Phytoremediation of shallow organically enriched marine sediments using benthic microalgae

We examined whether replantation of benthic microalgae (BMA) can remediate shallow organically enriched sediment. Nitzschia sp., the dominant species in the tested area (Hiroshima Bay, Japan), was isolated and mass cultured, then replanted in the same area. Changes in the condition of the sediment were monitored for five months. During the study period, we observed an increase in redox potential (ORP) and a decrease in acid-volatile sulfide (AVS) in the experimental area, indicating that the sediment condition changed from reduced to oxic. Organic matter in the sediment, represented by chemical oxygen demand (COD), ignition loss (IL) and organic nitrogen (ON) decreased significantly, while inorganic nutrients (ammonia and phosphate) increased in the interstitial water. These changes imply that oxygen produced by the replanted BMA may have enhanced aerobic bacterial activity, accelerating the decomposition of organic matter. Thus, replantation of BMA shows potential as a novel and promising "phytoremediation" method for organically enriched sediment.     

A three-dimensional numerical study of river plume mixing processes in Otsuchi Bay,Japan

The three-dimensional numerical model SUNTANS is applied to investigate river plume mixing in Otsuchi Bay, an estuary located along the Sanriku Coast of Iwate, Japan. Results from numerical simulations with different idealized forcing scenarios (barotropic tide, baroclinic tide, and diurnal wind) are compared with field observations to diagnose dominant mixing mechanisms. Under the influence of combined barotropic, baroclinic and wind forcing, the model reproduces observed salinity profiles well and achieves a skill score of 0.94. In addition, the model forced by baroclinic internal tides reproduces observed cold-water intrusions in the bay, and barotropic tidal forcing reproduces observed salt wedge dynamics near the river mouths. Near these river mouths, vertically sheared flows are generated due to the interaction of river discharge and tidal elevations. River plume mixing is quantified using vertical salt flux and reveals that mixing near the vicinity of the river mouth, is primarily generated by the barotropic tidal forcing. A 10 ms^?1 strong diurnal breeze compared to a 5 ms^?1 weak breeze generates higher mixing in the bay. In contrast to the barotropic forcing, internal tidal (baroclinic) effects are the dominant mixing mechanisms away from the river mouths, particularly in the middle of the bay, where a narrow channel strengthens the flow speed. The mixing structure is horizontally asymmetric, with the middle and northern parts exhibiting stronger mixing than the southern part of the bay. This study identifies several mixing hot-spots within the bay and is of great importance for the coastal aquaculture system.     

Phase relations in the carbon-saturated C–Mg–Fe–Si–O system and C and Si solubility in liquid Fe at high pressure and temperature: implications for planetary interiors

The phase and melting relations of the C-saturated C–Mg–Fe–Si–O system were investigated at high pressure and temperature to understand the role of carbon in the structure of the Earth, terrestrial planets, and carbon-enriched extraterrestrial planets. The phase relations were studied using two types of experiments at 4 GPa: analyses of recovered samples and in situ X-ray diffractions. Our experiments revealed that the composition of metallic iron melts changes from a C-rich composition with up to about 5 wt.% C under oxidizing conditions (ΔIW = ?1.7 to ?1.2, where ΔIW is the deviation of the oxygen fugacity (fO₂) from an iron-wüstite (IW) buffer) to a C-depleted composition with 21 wt.% Si under reducing conditions (ΔIW < ?3.3) at 4 GPa and 1,873 K. SiC grains also coexisted with the Fe–Si melt under the most reducing conditions. The solubility of C in liquid Fe increased with increasing fO₂, whereas the solubility of Si decreased with increasing fO₂. The carbon-bearing phases were graphite, Fe₃C, SiC, and Fe alloy melt (Fe–C or Fe–Si–C melts) under the redox conditions applied at 4 GPa, but carbonate was not observed under our experimental conditions. The phase relations observed in this study can be applicable to the Earth and other planets. In hypothetical reducing carbon planets (ΔIW < ?6.2), graphite/diamond and/or SiC exist in the mantle, whereas the core would be an Fe–Si alloy containing very small amount of C even in the carbon-enriched planets. The mutually exclusive nature of C and Si may be important also for considering the light elements of the Earth’s core.     

Change in Extent of Meadows and Shrub Fields in the Central Western Cascade Range,Oregon∗

We examined change in areal extent of mountain meadows and fields of deciduous shrubs and conifer saplings in the central western Cascade Range of Oregon, based on analysis of aerial photographs taken in 1946 and 2000. These nonforest vegetation patches are distinctive habitats in dominantly forested landscapes, such as the Cascades, and change in extent of these habitats is of interest to scientists and land managers. We mapped and dated even-aged forest stands of probable postfire origin around the nonforest patches, using tree-ring analysis and interpretation of aerial photographs. We used these and archival data to interpret possible influences of past wildfire and sheep grazing on the extent of nonforest patches. The total area of nonforest vegetation patches decreased from 5.5 percent of the study area in 1946 to 2.5 percent in 2000. Significantly more cases of contracted patches were observed for mesic and xeric meadows which have adjacent forest established after wildfire in the approximately 150 years preceding 1946. A higher proportion of mesic (47 percent, n = 47) than xeric (17 percent, n= 115) meadows contracted between 1946 and 2000. Broad-leaved shrub fields were unchanged, probably because of topo-edaphic controls, dense cover of shrubs, and snow effects; but all fields of conifer saplings underwent succession to forest. We observed no strong influences of sheep grazing on the extent of meadows.     

Raman spectra and X-ray diffraction of tuite at various temperatures

High-temperature Raman spectra and thermal expansion of tuite, γ-Ca₃(PO₄)₂, have been investigated. The effect of temperature on the Raman spectra of synthetic tuite was studied in the range from 80 to 973 K at atmospheric pressure. The Raman frequencies of all observed bands for tuite continuously decrease with increasing temperature. The quantitative analysis of temperature dependence of Raman bands indicates that the changes in Raman frequencies for stretching modes (ν₃ and ν₁) are faster than those for bending modes (ν₄ and ν₂) of PO₄ in the present temperature range, which may be attributed to the structural evolution of PO₄ tetrahedron in tuite at high temperature. The thermal expansion of tuite was examined by means of in situ X-ray diffraction measurements in the temperature range from 298 to 923 K. Unit cell parameters and volume were analyzed, and the thermal expansion coefficients were obtained as 3.67 (3), 1.18 (1), and 1.32 (3) × 10^?5 K^?1 for V, a, and c, respectively. Thermal expansion of tuite shows an axial anisotropy with a larger expansion coefficient along the c-axis. The isothermal and isobaric mode Grüneisen parameters and intrinsic anharmonicity of tuite have been calculated by using present high-temperature Raman spectra and thermal expansion coefficient combined with previous results of the isothermal bulk modulus and high-pressure Raman spectra.     

Petrography of Yamato 984028 lherzolitic shergottite and its melt vein: Implications for its shock metamorphism and origin of the vein

Yamato 984028 (Y984028) is a newly identified lherzolitic shergottite, recovered from the Yamato Mountains, Antarctica, in 1999. As part of a consortium study, we conducted petrographic observations of Y984028 and its melt vein in order to investigate its shock metamorphism. The rock displays the typical non-poikilitic texture of lherzolitic shergottite, characterized by a framework of olivine, minor pyroxene (pigeonite and augite), and interstitial maskelynite. Shock metamorphic features include irregular fractures in olivine and pyroxene, shock-induced twin-lamellae in pyroxene, and the complete conversion of plagioclase to maskelynite, features consistent with those found in other lherzolitic shergottites. The melt vein is composed of coarse mineral fragments (mainly olivine) entrained in a matrix of fine-grained euhedral olivine (with several modes of compositional zoning) and interstitial glassy material. Some coarse olivine fragments consist of an assemblage of fine-grained euhedral to subhedral olivine crystals, suggesting shock-induced fragmentation, recrystallization, and/or a process of sintering. The implication is that the fine-grained olivine crystals in the matrix of the melt vein represent complicated crystallization environments and histories.