@phdthesis{Herrmann2019,
  author    = {Herrmann, Johannes},
  title     = {The mechanical behavior of shales},
  doi       = {10.25932/publishup-42968},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-429683},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {XIII, 156},
  year      = {2019},
  abstract  = {The thesis comprises three experimental studies, which were carried out to unravel the short- as well as the long-term mechanical properties of shale rocks. Short-term mechanical properties such as compressive strength and Young's modulus were taken from recorded stress-strain curves of constant strain rate tests. Long-term mechanical properties are represented by the time- dependent creep behavior of shales. This was obtained from constant stress experiments, where the test duration ranged from a couple minutes up to two weeks. A profound knowledge of the mechanical behavior of shales is crucial to reliably estimate the potential of a shale reservoir for an economical and sustainable extraction of hydrocarbons (HC). In addition, healing of clay-rich forming cap rocks involving creep and compaction is important for underground storage of carbon dioxide and nuclear waste. Chapter 1 introduces general aspects of the research topic at hand and highlights the motivation for conducting this study. At present, a shift from energy recovered from conventional resources e.g., coal towards energy provided by renewable resources such as wind or water is a big challenge. Gas recovered from unconventional reservoirs (shale plays) is considered a potential bridge technology. In Chapter 2, short-term mechanical properties of two European mature shale rocks are presented, which were determined from constant strain rate experiments performed at ambient and in situ deformation conditions (confining pressure, pc ≤ 100 MPa, temperature, T ≤ 125 °C, representing pc, T - conditions at < 4 km depth) using a Paterson- type gas deformation apparatus. The investigated shales were mainly from drill core material of Posidonia (Germany) shale and weathered material of Bowland (United Kingdom) shale. The results are compared with mechanical properties of North American shales. Triaxial compression tests performed perpendicular to bedding revealed semibrittle deformation behavior of Posidonia shale with pronounced inelastic deformation. This is in contrast to Bowland shale samples that deformed brittle and displayed predominantly elastic deformation. The static Young's modulus, E, and triaxial compressive strength, σTCS, determined from recorded stress-strain curves strongly depended on the applied confining pressure and sample composition, whereas the influence of temperature and strain rate on E and σTCS was minor. Shales with larger amounts of weak minerals (clay, mica, total organic carbon) yielded decreasing E and σTCS. This may be related to a shift from deformation supported by a load-bearing framework of hard phases (e.g., quartz) towards deformation of interconnected weak minerals, particularly for higher fractions of about 25 - 30 vol\% weak phases. Comparing mechanical properties determined at reservoir conditions with mechanical data applying effective medium theories revealed that E and σTCS of Posidonia and Bowland shale are close to the lower (Reuss) bound. Brittleness B is often quoted as a measure indicating the response of a shale formation to stimulation and economic production. The brittleness, B, of Posidonia and Bowland shale, estimated from E, is in good agreement with the experimental results. This correlation may be useful to predict B from sonic logs, from which the (dynamic) Young's modulus can be retrieved. Chapter 3 presents a study of the long-term creep properties of an immature Posidonia shale. Constant stress experiments (σ = const.) were performed at elevated confining pressures (pc = 50 - 200 MPa) and temperatures (T = 50 - 200 °C) to simulate reservoir pc, T - conditions. The Posidonia shale samples were acquired from a quarry in South Germany. At stresses below ≈ 84 \% compressive strength of Posidonia shale, at high temperature and low confining pressure, samples showed pronounced transient (primary) creep with high deformation rates in the semibrittle regime. Sample deformation was mainly accommodated by creep of weak sample constituents and pore space reduction. An empirical power law relation between strain and time, which also accounts for the influence of pc, T and σ on creep strain was formulated to describe the primary creep phase. Extrapolation of the results to a creep period of several years, which is the typical time interval for a large production decline, suggest that fracture closure is unlikely at low stresses. At high stresses as expected for example at the contact between the fracture surfaces and proppants added during stimulation measures, subcritical crack growth may lead to secondary and tertiary creep. An empirical power law is suggested to describe secondary creep of shale rocks as a function of stress, pressure and temperature. The predicted closure rates agree with typical production decline curves recorded during the extraction of hydrocarbons. At the investigated conditions, the creep behavior of Posidonia shale was found to correlate with brittleness, calculated from sample composition. In Chapter 4 the creep properties of mature Posidonia and Bowland shales are presented. The observed long-term creep behavior is compared to the short-term behavior determined in Chapter 2. Creep experiments were performed at simulated reservoir conditions of pc = 50 - 115 MPa and T = 75 - 150 °C. Similar to the mechanical response of immature Posidonia shale samples investigated in Chapter 3, creep strain rates of mature Bowland and Posidonia shales were enhanced with increasing stress and temperature and decreasing confining pressures. Depending on applied deformation conditions, samples displayed either only a primary (decelerating) or in addition also a secondary (quasi-steady state) and subsequently a tertiary (accelerating) creep phase before failure. At the same deformation conditions, creep strain of Posidonia shale, which is rich in weak constituents, is tremendously higher than of quartz-rich Bowland shale. Typically, primary creep strain is again mostly accommodated by deformation of weak minerals and local pore space reduction. At the onset of tertiary creep most of the deformation was accommodated by micro crack growth. A power law was used to characterize the primary creep phase of Posidonia and Bowland shale. Primary creep strain of shale rocks is inversely correlated to triaxial compressive strength and brittleness, as described in Chapter 2. Chapter 5 provides a synthesis of the experimental findings and summarizes the major results of the studies presented in Chapters 2 - 4 and potential applications in the Exploration \& Production industry. Chapter 6 gives a brief outlook on potential future experimental research that would help to further improve our understanding of processes leading to fracture closure involving proppant embedment in unconventional shale gas reservoirs. Such insights may allow to improve stimulation techniques aimed at maintaining economical extraction of hydrocarbons over several years.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Kriegerowski2019,
  author    = {Kriegerowski, Marius},
  title     = {Development of waveform-based, automatic analysis tools for the spatio-temporal characterization of massive earthquake clusters and swarms},
  doi       = {10.25932/publishup-44404},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-444040},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {xv, 83},
  year      = {2019},
  abstract  = {Earthquake swarms are characterized by large numbers of events occurring in a short period of time within a confined source volume and without significant mainshock aftershock pattern as opposed to tectonic sequences. Intraplate swarms in the absence of active volcanism usually occur in continental rifts as for example in the Eger Rift zone in North West Bohemia, Czech Republic. A common hypothesis links event triggering to pressurized fluids. However, the exact causal chain is often poorly understood since the underlying geotectonic processes are slow compared to tectonic sequences. The high event rate during active periods challenges standard seismological routines as these are often designed for single events and therefore costly in terms of human resources when working with phase picks or computationally costly when exploiting full waveforms. This methodological thesis develops new approaches to analyze earthquake swarm seismicity as well as the underlying seismogenic volume. It focuses on the region of North West (NW) Bohemia, a well studied, well monitored earthquake swarm region. In this work I develop and test an innovative approach to detect and locate earthquakes using deep convolutional neural networks. This technology offers great potential as it allows to efficiently process large amounts of data which becomes increasingly important given that seismological data storage grows at increasing pace. The proposed deep neural network trained on NW Bohemian earthquake swarm records is able to locate 1000 events in less than 1 second using full waveforms while approaching precision of double difference relocated catalogs. A further technological novelty is that the trained filters of the deep neural network's first layer can be repurposed to function as a pattern matching event detector without additional training on noise datasets. For further methodological development and benchmarking, I present a new toolbox to generate realistic earthquake cluster catalogs as well as synthetic full waveforms of those clusters in an automated fashion. The input is parameterized using constraints on source volume geometry, nucleation and frequency-magnitude relations. It harnesses recorded noise to produce highly realistic synthetic data for benchmarking and development. This tool is used to study and assess detection performance in terms of magnitude of completeness Mc of a full waveform detector applied to synthetic data of a hydrofracturing experiment at the Wysin site, Poland. Finally, I present and demonstrate a novel approach to overcome the masking effects of wave propagation between earthquake and stations and to determine source volume attenuation directly in the source volume where clustered earthquakes occur. The new event couple spectral ratio approach exploits high frequency spectral slopes of two events sharing the greater part of their rays. Synthetic tests based on the toolbox mentioned before show that this method is able to infer seismic wave attenuation within the source volume at high spatial resolution. Furthermore, it is independent from the distance towards a station as well as the complexity of the attenuation and velocity structure outside of the source volume of swarms. The application to recordings of the NW Bohemian earthquake swarm shows increased P phase attenuation within the source volume (Qp < 100) based on results at a station located close to the village Luby (LBC). The recordings of a station located in epicentral proximity, close to Nov{\´y} Kostel (NKC), show a relatively high complexity indicating that waves arriving at that station experience more scattering than signals recorded at other stations. The high level of complexity destabilizes the inversion. Therefore, the Q estimate at NKC is not reliable and an independent proof of the high attenuation finding given the geometrical and frequency constraints is still to be done. However, a high attenuation in the source volume of NW Bohemian swarms has been postulated before in relation to an expected, highly damaged zone bearing CO 2 at high pressure. The methods developed in the course of this thesis yield the potential to improve our understanding regarding the role of fluids and gases in intraplate event clustering.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{AlHalbouni2019,
  author    = {Al-Halbouni, Djamil},
  title     = {Photogrammetry and distinct element geomechanical modelling of sinkholes and large-scale karstic depressions},
  doi       = {10.25932/publishup-43215},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-432159},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {137},
  year      = {2019},
  abstract  = {Sinkholes and depressions are typical landforms of karst regions. They pose a considerable natural hazard to infrastructure, agriculture, economy and human life in affected areas worldwide. The physio-chemical processes of sinkholes and depression formation are manifold, ranging from dissolution and material erosion in the subsurface to mechanical subsidence/failure of the overburden. This thesis addresses the mechanisms leading to the development of sinkholes and depressions by using complementary methods: remote sensing, distinct element modelling and near-surface geophysics. In the first part, detailed information about the (hydro)-geological background, ground structures, morphologies and spatio-temporal development of sinkholes and depressions at a very active karst area at the Dead Sea are derived from satellite image analysis, photogrammetry and geologic field surveys. There, clusters of an increasing number of sinkholes have been developing since the 1980s within large-scale depressions and are distributed over different kinds of surface materials: clayey mud, sandy-gravel alluvium and lacustrine evaporites (salt). The morphology of sinkholes differs depending in which material they form: Sinkholes in sandy-gravel alluvium and salt are generally deeper and narrower than sinkholes in the interbedded evaporite and mud deposits. From repeated aerial surveys, collapse precursory features like small-scale subsidence, individual holes and cracks are identified in all materials. The analysis sheds light on the ongoing hazardous subsidence process, which is driven by the base-level fall of the Dead Sea and by the dynamic formation of subsurface water channels. In the second part of this thesis, a novel, 2D distinct element geomechanical modelling approach with the software PFC2D-V5 to simulating individual and multiple cavity growth and sinkhole and large-scale depression development is presented. The approach involves a stepwise material removal technique in void spaces of arbitrarily shaped geometries and is benchmarked by analytical and boundary element method solutions for circular cavities. Simulated compression and tension tests are used to calibrate model parameters with bulk rock properties for the materials of the field site. The simulations show that cavity and sinkhole evolution is controlled by material strength of both overburden and cavity host material, the depth and relative speed of the cavity growth and the developed stress pattern in the subsurface. Major findings are: (1) A progressively deepening differential subrosion with variable growth speed yields a more fragmented stress pattern with stress interaction between the cavities. It favours multiple sinkhole collapses and nesting within large-scale depressions. (2) Low-strength materials do not support large cavities in the material removal zone, and subsidence is mainly characterised by gradual sagging into the material removal zone with synclinal bending. (3) High-strength materials support large cavity formation, leading to sinkhole formation by sudden collapse of the overburden. (4) Large-scale depression formation happens either by coalescence of collapsing holes, block-wise brittle failure, or gradual sagging and lateral widening. The distinct element based approach is compared to results from remote sensing and geophysics at the field site. The numerical simulation outcomes are generally in good agreement with derived morphometrics, documented surface and subsurface structures as well as seismic velocities. Complementary findings on the subrosion process are provided from electric and seismic measurements in the area. Based on the novel combination of methods in this thesis, a generic model of karst landform evolution with focus on sinkhole and depression formation is developed. A deepening subrosion system related to preferential flow paths evolves and creates void spaces and subsurface conduits. This subsequently leads to hazardous subsidence, and the formation of sinkholes within large-scale depressions. Finally, a monitoring system for shallow natural hazard phenomena consisting of geodetic and geophysical observations is proposed for similarly affected areas.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Nikkhoo2019,
  author    = {Nikkhoo, Mehdi},
  title     = {Analytical and numerical elastic dislocation models of volcano deformation processes},
  doi       = {10.25932/publishup-42972},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-429720},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {x, 175},
  year      = {2019},
  abstract  = {The advances in modern geodetic techniques such as the global navigation satellite system (GNSS) and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) provide surface deformation measurements with an unprecedented accuracy and temporal and spatial resolutions even at most remote volcanoes on Earth. Modelling of the high-quality geodetic data is crucial for understanding the underlying physics of volcano deformation processes. Among various approaches, mathematical models are the most effective for establishing a quantitative link between the surface displacements and the shape and strength of deformation sources. Advancing the geodetic data analyses and hence, the knowledge on the Earth's interior processes, demands sophisticated and efficient deformation modelling approaches. Yet the majority of these models rely on simplistic assumptions for deformation source geometries and ignore complexities such as the Earth's surface topography and interactions between multiple sources. This thesis addresses this problem in the context of analytical and numerical volcano deformation modelling. In the first part, new analytical solutions for triangular dislocations (TDs) in uniform infinite and semi-infinite elastic media have been developed. Through a comprehensive investigation, the locations and causes of artefact singularities and numerical instabilities associated with TDs have been determined and these long-standing drawbacks have been addressed thoroughly. This approach has then been extended to rectangular dislocations (RDs) with full rotational degrees of freedom. Using this solution in a configuration of three orthogonal RDs a compound dislocation model (CDM) has been developed. The CDM can represent generalized volumetric and planar deformation sources efficiently. Thus, the CDM is relevant for rapid inversions in early warning systems and can also be used for detailed deformation analyses. In order to account for complex source geometries and realistic topography in the deformation models, in this thesis the boundary element method (BEM) has been applied to the new solutions for TDs. In this scheme, complex surfaces are simulated as a continuous mesh of TDs that may possess any displacement or stress boundary conditions in the BEM calculations. In the second part of this thesis, the developed modelling techniques have been applied to five different real-world deformation scenarios. As the first and second case studies the deformation sources associated with the 2015 Calbuco eruption and 2013-2016 Copahue inflation period have been constrained by using the CDM. The highly anisotropic source geometries in these two cases highlight the importance of using generalized deformation models such as the CDM, for geodetic data inversions. The other three case studies in this thesis involve high-resolution dislocation models and BEM calculations. As the third case, the 2013 pre-explosive inflation of Volc{\´a}n de Colima has been simulated by using two ellipsoidal cavities, which locate zones of pressurization in the volcano's lava dome. The fourth case study, which serves as an example for volcanotectonics interactions, the 3-D kinematics of an active ring-fault at Tend{\"u}rek volcano has been investigated through modelling displacement time series over the 2003-2010 time period. As the fifth example, the deformation sources associated with North Korea's underground nuclear test in September 2017 have been constrained. These examples demonstrate the advancement and increasing level of complexity and the general applicability of the developed dislocation modelling techniques. This thesis establishes a unified framework for rapid and high-resolution dislocation modelling, which in addition to volcano deformations can also be applied to tectonic and humanmade deformations.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Laudan2019,
  author    = {Laudan, Jonas},
  title     = {Changing susceptibility of flood-prone residents in Germany},
  doi       = {10.25932/publishup-43442},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-434421},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {113},
  year      = {2019},
  abstract  = {Floods are among the most costly natural hazards that affect Europe and Germany, demanding a continuous adaptation of flood risk management. While social and economic development in recent years altered the flood risk patterns mainly with regard to an increase in flood exposure, different flood events are further expected to increase in frequency and severity in certain European regions due to climate change. As a result of recent major flood events in Germany, the German flood risk management shifted to more integrated approaches that include private precaution and preparation to reduce the damage on exposed assets. Yet, detailed insights into the preparedness decisions of flood-prone households remain scarce, especially in connection to mental impacts and individual coping strategies after being affected by different flood types. This thesis aims to gain insights into flash floods as a costly hazard in certain German regions and compares the damage driving factors to the damage driving factors of river floods. Furthermore, psychological impacts as well as the effects on coping and mitigation behaviour of flood-affected households are assessed. In this context, psychological models such as the Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) and methods such as regressions and Bayesian statistics are used to evaluate influencing factors on the mental coping after an event and to identify psychological variables that are connected to intended private flood mitigation. The database consists of surveys that were conducted among affected households after major river floods in 2013 and flash floods in 2016. The main conclusions that can be drawn from this thesis reveal that the damage patterns and damage driving factors of strong flash floods differ significantly from those of river floods due to a rapid flow origination process, higher flow velocities and flow forces. However, the effects on mental coping of people that have been affected by flood events appear to be weakly influenced by different flood types, but yet show a coherence to the event severity, where often thinking of the respective event is pronounced and also connected to a higher mitigation motivation. The mental coping and preparation after floods is further influenced by a good information provision and a social environment, which encourages a positive attitude towards private mitigation. As an overall recommendation, approaches for an integrated flood risk management in Germany should be followed that also take flash floods into account and consider psychological characteristics of affected households to support and promote private flood mitigation. Targeted information campaigns that concern coping options and discuss current flood risks are important to better prepare for future flood hazards in Germany.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Codeco2019,
  author    = {Codeco, Marta Sofia Ferreira},
  title     = {Constraining the hydrology at Minas da Panasqueira W-Sn-Cu deposit, Portugal},
  doi       = {10.25932/publishup-42975},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-429752},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {xxviii, 232},
  year      = {2019},
  abstract  = {This dissertation combines field and geochemical observations and analyses with numerical modeling to understand the formation of vein-hosted Sn-W ore in the Panasqueira deposit of Portugal, which is among the ten largest worldwide. The deposit is located above a granite body that is altered by magmatic-hydrothermal fluids in its upper part (greisen). These fluids are thought to be the source of metals, but that was still under debate. The goal of this study is to determine the composition and temperature of hydrothermal fluids at Panasqueira, and with that information to construct a numerical model of the hydrothermal system. The focus is on analysis of the minerals tourmaline and white mica, which formed during mineralization and are widespread throughout the deposit. Tourmaline occurs mainly in alteration zones around mineralized veins and is less abundant in the vein margins. White mica is more widespread. It is abundant in vein margins as well as alteration zones, and also occurs in the granite greisen. The laboratory work involved in-situ microanalysis of major- and trace elements in tourmaline and white mica, and boron-isotope analysis in both minerals by secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). The boron-isotope composition of tourmaline and white mica suggests a magmatic source. Comparison of hydrothermally-altered and unaltered rocks from drill cores shows that the ore metals (W, Sn, Cu, and Zn) and As, F, Li, Rb, and Cs were introduced during the alteration. Most of these elements are also enriched in tourmaline and mica, which confirms their potential value as exploration guides to Sn-W ores elsewhere. The thermal evolution of the hydrothermal system was estimated by B-isotope exchange thermometry and the Ti-in-quartz method. Both methods yielded similar temperatures for the early hydrothermal phase: 430° to 460°C for B-isotopes and 503° ± 24°C for Ti-in-quartz. Mineral pairs from a late fault zone yield significantly lower median temperatures of 250°C. The combined results of thermometry with variations in chemical and B-isotope composition of tourmaline and mica suggest that a similar magmatic-hydrothermal fluid was active at all stages of mineralization. Mineralization in the late stage shows the same B-isotope composition as in the main stage despite a ca. 250°C cooling, which supports a multiple injection model of magmatic-hydrothermal fluids. Two-dimensional numerical simulations of convection in a multiphase NaCl hydrothermal system were conducted: (a) in order to test a new approach (lower dimensional elements) for flow through fractures and faults and (b) in order to identify conditions for horizontal fluid flow as observed in the flat-lying veins at Panasqueira. The results show that fluid flow over an intrusion (heat and fluid source) develops a horizontal component if there is sufficient fracture connectivity. Late, steep fault zones have been identified in the deposit area, which locally contain low-temperature Zn-Pb mineralization. The model results confirm that the presence of subvertical faults with enhanced permeability play a crucial role in the ascent of magmatic fluids to the surface and the recharge of meteoric waters. Finally, our model results suggest that recharge of meteoric fluids and mixing processes may be important at later stages, while flow of magmatic fluids dominate the early stages of the hydrothermal fluid circulation.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{vonSpecht2019,
  author    = {von Specht, Sebastian},
  title     = {Likelihood - based optimization in strong-motion seismology},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {153},
  year      = {2019},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Korges2019,
  author    = {Korges, Maximilian},
  title     = {Constraining the hydrology of intrusion-related ore deposits with fluid inclusions and numerical modeling},
  doi       = {10.25932/publishup-43484},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-434843},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {VIII, 99},
  year      = {2019},
  abstract  = {Magmatic-hydrothermal fluids are responsible for numerous mineralization types, including porphyry copper and granite related tin-tungsten (Sn-W) deposits. Ore formation is dependent on various factors, including, the pressure and temperature regime of the intrusions, the chemical composition of the magma and hydrothermal fluids, and fluid rock interaction during the ascent. Fluid inclusions have potential to provide direct information on the temperature, salinity, pressure and chemical composition of fluids responsible for ore formation. Numerical modeling allows the parametrization of pluton features that cannot be analyzed directly via geological observations. Microthermometry of fluid inclusions from the Zinnwald Sn-W deposit, Erzgebirge, Germany / Czech Republic, provide evidence that the greisen mineralization is associated with a low salinity (2-10 wt.\% NaCl eq.) fluid with homogenization temperatures between 350°C and 400°C. Quartzes from numerous veins are host to inclusions with the same temperatures and salinities, whereas cassiterite- and wolframite-hosted assemblages with slightly lower temperatures (around 350°C) and higher salinities (ca. 15 wt. NaCl eq.). Further, rare quartz samples contained boiling assemblages consisting of coexisting brine and vapor phases. The formation of ore minerals within the greisen is driven by invasive fluid-rock interaction, resulting in the loss of complexing agents (Cl-) leading to precipitation of cassiterite. The fluid inclusion record in the veins suggests boiling as the main reason for cassiterite and wolframite mineralization. Ore and coexisting gangue minerals hosted different types of fluid inclusions where the beginning boiling processes are solely preserved by the ore minerals emphasizing the importance of microthermometry in ore minerals. Further, the study indicates that boiling as a precipitation mechanism can only occur in mineralization related to shallow intrusions whereas deeper plutons prevent the fluid from boiling and can therefore form tungsten mineralization in the distal regions. The tin mineralization in the H{\"a}mmerlein deposit, Erzgebirge, Germany, occurs within a skarn horizon and the underlying schist. Cassiterite within the skarn contains highly saline (30-50 wt\% NaCl eq.) fluid inclusions, with homogenization temperatures up to 500°C, whereas cassiterites from the schist and additional greisen samples contain inclusions of lower salinity (~5 wt\% NaCl eq.) and temperature (between 350 and 400°C). Inclusions in the gangue minerals (quartz, fluorite) preserve homogenization temperatures below 350°C and sphalerite showed the lowest homogenization temperatures (ca. 200°C) whereby all minerals (cassiterite from schist and greisen, gangue minerals and sphalerite) show similar salinity ranges (2-5 wt\% NaCl eq.). Similar trace element contents and linear trends in the chemistry of the inclusions suggest a common source fluid. The inclusion record in the H{\"a}mmerlein deposit documents an early exsolution of hot brines from the underlying granite which is responsible for the mineralization hosted by the skarn. Cassiterites in schist and greisen are mainly forming due to fluid-rock interaction at lower temperatures. The low temperature inclusions documented in the sphalerite mineralization as well as their generally low trace element composition in comparison to the other minerals suggests that their formation was induced by mixing with meteoric fluids. Numerical simulations of magma chambers and overlying copper distribution document the importance of incremental growth by sills. We analyzed the cooling behavior at variable injection intervals as well as sill thicknesses. The models suggest that magma accumulation requires volumetric injection rates of at least 4 x 10-4 km³/y. These injection rates are further needed to form a stable magmatic-hydrothermal fluid plume above the magma chamber to ensure a constant copper precipitation and enrichment within a confined location in order to form high-grade ore shells within a narrow geological timeframe between 50 and 100 kyrs as suggested for porphyry copper deposits. The highest copper enrichment can be found in regions with steep temperature gradients, typical of regions where the magmatic-hydrothermal fluid meets the cooler ambient fluids.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Ghani2019,
  author    = {Ghani, Humaad},
  title     = {Structural evolution of the Kohat and Potwar fold and thrust belts of Pakistan},
  doi       = {10.25932/publishup-44077},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-440775},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {viii, 121},
  year      = {2019},
  abstract  = {Fold and thrust belts are characteristic features of collisional orogen that grow laterally through time by deforming the upper crust in response to stresses caused by convergence. The deformation propagation in the upper crust is accommodated by shortening along major folds and thrusts. The formation of these structures is influenced by the mechanical strength of d{\´e}collements, basement architecture, presence of preexisting structures and taper of the wedge. These factors control not only the sequence of deformation but also cause differences in the structural style. The Himalayan fold and thrust belt exhibits significant differences in the structural style from east to west. The external zone of the Himalayan fold and thrust belt, also called the Subhimalaya, has been extensively studied to understand the temporal development and differences in the structural style in Bhutan, Nepal and India; however, the Subhimalaya in Pakistan remains poorly studied. The Kohat and Potwar fold and thrust belts (herein called Kohat and Potwar) represent the Subhimalaya in Pakistan. The Main Boundary Thrust (MBT) marks the northern boundary of both Kohat and Potwar, showing that these belts are genetically linked to foreland-vergent deformation within the Himalayan orogen, despite the pronounced contrast in structural style. This contrast becomes more pronounced toward south, where the active strike-slip Kalabagh Fault Zone links with the Kohat and Potwar range fronts, known as the Surghar Range and the Salt Range, respectively. The Surghar and Salt Ranges developed above the Surghar Thrust (SGT) and Main Frontal Thrust (MFT). In order to understand the structural style and spatiotemporal development of the major structures in Kohat and Potwar, I have used structural modeling and low temperature thermochronolgy methods in this study. The structural modeling is based on construction of balanced cross-sections by integrating surface geology, seismic reflection profiles and well data. In order to constrain the timing and magnitude of exhumation, I used apatite (U-Th-Sm)/He (AHe) and apatite fission track (AFT) dating. The results obtained from both methods are combined to document the Paleozoic to Recent history of Kohat and Potwar. The results of this research suggest two major events in the deformation history. The first major deformation event is related to Late Paleozoic rifting associated with the development of the Neo-Tethys Ocean. The second major deformation event is related to the Late Miocene to Pliocene development of the Himalayan fold and thrust belt in the Kohat and Potwar. The Late Paleozoic rifting is deciphered by inverse thermal modelling of detrital AFT and AHe ages from the Salt Range. The process of rifting in this area created normal faulting that resulted in the exhumation/erosion of Early to Middle Paleozoic strata, forming a major unconformity between Cambrian and Permian strata that is exposed today in the Salt Range. The normal faults formed in Late Paleozoic time played an important role in localizing the Miocene-Pliocene deformation in this area. The combination of structural reconstructions and thermochronologic data suggest that deformation initiated at 15±2 Ma on the SGT ramp in the southern part of Kohat. The early movement on the SGT accreted the foreland into the Kohat deforming wedge, forming the range front. The development of the MBT at 12±2 Ma formed the northern boundary of Kohat and Potwar. Deformation propagated south of the MBT in the Kohat on double d{\´e}collements and in the Potwar on a single basal d{\´e}collement. The double d{\´e}collement in the Kohat adopted an active roof-thrust deformation style that resulted in the disharmonic structural style in the upper and lower parts of the stratigraphic section. Incremental shortening resulted in the development of duplexes in the subsurface between two d{\´e}collements and imbrication above the roof thrust. Tectonic thickening caused by duplexes resulted in cooling and exhumation above the roof thrust by removal of a thick sequence of molasse strata. The structural modelling shows that the ramps on which duplexes formed in Kohat continue as tip lines of fault propagation folds in the Potwar. The absence of a double d{\´e}collement in the Potwar resulted in the preservation of a thick sequence of molasse strata there. The temporal data suggest that deformation propagated in-sequence from ~ 8 to 3 Ma in the northern part of Kohat and Potwar; however, internal deformation in the Kohat was more intense, probably required for maintaining a critical taper after a significant load was removed above the upper d{\´e}collement. In the southern part of Potwar, a steeper basement slope (β≥3°) and the presence of salt at the base of the stratigraphic section allowed for the complete preservation of the stratigraphic wedge, showcased by very little internal deformation. Activation of the MFT at ~4 Ma allowed the Salt Range to become the range front of the Potwar. The removal of a large amount of molasse strata above the MFT ramp enhanced the role of salt in shaping the structural style of the Salt Range and Kalabagh Fault Zone. Salt accumulation and migration resulted in the formation of normal faults in both areas. Salt migration in the Kalabagh fault zone has triggered out-of-sequence movement on ramps in the Kohat. The amount of shortening calculated between the MBT and the SGT in Kohat is 75±5 km and between the MBT and the MFT in Potwar is 65±5 km. A comparable amount of shortening is accommodated in the Kohat and Potwar despite their different widths: 70 km Kohat and 150 km Potwar. In summary, this research suggests that deformation switched between different structures during the last ~15 Ma through different modes of fault propagation, resulting in different structural styles and the out-of-sequence development of Kohat and Potwar.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Hoffmann2019,
  author    = {Hoffmann, Mathias},
  title     = {Improving measurement and modelling approaches of the closed chamber method to better assess dynamics and drivers of carbon based greenhouse gas emissions},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-421302},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {xx, 204, xxix},
  year      = {2019},
  abstract  = {The trace gases CO2 and CH4 pertain to the most relevant greenhouse gases and are important exchange fluxes of the global carbon (C) cycle. Their atmospheric quantity increased significantly as a result of the intensification of anthropogenic activities, such as especially land-use and land-use change, since the mid of the 18th century. To mitigate global climate change and ensure food security, land-use systems need to be developed, which favor reduced trace gas emissions and a sustainable soil carbon management. This requires the accurate and precise quantification of the influence of land-use and land-use change on CO2 and CH4 emissions. A common method to determine the trace gas dynamics and C sink or source function of a particular ecosystem is the closed chamber method. This method is often used assuming that accuracy and precision are high enough to determine differences in C gas emissions for e.g., treatment comparisons or different ecosystem components. However, the broad range of different chamber designs, related operational procedures and data-processing strategies which are described in the scientific literature contribute to the overall uncertainty of closed chamber-based emission estimates. Hence, the outcomes of meta-analyses are limited, since these methodical differences hamper the comparability between studies. Thus, a standardization of closed chamber data acquisition and processing is much-needed. Within this thesis, a set of case studies were performed to: (I) develop standardized routines for an unbiased data acquisition and processing, with the aim of providing traceable, reproducible and comparable closed chamber based C emission estimates; (II) validate those routines by comparing C emissions derived using closed chambers with independent C emission estimates; and (III) reveal processes driving the spatio-temporal dynamics of C emissions by developing (data processing based) flux separation approaches. The case studies showed: (I) the importance to test chamber designs under field conditions for an appropriate sealing integrity and to ensure an unbiased flux measurement. Compared to the sealing integrity, the use of a pressure vent and fan was of minor importance, affecting mainly measurement precision; (II) that the developed standardized data processing routines proved to be a powerful and flexible tool to estimate C gas emissions and that this tool can be successfully applied on a broad range of flux data sets from very different ecosystem; (III) that automatic chamber measurements display temporal dynamics of CO2 and CH4 fluxes very well and most importantly, that they accurately detect small-scale spatial differences in the development of soil C when validated against repeated soil inventories; and (IV) that a simple algorithm to separate CH4 fluxes into ebullition and diffusion improves the identification of environmental drivers, which allows for an accurate gap-filling of measured CH4 fluxes. Overall, the proposed standardized data acquisition and processing routines strongly improved the detection accuracy and precision of source/sink patterns of gaseous C emissions. Hence, future studies, which consider the recommended improvements, will deliver valuable new data and insights to broaden our understanding of spatio-temporal C gas dynamics, their particular environmental drivers and underlying processes.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Borghini2020,
  author    = {Borghini, Alessia},
  title     = {Melt inclusions in mafic rocks as witnesses of metasomatism in the Bohemian Massif},
  doi       = {10.25932/publishup-47363},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-473639},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {205},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {Orogenic peridotites represent portions of upper subcontinental mantle now incorporated in mountain belts. They often contain layers, lenses and irregular bodies of pyroxenite and eclogite. The origin of this heterogeneity and the nature of these layers is still debated but it is likely to involve processes such as transient melts coming from the crust or the mantle and segregating in magma conduits, crust-mantle interaction, upwelling of the asthenosphere and metasomatism. All these processes occur in the lithospheric mantle and are often related with the subduction of crustal rocks to mantle depths. In fact, during subduction, fluids and melts are released from the slab and can interact with the overlying mantle, making the study of deep melts in this environment crucial to understand mantle heterogeneity and crust-mantle interaction. The aim of this thesis is precisely to better constrain how such processes take place studying directly the melt trapped as primary inclusions in pyroxenites and eclogites. The Bohemian Massif, crystalline core of the Variscan belt, is targeted for these purposes because it contains orogenic peridotites with layers of pyroxenite and eclogite and other mafic rocks enclosed in felsic high pressure and ultra-high pressure crustal rocks. Within this Massif mafic rocks from two areas have been selected: the garnet clinopyroxenite in orogenic peridotite of the Granulitgebirge and the ultra-high pressure eclogite in the diamond-bearing gneisses of the Erzgebirge. In both areas primary melt inclusions were recognized in the garnet, ranging in size between 2-25 µm and with different degrees of crystallization, from glassy to polycrystalline. They have been investigated with Micro Raman spectroscopy and EDS mapping and the mineral assemblage is kumdykolite, phlogopite, quartz, kokchetavite, phase with a main Raman peak at 430 cm-1, phase with a main Raman peak at 412 cm-1, white mica and calcite with some variability in relative abundance depending on the case study. In the Granulitgebirge osumilite and pyroxene are also present, whereas calcite is one of the main phases in the Erzgebirge. The presence of glass and the mineral assemblage in the nanogranitoids suggest that they were former droplets of melt trapped in the garnet while it was growing. Glassy inclusions and re-homogenized nanogranitoids show a silicate melt that is granitic, hydrous, high in alkalis and weakly peraluminous. The melt is also enriched in both case studies in Cs, Pb, Rb, U, Th, Li and B suggesting the involvement of crustal component, i.e. white mica (main carrier of Cs, Pb, Rb, Li and B), and a fluid (Cs, Th and U) in the melt producing reaction. The whole rock in both cases mainly consists of garnet and clinopyroxene with, in Erzgebirge samples, the additional presence of quartz both in the matrix and as a polycrystalline inclusion in the garnet. The latter is interpreted as a quartz pseudomorph after coesite and occurs in the same microstructural position as the melt inclusions. Both rock types show a crustal and subduction zone signature with garnet and clinopyroxene in equilibrium. Melt was likely present during the metamorphic peak of the rock, as it occurs in garnet. Our data suggest that the processes most likely responsible for the formation of the investigated rocks in both areas is a metasomatic reaction between a melt produced in the crust and mafic layers formerly located in the mantle wedge for the Granulitgebirge and in the subducted continental crust itself in the Erzgebirge. Thus metasomatism in the first case took place in the mantle overlying the slab, whereas in the second case metasomatism took place in the continental crust that already contained, before subduction, mafic layers. Moreover, the presence of former coesite in the same microstructural position of the melt inclusions in the Erzgebirge garnets suggest that metasomatism took place at ultra-high pressure conditions. Summarizing, in this thesis we provide new insights into the geodynamic evolution of the Bohemian Massif based on the study of melt inclusions in garnet in two different mafic rock types, combining the direct microstructural and geochemical investigation of the inclusions with the whole-rock and mineral geochemistry. We report for the first time data, directly extracted from natural rocks, on the metasomatic melt responsible for the metasomatism of several areas of the Bohemian Massif. Besides the two locations here investigated, belonging to the Saxothuringian Zone, a signature similar to the investigated melt is clearly visible in pyroxenite and peridotite of the T-7 borehole (again Saxothuringian Zone) and the durbachite suite located in the Moldanubian Zone.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Senftleben2020,
  author    = {Senftleben, Robin},
  title     = {Earth's magnetic field over the last 1000 years},
  doi       = {10.25932/publishup-47315},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-473150},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {xii, 104},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {To investigate the reliability and stability of spherical harmonic models based on archeo/-paleomagnetic data, 2000 Geomagnetic models were calculated. All models are based on the same data set but with randomized uncertainties. Comparison of these models to the geomagnetic field model gufm1 showed that large scale magnetic field structures up to spherical harmonic degree 4 are stable throughout all models. Through a ranking of all models by comparing the dipole coefficients to gufm1 more realistic uncertainty estimates were derived than the authors of the data provide. The derived uncertainty estimates were used in further modelling, which combines archeo/-paleomagnetic and historical data. The huge difference in data count, accuracy and coverage of these two very different data sources made it necessary to introduce a time dependent spatial damping, which was constructed to constrain the spatial complexity of the model. Finally 501 models were calculated by considering that each data point is a Gaussian random variable, whose mean is the original value and whose standard deviation is its uncertainty. The final model arhimag1k is calculated by taking the mean of the 501 sets of Gauss coefficients. arhimag1k fits different dependent and independent data sets well. It shows an early reverse flux patch at the core-mantle boundary between 1000 AD and 1200 AD at the location of the South Atlantic Anomaly today. Another interesting feature is a high latitude flux patch over Greenland between 1200 and 1400 AD. The dipole moment shows a constant behaviour between 1600 and 1840 AD. In the second part of the thesis 4 new paleointensities from 4 different flows of the island Fogo, which is part of Cape Verde, are presented. The data is fitted well by arhimag1k with the exception of the value at 1663 of 28.3 microtesla, which is approximately 10 microtesla lower than the model suggest.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Angelopoulos2020,
  author    = {Angelopoulos, Michael},
  title     = {Mechanisms of sub-aquatic permafrost evolution in Arctic coastal environments},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {165},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {Subsea permafrost is perennially cryotic earth material that lies offshore. Most submarine permafrost is relict terrestrial permafrost beneath the Arctic shelf seas, was inundated after the last glaciation, and has been warming and thawing ever since. It is a reservoir and confining layer for gas hydrates and has the potential to release greenhouse gases and affect global climate change. Furthermore, subsea permafrost thaw destabilizes coastal infrastructure. While numerous studies focus on its distribution and rate of thaw over glacial timescales, these studies have not been brought together and examined in their entirety to assess rates of thaw beneath the Arctic Ocean. In addition, there is still a large gap in our understanding of sub-aquatic permafrost processes on finer spatial and temporal scales. The degradation rate of subsea permafrost is influenced by the initial conditions upon submergence. Terrestrial permafrost that has already undergone warming, partial thawing or loss of ground ice may react differently to inundation by seawater compared to previously undisturbed ice-rich permafrost. Heat conduction models are sufficient to model the thaw of thick subsea permafrost from the bottom, but few studies have included salt diffusion for top-down chemical degradation in shallow waters characterized by mean annual cryotic conditions on the seabed. Simulating salt transport is critical for assessing degradation rates for recently inundated permafrost, which may accelerate in response to warming shelf waters, a lengthening open water season, and faster coastal erosion rates. In the nearshore zone, degradation rates are also controlled by seasonal processes like bedfast ice, brine injection, seasonal freezing under floating ice conditions and warm freshwater discharge from large rivers. The interplay of all these variables is complex and needs further research. To fill this knowledge gap, this thesis investigates sub-aquatic permafrost along the southern coast of the Bykovsky Peninsula in eastern Siberia. Sediment cores and ground temperature profiles were collected at a freshwater thermokarst lake and two thermokarst lagoons in 2017. At this site, the coastline is retreating, and seawater is inundating various types of permafrost: sections of ice-rich Pleistocene permafrost (Yedoma) cliffs at the coastline alternate with lagoons and lower elevation previously thawed and refrozen permafrost basins (Alases). Electrical resistivity surveys with floating electrodes were carried out to map ice-bearing permafrost and taliks (unfrozen zones in the permafrost, usually formed beneath lakes) along the diverse coastline and in the lagoons. Combined with the borehole data, the electrical resistivity results permit estimation of contemporary ice-bearing permafrost characteristics, distribution, and occasionally, thickness. To conceptualize possible geomorphological and marine evolutionary pathways to the formation of the observed layering, numerical models were applied. The developed model incorporates salt diffusion and seasonal dynamics at the seabed, including bedfast ice. Even along coastlines with mean annual non-cryotic boundary conditions like the Bykovsky Peninsula, the modelling results show that salt diffusion minimizes seasonal freezing of the seabed, leading to faster degradation rates compared to models without salt diffusion. Seasonal processes are also important for thermokarst lake to lagoon transitions because lagoons can generate cold hypersaline conditions underneath the ice cover. My research suggests that ice-bearing permafrost can form in a coastal lagoon environment, even under floating ice. Alas basins, however, may degrade more than twice as fast as Yedoma permafrost in the first several decades of inundation. In addition to a lower ice content compared to Yedoma permafrost, Alas basins may be pre-conditioned with salt from adjacent lagoons. Considering the widespread distribution of thermokarst in the Arctic, its integration into geophysical models and offshore surveys is important to quantify and understand subsea permafrost degradation and aggradation. Through numerical modelling, fieldwork, and a circum-Arctic review of subsea permafrost literature, this thesis provides new insights into sub-aquatic permafrost evolution in saline coastal environments.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Friese2020,
  author    = {Friese, Andr{\´e}},
  title     = {Biogeochemistry of ferruginous sediments of Lake Towuti, Sulawesi, Indonesia},
  doi       = {10.25932/publishup-47535},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-475355},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {xxiv, 233},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {Ferruginous conditions were a prominent feature of the oceans throughout the Precambrian Eons and thus throughout much of Earth's history. Organic matter mineralization and diagenesis within the ferruginous sediments that deposited from Earth's early oceans likely played a key role in global biogeochemical cycling. Knowledge of organic matter mineralization in ferruginous sediments, however, remains almost entirely conceptual, as modern analogue environments are extremely rare and largely unstudied, to date. Lake Towuti on the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia is such an analogue environment and the purpose of this PhD project was to investigate the rates and pathways of organic matter mineralization in its ferruginous sediments. Lake Towuti is the largest tectonic lake in Southeast Asia and is hosted in the mafic and ultramafic rocks of the East Sulawesi Ophiolite. It has a maximum water depth of 203 m and is weakly thermally stratified. A well-oygenated surface layer extends to 70 m depth, while waters below 130 m are persistently anoxic. Intensive weathering of the ultramafic catchment feeds the lake with large amounts of iron(oxy)hydroxides while the runoff contains only little sulfate, leading to sulfate-poor (< 20 µM) lake water and anoxic ferruginous conditions below 130 m. Such conditions are analogous to the ferruginous water columns that persisted throughout much of the Archean and Proterozoic eons. Short (< 35 cm) sediment cores were collected from different water depths corresponding to different bottom water redox conditions. Also, a drilling campaign of the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP) retrieved a 114 m long sediment core dedicated for geomicrobiological investigations from a water depth of 153 m, well below the depth of oxygen penetration at the time of sampling. Samples collected from these sediment cores form the fundament of this thesis and were used to perform a suite of biogeochemical and microbiological analyses. Geomirobiological investigations depend on uncontaminated samples. However, exploration of subsurface environments relies on drilling, which requires the use of a drilling fluid. Drilling fluid infiltration during drilling can not be avoided. Thus, in order to trace contamination of the sediment core and to identify uncontaminated samples for further analyses a simple and inexpensive technique for assessing contamination during drilling operations was developed and applied during the ICDP drilling campaign. This approach uses an aqeous fluorescent pigment dispersion commonly used in the paint industry as a particulate tracer. It has the same physical properties as conventionally used particulate tracers. However, the price is nearly four orders of magnitude lower solving the main problem of particulate tracer approaches. The approach requires only a minimum of equipment and allows for a rapid contamination assessment potentially even directly on site, while the senstitivity is in the range of already established approaches. Contaminated samples in the drill core were identified and not included for further geomicrobiological investigations. Biogeochemical analyses of short sediment cores showed that Lake Towutis sediments are strongly depleted in electron acceptors commonly used in microbial organic matter mineralization (i.e. oxygen, nitrate, sulfate). Still, the sediments harbor high microbial cell densities, which are a function of redox conditions of Lake Towuti's bottom water. In shallow water depths bottom water oxygenation leads to a higher input of labile organic matter and electron acceptors like sulfate and iron, which promotes a higher microbial abundance. Microbial analyses showed that a versatile microbial community with a potential to perform metabolisms related to iron and sulfate reduction, fermentation as well as methanogenesis inhabits Lake Towuti's surface sediments. Biogeochemical investigations of the upper 12 m of the 114 m sediment core showed that Lake Towuti's sediment is extremely rich in iron with total concentrations up to 2500 µmol cm-3 (20 wt. \%), which makes it the natural sedimentary environment with the highest total iron concentrations studied to date. In the complete or near absence of oxygen, nitrate and sulfate, organic matter mineralization in ferruginous sediments would be expected to proceed anaerobically via the energetically most favorable terminal electron acceptors available - in this case ferric iron. Astonishingly, however, methanogenesis is the dominant (>85 \%) organic matter mineralization process in Lake Towuti's sediment. Reactive ferric iron known to be available for microbial iron reduction is highly abundant throughout the upper 12 m and thus remained stable for at least 60.000 years. The produced methane is not oxidized anaerobically and diffuses out of the sediment into the water column. The proclivity towards methanogenesis, in these very iron-rich modern sediments, implies that methanogenesis may have played a more important role in organic matter mineralization thoughout the Precambrian than previously thought and thus could have been a key contributor to Earth's early climate dynamics. Over the whole sequence of the 114 m long sediment core siderites were identified and characterized using high-resolution microscopic and spectroscopic imaging together with microchemical and geochemical analyses. The data show early diagenetic growth of siderite crystals as a response to sedimentary organic matter mineralization. Microchemical zoning was identified in all siderite crystals. Siderite thus likely forms during diagenesis through growth on primary existing phases and the mineralogical and chemical features of these siderites are a function of changes in redox conditions of the pore water and sediment over time. Identification of microchemical zoning in ancient siderites deposited in the Precambrian may thus also be used to infer siderite growth histories in ancient sedimentary rocks including sedimentary iron formations.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Nardini2020,
  author    = {Nardini, Livia},
  title     = {Influence of heterogeneities on the initiation of shear zones in the ductile regime},
  doi       = {10.25932/publishup-44616},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-446165},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {XIX, 121},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {The current thesis contains the results from two experimental and one modelling study focused on the topic of ductile strain localization in the presence of material heterogeneities. Localization of strain in the high temperature regime is a well known feature of rock deformation occurring in nature at different scales and in a variety of lithologies. Large scale shear zones at the roots of major crustal fault zones are considered responsible for the activity of plate tectonics on our planet. A large number of mechanisms are suggested to be associated with strain softening and nucleation of localization. Among these, the presence of material heterogeneities within homogeneous host rocks is frequently observed in field examples to trigger shear zone development. Despite a number of studies conducted on the topic, the mechanisms controlling initiation and evolution of localization are not fully understood yet. We investigated, experimentally and by means of numerical modelling, phenomenological and microphysical aspects of high temperature strain localization in a homogeneous body containing single and paired inclusions of weaker material. A monomineralic carbonate system composed of Carrara marble (homogeneous, strong matrix) and Solnhofen limestone (weak planar inclusions) is selected for our studies based on its versatility as an experimental material and on the frequent occurrence of carbonate rocks at the core of natural shear zones. To explore the influence of different loading conditions on heterogeneity-induced high temperature shear zones we conducted torsion experiments under constant twist (deformation) rate and constant torque (stress) conditions in a Paterson-type deformation apparatus on hollow cylinders of marble containing single planar inclusions of limestone. At the imposed experimental conditions (900 ◦C temperature and 400 MPa confining pressure) both materials deform plastically and the marble is ≈ 9 times stronger than the limestone. The viscosity contrast between the two materials induces a perturbation of the stress field within the marble matrix at the tip of the planar inclusion. Early on along the deformation path (at bulk shear strains ≈ 0.3), heterogeneous distribution of strain can be observed under both loading conditions and a small area of incipient strain localization is formed at the tip of the weak limestone inclusion. Strongly deformed grains, incipient dynamic recrystallization and a weak crystallographic preferred orientation characterize the marble within an area a few mm in front of the inclusion. As the bulk strain is increased (up to γ ≈ 1), the area of microstructural modification is expanded along the inclusion plane, the texture strengthens and grain size refinement by dynamic recrystallization becomes pervasive. Locally, evidences for coexisting brittle deformation are also observed regardless of the imposed loading conditions. A shear zone is effectively formed within the deforming Carrara marble, its geometry controlled by the plane containing the thin plate of limestone. Thorough microstructural and textural analysis, however, do not reveal substantial differences in the mechanisms or magnitude of strain localization at the different loading conditions. We conclude that, in the presence of material heterogeneities capable of inducing strain softening, the imposed loading conditions do not affect ductile localization in its nucleating and transient stages. As the ultimate goal of experimental rock deformation is the extrapolation of results to geologically relevant time and space scales, we developed 2D numerical models reproducing (and benchmarked to) our experimental results. Our cm-scaled models have been implemented with a first-order strain-dependent softening law to reproduce the effect of rheological weakening in the deforming material. We successfully reproduced the local stress concentration at the inclusion tips and the strain localization initiated in the marble matrix. The heterogeneous distribution of strain and its evolution with imposed bulk deformation (i.e. the shape and extent of the nucleating shear zone) are observed to depend on the degree of softening imposed to the deforming matrix. When a second (artificial) softening step is introduced at elevated bulk strains in the model, the formation of a secondary high strain layer is observed at the core of the initial shear zone, analogous to the development of ultramylonite bands in high strain natural shear zones. Our results do not only reproduce the nucleation and transient evolution of a heterogeneity-induced high temperature shear zone with high accuracy, but also confirm the importance of introducing reliable softening laws capable of mimicking strain weakening to numerical models of crustal scale ductile processes. Material heterogeneities inducing strain localization in the field are often consisting of brittle precursors (joints and fractures). More generally, the interaction of brittle and ductile deformation mechanisms and its effect on the localization of strain have been a key topic in the structural geology community for a long time. The positive feedback between (micro)fracturing and ductile strain localization is a well recognized effect in a number of field examples. We experimentally investigated the influence of brittle deformation on the initiation and evolution of high temperature shear zones in a strong matrix containing pairs of weak material heterogeneities. Our Carrara marble-Solnhofen limestone inclusions system was tested in triaxial compression under constant strain rate and high temperature (900 ◦C) conditions in a Paterson deformation apparatus. The inclusion pairs were arranged in non-overlapping step-over geometries of either compressional or extensional nature. Experimental runs were conducted at different confining pressures (30, 50, 100 and 300 MPa) to induce various amounts of brittle deformation within the marble matrix. At low confinement (30 and 50 MPa) abundant brittle deformation is observed in all configurations, but the spatial distribution of cracks is dependent on the kinematics of the step-over region: concentrated along the shearing plane between the inclusions in the extensional samples, or broadly distributed around the inclusions but outside the step-over region in the compressional configuration. Accordingly, brittle-assisted ductile processes tend to localize deformation along the inclusions plane in the extensional geometry or to distribute widely across large areas of the matrix in the compressional step-over. At pressures of 100 and 300 MPa fracturing is mostly suppressed in both configurations and strain is accommodated almost entirely by viscous creep. In extensional samples this leads to progressive de-localization with increasing confinement. Our results show that, while ductile localization of strain is indeed more efficient where assisted by brittle processes, these latter are only effective if themselves heterogeneously distributed, ultimately a function of the local stress perturbations.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Schuck2020,
  author    = {Schuck, Bernhard},
  title     = {Geomechanical and petrological characterisation of exposed slip zones, Alpine Fault, New Zealand},
  doi       = {10.25932/publishup-44612},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-446129},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {XVII, 143},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {The Alpine Fault is a large, plate-bounding, strike-slip fault extending along the north-western edge of the Southern Alps, South Island, New Zealand. It regularly accommodates large (MW > 8) earthquakes and has a high statistical probability of failure in the near future, i.e., is late in its seismic cycle. This pending earthquake and associated co-seismic landslides are expected to cause severe infrastructural damage that would affect thousands of people, so it presents a substantial geohazard. The interdisciplinary study presented here aims to characterise the fault zone's 4D (space and time) architecture, because this provides information about its rheological properties that will enable better assessment of the hazard the fault poses. The studies undertaken include field investigations of principal slip zone fault gouges exposed along strike of the fault, and subsequent laboratory analyses of these outcrop and additional borehole samples. These observations have provided new information on (I) characteristic microstructures down to the nanoscale that indicate which deformation mechanisms operated within the rocks, (II) mineralogical information that constrains the fault's geomechanical behaviour and (III) geochemical compositional information that allows the influence of fluid- related alteration processes on material properties to be unraveled. Results show that along-strike variations of fault rock properties such as microstructures and mineralogical composition are minor and / or do not substantially influence fault zone architecture. They furthermore provide evidence that the architecture of the fault zone, particularly its fault core, is more complex than previously considered, and also more complex than expected for this sort of mature fault cutting quartzofeldspathic rocks. In particular our results strongly suggest that the fault has more than one principal slip zone, and that these form an anastomosing network extending into the basement below the cover of Quaternary sediments. The observations detailed in this thesis highlight that two major processes, (I) cataclasis and (II) authigenic mineral formation, are the major controls on the rheology of the Alpine Fault. The velocity-weakening behaviour of its fault gouge is favoured by abundant nanoparticles promoting powder lubrication and grain rolling rather than frictional sliding. Wall-rock fragmentation is accompanied by co-seismic, fluid-assisted dilatancy that is recorded by calcite cementation. This mineralisation, along with authigenic formation of phyllosilicates, quickly alters the petrophysical fault zone properties after each rupture, restoring fault competency. Dense networks of anastomosing and mutually cross-cutting calcite veins and intensively reworked gouge matrix demonstrate that strain repeatedly localised within the narrow fault gouge. Abundantly undeformed euhedral chlorite crystallites and calcite veins cross-cutting both fault gouge and gravels that overlie basement on the fault's footwall provide evidence that the processes of authigenic phyllosilicate growth, fluid-assisted dilatancy and associated fault healing are processes active particularly close to the Earth's surface in this fault zone. Exposed Alpine Fault rocks are subject to intense weathering as direct consequence of abundant orogenic rainfall associated with the fault's location at the base of the Southern Alps. Furthermore, fault rock rheology is substantially affected by shallow-depth conditions such as the juxtaposition of competent hanging wall fault rocks on poorly consolidated footwall sediments. This means microstructural, mineralogical and geochemical properties of the exposed fault rocks may differ substantially from those at deeper levels, and thus are not characteristic of the majority of the fault rocks' history. Examples are (I) frictionally weak smectites found within the fault gouges being artefacts formed at temperature conditions, and imparting petrophysical properties that are not typical for most of fault rocks of the Alpine Fault, (II) grain-scale dissolution resulting from subaerial weathering rather than deformation by pressure-solution processes and (III) fault gouge geometries being more complex than expected for deeper counterparts. The methodological approaches deployed in analyses of this, and other fault zones, and the major results of this study are finally discussed in order to contextualize slip zone investigations of fault zones and landslides. Like faults, landslides are major geohazards, which highlights the importance of characterising their geomechanical properties. Similarities between faults, especially those exposed to subaerial processes, and landslides, include mineralogical composition and geomechanical behaviour. Together, this ensures failure occurs predominantly by cataclastic processes, although aseismic creep promoted by weak phyllosilicates is not uncommon. Consequently, the multidisciplinary approach commonly used to investigate fault zones may contribute to increase the understanding of landslide faulting processes and the assessment of their hazard potential.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Zorn2020,
  author    = {Zorn, Edgar Ulrich},
  title     = {Monitoring lava dome growth and deformation with photogrammetric methods and modelling},
  doi       = {10.25932/publishup-48360},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-483600},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {IX, 167},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {Lava domes are severely hazardous, mound-shaped extrusions of highly viscous lava and commonly erupt at many active stratovolcanoes around the world. Due to gradual growth and flank oversteepening, such lava domes regularly experience partial or full collapses, resulting in destructive and far-reaching pyroclastic density currents. They are also associated with cyclic explosive activity as the complex interplay of cooling, degassing, and solidification of dome lavas regularly causes gas pressurizations on the dome or the underlying volcano conduit. Lava dome extrusions can last from days to decades, further highlighting the need for accurate and reliable monitoring data. This thesis aims to improve our understanding of lava dome processes and to contribute to the monitoring and prediction of hazards posed by these domes. The recent rise and sophistication of photogrammetric techniques allows for the extraction of observational data in unprecedented detail and creates ideal tools for accomplishing this purpose. Here, I study natural lava dome extrusions as well as laboratory-based analogue models of lava dome extrusions and employ photogrammetric monitoring by Structure-from-Motion (SfM) and Particle-Image-Velocimetry (PIV) techniques. I primarily use aerial photography data obtained by helicopter, airplanes, Unoccupied Aircraft Systems (UAS) or ground-based timelapse cameras. Firstly, by combining a long time-series of overflight data at Volc{\´a}n de Colima, M{\´e}xico, with seismic and satellite radar data, I construct a detailed timeline of lava dome and crater evolution. Using numerical model, the impact of the extrusion on dome morphology and loading stress is further evaluated and an impact on the growth direction is identified, bearing important implications for the location of collapse hazards. Secondly, sequential overflight surveys at the Santiaguito lava dome, Guatemala, reveal surface motion data in high detail. I quantify the growth of the lava dome and the movement of a lava flow, showing complex motions that occur on different timescales and I provide insight into rock properties relevant for hazard assessment inferred purely by photogrammetric processing of remote sensing data. Lastly, I recreate artificial lava dome and spine growth using analogue modelling under controlled conditions, providing new insights into lava extrusion processes and structures as well as the conditions in which they form. These findings demonstrate the capabilities of photogrammetric data analyses to successfully monitor lava dome growth and evolution while highlighting the advantages of complementary modelling methods to explain the observed phenomena. The results presented herein further bear important new insights and implications for the hazards posed by lava domes.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Biedermann2020,
  author    = {Biedermann, Nicole},
  title     = {Carbonate-silicate reactions at conditions of the Earth's mantle and the role of carbonates as possible trace-element carriers},
  doi       = {10.25932/publishup-48277},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-482772},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {xvii, 127},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {Carbonates play a key role in the chemistry and dynamics of our planet. They are directly connected to the CO2 budget of our atmosphere and have a great impact on the deep carbon cycle. Moreover, recent studies have shown that carbonates are stable along the geothermal gradient down to Earth's lower mantle conditions, changing their crystal structure and related properties. Subducted carbonates may also react with silicates to form new phases. These reactions will redistribute elements, such as calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe) and carbon in the form of carbon dioxide (CO2), but also trace elements, that are carried by the carbonates. The trace elements of most interest are strontium (Sr) and rare earth elements (REE) which have been found to be important constituents in the composition of the primitive lower mantle and in mineral inclusions found in super-deep diamonds. However, the stability of carbonates in presence of mantle silicates at relevant temperatures is far from being well understood. Related to this, very little is known about distribution processes of trace elements between carbonates and mantle silicates. To shed light on these processes, we studied reactions between Sr- and REE-containing CaCO3 and Mg/Fe-bearing silicates of the system (Mg,Fe)2SiO4 - (Mg,Fe)SiO3 at high pressure and high temperature using synchrotron radiation based μ-X-ray diffraction (μ-XRD) and μ-X-ray fluorescence (μ-XRF) with μm-resolution in a laser-heated diamond anvil cell. X-ray diffraction is used to derive the structural changes of the phase reactions whereas X-ray fluorescence gives information on the chemical changes in the sample. In-situ experiments at high pressure and high temperature were performed at beamline P02.2 at PETRA III (Hamburg, Germany) and at beamline ID27 at ESRF (Grenoble, France). In addition to μ-XRD and μ-XRF, ex-situ measurements were made on the recovered sample material using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and provided further insights into the reaction kinetics of carbonate-silicate reactions. Our investigations show that CaCO3 is unstable in presence of mantle silicates above 1700 K and a reaction takes place in which magnesite plus CaSiO3-perovskite are formed. In addition, we observed that a high content of iron in the carbonate-silicate system favours dolomite formation during the reaction. The subduction of natural carbonates with significant amounts of Sr leads to a comprehensive investigation of the stability not only of CaCO3 phases in contact with mantle silicates but also of SrCO3 (and of Sr-bearing CaCO3). We found that SrCO3 reacts with (Mg,Fe)SiO3-perovskite to form magnesite and gained evidence for the formation of SrSiO3-perovskite. To complement our study on the stability of SrCO3 at conditions of the Earth's lower mantle, we performed powder X-ray diffraction and single crystal X-ray diffraction experiments at ambient temperature and up to 49 GPa. We observed a transformation from SrCO3-I into a new high-pressure phase SrCO3-II at around 26 GPa with Pmmn crystal structure and a bulk modulus of 103(10) GPa. This information is essential to fully understand the phase behaviour and stability of carbonates in the Earth's lower mantle and to elucidate the possibility of introducing Sr into mantle silicates by carbonate-silicate reactions. Simultaneous recording of μ-XRD and μ-XRF in the μm-range over the heated areas provides spatial information not only about phase reactions but also on the elemental redistribution during the reactions. A comparison of the spatial intensity distribution of the XRF signal before and after heating indicates a change in the elemental distribution of Sr and an increase in Sr-concentration was found around the newly formed SrSiO3-perovskite. With the help of additional TEM analyses on the quenched sample material the elemental redistribution was studied at a sub-micrometer scale. Contrary to expectations from combined μ-XRD and μ-XRF measurements, we found that La and Eu were not incorporated into the silicate phases, instead they tend to form either isolated oxide phases (e.g. Eu2O3, La2O3) or hydroxyl-bastn{\"a}site (La(CO3)(OH)). In addition, we observed the transformation from (Mg,Fe)SiO3-perovskite to low-pressure clinoenstatite during pressure release. The monoclinic structure (P21/c) of this phase allows the incorporation of Ca as shown by additional EDX analyses and, to a minor extent, Sr too. Based on our experiments, we can conclude that a detection of the trace elements in-situ at high pressure and high temperature remains challenging. However, our first findings imply that silicates may incorporate the trace elements provided by the carbonates and indicate that carbonates may have a major effect on the trace element contents of mantle phases.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Pick2020,
  author    = {Pick, Leonie Johanna Lisa},
  title     = {The centennial evolution of geomagnetic activity and its driving mechanisms},
  doi       = {10.25932/publishup-47275},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-472754},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {ix, 135},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {This cumulative thesis is concerned with the evolution of geomagnetic activity since the beginning of the 20th century, that is, the time-dependent response of the geomagnetic field to solar forcing. The focus lies on the description of the magnetospheric response field at ground level, which is particularly sensitive to the ring current system, and an interpretation of its variability in terms of the solar wind driving. Thereby, this work contributes to a comprehensive understanding of long-term solar-terrestrial interactions. The common basis of the presented publications is formed by a reanalysis of vector magnetic field measurements from geomagnetic observatories located at low and middle geomagnetic latitudes. In the first two studies, new ring current targeting geomagnetic activity indices are derived, the Annual and Hourly Magnetospheric Currents indices (A/HMC). Compared to existing indices (e.g., the Dst index), they do not only extend the covered period by at least three solar cycles but also constitute a qualitative improvement concerning the absolute index level and the ~11-year solar cycle variability. The analysis of A/HMC shows that (a) the annual geomagnetic activity experiences an interval-dependent trend with an overall linear decline during 1900-2010 of ~5 \% (b) the average trend-free activity level amounts to ~28 nT (c) the solar cycle related variability shows amplitudes of ~15-45 nT (d) the activity level for geomagnetically quiet conditions (Kp<2) lies slightly below 20 nT. The plausibility of the last three points is ensured by comparison to independent estimations either based on magnetic field measurements from LEO satellite missions (since the 1990s) or the modeling of geomagnetic activity from solar wind input (since the 1960s). An independent validation of the longterm trend is problematic mainly because the sensitivity of the locally measured geomagnetic activity depends on geomagnetic latitude. Consequently, A/HMC is neither directly comparable to global geomagnetic activity indices (e.g., the aa index) nor to the partly reconstructed open solar magnetic flux, which requires a homogeneous response of the ground-based measurements to the interplanetary magnetic field and the solar wind speed. The last study combines a consistent, HMC-based identification of geomagnetic storms from 1930-2015 with an analysis of the corresponding spatial (magnetic local time-dependent) disturbance patterns. Amongst others, the disturbances at dawn and dusk, particularly their evolution during the storm recovery phases, are shown to be indicative of the solar wind driving structure (Interplanetary Coronal Mass Ejections vs. Stream or Co-rotating Interaction Regions), which enables a backward-prediction of the storm driver classes. The results indicate that ICME-driven geomagnetic storms have decreased since 1930 which is consistent with the concurrent decrease of HMC. Out of the collection of compiled follow-up studies the inclusion of measurements from high-latitude geomagnetic observatories into the third study's framework seems most promising at this point.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Liu2020,
  author    = {Liu, Sibiao},
  title     = {Controls of foreland-deformation patterns in the orogen-foreland shortening system},
  doi       = {10.25932/publishup-44573},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-445730},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {vi, 150},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {The Andean Plateau (Altiplano-Puna Plateau) of the southern Central Andes is the second-highest orogenic plateau on our planet after Tibet. The Andean Plateau and its foreland exhibit a pronounced segmentation from north to south regarding the style and magnitude of deformation. In the Altiplano (northern segment), more than 300 km of tectonic shortening has been recorded, which started during the Eocene. A well-developed thin-skinned thrust wedge located at the eastern flank of the plateau (Subandes) indicates a simple-shear shortening mode. In contrast, the Puna (southern segment) records approximately half of the shortening of the Altiplano - and the shortening started later. The tectonic style in the Puna foreland switches to a thick-skinned mode, which is related to pure-shear shortening. In this study, carried out in the framework of the StRATEGy project, high-resolution 2D thermomechanical models were developed to systematically investigate controls of deformation patterns in the orogen-foreland pair. The 2D and 3D models were subsequently applied to study the evolution of foreland deformation and surface topography in the Altiplano-Puna Plateau. The models demonstrate that three principal factors control the foreland-deformation patterns: (i) strength differences in the upper lithosphere between the orogen and its foreland, rather than a strength difference in the entire lithosphere; (ii) gravitational potential energy of the orogen (GPE) controlled by crustal and lithospheric thicknesses, and (iii) the strength and thickness of foreland-basin sediments. The high-resolution 2D models are constrained by observations and successfully reproduce deformation structures and surface topography of different segments of the Altiplano-Puna plateau and its foreland. The developed 3D models confirm these results and suggest that a relatively high shortening rate in the Altiplano foreland (Subandean foreland fold-and-thrust belt) is due to simple-shear shortening facilitated by thick and mechanically weak sediments, a process which requires a much lower driving force than the pure-shear shortening deformation mode in the adjacent broken foreland of the Puna, where these thick sedimentary basin fills are absent. Lower shortening rate in the Puna foreland is likely accommodated in the forearc by the slab retreat.},
  language  = {en}
}