Quantification strategies for human-induced and natural hydrological changes in wetland vegetation, southern Florida, USA

An accurately dated peat profile from a mixed cypress swamp in the Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park (FSPSP, Florida, USA) has been examined for pollen and spores. The near-annual resolved pollen record shows a gradual shift from a wet to a relatively dry assemblage during the past 100 years. Timing of drainage activities in the region is accurately reflected by the onset and duration of vegetation change in the swamp. The reconstructed vegetation record has been statistically related to pollen assemblages from surface sediment samples. The response range of the FSPSP wetland to environmental perturbations could thus be determined and this allows better understanding of naturally occurring vegetation changes. In addition, the human impact on Florida wetlands becomes increasingly apparent. Superimposed high-frequency variation in the record suggests a positive correlation between winter-precipitation and pollen productivity of the dominant tree taxa. However, further high-resolution analysis is needed to confirm this relation. The response range of the FSPSP wetland to environmental perturbations on both annual- and decadal-scales documented in this study allows recognition and quantification of natural hydrological changes in older deposits from southwest Florida. The strong link between local hydrology and the El Niño Southern Oscillation makes the palynological record from FSPSP highly relevant for studying past El Niño—variability.     

Burying processes carried out by a mobile transversal dunefield, Paracuru County, State of Ceará, Brazil

The migration of dunes and the consequent burying of the city of Paracuru by a transversal dunefield with perpendicular ridges oriented to the dominant windstream have been investigated. Overlapping aerial photographs taken during different flights have been used as a reference. Two sediment transportation directions were identified: the first is fed by the prevailing easterly winds; the second corresponds to the secondary southeasterly winds. With the maintenance of current wind conditions and pluvial precipitation, dunes will bury part of Paracuru town in approximately 120 years. Within this context, the geological evolution model that was applied proved to be satisfactory for the comprehension of sediment transportation mechanisms along the transversal dunes. Considering the prognosis in relation to Paracuru and its urban growth towards the dunefield, it is necessary to continue to study aeolian dynamics, aiming to develop support for the elaboration of future projects directed towards environmental management of the area.     

Fluid–rock interaction in autoliths of agpaitic nepheline syenites in the Ilímaussaq intrusion, South Greenland

Within the 1.16 Ga old Ilímaussaq intrusion, up to 700 m large autoliths occur in one stratigraphic unit of the layered floor series of agpaitic nepheline syenites (kakortokites). These autoliths consist of two different rock types: augite syenite and naujaite (agpaitic nepheline syenite). All three rock types show a number of alteration features related to the entrapment of the autoliths in the kakortokite magma caused by the interaction with a fluid phase.

In the kakortokites, the oxidation of primary arfvedsonite to aegirine and fluorite is restricted to the close proximity to the autoliths. Close to the surrounding kakortokite, the primary mafic phases of the augite syenites (augite, fayalite, Fe–Ti oxides) are completely replaced by arfvedsonite, aenigmatite, biotite, aegirine and fluorite. The decomposition of primary hastingsite to spectacular aegirine–augite–nepheline–aenigmatite symplectites can be observed up to several meters inside the autoliths. Additionally, fluorite formed at grain boundaries of primary nepheline. In the naujaite autoliths, primary arfvedsonite is replaced by aegirine–biotite intergrowths and abundant aenigmatite is occasionally replaced by Ti-rich aegirine and Fe–Ti oxides.

The mineral reactions in the autoliths are used to decipher details of the late to post-magmatic processes in a peralkaline syenitic intrusion. Mineral equilibria record an evolution governed by falling temperature (620 to ca. 500 °C) and increasing relative oxygen fugacity from FMQ + 1 to above FMQ + 4. Quantification of the observed mineral reactions reveals the infiltration of the autoliths with an oxidizing fluid phase rich in Na and F and minor addition of K. Volatiles (H and F) and in some cases also Fe, Ti and Ca (± Mg) released from primary autolith phases were mainly just relocated within the autoliths.     

Scenarios of extreme temperature events

Based on the principles of the probability theory a statistical model has been developed assessing the likelihood of occurrence of extreme temperature events from the knowledge of the statistical characteristics of the daily temperature extremes. It is demonstrated that the probability of such events is more sensitive to changes in the variability of climate than to changes in its average. Further, this sensitivity increases at a nonlinear rate the more extreme the event. The applicability of the model has been verified by comparing the simulated frequencies of a large spectrum of temperature events with the observed numbers derived from a long time series of daily temperature extremes at Potsdam. Accordingly, the relative simulation errors increase significantly as the events become more extreme. A correction is possible, because most of these errors are systematic rather than random. Moreover, in accordance with the climate observations the simulations reveal statistically significant linear trends in the number of extreme events since the end of the last century. Local scenarios of extreme temperature events have been derived for the city of Berlin by considering both hypothetical new climate states and climate changes simulated by a General Circulation Model (GCM). As a consequence of an increase in the atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases up to the end of the next century according to the IPCC Scenario A the repetition rate of extreme events in summer (e.g., hot days) is expected to rise considerably relative to the current climate. Moreover, in the winter season cold days will become extremely rare.     

Sector-zoned phlogopites in igneous rocks

Sector-zoned micas are described in three occurrences of igneous rocks. Basal sectors (001) and lateral sectors (010) are well defined. Analyses of probably isochronous growth points indicate that there are consistent chemical composition differences between the sectors, the (010) sector being richer in Si and poorer in Ti, Fe, Al and Ba relative to the (001) sector. Within each sector type Fe/ (Fe + Mg) increases from core to rim. These differences vary in amplitude from one occurrence to the other, but are systematic for micas with extremely different tetrahedral cations. Possible factors influencing this type of crystallization are briefly reviewed: growth rate, geometry of protosites and bulk composition of the liquid.     

A white-light/Fe X/Hα coronal transient observation to 10 solar RadII

Multi-telescope observations of the coronal transient of 15–16 April, 1980 provide simultaneous data from the Solar Maximum Mission Coronagraph/Polarimeter, the Solwind Coronagraph, and the new Emission Line Coronagraph of the Sacramento Peak Observatory. An eruptive prominence-associated white light transient is for the first time seen as an unusual wave or brightening in Fe x gl6374 (but not in Fe xiv gl5303). Several interpretations of this fleeting enhancement are offered.The prominence shows a slowly increasing acceleration which peaks at the time of the Fe event. The white light loop transient surrounding the prominence expands at a well-documented constant speed to 10R , with an extrapolated start time at zero height coincident with the surface activity.This loop transient exemplifies those seen above 1.7R in that leading the disturbance is a bright (N _e-enhanced) loop rather than dark. This is consistent with a report of the behavior of another eruptive event observed by Fisher and Poland (1981) which began as a density depletion in the lower corona, with a bright loop forming at greater altitudes. The top of the bright loop ultimately fades in the outer corona while slow radial growth continues in the legs.The National Center for Atmospheric Research is sponsored by the National Science Foundation.     

A general algorithm for the determination ofT j (n) andZ j *(n) in Hori's method for non-canonical systems

A general algorithm for the determination ofT _j ⁽ⁿ⁾ andZ _j ^*(n) is deduced. This algorithm is obtained from the general solution of non-homogeneous linear differential equations with variable coefficients in their matricial form. To do this a new functionX ^*(n) associated withZ ^*(n) is introduced. Then it is possible to calculateZ ^*(n) such that it contains secular or mixed secular terms and soT ⁽ⁿ⁾ is free from these terms.     

Gravitational harmonics from shallow resonant orbits

Until very recently, there has been no identification of the significant gravitational constraints on the many common artificial earth satellite orbits in shallow resonance. Without them it is difficult to compare results derived for different sets of harmonics from different orbits. With them it is possible to extend these results to any degree without reintegration of the orbits. All such constraints are shown to be harmonic in the argument of perigee with constants determinable from tracking data: $$(C*,S*) = (C_0 ,S_0 ) + \sum\limits_{i = 1}^\infty {(C_{Ci} ,S_{Ci} )\cos i\omega + (C_{Si} ,S_{Si} )\sin i\omega .} $$ The constants are simple linear combinations of geopotential harmonics. Five such constants (lumped harmonics) have been derived for the GEOS-2 orbit (order 13, to 30th degree) whose principal resonant period is 6 days. These five lumped harmonics are shown to account for almost all (>98%) of the resonant information in the tracking. They agree well with recent gravitational models which include substantial amounts of GEOS-2 data.     

Lead isotope systematics of vein-type antimony mineralization,Rheinisches Schiefergebirge,Germany: a case history of complex reaction and remobilization processes

Mesothermal vein-type Sb mineralization in the Rheinisches Schiefergebirge, Germany, is characterized by two different mineralization styles, which are (1) extensional quartz-stibnite vein systems, and (2) (Cu)-Pb-Sb sulphosalt assemblages in overprinted pre-existing Pb-Zn veins. A detailed Pb isotope study of 52 representative samples from both mineralization types indicates distinct compositional patterns. (Cu)-Pb-Sb sulphosalts (meneghinite, boulangerite, bournonite) formed by reaction/remobilization are characterized by Pb isotope compositions (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb=18.179-18.223), which are identical to the precursor galena (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb=18.168-18.223). The Pb isotope composition of sulphosalt minerals in these vein systems was controlled by lead inherited from pre-existing galena. Stibnite and Pb-sulphosalts (zinkenite, semseyite, plagionite) formed in quartz-stibnite vein systems display Pb isotope ratios (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb=18.250-18.354), which are more radiogenic than galenas from Variscan Pb-Zn ore veins (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb=18.162-18.303). Detailed small-scale investigation of thrust zones hosting Pb-Zn ores and crosscutting quartz-ankerite fissure veins (Ramsbeck deposit) indicates that the Pb isotope compositions of recrystallized (galena) and remobilized phases (boulangerite, semseyite, bournonite) are arranged along a linear trend. This is interpreted as mixing between primary galena with ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb᜞.206 and overprinting hydrothermal fluids with a more radiogenic composition (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb⁾.354), expressed by intermediate compositions (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb=18.256-18.334) of newly-formed sulphosalts. The Pb isotope systematics of the vein-type Sb mineralization is in accordance with a model of Pb extraction from similar crustal sources (Palaeozoic sedimentary sequences) at different times.