Henrik Palmer Olsen

Terminal fans—a review with reference to Devonian examples

Abstract Terminal fans occur where sediment-laden streams decrease in size and vanish as a result of evaporation and transmission losses. They tend to form in arid or semi-arid regions which are characterized by a moisture deficit. Distributary channel patterns are characteristic of terminal fans, and reflect both loss of stream power and spatially/temporally fluctuating discharge. In a number of Devonian basins, terminal fan sediments form conspicuous sequences with examples from Spitsbergen, England, Ireland and Greenland. Examples of terminal fan systems from the Northeast Greenland Basin and the Munster Basin in Ireland are presented in this paper. The ancient examples are used in combination with modern distributary systems to construct a simple facies model for terminal fans and their deposits. The model includes a tripartite zonation of terminal fans into feeder, distributary and basinal zones. The feeder zone is characterized by large channel bodies associated with interchannel fines. An increase in channel body frequency may occur at the transition from the feeder zone to the distributary zone, reflecting the downstream multifurcation of channels. The distributary zone is characterized by a downstream decrease in both the scale and frequency of channel deposits, which are mainly replaced by sheetflood deposits. This is the result of the decline of both water depth and stream power downslope. Further evidence of terminal fan systems is the downstream transition from distal to basinal zone deposits of floodbasin, playa mudflat or aeolian origin, reflecting the absence of a terminal base level in the form of a lake or the sea.

Erg-margin deposits in the Lower Jurassic Moenave Formation and Wingate Sandstone, southern Utah

The Moenave Formation (Dinosaur Canyon Member) and the closely associated Wingate Sandstone in southern Utah represent the southwestern erg margin of the Lower Jurassic Wingate erg. The erg-margin deposits, which extend across a 50- to 100-km-wide region, are composed of dune, eolian sand-sheet, mud-flanked eolian, sabkha, ephemeral-stream and lacustrine facies. The succession is divided into a basal erg-margin association (8-27 m) dominated by eolian facies and an overlying erg-margin association (as much as 90 m thick) composed mainly of fluvial and lacustrine facies. The sediments of the basal association are composed of three drying-upward or locally drying-wetting-upward sequences that can be traced from the erg margin 100 km slightly upwind (that is, toward the west-northwest) into the outer erg-margin zone. Sequences of the inner erg-margin zone contain dune facies in their upper parts, sequences in the intermediate erg-margin zone contain sand-sheet facies, and those in the outer erg-margin zone contain sabkha facies. The basal association thins markedly toward the west-northwest. Sediments of the overlying association contain up to six drying-upward or drying-wetting-upward sequences but are apparently only fully preserved in the outer erg-margin zone. Individual sequences show much lateral variation but characteristically contain lower, muddy, ephemeral-stream deposits and upper, sandy, ephemeral-stream deposits; sand-sheet deposits; or incipientdune deposits. The general time trend is interpreted as a gradual change toward a more humid climate. The stacked drying-upward or drying-wetting-upward sequences suggest that this long-term climatic change was characterized by a number of fluctuations between relatively arid and humid conditions. These climatic fluctuations apparently controlled both sediment yield to the basin and the depositional conditions in the erg-margin region. During arid intervals, ephemeral braided streams transported sandy bed-load into the erg-margin area, where eolian reworking took place. During humid intervals, sheet-floods and high-sinuosity rivers transported a more mud-rich sediment load into the basin, where eolian activity was minimal.

Morphology and genesis of asymmetric adhesion warts—a new adhesion surface structure

Abstract Adhesion surface structures have been studied during their formation on a fluvial bar in East Greenland. Two main types occurred: adhesion ripples and asymmetric adhesion warts. Adhesion ripples formed on moist surfaces; their crests lay transverse to the wind direction and they migrated by trapping dry wind-blown sand on their steep fronts. Asymmetric adhesion warts (new structure) formed because of falling moisture content by preferred upwind migration of small protuberances on the adhesion ripples. The protuberances were apparently inherited from an initial rain sculpturing of the bar surface. The asymmetric adhesion warts, here described for the first time, were elongate parallel to the wind, associated with steep upwind-facing fronts and commonly displayed sand-shadow tails tapering in a downwind direction. A study of Devonian flood-basin deposits (Hornelen Basin, Norway) revealed the existence of adhesion surface structures very similar to their modern analogues. The Devonian examples were associated with rain-sculptured surfaces which are believed to have controlled the morphology of the adhesion surface structures as in the modern example. The orientation of the ancient adhesion surface structures is here used for determination of the palaeowind, which blew from the ENE.

Impacts of wet grassland management and winter severity on wader breeding numbers in eastern Denmark

Abstract Attempts to reverse the population declines of many wader species in Denmark and other parts of Europe during the last 20–30 years have resulted in the application of several management implements. In this study we evaluate the effect of two management implements (grazing by cattle and winter flooding) on the number of breeding pairs of lapwing, redshank, avocet, ringed plover, and oystercatcher in the Klydeso reserve, eastern Denmark, from 1990 to 2001. We also include a proxy of winter climate, the index of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), in our models in order to quantify the relative importance of the applied management and winter severity. Lapwing and avocet breeding numbers increased significantly concurrent with the application of cattle grazing, most likely due to an increased number of nesting sites and/or improved predator detection. Conversely, oystercatcher breeding numbers declined as the fraction of the reserve grazed by cattle increased, which may be attributed to changes in food availability on the grazed areas, but also due to increased predation risk. Ringed plover and redshanks in particular responded positively to the introduction of winter flooding, possibly due to increased availability of suitable foraging sites. Ringed plover may also experience increased nest site availability after winter flooding. Oystercatcher and ringed plover were both affected by winter severity, but with opposite trends, and oystercatcher breeding numbers increased after mild winters, while ringed plover decreased. Remaining species were not influenced by winter severity. The possible reason for this is discussed by comparing the lapwing breeding numbers in Klydeso reserve to Tipperne reserve in western Denmark. Though winter severity may seem of no importance for some of the species in the Klydeso reserve, it may still be important in areas where the management effort is constant. Die Versuche, die Populationsabnahme vieler Watvogelarten in Danemark und anderen Teilen Europas in den letzten 20–30 Jahren umzukehren, resultierten in der Anwendung verschiedener Management-Methoden. In dieser Studie bewerten wir die Auswirkung von zwei Management-Methoden (Viehbeweidung und Winteruberflutung) auf die Anzahl der Brutpaare von Kiebitz, Rotschenkel, Sabelschnabler, Sandregenpfeifer und Austernfischer im Klydeso Schutzgebiet, ostliches Danemark, von 1990 bis 2001. Wir nahmen ausserdem eine Stellvertretervariable fur das Winterklima in unsere Modelle auf, den Index der Nordatlantischen Oszillation (NAO), um die relative Wichtigkeit des angewendeten Managements und der Winterharte zu quantifizieren. Die Brutvogelzahlen von Kiebitz und Sabelschnabler nahmen signifikant mit dem Einsatz der Viehbeweidung zu, am wahrscheinlichsten aufgrund einer erhohten Anzahl von Brutplatzen und/oder aufgrund einer verbesserten Rauberwahrnehmung. Die Brutvogelzahl der Austernfischer nahm dazu gegenlaufig mit der Zunahme des von Vieh beweideteten Anteils des Schutzgebietes ab, was auf die Veranderung der Nahrungsverfugbarkeit in den beweideten Flachen zuruckzufuhren sein mag, aber auch auf ein erhohtes Pradationsrisiko. Besonders die Sandregenpfeifer und Rotschenkel reagierten positiv auf die Einfuhrung der Winteruberflutung, moglicherweise aufgrund der erhohten Verfugbarkeit von Nahrungshabitaten. Sandregenpfeifer konnten ebenfalls eine erhohte Brutplatz-Verfugbarkeit nach der Winteruberflutung erfahren. Die Austernfischer und Sandregenpfeifer waren von der Winterharte beeinflusst, jedoch mit gegenlaufigen Trends. Die Brutvogelzahlen der Austernfischer nahmen nach milden Wintern zu, wahrend die der Sandregenpfeifer abnahmen. Die bleibenden Arten wurden nicht von der Winterharte beeinflusst. Der mogliche Grund dafur wird erortert, indem wir die Brutvogelzahlen der Kiebitze zwischen dem Klydeso Schutzgebiet und dem Tipperne Schutzgebiet im westlichen Danemark vergleichen. Obwohl die Winterharte fur einige der Arten im Klydeso Schutzgebiet keine Wichtigkeit zu haben schien, kann sie immer noch in Gebieten wichtig sein, in denen das Management gleichbleibend ist.

Livestock grazing intensity affects abundance of Common shrews ( Sorex araneus ) in two meadows in Denmark

BackgroundCurrent nature conservation in semi-natural grasslands often includes grazing and hay cutting, as well as the abandonment of draining. Semi-natural grassland and in particular meadows constitute important habitat type for a large number of animal species in todays fragmented and intensively cultivated landscape of Europe. Here we focus on the population characteristics of Common shrews Sorex araneus in relation to livestock grazing intensity in two wet meadows in western Denmark.ResultsHigh grazing intensity had a significant negative effect on Common shrew number compared to low grazing intensity and no grazing. Common shrew abundance was generally, but not significantly, higher on the low grazing intensity plots than on the ungrazed controls. No differences in body mass, sex ratio, or reproductive output between Common shrew individuals from the various grazing treatments were found.ConclusionNo negative effects of low intensity grazing on Common shrew abundance were found compared to the ungrazed control. Low intensity grazing thus seems a suitable management regime for Common shrews, when grazing is needed as part of the meadow management scheme. High intensity grazing on the other hand is not a suitable management tool.

Response of Hooded Crow Corvus corone cornix and Magpie Pica pica to exposure to artificial nests

Capsule Hooded Crow activity increased markedly and instantly after exposure of artificial nests, whereas Magpies showed no response to the nests, but seemed negatively influenced by Hooded Crows.

Legal Autonomy and Reflexive Rationality in Complex Societies

Proponents of the idea that law has assumed an endemically closed character consider that there are severe limits to the possibility of successful legal regulation in highly complex and socially differentiated societies. This idea reaches its most radical form in the theory of law as an autopoietic system which suggests that the autonomous individual at the core of most traditional legal theory should be replaced by the self-creating and self-maintaining legal system. Advocates of this theory suggest that legal scientists and practitioners should reject traditional rationales of legal regulation and adopt a new, and more modest, mode of legal rationality called reflexive law. In this article, we argue, first, that the idea that specialized autopoietic subsystems have epistemic primacy is flawed and, second, that this initial argument coupled to a conception of the function of law which is held in both autopoietic theory and more traditional conceptions of law reveals an insight into the possibility of effective legal regulation in complex societies. Specifically, effective legal regulation in complex societies requires a reformulation of reflexive law so that basic principles of political morality are incorporated within its autonomous domain.

The impact of trapping and handling activities on the breeding performance of Hooded Crows Corvus corone cornix

Trapping of Hooded Crows Corvus corone cornix has been conducted for decades in an attempt to regulate population size. However, the effect of trapping activity on the breeding performance of crows is more or less unknown. In this study, trapping activities, involving Larsen‐traps and decoy birds, were conducted at 14 Hooded Crow nest sites. Trapping was successful at eight nests, and a total of 12 individuals were caught. Hooded Crow breeding ceased within a few days following the trapping sessions and the territories were abandoned. This also happened at nests without trapping success, suggesting that the trapping activity itself, and not the actual trapping and handling of the birds, caused the cessation of breeding. The very high density of crow nests in the study area and the associated high risk of conspecific predation on the eggs is suggested as the most likely explanation for the observed effect on Hooded Crow breeding performance.

Competing Supremacies and Clashing Institutional Rationalities: The Danish Supreme Court's Decision in the Ajos Case and the National Limits of Judicial Cooperation

On December 6, 2016, the Supreme Court of Denmark (SCDK) took the European legal community by surprise. In its decision in the Ajos case the SCDK disregarded the guidelines of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) which had been set out in a preliminary ruling earlier in the year. More notably still, the SCDK used the occasion to set new boundaries to the applicability of the CJEU’s rulings in Denmark. It did so in two steps: first, the SCDK delimited the competences of the European Union (EU) through the lens of its interpretation of the Danish Accession Act. Second, the SCDK delimited its own power within the Danish Constitution. In regard to the first point, it concluded that the judge-made principles of EU law developed after the latest amendments of the Accession Act, such as the general principle of non-discrimination on grounds of age, were not binding. This conclusion was consequential since the case at hand concerned such a principle developed by the CJEU after an amendment. With regard to the second step, the SCDK argued that it would in fact exceed its own judicial mandate within the Danish constitutional framework if it interpreted a national law, which violated the principle in question, in conformity with EU-law in a dispute between private parties, or dis-apply it. The decision has spurred great controversy. Critiques have noted that the SCDK’s attempt to push through a different and new institutional order rests on a misconception of EU law that is entirely inadequate for regulating the contemporary and future Danish-European legal interaction.

Legal Idealism and the Autonomy of Law

Since Herbert Hart’s “fresh start” encouraged us to interpret legal and political phenomena from an “internal point of view,” and Lon Fuller pointed out the severe constraints upon a conceptually viable construction of this view, jurisprudence has had little choice but to become, methodologically speaking, genuinely and critically sociological. By this, we mean that in breaking with the common-sensical half-truths which produced the imperative or command theory of law, the conceptual problem of modelling the practical rationale of the legal enterprise for the purposes of a general description of the phenomenon as subject matter, has become central and acute. In the past 20 years or so, the sociological awareness of the need to transcend the flux of empirical subjectivity, as well as important recent reinterpretations of the tradition of Natural Law, does seem to put jurisprudence within striking distance of achieving a mature status of integration with the methodology of the social sciences; not merely as some adjunct to, or opportunity for, empirically oriented “social studies,” but, as the source of a genuine epistemological synthesis in the approach to the problem of conceptualising the very subject matter of social science, namely, social action at the institutional level. In terms of concept formation this has gone some way towards the rehabilitation of the idea of “essential” or “focal” viewpoints in contrast to the enthusiasm for the contingencies and relativity of historical, linguistic and cultural conventionalisms.