(Table 4) Mean diameter of Orbulina universa d'Orbigny at DSDP Leg 54 Holes

On Deep Sea Drilling Project Leg 54, we recovered upper Pliocene (Globigerinoides obliquus: PL6 zone) to Pleistocene sediments from the equatorial East Pacific Rise (EPR) and Galapagos spreading center (GSC). Progressively older sediments were drilled at increasing distances from the crest, with the exception of the sediment drilled in the deepest trough known in the Siqueiros fracture zone. The anomalous age obtained at the latter site suggests that the basalt which was drilled may represent fracture zone volcanism. Paleoenvironmental analysis using the planktonic foraminifers at the EPR sites indicated the presence of environmental cycles of shorter wave length during the interval from 0 to 0.24 Ma, whereas cycles of longer wave length occurred from 0.43 to 2.17 Ma. The planktonic foraminiferal taphocoenoses at the EPR sites were strongly affected by selective dissolution which indicated that these EPR sites have been near either the lysocline or carbonate compensation surface since the upper Pliocene. The planktonic foraminiferal thanatocoenoses at the GSC sites were preserved better than those at the EPR sites. The number of planktonic foraminiferal species generally was greatly reduced in the green mud associated with the GSC hydrothermal mounds. More species were found in older than in younger green mud; this suggests that there probably was an increase in the rate of production of green mud sometime after the initiation of the hydrothermal system.

Maximum and mean diameter record of Orbulina universa from DSDP Hole 47-397 of Cape Bojador, eastern North Atlantic

Measurements of the diameter of O. universa carried out on 30 specimens from 39 samples covering a sediment thickness of 78 m and going back in time to approximately 750 000 y resulted in the construction of a curve of the mean diameter and a curve of the maximum diameter. Both curves, as well as those calculated with the running-averages technique, display cyclic fluctuations with durations of the order of 100 000 y and downwards decreasing amplitudes. These curves are compared with a carbonate curve (on bulk sediment) and an isotopic curve (on benthic foraminifers) obtained from the same set of samples. Correlations are fair to good, but a timelag is noticed between the isotopic curve and the faunal (O. universa mean diameter) curve, with the isotopic signal coming first, in the middle part of the Brunhes Epoch. Biostratigraphic calibration to the paleomagnetic record is provided by four datum planes (two based on calcareous nannofossils, two on diatoms) identified in the succession. Changes recorded in test porosity seem to be less meaningful than changes in test size.

Distribution, genesis and age of the Schlagwasser breccia (Warstein anticline, Rhenish massif)

The name "Schlagwasser breccia" is a synopsis of several debris flows in the Warstein area, which can be derived from the Warstein carbonate platform and the Scharfenberg reef. Though only locally developed, the breccia is important for the understanding of paleogeography and sedimentology in the Eastern Sauerland. Considering this breccia some gravitational-resedimentary slide movements between a high, consisting of reef carbonates, and a basin with flinz beds can be pointed out. From the uppermost Middle Devonian to the lowermost Lower Carboniferous several slides yielded the sedimentary components building up the 30 to 50 m thick polymict breccia. Some breccias were redeposited repeatedly as can be verified by different conodont maxima in single samples. Supplying area was the western part of the Warstein high, from which the slide masses glided off to the East and Southeast, more seldom to the West and Westsouthwest. All conodont zones from the upper Middle Devonian up to the lowermost Carboniferous could be identified in the Schlagwasser breccia. Therefore, an uninterrupted continuous sedimentation must have been prevalent in the supplying area; today this area nearly is denuded of flinz beds and cephalopod limestones. The slide masses spread transgressively to the East up to a substratum consisting of different units as massive limestone, flinz beds and cephalopod limestone; they are overlapped by Hangenberg beds, alum schists and siliceous rocks of the Lower Carboniferous. Parts of the substratum were transported during the progress of the slide masses. Proximal and distal parts of the flow masses can be distinguished by the diameter of the pebbles. Graded bedding and banking structures are marked only rarely. Way of transport was up to 3 km. Differently aged slide masses do not always overlap, but are placed side by side, too. Usually the slide masses do not spread out upon a greater area during sedimentation, but form closely limited debris flows. Synsedimentary fracturing and tilting of the reef platform, epirogenetic movements and seaquakes caused the slides. The entire formation period of the breccia includes about 20 millions of years. The longevity of the events points to solid paleomorphological situations around the eastern margin of the carbonate platform.

Deep drilling of glaciers: Russian projects in the Arctic (1975-1995)

The data collection "Deep Drilling of Glaciers: Soviet-Russian projects in Arctic, 1975-1995" was collected by the following basic considerations: - compilation of deep (>100 m) drilling projects on Arctic glaciers, using data of (a) publications; (b) archives of IGRAN; (c) personal communication of project participants; - documentation of parameters, references. Accuracy of data and techniques applied to determine different parameters are not evaluated. The accuracy of some geochemical parameters (up to 1984 and heavy metalls) is uncertain. Most reconstructions of ice core age and of annual layer thickness are discussed; - digitizing of published diagrams (in case, when original numerical data were lost) and subsequent data conversion to equal range series and adjustment to the common units. Therefore, the equal-range series were calculated from original data or converted from digitized chart values as indicated in the metadata. For the methodological purpose, the equal-range series obtained from original and reconstructed data were compared repeatedly; the systematic difference was less then 5-7%. Special attention should be given to the fact, that the data for individual ice core parameters varies, because some parameters were originally measured or registered. Parameters were converted in equal-range series using 2 m steps; - two or more parameter values were determined, then the mean-weighted (i.e. accounting the sample length) value is assigned to the entire interval; - one parameter value was determined, measured or registered independently from the parameter values in depth intervals which over- and underlie it, then the value is assigned to the entire interval; - one parameter value was determined, measured or registered for two adjoining depth intervals, then the specific value is assigned to the depth interval, which represents >75% of sample length ; if each of adjoining depth intervals represents <75% of sample length, then the correspondent parameter value is assigned to both intervals of depth. This collection of ice core data (version 2000) was made available through the EU funded QUEEN project by S.M. Arkhipov, Moscow.

Isotope characterisation of Villars Cave stalagmites

We present a new mid-latitude speleothem record of millennial-scale climatic variability during OIS3 from the Villars Cave that, combined with former published contemporaneous samples from the same cave, gives a coherent image of the climate variability in SW-France between ~55 ka and ~30 ka. The 0.82 m long stalagmite Vil-stm27 was dated with 26 TIMS U-Th analyses and its growth curve displays variations that are linked with the stable isotopes, both controlled by the climatic conditions. It consists in a higher resolved replicate of the previously published Vil-stm9 and Vil-stm14 stalagmites where Dansgaard-Oeschger (DO) events have been observed. The good consistency between these three stalagmites and the comparison with other palaoeclimatic reconstructions, especially high resolution pollen records (ODP 976 from the Alboran Sea, Monticchio Lake record from southern Italy) and the nearby MD04-2845 Atlantic Ocean record, permits to draw a specific climatic pattern in SW-France during the OIS3 and to see regional differences between these sites. Main features of this period are: 1) warm events corresponding to Greenland Interstadials (GIS) that are characterized by low speleothem d13C, high temperate pollen percentages, warm temperatures and high humidity; among these events, GIS#12 is the most pronounced one at Villars characterized by an abrupt onset at ~46.6 ka and a duration of about 2.5 ka. The other well individualized warm event coincides with GIS#8 which is however much less pronounced and occurred during a cooler period as shown by a lower growth rate and a higher d13C; 2) cold events corresponding to Greenland Stadials (GS) that are clearly characterized by high speleothem d13C, low temperate pollen abundance, low temperature and enhanced dryness, particularly well expressed during GS coinciding with Heinrich events H5 and H4. The main feature of the Villars record is a general cooling trend between the DO#12 event ~45.5 ka and the synchronous stop of the three stalagmites at ~30 ka ±1, with a first well marked climatic threshold at ~41 ka after which the growth rate and the diameter of all stalagmites slows down significantly. This climatic evolution differs from that shown at southern Mediterranean sites where this trend is not observed. The ~30 ka age marks the second climatic threshold after which low temperatures and low rainfalls prevent speleothem growth in the Villars area until the Lateglacial warming that occurred at ~16.5 ± 0.5 ka. This 15 ka long hiatus, as the older Villars growth hiatus that occurred between 67.4 and 61 ka, are linked to low sea levels, reduced ocean circulation and a southward shift of the Polar Front that likely provoked local permafrost formation. These cold periods coincide with both low summer 65°N insolation, low atmospheric CO2 concentration and large ice sheets development (especially the Fennoscandian).

Dissolved organic carbon in soil solution of the Jena Experiment (Main Experiment, year 2002)

This data set contains measurements of dissolved organic carbon in samples of soil water collected from the main experiment plots of a large grassland biodiversity experiment (the Jena Experiment; see further details below). In the main experiment, 82 grassland plots of 20 x 20 m were established from a pool of 60 species belonging to four functional groups (grasses, legumes, tall and small herbs). In May 2002, varying numbers of plant species from this species pool were sown into the plots to create a gradient of plant species richness (1, 2, 4, 8, 16 and 60 species) and functional richness (1, 2, 3, 4 functional groups). Plots were maintained by bi-annual weeding and mowing. In April 2002 glass suction plates with a diameter of 12 cm, 1 cm thickness and a pore size of 1-1.6 mm (UMS GmbH, Munich, Germany) were installed in depths of 10, 20, 30 and 60 cm to collect soil solution. The sampling bottles were continuously evacuated to a negative pressure between 50 and 350 mbar, such that the suction pressure was about 50 mbar above the actual soil water tension. Thus, only the soil leachate was collected. Cumulative soil solution was sampled biweekly and analyzed for dissolved organic carbon concentration by a high TOC elemental analyzer (Elementar Analysensysteme GmbH, Hanau, Germany). Samples were analyzed as soon as possible and stored at 4°C if necessary. Often in summer, no free soil solution was available for collection, especially in the upper soil layers. Annual mean values of measured biweekly concentrations of dissolved organic carbon are provided.

Dissolved organic carbon in soil solution of the Jena Experiment (Main Experiment, year 2005)

This data set contains measurements of dissolved organic carbon in samples of soil water collected from the main experiment plots of a large grassland biodiversity experiment (the Jena Experiment; see further details below). In the main experiment, 82 grassland plots of 20 x 20 m were established from a pool of 60 species belonging to four functional groups (grasses, legumes, tall and small herbs). In May 2002, varying numbers of plant species from this species pool were sown into the plots to create a gradient of plant species richness (1, 2, 4, 8, 16 and 60 species) and functional richness (1, 2, 3, 4 functional groups). Plots were maintained by bi-annual weeding and mowing. In April 2002 glass suction plates with a diameter of 12 cm, 1 cm thickness and a pore size of 1-1.6 mm (UMS GmbH, Munich, Germany) were installed in depths of 10, 20, 30 and 60 cm to collect soil solution. The sampling bottles were continuously evacuated to a negative pressure between 50 and 350 mbar, such that the suction pressure was about 50 mbar above the actual soil water tension. Thus, only the soil leachate was collected. Cumulative soil solution was sampled biweekly and analyzed for dissolved organic carbon concentration by a high TOC elemental analyzer (Elementar Analysensysteme GmbH, Hanau, Germany). Samples were analyzed as soon as possible and stored at 4°C if necessary. Often in summer, no free soil solution was available for collection, especially in the upper soil layers. Annual mean values of measured biweekly concentrations of dissolved organic carbon are provided.