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Northern Sweden (northern + sweden)
Selected Abstracts(RE)PRODUCING A "PERIPHERAL" REGION , NORTHERN SWEDEN IN THE NEWSGEOGRAFISKA ANNALER SERIES B: HUMAN GEOGRAPHY, Issue 4 2008Madeleine Eriksson ABSTRACT. Building on theories of internal orientalism, the objective of this study is to show how intra-national differences are reproduced through influential media representations. By abstracting news representations of Norrland, a large, sparsely populated region in the northernmost part of Sweden, new modes of "internal othering" within Western modernity are put on view. Real and imagined social and economical differences between the "rural North" and the "urban South" are explained in terms of "cultural differences" and "lifestyle" choices. The concept of Norrland is used as an abstract essentialized geographical category and becomes a metonym for a backward and traditional rural space in contrast to equally essentialized urban areas with favoured modern ideals. Specific traits of parts of the region become one with the entire region and the problems of the region become the problems of the people living in the region. I argue that the news representations play a part in the reproduction of a "space of exception", in that one region is constructed as a traditional and undeveloped space in contrast to an otherwise modern nation. A central argument of this study is that research on identity construction and representations of place is needed to come to grips with issues of uneven regional development within western nations. [source] Proglacial Sediment,Landform Associations of a Polythermal Glacier: Storglaciären, Northern SwedenGEOGRAFISKA ANNALER SERIES A: PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY, Issue 2 2003James L. Etienne Abstract Mapping and laboratory analysis of the sediment,landform associations in the proglacial area of polythermal Storglaciären, Tarfala, northern Sweden, reveal six distinct lithofacies. Sandy gravel, silty gravel, massive sand and silty sand are interpreted as glaciofluvial in origin. A variable, pervasively deformed to massive clast-rich sandy diamicton is interpreted as the product of an actively deforming subglacial till layer. Massive block gravels, comprising two distinctive moraine ridges, reflect supraglacial sedimentation and ice-marginal and subglacial reworking of heterogeneous proglacial sediments during the Little Ice Age and an earlier more extensive advance. Visual estimation of the relative abundance of these lithofacies suggests that the sandy gravel lithofacies is of the most volumetric importance, followed by the diamicton and block gravels. Sedimentological analysis suggests that the role of a deforming basal till layer has been the dominant factor controlling glacier flow throughout the Little Ice Age, punctuated by shorter (warmer and wetter climatic) periods where high water pressures may have played a more important role. These results contribute to the database that facilitates discrimination of past glacier thermal regimes and dynamics in areas that are no longer glacierized, as well as older glaciations in the geological record. [source] Carbon limitation in treesJOURNAL OF ECOLOGY, Issue 1 2003Christian Körner Summary 1The ongoing enrichment of the atmosphere with CO2 raises the question of whether growth of forest trees, which represent close to 90% of the global biomass carbon, is still carbon limited at current concentrations of close to 370 p.p.m. As photosynthesis of C3 plants is not CO2 -saturated at such concentrations, enhanced ,source activity' of leaves could stimulate ,sink activity' (i.e. growth) of plants, provided other resources and developmental controls permit. I explore current levels of non-structural carbon in trees in natural forests in order to estimate the potential for a carbon-driven stimulation of growth. 2The concentration of non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) in tree tissues is considered a measure of carbon shortage or surplus for growth. A periodic reduction of NSC pools indicates either that carbon demand exceeds con-current supply, or that both source and sink activity are low. A steady, very high NSC concentration is likely to indicate that photosynthesis fully meets, or even exeeds, that needed for growth (surplus assimilates accumulate). 3The analysis presented here considers data for mature trees in four climatic zones: the high elevation treeline (in Mexico, the Alps and Northern Sweden), a temperate lowland forest of central Europe, Mediterranean sclerophyllous woodland and a semideciduous tropical forest in Panama. 4In all four climatic regions, periods of reduced or zero growth show maximum C-loading of trees (source activity exceeding demand), except for dry midsummer in the Mediterranean. NSC pools are generally high throughout the year, and are not significantly affected by mass fruiting episodes. 5It is concluded that, irrespective of the reason for its periodic cessation, growth does not seem to be limited by carbon supply. Instead, in all the cases examined, sink activity and its direct control by the environment or developmental constraints, restricts biomass production of trees under current ambient CO2 concentrations. 6The current carbohydrate charging of mature wild trees from the tropics to the cold limit of tree growth suggests that little (if any) leeway exists for further CO2 -fertilization effects on growth. [source] Screening for adult coeliac disease , which serological marker(s) to use?JOURNAL OF INTERNAL MEDICINE, Issue 3 2001C. Lagerqvist Abstract.,Lagerqvist C, Ivarsson A, Juto P, Persson LÅ & Hernell O (Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden). Screening for adult coeliac disease , which serological marker(s) to use? J Intern Med 2001; 250: 241,248. Objective.,To determine which serological marker(s) to use when screening for coeliac disease. Design.,In a population-based cross-sectional study we compared the use of antigliadin antibodies (AGA) of isotypes IgA and IgG, antiendomysial antibodies (AEA) of isotype IgA and antitransglutaminase antibodies (ATGA) of isotype IgA for detecting coeliac disease amongst adults. Setting.,Northern Sweden. Subjects.,A total of 1850 of 2500 (74%) invited adults (aged 25,74 years) who were randomly selected from the population register after stratification for age and sex. Main outcome measures.,The sensitivity, specificity and predictive values of the AGA, ATGA and AEA tests. Results.,Nine cases of biopsy proven, previously undiagnosed coeliac disease were detected by screening. The sensitivity of both ATGA and AEA was 100% whilst AGA IgA and IgG both had a sensitivity of 89%. The AEA test had a specificity of 100% whereas the specificities of the ATGA, AGA IgA and IgG tests were 97, 96 and 78%, respectively. The positive predictive value for the AEA test was 100%, whereas it was considerably lower for the other tests (ATGA > AGA IgA > AGA IgG), with further decreases for all tests when shifting from a clinical to a screening situation. Conclusions.,When screening for coeliac disease we suggest a serial testing approach, i.e. an initial ATGA test and, when positive, followed by an AEA test, provided that IgA deficiency has been excluded. However, assessment of the small intestinal mucosal morphology is still required to ascertain the diagnosis. [source] Antibodies against cyclic citrullinated peptide and IgA rheumatoid factor predict the development of rheumatoid arthritisARTHRITIS & RHEUMATISM, Issue 10 2003Solbritt Rantapää-Dahlqvist Objective To evaluate the prevalence and predictive value of anti,cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies in individuals who subsequently developed rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to determine the relationship to rheumatoid factor (RF) of any isotype. Methods A case,control study was nested within the Northern Sweden Health and Disease Study and the Maternity cohorts of Northern Sweden. Patients with RA were identified among blood donors whose samples had been taken years before the onset of symptoms. Control subjects matched for age, sex, date of sampling, and residential area were selected randomly from the same cohorts. Anti-CCP antibody and RFs were determined using enzyme immunoassays. Results Eighty-three individuals with RA were identified as having donated blood before presenting with any symptoms of joint disease (median 2.5 years [interquartile range 1.1,4.7] before RA). In samples obtained before the onset of RA, the prevalence of autoantibodies was 33.7% for anti-CCP, 16.9% for IgG-RF, 19.3% for IgM-RF, and 33.7% for IgA-RF (all highly significant compared with controls). The sensitivities for detecting these autoantibodies >1.5 years and ,1.5 years before the appearance of any RA symptoms were 25% and 52% for anti-CCP, 15% and 30% for IgM-RF, 12% and 27% for IgG-RF, and 29% and 39% for IgA-RF. In conditional logistic regression models, anti-CCP antibody and IgA-RF were found to be significant predictors of RA. Conclusion Anti-CCP antibody and RFs of all isotypes predated the onset of RA by several years. The presence of anti-CCP and IgA-RF predicted the development of RA, with anti-CCP antibody having the highest predictive value. This indicates that citrullination and the production of anti-CCP and RF autoantibodies are early processes in RA. [source] Population structure and migratory directions of Scandinavian bluethroats Luscinia svecica, a molecular, morphological and stable isotope analysisECOGRAPHY, Issue 1 2008Olof Hellgren Many species of birds show evidence of secondary contact zones and subspeciation in their Scandinavian distribution range, presumably resulting from different post-glacial recolonization routes. We investigated whether this is the case also in the Scandinavian bluethroat Luscinia svecica, a species that has been suggested to consist of two separate populations: one SW-migrating and long-winged (L. s. gaetkei) breeding in southern Norway, and one shorter-winged ESE-migrating (L. s. svecica) in northern Scandinavia. We sampled males at eleven breeding sites from southern Norway to northernmost Sweden. There were no morphological differences or latitudinal trends within the sample, neither were there any genetic differences or latitudinal trends as measured by variation in AFLP and microsatellite markers. Stable isotope ratios of throat feathers moulted on the wintering grounds showed no, or possibly marginal differences between birds from southern Norway and northern Sweden. We also re-measured old museum skins that in previous studies were classified as L. s.gaetkei, and found marginally longer wings in birds from the southern part of the Scandinavian breeding range. The difference, however, was much smaller than proposed in earlier studies. We conclude that there is no evidence of a genetic population structure among Scandinavian bluethroats that would suggest the presence of a zone of secondary contact. Finally we discuss whether the presumed subspecies gaetkei ever existed. [source] Variation in the abundance of fungal endophytes in fescue grasses along altitudinal and grazing gradientsECOGRAPHY, Issue 3 2007Gustaf Granath Epichloë festucae, a common fungal symbiont of the genus Festuca (family Poaceae), can provide its host plant with protection against herbivores. However, infection might also be associated with a cost to its host plant. We examined the distribution of Epichloë festucae infection in natural populations of three fescue grasses, Festuca rubra, F. ovina and F. vivipara, on mountains in northern Sweden to determine whether infection frequency varied with reindeer Rangifertarandus grazing pressure and altitude. Two differently-scaled approaches were used: 1) infection frequency was measured at a local scale along ten elevational transects within a ca 400 km2 area and 2) infection frequency was measured on a regional scale along elevational transects on 17 mountains classified as having a history of high or low reindeer grazing pressure. Mean infection frequencies in F. rubra were 10% (vegetative tillers at a local scale), and 23% (flowering culms at a regional scale), and in F. ovina they were 13% (local scale) and 15% (regional scale). Endophyte infection frequency in F. vivipara, was, on average, 12% (local scale) and 37% (regional scale). In F. rubra, infection decreased significantly with increasing altitude at both the local and regional scale, and was positively correlated with grazing pressure. In F. ovina, an opposite trend was found at the regional scale: infection frequency increased significantly with increasing altitude, while no discernible distribution pattern was observed at the local scale. No elevational trends were observed in infection of F. vivipara. These patterns in the distribution of endophyte-infected grasses in non-agricultural ecosystems may be explained by both biotic (grazing) and abiotic factors (altitude). Differences in ecology and life history of the studied grass species may also be of importance for the different results observed among species. [source] Long-term follow-up of adolescent onset anorexia nervosa in northern SwedenEUROPEAN EATING DISORDERS REVIEW, Issue 2 2005Karin Nilsson Abstract Objective This study examines the long-term outcome of adolescent onset anorexia nervosa, 8 and 16 years after first admission to child and adolescent psychiatric (CAP) treatment in northern Sweden. Method Two follow-ups (1991 and 1999) were made of 68 women who were first admitted to CAP between 1980 and 1985. The follow-ups included interviews and self-report inventories. Eating disorders and GAF were evaluated according to DSM-III-R. Results Recovery increased from 46 (68%) to 58 (85%). EDNOS (eating disorder not otherwise specified) decreased from 16 (24%) to seven (10%). The numbers for anorexia nervosa (AN) were the same, two (3%) in both follow-ups. Bulimia nervosa (BN) decreased from four (6%) in the first follow-up to one (1.5%) in the second follow-up. The mortality rate was one (1%). Self-evaluation of mental health indicated that 15% had problems with depression, anxiety or compulsive symptoms. Somatic problems and paediatric inpatient care during the first treatment period could predict long-term outcome. Most former patients had a satisfactory family and work situation. Conclusion Recovery from eating disorders continued during the follow-ups. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association. [source] Survival and vitality of Gremmeniella abietina on Pinus sylvestris slash in northern SwedenFOREST PATHOLOGY, Issue 6 2006J. Witzell Summary Survival and vitality of Gremmeniella abietina on Pinus sylvestris slash was studied in northern Sweden during 2003 and 2004. Once a month between September 2003 and April 2004, two to three trees were cut down and debranched. Shoots with pycnidia were sampled at the felling date and then at every consecutive month. The percentage of germinated conidia from each shoot was calculated after 24, 48 and 72 h incubation. The vitality of G. abietina pycnidia in the slash remained high the whole period. Intact pycnidia were found on slash several months after the time of conidial sporulation, which indicates that new pycnidia may be produced on dead pine branches. Sampling of shoots from slash on 13- to 18-month-old clear-cuts showed conidial germination capacity as high as in pycnidia collected in fresh slash. Due to survival of G. abietina in slash it is recommended to postpone planting of P. sylvestris seedlings in northern boreal areas to the third vegetation period after sanitary clear-cuts. Résumé La survie et la vitalité de Gremmeniella abietina dans des rémanents de Pinus sylvestris ont étéétudiées dans le nord de la Suède pendant les années 2003 et 2004. Une fois par mois entre septembre 2003 et avril 2004, 2 ou 3 arbres ont été abattus et ébranchés. Des pousses avec pycnides ont étééchantillonnées à la date d'abattage et les mois suivants. Le pourcentage de conidies germées a été calculé pour chaque pousse après 24, 48 et 72 heures d'incubation. La vitalité des pycnides de G. abietina dans les rémanents est restée élevée tout au long de la période. Des pycnides intactes ont été trouvées dans les rémanents plusieurs mois après la période de sporulation conidienne, ce qui suggère que de nouvelles pycnides peuvent être produites sur des branches mortes de pin. Des échantillonnages de pousses dans des rémanents de coupes rases réalisées 13,18 mois plus tôt ont montré une capacité de germination des conidies aussi élevée que dans les pycnides collectées dans des rémanents fraîchement coupés. Du fait de la survie de G. abietina dans les rémanents, il est conseillé de reporter la plantation des semis de P. sylvestris dans les zones septentrionales boréales à la troisième saison de végétation après les coupes sanitaires. Zusammenfassung Das Überleben und die Vitalität von Gremmeniella abietina auf Schlagabraum von Pinus sylvestris wurde in den Jahren 2003 und 2004 untersucht. Zwischen September 2003 und April 2004 wurden in jedem Monat einmal 2,3 Bäume gefällt und entastet. Zum Zeitpunkt des Fällens und in jedem folgenden Monat wurden Triebe mit Pyknidien gesammelt. Von jedem Trieb wurde die Keimrate der Konidien nach 24, 48 und 72 Stunden Inkubation bestimmt. Während der gesamten Beobachtungsdauer blieb die Vitalität der Pyknidien im Schlagabraum hoch. Mehrere Monate nach der Sporulation wurden intakte Pyknidien gefunden, ein Hinweis darauf, dass möglicherweise neue Pyknidien auf den toten Kiefernzweigen gebildet wurden. Auf dem Schlagabraum von 13,18 Monate alten Kahlschlägen war die Keimfähigkeit der Konidien ähnlich hoch wie bei Pyknidien von frischem Schlagabraum. Aufgrund des langen Überlebens von G. abietina in Schlagabraum wird für die nördlichen borealen Gebiete empfohlen, nach phytosanitären Kahlschlägen P. sylvestris -Sämlinge erst in der dritten Vegetationsperiode zu pflanzen. [source] Anisogramma virgultorum on saplings of Betula pendula and Betula pubescens in a district of northern SwedenFOREST PATHOLOGY, Issue 4-5 2002J. WITZELL Summary During the autumn of 1999, the occurrence of the ascomycete Anisogramma virgultorum on saplings of Betula pubescens and Betula pendula was studied in two stands of B. pubescens, two stands of B. pendula and two mixed (B. pubescens and Pinus sylvestris) stands (age approximately 10 years, mean height 2,4 m, d.b.h. 10,20 mm) in a district in the vicinity of Umeå, northern Sweden. Stem and branch cankers associated with A. virgultorum were found on 54.8% of the investigated saplings, without significant difference between B. pendula and B. pubescens. Cankers were observed on 16.0% of stems and on branches of 54.2% of the saplings. Stem cankers appeared on the current year's shoot, as well as at the base of the trees. The mean diameter of the damaged saplings was significantly greater than the mean diameter of undamaged saplings. All samples of cankers with stromata examined in the laboratory showed perithecia with asci. Résumé Anisogramma virgultorum sur jeunes plants de Betula pendula et Betula pubescens dans un district du nord de la Suède Pendant l'été 1999, le développement de l'ascomycète Anisogramma virgultorum a étéétudié sur de jeunes plants de Betula pendula et Betula pubescens dans deux peuplements de B. pubescens, deux peuplements de B. pendula et deux peuplements mélangés (B. pubescens et Pinus sylvestris) (âge: environ 10 ans, hauteur moyenne: 2 à 4 m, dbh: 10 à 20 mm), dans un district près d'Umeå au nord de la Suède. Des chancres de tige et de branches associés àA. virgultorum ont été trouvés sur 54,8% des plants, sans différences significative entre B. pendula et B. pubescens. Les chancres de tige étaient présents sur 16% des plants, et les chancres de branches sur 54,2%. Les chancres de tige étaient situés sur les pousses de l'année en cours aussi bien qu'à la base des arbres. La diamètre moyen des plants attaqués était significativement plus grand que celui des arbres sains. Tous les chancres avec stromas examinés au laboratoire présentaient des périthèces avec des asques. Zusammenfassung Anisogramma virgultorum an Sämlingen von Betula pendula und Betula pubescens in einem Distrikt in Nordschweden Im Herbst 1999 wurde das Vorkommen des Ascomyceten Anisogramma virgultorum an Betula pubescens und Betula pendula in jeweils zwei Reinbeständen dieser Baumarten sowie in zwei Mischbeständen (B. pubescens und Pinus sylvestris) in einem Distrikt in der Nähe von Umeå, Nordschweden, untersucht (Alter ca. 10 Jahre, mittlere Baumhöhe 2,4 m, DBH 10,20 mm). Bei 54,8 % der untersuchten Bäumchen wurden an Stamm und Zweigen Krebse gefunden, die für A.virgultorum typisch sind. Zwischen B. pendula und B. pubescens gab es keine signifikanten Unterschiede. Bei 16 % der Pflanzen wurden Krebse an den Stämmen, bei 54,2 % an den Zweigen beobachtet. Die Stammkrebse traten sowohl am diesjährigen Gipfeltrieb auf als auch an der Stammbasis. Der mittlere Durchmesser geschädigter Pflanzen war signifikant grösser als derjenige von ungeschädigten Pflanzen. Alle Proben von Krebsen mit Stromata, die im Labor untersucht wurden, enthielten Perithecien mit Asci. [source] ,15N of zooplankton species in subarctic lakes in northern Sweden: effects of diet and trophic fractionationFRESHWATER BIOLOGY, Issue 5 2004J. Karlsson Summary 1. To assess the use of stable nitrogen isotopes (,15N) for reconstructing trophic relationships in planktonic food webs, crustacean zooplankton species and pelagic dissolved and particulate matter were analysed in 14 subarctic lakes in northern Sweden. The lakes are situated along an altitudinal gradient and show a substantial variation in nutrient content and energy mobilization by bacterioplankton and phytoplankton. 2. The ,15N of dissolved and particulate matter was comparatively low, suggesting efficient N recycling and low losses of depleted N from the pelagic zone of these unproductive lakes. 3. Copepods had a systematically higher ,15N than cladocerans, with an average difference of 3.1,4.9, within lakes, implying different trophic positions of the two groups. Comparisons of nitrogen pools and energy fluxes suggest that the low cladoceran ,15N was a result of feeding on bacteria. 4. The difference in ,15N between copepods and cladocerans declined with decreasing bacterioplankton production among lakes, due either to increasing trophic isotope fractionation or decreasing relative importance of bacteria in the diet of cladocerans. [source] Proglacial Sediment,Landform Associations of a Polythermal Glacier: Storglaciären, Northern SwedenGEOGRAFISKA ANNALER SERIES A: PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY, Issue 2 2003James L. Etienne Abstract Mapping and laboratory analysis of the sediment,landform associations in the proglacial area of polythermal Storglaciären, Tarfala, northern Sweden, reveal six distinct lithofacies. Sandy gravel, silty gravel, massive sand and silty sand are interpreted as glaciofluvial in origin. A variable, pervasively deformed to massive clast-rich sandy diamicton is interpreted as the product of an actively deforming subglacial till layer. Massive block gravels, comprising two distinctive moraine ridges, reflect supraglacial sedimentation and ice-marginal and subglacial reworking of heterogeneous proglacial sediments during the Little Ice Age and an earlier more extensive advance. Visual estimation of the relative abundance of these lithofacies suggests that the sandy gravel lithofacies is of the most volumetric importance, followed by the diamicton and block gravels. Sedimentological analysis suggests that the role of a deforming basal till layer has been the dominant factor controlling glacier flow throughout the Little Ice Age, punctuated by shorter (warmer and wetter climatic) periods where high water pressures may have played a more important role. These results contribute to the database that facilitates discrimination of past glacier thermal regimes and dynamics in areas that are no longer glacierized, as well as older glaciations in the geological record. [source] Deltas in the Abisko area, northern Sweden: the Abiskojokka delta in lake TorneträskGEOGRAFISKA ANNALER SERIES A: PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY, Issue 3-4 2002Hans Andrén Several small river deltas are found within the Abisko area. This study deals with the Abiskojokka delta in Lake Torneträsk. The aim is to describe the recent delta and its morphological development since the middle 1960s. In the apex of the delta, bars consist of boulders and cobbles while the mouth,bars are built by pebbles, gravel and to some extent sand. Birch vegetation is found on the sandy levées while willows and sedges dominate the interlevée basins. Mouth bars close to the lake generally lack vegetation. A comparison of the map in the present study with a map from 1965 shows comparatively small changes since 1964. Similar results are achieved when comparing aerial photographs from 1959 and 2000. Thus, the growth of the Abiskojokka delta is rather small compared to several other deltas in the Scandinavian mountains. This low growth rate is a result of upstream lakes trapping the major part of the fluvial sediments. Therefore, most of the delta sediment is redistributed old glaciofluvial material from the terraces within the Abiskojokka valley. Some material might also emanate from the Abiskojokka canyon. Formation of the main part of the delta is probably associated with the lowering of the Torneträsk ice,lakes, during and after the deglaciation of the region. Although some extreme rainstorm events have occurred in the area during recent decades, the effects of these on the delta are small. The result of such events is, however, visible as deposition of sand and silt on the levées after flooding. On the other hand, the shoreline and the mouth bars are continuously changing due to rather high wave energy especially during northerly winds. Along several mouth bars, spits are formed and reformed due to wave action. Minor changes of, and within, the two main distributaries have also been noticed, especially as bank erosion and redistribution of bars. The project will continue with a survey of the distal slope (foreset slope) of the delta as well as a study (including X,ray radiography) of the bottom sediments in Lake Torneträsk close to the delta front. The upstream deltas within this drainage basin as well as other deltas within the Torneträsk region will be studied. [source] Quantifying the erosional impact of the Fennoscandian ice sheet in the Torneträsk,Narvik corridor, northern Sweden, based on cosmogenic radionuclide dataGEOGRAFISKA ANNALER SERIES A: PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY, Issue 3-4 2002Arjen P. Stroeven Despite spectacular landform evidence of a dominant role for glacial action in shaping landscapes under former northern hemisphere ice sheets, there is little quantitative evidence for rates and patterns of erosion associated with specific glaciations. Here we use cosmogenic nuclide data to assess rates of subglacial erosion underneath the Fennoscandian ice sheet. By testing whether there are remnant nuclide concentrations in samples taken from sites that include both relict areas and features and landscapes typically associated with vigorous glacial erosion, we can constrain the level and pattern of modification that resulted from the last glaciation. Cosmogenic 10Be and 36Cl data from the Torneträsk region confirm the temporal and spatial variability of glacial erosion suggested by geomorphological mapping. At some sites, glacial erosion estimates in what appear to be heavily scoured areas indicate erosion of only c. 2 ± 0.4 m of bedrock, based on cosmogenic nuclide inheritance. This implies that the generation of severely scoured terrain in this study area required multiple glaciations. The overall modification produced by ice sheets along glacial corridors may be more restricted than previously thought, or may have occurred preferentially during earlier Quaternary glacial periods. [source] Near,surface ground temperature regime variability in selected microenvironments, Kärkevagge, Swedish LaplandGEOGRAFISKA ANNALER SERIES A: PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY, Issue 3-4 2002Colin E. Thorn The importance of topographic microvariability in influencing shallow (10,50 cm depths) soil temperature regimes in arctic,alpine Kärkevagge, northern Sweden, from August 1999 to July 2000 is demonstrated using six sites. The ground microclimate on the tops of very large boulders forming an extensive boulder field in the central valley bottom is more comparable to that at an alpine ridge,crest site 300 m higher than it is to the microclimate at the base of one of the boulders. The boulder crests also differ substantially from the more generalized valley,bottom conditions outside the boulder field. Assuming that chemical processes may be active at temperatures at or above 0°C, sites in the valley experience favorable conditions from 159 to 324 days of the year. Aside from the annual cycle, freeze,thaw cycles are infrequent within Kärkevagge. [source] Recent decay of a single palsa in relation to weather conditions between 1996 and 2000 in Laivadalen, northern SwedenGEOGRAFISKA ANNALER SERIES A: PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY, Issue 2 2002Frieda Sjoukje Zuidhoff This study presents the decay of a small palsa complex between 1996 and 2000 in Sweden's southernmost major palsa bog. The outline of the palsa was mapped during three summers in 1996, 1999 and 2000 and an automatic weather station measured air temperature, precipitation, snow depth, wind speed and wind direction between 1997 and 2000. The decay of the palsa was enormous in the dome,shaped part of the palsa complex: the height decreased during the observation period from 2.3 m to 0.5 m. In 2000, the palsa dome had almost totally disappeared: only some peat blocks in a palsa pond were left. The decay of the palsa was complex with a number of degradational processes, of which the main processes were block erosion, thermokarst and wind erosion. Thermal melting has occurred along the edges of the palsa and possibly below the frozen core of the palsa since 1998/99. Wind erosion was observed during summer and the maximum estimated deflation was 80 cm. The decay of the palsa dome was especially large between 1999 and 2000, probably due to a high mean annual temperature, high summer precipitation and the warming influence of the large pond surrounding the palsa. The present climate in the palsa bog with a mean annual temperature of ,0.8°C is not favourable for palsa development and maintenance, despite a strong wind regime which can provide suitable conditions for snowdrift. [source] Impacts of extreme winter warming in the sub-Arctic: growing season responses of dwarf shrub heathlandGLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY, Issue 11 2008S. BOKHORST Abstract Climate change scenarios predict an increased frequency of extreme climatic events. In Arctic regions, one of the most profound of these are extreme and sudden winter warming events in which temperatures increase rapidly to above freezing, often causing snow melt across whole landscapes and exposure of ecosystems to warm temperatures. Following warming, vegetation and soils no longer insulated below snow are then exposed to rapidly returning extreme cold. Using a new experimental facility established in sub-Arctic dwarf shrub heathland in northern Sweden, we simulated an extreme winter warming event in the field and report findings on growth, phenology and reproduction during the subsequent growing season. A 1-week long extreme winter warming event was simulated in early March using infrared heating lamps run with or without soil warming cables. Both single short events delayed bud development of Vaccinium myrtillus by up to 3 weeks in the following spring (June) and reduced flower production by more than 80%: this also led to a near-complete elimination of berry production in mid-summer. Empetrum hermaphroditum also showed delayed bud development. In contrast, Vaccinium vitis-idaea showed no delay in bud development, but instead appeared to produce a greater number of actively growing vegetative buds within plots warmed by heating lamps only. Again, there was evidence of reduced flowering and berry production in this species. While bud break was delayed, growing season measurements of growth and photosynthesis did not reveal a differential response in the warmed plants for any of the species. These results demonstrate that a single, short, extreme winter warming event can have considerable impact on bud production, phenology and reproductive effort of dominant plant species within sub-Arctic dwarf shrub heathland. Furthermore, large interspecific differences in sensitivity are seen. These findings are of considerable concern, because they suggest that repeated events may potentially impact on the biodiversity and productivity of these systems should these extreme events increase in frequency as a result of global change. Although climate change may lengthen the growing season by earlier spring snow melt, there is a profound danger for these high-latitude ecosystems if extreme, short-lived warming in winter exposes plants to initial warm temperatures, but then extreme cold for the rest of the winter. Work is ongoing to determine the longer term and wider impacts of these events. [source] Snow density variations: consequences for ground-penetrating radarHYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES, Issue 7 2006A. Lundberg Abstract Reliable hydrological forecasts of snowmelt runoff are of major importance for many areas. Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) measurements are used to assess snowpack water equivalent for planning of hydropower production in northern Sweden. The travel time of the radar pulse through the snow cover is recorded and converted to snow water equivalent (SWE) using a constant snowpack mean density from the drainage basin studied. In this paper we improve the method to estimate SWE by introducing a depth-dependent snowpack density. We used 6 years measurements of peak snow depth and snowpack mean density at 11 locations in the Swedish mountains. The original method systematically overestimates the SWE at shallow depths (+25% for 0·5 m) and underestimates the SWE at large depths (,35% for 2·0 m). A large improvement was obtained by introducing a depth,density relation based on average conditions for several years, whereas refining this by using separate relations for individual years yielded a smaller improvement. The SWE estimates were substantially improved for thick snow covers, reducing the average error from 162 ± 23 mm to 53 ± 10 mm for depth range 1·2,2·0 m. Consequently, the introduction of a depth-dependent snow density yields substantial improvements of the accuracy in SWE values calculated from GPR data. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Episodic stream water pH decline during autumn storms following a summer drought in northern SwedenHYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES, Issue 9 2002Hjalmar Laudon Abstract The sources of episodic pH decline in four streams from northern Sweden during the autumn of 1996 were quantified. The events, in which pH dropped by between 1·0 and 2·4 units, were preceded by an extensive summer drought. Total organic carbon, which increased 100% to 160% during peak flow, was the most important driving mechanism of the episodic pH decline. Sulphate, however, was relatively more important during these autumn events than during spring flood. In the sites where past and present anthropogenic deposition were believed to be the main source of sulphate in stream water, sulphate contributed less than 0·3 pH units to the pH decline. In catchments where natural sources of sulphate are known to be important, sulphate contributed up to 0·6 units of pH decline. The export of sulphate during the episodes was two to nine times higher than what was expected from deposition only. The drought preceding the study episodes resulted in some of the lowest ground water levels during the 1990s in that region. The large export of sulphate was probably due to oxidation of natural sulphate bearing minerals in the soil and/or previously deposited sulphate driven by the low ground water level preceding the episodes. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Multi-variable parameter estimation to increase confidence in hydrological modellingHYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES, Issue 2 2002Sten Bergström Abstract The expanding use and increased complexity of hydrological runoff models has given rise to a concern about overparameterization and risks for compensating errors. One proposed way out is the calibration and validation against additional observations, such as snow, soil moisture, groundwater or water quality. A general problem, however, when calibrating the model against more than one variable is the strategy for parameter estimation. The most straightforward method is to calibrate the model components sequentially. Recent results show that in this way the model may be locked up in a parameter setting, which is good enough for one variable but excludes proper simulation of other variables. This is particularly the case for water quality modelling, where a small compromise in terms of runoff simulation may lead to dramatically better simulations of water quality. This calls for an integrated model calibration procedure with a criterion that integrates more aspects on model performance than just river runoff. The use of multi-variable parameter estimation and internal control of the HBV hydrological model is discussed and highlighted by two case studies. The first example is from a forested basin in northern Sweden and the second one is from an agricultural basin in the south of the country. A new calibration strategy, which is integrated rather than sequential, is proposed and tested. It is concluded that comparison of model results with more measurements than only runoff can lead to increased confidence in the physical relevance of the model, and that the new calibration strategy can be useful for further model development. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Soil frost effects on soil water and runoff dynamics along a boreal forest transect: 1.HYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES, Issue 6 2001Field investigations Abstract To determine how soil frost changes flowpaths of runoff water along a hillslope, a transect consisting of four soil profiles directed towards a small stream in a mature forest stand was investigated at Svartberget, near Vindeln in northern Sweden. Soil temperature, unfrozen water content, groundwater level and snow depth were investigated along the transect, which started at the riparian peat, and extended 30 m upslope into mineral soils. The two, more organic-rich profiles closest to the stream had higher water retention and wetter autumn conditions than the sandy mineral soils further upslope. The organic content of the soil influenced the variation in frost along the transect. The first winter (1995,96) had abnormally low snow precipitation, which gave a deep frost down to 40,80 cm, whereas the two following winters had frost depths of 5,20 cm. During winter 1995,96, the two organic profiles close to the stream had a shallower frost depth than the mineral soil profile higher upslope, but a considerably larger amount of frozen water. The fraction of water that did not freeze despite several minus degrees in the soil was 5,7 vol.% in the mineral soil and 10,15 vol.% in the organic soil. From the measurements there were no signs of perched water tables during any of the three snowmelt periods, which would have been strong evidence for changed water flowpaths due to soil frost. When shallow soil layers became saturated during snowmelt, especially in 1997 and 1998, it was because of rising groundwater levels. Several rain on frozen ground events during spring 1996 resulted in little runoff, since most of the rain either froze in the soil or filled up the soil water storage. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Soil frost effects on soil water and runoff dynamics along a boreal transect: 2.HYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES, Issue 6 2001Simulations Abstract A physically based SVAT-model was tested with soil and snow physical measurements, as well as runoff data from an 8600 m2 catchment in northern Sweden in order to quantify the influence of soil frost on spring snowmelt runoff in a moderately sloped, boreal forest. The model was run as an array of connected profiles cascading to the brook. For three winter seasons (1995,98) it was able to predict the onset and total accumulation of the runoff with satisfactory accuracy. Surface runoff was identified as only a minor fraction of the total runoff occurring during short periods in connection with ice blocking of the water-conducting pores. Little surface runoff, though, does not mean that soil frost is unimportant for spring runoff. Simulations without frost routines systematically underestimated the total accumulated runoff. The possibility of major frost effects appearing in response to specific combinations of weather conditions were also tested. Different scenarios of critical initial conditions for the winter, e.g. high water saturation and delayed snow accumulation leading to an increased frost penetration, were tested. These showed that under special circumstances there is potential for increased spring runoff due to soil frost. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] The surface winds of Sweden during 1999,2000INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLIMATOLOGY, Issue 2 2006Christine Achberger Abstract This study aims at increasing our understanding of the regional wind climate in Sweden. Spatial and temporal patterns of the surface winds are presented for the years 1999,2000. Annual mean wind speeds range between 2 and 5 m/s with high values at exposed mountainous sites and on islands off the coast. Combining wind speed and direction into mean wind velocities shows that flow conditions are stronger and more coherent in space in southern Sweden than in central and northern Sweden. The spatial scale, defined as the distance between stations when the correlation for wind speed drops to ,0.37, was determined by pairwise correlations between all possible station pairs. Scales range from 38 to 530 km for wind speed and from 40 to 830 km for wind direction depending on the region. They tend to be smaller in central and northern Sweden, where the more pronounced relief has a larger influence on the local wind conditions. The strength and the timing of the annual and diurnal wind speed cycle have been estimated for each station. Amplitudes of the annual cycle are greater at exposed sites and correlate generally well with annual mean wind speeds. Monthly mean wind speeds peak in winter in southern Sweden, but peak in other seasons in the remaining regions. In winter, weaker pressure gradients over northern Sweden and surface-near temperature inversions contribute to weaker surface winds. Diurnal cycles vary in strength between summer and winter. Compared to the last normal climate period (1961,1990), 1999,2000 is characterized by the increased occurrence of westerly and southerly geostrophic flow. Copyright © 2005 Royal Meteorological Society. [source] Dental caries experience in children with congenital heart disease: a case-control studyINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PAEDIATRIC DENTISTRY, Issue 2 2004C. Stecksén-Blicks Summary. Objectives., To compare the dental health of a group of children with complex congenital heart disease with that of age and gender matched healthy controls. Design., Case-control study. Setting., Faculty of Medicine and Odontology/Pediatric cardiology and Pedodontics, Umeå University, Sweden. Sample and Methods., All the cases and their controls lived in the county of Västerbotten in northern Sweden. Each group comprised 41 children with a mean age of 6·5 years. Data were collected from medical and dental records while all bitewing radiographs were read separately by one of the authors. Results., Children with congenital heart disease had significantly more caries in their primary teeth than the control group. The mean dmfs-value was 5·2 ± 7·0 in the cardiac group compared to 2·2 ± 3·5 in the control group (P < 0·05). Twenty-six of the children had all four 6-year-molars, and their mean DMFS-values were 0·9 ± 1·9 in the cardiac group compared to 0·3 ± 0·6 in the control group (P > 0·05). The children with congenital heart disease had received more caries prevention based on the use of fluorides than the control group. There was a significant correlation between the number of fluoride varnish treatments and the dmfs value of the child (r = 0·411, P < 0·01). Fifty-two per cent of the children in the cardiac group had been prescribed fluoride tablets on one or more occasions compared to 17% in the control group (P < 0·01). Number of months on digoxin medication and the dmfs-value had a significant correlation (r = 0·368, P < 0·05). Ten of the children had been on digoxin medication between 6 and 87 months; this subgroup had a mean dmfs-value of 10·1 ± 8·5. Conclusion., Swedish children with complex congenital heart disease have poorer dental health than healthy age and gender matched controls in spite of intensive preventive efforts. In many cases, intervention had been given when caries were present. A closer cooperation between paediatric cardiology and paediatric dentistry is needed. [source] Variations in number and morphology of permanent teeth in 7-year-old Swedish childrenINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PAEDIATRIC DENTISTRY, Issue 1 2001B. Bäckman Summary.Objectives. To establish the prevalence of numerical and morphological variations of permanent teeth in Swedish 7-year-olds and to accept or reject the hypothesis of a higher prevalence for these conditions in northern Sweden compared to other areas. Design. Cross-sectional. Setting. Department of Odontology/Pedodontics, Umeå University, Sweden. Sample and methods. A total of 739 healthy Caucasian 7-year-olds residing in the city of Umeå, northern Sweden in 1976. The children were examined clinically and radiographically. Results. The prevalence of hypodontia (excluding third molars) in girls was 8·4%, in boys 6·5%, and in both sexes combined 7·4%. Of the children with hypodontia, the majority (90·9%) lacked one or two teeth. Lower second premolars were the teeth most frequently missing. The prevalence of hyperdontia was 1·9%; 11 girls and three boys were affected; 78% of the supernumerary teeth were mesiodenses. Of the morphological variations, peg-shaped upper lateral incisors were found in 0·8% of the children, double-formation (gemination) in 0·3%, taurodontism in 0·3% and dens invaginatus in 6·8%. One diagnosis was found in 18% of the children, and in almost 8% of them more than one diagnosis was found. Conclusions. The results agree with those obtained in similar populations and are considered representative of this ethnic group. The hypothesis of a genetically determined higher prevalence of numerical and morphological variations in the study population was not verified. [source] Responses of riparian plants to flooding in free-flowing and regulated boreal rivers: an experimental studyJOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY, Issue 6 2002M. E. Johansson Summary 1The long history of river regulation has resulted in extensively changed ecosystem structures and processes in rivers and their associated environments. This fact, together with changing climatic and hydrological conditions, has increased the need to recover the natural functions of rivers. To develop guidelines for river restoration, comparative ecological experiments at contrasting water-level regimes are needed. We compared growth and survival of transplanted individuals of four riparian plant species (Betula pubescens, Carex acuta, Filipendula ulmaria and Leontodon autumnalis) over 2 years on four free-flowing and four regulated riverbank sites in northern Sweden. The species were chosen as representatives of dominating life-forms and species traits on different elevations of the riverbanks. 2In Betula and Filipendula, mean proportional growth rates were significantly higher at free-flowing sites than at regulated sites, whereas no consistent differences between free-flowing and regulated sites were found in Carex and Leontodon. Differences among species were generally in accordance with natural distribution patterns along riverbank elevation gradients and with experimental evidence on flooding tolerance, although plants of all species survived and even showed positive growth rates on elevations below their natural range of occurrence. 3Partial least squares regression was used to relate plant performance (growth and survival) to duration, frequency and timing of flooding at the different sites. Flood duration and frequency typically reduced performance in all species and during all time periods, although to various degrees. Flood events early in the experiment determined the outcome to a high degree at all sites. Variables indicating a regulated regime were mostly negatively related to plant performance, whereas free-flowing regime variables were positively related to plant performance. 4We used two of the regression models generated from our data with an acceptably high predictive power to simulate a hypothetical re-regulation scenario in run-of-river impoundments. With an overall reduction in flooding duration and frequency of 50,75%, plant performance of Filipendula at low riverbank elevations showed predicted increases of about 20,30%, levelling off to zero at the highest elevations. Reductions in summer floods represented about one-third to half of this increase. 5We conclude that for a range of species individual plant performance is clearly reduced on banks of impoundments and storage reservoirs due to changes in the water-level regime. Furthermore, our model simulation suggests that rather substantial reductions of flood duration and frequency are needed to improve plant performance on riverbanks upstream from dams in impounded rivers. River restoration principles should, however, be based on a combination of experimental data on plant performance of individual species and observed long-term changes in plant communities of regulated rivers. Consequently, successful re-regulation schemes in boreal rivers should include both reductions of summer and winter floods as well as re-introduced spring floods. [source] Glacial survival or late glacial colonization?JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY, Issue 12 2006Phylogeography of the root vole (Microtus oeconomus) in north-west Norway Abstract Aim, It has been proposed that the root vole subspecies, Microtus oeconomus finmarchicus, survived the last glacial period on islands on the north-west coast of Norway. The Norwegian island of Andøya may have constituted the only site with permanent ice-free conditions. Geological surveys and fossil finds from Andøya demonstrate that survival throughout the last glacial maximum was probably possible for some plants and animals. In this study we aim to infer the recent evolutionary history of Norwegian root vole populations and to evaluate the glacial survival hypothesis. Methods, DNA sequence variation in the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene was studied in 46 root voles from 19 localities. Location, Northern Fennoscandia and north-west Russia with a focus on islands on the north-west coast of Norway. Results The phylogeographical analyses revealed two North European phylogroups labelled ,Andøya' and ,Fennoscandia'. The Andøya phylogroup contained root voles from the Norwegian islands of Andøya, Ringvassøya and Reinøya and two localities in north-west Russia. The Fennoscandian phylogroup encompassed root voles from the three Norwegian islands of Kvaløya, Håkøya and Arnøya and the remaining specimens from Norway, northern Sweden and Finland. Nucleotide diversity within the Andøya and Fennoscandian phylogroups was similar, ranging from 0.5% to 0.7%. Main conclusions Both our genetic data and previously published morphological data are consistent with in situ glacial survival of root voles on Andøya during the last glacial maximum. However, the level of genetic diversity observed in the extant island populations, the past periods of severe climatic conditions on Andøya and the ecology of the root vole are somewhat difficult to reconcile with this model. A biogeographical scenario involving late glacial recolonization along the northern coasts of Russia and Norway therefore represents a viable alternative. Our results demonstrate that complex recolonization and extinction histories can generate intricate phylogeographical patterns and relatively high levels of genetic variation in northern populations. [source] Herbivory influences tree linesJOURNAL OF ECOLOGY, Issue 6 2004DAVID M. CAIRNS Summary 1Transitions between major vegetation types, such as the tree line, are useful systems for monitoring the response of vegetation to climate change. Tree lines have, however, shown equivocal responses to such change. 2Tree lines are considered to be primarily thermally controlled, although recent work has highlighted the importance of biotic factors. Dispersal limitation and the invasibility of the tundra matrix have been implicated and here we propose herbivory as an additional control at some tree lines. 3We propose a conceptual model in which differing relative impacts of foliage consumption, availability of establishment sites, trampling, dispersal and seed predation can lead to very different tree-line responses. 4The presence of large numbers of small trees above the current tree line at a site in northern Sweden that experiences limited reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) herbivory suggests range expansion. Other locations in the same region with higher reindeer populations have considerably fewer small trees, suggesting that range expansion is occurring much more slowly, if at all. 5The use of tree lines as indicators of climate change is confounded by the activity of herbivores, which may either strengthen or nullify the impacts of a changed climate. Similar arguments are likely to be applicable to other ecotones. [source] Effects of global change on a sub-Arctic heath: effects of enhanced UV-B radiation and increased summer precipitationJOURNAL OF ECOLOGY, Issue 2 2001Gareth K. Phoenix Summary 1The responses of sub-Arctic heathland vegetation to enhanced UV-B radiation and increased summer precipitation over 7 years were investigated in a field experiment in northern Sweden. 2Growth, phenology and reproduction of the dominant dwarf shrubs Vaccinium myrtillus, V. uliginosum, V. vitis-idaea and Empetrum hermaphroditum were studied after 5,7 years of manipulation and retrospective analyses were used to assess growth responses in earlier years. Leaf tissue N and P and 13C natural abundances were determined for V. myrtillus and E. hermaphroditum. Growth responses were also assessed for the moss Hylocomium splendens. 3The deciduous V. myrtillus showed reduced growth, increased leaf thickness and increased flowering and berry production under enhanced UV-B in some years. V. uliginosum, V. vitis-idaea, E. hermaphroditum and H. splendens were, in general, tolerant of UV-B. 4Increased precipitation affected growth only in the evergreen species: stem length and branching were sometimes stimulated in E. hermaphroditum, whereas V. vitis-idaea showed reduced branching. 5Precipitation also increased leaf thickness in V. uliginosum and reduced flowering and berry production in V. myrtillus. 6In the interactions that occurred between enhanced UV-B radiation and increased summer precipitation, combining the two treatments often negated any effect that either may have had separately. The effect of concurrent increases on this ecosystem is therefore likely to be much less than if either occurred singly. 7Enhanced UV-B and increased summer precipitation appeared not to effect dwarf shrub abundances during the first 5 years of the experiment, suggesting that overall this heath may be more tolerant of these environmental changes than previously thought. [source] Growth in length and in body depth in young-of-the-year perch with different predation riskJOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY, Issue 3 2004C. Magnhagen Body shape of young-of-the-year (YOY) perch Perca fluviatilis, and number and size of potential predators (perch and pike Esox lucius) were compared across five lakes in northern Sweden. Body depth and dorsal fin ray length of YOY perch differed between lakes, with high relative body depth and long dorsal fin rays found in the lakes where the number of large piscivores was the highest. The most slender fish were found in the lake where the perch population had the smallest individuals and pike occurred in very low numbers. The average body mass in YOY perch from the two lakes with highest and lowest body depth, respectively, were the same, which indicates a difference between lakes in the relation between growth in length and in depth. Both body depth and fin ray length were correlated with predation risk by pike. Fin ray length was also correlated with number of piscivorous perch. Selection for different body shapes can be caused by different biotic and abiotic factors, singly or in combination, and the results from this study indicates that predation risk is one of these factors affecting body depth and fin ray length in perch. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||