scholarly journals Paleoenvironmental response of midlatitudinal wetlands to Paleocene–early Eocene climate change (Schöningen lignite deposits, Germany)

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 1741-1755 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katharina Methner ◽  
Olaf Lenz ◽  
Walter Riegel ◽  
Volker Wilde ◽  
Andreas Mulch
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Isotope ◽  
North Sea ◽  
Terrestrial Ecosystems ◽  
High Pco2 ◽  
Organic Carbon Content ◽  
Early Eocene ◽  
Thermal Maximum ◽  
Early Paleogene ◽  
Sea Coast ◽  
North Sea Coast

Abstract. The early Paleogene is marked by multiple negative carbon isotope excursions (CIEs) that reflect massive short-term carbon cycle perturbations that coincide with significant warming during a high-pCO2 world, affecting both marine and terrestrial ecosystems. Records of such hyperthermals from the marine–terrestrial interface (e.g., estuarine swamps and mire deposits) are therefore of great interest as their present-day counterparts are highly vulnerable to future climate and sea level change. Here, we assess paleoenvironmental changes of midlatitudinal late Paleocene–early Eocene peat mire records along the paleo-North Sea coast. We provide carbon isotope data of bulk organic matter (δ13CTOC), organic carbon content (%TOC), and palynological data from an extensive peat mire deposited at a midlatitudinal (ca. 41∘ N) coastal site (Schöningen, Germany). The δ13CTOC data show a carbon isotope excursion of −1.3 ‰ (mean decrease in δ13CTOC; −1.7 ‰ at the onset of CIE) coeval with a conspicuous Apectodinium acme. Due to the exceptionally large stratigraphic thickness of the CIE at Schöningen (10 m of section) we established a detailed palynological record that indicates only minor changes in paleovegetation leading into and during this event. Instead, paleovegetation changes mostly follow natural successions in response to changes along the marine–terrestrial interface. The available age constraints for the Schöningen Formation hamper a solid assignment of the detected CIE to a particular hyperthermal such as the Paleocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) or any succeeding hyperthermal event such as the Eocene Thermal Maximum 2 (ETM2). Compared to other nearby peat mire records (Cobham, UK; Vasterival, F) it appears that wetland deposits around the Paleogene North Sea have a consistent CIE magnitude of ca. −1.3 ‰ in δ13CTOC. Moreover, the Schöningen record shares major characteristics with the Cobham Lignite PETM record, including evidence for increased fire activity prior to the CIE, minor plant species change during the hyperthermal, a reduced CIE in δ13CTOC, and drowning of the mire (marine ingressions) during much of the Schöningen CIE event. This suggests that either the Schöningen CIE reflects the PETM or that early Paleogene hyperthermals similarly affected paleoenvironmental conditions of a major segment of the paleo-North Sea coast.

scholarly journals Palaeoenvironmental response of mid-latitudinal wetlands to PETM climate change (Schöningen lignite deposits, Germany)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katharina Methner ◽  
Olaf Lenz ◽  
Walter Riegel ◽  
Volker Wilde ◽  
Andreas Mulch
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Isotope ◽  
North Sea ◽  
Terrestrial Ecosystems ◽  
High Pco2 ◽  
Organic Carbon Content ◽  
Early Eocene ◽  
Late Paleocene ◽  
Related Plant ◽  
Sea Coast ◽  
North Sea Coast

Abstract. The Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) offers insight into massive short-term carbon cycle perturbations that caused significant warming during a high-pCO2 world, affecting both marine and terrestrial ecosystems. PETM records from the marine-terrestrial interface (e.g. estuarine swamps and mire deposits) are, therefore, of great interest as their present-day counterparts are highly vulnerable to future climate and sea level change. Here, we assess paleoenvironmental changes of mid-latitudinal Late Paleocene-Early Eocene peat mire records along the paleo-North Sea coast. We provide carbon isotope data of bulk organic matter (δ13CTOC), organic carbon content (%TOC), and palynological data from an extensive peat mire deposited at a mid-latitudinal (ca. 41 °N) coastal site (Schöningen, Germany). The δ13CTOC data show a carbon isotope excursion (CIE) of −1.7 ‰ coeval with a conspicuous Apectodinium acme, calling for the presence of the PETM in this coastal section. Due to the exceptionally large stratigraphic thickness of the PETM at Schöningen (10 m of section) we established a detailed palynological record that indicates only minor changes in paleovegetation leading to and during the PETM. Instead, paleovegetation changes mostly follow natural successions in response to changes along the marine-terrestrial interface. Compared to other available peat mire records (Cobham, UK; Vasterival, France) it appears that wetland deposits around the Paleogene North Sea have a typical CIE magnitude of ca. −1.3 ‰ in δ13CTOC. Moreover, the Schöningen record shares major characteristics with the Cobham Lignite, including evidence for increased fire activity prior to the PETM, minor PETM-related plant species changes, a reduced CIE in δ13CTOC, and drowning of the mire (marine ingressions) during much of the PETM. This suggests that paleoenvironmental conditions during the Late Paleocene-Early Eocene, including the PETM, consistently affected major segments of the paleo-North Sea coast.

scholarly journals Early Eocene carbon isotope excursions in a lignite bearing succession at the southern edge of the proto-North Sea (Schöningen, Germany)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olaf K. Lenz ◽  
Mara Montag ◽  
Volker Wilde ◽  
Katharina Methner ◽  
Walter Riegel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Isotope ◽  
North Sea ◽  
High Amplitude ◽  
Mining District ◽  
Organic Carbon Content ◽  
Sea Level Changes ◽  
Lower Saxony ◽  
Climate Fluctuations ◽  
Thermal Maximum ◽  
Radiometric Ages

Abstract. Situated at the southern edge of the proto-North Sea the lower Eocene Schöningen Formation of the Helmstedt Lignite Mining District, Lower Saxony, Germany is characterized by several lignite seams alternating with estuarine to brackish interbeds. Here, we present carbon isotope data of bulk organic matter (δ13CTOC), organic carbon content (%TOC), and palynomorphs from a 98 m thick sequence of the Schöningen Formation embedded into a new robust age model. This is based on eustatic sea-level changes, biostratigraphy, and a correlation to existing radiometric ages. Based on the δ13CTOC data we observe six negative carbon isotope excursions (CIEs) reflecting massive short-term carbon cycle perturbations. A strong CIE of −2.6 ‰ in δ13CTOC values in the Main Seam and the succeeding marine interbed can be related to the Paleocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM). The subsequent CIE of −1.7 ‰ in δ13CTOC values may be correlated with the Eocene Thermal Maximum 2 (ETM2) or slightly older events preceding the ETM2. High-amplitude climate fluctuations including at least 4 minor CIEs with a maximum negative shift of −1.3 ‰ in δ13CTOC in the upper part of the studied section are characteristic for the EECO. Palynological analysis across the Main Seam proved that shifts in δ13CTOC values are correlated with changes in the peat forming wetland vegetation, specifically the change from a mixed angiosperm and gymnosperm flora to an angiosperm dominated vegetation at the onset of the PETM. The PETM-related CIE shows a distinct rebound to higher δ13CTOC values shortly after the onset of the CIE, which is here recognized as a common feature of terrestrial and marginal marine PETM-records worldwide and may be related to changes in the vegetation including different carbon isotope budgets of gymnosperms and angiosperms.

What can idealized storm surge simulations tell us about worst case scenarios?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elin Andrée ◽  
Jian Su ◽  
Martin Drews ◽  
Morten Andreas Dahl Larsen ◽  
Asger Bendix Hansen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wind Speed ◽  
Sea Level ◽  
North Sea ◽  
Wind Direction ◽  
Water Levels ◽  
Sea Levels ◽  
The North ◽  
The North Sea ◽  
Sea Coast ◽  
North Sea Coast

<p>The potential impacts of extreme sea level events are becoming more apparent to the public and policy makers alike. As the magnitude of these events are expected to increase due to climate change, and increased coastal urbanization results in ever increasing stakes in the coastal zones, the need for risk assessments is growing too.</p><p>The physical conditions that generate extreme sea levels are highly dependent on site specific conditions, such as bathymetry, tidal regime, wind fetch and the shape of the coastline. For a low-lying country like Denmark, which consists of a peninsula and islands that partition off the semi-enclosed Baltic Sea from the North Sea, a better understanding of how the local sea level responds to wind forcing is urgently called for.</p><p>We here present a map for Denmark that shows the most efficient wind directions for generating extreme sea levels, for a total of 70 locations distributed all over the country’s coastlines. The maps are produced by conducting simulations with a high resolution, 3D-ocean model, which is used for operational storm surge modelling at the Danish Meteorological Institute. We force the model with idealized wind fields that maintain a fixed wind speed and wind direction over the entire model domain. Simulations are conducted for one wind speed and one wind direction at a time, generating ensembles of a set of wind directions for a fixed wind speed, as well as a set of wind speeds for a fixed wind direction, respectively.</p><p>For each wind direction, we find that the maximum water level at a given location increases linearly with the wind speed, and the slope values show clear spatial patterns, for example distinguishing the Danish southern North Sea coast from the central or northern North Sea Coast. The slope values are highest along the southwestern North Sea coast, where the passage of North Atlantic low pressure systems over the shallow North Sea, as well as the large tidal range, result in a much larger range of variability than in the more sheltered Inner Danish Waters. However, in our simulations the large fetch of the Baltic Sea, in combination with the funneling effect of the Danish Straits, result in almost as high water levels as along the North Sea coast.</p><p>Although the wind forcing is completely synthetic with no spatial and temporal structure of a real storm, this idealized approach allows us to systematically investigate the sea level response at the boundaries of what is physically plausible. We evaluate the results from these simulations by comparison to peak water levels from a 58 year long, high resolution ocean hindcast, with promising agreement.</p>

List of Publications Recording the Results of Researches carried out under the Auspices of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom in their Laboratory at Plymouth or on the North Sea Coast from 1886–1900

1900 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 115-135
Keyword(s):  
United Kingdom ◽  
North Sea ◽  
Biological Association ◽  
The North ◽  
Marine Biological Association ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
The North Sea ◽  
Different Parts ◽  
Sea Coast ◽  
North Sea Coast

The following list has been classified, so far as practicable, according to subjects, in order that it may be useful for purposes of reference. The list does not include publications recording the results of observations made on material supplied by the Association to workers in different parts of the country, of which a considerable amount is sent out each year.

scholarly journals HIGH-WATER PROBLEMS ON THE DANISH NORTH SEA COAST

2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (6) ◽  
pp. 6
Author(s):  
C. Ringe-Jorgensen
Keyword(s):  
North Sea ◽  
High Water ◽  
Meteorological Conditions ◽  
Dutch Coast ◽  
Water Problems ◽  
Sea Coast ◽  
North Sea Coast ◽  
Made In ◽  
Frequency Curves

With reference to the use of high-water frequency curves, which have been suggested by Wemelsfelder as an aid to fix the maximum flooding level, an attempt will be made in the following to estimate how far certain special geographical and meteorological conditions may be expected to influence the shape of the frequency curves for different localities. The investigation concerns a particular point on the Danish North Sea coast compared with the Dutch coast, but its principles may possibly be of interest in a wider sense.

Concentrations and metabolism of PCBs in eggs of waterbirds on the German North Sea Coast

1994 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 220-225 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Denker ◽  
P. H. Becker ◽  
M. Beyerbach ◽  
A. Büthe ◽  
W. A. Heidmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
North Sea ◽  
Sea Coast ◽  
North Sea Coast
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