Rough Waters: Life at Sea in the 19th Century

This talk consists of two parts - first part deals with what Jeffrey Bolster called “The Changing Nature of Maritime Insurrection”- and I will tie that into some research that I did on a New York clipper ship called the Contest. The second part of the talk will look at the rise of seafarer’s missions and that will tie Roald Kverndal’s magnum opus Seamen’s Missions: Their Origin and Early Growth into some research that I did on the earliest work done in New York among seafarers that pre-dated the American Seamen’s Friend Society.

Model - data comparison of western African rainfall evolutions during the Last Interglacial (130-115 ka)

This dataset characterizes the evolution of western African precipitation indicated by marine sediment geochemical records in comparison to transient simulations using CCSM3 global climate model throughout the Last Interglacial (130-115 ka). It contains (1) defined tie-points (age models), newly published stable isotopes of benthic foraminifera and Al/Si log-ratios of eight marine sediment cores from the western African margin and (2) annual and seasonal rainfall anomalies (relative to pre-industrial values) for six characteristic latitudinal bands in western Africa simulated by CCSM3 (two transient simulations: one non-accelerated and one accelerated experiment).

Chronology for the EDML ice core from Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica, over the last 150 000 years

A chronology called EDML1 has been developed for the EPICA ice core from Dronning Maud Land (EDML). EDML1 is closely interlinked with EDC3, the new chronology for the EPICA ice core from Dome-C (EDC) through a stratigraphic match between EDML and EDC that consists of 322 volcanic match points over the last 128 ka. The EDC3 chronology comprises a glaciological model at EDC, which is constrained and later selectively tuned using primary dating information from EDC as well as from EDML, the latter being transferred using the tight stratigraphic link between the two cores. Finally, EDML1 was built by exporting EDC3 to EDML. For ages younger than 41 ka BP the new synchronized time scale EDML1/EDC3 is based on dated volcanic events and on a match to the Greenlandic ice core chronology GICC05 via 10Be and methane. The internal consistency between EDML1 and EDC3 is estimated to be typically ~6 years and always less than 450 years over the last 128 ka (always less than 130 years over the last 60 ka), which reflects an unprecedented synchrony of time scales. EDML1 ends at 150 ka BP (2417 m depth) because the match between EDML and EDC becomes ambiguous further down. This hints at a complex ice flow history for the deepest 350 m of the EDML ice core.

Validated sample ages from 823 EPD sites

The number of well-dated pollen diagrams in Europe has increased considerably over the last 30 years and many of them have been submitted to the European Pollen Database (EPD). This allows for the construction of increasingly precise maps of Holocene vegetation change across the continent. Chronological information in the EPD has been expressed in uncalibrated radiocarbon years, and most chronologies to date are based on this time scale. Here we present new chronologies for most of the datasets stored in the EPD based on calibrated radiocarbon years. Age information associated with pollen diagrams is often derived from the pollen stratigraphy itself or from other sedimentological information. We reviewed these chronological tie points and assigned uncertainties to them. The steps taken to generate the new chronologies are described and the rationale for a new classification system for age uncertainties is introduced. The resulting chronologies are fit for most continental-scale questions. They may not provide the best age model for particular sites, but may be viewed as general purpose chronologies. Taxonomic particularities of the data stored in the EPD are explained. An example is given of how the database can be queried to select samples with appropriate age control as well as the suitable taxonomic level to answer a specific research question.

High-resolution marine record of sediment core MD99-2343 in the Balearic Sea

The IMAGES core MD99-2343, recovered from a sediment drift north of the island of Minorca, in the north-western Mediterranean Sea, holds a high-resolution sequence that is perfectly suited to study the oscillations of the overturning system of the Western Mediterranean Deep Water (WMDW). Detailed analysis of grain-size and bulk geochemical composition reveals the sensitivity of this region to climate changes at both orbital and centennial-millennial temporal scales during the last 50 kyr. The dominant orbital pattern in the K/Al record indicates that sediment supply to the basin was controlled by the insolation evolution at 40°N, which forced changes in the fluvial regime, with more efficient sediment transport during insolation maxima. This orbital control also modulated the long-term pattern of the WMDW intensity as illustrated by the silt/clay ratio. However, deep convection was particularly sensitive to climatic changes at shorter time-scales, i.e. to centennial-millennial glacial and Holocene oscillations that are well documented by all the paleocurrent intensity proxies (Si/Al, Ti/Al and silt/clay ratios). Benthic isotopic records (d13C and d18O) show a Dansgaard-Oeschger (D-O) pattern of variability of WMDW properties, which can be associated with changing intensities of the deep currents system. The most prominent reduction on the WMDW overturning was caused by the post-glacial sea level rise. Three main scenarios of WMDW overturning are revealed: a strong mode during D-O Stadials, a weak mode during D-O Interstadials and an intermediate mode during cooling transitions. In addition, D-O Stadials associated with Heinrich events (HEs) have a very distinct signature as the strong mode of circulation, typical for the other D-O Stadials, was never reached during HE due to the surface freshening induced by the inflowing polar waters. Consequently, the WMDW overturning system oscillated around the intermediate mode of circulation during HE. Though surface conditions were more stable during the Holocene, the WMDW overturning cell still reacted synchronously to short-lived events, as shown by increments in the planktonic d18O record, triggering quick reinforcements of the deep water circulation. Overall, these results highlight the sensitivity of the WMDW to rapid climate change which in the recent past were likely induced by oceanographic and atmospheric reorganizations in the North Atlantic region.

Dust flux records from the Subarctic North Pacific

We present a new record of eolian dust flux to the western Subarctic North Pacific (SNP) covering the past 27000 years based on a core from the Detroit Seamount. Comparing the SNP dust record to the NGRIP ice core record shows significant differences in the amplitude of dust changes to the two regions during the last deglaciation, while the timing of abrupt changes is synchronous. If dust deposition in the SNP faithfully records its mobilization in East Asian source regions, then the difference in the relative amplitude must reflect climate-related changes in atmospheric dust transport to Greenland. Based on the synchronicity in the timing of dust changes in the SNP and Greenland, we tie abrupt deglacial transitions in the 230Th-normalized 4He flux record to corresponding transitions in the well-dated NGRIP dust flux record to provide a new chronostratigraphic technique for marine sediments from the SNP. Results from this technique are complemented by radiocarbon dating, which allows us to independently constrain radiocarbon paleoreservoir ages. We find paleoreservoir ages of 745 ± 140 yr at 11653 yr BP, 680 ± 228 yr at 14630 yr BP and 790 ± 498 yr at 23290 yr BP. Our reconstructed paleoreservoir ages are consistent with modern surface water reservoir ages in the western SNP. Good temporal synchronicity between eolian dust records from the Subantarctic Atlantic and equatorial Pacific and the ice core record from Antarctica supports the reliability of the proposed dust tuning method to be used more widely in other global ocean regions.

Additional CaCO3 measurements from IODP Site 306-U1313

We present further %CaCO3 data from Site U1313 across the Pliocene-Pleistocene intensification of Northern Hemisphere glaciation. This data was measured on the U1313 secondary splice. We also present tie points between the primary and secondary splice for this interval based on graphical tuning of L* (sediment lightness).

Stable oxygen isotopes of Globigerinoides ruber and biostratigraphic datums at ODP Site 165-1002

Ocean Drilling Program Site 1002 in the Cariaco Basin was drilled in the final two days of Leg 165 with only a short transit remaining to the final port of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Because of severe time constraints, cores from only the first of the three long replicate holes (Hole 1002C) were opened at sea for visual description, and the shipboard sampling was restricted to the biostratigraphic examination of core catchers. The limited sampling and general scarcity of biostratigraphic datums within the late Quaternary interval covered by this greatly expanded hemipelagic sequence resulted in a very poorly defined age model for Site 1002 as reported in the Leg 165 Initial Reports volume of the Proceedings of the Ocean Drilling Program. Here, we present for the first time a new integrated stratigraphy for Site 1002 based on the standard of late Quaternary oxygen-isotope variations linked to a suite of refined biostratigraphic datums. These new data show that the sediment sequence recovered by Leg 165 in the Cariaco Basin is continuous and spans the time interval from 0 to ~580 ka, with a basal age roughly twice as old as initially suspected from the tentative shipboard identification of a single biostratigraphic datum. Lithologic subunits recognized at Site 1002 are here tied into this new stratigraphic framework, and temporal variations in major sediment components are reported. The biogenic carbonate, opal, and organic carbon contents of sediments in the Cariaco Basin tend to be high during interglacials, whereas the terrigenous contents of the sediments increase during glacials. Glacioeustatic variations in sea level are likely to exert a dominant control on these first-order variations in lithology, with glacial surface productivity and the nutrient content of waters in the Cariaco Basin affected by shoaling glacial sill depths, and glacial terrigenous inputs affected by narrowing of the inner shelf and increased proximity of direct riverine sources during sea-level lowstands.

Results of magnetic analysis

Microorganisms are a primary control on the redox-induced cycling of iron in the environment. Despite the ability of bacteria to grow using both Fe(II) and Fe(III) bound in solid-phase iron minerals, it is currently unknown if changing environmental conditions enable the sharing of electrons in mixed-valent iron oxides between bacteria with different metabolisms. We show through magnetic and spectroscopic measurements that the phototrophic Fe(II)-oxidizing bacterium Rhodopseudomonas palustris TIE-1 oxidizes magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles using light energy. This process is reversible in co-cultures by the anaerobic Fe(III)-reducing bacterium Geobacter sulfurreducens. These results demonstrate that Fe ions bound in the highly crystalline mineral magnetite are bioavailable as electron sinks and electron sources under varying environmental conditions, effectively rendering a naturally occurring battery.

XRF data, magnetic susceptibility, greyscale values and revised depths of sediments from ODP Leg 154 sites

The distinctly cyclic sediments recovered during ODP Leg 154 played an important role in constructing the astronomical time scale and associated astro(bio)chronology for the Miocene, and in deciphering ocean-climate history. The accuracy of the timescale critically depends on the reliability of the shipboard splice used for the tuning and on the tuning itself. New high-resolution colour- and magnetic susceptibility core scanning data supplemented with limited XRF-data allow improvement of the stratigraphy. The revised composite record results in an improved astronomical age model for ODP Site 926 between 5 and 14.4 Ma. The new age model is confirmed by results of complex amplitude demodulation of the precession and obliquity related cycle patterns. Different values for tidal dissipation are applied to improve the fit between the sedimentary cycle patterns and the astronomical solution. Due to the improved stratigraphy and tuning, supported by the results of amplitude demodulation, the revised time scale yields more reliable age estimates for planktic foraminiferal and calcareous nannofossil events. The results of this study highlight the importance of stratigraphy for timescale construction.

Sistema mediático, conflictos sociales e imaginarios políticos : un análisis aplicado al conflicto que, en 2008, enfrentó al Gobierno Nacional y al sector agropecuario. Espacio Público, colectivos de identidad y mediatización

Este proyecto de investigación se propone, en términos generales, entender cómo interviene el sistema de medios sobre los modos de producción de la discursividad política en un espacio público mediatizado. Puntualmente, interesa analizar las condiciones que la televisión -concebida en su triple condición de medio, institución y dispositivo tecnológico- impone a la construcción y gestión de identidades colectivas durante el denominado "conflicto del campo" en Argentina, entre Marzo y Julio de 2008. Entendemos que la mediatización es una dimensión misma del conflicto, y no un añadido impropio. En este sentido, nos preguntamos por el vínculo entre la lógica del discurso político y la lógica del discurso mediático cuando se trata de producir o gestionar entidades del imaginario político (colectivos de identificación, meta-colectivos, meta-colectivos singulares, etc.), y por las estrategias específicas, implicadas en cada lógica, para vincular lo individual (el lugar del líder, del representante, del periodista o del ciudadano) y lo colectivo (ya que ninguno de ellos puede evitar gestionar, en su discurso, el contacto con las identidades colectivas en pugna).

Authigenic uranium, mass accumulation rates, benthic d13C and SST during the last interglacial period of ODP Site 177-1094

Southern Ocean sediments reveal a spike in authigenic uranium 127,000 years ago, within the last interglacial, reflecting decreased oxygenation of deep water by Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW). Unlike ice age reductions in AABW, the interglacial stagnation event appears decoupled from open ocean conditions and may have resulted from coastal freshening due to mass loss from the Antarctic ice sheet. AABW reduction coincided with increased North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW) formation, and the subsequent reinvigoration in AABW coincided with reduced NADW formation. Thus, alternation of deep water formation between the Antarctic and the North Atlantic, believed to characterize ice ages, apparently also occurs in warm climates.

El deseo del analista y el mandato del amo moderno

El contexto cultural atraviesa al sujeto apuntando a suturar su división en tanto su búsqueda de identidad naufraga en la universalización de los estilos de vida comandados por la época. Tal comandancia sostenida por el amo moderno, a partir de una mutación de discurso, produce la realidad de la época. La deformación del discurso amo presentada por Lacan en la Conferencia de Milán, se genera por la inversión de los lugares del sujeto y del significante amo. De tal forma que el sujeto queda en contacto directo y sin la intermediación de la doble barra que lo distanciaba respecto del objeto a. Siendo el sujeto quien ostenta ahora el lugar del agente por precipitación al fondo del significante amo que otrora ordenaba. Se pasa así del reinado del ideal del yo al del yo ideal, en tanto están en la cúspide los objetos obturadores de la falta dispuestos a taponar lo que la época les indique. En otras palabras, la identificación a partir del Ideal del yo se hace frágil por la inconsistencia del Otro, quien ya no rige y, en su lugar, numerosos objetos imponen su presencia en tanto una voz atronadora empuja a una satisfacción directa e inmediata. El sujeto arbitra procurando sus identificaciones y buscando parecerse al objeto que consume dirigiéndose, como los primitivos, a adquirir los rasgos que el mismo detenta. De ahí que las identificaciones sean lábiles como meras imitaciones sin mediar la castración. El amo antiguo de la sociedad disciplinaria dejó paso al amo moderno de la sociedad del espectáculo, siendo tanta la mostración que embota al sujeto. Lo sumerge en un profundo adormecimiento que le impide ver, viéndose sólo a sí mismo y rechazando al Otro. Este rechazo que produce la ruptura del lazo social, está presente en cada una de las llamadas nuevas patologías de la época, donde la función del Otro simbólico ya no es efectiva.La actual conmoción cultural toca todos los aspectos de la vida y tiñe con sus matices al dispositivo propio del análisis, redoblando el rechazo a la lógica del no-todo propio de la castración, para enseñorear las leyes del mercado con su movimiento pendular del todo o nada. Ante el individualismo a ultranza contemporáneo, el psicoanálisis hace su oposición trabajando con el sujeto como efecto de discurso, haciendo lazo por la transferencia a partir del deseo del analista. Contrapuesto al mandato del amo moderno que está aliado a la tiránica exigencia superyoica de goce, el psicoanálisis posibilita el surgimiento del sujeto deseante. Para el tratamiento de lo real del síntoma el psicoanálisis se dirige por la vía del semblante. El analista como semblante del objeto a toma posición en el discurso y el sujeto se dirige a él suponiéndole un saber como efecto del establecimiento de la transferencia. El deseo del analista no reviste el mismo estatuto que el deseo del inconsciente y en su encuentro con el sujeto la transferencia opera como obstáculo a la relación dual. El deseo del analista funciona como sostén del objeto a y pone en juego un vacío posibilitador para el surgimiento del deseo del sujeto. Instala una distancia entre el Ideal y el objeto a atendiendo la demanda a la que no responde sino en un más allá del amor. Para lo cual se abstiene de comprender volviendo operativo el semblante como única vía de tratar lo real. El vacío que posibilita es ofrecido para hacer surgir la singularidad del sujeto que la época busca desconocer aplastándola con el rótulo de lo patológico que hay que eliminar, desde un pseudo discurso sin fisuras y sin pérdidas que impone la homogeneización de los estilos de vida sin cupo para la diferencia constantemente expulsada. Objetivos: -Ubicar el malestar de la civilización como algo de orden estructural que cada era conoce y los rasgos coyunturales de la época como característicos de la misma. Estos rasgos son efecto de un cúmulo de factores que marcan las coordenadas del momento a nivel social, político,económico, religioso, y de otros aspectos culturales. -Plantear las salidas posibles desde la perspectiva psicoanalítica a la problemática de la aporía actual. Metodología: Análisis teórico, descriptivo, expositivo y argumental dela temática propuesta para alcanzar los objetivos planteados. Resultados: Situación de las variables en juego en contexto actual que permiten abrir nuevos interrogantes a la altura de la subjetividad moderna. Conclusiones: Ante el individualismo a ultranza contemporáneo el psicoanálisis hace su oposición, trabajando con el sujeto como efecto de discurso, haciendo lazo con la transferencia a partir del deseo del analista. Contrapuesto al mandato del amo moderno que está aliado a la tiránica exigencia superyoica de goce, el psicoanálisis posibilita el surgimiento del sujeto deseante

Características de la estructura ocupacional en la Región NEA en el período 2003-2006

En los últimos meses, las cifras oficiales mostraron una recuperación notable de la economía Argentina y su repercusión en el mejoramiento de los indicadores laborales, principalmente de aquellos que refieren a la disminución de la desocupación. Sin embargo, los procesos de segmentación y fragmentación del mercado de trabajo no han logrado revertirse, especialmente en regiones como el nea, históricamente periférica respecto del eje central de producción del país, y cuyas características productivas, políticas e institucionales la convierten en una zona de escaso desarrollo. Estos procesos se vinculan fundamentalmente con el sostenimiento de modalidades ocupacionales e inserciones laborales caracterizadas por la informalidad. De allí que el presente artículo se haya propuesto analizar el comportamiento del mercado de trabajo en la región nea durante los últimos cuatro años. Para esto se trabajó con los datos provenientes de la Encuesta Permanente de Hogares correspondientes al segundo semestre de 2003 y al segundo semestre de 2006, con el objeto de mostrar las tendencias que se presentan tanto en relación con las características de la estructura histórica de este mercado como en comparación con otras regiones del país

Analysis of an ancient global warming event, the Paleocene-Eocene thermal maximum, under examination from ODP Holes 113-689B and 113-690B

Spatiotemporal patterns of carbonate dissolution provide a critical constraint on carbon input during an ancient (~55.5 Ma) global warming event known as the Paleocene-Eocene thermal maximum (PETM), yet the magnitude of lysocline shoaling in the Southern Ocean is poorly constrained due to limited spatial coverage in the circum-Antarctic region. This shortcoming is partially addressed by comparing patterns of carbonate sedimentation at the Site 690 PETM reference section to those herein reconstructed for nearby Site 689. Biochemostratigraphic correlation of the two records reveals that the first ~36 ka of the carbon isotope excursion (CIE) signaling PETM conditions is captured by the Site 689 section, while the remainder of the CIE interval and nearly all of the CIE recovery are missing due to a coring gap. A relatively expanded stratigraphy and higher carbonate content at mid-bathyal Site 689 indicate that dissolution was less severe than at Site 690. Thus, the bathymetric transect delimited by these two PETM records indicates that the lysocline shoaled above Site 689 (~1,100 m) while the calcite compensation depth remained below Site 690 (~1,900 m) in the Weddell Sea region. The ensuing recovery of carbonate sedimentation conforms to a bathymetric trend best explained by gradual lysocline deepening as negative feedback mechanisms neutralized ocean acidification. Further, biochemostratigraphic evidence indicates the tail end of the CIE recovery interval at both sites has been truncated by a hiatus most likely related to vigorous production and advection of intermediate waters.