ALBERT

Description: Physical oceanography measured at three station in Potter cove, Western Antarctic Peninsula. This data collection gives the yearly measurements from 1991 to 2012.

Description: Sedimentary d15N records are valuable archives of ocean history but they are often modified during early diagenesis. Here we quantify the effect of early diagenetic enrichment on sedimentary N-isotope composition in order to obtain the pristine signal of reactive N assimilated in the euphotic zone. This is possible by using paired data of d15N and amino acid composition of sediment samples, which can be applied to estimate the degree of organic matter degradation. We determined d15N and amino acid composition in coeval sediments from Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Hole 772 B in the central Arabian Sea and from Hole 724 C situated on the Oman Margin in the western Arabian Sea coastal upwelling area. The records span the last 130 kyr and include two glacial-interglacial cycles. These new data are used in conjunction with data available for surface sediments that cover a wide range of organic matter degradation states, and with other cores from the northern and eastern Arabian Sea to explore spatial variations in the isotopic signal. In order to reconstruct pristine N values we apply the relationship between organic matter degradation and 15N enrichment in surface sediments to correct the core records for early diagenetic enrichment. Reconstructed d15N values suggest a significant role of N2-fixation during glacial stages. An evaluation of two preservation indices based on amino acid composition (Reactivity Index, RI; Jennerjahn and Ittekkot, 1997; and the Degradation Index, DI; Dauwe et al., 1999) in both recent sediments and core samples suggests that the RI is more suitable than the DI in correcting Arabian Sea d15N records for early diagenetic enrichment.

Description: In Potter Cove, Antarctica, newly ice-free areas appeared due to glacial retreat. Simultaneously, the inflow of sediment increased, reducing underwater photosynthetically active radiation (PAR, 400-700 nm). The aim of this study was to determine the photosynthetic characteristics of two macroalgal species colonizing three newly ice-free areas, A1, A2 and A3, with increasing degree of glacial influence from A1 to A3. Turbidity, salinity and temperature were measured, and light attenuation coefficients (Kd) calculated and considered as a proxy for glacial sediment input. The lower depth distribution of the red alga Palmaria decipiens and the brown alga Himantothallus grandifolius was 10 m in A3, 20 m in A2 and 30 m in A1. Both species were then collected, at 5 and 10 m at all areas. Photosynthetic parameters and the daily metabolic carbon balance (CB) were determined. Kd was significantly higher in A3 compared with A1 and A2. The CB of P. decipiens was significantly higher in A1 followed by A2 and A3, and significantly higher at shallower than at greater depth. For H. grandifolius CB was significantly lower in A3 and in A2 at deeper depths compared with the rest of areas and depths. The lower distribution limit of the algae was positively correlated to the light penetration. An increase in the sediment run-off due to global warming might lead to an elevation of the lower depth distribution limit but retreating glaciers can open new space for macroalgal colonization. These changes will probably affect macroalgal primary productivity in Potter Cove with consequences for the coastal ecosystem.

Description: Variability in the oceanic environment of the Arabian Sea region is strongly influenced by the seasonal monsoon cycle of alternating wind directions. Prominent and well studied is the summer monsoon, but much less is known about late Holocene changes in winter monsoon strength with winds from the northeast that drive convective mixing and high surface ocean productivity in the northeastern Arabian Sea. To establish a high-resolution record of winter monsoon variability for the late Holocene, we analyzed alkenone-derived sea surface temperature (SST) variations and proxies of primary productivity (organic carbon and d15N) in a well-laminated sediment core from the Pakistan continental margin. Weak winter monsoon intensities off Pakistan are indicated from 400 B.C. to 250 A.D. by reduced productivity and relatively high SST. At about 250 A.D., the intensity of the winter monsoon increased off Pakistan as indicated by a trend to lower SST. We infer that monsoon conditions were relatively unstable from ~500 to 1300 A.D., because primary production and SST were highly variable. Declining SST and elevated biological production from 1400 to 1900 A.D. suggest invigorated convective winter mixing by strengthening winter monsoon circulation, most likely a regional expression of colder climate conditions during the Little Ice Age on the Northern Hemisphere. The comparison of winter monsoon intensity with records of summer monsoon intensity suggests that an inverse relationship between summer and winter monsoon strength exists in the Asian monsoon system during the late Holocene, effected by shifts in the Intertropical Convergence Zone.

Description: In the present study, we report the results of comprehensive amino acid (AA) analyses of four Indian lakes from different climate regimes. We focus on the investigation of sediment cores retrieved from the lakes but data of modern sediment as well as vascular plant, soil, and suspended particulate matter samples from individual lakes are also presented. Commonly used degradation and organic matter source indices are tested for their applicability to the lake sediments, and we discuss potential reasons for possible limitations. A principal component analysis including the monomeric AA composition of organic matter of all analysed samples indicates that differences in organic matter sources and the environmental properties of the individual lakes are responsible for the major variability in monomeric AA distribution of the different samples. However, the PCA also gives a factor that most probably separates the samples according to their state of organic matter degradation. Using the factor loadings of the individual AA monomers, we calculate a lake sediment degradation index (LI) that might be applicable to other palaeo-lake investigations.

Description: A high-resolution, 8000 year-long ice core record from the Mt. Logan summit plateau (5300 m asl) reveals the initiation of trans-Pacific lead (Pb) pollution by ca. 1730, and a 〉10-fold increase in Pb concentration (1981-1998 mean = 68.9 ng/l) above natural background (5.6 ng/l) attributed to rising anthropogenic Pb emissions from Asia. The largest rise in North Pacific Pb pollution from 1970-1998 (end of record) is contemporaneous with a decrease in Eurasian and North American Pb pollution as documented in ice core records from Greenland, Devon Island, and the European Alps. The distinct Pb pollution history in the North Pacific is interpreted to result from the later industrialization and less stringent abatement measures in Asia compared to North America and Eurasia. The Mt. Logan record shows evidence for both a rising Pb emissions signal from Asia and a trans-Pacific transport efficiency signal related to the strength of the Aleutian Low.

Description: Species distribution models (SDM) predict species occurrence based on statistical relationships with environmental conditions. The R-package biomod2 which includes 10 different SDM techniques and 10 different evaluation methods was used in this study. Macroalgae are the main biomass producers in Potter Cove, King George Island (Isla 25 de Mayo), Antarctica, and they are sensitive to climate change factors such as suspended particulate matter (SPM). Macroalgae presence and absence data were used to test SDMs suitability and, simultaneously, to assess the environmental response of macroalgae as well as to model four scenarios of distribution shifts by varying SPM conditions due to climate change. According to the averaged evaluation scores of Relative Operating Characteristics (ROC) and True scale statistics (TSS) by models, those methods based on a multitude of decision trees such as Random Forest and Classification Tree Analysis, reached the highest predictive power followed by generalized boosted models (GBM) and maximum-entropy approaches (Maxent). The final ensemble model used 135 of 200 calculated models (TSS 〉 0.7) and identified hard substrate and SPM as the most influencing parameters followed by distance to glacier, total organic carbon (TOC), bathymetry and slope. The climate change scenarios show an invasive reaction of the macroalgae in case of less SPM and a retreat of the macroalgae in case of higher assumed SPM values.

Description: FOR DOWNLOAD THE COMPLETE FILE PLEASE USE THE "OTHER VERSION". 363322 values, 1037 CTD profiles (Conductivity, Temperature & Density), salinity, voltage and pressure data compiled at 123 stations, spatially distribute in entire Potter Cove. Variable available: Coordinates of stations, depth sampling [m], water temperature [°C], potential temperature [°C], salinity [psu], density [kg/m^3], conductivity [mS/cm], turbidity [NTU], voltage [V], press [dbar].The depth has been classified into three categories 0-5 m; 5-15 m and over 15 m. 5 stations were monthly sampled: E1, E2, E3 (18, 17, 6 years, respectively); Faro and Peñon de Pesca (all months except June & July for 2 and 3 years, respectively). The other 118 stations belong to summer season only covering 1 to 5 years sampling. Transects for summer 1996/1997, 2007 and 2008 have been georeferenced and newly available. Device used: CTD/Rosette (CTD-RO).

Description: FOR DOWNLOAD THE COMPLETE FILE PLEASE USE THE "OTHER VERSION". A joined data set of CTD profiles (conductivity, temperature, density, salinity, voltage and pressure) with metereological variables (daily mean, maximum and minimum air temperature; daily range temperature ?max-min); atmospheric pressure; relative humidity; precipitation; visibility; mean and max wind speed of day; wind gut; direction and cloud cover ) in Potter Cove, Carlini Station, King George Island (Isla 25 de Mayo). Stations have been merged within a neighbourhood of 0-100 m and concerning their membership to a geochemical cluster analysis (https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.856971). 85 stations are remaining from the original data set (doi parent). The depth has been classified into three categories: 0-5 m; 5-15 m and over 15 m. Comment: As soon as there are CTD sample without metereology abailable it exists empty rows. Device used: CTD/Rosette (CTD-RO).

Description: The sediment trap experiment started in 1986 and was expanded into the Bay of Bengal only one year later in 1987. The fieldwork ended at around 1998. In 2007 and 2008, we tried to reinitiate a sediment trap program in the Arabian Sea, although this could not be followed up due to piracy, which became an issue in the region at that time. The sediment trap sites in the northern and central Bay of Bengal were shifted slightly southward in some years, whereby the stations NBBT and CBBT were spilt into northern (NBBT-N, CBBT-N) and southern sites (NBBT-S, CBBT-S). Between 2001 and 2004 additional sediment trap experiments were carried out in the upwelling system off South Java.