Episodes of intensified biological productivity in the subtropical Atlantic Ocean during the termination of the Middle Eocene Climatic Optimum (MECO)

The Middle Eocene Climatic Optimum (MECO) is an ~500 kyr interval of pronounced global warming from which the climate system recovered in <50 kyr. The deep-sea sedimentary record can provide valuable insight on the marine ecosystem response to this protracted global warming event and consequently on the ecological changes during this time. Here we present new benthic foraminiferal assemblage data from Ocean Drilling Program Site 1051 in the subtropical North Atlantic, spanning the MECO and post-MECO interval (41.1 to 39.5 Ma). We ␣nd little change in the species composition of benthic foraminiferal assemblages during the studied interval, suggesting that the rate of environmental change was gradual enough that these organisms were able to adapt. However, we identify two transient intervals associated with peak warming (higher-productivity interval (HPI)-1; 40.07–39.96 Ma) and shortly after the MECO (HPI-2; 39.68–39.55 Ma), where benthic foraminiferal accumulation rates increase by an order of magnitude. These HPIs at Site 1051 appear to coincide with intervals of strengthened productivity in the Tethys, Southern Ocean, and South Atlantic, and we suggest that an intensi␣ed hydrological cycle during the climatic warmth of the MECO was responsible for eutrophication of marine shelf and slope environments

High-Bandwidth Q-Band EPR Resonators

Tschaggelar R, Breitgoff FD, Oberhänsli O, Qi M, Godt A, Jeschke G. High-Bandwidth Q-Band EPR Resonators. Applied Magnetic Resonance. 2017;48(11-12):1273-1300

dd+ - A new dendro software for large data sets and for institutions with archives

Most dendro software packages lack features that are of great importance to long-standing dendro-institutions with large numbers of samples in their archives and with numerous datasets on their hard drives. Among these essential features are (i) context information and metadata for each sample and measurement, (ii) detailed information on the structure and content of every mean curve, (iii) data consistency, (iv) the definition of subsamples as dynamic or static, (v) ability to crossdate using thousands of measurements, (vi) provide output tables for external use such as GIS-systems, (vii) defining roles and rights for different users, (viii) provide flexible vector graphic export options; and several others. The new software dd+ covers all these issues. However, it is not meant as an all-in-one software for dendro studies. Many numeric analyses are better done in R. It rather aims at providing stability, transparency and consistency for large datasets together with high performance crossdating tools. dd+ is a Microsoft server SQL database with in-built dendro features. A SQL querybuilder allows to define subsets and groups based on a wealth of attributes. These groups can be saved either as dynamic or static list and form the base for browser based management, editing, correlation or the production of database-tables for external use such as GIS. There are two browsers for wood samples and two for mean curves, all of which can be used independently by applying SQL queries or manually picking samples and mean curves. Calculation procedures are optimised for large datasets. Crossdating 851 vs 1204 series in all possible synchronous positions takes less than 3 min. Crossdating is assisted by direct visual presentation of individual pairs which can be set to visible or hidden. dd+ enforces data consistency by checking your crossdating decisions. Mean curve construction and dating is only possible if all single crossdating positions are consistent. By now, dd+ uses the Heidelberg-format and excel-files for import and export. Knowing about the weaknesses of these formats, they seem helpful for overcoming the many problems of backward-digitalisation. Once data are entered, the data model opens new 212 possibilities. Future development aims at a xml format for data exchange. The latest version 2.6 covers an csv-export in long format for import into R. Meanwhile, the standardisation of meta data aids in the exchange between labs. Taking part: dd+ is not open source, but it aims at an open data policy and common data standards. It has been programmed by professionals in cooperation with the Zurich lab. It comes without licensing fees, but it is not free of costs: Whoever wants to use dd+, joins the user community "ArGe dd+" by a contract. All users share the costs of support by a fixed amount per year. The community decides by simple majority on further development and improvement projects and the costs are shared. For the moment, dd+ has a focus on managing samples from historical and archaeological contexts. Future versions will add ecological aspects. If you are interested in dd+, please contact [email protected]