The Cretaceous–Palaeogene boundary at Gorgonilla Island,Colombia, South America

The discovery of a new Cretaceous/Palaeogene (K/Pg) bathyal marine sequence on Gorgonilla Island, SW Colombia, extends the presence of Chicxulub impact spherule deposits to the Pacific region of northern South America and to the Eastern Pacific Ocean. The Gorgonilla spherule layer is approximately 20 mm thick and consists of extraordinarily well‐preserved glass spherules up to 1.1 mm in diameter. About 70–90% of the spherules are vitrified, and their chemical composition is consistent with Haiti (Beloc) impact glass spherules. Normal size‐grading, delicate spherule textures, welded melt components and an absence of bioturbation or traction transport suggest that the Gorgonilla spherule layer represents an almost undisturbed settling deposit.     

Bemerkungen zum Problem der globalen Klimaschwankungen

Zusammenfassung Auf der Grundlage des raumzeitlichen atmosph?rischen Turbulenzspektrums wird die M?glichkeit einer über die Erdatmosph?re hinausgreifenden Ausdehnung der Klimaschwankungen er?rtert. Der globale Anstieg der Temperatur und des Meeresspiegels führt auf die Existenz von überschüssen oder Defiziten in unseren globalen Haushaltsrechnungen, deren einzelne Terme — besonders Wasserhaushalt und CO₂-Kreislauf —in dieser Hinsicht diskutiert werden. Die Differenz zwischen der beobachteten Zunahme des CO₂-Gehaltes und der relativen Abnahme des C¹⁴-Anteils wird auf anthropogene Vegetationszerst?rung zurückgeführt. Die Klimaschwankungen der letzten 1000 Jahre warnen vor einer übersch?tzung der CO₂-Theorie der gegenw?rtigen Erw?rmung.

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Summary Based on the spectrum of atmospheric turbulence in time and space, the author discusses the possibility to extend the climatic variations beyond the earth's atmosphere. The global increase of temperature and sea level leads to the existence of a surplus or a deficit in the global balance, the terms of which — especially water balance and CO₂-cycle—are discussed. The difference between the observed increase of CO₂-content and the decreasing portion of C¹⁴ may be due to man-made destruction of vegetation. The climatic variations of the last 1000 years may caution against an over-estimation of the CO₂-hypothesis.

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Résumé En se fondant sur le spectre de la turbulence atmosphérique dans le temps et dans l'espace, l'auteur discute la possibilité d'étendre le domaine des variations climatiques en dépassant le cadre de l'atmosphère. L'élévation universelle de température et le relèvement du niveau des océans conduit à admettre des excédents ou des déficits de l'économie générale telle qu'on la calcule; les termes de cette économie, en particulier la teneur en eau et le cycle de CO₂ sont ici examinés. L'écart entre l'accroissement constaté de la teneur en CO₂ et la diminution relative du C¹⁴ s'explique par la destruction végétale due à l'homme. Les variations climatiques du millénaire écoulé doivent mettre en garde contre une application mal fondée de la théorie du CO₂ à l'explication du réchauffement actuel.

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Herrn Dr.Anders K. ?ngstr?m zu seinem 70. Geburtstag gewidmet.     

Dynamic character of the hydrothermal vent habitat and the nature of sulphide chimney fauna

A major substratum for vent organisms on Juan de Fuca and Explorer Ridges of the northeast Pacific is the polymetallic sulphide chimney. The deposition processes and subsequent growth of such chimneys provide a dynamic and extreme habitat that changes rapidly. During initial venting stages, colonization must await stabilization of the chimney structure. As the porous anhydrite shell accumulates sulphide minerals, protection from direct hot water contact increases for organisms colonizing the outer walls while sufficient vent water still diffuses for the support of chemosynthesis. Vestimentiferan worms are found on small sulphide mounds but the active growth and collapse of anhydrite spires is a major source of disruption and mortality. High temperature venting and spire growth appear to attract alvinellid polychaetes which may be implicated in the process of strengthening and sealing the anhydrite spires. Fauna on the growing chimney is subject to changes in fluid flow patterns that can make the structure uninhabitable. Large chimneys are inhabited by more species indicating that a diversification of habitat results from variations in mineralization and fluid availability. Chimney fauna has become specialized in exploiting an unpredictable and unstable habitat in an extreme example of the control of biotic development by the physical environment.     

A simple guideline to apply excitation-emission matrix spectroscopy (EEMs) for the characterization of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in anoxic marine sediments

Marine sediments represent a major carbon reservoir on Earth. Dissolved organic matter(DOM) in pore waters accumulates products and intermediates of carbon cycling in sediments. The application of excitation-emission matrix spectroscopy(EEMs) in the analysis of subseafloor DOM samples is largely unexplored due to the redoxsensitive matrix of anoxic pore water. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the interference caused by the matrix on EEMs and propose a guideline to prepare pore water sam...     

Land subsidence pattern controlled by old alpine basement faults in the Kashmar Valley, northeast Iran: results from InSAR and levelling

Fluid storage systems, such as oil, gas, magma or water reservoirs, are often controlled by the host rock structure and faulted terrain. In sedimentary basins, where no direct information about underlying structure is available, the pattern of ground deformation may allow us to assess the buried fault arrangement. We provide an example in the semi-arid area of Iran, in the Kashmar Valley, a region subject to land subsidence due to water overexploitation. Geodetically determined subsidence rates in the Kashmar Valley exceed 15–30 cm yr⁻¹. The pattern of surface deformation is strongly non-uniform and displays NE–SW elongated bowls of subsidence. The trend resembles old Cretaceous-to-Tertiary faults that evolved during early alpine tectonic deformation. Although these early alpine structures are considered tectonically inactive in the present day, the observed land subsidence pattern indicates significant structural control on the geometry of the aquifer basin and its deformation during reservoir drainage.     

Increased precipitation during the Little Ice Age in northern Taiwan inferred from diatoms and geochemistry in a sediment core from a subalpine lake

We studied diatoms in a 55.5-cm-long sediment core from a subalpine lake in northern Taiwan, Tsuifong Lake (TFL), to investigate environmental changes from AD 490 to present. Diatom assemblages of the last century were dominated by acidophilous species, whereas alkaliphilous taxa dominated the record between AD 1480 and 1910. Over the studied time frame, four decadal periods with high precipitation were inferred from evidence of elevated soil input from the watershed, supported by the stable isotope signatures (δ¹⁵N, δ¹³C) of organic matter and magnetic susceptibility of the sediments. We compared the inferred changes in pH of TFL to values obtained from three other Taiwanese subalpine lakes. The present study revealed that elevated precipitation was associated with increased solar irradiance over the last five centuries, with a stable dry period between AD 490 and 1450. Acidification of TFL in the last ~100 years was a consequence of deforestation and acid rain.     

Preface and Dedication

Earth, Moon, and Planets -     

Coma Structures in Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3, Components B and C,Between January and May 2006

The Jupiter family comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 has been widely observed since 1995 after a nucleus break-up event produced at least five components labeled 73P-A to E. During the 2006 appearance, two of them (B and C) showed very strong coma activity. Our R-filter imaging of 73P-B & C from 21 January to 25 May 2006 revealed the presence of fan-like structures in the comae of both components and evidence for further fragmentation events in component B. As of early April 2006, component C showed two jets emanating from the nucleus, with one continuously visible. Through a simulation of the orbital geometry we infer that the rotation axis of 73P-C has an inclination of 20° to the orbital plane and a longitude of 45° at perihelion. The coma activity of component B was highly variable, displaying signatures of at least 3 fragmentation events. The coma was characterized by the continuous presence of a jet roughly in sunward direction, starting from the beginning of May. The first fragmentation event of component B may have happened between April 16 and April 26, leading to the presence of at least 6 fragments detected in images of May 2. The second one happened on or shortly before May 8, the third one between May 18 and 24. For the rotation axis of 73P-B we infer an inclination of 5°–15° to the orbital plane and a longitude of 20°–30° at perihelion.