Sea Surface Salinity Observations from Space with the SMOS Satellite: A New Means to Monitor the Marine Branch of the Water Cycle

While it is well known that the ocean is one of the most important component of the climate system, with a heat capacity 1,100 times greater than the atmosphere, the ocean is also the primary reservoir for freshwater transport to the atmosphere and largest component of the global water cycle. Two new satellite sensors, the ESA Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) and the NASA Aquarius SAC-D missions, are now providing the first space-borne measurements of the sea surface salinity (SSS). In this paper, we present examples demonstrating how SMOS-derived SSS data are being used to better characterize key land–ocean and atmosphere–ocean interaction processes that occur within the marine hydrological cycle. In particular, SMOS with its ocean mapping capability provides observations across the world’s largest tropical ocean fresh pool regions, and we discuss from intraseasonal to interannual precipitation impacts as well as large-scale river runoff from the Amazon–Orinoco and Congo rivers and its offshore advection. Synergistic multi-satellite analyses of these new surface salinity data sets combined with sea surface temperature, dynamical height and currents from altimetry, surface wind, ocean color, rainfall estimates, and in situ observations are shown to yield new freshwater budget insight. Finally, SSS observations from the SMOS and Aquarius/SAC-D sensors are combined to examine the response of the upper ocean to tropical cyclone passage including the potential role that a freshwater-induced upper ocean barrier layer may play in modulating surface cooling and enthalpy flux in tropical cyclone track regions.     

A method for climate and vegetation reconstruction through the inversion of a dynamic vegetation model

Climate reconstructions from data sensitive to past climates provide estimates of what these climates were like. Comparing these reconstructions with simulations from climate models allows to validate the models used for future climate prediction. It has been shown that for fossil pollen data, gaining estimates by inverting a vegetation model allows inclusion of past changes in carbon dioxide values. As a new generation of dynamic vegetation model is available we have developed an inversion method for one model, LPJ-GUESS. When this novel method is used with high-resolution sediment it allows us to bypass the classic assumptions of (1) climate and pollen independence between samples and (2) equilibrium between the vegetation, represented as pollen, and climate. Our dynamic inversion method is based on a statistical model to describe the links among climate, simulated vegetation and pollen samples. The inversion is realised thanks to a particle filter algorithm. We perform a validation on 30 modern European sites and then apply the method to the sediment core of Meerfelder Maar (Germany), which covers the Holocene at a temporal resolution of approximately one sample per 30 years. We demonstrate that reconstructed temperatures are constrained. The reconstructed precipitation is less well constrained, due to the dimension considered (one precipitation by season), and the low sensitivity of LPJ-GUESS to precipitation changes.     

西藏地区近期植被变化的遥感分析

利用2000—2007年的归一化植被指数,分析了近期西藏地区植被的分布状况及变化趋势,从气候条件、人类活动及其他因素等3个方面讨论了典型区域(那曲地区)植被减少的原因。结果表明,植被覆盖最好的区域是林芝及山南南部,其次是昌都、拉萨及那曲东部;不同地区的植被有显著的季节差异。近年来西藏部分地区的植被状况有所改善,植被覆盖减少最严重的区域位于那曲中东部,就全区平均而言,植被覆盖明显减少时段出现在2003—2006年之间;降水量增加(减少)、风速减少(增加)基本对应着植被覆盖的增加(减少)。近期那曲地区气温升高、降水量减少,可能导致植被覆盖减少;人口增长,城市化加剧,过度放牧,有毒植物增多,中草药的挖掘,地下矿产资源的开采以及严重的草地鼠害、虫害等都导致了那曲地区植被覆盖的减少。     

Chemical and isotopic variations in the Wiśniówka Mała mine pit water,Holy Cross Mountains (south-central Poland)

In 2005 and 2006, hydrogeochemical study was carried out in the bipartite Wiśniówka Mała pit lake of the Holy Cross Mountains (south-central Poland). This is the largest acidic water body in Poland. This report presents the element concentrations in the water and sediment, stable sulfur and oxygen isotope ratios in the soluble sulfates, and stable oxygen isotope ratio in the water. The scope of the investigation also encompassed mineralogical examinations (scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction) of the sediment. The results of this study show that there is a spatial and temporal variability in concentrations of most elements and sulfur isotope ratios in the examined pit lake. The water of the western pond displayed a lower pH with a mean of 3.73 and higher conductivity (390 μS cm⁻¹) as well as higher concentrations of sulfates (156 mg L⁻¹) and most of the cations and anions. The concentrations of Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ averaged 0.8 and 0.4 mg·L⁻¹. In contrast, the eastern pond water revealed a higher pH (mean of 4.36), lower conductivity (293 μS cm⁻¹) and lower sulfate (90 mg L⁻¹) and trace metal levels. Similar variations were recorded in the stable sulfur isotope ratios. The δ³⁴S_V-CDT(SO₄ ²⁻) values in the water of the western pit pond were in the range of −6.7 to −4.6‰ (mean of −5.6‰), whereas that in the eastern pit pond ranged from −2.2 to −0.9‰ (−1.6‰). The alkalinity of the entire lake water was below 0.1 mg·L⁻¹ CaCO₃. No distinct difference in the δ¹⁸O_V-SMOW(SO₄ ²⁻) was noted between the western and eastern pit ponds. Compared to the Purple Pond in the Sudetes (Poland) and similar sites throughout the world, the examined pit lake is highlighted by distinctly low concentrations of sulfates, iron and other trace metals. Based on this and other studies performed in the Holy Cross Mountains, a conclusion can be drawn that the SO₄ ²⁻ in the Wiśniówka Mała pit lake water is a mixture of SO₄ ²⁻ derived from the following sources: (1) pyrite oxidation (especially in the western pond water), (2) leaching of soluble sulfates from soils and waste material, as well as (3) subordinate deposition of airborne sulfate precipitation.     

Mechanism and kinetics of hydrothermal replacement of magnetite by hematite

The replacement of magnetite by hematite was studied through a series of experiments under mild hydrothermal conditions(140 -220℃, vapour saturated pressures) to quantify the kinetics of the transformation and the relative effects of redox and non-redox processes on the transformation. The results indicate that oxygen is not an essential factor in the replacement reaction of magnetite by hematite, but the addition of excess oxidant does trigger the oxidation reaction, and increases the kinetics of the transformation. However, even under high O_2(aq) environments, some of the replacement still occurred via Fe²⁺ leaching from magnetite. The kinetics of the replacement reaction depends upon temperature and solution parameters such as pH and the concentrations of ligands, all of which are factors that control the solubility of magnetite and affect the transport of Fe²⁺ (and the oxidant) to and from the reaction front. Reaction rates are fast at ~200℃, and in nature transport properties of Fe and,in the case of the redox-controlled replacement, the oxidant will be the rate-limiting control on the reaction progress. Using an Avrami treatment of the kinetic data and the Arrhenius equation, the activation energy for the transformation under non-redox conditions was calculated to be 26 ± 6 kJ mol^-1.This value is in agreement with the reported activation energy for the dissolution of magnetite, which is the rate-limiting process for the transformation under non-redox conditions.     

Study of the Ammonia ice cloud layer in the equatorial region of Jupiter from the infrared interferometric experiment on voyager

Spectra from the Voyager 1 infrared interferometer spectrometer (IRIS) obtained near the time of closest approach to Jupiter were analyzed for the purpose of inferring ammonia cloud properties associated with the Equatorial Region. Comparisons of observed spectra with synthetic spectra computed from a radiative transfer formulation, that includes multiple scattering, yielded the following conclusions: (1) very few NH₃ ice particles with radii less than 3 μm contribute to the cloud opacity; (2) the major source of cloud opacity arises from particles with radii in excess of 30 μm; (3) column particle densities are between 1 and 2 orders of magnitude smaller than those derived from thermochemical considerations alone, implying the presence of important atmospheric motion; and (4) another cloud system is confirmed to exist deeper in the Jovian troposphere.     

Sulfide geochemistry and genesis of Chouichia and Ain el Bey copper deposits in northwestern Tunisia

The Chouichia and Ain el Bey copper veins that occur in the Eastern Atlas fold belt in northwestern Tunisia, are hosted in Upper Cretaceous-Paleogene sedimentary sequences in a regional transcurrent shear zone. Paragenetic assemblages were formed during four distinct stages all of which are separated by fracturing and brecciation: Stage 1 consists of low temperature siderite (160–180 °C) formation in association with pyrite, including framboidal pyrite and marcasite. Stage 2 includes pseudomorphing of marcasite by As-rich pyrite and arsenopyrite, and formation of chalcopyrite at higher temperatures (200–300 °C) from S-rich, Fe-Cu-bearing fluids; As contents in individual pyrite and arsenopyrite crystals increase markedly in the rims relative to the centers, thus indicating non-equilibrium conditions. Stage 3 involves fracturing and brecciation predating deposition of enargite, luzonite and tennantite at Ain el Bey, and famatinite and tetrahedrite at Chouichia, from As-Sb-Bi-bearing oreforming fluids; tennantite-tetrahedrite series exhibit iron and copper-excess replacements in tetrahedral sites interrelated with Cu-Fe interactions (electron transfer). In Stage 4 fracturing was followed by calcite formation in voids. Comprehensive data was obtained from scanning electron microprobe (SEM) and microprobe chemical analyses of minerals, geothermometry using sulfur isotopes, As contents in arsenopyrite crystals and fluid inclusions in siderite and calcite, support an input of magmatic hydrothermal ore-forming fluids, although contamination by sedimentary sulfur were also identified.     

Human impact and soil erosion during the last 5000 yrs as recorded in lacustrine sedimentary organic matter at Lac d'Annecy, the French Alps

Sedimentary organic matter has been systematically studied in an eight-metre long core from the centre of the Petit Lac (Annecy, French Alps). The palynofacies composition identifies different terrestrial organic sources including forest floors, soil-horizons and geological substratum. The amount of recycled organic matter derived from the geological substratum is estimated and subtracted from the other contributions from the catchment area. The palynological record indicates that the relative variations in organic sources are directly dependent on human land-use. From ca. 5000 to 1700 BP, the human impact on soil cohesion is very low and organic matter is mainly exported from the surficial forest floor. The Roman invasion (ca. 1700 BP) marks the most important ecological and hydrological change. From 1700 to 900 BP, the clearing of forests released deeper-soil components. This trend is increased after 900 BP with agriculture intensification, which resulted in a higher sedimentation rate. In all the periods, extreme events such as flood or intensive run-off are characterised by notable increases of organic matter from surface (5000 to 1700 BP) and deep (1700 BP to now) soils.     

Die Kondensationskerne als Bindeglied luftelektrisch-meteorologischer Zusammenhänge

Zusammenfassung Die elektrischen Wirkungen des Wettergeschehens lassen sich z.T. als veränderliche Schaltelemente, z. T. als Generatoren im luftelektrischen Stromkreis deuten. Es werden die einzelnen Möglichkeiten besprochen und im Ersatzschaltbild dargestellt. Die Kondensationskerne erweisen sich dabei als wesentliches Bindeglied luftelektrisch-meteorologischer Zusammenhänge, wie an einigen Untersuchungsergebnissen im Hochgebirge (Jungfraujoch) gezeigt wird. — Nach Radiosondenmessungen des luftelektrischen Feldes vonKoenigsfeld ergibt sich die grösste Variabilität des Feldes in einer Höhe von einigen km, was als Auswirkung des vertikalen Massenaustausches auf den Kondensationskerngehalt in verschiedenen Höhen zu deuten ist.

---

Summary The electrical effects of the weather phenomena can be interpreted partly as variable elements of connections, partly as generators in the atmospheric electrical circuit. The various possibilities are discussed and represented by the equivalent wiring diagram. The condensation nuclei prove hereby as essential link between atmospheric electrical and meteorological relationships as is shown from some results of investigations carried out in high mountains (Jungfraujoch). — According to radio sonde measurements of the atmospheric—electric field made byKönigsfeld the greatest variability of the field occurs in an altitude of a few km which is to be interpreted as the effect of the vertical mass exchange on the content of condensation nuclei in various heights.

     

Buchbesprechungen

Ohne Zusammenfassung