LA-ICP-MS analysis of single fluid inclusions in a quartz crystal (Madan ore district,Bulgaria)

A “long-living” crystal of barren quartz from Kroushev Dol Pb-Zn deposit (Madan district, Rhodope Mountains, Bulgaria) was studied. The semitransparent base part (the “root”) of the crystal contains abundant inclusions, predominantly along healed cracks, while the upper half or third of the crystal is clear and poor in inclusions. In order to analyze fluid inclusions in the quartz crystal, it was cut into 4 pieces across and along the c-axis and doubly-polished sections were prepared. Fluid inclusions trapped in this quartz supply information about the temporal evolution of paleofluids depositing ore minerals.     

Remote sensing of surf zone waves using stereo imaging

The measurement of water wave characteristics, such as wavelength and wave height, in the surf zone is important for monitoring, prediction of erosion, and numerical model calibration. Traditional methods of measuring wave heights have either been limited to a small number of points or have required contact with the water. An experimental study of the remote sensing of water wave elevations, through the application of stereo photogrammetry, is presented. This method uses two spatially offset cameras, with overlapping fields of view, to determine water surface elevation. This remote sensing approach provides data with excellent spatial coverage and spatial and temporal resolution. Additionally, the hardware needs are minimal and the system is quickly deployed, calibrated, and operational.     

DETERMINATION OF FLUORINE, CHLORINE, BROMINE AND IODINE IN SEVEN GEOCHEMICAL REFERENCE SAMPLES

The concentrations of fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine of seven geochemical reference samples have been determined. Analytical techniques were neutron activation analysis for chlorine, bromine and iodine and ion-selective potentiometry for fluorine. After irradiation of the samples, these halogens were separated from the matrix elements by pyrohydrolysis in presence of vanadium (V) oxide. This extraction allows to measure the four halogens in the same sample.     

Mantle dynamics and mantle melting beneath Niuafo’ou Island and the northern Lau back-arc basin

A suite of young volcanic basaltic lavas erupted on the intra-plate island of Niuafo’ou and at active rifts and spreading centres (the King’s Triple Junction and the Northeastern Lau Spreading Centre) in the northern Lau Basin is used to examine the pattern of mantle flow and the dynamics of melting beneath this complex back-arc system. All lavas contain variable amounts of a subduction related component inherited from the Tonga subduction zone to the east. All lavas have higher ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr, lower ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd and more radiogenic Pb isotope compositions than basalts erupted at the Central Lau Spreading Centre in the central Lau Basin, and are interpreted as variable mixtures of subduction-modified, depleted upper mantle, and mantle residues derived from melting beneath the Samoan Islands which has leaked through a tear in the subducting Pacific Plate beneath the Vitiaz Lineament at the northern edge of the Lau Basin. Our data can be used to map out the present-day distribution of Samoan mantle in this region, and show that it influences the compositions of lavas erupted as far as 400 km from the Samoan Islands. The distribution of Samoan-influenced lavas implies south- and southwest-wards mantle flow rates of >4 cm/year. U-series disequilibria in historic Niuafo’ou lavas have average (²³⁰Th/²³⁸U) = 1.13, (²³¹Pa/²³⁵U) = 2.17, (²²⁶Ra/²³⁰Th) = 2.11, and together with major and trace element data require ∼5% partial melting of mantle at between 2 and 3 GPa, with a residual porosity of 0.002 and an upwelling rate of 1 cm year⁻¹. We suggest that intraplate magmatism in the northern Lau Basin results from decompression melting during southward flow of mantle from beneath old (110–120 Ma), relatively thick Pacific oceanic lithosphere to beneath young (<5 Ma), thinner oceanic lithosphere beneath the northern Lau Basin.     

Time–Latitudinal Development of the White-Light Coronal Structures over a Solar Cycle

Large-scale coronal structures (helmet streamers) observed in the white-light corona during total solar eclipses and/or with ground-based coronagraphs are mostly located only above quiescent types of prominences. These helmet streamers are maintained due to the magnetic fields of the Sun. Time–latitudinal distribution of prominences during a solar cycle, however, shows both the poleward and equatorward migrations, similar to the 530.3 nm emission corona (the green corona) intensities. Distribution of observed coronal helmet streamers during total solar eclipses, enlarged with the helmet streamers as were obtained by the ground-based coronagraph observations, are compared with the heliographic distribution of prominences and the green corona intensities for the first time. It is shown that the distribution of above-mentioned helmet streamers, reflects – roughly – the time–latitudinal distribution of prominences and emission corona branches, and migrates together with them over a solar cycle.     

Depth-profiles and surface enrichment of the halogens in four Antarctic H5 chondrites and in two non-Antarctic chondrites

Abstract— Depth-profiles of F, Cl, Br and I concentrations were determined in four different Antarctic H5 chondrites from the Allan Hills and in the two chondrites Allende (C3) and Holbrook (L6). Pieces of the meteorites were studied by analysis of stepwise removed layers of 0.5–1.0 mm thickness up to a depth of 9 mm. Neutron activation analysis and ion-selective potentiometry were used for the determination of Cl, Br, I and for F, respectively. The Antarctic meteorites show higher concentrations of the halogens at the surface compared to the interior. The highest enrichment factors are found for I and Cl and the lowest for Br. In contrast, F shows the steepest concentration gradient and is only enriched in the first 2.5 mm below the surface. The other halogens have penetrated deeper into the meteorites. The measured enrichments at the surfaces are not correlated to the visible degree of weathering. The analysed non-Antarctic meteorites, which were recovered shortly after their observed fall, demonstrate similar halogen concentrations at the surface, including the fusion crust, as in the interior. Based on these results we present a model to estimate the degree of contamination and the relation to the duration of exposure at the surface of the Antarctic ice.     

Spatial and temporal variability in bio-optical properties of the Wadden Sea

The Wadden Sea, a shallow coastal area bordering the North Sea, is optically a complex area due to its shallowness, high turbidity and fast changes in concentrations of optically active substances. This study gathers information from the area on concentrations of suspended particulate matter (SPM), Chlorophyll-a (Chl-a), and Coloured Dissolved Organic Matter (CDOM), on total absorption and beam attenuation, and on reflectances from the whole area. It examines the processes responsible for variations in these. Sampling took place at 156 stations in 2006 and 2007. At 37 locations also the specific inherent optical properties (SIOPs) were determined. Results showed large concentration ranges of 2–450 (g m^-3) for SPM, 2–67 (mg m^-3) for Chl-a, and 0–2.5 m⁻¹ for CDOM(440) absorption. Tides had a large influence on the SPM concentration, while Chl-a had a mainly seasonal pattern. Resuspension lead to a correlation between SPM and Chl-a. The absorption of CDOM had a spatial variability with extremely high values in the Dollard, although the slope of CDOM absorption spectra was comparable with that of the North Sea. The Chl-a specific pigment absorption proved to be influenced by phytoplankton species and specific absorption of non-algal particles at 440 nm was correlated with the mud content of the soil at the sample locations. SPM specific absorption was not found to correlate with any measured factor. As the concentrations of optically active substances changed, we also found spatial and temporal variability in the absorption, beam attenuation and reflectances. Reflectance spectra categorized in groups with decreasing station water depths and with extreme CDOM and SPM concentrations showed distinguishable shapes.     

Shoreline evolution of the Holland coast on a decadal scale

The decadal evolution of the dunefoot position along 120 km of the Holland coast is analysed. Firstly, a new definition of dunefoot is introduced based on hydrodynamic and morphologic considerations, which is not affected by local and instantaneous processes occurring immediately before the bathymetric survey. The dunefoot evolution over decadal scales indicates the existence of spatial and temporal oscillations in the shoreline position with magnitudes of 2–3 km length and a periodicity of 4–15 years. Two main controlling factors of this behaviour are identified: (1) influence of sub-aqueous bar systems, and (2) changes in the storm-wave conditions reaching the coast. Although the precise controlling processes of the relation between the dunefoot and the subaqueous profile still remain unclarified, we introduce the concept that the development of a morphological bar cycle requires a fixed amount of time-integrated forcing that is proportional to the cumulative effect of storm waves. Beach mobility along the Holland coast on decadal scales (10–20 m) is similar or lower than mobility introduced by storms or by seasonal cycles. However, it is important to consider these changes for the possible implications on the local vulnerability of the coast to extreme events. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.