ALBERT

Description: The stratigraphic section “Kellwasser-Tal” is the type locality of the Late Devonian Kellwasser Horizons. The locality, which was already badly preserved shortly after its discovery in the middle of the 19 th century by F.A. Roemer, has recently been re-opened and widened. The newly created section ranges from the upper Frasnian to the Lower Carboniferous “Kulm-Kieselschiefer”. Although some parts of the outcrop are highly tectonised it is nonetheless possible to reconstruct the sedimentary sequence. The Kellwasser Horizons, connected to one of the five most severe mass-extinction events in Earth History (Kellwasser Crisis), can now be studied again in detail. Conodonts sampled by O.H. Walliser (Göttingen) in the 1980s as well as new samples were investigated with respect to conodont biostratigraphy and microfacies. The type locality is situated in the European Geopark Harz-Braunschweiger Land-Ostfalen and should be protected as a geosite. Das Profil Kellwasser-Tal (NW-Harz) ist die Typlokalität der oberdevonischen Kellwasser-Horizonte. Die Lokalität, schon bald nach ihrer Entdeckung durch F.A. Roemer Mitte des 19. Jahrhunderts verfallen, ist maschinell erneut freigelegt worden. Es liegt nun ein zusammenhängendes Profil vom höheren Frasnium bis in die Kulm-Kieselschiefer des Unterkarbons vor. Obwohl Teile des Aufschlusses tektonisch sehr stark beansprucht sind, ist die Rekonstruktion der sedimentären Abfolge möglich. Die beiden Kellwasser-Horizonte, zwei isochrone, global nachweisbare Litho-Einheiten (,,Kellwasser-Kalke“), sind wieder gut aufgeschlossen. Sie bezeugen eines der fünf größten Aussterbe-Ereignisse der Erdgeschichte (Kellwasser-Krise). Im Zusammenhang mit den Geländeaktivitäten ist Sammlungsmaterial (Conodontenfaunen, An- und Dünnschliffe) aufgearbeitet worden, so dass der gegenwärtige Bearbeitungsstand der Lokalität dargestellt werden kann. Grundlage der stratigrafischen Bearbeitung waren insbesondere Conodontenproben, welche unter Leitung von O.H. Walliser (Göttingen) in den 1980er Jahren gesammelt wurden. Zusätzliches, in den letzten Jahren entnommenes Material (Conodonten- und sedimentologisch-fazielle Proben) ließ sich mit den Banknummern von Walliser korrelieren. Diese Typlokalität ist Teil des Europäischen Geoparks Harz-Braunschweiger Land-Ostfalen und sollte als Geotop geschützt und erhalten bleiben.

Description: The volcanic centers of Kos, Yali and Nisyros lie at the eastern edge of the Hellenic Volcanic Arc. Recent swath bathymetric surveys and seismic profiling, conducted by HCMR, led to the discovery of several submarine volcanic centers and massive underwater volcaniclastic deposits. Further research aboard the E/V “Nautilus” was conducted at the area in October 2010. Avyssos crater, located northeast of Strongyli islet, is believed to have been the original location of the massive eruption of Kos ignimbrite 160,000 years ago. Exploration of Avyssos showed that it the seafloor is mostly covered with fine-grained sediment full with traces of bioturbation. Hydrothermal activity was not evident at any point. Yali and Strongyli represent Late Pleistocene to Holocene volcanic islands that have developed between the islands of Kos and Tilos. ROV exploration of the eastern flank of Yali revealed wave-type sediment structures, as well as linear fractures at various depths. Several smaller craters were also discovered on the northwest slopes of Strongyli, aligned with ENE-WSW trending fractures with no signs of hydrothermal activity. Heavy biogenic encrustations cover the volcanic rock outcrops on the flanks of both Yali and Strongyli. Analysis of recovered samples will provide information about their relationship to the geology of the nearby islands.

Description: Cyanobacterial community composition was studied along a salinity gradient from the saline Spring Fuliya towards the water column of Lake Kinneret. The samples included a gradient of salinities ranging from 4270 mg Cl L-1 (Saline Spring) to 239 mg Cl L-1 (Lake Kinneret). Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and cloning of the 16 S rRNA gene, as well as cloning and sequencing of the psbA gene, were used to characterize cyanobacterial community composition. Despite the differences in salinity, similar cyanobacterial communities were observed in the lake and the saline spring, the only exception being the highest salinity sample (4270 mg Cl L-1). Both, DGGE patterns and results of the clone libraries revealed the dominance of cyanobacteria with colonial Gloeocapsa and unicellular Synechococcus as the closest known cultured relatives, independently of the salinity. These results suggest that cyanobacterial populations inhabiting this freshwater lake and its saline sources can adapt to a wide range of salinities.

Description: 1. We describe the abundance of an autochthonous alphaproteobacteria Sphingomonas sp. and its lytic phages during a period of about 3 months in Lake Plußsee, Northern Germany. This is the first report of a specific autochthonous phage host system of a heterotrophic bacterial strain in a natural freshwater environment. 2. The concentration of bacterial hosts (Sphingomonas sp. strain B18) fluctuated between 20 and 1,150 (median 168) colony-forming units (CFU) mL-1 and the concentration of the specific lytic phages ranged from 20 to 680 (median 110) plaque-forming units (PFU) mL-1. Different Sphingomonas sp. strains were isolated, showing different sensitivity against two phage isolates. The specific virus to bacteria ratio (VBR) varied by a factor of about 280 and ranged from 0.03 to about 8.5 (median 0.6). 3. Encounter rates of 0.0007 to 0.198 d-1 (median 0.03 d-1) were calculated from the measured concentrations of Sphingomonas sp. and its lytic phages. From changes of PFU between two consecutive samplings net phage decay rates in a range between 0.003 and 1.3 d-1 (median 0.26 d-1) were calculated. 4. Concentration factors were calculated which enable sufficient encounter rates to explain the concentrations of bacteria and their phages. 5. The results of Kokjohn et al. (1991) support the suggestion that the explanation of the coexistence of lytic phages and their host bacteria by the used encounter rate model needs to be revised.

Description: The microbial diversity of five unconnected high altitude (≥ 3800 m a.s.l.) wetlands from the Chilean Altiplano was analyzed by a culture-independent approach, using 16 S rRNA gene sequences of different microbial groups. The wetlands (Chungara Lake, Parinacota wetland, Piacota Lake, Salar de Huasco and Salar de Ascotan) differed in terms of habitat type and physicochemical properties. The bacterial communities of these systems were dominated by Bacteroidetes (24-94 % of the clones) and Proteobacteria (Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta subgroups) with smaller contributions by the Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Planctomycetes, Verrucomicrobia, Chloroflexi, Cyanobacteria, Acidobacteria, Deinococcus-Thermus and Candidate Division WS3. Fourteen phylotypes matching Alphaproteobacteria were part of the marine Roseobacter clade, representing new clusters of this group. Archaeal diversity was much lower than that seen for bacteria, and was dominated by Euryarchaeota; however Crenarchaeota were also present. Considering the large differences in microbial community composition between sites and samples, the presence of eleven phylotypes common to two or more habitats is highlighted. The frequent presence of new taxa in different phylogenetic groups in the altiplanic wetlands studied here revealed the unique characteristics of Bacteria and Archaea in these fragile Andean ecosystems.

Description: El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) in the Pacific and the analogous Atlantic Niño mode are generated by processes involving coupled ocean–atmosphere interactions known as the Bjerknes feedback. It has been argued that the Atlantic Niño mode is more strongly damped than ENSO, which is presumed to be closer to neutrally stable. In this study the stability of ENSO and the Atlantic Niño mode is compared via an analysis of the Bjerknes stability index. This index is based on recharge oscillator theory and can be interpreted as the growth rate for coupled modes of ocean–atmosphere variability. Using observational data, an ocean reanalysis product, and output from an ocean general circulation model, the individual terms of the Bjerknes index are calculated for the first time for the Atlantic and then compared to results for the Pacific. Positive thermocline feedbacks in response to wind stress forcing favor anomaly growth in both basins, but they are twice as large in the Pacific compared to the Atlantic. Thermocline feedback is related to the fetch of the zonal winds, which is much greater in the equatorial Pacific than in the equatorial Atlantic due to larger basin size. Negative feedbacks are dominated by thermal damping of sea surface temperature anomalies in both basins. Overall, it is found that both ENSO and the Atlantic Niño mode are damped oscillators, but the Atlantic is more strongly damped than the Pacific primarily because of the weaker thermocline feedback.

Description: In many subaerial hydrothermal ore deposits arsenian pyrite is an important host for Au, however, arsenian pyrite is rare on the modern seafloor. During a recent survey for submarine hydrothermal mineralization in the western Woodlark Basin volcanic breccias containing abundant arsenian pyrite were dredged from the flanks of a volcanic seamount in a water depth of 2000 m. This area is particularly interesting because it is located at the transition from continental splitting to oceanic spreading where enhanced heat flow and deep crustal faults may fertilize mineralization. The sulfidic breccia is essentially monomictic and matrix-supported containing altered dacitic clasts. Mineralogical investigation of the breccia reveals silicification and sulfidation as the main alteration types. Quartz occurs in fragments and also constitutes the breccia matrix attesting to silicification as a significant alteration process. Pyrite is the dominant ore mineral with only minor amounts of Fe-oxyhydroxide and goethite. Bulk geochemistry shows a slight enrichment of Au (0.12 ppm) in association with elements such as As-Ag-Hg-Zn-Pb-Sb, key elements indicative of a low sulfidation environment. Three generations of pyrite are recognized on the basis of morphology. Arsenic-free, early framboidal pyrite (py1) is overgrown by arsenian colloform (py2) or massive pyrite (py3) containing up to 3.93 wt% As. Arsenic speciation in the pyrite is in the form of As1- and As3+. The presence of arsenian pyrite in hydrothermal breccias at this seamount indicates the potential for Au mineralization in the area.

Description: All coleoid hatchlings have a special complex of glandular cells situated at the mantle tip, which store a hatching enzyme that is released at the close of embryonic development; it locally dissolves the chorion membrane and any surrounding envelopes, thus producing a hatch opening. In most coleoids the hatchling also uses auxiliary equipment and actions to effectively extract itself from the egg case. This article considers the co-aptation between parental (egg cases) and filial contributions (hatching gland etc) in different coleoid groups.

Description: The long-term climate cooling during Campanian - Maastrichtian times is not well understood to date, especially because of the uncertainty introduced by low temporal resolution of biostratigraphy and the pronounced provincialism between tropical and temperate taxa. Two new high-resolution carbon isotope records derived from the boreal shelf-sea section at Lägerdorf-Kronsmoor-Hemmoor, northern Germany and the tropical Pacific at Deep Sea Drilling Project Site 305, Shatsky Rise, reduce these uncertainties. The records can be correlated with an accuracy not achieved by biostratigraphic methods so far. Distinct carbon isotope events in the late Campanian and the early Maastrichtian can be identified at both localities suggesting to represent global carbon cycle perturbations. Especially, the negative carbon isotope excursion in the early Maastrichtian, a pronounced feature of open-ocean records from the Pacific and Southern oceans, is recognized for the first time at a shelf-sea locality related to the North Atlantic Ocean. Furthermore, two short-term positive excursions are identified as superimposed signals to this event. The improved stratigraphy provides the unique opportunity to recognize leads and lags between the carbon cycle and ocean circulation of different marine settings and ecosystems, leading to a better understanding of their causes and effects.

Description: The present work investigates the quality of the shortwave and and longwave downward radiation (DSR, DLR) at the sea surface over the Atlantic Ocean as retrieved from Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) measurements and EUMETSAT's Climate Monitoring - Satellite Application Facility (CM-SAF) algorithms. The observations taken at two transatlantic research cruises have been an ideal basis to be compared with the MSG products for DSR and DLR derived from Meteosat-8 and Meteosat-9. Onboard the research vessels "Akademik Ioffe" and "Polarstern" high quality in situ measurements of both radiation fluxes have been performed. Continuous full sky imagery and standard meteorological observations enable a comprehensive evaluation of the skills of MSG DSR- and DLR-retrievals in different climate zones and under various cloud and weather conditions. The DSR was retrieved by MSG with a positive bias of 2.77 Wm−2 during the Ioffe cruise, and 22.23 Wm−2 during the Polarstern cruise. The bias for the DLR was −1.73 Wm−2 and 2.76 Wm−2, respectively. The differences between the two cruises mainly arise from the different weather conditions. No significant differences between the satellite products from Meteosat-8 and Meteosat-9 were found. In general DSR and DLR for clear sky conditions are captured with a high accuracy. Largest retrieval errors occur for fast fluctuating broken cloud conditions, though on average the MSG algorithm match the in-situ observations well. Semitransparent cirrus was found to cause a negative bias for the retrieved DSR. In tropics and subtropics the errors for DLR are smaller compared to higher latitudes. Most importantly, no significant dependencies of the satellite retrieval errors for both the DSR and the DLR on the solar elevation, near-surface humidity, cloud cover, SST and the shift of day and night were found, indicating that the CM-SAF radiation products are not subject to significant systematic errors. Diese Arbeit evaluiert die Qualität der abwärtsgerichteten kurzwelligen Einstrahlung (DSR) und der abwärtsgerichteten langwelligen Gegenstrahlung (DLR) an der Meeresoberfläche des Atlantischen Ozeans, berechnet aus Fernerkundungsdaten von Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) mit Hilfe der EUMETSAT Climate Monitoring - Satellite Application Facility (CM-SAF) - Algorithmen. Die auf zwei transatlantischen Forschungsfahrten gewonnenen Beobachtungsdaten stellen eine ideale Basis für den Vergleich mit den MSG-Produkten DSR und DLR dar, die aus Daten des Meteosat-8 und Meteosat-9 abgeleitet wurden. An Bord der Forschungsschiffe Akademik Ioffe und Polarstern wurden hochwertige in situ Messungen beider Strahlungsflüsse durchgeführt. Kontinuierliche Sequenzen der Wolkenkamera in Verbindung mit meteorologischen Standardmessungen ermöglichen diese Vergleichsstudie mit den Ergebnissen der MSG-Algorithmen für DSR und DLR in unterschiedlichen Klimazonen und unter verschiedensten Wolken- und Wetterbedingungen. Für die Fahrt der Ioffe zeigte die DSR abgeleitet aus MSG-Daten eine Überschätzung von 2.77 Wm−2, für die Fahrt der Polarstern wurden 22.23 Wm−2 ermittelt. Der systematische Fehler der DLR war −1.73 Wm−2 bzw. 2.76 Wm−2. Die unterschiedlichen Werte der beiden Fahrten resultieren hauptsächlich aus den verschiedenen Wetterbedingungen. Durch den zeitlichen Überlapp konnten Satellitenprodukte von Meteosat-8 und Meteosat-9 verglichen werden, die keine signifikanten Unterschiede zeigten. Im Allgemeinen werden DSR und DLR im wolkenfreien Fall mit hoher Genauigkeit wiedergegeben. Die größten Fehler im Algorithmus kommen bei sich schnell ändernder Cumulusbedeckung vor, wobei die berechneten Einstrahlungen im Mittel gut mit den in situ Messungen übereinstimmen. Semitransparenter Cirrus verursacht Unterschätzungen in der abgeleiteten DSR. In Tropen und Subtropen sind die Fehler in der DLR geringer als in hohen Breiten. Wichtig ist die Tatsache, dass der Fehler für den Satellitenalgorithmus sowohl für DSR als auch für DLR keine signifikanten Abhängigkeiten von dem Sonnenstand, von der Luftfeuchtigkeit in Bodennähe, vom Wolkenbedeckungsgrad, von der SST und vom Tag-Nacht-Unterschied zeigen. Dies weißt darauf hin, dass die CM-SAF Strahlungsprodukte keinen signifikanten systematischen Fehlern unterliegen.

Description: The influence of the external and internal structure of clouds on the incoming solar radiation cannot yet be included in parameterizations used in numerical models. Based on numerical simulations, SCHEWSKI and MACKE (2003) (Schewski-parameterization) have shown that a robust link exists between the domain averaged cloud and the domain averaged solar broadband radiation fluxes, despite the 3d nature of the cloud fields involved. The present work revisits this approach with observed cloud (cloud cover and liquid water path) and radiation (downwelling shortwave radiative flux) properties obtained from the Richard Assmann Observatory (RAO) of the German Weather Service in Lindenberg. Applying the original (model based) cloud-radiation parameterization by SCHEWSKI and MACKE (2001) to observed domain averaged cloud fields yields an overall good correlation between observed and parameterized downwelling solar radiation fluxes. However, the parameterized fluxes strongly underestimate the observations. The Schewski parameterization has been modified by removing the bias and re-adjusting the parameterization coefficients to match the observed cloud and radiation correlation. Furthermore, the empirical parameterization by ZILLMAN (1972) has been implemented for describing the clear conditions. Applying the new parameterization to an independent data set provides significant improvements. However, the accuracy remains in the order of previously used one-or two-parameter empirical cloud-radiation parameterizations. We conclude that cloud cover and liquid water path, i.e. those data that are available from large scale climate models, cannot be regarded as sufficient to describe the cloud radiative effect at the surface.

Description: The global sediment mass-age distribution indicates large variations in the rates of carbonate sedimentation through time. The largest mass of carbonate deposited during the entire history of the earth was produced during the Cambrian, possibly following on an episode of phosphogenesis in the Late Precambrian. A second major episode occurred during the Late Devonian, probably reflecting the invasion of land by plants that altered the rock-weathering and soil-forming regimes. Other lesser pulses of carbonate deposition occurred in the Late Permian, Triassic, and Cretaceous. A shift in the locus of carbonate deposition from shallow waters to the deep sea occurred during the Cretaceous.

Description: At Aqaba in the Northern Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea, the stable oxygen isotope record of a Por#es lutea coral colony was studied. From a vertical and a horizontal core two parts from the base of the colony (10 years of coral growth), and two parts from the living surface (12 years of coral growth) were analysed with a monthly sampling resolution. The results show that seasonality of sea surface temperatures (SST) in the northem GulfofAqaba has increased since the early 19th century, mainly due to higher summer temper- atures. 8~80-ratios indicate that SST increased by at least 1.3~ Horizontal and vertical cores display dif- ferent variations in the modern parts, probably caused by the very shallow water depth of the youngest part of the vertical core.

Description: Repeatable species dominance patterns across nutrient ratio gradients are found both in culture competition experiments and in natural waters. However, the mechanisms behind these similar patterns need not to be identical. In chemostat experiments, such patterns are caused by the two-way competitive interactions between contemporaneously occurring organisms. Nutrient competition may be important in situ too, but there is an additional effect of early successional species influencing the nutrient environment for later successional species, without being influenced themselves by their successors.

Description: Cyanobacteria are important constituents of most aquatic ecosystems on earth, and planktonic forms frequently show mass development in lakes and estuaries. Despite extensive scientific efforts directed towards research on cyanobacteria, a comprehensive theory explaining their success is lacking. Because cyanobacteria comprise a diverse group of organisms, it is concluded that any analysis of the conditions leading to cyanobacterial dominance in pelagic ecosystems should consider at least three different subgroups, classified based on presence or absence of (i) buoyancy regulation and (ii) the ability to fix molecular nitrogen. In this review, nine single-factor hypotheses regarding regulation of cyanobacterial development are examined against the background of physiological and ecological characteristics of these organisms. Special emphasis has been put on understanding differences in nitrogen metabolism between cyanobacteria and algae which directly relate to a hypothesis conceming inorganic nitrogen forms and cyanobacterial success previously presented by our research group. The review lends support to the theory that cyanobacteria have a low competitive ability for nitrate compared with algae and a high ability to compete for ammonium, particularly under nitrogen-limiting conditions. Finally it is concluded that to understand cyanobacterial devlopment and how high Standing Stocks in pelagic ecosystems are maintained requires parts o f all the single-factor hypotheses initially presented.

Description: The density of seawater is a complex function of temperature, salinity, and pressure. Because of the non-linearity of the equation of state of seawater, the densities of sea waters having the same temperature and the same salinity differences (with respect to the mean salinity of the ocean) will vary with the mean salinity of the ocean. Although this strange property of seawater is evident in a plot of the equation of state, it has never been considered in trying to reconstruct ancient ocean circulation. These differences in the density field may have caused the ocean to respond differently to atmospheric forcing in the past. The different response may hold the key to understanding "ocean anoxic events" and episodes of large-scale burial of organic carbon and production of petroleum source rocks.

Description: The Late Cretaceous was much warmer than today. There was no significant ice at high latitudes, meridional thermal gradients were low, and continental interiors remained warm during winter. Late Cretaceous atmospheric C02 concentrations were about four times greater than today and an enhanced "greenhouse" effect contributed to the overall warmth of the Late Cretaceous. However , increases in atmospheric C02 tend to increase temperatures at all latitudes and do not explain the very low thermal gradients recognized in the geologic record. Increased poleward ocean heat transport has been cited as a mechanism for maintaining low meridional thermal gradients during the Cretaceous. However , ocean heat transport values larger than the present day are difficult to reconcile. In addition, low meridional thermal gradients suggest sluggish atmospheric circulation, implying that the advection of heat from the warm oceans into the continental interiors was limited. In general, paleoclimate simulations using Atmospheric General Circulations Models (AGCMs) have not been successful in simulating the low meridional thermal gradients and warm winter continental interiors of the Cretaceous, forcing the concept of "equability" to be questioned. Until recently, the physical effects of vegetation on pre-Quaternary climates have largely been ignored. Terrestrial ecosystems influence global climate by affecting the exchange of energy, water, and momentum between the land surface and the atmosphere. In a new approach to pre-Quaternary paleoclimate modeling, Campanian (80 Ma) climate and vegetation have been simulated using a global climate model (GENESIS Version 2.0), coupled to a predictive vegetation model (EVE), resulting in a realistic simulation of Late Cretaceous climate. The predicted distribution of Late Cretaceous vegetation played an important role in the maintenance of low meridional thermal gradients, polar warmth, and equable continental interiors. High latitude forests reduced albedo, especially during snowcovered months, and increased net surface radiation and latent heat flux.

Description: In this study, the impact of oceanic data assimilation on ENSO simulations and predictions is investigated. The authors’ main objective is to compare the impact of the assimilation of sea level observations and three-dimensional temperature measurements relative to each other. Three experiments were performed. In a control run the ocean model was forced with observed winds only, and in two assimilation runs three-dimensional temperatures and sea levels were assimilated one by one. The root-mean-square differences between the model solution and observations were computed and heat content anomalies of the upper 275 m compared to each other. Three ensembles of ENSO forecasts were performed additionally to investigate the impact of data assimilation on ENSO predictions. In a control ensemble a hybrid coupled ocean–atmosphere model was initialized with observed winds only, while either three-dimensional temperatures or sea level data were assimilated during the initialization phase in two additional forecast ensembles. The predicted sea surface temperature anomalies were averaged over the eastern equatorial Pacific and compared to observations. Two different objective skill measures were computed to evaluate the impact of data assimilation on ENSO forecasts. The authors’ experiments indicate that sea level observations contain useful information and that this information can be inserted successfully into an oceanic general circulation model. It is inferred from the forecast ensembles that the benefit of sea level and temperature assimilation is comparable. However, the positive impact of sea level assimilation could be shown more clearly when the forecasted temperature differences rather than the temperature anomalies themselves were compared with observations.

Description: This paper presents trace element and Sm-Nd isotope data on the Mönchalpgneiss in order to compare the geochemistry of the two polymetamorphic igneous suites that comprise over 30% of the Austroalpine Silvretta nappe. The first are the so-called "Younger Orthogneisses" of the "Fliielagranitic Association" and the second are the "Older Orthogneisses" including the Mönchalpgneisswhich are associated with metagabbros, metadiorites, metatonalites and metagranitoids. U-Pb zircon results from the Mönchalpgneiss are indicative of anatectic processes in late Cambrian to Ordovician times. A volcanic-arc (VA) tectonic environment during intrusion explains the direct association of gabbroic and metagranitoid rocks in the Engadine area. This model is in line with the distribution of major, trace and rare earth elements in these anatectic rocks. However, the significance of the geochemical results remains ambiguous, since the average continental crust and paragneisses of the Silvretta also show VA-type signatures in the respective diagrams. Nd model ages on four Mönchalpgneiss whole-rock samples from the type locality are closely grouped around 1.70 Ga, which is a commonly obtained value for European continental crust. This age is interpreted to be the result of a homogeneous mixture of different crustal components

Description: In this paper the performance of the global coupled general circulation model (CGCM) ECHO-2, which was integrated for 10 years without the application of flux correction, is described. Although the integration is rather short, strong and weak points of this CGCM can be clearly identified, especially in view of the model's performance of the annual cycle in the tropical Pacific. The latter is simulated with more success relative to the earlier version, ECHO-I. A better representation of the low-level stratus clouds in the atmosphere model associated with a reduction in the shortwave radiative flux at the air-sea interface improved the coupled model's performance in the southeastern tropical oceans, with a strongly reduced warm bias in these regions. Modifications in the atmospheric convection scheme also eliminated the AGCM's tendency to simulate a double ITCZ, and this behavior is maintained in the CGCM simulation. Finally, a new numerical scheme for active tracer advection in the ocean model strongly reduced the numerical mixing, which seems to enhance considerably the level of interannual variability in the equatorial Pacific. One weak point is an overall cold bias in the Tropics and midlatitudes, which typically amounts to 1°C in open ocean regions. Another weak point is the still too strong equatorial cold tongue, which penetrates too far into the western equatorial Pacific. Although this model deficiency is not as pronounced as in ECHO-1, the too strong cold tongue reduces the level of interannual rainfall variability in the western and central equatorial Pacific. Finally, the interannual fluctuations in equatorial Pacific sea surface temperatures (SSTs) are too equatorially trapped, a problem that is also found in ocean-only simulations. Overall, however, the authors believe that the ECHO-2 CGCM has been considerably improved relative to ECHO-1.

Description: Abstract The famous association of metagabbros, eclogites, glaucophanites, jadeite rocks and ultramafics from the island of Syros forms a distinct lithostratigraphic or tectonic unit. It is interpreted as a high-pressure metamorphic ophiolite suite. This paper provides geochemical and Sr-isotope constraints on the geotectonic setting in which the magmatic protoliths of the Syros metabasites were formed. A compositional gap exists between the metagabbros with Mg-numbers [Mg# = Mg/(0.85Fetot + Mg) atomic ratio] of 0.75-0.88 on the one hand and eclogites and garnet-glaucophanites on the other hand with Mg# of 0.35-0.62, and maximum total iron contents of up to 18 wt.% FeOtot. Metagabbros from various localities and glaucophanites collected around Manna form geochemically coherent groups with smooth correlations between compatible as well as immobile incompatible elements and Mg#. By contrast, the behaviour of immobile incompatible elements, and to some extent also of compatible elements, is highly unsystematic in the eclogites and garnet-glaucophanites. Also, the more mobile elements display a wide scatter in all rocks. This, in conjunction with the unsystematic variation of Sr-isotopes, is thought to be due to secondary alteration. From the strong correlation of Ni and Cr with Mg# and the flat REE patterns lacking Eu-anomalies, a cumulus nature is inferred for olivine, clinopyroxene, and spinel, associated with intercumulus formation of plagioclase in the magmatic protoliths of the metagabbros. There is no direct genetic link between these rocks and the precursors of the Manna-type glaucophanites with REE characteristics typical of N- to T-type MORB. The extremely high geochemical diversity of the eclogites and garnet-glaucophanites from Syros favours individual evolution of their protoliths in small magma bodies as suggested for superferric eclogites from the Western and Ligurian Alps, as well as the ferrogabbros from the ophiolites of the Northern Apennines. From the geochemistry of the Syros metabasites along with the initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios of the metagabbros between 0.7031 and 0.7033, as well as an eNd value of 7.7 from a garnet glaucophanite, the magmatic protoliths are inferred to have formed in a back-arc setting. By analogy to the association of gabbros and ferrogabbros adjacent to the Atlantis II fracture zone of the SW Indian Ridge, we further suggest an origin at a spreading ridge in proximity to a transform fault.

Description: Evolution of the Caribbean Plate can be modeled by motions about six successive rotation poles. Opening of Cayman Trough has occurred since 49.5 Ma through westward motion of the Caribbean Plate, eastern Greater Antilles and Chortis Block. Before 49.5 Ma, the eastern Greater-Antilles were west of Cuba, and the southeastern margins of Yucatan and the Nicaragua Rise (Chortis) were aligned. From 67.5 to 49.5 Ma the Caribbean Plate rotated clockwise, opening the Yucatan Basin. From 100 Ma to 67.5 Ma, the Caribbean Plate, with Cuba attached, moved along the southeastern margin of Yucatan-Chortis. At 130 Ma it was attached to northwestern South America.

Description: Microspectralphotometric examinations of various recent pollen point to a different sporopollenin chemistry of the different taxa which is distinguishable by the UV-VIS absorptionspectra. The measurement areas have a diameter of 6 micron, by which several measurements for the spectra control in one pollen grain are possible. Labaratory experiments with chemical treatments as used by palynological preparation, show a clear change in the sporopollenin chemistry whichcould be identified by the absorption spectra. Therefore a new preparation technique for fossil and recent palynomorphs has to be developed to avoid chemical changes. First investigations of recent and fossil Pinus pollen have been clone on material from various facies types and a sediment core. The variations in the absorption spectra of the pollen indicate the different chemical influence of different facies types which could be used for facies analyses. Furthermore, significant changes in the absorption spectra are useful to identify reworked pollen or pollen with a different burial history. Zusammenfassung: Vergleichende mikrospektralphotometrische Untersuchungen der UV-VIS Absorptionsspektren verschiedener rezenter Pollen-Taxa zeigen, daß die Zusammensetzung bzw. Struktur des Sporopollenins bei verschiedenen Taxa variiert und daß diese anhand der Absorptionsspektren klar unterschieden werden kann. Die gemessene Fläche auf den jeweiligen Pollen hat einen Durchmesser von 6 j.lm, so daß mehrere Kontrollmessungen an einem Pollen möglich sind. Laborversuche an rezenten Pollen zeigen, daß chemische Einflüsse (z. B. HN03, Acetolyse) deutlich meßbare Veränderungen in der Struktur des Sporopollenins verursachen. Um Veränderungen des Sporepollenins durch die chemische Probenaufbereitung auszuschließen, wurde eine neue Präparationsmethode für fossile und rezente Palynomorphen entwickelt.

Description: ana marit., 27 (3/6): 145-150, 2 figs.; Frankfurt a. M.] According to the (neo-)Darwinian theory of evolution the appearance of "design" and optimization of biological properties are the results of natural selection and not of teleology. An opti· mization by selection is only possible for entities which are able to reproduce ("units of selection"). The "unit-of-selection"-problem will be discussed in relation to the atomism-holism-continuum of ecological and evolutionary concepts which range from Dawkins' "selfish gene" to LoveJock's "Gaia". Special emphasis will be given to the discussion of the group-selection problem which seems to be the critical breakpoint along this continuum. It will be shown that optimization through natural selection is only possible for units which can multiply and preserve their identity to a sufficient degree through multiplications. Such units are called replicators. Associations, communities, ecosystems and the biosphere do not qualify as replicators.

Description: In Sedimenten aus flachen Bohrungen in der Nordsee wurden gasförmige Kohlenwasserstoffe gefunden. Kohlenstoff- (Methan bis Propan) und Wasserstoff-Isotopanwerte lassen auf eine Mischung von Gasen bakterieller und thermischer Entstehung schließen. Die thermischen Gase sind in größerer Tiefe aus überwiegend mariner organischer Substanz entstanden und in die oberflächennahen Sedimente migriert. [Methane through pentane have been found in sediments from shallow North Sea boreholes. Carbon (methane through propane) and hydrogen (methane) isotope ratlos indicate both bacterial and thermal origins. The gases of thermal origin are interpreted as having been generated at considerable depth from predominantly marine source rocks and then to have migrated into the overlying sediments.]

Description: The chemical composition of sediments from the Reykjanes Ridge is controlled by allochthonous and autochthonous processes. The surface sediments are characterized by relatively high contents of calciumoxide and strontium. Calcium and strontium dominate in the carbonate phase due to the high content of biogenic carbonate. A high percentage of iron and manganese are bound to oxides and hydroxides. An indication of hydrothermal activity was not observed. A considerable portion of adsorbed barium is transported in clay minerals. The higher amounts of aluminium in glacial sequences indicate an enhanced input of terrigenous material; the increase of stable bonding elemen~s points toward the large influence of detrital minerals. The distinct differences in the bonding characteristics of elements in these marine sediments in comparison to fluvial and coastal - deposits could be due to the different environmental conditions.

Description: The seasonal cycle over the tropical Pacific simulated by 11 coupled ocean–atmosphere general circulation models (GCMs) is examined. Each model consists of a high-resolution ocean GCM of either the tropical Pacific or near-global means coupled to a moderate- or high-resolution atmospheric GCM, without the use of flux correction. The seasonal behavior of sea surface temperature (SST) and eastern Pacific rainfall is presented for each model. The results show that current state-of-the-art coupled GCMs share important successes and troublesome systematic errors. All 11 models are able to simulate the mean zonal gradient in SST at the equator over the central Pacific. The simulated equatorial cold tongue generally tends to be too strong, too narrow, and extend too far west. SSTs are generally too warm in a broad region west of Peru and in a band near 10°S. This is accompanied in some models by a double intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) straddling the equator over the eastern Pacific, and in others by an ITCZ that migrates across the equator with the seasons; neither behavior is realistic. There is considerable spread in the simulated seasonal cycles of equatorial SST in the eastern Pacific. Some simulations do capture the annual harmonic quite realistically, although the seasonal cold tongue tends to appear prematurely. Others overestimate the amplitude of the semiannual harmonic. Nonetheless, the results constitute a marked improvement over the simulations of only a few years ago when serious climate drift was still widespread and simulated zonal gradients of SST along the equator were often very weak.