On the Integrability of Limited-Area Numerical Weather Prediction Model ALADIN over Extended Time Periods

This note summarizes results of the first integration of regional numerical weather prediction model ALADIN in a climate mode. The ALADIN model, developed in an international cooperation led by Météo France, is operationally used for weather prediction. The grid step of the model is 12 km; the integration domain covers a major part of Europe. A one-month-long run has been performed with this model on observed boundary conditions (represented by assimilations by the global model ARPEGE). It is demonstrated that no excessive error is generated and accumulated in the model during the integration; hence the model is integrable for extended time periods and may serve a basis for a development towards a regional climate model.     

Seismic model and geological interpretation of the basement beneath the Doupovské Hory Volcanic Complex (NW Czech Republic)

The Doupovské Hory Volcanic Complex (DHVC) is the best-preserved large volcanic suite of the Cenozoic intraplate volcanism in the Bohemian Massif. However, many uncertainties remain in the geological setting of its basement. In summer 2008, two seismic refraction profiles ran across this area to reveal the depth of the volcanic rocks and the underlying geological structure.     

Depth-Recursive Tomography Along the Eger Rift Using the S01 Profile Refraction Data: Tested at the KTB Super Drilling Hole,Structural Interpretation Supported by Magnetic,Gravity and Petrophysical Data

The refraction data from the SUDETES 2003 experiment were used for high-resolution tomography along the profile S01. The S01 profile crosses the zone Erbendorf-Vohenstrauss (ZEV) near the KTB site, then follows the SW–NE oriented Eger Rift in the middle part and continues toward the NE across the Elbe zone and the Sudetic structures as far as the Trans-European Suture Zone. To get the best resolution in the velocity image only the first arrivals of Pg waves with minimum picking errors were used. The previous depth-recursive tomographic method, based on Claerbout’s imaging principle, has been adapted to perform the linearized inversions in iterative mode. This innovative DRTG method (Depth-Recursive Tomography on Grid) uses a regular system of refraction rays covering uniformly the mapped domain. The DRTG iterations yielded a fine-grid velocity model with a required level of RMS travel-time fit and the model roughness. The travel-time residuals, assessed at single depth levels, were used to derive the statistical lateral resolution of “lens-shaped” velocity anomalies. Thus, for the 95% confidence level and 5% anomalies, one can resolve their lateral sizes from 15 to 40 km at the depths from 0 to 20 km. The DRTG tomography succeeded in resolving a significant low-velocity zone (LVZ) bound to the Franconian lineament nearby the KTB site. It is shown that the next optimization of the model best updated during the DRTG iterations tends to a minimum-feature model with sweeping out any LVZs. The velocities derived by the depth-recursive tomography relate to the horizontal directions of wave propagation rather than to the vertical. This was proved at the KTB site where pronounced anisotropic behavior of a steeply tilted metamorphic rock complex of the ZEV unit has been previously determined. Involving a ~7% anisotropy observed for the “slow” axis of symmetry oriented coincidentally in the horizontal SW–NE direction of the S01 profile, the DRTG velocity model agrees fairly well with the log velocities at the KTB site. Comparison with the reflectivity map obtained on the reflection seismic profile KTB8502 confirmed the validity of DRTG velocity model at maximum depths of ~16 km. The DRTG tomography enabled us to follow the relationship of major geological units of Bohemian Massif as they manifested in the obtained P-wave velocity image down to 15 km. Although the contact of Saxothuringian and the Teplá-Barrandian Unit (TBU) is collateral with the S01 profile direction, several major tectonic zones are rather perpendicular to the Variscan strike and so fairly imaged in the S01 cross-section. They exhibit a weak velocity gradient of sub-horizontal directions within the middle crust. In particular, the Moldanubian and TBU contact beneath the Western Krušné hory/Erzgebirge Pluton, the buried contact of the Lusatia unit and the TBU within the Elbe fault zone were identified. The maxima on the 6,100 ms⁻¹ isovelocity in the middle crust delimitated the known ultrabasic Erbendorf complex and implied also two next ultrabasic massifs beneath the Doupovské hory and the České středohoří volcanic complexes. The intermediate mid-crustal P-wave velocity lows are interpreted as granitic bodies. The presented geological model is suggested in agreement with available gravity, aeromagnetic and petrophysical data.     

Timing of the Northern Prince Gustav Ice Stream retreat and the deglaciation of northern James Ross Island,Antarctic Peninsula during the last glacial–interglacial transition

The Northern Prince Gustav Ice Stream located in Prince Gustav Channel, drained the northeastern portion of the Antarctic Peninsula Ice Sheet during the last glacial maximum. Here we present a chronology of its retreat based on in situ produced cosmogenic ¹⁰Be from erratic boulders at Cape Lachman, northern James Ross Island. Schmidt hammer testing was adopted to assess the weathering state of erratic boulders in order to better interpret excess cosmogenic ¹⁰Be from cumulative periods of pre-exposure or earlier release from the glacier. The weighted mean exposure age of five boulders based on Schmidt hammer data is 12.9 ± 1.2 ka representing the beginning of the deglaciation of lower-lying areas (< 60 m a.s.l.) of the northern James Ross Island, when Northern Prince Gustav Ice Stream split from the remaining James Ross Island ice cover. This age represents the minimum age of the transition from grounded ice stream to floating ice shelf in the middle continental shelf areas of the northern Prince Gustav Channel. The remaining ice cover located at higher elevations of northern James Ross Island retreated during the early Holocene due to gradual decay of terrestrial ice and increase of equilibrium line altitude. Schmidt hammer R-values are inversely correlated with ¹⁰Be exposure ages and could be used as a proxy for exposure history of individual granite boulders in this region and favour the hypothesis of earlier release of boulders with excessive ¹⁰Be concentrations from glacier directly at this site. These data provide evidences for an earlier deglaciation of northern James Ross Island when compared with other recently presented cosmogenic nuclide based deglaciation chronologies, but this timing coincides with rapid increase of atmospheric temperature in this marginal part of Antarctica.     

Superposition of Variscan ductile shear deformation on pre-Variscan mantled gneiss structure (Catherine dome,Erzgebirge, Bohemian massif)

Three tectonometamorphic events have been recognized in the crystalline rocks of the Catherine mantled gneiss Dome (CD) in the central Erzgebirge. The first tectonometamorphic event is characterized by the acquisition of a S1–S2 metamorphic foliation, development of F2 isoclinal partly syn-schistose folding and intrusion of early synkinematic granites. P-T conditions correspond to higher amphibolite facies metamorphism and culminate in anatexis. A diapiric intrusion of Cambro-Ordovician muscovite-biotite porphyritic granite has verticalized the S2 foliation and is responsible for the genesis of the classical mantled gneiss dome. Oblate strain and orthorhombic diffuse c-axis patterns are typical of the marginal parts of the dome.The whole rock sequence was subsequently affected by westward oriented heterogeneous Variscan ductile shearing under the conditions reaching amphibolite fades. A strongly non-coaxial deformation has partly overprinted the earlier fabrics in anatectic orthogneiss and produced augen-orthogneiss from porphyritic granite in the central part of the CD dome. Prolate to plane strain fabrics, oblique quartz c-axis patterns and a widespread occurrence of S-C fabrics are the most characteristic features of this phase.

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Zusammenfassung Im Kristallin des Katherinenberg mantled gneiss dome im mittleren Erzgebirge wurde eine dreiphasige tektono-metamorphe Entwicklungsgeschichte nachgewiesen.Das alte Stadium stellt bereits eine polyphase Entwicklung dar. Es wird durch die Anlage eines penetrativen metamorphen Lagenbaus (syn D₁ — syn D₂), durch F₂ früh Isoklinalfalten, sowie durch die Intrusion frühkinematischer z. T. anatektischer Granite charakterisiert. PT-Daten belegen amphibolitfazielle Bedingungen, die lokal zu Anatexis führen.Diapirartige Intrusionen kambro-ordovische, porphyrische Zweiglimmergranite bewirkten eine sehr unterschiedliche z. T. subvertikale Raumlage der regionalmetamorphen Einheiten. Diese Intrusionen des zweiten Stadiums sind verantwortlich für die Entstehung des eigentlichen mantled gneiss dome. Oblat Gefüge und diffuse Kreuzgürtel-Verteilungen der Quarz c-Achsen sind typisch für die Randbereiche dieses Gneisdomes.Während des jüngsten Stadiums prägen bzw. überprägen westvergente duktile Scherprozesse bei Bedingungen der niedriggradigen Amphibolitfazies die Gefüge. Schiefgürtel-Verteilungen der Quarz c-Achsen und S-C Gefüge charakterisieren diese jüngste, variszische Phase.

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Résumé Trois événements tectono-métamorphiques ont été reconnus dans les roches cristallines du dôme de gneiss coiffé de Catherine (Erzgebirge oriental). Le premier de ces événements est caractérisé par l'acquisition d'une foliation S_1–2, le développement de plis isoclinaux F₂ partiellement synschisteux et l'intrusion de granites syntectoniques précoces. Les conditions (P, T) correspondent au facies supérieur des amphibolites et atteignent l'anatexie. L'intrusion diapirique d'un granite à deux micas cambro-ordovicien a verticalisé la foliation S_1–2 et est responsable de la genèse du dôme de gneiss coiffé. Une déformation par aplatissement et des fabriques orthorhombiques diffuses des axes c du quartz caractérisent les zones marginales du dôme.L'ensemble des terrains a été ensuite affecté par un cisaillement ductile varisque hétérogène à vergence ouest, dans les conditions du facies inférieur des amphibolites. Une déformation fortement noncoaxiale a transposé partiellement les structures précoces des orthogneiss anatectiques et a transformé les granites porphyriques de la partie centrale du dôme de Catherine en orthogneiss oeillés. Cette phase est caractérisée par des fabriques obliques pour les axes c du quartz et par de fréquentes structures s-c.

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- . (S₁), f₁ . , . , /, - , S₁ , - . . , , , . - S — .

     

Combined Sr,Nd, Pb and Li isotope geochemistry of alkaline lavas from northern James Ross Island (Antarctic Peninsula) and implications for back-arc magma formation

We present a comprehensive geochemical data set for a suite of back-arc alkaline volcanic rocks from James Ross Island Volcanic Group (JRIVG), Antarctic Peninsula. The elemental and isotopic (Sr, Nd, Pb and Li) composition of these Cenozoic basalts emplaced east of the Antarctic Peninsula is different from the compositions of the fore-arc alkaline volcanic rocks in Southern Shetlands and nearby Bransfield Strait. The variability in elemental and isotopic composition is not consistent with the JRIVG derivation from a single mantle source but rather it suggests that the magma was mainly derived from a depleted mantle with subordinate OIB-like enriched mantle component (EM II). The isotopic data are consistent with mantle melting during extension and possible roll-back of the subducted lithosphere of the Antarctic plate. Magma contamination by Triassic–Early Tertiary clastic sediments deposited in the back-arc basin was only localized and affected Li isotopic composition in two of the samples, while most of the basalts show very little variation in δ⁷Li values, as anticipated for “mantle-driven” Li isotopic composition. These variations are difficult to resolve with radiogenic isotope systematics but Li isotopes may prove sensitive in tracking complex geochemical processes acting through the oceanic crust pile, including hydrothermal leaching and seawater equilibration.