Presence-absence species/sample matrix for the measured sections at the area of Maghara, North Sinai, Egypt

As age-diagnostic fossils are rare in the Middle to Upper Jurassic sedimentary succession of Gebel Maghara, North Sinai, Egypt, and in order to ensure maximal stratigraphic resolution, chronostratigraphic boundaries were determined based on quantitative biostratigraphy. A data matrix comprising 231 macrofaunal taxa in 93 samples from four sections has been processed with the Unitary Association (UA) Method. This led to construction of a sequence of 29 UAs (maximal sets of actually or virtually coexisting taxa), which have been grouped into 14 laterally reproducible association zones. The UA method allowed an in-depth analysis of the stratigraphically conflicting taxa, enabled the biostratigraphic subdivision of the studied interval, and also provided stratigraphic correlation among the measured sections and with the Tethyan ammonite zones.

The Gepatschferner from 1850 - 2006, with links to digital elevation models and glacier margins

This theses investigates changes at Gepatschferner in length, area and volume since the last glacier maximum in 1850. Changes are discussed for the following time periods: 1850-1922, 1922-1971, 1971-1997, 1997-2006. Digital elevation models were created for 1850 from geomorphological data and for 1922 and 1971 from historical maps. Existing DEMs for 1997 and 2006 were further analysed. Since 1850 Gepatschferner has retreated by 2 km in length and has lost 32% of its area and 36% of its volume. The rate of loss of volume is increasing faster than the rate of loss of area and losses in the upper regions of the glacier are becoming increasingly more important to overall losses. The largest losses per 50 m elevation increment occur at the tongue. These losses are greatest in the most recent time step studied, 1997-2006, and exceed previous values by 40% and more. The data base includes the glacier margins, elevations models as they have been compiled within the thesis (DEMs of 1997 and 2006 are part of the glacier inventories, length changes are part of the length change data base of the Austrian Alpine Club).