(Table 1) GRACE-derived mass balance of the Greenland ice sheet 2002-2010

We re-evaluate the Greenland mass balance for the recent period using low-pass Independent Component Analysis (ICA) post-processing of the Level-2 GRACE data (2002-2010) from different official providers (UTCSR, JPL, GFZ) and confirm the present important ice mass loss in the range of -70 and -90 Gt/y of this ice sheet, due to negative contributions of the glaciers on the east coast. We highlight the high interannual variability of mass variations of the Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS), especially the recent deceleration of ice loss in 2009-2010, once seasonal cycles are robustly removed by Seasonal Trend Loess (STL) decomposition. Interannual variability leads to varying trend estimates depending on the considered time span. Correction of post-glacial rebound effects on ice mass trend estimates represents no more than 8 Gt/y over the whole ice sheet. We also investigate possible climatic causes that can explain these ice mass interannual variations, as strong correlations between GRACE-based mass balance and atmosphere/ocean parallels are established: (1) changes in snow accumulation, and (2) the influence of inputs of warm ocean water that periodically accelerate the calving of glaciers in coastal regions and, feed-back effects of coastal water cooling by fresh currents from glaciers melting. These results suggest that the Greenland mass balance is driven by coastal sea surface temperature at time scales shorter than accumulation.

Summary of shipboard physical properties of mudstones, carbonates, and clastic at DSDP Holes 72-515B and 72-516F

Compressional-wave velocity, wet-bulk density, and porosity were measured on sediments and rocks recovered from Deep Sea Drilling Project Holes 515B and 516F. Wet-bulk densities were measured by both gravimetric and GRAPE methods. Velocities were measured on trimmed samples with the Hamilton frame velocimeter. The shipboard measurement techniques are discussed in the explanatory notes chapter (Coulbourn, this volume) and are described in detail by Boyce (1976a). Only the shipboard measurements are reported here.

Record of elevation changes of glaciers in the eastern Alps between 1950-1959-1969

In a continuation of Richard Finsterwalder's work of 1950 eight selected glaciers in the Eastern Alps haye been photogrammetrically surveyed and mapped on a scale of 1: 10,000 in the years 1959 and 1969 in order to establish arecord of glacier variation. From a comparison of isohypses of the 1950, 1959 and 1969 surveys the height changes of the glacier surfaces have been determined for approximately two decades. This yielded an average raise of 0,1 m per year, while an average sinking of glacier surfaces of 0.6 m per year had been found for the period 1920-1950.

Stable isotope record of Cibicidoides spp. from Late Miocene sediments of the Southern Ocean

Deepwater circulation plays an important role in climate modulation through its redistribution of heat and salt and its control of atmospheric CO2. Oppo and Fairbanks (1987, doi:10.1016/0012-821X(87)90183-X) showed that the Southern Ocean is an excellent monitor of deepwater circulation changes for two reasons: (1) the Southern Ocean is a mixing reservoir for incoming North Atlantic Deep Water and recirculated water from the Pacific and Indian oceans; and (2) the nutrient/delta13C tracers of deepwater are not significantly changed by surficial processes within the Southern Ocean. We can extend these principles to the late Miocene because tectonic changes in the Oligocene and early and middle Miocene developed near-modern basinal configurations. However, on these time scales, changes in the oceanic carbon reservoir and mean ocean nutrient levels also affect the delta13C differences between ocean basins. From 9.8 to 9.3 Ma, Southern Ocean delta13C values oscillated between high North Atlantic values and low Pacific values. The Southern Ocean recorded delta13C values similar to Pacific values from 9.2 to 8.9 Ma, reflecting a low contribution of Northern Component Water (NCW). The delta13C differences between the NCW and Pacific Outflow Water (POW) end-members were low from 8.9 to 8.0 Ma, making it difficult to discern circulation patterns. NCW production may have completely shutdown at 8.6 Ma, allowing Southern Component Water (SCW) to fill the North Atlantic and causing the delta13C values in the North Atlantic, Pacific, and Southern oceans to converge. Deepwater delta13C patterns resembling the modern distributions evolved by 7.0 Ma: delta13C values were near 1.0 per mil in the North Atlantic; 0.0 per mil in the Pacific; and 0.5 per mil in the Southern Ocean. Development of near-modern delta13C distributions by 7.0 Ma resulted not only from an increase in NCW flux but also from an increase in deepwater nutrient levels. Both of these processes increased the delta13C difference between the North Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Deepwater circulation patterns similar to today's operated as early as 9.8 Ma, but were masked by the lower nutrient/delta13C differences. During the late Miocene, 'interglacial' intervals prevailed during intervals of NCW production, while 'glacial' intervals occurred during low NCW production.

Trioctahedral micas in xenolithic ejecta from recent volcanism of the Somma-Vesuvius

This study reports the first crystal chemical database resulting from a detailed structural investigation of trioctahedral micas found in xenolithic ejecta produced during the AD 1631, 1872 and 1944 eruptions, three explosive episodes of recent volcanic period of Vesuvius volcano (Southern Italy). Three xenolith types were selected: metamorphic/metasomatic skarns, pyrometamorphic/hydrothermally altered nodules and mafic cumulates. They are related to different magma chemistry and effusive styles: from sub-plinian and most evolved (AD 1631 eruption) to violent strombolian with medium evolution degree (AD 1872 eruption) to vulcanian-effusive, least evolved (AD 1944 eruption) event, respectively. Both xenoliths and micas were investigated employing multiple techniques: the xenoliths were characterized by X-ray fluorescence, inductively-coupled plasma-mass spectrometry, optical microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, and quantitative energy-dispersive microanalysis; the micas were studied by electron probe microanalysis and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The mica-bearing xenoliths show variable texture and mineralogical assemblage, clearly related to their different origin. Based on the major oxide chemistry, only one xenolithic sample falls in the skarn compositional field from the Somma-Vesuvius literature, some fall close to the skarns and cumulate fields, others plot close to the syenite/foidolite/essexite field. A subgroup of the selected ejecta does not fall or approach any of the compositional fields. Trace and rare earth element patterns show some petrological affinity between studied xenoliths and erupted magmas with typical Eu, Ta and Nb negative anomalies. Strongly depleted patterns were detected for the 1631 metamorphic/metasomatic skarns xenoliths. Three distinct mica groups were distinguished: 1) Mg-, Al-rich, low Ti-bearing, low to moderate F-bearing varieties (1631 xenolith), 2) Al-moderate, F- and Mg-rich, Ti-, Fe-poor varieties (1872 xenolith), and 3) Al-, Ti- and Fe-rich, F-poor phases (1944 xenolith). All the analysed mica crystals are 1M polytypes with the expected space group C2/m. Micas from xenoliths of the 1631 Vesuvius eruption are phlogopites characterized by a combination of low extent of oxy-type and variable extent OH-F-substitutions, as testified by the range of F concentration (from ~ 0.20 to 0.80 apfu). Micas from xenoliths of the 1872 Vesuvius eruption exhibit structural peculiarities typical of fluorophlogopites, i.e. OH-F-substitution is predominant. Micas from the xenolith of the 1944 Vesuvius eruption display features typical of oxy-substituted micas. The variability of the crystal chemical features of the studied micas are consistent with the remarkable variation of their host rocks. Micas from 1631 nodules are related to metasomatic, skarn-type environment, deriving from the metamorphosed wall-rocks hosting the magma reservoir. The fluorophlogopites from the 1872 xenoliths testify for strongly dehydrated environmental conditions compared to those of the 1631 and 1944 hosts. Finally, magma storage condition at depth, associated to a decreasing aH2O may have promoted major oxy-type substitutions in 1944 biotites.

Geochemistry of peridotites from ODP Leg 125 diapiric serpentinites

Refractory spinel peridotites were drilled during Leg 125 from two diapiric serpentinite seamounts: Conical Seamount in the Mariana forearc (Sites 778-780) and Torishima Forearc Seamount (Sites 783-784) in the Izu-Ogasawara forearc. Harzburgite is the predominant rock type in the recovered samples, with subordinate dunite; no lherzolite was found. The harzburgite is diopside-free to sparsely diopside-bearing, with modal percentages of diopside that range from 0% to 2%. Spinels in the harzburgites are chrome-rich (Cr/[Cr + Al] = 0.38-0.83; Fe3+/[Fe3+ + Cr + Al] = 0.01-0.07). Olivine and orthopyroxene are magnesian (Mg# = 0.92). Discrete diopsides reveal extreme depletion of light rare earth elements. Primary hornblende is rare. The bulk major-element chemistry shows low average values of TiO2 (trace), Al2O3 (0.55%) and CaO (0.60%), but high Mg# (0.90). These rocks are more depleted than the abyssal peridotites from the mid-oceanic ridge. They are interpreted as residues of extensive partial melting (= 30%), of which the last episode was in the mantle wedge, probably associated with the generation of incipient island-arc magma, including boninite and/or arc-tholeiite. These depleted peridotites probably represent the residues of melting within mantle diapirs that developed within the mantle wedge.