Denman 002: A new CV3 chondrite from South Australia

Abstract— Denman 002 is a new Australian carbonaceous chondrite. A single stone of 30 g was recovered in 1991 May near Fisher Station on the Trans Australian Railway, Nullarbor Plain, South Australia (30°36′S, 130°04′E). Texture, mineral and chemical composition indicate that it is a CV3 chondrite of oxidised subgroup with several similarities to Allende. It is composed of sharply defined chondrules, Ca-Al rich inclusions up to 3.5 mm across, olivine aggregates and fine-grained, nearly opaque matrix (40 vol%). Silicates are compositionally highly heterogeneous (olivine Fa: 0.2–45.6 mol%, PMD: 109.7). Denman 002 shows shock effects of stage SI and weathering of category A.     

Drought-Related Changes in Two Hunter–Gatherer California Populations

Skeletal remains from two California cemeteries bracketing a severe drought that began around 1200 yr B.P. are analyzed to determine drought-related quality of life changes in Native Americans. Cemetery 1 predates the drought at 2895±160 yr B.P. to 1845±90 yr B.P. and Cemetery 2 dates it at 1100±90 yr B.P. to 1220±200 yr B.P. Quality of life was assessed through femoral computerized tomography scan measures of cortical thickness, age at adult death, and pathology/trauma frequency. After controlling for age and sex differences, changes from Cemetery 1 to Cemetery 2 showed decreases in cortical thickness and age at death and increases in pathology and trauma frequency.     

Radioisotopic evidence of perturbations of recent sedimentary record in lakes: a word of caution for climate studies

The rate of climatic change estimated from the gradient of signals recorded in lake sediments may be erroneous if post-depositional perturbations are overlooked. A smear out of a pulse signal, over a variable thickness of core section, due to physical or biological mixing, is a well known phenomena. Much less attention is paid to a possible overestimation of the rate of change when a part of record is missing due to an erosion event. In this paper we show a few examples of recent lake sediment perturbations and the resulting distortions in the time scale, as documented by short-lived radionuclides.Contribution to Clima Locarno — Past and Present Climate Dynamics; Conference September 1990, Swiss Academy of Sciences — National Climate Program     

Seasonal delivery of the particulate forms of phosphorus to Lake Geneva from the upper Rhone river

Large volume water samples were taken at Porte du Scex and Bouveret at the mouth of the Upper Rhone River as it enters Lake Geneva. Samples were taken every two weeks during 1982 up until August 1983. Water samples were analyzed for total phosphorus (TP), and soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) and were centrifuged in the field using a continuous flow centrifuge to recover the suspended solids following sieving at 63 µm. The < 63 µm solids were analyzed for total particulate phosphorus (TPP), organic phosphorus (OP), apatite phosphorus (AP) and non apatite inorganic phosphorus (NAIP). The > 63 µm were similarly analyzed and the weight of total solids in both size fractions recorded. Results were compared throughout the period of record to the hydrograph situated at Porte de Scex. The annual cycle of the Rhone can be divided into a low turbidity, low flow winter period (SED 1) and high flow, high turbidity summer season designated (SED 2). Turbidity is well related to discharge. The > 63 µm sediment is mobilized at 200 m³ s^–1 and thereafter increases in concert with, though at a faster rate than, the < 63 µm fraction. The coarse fraction contains significant quantities of phosphorus and in 1982 accounted for 26% of the TPP loading. OP and NAIP are higher in SED 1 than in SED 2 though AP remains constant throughout the year. OP is believed to be driven primarily from point sources whereas NAIP, in addition to point sources, has secondary sources in spring and summer due to sheet erosion from the agricultural soils of the valley. Loadings of phosphorus were calculated by four methods which showed internal consistency though they were higher than previous estimates. Bioavailable phosphorus (BAP) was estimated to account for some 20% of the total phosphorus loading of some 1500 tonnes; BAP is here taken to be the sum of SRP and NAIP and is that portion of the phosphorus load believed to be available to generate phytoplankton growth.     

Can market mechanisms ameliorate the effects of long-term climate change?

Land prices, insurance rates, future markets, mortgage terms, and other market mechanisms may be expected to guide short-term economic response to climatic change as its effects become apparent to investors. On the other hand, the pervasive influence of discount rates on investment decisions makes it unlikely that the market will give satisfactory guidance to investments that must be undertaken long before the appearance of the climatic effect they are intended to mitigate. For this reason, only government is likely to undertake such long-term investments as large civil works intended to modify hydrology (irrigation, seawall dikes), and research and development in agriculture or other technologies which need to be adapted to new climatic conditions, while the effects of climate change are still distant and uncertain.Decisions regarding very large macroprojects, as well as decisions which determine the siting of installations that have long-term consequences for the environment (e.g., dump sites for disposal of long-term hazardous wastes) should carefully consider the effects of climate change regardless of current market signals. Strategic planners for government and industry should take steps now to identify those decisions for which planning is now beginning, and which need to take into account the effects of long-term climate change.     

Texture and sedimentation rates in Lake Geneva

Thirty two cores were collected from Lake Geneva sediments along one longitudinal and eight transverse profiles. Rates of sedimentation determined by¹³⁷Cs vary from 0.01 to 1.86 g cm⁻² y⁻¹. The average deposition rates in coastal and slope areas amounts to 0.37 g cm⁻² y⁻¹ in the Upper Lake (Grand Lac) and 0.12 g cm⁻² y⁻¹ in the Lower Lake (Petit Lac). In the deep basins, average rates of 0.13 and 0.05 g cm⁻² y⁻¹ were found for the Grand Lac and Petit Lac, respectively. The estimated mass of sediment deposited yearly outside of the principal deltas and turbidity current depositional areas is about 1.0 million tons (about 13% of the estimated total river load). One turbidite is clearly identified in the deepest, central lake area. There is little variation of surface sediment texture (mean grain size about 8–9μm) with the exception of delta areas. Since the beginning of the twentieth century, both carbonate and organic matter have increased as a result of lake eutrophication.     

Sedimentation rate variations and anthropogenic metal fluxes into Lake Constance sediments

Sedimentation rates were determined by²¹⁰Pb in three sediment cores from the main basin of Lake Constance. Rates vary from 0.094 to 0.133 g cm^?2y^?1, in agreement with previous determinations. A constant radionuclide flux (CR) model reveals long-term, quasi-synchronous fluctuations of sedimentation rate on the basin-wide scale. On average, the rate of sedimentation remains much the same from the beginning of this century indicating little effect of human activity in the watershed on fine-silt sediment supply. The anthropogenic fluxes of Zn, Pb, and Cd in the three cores are compared and the application of²¹⁰Pb as a heavy metal tracer in Lake Constance is examined. It seems to be a very good tracer for Pb, moderately good for Zn and Cu, and not useful for Cd.