Long-term variability of temperature and precipitation in the Czech Lands: an attribution analysis

Among the key problems associated with the study of climate variability and its evolution are identification of the factors responsible for observed changes and quantification of their effects. Here, correlation and regression analysis are employed to detect the imprints of selected natural forcings (solar and volcanic activity) and anthropogenic influences (amounts of greenhouse gases—GHGs—and atmospheric aerosols), as well as prominent climatic oscillations (Southern Oscillation—SO, North Atlantic Oscillation—NAO, Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation—AMO) in the Czech annual and monthly temperature and precipitation series for the 1866–2010 period. We show that the long-term evolution of Czech temperature change is dominated by the influence of an increasing concentration of anthropogenic GHGs (explaining most of the observed warming), combined with substantially lower, and generally statistically insignificant, contributions from the sulphate aerosols (mild cooling) and variations in solar activity (mild warming), but with no distinct imprint from major volcanic eruptions. A significant portion of the observed short-term temperature variability can be linked to the influence of NAO. The contributions from SO and AMO are substantially weaker in magnitude. Aside from NAO, no major influence from the explanatory variables was found in the precipitation series. Nonlinear forms of regression were used to test for nonlinear interactions between the predictors and temperature/precipitation; the nonlinearities disclosed were, however, very weak, or not detectable at all. In addition to the outcomes of the attribution analysis for the Czech series, results for European and global land temperatures are also shown and discussed.     

Growth of accretionary wedges and pulsed ophiolitic mélange formation by successive subduction of trench‐parallel volcanic elevations

Fault‐bounded coherent belts alternating with belts of mélanges are common in accretionary wedges and are usually interpreted as a result of imbrication along subduction zone megathrusts. Using the Neoproterozoic/early Cambrian Blovice accretionary complex (BAC), Bohemian Massif, as a case example, we present a new model for the origin of alternating belts through the repetition of several cycles of (1) offscraping and deformation of trench‐fill sediments to form the coherent units, interrupted by (2) arrival and subduction of linear, trench‐parallel volcanic elevations. The latter process leads to an increase in the wedge taper, triggering mass‐wasting and formation of olistostromes. At the same time, ophiolitic mélanges form by disruption of an upper part of the volcanic ridge and incorporation of the disrupted ocean‐floor succession into the olistostromes. Specifically, the BAC represents a complete section across an accretionary wedge and records three such major pulses of ophiolitic mélange formation through subduction of an outboard back‐arc basin.     

Magnetometry and ground-penetrating radar surveys applied to tracing potential collectors of mining-derived pollutants in coastal sediments (Piscinas Bay,Montevecchio mining area,SW Sardinia)

Dispersion of pollutants from mining areas can result in risks to human health. The dynamic interaction of geological processes can generate complex situations that favor enrichment in toxic elements by sedimentary and diagenetic mechanisms. In order to explore the distribution of iron-rich minerals in coastal and river sediments, a geophysical campaign was performed along the outlet of the Piscinas and Naracauli Rivers that drain two abandoned mining areas in SW Sardinia. Both rivers flow into the Mediterranean Sea, a bay where fluvial, marine, and eolian processes interact. The geophysical campaign comprised magnetometry and ground-penetrating radar surveys. Magnetic properties were controlled by means of magnetic susceptibility measurements along the beach and dune areas, through sampling of surface sediments, natural outcrops and trenches, and considering different grain size intervals. Results indicate enrichment in ferromagnetic minerals at the leeside of dunes and berms. Sedimentological interpretation is supported by means of ground-penetrating radar. Due to both sedimentary and diagenetic processes, the 100- to 300-μm fraction of fine sands exhibits high susceptibility. Implied tenors of toxic elements in the magnetite may represent a serious hazard to environmental and health security. The results inferred from magnetic anomalies support the applicability of the geophysical approach in order to locate high concentrations of iron-rich particles both at surface and below ground and the usefulness of joint evaluation of magnetic susceptibility and ground-penetrating radar in order to characterize the sedimentary and geomorphology-controlled magnetite distribution.