Tree line shifts and disturbance events for sites studied in the Torneträsk area of sub-Arctic Sweden for the period 1800-2009

Aim: Models project that climate warming will cause the tree line to move to higher elevations in alpine areas and more northerly latitudes in Arctic environments. We aimed to document changes or stability of the tree line in a sub-Arctic model area at different temporal and spatial scales, and particularly to clarify the ambiguity that currently exists about tree line dynamics and their causes. Location: The study was conducted in the Tornetrask area in northern Sweden where climate warmed by 2.5 °C between 1913 and 2006. Mountain birch (Betula pubescens ssp. czerepanovii) sets the alpine tree line. Methods: We used repeat photography, dendrochronological analysis, field observations along elevational transects and historical documents to study tree line dynamics. Results: Since 1912, only four out of eight tree line sites had advanced: on average the tree line had shifted 24 m upslope (+0.2 m/year assuming linear shifts). Maximum tree line advance was +145 m (+1.5 m/year in elevation and +2.7 m/year in actual distance), whereas maximum retreat was 120 m downslope. Counter-intuitively, tree line advance was most pronounced during the cooler late 1960s and 1970s. Tree establishment and tree line advance were significantly correlated with periods of low reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) population numbers. A decreased anthropozoogenic impact since the early 20th century was found to be the main factor shaping the current tree line ecotone and its dynamics. In addition, episodic disturbances by moth outbreaks and geomorphological processes resulted in descent and long-term stability of the tree line position, respectively. Main conclusions: In contrast to what is generally stated in the literature, this study shows that in a period of climate warming, disturbance may not only determine when tree line advance will occur but if tree line advance will occur at all. In the case of non-climatic climax tree lines, such as those in our study area, both climate-driven model projections of future tree line positions and the use of the tree line position for bioclimatic monitoring should be used with caution.

A 20 m spatial resolution seamless multisource Digital Elevation/Depth Model for Lizard Island, northern Great Barrier Reef

Hydrographers have traditionally referred to the nearshore area as the "white ribbon" area due to the challenges associated with the collection of elevation data in this highly dynamic transitional zone between terrestrial and marine environments. Accordingly, available information in this zone is typically characterised by a range of datasets from disparate sources. In this paper we propose a framework to 'fill' the white ribbon area of a coral reef system by integrating multiple elevation and bathymetric datasets acquired by a suite of remote-sensing technologies into a seamless digital elevation model (DEM). A range of datasets are integrated, including field-collected GPS elevation points, terrestrial and bathymetric LiDAR, single and multibeam bathymetry, nautical chart depths and empirically derived bathymetry estimations from optical remote sensing imagery. The proposed framework ranks data reliability internally, thereby avoiding the requirements to quantify absolute error and results in a high resolution, seamless product. Nested within this approach is an effective spatially explicit technique for improving the accuracy of bathymetry estimates derived empirically from optical satellite imagery through modelling the spatial structure of residuals. The approach was applied to data collected on and around Lizard Island in northern Australia. Collectively, the framework holds promise for filling the white ribbon zone in coastal areas characterised by similar data availability scenarios. The seamless DEM is referenced to the horizontal coordinate system MGA Zone 55 - GDA 1994, mean sea level (MSL) vertical datum and has a spatial resolution of 20 m.

Cretaceous nannofossils of southeast France

The Aptian-lower Albian succession of the Vocontian Basin (SE France) consists of marine hemipelagic sediments including several black shale horizons. The latter are partly of regional and partly of global distribution. This sedimentary succession records the nannoplankton evolution of the Aptian-early Albian interval and thus provides an excellent opportunity to calibrate the calcareous nannofossil record with Tethyan ammonite and planktic foraminiferal biostratigraphy. The calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy presented in this paper supports previous zonations, but it also provides a much higher resolution and thus improves the correlation of different black shale horizons on a supraregional scale. Up to 23 major (supraregionally significant) and minor (regionally significant) first and last occurrences of calcareous nannofossil taxa are recognized. Nannoconid abundances decrease rapidly in the upper Lower Aptian (nannoconid crisis I, NCI) and in the middle Upper Aptian (nannoconid crisis II, NCII). Both decreases correlate with carbonate-platform drowning events. The upper Lower Aptian interval above the NCI is characterized by high abundances of large specimens of Assipetra infracretacea and Rucinolithus terebrodentarius probably of supraregional significance. The uppermost Aptian-Lower Albian is characterized by high abundances of the calcareous nannoplankton taxon Repagulum parvidentatum, reflecting boreal influence on the Tethyan Realm. This suggests a temporary decrease in surface-water temperatures in the Vocontian Basin.

Dell' origine e de' progressi dell' Instituto delle scienze di Bologna : e di tutte le accademie ad esso unite, con la descrizione delle più notabili cose, che ad uso del mondo letterario nello stesso Instituto si conservano : operetta in grazia degli eruditi /

Signatures: A-G⁸ H⁴.

Descrittione del Regno di Napoli : diuiso in dodeci prouincie, nella quale con breuità si tratta della fedelissima città di Napoli, e dele cose più notabili di essa, e delle città e terre più illustri del Regno, con le famiglie nobili, non solo di quella, ma dell'altre città di esso Regno : con i vescouadi, & arciuescouadi, e santi, che sono in esso ... /

Includes indexes.

Josephi Allegrantiae Ord. Praed. a Regia Bibliotheca Mediolanensi de sepulcris Christianis in aedibus sacris : accedunt inscriptiones sepulcrales Christianae seculo septimo antiquiores in Insubria Austriaca repertae : item, inscriptiones sepulcrales ecclesiarum atque aedium PP. Ord. Praed. Mediolani.

Errata, X2r.

Dunant, the story of the Red cross,

Translation of Dunant, der Roman des Roten Kreuzes.

Aunt Harriet's household hints; an almanac of practical information,

Mode of access: Internet.

John Paul Jones: man of action,

Bibliography: p. 292-293.

Benjamin Franklin, the first civilized American

"Thirteenth printing"

The growth of silicon sheets for photovoltaic applications /

The status of silicon sheet development for photovoltaic applications is critically reviewed. Silicon sheet growth processes are classified according to their linear growth rates. The "fast" growth processes, which include edge-defined film-fed growth, silicon on ceramic, dendritic-web growth, and ribbon-to-ribbon growth, are comparatively ranked subject to criteria involving growth stability, sheet productivity, impurity effects, crystallinity, and solar cell results. The status of more rapid silicon ribbon growth techniques, such as horizontal ribbon growth and melt quenching, is also reviewed. The emphasis of the discussions is on examining the viability of these sheet materials as solar cell substrates for low-cost silicon photovoltaic systems.