ALBERT

Description: An energy-flux model (EFM) and a teleseismic fluctuation wavefield method (TFWM) have been applied to interpret the teleseismic P coda observed at three temporary and two permanent networks in northern and central Europe. The aim is to determine the small-scale random structure of the lithosphere below the receivers. Various subsets of these data have been exploited previously with one of the two methods. The main objectives here are: To compare the performance of both methods with synthetic data sets. To map the random structure of the lithosphere in terms of inverse scattering Q (Q−1s), correlation length a, RMS velocity fluctuation σ, thickness L of the scattering layer and autocorrelation function (ACF) using a combination of both methods. With TFWM, the product aσ2 can be reliably determined if L is known. L can be roughly estimated with EFM. Although EFM can, in principle, resolve a and σ separately, a is recovered with a rather large uncertainty. TFWM does not distinguish much between the ACF type, whereas with EFM determination of the ACF type is sometimes possible. By combining the results of both methods we determine improved random medium parameters of the lithosphere for eleven subregions in northern and central Europe. In the Baltic shield, Rhenohercynian belt, Ardenne and Brabant mountains, eastern Rhenish massif, Eifel, Hunsrück mountains, Lorraine, Frankonian Jura and massif Central scattering predominantly occurs in the crust. For the frequency range from 0.5 to 5 Hz correlation lengths of 1–7 km and rms velocity fluctuations of 3-7 per cent are obtained. For the Rhenohercynian belt (RH) and the N-German basin RMS velocity fluctuations and correlation lengths could not be resolved. The data from the N-German basin (NB) cannot be explained by scattering within the crust only. Smallest scattering Q was found in the N German basin (Qs≈ 100 at 1 Hz) and largest scattering Q in the Baltic shield (Qs≈ 450 at 2-3 Hz). For the Frankonian Jura only a Gaussian ACF can fit the Q−1s values. The data from the eastern Rhenish massif also indicate a random medium with Gaussian ACF. For all other subregions we cannot distinguish between exponential or Gaussian ACF for the random medium structure.

Description: Trees, as long living plants, are governed by environmental and/or climate changes within their habitat. Their growth rings record to a large extent the temporal dynamics of these changes either directly or through tree physiological reactions. They render the highest time resolution thus far possible for environmental or climate reconstructions of the past 10,000 years (exactly dated, annually resolved, see: [828], [994]). Trees are a substantial part of the human environment with a high socio-economic value. Their large geographical extension over various regions of the world, including those with greatest population densities but also marginal areas allows to gain unique informations about local and regional consequences of global climate change.

Description: Signals from 11 shots and 8 earthquakes, and numerous teleseismic events were recorded along the 400-km seismic line INDEPTH III in centralTibet and interpreted together with previous seismic and tectonic data. The abnormal behavior of various mantle phases reveals a complex Moho-transition zone, especially in the northern part of the line, in the Changtang Block, where the lower crust and the mantle show unusually low velocities, a shingled appearance of Pn and no low-velocity layer in the upper crust. The strong east–west anisotropy in the Changtang Block is related to an easterly escape movement of the whole lithosphere, facilitated by the warm and weak layers in the lower crust and the upper mantle, bounded apparently by two prominent west–east running fault zones.

Description: 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.

Description: This letter proposes a building characterization tech-nique for L-band polarimetric interferometric synthetic apertureradar (SAR) data. This characterization consists of building iden-tification and height estimation. Initially, a polarimetric interfer-ometric segmentation is performed to isolate buildings from theirsurroundings. This classification identifies three basic categories:single bounce, double bounce, and volume diffusion. In order tocompensate for the misclassifications among the volume and thedouble-bounce classes, interferometric phases given by the high-resolution Estimation of Signal Parameters via Rotational Invari-ance Techniques (ESPRIT) method are analyzed. Once buildingsare localized, a phase-to-height procedure is applied to retrievebuilding height information. The method is validated using E-SAR,German Aerospace Center (DLR) fully polarimetric SAR data, atL-band, repeat-pass mode, over the Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany,test site, with a spatial resolution of 1.5 m in range and azimuth.More than 80% of buildings are retrieved with acceptably accu-rate height estimates

Description: 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.

Description: An active-source seismic experiment at the KTB deep drill hole in southeast Germany reveals seismic P wave anisotropy to exist within a tectono-metamorphic sub-terrane of the crystalline Bohemian massif. The experiment used multi-azimuth vertical seismic profiling whereby downhole sensors recorded surface seismic Vibroseis sources located along six 7.5-km radial profiles emanating from the borehole location. Representative bulk anisotropic P wave velocities of the upper crust were derived from this seismic data and compared with predictions of velocity and anisotropy based on petrophysical laboratory measurements and geological information. We show that azimuth and inclination behavior of the observed anisotropy is consistent with characterization of the geology surrounding the borehole as a coherent regional block containing pervasive highly tilted foliation. This seismic anisotropy can be explained by “intrinsic” material properties associated with the well-developed foliation fabrics.

Description: The Atacama basin is a prominent morphological anomaly in the Central Andean forearc. 3D seismic structure beneath the depression and its surroundings has been determined from local earthquake tomography. Depth maps of P-wave velocity and attenuation (1/Q p ) through the lithosphere reveal a rheologically strong (high Q p and v p ) lithospheric block beneath the basin, surrounded by weak regions (low Q p and v p ) beneath Pre- and Western Cordilleras. The anomalous lithospheric structure appears to bar hot asthenospheric mantle from penetrating trenchward, and hence causes the volcanic front to be deflected by the Salar de Atacama basin. The cold block may also influence the thermal structure of the subducted slab causing reduced Benioff seismicity and less hydration of mantle rocks evident from reduced v p /v s ratios. Seismic data are hard to reconcile with extension and lithospheric thinning as a mechanism for subsidence of the basin. Instead, high strength of the Atacama lithospheric block may contribute to basin formation by focussing deformation and uplift along the block's weak edges.

Description: 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.

Description: 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.

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

Description: A schematic model for hadronic states, based on constituent quarks and antiquarks and gluon pairs, is discussed. The phenomenological interaction between quarks and gluons is QCD motivated. The obtained hadronic spectrum leads to the identification of nucleon and Δ resonances and to pentaquark and heptaquark states. The predicted lowest pentaquark state ( J π = 1 2 − ) lies at the energy of 1.5 GeV and it is associated to the observed Θ + ( 1540 ) state. For heptaquarks ( J π = 1 2 + , 3 2 + ) the model predicts the lowest state at 2.5 GeV .

Description: 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.

Description: A 39-km-long deepseismic reflection profile recorded during two field campaigns in 1996 and 2002 provides a first detailed image of the deepcrust at the eastern margin of the Eastern Alps (Austria). The ESE–WNW-trending, low-fold seismic line crosses Austroalpine basement units and extends approximately from 20 km west of the Penninic window group of Rechnitz to 60 km SSE of the Alpine thrust front. The explosive-source seismic data reveals a transparent shallow crust down to 5 km depth, a complexly reflective upper crust and a highly reflective lowermost crust. The upper crust is dominated by three prominent west-dipping packages of high-amplitude subparallel reflections. The upper two of these prominent packages commence at the eastern end of the profile at about 5 and 10 km depth and are interpreted as low-angle normal shear zones related to the Miocene exhumation of the Rechnitz metamorphic core complex. In the western portion of the upper crust, east-dipping and less significant reflections prevail. The lowermost package of these reflections is suggested to represent the overall top of the European crystalline basement. Along the western portion of the line, the lower crust is characterised by a 6-8-km-thick band of high-amplitude reflection lamellae, typically observed in extensional provinces. The Moho can be clearly defined at the base of this band, at approximately 32.5 km depth. Due to insufficient signal penetration, outstanding reflections are missing in the central and eastern portion of the lower crust. We speculate that the result of accompanying gravity measurements and lower crustal sporadic reflections can be interpreted as an indication for a shallower Moho in the east, preferable at about 30.5 km depth. The high reflectivity of the lowermost part of the lower crust and prominent reflection packages in the upper crust, the latter interpreted to represent broad extensional mylonite zones, emphasises the latest extensional processes in accordance with eastward extrusion.

Description: The volcanism responsible for creating the chain of the Hawaiian islands and seamounts is believed to mark the passage of the oceanic lithosphere over a mantle plume1,2. In this picture hot material rises from great depth within a fixed narrow conduit to the surface, penetrating the moving lithosphere3. Although a number of models describe possible plume–lithosphere interactions4, seismic imaging techniques have not had sufficient resolution to distinguish between them. Here we apply the S-wave ‘receiver function’ technique to data of three permanent seismic broadband stations on the Hawaiian islands, to map the thickness of the underlying lithosphere. We find that under Big Island the lithosphere is 100–110 km thick, as expected for an oceanic plate 90–100 million years old that is not modified by a plume. But the lithosphere thins gradually along the island chain to about 50–60 km below Kauai. The width of the thinning is about 300 km. In this zone, well within the larger-scale topographic swell, we infer that the rejuvenation model5 (where the plume thins the lithosphere) is operative; however, the largerscale topographic swell is probably supported dynamically.

Description: Continuous recordings of 17 broadband and short-period digital seismic stations from a newly established seismological network in Saudi Arabia, along with digital recordings from the broadband stations of the GSN, MEDNET, GEOFON, a temporary array in Saudi Arabia, and temporary short period stations in Oman, were analysed to study the lithospheric structure of the Arabian Plate and surrounding regions. The Arabian Plate is surrounded by a variety of types of plate boundaries: continental collision (Zagros Belt and Bitlis Suture), continental transform (Dead Sea fault system), young seafloor spreading (Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden) and oceanic transform (Owen fracture zone). Also, there are many intraplate Cenozoic processes such as volcanic eruptions, faulting and folding that are taking place. We used this massive waveform database of more than 6200 regional seismograms to map zones of blockage, inefficient and efficient propagation of the Lg and Sn phases in the Middle East and East Africa. We observed Lg blockage across the Bitlis Suture and the Zagros fold and thrust belt, corresponding to the boundary between the Arabian and Eurasian plates. This is probably due to a major lateral change in the Lg crustal waveguide. We also observed inefficient Lg propagation along the Oman mountains. Blockage and inefficient Sn propagation is observed along and for a considerable distance to the east of the Dead Sea fault system and in the northern portion of the Arabian Plate (south of the Bitlis Suture). These mapped zones of high Sn attenuation, moreover, closely coincide with extensive Neogene and Quaternary volcanic activity. We have also carefully mapped the boundaries of the Sn blockage within the Turkish and Iranian plateaus. Furthermore, we observed Sn blockage across the Owen fracture zone and across some segments of the Red Sea. These regions of high Sn attenuation most probably have anomalously hot and possibly thin lithospheric mantle (i.e. mantle lid). A surprising result is the efficient propagation of Sn across a segment of the Red Sea, an indication that active seafloor spreading is not continuous along the axis of the Red Sea. We also investigated the attenuation of Pn phase (QPn) for 1–2 Hz along the Red Sea, the Dead Sea fault system, within the Arabian Shield and in the Arabian Platform. Consistent with the Sn attenuation, we observed low QPn values of 22 and 15 along the western coast of the Arabian Plate and along the Dead Sea fault system, respectively, for a frequency of 1.5 Hz. Higher QPn values of the order of 400 were observed within the Arabian Shield and Platform for the same frequency. Our results based on Sn and Pn observations along the western and northern portions of the Arabian Plate imply the presence of a major anomalously hot and thinned lithosphere in these regions that may be caused by the extensive upper mantle anomaly that appears to span most of East Africa and western Arabia.

Description: The TRANSALP Group, comprising of partner institutions from Italy, Austria and Germany, acquired data on a 340 km long deep seismic reflection line crossing the Eastern Alps between Munich and Venice. Although the field work was split into four campaigns, between fall 1998 and summer 2001, the project gathered for the first time a continuous profile across the Alps using consistent field acquisition and data processing parameters. These sections span the orogen itself, at its broadest width, as well as the editor Fred Davey and the two adjacent basins. Vibroseis and explosion data, complementary in their depth penetration and resolution characteristics, were obtained along with wide-angle and teleseismic data. The profile shows a bi-vergent asymmetric structure of the crust beneath the Alpine axis which reaches a maximum thickness of 55 km, and 80–100 km long transcrustal ramps, the southward dipping ‘Sub-Tauern-Ramp’ and the northward-dipping ‘Sub-Dolomites-Ramp’. Strongly reflective patterns of these ramps can be traced towards the north to the Inn Valley and towards the south to the Valsugana thrust belt, both of which show enhanced seismicity in the brittle upper crust. The seismic sections do not reveal any direct evidence for the presence of the Periadriatic Fault system, the presumed equivalent to the Insubric Line in the Western Alps. According to our new evolutionary model, the Sub-Tauern-Ramp is linked at depth with remnants of the subducted Penninic Ocean. The ‘crocodile’-type model describes an upper/lower crustal decoupling and wedging of both the European and the Adriatic–African continents.

Description: The hadronic spectrum obtained in the framework of a QCD-inspired schematic model is presented. The model is the extension of a previous version, whose basic degrees of freedom are constituent quarks, antiquarks, and gluons. The interaction between quarks and gluons is a phenomenological interaction and its parameters are fixed from data. The classification of the states, in terms of quark and antiquark and gluon configurations is based on symmetry considerations, and it is independent of the chosen interaction. Following this procedure, nucleon and Δ resonances are identified, as well as various penta- and hepta-quarks states. The lowest pentaquarks state is predicted at 1.5 GeV and it has negative parity, while the lowest hepta-quarks state has positive parity and its energy is of the order of 2.5 GeV .

Description: Quantum mechanics in dissipative systems with a magnetic field is discussed. For strong magnetic fields the system exhibits an oscillatory behavior around the classical trajectory of the electron which should generate emissions in the millimeter range of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Description: 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.

Description: 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.

Description: The oil play of the Permo-Carboniferous Cooper and Jurassic-Cretaceous Eromanga Basins in South Australia is complicated to unravel due to the presence of multiple source rocks that bear similar geochemical characteristics and has consequently been subject to intense debate. The underlying Warburton Basin, although initially regarded an exploration target, subsequently has never been seriously considered to having participated in the oil play. The Cooper/Eromanga couplet is Australia's largest onshore petroleum province and still bears potential for undiscovered commodities, making a profound understanding of origin and migration of petroleum a prerequisite for efficient future exploration. Being a typical example of structurally trapped oils in stacked fluvial sandstone reservoirs, the Gidgealpa Ridge was chosen as subject for this study. A suite of 13 sandstone cores, 11 source rocks and 24 drill stem test (DST) oils were processed at the University of Cologne by extraction, sequential extraction of sandstone cores to yield residual oils, preparative liquid chromatography and solid phase extraction to yield fractions of saturated hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons, maltene resins and a carbazole enriched fractions. While biomarker analyses on saturates and aromatics were performed by Dr. Khaled Arouri at the University of Adelaide, molecular characterisation of carbazoles and bulk geochemical characterisation was also done at the University of Cologne. Sequentially extracted residual oils are particularly useful because they allow a temporal resolution of petroleum reservoir filling histories. While hydrocarbon compositions are quickly equilibrated over a few tens of metres in oil columns, there is substantial evidence that the same is not true for polar species such as e.g. carbazoles and for lateral variations in hydrocarbon composition. Carbazoles were initially regarded as molecular markers indicating relative migration distances. However, counterevidence soon appeared, showing the dependency of carbazole distributions on other factors. The results of this study show that, while the distribution of benzocarbazoles seems to depend only on fractionation processes during primary and secondary migration, alkylated carbazole distribution patterns are governed by source rock facies. This new finding allowed the recognition of a Warburton Basin contribution in certain residual oil fractions, yielding the first conclusive evidence that Warburton Basin rocks bear a source potential and have actively participated in the oil play of the Cooper and Eromanga Basins. The application of carbazole facies parameters, benzocarbazole migration parameters and aromatic maturity data on oils and residual oils from the Gidgealpa Field has allowed the reconstruction of its charging history. Generally, Cooper Basin oils exhibit large maturity variations but a uniformly short migration distance, indicating their origin from a nearby deep trough (eastern source kitchen). Eromanga Basin oils are characterized by similarly low maturity values but highly varying migration distances, suggesting that they were sourced by an extensive and shallow source kitchen. More precise consideration of the carbazole distribution in Eromanga Basin oils shows that the Gidgealpa Field has received two discrete Birkhead charges: a Late Cretaceous pulse from an eastern source kitchen, which migrated a short distance, and became locally displaced by a Tertiary charge from a western source kitchen, which had to migrate further before reaching the Gidgealpa Field. Residual oil fractions from the sandy intervals of the Toolachee and Patchawarra Formations indicate that while the former is a source for Cooper Basin Family 2 oils, the latter can unambiguously be tied to the production of Cooper Basin Family 1 oils. After petroleum generation in the Patchawarra Formation, this petroleum was probably retained by the coaly Patchawarra source rock, and underwent further maturation before it was expelled as condensate-like light oil in gaseous solution. The analysis of sequentially extracted residual oils promises to become a powerful tool in reservoir geochemical studies by adding a temporal resolution to otherwise time-integrated samples, thereby allowing a relatively precise reconstruction of an oil field's charging history. The finding of facies dependent markers in the polar fraction of oils is a constructive motivation for further research into the facies and maturity dependency of NSO compounds. As many residual oils are characterized by minimum extracts yields and a high percentage of NSO compounds, conventional biomarker analyses are complicated and polar markers are necessary for a more precise evaluation.

Description: The Irish Seismological Lithospheric Experiment (ISLE 2002) has been designed to investigate the deep lithospheric and asthenospheric structure across the late-Caledonian Iapetus Suture Zone in southern Ireland. The project is a collaboration between the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS), Ireland, and the Geophysical Institute (GPI) of the University of Karlsruhe, Germany. This is the first passive teleseismic experiment conducted in Ireland, building upon a large body of earlier work on the crustal structure offshore and onshore Ireland, based on controlled source seismics and potential field studies.

Description: On a SW–NE profile from the Libyan coast towards central Turkey phase velocity curves of the fundamental Rayleigh mode were measured using a two-station method. The inversion of phase velocity curves yields 1-D models of shear wave velocity down to approximately 200 km depths that may be interpreted as estimates of average models between neighbouring stations on the profile. Strong lateral variations in the shear wave velocity structure are imaged along the profile. The subducted oceanic African mantle lithosphere is indicated in 1-D models for the region around Crete by significantly enlarged shear wave velocities. It is also imaged by an average model of the structure between stations on Crete and Santorini. On a path crossing the Libyan Sea south of Crete the resulting model is slower than a model expected for 110 Myr old oceanic lithosphere. The passive African margin is thus assumed to extend northwards beneath the Libyan Sea. Anomalous low shear wave velocities are found for the uppermost mantle beneath central Turkey down to a depth of approximately 130 km. Using two stations on Crete the average depth of the oceanic Moho within the subducting slab is estimated to be at approximately 50 km beneath Crete. For this arc-parallel path, an enlarged standard deviation of the measured phase velocities of approximately 0.2 km s−1 between 10 and 30 mHz is observed that is probably caused by strong lateral heterogeneity related to the subducting slab. In addition, in this frequency range an anomalous propagation of the fundamental Rayleigh mode is detected that is indicated by measured phase velocities that are approximately one standard deviation faster than phase velocities expected from a great-circle approximation. An average shear wave velocity of approximately 3.5 km s−1 is observed above the oceanic Moho. In order to explain the recent lithospheric structure of the Hellenic subduction zone a tectonic model is assumed for the NE–SW striking profile considered. It is based on the calculated 1-D models, tectonic reconstructions and on a model derived from the metamorphic history of rocks exposed on Crete. The suggested model summarizes the tectonic development at a lithospheric scale starting in the Late Cretaceous. Accretion of crustal material of two microcontinents to Eurasia is assumed, while continuous subduction of the oceanic lithosphere of different ocean basins and possibly of the mantle lithosphere of the microcontinents resulted in a single slab. The length of the oceanic lithosphere that was subducted south of Crete is estimated to be not greater than approximately 550 km.

Description: We present a case study of lithospheric structure in the forearc of a retreating subduction zone for the Hellenic Arc. Lateral structural variations along the arc beneath the island of Crete are jointly investigated by receiver functions and Rayleigh phase velocities. Data from temporary short-period networks amend previous results from broad-band stations by broadening the frequency range available for phase-velocity determination and increasing the spatial coverage of receiver function profiles. Both receiver functions and dispersion analysis reveal distinct structural differences between western and central Crete. Western Crete is characterized by nearly constant S-velocities of 3.72–3.75 km s−1 from 10 km depth down to a depth of 50 km and no distinct continental Moho signal. Meanwhile, central Crete shows lower S-velocities equal to 3.3 km s−1 in the crust between 10 and 20 km depth which are followed by the Aegean Moho in about 30 km depth and a mantle wedge with an S-velocity of 4.35 km s−1. Both methods lead to an average depth of 55 km for the subducted oceanic African Moho beneath Crete. This means that the slab is separated from the Aegean crust by a mantle wedge beneath central Crete, while beneath western Crete the corresponding depth region is characterized by crustal velocities. This thickened crust in the forearc might be formed by crustal material of the Aegean Plate dragged down with the subducting African lithosphere. Furthermore, rocks extruded from a melange circulating in a subduction channel might accumulate between a depth of 20 and 50 km and contain low-velocity material, e.g. in the form of serpentinized Aegean mantle. In addition, the lateral extent of a prominent negative phase observed around 4 s differential time in receiver functions from western Crete is mapped. This phase might point to low-velocity material around 30 km depth which could be extruded from a subduction channel. An important property of the forearc found in this study is its strong lateral heterogeneity.

Description: 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.

Description: 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.

Description: 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.

Description: New energy efficiency policies have been introduced around the world. Historically, most energy models were reasonably equipped to assess the impact of classical policies, such as a subsidy or change in taxation. However, these tools are often insufficient to assess the impact of alternative policy instruments. We evaluate the so-called engineering economic models used to assess future industrial energy use. Engineering economic models include the level of detail commonly needed to model the new types of policies considered. We explore approaches to improve the realism and policy relevance of engineering economic modeling frameworks. We also explore solutions to strengthen the policy usefulness of engineering economic analysis that can be built from a framework of multidisciplinary cooperation. The review discusses the main modeling approaches currently used and evaluates the weaknesses in current models. We focus on the needs to further improve the models. We identify research priorities for the modeling framework, technology representation in models, policy evaluation, and modeling of decision-making behavior.

Description: Wolfgang Sachs argues for environmental human rights as a fundamental prerequisite to end the violence of development. He outlines the numerous conflicts over natural resources in the struggle for livelihoods and argues for a transition to sustainability in the more affluent economies, in both the North and South, as a necessary condition for the safeguarding of the subsistence rights of those whose livelihood depends on direct access to nature.

Description: In February 2000, the German Bundestag established a Study Commission on "Sustainable Energy Supplies in View of Globalisation and Liberalisation" (cf. Final Report, 2002). The Commission's Final Report is a contribution made by Germany toward implementing the sustainable development objectives defined in 1992 at the World Summit in Rio de Janeiro (Agenda 21). Despite minority votes of several members of the Study Commission, the main outcomes of the Final Report are worthwhile discussing in other industrial countries. The Commission had been given the mandate to identify "robust, sustainable development paths" for the energy sector for the period up to 2050, which represent a scientific basis for the German parliament's further decision-making in the field of long-term energy policy. The applied backcasting approach showed that an ambitious climate-protection goal - reducing CO2 emissions by 80% by 2050 - is technically and economically feasible. The main strategies and instruments for protecting the climate while ensuring asustainable energy supply are summarised.

Description: The objective of analytical strategic environmental assessment (ANSEA) is to provide a decision-centred approach to the SEA process. The ANSEA project evolved from the realisation that, in many cases, SEA, as currently practised, is not able to ensure an appropriate integration of environmental values. The focus of SEA is on predicting impacts, but the tool takes no account of the decision-making processes it is trying to influence. At strategic decision-making levels, in turn, it is often difficult to predict impacts with the necessary exactitude. The decision-making sciences could teach some valuable lessons here. Instead of focusing on the quantitative prediction of environmental consequences, the ANSEA approach concentrates on the integration of environmental objectives into decision-making processes. Thus, the ANSEA approach provides a framework for analysing and assessing the decision-making processes of policies, plans and programmes (PPP). To enhance environmental integration into the decision-making process, decision windows (DW) can be identified. The approach is designed to be objective and transparent to ensure that environmental considerations are taken into account, or - from an ex-post perspective - to allow an evaluation of how far environmental considerations have been integrated into the decision-making process under assessment. The paper describes the concepts and the framework of the ANSEA approach and discusses its relation to SEA and the EC Directive.

Description: This book presents important new research on applied eco-efficiency concepts throughout Europe. The aim of eco-efficiency is to achieve market-based measures of environmental protection, in order to enhance the prospects for sustainable development and achieve positive economic and ecological benefits. The distinguished authors discuss a number of themes surrounding eco-efficiency including the necessary conditions for technological dissemination and ecological modernization, and the role of government in enabling businesses and society to participate actively in this process. In particular, they highlight the application of existing European-based policies concerning material flows and energy. The authors also investigate some new concepts of sustainable development and provide a useful introduction to material flows analysis. In further chapters they study the emerging regulatory policies for eco-efficiency, and examine the issues of sustainable business and consumption strategies.