Galactic longitude dependence of the intensity ratio of the diffuse interstellar absorption bands at λλ6180 and 4430

Equivalent widths, as published by Seddon, for the diffuse interstellar absorption band at 6180 are compared with photoelectric 4430 indices for ten stars in the northern Milky Way. The intensity ratio is found to depend on galactic longitude in a way similar to that found by Johnson for the ratioA _V /E _B–V of total to selective interstellar absorption.The dependence found, combined with deductions from a tentative identification of the bands as due to negative hydrogen, points to a direction for the galactic magnetic field that is in better agreement with the direction derived from rotation measures of extragalactic sources than with that based on the dust-hypothesis interpretation of interstellar optical polarization.     

The 1s 2s states of negative hydrogen

Term values for the 1s 2s states of H^– are calculated with the use of simple eigenfunction approximations constructed on the basis of available Hartree-type functions for the 1s ² and 2s ² states of the ion. The results seem to support a tentative identification of the interstellar diffuse absorption bands at 4890 and 6180 as due to negative hydrogen.     

Sedimentary recycling in arc magmas: geochemical and U–Pb–Hf–O constraints on the Mesoproterozoic Suldal Arc, SW Norway

The Hardangervidda-Rogaland Block within southwest Norway is host to ~1.52 to 1.48 Ga continental building and variable reworking during the ~1.1 to 0.9 Ga Sveconorwegian orogeny. Due to the lack of geochronological and geochemical data, the timing and tectonic setting of early Mesoproterozoic magmatism has long been ambiguous. This paper presents zircon U–Pb–Hf–O isotope data combined with whole-rock geochemistry to address the age and petrogenesis of basement units within the Suldal region, located in the centre of the Hardangervidda-Rogaland Block. The basement comprises variably deformed grey gneisses and granitoids that petrologically and geochemically resemble mature volcanic arc lithologies. U–Pb ages confirm that magmatism occurred from ~1,521 to 1,485 Ma, and conspicuously lack any xenocrystic inheritance of distinctly older crust. Hafnium isotope data range from εHf_(initial) +1 to +11, suggesting a rather juvenile magmatic source, but with possible involvement of late Palaeoproterozoic crust. Oxygen isotope data range from mantle-like (δ¹⁸O ~5 ‰) to elevated (~10 ‰) suggesting involvement of low-temperature altered material (e.g., supracrustal rocks) in the magma source. The Hf–O isotope array is compatible with mixing between mantle-derived material with young low-temperature altered material (oceanic crust/sediments) and older low-temperature altered material (continent-derived sediments). This, combined with a lack of xenoliths and xenocrysts, exposed older crust, AFC trends and S-type geochemistry, all point to mixing within a deep-crustal magma-generation zone. A proposed model comprises accretion of altered oceanic crust and the overlying sediments to a pre-existing continental margin, underthrusting to the magma-generation zone and remobilisation during arc magmatism. The geodynamic setting for this arc magmatism is comparable with that seen in the Phanerozoic (e.g., the Sierra Nevada and Coast Range batholiths), with compositions in the Suldal Sector reaching those of average upper continental crust. As within these younger examples, factors that drive magmatism towards the composition of the average continental crust include the addition of sedimentary material to magma source regions, and delamination of cumulate material. Underthrusting of sedimentary materials and their subsequent involvement in arc magmatism is perhaps a more widespread mechanism involved in continental growth than is currently recognised. Finally, the Suldal Arc magmatism represents a significant juvenile crustal addition to SW Fennoscandia.     

Appraisal of World Reference Base for Soil Resources—from a nordic point of view

During the project “Nordic Reference Soils” 13 different soils from Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden were selected in order to represent i) soils covering the main areas of the Nordic area, ii) soils from the different climatic regions, and iii) environmental sensitive soils. The 13 Nordic Reference Soils provided an excellent basis for the evaluation of the WRB (World Reference Base for Soil Resources) performance under Nordic conditions. Classification according to the WRB poses considerable problems. These concern podzolized soils, cultivated soils, and the acid sulfate soils. Only three out of the seven podzolized soils are allocated in taxons reflecting that they were podzolized. Four out of the nine cultivated soils were exposed to substantial anthropogenic impact, resulting in man-made Mollic A-horizons, which is not reflected in the classification. The WRB-classification of the soils is compared with the FAO and Soil Taxonomy classification. This highlighted some of the classification problems. This paper will propose changes to the WRB in order to improve the performance of the system for Nordic soils.

Geografisk Tidsskrift, Danish Journal of Geography 100: 15–26     

The Role of Groundwater for Lake‐Water Quality and Quantification of N Seepage

The heterogeneous nature of both groundwater discharge to a lake (inflow) and nitrate concentrations in groundwater can lead to significant errors in calculations of nutrient loading. Therefore, an integrated approach, combining groundwater flow and transport modelling with observed nitrate and ammonium groundwater concentrations, was used to estimate nitrate loading from a catchment via groundwater to an oligotrophic flow‐through lake (Lake Hampen, Denmark). The transport model was calibrated against three vertical nitrate profiles from multi‐level wells and 17 shallow wells bordering a crop field near the lake. Nitrate concentrations in groundwater discharging to the lake from the crop field were on average 70 times higher than in groundwater from forested areas. The crop field was responsible for 96% of the total nitrate loading (16.2 t NO₃/year) to the lake even though the field only covered 4.5% of the catchment area. Consequently, a small change in land use in the catchment will have a large effect on the lake nutrient balance and possible lake restoration. The study is the first known attempt to estimate the decrease of nitrate loading via groundwater to a seepage lake when an identified catchment source (a crop field) is removed.