Quaternary foraminifera and sediments in the Norwegian Channel

The foraminiferal fauna and lithology of 17 short sediment cores from two profiles in the Norwegian Channel have been investigated. Three ecostratigraphical zones are distinguished and their depositional environment, age and correlation with adjacent areas are discussed. The zones form a climatically conditioned succession (from below): the Cassidulina-Nonion zone contains an arctic fauna affected by meltwater influx, and its deposition was in progress in Late Weichselian; the Uvigerina-Cassidulina zone with a mixed fauna of arctic and boreal species is referred to the Early Flandrian; the Uvigerina-Bulimina zone contains a boreal fauna and was deposited under influence of Atlantic water; its age is regarded as Middle and Late Flandrian. Transport and deposition of sediments in the channel is discussed on the basis of recent current conditions and distribution of the zones.     

Biomarker responses as indication of contaminant effects in blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) and female eelpout (Zoarces viviparus) from the southwestern Baltic Sea

During a field study performed in spring and autumn 2001 and 2002, blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) and female eelpout (Zoarces viviparus) were collected at three locations in the Wismar Bay (Baltic Sea), and several biomarkers of contaminant effects were analysed. Besides seasonal and inter-annual variations, biomarker signals were most pronounced at the location closest to Wismar Harbour (Wendorf) in both species. Lysosomal membrane stability (LMS) was lowest and acetylcholinesterase activity (AChE) was significantly reduced. Frequency of micronuclei (MN) was significantly higher (in blue mussels), indicating mutagenic effects. In eelpout elevated levels of DNA adducts, EROD induction and PAH-metabolites were measured. Metallothionein (MT), biomarker for trace metal exposure, showed a gradient only in spring. Organochlorine contaminant analyses (PCBs, DDTs) corresponded to the observed biomarker levels. The results obtained clearly demonstrate pollution effects in the southwestern Baltic Sea. Moreover, they show that a multibiomarker approach is also applicable in a brackish water environment.     

Pulp and paper mill pollution and subsequent ecosystem recovery of a large boreal lake in Finland: a paleolimnological analysis

Sedimentary diatom frustules and chironomid remains, in addition to the chemical stratigraphy of 32 elements and resin acids, were studied from short-core samples taken from two basins and a sheltered bay of Lake Päijänne in southern Finland (about 61 °10–62 °15 N, 25 °30 E). The lake was formerly oligotrophic but has been subject to effluent loading from pulp and paper mills during the past century since the opening of the first pulp mill in the 1880s. Four developmental phases were distinguished and named mainly according to the effects found in the basin close to the pollution source: (1) the pre-industrial phase (from the 1800s to ca. 1920), including the early years of industrialization, with low impacts; (2) the phase of increasing pollution (ca. 1920–1969); (3) the phase of severe pollution (1970–1981); and (4) the water protection phase (1982 onwards).Distinct differences were observed between pelagic (diatoms) and benthic (chironomid) ecosystems in their response to pollution. Effluent loading from the pulp and paper mills had a pronounced impact on chironomid assemblages, but only a slight influence on diatoms in the basin close to the pollution source. In the southern basin, approximately 60 km downstream, an increase in acidophilous species was observed in the diatom assemblages during the early years of pollution, but changes in chironomids in this basin were negligible. The water protection work of the past 30 years, which has led to an improvement in water quality and a marked recovery of the profundal biota, has also resulted in a slight increase in primary production of the lake. The decrease in brown-coloured effluent water has led to an increase in thickness of the lake's photic productive layer, while the toxicity of the water has simultaneously diminished. Rapid changes in chironomid assemblages and sedimentation observed in the sheltered bay highlight the importance of local land-use activities as causes of environmental change in this area, and especially their effects on sedimentation and benthic life.     

Continental impact on marine boundary layer coarse particles over the Atlantic Ocean between Europe and Antarctica

Aerosol samples were collected in the Atlantic marine boundary layer between the English Channel and Antarctica during November–December 1999. The composition of coarse (aerodynamic diameter 1–3 μm) individual aerosol particles was studied using the SEM/EDX method. The major particle types observed were fresh sea salt, sea-salt particles reacted partly or totally with sulphuric acid or nitric acid, Mg-sulphate, Ca-sulphate, mixed aluminosilicates and sea salt, aluminosilicates, Ca-rich particles and Fe-rich particles. The relative fractions of sea-salt particles with moderate or strong Cl depletion were high near the coasts of Europe (65–74%) and Northern Africa (44–87%), low far from the coast of Western Africa (10–20%) and very low in remote sea areas between Africa and Antarctica (1%). The Cl depletion was strongest when air masses arrived from the direction of anthropogenic pollution sources. The fractions of Mg-sulphate particles were high (18–25%) in 2 samples near Europe. The Mg-sulphate particles were probably formed as a result of fractional recrystallization of sea-salt particles in which Cl was substituted by sulphate. It remained unclear whether these particles were formed in the atmosphere or during and after sampling. The relative fractions of particles from continental sources were quite low (10–15%) near Europe, very high (25–78%) near the coast of Northwestern Africa and very low in the remote sea areas (0–2%). Most of the continental particles were aluminosilicates and some of them were internally mixed with sea salt. Near the coast of Northwestern Africa, the main source of aluminosilicates was Saharan dust, and near the Gulf of Guinea, emissions from biomass burning were also mixed with aluminosilicates and sea salt.     

Recordings and occurrence of geomagnetically induced currents in the Finnish natural gas pipeline network

A project implemented to study the effects of space weather on the Finnish natural gas pipeline was started in August 1998. The aims of the project were (1) to derive a model for calculating geomagnetically induced currents (GIC) and pipe-to-soil (P/S) voltages in the Finnish natural gas pipeline, (2) to perform measurements of GIC and P/S voltages in the pipeline and (3) to derive statistical predictions for the occurrences of GIC and P/S voltages at different locations in the pipeline network.GIC and P/S voltage were recorded at a compressor station. The GIC measurement was made with two magnetometers, one right above the pipe, and another at the Nurmijärvi Geophysical Observatory about 30 km southwest. The largest GIC since November 1998 has been 30 A. The P/S voltage recording was stopped in May 1999, but GIC is still measured.GIC statistics were derived based on the recordings of the geomagnetic field at Nurmijärvi. The geoelectric field was calculated by using the plane wave model. This field was input to the general pipeline model resulting in the distribution of currents and P/S voltages at selected points in the pipeline. As could be expected, the largest P/S voltage variations occur at the ends of the pipeline network, while the largest GIC flow in the middle parts.     

Structure of the crust and uppermost mantle beneath southern Finland revealed by analysis of local events registered by the SVEKALAPKO seismic array

In 1998–1999, a large-scale seismic array was deployed in Finland as a part of the EUROPROBE/SVEKALAPKO subproject, involving 14 European universities and research institutes. The objective of the project was to map the deep lithosphere structure and thickness beneath the Fennoscandian Shield by means of teleseismic events. In addition, about 580 local seismic events were registered during the data acquisition period. Among them, only eight local earthquakes were recorded, the rest being quarry blasts from mining sites in Russia, Finland, Estonia and Sweden. In this study, we present the analysis of the seismic wave field from the strongest local events registered by the majority of the stations of the SVEcofennian–KArelian–LAPland–KOla Transect (SVEKALAPKO) array with the aim of mapping the structure of the upper mantle beneath the array. For this purpose, we selected the events corresponding to a single source type and compared these recordings with those from wide-angle reflection and refraction experiments in the area to identify the regional phases. The record sections of selected events demonstrate strong reflections (PmP) from the Moho boundary. The refracted Pn phases can be seen as first arrivals at distances of about 200–400 km from the source. At offsets of about 400–800 km, phases reflected from inhomogeneities in the uppermost mantle (P1) and double reflections from the Moho boundary (PmPPmP) were recorded.Results from 2D forward ray trace modeling of reflected and refracted P-waves along four profile swathes from SVEKALAPKO stations demonstrate that the mantle reflections originate from two different groups of boundaries beneath the array: one group of phases arrive from subhorizontal and gently dipping reflectors below the Moho boundary at a depth of 70–90 km, while the other group are phases originating from a depth of 100 to 130 km. Based on the irregular character of the first group of reflections, their different spatial orientation and correlation with the Moho offsets, we interpret the boundaries of this group as relicts of ancient subduction and collision processes. The second group of reflections can be explained by a transition from mechanically strong to mechanically weak lithosphere.     

Geochemistry and mineralogy of platinum-group elements at Hartley Platinum Mine,Zimbabwe

The behaviour of platinum-group elements (PGE) in the exogenic cycle was examined in profiles of oxidized Main Sulfide Zone (MSZ) ores, in which the general metal distribution patterns of the pristine MSZ are grossly preserved. However, at similar Pt grades, significant proportions of Pd have been lost from the system. This indicates that Pd is more mobile than Pt and is dispersed in the supergene environment. Sperrylite and cooperite/braggite are stable in the oxidized MSZ. In contrast, the (Pt,Pd)-bismuthotellurides, common in pristine MSZ ores, have disintegrated, and ill-defined (Pt,Pd)-oxides or (Pt,Pd)-hydroxides have formed. The assemblage of detrital PGM present in the Makwiro River close to the Hartley Platinum Mine indicates further mineralogical changes. Sperrylite largely remains stable whereas most cooperite/braggite grains have been partly altered or completely destroyed. Grains of Pt-Fe alloy are ubiquitous in the alluvial sediments. Most likely, these grains are neo-formations that formed either from pre-existing, unstable PGM or via a solution stage under low-temperature conditions.     

Water quality classification of lakes using 250-m MODIS data

The traditional method used in the water quality classification of Finnish lakes includes the collection of water samples from lakes and their analysis in laboratory conditions. The classification is based on statistical analysis of water quality parameter values and on expert opinion. It is possible to acquire similar information by using radiance values measured with the Earth Observing System Terra/Aqua Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS). In this letter, the classification accuracy with MODIS data is about 80%. Only about 0.2% of the 20 391 pixels were misclassified by two or more classes, as a four-class classification system is used.     

The tilt effect for Saturn's rings

Multiple-scattering computations are carried out to explain the variation of the observed brightness of the A and B rings of Saturn with declination of the Earth and Sun. These computations are performed by a doubling scheme for a homogeneous plane-parallel scattering medium. We test a range of choices for the phase function, albedo for single scattering, and optical depth of both the rings. Isotropic scattering and several other simple phase functions are ruled out, and we find that the phase function must be moderately peaked in both the forward and backward directions. The tilt effect can be explained by multiple scattering in a homogeneous layer, but, for ring B, this requires a single-scattering albedo in excess of 0.8. The brightest part of ring B must have an optical depth greater than 0.9. We find that the tilt effect for ring A can be reproduced by particles having the same properties as those in ring B with the optical depth for the A ring in the range 0.4 to 0.6.