The Mesozoic–Cenozoic structural framework of the Bay of Kiel area, western Baltic Sea

A dense grid of multichannel high-resolution seismic sections from the Bay of Kiel in the western Baltic Sea has been interpreted in order to reveal the Mesozoic and Cenozoic geological evolution of the northern part of the North German Basin. The overall geological evolution of the study area can be separated into four distinct periods. During the Triassic and the Early Jurassic, E–W extension and the deposition of clastic sediments initiated the movement of the underlying Zechstein evaporites. The deposition ceased during the Middle Jurassic, when the entire area was uplifted as a result of the Mid North Sea Doming. The uplift resulted in a pronounced erosion of Upper Triassic and Lower Jurassic strata. This event is marked by a clear angular unconformity on all the seismic sections. The region remained an area of non-deposition until the end of the Early Cretaceous, when the sedimentation resumed in the area. Throughout the Late Cretaceous the sedimentation took place under tectonic quiescence. Reactivated salt movement is observed at the Cretaceous Cenozoic transition as a result of the change from an extensional to compressional regional stress field. The vertical salt movement influenced the Cenozoic sedimentation and resulted in thin-skinned faulting.     

Rb-Sr mineral ages for the Grenvillian metamorphic development of spilites from the Dalsland Supracrustal Group,SW Sweden

Rb-Sr isotope systematics have been investigated of epidote, actinolite, albite and biotite concentrates from 4 spilite samples from the Precambrian basement directly W of lake Vänern in SW Sweden. The rocks belong to the Dalsland Supracrustal Group whose basal conglomerate was deposited on an erosion surface with a maximum age of c. 1,200 Ma. Epidote-WR and actinolite-WR tie lines in a Nicolaysen diagram give ages with an average of 990±10 (la) Ma, which is thought to represent the metamorphic culmination. Biotite-WR lines yield an average age of 900±15 (1σ) Ma, which indicates the time at which the rock complex cooled through the isotopic closure temperature of biotite, estimated at c. 250° C. The average cooling rate in this period was very low, 1–2° C/Ma. Initial Sr isotopic ratios of the 4 spilite samples vary from 0.7040 to 0.7080 and are thought to reflect interaction of mantle-derived basalts with seawater.     

O-Sr isotopic variations in Miocene granitoids from the Aegean: evidence for an origin by combined assimilation and fractional crystallization

Sr, O, and D/H isotopic compositions have been analyzed in Miocene metaluminous to slightly peraluminous (I-type) granitoids of the central Aegean. Individual plutonic complexes display significant variations in their ¹⁸O and initial⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr compositions.D and ¹⁸O compositions of minerals and whole-rocks are mostly in the magmatic range. Some samples from Naxos and Mykonos/Delos show low D and ¹⁸O values characteristic of meteoric-water-hydrothermal interaction, but as a whole the changes in ¹⁸O and Sr isotopic compositions as a result of hydrothermal alteration were slight, even in instances where marked alteration is petrographically observable. Consequently, the bulk-rock variations of ¹⁸O from 8.1 to 12.0 and of⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr from 0.70438 to 0.71450 may be regarded as primary and indicative of the conditions of their evolution. Heterogeneous isotopic compositions observed in the individual plutons of Serifos, Ikaria, Samos and Kos may be caused by the multiple intrusion of chemically and isotopically distinct magma pulses, with high viscosities and relatively rapid consolidation in most cases preventing complete homogenization. The granitoids of Serifos, Ikaria and Kos display weak correlations between the initial⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and ¹⁸O and 1/Sr. The granitoid province shows a positive correlation between⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and ¹⁸O and a non-linear relationship between⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and 1/Sr, whereby 1/Sr increases more rapidly than the isotopic ratio as the degree of fractionation of the rocks increases. It is argued that assimilation of older continental material by mantle-derived arc magmas with combined fractionation (AFC) is the most plausible model to explain the chemical and isotopic characteristics of the granitoids and the geological situation in which rock-types trend from granodiorites in the (south)west, near the inferred Oligocene-Miocene suture, to granites in the center and monzonites in the (north)east of the province.     

Gravity Delineation of a Buried Valley in Quartzite

A gravity survey was conducted in a 94-square-mile area of northeastern Hanson County, South Dakota. The 340 measured gravity values, together with test-hole data, were used to approximately delineate a buried valley eroded into the Sioux Quartzite of Precambrian age. This valley contains, in places, an aquifer composed of quartzose sand of pre-Cretaceous age derived from the Sioux Quartzite. The bottom of the valley is approximately 450–600 ft below land surface. Simple Bouguer values were determined from measured gravity data, referenced to a local base station, and interpolated to a 0.5- by 0.5-mile grid. The interpolated simple Bouguer values of residual gravity were determined using a five-ring, inverse-weighted filtering method. The second derivative of the interpolated gravity values, as well as their downward continuation, did not delineate the buried valley as well. Subsequent drilling of nine test holes showed that the gravity method can be used for approximately delineating subsurface features     

The wavelength dependence of granulation (0.38–2.4 μm)

Using 2 pinhole photometers the intensity of the undisturbed photosphere was recorded simultaneously in 6 and in 4 wavelength regions. The rms value of the intensity variation in each of the 10 wavelength regions decreases slightly with increasing value of the heliocentric angle; this result confirms recent observations by other authors and supports the critique of the results given by Edmonds (1964).We report the detection of a secondary maximum in the wavelength dependence of the intensity variation at 1.5 m.     

On the reality of potential magnetic fields in the solar corona

Global magnetic field calculations, using potential field theory, are performed for Carrington rotations 1601–1610 during the Skylab period. The purpose of these computations is to quantitatively test the spatial correspondence between calculated open and closed field distributions in the solar corona with observed brightness structures. The two types of observed structures chosen for this study are coronal holes representing open geometries and theK-coronal brightness distribution which presumably outlines the closed field regions in the corona. The magnetic field calculations were made using the Adams-Pneuman fixed-mesh potential field code based upon line-of-sight photospheric field data from the KPNO 40-channel magnetograph. Coronal hole data is obtained from AS&E's soft X-ray experiment and NRL's Heii observations and theK-coronal brightness distributions are from HAO'sK-coronameter experiment at Mauna Loa, Hawaii.The comparison between computed open field line locations and coronal holes shows a generally good correspondence in spatial location on the Sun. However, the areas occupied by the open field seem to be somewhat smaller than the corresponding areas of X-ray holes. Possible explanations for this discrepancy are discussed. It is noted that the locations of open field lines and coronal holes coincide with the locations ofmaximum field strength in the higher corona with the closed regions consisting of relatively weaker fields.The general correspondence between bright regions in theK-corona and computed closed field regions is also good with the computed neutral lines lying at the top of the closed loops following the same general warped path around the Sun as the maxima in the brightness. One curious feature emerging from this comparison is that the neutral lines at a given longitude tend systematically to lie somewhat closer to the poles than the brightness maxima for all rotations considered. This discrepancy in latitude increases as the poles are approached. Three possible explanations for this tendency are given: perspective effects in theK -coronal observations, MHD effects due electric currents not accounted for in the analysis, and reported photospheric field strengths near the poles which are too low. To test this latter hypothesis, we artificially increased the line-of-sight photospheric field strengths above 70° latitude as an input to the magnetic field calculations. We found that, as the polar fields were increased, the discrepancy correspondingly decreased. The best agreement between neutral line locations and brightness maxima is obtained for a polar field of about 30 G.The National Center for Atmospheric Research is sponsored by the National Science Foundation.     

Reconstructing the geomorphic evolution of large coastal dunes along the southeastern shore of Lake Michigan

Coastal dunes are common along the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, with the most common being large (>30 m high), parabolic dunes that mantle lake terraces south of Manistee, MI. Although these dunes are an important resource in Michigan, and thus intensely managed by various state agencies, their geomorphic history is poorly understood. This study examines four sites near Holland, MI, through stratigraphic and radiocarbon analyses and is the most detailed geomorphic reconstruction conducted of coastal parabolic dunes in the region. Results from this study could benefit the environmental agencies in their management of the coastal dune ecosystem.Deposition of Eolian sand apparently began 5500 cal. years BP (i.e., during the Nipissing high stand). Most (75%) dune building occurred between 4000 and 2500 cal. years BP but was punctuated by brief periods of stability that resulted in the development of Entisols (A/C horizonation). Entisol burial occurred because the sand supply apparently increased during both the receding and rising lake levels. Subsequently, each dune stabilized for 2000 years, allowing the formation of Inceptisols (i.e., A/E/Bs/C horizonation). This interval of dune stability correlates with sites south of Holland and occurred while Lake Michigan fluctuated slowly and the beach potentially prograded. These combined variables of slow fluctuation and potential beach progradation hypothetically protected the dunes from wave erosion. Dunes near Holland became active again 1000–500 cal. years BP and grew both vertically and laterally. This activity intensified in the past 500 cal. years BP and hypothetically occurred due to recession of the lake shore such that wave erosion at the modern bluff base resumed. Results from this study indicate that coastal dunes along Lake Michigan are similar to many coastal dunes around the world, including those along the intermediate beaches in SE Australia.     

Flow resistance in the Great Belt,the biggest strait between the North Sea and the Baltic Sea

The Danish Straits are part of the transition area between the North Sea and the central Baltic Sea. More precisely, the Danish Straits connect Kattegat to the Arkona Basin and includes the relatively narrow and shallow sub-areas: Great Belt, Little Belt, Fehmarn Belt and Sound. The flow resistances in the straits are hydraulically determined by among other factors, the contractions, sills and stratification found in the straits. Close to the entrance to the Arkona Basin the Darss and Drogden Sills are located that trap inflowing dense water partially before it enters the central Baltic Sea. Hence, the resistances in the Danish Straits are of crucial importance for the stratification and ecosystems in the central Baltic Sea. The present work comprises calculations of flow resistance in the Great Belt based on measurements collected as part of the Great Belt Fixed Link investigations. The specific resistance in the Great Belt is determined to be an average of 41.2 × 10⁻¹² s² m⁻⁵, but it depends heavily on the interface position. When calculating long-term discharge time-series on the basis of the momentum equation it is advised to apply a seasonal varying resistance.     

Local effects of blue mussels around turbine foundations in an ecosystem model of Nysted off-shore wind farm, Denmark

The development of off-shore wind farms along the coastline of north-west Europe is rapidly increasing; it is therefore important to study how this will affect the marine environment. The present study modelled the growth and feed-backs of blue mussels in natural beds and on turbine foundations in an off-shore wind farm (OWF) located in a shallow coastal ecosystem by coupling a dynamic energy budget (DEB) model to a small-scale 3D hydrodynamic–biogeochemical model. The model results showed that blue mussels located higher up in the water column on turbine pillars achieved a 7–18 times higher biomass than those located on the scour protection because the former experience an enhanced advective food supply. Secondly, the high biomasses of blue mussels on foundations created local ‘hot spots’ of biological activity and changed ecosystem dynamics due to their feed-backs e.g. ingestion of microplankton and copepods, excretion of ammonium and egestion of faecal pellets. The model results were supported by field measurements around foundations of Chl a concentrations and biomasses of the fauna community. Our study emphasised that OWFs seem to be particularly favourable for blue mussels in the western Baltic Sea and that the functioning of the OWFs as artificial reef ecosystems depends upon how the blue mussels interact with their local pelagic and benthic environment.