Wet season fine sediment dynamics on the inner shelf of the Great Barrier Reef

Fine sediment dynamics were recorded in February 2007 in coastal waters of the Great Barrier Reef during a moderate flood of the Tully River. An estuarine circulation prevailed on the inner continental shelf with a surface seaward velocity peaking at 0.1 m s⁻¹ and a near-bottom landward flow peaking at 0.05 m s⁻¹. Much of the riverine mud originating from eroded soils was exported onto a 10 km wide coastal strip during the rising stage of the river flood in the first flush. In coastal waters, suspended sediment concentration peaked at 0.2 kg m⁻³ near the surface and 0.4 kg m⁻³ at 10 m depth during calm weather, and 0.5 kg m⁻³ near the surface and 2 kg m⁻³ at 10 m depth during strong winds when bottom sediment was resuspended. Diurnal irradiance at 4 m depth was almost zero for 10 days. The sedimentation rate averaged 254 (±33) g m⁻² d⁻¹ over the 28-day study period, and concentrations of dissolved and particulate nutrients originating from the river were high. The observed low irradiance would have prevented coral photosynthesis, while the sedimentation rate would have been lethal to some juvenile corals. The mud may ultimately be minnowed out over long periods, however, flushing of the mud occurs at time scales much longer than the flood event and the mud is likely to affect coral physiology for significant periods after the flood has subsided. The data show the need to better control erosion on farmed land for the conservation of coral reefs on the inner shelf of the Great Barrier Reef.     

Ultraluminous X-ray source populations in normal galaxies: a preliminary survey with Chandra

We present results of a Chandra survey of the ultraluminous X-ray sources (ULX) in 13 normal galaxies, in which we combine source detection with X-ray flux measurement. 22 ULX were detected, i.e. with   L _x > 1 × 10³⁹ erg s⁻¹ ( L ₁₀)  and 39 other sources were detected with   L _x > 5 × 10³⁸ erg s⁻¹ ( L ₅)  . We also use radial intensity profiles to remove extended sources from the sample. The majority of sources are not extended, which for a typical distance constrains the emission region size to less than 50 pc. X-ray colour–colour diagrams and spectral fitting results were examined for indicators of the ULX nature. In the case of the brighter sources, spectral fitting generally requires two-component models. In only a few cases do colour–colour diagrams or spectral fitting provide evidence of a black hole nature. We find no evidence of a correlation with stellar mass, however, there is a strong correlation with star formation as indicated by the 60-μm flux as found in previous studies.     

Jet–gas interactions in z∼ 2.5 radio galaxies: evolution of the ultraviolet line and continuum emission with radio morphology

We present an investigation into the nature of the jet–gas interactions in a sample of 10 radio galaxies at  2.3 < z < 2.9  using deep spectroscopy of the ultraviolet (UV) line and continuum emission obtained at Keck II and the Very Large Telescope. Kinematically perturbed gas, which we have shown to be within the radio structure in previous publications, is always blueshifted with respect to the kinematically quiescent gas, is usually spatially extended, and is usually detected on both sides of the nucleus. In the three objects from this sample for which we are able to measure line ratios for both the perturbed and quiescent gases, we suggest that the former has a lower ionization state than the latter.
We propose that the perturbed gas is part of a jet-induced outflow, with dust obscuring the outflowing gas that lies on the far side of the object. The spatial extent of the blueshifted perturbed gas, typically ∼35 kpc, implies that the dust is spatially extended at least on similar spatial scales.
We also find interesting interrelationships between UV line, UV continuum and radio continuum properties of this sample.     

Estimating wasteful water use from car washing points on the water supply system of Yaounde,Cameroon

Regular access to pipe-borne water remains a challenge to urban dwellers in Cameroon in general and those in Yaounde in particular. From that backdrop, this paper estimates the quantity of water used in car washing in the city of Yaounde as a representation of some of the numerous irrational water uses in the city in spite of its scarcity. It argues that the amount of water lost in car washing in the absence of water conservation and recycling techniques can offset the domestic water shortages experienced in many neighbourhoods of Yaounde significantly. To achieve this, both qualitative and quantitative methods were applied. An exhaustive enumeration of car washing points was undertaken in the Yaounde VI subdivision of the city of Yaounde. Water sources were determined and the water quantities used on a daily basis estimated from water bills paid and volumetric capacities of water reservoirs in the washing stations. Car washing was observed to be a streetside activity in dominantly outlying residential areas where some vacant undeveloped land still existed with the CDE being the major water supplier notwithstanding the emergence of alternative sources. Over 198.122 m³ of water (0.2 % of daily water use in the city of Yaounde) was estimated to be consumed by car washing in Yaounde VI. With a huge water supply deficit, of 200,000 m³ on its estimated daily water needs of 311,000 m³, water losses via spillouts from car washing points represents a significant withdrawal from the system that could reduce the daily shortages experienced by numerous households in Yaounde. There is the strong need for a water use policy that internalizes micro water recycling schemes in public water use as a means of reducing water demand, harvesting and wastage.     

A bioindicator system for water quality on inshore coral reefs of the Great Barrier Reef

Responses of bioindicator candidates for water quality were quantified in two studies on inshore coral reefs of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). In Study 1, 33 of the 38 investigated candidate indicators (including coral physiology, benthos composition, coral recruitment, macrobioeroder densities and FORAM index) showed significant relationships with a composite index of 13 water quality variables. These relationships were confirmed in Study 2 along four other water quality gradients (turbidity and chlorophyll). Changes in water quality led to multi-faceted shifts from phototrophic to heterotrophic benthic communities, and from diverse coral dominated communities to low-diversity communities dominated by macroalgae. Turbidity was the best predictor of biota; hence turbidity measurements remain essential to directly monitor water quality on the GBR, potentially complemented by our final calibrated 12 bioindicators. In combination, this bioindicator system may be used to assess changes in water quality, especially where direct water quality data are unavailable.     

UV and optical emission lines from the z∼ 2.6 radio galaxy 0828+193: spatially resolved measurements

We present an investigation into the spatial variation of the rest-frame ultraviolet (UV) and optical line and continuum emission along the radio axis of the z ∼ 2.6 radio galaxy 0828+193, using long-slit spectra from the Keck II and Subaru telescopes. Line brightnesses, line ratios and electron temperatures are examined, and their relationship with the arm-length asymmetry of the radio source is also investigated. We find that on the side of the nucleus with the shortest radio lobe, the gas covering factor is higher, and the ionization parameter is lower. The contrasts in environmental density required to explain the asymmetries in the line brightness and the radio arm-length asymmetries are in fair agreement with each other. These results add further weight to the conclusion of McCarthy, van Breugel & Kapahi – lobe distance asymmetries in powerful radio sources are the result of an asymmetry in the environmental density.
We also note that the brightness of both the UV and optical continuum emission shows a similar spatial asymmetry to that shown by the line emission. While the UV continuum asymmetry can be wholly explained by the expected asymmetry in the nebular continuum, the optical continuum asymmetry cannot. We argue that, at least at optical wavelengths, the starlight and/or the scattered light must also be strongly spatially asymmetric.     

Stratigraphy and depositional environments of the Mamfe Formation and its implication on the tectonosedimentary evolution of the Ikom-Mamfe Embayment, West Africa

A 42 m thick outcropping portion of the Mamfe Formation is subdivided into Manyu (31 m thick) and Kesham (11m thick) Members on the basis of textural, mineralogical and structural differences. The Manyu Member (Albian) consists of folded and indurated, medium to coarse grained arkosic sandstones and thickly laminated organic-rich shales deposited in a lacustrine environment. The Kesham Member (Cenomanian) consists of subarkoses intercalated with massive green shale and mudstone deposited in a fluvial environment. The change in depositional environment was tectonically controlled. The mid Cretaceous paleogeography of the embayment was governed by the NE-SW trending “Ikom ridge” which prevented marine incursion from adjacent the Benue Sea. Evaporites found within the basin were precipitated from ocean water that was periodically spilled by strong tides and storms across the ridge into the embayment. The filling-up of the embayment to base level in the Cenomanian resulted in a shift in the depositional center downstream to adjoining lower Benue Trough. Similarity in heavy mineral composition and maturity of the Cenomanian sandstones with recent clastics in the embayment indicates their derivation from the same source terrain and relatively stable tectonic and climatic conditions at the source area since the Cenomanian time.