Salt Tectonic Modeling Using Reverse Time Migration Imaging and Sensitivity Kernel Wavelength Analysis

Surveys in Geophysics - It is of particular importance for structural geology, geophysical exploration and also obvious economical purposes to retrieve structures possibly hidden below salt domes....     

Chemistry of high mountain lakes in siliceous chatchments of the Central Eastern Alps

Alpine lakes in siliceous catchments of Tyrol and Carinthia (Austria) show signs of acidification. About 9% of the studied lakes have no alkalinity, more than 20% are below pH 6. About two thirds of all lakes have acid neutralizing capacities below 100 eq 1^–1. In spite of moderate precipitation acidity, some lakes show considerable concentrations of dissolved reactive aluminum during or shortly after snowmelt. High altitude lakes of the Alps are definitely more acidic than high mountain lakes in remote areas. Large differences in water and soil chemistry of nearby situated lakes were attributed to heterogeneities of bedrock geology. Paleolimnological investigations on former pH values of five lakes, based on diatom assemblages in the sediment, showed different developments: recent and past acidification, stable conditions, and alkalinization.     

Diatomeenstratigraphische Untersuchungen zur Trophieänderung und Industrieschlammakkumulation im Traunsee/Österreich

Three cores from Traunsee were investigated and compared with respect to diatom stratigraphy concerning dating of incursions into and rate of accumulation of industrial tailings in the profundal zone.

     

Natural variation in immersion and emersion affects breakdown and invertebrate colonization of leaf litter in a temporary river

Flow pulses that alternately immerse and expose benthic habitats are widely recognized as key determinants of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in rivers. Terrestrial leaf litter input, colonization, and breakdown are also key processes in river ecosystems, but little is known about the effects of alternating immersion and emersion on these processes. We used litterbags to examine breakdown, microbial activity, and colonization of Populus sp. leaves by invertebrates along a natural gradient in immersion and emersion (i.e., submergence and exposure to air) in a temporary river. Rates of leaf litter mass loss, microbial activity and colonization by invertebrates differed among litterbags that were permanently immersed, intermittently immersed and permanently emersed, and breakdown rate coefficients (k) decreased with increasing cumulative emersed duration (the total number of day of emersion during the experiment). In contrast, the frequency of emersed periods had no detectable effects on these variables. k was positively correlated with the density of invertebrate shredders in immersed litterbags, with microbial activity and shredder density in intermittent litterbags, and with microbial activity in emersed litterbags. These correlations suggest that the relative importance of microbial activity on k increases with emersed duration, due to the periodic elimination of aquatic shredders and the scarcity of terrestrial detritivores. The fact that leaf litter breakdown was detectable under permanently emersed conditions indicates that mechanisms other than shredding by invertebrates, such as leaching and photodegradation, are dominant in dry river habitats.     

Towards an integration of process measurements, archive analysis and modelling in geomorphology — the Kärkevagge experimental site, Abisko area, northern Sweden

The analysis of Holocene geomorphic process activity demands long–term data sets, which are available for the Kärkevagge catchment due to 50 years of intensive geomorphologic field studies. This data set is used in combination with additional field measurements, remote sensing and digital elevation model (DEM) analysis to provide input data for modelling Holocene valley development. On the basis of this information, geomorphic process units (GPUs) are defined by means of GIS modelling. These units represent areas of homogeneous process composition that transfer sediments. Since the data base enables the quantification of single processes, the interaction of processes within the units can also be quantified. Applying this concept permits calculation of recent sediment transfer rates and hence leads to a better understanding of actual geomorphic landscape development activity. To extrapolate these data in time and space the process–related sediments in the valley are analysed for depth and total volume, primarily using geophysical methods. In this fashion the validity of measured process rates is evaluated for the Holocene time scale. Results from this analysis are exemplified in a cross–profile showing some of the principal sediment units in the valley. For example, the measured modern rates on a slush torrent debris fan seem to represent the Holocene mean rate. This approach should also be suitable for revealing Holocene geomorphic landscape development in terms of climate change.     

Discussion on the atmospheric radiation tables byElsasser andCulbertson

Summary The radiation tables byElsasser andCulbertson [1]²) are based upon an integrated form of the radiative transfer equation. Unfortunately, a term dealing with the temperature dependency of the transmission function is left out. This leads to an inconsistency of their analysis. It is the aim of this paper to correct and to modifyElsasser's graphical-numerical procedure such as to make his treatment internally consistent.     

Die tertiäre und quartäre Entwicklung im Bereich der Kufrah-Oasen (Zentrale Sahara) unter besonderer Berücksichtigung aktualistischer Vorgänge

Zusammenfassung Im Verlauf der Oberkreide und des Tertiärs bestand im Bereich der Kufrah-Oasen eine Einebnungstendenz, die mit der Bildung einer Peneplain ihre Vollendung fand. Die Umlagerungsprodukte, nur wenige Meter mächtige Sande und Feinkiese, wurden während einer warmfeuchten Klimaperiode lateritisiert und anschließend unter semiariden Bedingungen zur Eisenkruste I verhärtet. Auf den geringfügig höher gelegenen Iateritfreien Erosionsflächen kam es zur Ausbildung einer Silikatkruste. Ein Wechsel zu feuchterem Klima und eventuelle schwache epirogenetische Hebungen des Gebietes bewirkten eine teilweise Erosion der Silikat- und der Eisenkruste sowie der Sedimente der Nubischen Serie. Dabei entstanden teils brecciöse, teils fanglomeratartige Sedimente, die sowohl auf der Eisenkruste I als auch auf dem mesozoischen Untergrund abgelagert wurden. Erneute Klimaveränderungen führten jetzt zur Laterisierung und Verhärtung der vorliegenden maximal 10–12 m mächtigen Sedimente und zur Entstehung der Eisenkruste II.Eine Tiefenerosion setzte ein, die die bestehende Peneplain in Insel- und Tafelberge auflöste. Eine kurzzeitige Unterbrechung der Erosion im Altquartär begünstigte die Sedimentation von Kiesen und von Grobschutt auf einem ca. 50 m unterhalb der ehemaligen Peneplain gelegenen Niveau. Der Grobschutt wurde ebenfalls lateritisiert zur Eisenkruste III.Eine Analyse des fossilen aquatischen Systems zeigt ein stark verzweigtes Flußsystem, das das gesamte Gebiet der Kufrah-Oasen von SW nach NE entwässerte. Die Erosionsprodukte wurden zum größten Teil abtransportiert. Daher sind nur geringmächtige fluviatile Sedimente erhalten.Mit dem Ende des Pleistozän wurde die aquatische Erosionstätigkeit durch Wechsel von feuchtem zu trockenem Klima mit wenigen Ausnahmen beendet. Es kam zur Ablagerung feinklastischer limnischer Sedimente in lokalen Depressionen, denen äolische Sande zwischengeschaltet wurden. In dieser Übergangsphase bildeten sich Schwemmfächer am Fuße von Schichtstufen und Inselbergen, wobei zum Teil bereits existierende Sanddünen überlagert wurden. Es vollzog sich alternierend ein Wechsel von feuchtem zu trockenem Klima. Der Beginn einer ariden Klimaentwicklung kann in die Zeit um 6000 B. P. gesetzt werden.Die meteorologischen Daten der Station Kufrah seit 1933 zeigen nur noch eine äolische Aktivität als Wechselwirkung von Erosion und Sedimentation an. Reliktflächen sind die Hammada- und Serirflächen; überwiegend Sedimentation findet in der Ausbildung von Dünen und Sandtennen statt. Die Sandtennen sind in multimodale ebene und bimodale undulierende Tennen zu unterteilen. Die Bimodalität ist eine Funktion des selektiven Abtransportes mittlerer Korngrößen und deren Anreicherung als Sanddünen oder Sandanwehungen. Die undulierenden Sandtennen sind daher eine Weiterentwicklung ebener Sandtennen. Dünen existieren in Form von Seif- und Barchandünen oder als eine Kombination aus beiden.Die aktualistischen Vorgänge des vollariden Gebietes der Kufrah-Oasen zeigen eine Tendenz zum erneuten Reliefausgleich durch Deflation und Korrasion exponierter Areale und Sedimentation in Depressionen.

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During the Upper Cretaceous and Tertiary time a tendency of relief deplaning existed in the Kufrah-Oasis area which was completed by the development of a peneplain. The eroded material, sands and gravels of a thickness of only a few meters became lateritic during a period of warm and moist and was hardened to ironcrust I during a semiarid climat. On the slightly higher erosional planes without laterite a silicacrust was developed. A change to a more humid climat and possibly slight epirogenic lifting of the territory brought about an in part erosion of the silicacrust, the ironcrust I and the mesozoic rocks. Thereby breccious and fanglomeratic sediments were deposited and after laterization and hardening the ironcrust LI was formed. An indeep erosion began and disolved the existing peneplain into mesas and inselbergs. A short interruption in the erosional activity during Early Quarternary favoured the sedimentation of coarse grained material which was laterized to ironcrust III. An analysis of the fossil aquatic system shows an extensively branched river system which drained the whole territory of the Kufrah area from SW to NE. The eroded material was flushed away to a great extent, so that only some very thin beds of fluvial sediments still exist. At the close of the Pleistocene the aquatic erosional activity ended by a change from humid to arid climate. Only fine clastic limnic sediments were deposited in some local depressions often alternating with aeolian sands. In this transition period alluvial fans developed on the foot of mesas, in some locations sedimentated on top of already existing-sanddunes. The begin of an arid desert climat can be put at approximately 6 000 years before present.The data of the Kufrah meteorological station since 1933 show the possibility of only aeolic activity in form of mutual erosion and sedimentation. The relic planes are the hammada and serir planes. Sedimentation is responsible for the creation of dunes and sandflats. The sandflats can be differenciated into multimodal even flats and bimodal gently undulating flats. The bimodality is a function of the selective removal of sand grains with distinctive diameters and their accumulation as dunes or sand drifts. The undulating sandflats therefore are a further development of the even sandflats. Dunes exist in form of seifdunes or barchan dunes or as combinations of both types.The actualistic events in the fully arid area of the Kufrah-Oasis again show a tendency towards levelling out of the relief by deflation and corrasion of exposed areas and sedimentation in depressions.

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Résumé Au cours du Crétacé supérieur et du Tertiaire, dans la région des Oasis de Koufra eut lieu un aplanissement dont la phase finale a abouti à une pénéplaine. Les produits du remaniement, des sables et des graviers de faible puissance, ont été látéritisés pendant une période chaude et humide indurés sous un climat semi-aride en croute ferrugineuse I. Sur les surfaces d'érosion plus élevées sans latérite se développait une croûte siliceuse. Le changement vers un climat plus humide et de faibles soulèvements tectoniques provoquèrent une érosion partielle des croûtes ferrugineuses et siliceuses et des sédiments de la série nubienne. Par ce remaniement se formaient des brèches et des fanglomérats qui se sont sédimentées aussi bien sur la croûte ferrugineuse I que sur le substratum méozoique. Un nouveau changement de climat provoqua la latéritisation et le durcissement des sédiment bréchiques et fanglomératiques la formation de la croûte ferrugineuse II.A la limite Tertiaire/Quaternaire commenca une érosion intense qui façonna la pénéplaine existente en inselbergs et tafelbergs. Une interruption brève de l'érosion au Quaternaire inférieur favorisa la sédimentation de graviers et blocs à un niveau d'à peu près 50 m inférieur à l'ancienne pénéplaine. Les graviers et les blocs ont été latéritisés ensemble pour former la croûte ferrugineuse III.Une anlyse du système hydrographique du Pleistocéne montre que toute la région des oasis de Koufra était drainée vers le Nord, période durant laquelle aucune sédimentation n'a eu lieu. A la fin du Pleitocène le climat changea une nouvelle fois pour devenir plus sec et l'érosion fluviatile se termina. Dans la phase de transition se déposèrent, au pied des corniches et des inselbergs, des éventails alluviaux en alternance avec le sable éolien. Le changement à un climat plus aride peut être daté à peu près 6000 B. P.Les données météorologiques de la station de Koufra, depuis 1933, ne permettent qu'une activité éolienne soit comme sédimentation soit comme érosion. Les surfaces »Hammada« et »Serir« sont des surfaces d'érosion résiduelles. La sédimentation se manifeste sous la forme de dunes et de plaines de sable. Les dunes existent sous forme de barchanes et de seifs; les plaines de sable sont à subdiviser du point de vue de la granulométrie en aires multimodales et en aires ondulées bimodales. La bimodalité est und fonction du transport sélectif des grains moyens.Le processus exogène récent dans la région des oasis de Koufra montre la tendance à un nouvel aplainissement effectué par une déflation et corrasion des terrains en relief et une sédimentation dans les dépressions.

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Gekürzte Dissertation D 77.     

Chrysophyte cysts as paleolimnological indicators of environmental change due to cottage development and acidic deposition in the Muskoka-Haliburton region, Ontario, Canada

Chrysophyte cysts preserved in recent and pre-industrial lake sediment samples from 54 Muskoka-Haliburton (Ontario) lakes were used in a paleolimnological study to determine the impact of acidic precipitation and cottage development on water quality. A total of 246 cyst morphotypes were identified. Ecological preferences of cyst morphotypes were determined using multivariate statistical analysis, cluster analysis, and species-environment correlations. Recent cyst assemblages were related to water chemistry and lake morphometric variables using Redundancy Analysis (RDA). The distribution of morphotypes was related to a gradient of acid neutralising capacity (ANC), expressed through the association of variables related to buffering (i.e. longitude, watershed area, and ionic concentration) with the first axis (₁ = 0.29). Cyst assemblages were also defined, to a lesser extent (₂ = 0.06), by a trophic status gradient, created through the combination of total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), volume-weighted cottage density, and lake depth variables. The identification of lakewater pH and trophic status as important determinants of cyst assemblage structure allowed for the reconstruction of acidification and eutrophication related water chemistry changes using fossil cyst assemblages. The reconstruction of pre-industrial (pre-1850) water quality conditions with fossil cyst assemblages indicated that pH significantly decreased in 24.1% of the study lakes and increased in 16.7% of the lakes. Increases in pH in more alkaline drainage basins are attributed to alkalinity generation processes induced by acidic precipitation as has been shown in other studies. Total phosphorus (TP) concentrations significantly declined in 12.9% of the lakes and increased in 16.6% of lakes. Increases in [TP] were linked to cottage development. Decreases in trophic status may be due to landuse changes, the result of the acidification occurring in the area, or warmer and drier climates. A comparison of chrysophyte cyst and diatom water quality inferences show similar trends in pH changes. There is a good agreement between diatom and chrysophyte bioindicators with respect to [TP] changes in oligotrophic lakes (< 10 g/L); however, diatom inferences suggest that lakes with current [TP] values greater than 10 g/L have decreased in trophic status over time, while chrysophyte reconstructions suggest that these same lakes have become more productive systems.     

Thermodynamics of falling precipitation zones

A number of numerical experiments are performed in order to study the role of thermodynamics during the fall of precipitation zones. Thereby the air motion is handled in a Eulerian fashion, using the approximate equations for deep convection, and the precipitation-size particles are treated by a Lagrangian method. The results indicate that the behavior of a precipitation zone is greatly affected by both atmospheric stability and drop evaporation. Stable air strongly opposes downdraft development. Furthermore, air entrained downward by the zone becomes buoyant leading to a considerable updraft aloft. Evaporation, on the other hand, tends to counter the effect of stability and to cause a cool downdraft near the ground and a gust front. In spite of the many simplifications, particularly in the initial conditions, the results as seen by a surface observer show much realism.     

Petrography,Sr-isotope geochemistry and geochronology of the Nxau Nxau kimberlites,north-west Botswana

The Nxau Nxau kimberlites in northwest Botswana belong to the Xaudum kimberlite province that also includes the Sikereti, Kaudom and Gura kimberlite clusters in north-east Namibia. The Nxau Nxau kimberlites lie on the southernmost extension of the Congo Craton, which incorporates part of the Damara Orogenic Belt on its margin. The Xaudum kimberlite province is geographically isolated from other known clusters but occurs within the limits of the NW-SE oriented, Karoo-aged Okavango Dyke Swarm and near NE-SW faults interpreted as the early stages of the East African Rift System. Petrographic, geochronological and isotopic studies were undertaken to characterise the nature of these kimberlites and the timing of their emplacement. The Nxau Nxau kimberlites exhibit groundmass textures, mineral phases and Sr-isotope compositions (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr_i of 0.7036 ± 0.0002; 2σ) that are characteristic of archetypal (Group I) kimberlites. U-Pb perovskite, ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar phlogopite and Rb-Sr phlogopite ages indicate that the kimberlites were emplaced in the Cretaceous, with perovskite from four samples yielding a preferred weighted average U-Pb age of 84 ± 4 Ma (2σ). This age is typical of many kimberlites in southern Africa, indicating that the Xaudum occurrences form part of this widespread Late Cretaceous kimberlite magmatic province. This time marks a significant period of tectonic stress reorganisation that could have provided the trigger for kimberlite magmatism. In this regard, the Nxau Nxau kimberlites may form part of a NE-SW oriented trend such as the Lucapa corridor, with implications for further undiscovered kimberlites along this corridor.