Lake surface water temperatures of European Alpine lakes (1989–2013) based on the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) 1 km data set

Lake water temperature (LWT) is an important driver of lake ecosystems and it has been identified as an indicator of climate change. Consequently, the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) lists LWT as an essential climate variable. Although for some European lakes long in situ time series of LWT do exist, many lakes are not observed or only on a non-regular basis making these observations insufficient for climate monitoring. Satellite data can provide the information needed. However, only few satellite sensors offer the possibility to analyse time series which cover 25 years or more. The Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) is among these and has been flown as a heritage instrument for almost 35 years. It will be carried on for at least ten more years, offering a unique opportunity for satellite-based climate studies. Herein we present a satellite-based lake surface water temperature (LSWT) data set for European water bodies in or near the Alps based on the extensive AVHRR 1 km data record (1989–2013) of the Remote Sensing Research Group at the University of Bern. It has been compiled out of AVHRR/2 (NOAA-07, -09, -11, -14) and AVHRR/3 (NOAA-16, -17, -18, -19 and MetOp-A) data. The high accuracy needed for climate related studies requires careful pre-processing and consideration of the atmospheric state. The LSWT retrieval is based on a simulation-based scheme making use of the Radiative Transfer for TOVS (RTTOV) Version 10 together with ERA-interim reanalysis data from the European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecasts. The resulting LSWTs were extensively compared with in situ measurements from lakes with various sizes between 14 and 580 km2 and the resulting biases and RMSEs were found to be within the range of −0.5 to 0.6 K and 1.0 to 1.6 K, respectively. The upper limits of the reported errors could be rather attributed to uncertainties in the data comparison between in situ and satellite observations than inaccuracies of the satellite retrieval. An inter-comparison with the standard Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Land Surface Temperature product exhibits RMSEs and biases in the range of 0.6 to 0.9 and −0.5 to 0.2 K, respectively. The cross-platform consistency of the retrieval was found to be within ~ 0.3 K. For one lake, the satellite-derived trend was compared with the trend of in situ measurements and both were found to be similar. Thus, orbital drift is not causing artificial temperature trends in the data set. A comparison with LSWT derived through global sea surface temperature (SST) algorithms shows lower RMSEs and biases for the simulation-based approach. A running project will apply the developed method to retrieve LSWT for all of Europe to derive the climate signal of the last 30 years. The data are available at doi:10.1594/PANGAEA.831007.

Repeated electrical stimulations as a tool to evoke temporal summation of nociceptive inputs in healthy, non-medicated experimental sheep.

The nociceptive withdrawal reflex (NWR) model is used in animal pain research to quantify nociception. The aim of this study was to evaluate the NWR evoked by repeated stimulations in healthy, non-medicated standing sheep. Repeated electrical stimulations were applied at 5Hz for 2s to the digital nerves of the right thoracic and the pelvic limbs of 25 standing sheep. The stimulation intensities applied were fractions (0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9 and 1) of the individual previously determined nociceptive threshold (It) after single stimulation. Surface-electromyographic activity (EMG) was recorded from the deltoid, the femoral biceps or the peroneus tertius muscles. The repeated stimulation threshold (RS It) was reached if at least one stimulus in the train was followed by a reflex with a minimal root-mean-square-amplitude (RMSA) of 20μV. The behavioural reaction following each series of stimulations was scored on a scale from 0 (no reaction) to 5 (vigorous whole-body reaction). For the deltoid muscle, RS It was 2.3mA (1.6-3mA) with a reaction score of 2 (1-2) and at a fraction of 0.6 (0.5-0.8)×It. For the biceps femoris muscle, RS It was 2.9mA (2.6-4mA) with a reaction score of 1 (1-2) at a fraction of and 0.55 (0.4-0.7)×It while for the peroneus tertius muscle RS It was 3mA (2.8-3.5mA) with a reaction score of 1 (1-2) and at a fraction of 0.8 (0.8-0.95)×It. Both, RMSA and reaction scores increased significantly with increasing stimulation intensities in all muscles (p<0.001). The repeated application of electrical stimuli led to temporal summation of nociceptive inputs and therefore a reduction of the stimulus intensity evoking a withdrawal reaction in healthy, standing sheep. Data achieved in this study can now serve as reference for further clinical or experimental applications of the model in this species.

Clinical herniation – how to improve differentiation between WFNS grade IV and V

Objective: Current data show a favorable outcome after poor grade subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in up to 50% of patients. This limits the use of the WFNS scale for drawing treatment decisions. We therefore analyzed how clinical signs of herniation might improve the existing WFNS grading. Therefore we compared the current WFNS grading and a modified WFNS grading with respect to outcome. Method: We performed a retrospective study including 182 poor grade SAH patients. Patients were graded according to the original WFNS scale and additionally into a modified classification the “WFNS herniation” (WFNSh grade IV: no herniation; grade V clinical signs of herniation). Outcome was compared between these two grading systems with respect to the dichotomized modified Rankin scale after 6 months. Results: The WFNS and WFNSh showed a positive predictive value (PPV) for poor outcome of 74.3% (OR 3.79, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.94, 7.54) and 85.7% (OR 8.27, 95% CI=3.78, 19.47), respectively. With respect to mortality the PPV was 68.3% (OR 3.9, 95% CI=2.01, 7.69) for the WFNS grade V and 77.9% (OR 6.22, 95% CI=3.07, 13.14) for the WFNSh grade V. Conclusions: Using positive clinical signs of herniation instead of “no response to pain stimuli” (motor Glasgow Coma Scale Score) can improve WFNS V grading. Using this modification, prediction of poor outcome or death improves.

CT coronary angiography versus conventional invasive coronary angiography - the view of the referring physician

PURPOSE Assessment of experience gained by local referring physicians with the procedure of coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) in the everyday clinical routine. MATERIALS AND METHODS A 25-item questionnaire was sent to 179 physicians, who together had referred a total of 1986 patients for CCTA. They were asked about their experience to date with CCTA, the indications for coronary imaging, and their practice in referring patients for noninvasive CCTA or invasive catheter angiography. RESULTS 53 questionnaires (30 %) were assessable, corresponding to more than 72 % of the patients referred. Of the referring physicians who responded, 94 % saw a concrete advantage of CCTA in the treatment of patients, whereby 87 % were 'satisfied' or 'very satisfied' with the reporting. For excluding coronary heart disease (CHD) where there was a low pre-test probability of disease, the physicians considered CCTA to be superior to conventional coronary diagnosis (4.2 on a scale of 1 - 5) and vice versa for acute coronary syndrome (1.6 of 5). The main reasons for unsuitability of CCTA for CT diagnosis were claustrophobia and the absence of a sinus rhythm. The level of exposure to radiation in CCTA was estimated correctly by only 42 % of the referring physicians. 90 % of the physicians reported that their patients evaluated their coronary CT overall as 'positive' or 'neutral', while 87 % of the physicians whose patients had undergone both procedures reported that the patients had experienced CCTA as the less disagreeable of the two. CONCLUSION CCTA is accepted by the referring physicians as an alternative imaging procedure for the exclusion of CHD and received a predominantly positive assessment from both the referring physicians and the patients.

The contribution of intrabolus pressure to symptoms induced by gastric banding

BACKGROUND & AIMS Mechanisms that ultimately lead to dysphagia are still not totally clear. Patients with laparoscopic gastric banding (LAGB) often complain about dysphagia, regurgitation and heartburn. Our aim was to evaluate the contribution of intrabolus pressure to symptoms of gastric banding. METHODS This study investigated 30 patients with LAGB before and 3 months after conversion to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), evaluating symptoms with a 7-point-Likert-scale and esophageal peristalsis, esophageal bolus transit and intrabolus pressure changes using combined impedance-manometry. RESULTS Conversion from LAGB to RYGB leads to a significant reduction in dysphagia (1.9 +/- 0.4 vs. 0.0 +/- 0.0; p< 0.01) and regurgitation (4.2 +/- 0.4 vs. 0.1 +/- 0.1; p< 0.01) symptom scores. For liquid swallows we found a modest but significant correlation between the intensity of dysphagia and intrabolus pressure (r=0.11; p<0.05) and the intensity of regurgitation and intrabolus pressure for viscous swallows (r=0.12, p<0.05) in patients with LAGB. There was a significant (p< 0.05) reduction in intrabolus pressure at 5 cm above LES before (liquid 10.6 +/-1.0; viscous 13.5 +/- 1.5) and after (liquid 6.4 +/- 0.6; viscous 10.5 +/- 0.9) conversion from LAGB to RYGB. CONCLUSION Current data suggest that intraesophageal pressure during bolus presence in the distal esophagus contributes to the development but not to the intensity of dysphagia and regurgitation.

Nickel(II)-, cobalt(II)-, copper(II)-, and zinc(II)-phthalate and 1-methylimidazole coordination compounds: synthesis, crystal structures and magnetic properties

Three new coordination polymers [M(Pht)(1-MeIm)2]n (where M=Cu (1), Zn (2), Co (3); Pht2−=dianion of o-phthalic acid; 1-MeIm=1-methylimidazole) and two compounds [M(1-MeIm)6](HPht)2 · 2H2O (M=Co (4), Ni (5)) have been synthesized and characterized by X-ray crystallography. The structures of 1–3 (2 is isostructural to 3) consist of [M(1-MeIm)2] building units connected by 1,6-bridging phthalate ions to form infinite chains. In complex 1, each copper(II) center adopts a square coordination mode of N2O2 type by two O atoms from different phthalate ions and two N atoms of 1-MeIm, whereas in 3 two independent metal atoms are tetrahedrally (N2O2) coordinated to a pair of Pht ligands and a pair of 1-MeIm molecules. There are only van der Waals interactions between the chains in 1, while the three-dimensional network in 3 is assembled by C–H⋯O contacts. In contrast to polymers 1–3 the structures of 4 and 5 (complexes are also isostructural) are made up of the [M(1-MeIm)6]2+ cation, two hydrogen phthalate anions (HPht−) and two H2O solvate molecules. The coordination around each metal(II) atom is octahedral with six nitrogen atoms of 1-MeIm. Extended hydrogen bonding networks embracing the solvate water molecules and a phthalate residue as well as the weak C–H⋯O interactions stabilize the three-dimensional structures. Magnetic studies clearly show that the magnetic ions do not interact with each other. Furthermore, in compound 4 we have another example of a highly anisotropic Co2+ ion with a rhombic g-tensor and large zero-field-splitting. The complexes were also characterized by IR and 1H NMR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and all data are discussed in the terms of known structures.

Updated Next-to-Next-to-Leading-Order QCD Predictions for the Weak Radiative B -Meson Decays

Weak radiative decays of the B mesons belong to the most important flavor changing processes that provide constraints on physics at the TeV scale. In the derivation of such constraints, accurate standard model predictions for the inclusive branching ratios play a crucial role. In the current Letter we present an update of these predictions, incorporating all our results for the O(α2s) and lower-order perturbative corrections that have been calculated after 2006. New estimates of nonperturbative effects are taken into account, too. For the CP- and isospin-averaged branching ratios, we find Bsγ=(3.36±0.23)×10−4 and Bdγ=(1.73+0.12−0.22)×10−5, for Eγ>1.6  GeV. Both results remain in agreement with the current experimental averages. Normalizing their sum to the inclusive semileptonic branching ratio, we obtain Rγ≡(Bsγ+Bdγ)/Bcℓν=(3.31±0.22)×10−3. A new bound from Bsγ on the charged Higgs boson mass in the two-Higgs-doublet-model II reads MH±>480  GeV at 95% C.L.

Temporary Internal Fixation for Ligamentous and Osseous Lisfranc Injuries: Outcome and Technical Tip

BACKGROUND Open rather than closed reduction and internal fixation as well as primary definitive arthrodesis are well accepted for ligamentous and osseous Lisfranc injuries. For ligamentous injuries, a better outcome after primary definitive partial arthrodesis has been published. METHODS Of 135 Lisfranc injuries that were treated from 1998 to 2012 with open reduction, temporary internal fixation by screws and plates, and restricted weight bearing in a lower leg cast for 3 months followed by an arch support for another 4 to 6 weeks, 29 ligamentous Lisfranc injuries were available for follow-up. They were compared with 29 osseous Lisfranc injuries matched in age and gender. RESULTS Between the groups, there were no significant differences in average age (39.9 vs 38 years) or in average follow-up time (8.3 vs 9.1 years). Also, no significant differences were seen in the AOFAS midfoot score (84 vs 85.3 points), the FFI pain scale (9.9 vs 14.9 points), SF 36 physical component (56.2 vs 53.9 points), SF 36 mental component (57 vs 56.4 points), or VAS for pain (1.6 vs 1.5 points). The FFI function scale was significantly lower in the ligamentous group (11.6 vs 19.5 points). Radiographically, loss of reduction was recorded 3 times in the ligamentous injuries and 4 times in the osseous injuries. Arthritis was mild/moderate/severe in 5/3/0 ligamentous injuries and in 7/2/1 osseous injuries, requiring 1 definitive secondary Lisfranc arthrodesis in each group. CONCLUSION With longer and conservative postoperative management, open reduction and temporary internal fixation in ligamentous and osseous Lisfranc injuries led to equal medium-term outcome. Inferior outcome in ligamentous injuries was not found. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level III, retrospective comparative cohort study.

Na 1 Nachlass Max Horkheimer, 704 - Gruppenexperiment (p. IX 175.1-50)

Materialien zum Studienbericht "Gruppenexperiment" teilweise veröffentlicht als Frankfurter Beiträge zur Soziologie, Band 2, Frankfurt am Main, 1955; 1.-6.a Allgemeines zum und aus den Gruppenexperiment; 1. "Idee und Technik des Gruppenexperiments. Ausbau der Methode.". Typoskript, 8 Blatt; 2. Einführungstext des Gruppenleiters und Text des 'Grundreizes': "Brief von Colburn"; a) Typoskript, 5 Blatt; b) Zweite Fassung, Typoskript, 3 Blatt; c) Typoskript mit handschriftlichen Korrekturen, 3 Blatt; 3. "Entwurf von Äußerungen des 'planted observer' zur Schallplatte". Typoskript, 3 Blatt; 4. "Entwurf einer Liste von Kernargumenten für das gelenkte Gruppeninterview". Typoskript mit handschriftlichen Korrekturen, 12 Blatt; 5. Institut für Sozialforschung: "Texte aus den Diskussionen einer im Winter 1950/51 durchgeführten Studie über 'Verhalten und Meinungen charakteristischer Gruppen der westdeutschen Bevölkerung zu weltanschaulichen und politischen Fragen'". Als Typoskript vervielfältigt, 39 Blatt; 6. "Entwurf. Bemerkungen zu drei weiteren Gruppenexperimenten mit zwei nicht homogenen und einer zweiten homogenen Gruppe". Typoskript, 8 Blatt; 6.a Böhm, Franz: "Geleitwort", [veröffentlicht in: "Gruppenexperiment"]. Typoskript, 9 Blatt; 7.-40. Monographien zur qualitativen nd quantitativen Analyse der Gruppendiskussion; 7. "Monographs on the Group Study of the Frankfurter Institut für Sozialforschung", 31.03.1952. Typoskript mit handschriftlichen Korrekturen, 2 Blatt; 8. Osmer, Diedrich: "Das Gruppenexperiment des Instituts für Sozialforschung". Als Typoskript vervielfältigt, 2 Blatt; 9.-11. Beiträge von Gerhard Schmidtchen; 9. "Ergebnisse der Studie über die quantitative Erfassung des Diskussionsmaterials". Typoskript mit handschriftlichen Ergänzungen, 2 Blatt; 10. "Die quantitative Verarbeitung des Diskussionsmaterials und deren Ergebnisse", a) Typoskript mit handschriftlichen Ergänzungen, 11 Blatt, b) Typoskript, 11 Blatt; 11. "Quotes", Typoskript, 2 Blatt; 12. Helmut Beyer und Volker von Hagen: "Einige Ergebnisse der Studie über die Struktur der Diskussion", a) Typoskript, 3 Blatt, b) Typoskript, 4 Blatt; 13. Volker von Hagen: "Ergebnisse der Untersuchung über die Struktur der Diskussion", 2.5.1953. Typoskript, 1 Blatt; 14.-16. Beiträge von Heinz Maus.; 14. "Einstellung zur Demokratie", a) Typoskript, 13 Blatt, b) Typoskript, 13 Blatt; 15. "Thesen über Einstellung zur Demokratie". Typoskript, 1 Blatt; 16. "Quotes". Typoskript, 2 Blatt; 17. "Thesen zum Thema: 'Stellungnahme zur Remilitarisierung'", a) Typoskript, 5 Blatt, b) Typoskript, 5 Blatt; 18. "Ergebnisse der Untersuchung über Äußerungen zur Remilitarisierung". Typoskript, 2 Blatt; 19. "Zur Remilitarisierung", a) Typoskript mit handschriftlichen Ergänzungen, 9 Blatt, b) Typoskript, 9 Blatt; 20. Auszug aus Emnid-Informationen vom 5.1.1951 "Westdeutsche Öffentlichkeit zeigt wenig Neigung zur Wiederbewaffnung". Typoskript, 6 Blatt; 21. Formulierungsvorschläge des Parlamentarischen Ausschusses für eine Wiederbewaffnungsumfrage, als Typoskript vervielfältigt, 1 Blatt; 22. Peter von Haselberg: "Bemerkungen zu der Monographie 'Schuld und Abwehr'", a) Typoskript, 7 Blatt, b) Typoskript, 7 Blatt; 23. Peter von Haselberg: "Ergebnisse der Untersuchung über 'Schuld und Abwehr'", Typoskript, 2 Blatt; 24.-28. Beiträge von Rainer Köhne; 24. "Erkenntnistheoretisches Bewußtsein bei den Versuchspersonen". Typoskript mit eigenhändigen Korrekturen, 40 Blatt; 25. "Intention und Ausdruck". Typoskript mit eigenhändigen Korrekturen, 29 Blatt; 26. "Einige Thesen und Beispiele aus der Sprachstudie". Typoskript, 17 Blatt; 27. "Thesen aus der Sprachstudie" (teilweise identisch mit 26.). Typoskript, 17 Blatt; 28. "Quotes". Typoskript, 2 Blatt; 29.-36. Beiträge von Hermann Schweppenhäuser; 29. "Ursprungssphähren. Notizen zur Einleitung". Typoskript mit handschriftlichen Korrekturen, 8 Blatt; 30. "Militarismus". Typoskript, 23 Blatt; 31. "Nazipropaganda". Typoskript mit handschriftlichen Korrekturen, 75 Blatt; 32. "Technik", a) Typoskript mit handschriftlichen Korrekturen, 11 Blatt, b) "Technik, Kommerz, Jargon, Presse, Rundfunk, Halbbildung", Typoskript mit handschriftlichen Korrekturen, 36 Blatt; 33. "Sprachliche Verhaltensweisen". Typoskript mit handschriftlichen Korrekturen, 40 Blatt; 34. "Einige Thesen und Beispiele aus der Sprachstudie". Typoskript mit handschriftlichen Korrekturen, 9 Blatt; 35. "Einige Thesen und Beispiele aus der Sprachstudie". Typoskript, 7 Blatt; 36. "Zitate aus der Gruppenstudie über Demokratie". Typoskript mit handschriftlichen Korrekturen und Ergänzungen, 2 Blatt; 37. - 39. Beiträge von Hans Sittenfeld; 37. "Quantitative Ergebnisse". Typoskript, 10 Blatt; 38. "Ergebnisse der Auszählung nach Gruppen als statistischen Einheiten". Typoskript, 17 Blatt; 39. "Quantitative Ergebnisse", Typoskript mit handschriftlichen Ergänzungen, 4 Blatt, b) Typoskript, 4 Blatt; 40. Jutta Thomae: "Erfahrungen bei der Zusammenstellung von Diskussionsgruppen". Typoskript, 4 Blatt; 41. - 42. Memoranden; 41. "Memorandum re: Stand der Gruppenstudie", 6.10.1952. Typoskript, 4 Blatt; 42. Hans Sittenfeld: "Memorandum re: Comments on the Group Studies of the Institute for Social Research at the University of Frankfurt, Germany", 26.3.1952. Typoskript, 5 Blatt; 43. - 50. Sonstige Unterlagen; 43. Über das 'Menschliche', Trauer, Narzißmus, eigenhändige Notizen von Max Horkheimer, 1 Blatt; 44. Über amerikanische Forschung und deutsche (Juden- ?)Verfolgungen, eigenhändige Notiz von Max Horkheimer, 1 Blatt; 45. Fragebogen einer amerikanischen Meinungsumfrage, als Typoskript vervielfältigt, 7 Blatt; 46. Fragebogen einer amerikanischen Meinungsumfrage, als Typoskript vervielfältigt mit handschriftlichen Ergänzungen, 6 Blatt; 47. Friedrich Pollock: handschriftliche Liste der Empfänger von Rezensionsexemplaren der "Gruppenstudie", 1 Blatt; 48. N.N.: handschriftliche Abschrift von Zitaten zur Umfragetechnik, 2 Blatt; 49. "Das Meßbare und das Unmeßbare an Herrn X", Zeitungsbericht über die Umfragen des Instituts für Sozialforschung, 27. 1. 1953, 1 Blatt; 50. Franz Böhm: "Eine deutsche Aufgabe. Offener Brief an die Antisemiten unter uns", Zeitungsdruck aus: Die Gegenwart, 1.11.1950, 1 Blatt;

The association of HSV 1 and 2 with atherosclerosis defined by CRP level

A study of the association of Herpes simplex virus 1 and 2 exposure to early atherosclerosis using high C-reactive protein level as a marker was carried out in US born, non-pregnant, 20-49 year olds participating in a national survey between 1999 and 2004. Participants were required to have valid results for Herpes simplex virus 1 and 2 and C-Reactive Protein for inclusion. Cases were those found to have a high C-reactive protein level of 0.3-1 mg/dL, while controls had low to normal values (0.01-0.29 mg/dL). Overall, there were 1211 cases and 2870 controls. Mexican American and non-Hispanic black women were much more likely to fall into the high cardiac risk group than the other sex race groups with proportions of 44% and 39%, respectively. ^ Herpesvirus exposure was categorized such that Herpes simplex virus 1 and 2 exposure could be studied simultaneously within the same individual and models. The HSV 1+, HSV 2- category included the highest percentage (45.63%) of participants, followed by HSV 1-, HSV 2- (30.16%); HSV 1+, HSV 2+ (15.09%); and HSV 1-, HSV 2+ (9.12%) respectively. The proportion of participants in the HSV 1+, HSV 2- category was substantially higher in Mexican Americans (63%-66%). Further, the proportion in the HSV 1+, HSV 2+ category was notably higher in the non-Hispanic black participants (23%-44%). Non-Hispanic black women also had the highest percentage of HSV 1-, HSV 2+ exposure of all the sex race groups at 17%. ^ Overall, the unadjusted odds ratios for atherosclerotic disease defined by C-reactive protein with HSV 1-, HSV 2- as the referent group was 1.62 (95% CI 1.23-2.14) for HSV 1 +, HSV 2+; 1.3 (95% CI 1.10-1.69 for HSV 1+, HSV 2-; and 1.52 (95% CI 1.14-2.01). When the study was stratified into sex-race groups, only HSV 1+, HSV 2- in the Non-Hispanic white men remained significant (OR=1.6; 95% CI 1.06-2.43). Adjustment for selected covariates was made in the multivariate model for both the overall and sex-race stratified studies. High C-reactive protein values were not associated with any of the Herpesvirus exposure levels in either the overall or stratified analyses. ^

(Table 1) Sulphur concentration and isotopic composition of ODP Leg 126 igneous rocks

Sulfur isotope ratios have been determined in 19 selected igneous rocks from Leg 126. The d34S of the analyzed rocks ranges from -0.1 â to +19.60 â. The overall variation in sulfur isotope composition of the rocks is caused by varying degrees of seawater alteration. Most of the samples are altered by seawater and only five of them are considered to have maintained their magmatic sulfur isotope composition. These samples are all from the backarc sites and have d34S values varying from +0.2 â to +1.6 â, of which the high d34S values suggest that the earliest magmas in the rift are more arc-like in their sulfur isotope composition than the later magmas. The d34S values from the forearc sites are similar to or heavier than the sulfur isotope composition of the present arc.

High-resolution stratigraphic framework for Mediterranean sapropel S5

A high-resolution stratigraphic framework is presented for sapropel S5, which represents the low-mid latitude climate optimum of the previous interglacial period (Eemian). The framework is based on three sites along a transect from west to east through the eastern Mediterranean, and is further validated using a fourth site. This method allows expression of S5-based proxy records of Eemian climate variability along a standardised depth scale that offers unprecedented possibilities for assessment of spatial gradients and signal leads and lags in an interval where highresolution (radiocarbon-style) dating cannot be performed. Our lateral comparison of S5 sapropels suggests that the onset of S5 in ODP site 967C (Eratosthenes seamount) was 1-6 centuries delayed relative to the onsets in more westerly sites.

Tab. 1 Mole % CO2 and 13C values of CO2 at baseline and at the final monitoring event for the eight observation wells

During CO2 storage operations in mature oilfields or saline aquifers it is desirable to trace the movement of injected CO2 for verification and safety purposes. We demonstrate the successful use of carbon isotope abundance ratios for tracing the movement of CO2 injected at the Cardium CO2 Storage Monitoring project in Alberta between 2005 and 2007. Injected CO2 had a d13C value of -4.6±1.1 per mil that was more than 10 per mil higher than the carbon isotope ratios of casing gas CO2 prior to CO2 injection with average d13C values ranging from -15.9 to -23.5 per mil. After commencement of CO2 injection, d13C values of casing gas CO2 increased in all observation wells towards those of the injected CO2 consistent with a two-source end-member mixing model. At four wells located in a NE-SW trend with respect to the injection wells, breakthrough of injected CO2 was registered chemically (>50 mol % CO2) and isotopically 1-6 months after commencement of CO2 injection resulting in cumulative CO2 fluxes exceeding 100000 m**3 during the observation period. At four other wells, casing gas CO2 contents remained below 5 mol % resulting in low cumulative CO2 fluxes (<2000 m**3) throughout the entire observation period, but carbon isotope ratios indicated contributions between <30 and 80% of injected CO2. Therefore, we conclude that monitoring the movement of CO2 in the injection reservoir with geochemical and isotopic techniques is an effective approach to determine plume expansion and to identify potential preferential flow paths provided that the isotopic composition of injected CO2 is constant and distinct from that of baseline CO2.