The influence of trench migration on slab penetration into the lower mantle

A two-dimensional numerical convection model in cartesian geometry is used to study the influence of trench migration on the ability of subducted slabs to penetrate an endothermic phase boundary at 660 km depth. The transient subduction history of an oceanic plate is modelled by imposing plate and trench motion at the surface. The viscosity depends on temperature and depth. A variety of styles of slab behaviour is found, depending predominantly on the trench velocity. When trench retreat is faster than 2–4 cm/a, the descending slab flattens above the phase boundary. At slower rates it penetrates straight into the lower mantle, although flattening in the transition zone may occur later, leading to a complex slab morphology. The slab can buckle, independent of whether it penetrates or not, especially when there is a localised increase in viscosity at the phase boundary. Flattened slabs are only temporarily arrested in the transition zone and sink ultimately into the lower mantle. The results offer a framework for understanding the variety in slab geometry revealed by seismic tomography.     

Ammonium,nitrate and phytoplankton interactions in a freshwater tidal estuarine zone: potential effects of cultural eutrophication

Nitrate and ammonium are the most important nitrogen sources for phytoplankton growth. Differential utilization of inorganic nitrogenous compounds by phytoplankton has been observed and may have significant impacts on primary productivity at local scales. We used enrichment experiments with natural phytoplankton populations from the freshwater tidal zone of the Guadiana estuary, a coastal ecosystem increasingly subjected to anthropogenic influences, to study the effects of nitrate and ammonium on N-consumption and phytoplankton growth. In addition, we used combined additions of nitrate and ammonium to understand the inhibitory effect of ammonium over nitrate uptake. Ammonium concentrations in the freshwater tidal reaches of the Guadiana estuary throughout the sampling period were too low to exert an inhibitory effect on nitrate uptake or a toxic effect on phytoplankton growth. Nitrate was clearly the main nitrogen source for phytoplankton at the study site. Overall, nitrate seemed to become limiting at concentrations lower than 20 μM and N-limitation was particularly significant during summer. A trend of decreasing nitrate uptake with increasing ammonium concentrations and uptake suggested an overall preference for ammonium. However, preference for ammonium was group-specific, and it was observed mainly in green algae and cyanobacteria. In fact, cyanobacteria relied only on ammonium as their N-source. On the contrary, diatoms preferred nitrate, and did not respond to ammonium additions. The increasing eutrophication in the Guadiana estuary and particularly increased inputs of nitrogen as ammonium due to urban waste effluents may result in a shift in phytoplankton community composition, towards a dominance of cyanobacteria and green algae.     

Die Matrix der Fische XVI Zweidimensionale papierchromatographische Analyse von Fischschuppenhydrolysaten und Hydrolysaten einiger weiterer Fischorgane

Summary The aminoacids in hydrolysates (HCl) of the scales of six different fish-species have been determined by partition paper chromatography (Consden andDent). The scales contain considerable amounts of protein besides hydroxyl apatit and guanin, but none or only minute quantities of carbohydrates. Some of the aminoacids in the liver, air-bladder, kidney and the body muscles of two fish species were investigated.      

Sedimenttransport im Mündungsgebiet des Alpenrheins

Zusammenfassung In regelmäßigen Abständen wurden dem Alpenrhein am Pegel Lustenau, wenige Kilometer vor seiner Einmündung in den Bodensee, etwa 500 Wasser- und Schwebstoffproben bei verschiedenen Pegelständen entnommen.Die Leitfähigkeit und Härte der Wasserproben nimmt mit steigendem Durchfluß (100–1000 m³/sec) entsprechend der Verdünnung ab, der pH-Wert (8,0 bis 8,8) steigt schwach an. Die Redoxpotientale sind stets positiv.Mit ansteigendem Wasserdurchfluß nimmt die Schwebstoffkonzentration stark zu (50–5000 mg/l).Zur Zeit des Frühsommer-Hochwassers sind bei gleicher Wasserführung die Schwebstoffgehalte bei ansteigendem Hochwasser höher als bei absteigendem Hochwasser. Als Ursache wird die Ausräumung des im Flußbett während des Winters und Frühjahrs bei Niedrigwasser akkumulierten Lockermaterials angesehen.Setzt man die Schwebstoffgehalte in Beziehung zur Fließgeschwindigkeit (1–3 m³/sec), so ergibt sich für den Meßpunkt Lustenau eine Zunahme des Schwebguts (C_s in mg/l) mit der sechsten Potenz der Fließgeschwindigkeit (V): C_s (Alpenrhein Lustenau)=5·V⁶ In einer allgemeinen Beziehung C_s=x·Vy, die für verschiedene Flüsse nach Literaturdaten abgeleitet wurde, scheint der Exponent y ein Maß für die Strömungserosion (abhängig von Form und Neigung des Flußbettes), der Faktor x für die äußeren Einflüsse wie Klima, Vegetation, Stabilität der Flußgeometrie darzustellen. Eine ähnliche Abhängigkeit besteht zwischen der Schwebstoff- und Wasserführung.Die Korngrößenverteilung und Karbonatgehalte sind von den Durchfluß-mengen bzw. Fließgeschwindigkeiten nahezu unabhängig, stehen jedoch in deutlicher Beziehung zu bestimmten Liefergebieten. Eine Häufigkeitsstatistik der mittleren Korngrößen von Flußsanden (Hahn, 1967) und Schwebstoffen (diese Arbeit) zeigt ein auffallendes Minimum bei etwa 0,04 mm. Dieser Wert kann zur Abgrenzung der Schwebstoff- und Flußbettfracht am Meßpunkt Lustenau benutzt werden. Werte für die Sortierung, Schiefe und Kurtosis erweitern die grundlegenden Untersuchungen vonFolk &Ward (1957) nach feineren Korngrößen hin.Im Mittel setzen sich die Schwebstoffe aus 10% Ton, 70% Silt und 20% Sand zusammen. Der Karbonatgehalt beträgt durchschnittlich 37% (26% Calcit, 11% Dolomit). Die Tonfraktion besteht überwiegend aus Illit und Chlorit.

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500 samples of water and suspended load were taken at different water levels from the Alpenrhein at Lustenau, a few kilometers' distance from its Lake Constance-delta.Conductibility and hardness of the water decrease with increasing water discharge (100–1000 m³/sec) corresponding to the dilution, the pH-values (8.0 to 8.8) weakly increase. The redox-potentials are always positive. With increasing water discharge, the suspended load concentration increases strongly (50 to 5000 mg/l).At the same water levels, the suspended load concentration during early-summer high-water is greater during rising than during falling water level. This may be caused by the loose material (accumulated during winter and spring low waters) being washed out of the river channel.On a double logarithmic scale the relation between flow velocity (V=1–3 m³/sec) and suspended load concentration (C_s in mg/l) can be expressed by a straight line. Its equation is C_s (Alpenrhein at Lustenau)=5· V⁶ In a general equation C_s=x· Vy, for various rivers (data taken from literature), the exponent y seems to be a measure of the erosional forces (depending on cross-section and slope of the river channel); the factor x seems to express outer influences as climate, vegetation, rock erodibility, stability of the channel geometry. A similar relationship exists between the suspended load concentration and the water discharge.Grain-size distribution and carbonate content are almost independent of water discharge and flow velocity respectively. They are, however, clearly related to distinct supply areas. A pronounced frequency minimum exists at about 0.04 mm between the mean sizes of river sands (Hahn, 1967) and that of suspended load (this paper). This value may be used to distinguish suspended load from bedload at Lustenau sampling station. The values for sorting, skewness and kurtosis amplify the results ofFolk &Ward (1957) concerning finer grain sizes.On an average, the suspended load consists of 10% clay (<0.002 mm), 70% silt (0.002–0.063 mm) and 20% sand (>0.063 mm). The mean carbonate content is 37% (26% calcite, 11% dolomite). The clay minerals are mainly illite and chlorite.

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Résumé A des intervalles de temps réguliers, à peu près 500 échantillons d'eau et de matière en suspension ont été prélevés de l'Alpenrhein, à la station de jaugeage de Lustenau, située à quelques kilomètres en amont de son embouchure dans le Lac de Constance.La conductivité et le degré hydrométrique dans les échantillons d'eau décroissent en fonction d'une dilution relative, due à une augmentation du débit (100 à l000m³/sec). Il y a une légère croissance de la valeur du pH (8.0 à 8.8) lorsque le débit augmente. Les potentiels redox sont toujours positifs.La concentration de la matière en suspension augmente rapidement 50 à 5000 mg/l) en fonction de l'augmentation du débit.En temps de crues, au début de l'été, la concentration de la matière en suspension est plus élevée pendant la montée des crues qu'à la descente—le débit étant du même ordre. Ce phénomène est expliqué par un processus de balayage de la matière non consolidée, accumulée au fond du lit de la rivière pendant les périodes d'étiage au cours de l'hiver et au printemps.En établissant une relation entre la concentration de la matière en suspension et la vitesse d'écoulement (1 à 3 m³/sec), on trouve pour la station de jaugeage de Lustenau une augmentation de teneur de la matière en suspension (C_s en mg/l) avec la puissance 6 de la vitesse d'écoulement (V): C_s (Alpenrhein, Lustenau)=5 · V⁶ d'où l'équation générale C_s=x · Vy, qui ressort aussi des études de diverses rivières citées dans la littérature. L'exponent y semble donc pouvoir servir comme règle pour la détermination de l'érosion d'écoulement (qui dépend de la géométrie et de la pente du lit du fleuve), le facteur x reflétant des influences externes comme le climat, la végétation et la stabilité de la géométrie du fleuve. Une relation analogue existe entre la concentration en matière en suspension et le débit.Il n'y a pratiquement pas de relation directe entre la distribution granulométrique, ou les teneurs en carbonates d'une part, et le volume du débit ou la vitesse de l'écoulement d'autre part; or il apparaît une relation intime avec certaines régions d'alimentation. On note un minimum marqué autour de 0.04 mm dans la distribution statistique des grains à diamètre moyen dans les sables des fleuves (Hahn, 1967) et de la matière en suspension (cette étude). A l'aide de cette valeur il est possible de différencier, à la station de jaugeage de Lustenau, la matière transportée au fond du lit de l'Alpenrhein et celle transportée en suspension. Des valeurs pour le classement, l'assymétrie et «l'augulosité» (kurtosis) complètent les recherches de base deFolk &Ward (1957), en ce qui concerne la distribution granulométrique dans la classe des grains les plus fins.Comme constitution moyenne on trouve dans la matière en suspension 10% d'argile, 70% de silt et 20% de sable. La teneur moyenne en carbonates est de 37% (26% de calcite, 10% de dolomie). Dans la fraction des argiles on trouve essentiellement de l'illite et de la chlorite.

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. 500 . (100–1000 ³/); - (8,0–8,8) ; - . . 6. .

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Dem Österreichischen Rheinbauleiter, Herrn Hofrat Dipl.-Ing.Ferdinand Waibel, Bregenz, in Dankbarkeit gewidmet.

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Herrn Dr.Quakernaat sei herzlich für seine freundliche Mithilfe gedankt.     

Beryllium abundance of meteorites determined by “non-destructive” photon activation

The beryllium content of 73 stony and 4 iron meteorites has been determined “non-destructively” by a newly developed sensitive low-level counting device. A fairly widespread beryllium content of stones ranging from 13 to 386 ppb was found. As expected from the lithophilic character of Be the 4 siderites contained < 8 ppb only. The resulting average chondritic abundance of 74 ppb Be is more than one order of magnitude lower than the cosmic abundance value adopted earlier by H.E. Suess and H.C. Urey (1956), but still about a factor of 2 higher than the value chosen by A.G.W. Cameron (1968). 10–15-g samples were taken in order to guarantee a rather good “mean”. For comparison the Be content of the U.S. Geological Survey basalt BCR-1 was determined in the same way to be 1.390 ± 0.006 ppm Be.     

Phosphoric acid fractionation factors for smithsonite and cerussite between 25 and 72°C

The intramolecular kinetic oxygen isotope fractionation between CO₂ and CO₃²⁻ during reaction of phosphoric acid with natural smithsonite (ZnCO₃) and cerussite (PbCO₃) has been determined between 25 and 72°C. While cerussite decomposes in phosphoric acid within a few hours at 25°C, smithsonite reacts very slowly with the acid at 25°C providing yields of CO₂ < 25% after 2 weeks. The low yields result in a low precision for oxygen isotope measurements of the acid-liberated CO₂ (±1.65‰, 1σ, n = 9). The yield and reproducibility of oxygen isotope values of the acid-liberated CO₂ from smithsonite can be improved, the latter to ∼±0.15‰, by increasing the reaction temperature to 50°C for 12 h or to 72°C for 1 h. Our new phosphoric acid fractionation factor for natural cerussite at 25°C deviates significantly from a previously published value on synthetic material. The temperature dependence of the oxygen isotope factionation factor, α between acid-liberated CO₂ and carbonate at 25 to 72°C is given by the following equations

     

Genesis Conditions for Thunderstorm Growth and the Development of a Squall Line in the Northern Alpine Foreland

Summary  Two numerical models are used to investigate aspects of thunderstorm dynamics and thunderstorm initiation in the northern Alpine foreland. The first, an isentropic model of airflow over and around the Alps, is used to investigate flow patterns favourable for the initiation of deep convection in the region. It is found that a stably-stratified southerly flow towards the Alps leads to a southwesterly flow in the Alpine foreland, a situation most often found during thunderstorm periods, and to the formation of a gravity wave in the lee of the Alps. This wave is accompanied by raised isentropes which, in reality, would lead to a reduction in static stability and convective inhibition as well as an increase in convective available potential energy. The second model, a cloud model, is used to study the development of an observed squall line over southern Bavaria. The model is initialized with wind, temperature and moisture profiles from a radiosonde sounding ahead of the squall line and the squall line is initiated by an array of thermal bubbles. The model simulation is used to interpret the evolution of the squall line. Received March 9, 1999/Revised July 10, 1999     

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