Horizontal profiles of longwave and shortwave radiation components over sea ice near Barrow, Alaska during the 2011 melt

An integrated instrument package for measuring and understanding the surface radiation budget of sea ice is presented, along with results from its first deployment. The setup simultaneously measures broadband fluxes of upwelling and downwelling terrestrial and solar radiation (four components separately), spectral fluxes of incident and reflected solar radiation, and supporting data such as air temperature and humidity, surface temperature, and location (GPS), in addition to photographing the sky and observed surface during each measurement. The instruments are mounted on a small sled, allowing measurements of the radiation budget to be made at many locations in the study area to see the effect of small-scale surface processes on the large-scale radiation budget. Such observations have many applications, from calibration and validation of remote sensing products to improving our understanding of surface processes that affect atmosphere-snow-ice interactions and drive feedbacks, ultimately leading to the potential to improve climate modelling of ice-covered regions of the ocean. The photographs, spectral data, and other observations allow for improved analysis of the broadband data. An example of this is shown by using the observations made during a partly cloudy day, which show erratic variations due to passing clouds, and creating a careful estimate of what the radiation budget along the observed line would have been under uniform sky conditions, clear or overcast. Other data from the setup's first deployment, in June 2011 on fast ice near Point Barrow, Alaska, are also shown; these illustrate the rapid changes of the radiation budget during a cold period that led to refreezing and new snow well into the melt season.

Geochemistry and ages at DSDP Holes 81-552A, 81-553A and 81-555

Glauconite-rich sediments have been encountered at two horizons during drilling in the southwest Rockall Plateau. The younger of these horizons lies at the base of a deep-sea ooze sequence and is of early or middle Miocene age. Glauconite formed in situ during periods of nondeposition related to strong bottom-water currents, in water depths of as much as 2500 m - five times greater than previously accepted limits for glauconite formation. The older horizon, of early Eocene age, is a record of the major transgression coincident with the separation of Rockall and Greenland. Isotopic age dating of the Miocene glauconites gives results in relatively close accord with their biostratigraphic age. However, an Eocene (NP12) glauconite gives a highly discrepant date (36.5 m.y. ago). One possible explanation is that the Eocene glauconites have continued to evolve after burial by the diagenetic uptake of potassium from the surrounding mud matrix, a possibility denied to the Miocene glauconites by the relative scarcity of available potassium in the nannofossil-foraminiferal ooze matrix.

Geochemistry and minerals at DSDP Leg 81 Holes

Three phases of volcanism have been recognized in the lower Paleogene sequence of the southwest Rockall Plateau which are related to the onset of seafloor spreading in the NE Atlantic. The earliest, Phase 1, is marked by a sequence of tholeiitic basalts and hyaloclastites which form the dipping reflector sequence in Edoras Basin. Phase 2 is characterized by tuffs and lapilli tuffs of air-fall origin, ranging in composition from basic to intermediate. They were generated by highly explosive igneous activity due to magma-water interaction, and terminate at the level of a major transgression. Subsequently, volcanism reverted to tholeiitic basalt type, producing the thin tuffs and minor basalt flows of Phase 3. Alteration of the volcanic glass and diagenesis of the tuffs and lapilli tuffs has been considerable in many cases, with a large number of diagenetic mineral phases observed, including smectite, celadonite, analcime, phillipsite, clinoptilolite, mordenite, and calcite. Although calcite is the latest observed diagenetic cement, it nevertheless occurred relatively early, in one case totally preserving basaltic glass from alteration.

Description and illustrations of Mn deposits from the John Murray Expedition (R/V Mabahiss)

During the cruise of the" Mabahiss" from Zanzibar to Colombo at Station 133 (1° 25' 54" S. to 1° 19' 42" S. and 66° 34' 12" E. to 66° 35' 18" E.) several small rock fragments were brought up in the Monegasque net; and, since at this position there is no possibility of the material being transferred by floating Ice, these specimens are of some interest as samples of oceanic rock foundations. All the rocks have a black appearance, but in the majority this skin is of negligible thickness. Exceptionally, however, it may attain to 1/3 in. (St. 133, 8), and then the specimens are rounded. The coating is made of dark opaque manganese material. At Station 166 one or two similar specimens of angular basalt were found in the trawl consisting mainly of manganese nodules.

Geochemistry and minerals at DSDP Leg 81 Holes

The Leg 81 basalts, drilled either from the margins ("dipping reflectors" sequence: Holes 552, 553A, and 554A) or from the "continental" side (Hole 555) of the Rockall Plateau microcontinent, are strongly light rare-earth element (LREE) depleted oceanic tholeiites. The basalts from the four holes are almost similar. Most of their primary characteristics have been preserved, although they have suffered alteration by seawater. From the petrological and mineralogical points of view, they resemble deep-ocean-floor basalts but show some peculiarities (occurrence of pigeonite and ilmenite as normal components of the groundmass differentiation sequences toward ferrobasalts). Their geochemical characteristics are dominated by their extreme depletion in the most hygromagmaphile elements (Th, Ta, La, and Nb), the concentrations of which are sometimes lower than the corresponding chondritic values. Leg 81 basalts are thus clearly different from continental tholeiites (flood basalts): Possible equivalents in the Thulean Tertiary Magmatic Province include the LREE-depleted tholeiites from the Upper Basaltic Series of the Faeroe Islands and the Preshal Mhor basalt type from the British Tertiary Province.

Petrology, mineralogy, and chemistry of basaltic rocks at DSDP Leg 81 Holes

We detail the petrography and mineralogy of 145 basaltic rocks from the top, middle, and base of flow units identified on shipboard along with associated pyroclastic samples. Our account includes representative electron microprobe analyses of primary and secondary minerals; 28 whole-rock major-oxide analyses; 135 whole-rock analyses each for 21 trace elements; 7 whole-rock rare-earth analyses; and 77 whole-rock X-ray-diffraction analyses. These data show generally similar petrography, mineralogy, and chemistry for the basalts from all four sites; they are typically subalkaline and consanguineous with limited evolution along the tholeiite trend. Limited fractionation is indicated by immobile trace elements; some xenocrystic incorporation from more basic material also occurred. Secondary alteration products indicate early subaerial weathering followed by prolonged interaction with seawater, most likely below 150°C at Holes 552, 553A, and 554A. At Hole 555, greenschist alteration affected the deepest rocks (olivine-dolerite) penetrated, at 250-300°C.

Survey of Western Palestine 1880, Palestine Exploration Fund 1:63,360 mosaicked map

The Palestine Exploration Fund (PEF) Survey of Western Palestine (1871-1877) is highly praised for its accuracy and completeness; the first systematic analysis of its planimetric accuracy was published by Levin (2006). To study the potential of these 1:63,360 maps for a quantitative analysis of land cover changes over a period of time, Levin has compared them to 20th century topographic maps. The map registration error of the PEF maps was 74.4 m using 123 control points of trigonometrical stations and a 1st order polynomial. The median RMSE of all control and test points (n = 1104) was 153.6 m. Following the georeferencing of each of the 26 sheets of the PEF maps of the Survey of Western Palestine, a mosaicked file has been created. Care should be taken when analysing historical maps, as it cannot be assumed that their accuracy is consistent at different parts or for different features depicted on them.

(Table 1) Experimental results of Kd at various conditions from ODP Hole 131-808C

A comprehensive experimental study, utilizing a rocking autoclave hydrothermal apparatus with isotope tracers, was applied to evaluate the temperature of squeezing artifacts on B contents and isotopic compositions in pore waters. The partition coefficient (KD) was determined at temperatures from 25 ° to 350 °C, at 800 bars, and this information was applied to reconstruct pore water B and d11B in ODP drill sites, where pH, T, and porosity are known. The partition coefficient of B is a function of temperature, pH, and sediment mineralogy. The solution pH exerts a dominant control at low temperatures; however, KD decreases to a value of essentially zero (compared to that of KD = ~3.5 at 25 °C) at high temperatures indicating no adsorption. Two empirical equations were derived to represent most of the available experimental results. For pelagic clay rich sediments, a KD = -3.84-0.020T + 0.88pH (R = 0.84; 1sigma = 0.25) is established. For sediments that have experienced progressive metamorphism, a KD = -1.38-0.008T + 0.59pH (R = 0.81; 1sigma = 0.37) can be applied. Similarly the effect on pore water d11B can be corrected if the fractionation factors at different temperatures are assumed. The corrected B and d11B in ODP Sites 671, 672, and 808 indicate significant mobilization of bulk B in sediment (exchangeable + lattice bound) at depth, especially near the décollement zone or other potential flow conduits. Tectonically expelled fluids from mud diapirs of Barbados Ridge Complex, hot springs of Rumsey Hills, California, and mud pot waters of the Salton Sea geothermal field, are enriched in B (up to 20 mM) with lower d11B, supporting the argument of B mobilization as a result of fluid expulsion in accretionary prisms.

(Table 1) Lead isotopic compositions of basalts from DSDP Hole 81-553

The passive continental margin south-west of Rockall Plateau is characterized by a thick sequence of oceanward-dipping seismic reflectors. During Leg 81 of the Deep Sea Drilling Project, these reflectors were sampled at Site 553 and proved to consist almost exclusively of basalt. Here we present lead isotope data which indicate that these basalts may have been contaminated by ancient uranium-depleted continental crust, or alternatively, derived from a sub-continental lithospheric mantle source. In either case, the implications are that the basalts of the south-west Rockall Plateau formed by eruption through and onto continental basement, not by 'subaerial seafloor spreading'. This conclusion is in accord with gravity models of the area, which predict stretched continental crust beneath the dipping reflector sequence.

Hydrochemical Atlas of the Arctic Ocean

Introduction: Chemical composition of water determines its physical properties and character of processes proceeding in it: freezing temperature, volume of evaporation, density, color, transparency, filtration capacity, etc. Presence of chemical elements in water solution confers waters special physical properties exerting significant influence on their circulation, creates necessary conditions for development and inhabitance of flora and fauna, and imparts to the ocean waters some chemical features that radically differ them from the land waters (Alekin & Liakhin, 1984). Hydrochemical information helps to determine elements of water circulation, convection depth, makes it easier to distinguish water masses and gives additional knowledge of climatic variability of ocean conditions. Hydrochemical information is a necessary part of biological research. Water chemical composition can be the governing characteristics determining possibility and limits of use of marine objects, both stationary and moving in sea water. Subject of investigation of hydrochemistry is study of dynamics of chemical composition, i.e. processes of its formation and hydrochemical conditions of water bodies (Alekin & Liakhin 1984). The hydrochemical processes in the Arctic Ocean are the least known. Some information on these processes can be obtained in odd publications. A generalizing study of hydrochemical conditions in the Arctic Ocean based on expeditions conducted in the years 1948-1975 has been carried out by Rusanov et al. (1979). The "Atlas of the World Ocean: the Arctic Ocean" contains a special section "Hydrochemistry" (Gorshkov, 1980). Typical vertical profiles, transects and maps for different depths - 0, 100, 300, 500, 1000, 2000, 3000 m are given in this section for the following parameters: dissolved oxygen, phosphate, silicate, pH and alkaline-chlorine coefficient. The maps were constructed using the data of expeditions conducted in the years 1948-1975. The illustrations reflect main features of distribution of the hydrochemical elements for multi-year period and represent a static image of hydrochemical conditions. Distribution of the hydrochemical elements on the ocean surface is given for two seasons - winter and summer, for the other depths are given mean annual fields. Aim of the present Atlas is description of hydrochemical conditions in the Arctic Ocean on the basis of a greater body of hydrochemical information for the years 1948-2000 and using the up-to-date methods of analysis and electronic forms of presentation of hydrochemical information. The most wide-spread characteristics determined in water samples were used as hydrochemical indices. They are: dissolved oxygen, phosphate, silicate, pH, total alkalinity, nitrite and nitrate. An important characteristics of water salt composition - "salinity" has been considered in the Oceanographic Atlas of the Arctic Ocean (1997, 1998). Presentation of the hydrochemical characteristics in this Hydrochemical Atlas is wider if compared with that of the former Atlas (Gorshkov, 1980). Maps of climatic distribution of the hydrochemical elements were constructed for all the standard depths, and seasonal variability of the hydrochemical parameters is given not only for the surface, but also for the underlying standard depths up to 400 m and including. Statistical characteristics of the hydrochemical elements are given for the first time. Detailed accuracy estimates of initial data and map construction are also given in the Atlas. Calculated values of mean-root deviations, maximum and minimum values of the parameters demonstrate limits of their variability for the analyzed period of observations. Therefore, not only investigations of chemical statics are summarized in the Atlas, but also some elements of chemical dynamics are demonstrated. Digital arrays of the hydrochemical elements obtained in nodes of a regular grid are the new form of characteristics presentation in the Atlas. It should be mentioned that the same grid and the same boxes were used in the Atlas, as those that had been used by creation of the US-Russian climatic Oceanographic Atlas. It allows to combine hydrochemical and oceanographic information of these Atlases. The first block of the digital arrays contains climatic characteristics calculated using direct observational data. These climatic characteristics were not calculated in the regions without observations, and the information arrays for these regions have gaps. The other block of climatic information in a gridded form was obtained with the help of objective analysis of observational data. Procedure of the objective analysis allowed us to obtain climatic estimates of the hydrochemical characteristics for the whole water area of the Arctic Ocean including the regions not covered by observations. Data of the objective analysis can be widely used, in particular, in hydrobiological investigations and in modeling of hydrochemical conditions of the Arctic Ocean. Array of initial measurements is a separate block. It includes all the available materials of hydrochemical observations in the form, as they were presented in different sources. While keeping in mind that this array contains some amount of perverted information, the authors of the Atlas assumed it necessary to store this information in its primary form. Methods of data quality control can be developed in future in the process of hydrochemical information accumulation. It can be supposed that attitude can vary in future to the data that were rejected according to the procedure accepted in the Atlas. The hydrochemical Atlas of the Arctic Ocean is the first specialized and electronic generalization of hydrochemical observations in the Arctic Ocean and finishes the program of joint efforts of Russian and US specialists in preparation of a number of atlases for the Arctic. The published Oceanographic Atlas (1997, 1998), Atlas of Arctic Meteorology and Climate (2000), Ice Atlas of the Arctic Ocean prepared for publication and Hydrochemical Atlas of the Arctic Ocean represent a united series of fundamental generalizations of empirical knowledge of Arctic Ocean nature at climatic level. The Hydrochemical Atlas of the Arctic Ocean was elaborated in the result of joint efforts of the SRC of the RF AARI and IARC. Dr. Ye. Nikiforov was scientific supervisor of the Atlas, Dr. R. Colony was manager on behalf of the USA and Dr. L. Timokhov - on behalf of Russia.