Vertical deformations from homogeneously processed GRACE and global GPS long-term series

Temporal variations in the geographic distribution of surface mass cause surface displacements. Surface displacements derived from GRACE gravity field coefficient time series also should be observed in GPS coordinate time series, if both time series are sufficiently free of systematic errors. A successful validation can be an important contribution to climate change research, as the biggest contributors to mass variability in the system Earth include the movement of oceanic, atmospheric, and continental water and ice. In our analysis, we find that if the signals are larger than their precision, both geodetic sensor systems see common signals for almost all the 115 stations surveyed. Almost 80% of the stations have their signal WRMS decreased, when we subtract monthly GRACE surface displacements from those observed by GPS data. Almost all other stations are on ocean islands or small peninsulas, where the physically expected loading signals are very small. For a fair comparison, the data (79 months from September 2002 to April 2009) had to be treated appropriately: the GPS data were completely reprocessed with state-of-the-art models. We used an objective cluster analysis to identify and eliminate stations, where local effects or technical artifacts dominated the signals. In addition, it was necessary for both sets of results to be expressed in equivalent reference frames, meaning that net translations between the GPS and GRACE data sets had to be treated adequately. These data sets are then compared and statistically analyzed: we determine the stability (precision) of GRACE-derived, monthly vertical deformation data to be ~1.2 mm, using the data from three GRACE processing centers. We statistically analyze the mean annual signals, computed from the GPS and GRACE series. There is a detailed discussion of the results for five overall representative stations, in order to help the reader to link the displayed criteria of similarity to real data. A series of tests were performed with the goal of explaining the remaining GPS–GRACE residuals.     

Multiple sources for mineralizing fluids in the Charmitan gold(-tungsten) mineralization (Uzbekistan)

Mineral assemblages present within the Charmitan gold(-tungsten) quartz-vein mineralization have been investigated for their cathodoluminescence behaviour, chemical composition and noble gas isotope systematics. This inventory of methods allows for the first time a systematic reconstruction of the paragenetic relationships of quartz, scheelite, sulphides and native gold within the gold mineralization at Charmitan and provides the basis to utilise noble gas data in the discussion of sources and evolution of ore-forming fluids. The vein quartz is classified into four generations based on microscopic and cathodoluminescence investigations. Quartz I shows intense brittle deformation as associated scheelite I. Undeformed scheelite II overgrows scheelite I and has lower light rare earth element and higher intermediate rare earth element contents as well as higher strontium concentrations. Scheelite II is associated with the economic gold mineralization and formed during re-crystallisation and re-precipitation of material which was partly re-mobilised from early scheelite I during infiltration of gold-bearing fluids. Early stage native gold inclusions are often associated with stage 2 sulphides, scheelite II and bismuth tellurides and contain Ag (3.6–24.4 wt.%), Hg (≤1.0 wt.%) and Bi (≤0.2 wt.%). Later stage electrum grains occur in association with stage 3 sulphides and sulphosalts and contain Hg (<0.8 wt.%) and elevated Sb concentrations (up to 3.0 wt.%). Noble gas isotope data (³He/⁴He: 0.2-0.4 Ra) for hydrothermal ore fluids trapped in the gold-related sulphides and sulphosalts (stage 2 pyrite and arsenopyrite; stage 3 pyrite, sphalerite, galena and lead sulphosalts) suggest that diverse fluid sources were involved in the formation of the Charmitan gold deposit. These data are indicative of a small, but significant input of fluids from external, deep-seated (mantle and possibly lower crust) sources. A decrease in the input of mantle helium and an increasing role of crustal helium from early to later stages of the mineralization is suggested by the measured ³He/⁴He and ⁴⁰Ar*/⁴He ratios. Sulphides from ore veins in meta-sedimentary rocks contain higher portions of meteoric fluids than those in intrusive rock types as indicated by their lower ³He/³⁶Ar ratios. The ³He/³⁶Ar ratios in the meta-sedimentary rocks agree well with ratios typical of gold mineralizations in the Tien Shan gold province completely hosted by meta-sedimentary sequences, indicating intense fluid-wall rock interaction.     

Exposing metal and silicate charges to electrical discharges: Did chondrules form by nebular lightning?

In order to investigate the hypothesis that dust aggregates were transformed to meteoritic chondrules by nebular lightning, we exposed silicatic and metallic dust samples to electrical discharges with energies of 120 to 500 J in air at pressures between 10 and 10⁵ Pa. The target charges consisted of powders of micrometer-sized particles and had dimensions of mm. The dust samples generally fragmented leaving the major fraction thermally unprocessed. A minor part formed sintered aggregates of 50 to 500 μm. In a few experiments melt spherules having sizes ?180 μm in diameter (and, generally, interior voids) were formed; the highest spherule fraction was obtained with metallic Ni. Our experiments indicate that chondrule formation by electric current or by particle bombardment inside a discharge channel is unlikely.     

Plant-Arthropod Associations from the Lower Miocene of the Most Basin in Northern Bohemia(Czech Republic):A Preliminary Report

<正>Terrestrial plants and insects currently account for the majority of the Earth's biodiversity,and approximately half of insect species are herbivores.Thus,insects and plants share ancient associations that date back more than 400 Myr.However,investigations of their past interactions are at the preliminary stages in Western Europe.Herein,we present the first results of our study of various feeding damage based on a dataset of nearly 3500 examined plant specimens from the Lower Miocene of the Lagerstatte Bilina Mine in the Most Basin, Czech Republic.This site provides a unique view of the Neogene freshwater ecosystems.It has long been studied by scientists working in different branches of sedimentology,paleobotany,and paleozoology.The fossils are preserved in three characteristic horizons overlaying the coal seam(Clayey Superseam Horizon,Delta Sandy Horizon,and Lake Clayey Horizon),reflecting paleoenvironmental changes in a short time period of development The trace fossils are classified as functional feeding groups or"guilds",without searching for a direct cause or a recent analog host relation.Approximately 23%of specimens of dicotyledonous plant leaves were found to be damaged and associated with some leaf"morphotypes".Deciduous plant-host taxa,and those with a chartaceous texture typical of riparian habitats,were frequently damaged,such as Populus,recorded with two species Populus zaddachii and Populus populina(57.9%and 31%herbivory levels,respectively),followed by Acer,Alnus,and Carya,averaging almost 30%of damaged leaves/leaflets.There has been evidence of 60 damage types(DT) representing all functional feeding groups recorded at the Bilina Mine,including 12 types of leaf mines and 16 gall- type DT.In total,Lower Miocene of the Lagerstatte Bilina Mine exhibits a high level of external foliage feeding types(23.7%),and a low level of more specialized DT,such as galls(43%)and leaf mines(1%).A broader comparison based on DT of the main sedimentary environments shows significance supporting different biomes by frequency of damage levels and DT diversities.     

Experience of geomagnetic field recording with a fluxgate magnetometer having a bridge sensor

A fluxgate magnetometer has been developed at the Geological Survey of Sweden. It measures the field in three orthogonal directions and has sensor elements forming bridges. The instrument can have direct readout in both digital and analogue form with a resolution of 0.1 nT.An instrument of this type has been adopted for stationary recording of geomagnetic elements in digital form. Special attention has been paid to insure good long term stability and high reliability. Experience from routine recording is described.     

Potential influence of the chemical composition of water on the stable oxygen isotope composition of continental ostracods

Many studies in continental areas have successfully used the oxygen isotope composition of fossil ostracod valves to reconstruct past hydrological conditions associated with large changes in climate. Yet, ostracods are known to crystallise their valves out of isotopic equilibrium for oxygen and they generally have higher ¹⁸O contents compared to inorganic calcite grown at equilibrium under the same conditions. A review of vital offsets determined for continental ostracods indicates that vital offsets might change from site to site, questioning a potential influence of environmental conditions on oxygen isotope fractionation in ostracods. Results from the literature suggest that pH has no influence on ostracod vital offset. A re-evaluation of results from Li and Liu (J Paleolimnol 43:111–120, 2010) suggests that salinity may influence oxygen isotope fractionation in ostracods, with lower vital offsets for higher salinities. Such a relationship was also observed for the vital offsets determined by Chivas et al. (The ostracoda—applications in quaternary research. American Geophysical Union, Washington, DC, 2002). Yet, when results of all studies are compiled, the correlation between vital offsets and salinity is low while the correlation between vital offsets and host water Mg/Ca is higher, suggesting that ionic composition of water and/or relative abundance of major ions may also control oxygen isotope fractionation in ostracods. Lack of data on host water ionic composition for the different studies precludes more detailed examination at this stage. Further studies such as natural or laboratory cultures done under strictly controlled conditions are needed to better understand the potential influence of varying environmental conditions on oxygen isotope compositions of ostracod valves.     

Geochemical appraisal of palaeovegetation and climate oscillation in the Late Miocene of Western Bulgaria

Palaeobotanical methods and geochemical techniques were used to assess plant contribution and palaeoenvironment for the Staniantsi Basin, Bulgaria. The aim was to connect palaeovegetation change and climate oscillation based on pollen and statistical analysis with organic geochemical proxies for a Late Miocene lacustrine to paludial sedimentary succession.Three samples from lignite/marl cycles were studied. The biomarker assemblage and bulk chemical data indicated that gymnosperms were not important in the palaeomire. The presence of des-A-triterpenoids, 17,21-seco-triterpenoids, hopanes, a high content of a D-ring monoaromatic hopane, and aromatized triterpenoids suggested that photochemical and microbial processes significantly contributed to the alteration of the organic matter (OM). A prolonged period of high water table and severe mechanical destruction promoted microbial activity prior to burial and enhanced decay. A geochemical appraisal of short term climate oscillation (ca. 21.7 kyr) was attempted within the limitations of the small number of samples studied. The cycles are expressed as lignite/marl-clay layers combined with cyclic changes in swamp vegetation related to cyclic changes in groundwater level and inundation of the basin. In periods of low water level (swamp phase) lignite accumulation took place. Preliminary results for selected samples suggest that the oscillation may be reflected in the content of friedelin vs. possible degradation products. The ratio of a chromatographic peak tentatively assigned as A-norfriedel-8-en-10-one to friedelin is proposed as a means of detecting short term environmental cycles, where values <1 represent the swamp phase and those >1 reflect periods of inundation. However, time-series analysis using densely sampled lignite-clay layer oscillations are needed to confirm the value of this biomarker ratio for environmental reconstruction.     

Rock magnetic study of basic intrusions and massive sulphides in the Hercynian central Jebilets Massif (Occidental-Meseta), Morocco

This paper describes a multidisciplinary study approach (petrography and rock magnetism) conducted on samples collected from the study area to characterise the magnetic mineralogy and to determine if the magnetisation of both lithologies were induced or retain a remnant component. Petrophysical, mineralogical and geochemical analyses confirm bimodal aspects, particularly in basic rocks; the two magnetic modes depend essentially on the mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of the samples. The ultramafic rocks comprise a highly altered primary mineralogy with chromite and magnetite as magnetic phases. The second type is of mafic composition with a less altered primary mineralogy and essentially magnetite and/or (hemo-ilmenite) as a carrier of magnetic mineralisation. Sulphides are characterised by high concentrations of Cu, Zn and Pb. The mineralogy is composed mainly of pyrrhotite (85% to 90%), sphalerite, galena, chalcopyrite, arsenopyrite and, occasionally, stannite. Monocline pyrrhotite seems to be the magnetic carrier of magnetisation in both Draa Sfar and Koudiat Aïcha. However, we suspect a different amount of hexagonal pyrrhotite as the cause of different magnetic behaviour. Paleomagnetic and thermomagnetic analyses reveal different. The calculated characteristic direction of natural remnant magnetisation for sulphides was used to model the magnetic anomaly of Draa Sfar. The proposed model match the geological features concluded from geological mapping and boreholes. Results from this work can be very useful for any modelling processes of magnetic anomalies suspected due to a sulphide mineralisation in an area with poor outcrops and no presence of boreholes information or of any geological or geochemical data.     

New model simulations of the global atmospheric electric circuit driven by thunderstorms and electrified shower clouds: The roles of lightning and sprites

Several processes acting below, in and above thunderstorms and in electrified shower clouds drive upward currents which close through the global atmospheric electric circuit. These are all simulated in a novel way using the software package PSpice. A moderate negative cloud-to-ground lightning discharge from the base of a thunderstorm increases the ionospheric potential above the thundercloud by 0.0013%. Assuming the ionosphere to be an equipotential surface, this discharge increases the current flowing in the global circuit and the fair-weather electric field also by 0.0013%. A moderate positive cloud-to-ground lightning discharge from the bottom of a thunderstorm decreases the ionospheric potential by 0.014%. Such a discharge may trigger a sprite, causing the ionospheric potential to decrease by . The time scales for the recovery of the ionospheric potential are shown to be , which is of the same order as the CR time constant for the global circuit. Knowing the global average rate of lightning discharges, it is found that negative cloud-to-ground discharges increase the ionospheric potential by only 4%, and that positive cloud-to-ground discharges reduce it by 3%. Thus, overall, lightning contributes only 1%—an almost insignificant proportion—to maintaining the high potential of the ionosphere. It is concluded that the net upward current to the ionosphere due to lightning is only . Further, it is concluded that conduction and convection currents associated with “batteries” within thunderclouds and electrified shower clouds contribute essentially equally ( each) to maintaining the ionospheric potential.