What are the drivers of Caspian Sea level variation during the late Quaternary?

Quaternary Caspian Sea level variations depended on geophysical processes (affecting the opening and closing of gateways and basin size/shape) and hydro-climatological processes (affecting water balance). Disentangling the drivers of past Caspian Sea level variation, as well as the mechanisms by which they impacted the Caspian Sea level variation, is much debated. In this study we examine the relative impacts of hydroclimatic change, ice-sheet accumulation and melt, and isostatic adjustment on Caspian Sea level change. We performed model analysis of ice-sheet and hydroclimate impacts on Caspian Sea level and compared these with newly collated published palaeo-Caspian sea level data for the last glacial cycle. We used palaeoclimate model simulations from a global coupled ocean-atmosphere-vegetation climate model, HadCM3, and ice-sheet data from the ICE-6G_C glacial isostatic adjustment model. Our results show that ice-sheet meltwater during the last glacial cycle played a vital role in Caspian Sea level variations, which is in agreement with hypotheses based on palaeo-Caspian Sea level information. The effect was directly linked to the reorganization and expansion of the Caspian Sea palaeo-drainage system resulting from topographic change. The combined contributions from meltwater and runoff from the expanded basin area were primary factors in the Caspian Sea transgression during the deglaciation period between 20 and 15 kyr BP. Their impact on the evolution of Caspian Sea level lasted until around 13 kyr BP. Millennial scale events (Heinrich events and the Younger Dryas) negatively impacted the surface water budget of the Caspian Sea but their influence on Caspian Sea level variation was short-lived and was outweighed by the massive combined meltwater and runoff contribution over the expanded basin

Zircon age constraints on sediment provenance in the Caspian region

Sensitive high-resolution ion microprobe (SHRIMP) U-Pb ages for detrital zircons from the Caspian region reveal the age ranges of basement terrains that supplied the sediment. One sample from the modern Volga river has groupings at c. 340-370 Ma, c. 900-1300 Ma and c. 1450-1800 Ma, with a small number of older zircons. This is consistent with derivation from the Precambrian basement of the East European Craton, and Palaeozoic arcs in the Urals. Mid- and Late Proterozoic components may be derived from beyond the present Volga drainage basin, such as the Sveconorwegian orogen. A Bajocian sandstone from the Greater Caucasus has 73% zircons that post-date 350 Ma. Ages cluster at c. 165-185 Ma, c. 220-260 Ma, c. 280-360 Ma and c. 440-460 Ma. This pattern suggests derivation from Palaeozoic basement of the Greater Caucasus itself and/ or the Scythian Platform, and igneous rocks generated at a Jurassic arc in the Lesser Caucasus. Four samples from the Lower Pliocene Productive Series of the South Caspian Basin have common Phanerozoic grains, and groups between c. 900-1300 Ma and 1500-2000 Ma. Each sample contains zircons dated to c. 2700 Ma. The overall age patterns in the Productive Series samples suggest a combination of East European Craton and Greater Caucasus source components

BOTTOM SEDIMENTS IN DELTAIC SHALLOW-WATER AREAS – ARE THEY SOILS?

This article is based on long-term research of aquatic landscapes in the VolgaRiver delta which was held in 2010–2012 and included investigation and sampling of bottom sediments in deltaic lagoons, fresh-water bays, small channels, oxbow lakes, and part of the deltaic near-shore zone. Contrasting hydrological regime and suspended matter deposition together with huge amount of water plants in the river delta provide for the formation of different types of subaquatic soils. The purpose of this research is to reveal the properties of the subaquatic soils in the Volga River deltaic area and to propose pedogenetic approaches to the diagnostic of aquazems as soil types. It is suggested to name the horizons in aquazems in the same way as in terrestrial soils in the recent Russian soil classification system, and apply symbols starting with the combination of caps – AQ (for “aquatic”). The aquazems’ horizons are identified and their general properties are described. Most typical of aquazems is the aquagley (AQG) horizon; it is dove grey, homogeneous in color and permeated by clay. The upper part is usually enriched in organic matter and may be qualified for aquahumus (AQA) or  aquapeat (AQT) horizons. In case of active hydrodynamic regime and/or strong mixing phenomena, the oxidized (AQOX or aqox) horizon, or property could be formed. It is yellowish-grey, thin, and depleted of organic matter. The main types of aquzems specified by forming agents and combinations of horizons are described

Micromorphological analysis of effects of alternating phases of landscape stability and instability on two soil profiles in Galicia, N.W. Spain

[EN] Two complex profiles in slope deposits in Galicia, Spain, were examined both in the field and in the laboratory. One profile consists of humous colluvium on solifluction material overlying gabbro, the other shows various layers of humous collovium on granite. The micromorphology and soil chemistry revealed an oscillation in environmental conditions — periods of landscape stability and soil formation, alternating with periods of erosion and deposition — which was not readily evident from field studies. The shortcomings of existing systems of soil horizon nomenclatures and classification schemes of slope deposits became very evident.[ES] Se estudian dos perfiles complejos de suelo sobre depósitos en pendiente, de Galicia, España, en el campo y en el laboratorio. Uno de los perfiles está formado por coluvios de humus sobre material de solifluxión que descansa sobre gabro y el otro muestra varias capas de coluvios de humus sobre granito. La micromorfologia y el análisis químico del suelo ponen de manifiesto una oscilación en las condiciones del medio ambiente — periodos de estabilidad del terreno y formación de suelo, alternando con periodos de erosión y depósito — que no se deducen facilmente de los estudios de campo. Durante la realización del trabajo se ha notado mucho la falta de sistemas de nomenclatura para estos horizontes del suelo y de esquemas de clasificación de depósitos en pendiente.Peer reviewe

Zircon age constraints on sediment provenance in the Caspian region

<p>Sensitive high-resolution ion microprobe (SHRIMP) U–Pb ages for detrital zircons from the Caspian region reveal the age ranges of basement terrains that supplied the sediment. One sample from the modern Volga river has groupings at <em>c</em>. 340–370 Ma, <em>c</em>. 900–1300 Ma and <em>c</em>. 1450–1800 Ma, with a small number of older zircons. This is consistent with derivation from the Precambrian basement of the East European Craton, and Palaeozoic arcs in the Urals. Mid- and Late Proterozoic components may be derived from beyond the present Volga drainage basin, such as the Sveconorwegian orogen. A Bajocian sandstone from the Greater Caucasus has 73% zircons that post-date 350 Ma. Ages cluster at <em>c</em>. 165–185 Ma, <em>c</em>. 220–260 Ma, <em>c</em>. 280–360 Ma and <em>c</em>. 440–460 Ma. This pattern suggests derivation from Palaeozoic basement of the Greater Caucasus itself and/or the Scythian Platform, and igneous rocks generated at a Jurassic arc in the Lesser Caucasus. Four samples from the Lower Pliocene Productive Series of the South Caspian Basin have common Phanerozoic grains, and groups between <em>c</em>. 900–1300 Ma and 1500–2000 Ma. Each sample contains zircons dated to <em>c</em>. 2700 Ma. The overall age patterns in the Productive Series samples suggest a combination of East European Craton and Greater Caucasus source components. </p

The Rise of the University’s Third Mission

The last decades have seen a fundamental upheaval in the organisation of modern life, and the university as an institution has been as widely affected by these changes as business, governments, and civil society groups. Higher education has been confronted with increasing marketisation of the State and aggressive re-regulation of the public sector. Internationalisation has created new potential markets for students, alongside increasing access to research collaborators, but it opened universities up to competition with and comparison against institutions in other countries. The growing importance of knowledge production and innovation for economic life has created new potential roles for universities and challenged the traditional societal privileges and monopolies which they have long enjoyed. But these changes have come at the same time as an evolution in the process of change: a growing role for the State in creating and regulating markets in public services has come with a greater role for the State in guiding this reform process