Anthropogenic influence on recent circulation-driven Antarctic sea-ice changes

Observations reveal an increase of Antarctic sea ice over the past three decades, yet global climate models tend to simulate a sea-ice decrease for that period. Here, we combine observations with model experiments (MPI-ESM) to investigate causes for this discrepancy and for the observed sea-ice increase. Based on observations and atmospheric reanalysis, we show that on multi-decadal time scales Antarctic sea-ice changes are linked to intensified meridional winds that are caused by a zonally asymmetric lowering of the high-latitude surface pressure. In our simulations, this surface-pressure lowering is a response to a combination of anthropogenic stratospheric ozone depletion and greenhouse gas increase. Combining these two lines of argument, we infer a possible anthropogenic influence on the observed sea-ice changes. However, similar to other models, MPI-ESM simulates a surface-pressure response that is rather zonally symmetric, which explains why the simulated sea-ice response differs from observations

Arctic sea-ice evolution as modeled by Max Planck Institute for Meteorology's Earth system model

We describe the evolution of Arctic sea ice as modeled by the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology's Earth System Model (MPI-ESM). The modeled spatial distribution and interannual variability of the sea-ice cover agree well with satellite observations and are improved relative to the model's predecessor ECHAM5/MPIOM. An evaluation of modeled sea-ice coverage based on sea-ice area gives, however, conflicting results compared to an evaluation based on sea-ice extent and is additionally hindered by uncertainties in the observational record. Simulated trends in sea-ice coverage for the satellite period range from more strongly negative than observed to positive. The observed evolution of Arctic sea ice is incompatible with modeled internal variability and probably caused by external forcing. Simulated drift patterns agree well with observations, but simulated drift speed is generally too high. Simulated sea-ice volume agrees well with volume estimates of the PIOMAS reanalysis for the past few years. However, a preceding Arctic wide decrease in sea-ice volume starts much earlier in MPI-ESM than in PIOMAS. Analyzing this behavior in MPI-ESM's ocean model MPIOM, we find that the modeled volume trend depends crucially on the specific choice of atmospheric reanalysis forcing, which casts some doubt on the reliability of estimates of volume trends. In our CMIP5 scenario simulations, we find a substantial delay in sea-ice response to increasing CO2 concentration; a seasonally ice-free Arctic can result for a CO2 concentration of around 500 ppm. Simulated winter sea-ice coverage drops rapidly to near ice-free conditions once the mean Arctic winter temperature exceeds −5°C

Stratigraphische Begriffe für das Quartär des süddeutschen Alpenvorlandes

Schwerpunkt der Darstellung über das Quartär des süddeutschen Alpenvorlandes sind die Begriffe der klassischen Morphostratigraphie sensu PENCK & BRÜCKNER (1901/09), methodisch eingeleitet und im Einzelnen ausgearbeitet durch K.A. HABBE. Diese Definitionen entsprechen dem Gebrauch der Begrifflichkeiten in der süddeutschen Quartärliteratur vor allem der Jahre 1950 bis 2000. Die von K.A. HABBE († 2003) hinterlassenen Manuskripte wurden von D. ELLWANGER redaktionell überarbeitet sowie die Definitionen durch Bemerkungen ergänzt und kommentiert (D. ELLWANGER und R. BECKERHAUMANN). Im Anschluss an die Definitionen werden von D. ELLWANGER die morphostratigraphischen Darstellungen aus einem lithostratigraphischen Blickwinkel ergänzend kommentiert, die Problematik Morpho- versus Lithostratigraphie umrissen und schließlich die wichtigsten lithostratigraphischen Begriffe dargestellt, die sich im quartärgeologischen Alltag in Baden-Württemberg seit einigen Jahren bewährt haben. Das gesamte Manuskript wurde sodann durch die Arbeitsgruppe Süddeutschland der Subkommission für Quartärstratigraphie im Einzelnen geprüft und ergänzt. Eine vollständigere Darstellung der lithostratigraphischen Einheiten wird im – in Arbeit befindlichen – Lithostratigraphischen Lexikon erfolgen.researc

Stand-alone device for the electrolytic fabrication of scanning near-field optical microscopy aperture probes

Haumann C, Pelargus C, Frey HG, et al. Stand-alone device for the electrolytic fabrication of scanning near-field optical microscopy aperture probes. Review of scientific instruments. 2005;76(3): 033704.Near-field optical applications require the fast, stable, and reproducible fabrication of scanning near-field optical microscopy (SNOM) aperture probes in the submicrometer range. We have developed a stand-alone device for the electrolytic etching of nanoapertures with an integrated current and optical transmission monitoring and control. Probes with an aperture ranging from 50 to 100 nm were reproducibly fabricated with great reliability. With these probes, high resolution SNOM images of 100 nm test patterns and single dye molecules (Rhodamine 6G in poly(vinyl alcohol)) are measured and presented. Not requiring a SNOM setup, the stand-alone device is not only inexpensive and compact, but also insensitive to external disturbances

DisCoverage: From Coverage to Distributed Multi-Robot Exploration

DisCoverage transfers the well-known solution to the coverage problem to the exploration problem. Essentially, DisCoverage solves the multi-robot exploration problem through a spatially distributed optimization problem. Our contribution is a new objective function for DisCoverage based on the centroidal search. Each robot continuously creates and optimizes the proposed objective function, obtaining a gradient-based control law that leads into unexplored regions. A proof of convergence is given as well as a simulation and a statistical evaluation demonstrating DisCoverage

Correction to Mitochondrial Free [Ca\u3csup\u3e2+\u3c/sup\u3e] Increases during ATP/ADP Antiport and ADP Phosphorylation: Exploration of Mechanisms

ADP influx and ADP phosphorylation may alter mitochondrial free [Ca2+] ([Ca2+]m) and consequently mitochondrial bioenergetics by several postulated mechanisms. We tested how [Ca2+]m is affected by H2PO4− (Pi), Mg2+, calcium uniporter activity, matrix volume changes, and the bioenergetic state. We measured [Ca2+]m, membrane potential, redox state, matrix volume, pHm, and O2 consumption in guinea pig heart mitochondria with or without ruthenium red, carboxyatractyloside, or oligomycin, and at several levels of Mg2+ and Pi. Energized mitochondria showed a dose-dependent increase in [Ca2+]m after adding CaCl2 equivalent to 20, 114, and 485 nM extramatrix free [Ca2+] ([Ca2+]e); this uptake was attenuated at higher buffer Mg2+. Adding ADP transiently increased [Ca2+]m up to twofold. The ADP effect on increasing [Ca2+]m could be partially attributed to matrix contraction, but was little affected by ruthenium red or changes in Mg2+ or Pi. Oligomycin largely reduced the increase in [Ca2+]m by ADP compared to control, and [Ca2+]m did not return to baseline. Carboxyatractyloside prevented the ADP-induced [Ca2+]m increase. Adding CaCl2 had no effect on bioenergetics, except for a small increase in state 2 and state 4 respiration at 485 nM [Ca2+]e. These data suggest that matrix ADP influx and subsequent phosphorylation increase [Ca2+]m largely due to the interaction of matrix Ca2+ with ATP, ADP, Pi, and cation buffering proteins in the matrix

Spectroscopic Properties of a Biologically Relevant [Fe2(μ-O)2] Diamond Core Motif with a Short Iron-Iron Distance

Diiron cofactors in enzymes perform diverse challenging transformations. The structures of high valent intermediates (Q in methane monooxygenase and X in ribonucleotide reductase) are debated since Fe−Fe distances of 2.5–3.4 Å were attributed to “open” or “closed” cores with bridging or terminal oxido groups. We report the crystallographic and spectroscopic characterization of a FeIII2(μ-O)2 complex (2) with tetrahedral (4C) centres and short Fe−Fe distance (2.52 Å), persisting in organic solutions. 2 shows a large Fe K-pre-edge intensity, which is caused by the pronounced asymmetry at the TD FeIII centres due to the short Fe−μ−O bonds. A ≈2.5 Å Fe−Fe distance is unlikely for six-coordinate sites in Q or X, but for a Fe2(μ-O)2 core containing four-coordinate (or by possible extension five-coordinate) iron centres there may be enough flexibility to accommodate a particularly short Fe−Fe separation with intense pre-edge transition. This finding may broaden the scope of models considered for the structure of high-valent diiron intermediates formed upon O2 activation in biology

Operando tracking of oxidation-state changes by coupling electrochemistry with time-resolved X-ray absorption spectroscopy demonstrated for water oxidation by a cobalt-based catalyst film

Transition metal oxides are promising electrocatalysts for water oxidation, i.e., the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), which is critical in electrochemical production of non-fossil fuels. The involvement of oxidation state changes of the metal in OER electrocatalysis is increasingly recognized in the literature. Tracing these oxidation states under operation conditions could provide relevant information for performance optimization and development of durable catalysts, but further methodical developments are needed. Here, we propose a strategy to use single-energy X-ray absorption spectroscopy for monitoring metal oxidation-state changes during OER operation with millisecond time resolution. The procedure to obtain time-resolved oxidation state values, using two calibration curves, is explained in detail. We demonstrate the significance of this approach as well as possible sources of data misinterpretation. We conclude that the combination of X-ray absorption spectroscopy with electrochemical techniques allows us to investigate the kinetics of redox transitions and to distinguish the catalytic current from the redox current. Tracking of the oxidation state changes of Co ions in electrodeposited oxide films during cyclic voltammetry in neutral pH electrolyte serves as a proof of principle