Submergence and Herbivory as Divergent Causes of Marsh Loss in Long Island Sound

Tidal marsh degradation has been attributed to a number of different causes, but few studies have examined multiple potential factors at the same sites. Differentiating the diverse drivers of marsh loss is critical to prescribing successful interventions for conservation and restoration of this important habitat. We evaluated two hypotheses for vegetation loss at two marshes in Long Island Sound (LIS): (1) marsh submergence, caused by an imbalance between sea-level rise and marsh accretion, and (2) defoliation associated with herbivory by the purple marsh crab, Sesarma reticulatum. At our western LIS site, we found no evidence of herbivory: crabs were scarce, and crab-exclusion cages provided no benefit. We attribute degradation at that site to submergence, a conclusion supported by topographic and hydrologic data showing that loss of vegetation occurred only in wetter parts of the marsh. In contrast, at our central LIS site, our observations were consistent with herbivory as a driving force: There were substantial populations of Sesarma, crab-exclusion cages allowed plants to thrive, and vegetation loss took place across a variety of elevations. We also analyzed soil conditions at both sites, in order to determine the signatures of different degradation processes and assess the potential for restoration. At the submergence site, unvegetated soils exhibited high bulk density, low organic content, and low soil strength, posing significant biogeochemical challenges to re-colonization by vegetation. At the herbivory site, unvegetated soils had a characteristic “riddled-peat” appearance, resulting from expansion and erosion of Sesarma burrow networks. The high redox potential and organic content of those soils suggested that revegetation at the herbivory site would be likely if Sesarma populations could be controlled before erosion leads to elevation loss.     

Improved detection of earthquake-induced ground motion with spatial filter: case study of the 2012 M = 7.6 Costa Rica earthquake

High-rate GPS measurements of earthquake-induced strong crustal movements reveal important information on large amplitude displacements, which cannot be obtained by other seismic monitoring equipment. However, obtaining accurate measurements of these strong movements can be challenging, because large magnitude earthquakes (M > 7) affect a wide area surrounding the epicenter. As a result, the GPS recorded movements are calculated with respect to distant sites (relative positioning), or with satellite parameters estimated from distant sites (precise point positioning). In order to improve the accuracy of the strong motion GPS measurements, we developed a new method, based on a spatial filtering technique. The method calculates the displacement of a high-rate monitoring network with respect to a moving near field site and uses a stacking technique to remove the movements of the reference site from all the time series. We applied the new method to the analysis of 5 Hz data acquired by the Nicoya Peninsula network, which recorded strong crustal movements induced by the 2012, M = 7.6 Costa Rica earthquake. The results were successfully tested with respect to 1 Hz time series calculated with a far field reference site. The spatial filtering method also removes other systematic common noise from the time series, possibly due to atmospheric delay or orbital errors and, hence, produces more accurate solutions that those based on far fields sites, or on near field site experiencing earthquake-induced action.     

Cosmic microwave background polarization due to scattering in clusters

Scattering of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) in clusters of galaxies polarizes the radiation. We explore several polarization components which have their origin in the kinematic quadrupole moments induced by the motion of the scattering electrons, either directed or random. Polarization levels and patterns are determined in a cluster simulated by the hydrodynamical enzo code. We find that polarization signals can be as high as  ∼1 μK  , a level that may be detectable by upcoming CMB experiments.     

A Hybrid Finite-Difference and Analytic Element Groundwater Model

Regional finite-difference models tend to have large cell sizes, often on the order of 1–2 km on a side. Although the regional flow patterns in deeper formations may be adequately represented by such a model, the intricate surface water and groundwater interactions in the shallower layers are not. Several stream reaches and nearby wells may occur in a single cell, precluding any meaningful modeling of the surface water and groundwater interactions between the individual features. We propose to replace the upper MODFLOW layer or layers, in which the surface water and groundwater interactions occur, by an analytic element model (GFLOW) that does not employ a model grid; instead, it represents wells and surface waters directly by the use of point-sinks and line-sinks. For many practical cases it suffices to provide GFLOW with the vertical leakage rates calculated in the original coarse MODFLOW model in order to obtain a good representation of surface water and groundwater interactions. However, when the combined transmissivities in the deeper (MODFLOW) layers dominate, the accuracy of the GFLOW solution diminishes. For those cases, an iterative coupling procedure, whereby the leakages between the GFLOW and MODFLOW model are updated, appreciably improves the overall solution, albeit at considerable computational cost. The coupled GFLOW–MODFLOW model is applicable to relatively large areas, in many cases to the entire model domain, thus forming an attractive alternative to local grid refinement or inset models.     

Power spectra of CMB polarization by scattering in clusters

Mapping cosmic microwave background (CMB) polarization is an essential ingredient of current cosmological research. Particularly challenging is the measurement of an extremely weak B-mode polarization that can potentially yield unique insight on inflation. Achieving this objective requires very precise measurements of the secondary polarization components on both large and small angular scales. Scattering of the CMB in galaxy clusters induces several polarization effects whose measurements can probe cluster properties. Perhaps more important are levels of the statistical polarization signals from the population of clusters. Power spectra of five of these polarization components are calculated and compared with the primary polarization spectra. These spectra peak at multipoles  ℓ≥ 3000  , and attain levels that are unlikely to appreciably contaminate the primordial polarization signals.     

Stepwise use of GFLOW and MODFLOW to determine relative importance of shallow and deep receptors

A stepwise modeling approach is implemented in which a regional one-layer analytic element model is used to simulate the flow system and to furnish boundary conditions for an extracted local three-dimensional model. In this case study the stepwise approach is used to evaluate the fate of recharge in the Menomonee Valley adjacent to Lake Michigan. Two major receptors exist for recharge that flows through contaminated valley fill: the surface water estuary and a tunnel system constructed approximately 75 to 110 m below land surface to store storm runoff. The primary objective of the modeling is to delineate the contributing areas of recharge to each receptor. Of interest is the ability of the one-layer regional model to furnish flux boundary conditions to the local three-dimensional model despite the presence of vertical flow conditions at the boundaries of the local model. Sensitivity analysis suggests that the local model was insensitive to the vertical distribution of the flux. Each step of the modeling approach demonstrates that both receptors play an important role in capturing valley recharge. The pattern of capture of the one-layer model differed in shape from that delineated by the multi-layer local model in the presence of a flow system with pronounced vertical anisotropy and with sinks drawing water from different elevations.     

Simulating ground water-lake interactions: approaches and insights

Approaches for modeling lake-ground water interactions have evolved significantly from early simulations that used fixed lake stages specified as constant head to sophisticated LAK packages for MODFLOW. Although model input can be complex, the LAK package capabilities and output are superior to methods that rely on a fixed lake stage and compare well to other simple methods where lake stage can be calculated. Regardless of the approach, guidelines presented here for model grid size, location of three-dimensional flow, and extent of vertical capture can facilitate the construction of appropriately detailed models that simulate important lake-ground water interactions without adding unnecessary complexity. In addition to MODFLOW approaches, lake simulation has been formulated in terms of analytic elements. The analytic element lake package had acceptable agreement with a published LAKI problem, even though there were differences in the total lake conductance and number of layers used in the two models. The grid size used in the original LAKI problem, however, violated a grid size guideline presented in this paper. Grid sensitivity analyses demonstrated that an appreciable discrepancy in the distribution of stream and lake flux was related to the large grid size used in the original LAKI problem. This artifact is expected regardless of MODFLOW LAK package used. When the grid size was reduced, a finite-difference formulation approached the analytic element results. These insights and guidelines can help ensure that the proper lake simulation tool is being selected and applied.     

Thermal history of Canadian Williston basin from apatite fission-track thermochronology—implications for petroleum systems and geodynamic history

Apatite fission track (AFT) thermochronology has been applied to a composite depth profile of Precambrian basement rocks underlying the Phanerozoic Canadian Williston Basin. Thermal histories derived from the AFT data record cycles of heating and cooling which follow the pattern of regional burial history, but which also indicate major temporal and geographic variations in the timing and degree of maximum Phanerozoic temperatures. These variations in the thermal history were not previously recognised from organic maturity indicators and subsidence models. Specifically, our study suggests a late Paleozoic heat flow anomaly with a geographic extent closer to that of Middle Devonian–Carboniferous Kaskaskia subsidence patterns than to that of the Williston Basin proper. This thermal anomaly has both economic and geodynamic significance. The recognition that potential Upper Cambrian–Lower Ordovician petroleum source rocks became fully mature during the late Paleozoic distinguishes that petroleum system from others that entered the main hydrocarbon generation stage in latest Cretaceous and Paleogene time. The late Paleozoic heat flow anomaly suggested from the AFT data implies a geodynamic coupling between inelastic Kaskaskia subsidence and previously inferred late Paleozoic lithospheric weakening. While the temporally varying heat flow model is preferred, the lack of independent constraints on the maximum thickness of upper Paleozoic strata precludes the outright rejection of the previous constant heat flow model. The AFT data provide important new constraints on the evolution of the epicratonic Williston Basin and its geodynamic models.     

Tracing end-member fluid sources in sub-surface iron mineralization and dolomitization along a proximal fault to the dead sea transform

Shear faults in Upper Cretaceous limestones of the central Negev desert adjacent to the Dead Sea Transform (DST) feature extensive ferruginous mineralization and dolomitization. This has been related to topographically driven flow of metalliferous groundwaters through an underlying clastic (Nubian Sandstone) aquifer and rise of the fluids up the fault zones. The present study combines Pb and Sr isotope measurements with detailed sampling and petrography at the eastern end of the Paran fault (Menuha Ridge) in order to identify the types of groundwater and the sources of enriched elements in this regional-scale sedimentary mineralization. Ferroan and non-ferroan dolomitization along the Paran fault caused significant enrichment of several elements (Mg, Cu, Mn, Ni, V, Zn, Pb, and U) and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr values that are significantly higher than the Upper Cretaceous limestone country rock. The non-ferroan dolomite and the ferroan dolomite sampled at three sites along the Menuha Ridge have similar ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr values 0.7076-0.7089, and 0.7077-0.7086, respectively. Additionally, there is a positive correlation between Mg-content of the dolomites and their ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr values. The isotopic composition of Sr and Pb of dolomite corresponds to the mineralogical type identified in the mineralized rock (non-ferroan dolomite, simple-zoned ferroan dolomite, and complex-zoned ferroan dolomite). The ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb and ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ratios of Fe oxides and dolomites from the three sites plot on a straight line, where the simple-zoned ferroan dolomite values are at the non-radiogenic end of the line and the complex-zoned ferroan dolomites at the radiogenic end. Both ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb and ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ratios in dolomites and to a lesser degree in Fe-oxides suggest that a mixing between two end-members controls the behavior of Pb in the mineralization products along the Paran fault. Rather than a single fluid source, the study indicates that two types of metalliferous groundwaters were involved in the dolomitization and mineralization along the Paran fault. The first, and hitherto undocumented, fluid source is the Mg-rich Dead Sea Rift brine, migrating in the sub-surface before dolomitizing the carbonate bedrock. Migration of the brines took a deep path to the site of mineralization, with temperatures reaching 75 °C. Based on the geological history of the region, this probably took place in the Late Miocene-Early Pliocene interval. The second type of groundwater acquired its high solute concentrations from leaching igneous rocks and clastic sediments in the sub-surface, and infiltrated along the Paran fault, precipitating Fe-rich minerals and caused the first stage of dolomitization. This groundwater flowed at shallower depth than the DSR brines, and at lower temperatures (T ? 50 °C). The study shows that sedimentary mineralization in faults adjacent to active transform fault zones may arise from the combination of several different fluid flow regimes.