Chemical composition of minerals and rocks from the Sierra Leone segment of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and from the Markov depression, Central Atlantic

Silicic Fe-Ti-oxide magmatic series was the first recognized in the Sierra Leone axial segment of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge near 6°N. The series consists of intrusive rocks (harzburgites, lherzolites, bronzitites, norites, gabbronorites, hornblende Fe-Ti-oxide gabbronorites and gabbronorite-diorites, quartz diorites, and trondhjemites) and their subvolcanic (ilmenite-hornblende dolerites) and, possibly, volcanic analogues (ilmenite-bearing basalts). Deficit of most incompatible elements in the rocks of the series suggests that parental melts derived from a source that had already been melted. Correspondingly, these melts could not be MORB derivatives. Origin of the series is thought to be related to melting of the hydrated oceanic lithosphere during emplacement of an asthenospheric plume (protuberance on the surface of large asthenospheric lens beneath MAR). Genesis of different melts was supposedly controlled by ascent of a chamber of hot mantle magmas thought this lithosphere in compliance with the zone melting mechanism. Melt acquired fluid components from heated rocks at peripheries of the plume and became enriched in Fe, Ti, Pb, Cu, Zn, and other components mobile in fluids.

30 years of synoptic observations from Neumayer Station with links to datasets

High temporal resolution (three hours) records of temperature, wind speed and sea level pressure recorded at Antarctic research station Neumayer (70°S, 8°W) during 1982-2011 are analysed to identify oscillations from daily to intraseasonal timescales. The diurnal cycle dominates the three-hourly time series of temperature during the Antarctic summer and is almost absent during winter. In contrast, the three-hourly time series of wind speed and sea level pressure show a weak diurnal cycle. The dominant pattern of the intraseasonal variability of these quantities, which captures the out-of-phase variation of temperature and wind speed with sea level pressure, shows enhanced variability at timescales of ~ 40 days and ~ 80 days, respectively. Correlation and composite analysis reveal that these oscillations may be related to tropical intraseasonal oscillations via large-scale eastward propagating atmospheric circulation wave-trains. The second pattern of intraseasonal variability, which captures in-phase variations of temperature, wind and sea level pressure, shows enhanced variability at timescales of ~ 35, ~ 60 and ~ 120 days. These oscillations are attributed to the Southern Annular Mode/Antarctic Oscillation (SAM/AAO) which shows enhanced variability at these timescales. We argue that intraseasonal oscillations of tropical climate and SAM/AAO are related to distinct patterns of climate variables measured at Neumayer.

Gravity mapping in the southern Weddell Sea region, Antarctica (Scale 1:2 000 000)

New maps of free-air and the Bouguer gravity anomalies on the Weddell Sea sector (70-81° S, 6-75° W) of Antarctica are presented. These maps are based on the first computer compilation of available gravity data collected by ''Sevmorgeologia'' in 1976-89 in the southern Weddell Sea and adjacent coasts of western Dronning Maud Land (WDML) and Coats Land. The accomplished gravity studies comprise airborne observations with a line spacing of about 20 km and conventional measurements at over-the-ice points, which were spaced at 10-30 km and supplemented by seismic soundings. Hence, anomalies on the maps represent mainly large-scale and deep crustal features. The dominant feature in free-air gravity map is a large dipolar gravity anomaly stretching along the continental margin. Following the major grain of seabed morphology this shelf-edge/slope anomaly (SESA) is clearly divided into three segments characterized by diverse anomaly amplitudes, wavelengths and trends. They are associated with continental margins of different geotectonic provinces of Antarctica surrounding the Weddell Sea. Apparent distinctions in the SESA signatures are interpreted as the gravity expression of tectonic, deep crustal structure segmentation of the continental margin. The prominent gravity highs (100-140 mGal) of the shelf edge anomaly mapped along WDML are assumed to represent high-density mantle injections intruded into the middle/lower crust during initial rifting of continental breakup. Enlarged wavelengths and diminished amplitudes of the gravity anomaly westwards, along the Weddell Sea embayment (WSE) margin, reflect a widening of the continental slope and a significant increase in thickness of underlying sediment strata. Low amplitude, negative free-air anomalies in the Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelves (FRIS) contrast sharply with the dominating positive anomalies offshore. This indicates a greater sedimentary thickness of the basin in this area. Crustal response to the enlarged sediment load is impressed in mostly positive features of the Bouguer gravity field observed here. Two pronounced positive Bouguer anomalies of 50-70 mGal and an average widths of 200 km dominate the Weddell Sea embayment margins towards the Antarctic Peninsula and the East Antarctic craton. They correlate well with very deep seabed troughs (> 1000 m below sea level). The gravity highs are most likely caused by a shallow upper mantle underneath graben-rift structures evolved at the margins of the WSE basin. A regional zone (> 100 km in width) of the prominent Bouguer and free-air negative anomalies (-40 to -60 mGal) adjacent Coats Land to the north of the ice shelf edge may indicate the presence of the thick old cratonic crust far offshore beneath the Weddell Sea Embayment.

Radio-echo sounding investigation of the western Dronning Maud Land and north-eastern Coats Land, East Antarctica (Scale 1:2 500 000)

During two Antarctic field seasons, western Dronning Maud Land and eastern Coats Land were covered by airborne radio-echo sounding surveys, conducted in combination with magnetic and gravity measurements along the 50 NW-SE-directed tracks, totaling about 11200 km and spaced 20 km apart. The data were collected in analogue form and then processed to compile ice surface, ice thickness and bedrock topography maps in I : 2 500 000 scale which gave a new and/or more detailed information on the region than previous compilations. The maps show that western Dronning Maud Land is dominated by a large mountainous area with altitudes up to 2800 m including rock outcrops of Annandagstoppane, Borgmassivet, Kirwanveggen and Heimefrontfjella. Upland terrains of Vestfjella and Mannefallknausane have an isolated position and are surrounded by a plain with bedrock depressions of 600 m deep below sea level. A narrow strip of north-eastern Coats Land studied by radio-echo soundings exhibits a smooth subice relief with altitudes close to sea level. The structural style of bedrock topography was mostly determined by extensional tectonics.