High-resolution210Pb dating of Lake Constance sediments: Stable lead in Lake Constance

Two sediment cores (BO90/13b and BO90/17b) from Lake Constance were investigated by-spectrometry for²¹⁰Pb,¹³⁴Cs,¹³⁷Cs,²⁴¹Am,²³⁴Th, and other members of the²³⁸U decay chain. The sediments were dated using the constant-flux model for²¹⁰Pb, and accumulation rates were determined. These range from 0.04 to 0.65g/cm ²/yr (BO90/13b) and 0.04 to 0.8g/cm ²/yr (BO90/17b), respectively. The mean accumulation rate amounts to 0.16g/cm ²/yr for both cores. The cores had already been dated by lamination counting and reconstruction of high-water events at the Limnological Institute at Constance, so that a very precise time scale was available. Both ages derived are in agreement within statistical error up to 1900, which means dating with the constant-flux model for²¹⁰Pb was confirmed up to that age. The position of the maxima of bomb cesium and americium confirm the stratigraphic and²¹⁰Pb datings. With²⁴¹Am a further radioactive isotope is available, which can, due to the half-life of²⁴¹Pu (t _1/2=14.4yr) be detected now by-spectrometry and can serve as an additional time indicator, the maximum being dated at 1963. By applying the various time scales, the depth profiles of stable lead and zinc of core BO90/13b were dated. Both heavy metals show a very significant maximum located beneath the layer of the maxima of bomb cesium and americium, showing that these maxima are older than those of the bomb isotopes. It is remarkable in this context that the maximum of zinc concentration occurs a little later than that of stable lead. Similar concentration profiles are observable in core BO90/17b and other, older sediment cores (CS6-CS10) on a transect across the lake. In contrast to a former assumption, the depth profile of stable lead in Lake Constance sediments does not reflect the anthropogenic gasoline lead emissions into the atmosphere for Germany, their maximum being dated at 1971.     

Contaminant exposure and effects in Baltic ringed and grey seals as assessed by biomarkers

The Baltic Sea ecosystem has suffered from a heavy pollutant load for more than three decades. Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and heavy metals have been of most concern due to their persistence and toxic properties. Ringed seals (Phoca hispida baltica) and grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) living in the Baltic Sea have been suffering from pathological impairments, including reproductive disturbances, which have resulted in a depressed reproductive capacity. We investigated several biochemical parameters as potential biomarkers for exposure to and effects of the contaminant load in the Baltic seals. Seals from less polluted areas were used as reference material in terms of the pollution load. In both Baltic seal populations, the levels of some biochemical parameters diverged from those in the reference seals, and some of these showed a clear correlation with the individual contaminant load. Of the potential bioindicators, we propose cytochrome P4501A activity and vitamin E levels, in blubber or plasma, as exposure biomarkers for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) in both species. The arylhydrocarbon receptor-mediated chemical-activated luciferase gene expression (CALUX) response reflects the whole PCB and DDT burden in ringed seals. Retinyl palmitate (vitamin A) levels showed a negative correlation with the individual POP load, and is proposed as potential effect biomarkers for the depletion of the vitamin A stores. As the nutritional levels of both vitamin A and E have an impact on the vitamin levels in the seals, more information on the dietary vitamin levels is needed before any conclusions can be drawn. As the relationship between biochemical parameters and contaminants varied between the two species, species-specific characteristics has to be considered when monitoring the health status and possible toxic effects of the contaminant load in ringed and grey seals.     

Über das Flimmern und Schweben des Zielbildes

Zusammenfassung In zwei Beobachtungsserien von 24 Stunden ist jede zweite Stunde die Schwankung des Zielbildes beobachtet und gleichzeitig die Temperaturdifferenz zwischen den Höhen 0.5 und 2.5 m gemessen worden. Aus diesen Beobachtungen gehen folgende Resultate hervor. Kurz nach Sonnenaufgang ist das Zielbild unbeweglich. Bald beginnt es zu flimmern, zuerst schwach und langsam (einmal in der Sek.) später stärker und schneller (5 mal in der Sek.). Das Flimmern erreicht sein Maximum etwas nach Mittag, vermindert sich dann und wird Null kurz vor Sonnenuntergang. Von hier an beginnt das Zielbild sehr langsam (in Perioden von Minuten) zu schweben. Der Betrag des Flimmerns ist proportional der 1.68-Potenz der Zielweite. Sie hängt von dem Temperaturgradienten ab, und z. B. bei der Zielweite 75 m beträgtF ₇₅=0.66–1.42 mm, wo die Temperaturdifferenz zwischen den Höhen 0.5 und 2.5 m bezeichnet. Der Betrag des Schwebens ist proportional der 2.05-Potenz der Zielweite. Sie hängt von dem Temperaturgradienten ab, und z. B. bei der Zielweite 125 m beträgtS ₁₂₅=1.3+4.02 mm, wo die obenangegebene Bedeutung hat. Zwischen dem ZielungsfehlerZ und dem FlimmernF besteht die BeziehungZ=0.11++0.029F mm. Das Schweben wirkt sehr stark auf die Zielungsgenauigkeit ein, obgleich beim Vorkommen des Schwebens das Zielbild nach dem Augenmass unbeweglich erscheint.

---

Summary The oscillation of the sight point picture in telescope and simultaneously the difference of the air temperatures between the hights of 0.5 and 2.5 meters have been observed every two hours through two clear days and nights. Hereby the following results have been obtained. Short after the sunrise the sight point picture is quite immovable. Soon after it beginns to vibrate, at first slightly and slowly (one time in second) and then more violently and quickly (five times in second). The vibration attains its maximum short after the noon, then it decreases and becomes zero not long before the sunset. From now till the sunrise the sight point picture is swaying very slowly (in periods of several minutes). The vibration is proportional to the 1.68-power of the sight length. It correlates the vertical temperature gradient, and the vibration is e. g. for the sight of 75 m:F ₇₅=0.66–1.42 mm, where means the temperature increase from 0.5 to 2.5 m (here negative). The swaying is proportional to the 2.05-power of the sight length. It correlates the gradient, and the swaying is e. g. for the sight of 125 m:S ₁₂₅=1.3+4.02 mm, where has the same meaning as above. Between the sight errorZ and the vibrationF a relation:Z=0.11+0.029F mm is to be seen. Thus the accuracy of the sighting is not very sensitive to the vibration.

     

Über einen ungewöhnlichen Saponit von Raschau i. Sa.

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Mesozoic to Quaternary continental margin dynamics in South-Central Chile (36–42°S): the apatite and zircon fission track perspective

Zircon and apatite fission track data provide constraints on the exhumation history, fault activity, and thermal evolution of the South-Central Chilean active continental margin (36°S–42°S), which we use to assess the tectonic and geomorphic response of the margin to the Andean subduction regime. Several domains with different exhumation histories are identified. The Coastal Cordillera is characterized by uniform and coherent exhumation between Late Triassic (～200 Ma) and late Miocene times, with surprisingly slow average rates of 0.03–0.04 mm/a. Thermal anomalies, related to Late Cretaceous and early Miocene magmatism, have regionally modified fission track age patterns. The Upper Cretaceous thermal overprint is of previously unrecognized significance and extent in the Coastal Cordillera south of 39°S. With the exception of a local but distinct Pliocene to Recent exhumation period in the high-relief Cordillera Nahuelbuta segment between 37°S and 38°S, Cenozoic overall exhumation in the Coastal Cordillera was very slow. The sedimentary record shows that uplift and subsidence here was episodic, with low amplitudes and durations. This rules out large-scale, long-term, Cenozoic accretion, trench-parallel tilting, and tectonic erosion processes in the forearc. The Main Andean Cordillera shows markedly greater long-term exhumation rates than the Coastal Cordillera and, at ～39°S, a steep exhumation gradient. To the south, long-term average Pliocene to Recent exhumation rates of ～1 to ～2 mm/a in the Liquiñe area (39°45′S) are almost an order of magnitude more rapid than average Paleogene to Recent exhumation near Lonquimay (38°30′S) and farther north. While no imprint of the intra-arc Liquiñe-Ofqui Fault Zone on the exhumation pattern is evident, long-term exhumation rates decrease from the crest of the Andes toward the western foothills. Exhumation gradients correlate with climatic gradients, suggesting a causal link to the variable intensity of late Miocene to Pleistocene glacial erosion.     

Carbon molecules as possible carrier of the diffuse interstellar bands

Douglas (1977) proposed linear carbon molecules as one of the carriers of the diffuse interstellar bands. In particular, he suggested that either the species C₅, C₇, or C₉ should produce the most intense interstellar 443 nm band. We have performed laboratory experiments to investigate whether the basic assumption of this hypothesis is fulfilled, namely whether a species of carbon molecules exhibits a strong absorption in the vicinity of 443 nm. For this purpose, we studied the UV-VIS spectra of large carbon molecules applying the matrix isolation technique. We found that in fact a carbon molecule with such an absorption does exist. A rather preliminary interpretation of our data suggests that this band is produced by the linear molecule C₇. Because the laboratory spectra are distorted by matrix-effects, a conclusive comparison with the interstellar absorptions is not yet possible.Paper presented at a Workshop on The Role of Dust in Dense Regions of Interstellar Matter, held at Georgenthal, G.D.R., in March 1986.