The contribution of atmospheric acid deposition to ocean acidification in the subtropical North Atlantic Ocean

The absorption of anthropogenic CO₂ and atmospheric deposition of acidity can both contribute to the acidification of the global ocean. Rainfall pH measurements and chemical compositions monitored on the island of Bermuda since 1980, and a long-term seawater CO₂ time-series (1983–2005) in the subtropical North Atlantic Ocean near Bermuda were used to evaluate the influence of acidic deposition on the acidification of oligotrophic waters of the North Atlantic Ocean and coastal waters of the coral reef ecosystem of Bermuda. Since the early 1980's, the average annual wet deposition of acidity at Bermuda was 15 ± 14 mmol m^− 2 year^− 1, while surface seawater pH decreased by 0.0017 ± 0.0001 pH units each year. The gradual acidification of subtropical gyre waters was primarily due to uptake of anthropogenic CO₂. We estimate that direct atmospheric acid deposition contributed 2% to the acidification of surface waters in the subtropical North Atlantic Ocean, although this value likely represents an upper limit. Acidifying deposition had negligible influence on seawater CO₂ chemistry of the Bermuda coral reef, with no evident impact on hard coral calcification.     

Growth and primary productivity of marine macrophytes exposed to domestic sewage effluents

This study provides the first response data for ten Southern California macrophytes exposed to untreated, primary, secondary and secondary chlorinated sewage effluent during long-term culture studies in the laboratory as well as short-term metabolic studies in the field and in the laboratory. Bossiella orbigniana, Lithothrix aspergillum and Corallina officinalis var, chilensis had relatively broad homeostatic capabilities and enhanced net production rates when exposed to primary treated sewage. In the long-term cultures, Amphiroa zonata, B. orbigniana and C. officinalis var. chilensis all demonstrated enhanced growth in the presence of primary sewage. Chlorination of effluent had only a short-term negative effect; i.e. species' responses to secondary and secondary chlorinated sewage were virtually identical beyond the second week in culture. Three populations of C. officinalis var. chilensis with differing pollution histories showed a tolerance to sewage corresponding to the extent of previous exposure, indicating that this species may be able to acclimate physiologically to sewage stress. The more sewage-tolerant macrophytes displayed lower photosynthetic quotient values during exposure to effluent than those possessing little tolerance to sewage.     

The buckling of a corrugated carbon fibre cylinder under external hydrostatic pressure

A theoretical and an experimental investigation was carried out, where a carbon fibre corrugated circular cylinder was tested to destuction under external hydrostatic pressure. The theoretical investigation was via the finite element method, where the structure was modelled with several orthotropic axisymmetric thin-walled shell elements. The experimental observations were aided with strategically placed strain gauges. Comparison between theory and experiment showed that the experimentally observed buckling pressure was a little lower than the theoretical prediction. This may have been due to the fact that the model had slight initial geometrical imperfections in the circumferenential direction.     

Modelling the equilibrium speciation of nickel in the Tweed Estuary, UK: Voltammetric determinations and simulations using WHAM

The complexation of dissolved Ni has been evaluated in a rapidly-flushed, rural estuary (Tweed, UK) by ligand exchange-adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetry. Results suggest the presence of strongly binding ligands, L, throughout, with average stability constants of about 10¹⁹ and which are saturated by ambient Ni concentrations. Equilibrium speciation calculations incorporating these constants in WHAM, version 6, predict an increase in Ni complexation (as NiL) from about 50% of total dissolved Ni in fresh water to over 90% in sea water. Equivalent calculations using the default-mode fulvic and humic substances (FS and HS, respectively) encoded in the WHAM database predict a reduction in complexation (as NiFS + NiHS) from about 20% in fresh water to less than 1% in sea water. Discrepancies arising from the two approaches are largely attributed to the different analytical detection windows employed. Thus, a better representation of Ni complexation is derived from including both types of complexant in the speciation calculations, resulting in estimates of net complexation in excess of 60% of total dissolved Ni throughout the estuary. The uncertainties and assumptions inherent in all computations illustrate the difficulty in measuring or predicting metal complexation in estuaries.     

Plastic buckling of ring-stiffened conical shells under external hydrostatic pressure

The paper describes experimental tests carried out on three ring-stiffened cones that were tested to destruction under external hydrostatic pressure. The cones were carefully machined from EN1A Steel. All three cones failed by plastic non-symmetric bifurcation buckling in a mode commonly known as general instability. In this mode the entire ring-shell combination buckles bodily.The paper also provides a design chart using the results obtained from these three vessels, together with the results of six other vessels obtained from other tests. The design chart allows the possibility of obtaining a plastic knock down factor, so that the theoretical buckling pressures, based on elastic theory, can be divided by the plastic knockdown factor, to give the predicted buckling pressure. This method can also be used for the design of full-scale vessels.     

Geomorphological evidence for upslope canyon-forming processes on the northern KwaZulu-Natal shelf,SW Indian Ocean,South Africa

A geomorphological and statistical analysis of slope canyons from the northern KwaZulu-Natal continental margin is documented and compared with submarine canyons from the Atlantic margin of the USA. The northern KwaZulu-Natal margin is characterized by increasing upslope relief, concave slope-gradient profiles and features related to upslope growth of the canyon forms. Discounting slope-gradient profile, this morphology is strikingly similar to canyon systems of the New Jersey slope. Several phases of canyon incision indicate that downslope erosion is also an important factor in the evolution of the northern KwaZulu-Natal canyon systems. Despite the strong similarities between the northern KwaZulu-Natal and New Jersey slope-canyon systems, key differences are evident: (1) the concavity of the northern KwaZulu-Natal slope, contrasting with the ∼linear New Jersey slope; (2) the relative isolation of the northern KwaZulu-Natal canyons, rather than the dense clustering of the New Jersey canyons; and (3) the absence of strongly shelf-breaching canyons along the northern KwaZulu-Natal margin. In comparison with the New Jersey margin, we surmise a more youthful stage of canyon evolution, a result of either the canyons themselves being younger or the formative processes being less active. Less complicated patterns of erosion resulting from reduced sediment availability have developed in northern KwaZulu-Natal. The reduction in slope concavity on the New Jersey margin may be the result of grading of the upper slope by intensive headward erosion, a process more subdued—or less evident—on the KwaZulu-Natal margin.     

Fishers' responses to management measures and their socio-economic effects

This session presented a wide range of papers on cooperativeresearch, design of alternative gears and fishing strategies,and new analyses to support management. The contributed papersreflected a real desire to explore different approaches andstrategies to fishery management. It is apparent that fishery policy has had a mixed record ofsuccess and failure at best. In most regions of the world, manystocks are still being overfished or have been severely overfishedin the past. Although rebuilding programmes for overfished stockshave been developed, nationally as well as internationally,only a few have been successful, many others are works in progressand, in too many cases, rebuilding     

Active spreading and hydrothermalism in North Fiji Basin (SW Pacific). Results of Japanese French Cruise Kaiyo 87

The aim of the Japanese-French Kaiyo 87 cruise was the study of the spreading axis in the North Fiji Basin (SW Pacific). A Seabeam and geophysical survey allowed us to define the detailed structure of the active NS spreading axis between 16° and 22° S and its relationships with the left lateral motion of the North Fiji Fracture Zone. Between 21° S and 18°10′ S, the spreading axis trends NS. From 18°10 S to 16°40 S the orientation of the spreading axis changes from NS to 015°. North of 16°40′ S the spreading axis trends 160°. These two 015° and 160° branches converge with the left lateral North Fiji fracture zone around 16°40′ S to define an RRFZ triple junction. Water sampling, dredging and photo TV deep towing give new information concerning the hydrothermal activity along the spreading axis. The discovery of hydrothermal deposits associated with living communities confirms this activity.