The last glacial cycles in East Greenland, an overview

Marine, fluvial and glacigene sediments exposed in coastal cliffs and stream-cut sections in East Greenland between latitudes 69° and 78° N display a record of Quaternary climatic and environmental change going back to pre-Saalian times (> 240 ka), but with main emphasis on the last interglacial/glacial cycle. The stratigraphical scheme is based on studies on the Jameson Land peninsula, and contains five glacial stages and stades with the Greenland ice sheet or its outlets reaching the outer coasts. Individual sites are correlated and dated by a combination of biostratigraphy, luminescence dating, amino acid analyses, as well as ¹⁴C- and uranium series dating. The pre-Weichselian Lollandselv and Scoresby Sund glaciations were the most extensive. During the Weichselian the Inland Ice margin in this part of East Greenland was apparently very stable. The Aucellaelv, Jyllandselv and Flakkerhuk stades mark the advance and subsequent retreat of outlet glaciers from the Inland Ice which advanced through the wide Scoresby Sund basin and reached the inner shelf. In-between the glacier advances, three interglacial or interstadial periods have been recognized. During the Langelandselv interglacia-tion (≅ Eemian) the advection of warm Atlantic water was higher than during the Holocene, and the terrestrial flora and insect faunas show that summer temperatures were 3–4°C higher than during the Holocene optimum. There is no unambiguous evidence for cooling in the sediments from this interval. Later, in isotope stage 5, there were apparently two ice-free periods. During the Hugin Sø interstade, stable Polar water dominated Scoresby Sund, and the terrestrial flora suggests summer temperatures 2° -3° lower than the present. The marine and fluvial sediments from the second ice-free period, the Mønselv interstade, are devoid of organic remains.     

Crustal growth in south-eastern Australia—evidence from lower crustal eclogitic and granulitic xenoliths

Mafic and ultramafic xenoliths in a basaltic cone at The Anakies in south-eastern Australia are geochemically equivalent to continental basaltic magmas and cumulates. The xenolith microstructures range from recognizably meta-igneous for intrusive rocks to granoblastic for garnet pyroxenites. Contact relationships between different rock types within some xenoliths suggest a complex petrogenesis of multiple intrusive, metamorphic and metasomatic events at the crust/mantle boundary during the evolution of south-eastern Australia. Unaltered spinel lher-zolite, typical of the uppermost eastern Australian mantle, is interleaved with or veined by the metamorphosed intrusive rocks of basaltic composition. Geothermobarometry calculations by a variety of methods show a concordance of equilibration temperatures ranging from 880°C to 980°C and pressures of 12 to 18 kbar (1200-1800 mPa). These physical conditions span the gabbro to granulite to eclogite transition boundaries. The water-vapour pressure during equilibration is estimated to be about 0.5% of the load pressure, using amphibole breakdown data. Large fluid inclusions of pure CO₂ are abundant in the mineral phases in the xenoliths, and it is suggested that flux of CO₂ from the mantle has been an important heat source and fluid medium during metamorphism of the mafic and ultramafic protoliths at the lower crust/upper mantle boundary. The calculated pressures and temperatures suggest that the south-eastern Australian crust has sustained a high geothermal gradient. In addition, the nature of the mineral assemblages and the contact relationships of granulitic rock with spinel lherzolite, characteristic of mantle material, suggest that the Moho is not a discrete feature in this region, but is represented by a transition zone approximately 20 km thick. These inferences are in agreement with geophysical data (including seismic, heat-flow and electrical resistivity data) determined for south-eastern Australia. Underplating at the crust/mantle boundary by continental basaltic magmas may be an important alternative or additional mechanism to the conventional andesite model for crustal accretion.     

The lower Jyllandselv succession: evidence for three Weichselian glacier advances over coastal Jameson Land, East Greenland

Detailed investigations of sediments exposed along river sections in the coastal part of Jameson Land have revealed a Saalian to Holocene glacial history. Eleven sedimentary units have been distinguished. most of which are found in superposition at one single large section. Four subglacially formed till beds are recognized; three of which are of Weichselian age. All the tills are considered to have been deposited at the base of fjord glaciers restricted to the Scoresby Sund basin. The tills are separated by marine, fluvial or deltaic sediments, and demonstrate changes in the depositional environnient considered to represent changes in relative sea level during the ice-free periods. The fossil content. supported by a series of luminescence dates, suggest that most of the succession is of Eemian and Early Weichselian age. From the luminescence dates, a short duration of <10ka is suggested for the Early Weichselian glacial stades. Sedimentation during this period was partly controlled by glacio-isostatic subsidence caused by net growth of the Greenland Ice Sheet. The Middle Weichselian is represented by a large hiatus. whereas the Late Weichselian is represented by a subglacial till.     

Slippage and re-initiation of (hydraulic) fractures at frictional interfaces

The analysis of mechanisms which could control the growth of fractures in non-homogeneous regions is of paramount importance. One such mechanism is the behavior of the fracture as it reaches a frictional interface; coupled with this is the question of re-initiation, e.g. whether a fracture can be contained within the region of initiation. Though the problems of slippage have been dealt with by other investigators, the present paper gives a more comprehensive picture and detailed treatment: effects of various frictional models at an interface are considered for a crack which intersects it at any angle; specialization then allows comparison with existing results in the literature. The problem of re-initiation, after slippage has occurred at a frictional interface, is also considered, using two different models. First, by introducing microcracks in the adjacent stratum and looking at the effects on propagation criteria and, secondly, by examining the actual distribution of the stress tangential to the slip surface; detailed computations are performed and a simple criterion for re-initiation is given, relating the re-initiation stress dominantly to the confining stress on the interface.     

On the theory of consolidation with double porosity—III A finite element formulation

We employ a finite element method to consider the numerical solution of Aifantis' equations of double porosity.^1–5 The physical and mathematical foundations of the theory of double porosity were considered in two previous papers, ^6,7 where analytical solutions of the relevant equations are also given. For practical purposes and for the completeness of the presentation, we re-derive the basic equations without resorting to the more rigorous scheme of multiporosity theory.^1–6 Instead, we follow the more familiar approach of Biot^8,9 which we now extend from the case of single porosity to the case of double porosity. Then a general finite element formulation of the relevant eqations is thoroughly discussed and explicitly described for the two-dimensional case where four-node rectangular non-conforming isoparametric elements are employed. Three numerical examples are presented in detail to illustrate the method and assess the differences between single and double porosity models in consolidation.     

A novel concept for a satellite-based maritime search and rescue system

Search and rescue (SAR) for both airborne and maritime vehicles has been an area of intense investigation for many years. Current techniques include employment of small distress transmitters which provide signals that have only a limited interception capability. This can considerably increase the search time and reduce its effectiveness. With the increased availability-existing and planned-of both synchronous and nonsynchronous satellites, SAR investigations are being directed toward the application of satellites. The present paper introduces the concept of satellite-based maritime search and rescue system (SAMSARS). This is a proposed pseudonoise (PN) wide-band spread spectrum system that would operate at low power levels and coexist with operational communication satellite systems (voice or data) without mutual interference. The use of existing operational satellite spectrum, instead of a dedicated distress channel or special satellites, is a major feature of SAMSARS. Other important aspects are its capability of providing unique identification and distress information in minutes following activation of the distress transmitter and its inherent immunity to false alarms. SAMSARS can also provide position location directly when three satellites are mutually visible or indirectly, by taking advantage of a vessel's on-board derived navigation data. This paper presents concept elements such as message structure, transmitter and receiver block diagrams, and unique features of SAMSARS. The paper also presents an operational example, including sample link power budgets, and finally specifies areas for further investigation.     

Explicit diagram illustrations of the evolution of astrophysical maser line shapes

The astrophysical maser line shape is an important ingredient in analyzing the properties of astrophysical maser sources. Based on a newly developed theory, this paper shows new, detailed, and explicit diagram illustrations of those line shapes and their evolutions.     

Numerical solutions for flow in porous media

A numerical approach is proposed to model the flow in porous media using homogenization theory. The proposed concept involves the analyses of micro‐true flow at pore‐level and macro‐seepage flow at macro‐level. Macro‐seepage and microscopic characteristic flow equations are first derived from the Navier–Stokes equation at low Reynolds number through a two‐scale homogenization method. This homogenization method adopts an asymptotic expansion of velocity and pressure through the micro‐structures of porous media. A slightly compressible condition is introduced to express the characteristic flow through only characteristic velocity. This characteristic flow is then numerically solved using a penalty FEM scheme. Reduced integration technique is introduced for the volumetric term to avoid mesh locking. Finally, the numerical model is examined using two sets of permeability test data on clay and one set of permeability test data on sand. The numerical predictions agree well with the experimental data if constraint water film is considered for clay and two‐dimensional cross‐connection effect is included for sand. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Palaeoecology of a late Allerød peat bed at Godøy,western Norway

A peat bed found under solifluction deposits on Godøya island, western Norway, accumulated during a few decades around 11 000 yr BP, at the end of the Allerød period of the Late Weichselian. Palaeoecological investigations showed a local vegetation succession on wet sand culminating in a mire community dominated by Carex nigra. Periodic flooding brought in sand and silt, which decreased as drainage was impeded sufficiently for standing water to develop. The surrounding terrestrial vegetation was dominated by Salix scrub, with some open heath and alpine habitats nearby. Apart from two aquatic species, the 29 insect taxa recorded are characteristic of alpine heaths, plant litter (under Salix scrub) and stream-sides. Their remains, together with the terrestrial plant macrofossils, were washed into the mire from nearby. Because the fossils are locally derived, the environmental reconstructions are of the actual conditions at Godøy at ca. 11 000 yr BP. Palaeotemperature estimates from beetles and plants are in agreement. The coleopteran estimates (Mutual Climatic Range Method) suggest mean July temperatures of 10–13°C, slightly cooler than today (13.5°), and January temperatures between +1 and ?10°C, similar to or much colder than today. Summer temperature estimates from individual plant taxa indicate that temperatures during the Allerød period were similar to today's, but estimates from the reconstructed vegetation and timber-line positions give estimates up to 3.5° cooler. Temperatures fell 2.5–7.5°C at the Younger Dryas. This abrupt and severe cooling initiated the solifluction processes on Godøya that buried the peat. The Godøy peat bed and its contained fossils provide a rare glimpse of Allerød biota and environments at the local (site) scale.     

Hydrogen burning on a white dwarf accreting hydrogen in a binary system

We follow the accretion of hydrogen-rich matter onto the surface of a white dwarf in a close binary system. Two phases of accretion are assumed. First—slow accretion from the interstellar clouds, second—fast accretion from the companion.Hydrogen is ignited at the interface between the fast and slowly accreted layers. After a short runaway burning continues in the form of quasistationary deflagration front propagating inwards. The features of this front are discussed. A possibility of mass loss is indicated.