Distribution of Crenarchaeota tetraether membrane lipids in surface sediments from the Red Sea

The Red Sea represents an extreme marine environment, with high salinity, high temperature and low level of nutrients, complicating the application of standard geochemical palaeotemperature proxies. In order to investigate the applicability of the TEX₈₆ (TetraEther indeX of GDGTs with 86 carbons) proxy for sea surface temperature (SST) in the Red Sea, the distribution of glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraether membrane lipids (GDGTs) in sediments from the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden were examined. Against expectations, TEX₈₆ values for the Red Sea do not show a simple linear relationship with SST and deviate from the global core top calibration. In the northern Red Sea, at temperatures between 25 and 28 °C, the values increase linearly with SST, whereas in the southern Red Sea, at temperatures above 28 °C, TEX₈₆ decreases with increasing temperature. Factors like seasonality and depth of production, salinity and nutrient availability, as well as diagenetic overprint or influence of allochtonous terrestrial lipids, cannot explain this pattern. However, the observed TEX₈₆ relationship with SST could be explained by the presence of a hypothetical endemic Crenarchaeota population in the Red Sea with a specific TEX₈₆ vs. SST relationship. In the Southern Red Sea, a two-component mixing model implies an exponential decrease in the endemic population towards the Gulf of Aden. Thus, the application of the TEX₈₆ as a palaeotemperature proxy in the Red Sea is likely only possible for the northern Red Sea area with the specific SST vs. TEX₈₆ relationship determined in this study and potentially for the whole Red Sea basin during glacials, when water exchange with the Indian Ocean was more restricted than today and the endemic archaeal lipid distribution was not affected by transport from the Indian Ocean. Our results suggest that distinct populations of Crenarchaeota in extreme environments such as evaporitic basins may have different membrane composition, necessitating application of another calibration than the global core top calibration for TEX₈₆ palaeothermometry.     

Roles of forest disturbance and climate variability on streamflow components in snow-dominated paired watersheds at multiple temporal scales

The paired watershed experimental (PWE) approach has long been used as an effective means to assess the impacts of forest change on hydrology in small watersheds (<100 km²). Yet, the effects of climate variability on streamflow are not often assessed in PWE design. In this study, two sets of paired watersheds, (1) Camp and Greata Creeks and (2) 240 and 241 Creeks located in the Southern Interior of British Columbia, Canada, were selected to explore relative roles of forest disturbance and climate variability on streamflow components (i.e., baseflow and surface runoff) at different time scales. Our analyses showed that forest disturbance is positively related to annual streamflow components. However, this relationship is statistically insignificant since forest disturbance can either increase or decrease seasonal streamflow components, which eventually limited the positive effect on streamflow at the annual scale. Interestingly, we found that forest disturbance consistently decreased summer streamflow components in the two PWEs as forest disturbance can augment earlier and quicker snow-melt processes and hence reduce soil moisture to maintain summer streamflow components. More importantly, this study revealed that climate variability played a more significant role than forest disturbance in both annual and seasonal streamflow components, for instance, climate variability can account for as much as 90% of summer streamflow components variation in Camp, suggesting the role of climate variability on streamflow should be highlighted in the traditional PWE approach to truly advance our understanding of the interactions of forest change, climate variability and water for sustainable water resource management.     

Tantalite-(Mn) from the Borborema Pegmatite Province,northeastern Brazil: conditions of formation and melt- and fluid-inclusion constraints on experimental studies

Carbon dioxide-rich fluid and carbonate-rich aluminosilicate melt inclusions in tantalite-(Mn) from the Alto do Giz pegmatite in the Borborema Pegmatite Province, northeastern Brazil were investigated to constrain the formation of the host crystals. The results demonstrate that in the Alto do Giz pegmatite, water- and alkaline carbonate-rich fluids and melts are responsible for the transport and deposition of tantalite-(Mn) at temperatures around 600°C and about 4 kbar. Moreover, evidence is presented to show that during crystallization of the tantalite-(Mn), three different components coexisted, which are now trapped as separate inclusions: two immiscible silicate melts (types A and B melt inclusions) and a CO₂-rich aqueous fluid. We hypothesize that immiscible fluid separation may have been a critical factor in producing the water- and alkaline carbonate-rich fluids and melts necessary for Ta and Nb transport. Since the tantalite-(Mn) crystallized during pegmatite formation, this mechanism must also have implications for pegmatite genesis in general.     

From magnitudes and redshifts of supernovae,their light-curves,and angular sizes of galaxies to a tenable cosmology

Early physical cosmologies were based on interpretations of the cosmic redshift for which there was insufficient evidence and on theories of gravitation that appear to be falsified by galactic dynamics. Eventually, the big bang paradigm came to be guarded against refutation by ad hoc hypotheses (dark matter, cosmic inflation, dark energy) and free parameters. Presently available data allow a more satisfactory phenomenological approach. Using data on magnitude and redshift from 892 type Ia supernovae, it is first shown that these suggest that the redshift factor (1+z) is simply an exponential function of distance and that, for “standard candles”, magnitude m=5log[(1+z)ln(1+z)]+const. While these functions are incompatible with a big bang, they characterize certain tired light models as well as exponential expansion models. However, the former are falsified by the stretched light curves of distant supernovae and the latter by the absence of a predicted 1+z increase in the angular sizes of galaxies. Instead, the observations suggest that physical processes speed up and objects contract uniformly as an exponential function of time, standards of measurement not excluded, and only free waves being excepted. Distant events proceed, then, more slowly, while angular sizes remain unaffected, approximately as observed. Since all objects contract in proportion, the Universe retains a static appearance. A corresponding physical theory, which should also explain galactic dynamics, remains yet to be derived from first principles. A way to do this, satisfying also Mach’s principle, is vaguely suggested.     

Nitrate reduction potential of a fractured Middle Triassic carbonate aquifer in Southwest Germany

Hydrogeology Journal - Nitrate reduction constitutes an important natural mechanism to mitigate the widespread and persistent nitrate contamination of groundwater resources. In fractured aquifers,...     

The early interaction between the Caribbean Plateau and the NW South American Plate

The determination of accurate and precise ages for the timing of collision between oceanic plateaus and continental crust requires an understanding of how the indenting and buttressing plates respond to the collision. We present geochronological, thermochronological, geochemical and isotopic analyses of magmatic rocks from the Ecuadorian Andes, which relate to the collision of the Late Cretaceous Caribbean Plateau and Great Arc sequence with NW South America. The cessation of subduction magmatism during 65–64 Ma beneath the eastern edge of Caribbean Plateau was synchronous with accelerated surface uplift and exhumation within the buttressing continental margin during 75–65 Ma. We interpret this as the collision of the leading edge of the Caribbean Plateau and arc sequence with the South American Plate at 75–65 Ma. A U/Pb (zircon) SHRIMP age of 87.10 ± 1.66 (2σ) Ma, yielded by an accreted fragment of the plateau, precludes previous estimates of collision at 85–80 Ma if the plateau erupted above the Galápagos hotspot. Terra Nova, 18, 264–269, 2006     

Der Prozeß der Anatexis: Seine Bedeutung für die Genese der Migmatite

Zusammenfassung Gegenüber den metasomatisch-transformistischen Vorstellungen über die Genese der in situ-Migmatite wird dargelegt, daß allein Anatexis von Gneisen. ohne großräumige Metasomatose, die Entstehung der Migmatite erklärt. Der Prozeß der Anatexis wird erläutert, und es wird mittels des Q-Ab-An-Or-H₂O-Systems gezeigt, daß die Zusammensetzung der entstehenden eutektischen Erst-schmelze bei verschiedenen Gneisen verschieden und zwar um so reicher an Or-und auch Q-Komponente ist, je größer das normative An/Ab-Komponentenverhältnis des Gneises ist. Selbst wenn kein Alkalifeldspat in einem Paragneis vorkommt, enthält die jeweilige eutekiische Schmelze einen großen Anteil an Or-Komponente. Durch Reaktionen von Glimmer mit Quarz unter Beteiligung von Plagioklas entsieht nämlich bei nicht zu hohen Drucken Alkalifeldspat noch vor Beginn der Anatexis, bei höheren Drucken entstehtmit Beginn der Anatexis Or-Komponente, die in der Schmelze gelöst ist. Die Glimmer eines Paragneises sind eine potentielle Quelle für Or-Komponente bei der Anatexis. Mit steigender Temperatur ändert sich die Zusammensetzung der eutektischen granitischen Schmelze, und zwar wird sie bei den plagioklas- und biotitreichen Paragneisen granodioritisch oder sogar trondhjemitisch. Wenn dagegen in einem Gneis der K₂O-Gehalt nicht wesentlich geringer als der Na₂O-Gehalt ist, dann behält die Schmelze eine granitische Zusammensetzung.

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Summary Contrary to the metasomatic transformists' concepts, it is pointed out that the petrogenesis of in situ-migmatites can be fully understood solely by anatexis of gneisses without large scale metasomatism. The process of anatexis is outlined. It is shown with the help of the Q-Ab-An-Or-H₂O system that the chemical composition of the eutectic melt formed at the beginning of anatexis is different, depending on the normative An/Ab-ratio of any gneiss; the eutectic melt contains relatively more Or- and also Q-component the larger that ratio. Even if no alkalifeldspar is present in a paragneiss, the eutectic melt formed by anatexis does contain a large proportion of Or-component. This is due to reactions of micas with quartz, in presence of plagioclase. At pressures not too high, alkalifeldspar is formed by these reactions somewhat below the temperature of the beginning of anatexis, while at higher H₂O-pressure mica reacts together with plagioclase and quartz at the very beginning of anatexis, furnishing Or-component for the eutectic melt. Therefore, the micas are a potential source for Or-component in the process of anatexis. Depending on the composition of a gneiss system the anatectic melts existing at temperatures above the beginning of anatexis remain granitic in chemical character, or they become granodioritic or trondhjemitic.

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Herrn Prof. Dr.H. Leitmeier zum 80. Geburtstag gewidmet.