ALBERT

Description: Continuous Bathysonde profiles of temperature versus pressure were used to follow the depths of isotherms at a deep sea anchor station northwest of the Great Meteor Seamount (30 ° N, 28 ° W) from 19th to 27th of April 1967. Assuming temperature to be a conservative parameter, vertical velocities can be computed from the vertical displacements of isotherms, according to equations (1) or (7), respectively. Several advective terms of higher order, however, seem to be large compared to lower order terms (see equ. (7) and table 1). In addition, advective velocities are only known approximately for the period of the measurements. Therefore the total vertical velocity for each depth could not be determined. However, it can be assumed that vertical velocities of semi-diurnal tidal period are large compared, to vertical motions of other frequencies (see fig. 2). The vertical velocity of the semi-diurnal tidal motion can therefore be computed from equ. (10) (table 2). A subsequent approximation of the observed distribution of the vertical velocity component by eigenfunctions reveals a reasonable description of the baroclinic semi-diurnal tide by internal gravity wave modes of the order 1-4 (see fig. 5).

Description: Based on measurements during the "Atlantic Seamount Cruises 1967" with the German R. V. Meteor, (see Cwss et al., 1969; HORN et al., 1971), the fluctuations of temperature in the upper 275 meters are investigated. The analysis of 67 time-series yields the following : 1. Within the period range from 124 hours to 10 minutes fundamental oscillations and their harmonics occur permanently with relatively high amplitudes. These oscillations could be attributed to the diurnal (K1) and semidiurnal (M2) surface- and internal tidal waves as well as to their harmonics. It ought to be mentioned that in the surveyed area the K1-tide and the inertial wave have the same periods and could not be separated by spectrum analysis. 2. Interactions between the K1- or M2-waves and their harmonics by single superposition are shown in the observed periods. These two facts possibly can be explained by the perturbative influence of the Great Meteor Seamount on long wave motions. 3. Special investigations of the short period range lead to significant oscillations with periods between 15 and 40 minutes, which correspond to the Brunt-Väisälä-frequency calculated from the mean density distribution. 4. The diurnal variation of tempernture at the sea surface has a mean amplitude of 0.3 °C and a penetration depth of about 55 m. The mean vertical eddy conductivity amounts to 260 g cm-1 sec-1.

Description: Data obtained during the "Atlantic Seamounts Cruises 1967" with the German R.V. "Meteor" in the area of the Great Meteor Seamount (30 ° N, 28 ° W) are presented graphically. Sections of temperature, salinity, oxygen, pH and alkalinity (figs. 2-5) generally show horizontal homogeneity, which is obviously disturbed around the top of the seamount. This is conformed in greater detail by the results of two bathy thermograph-sections (figs. 6, 7). The time dependence of variations in stratification and currents is presented in figs. 8-10 and 12-17. They clearly indicate the presence of tidal motions, which are amplified in the area above the plateauby a factor of 4. The marked differences in the vertical amplitude distribution suggest the occurrence of internal (tidal) waves. Figs. 18 and 19 graph the residual currents, which show significant deviations from a uniform directional behaviour, especially in the bottom layer on top of the seamount. Various aspects of the data will be treated by HoRN (1971), HUSSELS (1971) and MEINCKE (1971).

Description: S02 concentration and sulfate in maritime aerosols were analyzed during the Atlantic-expedition 1969 (GARP) as a contribution to the atmosphedc sulfurbudget. Discontinuous methods for analysis were applied. The results show with respect to S02 a decreasing concentration from the temperate latitudes towards the tropics, indicating continental origin of this trace-gas. The concentration of sulfate-aerosols reveals no meridional trend. The "background" concentration of sulfate-aerosols is composed of a continental and a maritime component.

Description: Data on the N20 content in air and water over the North Atlantic from 10° S to 60° N along 30° W are presented. The N20 mixing ratio in air shows low values for air masses originating from West Africa suggesting N20 sinks in these arid areas. The N20 concentration in surface water is 1.5 to 3 times higher than the equilibrium from the air indicating that this part of the Atlantic Ocean is a source for atmospheric N20. In deeper layers of the ocean there is an indication of N20 destruction.

Description: From 9th of March to 4th of May 1969 measurements of raindrops has been carried out at the Atlantic Expedition of the "Meteor". The main part (584) of the 720 spectra is measured in the zones near the equator. Normally the rainfalls contain only small drops and are very intensive. 676 spectra had been measured, which have 85 % of all drops per ms with a diameter smaller or equal to 1.25 mm. The intensities of these spectra grow up to 250.3 mm/h. Wide spectra are rare and always intensive (R greater 10.0 mm/h). The radarequation Z = aRb, calculated from R (intensity of rain [mm/h]) and Z (radarreflectivity [mm6/m3]) both of them deduced from our measurements, deviates from the usual form Z = 200 Rl.60 and has the value Z 137 Rl.26. The comparison of the spectra measured on border of the "Meteor" with these of the maritime station of high latitude Reykjavik and the station near equator Entebbe shows, that the spectra of the "Meteor" are more equal to these of Reykjavik as to these of Entebbe. This ist confirmed by the difference of the radar-equation, which is for Reykjavik Z = 106 Rl.2 3 and for Entebbe Z = 278 Rl.30.

Description: The equilibrium radii of mar1t1me aerosol particles are calculated for the purpose of describing quantitatively the changes in the standard visibility or in the scattering coefficient, which result from changes in the humidity. No assumptions are made with regard to particular particle size distributions. Changes in the density and in the refractive index of the aerosol droplets and insoluble ingredients are admitted. The results are illustrated with an aqueous NaCl-aerosol and are compared with the measurements of other authors. A close mathematical relationship is found to exist between the wavelength dependence of the scattering coefficient for haze and its changes with humidity. Applied to the measurements from the Atlantic "Meteor"-Expedition 1965, there follows a deformation of the oceanic particle size distributions in the range below 1 µm radius. Above 98 % humidity there result characteristic changes in the size distributions of any aerosol, which agree with frequently observed changes in time of the wavelength dependence of the atmospheric scattering coefficient.

Description: During the 14th expedition of the research vessel "Meteor" from the 2nd of July to the 7th of August 1968 continously recording instruments for measuring the C02 partial pressure of seawater and atmospheric C02 were developped by the Meteorological Institute, University of Frankfurt/M. During the Faroer expedition instrumental constants, such as relative and absolute accuracy, inertia and solvent power were tested. The performance of discontinous analyses of water samples was adopted to shipboard conditiones and correction factors depending on water volume, depth of sampling and water temperature were measured. After having computed average values of the continous records (atmosp. C02 content, C02 partial pressure, water temperature) geographical distribution, diurnal variation and dependence of diurnal averages were tested. At four different locations c02 partial pressure was measured in various depths. During the voyage from the Faroer islands to Helgoland the measured concentrations of atmospheric C02 content and C02 partial pressure were tested with respect to a correlation of the geographical latitude.

Description: The concentration of C02 in the layer of air near the ocean surface and in the surface water itself were measured continuously during the Atlantic Expedition of 1969. Of particular interest is the meridional profile of each component measured between 10° S and 60 ° N latitude at a constant longitude of 30° W. The variation with latitude of the vertical distribution of C02 partial pressure in water, as determined from the extensive data of Wattenberg (Meteor Expedition 1925 /27) and from five profiles resulting from the presently described expedition, helps explain the latitudinal dependence of the C02 content of Atlantic surface water. If one assumes an increase in the vertical mixing of the surface layers of the ocean due to surface cooling, as occurs in winter, then a seasonal trend to the partial pressure of the C02 in the surface water is to be expected north of about 40 ° N latitude. A spatial analog to such a temporal trend may be exemplified by the observation of gradually increasing Pco2 values with decreasing temperature as the measuring ship travelled northward from 40° N. The variation with latitude of the C02 concentration in the atmosphere has been found to be an order of magnitude smaller than that in the water, suggesting that the amount of C02 in the water has only a minor influence over the meridional distribution of C02 in the atmosphere.

Description: During the Atlantic Expedition of 1969 (GARP) on the research vessel "Planet" measurements of the vertical profile of the C02-concentration in the lower atmospheric layers were made. For these measurements a special apparatus was develloped which is described.

Description: During the third part of the Atlantic Expedition 1969 from 10° S to 60° N along 30 ° W, measurements of the complete size distribution of atmospheric aerosols over the whole size range from about 10-7 to 10-2 cm radius were made. This was possible by the simultaneous operation of different methods which are critically discussed. The results obtained are the first of its kind and are of general interest despite some methodical shortcomings. North of the equator the ship passed through air masses of West African origin and the influence of Sahara dust on the marine aerosols could be documented in a unique way. The Sahara dust component was restricted to the size range of 10-5 to 10-3 cm radius. Throughout the voyage particles up to 10-2 cm radius were always found to be present, similar to findings over continents. Of special interest is the observation that the size distribution extends to very small particles, suggesting continuous aerosol production over the ocean.

Description: Heterostegina depressa from the Persian Gulf was cultivated in the laboratory and observations were made on their zooxanthellae. The relation between the Heterostegina and the zooxanthellae living inside them is a symbiotic one. These foraminifera proved to be capable of growth when kept in the light without being given additional particulate nutrition. In this case the Heterostegina fed themselves partly by digesting the zooxanthellae. When kept in darkness the animals did not grow even if fed additionally. Fed as well as unfed foraminifera and also some of their zooxanthellae survived maintenance in darkness for a period of four months. Since the nucleus of the zooxanthellae is no dinocaryon and the cell membrane does not show any cellulose reaction and since the occurrence of pennate diatoms was observed in the culture vessels after the zooxanthellae had left the foraminifera test the zooxanthellae living in Heterostegina are possibly diatoms.

Description: Is it possible to draw a structural scheme of the West Mediterranean basin? The author gives a summary of the topographic, gravimetric, magnetic, seismic refraction and further on seismic profiling data for the last 40 years - the most important fact is the discovery of salt domes, but geophysics do not explain their origin and age. From a short survey of some geological observations on shore the extension of a landmass south of the Provence has been concluded during the oligocene. The question arises hether this mass is now the block of Corsica and Sardinia, which may have been later drifted to its actual position? - if so, the salt could be tertiary - or is this landmass as a part of the Provence sunken down under the sea by tectonic processes? If so one could propose a triassic age of the saltdomes. Continuous seismic profiling does not give any arguments for one of these two theories. But it allows us to follow the miocene surface and to know the variations of the thickness of the plioquaternary sedimentation. Many questions remain. The author lists the problems still to be solved and the necessary means. International cooperation may give the means for the solution of these problems.

Description: As part of the Atlantic Seamount Cruises 1967 with F.S. "Meteor" a topographic survey in the area of Great Meteor Seamount (φ = 30° 00' N, λ = 28° 30' W) was carried out from April 9th to May 1st and from May 31st to June 8th 1967. Shape and expansion of this seamount were generally known (fig. 1) but the form in detail was not yet identified by then. The length over all of the usable sounding sections with F.S. "Meteor" was 1930 nautical miles. Most of the track positions were taken by a relative reference system, that means a special navigation buoy with two radar reflectors (fig. 2). The echo soundings could be carried out with the ELAC Narrow Beam Sounder 1 CO ( extreme narrow-beam of ± 1,4° at 3 dB) giving an exact registration of even very steep slopes (fig. 3). As a result of the survey a detailed bathymetric chart of the Great Meteor Seamount could be designed ( original scale 1 : 250 000), here it is reproduced in a smaller scale (fig. 5). A model in 1:10 vertical scale exaggeration gives a general impression of the main topographical characteristics (fig. 4). It shows in the SW region of Great Meteor Seamount two other steep elevations discovered during the survey courses: Small Meteor Seamount (φ = 29° 41' N, λ = 28° 58' W) and Closs Seamount (φ = 29° 25' N, λ = 29° 08' W). Some typical sounding courses are represented in profiles (1:20 vertical scale exaggeration, fig. 6, table 1-8). Examples for slope inclination around the Great Meteor Seamount are given in a profile series exaggerated 1:10 (table 9). The Great Meteor Seamount consists of three morphological parts : a flat summit plateau (330 m - area about 1132 km2), steep slope (inclination about 13°, maximal 50°) and surrounding lower rise region (inclination 〈 5°). Terraces could be found in different depths at the steep slope of Great Meteor Seamount particularly at -450 m and - 550 m. Great and Small Meteor Seamount have the general shape of guyots or flattopped seamounts as described by HEss (1946), Closs Seamount shows the typical conic form of a submarine volcano. Small Meteor and Closs Seamount signify no terraces in their very steep slopes. The volume calculation based on the bathymetric chart gives the following rates : Great Meteor Seamount : 23842 km3, Small Meteor Seamount: 657 km 3, Closs Seamount about 212 km3.

Description: The description of the construction of the equipment is devided into two parts: 1. The remote controlled buoy with data-collection. 2. The telemetric buoy with telerepeating device. In the first case all equipment data-acquisition and -collection is inside the buoy itself. In the other case the seismic signals are transmitted over distances up to 200 km over sea. By the telerepeating device of the telemetric buoys the gain of the hydrofon-amplifier can be changed in steps. Thus it is possible to use the full scale of the dynamic range of the FM-Multiplex-Equipment.

Description: Living Heterostegina depressa were found in the Persian Gulf on shallows and sides of islands in the Central Basin. Preliminary culture experiments furnished information on life span, salinity tolerances and population density of the species. Reproduction processes (probably asexual) could be observed several times. A possible carbonate production of ca. 150g/year/m2 has been estimated.

Description: Die atlantischen ibero-marokkanischen Kontinentalhänge sind durch junge Tone bedeckt. Vor Portugal (Kap Sines) sind sie grau und sandarm, vor Marokko (Kap Mazagan) rötlichbraun bis rötlichgrau und sandreicher (Abb. 6). Die Mehrzahl der 19 untersuchten Sedimentkerne von im Wesentlichen 2 Profilen (Abb. 3) sind mit Hilfe der planktonischen Foraminiferen zu korrelieren (vgl. Abb. 27, 28). Hierfür eignen sich besonders die qualitative und die quantitative Verteilung der einzelnen Arten sowie Änderungen der Windungsrichtungen von drei Globorotalia-Arten: G. crassaformis, G. hirsuta und G. truncatulinoides. Im Holozän weisen Sedimente aus Wassertiefen um 2000 m vor Portugal die höchsten (bis 〉 20 cm/1000 Jahre), vor Marokko die niedrigsten Sedimentationsraten (um 3 cm/1000 Jahre) auf. Die Datierung beruht auf der Auswertung der planktonischen Foraminiferenfaunen sowie auf 31 Bestimmungen mit 14C und wird durch lithostratigraphische Untersuchungen gestützt. Ein methodisches Beispiel der Kern-Auswertung wird auf den Tab. 3-5 und den Abb. 23, 24 gebracht. Holozäne Faunen unterscheiden sich von den pleistozänen durch eine andere artliche Zusammensetzung sowie niedrigere Dominanzen und höhere Diversitäten. Ihre Foraminiferenzahlen schwanken auch weniger. Während im Pleistozän und im Holozän vor Marokko die Temperaturen des Oberflächenwassers sich nach den Faunen mit der Küstenentfernung nicht geändert haben, steigen sie vor Portugal im Holozän seewärts an (Abb. 31). Der Anteil wärmeliebender Arten ist vor Marokko jedoch durchweg höher. Das Plankton/Benthos-Verhältnis der Foraminiferenfaunen nimmt mit der Tiefe zu und erreicht schon in rund 1000 m Wassertiefe maximale Werte. Die Produktionsrate für planktonische Foraminiferen ist am Kontinentalrand höher als im offenen Ozean (Abb. 48). Umgekehrt werden ihre Gehäuse auch schon in Sedimenten aus Wassertiefen 1000 m merklich angelöst. Noch stärkere Anlösung tritt in der Tiefsee auf (Abb. 43). Vor Portugal ist sie dort im ausgehenden Pleistozän jedoch wesentlich geringer als im Holozän, weil offensichtlich der Zutritt polaren Tiefenwassers eingeschränkt gewesen ist. Ein zusammenfassender Vergleich beider Kontinentalränder findet sich in Tab. 10.

Description: The data of a topographical survey of the Great Meteor Seamount (during the Atlantische Kuppenfahrten 1967) are investigated statistically and show a significant frequency of systematical variations in the course of the slope in depths from 300 to 700 meters. This range is morphometrically analysed - inclination diagrams give information about the structure of the slope. Considering the results of other authors an interpretation of the observed terraces is attempted: in 450 m depth exists a barrier reef, especially in the N and E of the seamount; in about 550 m (particularly in the N and E) a series of steps can be proved; in 610 m depth a residual terrace extends from W to NNW. The interaction of eustatic changes in sea level with isostatic movements of the seamount leads to the various structure of the upper patt of the slopes. To interpret the 450 m-terrace as a coral reef, optimal conditions for vigorous growth of reef-forming corals are assumed during the Pre-pleistocene.

Description: In the course of the stratigraphical zonation of a deepsea core from the Arabian Sea, the porosity of Neogloboquadrina dutertrei was studied. Pore diameters (main factors of shell-porosity, which is a useful index of water temperature) strongly vary on the same fossil individuum. Systematic evaluation of foraminiferal microtopographies by scanning microscope yielded good correlation between pore-diameters and crystallinity of the wall. Micro-mapping of the lines of equal crystallinity and of porosity shows no relation to the spiral geometry of the living animal. Therefore, diagenesis is suggested as the factor changing the surface structures by recrystallisation. Through this process the pores can be closed introducing difficulties in the use of shell-porosity in fossil material.

Description: Well preserved pollen grains were found in samples of 17 profiles. An attempt was made to get a pollen diagram of a 1.9 m core from the Gulf of Iran. The lack of major fluctuations in the pollen content, however, showed that the vegetation did not change very much during the span of time represented in the sediments of that core. Besides spores of Adiantum cf. capillus veneris, 62 pollen types were listed. The average value of NAP is 88%. Chenopodiaceae and Artemisia are the most important pollen types. The typical vegetation of the coastal region and adjacent areas of Iran is well represented in the pollen content.