Northern Dutch Research Articles

Revision and update of the Callovian-Ryazanian Stratigraphic Nomenclature in the northern Dutch offshore, i.e. Central Graben Subgroup and Scruff Group

AbstractExploration in a mature basin requires a detailed classification and standardisation of rock stratigraphy to adequately comprehend the depositional history and prospect architecture. The pre-Quaternary Stratigraphic Nomenclature of the Netherlands compiled by Van Adrichem Boogaert & Kouwe in 1993 provided a consistent framework for use by the Dutch geological community. Over the past twenty years, new biostratigraphic techniques and continued exploration in the Netherlands have provided additional stratigraphic information. Based on this information the Late Jurassic lithostratigraphy in particular, shows significant inaccuracies. The Callovian-Ryazanian strata from the northern offshore of the Netherlands' territorial waters, termed the Central Graben Subgroup and Scruff Group, reveal a complex sedimentary history. The combination of non-marine to shallow marine lateral facies changes, repetitive log and facies characteristics in time, sea-level and climate change, salt tectonics and structural compartmentalisation hamper straightforward seismic interpretation and log correlation. Recognition of three genetic sequences by Abbink et al. in 2006 enabled an improved reconstruction of the geological history. Further improvements in refinement and reliability of the stratigraphy together with new information on the facies and ages of the successions and about the subsequent tectonostratigraphic development of the northern Dutch offshore area form the basis of the present revision. As a result, earlier lithostratigraphic models have been changed and new lithostratigraphic relationships and names are introduced in this paper.

The discovery of the Fat Sand Play (Solling Formation, Triassic), Northern Dutch offshore – a case of serendipity

AbstractIn 1992, the well L9-7, drilled by the Nederlandse Aardolie Maatschappij (NAM) unexpectedly found a thick previously unknown sandstone interval with excellent reservoir characteristics in the Middle Buntsandstein (Triassic) of the Dutch Northern Offshore: the ‘Fat Sand’. A follow-up well, L9-8, found this reservoir gas-bearing in an accumulation that turned out have recoverable reserves of circa 1 Tcf of gas distributed over several fault compartments. This serendipitous discovery led to a frantic period in NAM's office trying to understand the setting of this local sand development and, most importantly, assess follow-up potential; could this sand be present elsewhere in a trapping configuration? The local depocentre in which the Fat Sand accumulated is considered to be caused by local extension along a strongly listric fault soling out on the top of the Zechstein Salt. This supra-salt fault seems to be caused by early east-west extension in the Dutch northern offshore. The shape of the fault plane was strongly influenced by the presence of the nearby Zechstein Salt, and by early salt flow, which was also triggered by E-W extension.

Intonatie op de grens van Nederland en Duitsland: Nedersaksisch en Hoogduits

Recent research on intonational variation in West Germanic languages suggests that tonal variation among dialects of a single language may be larger than among national standard varieties like British English, Dutch, and German. However, most parts of the West Germanic language area are still uncharted territory as far as intonation is concerned. In particular, we know virtually nothing about the intonation of northern Dutch dialects and of Low German. This paper deals with intonational variation in the Dutch province of Groningen and the German province of East Frisia, covering Dutch Low Saxon, German Low Saxon, and Northern High German. We report results from two studies on intonational variation. First, a reading task was carried out to determine the tonal inventories and to detect variation in the use of nuclear tunes. Second, speakers were presented with sentences varying by focus condition to determine variation in the phonetic realisation of the same tunes. The results of the first study suggest that speakers of Dutch Low Saxon, German Low Saxon, and High German in the border area make use of the same inventory of nuclear tunes, but differ in the use of single tunes in various utterance types. The second study reveals differences in segmental lengthening, pitch timing, and pitch scaling. We conclude, first, that intonational variation in the northern Dutch-German border area is more likely to be found in the use of tunes and their phonetic realisation than in tonal grammar, and second, that intonational variation between Dutch and German Low Saxon is larger than that between German Low Saxon and local High German.

Quo Vadis? Catholic Perceptions of Flight and the Revolt of the Low Countries, 1566–1609*

AbstractThis article examines Catholic views of flight, exile, and displacement during the Dutch Revolt. It argues that the civil war in the sixteenth-century Low Countries generated a new imagery of exile among Catholics, a process that was to some extent similar to what had happened to Protestant refugees a few decades earlier. Yet the Dutch case also demonstrates that the contrasting outcomes of the revolts in the Northern and Southern Netherlands led to very different appreciations of exile in Catholic communities in both areas. Habsburg triumph and Tridentine militancy sparked a Counter-Reformation movement in the Southern Netherlands that glorified exile and presented refugees as exemplary forces of an international militant church. In the northern Dutch Republic the revolt created a more ambiguous Catholic identity, in which loyalty to an officially Protestant state could coincide with commitment to the Church of Rome.

Perception of reduced pronunciation variants in conversational speech.

Spontaneous conversations are characterized by reduced pronunciation variants that, relative to the corresponding citation variants, provide less acoustic information (e.g., the English word “hilarious” may be pronounced like [hlErEs]). This paper discusses three series of experiments investigating how listeners process reduced variants within their natural contexts. In two series of experiments, native speakers of Northern Dutch listened to extracts from spontaneous conversations in Northern Dutch and either predicted masked reduced words or repeated stretches of speech. These experiments show that even though reduced variants contain little acoustic information, listeners heavily rely on this information. Furthermore, listeners use acoustic cues in the context, which is often reduced itself, and these cues may override semantic/syntactic cues. In the third series of experiments, native speakers of Northern and Southern Dutch listened to conversations in Northern Dutch and indicated whether words appearing on the screen had just occurred in the conversation. The results show that acoustic cues are less informative for listeners who are less familiar with the language variant. These listeners rely more on semantic/syntactic information. In conclusion, acoustic cues, even if highly reduced, play a major role in the processing of conversational speech, especially in native listeners.

Quantification of C and N stocks in grassland topsoils in a Dutch region dominated by dairy farming

SUMMARYEstimates on soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrogen (N) stocks in soils cannot be directly calculated from routine soil analyses, since these often lack measurements on soil bulk density (Bd). Hence, flexible pedotransfer functions are required that allow the calculation of SOC stocks from gravimetrically determined SOC contents. The present paper aimed to: (1) quantify SOC and N stocks in grassland topsoils for a Northern Dutch region dominated by dairy farming and (2) analyse the relationships between SOC and bulk density at the field level. As estimates of SOC and N stocks are potentially affected by soil compaction, the combined measurements on soil bulk density and soil organic matter (SOM) were also evaluated with respect to critical limits for soil compaction using soil density (Sd) for sandy soils and packing density (Pd) for clay soils. The SOC andBdmeasurements were done in the upper 0·1–0·2 m of grasslands at 18 dairy farms, distributed across sandy, clay and peat soils. Both farm data and grassland management data were collected. Non-linear regressions were used to analyse relationships betweenBdand SOM. Significant non-linear relationships were found between gravimetric SOC contents and bulk density for the 0–0·1 m layer (R2=0·80) and the 0·1–0·2 m layer (R2=0·86). None of the fields on sandy soils or clay soils indicated signs for limited rooting in the topsoil although some fields appear to approach the critical limit for compaction for the 0·1–0·2 m layer. Stocks of SOC in the top 0·2 m at farm level were highest in the peat soils (21·7 kg/m2) and lowest in the sandy soils (9·0 kg/m2). Similarly, N stocks were highest for farms on peat soil (1·30 kg/m2) and lowest for farms on sandy soil (0·60 kg/m2). For the sandy soils, the mean SOC stock was significantly higher in fields with shallow groundwater tables.

Linkage and candidate gene studies of autism spectrum disorders in European populations.

Over the past decade, research on the genetic variants underlying susceptibility to autism and autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) has focused on linkage and candidate gene studies. This research has implicated various chromosomal loci and genes. Candidate gene studies have proven to be particularly intractable, with many studies failing to replicate previously reported associations. In this paper, we investigate previously implicated genomic regions for a role in ASD susceptibility, using four cohorts of European ancestry. Initially, a 384 SNP Illumina GoldenGate array was used to examine linkage at six previously implicated loci. We identify linkage approaching genome-wide suggestive levels on chromosome 2 (rs2885116, MLOD=1.89). Association analysis showed significant associations in MKL2 with ASD (rs756472, P=4.31 x 10(-5)) and between SND1 and strict autism (rs1881084, P=7.76 x 10(-5)) in the Finnish and Northern Dutch populations, respectively. Subsequently, we used a second 384 SNP Illumina GoldenGate array to examine the association in seven candidate genes, and evidence for association was found in RELN (rs362780, P=0.00165). Further increasing the sample size strengthened the association with RELN (rs362780, P=0.001) and produced a second significant result in GRIK2 (rs2518261, P=0.008). Our results strengthen the case for a more detailed study of the role of RELN and GRIK2 in autism susceptibility, as well as identifying two new potential candidate genes, MKL2 and SND1.

Long-term landscape – land use interactions as explaining factor for soil organic matter variability in Dutch agricultural landscapes

The present-day land use pattern is often used for estimating soil organic matter pools. Although the effect of historical land use on soil organic matter (SOM) pools is often recognized, this factor is never accounted for in large-scale SOM inventories. We assessed if an inventory of long-term landscape management can be used to improve estimates of landscape-scale SOM variability for a 60 km 2 case study in the northern Dutch sand area. We hypothesize that soil, present-day and historical land use and their interactions can explain the bulk of SOM variability at multiple scales. Actual SOM data from a 1:10.000 soil inventory of the study area were used to test this hypothesis. Land use history (1780-2000) was reconstructed using topographic maps and land use databases. Potential explaining factors for SOM contents were analysed. Linear models were used to characterize SOM variability at 50 m, 200 m and 500 m resolutions. Soil characteristics like loam content (R 2 = 0.25), median sand grain size (R 2 = 0.20) or soil classification (R 2 = 0.23) can partly explain total SOM variability. Present-day land use only explains 2% of SOM variability. Historical land use patterns explain a much larger part of the total SOM variability (R 2 = 0.14 for land use patterns in 1780 and R 2 = 0.20 for land use patterns in 1850). At 50 m resolution, SOM contents can be best explained with soil and land use history factors (R 2 = 0.28). At 200 m resolution, soil and groundwater factors yileld the best model (R 2 = 0.42) while at 500 m resolution a model including soil, groundwater and historical land use performs best (R 2 = 0.75). We conclude that land use history data can significantly improve SOM inventories at multiple scales. Especially at detailed scales it can improve insight in both SOM pool size and origin of SOM variability. As land use history of the Netherlands is relatively well documented, we expect that an improvement of national SOM pool estimates is feasible.

By-catch and drowning in harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) stranded on the northern Dutch coast

Stranding data and recorded post-mortem findings were studied for 153 harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena), which were collected by the Seal Rehabilitation and Research Centre (SRRC; Pieterburen, The Netherlands) in the period 1984–2006. Special consideration was given to ‘by-catch’ listed as a major cause of death. A distinct increase in the numbers of strandings of porpoises along the Dutch coastline has occurred in the recent years of the studied period. This corresponds to the number of porpoises observed in Dutch waters in the same period. Although strandings occurred throughout the entire year, they were most frequent during the January to July period. By-catch and drowning were noted most frequent in the winter and spring seasons (December–April). By-catch and drowned porpoises were found along the entire Dutch coastline. The numbers of animals per area varied depending on the collection efforts. At post-mortem investigation, three probable causes of death were identified most frequently: pneumonia, emaciation and by-catch/drowning. The by-catch and drowning rate was calculated to vary between 7% and 19%. Overall, the percentages obtained from this study appeared to be in line with those established by others in neighbouring countries. Varying fishing techniques are used in Dutch waters. A careful study of the fishing methods involved and close co-operation with fishermen are required to determine effective measures to reduce the by-catch of porpoises.

Towards a reverse image. Botanical research into the landscape history of the eastern Netherlands (1100 B.C.—A.D. 1500)

ABSTRACT Analysis of a large number of pollen samples from pools and wells has led to a more detailed understanding of the vegetation development in the eastern Netherlands between c. 1100 B.c. and A.D. 1500. During the Neolithic and the Bronze Age settlements were islands within a forest landscape, with natural clearings as the obvious starting points for further exploitation. Especially during the Iron Age the higher grounds became rapidly deforested. A semi-open landscape was formed relatively quickly, as was the case in the northern Dutch sandy areas. The Iron Age and Roman period landscape seems to have been almost as open as it would be during the Middle Ages, something which has also been established for south-east England. Deforestation proceeded at a slower pace in the lower and wetter parts of the landscape, but here too the effects of human presence are already visible during late prehistory, at least in the proximity of settlements. A sharp increase of heath can be observed, the result of deforestation and soil exhaustion. Sometimes it is grasses that increase rather than heather, as was probably the case on relatively fertile and degradation-resistant soil types. The late prehistoric mosaic landscape was probably still characterised by a high degree of spatial dynamics. On the other hand, many of the medieval and younger essen (open fields) are likely to have been open areas and to have been in continuous use for agriculture from the Iron Age until the present day. These areas had apparently become stable elements in an otherwise dynamic landscape long before the Middle Ages.

Belgian Dutch versus Netherlandic Dutch: New patterns of divergence? On pronouns of address and diminutives

The linguistic climate in northern Belgium (Flanders) has been changing in recent years. A new corpus of spoken Dutch meets the need for data reflecting actual and present-day language use in this part of the Dutch language area. The ‘Spoken Dutch Corpus’ allows us to uncover and analyse the present state of colloquial Belgian Dutch and the changes which mark this condition. This paper discusses the realization of two morphosyntactic variables, the variants of which are markers of Belgian Dutch versus Netherlandic Dutch. In spite of more than half a century of official language policy promoting convergence with northern Netherlandic Dutch, the results reveal a growing divergence from the northern norm: the younger generations show a greater preference for the endogenous, Brabantic, variants than the older generations. The northern Dutch variants have not been integrated in colloquial Belgian Dutch. Apparently they are still considered to be ‘Hollandic import’. 1

Trends in coronary heart disease in two Belgian areas: results from the MONICA Ghent-Charleroi Study.

SETTING: As part of the WHO-MONICA study, acute coronary events have been registered from 1983 until 1992 in the general population aged 25-69 years in two Belgian cities--Ghent in the...

Misclassification of coronary heart disease in mortality statistics. Evidence from the WHO-MONICA Ghent-Charleroi Study in Belgium.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To validate the Belgian vital statistics for coronary heart disease (CHD) on the basis of an independent acute myocardial infarction (AMI) register, carried out as part of the...

Initial stops and fricatives in Northern Dutch

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The Impact of Wild Geese Visiting Improved Grasslands in the Netherlands

(1) The number of migratory geese spending winter and early spring in the Netherlands increased from 100000 in the early 1960s to almost 600000 in the 1983-84 winter. The most common species are: the white-fronted goose Anser albifrons (Scopoli), greylag goose Anser anser (Linn6), bean goose Anser fabalis (Latham), pink-footed goose Anser brachyrhynchus (Baillon), barnacle goose Branta leucopsis (Bechst.) and brent goose Branta bernicla (Linn6). Since these geese forage mainly on improved grasslands, their increase was accompanied by a growing number of complaints by dairy farmers about yield losses and deterioration of their swards. The yearly amount paid by the Dutch government to protect the geese and pay for losses of the farmers rose from ?1500 in 1974 to ?450 000 in 1984. In order to establish an objective method for the assessment of damage, a combination of grazing, treading and defecating by wild geese on Loliumswards was studied in the northern Dutch province of Friesland. (2) The grazing by wild geese on improved grasslands in winter and early spring resulted in dry-matter yield losses at first cut or grazing of 335-1100 kg haI depending on grazing pressure, time of grazing and productivity of the sward. There were no yield losses after the first cut. (3) There were no significant effects of goose grazing on the number of plant species of a sward nor on the number of tillers dm-2 per plant species. (4) The significant increase in net energy value of spring pasture as a result of goose grazing did not compensate for the loss of herbage production. (5) Defecating and treading by wild geese had no demonstrable effect on chemical or physical soil characteristics such as N, P, and K contents of the upper soil layer, water conductivity and compaction. (6) Since the retardation of growth of grass in spring resulting from goose grazing usually takes place on paddocks that are mown instead of being grazed by livestock, it is discussed whether a farmer could counteract the effects of goose grazing by means of small adaptations in the grassland utilization scheme.

The role of external ammonium inputs in freshwater acidification

Gaseous ammonia released into the atmosphere from animal manure, fertilizer and industrial processes, neutralizes acid oxidation products of sulphur and nitrogen oxides in precipitation. This results in a substantial increase in pH of precipitation. Once deposited in soil or water, the ammonium compounds may be oxidized to nitric acid. This means that hydrogen ions neutralized in the atmosphere are now released. This paper concerns bulk precipitation sampled at some selected northern Italian and Dutch sites, representing areas with different regional industrial and agricultural impact. In addition the role of external loads of ammonium in freshwater acidification is discussed considering an ammonium sulphate polluted subalpine lake in northern Italy and the results of experimentla studies on susceptible soft water systems in The Netherlands. In these cases the acidifying effect of biochemical ammonium conversions, particularly ammonium oxidation, was evident, reaching pH values below 4. Regarding the deleterious chemical and ecological effects, a reduction in the emission of gaseous ammonia is programmed for The Netherlands. In the Alpine region atmospheric ammonia and ammonium also constitute a threat for sensitive ecosystems.

Mayr's New Guinea Collection On a Collection of Birds Made by Dr. Ernst Mayr in northern Dutch New Guinea Ernst Hartert

Mayr's New Guinea Collection On a Collection of Birds Made by Dr. Ernst Mayr in northern Dutch New Guinea Ernst Hartert