Search

The new in situ geodynamic laboratory established in the framework of the ICDP Eger project aims to develop the most modern, comprehensive, multiparameter laboratory at depth for studying earthquake swarms, crustal fluid flow, mantle-derived CO 2 and helium degassing, and processes of the deep biosphere. In order to reach a new level of high-frequency, near-source and multiparameter observation of earthquake swarms and related phenomena, such a laboratory comprises a set of shallow boreholes with high-frequency 3-D seismic arrays as well as modern continuous real-time fluid monitoring at depth and the study of the deep biosphere. This laboratory is located in the western part of the Eger Rift at the border of the Czech Republic and Germany (in the West Bohemia–Vogtland geodynamic region) and comprises a set of five boreholes around the seismoactive zone. To date, all monitoring boreholes have been drilled. This includes the seismic monitoring boreholes S1, S2 and S3 in the crystalline units north and east of the major Nový Kostel seismogenic zone, borehole F3 in the Hartoušov mofette field and borehole S4 in the newly discovered Bažina maar near Libá. Supplementary borehole P1 is being prepared in the Neualbenreuth maar for paleoclimate and biological research. At each of these sites, a borehole broadband seismometer will be installed, and sites S1, S2 and S3 will also host a 3-D seismic array composed of a vertical geophone chain and surface seismic array. Seismic instrumenting has been completed in the S1 borehole and is in preparation in the remaining four monitoring boreholes. The continuous fluid monitoring site of Hartoušov includes three boreholes, F1, F2 and F3, and a pilot monitoring phase is underway. The laboratory also enables one to analyze microbial activity at CO 2 mofettes and maar structures in the context of changes in habitats. The drillings into the maar volcanoes contribute to a better understanding of the Quaternary paleoclimate and volcanic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the effect of natural organic matter (NOM) on the antioxidant mechanism of freshwater amphipod Gammarus pulex in Germany. It notes the isolation of NOM from various water sources to ensure contrasting quality. It cites the expression of small stress proteins (HSP) during the animals' exposure against humic substances (HSs). Moreover, it states that HSs have been a primordial exogenous which stimulate the development of anti-stress system in organisms.

Stable isotopes of injected CO2 act as useful tracers in carbon capture and storage (CCS) because the CO2 itself is the carrier of the tracer signal and remains unaffected by sorption or partitioning effects. At the Ketzin pilot site (Germany), carbon stable isotope composition (δ13C) of injected CO2 at the injection well was analyzed over a time period of 4months. Occurring isotope variances resulted from the injection of CO2 from two different sources (an oil refinery and a natural gas-reservoir). The two gases differed in their carbon isotope composition by more than 27‰. In order to find identifiable patterns of these variances in the reservoir, more than 250 CO2-samples were collected and analyzed for their carbon isotope ratios at an observation well 100m distant from the injection well. An isotope ratio mass spectrometer connected to a modified Thermo Gasbench system allowed quick and cost effective isotope analyses of a high number of CO2 gas specimens. CO2 gas from the oil refinery (δ13C=−30.9‰, source A) was most frequently injected and dominated the reservoir δ13C values at the injection site. Sporadic injection of the CO2 from the natural gas-reservoir (δ13C=−3.5‰, source B) caused isotope shifts of up to +5‰ at the injection well. These variances provided a potential ideal tracer for CO2 migration behavior. Based on these findings, tracer input signals that were injected during the last 2years of injection could be reconstructed with the aid of an isotope mixing model and CO2 delivery schedules. However, in contrast to the injection well, δ13C values at the observation well showed no variances and a constant value of −28.5‰ was measured at 600m depth. This is in disagreement with signals that would be expected if the input signals from the injection would arrive at the observation well. The lack of isotope signals at the observation well suggests that parts of the reservoir are filled with CO2 that is immobilized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]