Physical properties and geochemical pore-water analysis of sediment core GeoB16423-1

Several studies indicate that the 2011 Tohoku-Oki earthquake (Mw 9.0) off the Pacific coast of Japan has induced slip to the trench and triggered landslides in the Japan Trench. In order to better understand these processes, detailed mapping and shallow-coring landslides at the trench as well as Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) deep drilling to recover the plate boundary décollement (Japan Trench Fast Earthquake Drilling Project, JFAST) have been conducted. In this study we report sediment core data from the rapid response R/V SONNE cruise (SO219A) to the Japan Trench, evidencing a Mass Transport Deposit (MTD) in the uppermost section later drilled at this JFAST-site during IODP Expedition 343. A 8.7 m long gravity core (GeoB16423-1) recovered from ~7,000 m water depth reveals a 8 m sequence of semi-consolidated mud clast breccias embedded in a distorted chaotic sediment matrix. The MTD is covered by a thin veneer of 50 cm hemipelagic, bioturbated diatomaceous mud. This stratigraphic boundary can be clearly distinguished by using physical properties data from Multi Sensor Core Logging and from fall-cone penetrometer shear strength measurements. The geochemical analysis of the pore-water shows undisturbed linear profiles measured from the seafloor downcore across the stratigraphic contact between overlying younger background-sediment and MTD below. This indicates that the investigated section has not been affected by a recent sediment destabilization in the course of the giant Tohoku-Oki earthquake event. Instead, we report an older landslide which occurred between 700 and 10,000 years ago, implying that submarine mass movements are dominant processes along the Japan Trench. However, they occur on local sites and not during each megathrust earthquake.

Documentation, profile descriptions and analytical results of loes profiles from Bavaria, southern Germany

This study investigates the landscape evolution and soil development in the loess area near Regensburg between approximately 6000-2000 yr BP (radiocarbon years), Eastern Bavaria. The focus is on the question how man and climate influenced landscape evolution and what their relative significance was. The theoretical background concerning the factors that controlled prehistoric soil erosion in Middle Europe is summarized with respect to rainfall intensity and distribution, pedogenesis, Pleistocene relief, and prehistoric farming. Colluvial deposits , flood loams, and soils were studied at ten different and representative sites that served as archives of their respective palaeoenvironments. Geomorphological, sedimentological, and pedological methods were applied. According to the findings presented here, there was a high asynchronity of landscape evolution in the investigation area, which was due to prehistoric land-use patterns. Prehistoric land use and settlement caused highly difIerenciated phases of morphodynamic activity and stability in time and space. These are documented at the single catenas ofeach site. In general, Pleistocene relief was substantially lowered. At the same time smaller landforms such as dells and minor asymmetric valleys filled up and strongly transformed. However, there were short phases at many sites, forming short lived linear erosion features ('Runsen'), resulting from exceptional rainfalls. These forms are results of single events without showing regional trends. Generally, the onset of the sedimentation of colluvial deposits took place much earlier (usually 3500 yr BP (radiocarbon) and younger) than the formation of flood loams. Thus, the deposition of flood loams in the Kleine Laaber river valley started mainly as a consequence of iron age farming only at around 2500 yr BP (radiocarbon). A cascade system explains the different ages of colluvial deposits and flood loams: as a result of prehistoric land use, dells and other minor Pleistocene landforms were filled with colluvial sediments. After the filling of these primary sediment traps , eroded material was transported into flood plains, thus forming flood loams. But at the moment we cannot quantify the extent ofprehistoric soil erosion in the investigation area. The three factors that controlled the prehistoric Iandscapc evolution in the Ioess area near Regensburg are as follows: 1. The transformation from a natural to a prehistoric cultural landscape was the most important factor: A landscape with stable relief was changed into a highly morphodynamic one with soil erosion as the dominant process of this change. 2. The sediment traps of the pre-anthropogenic relief determined where the material originated from soil erosion was deposited: either sedimentation took place on the slopes or the filled sediment traps of the slopes rendered flood loam formation possible. Climatic influence of any importance can only be documented as the result of land use in connection with singular and/or statistic events of heavy rainfalls. Without human impact, no significant change in the Holocene landscape would have been possible.

Radiosonde profiles and meteorological observations during Atlantic Expedition M2 in 1965 (IQSY) of RV "Meteor"

A radiosonde is described for measuring the upward and downward fluxes of visible light in the atmosphere. Photoresistors are used as sensors, the optical center of the spectral range beeing at 0.55 µ. The results of these flux-measurements obtained during the Atlantic Expedition 1965 with the research vessel "Meteor" are presented. The datas have been divided into three groups according to the amount of cloudiness. In group a) (small cloudiness) the extinction coefficient of the prevailing linear radiation is derived as a function of the height. Characteristics of airmasses of maritime or continental origin are shown. In group b) (cloud covered sky) microphysical quantities are determined from the radiative lapse rate in the clouds. The average radius of droplets is found to lie between 5.5 µm and 14.4 µm. The albedo of cloud surfaces varies between 25% and 54%, the transmission values are between 58% and 73%. One ascent through a Cirrus cloud of considerable vertical thickness is treated seperately. The observed distribution of extinction is compared with theoretical values in water clouds leading to the same order of magnitude. The relation between the albedo of the surface of the sea and the amount of cloudiness is discussed.

Radionuclides measured on 21 water bottle profiles during POLARSTERN cruise ANT-XXIV/3

Drake Passage is a major route for many water masses from the strong Antarctic Circumpolar Current. During the ANTXXIV-3 expedition (in 2008) the vertical distributions of dissolved and size-fractionated particulate 231Pa and thorium isotopes (230Th, 232Th and 234Th) were investigated in order to better define the scavenging regimes and the effects of the oceanic circulation on the fate of particulate material and on the Pa-Th distributions in the water column. The reversible scavenging-model applied to both 230Th and 234Th, in the upper 1500 m depth, gives estimates of the particle dynamics (settling velocities S~ 500-1300 m/y, adsorption and desorption rate constants of 0.1-0.4 1/y and 1-6 1/y respectively). Particulate 234Th/230Th activity ratio shows a depth dependence, with decreasing ratio with increasing depth in agreement with previous studies, but no relationship with particle size was found. 231Pa and thorium isotope fractionation and partition coefficients were investigated with particle size vs depth and latitude and appear to vary horizontally following a North-South gradient. This suggests that both radionuclides are mostly bound to the fine suspended particles. At Drake Passage, the 230Thxs distribution is controlled by a southward upwelling of deep water (clearly visible on the vertical section of total 230Thxs, defined as dissolved + particulate concentrations) and reversible-scavenging processes (linear increase of 230Thxs with increasing depth) with North of the Southern ACC Front, higher settling velocities and less adsorption/desorption cycles, than South of it. Distributions of dissolved and total 231Paxs also reflect the influence of the North-South upwelling but somehow this effect appears to be limited to the upper 1500 m depth of the water column. Below this depth, 231Paxs vertical profiles exhibit contrasted concentrations, with some high dissolved activities in the deep water of the stations in the northern part of the ACC and not South of the ACC. These N-S differences in dissolved 231Paxs were attributed to the different origins and scavenging history of the deep Pacific waters flowing across Drake Passage. Here at North, radionuclides-rich deep water originates from the Central Pacific, while at South, deep water derives from the Southern Pacific in which the observed low radionuclides concentrations are attributed to high opal abundance. South of the Drake Passage, high dissolved and particulate activities of 230Th and 232Th confirmed the intrusion of 230Th-rich Weddell Sea Deep Water (WSDW) close to the Antarctic Peninsula.