Das Projekt "Hydrogeological and hydrochemical modelling of density-driven flow in the Tiberias Basin, in particular between Ha'on and Tiberias Regions, Jordan Valley" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Bundesamt für die Sicherheit der nuklearen Entsorgung durchgeführt. The aim of the current research is to identify regional sources and trans-boundary flow leading to the observed salinity of Lake Tiberias (LT) -also known as the Sea of Galilee or Lake Kinneret-, and its surroundings, which is considered the only natural surface fresh water reservoir of the area. The current study will include all sources of brines in the Tiberias Basin (TB) with specific emphasis of the relationship between the brines from the Ha'on and Tiberias Regions (HTR).The tasks will be achieved by a multidisciplinary approach involving: (i) numerical modelling of density-driven flow processes (i.e., coupled heat and dissolution of evaporites), (ii) hydrochemical studies, supplemented by investigations of subsurface structures.(i) Numerical modelling will be carried out by applying the commercial software FEFLOW® (WASY, GmbH) complemented with the open source code OpenGeoSys developed at the UFZ of Leipzig (Wang et al., 2009). The final goal is to build a 3D regional-scale model of density-driven flow that will result in: (1) revealing the different interactions between fresh groundwater and natural salinity sources (2) elucidate the driving mechanisms of natural brines and brackish water body's movements.(ii) Hydrochemical study will include major, minor and, if possible, rare earth elements (REE) as well as isotope studies. The samples will be analysed at the FU Berlin and UFZ Halle laboratories. Geochemical data interpretation and inverse modelling will be supported by PHREEQC. Hydrochemical field investigations will be carried out in Tiberias basin and its enclosing heights, i.e. the Golan, Eastern Galilee and northern Ajloun in order to search for indications of the presence of deep, relic saline groundwater infested by the inferred Ha'on mother-brine. The current approaches will be supplemented by seismic and statistical data analysis as well as GIS software applications for the definition of the subsurface structures. The key research challenges are: building a 3D structural model of selected regions of TB, adapting both structural and hydrochemical data to the numerical requirements of the model; calibrating the 3D regional-scale model with observational data. The results of this work are expected to establish suitable water-management strategies for the exploitation of freshwater from the lake and from the adjacent aquifers while reducing salinization processes induced by both local and regional brines.
Das Projekt "Initiation of Jurassic Ferrar Group Magmatism in North Victoria Land, Antarctica: - stratigraphic age, composition and depositional environment of volcaniclastic and epiclastic sediments of the Exposure Hill and Section Peak Formation, Beacon Supergroup" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Institut für Geowissenschaften durchgeführt. The project focusses on the petrological, palaeozoological, palaeobotanical and sedimentological investigation of epi- and volcaniclastic rocks of Late Triassic to Lower Jurassic age enclosed between the crystalline basement and the 183 Ma old Kirkpatrick Lava Flows of the Ferrar Group Flood Basalt Province in North Victoria Land, Antarctica. The results summarized in the second progress report (attached) indicate several new findings with respect to lithologic units, stratigraphic order, biostratigraphic markers, and magma-wet sediment interaction. Sedimentological and petrographic studies shall be continued to characterize the vertical and lateral facies variations of the epi- and volcaniclastic units and to document the provenance of the clasts as well as the spatial and temporal development of the depositional environments. The paleontological data may allow to address a biostratigraphic age to the sediment formations identified. Biofacies analyses of floras and faunas together with lithofacies analysis of fossiliferous sequences will provide the data for the interpretation of depositional environments. Petrographic and chemical investigations as well as determinations of radiometric ages especially of the rhyolitic tuffs of the newly identified Shafer Peak Formation will allow to clarify the petrogenetic relationship between the various explosive and effusive igneous units.
Das Projekt "Untersuchung der zeitlichen Entwicklung der Biofilmmatrix mit Hilfe der Raman-Mikroskopie (RM) und der konfokalen Laser-Scanning-Mikroskopie (CLSM)" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Technische Universität München, Institut für Wasserchemie und Chemische Balneologie, Lehrstuhl für Analytische Chemie und Wasserchemie durchgeführt. Im beantragten Forschungsvorhaben soll die Raman-Mikroskopie als Untersuchungsmethode für Biofilme neben der konfokalen Laser-Scanning-Mikroskopie etabliert werden. Es soll ausgelotet werden, in wie weit die Raman-Mikroskopie in der Lage ist, ortsaufgelöst die chemische Zusammensetzung der extrazellulären polymeren Substanzen (EPS) in Biofilmen zu identifizieren. Die geplanten Untersuchungen sollen an heterotrophen Biofilmen durchgeführt werden, die unter definierten Strömungsbedingungen und mit verschiedenen Substraten kultiviert werden. Die Frühphase der Biofilmbildung ist dabei von besonderem Interesse. Welche polymeren Substanzen bereiten die Primärbesiedlung von Oberflächen vor und wie verändert sich dieser auch als 'Konditionierung beschriebene Vorgang bei variierenden Kultivierungsmedien'. Die in dieser Phase zu generierenden Ergebnisse sind im Hinblick auf eine Verhinderung der Besiedlung von Oberflächen von außerordentlich großem Interesse. Die Veränderung der chemischen Zusammensetzung der EPS-Matrix im Kultivierungsverlauf und der Einfluss von oxidierenden Desinfektionsmitteln auf die Matrix bilden einen weiteren Untersuchungsschwerpunkt im beantragten Vorhaben. Alle Fragestellungen sollen mit der Raman-Spektroskopie bearbeitet werden. Parallel sollen mit Hilfe klassischer Verfahren (Wägung und Umsatzraten) und der CLSM (Mikroorganismen und EPS-Glycokonjugate) die Biofilme charakterisiert werden. Diese Vorgehensweise macht es möglich, wirklich neue Erkenntnisse in einen geeigneten Kontext zu den bisher bekannten Struktur-Funktions-Eigenschaften von Biofilmen zu setzen.
Das Projekt "Improved Protection of Paintings During Exhibition, Storage and Transit (PROPAINT)" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Fraunhofer-Institut für Silicatforschung durchgeführt. Paintings are among the most important and most visited masterpieces in European museums, galleries and exhibition facilities. To preserve the paintings as close as possible to the artists original expression, is a central focus for national authorities, museum administrators and technical conservators. An important part of this work is to protect the paintings against the degrading influences of the various indoor environments. Specially designed microclimates are more and more used for this purpose. There is a growing concern about the nature of the microclimate which develops over time in these enclosed spaces and its potential for damage to the paintings. The main aim of the PROPAINT project is to develop innovative protection treatments used as a preventive conservation measure for paintings during exhibition, storage and transit. The PROPAINT project will execute research on the protective effect of microclimate-frames, particularly focusing on the microclimate paintings are exposed to inside the frames. PROPAINT will undertake research on the protective effect of varnishes applied to paintings generally and specifically inside microclimate frames. Measurements of the state of microenvironments in microclimate frames and the potential deteriorating effects on paintings will be made both in the laboratory and in the field by using, for the first time simultaneously, dosimeters developed in previous EC projects. The appropriateness and the synergies of their integrated use will be evaluated. The results of the project will allow improved design of microclimate frames to offer best possible microclimates for conservation of paintings during exhibition, storage and transit. The project will contribute with improved comparative knowledge about microclimate effects on varnishes applied to paintings as remediation surface treatments. The project results will also contribute to preventive conservation measures and standards for microclimate control of paintings. Prime Contractor: Norsk institutt for Luftforskning; Kjeller; Norway.