzburg Anticline show an input of younger felsic crust. (4) The Rothstein Group shows distinct input of young volcanic material. Also, (5) Cadomian sediments from the Lausitz Anticline, the Elbe Zone and parts of the North Saxon Anticline are characterized by input from an old mafic crust. Nd isotope data of the remaining areas yield average crustal residence ages of the sediment source of 1.5–1.9 Ga, which suggests derivation from an old craton as found for other parts of the Iberian–Armorican Terrane Collage. Similarly, the Pb isotope data of all areas indicate sediment provenance from an old craton.The rapid change of lithologies from greywacke to quartzite from the Late Neoproterozoic (Cadomian basement) to the Ordovician does not reflect changes in sediment provenance, but is essentially due to increased reworking of older sediments and old weathering crusts that formed during various hiatus of sedimentation. This change in sediment maturity takes its chemical expression in lower overall trace-element contents in the quartzite (dilution effect by quartz) and relative enrichment of some trace-elements (Zr, MREE, HREE due to detrital zircon and garnet). The Rb–Sr systematics of the quartzites and one Ordovician tuffite was disturbed (most likely during the Variscan Orogeny), which suggests a lithology-controlled mobility of alkali and calc-alkali elements. By comparison with available data, it seems unlikely that only Nd T_DM model ages are useful to distinguish between West African and Amazonian provenance. Nd T_DM model ages of 1.5 to 1.9 Ga in combination with paleobiogeographic aspects, age data from detrital zircon, and palaeogeographic constraints, especially through tillites of the Saharan glaciation in the Hirnantian, strongly indicate a provenance of Saxo-Thuringia from the West African Craton.     

Magnetograph observations with the Swedish solar telescope on La Palma

A high-resolution videomagnetograph that records the images of opposite circular polarization simultaneously has been constructed for the Swedish vacuum solar telescope at La Palma. Magnetograms are obtained by off-line integration of bursts consisting of typically 50 frames of 20 ms exposures, with bad frames rejected, and the frame-to-frame image motion of the remaining frames compensated for by cross-correlation techniques. The short exposures combined with frame selection and elimination of image motion optimizes the resolution and thereby also the S/N, allowing good magnetograms to be obtained with an effective exposure time of less than 1 s at an image scale of 0.1 pixel^–1. The advantages and limitations of the system are discussed and compared with other techniques of making filter magnetograms are discussed.     

Review of some basic characteristics of the atmospheric surface layer

Some of the fundamental issues of surface layer meteorology are critically reviewed. For the von Karman constant (k), values covering the range from 0.32 to 0.65 have been reported. Most of the data are, however, found in a rather narrow range between 0.39 and 0.41. Plotting all available atmospheric data against the so-called roughness Reynolds number, % MathType!MTEF!2!1!+-% feaafeart1ev1aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn% hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqtubsr% 4rNCHbGeaGqiVu0Je9sqqrpepC0xbbL8F4rqqrFfpeea0xe9Lq-Jc9% vqaqpepm0xbba9pwe9Q8fs0-yqaqpepae9pg0FirpepeKkFr0xfr-x% fr-xb9adbaqaaeGaciGaaiaabeqaamaabaabaaGcbaGaaeOuaiaabw% gadaWgaaWcbaGaaeimaaqabaGccqGH9aqpcaWG1bWaaSbaaSqaaiaa% cQcaaeqaaOGaamOEamaaBaaaleaacaaIWaaabeaakiaac+cacqaH9o% GBaaa!3FD0!\[{\rm{Re}}_{\rm{0}} = u_* z_0 /\nu \] or against the surface Rossby number, % MathType!MTEF!2!1!+-% feaafeart1ev1aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn% hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqtubsr% 4rNCHbGeaGqiVu0Je9sqqrpepC0xbbL8F4rqqrFfpeea0xe9Lq-Jc9% vqaqpepm0xbba9pwe9Q8fs0-yqaqpepae9pg0FirpepeKkFr0xfr-x% fr-xb9adbaqaaeGaciGaaiaabeqaamaabaabaaGcbaGaaeOuaiaab+% gadaWgaaWcbaGaaeimaaqabaGccqGH9aqpcaWGhbGaai4laiaadAga% caWG6bWaaSbaaSqaaiaaicdaaeqaaaaa!3DF1!\[{\rm{Ro}}_{\rm{0}} = G/fz_0 \] gives no clear indication of systematic trend. It is concluded that k is indeed constant in atmospheric surface-layer flow and that its value is the same as that found for laboratory flows, i.e. about 0.40.Various published formulae for non-dimensional wind and temperature profiles, _m and _h respectively, are compared after adjusting the fluxes so as to give % MathType!MTEF!2!1!+-% feaafeart1ev1aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn% hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqtubsr% 4rNCHbGeaGqiVu0Je9sqqrpepC0xbbL8F4rqqrFfpeea0xe9Lq-Jc9% vqaqpepm0xbba9pwe9Q8fs0-yqaqpepae9pg0FirpepeKkFr0xfr-x% fr-xb9adbaqaaeGaciGaaiaabeqaamaabaabaaGcbaGaam4Aaiabg2% da9iaaicdacaGGUaGaaGinaiaaicdaaaa!3AC6!\[k = 0.40\] and % MathType!MTEF!2!1!+-% feaafeart1ev1aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn% hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqtubsr% 4rNCHbGeaGqiVu0Je9sqqrpepC0xbbL8F4rqqrFfpeea0xe9Lq-Jc9% vqaqpepm0xbba9pwe9Q8fs0-yqaqpepae9pg0FirpepeKkFr0xfr-x% fr-xb9adbaqaaeGaciGaaiaabeqaamaabaabaaGcbaWaaeWabeaaii% GacqWFgpGzdaWgaaWcbaGaamiAaaqabaGccaGGVaGae8NXdy2aaSba% aSqaaiaad2gaaeqaaaGccaGLOaGaayzkaaWaaSbaaSqaaiaadQhaca% GGVaGaamitaiabg2da9iaaicdaaeqaaOGaeyypa0JaaGimaiaac6ca% caaI5aGaaGynaaaa!4655!\[\left( {\phi _h /\phi _m } \right)_{z/L = 0} = 0.95\]. It is found that for % MathType!MTEF!2!1!+-% feaafeart1ev1aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn% hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqtubsr% 4rNCHbGeaGqiVu0Je9sqqrpepC0xbbL8F4rqqrFfpeea0xe9Lq-Jc9% vqaqpepm0xbba9pwe9Q8fs0-yqaqpepae9pg0FirpepeKkFr0xfr-x% fr-xb9adbaqaaeGaciGaaiaabeqaamaabaabaaGcbaWaaqWabeaaca% WG6bGaai4laiaadYeaaiaawEa7caGLiWoacqGHKjYOcaaIWaGaaiOl% aiaaiwdaaaa!3F72!\[\left| {z/L} \right| \le 0.5\] the various formulae agree to within 10–20%. For unstable stratification the various formulations for _h continue to agree within this degree of accuracy up to at least % MathType!MTEF!2!1!+-% feaafeart1ev1aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn% hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqtubsr% 4rNCHbGeaGqiVu0Je9sqqrpepC0xbbL8F4rqqrFfpeea0xe9Lq-Jc9% vqaqpepm0xbba9pwe9Q8fs0-yqaqpepae9pg0FirpepeKkFr0xfr-x% fr-xb9adbaqaaeGaciGaaiaabeqaamaabaabaaGcbaGaamOEaiaac+% cacaWGmbGaeyisISRaeyOeI0IaaGOmaaaa!3BC9!\[z/L \approx - 2\]. For _m in very unstable conditions results are still conflicting. Several recent data sets agree that for unstable stratification % MathType!MTEF!2!1!+-% feaafeart1ev1aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn% hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqtubsr% 4rNCHbGeaGqiVu0Je9sqqrpepC0xbbL8F4rqqrFfpeea0xe9Lq-Jc9% vqaqpepm0xbba9pwe9Q8fs0-yqaqpepae9pg0FirpepeKkFr0xfr-x% fr-xb9adbaqaaeGaciGaaiaabeqaamaabaabaaGcbaGaaeOuaiaabM% gacqGHijYUcaaIXaGaaiOlaiaaiwdacaWG6bGaai4laiaadYeaaaa!3E0D!\[{\rm{Ri}} \approx 1.5z/L\] up to at least % MathType!MTEF!2!1!+-% feaafeart1ev1aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn% hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqtubsr% 4rNCHbGeaGqiVu0Je9sqqrpepC0xbbL8F4rqqrFfpeea0xe9Lq-Jc9% vqaqpepm0xbba9pwe9Q8fs0-yqaqpepae9pg0FirpepeKkFr0xfr-x% fr-xb9adbaqaaeGaciGaaiaabeqaamaabaabaaGcbaGaeyOeI0Iaam% OEaiaac+cacaWGmbGaeyypa0JaaGimaiaac6cacaaI1aaaaa!3C8D!\[ - z/L = 0.5\] and possibly well beyond.For the Kolmogorov streamwise inertial subrange constant, _u , it is concluded from an extensive data set that % MathType!MTEF!2!1!+-% feaafeart1ev1aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn% hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqtubsr% 4rNCHbGeaGqiVu0Je9sqqrpepC0xbbL8F4rqqrFfpeea0xe9Lq-Jc9% vqaqpepm0xbba9pwe9Q8fs0-yqaqpepae9pg0FirpepeKkFr0xfr-x% fr-xb9adbaqaaeGaciGaaiaabeqaamaabaabaaGcbaGaeqySde2aaS% baaSqaaiaadwhaaeqaaOGaeyypa0JaaGimaiaac6cacaaI1aGaaGOm% aiabgglaXkaaicdacaGGUaGaaGimaiaaikdaaaa!4178!\[\alpha _u = 0.52 \pm 0.02\]. The corresponding constant for temperature is much more uncertain, its most probable value being, however, about 0.80, which is also the most likely value for the corresponding constant for humidity.The turbulence kinetic energy budget is reviewed. It is concluded that different data sets give conflicting results in important respects, particularly so in neutral conditions.It is demonstrated that the inertial-subrange method can give quite accurate estimates of the fluxes of momentum, sensible heat and water vapour from high frequency measurements of wind, temperature and specific humidity alone, provided apparent values of the corresponding Kolmogorov constants are used. For temperature and humidity, the corresponding values turn out to be equal to the true constants, so % MathType!MTEF!2!1!+-% feaafeart1ev1aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn% hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqtubsr% 4rNCHbGeaGqiVu0Je9sqqrpepC0xbbL8F4rqqrFfpeea0xe9Lq-Jc9% vqaqpepm0xbba9pwe9Q8fs0-yqaqpepae9pg0FirpepeKkFr0xfr-x% fr-xb9adbaqaaeGaciGaaiaabeqaamaabaabaaGcbaGaeqOSdi2aaS% baaSqaaiaadgeaaeqaaOGaeyisISRaeqOSdiMaeyisISRaaGimaiaa% c6cacaaI4aGaaGimaaaa!4074!\[\beta _A \approx \beta \approx 0.80\]. For momentum, however, the apparent constant % MathType!MTEF!2!1!+-% feaafeart1ev1aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn% hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqtubsr% 4rNCHbGeaGqiVu0Je9sqqrpepC0xbbL8F4rqqrFfpeea0xe9Lq-Jc9% vqaqpepm0xbba9pwe9Q8fs0-yqaqpepae9pg0FirpepeKkFr0xfr-x% fr-xb9adbaqaaeGaciGaaiaabeqaamaabaabaaGcbaGaeqySde2aaS% baaSqaaiaadwhacaWGbbaabeaakiabgIKi7kaaicdacaGGUaGaaGOn% aiaaicdaaaa!3E18!\[\alpha _{uA} \approx 0.60\].Based on an invited paper presented at the EGS Workshop Instrumental and Methodical Problems of Land Surface Flux Measurements, Grenoble 22–26 April, 1994.