Soft-sediment deformation structures in Late Miocene–Pleistocene sediments on the pediment of the Mátra Hills (Visonta, Atkár, Verseg): Cryoturbation, load structures or seismites?

The studied area, built up by silty clayey and partly sandy sediments and paleosols, lies on the tectonically active Northern margins of the Pannonian Basin. Wavy, sagging load casts can be observed in the upper part of the Late Miocene alluvial complex and larger scale sagging load casts, flame structures, drops and pillows detected in its Quaternary cover were studied in detail, in order to understand the origins of soft sediment deformation which characterized this young sedimentary suite. Sedimentological, paleopedological and mineralogical observations suggest that:

1. One of the reasons for the soft-sediment deformation might have been the relatively low cohesive strength of the predominantly smectitic sediment covering a gentle slope similar to the actual landscape.

2. On such a surface, the down-slope gravitational component of the mud-blanket might easily have been sufficient to overcome its cohesive strength.

3. Frost action traceable in the studied formations might also have contributed to the observed deformation, particularly along the eroded top of the Late Miocene sediments.

Combined evidence from field observations and laboratory analyses support the idea that liquefaction–fluidization was of prime importance in bringing about the observed structures. In conclusion two alternative Quaternary/Holocene scenarios are proposed, which might have resulted in the unusual behaviour of the sediments/paleosols. One is a seismic event, the other is the combined effect of freeze–thaw cycles and of the sloping foothill position, which might have resulted in episodic downslope transport and the associated deformation of the eroded soil material when its water content surpassed a certain threshold. We accept that the anomalous abundance of soft-sediment deformation in this marginal position may be causally related to paleo-earthquakes, but the obvious complexity of the phenomenon requires caution. In case the proposed scenarios would not have been alternatives but acted simultaneously, the analysed phenomena were to be interpreted as the joint results of tectonics and climate change.     

The probability of wind damage in forestry under a changed wind climate

We (1) estimated how the possible changes in wind climate due to climatic change may affect the probability of exceeding critical wind speeds (CWS) expected to cause significant wind damage within a forest management unit located in southern Sweden, (2) analysed how the probability of exceeding an approximate CWS as observed in the management unit would change in different regions in Sweden if expecting a similar kind of forested area to occur in different geographical locations. The topography of the management unit was relatively gentle and the forests were dominated by Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.). Seven regions across Sweden were selected for comparison of possible future probability of damaging wind speed. The model-system WINDA was modified and used for calculations of the probability of wind damage together with regionally downscaled climate change scenario (CCS) data. In total, two climate scenarios downscaled using the RCAO model for the control period 1961–1990 and four for the period 2071–2100 were used. The CCSs represent fairly central projections on a 100-year time scale in terms of global mean warming. Although there is ambiguity between different CCSs, the results indicated that the present pattern of more windy conditions in southern than in northern Sweden will remain. For most sites the probability of exceeding the CWS from westerly to south-westerly directions was indicated to remain comparatively high and the probability of damaging wind from south-westerly to south-easterly directions was indicated to increase in many places. For southernmost Sweden increasing probability of exceeding the CWS from the north-westerly to south-easterly wind directions were indicated for all but one CCS. The results were discussed with respect to spatial planning in forestry under a changing wind climate.     

The Footprint Database and Web Services of the Herschel Space Observatory

Data from the Herschel Space Observatory is freely available to the public but no uniformly processed catalogue of the observations has been published so far. To date, the Herschel Science Archive does not contain the exact sky coverage (footprint) of individual observations and supports search for measurements based on bounding circles only. Drawing on previous experience in implementing footprint databases, we built the Herschel Footprint Database and Web Services for the Herschel Space Observatory to provide efficient search capabilities for typical astronomical queries. The database was designed with the following main goals in mind: (a) provide a unified data model for meta-data of all instruments and observational modes, (b) quickly find observations covering a selected object and its neighbourhood, (c) quickly find every observation in a larger area of the sky, (d) allow for finding solar system objects crossing observation fields. As a first step, we developed a unified data model of observations of all three Herschel instruments for all pointing and instrument modes. Then, using telescope pointing information and observational meta-data, we compiled a database of footprints. As opposed to methods using pixellation of the sphere, we represent sky coverage in an exact geometric form allowing for precise area calculations. For easier handling of Herschel observation footprints with rather complex shapes, two algorithms were implemented to reduce the outline. Furthermore, a new visualisation tool to plot footprints with various spherical projections was developed. Indexing of the footprints using Hierarchical Triangular Mesh makes it possible to quickly find observations based on sky coverage, time and meta-data. The database is accessible via a web site http://herschel.vo.elte.hu and also as a set of REST web service functions, which makes it readily usable from programming environments such as Python or IDL. The web service allows downloading footprint data in various formats including Virtual Observatory standards.     

Water production and release in Comet 153P/Ikeya-Zhang (C/2002 C1): accurate rotational temperature retrievals from hot-band lines near 2.9-μm

Multiple non-resonance fluorescence lines of water (H₂O) were detected in Comet 153/P Ikeya-Zhang (2002 C1) between UT 2002 March 21.9 (R_h=0.51 AU) and April 13.9 (R_h=0.78 AU), using the Cryogenic Echelle Spectrometer (CSHELL) at the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility. Analysis of 2.9-μm water lines enabled accurate determination of rotational temperatures on three dates. The derived H₂O rotational temperatures were 138⁺⁶₋₅, 141⁺¹⁰₋₉, and 94±3 K on UT 2002 March 22.0, March 23.0, and April 13.8, respectively. Water production rates were retrieved from spectral lines measured in nineteen separate grating settings over seven observing periods. The derived heliocentric dependence of the water production rate was Q=(9.2±1.1)×10²⁸[R_h^{(−3.21±0.26)}] molecules s⁻¹. The spatial distribution of H₂O in the coma was consistent with its release directly from the nucleus (as a native source) on all dates.     

Zeittafel

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Der “Protocalcit” von Gumpoldskirchen (Niederösterreich)

Zusammenfassung In einem in Abbau befindlichen Steinbruch bei Gumpoldskirchen (Niederösterreich) wurde in Fugen und Hohlräumen eines Störungssystems von Hauptdolomit als rezente Verwitterungsbildung des Gesteins ein weißes, gelartiges Mineral aufgefunden, das einen Gehalt von mehr als 90% lose gebundenes Wasser aufweist. An der Luft trocknet die quallige Mineralbildung zu einem papierartigen Häutchen (Bergmilch oder Papierspat) und rekristallisiert unter natürlichen Bedingungen zu erdigen, weißen Krusten (Bergmehl). Die chemische Analyse, die Röntgendiffraktionsanalyse und Elektronenbeugungsaufnahmen zeigen einwandfrei, daß es sich, auch im wasserhaltigen Zustand, um Calciumcarbonat in der Modifikation des Calcites handelt. Die elektronenmikroskopischen Aufnahmen erklären die Eigenschaften dieser Mineralbildung. Im wasserhaltigen Zustand sind wirrgelagerte Calcitfäden zu erkennen, deren Durchmesser ca. 500 Å beträgt. Das Wasser ist im Calcitfadengerüst als grobe Feuchtigkeit gebunden. Für die wasserhaltige Varietät (CaCO₃+xH₂O) wird der Name Protocalcit vorgeschlagen.

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Summary A white gel-like mineral containing more than 90% moisture was found in a quarry near Gumpoldskirchen (Lower Austria). The mineral had been formed recently in gaps and cavities of a fissure system in the Triassic Main Dolomite.Airdried, the jelly mineral turns into a paper-like skin (rockmilk) and can be recrystallised to a white earthy crust (rockflour).The chemical analysis, the X-ray diffraction and electron diffraction investigation show that the mineral is calcite, even it contains high amounts of water. The electronmicroscopical investigations explain the properties of this peculiar formation of the mineral. If the mineral is containing water, the filiform crystallites of calcite 500 Å of diameter are completely disorderd. The water is bound adsorptively in the framework of calcite crystallites. During the loss of water the filiform calcite crystalls are ordered more or less parallel to each other.The name protocalcite is proposed for this variety of calcite, which is containing variable amounts of water (CaCO₃+xH₂O).

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Mit 9 Textabbildungen

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Herrn Professor Dr.F. Machatschki zum 70. Geburtstag gewidmet.     

The 2005 eruption of Sierra Negra volcano,Galápagos,Ecuador

Sierra Negra volcano began erupting on 22 October 2005, after a repose of 26 years. A plume of ash and steam more than 13 km high accompanied the initial phase of the eruption and was quickly followed by a ~2-km-long curtain of lava fountains. The eruptive fissure opened inside the north rim of the caldera, on the opposite side of the caldera from an active fault system that experienced an m_b 4.6 earthquake and ~84 cm of uplift on 16 April 2005. The main products of the eruption were an `a`a flow that ponded in the caldera and clastigenic lavas that flowed down the north flank. The `a`a flow grew in an unusual way. Once it had established most of its aerial extent, the interior of the flow was fed via a perched lava pond, causing inflation of the `a`a. This pressurized fluid interior then fed pahoehoe breakouts along the margins of the flow, many of which were subsequently overridden by `a`a, as the crust slowly spread from the center of the pond and tumbled over the pahoehoe. The curtain of lava fountains coalesced with time, and by day 4, only one vent was erupting. The effusion rate slowed from day 7 until the eruption’s end two days later on 30 October. Although the caldera floor had inflated by ~5 m since 1992, and the rate of inflation had accelerated since 2003, there was no transient deformation in the hours or days before the eruption. During the 8 days of the eruption, GPS and InSAR data show that the caldera floor deflated ~5 m, and the volcano contracted horizontally ~6 m. The total eruptive volume is estimated as being ~150×10⁶ m³. The opening-phase tephra is more evolved than the eruptive products that followed. The compositional variation of tephra and lava sampled over the course of the eruption is attributed to eruption from a zoned sill that lies 2.1 km beneath the caldera floor.     

Evaluation of a siliciclastic diamictite from the Maya Mountains of Belize

A diamictite unit 9.2 m thick and 1.5 × 1.0 km in aerial extent lies unconformably on siliciclastics of the Santa Rosa Group in the Maya Mountains of Belize. The diamictite has an irregular scour base with 1.5 m of erosional relief. Matrix accounts for 24–27% of the deposit and consists of coarse sand to clay-sized particles of lithics and mineral grains of various origins. Clasts are granule to boulder in size, sub-rounded, poorly sorted, matrix-supported, oriented randomly and lack grading. Clasts are composed exclusively of sandstone, siltstone and shale lithologies derived from the Santa Rosa. Trace element concentrations are relatively higher in the Santa Rosa sediments, but Cu and Zn are elevated in the diamictite. Some clasts exhibit alteration rinds related to post-depositional hydrothermal processes. The age of the diamictite is unknown, it overlies the latest Pennsylvanian to Middle Permian Santa Rosa Group, and has a present-day erosional top of the unit which prevents further age refinements. The diamictite is interpreted to be of sediment-gravity flow origin related to tectonic activity on the Northern Boundary fault. However, this study points to the potential for future re-evaluation of the deposit with refinement of the depositional models themselves. The diamictite deposit also allows for further interpretation of the broader geologic history of Northern Central America.     

Anthrosols in Iron Age Shetland: Implications for arable and economic activity

The soils surrounding three Iron Age settlements on South Mainland, Shetland, were sampled and compared for indicators of soil amendment. Two of the sites (Old Scatness and Jarlshof) were on lower‐lying, better‐drained, sheltered land; the third (Clevigarth) was in an acid, exposed environment at a higher elevation. The hypothesis, based on previous regional assessments, soil thicknesses, and excavations at Old Scatness, was that the lowland sites would have heavily fertilized soils and that the thin upland soil would show little if any amendment. Our findings indicate that the Middle Iron Age soils at Old Scatness had extremely high phosphorus levels, while the soil at Jarlshof had lower levels of enhancement. At Clevigarth, where charcoal from the buried soil was 14C dated to the Neolithic and Bronze Age, there was no evidence of arable activity or soil amendment associated with the Iron Age phases of settlement. These observations indicate that not all sites put the same amount of effort into creating rich arable soils. The three sites had very different agricultural capacities, which suggests the emergence of local trade in agricultural commodities in Iron Age Shetland. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.