In the wake of a counterclockwise rotating Adriatic microplate: Neogene paleomagnetic results from northern Croatia

In northern Croatia, the Neogene sediments cover complicated basement rocks which consist of Alpine and Dinaridic elements in the Zagorje area, and Variscan - Alpine formations of the Tisia (Tisza) megatectonic unit in the Slavonian Mountains (Mts.). The Neogene sediments were deposited in two separate basins before the Karpatian, but sedimentation became uniform from the Karpatian onwards (~17.5 Ma). Of the 24 localities that we have studied so far paleomagnetically from northern Croatia, 16 localities are of Karpatian or younger age, while the rest are pre-Karpatian. As a result of laboratory analysis, 16 localities yielded tectonically interpretable results. Our data suggests that northern Croatia shifted northwards, while rotating moderately counterclockwise, probably before the Karpatian. A second counterclockwise rotation occurred at the present latitude in post-Pontian times. There is no significant difference between localities situated above different basements, though Tisia is pictured as rotating clockwise in the Neogene. The paleomagnetic pattern of northern Croatia resembles that of areas situated north of the Periadriatic-Balaton line. Therefore, we conclude that northern Croatia is part of a larger block, dissected by several important tectonic lines, driven by the counterclockwise rotated Adriatic microplate.     

Diel vertical migration of medusae in the open Southern Adriatic Sea over a short time period (July 2003)

Diel vertical migration (DVM) of medusae was investigated at a fixed station in the oligotrophic Southern Adriatic Sea at several depths during summer (July) 2003. We hypothesized that medusan DVM is considerably influenced by environmental variables such as hydrographic features, light intensities, and potential prey densities. We used short-term repetitive sampling as an approach to detail these relationships. Of the 26 species collected, the highest abundance was in the layer between the thermocline (15 m) and 100 m depth, where Rhopalonema velatum predominated, reaching the maximum count of 93 individuals per 10 m³. Seven species were observed over a wide depth range: Solmissus albescens (15–1200 m), R. velatum (0–800 m), Persa incolorata (50–1200 m), Octophialucium funerarium (200–1200 m), Arctapodema australis (200–1200 m), Amphinema rubra (100–800 m), and Rhabdoon singulare (15–600). According to the medusan weighted mean depth (WMD) calculations, the longest DVMs were noted for the deep-sea species S. albescens , O. funerarium , and A. australis . The shallowest species, Aglaura hemistoma , was primarily non-migratory. Certain medusan assemblages were associated consistently with a particular depth layer characterized by a particular light intensity. The interplay of environmental factors and trophic relationships explains some of the features of medusan migratory patterns. These findings thus contribute to understanding the variables that determine patterns of medusan vertical migratory behavior.     

Meridional Motions and Reynolds Stress Determined by Using Kanzelhöhe Drawings and White Light Solar Images from 1964 to 2016

Sunspot position data obtained from Kanzelhöhe Observatory for Solar and Environmental Research (KSO) sunspot drawings and white light images in the period 1964 to 2016 were used to calculate the rotational and meridional velocities of the solar plasma. Velocities were calculated from daily shifts of sunspot groups and an iterative process of calculation of the differential rotation profiles was used to discard outliers. We found a differential rotation profile and meridional motions in agreement with previous studies using sunspots as tracers and conclude that the quality of the KSO data is appropriate for analysis of solar velocity patterns. By analyzing the correlation and covariance of meridional velocities and rotation rate residuals we found that the angular momentum is transported towards the solar equator. The magnitude and latitudinal dependence of the horizontal component of the Reynolds stress tensor calculated is sufficient to maintain the observed solar differential rotation profile. Therefore, our results confirm that the Reynolds stress is the dominant mechanism responsible for transport of angular momentum towards the solar equator.     

Magnetic fabric of Late Miocene clay-rich sediments from the southern Pannonian basin

The magnetic fabric of Late Miocene sediments from the southern Pannonian basin was studied on oriented samples collected from 19 geographically distributed localities. All of them are characterized by near-horizontal magnetic foliation plane after tilt correction, indicating weak deformation. Well-developed lineations were observed for 16 localities, which are interpreted as due to compressional/transpressional deformation, except from three localities, where the fabric must have been formed in an extensional setting. Comparison between the orientation of the map-scale folds and faults and magnetic lineation directions shows that magnetic lineation is either related to NNE-SSW directed compression, leading to the formation of folds or it can be connected to NW–SE or NNE-SSW trending dextral faults.