Temporal and life history related trends of perfluorochemicals in harbor porpoises from the Danish North Sea

Eighty-five stranded or bycaught harbor porpoises collected from the Danish North Sea between 1980 and 2005 were analyzed for perfluorochemicals in the liver. PFOS was the predominant compound, making up on average 88.9% of the ∑PFC, followed by PFOSA (7.8%). PFUnA (1.9%) and PFDA (1.2%) were detected in most samples. PFHxS, PFNA and PFOA were only found in a minority of the samples. We found substantial differences in PFC concentrations among life history stages, the highest concentrations were found in neonates, suckling juveniles and lactating females. Such differences should be considered when PFC levels in wildlife are evaluated. The high concentrations found in young porpoises are of concern as PFCs have known toxic effects on the development of the central nervous system and reproductive organs. Despite efforts to reduce PFC emissions, a decreasing temporal trend of concentrations was not detected for any compound. PFCA concentrations were found to be increasing.     

Fine sediment dynamics in a shallow lake and implication for design of hydraulic works

Lake Markermeer is a large (680?km²), shallow body of water in the middle of the Netherlands, with a mean water depth of 3.6?m. One of the major problems in the lake is its decreasing ecological value which is, among other reasons, caused by a gradual increase of suspended sediment concentration and associated increase of light attenuation in the water column. A thorough understanding of fine sediment dynamics in the lake is a prerequisite for solving this problem. This paper addresses the 3D nature of near-bed sediment dynamics in Lake Markermeer, based on data sampled from a 1-month field experiment in autumn 2007. The campaign involved the collection of 71 bed samples across the lake. At each location, dual-frequency echo soundings were carried out to assess the thickness of the silt layer, and sediment concentration throughout the water column was measured with an Optical Backscatter Sensor (OBS). Moreover, 2-week time series of wave height, water level, current velocities, and near-bed sediment concentration were collected at a single location. The time series of sediment concentration were measured with a regular OBS and an Argus Surface Meter IV (ASM). During the measurement period, flow velocities ranged between 2 and 15?cm/s, wave heights up to 1.2?m were observed and turbidity levels varied between 40?mg/l to more than 300?mg/l. The ASM data generally showed uniform concentration profiles. However, profiles with steep concentration gradients near the bed were found for wave heights above 0.5?m. The field experiments further revealed pronounced 3D structures near the bed during discrete storms. The results are generalized for a wider range of conditions and across the full water depth through application of a 1DV point model, using a two-fraction representation of the grain size distribution. The fine and coarse fractions are found to resuspend rapidly for wind speeds above 5?m/s and 10??2?m/s, respectively, forming a uniform concentration profile if these wind conditions persists. High-concentration (???g/l) layers near the bed, containing the coarse sediment fraction, only occur at the onset and towards the end of a storm, when wind speed changes rapidly. It is under these conditions that horizontal gradients in layer density or thickness can transport considerable fine sediment. This transport provides an additional mechanism for the infill of, for instance, silt traps and navigation channels.     

Cosmogenic isotope burial dating of fluvial sediments from the Lower Rhine Embayment,Germany

Cosmogenic isotope burial dating, using ¹⁰Be and ²⁶Al, was applied to Plio–Pleistocene fluvial successions from the Lower Rhine Embayment, Germany. The approach consists of three principal steps: (1) measurement of cosmogenic nuclides in depth profiles, (2) modelling of hypothetical nuclide concentrations based on a first-order conceptualisation of the geological context and the principal succession of depositions and subsequent erosional and burial phases, and (3) using parameter estimation to identify values for the a priori unknown model parameters (burial age, initial nuclide concentrations, terrace erosion rates) that result in minimal disagreement between hypothetical and measured nuclide concentrations.The Late Pliocene Kieseloolite Formation was dated to 3650 ± 1490 ka and the Early Pleistocene Waalre Formation to 900 ± 280 ka. The unconformably overlying Upper Terrace Formation revealed ages of 740 ± 210 ka and 750 ± 250 ka for the two different sites. These findings are in good agreement with independent age control derived by bio-, magneto-, and litho-stratigraphy. Furthermore, identifiability and uncertainty analysis reveal a relationship between burial depth and sensitivity of isotope concentrations to burial age and erosion rate. Our results indicate that using shallower buried samples would enable a considerably more robust estimation of the burial age and the terrace erosion rate. Uncertainties arose mainly from nuclide measurements, and not from the uncertainties derived from modelling or insufficient knowledge of nuclide production and decay properties.     

Assessment of doline geometry using geophysics on the Quercy plateau karst (South France)

In the protection of karstic aquifers, the role played by dolines is of interest as these shallow structures can be preferential infiltration pathways for groundwater recharge. In this study, three depressions in South France (Orniac, Lot) were identified and characterized using combined geophysical methods. Apparent conductivity mapping allows precise definition of dolines corresponding to topographic depressions. It also reveals other dolines that are hidden by soil cover. Electrical resistivity and seismic refraction tomography provide detailed cross‐sections. Even though the dolines studied are close one to another, they exhibit great variability in shape and content. Moreover, time‐lapse data show that the most saturated regions are on the edges of the first doline. Such information helps to evaluate human impacts and forecast potential groundwater contamination. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Extreme alkali bicarbonate- and carbonate-rich fluid inclusions in granite pegmatite from the Precambrian Rønne granite,Bornholm Island,Denmark

Our study of fluid and melt inclusions in quartz and feldspar from granite pegmatite from the Precambrian Rønne granite, Bornholm Island, Denmark revealed extremely alkali bicarbonate- and carbonate-rich inclusions. The solid phases (daughter crystals) are mainly nahcolite [NaHCO₃], zabuyelite [Li₂CO₃], and in rare cases potash [K₂CO₃] in addition to the volatile phases CO₂ and aqueous carbonate/bicarbonate solution. Rare melt inclusions contain nahcolite, dawsonite [NaAl(CO₃)(OH)₂], and muscovite. In addition to fluid and melt inclusions, there are primary CO₂-rich vapor inclusions, which mostly contain small nahcolite crystals. The identification of potash as a naturally occurring mineral would appear to be the first recorded instance. From the appearance of high concentrations of these carbonates and bicarbonates, we suggest that the mineral-forming media were water- and alkali carbonate-rich silicate melts or highly concentrated fluids. The coexistence of silicate melt inclusions with carbonate-rich fluid and nahcolite-rich vapor inclusions indicates a melt-melt-vapor equilibrium during the crystallization of the pegmatite. These results are supported by the results of hydrothermal diamond anvil cell experiments in the pseudoternary system H₂O–NaHCO₃–SiO₂. Additionally, we show that boundary layer effects were insignificant in the Bornholm pegmatites and are not required for the origin of primary textures in compositionally simple pegmatites at least.     

Re-assessing the surface cycling of molybdenum and rhenium

We re-evaluate the cycling of molybdenum (Mo) and rhenium (Re) in the near-surface environment. World river average Mo and Re concentrations, initially based on a handful of rivers, are calculated using 38 rivers representing five continents, and 11 of 19 large-scale drainage regions. Our new river concentration estimates are 8.0 nmol kg⁻¹ (Mo), and 16.5 pmol kg⁻¹ (Re, natural + anthropogenic). The linear relationship of dissolved Re and in global rivers (R² = 0.76) indicates labile continental Re is predominantly hosted within sulfide minerals and reduced sediments; it also provides a means of correcting for the anthropogenic contribution of Re to world rivers using independent estimates of anthropogenic sulfate. Approximately 30% of Re in global rivers is anthropogenic, yielding a pre-anthropogenic world river average of 11.2 pmol Re kg⁻¹. The potential for anthropogenic contribution is also seen in the non-negligible Re concentrations in precipitation (0.03-5.9 pmol kg⁻¹), and the nmol kg⁻¹ level Re concentrations of mine waters. The linear Mo- relationship (R² = 0.69) indicates that the predominant source of Mo to rivers is the weathering of pyrite. An anthropogenic Mo correction was not done as anthropogenically-influenced samples do not display the unambiguous metal enrichment observed for Re. Metal concentrations in high temperature hydrothermal fluids from the Manus Basin indicate that calculated end-member fluids (i.e. Mg-free) yield negative Mo and Re concentrations, showing that Mo and Re can be removed more quickly than Mg during recharge. High temperature hydrothermal fluids are unimportant sinks relative to their river sources 0.4% (Mo), and 0.1% (pre-anthropogenic Re). We calculate new seawater response times of 4.4 × 10⁵ yr (τ_Mo) and 1.3 × 10⁵ yr (τ_Re, pre-anthropogenic).     

Contextualizing social vulnerability: findings from case studies across Europe

Social vulnerability is a term that has been widely used in the natural hazards literature for quite a few years now. Yet, regardless of how scholars define the term, the approaches and indicators they use remain contested. This article presents findings from social vulnerability assessments conducted in different case studies of flood events in Europe (Germany, Italy and the UK). The case studies relied upon a common set of comparable indicators, but they also adopted a context-sensitive, qualitative approach. A shared finding across the case studies was that it was not possible to identify a common set of socio-economic–demographic indicators to explain social vulnerability of groups and/or individuals for all phases of the disastrous events. Similarly, network-related indicators as well as location- and event-specific indicators did not have the relevance we expected them to have. The results underline that vulnerability is a product of specific spatial, socio-economic–demographic, cultural and institutional contexts imposing not only specific challenges to cross-country research concerning social vulnerability to flooding but also to attempts at assessing social vulnerability in general. The study ends with some reflections upon the methodological, practical and theoretical implications of our findings.     

Geogas transport in fractured hard rock – Correlations with mining seismicity at 3.54 km depth, TauTona gold mine, South Africa

An on-site gas monitoring study has been conducted in the framework of an earthquake laboratory (The International NELSAM–DAFGAS projects) at the TauTona gold mine, South Africa. Five boreholes up to 60 m long were drilled at 3.54 km depth into the highly fractured Pretorius Fault Zone and instruments for chemical and seismic monitoring installed therein. Over the span of 4 years sensitive gas monitoring devices were continuously improved to enable the direct observation of geogas concentration variations in the DAFGAS borehole. The major gas concentrations are constant and air-like with about 78% N₂, 21% O₂, 1% Ar. The geogas components CO₂, CH₄, He and H₂ show the most interesting trends and variations on the minute-by-minute basis and significantly correlate with seismic data, while the ²²²Rn activity remains constant. Time series and cross correlation analysis allow the identification of different gas components (geogas and tunnel air) and the identification of two processes influencing the borehole gas composition: (1) pumping-induced tunnel air breakthrough through networks of initially water-saturated fault fractures; and (2) seismicity induced permeability enhancement of fault fractures to above ∼5 × 10^-10 m². The current set-up of the gas monitoring system is sensitive enough to quantify the resulting geogas transport during periods of intense blasting activities (including recorded blasts with seismic moment ?1 × 10⁹ Nm, located within 1000 m of the cubby) and, it is suggested, also during induced earthquakes, a final goal of the project.     

The Pliensbachian ammonites of the Algarve Basin (Portugal) and their palaeobiogeographical significance for the “Iberia-Newfoundland” conjugate margins

A review of the Pliensbachian ammonite faunas of the Algarve Basin is given covering their taxonomy, stratigraphy and palaeobiogeography (palaeobiodiversity). This review is based on both an extensive revision of the previously collected and/or published material and on new finds precisely located within the ammonite succession. This new material allows us to clarify the variations within the most abundant species—a new species Reynesocoeloceras elmii nov. sp. is described—and to improve our understanding (palaeobiodiversity, palaeobiogeography and bio- or chrono-stratigraphy) of the two single known Pliensbachian fossiliferous assemblages in the Algarve Basin. The first of these assemblages is relatively diverse and is ascribed to the upper half of the Luridum Subchronozone. The second assemblage is less diversified and probably partly condensed. It is broadly attributed to the upper half of the Stokesi Subchronozone. Despite the newly collected ammonites and extensive prospecting, our knowledge of the Pliensbachian ammonite faunas of the Algarve remains fragmentary. Therefore, it is difficult to propose an incontrovertible extensive palaeobiogeographical interpretation for these faunas, but it seems that Tethyan (Mediterranean) affinities were of major importance whereas there were probably no NW European influences via the Lusitanian Basin.