@phdthesis{Liebs2014, author = {Liebs, G{\"o}ran}, title = {Ground penetration radar wave velocities and their uncertainties}, doi = {10.25932/publishup-43680}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-436807}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, pages = {ii, 106}, year = {2014}, abstract = {We develop three new approaches for ground penetration wave velocity calcultaions. The first is based on linear moveout spectra to find the optimum ground wave velocity including uncertainties from multi-offset data gathers. We used synthetic data to illustrate the principles of the method and to investigate uncertainties in ground wave velocity estimates. To demonstrate the applicability of the approach to real data, we analyzed GPR data sets recorded at field sites in Canada over an annual cycle from Steelman \& Endres [2010]. The results obtained by this efficient and largely automated procedure agree well with the manual achieved results of Steelman \& Endres [2010], derived by a more laborious largely manual analysis strategy. Then we develop a second methodology to global invert reflection traveltimes with a particle swarm optimization approach more precise then conventional spectral NMO-based velocity analysis (e.g., Greaves et al. [1996]). For global optimization, we use particle swarm optimization (PSO; Kennedy \& Eberhart [1995]) in the combination with a fast eikonal solver as forward solver (Sethian [1996]; Fomel [1997a]; Sethian \& Popovici [1999]). This methodology allows us to generate reliability CMP derived models of subsurface velocities and water content including uncertainties. We test this method with synthetic data to study the behavior of the PSO algorithm. Afterward, We use this method to analyze our field data from a well constrained test site in Horstwalde, Germany. The achieved velocity models from field data showed good agreement to borehole logging and direct-push data (Schmelzbach et al. [2011]) at the same site position. For the third method we implement a global optimization approach also based on PSO to invert direct-arrival traveltimes of VRP data to obtain high resolution 1D velocity models including quantitative estimates of uncertainty. Our intensive tests with several traveltime data sets helped to understand the behavior of PSO algorithm for inversion. Integration of the velocity model to VRP reflection imaging and attenuation model improved the potential of VRP surveying. Using field data, we examine this novel analysis strategy for the development of petrophysical models and the linking between GPR borehole and other logging data to surface GPR reflection data.}, language = {de} } @misc{RolinskiRammigWalzetal.2014, author = {Rolinski, Susanne and Rammig, Anja and Walz, Ariane and von Bloh, Werner and van Oijen, M. and Thonicke, Kirsten}, title = {A probabilistic risk assessment for the vulnerability of the European carbon cycle to weather extremes}, series = {Postprints der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam : Mathematisch naturwissenschaftliche Reihe (487)}, journal = {Postprints der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam : Mathematisch naturwissenschaftliche Reihe (487)}, number = {487}, issn = {1866-8372}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-407999}, pages = {1813 -- 1831}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Extreme weather events are likely to occur more often under climate change and the resulting effects on ecosystems could lead to a further acceleration of climate change. But not all extreme weather events lead to extreme ecosystem response. Here, we focus on hazardous ecosystem behaviour and identify coinciding weather conditions. We use a simple probabilistic risk assessment based on time series of ecosystem behaviour and climate conditions. Given the risk assessment terminology, vulnerability and risk for the previously defined hazard are estimated on the basis of observed hazardous ecosystem behaviour. We apply this approach to extreme responses of terrestrial ecosystems to drought, defining the hazard as a negative net biome productivity over a 12-month period. We show an application for two selected sites using data for 1981-2010 and then apply the method to the pan-European scale for the same period, based on numerical modelling results (LPJmL for ecosystem behaviour; ERA-Interim data for climate). Our site-specific results demonstrate the applicability of the proposed method, using the SPEI to describe the climate condition. The site in Spain provides an example of vulnerability to drought because the expected value of the SPEI is 0.4 lower for hazardous than for non-hazardous ecosystem behaviour. In northern Germany, on the contrary, the site is not vulnerable to drought because the SPEI expectation values imply wetter conditions in the hazard case than in the non-hazard case. At the pan-European scale, ecosystem vulnerability to drought is calculated in the Mediterranean and temperate region, whereas Scandinavian ecosystems are vulnerable under conditions without water shortages. These first model- based applications indicate the conceptual advantages of the proposed method by focusing on the identification of critical weather conditions for which we observe hazardous ecosystem behaviour in the analysed data set. Application of the method to empirical time series and to future climate would be important next steps to test the approach.}, language = {en} } @article{TuGeWangetal.2014, author = {Tu, Rui and Ge, Maorong and Wang, Rongjiang and Walter, Thomas R.}, title = {A new algorithm for tight integration of real-time GPS and strong-motion records, demonstrated on simulated, experimental, and real seismic data}, series = {Journal of seismology}, volume = {18}, journal = {Journal of seismology}, number = {1}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Dordrecht}, issn = {1383-4649}, doi = {10.1007/s10950-013-9408-x}, pages = {151 -- 161}, year = {2014}, abstract = {The complementary advantages of GPS and seismic measurements are well recognized in seismotectonic monitoring studies. Therefore, integrated processing of the two data streams has been proposed recently in an attempt to obtain accurate and reliable information of surface displacements associated with earthquakes. A hitherto still critical issue in the integrated processing is real-time detection and precise estimation of the transient baseline error in the seismic records. Here, we report on a new approach by introducing the seismic acceleration corrected by baseline errors into the state equation system. The correction is performed and regularly updated in short epochs (with increments which may be as short as seconds), so that station position, velocity, and acceleration can be constrained very tightly and baseline error can be estimated as a random-walk process. With the adapted state equation system, our study highlights the use of a new approach developed for integrated processing of GPS and seismic data by means of sequential least-squares adjustment. The efficiency of our approach is demonstrated and validated using simulated, experimental, and real datasets. The latter were collected at collocated GPS and seismic stations around the 4 April 2010, E1 Mayor-Cucapah earthquake (Mw, 7.2). The results have shown that baseline errors of the strong-motion sensors are corrected precisely and high-precision seismic displacements are real-timely obtained by the new approach.}, language = {en} } @article{LohmannFalkGeissleretal.2014, author = {Lohmann, Dirk and Falk, Thomas and Geissler, Katja and Blaum, Niels and Jeltsch, Florian}, title = {Determinants of semi-arid rangeland management in a land reform setting in Namibia}, series = {Journal of arid environments}, volume = {100}, journal = {Journal of arid environments}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {London}, issn = {0140-1963}, doi = {10.1016/j.jaridenv.2013.10.005}, pages = {23 -- 30}, year = {2014}, abstract = {To assess the ecological and economic implications of the redistributive land reform in semi-arid Namibia, we investigated to what extent land reform beneficiaries adjust herd size and herd composition according to environmental (rainfall, vegetation) and economic variables (herd size, financial assets, running costs). We performed model-based role-plays with Namibian land reform beneficiaries, simulating 10 years of rangeland management. Our study revealed that the farmers surveyed mainly manage their herds according to their economic situation (herd size and account balance) but do not take environmental variability (rainfall and vegetation) into account. Further, our results indicate that, due to financial pressure, farmers are not able to apply their desired management strategies, and that owners of small farms face a higher risk of economic failure. However, farmers apply rather conservative and constant stocking rates and will thus, given the current economic limitations, likely not contribute to semi-arid savanna degradation. We conclude that land reform beneficiaries need support to be able to apply straightforward and efficient management strategies. This could be achieved by facilitating cooperation between small farming businesses and by supporting initial investment in productive cattle herds at the time of redistribution of the land.}, language = {en} } @article{SarkarWilkesPrasadetal.2014, author = {Sarkar, Saswati and Wilkes, Heinz and Prasad, Sushma and Brauer, Achim and Riedel, Nils and Stebich, Martina and Basavaiah, Nathani and Sachse, Dirk}, title = {Spatial heterogeneity in lipid biomarker distributions in the catchment and sediments of a crater lake in central India}, series = {Organic geochemistry : the international journal for rapid publication of current research in organic geochemistry and biochemistry}, volume = {66}, journal = {Organic geochemistry : the international journal for rapid publication of current research in organic geochemistry and biochemistry}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {0146-6380}, doi = {10.1016/j.orggeochem.2013.11.009}, pages = {125 -- 136}, year = {2014}, abstract = {The basin-scale spatial variability in lipid biomarker proxies in lacustrine sediments, which are established tools for studying continental environmental change, has rarely been examined. It is often implicitly assumed that a lake sediment core provides an average integral of catchment sources. Here we evaluated the distribution of lipid biomarkers in a modern ecosystem and compared it with the sedimentary record. We analyzed lipid biomarkers in terrestrial and aquatic organisms and in lake surface sediments from 17 locations within the saline-alkaline Lonar crater lake in central India. Terrestrial vegetation and lake surface sediments were characterized by relatively high average chain length (ACL) index values (29.6-32.8) of leaf wax n-alkanes, consistent with suggestions that plants in drier and warmer climates produce longer chain alkyl lipids than plants in cooler and humid areas. A heterogeneous spatial distribution of ACL values in lake surface sediments was found: at locations away from the shore, the values were highest (31 or more), possibly indicating different sources and/or transport of terrestrial biomarkers. In floating, benthic microbial mats and surface sediment, n-heptadecane, carotenoids, diploptene, phytol and tetrahymanol occurred in large amounts. Interestingly, these biomarkers of a unique bacterial community were found in substantially higher concentrations in nearshore sediment samples. We suggest that human influence and subsequent nutrient supply resulted in increased primary productivity, leading to an unusually high concentration of tetrahymanol in the nearshore sediments. In summary, the data showed that substantial heterogeneity existed within the lake, but leaf wax n-alkanes in a core from the center of the lake represented an integral of catchment conditions. However, lake level fluctuation may potentially affect aquatic lipid biomarker distributions in lacustrine sediments, in addition to source changes.}, language = {en} } @article{BallatoStrecker2014, author = {Ballato, Paolo and Strecker, Manfred}, title = {Assessing tectonic and climatic causal mechanisms in foreland-basin stratal architecture: insights from the Alborz Mountains, northern Iran}, series = {Earth surface processes and landforms : the journal of the British Geomorphological Research Group}, volume = {39}, journal = {Earth surface processes and landforms : the journal of the British Geomorphological Research Group}, number = {1}, publisher = {Wiley-Blackwell}, address = {Hoboken}, issn = {0197-9337}, doi = {10.1002/esp.3480}, pages = {110 -- 125}, year = {2014}, abstract = {The southern foreland basin of the Alborz Mountains of northern Iran is characterized by an approximately 7.3-km-thick sequence of Miocene sedimentary rocks, constituting three basin-wde coarsening-upward units spanning a period of 10(6)years. We assess available magnetostratigraphy, paleoclimatic reconstructions, stratal architecture, records of depositional environments, and sediment-provenance data to characterize the relationships between tectonically-generated accommodation space (A) and sediment supply (S). Our analysis allows an inversion of the stratigraphy for particular forcing mechanisms, documenting causal relationships, and providing a basis to decipher the relative contributions of tectonics and climate (inferred changes in precipitation) in controlling sediment supply to the foreland basin. Specifically, A/S>1, typical of each basal unit (17.5-16.0, 13.8-13.1 and 10.3-9.6Ma), is associated with sharp facies retrogradation and reflects substantial tectonic subsidence. Within these time intervals, arid climatic conditions, changes in sediment provenance, and accelerated exhumation in the orogen suggest that sediment supply was most likely driven by high uplift rates. Conversely, A/S<1 (13.8 and 13.8-11Ma, units 1, and 2) reflects facies progradation during a sharp decline in tectonic subsidence caused by localized intra-basinal uplift. During these time intervals, climate continued to be arid and exhumation active, suggesting that sediment supply was again controlled by tectonics. A/S<1, at 11-10.3Ma and 9-6-7.6Ma (and possibly 6.2; top of units 2 and 3), is also associated with two episodes of extensive progradation, but during wetter phases. The first episode appears to have been linked to a pulse in sediment supply driven by an increase in precipitation. The second episode reflects a balance between a climatically-induced increase in sediment supply and a reduction of subsidence through the incorporation of the proximal foreland into the orogenic wedge. This in turn caused an expansion of the catchment and a consequent further increase in sediment supply.}, language = {en} } @article{BaroniTarantola2014, author = {Baroni, Gabriele and Tarantola, S.}, title = {A general probabilistic framework for uncertainty and global sensitivity analysis of deterministic models: A hydrological case study}, series = {Environmental modelling \& software with environment data news}, volume = {51}, journal = {Environmental modelling \& software with environment data news}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {1364-8152}, doi = {10.1016/j.envsoft.2013.09.022}, pages = {26 -- 34}, year = {2014}, abstract = {The present study proposes a General Probabilistic Framework (GPF) for uncertainty and global sensitivity analysis of deterministic models in which, in addition to scalar inputs, non-scalar and correlated inputs can be considered as well. The analysis is conducted with the variance-based approach of Sobol/Saltelli where first and total sensitivity indices are estimated. The results of the framework can be used in a loop for model improvement, parameter estimation or model simplification. The framework is applied to SWAP, a 113 hydrological model for the transport of water, solutes and heat in unsaturated and saturated soils. The sources of uncertainty are grouped in five main classes: model structure (soil discretization), input (weather data), time-varying (crop) parameters, scalar parameters (soil properties) and observations (measured soil moisture). For each source of uncertainty, different realizations are created based on direct monitoring activities. Uncertainty of evapotranspiration, soil moisture in the root zone and bottom fluxes below the root zone are considered in the analysis. The results show that the sources of uncertainty are different for each output considered and it is necessary to consider multiple output variables for a proper assessment of the model. Improvements on the performance of the model can be achieved reducing the uncertainty in the observations, in the soil parameters and in the weather data. Overall, the study shows the capability of the GPF to quantify the relative contribution of the different sources of uncertainty and to identify the priorities required to improve the performance of the model. The proposed framework can be extended to a wide variety of modelling applications, also when direct measurements of model output are not available.}, language = {en} } @article{LeunertEckertPauletal.2014, author = {Leunert, Franziska and Eckert, Werner and Paul, Andrea and Gerhardt, Volkmar and Grossart, Hans-Peter}, title = {Phytoplankton response to UV-generated hydrogen peroxide from natural organic matter}, series = {Journal of plankton research}, volume = {36}, journal = {Journal of plankton research}, number = {1}, publisher = {Oxford Univ. Press}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {0142-7873}, doi = {10.1093/plankt/fbt096}, pages = {185 -- 197}, year = {2014}, abstract = {In aquatic systems, natural organic matter (NOM) and in particular humic substances effectively absorb the ultraviolet (UV)/visible light spectrum of solar radiation and act as a photoprotective filter for organisms. Simultaneously, UV contributes to the generation of potentially harmful reactive oxygen species (ROS). Dose-response experiments were conducted on cyanobacteria and green algae with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as a long-lived representative of ROS. Delayed fluorescence (DF) decay kinetics was used as a non-invasive tool to follow changes of phytoplankton activity in real time. In order to investigate phototoxicity and photoprotection by NOM on phytoplankton, we exposed algae to UV-pre-irradiated NOM and direct UV excitation. Cyanobacteria responded to H2O2 concentrations as low as 10(-7) M, while green algae were 2 orders of magnitude less sensitive. UV irradiation of medium with NOM generated H2O2 concentrations of 1.5 x 10(-7) to 3.6 x 10(-7) M. When exposed to these concentrations, only the DF of cyanobacteria led to a measurable effect while that of green algae did not change. The addition of NOM protected all phytoplankton from direct UV irradiation, but cyanobacteria benefitted less. From this we conclude that UV-irradiated water enriched with NOM can adversely affect the physiology of cyanobacteria, but not of green algae, which might control phytoplankton composition and species-specific activities.}, language = {en} } @unpublished{ThiekenMarianiLongfieldetal.2014, author = {Thieken, Annegret and Mariani, S. and Longfield, S. and Vanneuville, W.}, title = {Preface: Flood resilient communities - managing the consequences of flooding}, series = {Natural hazards and earth system sciences}, volume = {14}, journal = {Natural hazards and earth system sciences}, number = {1}, publisher = {Copernicus}, address = {G{\"o}ttingen}, issn = {1561-8633}, doi = {10.5194/nhess-14-33-2014}, pages = {33 -- 39}, year = {2014}, language = {en} } @article{UhlemannThiekenMerz2014, author = {Uhlemann, Steffi and Thieken, Annegret and Merz, Bruno}, title = {A quality assessment framework for natural hazard event documentation: application to trans-basin flood reports in Germany}, series = {Natural hazards and earth system sciences}, volume = {14}, journal = {Natural hazards and earth system sciences}, number = {2}, publisher = {Copernicus}, address = {G{\"o}ttingen}, issn = {1561-8633}, doi = {10.5194/nhess-14-189-2014}, pages = {189 -- 208}, year = {2014}, language = {en} } @article{NishiharaOhuchiKawazoeetal.2014, author = {Nishihara, Yu and Ohuchi, Tomohiro and Kawazoe, Takaaki and Spengler, Dirk and Tasaka, Miki and Kikegawa, Takumi and Suzuki, Akio and Ohtani, Eiji}, title = {Rheology of fine-grained forsterite aggregate at deep upper mantle conditions}, series = {Journal of geophysical research : Solid earth}, volume = {119}, journal = {Journal of geophysical research : Solid earth}, number = {1}, publisher = {American Geophysical Union}, address = {Washington}, issn = {2169-9313}, doi = {10.1002/2013JB010473}, pages = {253 -- 273}, year = {2014}, language = {en} } @article{BasavaiahWiesnerAnoopetal.2014, author = {Basavaiah, Nathani and Wiesner, M. G. and Anoop, Ambili and Menzel, P. and Nowaczyk, Norbert R. and Deenadayalan, K. and Brauer, Achim and Gaye, Birgit and Naumann, R. and Riedel, N. and Stebich, M. and Prasad, Sushma}, title = {Physicochemical analyses of surface sediments from the Lonar Lake, central India - implications for palaeoenvironmental reconstruction}, series = {Fundamental and applied limnology : official journal of the International Association of Theoretical and Applied Limnology}, volume = {184}, journal = {Fundamental and applied limnology : official journal of the International Association of Theoretical and Applied Limnology}, number = {1}, publisher = {Schweizerbart}, address = {Stuttgart}, issn = {1863-9135}, doi = {10.1127/1863-9135/2014/0515}, pages = {51 -- 68}, year = {2014}, abstract = {We report the results of our investigations on the catchment area, surface sediments, and hydrology of the monsoonal Lonar Lake, central India. Our results indicate that the lake is currently stratified with an anoxic bottom layer, and there is a spatial heterogeneity in the sensitivity of sediment parameters to different environmental processes. In the shallow (0-5 m) near shore oxic-suboxic environments the lithogenic and terrestrial organic content is high and spatially variable, and the organics show degradation in the oxic part. Due to aerial exposure resulting from lake level changes of at least 3m, the evaporitic carbonates are not completely preserved. In the deep water (>5 m) anoxic environment the lithogenics are uniformly distributed and the delta C-13 is an indicator not only for aquatic vs. terrestrial plants but also of lake pH and salinity. The isotopic composition of the evaporites is dependent not only on the isotopic composition of source water (monsoon rainfall and stream inflow) and evaporation, but is also influenced by proximity to the isotopically depleted stream inflow. We conclude that in the deep water environment lithogenic content, and isotopic composition of organic matter can be used for palaeoenvironmental reconstruction.}, language = {en} } @article{FahleDietrich2014, author = {Fahle, Marcus and Dietrich, Ottfried}, title = {Estimation of evapotranspiration using diurnal groundwater level fluctuations: Comparison of different approaches with groundwater lysimeter data}, series = {Water resources research}, volume = {50}, journal = {Water resources research}, number = {1}, publisher = {American Geophysical Union}, address = {Washington}, issn = {0043-1397}, doi = {10.1002/2013WR014472}, pages = {273 -- 286}, year = {2014}, abstract = {In wetlands or riparian areas, water withdrawal by plants with access to groundwater or the capillary fringe often causes diurnal groundwater fluctuations. Various approaches use the characteristics of these fluctuations for estimation of daily groundwater evapotranspiration rates. The objective of this paper was to review the available methods, compare them with measured evapotranspiration and assess their recharge assumptions. For this purpose, we employed data of 85 rain-free days of a weighable groundwater lysimeter situated at a grassland site in the Spreewald wetland in north-east Germany. Measurements of hourly recharge and daily evapotranspiration rates were used to assess the different approaches. Our results showed that a maximum of 50\% of the day to day variance of the daily evapotranspiration rates could be explained by the approaches based on groundwater fluctuations. Simple and more complex methods performed similarly. For some of the approaches, there were indications that erroneous assumptions compensated each other (e.g., when overestimated recharge counteracted underestimated storage change). We found that the usage of longer time spans resulted in improved estimates of the daily recharge rates and that the estimates were further enhanced by including two night averages. When derived from fitting estimates of recharge or evapotranspiration with according measurements the specific yield, needed to convert changes in water level to water volumes, differed considerably among the methods (from 0.022 to 0.064). Thus, the specific yield can be seen as correction factor that compensates for inadequate process descriptions.}, language = {en} } @article{DietzeMaussionAhlbornetal.2014, author = {Dietze, Elisabeth and Maussion, F. and Ahlborn, M. and Diekmann, Bernhard and Hartmann, K. and Henkel, K. and Kasper, T. and Lockot, G. and Opitz, S. and Haberzettl, T.}, title = {Sediment transport processes across the Tibetan Plateau inferred from robust grain-size end members in lake sediments}, series = {Climate of the past : an interactive open access journal of the European Geosciences Union}, volume = {10}, journal = {Climate of the past : an interactive open access journal of the European Geosciences Union}, number = {1}, publisher = {Copernicus}, address = {G{\"o}ttingen}, issn = {1814-9324}, doi = {10.5194/cp-10-91-2014}, pages = {91 -- 106}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Grain-size distributions offer powerful proxies of past environmental conditions that are related to sediment sorting processes. However, they are often of multimodal character because sediments can get mixed during deposition. To facilitate the use of grain size as palaeoenvironmental proxy, this study aims to distinguish the main detrital processes that contribute to lacustrine sedimentation across the Tibetan Plateau using grain-size end-member modelling analysis. Between three and five robust grain-size end-member subpopulations were distinguished at different sites from similarly-likely end-member model runs. Their main modes were grouped and linked to common sediment transport and depositional processes that can be associated with contemporary Tibetan climate (precipitation patterns and lake ice phenology, gridded wind and shear stress data from the High Asia Reanalysis) and local catchment configurations. The coarse sands and clays with grain-size modes > 250 mu m and < 2 mu m were probably transported by fluvial processes. Aeolian sands (similar to 200 mu m) and coarse local dust (similar to 60 mu m), transported by saltation and in near-surface suspension clouds, are probably related to occasional westerly storms in winter and spring. Coarse regional dust with modes similar to 25 mu m may derive from near-by sources that keep in longer term suspension. The continuous background dust is differentiated into two robust end members (modes: 5-10 and 2-5 mu m) that may represent different sources, wind directions and/or sediment trapping dynamics from long-range, upper-level westerly and episodic northerly wind transport. According to this study grain-size end members of only fluvial origin contribute small amounts to mean Tibetan lake sedimentation (19 +/- 5\%), whereas local to regional aeolian transport and background dust deposition dominate the clastic sedimentation in Tibetan lakes (contributions: 42 +/- 14\% and 51 +/- 11\%). However, fluvial and alluvial reworking of aeolian material from nearby slopes during summer seems to limit end-member interpretation and should be cross-checked with other proxy information. If not considered as a stand-alone proxy, a high transferability to other regions and sediment archives allows helpful reconstructions of past sedimentation history.}, language = {en} } @article{WangHerzschuhShumilovskikhetal.2014, author = {Wang, Y. and Herzschuh, Ulrike and Shumilovskikh, L. S. and Mischke, Steffen and Birks, H. John B. and Wischnewski, J. and B{\"o}hner, J{\"u}rgen and Schluetz, F. and Lehmkuhl, F. and Diekmann, Bernhard and Wuennemann, B. and Zhang, C.}, title = {Open Access Quantitative reconstruction of precipitation changes on the NE Tibetan Plateau since the Last Glacial Maximum - extending the concept of pollen source area to pollen-based climate reconstructions from large lakes}, series = {Climate of the past : an interactive open access journal of the European Geosciences Union}, volume = {10}, journal = {Climate of the past : an interactive open access journal of the European Geosciences Union}, number = {1}, publisher = {Copernicus}, address = {G{\"o}ttingen}, issn = {1814-9324}, doi = {10.5194/cp-10-21-2014}, pages = {21 -- 39}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Pollen records from large lakes have been used for quantitative palaeoclimate reconstruction, but the influences that lake size (as a result of species-specific variations in pollen dispersal patterns that smaller pollen grains are more easily transported to lake centre) and taphonomy have on these climatic signals have not previously been systematically investigated. We introduce the concept of pollen source area to pollen-based climate calibration using the north-eastern Tibetan Plateau as our study area. We present a pollen data set collected from large lakes in the arid to semi-arid region of central Asia. The influences that lake size and the inferred pollen source areas have on pollen compositions have been investigated through comparisons with pollen assemblages in neighbouring lakes of various sizes. Modern pollen samples collected from different parts of Lake Donggi Cona (in the north-eastern part of the Tibetan Plateau) reveal variations in pollen assemblages within this large lake, which are interpreted in terms of the species-specific dispersal and depositional patterns for different types of pollen, and in terms of fluvial input components. We have estimated the pollen source area for each lake individually and used this information to infer modern climate data with which to then develop a modern calibration data set, using both the multivariate regression tree (MRT) and weighted-averaging partial least squares (WA-PLS) approaches. Fossil pollen data from Lake Donggi Cona have been used to reconstruct the climate history of the north-eastern part of the Tibetan Plateau since the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). The meanannual precipitation was quantitatively reconstructed using WA-PLS: extremely dry conditions are found to have dominated the LGM, with annual precipitation of around 100 mm, which is only 32\% of present-day precipitation. A gradually increasing trend in moisture conditions during the Late Glacial is terminated by an abrupt reversion to a dry phase that lasts for about 1000 yr and coincides with "Heinrich event 1" in the North Atlantic region. Subsequent periods corresponding to the Bolling/Allerod interstadial, with annual precipitation (P-ann) of about 350 mm, and the Younger Dryas event (about 270 mm P-ann) are followed by moist conditions in the early Holocene, with annual precipitation of up to 400 mm. A drier trend after 9 cal. ka BP is followed by a second wet phase in the middle Holocene, lasting until 4.5 cal. ka BP. Relatively steady conditions with only slight fluctuations then dominate the late Holocene, resulting in the present climatic conditions. The climate changes since the LGM have been primarily driven by deglaciation and fluctuations in the intensity of the Asian summer monsoon that resulted from changes in the Northern Hemisphere summer solar insolation, as well as from changes in the North Atlantic climate through variations in the circulation patterns and intensity of the westerlies.}, language = {en} } @article{AichLierschVetteretal.2014, author = {Aich, Valentin and Liersch, Stefan and Vetter, T. and Huang, S. and Tecklenburg, J. and Hoffmann, P. and Koch, H. and Fournet, S. and Krysanova, Valentina and Mueller, N. and Hattermann, Fred}, title = {Comparing impacts of climate change on streamflow in four large African river basins}, series = {Hydrology and earth system sciences : HESS}, volume = {18}, journal = {Hydrology and earth system sciences : HESS}, number = {4}, publisher = {Copernicus}, address = {G{\"o}ttingen}, issn = {1027-5606}, doi = {10.5194/hess-18-1305-2014}, pages = {1305 -- 1321}, year = {2014}, abstract = {This study aims to compare impacts of climate change on streamflow in four large representative African river basins: the Niger, the Upper Blue Nile, the Oubangui and the Limpopo. We set up the eco-hydrological model SWIM (Soil and Water Integrated Model) for all four basins individually. The validation of the models for four basins shows results from adequate to very good, depending on the quality and availability of input and calibration data. For the climate impact assessment, we drive the model with outputs of five bias corrected Earth system models of Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) for the representative concentration pathways (RCPs) 2.6 and 8.5. This climate input is put into the context of climate trends of the whole African continent and compared to a CMIP5 ensemble of 19 models in order to test their representativeness. Subsequently, we compare the trends in mean discharges, seasonality and hydrological extremes in the 21st century. The uncertainty of results for all basins is high. Still, climate change impact is clearly visible for mean discharges but also for extremes in high and low flows. The uncertainty of the projections is the lowest in the Upper Blue Nile, where an increase in streamflow is most likely. In the Niger and the Limpopo basins, the magnitude of trends in both directions is high and has a wide range of uncertainty. In the Oubangui, impacts are the least significant. Our results confirm partly the findings of previous continental impact analyses for Africa. However, contradictory to these studies we find a tendency for increased streamflows in three of the four basins (not for the Oubangui). Guided by these results, we argue for attention to the possible risks of increasing high flows in the face of the dominant water scarcity in Africa. In conclusion, the study shows that impact intercomparisons have added value to the adaptation discussion and may be used for setting up adaptation plans in the context of a holistic approach.}, language = {en} } @article{KorupRixen2014, author = {Korup, Oliver and Rixen, C.}, title = {Soil erosion and organic carbon export by wet snow avalanches}, series = {The Cryosphere : TC ; an interactive open access journal of the European Geosciences Union}, volume = {8}, journal = {The Cryosphere : TC ; an interactive open access journal of the European Geosciences Union}, number = {2}, publisher = {Copernicus}, address = {G{\"o}ttingen}, issn = {1994-0416}, doi = {10.5194/tc-8-651-2014}, pages = {651 -- 658}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Many mountain belts sustain prolonged snow cover for parts of the year, although enquiries into rates of erosion in these landscapes have focused almost exclusively on the snow-free periods. This raises the question of whether annual snow cover contributes significantly to modulating rates of erosion in high-relief terrain. In this context, the sudden release of snow avalanches is a frequent and potentially relevant process, judging from the physical damage to subalpine forest ecosystems, and the amount of debris contained in avalanche deposits. To quantitatively constrain this visual impression and to expand the sparse literature, we sampled sediment concentrations of n = 28 river-spanning snow-avalanche deposits (snow bridges) in the area around Davos, eastern Swiss Alps, and inferred an orders-of-magnitude variability in specific fine sediment and organic carbon yields (1.8 to 830 t km(-2) yr(-1), and 0.04 to 131 tC km(-2) yr(-1), respectively). A Monte Carlo simulation demonstrates that, with a minimum of free parameters, such variability is inherent to the geometric scaling used for computing specific yields. Moreover, the widely applied method of linearly extrapolating plot scale sample data may be prone to substantial under- or overestimates. A comparison of our inferred yields with previously published work demonstrates the relevance of wet snow avalanches as prominent agents of soil erosion and transporters of biogeochemical constituents to mountain rivers. Given that a number of snow bridges persisted below the insulating debris cover well into the summer months, snow-avalanche deposits also contribute to regulating in-channel sediment and organic debris storage on seasonal timescales. Finally, our results underline the potential shortcomings of neglecting erosional processes in the winter and spring months in mountainous terrain subjected to prominent snow cover.}, language = {en} } @article{FeldmannAlbrechtKhroulevetal.2014, author = {Feldmann, J. and Albrecht, Torsten and Khroulev, C. and Pattyn, F. and Levermann, Anders}, title = {Resolution-dependent performance of grounding line motion in a shallow model compared with a full-Stokes model according to the MISMIP3d intercomparison}, series = {Journal of glaciology}, volume = {60}, journal = {Journal of glaciology}, number = {220}, publisher = {International Glaciological Society}, address = {Cambridge}, issn = {0022-1430}, doi = {10.3189/2014JoG13J093}, pages = {353 -- 360}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Making confident statements about the evolution of an ice-sheet shelf system with a numerical model requires the capability to reproduce the migration of the grounding line. Here we show that the shallow-ice approximation/shallow-shelf approximation hybrid-type Parallel Ice Sheet Model (PISM), with its recent improvements, is capable of modeling the grounding line motion in a perturbed ice-sheet shelf system. The model is set up according to the three-dimensional Marine Ice-Sheet Model Intercomparison Project (MISMIP3d), and simulations are carried out across a broad range of spatial resolutions. Using (1) a linear interpolation of the grounding line with locally interpolated basal friction and (2) an improved driving-stress computation across the grounding line, the reversibility of the grounding line (i.e. its retreat after an advance forced by a local perturbation of basal resistance) is captured by the model even at medium and low resolutions (Delta x > 10 km). The transient model response is qualitatively similar to that of higher-order models but reveals a higher initial sensitivity to perturbations on very short timescales. Our findings support the application of PISM to the Antarctic ice sheet from regional up to continental scales and on relatively low spatial resolutions.}, language = {en} } @article{CarrapaReyesBywaterSafipouretal.2014, author = {Carrapa, Barbara and Reyes-Bywater, Sharon and Safipour, Roxana and Sobel, Edward and Schoenbohm, Lindsay M. and DeCelles, Peter G. and Reiners, Peter W. and Stockli, Daniel}, title = {The effect of inherited paleotopography on exhumation of the Central Andes of NW Argentina}, series = {Geological Society of America bulletin}, volume = {126}, journal = {Geological Society of America bulletin}, number = {1-2}, publisher = {American Institute of Physics}, address = {Boulder}, issn = {0016-7606}, doi = {10.1130/B30844.1}, pages = {66 -- 77}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Differential exhumation in the Puna Plateau and Eastern Cordillera of NW Argentina is controlled by inherited paleostructures and resulting paleotopography related to the Cretaceous Salta Rift paleomargins. The Ceno zoic deformation front related to the development of the Andean retro-arc orogenic system is generally associated with >4 km of exhumation, which is recorded by Cenozoic apatite fi ssion-track (AFT) and (U-Th-[Sm])/He ages (He ages) in the Eastern Cordillera of NW Argentina. New AFT ages from the top of the Nevado de Cachi document Oligocene (ca. 28 Ma) cooling, which, combined with existing data, indicates exhumation of this range between ca. 28 Ma and ca. 14 Ma. However, some of the highest ranges in the Eastern Cordillera preserve Cretaceous ages indicative of limited Cenozoic exhumation. Samples collected from an similar to 3-km-elevation transect along the northern part of the Sierra de Quilmes paleorift fl ank (Laguna Brava) show AFT ages between ca. 80 and ca. 50 Ma and He ages between ca. 45 and ca. 10 Ma. Another set of samples from an similar to 1-km-elevation transect farther to the southwest (La Quebrada) shows Cretaceous AFT ages between ca. 116 Ma and ca. 76 Ma, and mainly Cretaceous He ages, in agreement with AFT data. Analysis of existing AFT and He ages from the area once occupied by the Salta Rift reveals a pattern characterized by Cretaceous ages along paleorift highs and Cenozoic ages within paleorift hanging-wall basins and later foreland basin depocenters. This pattern is interrupted by the Sierras Pampeanas at similar to 28 degrees S, which record mid-Cenozoic ages. Our data are consistent with a complex inherited pattern of pre-Andean paleostructures, likely associated with paleotopography, which was beveled by the Cenozoic regional foreland basin and reactivated during the late Neogene (ca. <10 Ma), strongly controlling the magnitude of Cenozoic uplift and exhumation and thus cooling age distribution. This, combined with variable lithologic erodibility, resulted in an irregular distribution of themochronological ages.}, language = {en} } @article{MengesHuguetAlcanizetal.2014, author = {Menges, Johanna and Huguet, C. and Alcaniz, Josep M. and Fietz, Susanne and Sachse, Dirk and Rosell-Mele, A.}, title = {Influence of water availability in the distributions of branched glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraether in soils of the Iberian Peninsula}, series = {Biogeosciences}, volume = {11}, journal = {Biogeosciences}, number = {10}, publisher = {Copernicus}, address = {G{\"o}ttingen}, issn = {1726-4170}, doi = {10.5194/bg-11-2571-2014}, pages = {2571 -- 2581}, year = {2014}, language = {en} } @article{NussbaumerSchaubHuggeletal.2014, author = {Nussbaumer, S. and Schaub, Y. and Huggel, C. and Walz, Ariane}, title = {Risk estimation for future glacier lake outburst floods based on local land-use changes}, series = {Natural hazards and earth system sciences}, volume = {14}, journal = {Natural hazards and earth system sciences}, number = {6}, publisher = {Copernicus}, address = {G{\"o}ttingen}, issn = {1561-8633}, doi = {10.5194/nhess-14-1611-2014}, pages = {1611 -- 1624}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Effects of climate change are particularly strong in high-mountain regions. Most visibly, glaciers are shrinking at a rapid pace, and as a consequence, glacier lakes are forming or growing. At the same time the stability of mountain slopes is reduced by glacier retreat, permafrost thaw and other factors, resulting in an increasing landslide hazard which can potentially impact lakes and therewith trigger far-reaching and devastating outburst floods. To manage risks from existing or future lakes, strategies need to be developed to plan in time for adequate risk reduction measures at a local level. However, methods to assess risks from future lake outbursts are not available and need to be developed to evaluate both future hazard and future damage potential. Here a method is presented to estimate future risks related to glacier lake outbursts for a local site in southern Switzerland (Naters, Valais). To generate two hazard scenarios, glacier shrinkage and lake formation modelling was applied, combined with simple flood modelling and field work. Furthermore, a land-use model was developed to quantify and allocate land-use changes based on local-to-regional storylines and three scenarios of land-use driving forces. Results are conceptualized in a matrix of three land-use and two hazard scenarios for the year 2045, and show the distribution of risk in the community of Naters, including high and very high risk areas. The study underlines the importance of combined risk management strategies focusing on land-use planning, on vulnerability reduction, as well as on structural measures (where necessary) to effectively reduce future risks related to lake outburst floods.}, language = {en} } @article{DelgadoMerzApel2014, author = {Delgado, Jose Miguel Martins and Merz, Bruno and Apel, Heiko}, title = {Projecting flood hazard under climate change: an alternative approach to model chains}, series = {Natural hazards and earth system sciences}, volume = {14}, journal = {Natural hazards and earth system sciences}, number = {6}, publisher = {Copernicus}, address = {G{\"o}ttingen}, issn = {1561-8633}, doi = {10.5194/nhess-14-1579-2014}, pages = {1579 -- 1589}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Flood hazard projections under climate change are typically derived by applying model chains consisting of the following elements: "emission scenario - global climate model - downscaling, possibly including bias correction hydrological model - flood frequency analysis". To date, this approach yields very uncertain results, due to the difficulties of global and regional climate models to represent precipitation. The implementation of such model chains requires major efforts, and their complexity is high. We propose for the Mekong River an alternative approach which is based on a shortened model chain: "emission scenario - global climate model - non-stationary flood frequency model". The underlying idea is to use a link between the Western Pacific monsoon and local flood characteristics: the variance of the monsoon drives a non-stationary flood frequency model, yielding a direct estimate of flood probabilities. This approach bypasses the uncertain precipitation, since the monsoon variance is derived from large-scale wind fields which are better represented by climate models. The simplicity of the monsoon-flood link allows deriving large ensembles of flood projections under climate change. We conclude that this is a worthwhile, complementary approach to the typical model chains in catchments where a substantial link between climate and floods is found.}, language = {en} } @article{FarinottiKingAlbrechtetal.2014, author = {Farinotti, Daniel and King, Edward C. and Albrecht, Anika and Huss, Matthias and Gudmundsson, Gudmundur Hilmar}, title = {The bedrock topography of Starbuck Glacier, Antarctic Peninsula, as determined by radio-echo soundings and flow modeling}, series = {Annals of glaciology}, volume = {55}, journal = {Annals of glaciology}, number = {67}, publisher = {International Glaciological Society}, address = {Cambridge}, issn = {0260-3055}, doi = {10.3189/2014AoG67A025}, pages = {22 -- 28}, year = {2014}, language = {en} } @article{MerzAertsArnbjergNielsenetal.2014, author = {Merz, Bruno and Aerts, Jeroen C. J. H. and Arnbjerg-Nielsen, Karsten and Baldi, M. and Becker, Andrew C. and Bichet, A. and Bloeschl, G. and Bouwer, Laurens M. and Brauer, Achim and Cioffi, F. and Delgado, Jose Miguel Martins and Gocht, M. and Guzzetti, F. and Harrigan, S. and Hirschboeck, K. and Kilsby, C. and Kron, W. and Kwon, H. -H. and Lall, U. and Merz, R. and Nissen, K. and Salvatti, P. and Swierczynski, Tina and Ulbrich, U. and Viglione, A. and Ward, P. J. and Weiler, M. and Wilhelm, B. and Nied, Manuela}, title = {Floods and climate: emerging perspectives for flood risk assessment and management}, series = {Natural hazards and earth system sciences}, volume = {14}, journal = {Natural hazards and earth system sciences}, number = {7}, publisher = {Copernicus}, address = {G{\"o}ttingen}, issn = {1561-8633}, doi = {10.5194/nhess-14-1921-2014}, pages = {1921 -- 1942}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Flood estimation and flood management have traditionally been the domain of hydrologists, water resources engineers and statisticians, and disciplinary approaches abound. Dominant views have been shaped; one example is the catchment perspective: floods are formed and influenced by the interaction of local, catchment-specific characteristics, such as meteorology, topography and geology. These traditional views have been beneficial, but they have a narrow framing. In this paper we contrast traditional views with broader perspectives that are emerging from an improved understanding of the climatic context of floods. We come to the following conclusions: (1) extending the traditional system boundaries (local catchment, recent decades, hydrological/hydraulic processes) opens up exciting possibilities for better understanding and improved tools for flood risk assessment and management. (2) Statistical approaches in flood estimation need to be complemented by the search for the causal mechanisms and dominant processes in the atmosphere, catchment and river system that leave their fingerprints on flood characteristics. (3) Natural climate variability leads to time-varying flood characteristics, and this variation may be partially quantifiable and predictable, with the perspective of dynamic, climate-informed flood risk management. (4) Efforts are needed to fully account for factors that contribute to changes in all three risk components (hazard, exposure, vulnerability) and to better understand the interactions between society and floods. (5) Given the global scale and societal importance, we call for the organization of an international multidisciplinary collaboration and data-sharing initiative to further understand the links between climate and flooding and to advance flood research.}, language = {en} } @article{TangMcGinnisFrindteetal.2014, author = {Tang, Kam W. and McGinnis, Daniel F. and Frindte, Katharina and Bruchert, Volker and Grossart, Hans-Peter}, title = {Paradox reconsidered: Methane oversaturation in well-oxygenated lake waters}, series = {Limnology and oceanography}, volume = {59}, journal = {Limnology and oceanography}, number = {1}, publisher = {Wiley}, address = {Waco}, issn = {0024-3590}, doi = {10.4319/lo.2014.59.1.0275}, pages = {275 -- 284}, year = {2014}, abstract = {The widely reported paradox of methane oversaturation in oxygenated water challenges the prevailing paradigm that microbial methanogenesis only occurs under anoxic conditions. Using a combination of field sampling, incubation experiments, and modeling, we show that the recurring mid-water methane peak in Lake Stechlin, northeast Germany, was not dependent on methane input from the littoral zone or bottom sediment or on the presence of known micro-anoxic zones. The methane peak repeatedly overlapped with oxygen oversaturation in the seasonal thermocline. Incubation experiments and isotope analysis indicated active methane production, which was likely linked to photosynthesis and/or nitrogen fixation within the oxygenated water, whereas lessening of methane oxidation by light allowed accumulation of methane in the oxygen-rich upper layer. Estimated methane efflux from the surface water was up to 5 mmol m(-2) d(-1). Mid-water methane oversaturation was also observed in nine other lakes that collectively showed a strongly negative gradient of methane concentration within 0-20\% dissolved oxygen (DO) in the bottom water, and a positive gradient within >= 20\% DO in the upper water column. Further investigation into the responsible organisms and biochemical pathways will help improve our understanding of the global methane cycle.}, language = {en} } @article{KneisChatterjeeSingh2014, author = {Kneis, David and Chatterjee, C. and Singh, R.}, title = {Evaluation of TRMM rainfall estimates over a large Indian river basin (Mahanadi)}, series = {Hydrology and earth system sciences : HESS}, volume = {18}, journal = {Hydrology and earth system sciences : HESS}, number = {7}, publisher = {Copernicus}, address = {G{\"o}ttingen}, issn = {1027-5606}, doi = {10.5194/hess-18-2493-2014}, pages = {2493 -- 2502}, year = {2014}, abstract = {The paper examines the quality of satellite-abased precipitation estimates for the lower Mahanadi River basin (eastern India). The considered data sets known as 3B42 and 3B42-RT (version 7/7A) are routinely produced by the tropical rainfall measuring mission (TRMM) from passive microwave and infrared recordings. While the 3B42-RT data are disseminated in real time, the gauge-aadjusted 3B42 data set is published with a delay of some months. The quality of the two products was assessed in a two-astep procedure. First, the correspondence between the remotely sensed precipitation rates and rain gauge data was evaluated at the subbasin scale. Second, the quality of the rainfall estimates was assessed by analysing their performance in the context of rainfall-arunoff simulation. At sub-abasin level (4000 to 16 000 km(2)) the satellite-abased areal precipitation estimates were found to be moderately correlated with the gauge-abased counterparts (R-2 of 0.64-0.74 for 3B42 and 0.59-0.72 for 3B42-RT). Significant discrepancies between TRMM data and ground observations were identified at high-aintensity levels. The rainfall depth derived from rain gauge data is often not reflected by the TRMM estimates (hit rate < 0.6 for ground-abased intensities > 80 mm day(-1)). At the same time, the remotely sensed rainfall rates frequently exceed the gauge-abased equivalents (false alarm ratios of 0.2-0.6). In addition, the real-atime product 3B42-RT was found to suffer from a spatially consistent negative bias. Since the regionalisation of rain gauge data is potentially associated with a number of errors, the above results are subject to uncertainty. Hence, a validation against independent information, such as stream flow, was essential. In this case study, the outcome of rainfall-arunoff simulation experiments was consistent with the above-mentioned findings. The best fit between observed and simulated stream flow was obtained if rain gauge data were used as model input (Nash-Sutcliffe index of 0.76-0.88 at gauges not affected by reservoir operation). This compares to the values of 0.71-0.78 for the gauge-djusted TRMM 3B42 data and 0.65-0.77 for the 3B42-RT real-atime data. Whether the 3B42-RT data are useful in the context of operational runoff prediction in spite of the identified problems remains a question for further research.}, language = {en} } @article{MuellerBeckmannDobsonetal.2014, author = {M{\"u}ller, Hans J. and Beckmann, Felix and Dobson, David P. and Hunt, Simon A. and Lathe, Christian and Stroncik, Nicole}, title = {New techniques for high pressure falling sphere viscosimetry in DIA-type large volume presses}, series = {High pressure research}, volume = {34}, journal = {High pressure research}, number = {3}, publisher = {Routledge, Taylor \& Francis Group}, address = {Abingdon}, issn = {0895-7959}, doi = {10.1080/08957959.2014.950262}, pages = {345 -- 354}, year = {2014}, language = {en} } @article{LepetitViereckPiperetal.2014, author = {Lepetit, Petra and Viereck, Lothar and Piper, John D. A. and Sudo, Masafumi and Gurel, Ali and Copuroglu, Ibrahim and Gruber, Manuela and Mayer, Bernhard and Koch, Michael and Tatar, Orhan and Gursoy, Halil}, title = {Ar-40/Ar-39 dating of ignimbrites and plinian air-fall layers from Cappadocia, Central Turkey: Implications to chronostratigraphic and Eastern Mediterranean palaeoenvironmental record}, series = {Chemie der Erde : interdisciplinary journal for chemical problems of the geo-sciences and geo-ecology}, volume = {74}, journal = {Chemie der Erde : interdisciplinary journal for chemical problems of the geo-sciences and geo-ecology}, number = {3}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Jena}, issn = {0009-2819}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemer.2014.05.001}, pages = {471 -- 488}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Magmatism forming the Central Anatolian Volcanic Province of Cappadocia, central Turkey, records the last phase of Neotethyan subduction after similar to 11 Ma. Thirteen large calc-alkaline ignimbrite sheets form marker bands within the volcano-sedimentary succession (the Urgup Formation) and provide a robust chronostratigraphy for paleoecologic evaluation of the interleaved paleosols. This paper evaluates the chronologic record in the context of the radiometric, magnetostratigraphic and lithostratigraphic controls. Previous inconsistencies relating primarily to K/Ar evidence were reason for the initiation of an integrated study which includes Ar-40/Ar-39 dating, palaeomagnetic and stratigraphic evidence. The newly determined Ar-40/Ar-39-ages (Lepetit, 2010) are in agreement with Ar/Ar and U/Pb data meanwhile published by Pauquette and Le Pennec (2012) and Aydar et al. (2012). The Ar-40/Ar-39-ages restrict the end of the Urgup Formation to the late Miocene. The paleosol sequence enclosed by the ignimbrites is thus restricted to the late Miocene, the most intense formation of pedogene calcretes correlating with the Messinian Salinity Crisis.}, language = {en} } @article{VogelRiggelsenKorupetal.2014, author = {Vogel, Kristin and Riggelsen, Carsten and Korup, Oliver and Scherbaum, Frank}, title = {Bayesian network learning for natural hazard analyses}, series = {Natural hazards and earth system sciences}, volume = {14}, journal = {Natural hazards and earth system sciences}, number = {9}, publisher = {Copernicus}, address = {G{\"o}ttingen}, issn = {1561-8633}, doi = {10.5194/nhess-14-2605-2014}, pages = {2605 -- 2626}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Modern natural hazards research requires dealing with several uncertainties that arise from limited process knowledge, measurement errors, censored and incomplete observations, and the intrinsic randomness of the governing processes. Nevertheless, deterministic analyses are still widely used in quantitative hazard assessments despite the pitfall of misestimating the hazard and any ensuing risks. In this paper we show that Bayesian networks offer a flexible framework for capturing and expressing a broad range of uncertainties encountered in natural hazard assessments. Although Bayesian networks are well studied in theory, their application to real-world data is far from straightforward, and requires specific tailoring and adaptation of existing algorithms. We offer suggestions as how to tackle frequently arising problems in this context and mainly concentrate on the handling of continuous variables, incomplete data sets, and the interaction of both. By way of three case studies from earthquake, flood, and landslide research, we demonstrate the method of data-driven Bayesian network learning, and showcase the flexibility, applicability, and benefits of this approach. Our results offer fresh and partly counterintuitive insights into well-studied multivariate problems of earthquake-induced ground motion prediction, accurate flood damage quantification, and spatially explicit landslide prediction at the regional scale. In particular, we highlight how Bayesian networks help to express information flow and independence assumptions between candidate predictors. Such knowledge is pivotal in providing scientists and decision makers with well-informed strategies for selecting adequate predictor variables for quantitative natural hazard assessments.}, language = {en} } @article{StolbovaMartinBookhagenetal.2014, author = {Stolbova, Veronika and Martin, P. and Bookhagen, Bodo and Marwan, Norbert and Kurths, J{\"u}rgen}, title = {Topology and seasonal evolution of the network of extreme precipitation over the Indian subcontinent and Sri Lanka}, series = {Nonlinear processes in geophysics}, volume = {21}, journal = {Nonlinear processes in geophysics}, number = {4}, publisher = {Copernicus}, address = {G{\"o}ttingen}, issn = {1023-5809}, doi = {10.5194/npg-21-901-2014}, pages = {901 -- 917}, year = {2014}, abstract = {This paper employs a complex network approach to determine the topology and evolution of the network of extreme precipitation that governs the organization of extreme rainfall before, during, and after the Indian Summer Monsoon (ISM) season. We construct networks of extreme rainfall events during the ISM (June-September), post-monsoon (October-December), and pre-monsoon (March-May) periods from satellite-derived (Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission, TRMM) and rain-gauge interpolated (Asian Precipitation Highly Resolved Observational Data Integration Towards the Evaluation of Water Resources, APHRODITE) data sets. The structure of the networks is determined by the level of synchronization of extreme rainfall events between different grid cells throughout the Indian subcontinent. Through the analysis of various complex-network metrics, we describe typical repetitive patterns in North Pakistan (NP), the Eastern Ghats (EG), and the Tibetan Plateau (TP). These patterns appear during the pre-monsoon season, evolve during the ISM, and disappear during the post-monsoon season. These are important meteorological features that need further attention and that may be useful in ISM timing and strength prediction.}, language = {en} } @article{LissnerSullivanReusseretal.2014, author = {Lissner, Tabea Katharina and Sullivan, C. A. and Reusser, D. E. and Kropp, J{\"u}rgen}, title = {Determining regional limits and sectoral constraints for water use}, series = {Hydrology and earth system sciences : HESS}, volume = {18}, journal = {Hydrology and earth system sciences : HESS}, number = {10}, publisher = {Copernicus}, address = {G{\"o}ttingen}, issn = {1027-5606}, doi = {10.5194/hess-18-4039-2014}, pages = {4039 -- 4052}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Water is an essential input to the majority of human activities. Often, access to sufficient water resources is limited by quality and infrastructure aspects, rather than by resource availability alone, and each activity has different requirements regarding the nature of these aspects. This paper develops an integrated approach to assess the adequacy of water resources for the three major water users: the domestic, agricultural and industrial sectors. Additionally, we include environmental water requirements. We first outline the main determinants of water adequacy for each sector. Subsequently, we present an integrated approach using fuzzy logic, which allows assessing sector-specific as well as overall water adequacy. We implement the approach in two case study settings to exemplify the main features of the approach. Using results from two climate models and two forcing RCPs (representative concentration pathways), as well as population projections, we further assess the impacts of climate change in combination with population growth on the adequacy of water resources. The results provide an important step forward in determining the most relevant factors, impeding adequate access to water, which remains an important challenge in many regions of the world. The methodology allows one to directly identify the factors that are most decisive in determining the adequacy of water in each region, pointing towards the most efficient intervention points to improve conditions. Our findings underline the fact that, in addition to water volumes, water quality is a limitation for all sectors and, especially for the environmental sector, high levels of pollution are a threat to water adequacy.}, language = {en} } @article{HunzikerSigurdssonHalldorssonetal.2014, author = {Hunziker, Matthias and Sigurdsson, Bjarni D. and Halldorsson, Gudmundur and Schwanghart, Wolfgang and Kuhn, Nikolaus}, title = {Biomass allometries and coarse root biomass distribution of mountain birch in southern Iceland}, series = {Icelandic agricultural sciences}, volume = {27}, journal = {Icelandic agricultural sciences}, publisher = {Agricultural University of Iceland}, address = {Reykjavik}, issn = {1670-567X}, pages = {111 -- 125}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Root systems are an important pool of biomass and carbon in forest ecosystems. However, most allometric studies on forest trees focus only on the aboveground components. When estimated, root biomass has most often been calculated by using a fixed conversion factor from aboveground biomass. In order to study the size-related development of the root system of native mountain birch (Betula pubescens Ehrh. ssp. czerepanovii), we collected the coarse root system of 25 different aged birch trees (stem diameter at 50 cm length between 0.2 and 14.1 cm) and characterized them by penetration depth (< 1 m) and root thickness. Based on this dataset, allometric functions for coarse roots (> 5 mm and > 2 mm), root stock, total belowground biomass and aboveground biomass components were calculated by a nonlinear and a linear fitting approach. The study showed that coarse root biomass of mountain birch was almost exclusively (> 95 weight-\%) located in the top 30 cm, even in a natural old-growth woodland. By using a cross-validation approach, we found that the nonlinear fitting procedure performed better than the linear approach with respect to predictive power. In addition, our results underscore that general assumptions of fixed conversion factors lead to an underestimation of the belowground biomass. Thus, our results provide allometric functions for a more accurate root biomass estimation to be utilized in inventory reports and ecological studies.}, language = {en} } @article{ZeheEhretPfisteretal.2014, author = {Zehe, E. and Ehret, U. and Pfister, L. and Blume, Theresa and Schroeder, Boris and Westhoff, M. and Jackisch, C. and Schymanski, Stanislauv J. and Weiler, M. and Schulz, K. and Allroggen, Niklas and Tronicke, Jens and van Schaik, Loes and Dietrich, Peter and Scherer, U. and Eccard, Jana and Wulfmeyer, Volker and Kleidon, Axel}, title = {HESS Opinions: From response units to functional units: a thermodynamic reinterpretation of the HRU concept to link spatial organization and functioning of intermediate scale catchments}, series = {Hydrology and earth system sciences : HESS}, volume = {18}, journal = {Hydrology and earth system sciences : HESS}, number = {11}, publisher = {Copernicus}, address = {G{\"o}ttingen}, issn = {1027-5606}, doi = {10.5194/hess-18-4635-2014}, pages = {4635 -- 4655}, year = {2014}, abstract = {According to Dooge (1986) intermediate-scale catchments are systems of organized complexity, being too organized and yet too small to be characterized on a statistical/conceptual basis, but too large and too heterogeneous to be characterized in a deterministic manner. A key requirement for building structurally adequate models precisely for this intermediate scale is a better understanding of how different forms of spatial organization affect storage and release of water and energy. Here, we propose that a combination of the concept of hydrological response units (HRUs) and thermodynamics offers several helpful and partly novel perspectives for gaining this improved understanding. Our key idea is to define functional similarity based on similarity of the terrestrial controls of gradients and resistance terms controlling the land surface energy balance, rainfall runoff transformation, and groundwater storage and release. This might imply that functional similarity with respect to these specific forms of water release emerges at different scales, namely the small field scale, the hillslope, and the catchment scale. We thus propose three different types of "functional units" - specialized HRUs, so to speak - which behave similarly with respect to one specific form of water release and with a characteristic extent equal to one of those three scale levels. We furthermore discuss an experimental strategy based on exemplary learning and replicate experiments to identify and delineate these functional units, and as a promising strategy for characterizing the interplay and organization of water and energy fluxes across scales. We believe the thermodynamic perspective to be well suited to unmask equifinality as inherent in the equations governing water, momentum, and energy fluxes: this is because several combinations of gradients and resistance terms yield the same mass or energy flux and the terrestrial controls of gradients and resistance terms are largely independent. We propose that structurally adequate models at this scale should consequently disentangle driving gradients and resistance terms, because this optionally allow sequifinality to be partly reduced by including available observations, e. g., on driving gradients. Most importantly, the thermodynamic perspective yields an energy-centered perspective on rainfall-runoff transformation and evapotranspiration, including fundamental limits for energy fluxes associated with these processes. This might additionally reduce equifinality and opens up opportunities for testing thermodynamic optimality principles within independent predictions of rainfall-runoff or land surface energy exchange. This is pivotal to finding out whether or not spatial organization in catchments is in accordance with a fundamental organizing principle.}, language = {en} } @article{GoswamiHeitzigRehfeldetal.2014, author = {Goswami, Bedartha and Heitzig, Jobst and Rehfeld, Kira and Marwan, Norbert and Anoop, Ambili and Prasad, Sushma and Kurths, J{\"u}rgen}, title = {Estimation of sedimentary proxy records together with associated uncertainty}, series = {Nonlinear processes in geophysics}, volume = {21}, journal = {Nonlinear processes in geophysics}, number = {6}, publisher = {Copernicus}, address = {G{\"o}ttingen}, issn = {1023-5809}, doi = {10.5194/npg-21-1093-2014}, pages = {1093 -- 1111}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Sedimentary proxy records constitute a significant portion of the recorded evidence that allows us to investigate paleoclimatic conditions and variability. However, uncertainties in the dating of proxy archives limit our ability to fix the timing of past events and interpret proxy record intercomparisons. While there are various age-modeling approaches to improve the estimation of the age-depth relations of archives, relatively little focus has been placed on the propagation of the age (and radiocarbon calibration) uncertainties into the final proxy record. We present a generic Bayesian framework to estimate proxy records along with their associated uncertainty, starting with the radiometric age-depth and proxy-depth measurements, and a radiometric calibration curve if required. We provide analytical expressions for the posterior proxy probability distributions at any given calendar age, from which the expected proxy values and their uncertainty can be estimated. We illustrate our method using two synthetic data sets and then use it to construct the proxy records for groundwater inflow and surface erosion from Lonar lake in central India. Our analysis reveals interrelations between the uncertainty of the proxy record over time and the variance of proxies along the depth of the archive. For the Lonar lake proxies, we show that, rather than the age uncertainties, it is the proxy variance combined with calibration uncertainty that accounts for most of the final uncertainty. We represent the proxy records as probability distributions on a precise, error-free timescale that makes further time series analyses and intercomparisons of proxies relatively simple and clear. Our approach provides a coherent understanding of age uncertainties within sedimentary proxy records that involve radiometric dating. It can be potentially used within existing age modeling structures to bring forth a reliable and consistent framework for proxy record estimation.}, language = {en} } @article{ErogluMarwanPrasadetal.2014, author = {Eroglu, Deniz and Marwan, Norbert and Prasad, Sushma and Kurths, J{\"u}rgen}, title = {Finding recurrence networks' threshold adaptively for a specific time series}, series = {Nonlinear processes in geophysics}, volume = {21}, journal = {Nonlinear processes in geophysics}, number = {6}, publisher = {Copernicus}, address = {G{\"o}ttingen}, issn = {1023-5809}, doi = {10.5194/npg-21-1085-2014}, pages = {1085 -- 1092}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Recurrence-plot-based recurrence networks are an approach used to analyze time series using a complex networks theory. In both approaches - recurrence plots and recurrence networks -, a threshold to identify recurrent states is required. The selection of the threshold is important in order to avoid bias of the recurrence network results. In this paper, we propose a novel method to choose a recurrence threshold adaptively. We show a comparison between the constant threshold and adaptive threshold cases to study period-chaos and even period-period transitions in the dynamics of a prototypical model system. This novel method is then used to identify climate transitions from a lake sediment record.}, language = {en} } @article{LissnerReusserScheweetal.2014, author = {Lissner, Tabea Katharina and Reusser, Dominik Edwin and Schewe, Jacob and Lakes, T. and Kropp, J{\"u}rgen}, title = {Climate impacts on human livelihoods: where uncertainty matters in projections of water availability}, series = {Earth system dynamics}, volume = {5}, journal = {Earth system dynamics}, number = {2}, publisher = {Copernicus}, address = {G{\"o}ttingen}, issn = {2190-4979}, doi = {10.5194/esd-5-355-2014}, pages = {355 -- 373}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Climate change will have adverse impacts on many different sectors of society, with manifold consequences for human livelihoods and well-being. However, a systematic method to quantify human well-being and livelihoods across sectors is so far unavailable, making it difficult to determine the extent of such impacts. Climate impact analyses are often limited to individual sectors (e.g. food or water) and employ sector-specific target measures, while systematic linkages to general livelihood conditions remain unexplored. Further, recent multi-model assessments have shown that uncertainties in projections of climate impacts deriving from climate and impact models, as well as greenhouse gas scenarios, are substantial, posing an additional challenge in linking climate impacts with livelihood conditions. This article first presents a methodology to consistently measure what is referred to here as AHEAD (Adequate Human livelihood conditions for wEll-being And Development). Based on a trans-disciplinary sample of concepts addressing human well-being and livelihoods, the approach measures the adequacy of conditions of 16 elements. We implement the method at global scale, using results from the Inter-Sectoral Impact Model Intercomparison Project (ISI-MIP) to show how changes in water availability affect the fulfilment of AHEAD at national resolution. In addition, AHEAD allows for the uncertainty of climate and impact model projections to be identified and differentiated. We show how the approach can help to put the substantial inter-model spread into the context of country-specific livelihood conditions by differentiating where the uncertainty about water scarcity is relevant with regard to livelihood conditions - and where it is not. The results indicate that livelihood conditions are compromised by water scarcity in 34 countries. However, more often, AHEAD fulfilment is limited through other elements. The analysis shows that the water-specific uncertainty ranges of the model output are outside relevant thresholds for AHEAD for 65 out of 111 countries, and therefore do not contribute to the overall uncertainty about climate change impacts on livelihoods. In 46 of the countries in the analysis, water-specific uncertainty is relevant to AHEAD. The AHEAD method presented here, together with first results, forms an important step towards making scientific results more applicable for policy decisions.}, language = {en} } @article{ReiterHeidbach2014, author = {Reiter, Karsten and Heidbach, Oliver}, title = {3-D geomechanical-numerical model of the contemporary crustal stress state in the Alberta Basin (Canada)}, series = {Solid earth}, volume = {5}, journal = {Solid earth}, number = {2}, publisher = {Copernicus}, address = {G{\"o}ttingen}, issn = {1869-9510}, doi = {10.5194/se-5-1123-2014}, pages = {1123 -- 1149}, year = {2014}, abstract = {In the context of examining the potential usage of safe and sustainable geothermal energy in the Alberta Basin, whether in deep sediments or crystalline rock, the understanding of the in situ stress state is crucial. It is a key challenge to estimate the 3-D stress state at an arbitrarily chosen point in the crust, based on sparsely distributed in situ stress data. To address this challenge, we present a large-scale 3-D geomechanical-numerical model (700 km x 1200 km x 80 km) from a large portion of the Alberta Basin, to provide a 3-D continuous quantification of the contemporary stress orientations and stress magnitudes. To calibrate the model, we use a large database of in situ stress orientation (321 S-Hmax) as well as stress magnitude data (981 S-V, 1720 S-hmin and 2 (+11) S-Hmax) from the Alberta Basin. To find the best-fit model, we vary the material properties and primarily the displacement boundary conditions of the model. This study focusses in detail on the statistical calibration procedure, because of the large amount of available data, the diversity of data types, and the importance of the order of data tests. The best-fit model provides the total 3-D stress tensor for nearly the whole Alberta Basin, and allows estimation of stress orientation and stress magnitudes in advance of any well. First-order implications for the well design and configuration of enhanced geothermal systems are revealed. Systematic deviations of the modelled stress from the in situ data are found for stress orientations in the Peace River and the Bow Island Arch as well as for leak-off test magnitudes.}, language = {en} } @article{MohrZimmermannKorupetal.2014, author = {Mohr, Christian Heinrich and Zimmermann, Andreas and Korup, Oliver and Iroume, A. and Francke, Till and Bronstert, Axel}, title = {Seasonal logging, process response, and geomorphic work}, series = {Earth surface dynamics}, volume = {2}, journal = {Earth surface dynamics}, number = {1}, publisher = {Copernicus}, address = {G{\"o}ttingen}, issn = {2196-6311}, doi = {10.5194/esurf-2-117-2014}, pages = {117 -- 125}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Deforestation is a prominent anthropogenic cause of erosive overland flow and slope instability, boosting rates of soil erosion and concomitant sediment flux. Conventional methods of gauging or estimating post-logging sediment flux often focus on annual timescales but overlook potentially important process response on shorter intervals immediately following timber harvest. We resolve such dynamics with non-parametric quantile regression forests (QRF) based on high-frequency (3 min) discharge measurements and sediment concentration data sampled every 30-60 min in similar-sized (similar to 0.1 km(2)) forested Chilean catchments that were logged during either the rainy or the dry season. The method of QRF builds on the random forest algorithm, and combines quantile regression with repeated random sub-sampling of both cases and predictors. The algorithm belongs to the family of decision-tree classifiers, which allow quantifying relevant predictors in high-dimensional parameter space. We find that, where no logging occurred, similar to 80\% of the total sediment load was transported during extremely variable runoff events during only 5\% of the monitoring period. In particular, dry-season logging dampened the relative role of these rare, extreme sediment-transport events by increasing load efficiency during more efficient moderate events. We show that QRFs outperform traditional sediment rating curves (SRCs) in terms of accurately simulating short-term dynamics of sediment flux, and conclude that QRF may reliably support forest management recommendations by providing robust simulations of post-logging response of water and sediment fluxes at high temporal resolution.}, language = {en} } @article{SchwanghartScherler2014, author = {Schwanghart, Wolfgang and Scherler, Dirk}, title = {Short Communication: TopoToolbox 2-MATLAB-based software for topographic analysis and modeling in Earth surface sciences}, series = {Earth surface dynamics}, volume = {2}, journal = {Earth surface dynamics}, number = {1}, publisher = {Copernicus}, address = {G{\"o}ttingen}, issn = {2196-6311}, doi = {10.5194/esurf-2-1-2014}, pages = {1 -- 7}, year = {2014}, abstract = {TopoToolbox is a MATLAB program for the analysis of digital elevation models (DEMs). With the release of version 2, the software adopts an object-oriented programming (OOP) approach to work with gridded DEMs and derived data such as flow directions and stream networks. The introduction of a novel technique to store flow directions as topologically ordered vectors of indices enables calculation of flow-related attributes such as flow accumulation similar to 20 times faster than conventional algorithms while at the same time reducing memory overhead to 33\% of that required by the previous version. Graphical user interfaces (GUIs) enable visual exploration and interaction with DEMs and derivatives and provide access to tools targeted at fluvial and tectonic geomorphologists. With its new release, TopoToolbox has become a more memory-efficient and faster tool for basic and advanced digital terrain analysis that can be used as a framework for building hydrological and geomorphological models in MATLAB.}, language = {en} } @article{FrankFahleYergeauGreeretal.2014, author = {Frank-Fahle, Beatrice A. and Yergeau, Etienne and Greer, Charles W. and Lantuit, Hugues and Wagner, Dirk}, title = {Microbial functional potential and community composition in permafrost-affected soils of the NW canadian arctic}, series = {PLoS one}, volume = {9}, journal = {PLoS one}, number = {1}, publisher = {PLoS}, address = {San Fransisco}, issn = {1932-6203}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0084761}, pages = {12}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Permafrost-affected soils are among the most obvious ecosystems in which current microbial controls on organic matter decomposition are changing as a result of global warming. Warmer conditions in polygonal tundra will lead to a deepening of the seasonal active layer, provoking changes in microbial processes and possibly resulting in exacerbated carbon degradation under increasing anoxic conditions. To identify current microbial assemblages in carbon rich, water saturated permafrost environments, four polygonal tundra sites were investigated on Herschel Island and the Yukon Coast, Western Canadian Arctic. Ion Torrent sequencing of bacterial and archaeal 16S rRNA amplicons revealed the presence of all major microbial soil groups and indicated a local, vertical heterogeneity of the polygonal tundra soil community with increasing depth. Microbial diversity was found to be highest in the surface layers, decreasing towards the permafrost table. Quantitative PCR analysis of functional genes involved in carbon and nitrogen-cycling revealed a high functional potential in the surface layers, decreasing with increasing active layer depth. We observed that soil properties driving microbial diversity and functional potential varied in each study site. These results highlight the small-scale heterogeneity of geomorphologically comparable sites, greatly restricting generalizations about the fate of permafrost-affected environments in a warming Arctic.}, language = {en} } @article{LorenzSaalfrank2014, author = {Lorenz, Ute and Saalfrank, Peter}, title = {Comparing thermal wave function methods for multi-configuration time-dependent Hartree simulations}, series = {The journal of chemical physics : bridges a gap between journals of physics and journals of chemistr}, volume = {140}, journal = {The journal of chemical physics : bridges a gap between journals of physics and journals of chemistr}, number = {4}, publisher = {American Institute of Physics}, address = {Melville}, issn = {0021-9606}, doi = {10.1063/1.4862739}, pages = {5}, year = {2014}, abstract = {We compare two methods for creating stochastic temperature wave functions that can be used for Multi-Configuration Time-Dependent Hartree (MCTDH) simulations. In the first method, the MCTDH coefficients are chosen randomly, while the other method uses a single Hartree product of random single-particle functions (SPFs). We find that using random SPFs dramatically improves convergence for a model system for surface sticking.}, language = {en} } @article{LiMorenoRosenauetal.2014, author = {Li, Shaoyang and Moreno, Marcos and Rosenau, Matthias and Melnick, Daniel and Oncken, Onno}, title = {Splay fault triggering by great subduction earthquakes inferred from finite element models}, series = {Geophysical research letters}, volume = {41}, journal = {Geophysical research letters}, number = {2}, publisher = {American Geophysical Union}, address = {Washington}, issn = {0094-8276}, doi = {10.1002/2013GL058598}, pages = {385 -- 391}, year = {2014}, abstract = {We have investigated the influence that megathrust earthquake slip has on the activation of splay faults using a 2-D finite element method (FEM), taking into account the effects of gravity and variations in the frictional strength properties of splay faults. We simulated both landward-dipping and seaward-dipping splay fault geometries, and imposed depth-variable slip distributions of subduction events. Our results indicate that the two types of splay fault exhibit a similar behavior, with variations in frictional properties along the faults affecting only the seismic magnitude. The triggering process is controlled by a critical depth. Megathrust slip concentrated at depths shallower than the critical depth will favor normal displacement, while megathrust slip concentrated at depths deeper than the critical depth is likely to result in reverse motion. Our results thus provide a useful tool for predicting the activation of secondary faults and may have direct implications for tsunami hazard research.}, language = {en} } @article{CreutzfeldtTrochGuentneretal.2014, author = {Creutzfeldt, Benjamin and Troch, Peter A. and G{\"u}ntner, Andreas and Ferre, Ty P. A. and Gr{\"a}ff, Thomas and Merz, Bruno}, title = {Storage-discharge relationships at different catchment scales based on local high-precision gravimetry}, series = {Hydrological processes}, volume = {28}, journal = {Hydrological processes}, number = {3}, publisher = {Wiley-Blackwell}, address = {Hoboken}, issn = {0885-6087}, doi = {10.1002/hyp.9689}, pages = {1465 -- 1475}, year = {2014}, abstract = {In hydrology, the storage-discharge relationship is a fundamental catchment property. Understanding what controls this relationship is at the core of catchment science. To date, there are no direct methods to measure water storage at catchment scales (10(1)-10(3)km(2)). In this study, we use direct measurements of terrestrial water storage dynamics by means of superconducting gravimetry in a small headwater catchment of the Regen River, Germany, to derive empirical storage-discharge relationships in nested catchments of increasing scale. Our results show that the local storage measurements are strongly related to streamflow dynamics at larger scales (> 100km(2); correlation coefficient=0.78-0.81), but at small scale, no such relationship exists (similar to 1km(2); correlation coefficients=-0.11). The geologic setting in the region can explain both the disconnection between local water storage and headwater runoff, and the connectivity between headwater storage and streams draining larger catchment areas. More research is required to understand what controls the form of the observed storage-discharge relationships at the catchment scale. This study demonstrates that high-precision gravimetry can provide new insights into the complex relationship between state and response of hydrological systems.}, language = {en} } @unpublished{LasaponaraMurganteMasinietal.2014, author = {Lasaponara, Rosa and Murgante, Beniamino and Masini, Nicola and Ge, Yong and Asche, Hartmut}, title = {Advance in geocomputation}, series = {International journal of applied earth observation and geoinformation}, volume = {26}, journal = {International journal of applied earth observation and geoinformation}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0303-2434}, doi = {10.1016/j.jag.2013.10.004}, pages = {429 -- 431}, year = {2014}, language = {en} } @article{HalamaKonradSchmolkeSudoetal.2014, author = {Halama, Ralf and Konrad-Schmolke, Matthias and Sudo, Masafumi and Marschall, Horst R. and Wiedenbeck, Michael}, title = {Effects of fluid-rock interaction on Ar-40/Ar-39 geochronology in high-pressure rocks (Sesia-Lanzo Zone, Western Alps)}, series = {Geochimica et cosmochimica acta : journal of the Geochemical Society and the Meteoritical Society}, volume = {126}, journal = {Geochimica et cosmochimica acta : journal of the Geochemical Society and the Meteoritical Society}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {0016-7037}, doi = {10.1016/j.gca.2013.10.023}, pages = {475 -- 494}, year = {2014}, abstract = {In situ UV laser spot Ar-40/Ar-39 analyses of distinct phengite types in eclogite-facies rocks from the Sesia-Lanzo Zone (Western Alps, Italy) were combined with SIMS boron isotope analyses as well as boron (B) and lithium (Li) concentration data to link geochronological information with constraints on fluid-rock interaction. In weakly deformed samples, apparent Ar-40/Ar-39 ages of phengite cores span a range of similar to 20 Ma, but inverse isochrons define two distinct main high-pressure (HP) phengite core crystallization periods of 88-82 and 77-74 Ma, respectively. The younger cores have on average lower B contents (similar to 36 mu g/g) than the older ones (similar to 43-48 mu g/g), suggesting that loss of B and resetting of the Ar isotopic system were related. Phengite cores have variable delta B-11 values (-18 parts per thousand to -10 parts per thousand), indicating the lack of km scale B homogenization during HP crystallization. Overprinted phengite rims in the weakly deformed samples generally yield younger apparent Ar-40/Ar-39 ages than the respective cores. They also show variable effects of heterogeneous excess 40 Ar incorporation and Ar loss. One acceptable inverse isochron age of 77.1 +/- 1.1 Ma for rims surrounding older cores (82.6 +/- 0.6 Ma) overlaps with the second period of core crystallization. Compared to the phengite cores, all rims have lower B and Li abundances but similar delta B-11 values (-15 parts per thousand to -9 parts per thousand), reflecting internal redistribution of B and Li and internal fluid buffering of the B isotopic composition during rim growth. The combined observation of younger Ar-40/Ar-39 ages and boron loss, yielding comparable values of both parameters only in cores and rims of different samples, is best explained by a selective metasomatic overprint. In low permeability samples, this overprint caused recrystallization of phengite rims, whereas higher permeability in other samples led to complete recrystallization of phengite grains. Strongly deformed samples from a several km long, blueschist-facies shear zone contain mylonitic phengite that forms a tightly clustered group of relatively young apparent Ar-40/Ar-39 ages (64.7-68.8 Ma), yielding an inverse isochron age of 65.0 +/- 3.0 Ma. Almost complete B and Li removal in mylonitic phengite is due to leaching into a fluid. The B isotopic composition is significantly heavier than in phengites from the weakly deformed samples, indicating an external control by a high-delta B-11 fluid (delta B-11 = + 7 +/- 4 parts per thousand). We interpret this result as reflecting phengite recrystallization related to deformation and associated fluid flow in the shear zone. This event also caused partial resetting of the Ar isotope system and further B loss in more permeable rocks of the adjacent unit. We conclude that geochemical evidence for pervasive or limited fluid flow is crucial for the interpretation of Ar-40/Ar-39 data in partially metasomatized rocks.}, language = {en} } @article{TadaGrossart2014, author = {Tada, Yuya and Grossart, Hans-Peter}, title = {Community shifts of actively growing lake bacteria after N-acetyl-glucosamine addition: improving the BrdU-FACS method}, series = {The ISME journal : multidisciplinary journal of microbial ecology}, volume = {8}, journal = {The ISME journal : multidisciplinary journal of microbial ecology}, number = {2}, publisher = {Nature Publ. Group}, address = {London}, issn = {1751-7362}, doi = {10.1038/ismej.2013.148}, pages = {441 -- 454}, year = {2014}, abstract = {In aquatic environments, community dynamics of bacteria, especially actively growing bacteria (AGB), are tightly linked with dissolved organic matter (DOM) quantity and quality. We analyzed the community dynamics of DNA-synthesizing and accordingly AGB by linking an improved bromodeoxyuridine immunocytochemistry approach with fluorescence-activated cell sorting (BrdU-FACS). FACS-sorted cells of even oligotrophic ecosystems in winter were characterized by 16S rRNA gene analysis. In incubation experiments, we examined community shifts of AGB in response to the addition of N-acetyl-glucosamine (NAG), one of the most abundant aminosugars in aquatic systems. Our improved BrdU-FACS analysis revealed that AGB winter communities of oligotrophic Lake Stechlin (northeastern Germany) substantially differ from those of total bacteria and consist of Alpha-, Beta-, Gamma-, Deltaproteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Candidatus OP10 and Chloroflexi. AGB populations with different BrdU-fluorescence intensities and cell sizes represented different phylotypes suggesting that single-cell growth potential varies at the taxon level. NAG incubation experiments demonstrated that a variety of widespread taxa related to Alpha-, Beta-, Gammaproteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, Planctomycetes, Spirochaetes, Verrucomicrobia and Chloroflexi actively grow in the presence of NAG. The BrdU-FACS approach enables detailed phylogenetic studies of AGB and, thus, to identify those phylotypes which are potential key players in aquatic DOM cycling.}, language = {en} } @article{MaghsoudiHainzlCescaetal.2014, author = {Maghsoudi, Samira and Hainzl, Sebastian and Cesca, Simone and Dahm, Torsten and Kaiser, Diethelm}, title = {Identification and characterization of growing large-scale en-echelon fractures in a salt mine}, series = {Geophysical journal international}, volume = {196}, journal = {Geophysical journal international}, number = {2}, publisher = {Oxford Univ. Press}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {0956-540X}, doi = {10.1093/gji/ggt443}, pages = {1092 -- 1105}, year = {2014}, abstract = {The spatiotemporal seismicity of acoustic emission (AE) events recorded in the Morsleben salt mine is investigated. Almost a year after backfilling of the cavities from 2003, microevents are distributed with distinctive stripe shapes above cavities at different depth levels. The physical forces driving the creation of these stripes are still unknown. This study aims to find the active stripes and track fracture developments over time by combining two different temporal and spatial clustering techniques into a single methodological approach. Anomalous seismicity parameters values like sharp b-value changes for two active stripes are good indicators to explain possible stress accumulation at the stripe tips. We identify the formation of two new seismicity stripes and show that the AE activities in active clusters are migrated mostly unidirectional to eastward and upward. This indicates that the growth of underlying macrofractures is controlled by the gradient of extensional stress. Studying size distribution characteristic in terms of frequency-magnitude distribution and b-value in active phase and phase with constant seismicity rate show that deviations from the Gutenberg-Richter power law can be explained by the inclusion of different activity phases: (1) the inactive period before the formation of macrofractures, which is characterized by a deficit of larger events (higher b-values) and (2) the period of fracture growth characterized by the occurrence of larger events (smaller b-values).}, language = {en} } @article{HannemannKruegerDahm2014, author = {Hannemann, Katrin and Kr{\"u}ger, Frank and Dahm, Torsten}, title = {Measuring of clock drift rates and static time offsets of ocean bottom stations by means of ambient noise}, series = {Geophysical journal international}, volume = {196}, journal = {Geophysical journal international}, number = {2}, publisher = {Oxford Univ. Press}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {0956-540X}, doi = {10.1093/gji/ggt434}, pages = {1034 -- 1042}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Marine seismology usually relies on temporary deployments of stand alone seismic ocean bottom stations (OBS), which are initialized and synchronized on ship before deployment and re-synchronized and stopped on ship after recovery several months later. In between, the recorder clocks may drift and float at unknown rates. If the clock drifts are large or not linear and cannot be corrected for, seismological applications will be limited to methods not requiring precise common timing. Therefore, for example, array seismological methods, which need very accurate timing between individual stations, would not be applicable for such deployments. We use an OBS test-array of 12 stations and 75 km aperture, deployed for 10 months in the deep sea (4.5-5.5 km) of the mid-eastern Atlantic. The experiment was designed to analyse the potential of broad-band array seismology at the seafloor. After recovery, we identified some stations which either show unusual large clock drifts and/or static time offsets by having a large difference between the internal clock and the GPS-signal (skew). We test the approach of ambient noise cross-correlation to synchronize clocks of a deep water OBS array with km-scale interstation distances. We show that small drift rates and static time offsets can be resolved on vertical components with a standard technique. Larger clock drifts (several seconds per day) can only be accurately recovered if time windows of one input trace are shifted according to the expected drift between a station pair before the cross-correlation. We validate that the drifts extracted from the seismometer data are linear to first order. The same is valid for most of the hydrophones. Moreover, we were able to determine the clock drift at a station where no skew could be measured. Furthermore, we find that instable apparent drift rates at some hydrophones, which are uncorrelated to the seismometer drift recorded at the same digitizer, indicate a malfunction of the hydrophone.}, language = {en} } @article{DahmFischer2014, author = {Dahm, Torsten and Fischer, Tomas}, title = {Velocity ratio variations in the source region of earthquake swarms in NW Bohemia obtained from arrival time double-differences}, series = {Geophysical journal international}, volume = {196}, journal = {Geophysical journal international}, number = {2}, publisher = {Oxford Univ. Press}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {0956-540X}, doi = {10.1093/gji/ggt410}, pages = {957 -- 970}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Crustal earthquake swarms are an expression of intensive cracking and rock damaging over periods of days, weeks or month in a small source region in the crust. They are caused by longer lasting stress changes in the source region. Often, the localized stressing of the crust is associated with fluid or gas migration, possibly in combination with pre-existing zones of weaknesses. However, verifying and quantifying localized fluid movement at depth remains difficult since the area affected is small and geophysical prospecting methods often cannot reach the required resolution. We apply a simple and robust method to estimate the velocity ratio between compressional (P) and shear (S) waves (upsilon(P)/upsilon(S)-ratio) in the source region of an earthquake swarm. The upsilon(P)/upsilon(S)-ratio may be unusual small if the swarm is related to gas in a porous or fractured rock. The method uses arrival time difference between P and S waves observed at surface seismic stations, and the associated double differences between pairs of earthquakes. An advantage is that earthquake locations are not required and the method seems lesser dependent on unknown velocity variations in the crust outside the source region. It is, thus, suited for monitoring purposes. Applications comprise three natural, mid-crustal (8-10 km) earthquake swarms between 1997 and 2008 from the NW-Bohemia swarm region. We resolve a strong temporal decrease of upsilon(P)/upsilon(S) before and during the main activity of the swarm, and a recovery of upsilon(P)/upsilon(S) to background levels at the end of the swarms. The anomalies are interpreted in terms of the Biot-Gassman equations, assuming the presence of oversaturated fluids degassing during the beginning phase of the swarm activity.}, language = {en} } @article{KruegerScherbaum2014, author = {Kr{\"u}ger, Frank and Scherbaum, Frank}, title = {The 29 September 1969, Ceres, South Africa, Earthquake: full waveform moment tensor inversion for point source and kinematic source parameters}, series = {Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America}, volume = {104}, journal = {Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America}, number = {1}, publisher = {Seismological Society of America}, address = {Albany}, issn = {0037-1106}, doi = {10.1785/0120130209}, pages = {576 -- 581}, year = {2014}, abstract = {The Ceres earthquake of 29 September 1969 is the largest known earthquake in southern Africa. Digitized analog recordings from Worldwide Standardized Seismographic Network stations (Powell and Fries, 1964) are used to retrieve the point source moment tensor and the most likely centroid depth of the event using full waveform modeling. A scalar seismic moment of 2.2-2.4 x 10(18) N center dot m corresponding to a moment magnitude of 6.2-6.3 is found. The analysis confirms the pure strike-slip mechanism previously determined from onset polarities by Green and Bloch (1971). Overall good agreement with the fault orientation previously estimated from local aftershock recordings is found. The centroid depth can be constrained to be less than 15 km. In a second analysis step, we use a higher order moment tensor based inversion scheme for simple extended rupture models to constrain the lateral fault dimensions. We find rupture propagated unilaterally for 4.7 s from east-southwest to west-northwest for about 17 km ( average rupture velocity of about 3: 1 km/s).}, language = {en} } @article{RachBrauerWilkesetal.2014, author = {Rach, Oliver and Brauer, Achim and Wilkes, Heinz and Sachse, Dirk}, title = {Delayed hydrological response to Greenland cooling at the onset of the Younger Dryas in western Europe}, series = {Nature geoscience}, volume = {7}, journal = {Nature geoscience}, number = {2}, publisher = {Nature Publ. Group}, address = {New York}, issn = {1752-0894}, doi = {10.1038/NGEO2053}, pages = {109 -- 112}, year = {2014}, abstract = {The general warming trend of the last deglaciation was interrupted by the Younger Dryas, a period of abrupt cooling and widespread environmental change(1-10). Ice core records suggest the abrupt cooling began 12,846 years ago in Greenland(10), about 170 years before the significant environmental and vegetation change in western Europe(7) classically defined as the Younger Dryas. However, this difference in timing falls within age model uncertainties. Here we use the hydrogen isotope composition of lipid biomarkers from precisely dated varved sediments from Lake Meerfelder Maar to reconstruct hydroclimate over western Europe. We observe a decrease in the hydrogen isotope values of both aquatic and terrestrial lipids 12,850 years ago, indicating cooling climate in this region synchronous with the abrupt cooling in Greenland. A second drop occurs 170 years later, mainly in the hydrogen isotope record of aquatic lipids but to a lesser extent in the terrestrial lipids, which we attribute to aridification, as well as a change in moisture source and pathway. We thus confirm that there was indeed a lag between cooling and substantial hydrologic and environmental change in western Europe. We suggest the delay is related to the expansion of sea ice in the North Atlantic Ocean and the subsequent southward migration of the westerly wind system(9). We further suggest that these hydrological changes amplified environmental change in western Europe at the onset of the Younger Dryas.}, language = {en} } @article{SernoWincklerAndersonetal.2014, author = {Serno, Sascha and Winckler, Gisela and Anderson, Robert F. and Hayes, Christopher T. and McGee, David and Machalett, Bjoern and Ren, Haojia and Straub, Susanne M. and Gersonde, Rainer and Haug, Gerald H.}, title = {Eolian dust input to the Subarctic North Pacific}, series = {Earth \& planetary science letters}, volume = {387}, journal = {Earth \& planetary science letters}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0012-821X}, doi = {10.1016/j.epsl.2013.11.008}, pages = {252 -- 263}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Eolian dust is a significant source of iron and other nutrients that are essential for the health of marine ecosystems and potentially a controlling factor of the high nutrient-low chlorophyll status of the Subarctic North Pacific. We map the spatial distribution of dust input using three different geochemical tracers of eolian dust, He-4, Th-232 and rare earth elements, in combination with grain size distribution data, from a set of core-top sediments covering the entire Subarctic North Pacific. Using the suite of geochemical proxies to fingerprint different lithogenic components, we deconvolve eolian dust input from other lithogenic inputs such as volcanic ash, ice-rafted debris, riverine and hemipelagic input. While the open ocean sites far away from the volcanic arcs are dominantly composed of pure eolian dust, lithogenic components other than eolian dust play a more crucial role along the arcs. In sites dominated by dust, eolian dust input appears to be characterized by a nearly uniform grain size mode at similar to 4 mu m. Applying the Th-230-normalization technique, our proxies yield a consistent pattern of uniform dust fluxes of 1-2 g/m(2)/yr across the Subarctic North Pacific. Elevated eolian dust fluxes of 2-4 g/m(2)/yr characterize the westernmost region off Japan and the southern Kurile Islands south of 45 degrees N and west of 165 degrees E along the main pathway of the westerly winds. The core-top based dust flux reconstruction is consistent with recent estimates based on dissolved thorium isotope concentrations in seawater from the Subarctic North Pacific. The dust flux pattern compares well with state-of-the-art dust model predictions in the western and central Subarctic North Pacific, but we find that dust fluxes are higher than modeled fluxes by 0.5-1 g/m(2)/yr in the northwest, northeast and eastern Subarctic North Pacific. Our results provide an important benchmark for biogeochemical models and a robust approach for downcore studies testing dust-induced iron fertilization of past changes in biological productivity in the Subarctic North Pacific.}, language = {en} } @article{AgadaChenGeigeretal.2014, author = {Agada, S. and Chen, F. and Geiger, S. and Toigulova, G. and Agar, Susan M. and Shekhar, R. and Benson, Gregory S. and Hehmeyer, O. and Amour, Fr{\´e}d{\´e}ric and Mutti, Maria and Christ, Nicolas and Immenhauser, A.}, title = {Numerical simulation of fluid-flow processes in a 3D high-resolution carbonate reservoir analogue}, series = {Petroleum geoscience}, volume = {20}, journal = {Petroleum geoscience}, number = {1}, publisher = {Geological Soc. Publ. House}, address = {Bath}, issn = {1354-0793}, doi = {10.1144/petgeo2012-096}, pages = {125 -- 142}, year = {2014}, abstract = {A high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) outcrop model of a Jurassic carbonate ramp was used in order to perform a series of detailed and systematic flow simulations. The aim of this study was to test the impact of small- and large-scale geological features on reservoir performance and oil recovery. The digital outcrop model contains a wide range of sedimentological, diagenetic and structural features, including discontinuity surfaces, shoal bodies, mud mounds, oyster bioherms and fractures. Flow simulations are performed for numerical well testing and secondary oil recovery. Numerical well testing enables synthetic but systematic pressure responses to be generated for different geological features observed in the outcrops. This allows us to assess and rank the relative impact of specific geological features on reservoir performance. The outcome documents that, owing to the realistic representation of matrix heterogeneity, most diagenetic and structural features cannot be linked to a unique pressure signature. Instead, reservoir performance is controlled by subseismic faults and oyster bioherms acting as thief zones. Numerical simulations of secondary recovery processes reveal strong channelling of fluid flow into high-permeability layers as the primary control for oil recovery. However, appropriate reservoir-engineering solutions, such as optimizing well placement and injection fluid, can reduce channelling and increase oil recovery.}, language = {en} } @article{ShekharSahniBensonetal.2014, author = {Shekhar, R. and Sahni, I. and Benson, Gregory S. and Agar, Susan M. and Amour, Fr{\´e}d{\´e}ric and Tomas, Sara and Christ, Nicolas and Alway, Robert and Mutti, Maria and Immenhauser, A. and Karcz, Z. and Kabiri, L.}, title = {Modelling and simulation of a Jurassic carbonate ramp outcrop, Amellago, High Atlas Mountains, Morocco}, series = {Petroleum geoscience}, volume = {20}, journal = {Petroleum geoscience}, number = {1}, publisher = {Geological Soc. Publ. House}, address = {Bath}, issn = {1354-0793}, doi = {10.1144/petgeo2013-010}, pages = {109 -- 123}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Carbonate reservoirs pose significant challenges for reservoir modelling and flow prediction due to heterogeneities in rock properties, limits to seismic resolution and limited constraints on subsurface data. Hence, a systematic and streamlined approach is needed to construct geological models and to quickly evaluate key sensitivities in the flow models. This paper discusses results from a reservoir analogue study of a Middle Jurassic carbonate ramp in the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco that has stratigraphic and structural similarities to selected Middle East reservoirs. For this purpose, high-resolution geological models were constructed from the integration of sedimentological, diagenetic and structural studies in the area. The models are approximately 1200 x 1250 m in size, and only faults (no fractures) with offsets greater than 1 m are included. Novel methods have been applied to test the response of flow simulations to the presence or absence of specific geological features, including proxies for hardgrounds, stylolites, patch reefs, and mollusc banks, as a way to guide the level of detail that is suitable for modelling objectives. Our general conclusion from the study is that the continuity of any geological feature with extreme permeability (high or low) has the most significant impact on flow.}, language = {en} } @article{WhitakerFelceBensonetal.2014, author = {Whitaker, F. F. and Felce, G. P. and Benson, Gregory S. and Amour, Fr{\´e}d{\´e}ric and Mutti, Maria and Smart, P. L.}, title = {Simulating flow through forward sediment model stratigraphies: insights into climatic control of reservoir quality in isolated carbonate platforms}, series = {Petroleum geoscience}, volume = {20}, journal = {Petroleum geoscience}, number = {1}, publisher = {Geological Soc. Publ. House}, address = {Bath}, issn = {1354-0793}, doi = {10.1144/petgeo2013-026}, pages = {27 -- 40}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Whilst sophisticated multiphase fluid flow models are routinely employed to understand behaviour of oil and gas reservoirs, high-resolution data describing the three-dimensional (3D) distribution of rock characteristics is rarely available to populate models. We present a new approach to developing a quantitative understanding of the effect of individual controls on the distribution of petrophysical properties and their impact on fluid flow. This involves simulating flow through high-detail permeability architectures generated by forward modelling of the coupled depositional-diagenetic evolution of isolated platforms using CARB3D(+). This workflow is exemplified by an investigation of interactions between subsidence and climate, and their expression in spatial variations in reservoir quality in an isolated carbonate platform of similar size and subsidence history to the Triassic Latemar Platform. Dissolutional lowering during subaerial exposure controls platform-top graininess via platform top hydrodynamics during the subsequent transgression. Dissolved carbonate is reprecipitated as cements by percolating meteoric waters. However, associated subsurface meteoric dissolution generates significant secondary porosity under a more humid climate. Slower subsidence enhances diagenetic overprinting during repeated exposure events. Single-phase streamline simulations show how early diagenesis develops more permeable fairways within the finer-grained condensed units that can act as thief zones for flow from the grainier but less diagenetically altered cyclic units.}, language = {en} } @article{WangHerzschuhLiuetal.2014, author = {Wang, Yongbo and Herzschuh, Ulrike and Liu, Xingqi and Korup, Oliver and Diekmann, Bernhard}, title = {A high-resolution sedimentary archive from landslide-dammed Lake Mengda, north-eastern Tibetan Plateau}, series = {Journal of paleolimnolog}, volume = {51}, journal = {Journal of paleolimnolog}, number = {2}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Dordrecht}, issn = {0921-2728}, doi = {10.1007/s10933-012-9666-6}, pages = {303 -- 312}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Lacustrine sediments have been widely used to investigate past climatic and environmental changes on millennial to seasonal time scales. Sedimentary archives of lakes in mountainous regions may also record non-climatic events such as earthquakes. We argue herein that a set of 64 annual laminae couplets reconciles a stratigraphically inconsistent accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) C-14 chronology in a similar to 4-m-long sediment core from Lake Mengda, in the north-eastern Tibetan Plateau. The laminations suggest the lake was formed by a large landslide, triggered by the 1927 Gulang earthquake (M = 8.0). The lake sediment sequence can be separated into three units based on lithologic, sedimentary, and isotopic characteristics. Starting from the bottom of the sequence, these are: (1) unweathered, coarse, sandy valley-floor deposits or landslide debris that pre-date the lake, (2) landslide-induced, fine-grained soil or reworked landslide debris with a high organic content, and (3) lacustrine sediments with low organic content and laminations. These annual laminations provide a high-resolution record of anthropogenic and environmental changes during the twentieth century, recording enhanced sediment input associated with two phases of construction activities. The high mean sedimentation rates of up to 4.8 mm year(-1) underscore the potential for reconstructing such distinct sediment pulses in remote, forested, and seemingly undisturbed mountain catchments.}, language = {en} } @article{WischnewskiHerzschuhRuehlandetal.2014, author = {Wischnewski, Juliane and Herzschuh, Ulrike and Ruehland, Kathleen M. and Braeuning, Achim and Mischke, Steffen and Smol, John P. and Wang, Lily}, title = {Recent ecological responses to climate variability and human impacts in the Nianbaoyeze Mountains (eastern Tibetan Plateau) inferred from pollen, diatom and tree-ring data}, series = {Journal of paleolimnolog}, volume = {51}, journal = {Journal of paleolimnolog}, number = {2}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Dordrecht}, issn = {0921-2728}, doi = {10.1007/s10933-013-9747-1}, pages = {287 -- 302}, year = {2014}, abstract = {The Tibetan Plateau is a region that is highly sensitive to recent global warming, but the complexity and heterogeneity of its mountainous landscape can result in variable responses. In addition, the scarcity and brevity of regional instrumental and palaeoecological records still hamper our understanding of past and present patterns of environmental change. To investigate how the remote, high-alpine environments of the Nianbaoyeze Mountains, eastern Tibetan Plateau, are affected by climate change and human activity over the last similar to 600 years, we compared regional tree-ring studies with pollen and diatom remains archived in the dated sediments of Dongerwuka Lake (33.22A degrees N, 101.12A degrees E, 4,307 m a.s.l.). In agreement with previous studies from the eastern Tibetan Plateau, a strong coherence between our two juniper-based tree-ring chronologies from the Nianbaoyeze and the Anemaqin Mountains was observed, with pronounced cyclical variations in summer temperature reconstructions. A positive directional trend to warmer summer temperatures in the most recent decades, was, however, not observed in the tree-ring record. Likewise, our pollen and diatom spectra showed minimal change over the investigated time period. Although modest, the most notable change in the diatom relative abundances was a subtle decrease in the dominant planktonic Cyclotella ocellata and a concurrent increase in small, benthic fragilarioid taxa in the similar to 1820s, suggesting higher ecosystem variability. The pollen record subtly indicates three periods of increased cattle grazing activity (similar to 1400-1480 AD, similar to 1630-1760 AD, after 1850 AD), but shows generally no significant vegetation changes during past similar to 600 years. The minimal changes observed in the tree-ring, diatom and pollen records are consistent with the presence of localised cooling centres that are evident in instrumental and tree-ring data within the southeastern and eastern Tibetan Plateau. Given the minor changes in regional temperature records, our complacent palaeoecological profiles suggest that climatically induced ecological thresholds have not yet been crossed in the Nianbaoyeze Mountains region.}, language = {en} } @article{LaiMischkeMadsen2014, author = {Lai, ZhongPing and Mischke, Steffen and Madsen, David}, title = {Paleoenvironmental implications of new OSL dates on the formation of the "Shell Bar" in the Qaidam Basin, northeastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau}, series = {Journal of paleolimnolog}, volume = {51}, journal = {Journal of paleolimnolog}, number = {2}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Dordrecht}, issn = {0921-2728}, doi = {10.1007/s10933-013-9710-1}, pages = {197 -- 210}, year = {2014}, abstract = {A geological feature in the Qaidam Basin known as the "Shell Bar" contains millions of freshwater clam shells buried in situ. Since the 1980s, this feature in the now hyper-arid basin has been interpreted to be lake deposits that provide evidence for a warmer and more humid climate than present during late marine isotope stage 3 (MIS 3). Global climate during late MIS 3 and the last glacial maximum, however, was cold and dry, with much lower sea levels. We re-investigated the feature geomorphologically and sedimentologically, and employed optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating to verify the chronology of the sediments. We interpret the Shell Bar to be a remnant of a river channel formed by a stream that ran across an exposed lake bed during a regressive lake phase. Deflation of the surrounding older, fine-grained lacustrine deposits has left the fluvial channel sediments topographically inverted, indicating the erosive nature of the landscape. Luminescence ages place the formation of the Shell Bar in MIS 5 (similar to 113-99 ka), much older than previous radiocarbon ages of < 40 ka BP, but place the paleoclimatic inferences more in accord with other regional and global climate proxy records. We present a brief review of the age differences derived from C-14 and OSL dating of some critical sections that were thought to represent a warmer and more humid climate than present during late MIS 3. We attribute the differences to underestimation of C-14 ages. We suggest that C-14 ages older than similar to 25 ka BP may require re-investigation, especially dates on samples from arid regions.}, language = {en} } @article{MischkeLaiZhang2014, author = {Mischke, Steffen and Lai, Zhongping and Zhang, Chengjun}, title = {Re-assessment of the paleoclimate implications of the Shell Bar in the Qaidam Basin, China}, series = {Journal of paleolimnolog}, volume = {51}, journal = {Journal of paleolimnolog}, number = {2}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Dordrecht}, issn = {0921-2728}, doi = {10.1007/s10933-012-9674-6}, pages = {179 -- 195}, year = {2014}, abstract = {The Shell Bar in the Qaidam Basin, China, is a prominent geological feature composed of millions of densely packed Corbicula shells. Since the mid 1980s, it has been regarded as evidence for existence of a large lake during Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 3 in the presently hyper-arid Qaidam Basin. Early studies suggested the bivalve shells accumulated at the shore of a large lake, whereas more recent work led to the conclusion that the Shell Bar was formed within a deeper water body. Based on our re-assessment of sediments and fossils from the Shell Bar, investigation of exposed fluvio-lacustrine sections upstream of the Shell Bar and study of nearby modern streams, we infer that the Shell Bar represents a stream deposit. Corbicula is a typical stream-dweller around the world. Preservation of Corbicula shells of different sizes, as well as occurrence of many articulated shells, provide evidence against post-mortem transport and accumulation along a lake shore. Additionally, the SE-NW alignment of the Shell Bar is similar to modern intermittent stream beds in its vicinity and corresponds to the present-day slope towards the basin centre further NW, and furthermore, the predominantly sandy sediments also indicate that the Shell Bar was formed in a stream. Abundant ostracod shells in the Shell Bar sediments originated from stream-dwelling species that are abundant in modern streams in the vicinity of the Shell Bar, or in part from fluvio-lacustrine sediments exposed upstream of the Shell Bar, as a result of erosion and re-deposition. Deflation of alluvial fine-grained sediments in the Shell Bar region and protection of the stream deposits by the large and thick-walled Corbicula shells reversed the former channel relief and yielded the modern exposure, which is a prominent morphological feature. Occurrence of Corbicula shells in the Qaidam Basin indicates climate was apparently warmer than present during the formation of the Shell Bar because Corbicula does not live at similar or higher altitudes in the region today. Because the Shell Bar is no longer considered a deposit formed within a lake, its presence does not indicate paleoclimate conditions wetter than today.}, language = {en} } @unpublished{MischkeChen2014, author = {Mischke, Steffen and Chen, Fahu}, title = {Introduction to "Late Pleistocene and Holocene climate change in continental Asia"}, series = {Journal of paleolimnolog}, volume = {51}, journal = {Journal of paleolimnolog}, number = {2}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Dordrecht}, issn = {0921-2728}, doi = {10.1007/s10933-013-9750-6}, pages = {157 -- 159}, year = {2014}, language = {en} } @article{SommerKalbeEkstrometal.2014, author = {Sommer, Robert S. and Kalbe, Johannes and Ekstrom, Jonas and Benecke, Norbert and Liljegren, Ronnie}, title = {Range dynamics of the reindeer in Europe during the last 25,000 years}, series = {Journal of biogeography}, volume = {41}, journal = {Journal of biogeography}, number = {2}, publisher = {Wiley-Blackwell}, address = {Hoboken}, issn = {0305-0270}, doi = {10.1111/jbi.12193}, pages = {298 -- 306}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Aim To understand the role and significance of the reindeer, Rangifer tarandus (Linnaeus, 1758), as a specific indicator in terms of late Quaternary biogeography and to determine the effects of global climate change on its range and local extinction dynamics at the end of the Ice Age. Location Late Pleistocene/early Holocene range of reindeer over all of central and western Europe, including southern Scandinavia and northern Iberia, but excluding Russia, Belarus and the Ukraine. Methods Radiocarbon-dated subfossil records of R. tarandus from both archaeological and natural deposits younger than 25,000 years were assembled in a database. The distribution area was divided into six representative regions. The C-14 dates were calibrated and plotted chronologically in maps in order to compare presence and absence and regional extinction patterns from one region to another. Main conclusions The late Quaternary record for reindeer in Europe during the last 25 kyr shows a climate-driven dispersal and retreat in response to climate change, with regional variations. The collapse of the mammoth steppe biome did not lead to the local extinction in Europe, as in the case of other megafaunal species. Rangifer tarandus co-existed for about 3000 years during the Late Glacial and early Holocene with typical temperate species such as red deer and roe deer in non-analogue faunal communities. The regional extinction at the end of the Pleistocene coincides with the transition from light open birch/pine forests to pine/deciduous forests.}, language = {en} } @article{RumpfTronicke2014, author = {Rumpf, Michael and Tronicke, Jens}, title = {Predicting 2D geotechnical parameter fields in near-surface sedimentary environments}, series = {Journal of applied geophysics}, volume = {101}, journal = {Journal of applied geophysics}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0926-9851}, doi = {10.1016/j.jappgeo.2013.12.002}, pages = {95 -- 107}, year = {2014}, abstract = {For a detailed characterization of near-surface environments, geophysical techniques are increasingly used to support more conventional point-based techniques such as borehole and direct-push logging. Because the underlying parameter relations are often complex, site-specific, or even poorly understood, a remaining challenging task is to link the geophysical parameter models to the actual geotechnical target parameters measured only at selected points. We propose a workflow based on nonparametric regression to establish functional relationships between jointly inverted geophysical parameters and selected geotechnical parameters as measured, for example, by different borehole and direct-push tools. To illustrate our workflow, we present field data collected to characterize a near-surface sedimentary environment Our field data base includes crosshole ground penetrating radar (GPR), seismic P-, and S-wave data sets collected between 25 m deep boreholes penetrating sand- and gravel dominated sediments. Furthermore, different typical borehole and direct-push logs are available. We perform a global joint inversion of traveltimes extracted from the crosshole geophysical data using a recently proposed approach based on particle swarm optimization. Our inversion strategy allows for generating consistent models of GPR, P-wave, and S-wave velocities including an appraisal of uncertainties. We analyze the observed complex relationships between geophysical velocities and target parameter logs using the alternating conditional expectation (ACE) algorithm. This nonparametric statistical tool allows us to perform multivariate regression analysis without assuming a specific functional relation between the variables. We are able to explain selected target parameters such as characteristic grain size values or natural gamma activity by our inverted geophysical data and to extrapolate these parameters to the inter-borehole plane covered by our crosshole experiments. We conclude that the ACE algorithm is a powerful tool to analyze a multivariate petrophysical data base and to develop an understanding of how a multi-parameter geophysical model can be linked and translated to selected geotechnical parameters.}, language = {en} } @article{HermkesKuehnRiggelsen2014, author = {Hermkes, Marcel and K{\"u}hn, Nicolas M. and Riggelsen, Carsten}, title = {Simultaneous quantification of epistemic and aleatory uncertainty in GMPEs using Gaussian process regression}, series = {Bulletin of earthquake engineering : official publication of the European Association for Earthquake Engineering}, volume = {12}, journal = {Bulletin of earthquake engineering : official publication of the European Association for Earthquake Engineering}, number = {1}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Dordrecht}, issn = {1570-761X}, doi = {10.1007/s10518-013-9507-7}, pages = {449 -- 466}, year = {2014}, abstract = {This paper presents a Bayesian non-parametric method based on Gaussian Process (GP) regression to derive ground-motion models for peak-ground parameters and response spectral ordinates. Due to its non-parametric nature there is no need to specify any fixed functional form as in parametric regression models. A GP defines a distribution over functions, which implicitly expresses the uncertainty over the underlying data generating process. An advantage of GP regression is that it is possible to capture the whole uncertainty involved in ground-motion modeling, both in terms of aleatory variability as well as epistemic uncertainty associated with the underlying functional form and data coverage. The distribution over functions is updated in a Bayesian way by computing the posterior distribution of the GP after observing ground-motion data, which in turn can be used to make predictions. The proposed GP regression models is evaluated on a subset of the RESORCE data base for the SIGMA project. The experiments show that GP models have a better generalization error than a simple parametric regression model. A visual assessment of different scenarios demonstrates that the inferred GP models are physically plausible.}, language = {en} } @article{DouglasAkkarAmerietal.2014, author = {Douglas, John and Akkar, Sinan and Ameri, Gabriele and Bard, Pierre-Yves and Bindi, Dino and Bommer, Julian J. and Bora, Sanjay Singh and Cotton, Fabrice and Derras, Boumediene and Hermkes, Marcel and Kuehn, Nicolas Martin and Luzi, Lucia and Massa, Marco and Pacor, Francesca and Riggelsen, Carsten and Sandikkaya, M. Abdullah and Scherbaum, Frank and Stafford, Peter J. and Traversa, Paola}, title = {Comparisons among the five ground-motion models developed using RESORCE for the prediction of response spectral accelerations due to earthquakes in Europe and the Middle East}, series = {Bulletin of earthquake engineering : official publication of the European Association for Earthquake Engineering}, volume = {12}, journal = {Bulletin of earthquake engineering : official publication of the European Association for Earthquake Engineering}, number = {1}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Dordrecht}, issn = {1570-761X}, doi = {10.1007/s10518-013-9522-8}, pages = {341 -- 358}, year = {2014}, abstract = {This article presents comparisons among the five ground-motion models described in other articles within this special issue, in terms of data selection criteria, characteristics of the models and predicted peak ground and response spectral accelerations. Comparisons are also made with predictions from the Next Generation Attenuation (NGA) models to which the models presented here have similarities (e.g. a common master database has been used) but also differences (e.g. some models in this issue are nonparametric). As a result of the differing data selection criteria and derivation techniques the predicted median ground motions show considerable differences (up to a factor of two for certain scenarios), particularly for magnitudes and distances close to or beyond the range of the available observations. The predicted influence of style-of-faulting shows much variation among models whereas site amplification factors are more similar, with peak amplification at around 1s. These differences are greater than those among predictions from the NGA models. The models for aleatory variability (sigma), however, are similar and suggest that ground-motion variability from this region is slightly higher than that predicted by the NGA models, based primarily on data from California and Taiwan.}, language = {en} } @article{DeplazesLueckgeStuutetal.2014, author = {Deplazes, Gaudenz and L{\"u}ckge, Andreas and Stuut, Jan-Berend W. and Paetzold, J{\"u}rgen and Kuhlmann, Holger and Husson, Dorothee and Fant, Mara and Haug, Gerald H.}, title = {Weakening and strengthening of the Indian monsoon during Heinrich events and Dansgaard- Oeschger oscillations}, series = {Paleoceanography}, volume = {29}, journal = {Paleoceanography}, number = {2}, publisher = {American Geophysical Union}, address = {Washington}, issn = {0883-8305}, doi = {10.1002/2013PA002509}, pages = {99 -- 114}, year = {2014}, abstract = {The Dansgaard-Oeschger oscillations and Heinrich events described in North Atlantic sediments and Greenland ice are expressed in the climate of the tropics, for example, as documented in Arabian Sea sediments. Given the strength of this teleconnection, we seek to reconstruct its range of environmental impacts. We present geochemical and sedimentological data from core SO130-289KL from the Indus submarine slope spanning the last similar to 80 kyr. Elemental and grain size analyses consistently indicate that interstadials are characterized by an increased contribution of fluvial suspension from the Indus River. In contrast, stadials are characterized by an increased contribution of aeolian dust from the Arabian Peninsula. Decadal-scale shifts at climate transitions, such as onsets of interstadials, were coeval with changes in productivity-related proxies. Heinrich events stand out as especially dry and dusty events, indicating a dramatically weakened Indian summer monsoon, potentially increased winter monsoon circulation, and increased aridity on the Arabian Peninsula. This finding is consistent with other paleoclimate evidence for continental aridity in the northern tropics during these events. Our results strengthen the evidence that circum-North Atlantic temperature variations translate to hydrological shifts in the tropics, with major impacts on regional environmental conditions such as rainfall, river discharge, aeolian dust transport, and ocean margin anoxia.}, language = {en} } @misc{MacaulaySobelMikolaichuketal.2014, author = {Macaulay, Euan A. and Sobel, Edward and Mikolaichuk, Alexander and Kohn, Barry and Stuart, Finlay M.}, title = {Cenozoic deformation and exhumation history of the Central Kyrgyz Tien Shan}, series = {Tectonics}, volume = {33}, journal = {Tectonics}, number = {2}, publisher = {American Geophysical Union}, address = {Washington}, issn = {0278-7407}, doi = {10.1002/2013TC003376}, pages = {135 -- 165}, year = {2014}, abstract = {New low-temperature thermochronological data from 80 samples in eastern Kyrgyzstan are combined with previously published data from 61 samples to constrain exhumation in a number of mountain ranges in the Central Kyrgyz Tien Shan. All sampled ranges are found to have a broadly consistent Cenozoic exhumation history, characterized by initially low cooling rates (<1 degrees C/Myr) followed by a series of increases in exhumation that occurred diachronously across the region in the late Cenozoic that are interpreted to record the onset of deformation in different mountain ranges. Combined with geological estimates for the onset of proximal deformation, our data suggest that the Central Kyrgyz Tien Shan started deforming in the late Oligocene-early Miocene, leading to the development of several, widely spaced mountain ranges separated by large intermontane basins. Subsequently, more ranges have been constructed in response to significant shortening increases across the Central Kyrgyz Tien Shan, notably in the late Miocene. The order of range construction is interpreted to reflect variations in the susceptibility of inherited structures to reactivation. Reactivated structures are also shown to have significance along strike variations in fault vergence and displacement, which have influenced the development and growth of individual mountain ranges. Moreover, the timing of deformation allows the former extent of many intermontane basins that have since been partitioned to be inferred; this can be linked to the highly time-transgressive onset of late Cenozoic coarse clastic sedimentation.}, language = {en} } @article{ZimmermannZimmermannTurneretal.2014, author = {Zimmermann, Beate and Zimmermann, Alexander and Turner, Benjamin L. and Francke, Till and Elsenbeer, Helmut}, title = {Connectivity of overland flow by drainage network expansion in a rain forest catchment}, series = {Water resources research}, volume = {50}, journal = {Water resources research}, number = {2}, publisher = {American Geophysical Union}, address = {Washington}, issn = {0043-1397}, doi = {10.1002/2012WR012660}, pages = {1457 -- 1473}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Soils in various places of the Panama Canal Watershed feature a low saturated hydraulic conductivity (K-s) at shallow depth, which promotes overland-flow generation and associated flashy catchment responses. In undisturbed forests of these areas, overland flow is concentrated in flow lines that extend the channel network and provide hydrological connectivity between hillslopes and streams. To understand the dynamics of overland-flow connectivity, as well as the impact of connectivity on catchment response, we studied an undisturbed headwater catchment by monitoring overland-flow occurrence in all flow lines and discharge, suspended sediment, and total phosphorus at the catchment outlet. We find that connectivity is strongly influenced by seasonal variation in antecedent wetness and can develop even under light rainfall conditions. Connectivity increased rapidly as rainfall frequency increased, eventually leading to full connectivity and surficial drainage of entire hillslopes. Connectivity was nonlinearly related to catchment response. However, additional information on factors such as overland-flow volume would be required to constrain relationships between connectivity, stormflow, and the export of suspended sediment and phosphorus. The effort to monitor those factors would be substantial, so we advocate applying the established links between rain event characteristics, drainage network expansion by flow lines, and catchment response for predictive modeling and catchment classification in forests of the Panama Canal Watershed and in similar regions elsewhere.}, language = {en} } @article{FerreroBragaBerkesietal.2014, author = {Ferrero, Silvio and Braga, R. and Berkesi, M. and Cesare, Bernardo and Ouazaa, N. Laridhi}, title = {Production of metaluminous melt during fluid-present anatexis: an example from the Maghrebian basement, La Galite Archipelago, central Mediterranean}, series = {Journal of metamorphic geology}, volume = {32}, journal = {Journal of metamorphic geology}, number = {2}, publisher = {Wiley-Blackwell}, address = {Hoboken}, issn = {0263-4929}, doi = {10.1111/jmg.12068}, pages = {209 -- 225}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Garnet brought to the surface by late Miocene granitoids at La Galite Archipelago (Central Mediterranean, Tunisia) contains abundant primary melt and fluid inclusions. Microstructural observations and mineral chemistry define the host garnet as a peritectic phase produced by biotite incongruent melting at ~800 degrees C and 0.5GPa, under fluid-present conditions. The trapped melt is leucogranitic with an unexpected metaluminous and almost peralkaline character. Fluid inclusions are one phase at room temperature, and contain a CO2-dominated fluid, with minor H2O, N-2 and CH4. Siderite and an OH-bearing phase were identified by Raman and IR spectroscopy within every analysed inclusion, and are interpreted as products of a post-entrapment carbonation/hydration reaction between the fluid and the host during cooling. The fluid present during anatexis is therefore inferred to have been originally richer in both H2O and CO2. The production of anatectic melt with a metaluminous signature can be explained as the result of partial melting of relatively Al-poor protoliths assisted by CO2-rich fluids.}, language = {en} } @article{ScherlerBookhagenStrecker2014, author = {Scherler, Dirk and Bookhagen, Bodo and Strecker, Manfred}, title = {Tectonic control on Be-10-derived erosion rates in the Garhwal Himalaya, India}, series = {Journal of geophysical research : Earth surface}, volume = {119}, journal = {Journal of geophysical research : Earth surface}, number = {2}, publisher = {American Geophysical Union}, address = {Washington}, issn = {2169-9003}, doi = {10.1002/2013JF002955}, pages = {83 -- 105}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Erosion in the Himalaya is responsible for one of the greatest mass redistributions on Earth and has fueled models of feedback loops between climate and tectonics. Although the general trends of erosion across the Himalaya are reasonably well known, the relative importance of factors controlling erosion is less well constrained. Here we present 25 Be-10-derived catchment-averaged erosion rates from the Yamuna catchment in the Garhwal Himalaya, northern India. Tributary erosion rates range between similar to 0.1 and 0.5mmyr(-1) in the Lesser Himalaya and similar to 1 and 2mmyr(-1) in the High Himalaya, despite uniform hillslope angles. The erosion-rate data correlate with catchment-averaged values of 5 km radius relief, channel steepness indices, and specific stream power but to varying degrees of nonlinearity. Similar nonlinear relationships and coefficients of determination suggest that topographic steepness is the major control on the spatial variability of erosion and that twofold to threefold differences in annual runoff are of minor importance in this area. Instead, the spatial distribution of erosion in the study area is consistent with a tectonic model in which the rock uplift pattern is largely controlled by the shortening rate and the geometry of the Main Himalayan Thrust fault (MHT). Our data support a shallow dip of the MHT underneath the Lesser Himalaya, followed by a midcrustal ramp underneath the High Himalaya, as indicated by geophysical data. Finally, analysis of sample results from larger main stem rivers indicates significant variability of Be-10-derived erosion rates, possibly related to nonproportional sediment supply from different tributaries and incomplete mixing in main stem channels.}, language = {en} } @article{MeyerSchwanghartKorupetal.2014, author = {Meyer, Nele Kristin and Schwanghart, Wolfgang and Korup, Oliver and Romstad, Bard and Etzelmuller, Bernd}, title = {Estimating the topographic predictability of debris flows}, series = {Geomorphology : an international journal on pure and applied geomorphology}, volume = {207}, journal = {Geomorphology : an international journal on pure and applied geomorphology}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0169-555X}, doi = {10.1016/j.geomorph.2013.10.030}, pages = {114 -- 125}, year = {2014}, abstract = {The Norwegian traffic network is impacted by about 2000 landslides, avalanches, and debris flows each year that incur high economic losses. Despite the urgent need to mitigate future losses, efforts to locate potential debris flow source areas have been rare at the regional scale. We tackle this research gap by exploring a minimal set of possible topographic predictors of debris flow initiation that we input to a Weights-of-Evidence (WofE) model for mapping the regional susceptibility to debris flows in western Norway. We use an inventory of 429 debris flows that were recorded between 1979 and 2008, and use the terrain variables of slope, total curvature, and contributing area (flow accumulation) to compute the posterior probabilities of local debris flow occurrence. The novelty of our approach is that we quantify the uncertainties in the WofE approach arising from different predictor classification schemes and data input, while estimating model accuracy and predictive performance from independent test data. Our results show that a percentile-based classification scheme excels over a manual classification of the predictor variables because differing abundances in manually defined bins reduce the reliability of the conditional independence tests, a key, and often neglected, prerequisite for the WofE method. The conditional dependence between total curvature and flow accumulation precludes their joint use in the model. Slope gradient has the highest true positive rate (88\%), although the fraction of area classified as susceptible is very large (37\%). The predictive performance, i.e. the reduction of false positives, is improved when combined with either total curvature or flow accumulation. Bootstrapping shows that the combination of slope and flow accumulation provides more reliable predictions than the combination of slope and total curvature, and helps refining the use of slope-area plots for identifying morphometric fingerprints of debris flow source areas, an approach used outside the field of landslide susceptibility assessments.}, language = {en} } @article{LevAlmogiLabinMischkeetal.2014, author = {Lev, L. and Almogi-Labin, Ahuva and Mischke, Steffen and Ito, E. and Ben-Avraham, Zvi and Stein, M.}, title = {Paleohydrology of Lake Kinneret during the Heinrich event H2}, series = {Palaeogeography, palaeoclimatology, palaeoecology : an international journal for the geo-sciences}, volume = {396}, journal = {Palaeogeography, palaeoclimatology, palaeoecology : an international journal for the geo-sciences}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0031-0182}, doi = {10.1016/j.palaeo.2014.01.005}, pages = {183 -- 193}, year = {2014}, abstract = {During the last glacial period lake Kinneret (the Sea of Galilee) fluctuated between high and low water levels reflecting the hydrological conditions of the lake watershed. Here, we focus on the hydrology of the lake after its retreat from the last glacial MIS2 (similar to 27-25 ka BP) highest stand of similar to 170 m below mean sea level (m bsl) to the low stand of similar to 214 m bsl at similar to 24-21 ka BP. The limnological-hydrological history of this time interval is recovered from trench and borehole that were dug and drilled in the southwestern shore of the lake at Ohalo-II archeological site. Cyprideis torosa (Ostracoda) recovered from the trench yielded elemental, Sr-87/Sr-86 and delta O-18 isotope data that provide information on the shore environment during the low stand period. The Sr-87/Sr-86 and Sr/Ca ratios in the ostracods, varying between similar to 0.70789 and similar to 0.70815 and 0.0017 and 0.0030, respectively indicate contributions of waters from the last glacial lake and regional runoff. The increase in the Sr-87/Sr-86 ratios reflects the decreasing effect of the last glacial Lake Kinneret waters and enhanced contribution of local runoff that washed down dried mountain soils that were previously developed during the wet and vegetated glacial. The lake retreat at similar to 24 ka BP coincided with the Heinrich event H2 at the northern Atlantic. H2 was expressed by severe aridity in Lake Kinneret-Dead Sea watershed. The limnological-hydrological change at post H2 was accompanied by 2\% decrease in the delta O-18 value from -2\% to -4\% reflecting the change in the composition of the east Mediterranean rain sources. The last glacial lake Sr-87/Sr-86 ratio is similar to the Tiberias Spa saline waters and distinctly different from the modern Lake Kinneret fresh waters: Sr-87/Sr-86 similar to 0.70785 compared to similar to 0.70760, respectively. This difference is explained by enhanced contribution of Ca-chloride brines with high Sr-87/Sr-86 values to the last glacial lake and reduced Jordan River contribution due to cold freezing conditions at its headwaters, while the modern Lake Kinneret is more affected by low Sr-87/Sr-86 freshwater from the Jordan watershed.}, language = {en} } @article{JungingerRollerOlakaetal.2014, author = {Junginger, Annett and Roller, Sybille and Olaka, Lydia A. and Trauth, Martin H.}, title = {The effects of solar irradiation changes on the migration of the Congo Air Boundary and water levels of paleo-Lake Suguta, Northern Kenya Rift, during the African Humid Period (15-5 ka BP)}, series = {Palaeogeography, palaeoclimatology, palaeoecology : an international journal for the geo-sciences}, volume = {396}, journal = {Palaeogeography, palaeoclimatology, palaeoecology : an international journal for the geo-sciences}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0031-0182}, doi = {10.1016/j.palaeo.2013.12.007}, pages = {1 -- 16}, year = {2014}, abstract = {The water-level record from the 300 m deep paleo-lake Suguta (Northern Kenya Rift) during the African Humid Period (AHP, 15-5 ka BP) helps to explain decadal to centennial intensity variations in the West African Monsoon (WAM) and the Indian Summer Monsoon (ISM). This water-level record was derived from three different sources: (1) grain size variations in radiocarbon dated and reservoir corrected lacustrine sediments, (2) the altitudes and ages of paleo-shorelines within the basin, and (3) the results of hydro-balance modeling, providing important insights into the character of water level variations (abrupt or gradual) in the amplifier paleo-Lake Suguta. The results of these comprehensive analyses suggest that the AHP highstand in the Suguta Valley was the direct consequence of a northeastwards shift in the Congo Air Boundary (CAB), which was in turn caused by an enhanced atmospheric pressure gradient between East Africa and India during a northern hemisphere insolation maximum. Rapidly decreasing water levels of up to 90 m over less than a hundred years are best explained by changes in solar irradiation either reducing the East African-Indian atmospheric pressure gradient and preventing the CAB from reaching the study area, or reducing the overall humidity in the atmosphere, or a combination of both these effects. In contrast, although not well documented in our record we hypothesize a gradual end of the AHP despite an abrupt change in the source of precipitation when a decreasing pressure gradient between Asia and Africa prevented the CAB from reaching the Suguta Valley. The abruptness was probably buffered by a contemporaneous change in precession producing an insolation maximum at the equator during October. Whether or not this is the case, the water-level record from the Suguta Valley demonstrates the importance of both orbitally-controlled insolation variations and short-term changes in solar irradiation as factors affecting the significant water level variations in East African rift lakes.}, language = {en} } @unpublished{SchefflerOberhaensliPourteauetal.2014, author = {Scheffler, Franziska and Oberh{\"a}nsli, Roland and Pourteau, Amaury and Candan, Osman and Di Lucia, Matteo}, title = {The rosetta marbles from feslegen, A-ren unit, SW Anatolia}, series = {International journal of earth sciences}, volume = {103}, journal = {International journal of earth sciences}, number = {2}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {New York}, issn = {1437-3254}, doi = {10.1007/s00531-013-0936-y}, pages = {485 -- 486}, year = {2014}, language = {en} } @article{CescaSenDahm2014, author = {Cesca, Simone and Sen, Ali Tolga and Dahm, Torsten}, title = {Seismicity monitoring by cluster analysis of moment tensors}, series = {Geophysical journal international}, volume = {196}, journal = {Geophysical journal international}, number = {3}, publisher = {Oxford Univ. Press}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {0956-540X}, doi = {10.1093/gji/ggt492}, pages = {1813 -- 1826}, year = {2014}, abstract = {We suggest a new clustering approach to classify focal mechanisms from large moment tensor catalogues, with the purpose of automatically identify families of earthquakes with similar source geometry, recognize the orientation of most active faults, and detect temporal variations of the rupture processes. The approach differs in comparison to waveform similarity methods since clusters are detected even if they occur in large spatial distances. This approach is particularly helpful to analyse large moment tensor catalogues, as in microseismicity applications, where a manual analysis and classification is not feasible. A flexible algorithm is here proposed: it can handle different metrics, norms, and focal mechanism representations. In particular, the method can handle full moment tensor or constrained source model catalogues, for which different metrics are suggested. The method can account for variable uncertainties of different moment tensor components. We verify the method with synthetic catalogues. An application to real data from mining induced seismicity illustrates possible applications of the method and demonstrate the cluster detection and event classification performance with different moment tensor catalogues. Results proof that main earthquake source types occur on spatially separated faults, and that temporal changes in the number and characterization of focal mechanism clusters are detected. We suggest that moment tensor clustering can help assessing time dependent hazard in mines.}, language = {en} } @article{GrigoliCescaAmorosoetal.2014, author = {Grigoli, Francesco and Cesca, Simone and Amoroso, Ortensia and Emolo, Antonio and Zollo, Aldo and Dahm, Torsten}, title = {Automated seismic event location by waveform coherence analysis}, series = {Geophysical journal international}, volume = {196}, journal = {Geophysical journal international}, number = {3}, publisher = {Oxford Univ. Press}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {0956-540X}, doi = {10.1093/gji/ggt477}, pages = {1742 -- 1753}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Automated location of seismic events is a very important task in microseismic monitoring operations as well for local and regional seismic monitoring. Since microseismic records are generally characterized by low signal-to-noise ratio, automated location methods are requested to be noise robust and sufficiently accurate. Most of the standard automated location routines are based on the automated picking, identification and association of the first arrivals of P and S waves and on the minimization of the residuals between theoretical and observed arrival times of the considered seismic phases. Although current methods can accurately pick P onsets, the automatic picking of the S onset is still problematic, especially when the P coda overlaps the S wave onset. In this paper, we propose a picking free earthquake location method based on the use of the short-term-average/long-term-average (STA/LTA) traces at different stations as observed data. For the P phases, we use the STA/LTA traces of the vertical energy function, whereas for the S phases, we use the STA/LTA traces of a second characteristic function, which is obtained using the principal component analysis technique. In order to locate the seismic event, we scan the space of possible hypocentral locations and origin times, and stack the STA/LTA traces along the theoretical arrival time surface for both P and S phases. Iterating this procedure on a 3-D grid, we retrieve a multidimensional matrix whose absolute maximum corresponds to the spatial coordinates of the seismic event. A pilot application was performed in the Campania-Lucania region (southern Italy) using a seismic network (Irpinia Seismic Network) with an aperture of about 150 km. We located 196 crustal earthquakes (depth < 20 km) with magnitude range 1.1 < M-L < 2.7. A subset of these locations were compared with accurate manual locations refined by using a double-difference technique. Our results indicate a good agreement with manual locations. Moreover, our method is noise robust and performs better than classical location methods based on the automatic picking of the P and S waves first arrivals.}, language = {en} } @article{Tu2014, author = {Tu, Rui}, title = {Fast determination of displacement by PPP velocity estimation}, series = {Geophysical journal international}, volume = {196}, journal = {Geophysical journal international}, number = {3}, publisher = {Oxford Univ. Press}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {0956-540X}, doi = {10.1093/gji/ggt480}, pages = {1397 -- 1401}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Global Positioning System (GPS) has been proven to be an effective tool to retrieve high-precision displacement for the natural hazard monitoring. The network positioning and Precise Point Positioning (PPP) are the two basic approaches for its data solution, but the former one can only get a relative displacement within the local reference frame and requires a complex and continuously linked infrastructure, and the latter one with a long convergence time to obtain the absolute displacements within the global reference frame. To overcome these drawbacks, this paper proposed a method of fast determining the displacement by PPP velocity estimation (PPPVE). The key of the approach is that the velocity vector parameters are not correlated with other unknown parameters, such as ambiguities and atmosphere, so they can be fast and accurately estimated and integrated into displacements. The validation shows that the displacement can be provided with a precision of 1-2 cm in 1 min by PPPVE. In additional, the Kalman smoothing estimation can be used to improve the PPP solution.}, language = {en} } @article{WeidingerKorupMunacketal.2014, author = {Weidinger, Johannes T. and Korup, Oliver and Munack, Henry and Altenberger, Uwe and Dunning, Stuart A. and Tippelt, Gerold and Lottermoser, Werner}, title = {Giant rockslides from the inside}, series = {Earth \& planetary science letters}, volume = {389}, journal = {Earth \& planetary science letters}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0012-821X}, doi = {10.1016/j.epsl.2013.12.017}, pages = {62 -- 73}, year = {2014}, abstract = {The growing body of research on large-scale mass wasting events so far has only scarcely investigated the sedimentology of chaotic deposits from non-volcanic terrestrial landslides such that any overarching and systematic terminological framework remains elusive. Yet recent work has emphasized the need for better understanding the internal structure and composition of rockslide deposits as a means to characterise the mechanics during the final stages of runout and emplacement. We offer a comprehensive overview on the occurrence of rock fragmentation and frictional melt both at different geographic locations, and different sections within large (>10(6) m(3)) rockslide masses. We argue that exposures of pervasively fragmented and interlocked jigsaw-cracked rock masses; basal melange containing rip-up clasts and phantom blocks; micro-breccia; and thin bands of basal frictionite are indispensable clues for identifying deposits from giant rockslides that may remain morphologically inconspicuous otherwise. These sedimentary assemblages are diagnostic tools for distinguishing large rockslide debris from macro and microscopically similar glacial deposits, tectonic fault-zone breccias, and impact breccias, and thus help avoid palaeoclimatic and tectonic misinterpretations, let alone misestimates of the hazard from giant rockslides. Moreover, experimental results from Mossbauer spectroscopy of frictionite samples support visual interpretations of thin sections, and demonstrate that short-lived (<10 s) friction-induced partial melting at temperatures >1500 degrees C in the absence of water occurred at the base of several giant moving rockslides. This finding supports previous theories of dry excess runout accompanied by comminution of rock masses down to gm-scale, and indicates that catastrophic motion of large fragmenting rock masses does not require water as a potential lubricant.}, language = {en} } @article{RiggelsenOhrnberger2014, author = {Riggelsen, Carsten and Ohrnberger, Matthias}, title = {A machine learning approach for improving the detection capabilities at 3C Seismic Stations}, series = {Pure and applied geophysics}, volume = {171}, journal = {Pure and applied geophysics}, number = {3-5}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Basel}, issn = {0033-4553}, doi = {10.1007/s00024-012-0592-3}, pages = {395 -- 411}, year = {2014}, abstract = {We apply and evaluate a recent machine learning method for the automatic classification of seismic waveforms. The method relies on Dynamic Bayesian Networks (DBN) and supervised learning to improve the detection capabilities at 3C seismic stations. A time-frequency decomposition provides the basis for the required signal characteristics we need in order to derive the features defining typical "signal" and "noise" patterns. Each pattern class is modeled by a DBN, specifying the interrelationships of the derived features in the time-frequency plane. Subsequently, the models are trained using previously labeled segments of seismic data. The DBN models can now be compared against in order to determine the likelihood of new incoming seismic waveform segments to be either signal or noise. As the noise characteristics of seismic stations varies smoothly in time (seasonal variation as well as anthropogenic influence), we accommodate in our approach for a continuous adaptation of the DBN model that is associated with the noise class. Given the difficulty for obtaining a golden standard for real data (ground truth) the proof of concept and evaluation is shown by conducting experiments based on 3C seismic data from the International Monitoring Stations, BOSA and LPAZ.}, language = {en} } @article{HinkelLinckeVafeidisetal.2014, author = {Hinkel, Jochen and Lincke, Daniel and Vafeidis, Athanasios T. and Perrette, Mah{\´e} and Nicholls, Robert James and Tol, Richard S. J. and Marzeion, Ben and Fettweis, Xavier and Ionescu, Cezar and Levermann, Anders}, title = {Coastal flood damage and adaptation costs under 21st century sea-level rise}, series = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {111}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, number = {9}, publisher = {National Acad. of Sciences}, address = {Washington}, issn = {0027-8424}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.1222469111}, pages = {3292 -- 3297}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Coastal flood damage and adaptation costs under 21st century sea-level rise are assessed on a global scale taking into account a wide range of uncertainties in continental topography data, population data, protection strategies, socioeconomic development and sea-level rise. Uncertainty in global mean and regional sea level was derived from four different climate models from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5, each combined with three land-ice scenarios based on the published range of contributions from ice sheets and glaciers. Without adaptation, 0.2-4.6\% of global population is expected to be flooded annually in 2100 under 25-123 cm of global mean sea-level rise, with expected annual losses of 0.3-9.3\% of global gross domestic product. Damages of this magnitude are very unlikely to be tolerated by society and adaptation will be widespread. The global costs of protecting the coast with dikes are significant with annual investment and maintenance costs of US\$ 12-71 billion in 2100, but much smaller than the global cost of avoided damages even without accounting for indirect costs of damage to regional production supply. Flood damages by the end of this century are much more sensitive to the applied protection strategy than to variations in climate and socioeconomic scenarios as well as in physical data sources (topography and climate model). Our results emphasize the central role of long-term coastal adaptation strategies. These should also take into account that protecting large parts of the developed coast increases the risk of catastrophic consequences in the case of defense failure.}, language = {en} } @article{NguyenNghiaHungDelgadoGuentneretal.2014, author = {Nguyen Nghia Hung, and Delgado, Jos{\´e} Miguel Martins and G{\"u}ntner, Andreas and Merz, Bruno and Bardossy, Andras and Apel, Heiko}, title = {Sedimentation in the floodplains of the Mekong Delta, Vietnam Part II: deposition and erosion}, series = {Hydrological processes}, volume = {28}, journal = {Hydrological processes}, number = {7}, publisher = {Wiley-Blackwell}, address = {Hoboken}, issn = {0885-6087}, doi = {10.1002/hyp.9855}, pages = {3145 -- 3160}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Deposition and erosion play a key role in the determination of the sediment budget of a river basin, as well as for floodplain sedimentation. Floodplain sedimentation, in turn, is a relevant factor for the design of flood protection measures, productivity of agro-ecosystems, and for ecological rehabilitation plans. In the Mekong Delta, erosion and deposition are important factors for geomorphological processes like the compensation of deltaic subsidence as well as for agricultural productivity. Floodplain deposition is also counteracting the increasing climate change induced hazard by sea level rise in the delta. Despite this importance, a sediment database of the Mekong Delta is lacking, and the knowledge about erosion and deposition processes is limited. In the Vietnamese part of the Delta, the annually flooded natural floodplains have been replaced by a dense system of channels, dikes, paddy fields, and aquaculture ponds, resulting in floodplain compartments protected by ring dikes. The agricultural productivity depends on the sediment and associated nutrient input to the floodplains by the annual floods. However, no quantitative information regarding their sediment trapping efficiency has been reported yet. The present study investigates deposition and erosion based on intensive field measurements in three consecutive years (2008, 2009, and 2010). Optical backscatter sensors are used in combination with sediment traps for interpreting deposition and erosion processes in different locations. In our study area, the mean calculated deposition rate is 6.86kg/m(2) (approximate to 6mm/year). The key parameters for calculating erosion and deposition are estimated, i.e. the critical bed shear stress for deposition and erosion and the surface constant erosion rate. The bulk of the floodplain sediment deposition is found to occur during the initial stage of floodplain inundation. This finding has direct implications on the operation of sluice gates in order to optimize sediment input and distribution in the floodplains.}, language = {en} } @article{NguyenNghiaHungDelgadoGuentneretal.2014, author = {Nguyen Nghia Hung, and Delgado, Jos{\´e} Miguel Martins and G{\"u}ntner, Andreas and Merz, Bruno and Bardossy, Andras and Apel, Heiko}, title = {Sedimentation in the floodplains of the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Part I: suspended sediment dynamics}, series = {Hydrological processes}, volume = {28}, journal = {Hydrological processes}, number = {7}, publisher = {Wiley-Blackwell}, address = {Hoboken}, issn = {0885-6087}, doi = {10.1002/hyp.9856}, pages = {3132 -- 3144}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Suspended sediment is the primary source for a sustainable agro-ecosystem in the Mekong Delta by providing nutrient input for the subsequent cropping season. In addition, the suspended sediment concentration (SSC) plays an important role in the erosion and deposition processes in the Delta; that is, it influences the morphologic development and may counteract the deltaic subsidence and sea level rise. Despite this importance, little is known about the dynamics of suspended sediment in the floodplains of the Mekong Delta. In particular, quantitative analyses are lacking mainly because of data scarcity with respect to the inundation processes in the floodplains. In 2008, therefore, a comprehensive in situ system to monitor the dynamics of suspended sediment in a study area located in the Plain of Reeds was established, aiming at the characterization and quantification of suspended sediment dynamics in the deeply inundated parts of the Vietnamese part of the Mekong Delta. The monitoring system was equipped with seven water quality-monitoring stations. They have a robust design and autonomous power supply suitable for operation on inundated floodplains, enabling the collection of reliable data over a long period of time with a high temporal resolution. The data analysis shows that the general seasonal dynamics of suspended sediment transport in the Delta is controlled by two main mechanisms: the flood wave of the Mekong River and the tidal backwater influences from the coast. In the channel network, SSC decreases exponentially with distance from the Mekong River. The anthropogenic influence on SSC could also be identified for two periods: at the start of the floodplain inundation and at the end of the flood period, when subsequent paddy rice crops are prepared. Based on the results, we recommend an operation scheme for the sluice gates, which intends to distribute the sediment and thus the nutrients equally over the floodplain.}, language = {en} } @article{MessmerElsenbeerWilcke2014, author = {Messmer, Tobias and Elsenbeer, Helmut and Wilcke, Wolfgang}, title = {High exchangeable calcium concentrations in soils on Barro Colorado Island, Panama}, series = {Geoderma : an international journal of soil science}, volume = {217}, journal = {Geoderma : an international journal of soil science}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0016-7061}, doi = {10.1016/j.geoderma.2013.10.021}, pages = {212 -- 224}, year = {2014}, abstract = {The soils on four lithologies (basaltic conglomerates, Bohio; Andesite; volcanoclastic sediments with basaltic agglomerates, Caimito volcanic; foraminiferal limestone, Caimito marine) on Barro Colorado Island (BCI have high exchangeable Ca concentrations and cation-exchange capacities (CEC) compared to other tropical soils on similar parent material. In the 0-10 cm layer of 24 mineral soils, pH values ranged from 5.7 (Caimito volcanic and Andesite) to 6.5 (Caimito marine), concentrations of exchangeable Ca from 134 mmol(c) kg(-1) (Caimito volcanic) to 585 mmolc kg-1 (Caimito marine), and cation exchange capacities from 317 mmol(c) kg(-1) (Caimito volcanic) to 933 mmol(c) kg(-1) (Caimito marine). X-ray diffractometry of the fraction <2 mu m revealed that smectites dominated the clay mineral assemblage in soil except on Caimito volcanic, where kaolinite was the dominant clay mineral. Exchangeable Ca concentrations decreased with increasing soil depth except on Caimito marine. The weathering indices Chemical Index of Alteration (CIA), Plagioclase Index of Alteration (PIA) and Weathering Index of Parker (WIP) determined for five soils on all geological formations, suggested that in contrast to expectation the topsoil (0-10 cm) appeared to be the least and the subsoil (50-70 cm) and saprolite (isomorphically weathered rock in the soil matrix) the most weathered. Additionally, the weathering indices indicated depletion of base cations and enrichment of Al-(hydr)oxides throughout the soil profile. Tree species did not have an effect on soil properties. Impeded leaching and the related occurrence of overland flow seem to be important in determining clay mineralogy. Our results suggest that (i) edaphic conditions favor the formation of smectites on most lithologies resulting in high CEC and thus high retention capacity for Ca and (ii) that there is an external source such as dust or sea spray deposition supplying Ca to the soils.}, language = {en} } @article{SchibalskiLehtonenSchroeder2014, author = {Schibalski, Anett and Lehtonen, Aleksi and Schroeder, Boris}, title = {Climate change shifts environmental space and limits transferability of treeline models}, series = {Ecography : pattern and diversity in ecology ; research papers forum}, volume = {37}, journal = {Ecography : pattern and diversity in ecology ; research papers forum}, number = {4}, publisher = {Wiley-Blackwell}, address = {Hoboken}, issn = {0906-7590}, doi = {10.1111/j.1600-0587.2013.00368.x}, pages = {321 -- 335}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Our study aims at gaining insights into the processes determining the current treeline dynamics in Finnish Lapland. Using forest surveys conducted in 1978 and 2003 we modelled the occurrence and abundance of three dominant tree species in Finnish Lapland, i.e. Pinus sylvestris, Picea abies and Betula pubescens, with boosted regression trees. We assessed the importance of climatic, biotic and topographic variables in predicting tree occurrence and abundance based on their relative importance and response curves. We compared temporal and spatial transferability by using an extended transferability index. Site fertility, the abundance of co-occurring species and growing degree days were generally the most important predictors for both occurrence and abundance across all species and datasets. Climatic predictors were more important for modelling occurrences than for modelling abundances. Occurrence models were able to reproduce the observed treeline pattern within one time period or region. Abundance models underestimated basal area but captured the general pattern of low and high values. Model performance as well as transferability differed considerably between species and datasets. Pinus sylvestris was modelled more successfully than P. abies and B. pubescens. Generally, spatial transferability was greater than temporal transferability. Comparing the environmental space between datasets revealed that transferring models means extrapolating to novel environments, providing a plausible explanation for limited transferability. Our study illustrates how climate change can shift the environmental space and lead to limited model transferability. We identified non-climatic factors to be important in predicting the distribution of dominant tree species, contesting the widespread assumption of climatically induced range expansion.}, language = {en} } @article{HayesAndersonFleisheretal.2014, author = {Hayes, Christopher T. and Anderson, Robert F. and Fleisher, Martin Q. and Serno, Sascha and Winckler, Gisela and Gersonde, Rainer}, title = {Biogeography in Pa-231/Th-230 ratios and a balanced Pa-231 budget for the Pacific Ocean}, series = {Earth \& planetary science letters}, volume = {391}, journal = {Earth \& planetary science letters}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0012-821X}, doi = {10.1016/j.epsl.2014.02.001}, pages = {307 -- 318}, year = {2014}, abstract = {The ratio of unsupported protactinium-231 to thorium-230 in marine sediments, (Pa/Th)(xs), is potentially sensitive to several processes of oceanographic and climatological interest: deep ocean circulation, marine biological productivity (as it relates to total particle flux) and particle composition (specifically, biogenic opal and authigenic Mn). In order to attribute variations in (Pa/Th)(xs) observed in sediment records to changes in specific processes through time, a better understanding of the chemical cycling of these elements in the modern ocean is necessary. To this end, a survey was undertaken of (Pa/Th)(xs) in surface sediments from the subarctic Pacific (SO202-INOPEX expedition) in combination with a Pacific-wide compilation of published data. Throughout the Pacific, (Pa/Th)(xs) is robustly correlated with the opal content of sediments. In the North and equatorial Pacific, simultaneous positive correlations with productivity indicators suggest that boundary scavenging and opal scavenging combine to enhance the removal of Pa in the eastern equatorial Pacific and subarctic Pacific. Deep ocean water mass ageing (>3.5 km) associated with the Pacific overturning appears to play a secondary role in determining the basin scale distribution of (Pa/Th)(xs). A basin-wide extrapolation of Pa removal is performed which suggests that the Pacific Pa budget is nearly in balance. We hypothesize that through time (Pa/Th)(xs) distributions in the Pacific could define the evolving boundaries of contrasting biogeographic provinces in the North Pacific, while the influence of hydrothermal scavenging of Pa potentially confounds this approach in the South Pacific.}, language = {en} } @article{PrasadAnoopRiedeletal.2014, author = {Prasad, Sushma and Anoop, A. and Riedel, N. and Sarkar, Saswati and Menzel, P. and Basavaiah, Nathani and Krishnan, R. and Fuller, D. and Plessen, Birgit and Gaye, B. and Roehl, U. and Wilkes, H. and Sachse, Dirk and Sawant, R. and Wiesner, M. G. and Stebich, M.}, title = {Prolonged monsoon droughts and links to Indo-Pacific warm pool: A Holocene record from Lonar Lake, central India}, series = {Earth \& planetary science letters}, volume = {391}, journal = {Earth \& planetary science letters}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0012-821X}, doi = {10.1016/j.epsl.2014.01.043}, pages = {171 -- 182}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Concerns about the regional impact of global climate change in a warming scenario have highlighted the gaps in our understanding of the Indian Summer Monsoon (ISM, also referred to as the Indian Ocean summer monsoon) and the absence of long term palaeoclimate data from the central Indian core monsoon zone (CMZ). Here we present the first high resolution, well-dated, multiproxy reconstruction of Holocene palaeoclimate from a 10 m long sediment core raised from the Lonar Lake in central India. We show that while the early Holocene onset of-intensified monsoon in the CMZ is similar to that reported from other ISM records, the Lonar data shows two prolonged droughts (PD, multidecadal to centennial periods of weaker monsoon) between 4.6-3.9 and 2-0.6 cal ka. A comparison of our record with available data from other ISM influenced sites shows that the impact of these PD was observed in varying degrees throughout the ISM realm and coincides with intervals of higher solar irradiance. We demonstrate that (i) the regional warming in the Indo-Pacific Warm Pool (IPWP) plays an important role in causing ISM PD through changes in meridional overturning circulation and position of the anomalous Walker cell; (ii) the long term influence of conditions like El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on the ISM began only ca. 2 cal ka BP and is coincident with the warming of the southern IPWP; (iii) the first settlements in central India coincided with the onset of the first PD and agricultural populations flourished between the two PD, highlighting the significance of natural climate variability and PD as major environmental factors affecting human settlements.}, language = {en} } @article{vanSchaikPalmKlausetal.2014, author = {van Schaik, Loes and Palm, Juliane and Klaus, Julian and Zehe, Erwin and Schroeder, Boris}, title = {Linking spatial earthworm distribution to macropore numbers and hydrological effectiveness}, series = {Ecohydrology : ecosystems, land and water process interactions, ecohydrogeomorphology}, volume = {7}, journal = {Ecohydrology : ecosystems, land and water process interactions, ecohydrogeomorphology}, number = {2}, publisher = {Wiley-Blackwell}, address = {Hoboken}, issn = {1936-0584}, doi = {10.1002/eco.1358}, pages = {401 -- 408}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Due to its high spatial and temporal variability, preferential flow is difficult to measure and quantify. Earthworms create macropores that provide common pathways for preferential flow. Therefore in this article, we link earthworm abundance to macropore numbers and hydrological effectiveness, with the future aim to use species distribution models of earthworms for the spatial parameterization of preferential flow. Earthworms are generally categorized into three ecological types with varying burrowing behaviour, resulting in a different impact on soil hydrological processes. Therefore, we studied the relationships between the abundance of the earthworm ecological types and macropores of different size classes and in different soil depths. The abundance and biomass of earthworms were well correlated to different sizes of macropores in different soil depths. This is mainly the case for the larger, vertically oriented macropores (>6mm diameter), which are generally connected to the soil surface and hydrologically most effective. The correlation of total earthworm biomass and macropores ranges from 072 to 089 for different soil depths. Although there is quite some variation in infiltration patterns, infiltration from macropores into the matrix is profile-specific, as it varies strongly between profiles, but not within one profile. Macropore coating seems to have a larger effect on this macropore matrix interaction than the soil physical properties of the matrix. Although the amount of macropores and their effectiveness are clearly related to the earthworm distribution, the variation in infiltration from macropores to soil matrix should be further studied.}, language = {en} } @article{SchroeterKreibichVogeletal.2014, author = {Schroeter, Kai and Kreibich, Heidi and Vogel, Kristin and Riggelsen, Carsten and Scherbaum, Frank and Merz, Bruno}, title = {How useful are complex flood damage models?}, series = {Water resources research}, volume = {50}, journal = {Water resources research}, number = {4}, publisher = {American Geophysical Union}, address = {Washington}, issn = {0043-1397}, doi = {10.1002/2013WR014396}, pages = {3378 -- 3395}, year = {2014}, abstract = {We investigate the usefulness of complex flood damage models for predicting relative damage to residential buildings in a spatial and temporal transfer context. We apply eight different flood damage models to predict relative building damage for five historic flood events in two different regions of Germany. Model complexity is measured in terms of the number of explanatory variables which varies from 1 variable up to 10 variables which are singled out from 28 candidate variables. Model validation is based on empirical damage data, whereas observation uncertainty is taken into consideration. The comparison of model predictive performance shows that additional explanatory variables besides the water depth improve the predictive capability in a spatial and temporal transfer context, i.e., when the models are transferred to different regions and different flood events. Concerning the trade-off between predictive capability and reliability the model structure seem more important than the number of explanatory variables. Among the models considered, the reliability of Bayesian network-based predictions in space-time transfer is larger than for the remaining models, and the uncertainties associated with damage predictions are reflected more completely.}, language = {en} } @article{MarquerGaillardSugitaetal.2014, author = {Marquer, Laurent and Gaillard, Marie-Jose and Sugita, Shinya and Trondman, Anna-Kari and Mazier, Florence and Nielsen, Anne Birgitte and Fyfe, Ralph M. and Odgaard, Bent Vad and Alenius, Teija and Birks, H. John B. and Bjune, Anne E. and Christiansen, J{\"o}rg and Dodson, John and Edwards, Kevin J. and Giesecke, Thomas and Herzschuh, Ulrike and Kangur, Mihkel and Lorenz, Sebastian and Poska, Anneli and Schult, Manuela and Seppa, Heikki}, title = {Holocene changes in vegetation composition in northern Europe: why quantitative pollen-based vegetation reconstructions matter}, series = {Quaternary science reviews : the international multidisciplinary research and review journal}, volume = {90}, journal = {Quaternary science reviews : the international multidisciplinary research and review journal}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {0277-3791}, doi = {10.1016/j.quascirev.2014.02.013}, pages = {199 -- 216}, year = {2014}, abstract = {We present pollen-based reconstructions of the spatio-temporal dynamics of northern European regional vegetation abundance through the Holocene. We apply the Regional Estimates of VEgetation Abundance from Large Sites (REVEALS) model using fossil pollen records from eighteen sites within five modern biomes in the region. The eighteen sites are classified into four time-trajectory types on the basis of principal components analysis of both the REVEALS-based vegetation estimates (RVs) and the pollen percentage (PPs). The four trajectory types are more clearly separated for RVs than PPs. Further, the timing of major Holocene shifts, rates of compositional change, and diversity indices (turnover and evenness) differ between RVs and PPs. The differences are due to the reduction by REVEALS of biases in fossil pollen assemblages caused by different basin size, and inter-taxonomic differences in pollen productivity and dispersal properties. For example, in comparison to the PPs, the RVs show an earlier increase in Corylus and Ulmus in the early-Holocene and a more pronounced increase in grassland and deforested areas since the mid-Holocene. The results suggest that the influence of deforestation and agricultural activities on plant composition and abundance from Neolithic times was stronger than previously inferred from PPs. Relative to PPs, RVs show a more rapid compositional change, a largest decrease in turnover, and less variable evenness in most of northern Europe since 5200 cal yr BP. All these changes are primarily related to the strong impact of human activities on the vegetation. This study demonstrates that RV-based estimates of diversity indices, timing of shifts, and rates of change in reconstructed vegetation provide new insights into the timing and magnitude of major human distribution on Holocene regional, vegetation, feature that are critical in the assessment of human impact on vegetation, land-cover, biodiversity, and climate in the past.}, language = {en} } @article{HohenbrinkLischeid2014, author = {Hohenbrink, Tobias Ludwig and Lischeid, Gunnar}, title = {Texture-depending performance of an in situ method assessing deep seepage}, series = {Journal of hydrology}, volume = {511}, journal = {Journal of hydrology}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0022-1694}, doi = {10.1016/j.jhydrol.2014.01.011}, pages = {61 -- 71}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Deep seepage estimation is important for water balance investigations of groundwater and the vadose zone. A simplified Buckingham-Darcy method to assess time series of deep seepage fluxes was proposed by Schindler and Muller (1998). In the method dynamics of water fluxes are calculated by a soil hydraulic conductivity function. Measured soil moistures and matric heads are used as input data. Resulting time series of flux dynamics are scaled to realistic absolute levels by calibrating the method with the areal water balance. An assumption of the method is that water fluxes at different positions exhibit identical dynamics although their absolute values can differ. The aim of this study was to investigate uncertainties of that method depending on the particle size distribution and textural heterogeneity in non-layered soils. We performed a numerical experiment using the two-dimensional Richards Equation. A basic model of transient water fluxes beneath the root and capillary zone was setup and used to simulate time series of soil moisture, matric head, and seepage fluxes for 4221 different cases of particle size distribution and intensities of textural heterogeneity. Soil hydraulic parameters were predicted by the pedotransfer function Rosetta. Textural heterogeneity was modeled with Miller and Miller scaling factors arranged in spatial random fields. Seepage fluxes were calculated with the Buckingham-Darcy method from simulated soil moisture and matric head time series and compared with simulated reference fluxes. The median of Root Mean Square Error was about 0.026 cm d(-1) and the median of maximum cross correlation was 0.96 when the method was calibrated adequately. The method's performance was mainly influenced by (i) the soil textural class and (ii) the time period used for flux calibration. It performed best in sandy loam while hotspots of errors occurred in sand and silty texture. Calibrating the method with time periods that exhibit high variance of seepage fluxes yielded the best performance. The geostatistical properties of the Miller and Miller scaling field influenced the performance only slightly. However, the Miller and Miller scaling procedure generated heterogeneous flow fields that were addressed as main reason for mismatches of simulated reference fluxes and fluxes obtained with the Buckingham-Darcy method.}, language = {en} } @misc{PedojaHussonJohnsonetal.2014, author = {Pedoja, Kevin and Husson, Laurent and Johnson, Markes E. and Melnick, Daniel and Witt, Cesar and Pochat, Stephane and Nexer, Maelle and Delcaillau, Bernard and Pinegina, Tatiana and Poprawski, Yohann and Authemayou, Christine and Elliot, Mary and Regard, Vincent and Garestier, Franck}, title = {Coastal staircase sequences reflecting sea-level oscillations and tectonic uplift during the Quaternary and Neogene}, series = {Earth science reviews : the international geological journal bridging the gap between research articles and textbooks}, volume = {132}, journal = {Earth science reviews : the international geological journal bridging the gap between research articles and textbooks}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0012-8252}, doi = {10.1016/j.earscirev.2014.01.007}, pages = {13 -- 38}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Many coasts feature sequences of Quaternary and Neogene shorelines that are shaped by a combination of sea-level oscillations and tectonics. We compiled a global synthesis of sea-level changes for the following highstands: MIS 1, MIS 3, MIS 5e and MIS 11. Also, we date the apparent onset of sequences of paleoshorelines either from published data or tentatively extrapolating an age for the uppermost, purported oldest shoreline in each sequence. Including the most documented MIS 5e benchmark, we identify 926 sequences out of which 185 also feature Holocene shorelines. Six areas are identified where elevations of the MIS 3 shorelines are known, and 31 feature elevation data for MIS 11 shorelines. Genetic relationships to regional geodynamics are further explored based on the elevations of the MIS 5e benchmark. Mean apparent uplift rates range from 0.01 0.01 mm/yr (hotspots) to 1.47 0.08 mm/yr (continental collision). Passive margins appear as ubiquitously uplifting, while tectonic segmentation is more important on active margins. From the literature and our extrapolations, we infer ages for the onset of formation for -180 coastal sequences. Sea level fingerprinting on coastal sequences started at least during mid Miocene and locally as early as Eocene. Whether due to the changes in the bulk volume of seawater or to the temporal variations in the shape of ocean basins, estimates of eustasy fail to explain the magnitude of the apparent sea level drop. Thus, vertical ground motion is invoked, and we interpret the longlasting development of those paleoshore sequences as the imprint of glacial cycles on globally uplifted margins in response to continental compression. The geomorphological expression of the sequences matches the amplitude and frequency of glacial cyclicity. From middle Pleistocene to present-day, moderately fast (100,000 yrs) oscillating sea levels favor the development of well identified strandlines that are distinct from one another. Pliocene and Lower Pleistocene strandlines associated with faster cyclicity (40,000 yrs) are more compact and easily merge into rasas, whereas older Cenozoic low-frequency eustatic changes generally led to widespread flat-lying coastal plains.}, language = {en} } @article{KnapmeyerEndrunKrueger2014, author = {Knapmeyer-Endrun, Brigitte and Kr{\"u}ger, Frank}, title = {Moho depth across the Trans-European Suture Zone from P- and S-receiver functions}, series = {Geophysical journal international}, volume = {197}, journal = {Geophysical journal international}, number = {2}, publisher = {Oxford Univ. Press}, address = {Oxford}, organization = {PASSEQ Working Grp}, issn = {0956-540X}, doi = {10.1093/gji/ggu035}, pages = {1048 -- 1075}, year = {2014}, abstract = {The Mohorovicic discontinuity, Moho for short, which marks the boundary between crust and mantle, is the main first-order structure within the lithosphere. Geodynamics and tectonic evolution determine its depth level and properties. Here, we present a map of the Moho in central Europe across the Teisseyre-Tornquist Zone, a region for which a number of previous studies are available. Our results are based on homogeneous and consistent processing of P-and S-receiver functions for the largest passive seismological data set in this region yet, consisting of more than 40 000 receiver functions from almost 500 station. Besides, we also provide new results for the crustal vP/vS ratio for the whole area. Our results are in good agreement with previous, more localized receiver function studies, as well as with the interpretation of seismic profiles, while at the same time resolving a higher level of detail than previous maps covering the area, for example regarding the Eifel Plume region, Rhine Graben and northern Alps. The close correspondence with the seismic data regarding crustal structure also increases confidence in use of the data in crustal corrections and the imaging of deeper structure, for which no independent seismic information is available. In addition to the pronounced, stepwise transition from crustal thicknesses of 30 km in Phanerozoic Europe to more than 45 beneath the East European Craton, we can distinguish other terrane boundaries based on Moho depth as well as average crustal v(P)/v(S) ratio and Moho phase amplitudes. The terranes with distinct crustal properties span a wide range of ages, from Palaeoproterozoic in Lithuania to Cenozoic in the Alps, reflecting the complex tectonic history of Europe. Crustal thickness and properties in the study area are also markedly influenced by tectonic overprinting, for example the formation of the Central European Basin System, and the European Cenozoic Rift System. In the areas affected by Cenozoic rifting and volcanism, thinning of the crust corresponds to lithospheric updoming reported in recent surface wave and S-receiver function studies, as expected for thermally induced deformation. The same correlation applies for crustal thickening, not only across the Trans-European Suture Zone, but also within the southern part of the Bohemian Massif.}, language = {en} } @unpublished{KreibichvandenBerghBouweretal.2014, author = {Kreibich, Heidi and van den Bergh, Jeroen C. J. M. and Bouwer, Laurens M. and Bubeck, Philip and Ciavola, Paolo and Green, Colin and Hallegatte, Stephane and Logar, Ivana and Meyer, Volker and Schwarze, Reimund and Thieken, Annegret}, title = {Costing natural hazards}, series = {Nature climate change}, volume = {4}, journal = {Nature climate change}, number = {5}, publisher = {Nature Publ. Group}, address = {London}, issn = {1758-678X}, pages = {303 -- 306}, year = {2014}, language = {en} } @article{SernoWincklerAndersonetal.2014, author = {Serno, Sascha and Winckler, Gisela and Anderson, Robert F. and Hayes, Christopher T. and Ren, Haojia and Gersonde, Rainer and Haug, Gerald H.}, title = {Using the natural spatial pattern of marine productivity in the Subarctic North Pacific to evaluate paleoproductivity proxies}, series = {Paleoceanography}, volume = {29}, journal = {Paleoceanography}, number = {5}, publisher = {American Geophysical Union}, address = {Washington}, issn = {0883-8305}, doi = {10.1002/2013PA002594}, pages = {438 -- 453}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Sedimentary proxies used to reconstruct marine productivity suffer from variable preservation and are sensitive to factors other than productivity. Therefore, proxy calibration is warranted. Here we map the spatial patterns of two paleoproductivity proxies, biogenic opal and barium fluxes, from a set of core-top sediments recovered in the Subarctic North Pacific. Comparisons of the proxy data with independent estimates of primary and export production, surface water macronutrient concentrations, and biological pCO(2) drawdown indicate that neither proxy shows a significant correlation with primary or export productivity for the entire region. Biogenic opal fluxes, when corrected for preservation using Th-230-normalized accumulation rates, show a good correlation with primary productivity along the volcanic arcs (tau = 0.71, p = 0.0024) and with export productivity throughout the western Subarctic North Pacific (tau = 0.71, p = 0.0107). Moderate and good correlations of biogenic barium flux with export production (tau = 0.57, p = 0.0022) and with surface water silicate concentrations (tau = 0.70, p = 0.0002) are observed for the central and eastern Subarctic North Pacific. For reasons unknown, however, no correlation is found in the western Subarctic North Pacific between biogenic barium flux and the reference data. Nonetheless, we show that barite saturation, uncertainty in the lithogenic barium corrections, and problems with the reference data sets are not responsible for the lack of a significant correlation between biogenic barium flux and the reference data. Further studies evaluating the factors controlling the variability of the biogenic constituents in the sediments are desirable in this region.}, language = {en} } @article{JansenCodileanStroevenetal.2014, author = {Jansen, John D. and Codilean, Alexandru T. and Stroeven, A. P. and Fabel, D. and Hattestrand, C. and Kleman, J. and Harbor, J. M. and Heyman, J. and Kubik, P. W. and Xu, S.}, title = {Inner gorges cut by subglacial meltwater during Fennoscandian ice sheet decay}, series = {Nature Communications}, volume = {5}, journal = {Nature Communications}, publisher = {Nature Publ. Group}, address = {London}, issn = {2041-1723}, doi = {10.1038/ncomms4815}, pages = {7}, year = {2014}, abstract = {The century-long debate over the origins of inner gorges that were repeatedly covered by Quaternary glaciers hinges upon whether the gorges are fluvial forms eroded by subaerial rivers, or subglacial forms cut beneath ice. Here we apply cosmogenic nuclide exposure dating to seven inner gorges along similar to 500 km of the former Fennoscandian ice sheet margin in combination with a new deglaciation map. We show that the timing of exposure matches the advent of ice-free conditions, strongly suggesting that gorges were cut by channelized subglacial meltwater while simultaneously being shielded from cosmic rays by overlying ice. Given the exceptional hydraulic efficiency required for meltwater channels to erode bedrock and evacuate debris, we deduce that inner gorges are the product of ice sheets undergoing intense surface melting. The lack of postglacial river erosion in our seven gorges implicates subglacial meltwater as a key driver of valley deepening on the Baltic Shield over multiple glacial cycles.}, language = {en} } @article{SaviNortonPicottietal.2014, author = {Savi, Sara and Norton, Kevin P. and Picotti, Vincenzo and Akcar, Naki and Delunel, Romain and Brardinoni, Francesco and Kubik, Peter and Schlunegger, Fritz}, title = {Quantifying sediment supply at the end of the last glaciation: Dynamic reconstruction of an alpine debris-flow fan}, series = {Geological Society of America bulletin}, volume = {126}, journal = {Geological Society of America bulletin}, number = {5-6}, publisher = {American Institute of Physics}, address = {Boulder}, issn = {0016-7606}, doi = {10.1130/B30849.1}, pages = {773 -- 790}, year = {2014}, abstract = {In this paper we quantify the sediment dynamics in the formerly glaciated Zielbach catchment in the Italian Alps from the end of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) until today. As a basis for our quantification, we use the stratigraphic record offered by a 3.5 km(2) large fan that we explore with a seismic survey, stratigraphic analyses of drillhole material, and C-14 ages measured on organic matter encountered in these drillings. In addition, we calculate past denudation rate variability in the fan deposits using concentrations of cosmogenic Be-10. We merge this information into a scenario of how the sediment flux has changed through time and how this variability can be related to climatic variations, framed within well-known paraglacial models. The results document a highly complex natural system. From the LGM to the very early Holocene, ice-melted discharge and climate variability promoted a high sediment flux (sedimentation rate up to 40 mm/yr). This flux then dramatically decreased toward interglacial values (0.8 mm/yr at 5-4 calibrated kyr B.P.). However, in contrast to the trend of classic paraglacial models, the flux recorded at Zielbach shows secondary peaks at 6.5 ka and 2.5 ka, with values of 13 mm/yr and 1.5 mm/yr, respectively. Paleo-denudation rates also decrease from similar to 33 mm/yr at the beginning of the Holocene to 0.42 mm/yr at 5 ka, with peaks of similar to 6 mm/yr and 1.1 mm/yr at 6.5 ka and 2.5 ka. High-amplitude climate change is the most likely cause of the secondary peaks, but anthropogenic activities may have contributed as well. The good correlation between paleo-sedimentation and paleo-denudation rates suggests that the majority of the deglaciated material destocked from the Zielbach catchment is stored in the alluvial fan.}, language = {en} } @article{ScherlerMunackMeyetal.2014, author = {Scherler, Dirk and Munack, Henry and Mey, J{\"u}rgen and Eugster, Patricia and Wittmann, Hella and Codilean, Alexandru T. and Kubik, Peter and Strecker, Manfred}, title = {Ice dams, outburst floods, and glacial incision at the western margin of the Tibetan Plateau: A > 100 k.y. chronology from the Shyok Valley, Karakoram}, series = {Geological Society of America bulletin}, volume = {126}, journal = {Geological Society of America bulletin}, number = {5-6}, publisher = {American Institute of Physics}, address = {Boulder}, issn = {0016-7606}, doi = {10.1130/B30942.1}, pages = {738 -- 758}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Some of the largest and most erosive floods on Earth result from the failure of glacial dams. While potentially cataclysmic ice dams are recognized to have repeatedly formed along ice-sheet margins, much less is known about the frequency and longevity of ice dams caused by mountain glaciers, and their impact on landscape evolution. Here we present field observations and results from cosmogenic nuclide dating that allow reconstructing a > 100-k.y.-long history of glacial damming in the Shyok Valley, eastern Karakoram (South Asia). Our field observations provide evidence that Asia's second-longest glacier, the Siachen, once extended for over 180 km and blocked the Shyok River during the penultimate glacial period, leading to upstream deposition of a more than 400-m-thick fluvio-lacustrine valley fill. Be-10-depth profile modeling indicates that glacial damming ended with the onset of the Eemian interglacial and that the Shyok River subsequently incised the valley fill at an average rate of similar to 4-7 m k.y.(-1). Comparison with contemporary ice-dammed lakes in the Karakoram and elsewhere suggests recurring outburst floods during the aggradation period, while over 25 cycles of fining-upward lake deposits within the valley fill indicate impounding of floods from farther upstream. Despite prolonged damming, the net effect of this and probably earlier damming episodes by the Siachen Glacier is dominated by glacial erosion in excess of fluvial incision, as evidenced by a pronounced overdeepening that follows the glaciated valley reach. Strikingly similar overdeepened valleys at all major confluences of the Shyok and Indus Rivers with Karakoram tributaries indicate that glacial dams and subsequent outburst floods have been widespread and frequent in this region during the Quaternary. Our study suggests that the interaction of Karakoram glaciers with the Shyok and Indus Rivers promoted valley incision and headward erosion into the western margin of the Tibetan Plateau.}, language = {en} } @article{KlausZeheElsneretal.2014, author = {Klaus, Julian and Zehe, Erwin and Elsner, Martin and Palm, Juliane and Schneider, Dorothee and Schroeder, Boris and Steinbeiss, Sibylle and van Schaik, Loes and West, Stephanie}, title = {Controls of event-based pesticide leaching in natural soils: A systematic study based on replicated field scale irrigation experiments}, series = {Journal of hydrology}, volume = {512}, journal = {Journal of hydrology}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0022-1694}, doi = {10.1016/j.jhydrol.2014.03.020}, pages = {528 -- 539}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Tile drains strongly influence the water cycle in agricultural catchment in terms of water quantity and quality. The connectivity of preferential flow to tile drains can create shortcuts for rapid transport of solutes into surface waters. The leaching of pesticides can be linked to a set of main factors including, rainfall characteristics, soil moisture, chemical properties of the pesticides, soil properties, and preferential flow paths. The connectivity of the macropore system to the tile drain is crucial for pesticide leaching. Concurring influences of the main factors, threshold responses and the role of flow paths are still poorly understood. The objective of this study is to investigate these influences by a replica series of three irrigation experiments on a tile drain field site using natural and artificial tracers together with applied pesticides. We found a clear threshold behavior in the initialization of pesticide transport that was different between the replica experiments. Pre-event soil water contributed significantly to the tile drain flow, and creates a flow path for stored pesticides from the soil matrix to the tile drain. This threshold is controlled by antecedent soil moisture and precipitation characteristics, and the interaction between the soil matrix and preferential flow system. Fast transport of pesticides without retardation and the remobilization could be attributed to this threshold and the interaction between the soil matrix and the preferential flow system. Thus, understanding of the detailed preferential flow processes clearly enhances the understanding of pesticide leaching on event and long term scale, and can further improve risk assessment and modeling approaches. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.}, language = {en} } @article{KalbeSharonPoratetal.2014, author = {Kalbe, Johannes and Sharon, Gonen and Porat, Naomi and Zhang, Chengjun and Mischke, Steffen}, title = {Geological setting and age of the Middle Paleolithic site of Nahal Mahanayeem Outlet (Upper Jordan Valley, Israel)}, series = {Quaternary international : the journal of the International Union for Quaternary Research}, volume = {331}, journal = {Quaternary international : the journal of the International Union for Quaternary Research}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {1040-6182}, doi = {10.1016/j.quaint.2013.05.052}, pages = {139 -- 148}, year = {2014}, abstract = {In this paper we present the sedimentary features and the luminescence chronology for Nahal Mahanayeem Outlet (NMO), an archaeological open air site at the southern margin of the Hula Basin (Northern Jordan Rift Valley, Israel). The site is characterized by a lithic assemblage ascribed primarily to the Middle Paleolithic Mousterian tradition, and by an excellent preservation of floral and faunal remains. Six geological units forming the stratigraphic sequence of the site were distinguished: (Unit 6) archaeologically sterile, light-colored limnic carbonates; (Unit 5) conglomerates of rounded basalt boulders and cobbles forming a hill-like topography; (Unit 4 and Unit 3) a sequence of similar dark silty sediments, attached to and overlaying the conglomerates, containing the archaeological horizons of the site; (Unit 2) a number of channels cutting into the top of Unit 3, filled with coarse sand and rounded basalt and limestone gravels of fluvial origin; and (Unit 1) a thin sand layer laid down by the present-day Jordan River covering another unconformity as a result of heavy machinery drainage operations in 1999. The OSL age for Unit 6 yielded a minimum age older than 460 ka. Sedimentary features and the embedded fossils suggest that Unit 1 can be linked to the Early Pleistocene Gadot Chalk. Unit 5 represents a local geological feature and could be an indicator for a period of increased erosion with formation of coarse grained sediments. The archaeological horizons form the lower parts of Unit 4 and yielded OSL-ages between 55 and 65 ka, indicating an affiliation to the sediments called "Ashmura Formation" with an Upper Pleistocene age for the site. The channel fills of Unit 2 can be dated by the recovered artifacts. These range in age from the Upper Paleolithic (Aurignacian) to historic times. Unit 1 is recent. The study of the complex NMO stratigraphy, combined with coherent OSL chronology, has enabled us to reconstruct parts of the geological history of the Hula Basin during the Late Pleistocene. It is this history that forms the background for the human migration and utilization of natural resources in the Upper Jordan Rift Valley. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd and INQUA. All rights reserved.}, language = {en} } @article{HerzschuhBorkowskiScheweetal.2014, author = {Herzschuh, Ulrike and Borkowski, Janett and Schewe, Jacob and Mischke, Steffen and Tian, Fang}, title = {Moisture-advection feedback supports strong early-to-mid Holocene monsoon climate on the eastern Tibetan Plateau as inferred from a pollen-based reconstruction}, series = {Palaeogeography, palaeoclimatology, palaeoecology : an international journal for the geo-sciences}, volume = {402}, journal = {Palaeogeography, palaeoclimatology, palaeoecology : an international journal for the geo-sciences}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0031-0182}, doi = {10.1016/j.palaeo.2014.02.022}, pages = {44 -- 54}, year = {2014}, abstract = {(Paleo-)climatologists are challenged to identify mechanisms that cause the observed abrupt Holocene monsoon events despite the fact that monsoonal circulation is assumed to be driven by gradual insolation changes. Here we provide proxy and model evidence to show that moisture-advection feedback can lead to a non-linear relationship between sea-surface and continental temperatures and monsoonal precipitation. A pollen record from Lake Ximencuo (Nianbaoyeze Mountains) indicates that vegetation from the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau was characterized by alpine deserts and glacial flora after the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) (21-15.5 cal kyr BP), by alpine meadows during the Late Glacial (15.5-10.4 cal kyr BP) and second half of the Holocene (5.0 cal kyr BP to present) and by mixed forests during the first half of the Holocene (10.4-5.0 cal kyr BP). The application of pollen-based transfer functions yields an abrupt temperature increase at 10.4 cal kyr BP and a decrease at 5.0 cal kyr BP of about 3 degrees C. By applying endmember modeling to grain-size data from the same sediment core we infer that frequent fluvial events (probably originating from high-magnitude precipitation events) were more common in the early and mid Holocene. We assign the inferred exceptional strong monsoonal circulation to the initiation of moisture-advection feedback, a result supported by a simple model that reproduces this feedback pattern over the same time period. (C) 2014 Published by Elsevier B.V.}, language = {en} } @article{GhassemiFattahiLandgrafetal.2014, author = {Ghassemi, Mohammad R. and Fattahi, Morteza and Landgraf, Angela and Ahmadi, Mehdi and Ballato, Paolo and Tabatabaei, Saeid H.}, title = {Kinematic links between the Eastern Mosha Fault and the North Tehran Fault, Alborz range, northern Iran}, series = {Tectonophysics : international journal of geotectonics and the geology and physics of the interior of the earth}, volume = {622}, journal = {Tectonophysics : international journal of geotectonics and the geology and physics of the interior of the earth}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0040-1951}, doi = {10.1016/j.tecto.2014.03.007}, pages = {81 -- 95}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Kinematic interaction of faults is an important issue for detailed seismic hazard assessments in seismically active regions. The Eastern Mosha Fault (EMF) and the North Tehran Fault (NTF) are two major active faults of the southern central Alborz mountains, located in proximity of Tehran (population similar to 9 million). We used field, geomorphological and paleoseismological data to explore the kinematic transition between the faults, and compare their short-term and long-term history of activity. We introduce the Niknamdeh segment of the NTF along which the strike-slip kinematics of EMF is transferred onto the NTF, and which is also responsible for the development of a pull-apart basin between the eastern segments of the NTF. The Ira trench site at the linkage zone between the two faults reveals the history of interaction between rock avalanches, active faulting and sag-pond development. The kinematic continuity between the EMF and NTF requires updating of seismic hazard models for the NTF, the most active fault adjacent to the Tehran Metropolis. Study of offsets of large-scale morphological features along the EMF, and comparison with estimated slip rates along the fault indicates that the EMF has started its left-lateral kinematics between 3.2 and 4.7 Ma. According to our paleoseismological data and the morphology of the nearby EMF and NTF, we suggest minimum and maximum values of about 1.8 and 3.0 mm/year for the left-lateral kinematics on the two faults in their linkage zone, averaged over Holocene time scales. Our study provides a partial interpretation, based on available data, for the fault activity in northeastern Tehran region, which may be completed with studies of other active faults of the region to evaluate a more realistic seismic hazard analysis for this heavily populated major city. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.}, language = {en} }