Recent Environmental Change and Atmospheric Contamination on Svalbard as Recorded in Lake Sediments – Modern Limnology, Vegetation, and Pollen Deposition

Twenty-four lakes on Svalbard were sampled for palaeolimnological studies and are described in terms of their geographical location, catchment characteristics, water chemistry, and flora. No sediment could be retrieved from one of the lakes. There is a close correlation, as detected by redundancy analysis, between lake-water chemistry and catchment variables, particularly bedrock geology and geographical location for 23 lakes. The flora of the lake catchments is statistically related, as shown by canonical correspondence analysis, to bedrock geology, climate (geographical location), and nutrient status (bird impact). Modern pollen assemblages from eleven lakes contain 2–25% far-distance extra-regional pollen. The modern local and regional pollen depositions are dominated by Oxyria digyna, Poaceae, Saxifraga, Salix, and Brassicaceae pollen.     

Advances in understanding calcite varve formation: new insights from a dual lake monitoring approach in the southern Baltic lowlands

We revise the conceptual model of calcite varves and present, for the first time, a dual lake monitoring study in two alkaline lakes providing new insights into the seasonal sedimentation processes forming these varves. The study lakes, Tiefer See in NE Germany and Czechowskie in N Poland, have distinct morphology and bathymetry, and therefore, they are ideal to decipher local effects on seasonal deposition. The monitoring setup in both lakes is largely identical and includes instrumental observation of (i) meteorological parameters, (ii) chemical profiling of the lake water column including water sampling, and (iii) sediment trapping at both bi-weekly and monthly intervals. We then compare our monitoring data with varve micro-facies in the sediment record. One main finding is that calcite varves form complex laminae triplets rather than simple couplets as commonly thought. Sedimentation of varve sub-layers in both lakes is largely dependent on the lake mixing dynamics and results from the same seasonality, commencing with diatom blooms in spring turning into a pulse of calcite precipitation in summer and terminating with a re-suspension layer in autumn and winter, composed of calcite patches, plant fragments and benthic diatoms. Despite the common seasonal cycle, the share of each of these depositional phases in the total annual sediment yield is different between the lakes. In Lake Tiefer See calcite sedimentation has the highest yields, whereas in Lake Czechowskie, the so far underestimated re-suspension sub-layer dominates the sediment accumulation. Even in undisturbed varved sediments, re-suspended material becomes integrated in the sediment fabric and makes up an important share of calcite varves. Thus, while the biogeochemical lake cycle defines the varves’ autochthonous components and micro-facies, the physical setting plays an important role in determining the varve sub-layers’ proportion.     

In situ pore-pressure evolution during dynamic CPT measurements in soft sediments of the western Baltic Sea

We present in situ strength and pore-pressure measurements from 57 dynamic cone penetration tests in sediments of Mecklenburg (n?=?51), Eckernförde (n?=?2) and Gelting (n?=?4) bays, western Baltic Sea, characterised by thick mud layers and partially free microbial gas resulting from the degradation of organic material. In Mecklenburg and Eckernförde bays, sediment sampling by nine gravity cores served sedimentological characterisation, analyses of geotechnical properties, and laboratory shear tests. At selected localities, high-resolution echo-sounder profiles were acquired. Our aim was to deploy a dynamic cone penetrometer (CPT) to infer sediment shear strength and cohesion of the sea bottom as a function of fluid saturation. The results show very variable changes in pore pressure and sediment strength during the CPT deployments. The majority of the CPT measurements (n?=?54) show initially negative pore-pressure values during penetration, and a delayed response towards positive pressures thereafter. This so-called type B pore-pressure signal was recorded in all three bays, and is typically found in soft muds with high water contents and undrained shear strengths of 1.6–6.4 kPa. The type B signal is further affected by displacement of sediment and fluid upon penetration of the lance, skin effects during dynamic profiling, enhanced consolidation and strength of individual horizons, the presence of free gas, and a dilatory response of the sediment. In Mecklenburg Bay, the remaining small number of CPT measurements (n?=?3) show a well-defined peak in both pore pressure and cone resistance during penetration, i.e. an initial marked increase which is followed by exponential pore-pressure decay during dissipation. This so-called type A pore-pressure signal is associated with normally consolidated mud, with indurated clay layers showing significantly higher undrained shear strength (up to 19 kPa). In Eckernförde and Gelting bays pore-pressure response type B is exclusively found, while in Mecklenburg Bay types A and B were detected. Despite the striking similarities in incremental density increase and shear strength behaviour with depth, gas occurrence and subtle variations in the coarse-grained fraction cause distinct pore-pressure curves. Gaseous muds interbedded with silty and sandy layers are most common in the three bays, and the potential effect of free gas (i.e. undersaturated pore space) on in situ strength has to be explored further.     

Vertical structure of larval fish assemblages during diel cycles in summer and winter in the southern part of Bahía de La Paz, México

The effect of environmental variables on the vertical structure of larval fish assemblages in a tropical coastal lagoon was analyzed. Ichthyoplankton samples were collected from the near-bottom and surface strata near the mouth of a subtropical lagoon during contrasting seasonal conditions of temperature, photoperiod, light intensity, and tidal heights. During summer, larval fish assemblages had high species richness (R) and were dominated by tropical species. During winter, assemblages had lower R values and were dominated by subtropical and temperate species. Vertical distribution patterns of the taxa were determined by the interaction of environmental variables and behavior of each species to maintain their position in a stratum in the water column, or to achieve vertical migrations induced by environmental stimuli that, in this case, were thermal gradient, column water stratification, and intensity of light. Depth position and vertical migration of fish larvae, coupled with the flood and ebb tide conditions, played an important role in their retention and displacement toward the lagoon. Fish larvae with distribution restricted to the inner part of the inlet, such as Achirus mazatlanus, Etropus sp., and several gobies, were more abundant in the near-bottom stratum during the ebb tide, allowing them to avoid exportation, whereas those that could spawn outside, but depended on the inlet as a nursery area, were more abundant near the surface during flood tide, such as Abudefduf troschelii and Stegastes rectifraenum.     

Holocene environmental history and climate of Råtåsjøen,a low-alpine lake in south-central Norway

The Holocene environmental history and climate are reconstructed for Råtåsjøen, a low-alpine lake in south-central Norway. The reconstructions are based on chironomids, diatoms, pollen, plant macrofossils, and sediment characteristics. From plant macrofossil evidence, birch trees (Betula pubescens) immigrated ca. 10,000 cal BP. The chironomid-inferred mean July air temperature was high, but may be unreliable during the early stages of the lakes history due to the high abundance of Chironomus anthracinus type, a taxon that may include several species. From ca. 9000 cal BP the inferred mean July temperature was lower (ca. 9 °C). Temperatures increased towards 8000 cal BP and pine (Pinus sylvestris) reached its upper limit near the lake. July temperature may have become a significant factor controlling long-term pH in the lake, starting shortly after 8000 cal BP. High pH values were associated with periods of warm summers and lower pH values occurred during periods of colder summers. Alkalinity processes within the lake and/or the catchment are possible factors controlling this relationship. A temperature decline at ca. 5400 cal BP separated two 10.6 °C temperature maxima around 6400 and 4500 cal BP. The 1.5 °C decline in July air temperatures from ca. 4400 cal BP was paralleled by a decrease of pH from 7.2 to 6.8. Following the temperature drop, first pine and then birch trees declined and disappeared from the catchment and organic accumulation in the lake increased. The increased organic accumulation rate had a positive effect on diatom production. At ca. 2700 cal BP the temperature reached a minimum (ca. 9.2 °C) and correspondingly a second pH minimum was reached. Temperature decreased again slightly at ca. 400 cal BP during the Little Ice Age, before increasing by about 0.5 °C towards the present. Percentage organic carbon as estimated by loss-on-ignition appears to be better correlated with chironomid-inferred July temperatures than organic accumulation rates, at least for the last 9000 years. Accumulation rates of organic sediments are more coupled with catchment-related processes, such as erosion and major changes in vegetation, than is percentage organic carbon.     

Spatial simulation of evapotranspiration of semi-arid Inner Mongolian grassland based on MODIS and eddy covariance data

In semi-arid regions of Central Asia, water shortage results from low annual precipitation (P) with high interannual variability. Evapotranspiration (ET) dominates water balance losses entirely. Previous studies showed large differences between individual grassland sites in the partitioning of ET into evaporation and transpiration, but only little difference in the evaporative ratio ET/P. The hydrological model BROOK90 was applied to the Xilin river catchment in Inner Mongolia (China) in combination with data from moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) and ET measurements. The ET part of the model was parameterised using several years of eddy covariance (EC) measurements over grasslands differing in grazing intensity and leaf area index (LAI). Using a relatively well-established relationship of LAI and P as well as LAI and temperature derived from MODIS, the water balance components of a 16 km2 sample area in the catchment were modelled with a 1 km2 resolution for the vegetation period of 2006. All pixels were modelled assuming a similar ET control as at the EC sites. Spatial variation in ET as well as in the partitioning of ET between transpiration and evaporation could be identified. The results indicate the potential of using MODIS data and BROOK90 to upscale ET of semi-arid grasslands from site to larger grass dominated catchments.     

The relationship between the magnetic and strain fabrics of some haematite-bearing Welsh slates

The anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility and the natural remanent magnetization of haematite-bearing Welsh Cambrian slates, showing a gradation in degree of deformation, have been related to the known strain of these rocks. An approximate quantitative relationship between strain and magnetic susceptibility anisotropy has been deduced, which would allow rapid strain estimation in this region by magnetic analysis.     

Disconnected policies and actors and the missing role of spatial planning throughout the risk management cycle

The present work addresses the problem of lack of coordination between policies and actors with joint competence for risk management, i.e., civil protection, spatial planning, and sectoral planning (e.g., forest policy in the case of forest fire risk). Spatial planning in particular is assigned a minor or no role at all though it might perfectly operate as the coordinating policy platform; the reason is that spatially relevant analysis and policy guidance is an omnipresent component of the risk management cycle. However, disconnected risk relevant policies turning a blind eye to spatial planning might cause several adverse repercussions: Breaks in the response-preparedness-prevention-remediation chain (which should function as a continuum), minimal attention to prevention, risk expansion and growth instead of mitigation, lack of synergies between involved actors as well as duplicated or even diverging measures and funding. The authors bear witness to the above suggestions by examining three cases of European (regional and local) risk management systems faced with failures when confronting natural hazards (floods and forest fires). These three systems are embedded in different types of political-administrative structures, namely those of the city of Dortmund (Germany) facing floods, Eastern Attica region (Greece), and Lazio Region (Italy) facing forest fires.     

A dimensional analysis to quantify the thermal budget around lithospheric‐scale shear zones

The thermal evolution around shear zones is controlled by three major thermal processes: diffusion, advection and shear heating. We present a dimensional analysis to quantify, to first‐order, the relative contributions of these three processes to the thermal evolution around lithospheric‐scale shear zones. We consider 11 parameters that control the kinematics, the three‐dimensional (3‐D) geometry, the initial thermal structure and the average strength of the shear zone. Three dimensionless parameters are presented to quantify the relative contributions of the three thermal processes. We validate the dimensional analysis with 2‐D thermo‐kinematic numerical models. The applicability of the dimensional analysis to any kind of shear zone (i.e. thrust, normal‐slip and strike‐slip shear zones) makes it a useful tool that is complementary to previous numerical and analytical studies. Finally, thrust‐type shear zones are used to illustrate how the three thermal processes control the thermal evolution.     

Population distribution and its change in Guangzhou city

Population density in Guangzhou City is characterized by a main single center and considerable differences throughout the 8 districts and 112 neighborhoods and towns. Historically, population density in Guangzhou City rose sharply, and population distribution was mainly influenced by the attraction of the port. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), a series of large-sized factories were built in suburban areas, which drew in a large amount of population from the areas outside of Guangzhou. A small part of this population lived in the suburban areas while most resided within the city centre. As the natural increase rate of population was very high, the population density of both the city centre and suburban areas rose, the former rose at higher rates. Since reform and the opening up to the outside world, Chinese economy has grown quickly, the total population of Guangzhou has also increased quickly. Meanwhile, changes in population density within the city is becoming more and more obvious. Population density in the city centre is falling and in city periphery is rising. From the analysis of the population density model, it is found that population distribution of Guangzhou is in the process of transition from an early stage to a mature stage. Population decline within the centre city of Guangzhou City, which reflects a prosperous economy of the city, is significantly different from the recession of in the western countries.