Late Cenozoic evolution of the western Barents Sea-Svalbard continental margin

Seven regionally correlatable reflectors, named R7 (oldest) to R1, have been identified in the Upper Cenozoic sedimentary succession along the western continental margin of Svalbard and the Barents Sea. Regional seismic profiles have been used to correlate between submarine fans that comprise major depocentres in this region. Glacial sediment thicknesses reach up to 3 seconds two-way time, corresponding to 3.5–4 km. Despite limited chronostratigraphic control, ages have been assigned to the major sequence boundaries based on ties both to exploration wells and to shallow boreholes, and by paleoenvironmental interpretations and correlations with other regions. Lateral and vertical variations in seismic facies, between stratified and chaotic with slump structures, have major implications for the interpretation of the depositional regime along the margin. The main phases of erosion and deposition at different segments of the margin are discussed in the paper, which also provides a regional seismic stratigraphic framework for two complementary papers in the present volume. Reflector R7 marks the onset of extensive continental shelf glaciations, but whereas the outer Svalbard shelf has been heavily and frequently glaciated since R7 time, this did not occur, or occurred to a much less extent, until R5 time in the southern Barents Sea. The present study provides the background for a quantification of the late Cenozoic glacial erosion of Svalbard and the Barents Sea. The rates of erosion and deposition exhibit large temporal and spatial variations reflecting the importance of glacial processes in the Late Cenozoic development of this nearly 1000 km long margin.     

Tectonic and sedimentary processes along the ultraslow Knipovich spreading ridge

2D multichannel seismic data and bathymetric records from the glaciated western Svalbard margin and the rift valley region of the ultraslow, and oblique-spreading, Knipovich Ridge are in this study interpreted to infer differences in seafloor spreading mechanisms and to identify sedimentary processes. Our results show that the rift flank geometry, the rift valley elevation and the active magmatism are closely linked. The inferred magmatic segments of the Knipovich Ridge exhibit high and steep rift flanks, whereas the rift flank heights of the proposed tectonic-dominated segments are lower and less steep. In addition, we observe significant rift flank asymmetry across the rift valley which can be partly explained by subsidence due to sediment loading. The identification of a huge sedimentary wedge on the western rift flank suggests that the oldest parts of these sediments have been transported from the western Svalbard margin and across the rift valley. However, we suggest that most of these sediments are glacimarine/hemipelagic sediments which have been deposited in the time period after the rift valley flanks had developed sufficiently to cut off the direct transport routes from the western Svalbard margin. We also observe thick current depositions on the western side, suggesting a strong along-slope influence of the West Spitsbergen Current during the Plio–Pleistocene time period.     

Water and nutrient predictions in ungauged basins: set-up and evaluation of a model at the national scale

Abstract

A dynamic water quality model, HYPE, was applied to a large, data-sparse region to study whether reliable information on water quantity and water quality could be obtained for both gauged and ungauged waterbodies. The model (called S-HYPE) was set up for all of Sweden (～450 000 km²), divided into sub-basins with an average area of 28 km². Readily available national databases were used for physiographic data, emissions and agricultural practices, fixed values for representative years were used. Daily precipitation and temperature were used as the dynamic forcing of the model. Model evaluation was based on data from several hundred monitoring sites, of which approximately 90% had not been used in calibration on a daily scale. Results were evaluated using the Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE), correlation and relative errors: 92% of the spatial variation was explained for specific water discharge, and 88% and 59% for total nitrogen and total phosphorus concentrations, respectively. Day-to-day variations were modelled with satisfactory results for water discharge and the seasonal variation of nitrogen concentrations was also generally well captured. In 20 large, unregulated rivers the median NSE for water discharge was 0.84, and the corresponding number for 76 partly-regulated river basins was 0.52. In small basins, the NSE was typically above 0.6. These major achievements relative to previous similar experiments were ascribed to the step-wise calibration process using representative gauged basins and the use of a modelling concept, whereby coefficients are linked to physiographic variables rather than to specific sites.

Editor D. Koutsoyiannis

Citation Strömqvist, J., Arheimer, B., Dahné, J., Donnelly, C. and Lindström, G., 2012. Water and nutrient predictions in ungauged basins: set-up and evaluation of a model at the national scale. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 57 (2), 229–247.     

Comparison of geoelectrical imaging and tunnel documentation at the Hallandsås Tunnel, Sweden

For construction in rock a thorough pre-investigation is important in order to avoid unforeseen conditions which may delay the work. It is crucial to remember the results from this investigation in the further work, and use the experience from the construction to update the geological prognosis and reduce the uncertainties. Different geophysical methods have proved valuable tools in such investigations. In this work the electrical imaging is evaluated with regards to the method's applicability. The evaluation is done qualitatively by comparing the electrical imaging with tunnel documentation from a tunnel in Southern Sweden. By evaluating the result continuously when making the tunnel a more detailed geological prognosis can be compiled and used in the continued work with the tunnel. The parameters used for the comparison are lithology, Q, RQD, weathering and water leakage. The result was that virtually every change in electrical resistivity image coincides with a change in rock conditions. The general trend was that high resistivity corresponded with good quality gneiss whereas low resistivity corresponds to poor quality rock e.g., high weathering, low RQD, low Q and/or several lithological contacts. The intermediate resistivity is often amphibolites or rock with water bearing fractures. The results were supported by in-situ resistivity measurements inside the tunnel and resistivity logging in a core drilling. Geoelectrical imaging proved to give valuable information for a detailed geological model, which could be compiled for a section where the tunnel had not yet been drilled as a help for planning of the continued tunnel work. As is the case other geophysical methods it is clear that for the interpretation of data a priori information about the geological setting is necessary.     

The Place of Narrative in the Study of Third World Migration: The Case of Spontaneous Rural Migration in Sri Lanka*

Studies of migration in geography have most often been based on quantitative research approaches. Such studies cannot adequately shed light on the contextuality of migration and the individual decision-making processes involved. Personal narratives express individual experiences within a social context. The story of “Amma,” a female rural migrant in Sri Lanka, shows the role of women in migration, the importance of family ties, the contextual causes of migration, and characteristics of the migration flow per se. Personal narratives have an underutilized potential of capturing the variety of migrants' experiences and the complexity of the decision to migrate.     

Observational Constraints on Cloud Feedbacks: The Role of Active Satellite Sensors

Cloud profiling from active lidar and radar in the A-train satellite constellation has significantly advanced our understanding of clouds and their role in the climate system. Nevertheless, the response of clouds to a warming climate remains one of the largest uncertainties in predicting climate change and for the development of adaptions to change. Both observation of long-term changes and observational constraints on the processes responsible for those changes are necessary. We review recent progress in our understanding of the cloud feedback problem. Capabilities and advantages of active sensors for observing clouds are discussed, along with the importance of active sensors for deriving constraints on cloud feedbacks as an essential component of a global climate observing system.     

A process to design a network of marine no-take areas: Lessons from the Great Barrier Reef

In the absence of consensus on the quantity and level of zoning protection required for coral reef and lagoon ecosystems, which process can guide decision makers? The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) worked with experts in a collaborative process to develop a set of Biophysical Operational Principles to guide the design of a network of no-take areas. First, 82 expert scientists were asked to provide data and advice on the physical, biological and ecological dimensions of the Great Barrier Reef ecosystem. They recommended that an independent Scientific Steering Committee (the Committee) was set up. How this Committee worked successfully with the GBRMPA staff is detailed here in a manner to enable other resource managers to adopt the process if they are working in data-limited marine environments.     

雪冰黑碳的气候效应研究

 黑碳气溶胶沉降到雪冰表面后,使雪冰反照率降低从而导致气候增暖的效应日益引起人们的关注。首先提出了雪冰黑碳的气候效应问题,然后介绍了国际上相关研究的进展,并提出加强此项研究对提高中国区域气候认识的意义。     

Identifying uncertainties in Arctic climate change projections

Wide ranging climate changes are expected in the Arctic by the end of the 21st century, but projections of the size of these changes vary widely across current global climate models. This variation represents a large source of uncertainty in our understanding of the evolution of Arctic climate. Here we systematically quantify and assess the model uncertainty in Arctic climate changes in two CO₂ doubling experiments: a multimodel ensemble (CMIP3) and an ensemble constructed using a single model (HadCM3) with multiple parameter perturbations (THC-QUMP). These two ensembles allow us to assess the contribution that both structural and parameter variations across models make to the total uncertainty and to begin to attribute sources of uncertainty in projected changes. We find that parameter uncertainty is an major source of uncertainty in certain aspects of Arctic climate. But also that uncertainties in the mean climate state in the 20th century, most notably in the northward Atlantic ocean heat transport and Arctic sea ice volume, are a significant source of uncertainty for projections of future Arctic change. We suggest that better observational constraints on these quantities will lead to significant improvements in the precision of projections of future Arctic climate change.     

Late Devensian ice‐marginal features in the central North Sea – processes and chronology

Palaeoglaciological reconstructions of the North Sea sector of the last British Ice Sheet have, as other shelf areas, suffered from a lack of dates directly related to ice‐front positions. In the present study new high‐resolution TOPAS seismic data, bathymetric records and sediment core data from the Witch Ground Basin, central North Sea, were compiled. This compilation made it possible to map out three ice‐marginal positions, partly through identification of terminal moraines and partly through location of glacial‐fed debrisflows. The interfingering of the distal parts of the glacial‐fed debrisflows with continuous marine sedimentation enabled the development of a chronology for glacial events based on previously published and some new radiocarbon dates on marine molluscs and foraminifera. From these data it is suggested that after the central Witch Ground Basin was deglaciated at c. 27 cal. ka BP, the eastern part was inundated by glacial ice from the east in the Tampen advance at c. 21 cal. ka BP. Subsequently, the basin was inundated by ice from northeast during the Fladen 1 (c. 17.5 cal. ka BP) and the Fladen 2 (16.2 cal. ka BP) events. It should be emphasized that the Fladen 1 and 2 events, individually, may represent dynamics of relatively small lobes of glacial ice at the margin of the British Ice Sheet and that the climatic significance of these may be questioned. However, the Fladen Events probably correlate in time with the Clogher Head and Killard Point re‐advances previously documented from Ireland and the Bremanger event from off western Norway, suggesting that the British and Fennoscandian ice sheets both had major advances in their northwestern parts, close to the northwestern European seaboard, at this time.