Experimental and theoretical study of the vibrational properties of diaspore (α-AlOOH)

Vibrational properties of diaspore, α-AlOOH, have been re-investigated using room-temperature single-crystal Raman spectroscopy and low-temperature powder infrared (IR) transmission spectroscopy. First-principles harmonic calculations based on density functional theory provide a convincing assignment of the major Raman peaks and infrared absorption bands. The large width of the Raman band related to OH stretching modes is ascribed to mode–mode anharmonic coupling due to medium-strength H-bonding. Additional broadening in the powder IR spectrum arises from depolarization effects in powder particles. The temperature dependence of the IR spectrum provides a further insight into the anharmonic properties of diaspore. Based on their frequency and temperature behavior, narrow absorption features at ~2,000 cm⁻¹ and anti-resonance at ~2,966 cm⁻¹ in the IR spectrum are interpreted as overtones of fundamental bending bands.     

Population ecology of Sinelobus stanfordi (Crustacea: Tanaidacea) in a temperate southern microtidal estuary

Sinelobus stanfordi is a tanaidacean of worldwide distribution of considerable significance within coastal ecosystems. The aim of this research was to provide essential information on the poorly-known population biology of this species. Benthic samples were taken seasonally from winter 2005 through summer 2007 along 155?km of shoreline within the Río de la Plata Estuary, Argentina. The density of this tanaidacean was higher in vegetated than in bare sediments. The smaller individuals flourished in spring and summer, whereas the larger mature members prevailed in the cooler seasons. Females were always twice as abundant as males. Copulatory females, with 18?±?8 eggs each, were collected during all the seasons. Five cohorts were distinguished by the von Bertalanffy growth function. This research represents a baseline investigation for future studies on the population dynamics of S. stanfordi both in this estuary and in other places where this species is found.     

Neubenennungen lithostratigraphischer Einheiten in der Helvetischen Kreide

In September 2007 Föllmi and coauthors requested the approval of four lithostratigraphic terms of the Swiss Committee of Stratigraphy (SCS). These terms were to be used in their publication on the Cretaceous in the Helvetic realm (Föllmi et al. 2007). At its meeting on October 18, 2007, the SCS decided the following: The Tierwis Formation (replacing the Drusberg Formation) was accepted, with the reserve that a section at Tierwis should be published in the near future. For the former “Lower Orbitolina Beds” the term Rawil Member was accepted, but here too a better type section than the one at Rawil Pass should be published. The term Rohrbachstein bed should not be used as a formal unit because it describes only a minor lithologic variation within the Grünten Member. The term Plaine Morte bed for a thin condensed horizon can not be accepted due to the fact that its definition is based mainly on biostratigraphy. Furthermore, the duplication a locality term which is in use for a previously established lithostratigraphic unit should be avoided.     

Reconstruction of erythemal UV irradiance and dose at Hohenpeissenberg (1968–2001) considering trends of total ozone, cloudiness and turbidity

Summary Erythemal ultraviolet (UV) doses reaching the earths surface depend in a complex manner on the amount of total ozone, cloud cover, cloud type and the structure of the cloud field. A statistical model was developed allowing the reconstruction of UV from measured total ozone and a cloud modification factor (CMF) for the GAW site Hohenpeissenberg, Germany (48°N, 11°E). CMF is derived from solar global radiation G, normalized against a Rayleigh scattering atmosphere. By this way the complex influence of the cloud field is accounted for by introduction of a measured parameter, exposed also to this complex field. The statistical relations are derived from the period 1990–1998 where UV measurements and relevant meteorological parameters are available. With these relations daily UV doses could be reconstructed back to 1968. Tests show that the model works remarkably well even for time scales of a minute except for situations with high albedo. The comparison of measured and calculated UV irradiances shows that the model explains 97% of the variance for solar elevations above 18° on average over the period 1968–2001. The reconstruction back to 1968 indicates that maximum UV irradiances (clear days) have increased due to long-term ozone decline. Clouds show seasonally depending long-term changes, especially an increase of cirrus. Consequently the UV doses have increased less or even decreased in some months in comparison to the changes expected from the ozone decline alone. In May to August total cloud frequency and cloud cover have decreased. Therefore, the average UV doses have increased much more than can be explained by the ozone decline alone. It is also shown that the optical thickness of cirrus clouds has increased since 1953. The higher frequency of cirrus is caused in part by more frequent contrails. Besides that an observed long-term rise and cooling of the tropopause favors an easier cirrus formation. However, whether climate change and an intensification of the water cycle is responsible for the cirrus trends has not been investigated in detail.     

Transport von Feldspäten und Quarz im Temperaturgefälle

In the attempt to study the composition and behaviour of metasomatically active solutions we have examined the kind of gaseous solutions which are formed by water in contact with the minerals of a granite under a pressure of 2000 bars at 600° C, and how these solutions behave within a temperature gradient at the same pressure. The temperature ranged from 620° to 180° C. The following minerals were considered: quartz, K-feldspar (adularia), plagioclase (andesine) and mixtures of quartz with adularia, quartz with andesine, quartz with adularia and andesine, quartz mixed with mierokline-perthite, oligoelase and biotite.All these minerals are completely dissolved by water under these physical conditions. The solutions always contain more silica than the minerals, if quartz is present. The dissolved components are transported within the temperature gradient. In the solutions, Ca derived from the anorthite-component of the plagioclase and Mg from the biotite form associations together with silica, which travel tohigher temperatures. There they crystallize in form of wollastonite and/or diopside. On the other hand, Na and K, AI and the Fe from the biotite and the largest part of the silica, travel from the 600° C-region tolower temperatures. There they crystallize in form of quartz, K-feldspar, albite, some muscovite and Mg-free biotite rich in Fe. In experiments of only short duration, metastable analcime instead of albite has been formed. In long lasting experiments of 10 weeks, a separation of Na and K was evident: Albite was formed in the temperature range 470° to 420° C, whereas K-feldspar (with some albite component) and Mg-free biotite crystallize together with quartz in a larger temperature range below 420° C; see figure 6.The different minerals from a mixture influence each other's solubility in such a way that the amount of both feldspars and quartz dissolved and transported within a unit of time is decreased. Compared with the amount obtained when quartz alone constitutes the solid phase, only 40 % of that amount is dissolved and transported when the quartz had been mixed with adularia; the value amounts to only 30% when it was mixed with andesine. When both feldspars. are present together with quartz, the amount of dissolved and transported quartz is decreased to about 20 % of the original amount; see table 7. However, in all cases the amount of dissolved quartz is larger than the sum of the dissolved feldspar substances. Thus, the solution formed from a mixture of quartz and feldspars which is transported to lower temperatures always contains more silica than the mineral mixture. The amount of adularia dissolved and transported is reduced by the presence of quartz to 1/6 of that amount furnished at 6000 C by adularia alone. Under the same conditions the amount of andesine is reduced to one half. — The amount of adularia transported per unit of time is nearly equal to the amount of plagioclase components if quartz is present. However, if no quartz is present, the proportion of dissolved and transported adularia to plagioclase-components is noticeably shifted in favour of adularia. This would be the case with syenite as the source for the solutions.In the attempt to produce skarns in a way closely related to nature, silica-rich solutions from a granite have been brought into contact with dolomite. The contact was situated at 600°, 570° and 500° C. With equal duration of the experiments, the results were similar. With different durations the following effect was observed: at the beginning, the silica-rich solution reacts with the dolomite under formation of forsterite, calcite and C0₂. When more materialis transported into the contact,region diopside (the mineral containing more silica) is formed from calcite, forsterite and additional silica. When the same metasomatically active solution meets a marble, (contact at 600° C) wollastonite is formed. In these metasomatic processes the partial pressure of C0₂ in the gasphase remained low under our experimental conditions.     

Zur geomorphologischen und geologischen Entwicklungsgeschichte der Ostabdachung der Zentralalpen in der Miozänzeit

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