Precise ionosphere-free single-frequency GNSS positioning

Ionospheric delays can be efficiently eliminated from single-frequency data using a combination of carrier phases and code ranges. Unfortunately, GPS and GLONASS ranges are relatively noisy which can limit the use of the positioning method. Nevertheless, position standard deviations are in the range of 6–8 cm (horizontal) and 7–9 cm (3d) obtained from diurnal data batches from selected IGS reference stations can be further reduced to 2–3 cm (3d) for weekly smoothed averages. GPS data sets collected in Ghana (Africa) reveal a typical level of 10 cm of deviation that must be anticipated under average conditions. Looking at the future of GNSS, the European Galileo system will, in contrast to GPS, provide the broadband signal E5 that is by far less affected by multipath thus providing rather precise range measurements. Simulated processing runs featuring both high ionospheric and tropospheric delay variations show a 3d position precision of 4 cm even for a data batch as short as just 1 h, whereas GPS L1/Galileo E1 performance is close to 13 cm for the same data set.     

Effects of climate change on the intensity and frequency of heavy snowfall events in the Pyrenees

The intensity and frequency of heavy snowfall events in the Pyrenees were simulated using data from the HIRHAM regional climate model for a control period (1960?C1990) and two greenhouse emission scenarios (SRES B2 and A2) for the end of the twenty-first century (2070?C2100). Comparisons between future and control simulations enabled a quantification of the expected change in the intensity and frequency of these events at elevations of 1,000, 1,500, 2,000 and 2,500?m a.s.l. The projected changes in heavy snowfall depended largely on the elevation and the greenhouse gas emission scenario considered. At 1,000?m a.s.l., a marked decrease in the frequency and intensity of heavy snowfall events was projected with the B2 and A2 scenarios. At 1,500?m a.s.l., a decrease in the frequency and intensity is only expected under the higher greenhouse gas emission scenario (A2). Above 2,000?m a.s.l., no change or heavier snowfalls are expected under both emission scenarios. Large spatial variability in the impacts of climate change on heavy snowfall events was found across the study area.     

Combining climate with other influential factors for modelling the impact of climate change on species distribution

We tested two approaches to forecast species distributions while balancing the impact of climate change against the inertia promoted by other influential factors that have been forecast as not changing. Given that mountain species are presumed to be more at risk due to climate warming, we selected an amphibian, a reptile, a bird, and a mammal species present in the Spanish mountains, to model their distributional response to climate change during this century. The climatic forecasts were made according to the general circulation models CGCM2 and ECHAM4 and to the A2 and B2 emission scenarios. We modelled the response of the species to spatial, topographic, human, and climatic variables separately. In our first approach, we compared each of these single-factor models using the Akaike Information Criterion, and produced a combined model weighting each factor (spatial, topographic, human, and climatic) according to Akaike weights. This procedure overestimated the best model, and the other factors were neglected in the combined model output. In our second approach, we produced a combined model using stepwise selection of the variables previously selected within each factor. In this way every factor was effectively represented in the combined explanatory model of the distributional response of the species to environmental conditions. This enabled the construction of models that combined climate with the other explanatory factors, to be later extrapolated to the future by replacing current climatic and human values with those expected from each emission and socio-economic scenario, while preserving spatial and topographic variables in the model.     

Chemical and structural relations of epitaxial xenotime and zircon substratum in sedimentary and hydrothermal environments: a TEM study

Xenotime overgrowths on detrital zircon in siliciclastic sediments have been reported in numerous studies. However, in natural samples, solid solution of zircon and xenotime is limited to near-end-member compositions. In order to characterize the interface region between both minerals and to draw inferences on the growth mechanisms of authigenic xenotime, we studied xenotime overgrowths on detrital zircon grains from two Phanerozoic sandstone samples with contrasting post-depositional histories. In one sample, the small (≤10 μm), pyramidal xenotime overgrowths are of diagenetic origin and grew without major discontinuity on the detrital zircon grain. The second sample shows up to >50-μm-wide, porous and inclusion-rich, hydrothermal xenotime overgrowths on detrital zircon, whereas the transition zone between both minerals is accompanied by large pore volume. Chemical compositions of the xenotime precipitates from the two samples differ particularly in Y, REE, Th and Sc concentrations, whereas high MREE availability in the diagenetic sample and the presence of Sc in the hydrothermal sample, respectively, appear to have promoted xenotime growth. Transmission electron microscopy on electron-transparent foils cut from the interface region shows that both the diagenetic xenotime and the hydrothermal xenotime are crystalline and grew in optical and crystallographic continuity to their detrital zircon substrata. Only a narrow transition zone (≤90 nm—diagenetic sample, 200–300 nm—hydrothermal sample) between zircon and xenotime is in part made up of nanometre-scale crystalline domains that are slightly distorted and may have formed from dissolution–re-precipitation processes at the zircon rim along with precipitation from the respective fluid.     

塔里木盆地西北缘二叠系礁灰岩的时空分布特征及其油气地质意义

对塔里木盆地西北缘二叠系礁灰岩的岩石、岩相、沉积演化和油气地质特征的分析表明,生物礁主要发育于中二叠统栖霞阶昆克拉契组和巴立克立克组,以亮晶藻粘结灰岩为主,具有堤礁的特点。二叠系礁灰岩较大的厚度表明,当时礁体生长速率与礁基沉降（或水体加深）的速率匹配较好,具有进积型沉积的特点,这与当时塔里木地块内部的退积型沉积特点是不一致的。礁灰岩的原生孔隙较小,可以作为中等烃源岩,在哈拉峻盆地的东南侧和乌什凹陷北缘的覆盖区之下可能构成与礁灰岩相关的油气远景区。     

Črna Jama as a cold air trap cave within Postojna Cave,Slovenia

?rna Jama is the coldest section of cave within the Postojna Cave System. Mean annual air temperatures at the ?rna Jama 2 site are 5.6 °C (2015) and 5.7 °C (2016), and at the ?rna Jama 3 site 7.1 °C (2015) and 7.2 (2016), whereas the mean external air temperature was 10.3 °C (2015) and 10.0 °C (2016). In Lepe Jame, the passage most heavily visited by tourists, the mean cave-air temperature is 10.7 °C (2014–2017). ?rna Jama exhibits winter and summer temperature regimes. During warm periods (T_cave < T_out), it acts as a cold air trap, exchanging no air with the outside atmosphere. Under such conditions the cave-air temperature shows no short-term diurnal temperature oscillations. Cave-air temperature is significantly stable and affected only by elevation of the groundwater table, which is associated with precipitation. During cold periods (T_cave > T_out), ventilation takes place and dense, cold, outside air sinks into ?rna Jama because of the favourable cave entrance morphology. Recent ?rna Jama air temperature data (2014–2017) indicate a < 0.5 °C higher temperature than that recorded in historical data since 1933. ?rna Jama is the most appropriate place within the Postojna Cave System to study long-term climatic changes. There are hardly any tourist visits to the cave, and human impacts on the cave climate are essentially reduced.     

Gewässergütebewertung und Bewertung von Abwasserfahnen in Rhein und Main auf der Basis mikrobieller Enzymaktivitäten

Quality Mapping of Surface Water and Assessment of Treated and Untreated Waste-water Inputs into the Rhine and Main River Based on Microbial Enzyme Activities Microbial enzyme activities are used for an extension of the traditional quality mapping of surface water. In the following study, the enzymatic parameters were proved and validated on samples from various creeks and rivers in Baden-Württemberg and on samples gathered from the Rhine and Main Rivers (Germany). The test parameters should also be used for the control and the preservation of the capacity of the biological self-purification, which is the only natural and essential process in drinking-water conditioning of surface water. Main subject of the surveys was the development of criteria for an assessment of the measured enzymatical inhibition effects. Therefore, classes of inhibition and indices of inhibition are defined.     

Revealing information and equipment redundancies in air pollution monitoring networks in Turkey

Air pollution monitoring networks are the primary tools for measuring, managing and assessing air quality. However, these networks need considerable financial resources due to expensive devices and analyses, as well as such issues as the likely redundancy in the number of samples. The primary objective of this study was to identify possible information and equipment redundancies in Turkish monitoring networks. Thus, it is expected that the results of this study may help reduce air pollution monitoring expenses and increase monitoring efficiency. For this purpose, the Fuzzy C-Means clustering algorithm and time series analyses were used. This study has two novelties. First, this is the first study to be conducted for this purpose in Turkey. Further, Dickey–Fuller test statistics and model parameters have not been used as clustering variables before. Thus, it is expected that both stochastic behavior and concentration levels of PM₁₀ time series will be reflected simultaneously, and similarities among monitoring stations will be better identified.     

Hydrogeochemical and Isotopic Study of Groundwater in a Semi-arid Region: Yeniceoba Plain (Cihanbeyli-KONYA), Central Anatolia,Turkey

Groundwater is the most important source of water supply in the Yeniceoba Plain in Central Anatolia,Turkey.An understanding of the geochemical evolution of groundwater is important for the sustainable development of water resources in this region.A hydrogeochemical investigation was conducted in the Plio-Quaternary aquifer system using stable isotopes(δ~(18)O andδD),tritium(~3H),major and minor elements(Ca,Na,K,Mg,Cl,SO_4,NO_3,HCO_3 and Br)in order to identify groundwater chemistry patterns and the processes affecting groundwater mineralization in this system.The chemical data reveal that the chemical composition of groundwater in this aquifer system is mainly controlled by rock/water interactions including dissolution of evaporitic minerals,weathering of silicates,precipitation/dissolution of carbonates,ion exchange,and evaporation.Based on the values of Cl/Br ratio(300 mg/l)in the Plio-Quaternary groundwater,dissolution of evaporitic minerals in aquifer contributes significantly to the high mineralization.The stable isotope analyses indicate that the groundwater in the system was influenced by evaporation of rainfall during infiltration.Low tritium values(generally1 tritium units)of groundwater reflect a minor contribution of recent recharge and groundwater residence times of more than three or four decades.