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Wood and charcoal were key sources of energy during early industrialization in Europe (18th century), preceding the large-scale exploitation of fossil coal. Past timber harvesting implied land transformation and woodland resources management. Therefore, relict charcoal kilns and historical documents of forest management are important sources of information about past woodland composition and structure. However, ancient charcoal kilns are poorly documented in temperate woodlands in the lowlands of western Europe, especially combined with historical written sources. In this study, charcoal production was investigated in an area in NE France, by combining charcoal and historical sources analysis, along with innovative dating methodologies. Thus, by using both radiocarbon and optically-stimulated luminescence dating, we showed that the activity lasted until recent times (19th–early 20th centuries) and Carpinus was the dominant taxon in charcoal assemblage. Moreover, kiln attributes seemed to be independent of topographical variables. Woodlands in this area were subject to a coppice-with-standards management, where small diameter wood was preferred to produce charcoal and large diameter stems, mainly Quercus and Fagus, were traded as timber. The dominance of Carpinus is rather uncommon in charcoal studies but supports the importance of Carpinus as fuelwood since the Middle Ages, as confirmed by many written sources.

International audience; The region of northeastern France is affected by low-magnitude background seismicity, with the rare occurrence of moderate earthquakes, which gives this region a non-negligible seismic risk. We provide an overview of the seismicity and seismotectonics of this intraplate domain and of its subregions: the Upper-Rhine Graben (URG), the external range and foreland of Jura, the Vosges, northern France and southern Belgium. Previously published catalogues over historical and instrumental times are used, and the epicentral distribution of earthquakes is compared to known tectonic structures, and the recently computed deformation field. Although no large earthquakes with M w > 6.0 occurred since the 1356 Basel seismic event (Io IX, MKS), the recent identification of active faults suggests periods of high seismic strain rates in the past. The origin of the seismic activity in each of these sub-regions, characterized by low to very-low strain rates, is attributed to pre-existing faults reactivated under specific natural or anthropogenic conditions.

El artículo tiene como objetivo el estudio del mercado de trabajo asalariado rural del noreste francés entre 1789 y 1836. Mientras que los mercados de tierras o cereales ocupan un lugar destacado en la historiografía francesa, los mercados de trabajo han tendido a ser relegados en el análisis, circunscritos sobre todo a los espacios urbanos. El presente trabajo parte del análisis de mercuriales, decretos nacionales y departamentales, correspondencia y testimonios locales con el propósito de analizar las características fundamentales del mercado de trabajo agrícola y los alcances y sentidos de la política estatal de fijación de un nivel de salarios. Se insiste en la importancia de la estructura de producción rural que impone serios límites tanto a la política estatal y sus posibles regulaciones como también al desarrollo espontáneo del mercado de trabajo, polemizando así con los abordajes a la cuestión desde enfoques liberales y neoinstitucionales., This article aims at studying the labor market in northeastern France between 1789 and 1836. While land or wheat markets studies have taken an important place in French historiography, labor markets have been relegated or circumscribed to urban spaces. The present work focuses in price documentation (mercuriales), national and departmental decrees, correspondence and local testimonies for the purpose of analyzing the key features of the agricultural labor market and the importance of state policies concerning wage fixation. We insist on the importance of rural production structures that impose strong boundaries upon both state policies and spontaneous development of the labor market, therefore arguing with liberal and neo-institutional approaches., Dossier: Formas de explotación del trabajo y relaciones laborales en sociedades preindustriales, Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educación

Une mise en perspective des rencontres de football entre les équipes représentatives de Luxembourg et du nord-est de la France durant l’entre-deux-guerres est ici menée. Celle-ci est permise par la consultation des archives des fédérations sportives et des clubs, les journaux luxembourgeois et champardennais et les délibérations municipales de Reims. Ces matchs de football internationaux s’inscrivent dans un espace transfrontalier en cours d’émergence au sein duquel se multiplient les coopérations économiques et les interactions entre sphères politiques, journalistiques et industrielles. Greffées sur un tissu associatif (les « clubs ») en plein essor, les fédérations footballistiques nationales gagnent en légitimité sociale par un double processus de notabilisation de leurs dirigeants et d’interactions avec les édiles politiques locaux. Dès la deuxième partie des années vingt apparait la compétition footballistique qui, malgré la médiocrité de la performance strictement sportive, incite de multiples acteurs à prendre acte et à participer à la rentabilité croissante de cette pratique culturelle en pleine mutation. Le recul dans les années trente de l’autorité fédérale garante de l’amateurisme dans le football laisse le champ libre à la presse, aux municipalités et aux clubs les plus puissants pour transformer une pratique ludique et collective en un spectacle dont les enjeux sont de représentation (retombées symboliques), de publicité et d’enrichissement (retombées économiques). L’étude, enfin, de la composition des comités d’honneur des grands clubs de part et d’autre de la frontière et de trajectoires individuelles significatives permet d’éclairer selon quelles modalités le contexte géopolitique et la concentration des élites, en particulier urbaines, fait entrer le football, et avec lui les footballeurs, dans l’économie marchande qui, elle aussi, redéfinit la nature des frontières nationales dans cette grande région entre la Marne et le Rhin.

International audience; Very large amount of microbialites, up to 70% of the reef volume takes part in the edification of Lower Bajocian coral reefs in the Chargey-lès-Port quarry (Haute- Saône, France). Such high amounts of microbialites were unknown within bioconstructions of Middle Jurassic age. Along the 16 m-thick section, seven successive biohermal or biostromal units developed on a shallow platform. Bioconstructions display a first coral growth phase with either constratal or superstratal growth fabrics. Coral fauna is relatively poorly diversified and is dominated by massive forms (Isastrea, Thamnasteria, and Periseris) or branched phaceloid (Cladophyllia) and ramose (Dendraraea) colonies. Corals can be heavily encrusted by microbialites of diverse forms and fabrics (leiolitic, thrombolitic, and stromatolitic). According to the coral growth fabrics, microbialite crusts developed on top of or at the underside of coral colonies, forming a coral-microbialite elementary unit. Microbialites show a multiphase development: (i) directly at the coral surface, a first and mmscale microbialite layer locally developed; (ii) a second, cm-scale microbialite layer (up to 8 cm thick) covered the entire coral reef framework and assumed the main build- ing role; and (iii) a third, mm- to cm-scale, laminated microbialite layer may also be observed onlapping previous reef structures, before having been progressively buried under sediments. Contemporaneously to the coral growth phase, the first microbialite layer developed on dead portions of coral colonies. The transition between coral growth and microbialite development (i.e., second layer of microbialites) is interpreted as a result of a coral reef crisis, probably reflecting more nutrient-rich conditions. The passage to a stromatolitic (third) layer suggests a control of the accumulation rate. Composition and architecture of coralmicrobialite reef units of Chargey-l`es-Port highlight the relations between high-frequency fluctuating environmental factors (mainly accumulation rate and trophic conditions) and reef development. ing role; and (iii) a third, mm- to cm-scale, laminated microbialite layer may also be observed onlapping previous reef structures, before having been progressively buried under sediments. Contemporaneously to the coral growth phase, the first microbialite layer developed on dead portions of coral colonies. The transition between coral growth and microbialite development (i.e., second layer of microbialites) is interpreted as a result of a coral reef crisis, probably reflecting more nutrient-rich conditions. The passage to a stromatolitic (third) layer suggests a control of the accumulation rate. Composition and architecture of coralmicrobialite reef units of Chargey-l`es-Port highlight the relations between high-frequency fluctuating environmental factors (mainly accumulation rate and trophic conditions) and reef development.

Les valeurs de températures extrêmes quotidiennes (Tn et Tx) enregistrées au cours de l’année 2003 sont analysées pour plus de cinquante stations de mesure climatologiques réparties sur le Nord-Est français et sur la bordure frontalière. Dans un premier temps les moyennes annuelles de températures extrêmes de l’année 2003 sont positionnées par rapport à la normale climatique 1971-2000 et la décennie 1991-2000, marquée par une succession d’années chaudes. L’épisode de chaleur estival est ensuite étudié à l’aide de différents indices de température dont la répartition spatiale met en évidence la vulnérabilité des espaces de moyenne montagne au réchauffement climatique en cours. Daily values of extreme air temperatures (Tn and Tx) for the year 2003 were investigated for more than fifty weather stations distributed throughout northeastern France, including bordering areas. A first step was to compare mean annual values of extreme air temperatures to the 1971-2000 and the 1991-2000 baseline periods, the latter being affected by a sequence of warm years. The summer 2003 heat wave was next analysed, based on a set of temperature indices. The spatial distribution of these indices shows the vulnerability of middle mountains to the recent climate warming. Extreme Tageslufttemperaturen (Tn und Tx) des Jahres 2003 sind in mehr als 50 Wetterbeobachtungsstationen im Nordosten Frankreichs, sowie in den Grenzgebieten, untersucht worden. Zuerst wurden die Jahresmittelwerte der extremen Lufttemperaturen mit den Normen der Perioden 1971-2000 und 1991-2000 verglichen, wobei letztere von einer Sequenz mit wärmeren Jahren gekennzeichnet ist. Anschliessend wurde die Hitzewelle des Sommers 2003 mit Hilfe von verschiedenen Temperaturindikatoren analysiert. Die räumliche Verteilung dieser Indikatoren zeigt dass Mittelgebirge am stärksten von der rezenten Klimaerwärmung betroffen sind.

L’été 2003 restera dans les annales climatiques comme un événement météorologique exceptionnel de par son ampleur et sa durée. 22 postes synoptiques situés dans le quart Nord-Est de la France, ont été sélectionnés pour faire ressortir les principales caractéristiques de cet été. Plusieurs paramètres (températures, précipitations, insolation) ont été comparés aux normales climatiques de la période 1971-2000. Au vu des écarts thermiques observés, trois périodes de canicule ont pu être mises en évidence. Elles sont d’ampleur inégale selon la latitude et la région considérées. Une analyse détaillée des conditions synoptiques a été réalisée afin de connaître les facteurs à l’origine de la canicule. L’épisode du 3 au 14 août 2003 a fait l’objet d’une attention particulière. Owing to its magnitude and duration, the summer of 2003 will be remembered as an outstanding meteorological event. 22 synoptical weather stations located in northeastern France have been selected in view of analysing the main features of this summer. Three meteorological parameters (air temperature, rainfall, sunshine duration) have been compared to their 1971-2000 climate normals. Air temperature anomalies allow identifying three heat waves during summer 2003 with different magnitudes according to the latitude and the considered region. A detailed analysis of synoptical weather conditions has been performed in order to identify heat wave explanatory factors, especially for the 3rd to 14th of August 2003 episod. Der Sommer 2003 wird in den Klimatologischen Annalen als einem besonderen météorologische Ereignis, an Intensität und Dauer, bezeichnet. Mit Hilfe, 22 synoptische Klimastationen im Nord-Osten von Frankreich, wurden die hauptsächlichen Charakteristiken dieses Sommers analysiert. Mehrere Parameter (Temperatur, Niederschlag, Sonnenscheindauer) wurden mit den Normalen vom Zeitraum 1971-2000 verglichen. In Betrachtung der verschiedenen Abweichungen, wurden drei Hitzewellen deutlich Identifiziert. Von dem Breitengrad und der Regionen abgesehen, sind sie von verschiedener Intensität. Mit Hilfe von synoptischen Daten und Karten wurden die Ursachen der Hitzewelle analysiert. Der Zeitraum vom 3. bis 14. August wurde aufmerksam untersucht.

Tree ring analysis allows reconstructing historical growth rates over long periods. Several studies have reported an increasing trend in ring widths, often attributed to growth stimulation by increasing atmospheric CO2 concentration. However, these trends may also have been caused by sampling biases. Here we describe two biases and evaluate their magnitude. (1) The slow-grower survivorship bias is caused by differences in tree longevity of fast- and slow-growing trees within a population. If fast-growing trees live shorter, they are underrepresented in the ancient portion of the tree ring data set. As a result, reconstructed growth rates in the distant past are biased toward slower growth. (2) The big-tree selection bias is caused by sampling only the biggest trees in a population. As a result, slow-growing small trees are underrepresented in recent times as they did not reach the minimum sample diameter. We constructed stochastic models to simulate growth trajectories based on a hypothetical species with lifetime constant growth rates and on observed tree ring data from the tropical tree Cedrela odorata. Tree growth rates used as input in our models were kept constant over time. By mimicking a standard tree ring sampling approach and selecting only big living trees, we show that both biases lead to apparent increases in historical growth rates. Increases for the slow-grower survivorship bias were relatively small and depended strongly on assumptions about tree mortality. The big-tree selection bias resulted in strong historical increases, with a doubling in growth rates over recent decades. A literature review suggests that historical growth increases reported in many tree ring studies may have been partially due to the big-tree sampling bias. We call for great caution in the interpretation of historical growth trends from tree ring analyses and recommend that such studies include individuals of all sizes.

Tree ring analysis allows reconstructing historical growth rates over long periods. Several studies have reported an increasing trend in ring widths, often attributed to growth stimulation by increasing atmospheric CO2 concentration. However, these trends may also have been caused by sampling biases. Here we describe two biases and evaluate their magnitude. (1) The slow-grower survivorship bias is caused by differences in tree longevity of fast- and slow-growing trees within a population. If fast-growing trees live shorter, they are underrepresented in the ancient portion of the tree ring data set. As a result, reconstructed growth rates in the distant past are biased toward slower growth. (2) The big-tree selection bias is caused by sampling only the biggest trees in a population. As a result, slow-growing small trees are underrepresented in recent times as they did not reach the minimum sample diameter. We constructed stochastic models to simulate growth trajectories based on a hypothetical species with lifetime constant growth rates and on observed tree ring data from the tropical tree Cedrela odorata. Tree growth rates used as input in our models were kept constant over time. By mimicking a standard tree ring sampling approach and selecting only big living trees, we show that both biases lead to apparent increases in historical growth rates. Increases for the slow-grower survivorship bias were relatively small and depended strongly on assumptions about tree mortality. The big-tree selection bias resulted in strong historical increases, with a doubling in growth rates over recent decades. A literature review suggests that historical growth increases reported in many tree ring studies may have been partially due to the big-tree sampling bias. We call for great caution in the interpretation of historical growth trends from tree ring analyses and recommend that such studies include individuals of all sizes.

We compared different potential indicators of nitrogen (N) availability across 50 beech forests growing on a wide range of soils in northeastern France. Among the 50 sites measured, high elevation acidic soils had the highest potential net N mineralization in the A horizon (PNM 0–5 cm ), while low elevation neutral and calcareous soils had the lowest (PNM 0–5 cm ). We found that (PNM 0–5 cm ) was negatively correlated with soil pH ( R 2 = 0.47***) and positively correlated with microbial C/N ( R 2 = 0.34***). However, when high elevation sites were excluded from analyses, the relationship between PNM 0–5 cm and soil pH as well as microbial C/N became weaker ( R 2 = 0.23*** for both variables). We found no relationship between PNM 0–5 cm and organic N concentration, soil C/N, or vegetation-based indices for N availability (Ellenberg N and Ecoplant C/N). Bivariate linear regression analyses showed that 69% of the variability in percent nitrification (%Nitrif) was explained by both soil pH (0–5 cm) and soil C/N. Percent nitrification was strongly correlated with vegetation-based indices for N availability. The Ellenberg N and R (pH index) values together explained 74% of the variation in %Nitrif. No relationship was found between %Nitrif and soil δ 15 N (natural abundance in 15 N). Of the 76 plant species evaluated, the probability of presence of 61 plant species was significantly correlated with %Nitrif while the probability of presence of 27 plant species only was correlated with PNM 0–5 cm . From these results, we believe that the use of plant community composition or the combination of soil pH and C/N are robust indicators of N availability.

International audience; Middle to Upper Oxfordian reefs of a shallow marine carbonate platform located in northeastern France show important facies changes in conjunction with terri-geneous contents. The Pagny-sur-Meuse section shows coral-microbialite reefs that developed both in pure car-bonate limestones and in mixed carbonate-siliciclastic deposits. Phototrophic coral associations dominated in pure carbonate environments, whereas a mixed photo-trophic/heterotrophic coral fauna occurred in more sili-ciclastic settings. Microbialites occur in pure carbonate facies but are more abundant in mixed carbonate-silici-clastic settings. Reefs seem to have lived through periods favourable for intense coral growth that was contempo-raneous with a first microbialitic layer and periods more favourable for large microbialitic development (second microbialitic layer). The first microbialitic crust probably developed within the reef body and thus appears to be controlled by autogenic factors. The second generation of microbialites tended to develop over the entire reef surface and was probably mainly controlled by allogenic factors. Variations in terrigeneous input and nutrient content, rather related to climatic conditions than to water depth and accumulation rate, were major factors controlling development of reefs and their taxonomic composition .