A Model of Conductive Heat Flow in Forest Edges and Fragmented Landscapes

Although the creation of edges during forest fragmentation can have important abiotic and biotic impacts, especially under conditions of future climate change, mechanistic models of edge effects have not been forthcoming. A simple numerical model of two-dimensional heat flow is developed and applied to a vertical forest/clearcut edge profile and to simulated fragmented landscapes. Height-specific thermal diffusivity and conductivity in the forest were assumed to vary in proportion to foliage densities measured in the central Amazon. In the edge profile, the clearcut that abutted the edge served as a heat source and its temperature was maintained at a constant value higher than in the initially cooler forest. In the fragmented landscapes, simulated treefall gaps were heat sources whose temperature varied with sun movements during the day. Gap frequency was varied so as to approximate the gap coverage observed in selectively logged forests. In one set of simulations, temperature in the openings was systematically varied; in another, thermal diffusivity of the forest was varied. Along the edge profile, high temperatures in the clearcut were rapidly transmitted into the upper canopy due to additive edge effects. Temperatures in the forest understory were also very sensitive to clearcut temperatures due to relatively sparse understory foliage. An overall increase in forest diffusivity led to markedly higher temperatures close to the edge and a more even temperature distribution among height strata. In fragmented landscapes, total gap coverage and additivity from neighboring gaps strongly influenced forest temperatures. At low conductivities, heat flowed only into the forest close to the gaps and hence forest temperature increased almost linearly with gap area. However, at high conductivities, heat flowed far into the forest and forest temperature varied as a function of gap density in the surrounding neighborhood. Because of these additive effects, slight increases in total gap area led to disproportionate changes in the thermal profile of the landscape. These results have important implications for the conservation of forest ecosystems.     

Precipitate flotation of copper as the sulfide,using recyclable amphoteric surfactants

An experimental study was made to identify surfactants which are effective for removal of copper from dilute aqueous solution (100–500 ppm) by precipitate flotation as the sulfide, and which at the same time can be recovered from the CuS product for recycle. Batch flotation experiments confirmed that a cationic surfactant was necessary for flotation of CuS from such dilute suspensions; however, no satisfactory way could be found for recovering cationic surfactants from the CuS. This led to consideration of amphoteric surfactants, which are cationic at low pH and anionic at high pH. It was found that a change to negative, rather than simply neutral, charge was required for efficient surfactant recovery. It was further found, through the assistance of experiments in which the CuS suspension was agitated with solvents, that certain functional groups which interact chemically with the CuS surface should also be absent from the surfactant molecule. Following this logic, Amphoterge K-2 (Lonza Chemical Co.) was identified as a suitable surfactant, provided CuS was precipitated with S^2? in excess. Tests established that 95% of adsorbed Amphoterge K-2 could be recovered by raising the pH to 11 and boiling the suspension for one hour, followed by decanting. Surfactant thus recovered was effective in a second flotation test. Foamate solids settled rapidly; such behavior would help reduce the consumption of chemicals for the pH change.Column flotation studies were made using Amphoterge K-2 for removal of Cu²⁺ present at 100 ppm and pH = 2. High removals of CuS could be obtained at concentrations of surfactant above about 25 ppm, for which conditions a substantial fraction of the surfactant remains in solution rather than being adsorbed onto the CuS. The recovery of CuS would be improved by introducing the surfactant in a separate feed, below the feed of CuS suspension. Adding some surfactant in the CuS feed, as well as in a lower feed, gave an even better recovery of CuS (99.8%) at sufficiently high surfactant loadings.     

Relations between surface deformation,fault geometry,seismicity, and rupture characteristics during the El Asnam (Algeria) earthquake of 10 October 1980

The El Asnam earthquake of October 10, 1980 (M_s=7.3) produced surface faulting on a northeast-trending thrust fault of 30 km length with displacements of up to 6.5 m, though average displacements were about 3 m. In addition, widespread tensional features were formed, some in clear association with folding above the thrust, and others, in an area beyond the exposure of the thrust at the surface, which may be related to buried reverse faults.The observed thrust fault is split into southern, central and northern segments. Local and teleseismic data are examined to show that the main shock nucleated at the southwest end of the fault, and propagated 12 km northeast where a second rupture of approximately equal moment occurred, continuing the faulting a further 12 km northeast along the central segment. Both ruptures nucleated at about 8–10 km depth. Displacements were largest on the central segment, where they were probably enlarged by aftershocks, including one of m_b=6.1 three hours after the main shock. The northern segment was much shorter than the other two, and showed smaller displacement.The junctions between fault segments are marked by distinct geomorphological characteristics and a change in strike of the faulting, as well as a sudden drop in the observed displacement. It appears that the rupture development is influenced by the changes in fault geometry between segments, and that such junctions or barriers have persisted through much of the late Quaternary.     

Some methods for statistical analysis of multimodal distributions and their application to grain-size data

Some of the methods used in the resolution of mixed normal distributions are discussed under three headings: analytical, graphical, and numerical methods. Attention is given to their applicability in the analysis of grain-size data as derived from sieving. Comparisons are made by applying several methods to published data. It is concluded that the numerical methods offer most scope, especially the method of nonlinear least squares. Some analyses of beach sediments, using this method, are presented. The adoption of a convention for the number of individuals in the sample increases ease of interpretation.     

The Use of LiDAR in Digital Surface Modelling: Issues and Errors

Modelling and extracting 3D geographical data presents numerous challenges that require continual research to attempt to evolve an efficient, reliable and accurate solution. LiDAR data capture and analysis has become a preferred acquisition choice for elevation data because the resulting quality and level of detail far exceeds traditional methods for large survey areas. As with any data collection system, LiDAR is prone to errors. Analysing these errors, ascertaining causes and producing error correction strategies is vital if accurate and confident results are to be obtained. Eight years of LiDAR datasets (from 1998 to 2005) have been closely analysed for a large coastal area of South Wales. This article provides a detailed and accurate summary of the identified LiDAR data issues and subsequent errors which affect the accuracy of end products such as Digital Surface Models (DSMs).     

Biological structures as a source of habitat heterogeneity and biodiversity on the deep ocean margins

Biological structures exert a major influence on species diversity at both local and regional scales on deep continental margins. Some organisms use other species as substrates for attachment, shelter, feeding or parasitism, but there may also be mutual benefits from the association. Here, we highlight the structural attributes and biotic effects of the habitats that corals, sea pens, sponges and xenophyophores offer other organisms. The environmental setting of the biological structures influences their species composition. The importance of benthic species as substrates seems to increase with depth as the complexity of the surrounding geological substrate and food supply decline. There are marked differences in the degree of mutualistic relationships between habitat-forming taxa. This is especially evident for scleractinian corals, which have high numbers of facultative associates (commensals) and few obligate associates (mutualists), and gorgonians, with their few commensals and many obligate associates. Size, flexibility and architectural complexity of the habitat-forming organism are positively related to species diversity for both sessile and mobile species. This is mainly evident for commensal species sharing a facultative relationship with their host. Habitat complexity is enhanced by the architecture of biological structures, as well as by biological interactions. Colony morphology has a great influence on feeding efficiency for suspension feeders. Suspension feeding, habitat-forming organisms modify the environment to optimize their food uptake. This environmental advantage is also passed on to associated filter-feeding species. These effects are poorly understood but represent key points for understanding ecosystems and biodiversity on continental margins. In this paper we explore the contributions of organisms and the biotic structures they create (rather than physical modifications) to habitat heterogeneity and diversity on the deep continental margins.