The UVX quasar optical luminosity function and its evolution

The recently finished Edinburgh UVX quasar survey at B <18 is used together with other complete samples to estimate the shape and evolution of the optical luminosity function in the redshift range 0.3< z <2.2. There is a significantly higher space density of quasars at high luminosity and low redshift than previously found in the PG sample of Schmidt & Green, with the result that the shape of the luminosity function at low redshifts ( z <1) is seen to be consistent with a single power law. At higher redshifts the slope of the power law at high luminosities appears to steepen significantly. There does not appear to be any consistent break feature which could be used as a tracer of luminosity evolution in the population.     

Aragonitische Lumachellen im bituminösen Wealden des Emslandes

In the Wealden beds of the Dalum oil pool (NW-Germany), cycles of the following composition have been deposited especially on synsedimentary uplifts: Bituminous shales (at the base) — shales with cyrena layers — cyrena coquinas (at the top). The cyrena and gastropod shells are preserved in aragonite, if they are embedded in shale or surrounded by oil, which stopped the diagenesis. Water saturated coquinae, poor in clay, are always calcitisated. As a consequence, the transformation aragonite → calcite should have been performed by solution and recrystallisation. Only in aragonitic shells, organic structures are visible by fluorescence microscopy. In the bituminous shales, admixtures of Mg-calcite have been preserved sporadically.     

Beziehungen zwischen Calciumgehalt und Bildungsbedingungen der Dolomite

Zusammenfassung Nach einer kurzen Gegenüberstellung der Eigenschaften frühdiagenetischer und spätdiagenetischer Dolomite wird der Zusammenhang des Ordnungsgrades mit Ca-Überschuß und Kristallgröße des Dolomits empirisch dargestellt (Abb. 2 und 3). Untersuchungen im Alttertiär Libyens sowie im Malm und Zechstein Norddeutschlands ergaben, daß der Ca-Überschuß der Dolomite Rückschlüsse auf den Salinitätsgrad des Bildungsmilieus erlaubt (Abb. 4), daß jedoch vor allem in porösen Gesteinen ein allmählicher Gitterumbau zum stöchiometrischen Dolomit erfolgt (Abb. 7 und 8).

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As an introduction, penecontemporary dolomites are compared with epigenetical ones. The relationship between ordering degree and Ca-excess as well as crystal size are represented empirically (fig. 2 and 3). Investigations in the Lower Tertiary of Libya, and in the Upper Jurassic and Upper Permian of Northern Germany led to the conclusion, that the Ca-excess of dolomites may be indicative of the environment (fig. 4). The data however point to a gradual lattice adjustment towards an ideal 11 composition, especially in porous rocks (fig. 7 and 8).

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Résumé Après une rapide comparaison entre les caractéristiques des dolomies pénécontemporaines et epigénétiques, on donne des relations empiriques entre le degré d'ordre, l'excès de calcium et le diamètre des cristaux (fig. 2 et 3). Les recherches exécutées dans le Paléocène libyen, le Malm et le Zechstein de l'Allemagne du Nord ont montré que l'excès de calcium contenu dans les dolomies permet des conclusions sur le milieu (flg. 4), mais que toutefois un ajustement graduel des réseaux à une composition idéale 11 se produit tout particulièrement dans les roches poreuses (fig. 7 et 8).

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Für die Ermöglichung dieser Arbeiten und die Genehmigung ihrer Veröffentlichung danken wir der GewerkschaftElwerath, Erdölwerke Hannover und besonders Herrn Direktor Dr.Roll.     

Untersuchungen zur Globalstrahlung

Zusammenfassung Für das Meteorologische Observatorium Wahnsdorf werden die achtjährigen Registrierungen der Globalstrahlung aus dem Zeitraum von 1937 bis 1941 und von 1947 bis 1949 untersucht. Als Meßgerät diente eine Solarimetersäule vonMoll-Gorczynski in Verbindung mit einem Schreibgerät. Die Ergebnisse werden benutzt, um die Abhängigkeit der Globalstrahlung von Sonnenhöhe, Sonnenscheindauer und Bewölkungsmenge zu bestimmen. Es wird geprüft, wie weit die von anderen Autoren entwickelten Formeln zur Berechnung der Globalstrahlung durch das Wahnsdorfer Zahlenmaterial bestätigt werden, und es werden neue Formeln entwickelt, um den Einfluß der Bewölkungsmenge und der Sonnenscheindauer genauer als bisher zu erfassen.

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Summary The records of the global radiation of sun and sky for the eight years 1937 to 1941 and 1947 to 1949 have been studied at the Meteorological Observatory of Wahnsdorf. A solarimetric pile ofMoll-Gorczynski has served for measuring in combination with a recording instrument. The results are employed to determine the dependency of the global radiation on sun's altitude, duration of sunshine, and cloudiness. It is examined how far the formulae of other authors for the calculation of the global radiation are confirmed by the records gained at Wahnsdorf; new formulae are developed, in order to embrace henceforth more accurately the influence of cloudiness and duration of sunshine.

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Résumé On étudie huit ans d'enregistrements du rayonnement global réalisés à l'Observatoire météorologique de Wahnsdorf (1937 à 1941 et 1947 à 1949). L'instrument était une pile solarimétrique deMoll-Gorczynski reliée à un enregistreur. Ces mesures servent à établir la dépendance du rayonnement global vis à vis de la hauteur solaire, l'insolation et la nébulosité. On examine dans quelle mesure les formules d'autres auteurs pour le calcul du rayonnement global sont vérifiées par les observations de Wahnsdorf; on établit einfin de nouvelles formules permettant de mieux tenir compte de l'influence de la nébulosité et de l'insolation.

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Mit 3 Textabbildungen.     

Depositional regimes in the Norwegian-Greenland Sea: the last two glacial to interglacial transitions

Various models of surface and deep-water circulation in the Norwegian-Greenland Sea (NGS) have been proposed for the last two glacial to interglacial transitions. Although much progress has been made in understanding the sedimentary response to climatic and oceanographic changes, conflicting interpretations have been developed. To clarify some of these discrepancies and to test or modify the existing circulation concepts, a multiparameter approach is applied, combining sedimentological, micropaleontological, organic-geochemical and isotopic methods. On the basis of indicative properties a combined litho- and organofacies concept is developed and calibrated with modern depositional settings beneath different surface water masses. Sedimentary regimes are then derived for glacial and deglacial settings.Atlantic water intrusions in the NGS reveal complex and highly dynamic patterns for the last two glacial and interglacial periods, with repetitive inflows during Isotope Stage 6 and a high variability in Isotope Stage 5. Specific facies patterns show maximum extensions of Atlantic Water intrusions during the climatic highstands 5.5.1, 5.3 and 5.1 and narrowest intrusions in the cool phases 5.4 and most pronounced in 5.2. In contrast, different glacio-marine depositional regimes depict variable sea ice coverage and supply of ice-rafted debris. Most conspicuous are short-term depositional events marked by diamictons, which are related to the high instabilities of continental ice sheets. Some of the diamictons seem to occur contemporaneously with Heinrich layers H1 and H2. The probable temporal and obvious phenomenological concidence of Heinrich layers and NGS diamictons suggests a common trigger mechanism which caused an almost simultaneous disintegration of huge continental ice masses along the shelves of North America and the eastern margin of the NGS.A previous estuarine circulation model claims regional upwelling along the eastern margin of the NGS for specific periods of the last deglaciation. The organic character of sediments covering the same time intervals show a clear predominance of reworked fossil organic matter and thus does not support the estuarine model.     

Monitoring the temporal development of natural hazard risks as a basis indicator for climate change adaptation

The potential effects of climatic changes on natural risks are widely discussed. But the formulation of strategies for adapting risk management practice to climate changes requires knowledge of the related risks for people and economic values. The main goals of this work were (1) the development of a method for analysing and comparing risks induced by different natural hazard types, (2) highlighting the most relevant natural hazard processes and related damages, (3) the development of an information system for the monitoring of the temporal development of natural hazard risk and (4) the visualisation of the resulting information for the wider public. A comparative exposure analysis provides the basis for pointing out the hot spots of natural hazard risks in the province of Carinthia, Austria. An analysis of flood risks in all municipalities provides the basis for setting the priorities in the planning of flood protection measures. The methods form the basis for a monitoring system that periodically observes the temporal development of natural hazard risks. This makes it possible firstly to identify situations in which natural hazard risks are rising and secondly to differentiate between the most relevant factors responsible for the increasing risks. The factors that most influence the natural risks could be made evident and eventual climate signals could be pointed out. Only with this information can the discussion about potential increases in natural risks due to climate change be separated from other influencing factors and be made at an objective level.     

Cichlid species diversity in naturally and anthropogenically turbid habitats of Lake Victoria, East Africa

During the past decades, major anthropogenic environmental changes occurred in Lake Victoria, including increased predation pressure due to Nile perch introduction, and decreases in water transparency and dissolved oxygen concentrations due to eutrophication. This resulted in a collapse of the haplochromine cichlids in the sub-littoral waters of the Mwanza Gulf in 1986–1990, followed by a recovery of some species in the 1990s and 2000s, when Nile perch densities declined. We studied two data sets: (1) haplochromines from sand and mud bottoms in the pre-collapse period; (2) haplochromines from sub-littoral areas during the pre-collapse, collapse and recovery periods. Water over mud is murkier and poorer in oxygen than water over sand, and differences in haplochromine communities in these natural habitats during the pre-collapse period may predict the effects of anthropogenic eutrophication during the collapse and recovery periods. In the pre-collapse period, haplochromine densities over sand and mud did not differ, but species richness over sand was 1.6 times higher than over mud bottoms. Orange- and white-blotched colour morphs were most common at the shallowest sand station. More specifically, insectivores and mollusc-shellers had higher numbers of species over sand than over mud, whereas for mollusc-crushers no difference was found. Laboratory experiments revealed that mollusc shelling was more affected by decreased light intensities than mollusc crushing. During the pre-collapse period, spawning occurred year-round in shallow areas with hard substrates and relatively clear water. In deeper areas with mud bottoms, spawning mainly occurred during months in which water clarity was high. No effects of hypoxia on spawning periods were found. It follows that clearer water seems to support differentiation in feeding techniques as well as year-round spawning, and both may facilitate species coexistence. Water clarity is also known to be important for mate choice. These observations may explain why, since the decline of Nile perch, haplochromine densities have recovered, the numbers of hybrids increased and species diversity in the current eutrophic sub-littoral waters has remained 70 % lower than before the environmental changes.     

Die Tonminerale der Zechsteinformation

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Ein Tonmineral der Kaolinit-Halloysitgruppe von Provins (Frankreich)

Ohne Zusammenfassung