Rapid macrofaunal colonization of water-based drill cuttings on different sediments

A field experiment was conducted to investigate how water-based drill cuttings and sediment type influence colonization of soft bottom communities. Bottom frames with trays containing defaunated sediments were placed at the seabed for 6 months to study colonization of macrofauna. Two different sediments (coarse and fine) were used, and 6 or 24 mm layer of water-based drill cuttings were added on top of these sediments. Some of the sediments were controls with no additions. In the end of the experiment, the oxygen availability in sediment porewater and macrofaunal abundance were reduced in treatments with 24 mm drill cuttings compared to controls. Tube-building annelids were particularly sensitive to drill cuttings. However, these responses were only minor, and notably, the drill cuttings initiated a weaker faunal response than sediment type and site of the bottom frame. Sediments capped with water-based drill cuttings thus showed a rapid colonization of macrofaunal communities.     

Hydration shell structures in a LiI solution at elevated temperature and pressure: a molecular dynamics study

Molecular dynamics simulations of a 0.55 molal aqueous LiI solution have been performed at 508 K and 308 K and a density of 1.05 g/cm³. The structural changes resulting from increased temperature and pressure are discussed.     

Offshore aeolian sediment transport across a human‐modified foredune

Concepts derived from previous studies of offshore winds on natural dunes are evaluated on a dune maintained for shore protection during three offshore wind events. The potential for offshore winds to form a lee‐side eddy on the backshore or transfer sediment from the dune and berm crest to the water are evaluated, as are differences in wind speed and sediment transport on the dune crest, berm crest and a pedestrian access gap. The dune is 18–20 m wide near the base and has a crest 4.5 m above backshore elevation. Two sand‐trapping fences facilitate accretion. Data were obtained from wind vanes on the crest and lee of the dune and anemometers and sand traps placed across the dune, on the beach berm crest and in the access gap. Mean wind direction above the dune crest varied from 11 to 3 deg from shore normal. No persistent recirculation eddy occurred on the 12 deg seaward slope. Wind speed on the berm crest was 85–89% of speed at the dune crest, but rates of sediment transport were 2.27 times greater during the strongest winds, indicating that a wide beach overcomes the transport limitation of a dune barrier. Limited transport on the seaward dune ramp indicates that losses to the water are mostly from the backshore, not the dune. The seaward slope gains sand from the landward slope and dune crest. Sand fences causing accretion on the dune ramp during onshore winds lower the seaward slope and reduce the likelihood of detached flows during offshore winds. Transport rates are higher in access gaps than on the dune crest despite lower wind speeds because of flatter slopes and absence of vegetation. Transport rates across dunes and through gaps can be reduced using vegetation and raised walkover structures. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The Daily Erosion Project – daily estimates of water runoff,soil detachment,and erosion

Water runoff and sediment transport from agricultural uplands are substantial threats to water quality and sustained crop production. To improve soil and water resources, farmers, conservationists, and policy‐makers must understand how landforms, soil types, farming practices, and rainfall interact with water runoff and soil erosion processes. To that end, the Iowa Daily Erosion Project (IDEP) was designed and implemented in 2003 to inventory these factors across Iowa in the United States. IDEP utilized the Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) soil erosion model along with radar‐derived precipitation data and government‐provided slope, soil, and management information to produce daily estimates of soil erosion and runoff at the township scale (93 km² [36 mi²]). Improved national databases and evolving remote sensing technology now permit the derivation of slope, soil, and field‐level management inputs for WEPP. These remotely sensed parameters, along with more detailed meteorological data, now drive daily WEPP hillslope soil erosion and water runoff estimates at the small watershed scale, approximately 90 km² (35 mi²), across sections of multiple Midwest states. The revisions constitute a substantial improvement as more realistic field conditions are reflected, more detailed weather data are utilized, hill slope sampling density is an order of magnitude greater, and results are aggregated based on surface hydrology enabling further watershed research and analysis. Considering these improvements and the expansion of the project beyond Iowa it was renamed the Daily Erosion Project (DEP). Statistical and comparative evaluations of soil erosion simulations indicate that the sampling density is adequate and the results are defendable. The modeling framework developed is readily adaptable to other regions given suitable inputs. © 2017 The Authors. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.     

Distribution,sediment magnetism and geochemistry of the Saksunarvatn (10 180 ± 60 cal. yr BP) tephra in marine,lake, and terrestrial sediments,northwest Iceland

In 1997, seismic surveys in the troughs off northwest and north Iceland indicated the presence of a major, regional sub‐bottom reflector that can be traced over large areas of the shelf. Cores taken in 1997, and later in 1999 on the IMAGES V cruise, penetrated through the reflector. In core MD99‐2269 in Húnaflóaáll, this reflector is shown to be represented by a basaltic tephra with a geochemical signature and radiocarbon age correlative with the North Atlantic‐wide Saksunarvatn tephra. We trace this tephra throughout northwest Iceland in a series of marine and lake cores, as well as in terrestrial sediments; it forms a layer 1 to 25 cm thick of fine‐ to medium‐grained basaltic volcanic shards. The base of the tephra unit is always sharp but visual inspection and other measurements (carbonate and total organic carbon weight %) indicate a more diffuse upper boundary associated with bioturbation and with sediment reworking. Off northwest Iceland the Saksunarvatn tephra has distinct sediment magnetic properties. This is evident as a dramatic reduction in magnetic susceptibility, an increase in the frequency dependant magnetic susceptibility and ‘hard’ magnetisation in a −0.1T IRM backfield. Geochemical analyses from 11 sites indicate a tholeiitic basalt composition, similar to the geochemistry of a tephra found in the Greenland ice‐core that dates to 10 180 ± 60 cal. yr BP, and which was correlated with the 9000 ¹⁴C yr BP Saksunarvatn tephra. We present accelerator mass spectrometry ¹⁴C dates from the marine sites, which indicate that the ocean reservoir correction is close to ca. 400 yr at 9000 ¹⁴C yr BP off northwest Iceland. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Die frühmagmatische Bildung der Olivinausscheidungen vom Finkenberg (Siebengebirge) und Dreiser Weiher (Eifel)

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Rezente und fossile Flachmeer-absätze petrologisch betrachtet und gedeutet

Zusammenfassung Bei der Sedimentbildung im Flachmeer wird zwischen Kurzschweb (KS) im oberen durchbewegten Teil des Meeres und Langschweb (LS) des ruhigen Wassers unterschieden. Deren Grenze liegt je nach der Windwirkung zwischen 2,5 und 250 m Tiefe. Wechsel in der Größe klastischer Körner weist auf Änderung der Wasserbewegung, solcher des Kalkgehalts auf Klimaänderung hin.Bei sinkendem Meeresboden gibt es im KS-Bereich stets eine Zone, in der kontinuierlich so viel Sediment angehäuft wird, wie die Senkung beträgt. Da ohne Senkung der Absatz weiter verfrachtet würde, verdankt dies Sediment seine Entstehung der Senkung. Solch desidiertes Sediment wächst, bei gleichbleibender Tiefe des Wassers, nach unten, im Gegensatz zum ascendenten Sediment.Wo im KS-Bereich das Ausmaß von Senkung und Anhäufung gleich ist, entstehen erdgeschichtlich volldokumentäre Sedimente. Je schneller die Senkung, desto reicher und lesbarer der Inhalt. Im übrigen Teil des KS-Bereichs bedingen zahlreiche Unterbrechungen des Absatzes ein teildokumentäres Sediment. Im LS-Niederschlag fallen jene erdgeschichtlichen Ereignisse aus, die durch Wasserbewegung erkennbar werden. Da Bodenbewohner und Verdichtung die primäre Schichtung zerstören, bleibt ein erdgeschichtlich grobdokumentäres Sediment.Cyklische Sedimente entsprechen den volldokumentären.Aus den Sedimentations-Bedingungen in Ostsee, Nordsee, Mittelmeer und Golf de Gascogne werden zunächst Gesetzmäßigkeiten der Sediment-Bildung in der Flachsee abgeleitet. Daran anschließend soll versucht werden, fossile Flachsee-Ablagerungen zu deuten.Das Schrifttum, soweit nicht im Geologischen Institut Kiel vorhanden, durfte ich dankenswerterweise einsehen in den Büchereien des Instituts für Meereskunde Kiel und des Deutschen Hydrographischen Instituts Hamburg. Herrn Dr.Jarke vom letztgenannten Institut bin ich für Gedanken-Austausch und Hinweise zu besonderem Dank verpflichtet.     

Die Wittlicher Rotliegend-Senke und ihre tektonische Stellung im Rheinischen Schiefergebirge

Zusammenfassung Die Wittlicher Rotliegendsenke ist synsedimentär während des Oberrotliegenden und Zechsteins abgesunken. Der SE-Rand lagert dem flach nach NW eintauchenden Hunsrückschiefer auf; der NW-Rand wird durch eine Verwerfung gebildet, die innerhalb der Wissenbacher Schiefer liegt und der Schieferung dieser Gesteine parallel läuft.Feintektonische Untersuchungen des devonischen Rahmens der Senke lassen auch schon während der varistischen Faltung Bewegungsvorgänge erkennen, die das Einsinken der Rotliegend-Senke vorbereiten.     

Die tektonische Prägung des Vennsattels und seiner Umgebung

Zusammenfassung Strukturelle Untersuchungen im Vennsattel und seiner Umgebung ergeben, daß die Hauptfaltung, die die heute sichtbaren Strukturen sowohl des vordevonischen Sattelkerns als auch der devonisch-karbonischen Flanken prägte, varistisch ist. Die Entwicklung dieser Faltung wird beschrieben.Die kaledonische Faltung, die gewöhnlich in den vordevonischen Schichten vermutet wird, kann nur sehr schwach gewesen sein. Anzeichen für eine Faltung des Vennkerns vor dem Tremadoc sind vorhanden. Die Intrusion der Eruptivgesteine (u.a. Granit von Lammersdorf) fällt in die Zeit zwischen Tremadoc und Ende der varistischen Faltung. Es gibt Anhaltspunkte, daß die großen SE-NW-(Quer-)-Störungen schon vor der varistischen Hauptfaltung (Asturische Faltung) bestanden haben.