ALBERT

Description: For over thirty years man has studied “outer space” and installed satellites which watch the surface of the Earth. The great depths of the world ocean are, however, practically unknown and there is an urgent need to put abyssal benthic laboratories into “inner space” in order to study basic phenomena of interest to marine science and climatology as well as man's impact on the oceans. In view of the numerous problems related to global change, as a first step emphasis should first be on the role of the oceans and their inherent processes, which are the focus of such international programmes as the World Ocean Circulation Experiment (WOCE) and the Joint Global Ocean Flux Study (JGOFS). Multi-disciplinary registration of key events at selected key sites investigating the variability in time and space are of the utmost importance. The same methods and techniques must be used for the study of human impacts on the deep oceans caused by mining of metalliferous resources and by waste disposal as well as in basic studies. However, the investigation of the inner space of our planet has certain requirements. As long-term and large-scale investigations become more and more important, development of automized systems, largely independent from research vessels will be required. This will demand high capacities of energy for all technical functions as well as high storage capacities for data and samples. As a consequence the needs for two different—although overlapping—functional approaches are defined for future deep-sea deployments. (A) A system for long-term registration of the natural variability and long-term monitoring of human impacts: (B) A system for short-term observations and short-time experimentations. This report summarizes their technological demands. The envisioned interdisciplinary technology should deliver information on physical, biological and geochemical processes and their variabilities in the deep oceans. The prospected systems need to have the ability for real time video observation, data transfer and experimental manipulation, as well as sensing and sampling facilities with large storage capacities for long-term deployments. Prospective costs of the described multipurpose abyssal benthic laboratory will presumably exceed the funds for deep-sea research of a single country. A joint European effort could solve this problem and help to manifest a leading role for European marine science in international deep-sea and global change research.

Description: The diadinoxanthin cycle (DD-cycle) in chromophyte algae involves the interconversion of two carotenoids, diadinoxanthin (DD) and diatoxanthin (DT). We investigated the kinetics of light-induced DD-cycling in the marine diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum and its role in dissipating excess excitation energy in PS II. Within 15 min following an increase in irradiance, DT increased and was accompanied by a stoichiometric decrease in DD. This reaction was completely blocked by dithiothreitol (DTT). A second, time-dependent, increase in DT was detected ∼ 20 min after the light shift without a concomitant decrease in DD. DT accumulation from both processes was correlated with increases in non-photochemical quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence. Stern-Volmer analyses suggests that changes in non-photochemical quenching resulted from changes in thermal dissipation in the PS II antenna and in the reaction center. The increase in non-photochemical quenching was correlated with a small decrease in the effective absorption cross section of PS II. Model calculations suggest however that the changes in cross section are not sufficiently large to significantly reduce multiple excitation of the reaction center within the turnover time of steady-state photosynthetic electron transport at light saturation. In DTT poisoned cells, the change in non-photochemical quenching appears to result from energy dissipation in the reaction center and was associated with decreased photochemical efficiency. D1 protein degradation was slightly higher in samples poisoned with DTT than in control samples. These results suggest that while DD-cycling may dynamically alter the photosynthesis-irradiance response curve, it offers limited protection against photodamage of PS II reaction centers at irradiance levels sufficient to saturate steady-state photosynthesis.

Description: Zero-age basalts dredged from the Kolbeinsey Ridge directly north of Iceland are mafic quartz tholeiites (MgO 6-10 wt. %), strongly depleted in incompatible elements. Fractionation-corrected Na2O contents ('Na(sub 8)') are amongst the lowest found on the global ridge system, implying that the degree of partial melting at Kolbeinsey is amongst the highest for all mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB). In contrast, the basalts show large ranges of incompatible-element ratios (e.g., K2O/TiO2 of 0.01 to 0.12 and Nd/Sm of 2.1 to 2.9) not related to variations in radiogenic isotope ratios; this suggests recent enrichment/depletion events associated with small-degree partial melting as their cause, rather than long-lived source heterogeneity. Tholeiitic MORB from many regions globally show similar or more extreme variations in K2O/TiO2. Dynamic melting of an adiabatically upwelling source can reconcile these conflicting indications of the degree of melting. Through dynamic melting, the incompatible elements are partially separated into different melt fractions based on their bulk partition coefficients, more incompatible elements being concentrated in deeper, smaller-degree partial melts. The final erupted magma is a mix of melts from all depths in the melting column. The concentration of highly incompatible elements in the mix will be very sensitive to the physical processes allowing the deep melts to separate and migrate to the site of mixing, and small fluctuations in the efficiency of the separation process can account for the large range of trace element ratios seen at Kolbeinsey. The major element chemistry of the erupted mix (and Na(sub 8) is much more robust, depending mainly on the integrated total amount of melting. The large variations of incompatible element ratios seen at Kolbeinsey, and in MORB in general, therefore give no information about the total degree of melting occuring beneath the ridge, nor do they require a heterogeneous source.

Description: Three groups of REE patterns are observed for the sandstones and shales of the Middle Ordovician Austin Glen Member of the Normanskill Formation. One sandstone sample is enriched in middle and light rare earth elements. The majority of samples are light rare earth element (LREE) enriched with negative Eu-anomalies and flat heavy rare earth elements (HREEs), whereas a third group appears to have lost LREEs and middle rare earth element (MREEs). Homogeneous neodymium isotopic compositions for all samples at about the time of deposition, ϵNd (470 Ma) = −8.2 ± 1.1(2SD), indicate that the source of the Austin Glen Member was well mixed and that the neodymium had a long-term enriched history. The differences in the shape and abundances of the REE patterns combined with the neodymium isotope characteristics of the samples lead us to the conclusion that samarium and neodymium were fractionated and that the neodymium isotopic system might have been disturbed at about the time of deposition (470 Ma). Most samples appear to have been affected by this process. The two most altered shales lost about half of their neodymium and their ratios are higher than the ratios of average shales. These two shales give clearly erroneous mantle-extraction ages, but the average TDM of the provenance can still be deduced (1700–1800 Ma) from the least disturbed sandstones with normal upper crustal ratios. Accordingly, this study demonstrates that the REEs may be transported and neodymium isotopes may be reequilibrated under certain sedimentary conditions (e.g., diagenesis). However, in spite of evidence for REE redistribution, provenance information (TDM, original REE patterns) may still be inferred.

Description: The winter ice-regime of the 〈80 km wide Alaskan Beaufort Sea shelf is characterized by compression and shearing, resulting in the formation of major grounded pressure ridge systems stabilizing the fast ice on the mid-shelf, and essentially no open-water areas. In contrast, the winter ice-regime of the 500-km wide Laptev Sea shelf is controlled by winds blowing from land to sea, and is therefore dilational. A perennial polynya borders the hundreds of kilometers-wide and very smooth fast ice offshore. In this body of open water, rapidly forming ice is continuously advected offshore by the mean wind field, making the Laptev Sea the single major ice factory for the Arctic Ocean and Transpolar Drift. Conversely, with summer warming this dark polynya turns into an area of high heat gain, which results in the retreat of the ice edge to a much higher latitude and greater distance (〉500 km) from the mainland than in the Beaufort Sea. As a result, the annual freeze-up does not incorporate old, deep-draft ice, and with a lack of compression, such deep-draft ice is not generated in situ, as on the Beaufort Sea shelf. The Laptev Sea has as much as 1000 km of fetch at the end of summer, when freezing storms move in and large (6 m) waves can form. Also, for the first three winter months, the polynya lies inshore at a water depth of only 10 m. Turbulence and freezing are excellent conditions for sediment entrainment by frazil and anchor ice, when compared to conditions in the short-fetched Beaufort Sea. We expect entrainment to occur yearly. Different from the intensely ice-gouged Beaufort Sea shelf, hydraulic bedforms probably dominate in the Laptev Sea. Corresponding with the large volume of ice produced, more dense water is generated in the Laptev Sea, possibly accompanied by downslope sediment transport. Thermohaline convection at the midshelf polynya, together with the reduced rate of bottom disruption by ice keels, may enhance benthic productivity and permit establishment of open-shelf benthic communities which in the Beaufort Sea can thrive only in the protection of barrier islands. Indirect evidence for high benthic productivity is found in the presence of walrus, who also require year-round open water. By contrast, lack of a suitable environment restricts walrus from the Beaufort Sea, although over 700 km farther to the south. We could speculate on other consequences of the different ice regimes in the Beaufort and Laptev Seas, but these few examples serve to point out the dangers of exptrapolating from knowledge gained in the North American Arctic to other shallow Arctic shelf settings.

Description: A method for palinspastic reconstruction of rift basins is described here. It is based on the assumption of isostatic equilibrium and calculated from the present topography and sediment thickness in a rift basin. Passive continental margins along eastern South America and western Africa were moved landward from the ocean-continent boundary approximately 100 km. When South America is rotated to Africa, a tight fit with Africa results along the northern and central margins of South America. The southern part of South America was rotated to fit against Africa based on the palinspastic reconstruction of the San Jorge, Colorado and Salado marginal rift basins in Argentina. The method could also be applied to passive margins to calculate the total amount of crustal stretching that occurred during continental extension and rifting. The pre-rift condition of passive margins could then be calculated for more accurate initial fits between conjugate passive margins.

Description: Biometric analyses on shells of Turborotalita quinqueloba (Natland) reflect the paleoceanographic conditions in the Norwegian-Greenland Sea (NGS). Both median and mean size variations exhibit a steady increase after the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). After Termination I the size eventually reaches a constant level with only minor fluctuation. In contrast, peak abundances of specimens occur somewhat later, during the Holocene climatic optimum and rapidly decrease again in the youngest sediments. Test sizes are larger at the Vøring Plateau in the vicinity of incoming Atlantic water than in water further to the west. Turborotalita quinqueloba first appeared in the southwestern part of the NGS with a preliminary major peak in abundance and size well below the Younger Dryas. This species was present in sizes 〈 125 μm in this area during almost entire oxygen isotopic Stage 2. This was not observed in the more easterly located cores. It seems likely that size variations as a ‘tool’ for NGS paleoceanographic interpretations are not only valuable for the time since the LGM, but can also be applied to older isotopic stages where abundances of T. quinqueloba are low or absent in the 〉 125 μm size-fractions but are high in the 63–125 μm fraction (e.g. Stages 7, 9 and 11).

Description: Prior to this work, the planktic foraminiferal genus Beella Banner and Blow (1960) has never been described from Pleistocene sediments from the Norwegian-Greenland Sea (NGS). The general characteristics of this species agree well with the most recent emendation of the genus Beella. Accordingly, the described species is considered to be Beella megastoma (Earöamd). Test sizes range from 200-700 μm, but specimens are mainly confined to the 250-500 μm mesh-size fraction. Interpretations of stable isotopes, sedimentological, and other micropaleontological data indicate that this species is not simply a "warm-water form" and, despite its low abundances, it is a species of major paleoceanographic significance. Stratigraphically, it is confined to meltwater events of Termination II, III, and VI (oxygen isotopic stage boundary 5/6, 7/8, and 15/16) and not to the ensuing interglacial maximum. Hence, these "Beella-events" represent a particular oceanographic phenomenon and are designated in accordance with the present numerical system of deglacial terminations as Event B2, B3, and B6 respectively.

Description: Among living green algae assigned to the order Chlorococcales and order Zygnematales certain species develop resistant outer organic walls and/or cysts during their life cycles: as such they have the potential to become fossils. Based on morphology,comparison between living algae and microfossil remains are made with varying degrees of confidence, and a possible evolutionary pathway for certain chlorococcalean coenobial families is suggested. Twelve genera are reviewed from earliest to latest Triassic palynological assemblages from northwestern Australia; and the following taxa are described as new: Plaesiodictyon mosellanum ssp. symmetricum ssp. nov.; Plaesiodictyon mosellanurn ssp. variabile ssp. nov.; Plaesiodictvon decussatus sp. nov.: Plaesiodico'on decussatus ssp. decussatus ssp. nov.; Plaesiodictyon decussatus ssp. tetracornuta ssp. nov.; Tetraporina protrusa sp. nov.: Crucigeniella? torques sp. nov.; and Paleoraphidia akestra gen. et sp. nov. (type). Their suggested natural affinities are useful in palaeoenvironmental interpretations of mostly freshwater or low-salinity habitats.

Description: Wir haben in den letzten Jahrzehnten gelernt, die Ursachen und die grobe regionale Verbreitung von Erdbeben, Vulkanausbrüchen oder Massenbewegungen an Berghängen zu verstehen. Wo, wann und mit welcher Stärke diese im wesentlichen lokalen Ereignisse eintreten, ist uns aber noch weithin unbekannt. Es kann zwar von Fortschritten bei deren Vorhersage berichtet werden, doch bleibt trotzdem die Vorsorge wichtiger.

Description: A method is presented to determine the extent of iron complexation by natural organic ligands in seawater. Catalytic cathodic stripping voltammetry (CSV) is used to take advantage of ligand competition between the added ligand, 1-nitroso-2-napthol (NN), and natural ligands present in seawater. The conditional stability constant for the complexation of iron by NN was calibrated for salinities between 1 and 36 using ligand competition with EDTA. The values of log K'(Fe(NN))3 (valid for pH 6.9 seawater) were found to vary linearly with log salinity according to log K'(Fe(NN))3 = - 1.04 +/- 0.08 log(salinity) + 30.12 +/- 0.09. The detection window, defined by the iron complexing ability of NN was altered by varying the concentration of NN. Preliminary measurements of iron complexing ligands in samples from coastal and open oceanic origin revealed the presence of natural complexing ligands at concentrations higher than that of total dissolved iron. The stability constants for the complexes were high, log K'(FeL) falling within the range of 18.8-21.2, indicating that by far the greatest component (99%) of the dissolved iron occurs organically complexed in pH 6.9 seawater. Model calculations showed that it is possible that the organic fraction may be somewhat less at a pH value near 8.

Description: Coupling of physical, biological and chemical processes associated with particle resuspension and seston flux was investigated at three sites in the North Sea with contrasting water column (mixed/stratified) and seabed (cohesive/non-cohesive) characteristics.

Description: In laboratory investigations of the gas-phase OH initiated oxidation of dimethyl sulfide (DMS: CH3SCH3) at room temperature the formation of SO2, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO: CH3SOCH3), and OCS have been observed. A yield of 0.7±0.2% S was measured for OCS. These new results represent a hitherto unknown and quite considerable in situ atmospheric source of OCS. Based on the global DMS source strength as given in the literature and provided that the results from the laboratory study are valid under atmospheric conditions we estimate a contribution in the range 0.10 to 0.28 Tg (OCS) yr−1 from the gas-phase atmospheric photooxidation of DMS to the global OCS budget.

Description: The accuracy of the Darcy velocity, flux, and stream function computed from lowest-order, triangle-based, control volume and mixed finite element approximations to the two-dimensional pressure equation is considered. The control volume finite element method, similar to integrated finite difference methods and analogous to the interpolation of Galerkin finite element results over “control volumes,” is shown to yield a conservative velocity field and smooth streamlines. The streamlines and fluxes through the system computed with the control volume finite element approach are compared to those computed from the mixed finite element method, which approximates the pressure and velocity variables separately. It is shown that for systems with only moderate degrees of heterogeneity, the control volume finite element method is the more computationally efficient alternative; i.e., it provides more accurate flow results for a given number of unknowns. For more variable or discontinuous permeability fields, by contrast, such as sand/shale systems, the mixed finite element method is shown to approximate flow variables more accurately and more realistically than the control volume method with the same number of unknowns.

Description: During the "RV Polarstem"-Expedition ARK VIII/2 sediment samples were obtained at the continentalslope of NW-Spitsbergen. Detailed sedimentological and geochemical analysis were carriedout at two undisturbed box cores (PS2122-1GKG, PS2123-2GKG) as well as two gravity cores(PS2122-1SL, PS2123-2SL). The following parameters were deterrnined: Organic carbon, nitrogenand carbonate contents, hydrogen index, stable isotopes, ice rafted debris, grain-size distribution andbiogenic opal. The main objective of this study was the reconstruction of paleoenvironmental changes off thenorthwest coast of Spitsbergen during the last glacial/interglacial-cycle, i.e., during the last about128.000 years.The results of the investigations can be summarized as follows:- During isotope stage 1 (Holocene) and 5.5 (Eemian Interglacial), light stable isotopes (8180: 3,4-2%0; 8BC: 0,26-0,5 %0), increased bioturbation, high content of planktonic foraminifera andbiogenic opal and low quantity of ice-rafted material, indicate seasonally ice-free conditions alongthe northwest coast due to the int1uence of the Westspitsbergen Current.- Additionally, the sediment characteristics of the middle of isotope stage 2 (Last Glacial Maximum)and at the end of stage 3 confirms an inflow of warmer Atlantic water. The highest production ofplanktonic and benthic foraminifera (N. pachyderma sin., Cassidulina teretis) (CaC03: 10 %) mayret1ect the expansion of the "Whalers Bay"-Polynya as a result of the int1uence of the WestspitsbergenCurrent. Presumably, occasionally open-ice conditions provide sufficient precipitation to buildupthe Svalbard/Barents Ice Sheet.- The time intervals for the glacier advances on Svalbard given by Mangerud et al. (1992), can becorrelated with increased accumulation of ice-rafted material in the sediments at the northwest coastof Spitsbergen. Especially during isotope stage 4 and at the beginning of the Last Glacial Maximum(isotope stage 2), a drastically increased supply of coarse terrigenous material occurs. The highaccumulation rate (0,18-0,21 g/cm2jky) of terrigenous organic carbon is indicated by high C/Nratios(until 16) and low hydrogen index (50 mg-HC/gC). In constrast to deep sea sediments in theFram-Strait (Hebbeln 1992), the glacier advance between 118.000 and 108.000 years B.P. ist documented in the continental slope sediments.- At the end of the Weichselian ice age, the deglaciation at the northwest coast starts with a typicalmelt-water signal in the stables isotope record (8180: 3,5 %0; 813C: -0,16 %0) and high contents ofgravel (6-13 %). The signal can be assigned to an event at the westcoast of Spitsbergen (core NP9039), dated to 14.500 years B.P. (Andersen et al. 1993).

Description: The relatively small numbers of pelagic cephalopods caught in the RMT-8 samples (0–300 m) in February/March 1983 in the Weddell Sea were dominated by early life stages of the cranchiid squid Galiteuthis glacialis. A total of 48 specimens were caught with dorsal mantle length (ML) ranging from 4–36 mm. They occurred with a mean density of 0.15 ind. × 1000 m−3 and were present in 38% of 33 RMT-8 samples. G. glacialis was the only cranchiid squid found in the Weddell Sea between 66° and 74°S. Its early life stages were concentrated in the layers below the summer thermocline (〉50 m) and body sizes appeared to increase towards deeper water layers. For biochemical analyses, nine specimens of G. glacialis (ML 6–18 mm) were sampled in the eastern Weddell Sea between 185–520 m water depth in January/February 1985. Total lipid contents ranged from 8%–11% dry weight (DW) with phospholipids being the main lipid component (43–56% of total lipid). Storage lipids (triacylglycerols) made up 18–26% of total lipid. The relatively low lipid contents may reflect the early development stage of the specimens examined. The data presented give the first information on geographical and vertical distribution patterns of early life stages of G. glacialis in the high-Antarctic Weddell Sea, as well as on their lipid content and composition.

Description: An RMT 25 opening/closing net was used to sample the nekton comunity at 2 stations in the ice free zone (IFZ) of the Scotia Sea (Stn 1 approximately 10 nautical miles south of the Antarctic Polar Front, Stn 2 on the edge of the South Georgia Shelf Break to the northwest of the island) Oblique hauls sampled 200 m depth layers to 1000 m during both day and night. Total and individual volumes of each species in each 200 m layer were measured by displacement The data were used to generate biomass and numerical spectra for day and night at each station for the whole water column to 1000 m. At both stations the relationship between log10 biomass density (B/A) and log10 individual body mass (M) were strongly positive. Slopes of the biomass spectra were not significantly different among the day and night stations and an overall regression showed that biomass density scaled as M061. Analysis of biomass spectra revealed that although the species composition and biomass density vaned between the 2 stations, energy turnover in the nekton community in the 2 areas was similarly dominated by animals of larger size. Considering energy turnover in terms of taxonomic groups revealed that Stn 1 turnover was dominated by tunicates (salps) followed by fish and cnidarians and at Stn 2 turnover was dominated by crustaceans followed similarly by fish and cnidarians. Use of biomass spectra in this case study was shown to enhance insight into the comparative function of 2 pelaglc systems obtained using a conventional taxonomc approach The analysis of biomass spectra in the absence of taxonomic data would have had limited value as it would not have emphasised the major difference between the 2 stations: the domination by tunicates, an energetic dead end, at Stn 1 and crustaceans, which are available to predators, at Stn 2.

Description: To investigate the growth rates and absolute time stratigraphy of marine hydrogenetic ferromanganese encrustations, we performed 10Be profiling and ‘Co chronometry’ of crustal layers, as well as 87Sr86Sr and δ18O analysis of phosphatised limestone (francolite) within a ∼ 9.5 cm thick ferromanganese crust from Schumann Seamount in the Hawaiian Archipelago. Together with microfossil stratigraphy, our results indicate that some seamount crusts greatly exceed the commonly accepted Miocene maximum age, in this case probably approaching the Cretaceous age of the seamount. In addition to the unconformity at the crust-substrate boundary, at least eight major disconformities are indicated in the Schumann Seamount crust which probably represent depositional hiatuses or episodes of crust erosion. Three of the six upper disconformities can be placed at the Plio-Pleistocene, Middle Miocene and Paleocene-Eocene based on 10Be, microfossil and Co chronometer evidence. 87Sr86Sr and δ18O values of purified francolite from an inclusion-rich layer between the depths of 44 and 49 mm suggest apparent ages that approach those of Eocene-Late Paleocene microfossils reported in overlying layers, whereas francolite vein infillings in the lower part of the crust and in the basaltic substrate yield values that, if interpreted as ages of phosphatization, suggest a minimum Oligocene age. Paleotracking suggests the phosphogenesis observed here and on other Central Pacific seamounts could not have resulted from upwelling enhanced productivity associated with equatorial divergence if the Oligocene and Middle Miocene isotopic ages reported here and elsewhere are correct; however, a maximum Late Paleocene age for the phosphogenesis, consistent with the stratigraphy, would place these seamounts within 10°N of the equator. Paleotracking also suggests northeast tradewind transport of aluminosilicates in the Cenozoic, in agreement with other evidence for the antiquity of this ferromanganese crust.

Description: We present comprehensive geochemical analyses on samples from the active volcanoes of the Society and Austral hotspot chains, including data for major, trace and rare-earth elements, and Sr, Nd, Pb and Th isotopes. The latter can be used to determine the Th/U in the source at the time of melting, and so give a constraint on the absolute amount of incompatible-element fractionation occurring during melting. SiO2 vs. MgO variations show evidence for variable amounts of a nephelinitic melt component (low SiO2, low MgO) in all the magmas studied. The nephelinite is probably produced in the presence of CO2 during melting. Correlations between SiO2 and the degree of ThU fractionation (derived from Th isotope measurements) imply that the CO2-driven, nephelinitic melting is also responsible for fractionating the Th/U ratio. Comparing the Th isotopes with Sr, Nd and Pb isotopes, it is possible to place limits on the Th/U ratios in the EM II (Societies) and HIMU (Australs) sources. These are ∼ 3.4 and ⩽ 2.5, respectively. The Nb/U ratio, which was previously thought to be relatively constant in all oceanic volcanics (47 ± 10), is shown to be anomalously low (25 ± 5) in some of the Society Seamounts and high (60) in some of the Australs. This confirms the presence of continent-derived material in the Society source and suggests that HIMU volcanics may have elevated Nb/U ratios. The change in Pb isotope compositions in the Australs, from HIMU (e.g., Tubuai) before 6 Ma to the more recent, less extreme compositions seen for example at Macdonald, is the result of a small amount of subducted sediment contaminating the pure old recycled oceanic crust component which, before 6 Ma, yielded HIMU.

Description: Global mean and eddy fields from a four-year experiment with a 1/6° × 1/5° horizontal resolution implementation of the CME North Atlantic model are presented. The time-averaged wind-driven and thermohaline circulation in the model is compared to the results of a 1/3° × 2/5° model run in very similar configuration. In general, the higher resolution results are found to confirm that the resolution of previous CME experiments is sufficient to describe many features of the large-scale circulation and water mass distribution quite well. While the increased resolution does not lead to large changes in the mean flow patterns, the variability in the model is enhanced significantly. On the other hand, however, not all aspects of the circulation have improved with resolution. The Azores Current Frontal Zone with its variability in the eastern basin is still represented very poorly. Particular attention is also directed toward the unrealistic stationary anticyclones north of Cape Hatteras and in the Gulf of Mexico.

Description: Open-ocean deep convection is a littleunderstood process occurring in winter in remote areas under hostile observation conditions, for example, in the Labrador and Greenland Seas and near the Antarctic continent. Deep convection is a crucial link in the “Great Ocean Conveyor Belt” [Broecker, 1991], transforming poleward flowing warm surface waters through atmosphere-oceaninteraction into cold equatorward flowing water masses. Understanding its physics, interannual variations, and role in the global thermohaline circulation is an important objective of climate change research. In convection regions, drastic changes in water mass properties and distribution occur on scales of 10–100 km. These changes occur quickly and are difficult to observe with conventional oceanographic techniques. Apart from observing the development of the deep-mixed patch of homogeneous water itself, processes of interest are convective plumes on scales 〈1 km and vertical velocities of several cm s−1 [Schott et al., 1994] that quickly mix water masses vertically, and instability processes at the rim of the convection region that expedite horizontal exchanges of convected and background water masses [e.g., Gascard, 1978].

Description: The effect of dissolution from particulates into the supernatant solution in sediment trap sample cups has been measured for fatty acids. A mooring array with time series sediment traps was deployed in the northeast Atlantic Ocean (59°N, 21°W) for 14 months. Selected representative samples from the trap at 2200 m (poisoned with NaN3) were analyzed for total and free fatty acids in both the solution and particulate phase by means of gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry with an ion trap detector. The flux contribution of the dissolved total fatty acids (∑ DTFA) was found to be between 15 and 75% of the total flux (∑ TTFA, sum of the fluxes of total fatty acids in both particles and supernatants). Dissolved free fatty acids (∑ DFFA) represented 25–88% of the total flux of free fatty acids (∑ TFFA). Absolute concentrations of total and free fatty acids in both compartments are discussed in terms of the processes controlling the distribution between the two phases, for example, readsorption. Sample handling, poisoning, bacterial activity, and swimmers may also affect fatty acid distribution. Flux data (sum of particulate and dissolved fluxes) are presented for individual fatty acids. Also, the degree of dissolution of individual fatty acids is shown for one sample (dissolved fraction ranging between 16 and 98% of total flux).

Description: Biogenic particle fluxes from highly productive surface waters, boundary scavenging, and hydrothermal activity are the main factors influencing the deposition of radionuclides in the area of the Galapagos microplate, eastern Equatorial Pacific. In order to evaluate the importance of these three processes throughout the last 100 kyr, concentrations of the radionuclides 10Be, 230Th, and 231Pa, and of Mn and Fe were measured at high resolution in sediment samples from two gravity cores KLH 068 and KLH 093. High biological productivity in the surface waters overlying the investigated area has led to 10Be and 231Pa fluxes exceeding production during at least the last 30 kyr and probably the last 100 kyr. However, during periods of high productivity at the up welling centers off Peru and extension of the equatorial high-productivity zone, a relative loss of 10Be and 231Pa may have occurred in these sediment cores because of boundary scavenging. The effects of hydrothermal activity were investigated by comparing the 230Thex concentrations to the Mn/Fe ratios and by comparing the fluxes of 230Th and 10Be which exceed production. The results suggest an enhanced hydrothermal influence during isotope stages 4 and 5 and to a lesser extent during isotope stage 1 in core KLH 093. During isotope stages 2 and 3, the hydrothermal supply of Mn was deposited elsewhere, probably because of changes in current regime or deep water oxygenation. A strong increase of the Mn/Fe ratio at the beginning of climatic stage 1 which is not accompanied by an increase of the 230Thex concentration is interpreted to be an effect of Mn remobilization and reprecipitation in the sediment.

Description: To avoid an explicit simulation of the overflows across the Greenland-Scotland ridge, many models of the large-scale ocean circulation seek to include the net effect of the inflowing dense water masses by restoring temperature and salinity near the ridge to observed conditions. In this paper the authors examine the effect of different datasets for the northern restoring condition in two versions, eddy resolving and non-eddy resolving, of the model of the North and equatorial Atlantic that has been developed in recent years as a Community Modeling Effort for WOCE. It is shown that the use of smoothed climatological fields of temperature and salinity south of the Denmark Strait leads to strong deficiencies in the simulation of the deep flow field in the basin. A switch to actual hydrographic data from the Denmark Strait ignites a rapid dynamic response throughout the North Atlantic, affecting the transport and vertical structure of the deep western boundary current and, by virtue of the JEBAR efffect, the transport of the horizontal gyres. Meridional overturning and northward heat transport too weak in the cases with climatological boundary conditions, increase to more realistic levels in the subtropical North Atlantic. The initial response to switches in the high-latitude thermohaline forcing is mediated by fast waves along the westurn boundary, leading to changes in the deep western boundary current in low latitudes after about two years in the non-eddy-resolving cast. The initial timescale depends on the horizontal grid spacing of the model; in the high-resolution case, the first signal reaches the equator in a few months. The adjustment to a new, dynamic quasi equilibrium involves Kelvin waves along the equator and Rossby wave in the interior and is attained in less than two decades throughout the North Atlantic. It is suggested that these fast dynamic adjustment processes could play an important role in possible fluctuations of the thermohaline circulation, or transitions between different equilibrium states of the coupled ocean–atmosphere system, and may have determined the timescale of the observed climatic transitions before and during the last deglaciation.

Description: Individual polychlorinated biphenyl (CB) congeners in adipose and whole blood tissues of a capacitor manufacture worker (occupational/accidental exposure) and of the general population were determined. Nondestructive sample cleanup and multidimensional gas chromatography-electron capture detection (MDGC-ECD) techniques were applied. Special attention was given to the toxicologically relevant congeners CB-77, CB-126, CB-169, CB-105, CB-114, CB-118, CB-156, CB-167, and CB-189 (IUPAC). Lipid-based tissue contents of sigma CBs were higher in the occupationally/accidentally exposed worker (adipose = 7,000 ng/g; whole blood = 11 ng/g) than in the general population (adipose = 300 ng/g; whole blood = 1.9 ng/g). Among the non-ortho Cl CBs, CB-77 was below detection limit (〈 1.0 pg/g). The contents of CB-126 for the capacitor manufacture worker were 2,000 and 3 pg/g, and in the general population were 100 and 2 pg/g for adipose and whole blood, respectively. The corresponding data for CB-169 were 3,500 and 4 for adipose and whole blood, respectively, in the exposed worker, and 40 and 2 for adipose and whole blood, respectively, in the general population. Congeners with highest contents were CB-153, CB-138, CB-180, CB-170, and CB-187. These congeners possess chlorine substitution patterns, making them resistant to metabolism. X/153 ratios suggest that both PB and 3-MC type cytochrome P-450 enzymes were induced in the exposed worker, as well as in the general population.

Description: About 73% of the water exchange between the Baltic and the North Seas is via the Darss Sill. Joint Danish and German marine geological investigations, including shallow seismic surveys and sediment sampling, have been carried out in the Darss Sill area between 1989 and 1991. Results from these studies and unpublished archive data from the Institute of Baltic Sea Research, Warnemünde, are presented. These show that the entire Quaternary sedimentary sequence in most of the area is at least 40 m thick. A zone of glacial till outcropping between Denmark and Germany belongs to the Late Weichselian ice marginal line G (“Velgaster Staffel”). The formation of this line caused the damming of a pre-existing (sub)glacial meltwater discharge system. At the beginning of the Baltic Ice Lake formation, a deep and presently buried channel incised in this ice marginal line was part of a (glacio)fluvial drainage system with discharge towards the northeast, i.e. into the Baltic Ice Lake. During the Baltic Ice Lake transgression damming of the Darss Sill occurred due to accumulation of sandy sediments within this channel. On the other hand, the recent Kadet Channel was only occasionally overflown during the Baltic Ice Lake highstand maximum, which was 18 m BSL (below present sea level) in the Darss Sill area. The main erosion and deepening of the Kadet Channel began during the Ancylus Lake highstand maximum. At present, sediment transport on the Darss Sill is governed by northeasterly inflow of saline bottom waters in the entire area from the Kadet Channel to the German coast. Baltic outflow affects the seabed at shallower depth in the Danish sector. Large-scale current-induced bedforms in the area include, amongst others, sandwaves with a height of 5 m. Changes of the bedforms observed indicate a maximum bottom flow speed of 70–100 cm s−1, both for inflow and for outflow.

Description: Frierfjord is the innermost part of a fjord system which connects with the open sea via Grenlandsfjord. Sills between fjords restrict bottom water circulation and in Frierfjord (sill depth: 23 m, max. water depth: 100 m) efficient deep water renewals at depths greater than about 50 m occur once every one to three years (Rygg et al., 1987). For several centuries waste products (primarily bark and wood fibres), initially from saw mills and later from pulp and paper industries, have been deposited in Frierfjord. Additionally, the fjord has received substantial amounts of organic material and nutrients from domestic sewage. In summary, this led to more or less permanent anoxic deep bottom water conditions. However, slight improvements have occurred over the last decade in response to reduced pollution input (Alve, in prep.). Investigations of short sediment cores (〈50 cm) from the deeper areas of Frierfjord (〉50 m) show that Stainforthia fusiformis exhibits typical opportunistic features. The oxygen concentration of the bottom water immediately above the sediment–water interface was 〉 1 ml I1at all stations at the time of collection, but the surface sediments reflected recent anoxic conditions. This was especially evident at 〉70 m where the sediments had a soupy appearance and black colour, with brownish faecal pellets and sometimes light grey, fluffy sediment aggregates in the topmost veneer. The total organic carbon content of the surface sediments is typically between 4 and 6%.

Description: The distribution of living (rose bengal stained) deep-sea benthic foraminifera was determined in the upper 20 cm of sediments of eight Soutar box cores taken from two depth transects (510-4515 m) in the thermospheric (〉 10°C) Sulu Sea. Despite the uniformity of bottom water temperatures, salinities, and dissolved oxygen levels below 1000 m, significant faunal differences exist at different depths in the low-oxygen (∼1.25 mL/L below 1000 m) basin. The shallowest site (510 m) is dominated (〉 10% of the calcareous fauna) by Cibicidoides, Uvigerina, (〉 150 µm) and Bolivina (〉 63 µm), while Siphonina is codominant with Cibicidoides and Uvigerina in the 1005-m core. The 2000-m cores are dominated by Cibicidoides, Gyroidinoides, and Oridorsalis, while Cibicidoides bradyi and Oridorsalis umbonatus dominate the 3000- and 4000-m cores. Infaunal assemblages of Valvulineria mexicana are found in the sediments of the 4515-m core. Relatively low bottom water oxygen values do not necessarily yield "typical low-oxygen taxa" such as Bolivina, Uvigerina, Chilostomella, Bulimina, and Globobulimina. Changes in the abundances of these taxa in fossil assemblages have been used as indicators of changes in ancient bottom water oxygen levels but may instead reflect organic carbon contents of the sediments. An examination of the vertical distributions of foraminiferal assemblages from the 〉 63-µm and 〉 150-µm fractions reveals that taxa have microhabitat preferences similar to those observed in other regions. Taxa found in the upper 0- to 1-cm interval (epifaunal) include Cibicidoides wuellerstorfi and Hoeglundina elegans, while taxa such as Chilostomella and Globobulimina reach maximum abundances in subsurface sediments and have infaunal microhabitat preferences. Cibicidoides bradyi and O. umbonatus live in sediment depths from 0- to 4-cm and have transitional preferences with both epifaunal and infaunal occurrences. Intrageneric differences in test morphologies, including pore distribution, rounded peripheries, and variable spire height, are observed in Cibicidoides and Gyroidinoides and are suggested to be related to microhabitat preferences. Vertical distributions of a number of taxa found in both the 63- to 150-µm and 〉 150-µm fractions are similar, suggesting that juveniles and adults live under similar microhabitat conditions. Ontogenetic changes in microhabitat preferences of most species are not observed in this study and therefore would not be expected to account for isotopic vital effects reported for some taxa in previous studies.

Description: Sources of near-surface oceanic variability in the central North Atlantic are identified from a combined analysis of climatology, surface drifter, and Geosat altimeter data as well as eddy-resolving math formula and math formula Community Modeling Effort North Atlantic model results. Both observational and numerical methods give a consistent picture of the concentration of mesoscale variability along the mean zonal flow bands. Three areas of high eddy energy can be found in all observational data sets: the North Equatorial Current, the North Atlantic Current, and the Azores Current. With increasing horizontal resolution the numerical models give a more realistic representation of the variability in the first two regimes, while no improvement is found with respect to the Azores Current Frontal Zone. Examination of the upper ocean hydrographic structure indicates baroclinic instability to be the main mechanism of eddy generation and suggests that the model deficiencies in the Azores Current area are related to deficiencies in the mean hydrographic fields. A linear instability analysis of the numerical model output reveals that instability based on the velocity shear between the mixed layer and the interior is also important for the generation of the mid-ocean variability, indicating a potential role of the mixed layer representation for the model. The math formula model successfully simulates the northward decrease of eddy length scales observed in the altimeter data, which follow a linear relationship with the first baroclinic Rossby radius. An analysis of the eddy-mean flow interaction terms and the energy budget indicates a release of mean potential energy by downgradient fluxes of heat in the main frontal zones. At the same time the North Atlantic Current is found to be supported by convergent eddy fluxes of zonal momentum.

Description: During three measurement campaigns on the Baltic and North Seas, atmospheric and dissolved methane was determined with an automated gas chromatographic system. Area-weighted mean saturation values in the sea surface waters were 113 ± 5% and 395 ± 82% (Baltic Sea, February and July 1992) and 126 ± 8% (south central North Sea, September 1992). On the bases of our data and a compilation of literature data the global oceanic emissions of methane were reassessed by introducing a concept of regional gas transfer coefficients. Our estimates computed with two different air-sea exchange models lie in the range of 11-18 Tg CH4 yr-1. Despite the fact that shelf areas and estuaries only represent a small part of the world's ocean they contribute about 75% to the global oceanic emissions. We applied a simple, coupled, three-layer model to numerically simulate the time dependent variation of the oceanic flux to the atmosphere. The model calculations indicate that even with increasing tropospheric methane concentration, the ocean will remain a source of atmospheric methane.

Description: The nekton community was sampled by a Rectangular Midwater Trawl (RMT 25) over the upper 1000 m of the Scotia Sea dunng January 1991. A total of 81 nekton and micronekton species were collected from 2 sites, one in the oceanlc western Scotia Sea (Stn 1) and the other on the northwestern slope of the South Georgia shelf (Stn 2). Species composition, abundance, biomass and day/night vertical distribution were investigated. Crustaceans were the most important group in terms of species numbers (28 species) followed by mesopelagic fish (24), molluscs (15) and coelenterates (11). Species diversity increased with depth and was higher at Stn 2 (76 species) than at Stn 1 (62 specles). Biomass in the upper 1000 m was considerably higher at Stn 1 (94.6 g wet wt m-2 during daytime, 87 g wet wt m-2 during night) than at Stn 2 (10.2 and 23.7 g wet wt m-2, respectively), mostly due to dense concentrations of the tunicate Salpa thompsoni (41.6 g wet wt m-2 during night). The other main contributors to the high biomass at Stn 1 were coelenterates (28.3 g wet wt m-2 during night) and mesopelagic fish (4.9 g wet wt m-2 during night). Euphausiids (Euphausia triacantha and E. superba) accounted for 1.5 g wet wt m-2 at Stn 2 during night, with E. triacantha the more important of the two (1.4 g wet wt m-2). Except for Bathylagus antarcticus all common mesopelagic fishes showed a marked diurnal vertical migration (i.e. Electrona antarctica, Gymnoscopelus brauen, Krefftichthys anderssoni, Protomyctophum bolini). During daylight they stayed in the core of the Circumpolar Deep Water (CDW, 400 to 800 m) and at night they were mainly distnbuted in the Antarctic Surface Water (ASW, 0 to 400 m). Other species with pronounced vertical migration were the hydromedusa Calycopsis borchgrevinki, the squid Brachioteuthis ?picta, and the euphausiid Euphausia triacantha. The scyphomedusae Atolla wyvillei and Periphylla periphylla and the crustaceans Cyphocaris richardi, Gigantocypris mulleri and Pasiphaea scotiae did not appear to migrate and remained concentrated in the CDW. Spatial variability was analysed by multivariate data analyses (clustering techniques) and related to hydrography. Four main groups, characterised by different nekton communities, were derived: (1) a lower mesopelagic nekton community from the deeper layers of the CDW, apparent at both stations, (2) an upper mesopelagic nekton community from the core of the CDW, apparent at both stations, (3) an epipelagic nekton community from the ASW over the South Georgia slope (Stn 2) and finally (4) an epipelagic nekton community from the ASW of the oceanic Scotia Sea (Stn 1). The performance of the midwater trawl is discussed as it has a substantial impact on the catchability of the nekton. The presented data provide new information on the structure and spatial variability of Antarchc nekton communities and emphasise the geographical and vertical discontinuities between communities.

Description: Measurements of the chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), F11 (CCl3F) and F12 (CCl2F2) were made during the Shelf Edge Exchange Processes II (SEEP-II) experiment in the Middle Atlantic Bight during 1988–1989. These compounds undergo large seasonal variations in surface water concentration as a result of temperature-induced solubility changes. Outgassing in summer produces vertical concentration gradients that can be exploited to estimate a cross-pycnocline vertical eddy-diffusivity suitable for biogeochemical flux calculations. Model results based on an exploratory study suggest an average Kz of 1 × 10−5 m2 s−1 for this region during the stratified period. CFCs have advantages over other budget approaches for studying mixing processes, including heat budgets, as there are no internal sources or sinks other than air-sea gas exchange. In order to exploit further the CFC budget of sub-pycnocline shelf waters, regular cruises through the summer months and characterization of CFC levels at the time of stratification are required.

Description: RNA/DNA ratios in individual herring (Clupea harengus) larvae (collected from Kiel Bay, Baltic Sea, in 1989) were measured and proved suitable for determining nutritional status. Significant differences between fed and starving larvae appeared after 3 to 4 d of food deprivation in larvae older than 10 d after hatching. The RNA/DNA ratio showed an increase with age or length of the larvae and was less pronounced in starving larvae compared to fed larvae. The individual variability of RNA/DNA ratios in relation to larval length of fed larvae and of larvae deprived of food for intervals of 6 to 9 d is presented. Based on the length dependency and the individual variability found within the RNA/DNA ratios, a laboratory calibration is given to determine whether a larva caught in the field has been starving or not. An example for a field application is shown.

Description: Biogenic particle fluxes from highly productive surface waters, boundary scavenging, and hydrothermal activity are the main factors influencing the deposition of radionuclides in the area of the Galapagos microplate, eastern Equatorial Pacific. In order to evaluate the importance of these three processes throughout the last 100 kyr, concentrations of the radionuclides 10Be, 230Th, and 231Pa, and of Mn and Fe were measured at high resolution in sediment samples from two gravity cores KLH 068 and KLH 093. High biological productivity in the surface waters overlying the investigated area has led to 10Be and 231Pa fluxes exceeding production during at least the last 30 kyr and probably the last 100 kyr. However, during periods of high productivity at the up welling centers off Peru and extension of the equatorial high-productivity zone, a relative loss of 10Be and 231Pa may have occurred in these sediment cores because of boundary scavenging. The effects of hydrothermal activity were investigated by comparing the 230Thex concentrations to the Mn/Fe ratios and by comparing the fluxes of 230Th and 10Be which exceed production. The results suggest an enhanced hydrothermal influence during isotope stages 4 and 5 and to a lesser extent during isotope stage 1 in core KLH 093. During isotope stages 2 and 3, the hydrothermal supply of Mn was deposited elsewhere, probably because of changes in current regime or deep water oxygenation. A strong increase of the Mn/Fe ratio at the beginning of climatic stage 1 which is not accompanied by an increase of the 230Thex concentration is interpreted to be an effect of Mn remobilization and reprecipitation in the sediment.

Description: The Shelf Edge Exchange Processes II (SEEP-II) program was designed to examine the potential for export of organic carbon from the continental shelf to the deeper ocean. In the Middle Atlantic Bight of the east coast, U.S.A., a “cold pool” of relict winter water is isolated by the development of a strong seasonal thermocline on the shelf. Oxygen concentrations were monitored in and above the cold pool from March 1988 to May 1989, with electrodes moored at 19 and 38 m at a 42-m station off the Delmarva Peninsula, eastern U.S.A. An oxygen-flux simulation model was constructed to describe long-term changes in oxygen concentration and saturation. The model utilized biological rate and biomass measurements obtained at the mooring location during cruises. Vertical eddy diffusion was constrained by comparison with the redistribution of chlorofluorocarbons and heat after stratification, and by sensitivity analyses. Model predictions of the average daily change in oxygen concentration and saturation at 38 m were in good agreement with average changes recorded by moored oxygen sensors, when biological generation of oxygen was approximately equal to the thermotrophic consumption. Strong, but transient, fluctuations concentration and saturation were clearly associated with specific advective events, and had little lasting impact on the overall long-term trends. Consequently, model parameters derived from intermittent, cruise-based observations yielded satisfactory predictions of long-term trends. A carbon budget was constructed for the stratified summer period from data that largely overlapped with those used for the oxygen model. The continental shelf ecosystem operates in approximate balance during the summer, with a potential export of no more than 4% of primary production.

Description: Despite the Arctic sea ice cover's recognized sensitivity to environmental change, the role of sediment inclusions in lowering ice albedo and affecting ice ablation is poorly understood. Sea ice sediment inclusions were studied in the central Arctic Ocean during the Arctic 91 expedition and in the Laptev Sea (East Siberian Arctic Region Expedition 1992). Results from these investigations are here combined with previous studies performed in major areas of ice ablation and the southern central Arctic Ocean. This study documents the regional distribution and composition of particle-laden ice, investigates and evaluates processes by which sediment is incorporated into the ice cover, and identifies transport paths and probable depositional centers for the released sediment. In April 1992, sea ice in the Laptev Sea was relatively clean. The sediment occasionally observed was distributed diffusely over the entire ice column, forming turbid ice. Observations indicate that frazil and anchor ice formation occurring in a large coastal polynya provide a main mechanism for sediment entrainment. In the central Arctic Ocean sediments are concentrated in layers within or at the surface of ice floes due to melting and refreezing processes. The surface sediment accumulation in central Arctic multi-year sea ice exceeds by far the amounts observed in first-year ice from the Laptev Sea in April 1992. Sea ice sediments are generally fine grained, although coarse sediments and stones up to 5 cm in diameter are observed. Component analysis indicates that quartz and clay minerals are the main terrigenous sediment particles. The biogenous components, namely shells of pelecypods and benthic foraminiferal tests, point to a shallow, benthic, marine source area. Apparently, sediment inclusions were resuspended from shelf areas before and incorporated into the sea ice by suspension freezing. Clay mineralogy of ice-rafted sediments provides information on potential source areas. A smectite maximum in sea ice sediment samples repeatedly occurred between 81°N and 83°N along the Arctic 91 transect, indicating a rather stable and narrow smectite rich ice drift stream of the Transpolar Drift. The smectite concentrations are comparable to those found in both Laptev Sea shelf sediments and anchor ice sediments, pointing to this sea as a potential source area for sea ice sediments. In the central Arctic Ocean sea ice clay mineralogy is significantly different from deep-sea clay mineral distribution patterns. The contribution of sea ice sediments to the deep sea is apparently diluted by sedimentary material provided by other transport mechanisms.

Description: Iron supply has been suggested to influence phytoplankton biomass, growth rate and species composition, as well as primary productivity in both high and low NO3− surface waters. Recent investigations in the equatorial Pacific suggest that no single factor regulates primary productivity. Rather, an interplay of bottom-up (i.e., ecophysiological) and top-down (i.e., ecological) factors appear to control species composition and growth rates. One goal of biological oceanography is to isolate the effects of single factors from this multiplicity of interactions, and to identify the factors with a disproportionate impact. Unfortunately, our tools, with several notable exceptions, have been largely inadequate to the task. In particular, the standard technique of nutrient addition bioassays cannot be undertaken without introducing artifacts. These so-called ‘bottle effects’ include reducing turbulence, isolating the enclosed sample from nutrient resupply and grazing, trapping the isolated sample at a fixed position within the water column and thus removing it from vertical movement through a light gradient, and exposing the sample to potentially stimulatory or inhibitory substances on the enclosure walls. The problem faced by all users of enrichment experiments is to separate the effects of controlled nutrient additions from uncontrolled changes in other environmental and ecological factors. To overcome these limitations, oceanographers have sought physiological or molecular indices to diagnose nutrient limitation in natural samples. These indices are often based on reductions in the abundance of photosynthetic and other catalysts, or on changes in the efficiency of these catalysts. Reductions in photosynthetic efficiency often accompany nutrient limitation either because of accumulation of damage, or impairment of the ability to synthesize fully functional macromolecular assemblages. Many catalysts involved in electron transfer and reductive biosyntheses contain iron, and the abundances of most of these catalysts decline under iron-limited conditions. Reductions of ferredoxin or cytochrome f content, nitrate assimilation rates, and dinitrogen fixation rates are amongst the diagnostics that have been used to infer iron limitation in some marine systems. An alternative approach to diagnosing iron-limitation uses molecules whose abundance increases in response to iron-limitation. These include cell surface iron-transport proteins, and the electron transfer protein flavodoxin which replaces the Fe-S protein ferredoxin in many Fe-deficient algae and cyanobacteria.

Description: The current status of the Sverdrup theory for the initiation of plankton blooms is examined. A prescription is given for the computation of the Sverdrup critical depth, using recently-published algorithms for mixed-layer primary production and a generalised loss term. Using no further information, the intrinsic rate of increase of phytoplankton biomass in the mixed layer can also be found. This rate, compared against the local frequency of storm occurrence, provides an alternative criterion for the initiation of blooms. The Eulerian (bulk property) methods used to derive these results are contrasted with the Lagrangian Ensemble method. The Lagrangian approach provides one avenue to the elaboration of the Sverdrup criterion to include the effect of processes with characteristic timescales small compared to one day. The incidence of blooms in the apparent absence of vertical stratification is reviewed: it is concluded that these observations do not undermine the basic logic of the Sverdrup theory. However, they do provoke interest in a re-examination of the feedbacks between the physical and biological dynamics in the mixed layer: an example is given. Finally, suggestions are made for further work in this subject area.

Description: Understanding the plankton ecosystem in the ocean requires detailed demographic analysis. It is impossible to sample the ocean adequately for such analysis, but progress can be made by analysing data sets generated by mathematical models provided they realistically simulate the ecosystem. The Lagrangian Ensemble method is well suited to demographic studies because it generates large data sets containing complete information on all the families living in the simulated ecosystem. It provides audit trails of individual families for unambiguous analysis of mechanisms responsible for the simulated changes in community and environment. Recent papers based on the Lagrangian Ensemble method are reviewed.

Description: We have investigated the seasonal cycle and the interannual variability of the tropical Indian Ocean circulation and the Indian summer monsoon simulated by a coupled ocean-atmosphere general circulation model in a 26- year integration. Although the model exhibits significant climate drift, overall, the coupled GCM simulates realistically the seasonal changes in the tropical Indian Ocean and the onset and evolution of the Indian summer monsoon. The amplitudes of the seasonal changes, however, are underestimated. The coupled GCM also simulates considerable interannual variability in the tropical Indian Ocean circulation, which is partly related to the El Niño/Southern Oscillation phenomenon and the associated changes in the Walker circulation. Changes in the surface wind stress appear to be crucial in forcing interannual variations in the Indian Ocean SST. As in the Pacific Ocean, the net surface beat flux acts as a negative feedback on the SST anomalies. The interannual variability in monsoon rainfall, simulated by the coupled GCM, is only about half as strong as observed. The reason for this is that the simulated interannual variability in the Indian monsoon appears to be related to internal processes within the atmosphere only. In contrast, an investigation based on observations shows a clear lead-lag relationship between interannual variations in the monsoon rainfall and tropical Pacific SST anomalies. Furthermore, the atmospheric GCM also fails to reproduce this lead-lag relationship between monsoon rainfall and tropical Pacific SST when run in a stand-alone integration with observed SSTs prescribed during the period 1970–1988. These results indicate that important physical processes relating tropical Pacific SST to Indian monsoon rainfall are not adequately modeled in our atmospheric GCM. Monsoon rainfall predictions appear therefore premature.

Description: The cause of decadal climate variability over the North Pacific Ocean and North America is investigated by the analysis of data from a multidecadal integration with a state-of-the-art coupled ocean-atmosphere model and observations. About one-third of the low-frequency climate variability in the region of interest can be attributed to a cycle involving unstable air-sea interactions between the subtropical gyre circulation in the North Pacific and the Aleutian low-pressure system. The existence of this cycle provides a basis for long-range climate forecasting over the western United States at decadal time scales.

Description: A hierarchy of ENSO (El Niño/Southern Oscillation) prediction schemes has been developed which includes statistical schemes and physical models. The statistical models are, in general, based on advanced statistical techniques and can be classified into models which use either low-frequency variations in the atmosphere (sea level pressure or surface wind) or upper ocean heat content as predictors. The physical models consist of coupled ocean-atmosphere models of varying degrees of complexity, ranging from simplified coupled models of the lsquoshallow waterrsquo-type to coupled general circulation models. All models, statistical and physical, perform considerably better than the persistence forecast on predicting typical indices of ENSO on lead times of 6 to 12 months. The most successful prediction schemes, the fully physical coupled ocean-atmosphere models, show significant prediction abilities at lead times exceeding one year period. We therefore conclude that ENSO is predictable at least one year in advance. However, all of this applies to gross indices of ENSO such as the Southern Oscillation Index. Despite the demonstrated predictability, little is known about the predictability of specific features known to be associated with ENSO (e.g. Indian Monsoon rainfall, Southern African drought, or even off-equatorial sea surface temperature). Nor has the relative importance for prediction of different regional anomalies or different physical processes yet been established. A seasonal dependence in predictability is well established, but the processes responsible for it are not fully understood.

Description: Vertical flux of particulate material was recorded with moored sediment traps during 1988/1989 in the Greenland Sea at 72 degrees N, 10 degrees W. This region exhibits pronounced seasonal variability in ice cover. Annual fluxes at 500 m water depth were 22.79, 8.55, 2.39, 3.81 and 0.51 g m(-2) for total flux (dry weight), carbonate, particulate biogenic silicate, particulate organic carbon and nitrogen, respectively. Fluxes increased in April, maximum rates of all compounds occurred in May-June, and consistently high total flux rates of around 100 mg m(-2)d(-1) prevailed during the summer. The increasing flux of biogenic particles measured in April is indicative of an early onset of algal growth in spring. Small pennate diatoms dominated in the trap collections during April, and were still numerous during the high flux period when Thalassiosira species were the most abundant diatoms. During May-June, up to 22% of the Thalassiosira cells collected were viable-looking cells. The faecal pellet flux increased after the May-June event. Therefore we conclude that the diatoms settled as phytodetritus, most likely in rapidly sinking aggregates. From seasonal nutrient profiles it is concluded that diatoms contribute 25% to new production during spring and 50% on an annual basis. More than 50% of newly produced silicate particles are dissolved above the 500 m horizon. High new production during spring does not lead to a pronounced sedimentation pulse of organic matter during spring but elavated vertical export is observed during the entire growth period

Description: The main water masses in the northern Barents Sea are surface water, Arctic water, transformed Atlantic water, and cold bottom water. Using summer data from 1981 and 1982, the formation, distribution, modification and circulation of these water masses are discussed. Recent estimates show that about 2 Sv of Atlantic water enters the Barents Sea by the North Cape Current, balanced by a similar outflow through the strait between Novaya Zemlya and Frans Josef Land. Passing through the Barents Sea, Atlantic-derived water is modified by interaction with other water masses as well as with the atmosphere, and the end products are believed to be important contributors to the hydrographic structure of the Arctic Ocean.

Description: A coupled ocean-atmosphere GCM is being developed for use in seasonal forecasting. As part of the development work, a number of experiments have been made to explore some of the sensitivities of the coupled model system. The overall heat balance of the tropics is found to be very sensitive to convective cloud cover. Adjusting the cloud parameterization to produce stable behaviour of the coupled model also leads to better agreement between model radiative fluxes and satellite data. A further sensitivity is seen to changes in low-level marine stratus, which is under-represented in the initial model experiments. An increase in this cloud in the coupled model produces a small improvement in both the global mean state and the phase of the east Pacific annual cycle. The computational expense of investigating such small changes is emphasized. An indication of model sensitivity to surface albedo is also presented. The sensitivity of the coupled GCM to initial conditions is investigated. The model is very sensitive, with tiny perturbations able to determine El Niño or non-El Niño conditions just six months later. This large sensitivity may be related to the relatively weak amplitude of the model ENSO cycle.

Description: ECHO is a new global coupled ocean-atmosphere general circulation model (GCM), consisting of the Hamburg version of the European Centre atmospheric GCM (ECHAM) and the Hamburg Primitive Equation ocean GCM (HOPE). We performed a 20-year integration with ECHO. Climate drift is significant, but typical annual mean errors in sea surface temperature (SST) do not exceed 2° in the open oceans. Near the boundaries, however, SST errors are considerably larger. The coupled model simulates an irregular ENSO cycle in the tropical Pacific, with spatial patterns similar to those observed. The variability, however, is somewhat weaker relative to observations. ECHO also simulates significant interannual variability in mid-latitudes. Consistent with observations, variability over the North Pacific can be partly attributed to remote forcing from the tropics. In contrast, the interannual variability over the North Atlantic appears to be generated locally.

Description: The mean residence time of river-runoff on the shelves and in the halocline of the Arctic Ocean is estimated from salinity and tracer data (tritium, 3He and the 18O/16O ratio). These estimates are derived from comparison of apparent tracer ages of the halocline waters using a combination of tracers that yield different information: (1) the tritium “vintage” age, which records the time that has passed since the river-runoff entered the shelf; and (2) the tritium/3He age, which reflects the time since the shelf waters left the shelf. The difference between the ages determined by these two methods is about 3–6 years. Correction for the initial tritium/3He age of the shelf waters (about 0.5–1.5 years) yields a mean residence time of the river-runoff on the shelves of the Siberian Seas of about 3.5 ± 2 years.

Description: Observations of large and abrupt climate changes recorded in Greenland ice cores have spurred a search for clues to their cause. This search has revealed that at six times during the last glaciation, huge armadas of icebergs launched from Canada spread across the northern Atlantic Ocean, each triggering a climate response of global extent.

Description: Two cores recovered in the Greenland Sea contain aggregates (up to 5 cm in diameter) of poorly sorted coarse-grained material. Their lithologic and biogenic content, in addition to the grain size and grain shape, indicate that they are related to till balls. It is possible that they formed in a fluvial or nearshore environment (perhaps in Greenland or Siberia), were frozen into fast ice, and were then transported by sea ice-rafting to their present location. Since the balls were still partly frozen, they could survive the 2000 m drop through the water column to the seafloor.

Description: The local instability properties of a chaotic system are determined by the singular vectors and singular values of the dynamical evolution operator, linearized about a finite trajectory portion of the integral curves of the nonlinear equations. Knowledge of these quantities allows an assessment of the reliability of a finite-time forecast from a chaotic system. After a brief study of the Lorenz model, singular vector analysis is applied to study three predictability issues in atmosphere-ocean dynamics. The first concerns the predictability of weather forecasts of a few days, and singular vector calculations are made from a large-dimensional numerical weather prediction model using an interative Lanczos algorithm. The second concerns the predictability of El Nino on seasonal to interannual timescales. Here singular vector calculations are made using a coupled ocean-atmosphere model of the tropical Pacific region. Finally we show results from a multi-decadal integration of a medium-resolution quasi-geostrophic model, and discuss the possible relevance of singular vector analysis for the problem of climate change.

Description: From both ecological and biomedical viewpoints, it has become important to know whether the metabolites isolated from sponges are produced by symbiotic micro-organisms. Certain halogenated metabolites from Dysidea herbacea are localized in the symbiotic cyanobacterium Oscillatoria spongeliae. Recent studies concerning the origin of bioactive metabolites from lithistid sponges, some of which contain filamentous micro-organisms, are presented.

Description: The local instability properties of a chaotic system are determined by the singular vectors and singular values of the dynamical evolution operator, linearized about a finite trajectory portion of the integral curves of the nonlinear equations. Knowledge of these quantities allows an assessment of the reliability of a finite-time forecast from a chaotic system. After a brief study of the Lorenz model, singular vector analysis is applied to study three predictability issues in atmosphere-ocean dynamics. The first concerns the predictability of weather forecasts of a few days, and singular vector calculations are made from a large-dimensional numerical weather prediction model using an interative Lanczos algorithm. The second concerns the predictability of El Nino on seasonal to interannual timescales. Here singular vector calculations are made using a coupled ocean-atmosphere model of the tropical Pacific region. Finally we show results from a multi-decadal integration of a medium-resolution quasi-geostrophic model, and discuss the possible relevance of singular vector analysis for the problem of climate change.

Description: Different assemblages of argentian pentlandite occur in intermediate-grade metamorphic rocks from the pilot hole of the German Continental Deep Drilling Program (KTB). Assemblage 1 consists of small inclusionsin chalcopyrite within quartz veins. Argentian pentlandite is also intergrown with chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite, pentlandite and pyrite (assemblage 2) or cobaltian pentlandite, chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite and sphalerite or chalcopyrite and galena (assemblage 3); assemblages 2 and 3 occur in paragneissic rocks. The Ag content of argentian pentlandite ranges from 10.3 to 12.6 wt.%. The exsolution origin of argentian pentlandite from chalcopyrite, as well as inversion twins and negative delta(34)S values, of -6.7 parts per thousand in chalcopyrite from assemblage1, point to mineralization during retrograde metamorphism at conditions of elevated pressure and temperature. Pressures of 2-3 kbar and temperatures of about 400 degrees C are in agreement with the modeling ofthe retrograde P-T-t path for the KTB rocks. Temperature and sulfur fugacity estimates based on sphalerite and chlorite compositions suggest conditions of formation in assemblages 2 and 3 at or slightly below 260 degrees C and at a value of a(S,) less than 10(-13). Bulk-rock delta(34)S values of -11 parts per thousand are consistent with sulfur from a sedimentary source. Argentian pentlandite and associated sulfidesare attributed to hydrothermal mineralization in which sulfur and themetals are derived from sedimentary host-rocks.

Description: The Cenozoic margins of the Norwegian-Greenland Sea offer ideal conditions for passive margin studies. A series of structural elements, first observed on these margins, led to the concept of volcanic passive margins. Questions still remain about the development of such features and the location of the boundary between oceanic and continental crust. Despite the thin sediment cover of the margins, seismic reflection data are not able to image the deeper structures due to the occurrence of igneous rocks at shallow depth. This paper presents a 320-km long profile perpendicular to the strike of the main structural units of the Lofoten Margin in Northern Norway. A geological model is proposed, based on observations made with ocean bottom seismographs, which recorded seismic refraction data and wide angle reflections, along with a seismic reflection profile covering the same area. Ray-tracing was used to calculate a geophysical model from the shelf area into the Lofoten basin. The structures typical of a volcanic passive margin were found, showing that the Lofoten Margin was influenced by increased volcanic activity during its evolution. The ocean/continent transition is located in a 30-km wide zone landwards of the Vøring Plateau escarpment. The whole margin is underlain by a possibly underplated, high velocity layer. Evidence for a pre-rift sediment basin landwards of the escarpment, overlain by basalt flows, was seen. These structural features, related to extensive volcanism on the Lofoten Margin, are not as distinct as further south along the Norwegian Margin. Viewed in the light of the hot-spot theory of White and McKenzie (1989) the Lofoten Margin can be interpreted as a transitional type between volcanic and non-volcanic passive margin.

Description: A combined high resolution seismic, sub-bottom profiling, and multi-beam echo-sounding survey in the Skagerrak (Danish sector of the North Sea) together with gas analyses at a station along the profile exhibit the expulsion of gas (mainly methane) and the presence of gas-charged sediments at shallow depth. The echo-soundings yield detailed insight into the distribution and shape of typical sea-floor features associated with gas seepage, such as pockmarks. The pockmarks reach dimensions of 800 m in length, 300 m in width, and 15 m in depth, with the long axis running parallel to the slope of the Norwegian Trench. Processing of the multi-channel high resolution seismic data and the digitally recorded sub-bottom profiler signals indicate an internal compressional velocity of about 1050 m s-1 within the gas-charged sediments reaching from the sea-floor to a sub-bottom depth of about 23 m. Using the lateral distribution and thickness of the gas-charged sediments in conjunction with a mean concentration of gas of 3000 ppb, the present amount of trapped gas is estimated to be 6·45 × 1011 g CH4. The flux of methane through the sea-bed into the water column appears to be 7·2 × 1010 g CH4 per year. To explain the small difference in size between the methane pool in near-surface sediments and the annual flux through the sea-bed, a constantly high supply of methane from leaking hydrocarbon reservoirs at greater depths has to be active.

Description: A detailed study of paleoclimatic proxy data (stable isotopes, planktonic foraminiferal census data, carbonate content, and Ice Rafted Detritus (IRD)) in the surface sediments of the Greenland, Iceland and Norwegian Seas (GIN-seas) shows that different proxies are closely related to the surface water masses, to the position of oceanic fronts and to the sea ice extent. Both stable isotopes, foraminifers and sedimentological data differentiate between Polar water with extensive sea ice cover, Arctic water with only seasonal sea ice cover, and warm Atlantic water. The fronts that border these surface water masses are also well defined. Polar water is characterized by lower carbon and oxygen isotope values than Arctic water, and a slightly lower content of Neogloboquadrina pachyderma sinistral in the Polar Front region. Carbonate content is low and IRD input is high in Polar waters. Arctic water has highest carbon and oxygen isotope values, and is completely dominated by N. pachyderma sin. The Arctic Front is reflected by a clear isotopic gradient and by a strong switch from N. pachyderma sin. dominance to Globigerina quinqueloba dominance. Atlantic Water is defined by lower carbon and oxygen isotope values and by dominance of N. pachyderma dextral and increased amounts of Globigerina bulloides. The results have implications for paleoceanographic reconstructions of cold environments and point to the possibility of better defining sea ice margins and convective regions as well as frontal positions in past high latitude oceans. Applying these results to the Last Glacial Maximum and the Younger Dryas indicates more dynamic and less sea ice covered surface conditions in the GIN-seas than in earlier reconstructions.