ALBERT

Beschreibung: The final report contains a description of the results obtained within a research contract between IRE RAS and GFZ Potsdam during the period April-November 2004. The objectives of investigation included (1) the radio-holographic methods for obtaining vertical profiles of the vertical gradients of physical parameters in the atmosphere, (2) radio holographic methods for atmospheric, ionospheric and stratospheric waves, and (3) validation of the software with GPS/MET (GPS/METeorology, e.g., Rocken et al. 1997) and CHAMP (CHAllenging Minisatellite Payload, e.g., Reigber et al. 2005) data and final report with recommendations.

Beschreibung: Late Miocene to Quaternary volcanic rocks from the frontal arc to the back-arc region of the Central Volcanic Zone in the Andes show a wide range of delta 11B values (+4 to -7 ‰) and boron concentrations (6 to 60 ppm). Positive delta 11B values of samples from the volcanic front indicate involvement of a 11B-enriched slab component, most likely derived from altered oceanic crust, despite the thick Andean continental lithosphere, and rule out a pure crust-mantle origin for these lavas. The delta 11B values and B concentrations in the lavas decrease systematically with increasing depth of the Wadati-Benioff Zone. This across-arc variation in delta 11B values and decreasing B/Nb ratios from the arc to the back-arc samples are attributed to the combined effects of B-isotope fractionation during progressive dehydration in the slab and a steady decrease in slab-fluid flux towards the back arc, coupled with a relatively constant degree of crustal contamination as indicated by similar Sr, Nd and Pb isotope ratios in all samples. Modelling of fluid-mineral B-isotope fractionation as a function of temperature fits the across-arc variation in delta 11B and we conclude that the B-isotope composition of arc volcanics is dominated by changing delta 11B composition of B-rich slab-fluids during progressive dehydration. Crustal contamination becomes more important towards the back-arc due to the decrease in slab-derived fluid flux. Because of this isotope fractionation effect, high delta 11B signatures in volcanic arcs need not necessarily reflect differences in the initial composition of the subducting slab. Three-component mixing calculations for slab-derived fluid, the mantle wedge and the continental crust based on B, Sr and Nd isotope data indicate that the slab-fluid component dominates the B composition of the fertile mantle and that the primary arc magmas were contaminated by an average addition of 15 to 30 % crustal material.

Beschreibung: This manual outlines the characteristics and structure of the software and describes how to use the software. The principles and new features are outlined systematically and referred partly to existing references. Numerical examples of multi-functions and internal tests as well as external comparisons are given.

Beschreibung: We review the historical, geological, tide-gauge, GPS and gravimetric evidence advanced in favour of or against continuing land uplift around Hudson Bay, Canada. After this, we reanalyse the tide-gauge and GPS data for Churchill using longer time series than those available to previous investigators. The dependence of the mean rate of relative sea-level change obtained on the length and mid-epoch of the observation interval considered is investigated by means of the newly developed linear-trend analysis diagram. For studying the shorter-period variability of the tide-gauge record, the continuous-wavelet transform is used. The mean rate of land uplift obtained from GPS is based on a new analysis using IGS solutions of GFZ. Furthermore, sea-level indicators from the Churchill region representing the relative sea-level history during the past 8000 a are included. Finally, the four types of observable are jointly inverted in terms of mantle viscosity. The optimum values are 3×10^20 Pa s and 1.6 × 10^22 Pa s for the upper- and lower-mantle viscosities, respectively.

Beschreibung: This report is also published as Scientific Report No. 04-9 of the Danish Meteorological Institute.

Beschreibung: In this thesis the subduction zone of the Central Andes is studied. The Andes have formed in a complex interplay of subduction related and tectonic processes. The Central Andes with the associated Altiplano-Puna high plateau constitute the second largest continental land-mass on earth, rivaled only by the Tibetan highland. Whereas in the case of the Himalayas , where two buoyant continental plates collide, crustal thickening and uplift is quite intuitive, processes leading to formation of a plateau above a subduction zone are puzzling.

Beschreibung: As observed on the Earth's surface, the magnetic field can be separated into three components: The "Main Field", the "Crustal Field" and the "External Magnetic Field". This work concentrates on the magnetospheric current systems, in order to correct the effect of large-scale magnetospheric current systems. Their exact knowledge is vital to improve the main field and secular variation models. Spherical harmonic analysis (SHA) is commonly used to describe the magnetic field. In SHA it is possible to distinguish between internal and external contributions to the Earth's magnetic field. The spherical harmonic coefficients describe dipolar, quadrupolar and higher parts in spherical coordinates. Here, CHAMP (CHAllenging Minisatellite Payload) measurements are used. Due to the inclination CHAMP is changing the orbit in local time. From time to time CHAMP is flying in resonance with the Earth's rotation, i.e. the satellite is flying over the same ground track after a couple of days. To model changes during a period of a few days these so called "repeat tracks" are very helpful for an improved main field/external field model. On the Earth's surface the magnetic effect of magnetospheric currents is often characterised by the DST-indix. In this study, it is explained how a possible constitution of the external sources of the geomagnetic field can look like and how the effect of these magnetospheric currents can be corrected in main field modelling.

Beschreibung: Die vorliegende Arbeit beschäftigt sich mit der kombinierten strukturgeologischen und magnetotellurischen Untersuchung eines Segmentes der ’West Fault’-Störung in den nordchilenischen Anden. Die West Fault ist ein Abschnitt des über 2000 km langen Präkordilleren-Störungssystem, welches im Zusammenhang mit der Subduktion vor der südamerikanischenWestküste entstanden ist. Die Aktivität dieses Störungssystems reichte vom Eozän bis in das Quartär. Der Verlauf der West Fault ist im Untersuchungsgebiet (22° 04’ S, 68° 53’W) an der Oberfläche klar definiert und weist über viele zehner Kilometer eine konstante Streichrichtung auf. Die Aufschlussbedingungen und die Morphologie des Arbeitsgebietes sind ideal für kombinierte Untersuchungen der störungsbezogenen Deformation und der elektrischen Leitfähigkeit des Untergrundes mit Hilfe magnetotellurischer Experimente (MT) und der erdmagnetischen Tiefensondierung (GDS). Ziel der Untersuchungen war es, eine mögliche Korrelation der beiden Meßmethoden herauszuarbeiten, und die interne Störungsarchitektur der West Fault umfassend zu beschreiben.

Beschreibung: The report describes the main results of investigations performed in 2001 year in framework of a research contract between GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam (GFZ) and the Institute of Radio Engineering and Electronics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow (IRE).

Beschreibung: After a gap of nearly two decades since the Magsat mission in 1980, the dedicated low-orbit potential field mission CHAMP is now in the third of its seven year mission. Already, the new magnetic total intensity and vector data have yielded maps of the global crustal field of unprecedented accuracy and resolution. Here, we assess the value of these maps to infer deep crustal structure of regions overlain by younger cover. A GIS based modelling technique has been developed to model the various geological units of the continents starting from the geological map of the world. Depending upon the known rock types of the region, they are assigned a standard susceptibility value and using the global seismic crustal structure, a vertically integrated susceptibility (VIS) model is computed at each point of the region. Starting with this initial VIS model, the vertical field anomaly is computed at a satellite altitude of 400 km and compared with the corresponding CHAMP vertical field anomaly map. The first comparison is carried out against a model using the lateral extent of a cratonic region as given by published tectonic maps. In the subsequent modelling step, depending upon the extent of the observed anomaly pattern of that region, the surface geology is extended beneath the sediments until the recomputed map fits the observed magnetic anomaly map. Here, we focus on modelling results for the selected few provinces of the world where the initial model does not agree with the observed anomaly map. Similar modelling of CHAMP satellite magnetic anomalies can constrain the subsurface structure hidden by Phanerozoic cover in many parts of the world.

Beschreibung: The Dead Sea Transform (DST) is a prominent shear zone in the Middle East. It separates the Arabian plate from the Sinai microplate and stretches from the Red Sea rift in the south via the Dead Sea to the Taurus-Zagros collision zone in the north. Formed in the Miocene »17 Ma ago and related to the breakup of the Afro-Arabian continent, the DST accommodates the left-lateral movement between the two plates. The study area is located in the Arava Valley between the Dead Sea and the Red Sea, centered across the Arava Fault (AF), which constitutes the major branch of the transform in this region. A set of seismic experiments comprising controlled sources, linear profiles across the fault, and specifically designed receiver arrays reveals the subsurface structure in the vicinity of the AF and of the fault zone itself down to about 3–4 km depth. A tomographically determined seismic P velocity model shows a pronounced velocity contrast near the fault with lower velocities on the western side than east of it. Additionally, S waves from local earthquakes provide an average P -to-S velocity ratio in the study area, and there are indications for a variations across the fault. High-resolution tomographic velocity sections and seismic reflection profiles confirm the surface trace of the AF, and observed features correlate well with fault-related geological observations. Coincident electrical resistivity sections from magnetotelluric measurements across the AF show a conductive layer west of the fault, resistive regions east of it, and a marked contrast near the trace of the AF, which seems to act as an impermeable barrier for fluid flow. The correlation of seismic velocities and electrical resistivities lead to a characterisation of subsurface lithologies from their physical properties. Whereas the western side of the fault is characterised by a layered structure, the eastern side is rather uniform. The vertical boundary between the western and the eastern units seems to be offset to the east of the AF surface trace. A modelling of fault-zone reflected waves indicates that the boundary between low and high velocities is possibly rather sharp but exhibits a rough surface on the length scale a few hundreds of metres. This gives rise to scattering of seismic waves at this boundary. The imaging (migration) method used is based on array beamforming and coherency analysis of P -to-P scattered seismic phases. Careful assessment of the resolution ensures reliable imaging results. The western low velocities correspond to the young sedimentary fill in the Arava Valley, and the high velocities in the east reflect mainly Precambrian igneous rocks. A 7 km long subvertical scattering zone (reflector) is offset about 1 km east of the AF surface trace and can be imaged from 1 km to about 4 km depth. The reflector marks the boundary between two lithological blocks juxtaposed most probably by displacement along the DST. This interpretation as a lithological boundary is supported by the combined seismic and magnetotelluric analysis. The boundary may be a strand of the AF, which is offset from the current, recently active surface trace. The total slip of the DST may be distributed spatially and in time over these two strands and possibly other faults in the area.

Beschreibung: Ein transversales Störungssystem im Nahen Osten, die Dead Sea Transform (DST), trennt die Arabische Platte von der Sinai-Mikroplatte und erstreckt sich von Süden nach Norden vom Extensionsgebiet im Roten Meer über das Tote Meer bis zur Taurus-Zagros Kollisionszone. Die sinistrale DST bildete sich im Miozän vor »17 Ma und steht mit dem Aufbrechen des Afro-Arabischen Kontinents in Verbindung. Das Untersuchungsgebiet liegt im Arava Tal zwischen Totem und Rotem Meer, mittig über der Arava Störung (Arava Fault, AF), die hier den Hauptast der DST bildet. Eine Reihe seismischer Experimente, aufgebaut aus künstlichen Quellen, linearen Profilen über die Störung und entsprechend entworfenen Empfänger-Arrays, zeigt die Untergrundstruktur in der Umgebung der AF und der Verwerfungszone selbst bis in eine Tiefe von 3–4 km. Ein tomographisch bestimmtes Modell der seismischen Geschwindigkeiten von P-Wellen zeigt einen starken Kontrast nahe der AF mit niedrigeren Geschwindigkeiten auf der westlichen Seite als im Osten. Scherwellen lokaler Erdbeben liefern ein mittleres P -zu-S Geschwindigkeitsverhältnis und es gibt Anzeichen für Änderungen über die Störung hinweg. Hoch aufgelöste tomographische Geschwindigkeitsmodelle bestätigen der Verlauf der AF und stimmen gut mit der Oberflächengeologie überein. Modelle des elektrischen Widerstands aus magnetotellurischen Messungen im selben Gebiet zeigen eine leitfähige Schicht westlich der AF, schlecht leitendes Material östlich davon und einen starken Kontrast nahe der AF, die den Fluss von Fluiden von einer Seite zur anderen zu verhindern scheint. Die Korrelation seismischer Geschwindigkeiten und elektrischer Widerstände erlaubt eine Charakterisierung verschiedener Lithologien im Untergrund aus deren physikalischen Eigenschaften. Die westliche Seite lässt sich durch eine geschichtete Struktur beschreiben, wogegen die östliche Seite eher einheitlich erscheint. Die senkrechte Grenze zwischen den westlichen Einheiten und der östlichen scheint gegenüber der Oberflächenausprägung der AF nach Osten verschoben zu sein. Eine Modellierung von seismischen Reflexionen an einer Störung deutet an, dass die Grenze zwischen niedrigen und hohen Geschwindigkeiten eher scharf ist, sich aber durch eine raue Oberfläche auf der Längenskala einiger hundert Meter auszeichnen kann, was die Streuung seismischer Wellen begünstigte. Das verwendete Abbildungsverfahren (Migrationsverfahren) für seismische Streukörper basiert auf Array Beamforming und der Kohärenzanalyse P -zu-P gestreuter seismischer Phasen. Eine sorgfältige Bestimmung der Auflösung sichert zuverlässige Abbildungsergebnisse. Die niedrigen Geschwindigkeiten im Westen entsprechen der jungen sedimentären Füllung im Arava Tal, und die hohen Geschwindigkeiten stehen mit den dortigen präkambrischen Magmatiten in Verbindung. Eine 7 km lange Zone seismischer Streuung (Reflektor) ist gegenüber der an der Oberfläche sichtbaren AF um 1 km nach Osten verschoben und lässt sich im Tiefenbereich von 1 km bis 4 km abbilden. Dieser Reflektor markiert die Grenze zwischen zwei lithologischen Blöcken, die vermutlich wegen des horizontalen Versatzes entlang der DST nebeneinander zu liegen kamen. Diese Interpretation als lithologische Grenze wird durch die gemeinsame Auswertung der seismischen und magnetotellurischen Modelle gestützt. Die Grenze ist möglicherweise ein Ast der AF, der versetzt gegenüber des heutigen, aktiven Asts verläuft. Der Gesamtversatz der DST könnte räumlich und zeitlich auf diese beiden Äste und möglicherweise auch auf andere Störungen in dem Gebiet verteilt sein.

Beschreibung: Der vorliegende Bericht fasst die Ergebnisse der in den Jahren 2000 und 2001 durchgeführten Arbeiten zur Aufwältigung, zum primären Test- und Messprogramm sowie zum Monitoring in der Geothermiebohrung Groß Schönebeck 3/90 zusammen. Mit Mitteln aus der Grundfinanzierung des GeoForschungsZentrums Potsdam wurde die Bohrung aufgewältigt und bis in eine Endteufe von 4294 m vertieft. Sie erschließt geothermisch interessante Horizonte des Norddeutschen Beckens in Tiefen zwischen ca. 3900 m und 4300 m bei einem Temperaturniveau von ca. 150°C. Dabei gewonnene Ergebnisse lassen sich auf ähnliche geologische Randbedingungen im Norddeutschen Becken übertragen. Dieses Sedimentbecken zieht sich von den Niederlanden über Norddeutschland bis nach Polen hin.

Beschreibung: A Databank was created using data from 25 local catalogues and 30 special studies of earthquakes in central, northern and northwestern Europe. Event types were discriminated, fake events and duplets eliminated, and different magnitudes and intensities converted to Mw. The conversions require the establishment of regression equations. The Catalogue contains tectonic events from the Databank within the area 44°N-72°N, 25°W-32°E and the time period 1300-1993 which have Mw magnitudes of 3.50 and larger. The area is covered by different polygons. Within each polygon only data from one or a small number of the local catalogues, supplemented by data from special studies, enter the Catalogue. If there are two or more such catalogues or studies providing a solution for an event, a priority algorithm selects one entry for the Catalogue. Then Mw is calculated from one of the magnitude types, or from macroseismic data, given by the selected entry according to another priority scheme. The origin time, location, Mw magnitude and reference are specified for each entry of the Catalogue. So is the epicentral intensity, I0, if provided by the original source. Following these criteria, a total of about 5,000 earthquakes constitute the Catalogue. Although originally derived for the purpose of seismic hazard calculation within GSHAP, the Catalogue provides a data base for many types of seismicity and seismic hazard studies.

Beschreibung: Cliffs line many erosional coastlines. Localized failures can cause land loss and hazard, and impact ecosystems and sediment routing. Links between cliff erosion and forcing mechanisms are poorly constrained, due to limitations of classic approaches. Combining multi-seasonal seismic and drone surveys, wave, precipitation and groundwater data we study drivers and triggers of seismically detected failures along the chalk cliffs on Germany's largest island, Rügen. The network consists of four (later five) seismic stations along the 8.6 km long chalk cliff coast. Waveforms are available from the Geofon data centre, under network code 4K, and are embargoed until Jan 2021.

Beschreibung: In this report we describe the new repeat station network, the measurements and some tests regarding the use of the variometer recordings for data processing, and we present the results of this latest German magnetic survey.

Beschreibung: Recently released global gravity field models generated solely from CHAMP and GRACE satellite observations allow with an unprecedented accuracy and resolution the recovery of the mean sea surface topography from the difference between an altimetry-based mean sea surface height model and the gravity model's derived geoid. Here the CHAMP EIGEN-2 gravity field model, and the first GFZ GRACE gravity model, EIGEN-GRACE01S, are used. The mean sea surface height model has been compiled from four years'; worth of TOPEX altimeter data. To evaluate the accuracy and resolution limits of the CHAMP and GRACE geoids for the envisaged application, a low pass filter in the spatial domain with different cut-off wavelengths has been applied to the geoid and sea surface data before subtraction. The minimum wavelength, where noisy and erroneous features in the recovered sea surface topography are minimised, can be interpreted as an indicator for the best suited common spatial resolution. The EIGEN-2 model's geoid has been tested to have a resolution of 1800 km, which corresponds to a truncation degree of l = 22 in terms of spherical harmonics. Using the EIGEN-GRACE01S model, the resolution could be extended to 1000 km (l = 40). These boundaries can be attributed to the geoid's error, exceeding 2 cm in case of the CHAMP model, and in case of the GRACE model to spurious systematic signals increasing with increasing spherical harmonic degree. The calculated sea surface topography models have been used to derive absolute geostrophic sea surface velocities. An error propagation shows that the requirement of 1 cm/s for geoid induced velocity errors is fulfilled at the given resolutions for all latitudes excluding a narrow equatorial band. Maximum geostrophic velocities are derived in the 1000 km-resolution model for the Kuroshio region with 40 cm/s, and for the Gulf Stream east off Cape Hatteras with 25 cm/s.

Beschreibung: Polar motion data is available from the mid-19th century to the present. Based on time series with a variety of sampling intervals (monthly, 0.05-year, 5-day and daily), we have separated the low-frequency terms by low-pass filtering and the Chandler and annual terms by recursive band-pass filtering of the pole coordinates. Using a simple unweighted least-squares fit to the filtered low-frequency terms, the linear trends of the rotation pole were estimated. Assessing the estimates based on intercomparisons, the most reliable trend estimate was found. Using a Fast Fourier Transform, we have computed the prograde, retrograde and total amplitude spectra of the low-frequency part of polar motion in order to reveal the long-periodic signals. The characteristics and time evolution of the Chandler and annual wobbles are described by changes in their parameters (radii, directions and period lengths) over one century.

Beschreibung: This report describes the set-up, logistics and results of the CHICAGO (Chilean Coastal AeroGeophysical Observations) survey. It gives a short overview about the scientific intentions, detailed documentation of all technical aspects starting from the survey equipment via the aircraft installation to the GPS stations set-up and the experiences in flight. All processing results for the individual profiles are discussed in detail. Finally, the data is compared and combined with available recent marine gravity data and altimetry derived solutions.

Beschreibung: The LaCoste & Romberg gravity meter S124b and its associated system environment were installed and tested in conjunction with a strap-down gravity meter system (SAGS) of the Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften in Munich on a Cessna Grand Caravan of the DLR in Oberpfaffenhofen. This report describes the design and instrumentation of the aerogravimetry system, it documents the installation on the aircraft and it discusses some of the results of the test flights performed within AGFA (Airborne Gravity Flight Approach). Beyond the documentation of the system this report gives a short introduction to the basics of the instruments including a short theory of their operation and data processing. The intention is to give readers from disciplines other than aero-gravimetry and aero-altimetry a technical insight into how the system works and what it is capable of. This should help the reader to evaluate the systems usefulness in other geo-scientific projects. The experiences from the test flights are briefly summarized and an update of the current status and future plans for the individual instruments is given. The aerogravimetry system consists of two major instrument blocks: the gravimetry sensing system and the positioning system. The gravimetry sensors are the LaCoste & Romberg S124b and the SAGS-2.2 systems. The navigation block holds GPS receivers, an inertial navigation system and a laser altimeter. The aircraft used for the primary tests was a Cessna Grand Caravan of the DLR in Oberpfaffenhofen. It offers superb conditions for scientific installations and is widely used in geophysical exploration all over the world. The test flights were flown from Oberpfaffenhofen airport. One profile covers the Bavarian Alps to map short wavelength, topography induced gravity disturbances, and another flight crosses the Rhine Graben to map long wavelength structures of the deeper crust. The software for data processing for navigation, gravimetry and geoid calculations is briefly summarized.

Beschreibung: This study attemps to identify and quantify the parameters that control mass-transfer modes in brittle tectonically erosive and accretive forearc settings. Scaled analogue simulations, which are specifically designed for this task, are compared with the convergent Chilean Margin that demonstrates both of these mass-transfer modes. Analogue simulation of geodynamic processes requires granular materials (e. g. sand) that deforms similarly to typical crustal rocks. Accordingly, a parameter study is performed, which yields general insight in the basic mechanics of highly-idealised convergent sand wedges.

Beschreibung: Compared to the Chandler and annual wobbles, the higher-frequency components of polar motion (PM) have substantially smaller amplitudes. Therefore, their study had to wait until higher-quality time series with high temporal resolution, as measured by space geodetic techniques, became available. Based on the combined Earth orientation series SPACE99 computed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) from 1976 to 2000 at daily intervals, we have separated the periodic PM terms by band-pass filtering and found that the persistence of oscillations becomes less with increasing frequency (H¨opfner 2001a, b). In order to quantify and better describe the parameter variability of these PM components over time, particularly of eight oscillations with periods ranging between about 650 and 45 days, we computed the radii, direction angles and period lengths from the periodic terms filtered out from the time series. The results clearly show the characteristics and time evolution of the periodic PM components that are important for geophysical interpretations.

Beschreibung: The Effect of the Geocentric Gravitational Constant on Scale: It is well known that the geocentric gravitational constant (GM) is a scaling factor for the reference frame realized by satellite techniques. One must be aware that its effects on the orbit and on the terrestrial reference frame (station positions) are different. The scale effect on restituted orbits is 1/3* (dGM/GM) (relative error of GM) for all kinds of satellites. But the effect on the terrestrial frame depends on the height of the satellites, on tracking techniques and on the solved for parameters. For ranging techniques such as SLR, the scale variation of the terrestrial frame is 1/3*(dGM/GM)*(rSat) / (rEarth), if the range biases are not solved for. For GPS the GM error is mostly absorbed by the clock estimates (or eliminated by the double differences), only the remaining few percents go into the scale of terrestrial reference frame. For instance if one is using a GM value of 3.986004418 1014 m3/s2 instead of 3.986004415 1014 m3/s2 (relative variation is 7.5 10-10) the scale variation of the terrestrial frame is only about 6 10-11. Physically, the error in the z-direction of the antenna phase center offsets on board GPS has nothing to do with GM. But its effect on the terrestrial reference frame is practically equivalent to an error in GM. For instance, if all GPS satellites have a 7.1 cm error in dz, the effect on the station position is equivalent to a relative error of 8 10-9 in GM (e.g. changing GM from 3.986004418 to 3.986004386 1014 m3/s2). Satellite Antenna Phase Center Offsets and Scale Errors in GPS Solutions: ITRF2000 solutions (see Lareg, 2001) have shown that there are ppb level scale differences between GPS and other techniques and among various GPS Analysis Centers. The trends of the scale differences reach 0.2 ppb per year. The uncertainties of the current available Earth’s gravitational constant could only cause less than 0.1 ppb scale error for GPS technique. On the other hand, the uncertainties in the satellite antenna phase center offsets could produce ppb level scale error. Various BLOCK types of GPS satellites have different phase center errors. The number of BLOCK IIR satellites increases from year to year. This could cause trend-like variations in the scale error. Beside station positions, satellite antenna phase center errors affect also the clock, Zenith Path Delay, and other solved for parameters perceptibly.

Beschreibung: Chandler and annual wobbles based on space-geodetic measurements: In this study, we examine the major components of polar motion, focusing on quantifying their temporal variability. In particular, by using the combined Earth orientation series SPACE99 computed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) from 1976 to 2000 at daily intervals, the Chandler and annual wobbles are separated by recursive band-pass filtering of the χ1- and χ2 -components. Then, for the trigonometric, exponential, and elliptic forms of representation, the parameters including their uncertainties are computed at epochs using quarterly sampling. The characteristics and temporal evolution of the wobbles are presented, as well as a summary of estimates of different parameters for four epochs.

Beschreibung: Polar motions with a half-Chandler period and less in their temporal variability: Our study focuses on the observed higher-frequency polar motions that are substantially smaller than the Chandler and annual wobbles. Here, the combined Earth orientation series SPACE99 from 1976 to 2000 with one-day sampling is used as input data, after removing the low-frequency, the Chandler and annual terms. We applied a data processing procedure including four steps, each computing the amplitude spectrum by a Fast Fourier Transform in order to reveal the periodic signals in the residual motions, and then separating their components from the residual time series by band-pass filtering. In particular, the oscillations have the following periods: Semi-Chandler and semi-annual periods and those of order four, three, two, and one and a half months, as well as quasi-biennial and 300-day periods. We show to what extent the observed polar motions are irregularly occurring. A very small polar motion signal with the period of one month is still found in the remaining motions.

Beschreibung: The Altiplano represents a key region of the Central Andes, where the interplay between faults and syn-tectonic sediments allow the reconstruction of the kinematic evolution of the Central Andean high plateau. This study aims, by the use of incrementally-balanced crosssections, interpretation of reflection-seismic profiles, 3D strain analysis, gravity data interpretation, isotopic-age dating, and surface observations, to reconstruct the geological and tectonic history of the Southern Altiplano at 21o S between the Eastern and the Western Cordillera. The Southern Altiplano is a complex intramontane basin with 6-8km Cenozoic fill. It can be structurally divided in three domains; the Eastern, Central, and Western Altiplano. 2D balanced cross-sections based on seismic-reflector analysis and field observations show that the Eastern Altiplano is the buried, thin-skinned deformation front of the western part of the Eastern Cordillera's bivergent thrust system. The 20-40° dipping, blind faults merge into a shallow, eastward-dipping detachment at 7-9km depth that continues into the Eastern Cordillera. The Central Altiplano forms a bivergent system with 30-90° dipping, basement-involving thrusts in the east, and fault-propagation folds in the west. The shallow, westward-dipping detachment lies at 9-10km depth and possibly continues into the Western Altiplano, which forms a separate bivergent thrust-system.The computer-aided (GeoSec and 2DMove), incremental restoration of the balanced crosssections of the Eastern and Central Altiplano, and preliminary line-length balancing of the Western Altiplano, yields 38km shortening due to folding and thrusting. 3D strain analysis of sandstone grain shapes reveals that an additional 7.7% of shortening was accumulated as ductile, micro-scale strain. This increases the total shortening in the entire cross-section of the Southern Altiplano at 21° S to 60km or 21%. In addition, I suggest that the contribution of outcrop-scale structures possibly accounts for another 20 km. 3D strain analysis further shows that the 7.7% of microscale strain were accompanied by 13% orogen-parallel extension. These shortening estimates more than double the published shortening values from the Altiplano. Crustal thickening and plateau uplift in the arc-backarc domain of the South American convergent margin took place during the Cenozoic. K-Ar and Ar-Ar age-dating on syn-tectonic sediments, together with seismic-sequence analysis, demonstrates that the Southern Altiplano structure formed during two independent compressional increments (Early Oligocene [〉27 Ma] and Middle/Late Miocene [17-8 Ma]), which were preceded by an Eocene/Oligocene extensional event that led to the formation of a half graben in the Central, and possibly a second in the Eastern Altiplano. Horizontal contraction of the Altiplano ended between 11-8 Ma, was indicated by the age of undeformed volcanic rocks. Detailed seismic analysis of single syn-tectonic basins combined with isotopic ages of syntectonic sediments, reveal a complex deformation history characterised by spatially and temporally irregular fault activation, which excludes the existence of large-scale eastward or westward propagating deformation during plateau formation. This diffuse pattern of deformation was characteristic for the entire plateau domain, i.e. from the western flank to the eastern edge of the Eastern Cordillera, during a first stage of plateau formation between 30 and 10 Ma. This possibly indicates that the plateau has remained flat since its formation and did not evolve from an initially doubly-vergent orogen. The syn-tectonic stratigraphic units of the Southern Altiplano domain overlie shallow marine, Late Cretaceous sediments that still form a sub-horizontal regional near sea level. This indicates that plateau surface-uplift in this part of the plateau was mainly achieved by sedimentary in fill of tectonically-controlled, internally-drained basins, and not by tectonic uplift. The tectonic evolution of the Southern Altiplano was largely accompanied by magmatic activity. An episode of strong volcanic activity affected the entire width of the Altiplano and adjacent parts of the Eastern Cordillera between 25-8 Ma. However, a causal relationship between magmatism and deformation could not be shown for the Southern Altiplano. Strong Oligocene/Miocene volcanic activity, together with the diffuse pattern of deformation, suggests that the formation of the Altiplano Plateau was initiated by magmatically-controlled thermal weakening of the crust, possibly as the result of the removal of the mantle lithosphere. At present, the Altiplano has a flat topography, high heat-flow, and is spatially related to a variety of geophysical anomalies that are interpreted as partial melting of the middle crust (20-40km depth). From this evidence, I propose that the process of plateau formation is still active.

Beschreibung: Sustainability as defined by the Brundtland Commission, is a composite and thus ambitious policy target. It comprises environmental, economic, social, and institutional criteria with equal importance. Because of this complexity the first step of a (Local) Agenda 21 process should be to develop a vision of a sustainable society - a "leitbild" - useful as a compass, not a road map (or, even worse, a blueprint), attached by indicators that help to measure progress, distance to target, and failures of plans or their implementations. In the following article a model is proposed how local sustainability indicators can be developed and how they can help to reduce the complexity of sustainability and to concretize a program for the Local Agenda 21. To get a practical impression of the theoretical presentation an example is given in the last part of the article. It shows the experiences made while developing sustainability indicators in the City of Iserlohn.

Beschreibung: Strategic Environmental Assessment aims to incorporate environmental and sustainability considerations into strategic decision making processes, such as the formulation of policies, plans and programmes. In order to be effective, the assessment must take the real decision making process as the departure point. Existing SEA approaches are frequently tailored after an EIA model conceived from a rational perspective on decision making. However, there are good reasons to assume that most strategic decision making processes are characterised by a bounded rationality. Furthermore, the predictability of environmental consequences generally becomes weaker at strategic levels than at the project level and complexity increases in terms of the numbers of actors involved in the decision. This paper examines various theoretical perspectives to decision making and discusses the implications for decision support in general and SEA in particular. The authors argue that the design of the SEA must be more sensitive to the real characteristics of the decision making context.

Beschreibung: Economy-wide material flow analysis (MFA) and derived indicators have been developed to monitor and assess the metabolic performance of economies, that is, with respect to the internal economic flows and the exchange of materials with the environment and with other economies. Indicators such as direct material input (DMI) and direct material consumption (DMC) measure material use related to either production or consumption. Domestic hidden flows (HF) account for unused domestic extraction, and foreign HF represent the upstream primary resource requirements of the imports. DMI and domestic and foreign HF account for the total material requirement (TMR) of an economy. Subtracting the exports and their HF provides the total material consumption (TMC). DMI and TMR are used to measure the (de-) coupling of resource use and economic growth, providing the basis for resource efficiency indicators. Accounting for TMR allows detection of shifts from domestic to foreign resource requirements. Net addition to stock (NAS) measures the physical growth of an economy. It indicates the distance from flow equilibrium of inputs and outputs that may be regarded as a necessary condition of a sustainable mature metabolism. We discuss the extent to which MFA-based indicators can also be used to assess the environmental performance. For that purpose we consider different impacts of material flows, and different scales and perspectives of the analysis, and distinguish between turnover-based indicators of generic environmental pressure and impact-based indicators of specific environmental pressure. Indicators such as TMR and TMC are regarded as generic pressure indicators that may not be used to indicate specific environmental impacts. The TMR of industrial countries is discussed with respect to the question of whether volume and composition may be regarded as unsustainable.

Beschreibung: The reductionist trend of equating sustainable development with sustained economic growth needs to be reversed. New accounts and balances help to operationalize the elusive notion of sustainability: they provide a coherent picture of the interaction between environment and economy. "Greened" national accounts measure economic sustainability in terms of (produced and natural) capital maintenance; balances of material flows assess ecological sustainability as the dematerialization of production and consumption. Both concepts aim to preserve environmental assets, but differ in scope, strength and evaluation of sustainability. First results for Germany indicate weak sustainability of the economy; strong sustainability is not in sight because of insufficient reduction of material throughput. Attaining sustainability through integrated policies needs the support of share- and stakeholders of sustainable development.

Beschreibung: The development of this paper was inspired by the increase in the number of different eco-label like quality assurance schemes established in the European Union in the past few years. These schemes are flooding the market and the researchers raise the question, is there enough credibility in these schemes? This piece of research is based on 58 eco-labeling like food schemes and dissects them into the building blocks of the different factors that makes a scheme credible and analyses the structure of these blocks as well as a literature survey on the perceptions of both the consumers and producers to these schemes. The sort of credibility structure that the building blocks of the schemes (ownership, stakeholder dialogue, traceability, transparency, etc.) have created was discussed and it was questioned if they meet the expectations of the consumers. The main findings of the research indicate that although small groups of consumers may be satisfied with a number of the different schemes, the majority of them fall short of providing a credible quality assurance scheme. Improvements were suggested such as involving a more diverse range of stakeholders and expanding the responsibility of processors and retailers. An alternative to the current form of labeling is also discussed.

Beschreibung: Resource flows constitute the materials basis of the economy. At the same time, they carry and induce an environmental burden associated with resource extraction and the subsequent material flows and stocks, which finally end up as waste and emissions. A reduction of this material throughput and the related impacts would require a reduction of resource inputs. And breaking the link between resource consumption and economicgrowth would require an increase in resource productivity. Material flow analysis (MFA) can be used to quantify resource flows and indicate resource productivity. In this article, we study the available empirical evidence on the actual (de-)linkage of material resource use and economic growth. We compare resource use with respect to total material requirement (TMR) and direct material input (DMI) for 11 and 26 countries, respectively, and the European Union (EU-15). The dynamics of TMR, as well as of the main components are analysed in relation to economic growth in order to show whether there is a decoupling (relative or absolute) from GDP and a change of the metabolic structure in the course of economicdevelopment. DMI/cap so far only decoupled from GDP/cap in relative terms; that is, in most countries, it reached a rather constant level but - with the exception of Czech Republic - showed no absolute decline yet. TMR/cap was reduced in two high-income countries and one low-income country due to political influence. Changes in TMR were more influenced by hidden flows (HF) than by DMI. We analyse the dynamics of the structure and composition of TMR in the course of economic development. In general, the economic development of industrial countries was accompanied by a shift from domestic to foreign resource extraction. Different relations can be discovered for the share of biomass, fossil fuel resources, construction resources and metals and industrial minerals.

Beschreibung: Sustainable development is the globally embraced paradigm for integrating environment and development policies. Agreement ends with attempts at quantifying the elusive notion of sustainability. A contentious debate among "environmentalists" and "environmental economists" has brought about a confusing proliferation of indicators and policy advice on sustainable development. Generating a common language by means of integrated physical and monetary environmental accounting could moderate the debate. Economic and ecological sustainability is thus distinguished and operationalised in terms of capital maintenance and dematerialisation of economic activity. Empirical results presented are not conclusive, however. Moreover, the reconciliation of environmental and economic policies requires more than comparable statistics strategies and instruments of environmental cost internalisation need to be evaluated and combined with those of raising resource productivity. A social compact between government and civil society should provide the necessary support for achieving consensus and partnership. The sustained implementation of sustainable development depends on it.

Beschreibung: International climate policy is one of the most fascinating issues in foreign policy, yet in recent years it has become one of the most contentious. The failure of the conference in The Hague revealed, among other things, strongunderlying rifts in the transatlantic relationship. As the self-acclaimed worldleader, the United States is not in a position to exert leadership in this vital area owing to a mixture of constitutional constraints and an ever-growing cultural dependence on fossil fuels such as oil and gas. It therefore falls to the European Union to take up this challenge. This will require careful coalition building with the rest of the world as well as confidence in the ability of Europe to develop a united position, to stick to that position and to translate the rules of the Kyoto Protocol into stringent domestic climate policy. The climate change regime is at a crossroads. At the resumed COP-6 con-ference, the Parties must decide whether to continue the process under theassumption ‘that global problems require global solutions’ or whether to turn to the more regional concept of "think globally, act locally". In either case, steering climate policy in this century on to a successful path will require the skills and dedication not only of natural scientists and technology developers, but also of those in the foreign policy community.

Beschreibung: The paper examines the "Declaration of German Industry on Global Warming Prevention (DGWP)" in its updated version of 1996. The analysis draws on the findings of empirical case studies in the cement and glass sector as well as on a general analysis of the policy process including monitoring experience so far. The findings emphasise the weak impact of the agreement on the most important driving forces for industrial energy consumption. However, an improved design and a more stringent procedural framework would allow better advantage to be taken of the particular strengths of the approach. The paper concludes by making a number of recommendations that would improve the scope and quality of commitments, and would enhance learning effects during the course of the policy process.