Impact of light regimes on productivity patterns of benthic microbial mats in an antarctic lake: a modeling study

Filamentous cyanobacteria often dominate benthic microbial communities of antarctic lakes and usually exhibit saturation of photosynthesis at light intensities approximately 100 microEinst m-2 s-1. Incident light regimes are controlled by ice and snow accumulations overlaying water columns during much of the year. Thus, light availability to microbial mats is often below saturation intensity and is strongly influenced by modest changes in climatic factors. A model of net primary production for benthic mat communities of the subantarctic Sombre Lake, Signy Island, was developed (1) to evaluate depth-specific productivities of mat communities, (2) to test the relative importances of model parameters to mat production, and (3) to explore the potential impacts of climate change on mat production as manifested through changes in light regime. Simulated rates of net primary production corresponded to observations on a daily basis (approximately 1-4 micrograms C fixed mg-1 ash-free DW of mat d-1) but were an order of magnitude lower than estimates of net annual production based on field measurements (< or = 3 vs. 11-45 g C m-2 yr-1, respectively). Close examination suggested that the simulated values were more plausible. A detailed sensitivity analysis of model behavior revealed that variations in the time of ice and snow melt in spring accounted for 40-60% of the total variation in model behavior, emphasizing the importance of climatic factors to net primary production of mat communities and the sensitivity of mat production to climate change.     

Über die Zusammenhänge zwischen Porosität,Permeabilität und Korngröße bei Sanden und Sandsteinen

Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology - Es wird theoretisch abgeleitet, daß für alle porösen Stoffe der folgende Zusammenhang zwischen Permeabilität und Porosität...     

Guaszscher Algorithmus (Doolittle-Methode) und Boltzsches Entwicklungsverfahren

Zusammenfassung Die jüngsten Arbeiten von Prof.Jenne (Potsdam) über die unbestimmte Aufl?sung der Normalgleichungen für Winkelbedingungen und eine von Dr.Dupuy 1948 aufgeworfene Frage geben Anla\ zu einer Gegenüberstellung der verschiedenen Verfahren zur Aufl?sung von Normalgleichungen, insbes. des Gau\schen Algorithmus und des Boltzschen Entwicklungsverfahrens. Im Hinblick auf den beachtlichen Vorsprung im Aufl?sungsproze?, den die Mitbenützung der fertig ausgerechneten Korrelatentabellen für die Dreieckswinkelgleichungen gew?hren, kommt man zu dem Schlu?, da? es weniger der Gegensatz als vielmehr die geschickte Verbindung der beiden vorgenannten Verfahren ist, welche eine besondere Beachtung und Würdigung verdient.

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Summary The most recent work of ProfessorJenne (of Potsdam) on the algebraical solution of normal angle condition equations, and on a question raised in 1948 by DrDupuy, gives us the opportunity of comparing various methods for the solution of normal equations, in particular the Gaussian algorithm and Boltz’s development method. Having taken account of the valuable saving introduced, in the methods of solution, by the use of tables of correlatives, calculated from the angle equations, one arrives at the conclusion that there is some value in giving detailed consideration to the judicious combination of the two methods mentioned above—rather than drawing attention to their differences.

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Resumen Los trabajos más recientes del ProfesorJenne (de Potsdam) sobre la resolución indeterminada de las ecuaciones normales de condición para los ángulos así como una cuestión planteada en 1948 por el Dr.Dupuy, nos proporcionan la ocasión de comparar los diversos métodos de resolución de las ecuaciones normales, en particular el algoritmo deGauss y el método de desarrollo deBoltz. Teniendo en cuenta el progreso notable llevado al proceso de resolución, por el empleo de los correlativos, calculados del todo con las ecuaciones de ángulos, se llega a la conclusión que conviene prestar una atención y una consideración particulares a la feliz combinación de los dos métodos antes mencionados, mucho más que a la oposición de los mismos.

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Résumé Les travaux les plus récents du ProfesseurJenne (de Potsdam) sur larésolution indéterminée des équations normales de condition aux angles et une question soulevée en 1948 par le DrDupuy nous donnent l’occasion de comparer les diverses méthodes de résolution des équations normales, en particulier l’algorithme deGauss et la méthode de développement deBoltz. Compte tenu du progrès notable apporté, dans le processus de résolution, par l’emploi des corrélatifs tout calculés des équations aux angles, on arrive à la conclusion qu’il convient d’accorder une attention et une considération particulières à l’adroite combinaison des deux méthodes ci-dessus mentionnées—beaucoup plus qu’à leur opposition.

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Sommario I lavori più recenti del prof.Jenne (di Potsdam) sulla risoluzione indeterminata delle equazioni normali·di condizione agli angoli, ed una questione sollevata dal Dr.Dupuy, ci offrono lo spunto per confrontare i diversi metodi di risoluzione delle equazioni normali, in particolare l’algoritmo diGauss ed il metodo di sviluppo diBoltz. Tenuto conto del notevole progresso apportato, nel procedimento di risoluzione, dall’impiego dei correlativi precalcolati delle equazioni agli angoli, si giunge alla conclusione che conviene rivolgere l’attenzione alla possibilità di accordare, piuttosto che di contrapporre, i due metodi menzionati.

     

Strong variation in weathering of layered rock maintains hillslope‐scale strength under high precipitation

The evolution of volcanic landscapes and their landslide potential are both dependent upon the weathering of layered volcanic rock sequences. We characterize critical zone structure using shallow seismic V_p and V_s profiles and vertical exposures of rock across a basaltic climosequence on Kohala peninsula, Hawai’i, and exploit the dramatic gradient in mean annual precipitation (MAP) across the peninsula as a proxy for weathering intensity. Seismic velocity increases rapidly with depth and the velocity–depth gradient is uniform across three sites with 500–600 mm/yr MAP, where the transition to unaltered bedrock occurs at a depth of 4 to 10 m. In contrast, velocity increases with depth less rapidly at wetter sites, but this gradient remains constant across increasing MAP from 1000 to 3000 mm/yr and the transition to unaltered bedrock is near the maximum depth of investigation (15–25 m). In detail, the profiles of seismic velocity and of weathering at wet sites are nowhere monotonic functions of depth. The uniform average velocity gradient and the greater depths of low velocities may be explained by the averaging of velocities over intercalated highly weathered sites with less weathered layers at sites where MAP > 1000 mm/yr. Hence, the main effect of climate is not the progressive deepening of a near‐surface altered layer, but rather the rapid weathering of high permeability zones within rock subjected to precipitation greater than ~1000 mm/yr. Although weathering suggests mechanical weakening, the nearly horizontal orientation of alternating weathered and unweathered horizons with respect to topography also plays a role in the slope stability of these heterogeneous rock masses. We speculate that where steep, rapidly evolving hillslopes exist, the sub‐horizontal orientation of weak/strong horizons allows such sites to remain nearly as strong as their less weathered counterparts at drier sites, as is exemplified by the 50°–60° slopes maintained in the amphitheater canyons on the northwest flank of the island. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Characterisation of Fulvic Acids and Glycyrrhizic Acid by Time‐of‐Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry

Fulvic acids of different origin, spray deposited on polished silicon after dissolution in high‐purity water without any additives, were analysed by time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF‐SIMS) in combination with oblique 24...36 keV SF₅⁺ ion bombardment. The observed, highly reproducible mass spectra cover more than five orders of magnitude in dynamic range, without background subtraction. Apart from lines due to atomic ions and low‐mass ion fragments, the mass spectra exhibit broad maxima between m/z 200...350, mainly due to a beat‐like superposition of lines at every single mass number, up to at least m/z 400. In the negative ion spectra the beats have a spacing of m/z 14, corresponding to a CH₂‐unit. The high‐mass tails of the spectra extend well beyond m/z 5000, with similar slopes in the positive and the negative ion mass spectra. The negative spectra appear to be less affected by fragmentation products than the positive spectra. Fulvic acids (FAs) of different origin show distinctly different spectra, with mean masses ranging between m/z ≈ 450 and 580 (for a low‐mass cut‐off m/z 150). To further verify the ability of TOF‐SIMS to detect molecules and clusters with masses significantly above the maxima of the FA spectra, samples of glycyrrhizic acid (GA, as GA ammonium salt with molecular weight 840) were also analysed. Parent ions as well as multimers (GA)_n were observed as positive and negative ions, up to n = 4 (m/z 3320). The results are compared with spectra recently obtained by other mass spectrometric techniques.     

Recursive evaluation of interaction forces and property matrices from unit-impulse response functions of unbounded medium based on balancing approximation

Starting from the unit-impulse response matrix of the unbounded medium, a discrete-time formulation permitting the recursive evaluation of the interaction forces and a continuous-time formulation yielding property matrices corresponding to a model with a finite number of degrees of freedom are discussed. This is achieved using the balancing approximation method which is easily automated, guarantees stability and leads to highly accurate results. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.     

Spring-dashpot-mass models for foundation vibrations

The foundation on deformable soil, which, in general, radiates energy, can be represented in structural dynamics as a simple spring-dashpot-mass model with frequency-independent coefficients. For the two limiting cases of a site, the homogeneous half-space and the homogeneous layer fixed at its base, the coefficients are specified in tables for varying parameters such as ratios of dimensions and Poisson's ratio. Rigid foundations on the surface and with embedment are considered for all translational and rotational motions. In a practical analysis of soil–structure interaction this dynamic model of the foundation is coupled directly to that of the structure, whereby a standard dynamics program is used. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Isotopic and noble gas study of Chalk groundwater in the London Basin, England

The chemical and isotopic composition of groundwater from 52 sites in the London (U.K.) area was determined as part of a project aimed at assessing the spatial variation in the age of Chalk groundwater, and in determining the relationship between fracture and matrix groundwater in this dual porosity system.Systematic changes in groundwater chemistry take place in the downgradient direction in response to several chemical processes. These processes include early concentration by evaporation and congruent dissolution of calcite followed by widespread incongruent dissolution and ion exchange in addition to local oxidation-reduction reactions, gypsum dissolution and saline intrusion. As a result of the above processes, Chalk groundwater follows an evolutionary path from Ca bicarbonate type to Na bicarbonate type.The age of Chalk groundwater was modelled using¹⁴C, δ¹³C,³H, δ²H and δ¹⁸0. There is a general increase in the groundwater age in a downgradient direction with the oldest water found in N central areas of the basin. Groundwater in the unconfined zones and in areas S of the Greenwich fault is almost entirely of unevolved, modem composition. Carbon-14 modelling suggests that Chalk groundwater in the S basin is generally less than 10000 a old while that in the north is generally between 10000 and 25000 a old. The presence of³H in concentrations of up to 7 TU in groundwater which yields ages of several 1000 a, however, indicates that mechanisms exist for the rapid introduction of recent groundwater to the confined aquifer. Results of palaeorecharge temperature determinations using δ²H, δ¹⁸0 and noble gas analytical results suggest that significant Devensian recharge did indeed occur in the aquifer.A model of the development of the Chalk recognizes that it is a classic dual porosity aquifer in which groundwater flow occurs predominantly in the fracture system. The upper 50 m of the aquifer was flushed with fresh water during the 2–3 × 10⁶ a of the Quaternary and therefore meteoric water largely replaced the Tertiary and Cretaceous marine water that previously saturated the system. Most processes which control the chemistry of the groundwater occur in the matrix where the surface area is exceptionally high. Although fracture flow dominates the flow regime, diffusion from the matrix into the fracture porosity controls the chemistry of Chalk groundwater.