Stable carbon isotope distribution of particulate organic matter in the ocean: a model study

The stable carbon isotopic composition of particulate organic matter in the ocean, δ¹³C_POC, shows characteristic spatial variations with high values in low latitudes and low values in high latitudes. The lowest δ¹³C_POC values (−32‰ to −35‰) have been reported in the Southern Ocean, whereas in arctic and subarctic regions δ¹³C_POC values do not drop below −27‰. This interhemispheric asymmetry is still unexplained. Global gradients in δ¹³C_POC are much greater than in δ¹³C_DIC, suggesting that variations in isotopic fractionation during organic matter production are primarily responsible for the observed range in δ¹³C_POC. Understanding the factors that control isotope variability is a prerequisite when applying δ¹³C_POC to the study of marine carbon biogeochemistry. The present model study attempts to reproduce the δ¹³C_POC distribution pattern in the ocean. The three-dimensional (3D) Hamburg Model of the Oceanic Carbon Cycle version 3.1 (HAMOCC3.1) was combined with two different parametrizations of the biological fractionation of stable carbon isotopes. In the first parametrization, it is assumed that the isotopic fractionation between CO₂ in seawater and the organic material produced by algae, _P, is a function of the ambient CO₂ concentration. The two parameters of this function are derived from observations and are not based on an assumption of any specific mechanism. Thus, this parametrization is purely empirical. The second parametrization is based on fractionation models for microalgae. It is supported by several laboratory experiments. Here the fractionation, _P, depends on the CO₂ concentration in seawater and on the (instantaneous) growth rates, μ_i, of the phytoplankton. In the Atlantic Ocean, where most field data are available, both parametrizations reproduce the latitudinal variability of the mean δ¹³C_POC distribution. The interhemispheric asymmetry of δ¹³C_POC can mostly be attributed to the interhemispheric asymmetry of CO₂ concentration in the water. However, the strong seasonal variations of δ¹³C_POC as reported by several authors, can only be explained by a growth rate-dependent fractionation, which reflects variations in the cellular carbon demand.     

FAUST observations near the North Galactic Pole

We analyse a UV observation with FAUST in the direction of the North Galactic Pole. The region includes a cirrus cloud (G251.2+73.3) and a dark globule, and the FAUST image contains 75 UV sources. We discuss the UV source detection and their identification with optical counterparts. We use, for the first time, low-resolution spectral information as the primary means of identifying possible optical counterparts. This is complemented, and sometimes modified, by optical information available from existing data bases. The results are interpreted with the help of maps of the distribution of far-infrared emission and of the neutral hydrogen gas. We discuss the types of objects found, the degree of matching with the predictions of our UV Galaxy model, and the general behaviour of the Galactic UV extinction in this Milky Way part. We compare the UV results for this region with similar observations in the same neighbourhood, which are less affected by dust, and attempt to explain the peculiar distribution of UV magnitudes as a result of a peculiar distribution of foreground dust, which does not follow the accepted dust-to-gas relation.     

The general non-LRS-BDT-Bianchi type-V radiation solution

We present the most general triaxial BDT-Bianchi type-V radiation solution. The solution is the simplest generalization of the GRT solution first given by Ruban.     

Comment on the inhomogeneous Bianchi type-VI0 solution

The inhomogeneous Bianchi type-VI₀ perfect fluid solution given recently by Roy and Narain (1985) is shown to be identical with the solution first given by Tomita (1978).     

Magnetic reconnection in plasmas

A review of the present status of the theory of magnetic reconnection is given. In strongly collisional plasmas reconnection proceeds via resistive current sheets, i.e. quasi-stationary macroscopic Sweet-Parker sheets at intermediate values of the magnetic Reynolds numberR _m , or mirco-current sheets in MHD turbulence, which develops at highR _m . In hot, dilute plasmas the reconnection dynamics is dominated by nondissipative effects, mainly the Hall term and electron inertia. Reconnection rates are found to depend only on the ion mass, being independent of the electron inertia and the residual dissipation coefficients. Small-scale whistler turbulence is readily excited giving rise to an anomalous electron viscosity. Hence reconnection may be much more rapid than predicted by conventional resistive theory.     

Comment on the BDT-Bianchi type-VI0 stiff matter solution

We wish to point out that the Brans-Dicke-Bianchi type-VI₀ stiff matter solution recently given by Ram and Singh is not the most general solution of the corresponding field equations. Moreover, this solution has no vacuum limit and the general relativistic limit is obtained only after making an asymptotic expansion. In this paper we rediscuss the entire problem in a different way. In the limit =const., , we obtain both the stiff matter and the vacuum relativistic limit first given by Ellis and MacCallum (1969) in analytic form.     

The structure of the lower crust at the Argentine continental margin, South Atlantic at 44°S

It is well established that the Argentine passive margin is of the rifted volcanic margin type. This classification is based primarily on the presence of a buried volcanic wedge beneath the continental slope, manifested by seismic data as a seaward dipping reflector sequence (SDRS). Here, we investigate the deep structure of the Argentine volcanic margin at 44°S over 200 km from the shelf to the deep oceanic Argentine Basin. We use wide-angle reflection/refraction seismic data to perform a joint travel time inversion for refracted and reflected travel times. The resulting P-wave velocity-depth model confirms the typical volcanic margin structure. An underplated body is resolved as distinctive high seismic velocity (v_p up to 7.5 km/s) feature in the lower crust in the prolongation of a seaward dipping reflector sequence. A remarkable result is that a second, isolated body of high seismic velocity (v_p up to 7.3 km/s) exists landward of the first high-velocity feature. The centres of both bodies are 60 km apart. The high-velocity lower-crustal bodies likely were emplaced during transient magmatic–volcanic events accompanying the late rifting and initial drifting stages. The lateral variability of the lower crust may be an expression of a multiple rifting process in the sense that the South Atlantic rift evolved by instantaneous breakup of longer continental margin segments. These segments are confined by transfer zones that acted as rift propagation barriers. A lower-crustal reflector was detected at 3 to 5 km above the modern Moho and probably represents the lower boundary of stretched continental crust. With this finding we suggest that the continent–ocean boundary is situated 70 km more seaward than in previous interpretations.     

Provenance and depositional environment of Rhenohercynian synorogenic greywackes from the Giessen Nappe,Germany

The Giessen Nappe of the south-eastern Rhenish Massif can be subdivided into a northern group and southern group of Frasnian-?Lower Carboniferous greywackes that differ slightly in their sedimentology, clast petrography, heavy mineral assemblages and bulk geochemistry. Petrographic and geochemical tectonic setting discrimination diagrams indicate that both the northern and the southern Giessen Greywacke groups were derived from a predominantly acidic continental arc source. However, due to the nature of basin development, generation of significant volumes of acidic arc material as a result of southwards directed subduction of Rhenohercynian oceanic crust is considered unlikely. A large part of the arc source may have been contributed by earlier, predominantly acidic, Precambrian terranes together with minor basic igneous and sedimentary components.     

THE ADVERSE IMPACT OF HUMAN ACTIVITIES ON FLOOD CONTROL IN THE HUAIHE BASIN

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Magmatic evolution of the Easter microplate-Crough Seamount region (South East Pacific)

The Easter microplate-Crough Seamount region located between 25° S–116° W and 25° S–122° W consists of a chain of seamounts forming isolated volcanoes and elongated (100–200 km in length) en echelon volcanic ridges oriented obliquely NE (N 065°), to the present day general spreading direction (N 100°) of the Pacific-Nazca plates. The extension of this seamount chain into the southwestern edge of the Easter microplate near 26°30 S–115° W was surveyed and sampled. The southern boundary including the Orongo fracture zone and other shallow ridges (< 2000 m high) bounding the Southwest Rift of the microplate consists of fault scarps where pillow lava, dolerite, and metabasalts are exposed. The degree of rock alternation inferred from palagonitization of glassy margins suggests that the volcanic ridges are as old as the shallow ridges bounding the Southwest Rift of the microplate. The volcanics found on the various structures west of the microplate consist of depleted (K/Ti < 0.1), transitional (K/Ti = 0.11–0.25) and enriched (K/Ti > 0.25) MORBs which are similar in composition to other more recent basalts from the Southwest and East Rifts spreading axes of the Easter microplate. Incompatible element ratios normalized to chondrite values [(Ce/Yb)_N = 1–2.5}, {(La/Sm)_N = 0.4–1.2} and {(Zr/Y)_N = 0.7–2.5} of the basalts are also similar to present day volcanism found in the Easter microplate. The volcanics from the Easter microplate-Crough region are unrelated to other known South Pacific intraplate magmatism (i.e. Society, Pitcairn, and Salas y Gomez Islands). Instead their range in incompatible element ratios is comparable to the submarine basalts from the recently investigated Ahu and Umu volcanic field (Easter hotspot) (Scientific Party SO80, 1993) and centered at about 80 km west of Easter Island. The oblique ridges and their associated seamounts are likely to represent ancient leaky transform faults created during the initial stage of the Easter microplate formation ( 5 Ma). It appears that volcanic activity on seamounts overlying the oblique volcanic ridges has continued during their westward drift from the microplate as shown by the presence of relatively fresh lava observed on one of these structures, namely the first Oblique Volcanic Ridge near 25° S–118° W at about 160 km west of the Easter microplate West Rift. Based on a reconstruction of the Easter microplate, it is suggested that the Crough seamount (< 800 m depth) was formed by earlier (7–10 Ma) hotspot magmatic activity which also created Easter Island.