A multi-method approach for the identification and quantification of water balance components of two lentic small water bodies

The protection of the globally widespread lentic small water bodies (LSWB) must be based on detailed knowledge about their hydrological connectivity and water balance. The study aimed to identify and quantify water balance components as well as surface-groundwater interaction of two LSWB in a characteristic lowland region with a combination of different methods. This includes the collection of hydrological data and the use of bromide and water stable isotopes (δ²H and δ¹⁸O) as tracers. With their help, mixing models were established, and daily water balances were assessed. The results show a strong bidirectional interaction of both LSWB systems with shallow groundwater. Bromide and stable isotope tracers allowed for the identification of the most relevant in- and outflow sources and pathways. Thereby, isotope data revealed isotopic enrichment typical for open-water bodies and only minor precipitation inputs mainly relevant at the end of the dry season. Water balance calculations suggested accentuated seasonal dynamics that were strongly influenced by shallow groundwater, which represented large inputs into both LSWB. By that, different phases could be identified, with high inflow rates in winter and spring and decreasing fluxes in summer. In one LSWB, a drainage system was found to have a major impact next to the shallow groundwater interaction. The findings of this research provide detailed insights into the influence and importance of shallow groundwater for LSWB in lowland regions. This impacts the diffuse input of agricultural pollutants into these ecologically important landscape features.     

The Bomber's Baedeker -target book for strategic bombing in the Economic Warfare against German Towns 1943–45

In 1943, the British Ministry of Economic Warfare (MEW) issued the Bomber's Baedeker. A Guide to the Economic Importance of German Towns and Cities, followed by a second extended edition in 1944. Both editions have now been analysed completely for the first time. Based on information taken from the second edition, the analysis on the macro-level allows statements about the spatial distribution of the most important war-economic targets of the German Reich within the borders of 1937, as seen from the British point of view, just as about the distribution of target priorities within the town hierarchy, classified by population size, and on the micro-level about the information density provided for any single town. The final picture to emerge of the destruction of German towns at the end of the war reveals that quite a number were bombed which the MEW had not recommended for attack. This was due to the economically orientated target selection of the MEW being eclipsed and intermingled with the aims of those who promised to decide the war by demoralising the German population through general dehousing as well as by bombardments in support of ground forces advancing into the German hinterland at the end of the war.     

International conference on novel methods for subsurface characterization and monitoring: from theory to practice: NovCare 2017

The NovCare 2017 International Conference (Novel Methods for Subsurface Characterization and Monitoring: From Theory to Practice) took place in June 2017 and was the fifth conference in a series that has proven to be an excellent forum for exchanging ideas and experiences related to the challenges of subsurface characterization and monitoring. Some of the presented work is included in this Thematic issue NovCare 2017.     

Detecting metal-rich intermediate-age globular clusters in NGC4570 using K-band photometry

Globular cluster systems (GCSs) of most early-type galaxies feature two peaks in their optical colour distributions. Blue-peak globular clusters (GCs) are believed to be old and metal-poor, whereas the ages, metallicities, and the origin of the red-peak GCs are still being debated. We obtained deep K-band photometry and combined it with Hubble Space Telescope observations in g and z to yield a full spectral energy distribution from the optical to the near-infrared. This now allows us to break the age–metallicity degeneracy. We used our evolutionary synthesis models galev for star clusters to compute a large grid of models with different metallicities and a wide range of ages. Comparing these models to our observations revealed a large population of intermediate-age (1–3 Gyr) and metal-rich (≈solar-metallicity) GCs, that will give us further insights into the formation history of this galaxy.     

galev evolutionary synthesis models – I. Code, input physics and web interface

galev (GALaxy EVolution) evolutionary synthesis models describe the evolution of stellar populations in general, of star clusters as well as of galaxies, both in terms of resolved stellar populations and of integrated light properties over cosmological time-scales of ≥13 Gyr from the onset of star formation shortly after the big bang until today.
For galaxies, galev includes a simultaneous treatment of the chemical evolution of the gas and the spectral evolution of the stellar content, allowing for what we call a chemically consistent treatment: we use input physics (stellar evolutionary tracks, stellar yields and model atmospheres) for a large range of metallicities and consistently account for the increasing initial abundances of successive stellar generations.
Here we present the latest version of the galev evolutionary synthesis models that are now interactively available at http://www.galev.org . We review the currently used input physics, and also give details on how this physics is implemented in practice. We explain how to use the interactive web interface to generate models for user-defined parameters and also give a range of applications that can be studied using galev , ranging from star clusters, undisturbed galaxies of various types E–Sd to starburst and dwarf galaxies, both in the local and the high-redshift Universe.     

Chemical budgets of the stratosphere

A review is given of the stratospheric budgets of odd oxygen, odd nitrogen, nitrous oxide, methane and carbonyl sulfide. The stratospheric column production rate of NO by the reaction N₂O + O(¹D) → 2 NO is 1.1–1.9 × 10⁸ molecules cm^?2 s^?1. The stratospheric loss rates for N₂O, CH₄ and COS are equal to 0.9–1.4 × 10⁹, 1 × 10¹⁰ and 0.5 × 10⁷ molecules cm^?2 s^?1, respectively. From currently available information on the global distributions of N₂O and CH₄ there are some indications of about two times smaller OH concentrations below 35 km than those which are calculated based on the latest compilation of kinetic data.Most significantly, however, it is shown that photochemical models and available ozone observations cannot be reconciled and that there may be particularly severe problems in the 25–35 km region. This issue is thoroughly discussed.Volcanic emissions of SO₂ to the stratosphere may locally lead to much enhanced ozone concentrations and heating rates. These may influence the dynamic behaviour of volcanic plumes before their dispersion over large volumes of the stratosphere.