Oblique aggradation: a novel explanation for sinuosity of low‐energy streams in peat‐filled valley systems

Low‐energy streams in peatlands often have a high sinuosity. However, it is unknown how this sinuous planform formed, since lateral migration of the channel is hindered by relatively erosion‐resistant banks. We present a conceptual model of Holocene morphodynamic evolution of a stream in a peat‐filled valley, based on a palaeohydrological reconstruction. Coring, ground‐penetrating radar (GPR) data, and ¹⁴C and OSL dating were used for the reconstruction. We found that the stream planform is partly inherited from the Late‐Glacial topography, reflecting stream morphology prior to peat growth in the valley. Most importantly, we show that aggrading streams in a peat‐filled valley combine vertical aggradation with lateral displacement caused by attraction to the sandy valley sides, which are more erodible than the co‐evally aggrading valley‐fill. Owing to this oblique aggradation in combination with floodplain widening, the stream becomes stretched out as channel reaches may alternately aggrade along opposed valley sides, resulting in increased sinuosity over time. Hence, highly sinuous planforms can form in peat‐filled valleys without the traditional morphodynamics of alluvial bed lateral migration. Improved understanding of the evolution of streams provides inspiration for stream restoration. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Petrographic investigation of shatter cone melt films recovered from MEMIN impact experiments in sandstone and iSALE modeling of their formation boundary conditions

Shatter cones are diagnostic for the recognition of meteorite impact craters. They are unambiguously identifiable in the field and the only macroscopic shock deformation feature. However, the physical boundary conditions and exact formation mechanism(s) are still a subject of debate. Melt films found on shatter cone surfaces may allow the constraint of pressure–temperature conditions during or immediately after their formation. Within the framework of the MEMIN research group, we recovered 24 shatter cone fragments from the ejecta of hypervelocity impact experiments. Here, we focus on silicate melt films (now quenched to glass) found on shatter cone surfaces formed in experiments with 20–80 cm sized sandstone targets, impacted by aluminum and iron meteorite projectiles of 5 and 12 mm diameter at velocities of 7.0 and 4.6 km s⁻¹, respectively. The recovered shatter cone fragments vary in size from 1.2 to 9.3 mm. They show slightly curved, striated surfaces, and conical geometries with apical angles of 36°–52°. The fragments were recovered from experiments with peak pressures ranging from 46 to 86 GPa, and emanated from a zone within 0.38 crater radii. Based on iSale modeling and petrographic investigations, the shatter coned material experienced low bulk shock pressures of 0.5–5 GPa, whereas deformation shows a steep increase toward the shatter cone surface leading to localized melting of the rock, resulting in both vesicular as well as polished melt textures visible under the SEM. Subjacent to the melt films are zones of fragmentation and brittle shear, indicating movement away from the shatter cone apex of the rock that surrounds the cone. Smearing and extension of the melt film indicates subsequent movement in opposite direction to the comminuted and brecciated shear zone. We believe the documented shear textures and the adjacent smooth melt films can be related to frictional melting, whereas the overlying highly vesiculated melt layer could indicate rapid pressure release. From the observation of melting and mixing of quartz, phyllosilicates, and rutile in this overlying texture, we infer high, but very localized postshock temperatures exceeding 2000 °C. The melted upper part of the shatter cone surface cross-cuts the fragmented lower section, and is accompanied by PDFs developed in quartz parallel to the {112} plane. Based on the overprinting textures and documented shock effects, we hypothesize shatter cones start to form during shock loading and remain an active fracture surface until pressure release during unloading and infer that shatter cone surfaces are mixed mode I/II fracture surfaces.     

Time to act now? Assessing the costs of delaying climate measures and benefits of early action

This paper compares the results of the three state of the art climate-energy-economy models IMACLIM-R, ReMIND-R, and WITCH to assess the costs of climate change mitigation in scenarios in which the implementation of a global climate agreement is delayed or major emitters decide to participate in the agreement at a later stage only. We find that for stabilizing atmospheric GHG concentrations at 450?ppm CO₂-only, postponing a global agreement to 2020 raises global mitigation costs by at least about half and a delay to 2030 renders ambitious climate targets infeasible to achieve. In the standard policy scenario??in which allocation of emission permits is aimed at equal per-capita levels in the year 2050??regions with above average emissions (such as the EU and the US alongside the rest of Annex-I countries) incur lower mitigation costs by taking early action, even if mitigation efforts in the rest of the world experience a delay. However, regions with low per-capita emissions which are net exporters of emission permits (such as India) can possibly benefit from higher future carbon prices resulting from a delay. We illustrate the economic mechanism behind these observations and analyze how (1) lock-in of carbon intensive infrastructure, (2) differences in global carbon prices, and (3) changes in reduction commitments resulting from delayed action influence mitigation costs.     

The orientations of molecular clouds in the outer Galaxy: evidence for the scale of the turbulence driver?

Supernova (SN) explosions inject a considerable amount of energy into the interstellar medium (ISM) in regions with high-to-moderate star formation rates. In order to assess whether the driving of turbulence by supernovae is also important in the outer Galactic disc, where the star formation rates are lower, we study the spatial distribution of molecular cloud (MC) inclinations with respect to the Galactic plane. The latter contains important information on the nature of the mechanism of energy injection into the ISM. We analyse the spatial correlations between the position angles (PAs) of a selected sample of MCs (the largest clouds in the catalogue of the outer Galaxy published by Heyer et al). Our results show that when the PAs of the clouds are all mapped to values into the  [0°, 90°]  interval, there is a significant degree of spatial correlation between the PAs on spatial scales in the range of 100–800 pc. These scales are of the order of the sizes of individual SN shells in low-density environments such as those prevailing in the outer Galaxy and where the metallicity of the ambient gas is of the order of the solar value or smaller. These findings suggest that individual SN explosions, occurring in the outer regions of the Galaxy and in likewise spiral galaxies, albeit at lower rates, continue to play an important role in shaping the structure and dynamics of the ISM in those regions. The SN explosions we postulate here are likely associated with the existence of young stellar clusters in the far outer regions of the Galaxy and the ultraviolet emission and low levels of star formation observed with the Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) satellite in the outer regions of local galaxies.     

Palaeoglaciation of Bayan Har Shan,northeastern Tibetan Plateau: glacial geology indicates maximum extents limited to ice cap and ice field scales

Key locations within an extensive area of the northeastern Tibetan Plateau, centred on Bayan Har Shan, have been mapped to distinguish glacial from non‐glacial deposits. Prior work suggests palaeo‐glaciers ranging from valley glaciers and local ice caps in the highest mountains to a regional or even plateau‐scale ice sheet. New field data show that glacial deposits are abundant in high mountain areas in association with large‐scale glacial landforms. In addition, glacial deposits are present in several locations outside areas with distinct glacial erosional landforms, indicating that the most extensive palaeo‐glaciers had little geomorphological impact on the landscape towards their margins. The glacial geological record does indicate extensive maximum glaciation, with local ice caps covering entire elevated mountain areas. However, absence of glacial traces in intervening lower‐lying plateau areas suggests that local ice caps did not merge to form a regional ice sheet on the northeastern Tibetan Plateau around Bayan Har Shan. No evidence exists for past ice sheet glaciation. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Spatio‐temporal controls of snowmelt and runoff generation during rain‐on‐snow events in a mid‐latitude mountain catchment

A network of 30 standalone snow monitoring stations was used to investigate the snow cover distribution, snowmelt dynamics, and runoff generation during two rain‐on‐snow (ROS) events in a 40 km² montane catchment in the Black Forest region of southwestern Germany. A multiple linear regression analysis using elevation, aspect, and land cover as predictors for the snow water equivalent (SWE) distribution within the catchment was applied on an hourly basis for two significant ROS flood events that occurred in December 2012. The available snowmelt water, liquid precipitation, as well as the total retention storage of the snow cover were considered in order to estimate the amount of water potentially available for the runoff generation. The study provides a spatially and temporally distributed picture of how the two observed ROS floods developed in the catchment. It became evident that the retention capacity of the snow cover is a crucial mechanism during ROS. It took several hours before water was released from the snowpack during the first ROS event, while retention storage was exceeded within 1 h from the start of the second event. Elevation was the most important terrain feature. South‐facing terrain contributed more water for runoff than north‐facing slopes, and only slightly more runoff was generated at open compared to forested areas. The results highlight the importance of snowmelt together with liquid precipitation for the generation of flood runoff during ROS and the large temporal and spatial variability of the relevant processes. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A high-quality monthly total cloud amount dataset for Australia

A high-quality monthly total cloud amount dataset for 165 stations has been developed for monitoring and assessing long-term trends in cloud cover over Australia. The dataset is based on visual 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. observations of total cloud amount, with most records starting around 1957. The quality control process involved examination of historical station metadata, together with an objective statistical test comparing candidate and reference cloud series. Individual cloud series were also compared against rainfall and diurnal temperature range series from the same site, and individual cloud series from neighboring sites. Adjustments for inhomogeneities caused by relocations and changes in observers were applied, as well as adjustments for biases caused by the shift to daylight saving time in the summer months. Analysis of these data reveals that the Australian mean annual total cloud amount is characterised by high year-to-year variability and shows a weak, statistically non-significant increase over the 1957–2007 period. A more pronounced, but also non-significant, decrease from 1977 to 2007 is evident. A strong positive correlation is found between all-Australian averages of cloud amount and rainfall, while a strong negative correlation is found between mean cloud amount and diurnal temperature range. Patterns of annual and seasonal trends in cloud amount are in general agreement with rainfall changes across Australia, however the high-quality cloud network is too coarse to fully capture topographic influences. Nevertheless, the broadscale consistency between patterns of cloud and rainfall variations indicates that the new total cloud amount dataset is able to adequately describe the broadscale patterns of change over Australia. Favourable simple comparisons between surface and satellite measures of cloudiness suggest that satellites may ultimately provide the means for monitoring long-term changes in cloud over Australia. However, due to the relative shortness and homogeneity problems of the satellite record, a robust network of surface cloud observations will be required for many years to come.