Water release patterns of heated speleothem calcite and hydrogen isotope composition of fluid inclusions

Speleothem fluid inclusions are a potential paleo-precipitation proxy to reconstruct past rainwater isotopic composition (δ¹⁸O, δD). To get a better insight in the extraction of inclusion water from heated speleothem calcite, we monitored the water released from crushed and uncrushed speleothem calcite, heated to 900 °C at a rate of 300 °C/h, with a quadrupole mass spectrometer. Crushed calcite released water in three not well individualised peaks between 25 and 360 °C, 360 and 650 °C and between 650 and 800 °C while uncrushed calcite released water in two distinct temperature intervals: between 25 and 550 °C and between 550 and 900 °C.Water from two speleothems from the Han-sur-Lesse cave was recovered using three different techniques: i) the crushing and heating to 360 °C technique, ii) the decrepitation by heating to 550 °C and iii) the decomposition by heating to 900 °C technique. Measurements of the δD of water recovered by the decomposition of Han-sur-Lesse calcite heated to 900 °C did not show a 20 to 30‰ offset as found by previous authors. However a difference of 7‰ was observed between water released before and after decomposition of the calcite. Water recovery from the Han-sur-Lesse samples suggests that a simple heating technique (up to 550 °C) without crushing could both (a) recover water with δD representative of that of the drip water and (b) double the water yield as compared to the crushing and heating method.Our study warns for possible contamination of the recovered inclusion water with hydration water of lime, responsible for the recovery of water with very negative δD values.     

Aerosol characterization and optical thickness retrievalsusing GOME and METEOSAT satellite data

Summary ?Retrievals of atmospheric aerosol optical thickness are highly dependent on the choice of the class describing the aerosol properties leading to significant errors while using classes available in the literature. High spectral resolution measurements from GOME (Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment) between the ultraviolet and the near infrared can be used for an accurate characterization of the aerosol optical properties. The radiometer MVIRI (METEOSAT Visible and Infrared Imager) on board the geostationary satellite METEOSAT, while being equipped only with broadband VIS channel, ensures an adequate half-hourly monitoring of the atmospheric conditions over a large portion of the Earth. The present algorithm is based on a combination of data from both sensors for the retrieval of the aerosol optical thickness at the reference wavelength of 0.55 μm (AOT). A case of a desert dust outbreak from the African continent over the Atlantic Ocean is examined. AOT values obtained using a priori fixed classes taken from the literature are compared with those retrieved with this algorithm using the GOME-derived classes. Systematic differences of the order of a few tenths on average are found which remain significant also after considering the measurement errors. This represents a novelty introduced by the synergetic use of both sensors. Received March 13, 2002     

Dérive à la surface de l'océan sous l'effet des vagues

We model the drift velocity near the ocean surface separating the motion induced by the local current, itself influenced by winds and waves, and the motion induced by the waves, which are generated by local and remote winds. Application to the drift of ‘tar balls’, following the sinking of the oil tanker Prestige-Nassau in November 2002, shows that waves contribute at least one third of the drift for pollutants floating 1 m below the surface, with a mean direction about 30° to the right of the wind-sea direction. Although not new, this result was previously obtained with specific models, whereas the formalism used here combines classical wave and circulation forecasting models. To cite this article: F. Ardhuin et al., C. R. Geoscience 336 (2004).     

Unusual features of the millisecond pulsar 1937 + 21 at 406.9 MHz

Observations of the millisecond pulsar PSR B1937 + 21 acquired in Summer 1997 with the Medicina cross telescope revealed two interesting features: the existence of long-lived microstructures persisting over several minutes, and a close relationship between the pulsar flux and pulse arrival times, due to refraction on a discrete inhomogeneity. The latter effect, though observed earlier at higher frequencies by the Nancay group, is rather peculiar at our low frequency.     

The economics of climate change impacts and policy benefits at city scale: a conceptual framework

Cities are particularly vulnerable to climate change and climate extremes in part because they concentrate many activities, people and wealth in limited areas. As a result they represent an important scale for assessment and understanding of climate change impacts. This paper provides a conceptual and methodological framework for urban economic impact assessment of climate change. The focus of the paper is on model-based analysis of future scenarios, including a framing of uncertainty for these projections, as one valuable input into the decision-making process. The paper highlights the main assessment difficulties, methods and tools, and selected examples across these areas. A number of challenges are unique to climate change impact assessment and others are unique to the problem of working at local scales. The paper also identifies the need for additional research, including the need for more integrated and systemic approaches to address climate change as a part of the urban development challenge as well as the need to assess the economic impacts of climate change and response policy at local scale.     

Effect of exposure to benzo[a]pyrene on SODs, CYP1A1/1A2- and CYP2E1 immunopositive proteins in the blood clam Scapharca inaequivalvis

The effects of water-borne exposure to benzo[a]pyrene (36 h; celite-bound 0.44 mg L(-1) B[a]P) on cytochrome P450 (CYP) and superoxide dismutases (SODs) were examined in digestive gland of the blood clam, Scapharca inaequivalvis. B[a]P accumulation and elimination were rapid, with maximum whole-body concentrations of 1.78 ng g(-1) wet wt after 12 h of treatment, followed by a progressive decline to 0.89 ng g(-1) at 36 h. The presence of B[a]P resulted in an increase in total CYP of digestive gland microsomes from 54+/-14 to 108+/-21 pmol/mg protein (mean+/-SD; p<0.05, 24 h). Increases were also seen in microsomal CYP1A1/1A2-immunopositive protein (50.5 kDa app. mol. wt; p<0.05), but not CYP2E1-immunopositive protein (49 kDa app. mol. wt.), indicating a specific response of the former isoform. Exposure to B[a]P produced a steady increase in Mn-SOD digestive gland activity (p<0.01; p<0.05) but no significant change in Cu/Zn-SOD activity. The respective proteins, measured by western blotting, were not significant induced after B[a]P exposure. Cu/Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD activities were correlated with total CYP levels (r=0.96 and 0.63, respectively), indicating a role for CYP in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production during exposure. Both 'NADPH-independent' and NADPH-dependent metabolism of B[a]P by digestive gland microsomes was seen, producing mainly 1,6-, 3,6- and 6,12-diones, with some phenols and 7,8-dihydrodiol; putative protein adducts were also formed. Redox cycling of the diones may also have contributed to ROS production, leading to the increased SOD activities.