Olafur Gudmundsson

Depth to Moho in Greenland: receiver-function analysis suggests two Proterozoic blocks in Greenland

Abstract The GLATIS project (Greenland Lithosphere Analysed Teleseismically on the Ice Sheet) with collaborators has operated a total of 16 temporary broadband seismographs for periods from 3 months to 2 years distributed over much of Greenland from late 1999 to the present. The very first results are presented in this paper, where receiver-function analysis has been used to map the depth to Moho in a large region where crustal thicknesses were previously completely unknown. The results suggest that the Proterozoic part of central Greenland consists of two distinct blocks with different depths to Moho. North of the Archean core in southern Greenland is a zone of very thick Proterozoic crust with an average depth to Moho close to 48 km. Further to the north the Proterozoic crust thins to 37–42 km. We suggest that the boundary between thick and thin crust forms the boundary between the geologically defined Nagssugtoqidian and Rinkian mobile belts, which thus can be viewed as two blocks, based on the large difference in depth to Moho (over 6 km). Depth to Moho on the Archean crust is around 40 km. Four of the stations are placed in the interior of Greenland on the ice sheet, where we find the data quality excellent, but receiver-function analyses are complicated by strong converted phases generated at the base of the ice sheet, which in some places is more than 3 km thick.

Maximizing biomass productivity and cell density of Chlorella vulgaris by using light-emitting diode-based photobioreactor

Green microalgae have recently drawn attention as promising organisms for biofuel production; however, the question is whether they can grow sufficient biomass relative to limiting input factors to be economically feasible. We have explored this question by determining how much biomass the green microalga Chlorella vulgaris can produce in photobioreactors based on highly efficient light-emitting diodes (LEDs). First, growth results were improved under the less expensive light of 660 nm LEDs, developing them in the laboratory to meet the performance levels of the traditional but more expensive 680 nm LEDs by adaptive laboratory evolution (ALE). We then optimized several other key parameters, including input superficial gas velocity, CO(2) concentration, light distribution, and growth media in reference to nutrient stoichiometry. Biomass density thereby rose to approximately 20 g dry-cell-weight (gDCW) per liter (L). Since the light supply was recognized as a limiting factor, illumination was augmented by optimization at systematic level, providing for a biomass productivity of up to 2.11 gDCW/L/day, with a light yield of 0.81 gDCW/Einstein. These figures, which represent the best results ever reported, point to new dimensions in the photoautotrophic performance of microalgal cultures.

The dense root of the Iceland crust

Abstract Bathymetry and topography in the North Atlantic Ocean around Iceland are compared to estimates of crustal thickness in the area. Iceland lies much lower than expected based on crustal thickness. This suggests an anomalously low density contrast between crust and mantle beneath Iceland [W. Menke, Geophys. Res. Lett. 26 (1999) 1215–1218]. The relationship between bathymetry and depth to Moho along ridges adjacent to Iceland suggests a normal density contrast there. Continuity of this relationship leads to the conclusion that most of the change occurs in the crust, i.e. the abnormally low density contrast between crust and mantle within Iceland is primarily due to a heavy crust, not light mantle. Gravity modeling also requires the average density of the crust to be unusually high. I argue that this is in fact not abnormal. The lower crust in Iceland is denser because of a higher degree and/or depth of melting beneath Iceland than at adjacent ridges, because of phase transformations occurring within the thick crust and possibly due to fractionation processes in the crust.

GPS analyses of the Sumatra‐Andaman earthquake

The Sumatra, Indonesia, earthquake on 26 December 2004 was one of the most devastating earthquakes in history. With a magnitude of Mw = 9.3 (revised based on normal-mode amplitudes by Stein and Okal, http://www.earth.northwestern.edu/people/seth/research/sumatra.html), it is the second largest earthquake recorded since 1900. It occurred about 100 km off the west coast of northern Sumatra, where the relatively dense Indo-Australian plate moves beneath the lighter Burma plate, resulting in stress accumulation. The average relative velocity of the two plates is about 6 cm/yr. On 26 December 2004, however, the two plates moved by a distance of several meters, releasing the stress accumulated over hundreds of years. The result was a devastating tsunami that hit coastlines across the Indian Ocean, killing about 300,000 people in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, Burma, Malaysia, Somalia, and other countries (Guardian, 29 January 2005, http://www.guardian.co.uk/tsunami/story/0,15671,1380895,00.html).

T cell populations in the lacrimal gland during aging

Abstract The present study examined the influence of age and gender on T cell populations in the lacrimal gland. Lacrimal (exorbital) glands were obtained from male and female rats at 19 days (pre‐puberty), 9 weeks (adult) and 14 months (mid‐life) of age and tissues were processed for T cell subset identification. In females, the density of total (W3/13+ and OX 19+), helper/inducer (W3/25+) and suppressor/cytotoxic (OX 8+) T cells underwent a significant increase in tissues from before, to after puberty. Following this rise, the density of all T cell populations decreased in glands from young adult to midlife females. This pattern of accumulation contrasted with the T cell profile presented by glands from males: T cell densities appeared unaffected from 19 days to 9 weeks of age, and then either declined (OX 19+, W3/25) or remained unchanged (W3/13+, OX 8+) in tissues of 14 month rats. An influence of gender on the distribution of T cells was also apparent if results were corrected for age‐associated variations in lacrimal gland weight. Thus, the absolute number of all T cell populations rose dramatically in glands of both sexes from pre‐ to post‐puberty. However, from 9 weeks to 14 months of age, the total content of W3/13+, OX 19+, W3/25+ and OX 8+ lymphocytes decreased 2‐fold in glands of females, but did not vary in tissues of males. Of interest, the number of W3/25+ and OX 8+ cells was analagous in all age groups examined. Moreover, the combined total of W3/25+ and OX 8+ cells was greater than that of W3/13+ or OX 19+ cells at every age. Overall, these results demonstrate that age has a significant impact on the lymphocytic density in the lacrimal gland. In addition, our findings show that gender may influence the lymphocyte profile in lacrimal tissue.