The impact of errors in polar motion and nutation on UT1 determinations from VLBI Intensive observations

The earth’s phase of rotation, expressed as Universal Time UT1, is the most variable component of the earth’s rotation. Continuous monitoring of this quantity is realised through daily single-baseline VLBI observations which are interleaved with VLBI network observations. The accuracy of these single-baseline observations is established mainly through statistically determined standard deviations of the adjustment process although the results of these measurements are prone to systematic errors. The two major effects are caused by inaccuracies in the polar motion and nutation angles introduced as a priori values which propagate into the UT1 results. In this paper, we analyse the transfer of these components into UT1 depending on the two VLBI baselines being used for short duration UT1 monitoring. We develop transfer functions of the errors in polar motion and nutation into the UT1 estimates. Maximum values reach 30 [μs per milliarcsecond] which is quite large considering that observations of nutation offsets w.r.t. the state-of-the-art nutation model show deviations of as much as one milliarcsecond.     

Dynamic tracking of mica breakdown reactions with electrochemical measurements

The breakdown of hydrous minerals involves multiple reactions of dehydration and often oxidation of ferric iron. Such reactions are important in mantle metasomatism, metamorphic petrology and material sciences. Here we track these reactions dynamically over the temperature range from 400° to 1100° C using Y-doped ZrO₂ sensors in a novel manner, comparable to differential thermal analyses. This contrasts to the conventional use of ZrO₂ cells in equilibrium electrochemical measurements for oxygen fugacity.     

Fold-axis parallel extension in an arcuate fold- and thrust belt: the case of the Helvetic nappes

The Helvetic nappes of western Switzerland are discussed as an example of an arcuate foreland fold- and thrust belt in which active fold-axis parallel stretching occurred. Fold-axis parallel extension is recorded by:

1. (1) Incremental strain data from pressure shadow fibres. The significance of pressure shadow fibres for the determination of the deformation history of a region is discussed. Pressure shadows are used to quantify the amount of, and to describe the distribution of fold-axis parallel extension occurring in the Helvetic nappes.

2. (2) The extension directions of conjugate systems of en échelon veins. It is shown that an analysis of the geometry of conjugate vein systems can reveal a regional deformation pattern. The relative age of the conjugate en échelon vein systems in the Helvetic deformation history can be assessed, the geometry of the conjugate sets relative to the local anisotropy plane is described, and the significance of the preferred orientation of their extension directions is discussed.

3. (3) Fold-axis parallel sections. A comparison of the regional distribution of the fold-axis parallel strain with the shape of the Helvetic nappes in fold-axis parallel sections shows that the fold-axis parallel strain cannot be related to the footwall topography of the nappes.

It is concluded that the fold-axis parallel extension in the Helvetic nappes was induced by a change of direction of overthrust shear. This change occurred late in the deformation history and was superposed on the already formed nappes. The changing direction of overthrust shear is the expression of an overall anticlockwise rotation going on in the overthrusting Alpine nappe pile, relative to the European plate, a rotation which lead to the arcuate shape of the Western Alps.     

Co-Ni-As sulphides in serpentinites of different metamorphic grade in the eastern Central Alps (Switzerland and Italy)

Summary Co-Ni-As sulfides are described from serpentinites of the Penninikum in the eastern Central Alps. They include: (1) non-stoichiometric gersdorffite in ophiolitic serpentinites which were subjected to lower greenschist facies metamorphism, from the Oberengadin, Switzerland, and (2) stoichiometric, almost pure, cobaltite in an ultramafic complex, equilibrated at greenschist facies metamorphic conditions and characterized by the silicate association of antigorite + olivine + diopside, from Val Malenco, Italy. A comparison with data for similar sulphides from the Outokumpu area, Finland, suggests that the non-stoichiometric cobaltite-gersdorffite series tends to equilibrate as solid solutions towards a cobalt-enrichment during metamorphism and that stoichiometric cobaltite is the stable end-phase.

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Co-Ni-As-Sulphide in Serpentiniten verschiedenen Metamorphosegrades aus den östlichen Zentralalpen (Schweiz und Italien)

Zusammenfassung Co-Ni-As-Sulphide in Serpentiniten des Penninikums der östlichen Zentralalpen wurden untersucht: (1) nicht-stöchiometrische Gersdorffite in ophiolithischen Serpentiniten der unteren Grünschieferfazies im Oberengadin, Schweiz, und (2) stöchiometrische, reine Kobaltite in einem Ultramafit-Komplex mit einer Gleichgewichts-Silikat Paragenese der Grünschieferfazies, Antigorite + Olivine + Diopsid, im Val Malenco, Italien. Ein Vergleich mit Daten ähnlicher Sulphide des Outokumpu Gebietes in Finnland legt nahe, daß nicht-stöchiometrische Kobaltit-Gersdorffit-Mischkristalle während der Metamorphose equilibrieren, wobei Kobalt anreichert wird, und stöchiometrischer Kobaltit die stabile Endphase des Equilibrierungsprozesses ist.

     

Contrasting serpentinization processes in the eastern Central Alps

Stable isotope compositions have been determined for serpentinites from between Davos (Arosa-Platta nappe, Switzerland) and the Valmalenco (Italy). D and ¹⁸O values (–120 to –60 and 6–10, respectively) in the Arosa-Platta nappe indicate that serpentinization took place on the continent at relatively low temperatures in the presence of limited amounts of metamorphic fluids that contained a component of meteoric water. One sample of chrysotile has a ¹⁸O value of 13 providing evidence of high W/R ratios and low formation temperature of lizardite-chrysotile in this area. In contrast, relatively high D values (–42 to –34) and low ¹⁸O values (4.4–7.4) for serpentine in the eastern part of the Valmalenco suggest a serpentinization process that took place at moderate temperatures in fluids that were dominated by ocean water. The antigorite in the Valmalenco is the first reported example of continental antigorite with an ocean water signature. An amphibole sample from a metasomatically overprinted contact zone to metasediments (D=-36) indicates that the metasomatic event also took place in the presence of ocean water. Lower D values (–93 to –60) of serpentines in the western part of the Valmalenco suggest a different alteration history possibly influenced by fluids associated with contact metamorphism. Low water/rock ratios during regional metamorphism (and metasomatism) have to be assumed for both regions.     

Artificial radionuclides in the sediments of the Rhne river: a snapshot of the situation during winter 1994/95

Artificial radionuclides (⁶⁰Co, ¹⁰⁶Ru, ¹³⁴Cs and ¹³⁷Cs) produced in the nuclear power plants along the Rhne valley have been detected in most of the 35 sediment samples collected from the shores of the Rhne river in southern France. In one sample traces of ²⁴¹Am were found, suggesting the presence of transuranic elements. The wide use of river water for irrigation and the occasional big inundations of the Rhne have spread the artificial radionuclides over huge areas, quite far behind the river shores. Although artificial radionuclides are present in fields where food crops are collected, their activity is currently considerably lower than the activity of the natural radionuclides present in the river sediment.     

Proposal for International Agreement on Ca Notation Resulting from Discussions at Workshops on Stable Isotope Measurements Held in Davos (Goldschmidt 2002) and Nice (EGS-AGU-EUG 2003)

A proposal is made to standardise the reporting of Ca isotope data to the δ⁴⁴Ca/⁴⁰Ca notation (or δ⁴⁴Ca/42Ca) and to adopt NIST SRM 915a as the reference standard.     

Dr. Evamaria Koch (1961–2014)

During their spring migration, Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) populations in the Baltic Sea rely on shallow transitional waters, such as estuaries, bays, and lagoons for spawning. Such inshore spawning grounds are ecologically important by providing suitable substrates for demersal egg deposition. These habitats are often highly impacted by multiple anthropogenic threats. Decades of eutrophication have caused a decline in depth distribution of submerged aquatic vegetation, the main herring spawning substrate in the Baltic Sea. Nowadays, spawning beds are limited to the shallow littoral zone (≤3 m depth). Accordingly, macrophytes are increasingly exposed to mechanic forcing due to storm-induced wave action. Generally, reproductive success and year class strength of the Western Baltic herring population is strongly determined by the survival of early life stages such as eggs and larvae in local nursery areas. However, explicit mechanisms by which local stressors might affect overall recruitment are currently not well understood. Hypothesizing that aquatic vegetation limited by water depth causes high herring egg mortality due to increased exposure to storm-induced hydrodynamics, we performed a combination of field studies investigating the impact of storm events on herring egg loss. Results of an egg loss experiment revealed a total egg loss of 29% in one single spawning bed during a storm event within the spawning season and the quantification of eggs attached to macrophyte litter on the shoreline emphasize the potential for regional weather extremes such as storm events to act as influential stressors for herring reproduction.     

Stable isotope profiles (Ca,O, C) through modern brachiopod shells of T. septentrionalis and G. vitreus: Implications for calcium isotope paleo-ocean chemistry

Brachiopod shells are widely used as an archive to reconstruct elemental and isotopic composition of seawater. Studies, focused on oxygen and carbon isotopes over the last decades, are increasingly extending to the emerging calcium isotope system. To date, only little attention has been paid to test the reliability of fossil brachiopods on their modern counterparts.In this context, the present study investigates two modern brachiopods, Terebratulina septentrionalis (eastern Canada, 5–30 m depth, 7.1 °C seasonal temperature variation, two-layer shell) and Gryphus vitreus (northern Mediterranean, 200 m depth, constant all-year round temperature, three-layer shell). Both species were sampled along the ontogenetic growth direction and calcium, oxygen, and carbon isotopes as well as elemental concentration were measured. Calcium isotopes were analyzed on TIMS. The elemental composition was analyzed by LA-ICP-MS and ICP-AES.The results indicate an intra-specimen δ^44/40Ca variation ranging from 0.16 to 0.33‰, pointing to a fairly homogenous distribution of calcium isotopes in brachiopod shells. However, in the light of the suggested 0.7‰ increase in calcium isotopes over the Phanerozoic such intra-specimen variations constrain ocean reconstruction. δ^44/40Ca values of T. septentrionalis do not seem to be affected by growth rate. Calcium isotopic values of G. vitreus are heavy in the central part of the shell and trend towards lighter values in peripheral areas approaching the maximum isotopic composition of T. septentrionalis. The maximum inter-species δ^44/40Ca difference of 0.62‰ between T. septentrionalis and G. vitreus indicates that care should be taken when using different taxa, species with different strontium content or brachiopods with specialized shell structure, such as G. vitreus, for ocean water reconstruction in terms of Ca isotopic composition. T. septentrionalis may record Ca isotopic fractionation related to seasonal seawater temperature variations in its shell but this is difficult to resolve at the current analytical precision. Average δ¹⁸O-derived temperatures of the two investigated species are close to on-site measured temperatures.