Deep massive sulphide exploration using 2D and 3D geoelectrical and induced polarization data in Skellefte mining district,northern Sweden

Geoelectrical and induced polarization data from measurements along three profiles and from one 3D survey are acquired and processed in the central Skellefte District, northern Sweden. The data were collected during two field campaigns in 2009 and 2010 in order to delineate the structures related to volcanogenic massive sulphide deposits and to model lithological contacts down to a maximum depth of 1.5 km. The 2009 data were inverted previously, and their joint interpretation with potential field data indicated several anomalous zones. The 2010 data not only provide additional information from greater depths compared with the 2009 data but also cover a larger surface area. Several high‐chargeability low‐resistivity zones, interpreted as possible massive sulphide mineralization and associated hydrothermal alteration, are revealed. The 3D survey data provide a detailed high‐resolution image of the top ～450 m of the upper crust around the Maurliden East, North, and Central deposits. Several anomalies are interpreted as new potential prospects in the Maurliden area, which are mainly concentrated in the central conductive zone. In addition, the contact relationship between the major geological units, e.g., the contact between the Skellefte Group and the Jörn Intrusive Complex, is better understood with the help of 2010 deep‐resistivity/chargeability data. The bottommost part of the Vargfors basin is imaged using the 2010 geoelectrical and induced polarization data down to ～1‐km depth.     

Lead isotope distribution in podzolic soil profiles on different types of bedrock in a formerly glaciated terrain (Oslo,Norway)

Lead has been exploited by man over thousands of years for a variety of metallurgical, medicinal, and industrial purposes. The cumulative output of Pb from mining is estimated to be 260 million metric tonnes and 85% of this has occurred over the last two centuries. Global annual production of Pb from mining was about 3 million tonnes at the turn of the millenium. Terrestrial ecosystems all over Norway have been contaminated moderately to strongly by Pb and other trace elements from atmospheric deposition. With the aim of developing a method for mapping the accumulated content of anthropogenic Pb and how deep in the soil profile the atmospherically deposited Pb has penetrated, the concentration of Pb and the ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb ratio has been studied in podzolic forest soils at four locations with different lithology, i.e. age and type of bedrock, in the Oslo area. The concentrations of Pb in the soil profiles are 6.6–38.1 mg/kg (median 10.3). The ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb ratio ranges between 1.168 and 1.314 (median 1.267) over the entire profile. In the upper 5 cm the range is 1.168–1.191, similar to ratios determined in recent atmospheric deposition. Applying three different methods, the amount of anthropogenically deposited Pb is estimated at 1–6 t/km².     

Solar convection

The hydrodynamics of solar convection is reviewed. In particular, a discussion is given of convection on the scale of granulation; i.e., the energy carrying convection patterns in the solar surface layers, and its penetration into the stable layers of the solar photosphere. Convection on global and intermediate scales, and interaction with rotation and magnetic fields is discussed briefly.     

New method of quantitatively describing drainage areas

The aim was to introduce a new method, the DAZ method (drainage area zonation), to quantify environmental parameters, such as bedrocks, soil type, and land use in drainage areas. The work was carried out within the framework of the Swedish project Liming—mercury. Two important points in the project are that there are quantifiable relationships between the character of the drainage area and the lake and that several limnological and morphometric parameters may have an impact on the Hg content in fish. The DAZ method accounts for the fact that, for example, a certain soil type does not have an even distribution in the whole drainage area. To get a simple yet relevant measure of the influence of, for example, soil type on the lake character, the drainage areas were divided into zones using a special transparent paper placed on the map. The method gives normalized values depending on: (1) distance between the object and the given lake, (2) the main direction of water flow in the drainage area, and (3) the area of the environmental parameter (for example, area of bedrock). In the DAZ method, dot counting is used for determination of area. The dot-counting method has been compared with other methods for area determination (planimeter and square counting). Dot counting is the fastest and the counting of squares the most time consuming. The statistical reliabilities of the dot method and the planimeter method were compared. The planimeter is best for large homogeneous objects. Dot counting, on the other hand, is very well suited for heterogeneous objects. The statistical certainty of area determination depends on size, heterogeneity, and form of the objects, as well as the time dedicated to the determination. A nomogram is also given, which illustrates the relationship between the number of counts, that is, the number of times the transparent dotted paper is put on the map and the dots counted, the error in the area determination, and the statistical reliability.     

Explanatory analysis of the relationship between atmospheric circulation and occurrence of flood‐generating events in a coastal city

The aim of this study is to enhance the understanding of the occurrence of flood‐generating events in urban areas by analysing the relationship between large‐scale atmospheric circulation and extreme precipitation events, extreme sea water level events and their simultaneous occurrence, respectively. To describe the atmospheric circulation, we used the Lamb circulation type (LCT) classification and re‐grouped it into Lamb circulation classes (LCC). The daily LCCs/LCTs were connected with rare precipitation and water‐level events in Aarhus, a Danish coastal city. Westerly and cyclonic LCCs (W, C, SW and NW) showed a significantly high occurrence of extreme precipitation. Similarly, for extreme water‐level events westerly LCCs (W and SW) showed a significantly high occurrence. Significantly low occurrence of extreme precipitation and water‐level events was obtained in easterly LCCs (NE, E and SE). For concurrent events, significantly high occurrence was obtained in LCC W. We assessed the change in LCC occurrence frequency in the future based on two regional climate models (RCMs). The projections indicate that the westerly directions in LCCs are expected to increase in the future. Consequently, simultaneous occurrence of extreme water level and precipitation events is expected to increase in the future as a result of change in LCC frequencies. The RCM projections for LCC frequencies are uncertain because the representation of current LCCs is poor; a large number of days cannot be classified and the frequencies of the days that can be classified differ from the observed time series. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Air-clad fibres for astronomical instrumentation: focal-ratio degradation

Focal-ratio degradation (FRD) of light launched into high-numerical aperture (NA) single-annulus all-silica undoped air-clad fibres at an NA of 0.54 is reported. The measured annular light distribution remained Gaussian after 30 m of propagation, but the angular FWHM of the output annulus doubled from 4° after 1 m propagation to 8.5° after 30 m, which is significantly larger than that reported of standard doped-silica fibres (NA < 0.22). No significant diffractive effects were observed. The design of air-clad fibres for broad-band, high-NA astrophotonics applications is discussed.     

Impact of Ditching in a Small Forested Catchment on Concentrations of Suspended Material, Organic Carbon, Hydrogen Ions and Metals in Stream Water

Stream-water samples were collected during a 4-year-period in twosmall streams, one whose catchment was ditched for forestry halfway through the sampling period and another nearby reference stream whose catchment was not ditched during this period. The main aim was to study the impact of forest ditching on stream-water quality. Whereas the artificial drainage did not change the hydrograph pattern, it had a large effect on stream hydrochemistry: the concentrations of suspended material, Mn, Ca, Mg and Al increased, theconcentrations of total organic carbon decreased, and pH increased by approximately one unit, from an average of 4.4 to 5.4. The increase in suspended material, Mn and Al concentrations is explainedby the physical mobilisation of mineral particulates/colloids from mineral soils (till) exposed on the ditch slopes beneath the peat layer, while the increase in Ca and Mg loads is explained by the release of Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ in exchange reactions in this same soil layer. The increase in pH and decrease in TOC concentrations after ditching are related to changes in hydrological flow paths in the catchments, and most likely to immobilisation of both hydrogen ions and humic substances in the near neutral till horizon exposed beneath the peat layer. Only the aquatic abundance of Fewas not significantly affected by the ditching.     

EUV Full-Sun Imaged Spectral Atlas Using the SOHO Coronal Diagnostic Spectrometer

The Coronal Diagnostic Spectrometer (CDS) aboard the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) carries out a regular program of measuring the full-disk irradiance using the Normal Incidence Spectrograph (NIS). The full-disk solar spectrum is returned in the wavelength bands 308–379 Å and 513–633 Å, with a spectral resolution between 0.3 and 0.6 Å. A recent modification to the CDS on-board software allows simultaneous moderate resolution monochromatic images to be made of the stronger lines in these wavelength ranges. We report on observations made 23 April 1998, 21 May 1998, and 22 June 1998. A total of 69 monochromatic full-Sun images are extracted from the spectral line data. For the first time, spectrally resolved images of the full Sun in Heii 303.8 Å and Sixi 303.3 Å are presented and compared. Velocity maps of the Sun in singly ionized helium are presented. Correlations of intensity to velocity over a wide range of transition region and coronal temperatures are shown. Lines from Hei to Fexiv show statistical red shifts of 1–7 km s^–1 between active regions and quiet Sun areas. Velocity maps of Mgix andx are presented, showing strong upflow and downflow regions associated with active regions, but not correlated with the brightest emission. Changes in line width are also presented in Hei, with discussion of similar features in other lines of comparable temperature. Corrections which need to be applied to CDS/NIS data to extract meaningful velocities and line widths are presented and discussed. The identifications of the lines in the CDS spectrum are examined. The spatial and spectral variation of the background component of the CDS spectrum is examined.     

Drifting runoff periodicity during the 20th century due to changing surface water volume

Fourier and wavelet analyses were used to reveal the dominant trends and coherence of a more than one‐century‐long time series of precipitation and discharge in several watersheds in Sweden, two of which were subjected to hydropower and intensive agriculture. During the 20th century, there was a gradual, significant drift of the dominant discharge periodicity in agricultural watersheds. This study shows that the steepness of the Fourier spectrum of runoff from the May to October period each year increased gradually during the century, which suggests a more predictable intra‐annual runoff pattern (more apart from white‐noise). In the agricultural watershed, the coherence spectrum of precipitation and runoff is generally high with a consistent white‐noise relationship for precipitation during the 20th century, indicating that precipitation is not controlling the drift of the discharge spectrum. In the hydropower regulated watershed, there was a sudden decrease of the discharge spectrum slope when regulation commenced in the 1920s. This study develops a new theory in which the runoff spectrum is related to the hydraulic and hydro‐morphological characteristics of the watershed. Using this theory, we explain the changes in runoff spectra in the two watersheds by the anthropogenic change in surface water volume and, hence, changes in kinematic wave celerity and water transit times. The reduced water volume in the agricultural watershed would also contribute to decreasing evaporation, which could explain a slightly increasing mean discharge during the 20th century despite the fact that precipitation was statistically constant in the area. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Magnetotactic bacteria from the human gut microbiome associated with orientation and navigation regions of the brain

Journal of Oceanology and Limnology - Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB), ubiquitous in soil and fresh and saltwater sources have been identified in the microbiome of humans and many animals. MTB...