Influence of vegetation change on watershed hydrology: implications for paleoclimatic interpretation of lacustrine δ18O records

Stratigraphic shifts in the oxygen isotopic (¹⁸O) and trace element (Mg and Sr) composition of biogenic carbonate from tropical lake sediment cores are often interpreted as a proxy record of the changing relation between evaporation and precipitation (E/P). Holocene ¹⁸O and Mg and Sr records from Lakes Salpetén and Petén Itzá, Guatemala were apparently affected by drainage basin vegetation changes that influenced watershed hydrology, thereby confounding paleoclimatic interpretations. Oxygen isotope values and trace element concentrations in the two lowland lakes were greatest between ~ 9000 and 6800 ¹⁴C-yr BP, suggesting relatively high E/P, but pollen data indicate moist conditions and extensive forest cover in the early Holocene. The discrepancy between pollen- and geochemically-inferred climate conditions may be reconciled if the high early Holocene ¹⁸O and trace element values were controlled principally by low surface runoff and groundwater flow to the lake, rather than high E/P. Dense forest cover in the early Holocene would have increased evapotranspiration and soil moisture storage, thereby reducing delivery of meteoric water to the lakes. Carbonate ¹⁸O and Mg and Sr decreased between 7200 and 3500 ¹⁴C-yr BP in Lake Salpetén and between 6800 and 5000 ¹⁴C-yr BP in Lake Petén Itzá. This decline coincided with palynologically documented forest loss that may have led to increased surface and groundwater flow to the lakes. In Lake Salpetén, minimum ¹⁸O values (i.e., high lake levels) occurred between 3500 and 1800 ¹⁴C-yr BP. Relatively high lake levels were confirmed by ¹⁴C-dated aquatic gastropods from subaerial soil profiles ~ 1.0–7.5 m above present lake stage. High lake levels were a consequence of lower E/P and/or greater surface runoff and groundwater inflow caused by human-induced deforestation.     

Modelling wind-erosion risk in the Laghouat region (Algeria) using geomatics approach

Wind-erosion risk is a challenge that threatens land development in dry-land regions. Soil analysis, remote sensing, climatic, vegetal cover and topographic data were used in a geographic information system (GIS), using multi-criteria analysis (MCA) to map wind-erosion risk (R_we) in Laghouat, Algeria. The approach was based on modelling the risk and incorporating topographic and climatic effects. The maps were coded according to their sensitivity to wind erosion and to their socio-economic potential, from low to very high. By overlapping the effects of these layers, qualitative maps were drawn to reflect the potential sensitivity to wind erosion per unit area. The results indicated that severe wind erosion affects mainly all the southern parts and some parts in the north of Laghouat, where wind-erosion hazard (H_we) is very high in 43% of the total area, and which was affected mainly by natural parameters such as soil, topography and wind. The results also identified features vulnerable to R_we. The product of the hazard and the stake maps indicated the potential risk areas that need preventive measures; this was more than half of the study area, making it essential to undertake environmental management and land-use planning.     

Organic carbon inputs,common ions and degassing: rethinking mixing dissolution in coastal eogenetic carbonate aquifers

Caves deliver freshwater from coastal carbonate landscapes to estuaries but how these caves form and grow remains poorly understood. Models suggest fresh and salt water mixing drives dissolution in eogenetic limestone, but have rarely been validated through sampling of mixing waters. Here we assess controls on carbonate mineral saturation states using new and legacy geochemical data that were collected in vertical profiles through three cenotes and one borehole in the Yucatan Peninsula. Results suggest saturation states are primarily controlled by carbon fluxes rather than mixing. Undersaturation predicted by mixing models that rely on idealized end members is diminished or eliminated when end members are collected from above and below actual mixing zones. Undersaturation due to mixing is limited by CO₂ degassing from fresh water in karst windows, which results in calcite supersaturation. With respect to saline groundwater, controls on capacity for mixing dissolution were more varied. Oxidation of organic carbon increased pCO₂ of saline groundwater in caves (pCO₂ = 10^–2.06 to 10^–0.96 atm) relative to matrix porosity (10^–2.39 atm) and local seawater (10^–3.12 atm). The impact of increased pCO₂ on saturation state, however, depended on the geochemical composition of the saline water and the magnitude of organic carbon oxidation. Carbonate undersaturation due to mixing was limited where gypsum dissolution (Cenote Angelita) or sulfate reduction (Cenote Calica) increased concentrations of common ions (Ca²⁺ or HCO₃^?, respectively). Maximum undersaturation was found to occur in mixtures including saline water that had ion concentrations and ratios similar to seawater, but with moderately elevated pCO₂ (Cenote Eden). Undersaturation, however, was dominated by the initial undersaturation of the saline end member, mixing was irrelevant. Our results add to a growing body of literature that suggests oxidation of organic carbon, and not mixing dissolution, is the dominant control on cave formation and enlargement in coastal eogenetic karst aquifers. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A unique Galactic planetary nebula with a [WN] central star

We report the discovery of the first probable Galactic [WN] central star of a planetary nebula (CSPN). The planetary nebula candidate was found during our systematic scans of the AAO/UKST Hα Survey of the Milky Way. Subsequent confirmatory spectroscopy of the nebula and central star reveals the remarkable nature of this object. The nebular spectrum shows emission lines with large expansion velocities exceeding 150 km s⁻¹, suggesting that perhaps the object is not a conventional planetary nebula. The central star itself is very red and is identified as being of the [WN] class, which makes it unique in the Galaxy. A large body of supplementary observational data supports the hypothesis that this object is indeed a planetary nebula and not a Population I Wolf–Rayet star with a ring nebula.     

Analysis of a “flickering” Geminid fireball

Abstract— In the early morning hours of December 13, 2002, a bright Geminid fireball with an absolute magnitude of ?9.2 ± 0.5 was observed from Southern Saskatchewan, Canada. The fireball displayed distinct small‐scale oscillations in brightness, or flickering, indicative of the parent meteoroid being both non‐spherical and rotating. Using the light curve derived from a calibrated radiometer, we determine a photometric mass of 0.429 ± 0.15 kg for the meteoroid, and we estimate from its initial rotation rate of some 6 Hz that the meteoroid was ejected from the parent body (3200) Phaethon some 2500 ± 500 years ago. We find that 70% of Geminid fireballs brighter than magnitude ?3 display distinct flickering effects, a value that is in stark contrast to the 18% flickering rate exhibited by sporadic fireballs. The high coincidence of flickering and the deep atmospheric penetration of Geminid fireballs are suggestive of Geminid meteoroids having a highly resilient structure, a consequence, we suggest, of their having suffered a high degree of thermal processing. The possibility of Gemind material surviving atmospheric ablation and being sampled is briefly discussed, but the likelihood of collecting and identifying any such material is admittedly very small.     

Zur Geochemie der Diorit-Gruppe

Zusammenfassung Die Granodiorite und QuarzGlimmer-Diorite aus dem Intrusivgebiet von Fürstenstein (Bayerischer Wald), der Diorit des südlichen Vorspessarts mit eingeschalteten Amphibolitschollen und kalifeldspatreichen Schlieren, sowie die Diorite und Hornblendegabbros des mittleren Bergsträßer Odenwaldes wurden geochemisch verglichen. Zur Bestimmung der Haupt-, Neben- und Spurenelemente in 65 Gesteinsproben wurden röntgenspektrometrische, titrimetrische, flammenphotometrische und emissionsspektralanalytische Methoden herangezogen. Zusätzlich fanden 33 chemische Analysen aus der Literatur Verwendung.Die untersuchten Gesteinstypen reichen vom granodioritischen (Bayerischer Wald) über den dioritischen (Spessart) bis zum hornblenditischen (Odenwald) Chemismus, wobei jedes der drei Untersuchungsgebiete eine mehr oder weniger deutliche Gruppierung zeigt. Innerhalb der einzelnen Dioritkomplexe ist nur ein Teil der petrographisch erfaßbaren Gesteinstypen auch durch einen spezifischen Gesteinschemismus gekennzeichnet.Während die Granodiorite des Bayerischen Waldes bis auf die relativ hohen Zr-Gehalte auch im Hinblick auf die Spurenelementführung normale Verhältnisse zeigen, sind die niedrigen Cu-, Ni- und Zn-Gehalte, sowie das hohe K/Rb-Verhältnis in den Odenwald-Dioriten und Hornblendegabbros auffällig. Trotz der großen Streubreite im Hauptchemismus dieser Proben schwanken die SrGehalte nur relativ wenig.Bemerkenswert bei den Spessart-Dioriten ist, daß diese in den Spurenelementgehalten z. T. erheblich unter den von Vinogradov (1962) angegebenen Clarke-Werten bleiben. Die im Diorit eingeschlossenen Amphibolitschollen zeigen deutlich höhere Cu-, Ni- und Zn-Gehalte, sowie niedrigere Sr-und Ba-Gehalte. Die K/Rb-Verhältnisse unterscheiden sich dagegen praktisch kaum. Der Vergleich der Odenwald-Diorite und Hornblendegabbros mit den Amphiboliten zeigt, daß letztere durch niedrigere CaO-Gehalte, etwas größere Zr-Gehalte und ähnlich niedrige Ni-Gehalte gekennzeichnet sind.Im Lichte der geochemischen Ergebnisse wird die Genese der dioritischen Gesteine diskutiert.

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On the geochemistry of the diorite groupComparative investigations of dioritic rocks from Bayerischer Wald, Spessart and Odenwald (South-Germany)

The granodiorites and quartz diorites of the Fürstenstein igneous complex (Bayerischer Wald), the diorites of the Spessart crystalline area (including schollen of amphibolite, and schlieren rich in K-feldspar) as well as the diorites and hornblende gabbros of the central Odenwald igneous complex have been compared. 65 rock specimens have been analyzed for the major and minor elements Si, Ti, Al, Fe³⁺, Fe²⁺, Mn, Mg, Ca, Na, K, P, as well as for the trace elements Zn, Cu, Ni, Rb, Sr, Zr, Ba, and (semiquantitative) V, and Cr using X-ray spectrometric, flame photometric, titrimetric, and UV-spectrometric methods. 33 additional analyses (major and minor elements only) have been taken from literature.The rock types investigated vary from granodiorite to hornblendite in chemical composition. The averages of the three diorite areas plot near quartz diorite, diorite, and gabbro composition, respectively. This grouping is followed very clearly by the trace element content of Zr, Rb and Ba rather than the other ones. The bearing of the geochemical results on the genesis of dioritic rocks is briefly discussed.

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Herrn Prof. Dr. S. Matthes danken wir für sein stetes Interesse am Fortgang der Arbeit sowie für die kritische Durchsicht des Manuskripts. Die Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft förderte die vorliegende Untersuchung in dankenswerter Weise durch die Gewährung von Sachbeihilfen und apparativen Einrichtungen.     

Fluid-assisted zircon and monazite growth within a shear zone: a case study from Finnmark,Arctic Norway

The U–Pb ages, REE content, and oxygen isotopic composition of zircon rims developed within a major shear zone in the Kalak Nappe Complex (KNC), Arctic Norway have been determined along with the age of monazite crystals. Different generations of granitic veins have been distinguished based on both field criteria and monazite ages of 446 ± 3 and 424 ± 3 Ma. Within each of these veins, inherited zircon cores are mantled by homogeneous low CL-response zircon rims which yield a range of concordant U–Pb dates of ca. 470–360 Ma. Significant numbers of zircon rims coincide with the timing of monazite crystallization. The zircon rims have moderate light REE enrichment compared to cores, distinctive (Sm/La) _n values of less than 12, and La between 0.3 and 10 ppm. This indicates free elemental exchange between newly formed zircon rims and the surrounding matrix. The rims have calculated accumulated alpha-radiation dosages corresponding with a crystalline structure and δ¹⁸O values of 1‰. This implies rim crystallization directly from a zirconium-saturated hydrothermal fluid which was modified by some silicate melt. Growth of the zircon rims was prolonged and locally variable due to preferential fluid flow. A third type of zircon can be recognized, forming both rims and cores, with high alpha-radiation doses, and significant enrichment in La, Pr, and Eu. These are interpreted as low-temperature hydrothermally altered metamict zircons. The high volatile input and partial melting in the shear zone favoured prolonged zircon rim growth due to its ability to easily nucleate on inherited seeds. On the other hand, monazite, susceptible to dissolution and re-growth, crystallized in brief episodes, as has been predicted from theoretical phase diagrams. From a regional perspective, these results elucidate cryptic Ar–Ar cooling ages, providing the first record of a Late Ordovician heating and cooling phase within the KNC prior to the climactic Scandian collision.     

Particle-mesh simulations of the Lyα forest

We have analysed short-exposure high-resolution images obtained on the William Herschel Telescope (WHT), Big Telescope Azimuthal (BTA) and CanadaFranceHawaii Telescope (CFHT) in order to investigate mechanical vibrations that are capable of reducing the high angular resolution allowed by speckle-interferometric methods. After filtering the photon noise we have computed power spectra of the image centres of gravity. In these spectra we have found vibration features that differ from one telescope to another and that vary in particular with the zenith angle. In the case of the WHT we discuss these results in terms of possible causes and in terms of degradation of the transfer function. We present some means to improve the data.