Hydrocarbon prospects across Narmada-Tapti rift in Deccan trap, central India: Inferences from integrated interpretation of magnetotelluric and geochemical prospecting studies

As the Mesozoic sediments contribute most of the oil and gas reserves of the world, we present an integrated interpretation approach using magnetotellurics (MT) and surface geochemical prospecting studies to demarcate hydrocarbon prospective Gondwana (Mesozoic) formations underneath the Deccan flood basalts of Late Cretaceous age across Narmada-Tapti rift (between Bhusawal and Barwah) in Central India. The MT interpretation shows deep (∼5 km) basement structure between southern and central part of the MT profile however, it gradually becomes shallower to either ends of the profile with a predominant basement depth reduction in the northern end compared to the southern end. The geophysical results suggest thick (2-3.5 km) Mesozoic sediments in the area characterized by deep basement structure. The geochemical analysis of the near surface soil samples indicate higher concentrations of light gaseous hydrocarbons constituents over the area marked with thick sub-basalt Mesozoic formations. Analyses of the geochemical data imply that these hydrocarbons are genetically related, generated from a thermogenic source and these samples fall in the oil-producing zone. The temperature-depth estimations in the region supports favorable temperature conditions (80-120 °C) for oil generation at basement depths.     

Estimating boundary currents from satellite altimetry: A case study for the east coast of India

We present a methodology to derive surface geostrophic current from a newly released altimetric sea-level data set. TOPEX/Poseidon data were first completely reprocessed from Geophysical Data Records using new algorithms accommodating marginal seas and coastal conditions. The methodology applied to the reprocessed data essentially consists of a smoothing of the raw along-track coastal altimetric data at scales at which the geostrophic equilibrium holds. This was reduced to a computational procedure using a set of objective criteria. We have applied the method to the East India Coastal Current (EICC) at the western boundary of the Bay of Bengal. This paper first examines the quality of the new data set, which compares well with tide-gauge data; the current we derived is consistent with independent estimates. Our methodology reveals the full spectrum of the along-shore current, ranging from intra-seasonal to inter-annual time scales, from the deep ocean to the shelf-break area where the EICC exists. The algorithm can be applied to any coastal region where an order of the Rossby radius can be defined, and it therefore opens up bright prospects for mapping the variability of other boundary-current systems in the world ocean from altimetry.     

A new species of Cymbasoma Thompson, 1888(Copepoda: Monstrilloida) from the Fujian coast,China

A new monstrilloid copepod species, Cymbasoma cheni sp. nov., from Meizhou Bay (an embayment in Fujian Province, southeastern China) is described and illustrated. The diagnostic character of the new species is the structure and armature of the fi fth leg, which is represented by a single lobe armed with three naked setae subequal in length. The new species closely resembles Cymbasoma bowmani Suárez- Morales and Gasca, 1998 in the structure of the fi fth legs, and the body proportions, including total body length, and relative lengths of the cephalothorax and the genital double somite. However, Cymbasoma cheni sp. nov. is distinguished by lack of cuticular ornamentation on the cephalothorax, the position of the oral papilla, and the structure of the fi fth leg with three naked setae. Although the structure of the fi fth legs is similar in Cymbasoma cheni sp. nov. and Cymbasoma quintanarooense (Suárez-Morales, 1994), the new species can be easily distinguished from Cymbasoma quintanarooense by the relative length of the antennule, diff erences in the genital double-somite and the ovigerous spines, and the shape of ocelli. This is the sixth record of this genus from China seas.     

砂质海岸整治修复效果模糊综合评价研究——以营口月亮湾为例

本文采用模糊综合评价方法,从自然环境效果、景观生态效果、沙滩资源效果和社会经济效果4个方面研究构建了砂质海岸整治修复效果综合评价指标体系与评价方法,并以营口月亮湾为例进行了实证研究。结果表明:本文提出的砂质海岸整治修复效果综合评价方法涵盖内容全面,指标获取可行,评价结果明确,整体方法实用。营口月亮湾砂质海岸整治修复效果总体评价结果为优秀,综合评分为2.636 2,其中社会经济效果贡献率为30.52%,沙滩资源效果贡献率为30.17%,自然环境效果和景观生态效果贡献率分别为19.88%和19.44%。     

Invading cord grass vegetation changes analyzed from Landsat-TM imageries: a case study from the Wanggang area, Jiangsu coast, eastern China

Cord grass colonization on the Jiangsu coast, eastern China, modifies the native salt marshes in terms of ecosystem structure. The Landsat TM images from 1992 to 2003 were analyzed to identify salt-marsh vegetation distribution patterns and their changes over this coastal region, in order to evaluate the effects of the spreading of the artificially introduced halophyte Spartina. Supervised classification was performed using Bands 3, 4 and 5 in conjunction with in situ training samples, to derive the distribution pattern of the vegetation in the study area. Further, in order to identify the intertidal areas with different tidal elevations, a data treatment procedure was designed to combine regional water level data using harmonic analysis with the waterlines on the TM images extracted by density slice. The results show that: (1) the Spartina alterniflora area has been expanding towards the sea rapidly since it was introduced, especially at initial stages; (2) in the upper part of the inter-tidal zone, the local marsh plant Suaeda salsa and the exotic species Spartina anglica were present only near the sea dyke, occupying only a small part of the entire salt marsh, and the area of these two species has been reduced by land reclamation; (3) there has been a trend for Spartina alterniflora to become the dominant species in the salt marshes in the study area; and (4) the elevation of Spartina alterniflora’s seaward fringe was close to mean high water on neaps, and its landward boundary was slightly higher than mean high water. The salt marsh environment of the study area has been modified rapidly by the Spartina vegetation for the last 12 years.     

Discriminating zooplankton assemblages in neritic and oceanic waters: a case for the northeast coast of India, Bay of Bengal

Zooplankton species distribution and abundance data at 17 locations in the inshore (10-30 m), shelf (50-200 m) and oceanic (2,500-2,800 m) regions off northeast India (Bay of Bengal) during January 1999-April 2001 revealed 112 taxa represented by 30 divergent groups. Copepods (58 species) dominated (87%) the population numerically. In general zooplankton diversity (Margalef richness d, Shannon-Wiener H', Pielou's evenness J') increased in the direction of the open sea relative to coastal locations with a concomitant decrease both in abundance (ind m(-3)) and biomass (dry mass m(-3)). Based on multivariate analyses, it was possible to distinguish the zooplankton community into different assemblages according to their location (e.g., inshore, shelf, oceanic) and seasonality. While Acrocalanus sp., Oithona sp., Corycaeus danae, Euterpina acutifrons, Paracalanus sp., and Acartia sp. were found characterizing the coastal locations, Oncaea venusta was the discriminating species for shelf waters. In oceanic areas, there was a clear dominance of Labidocera sp., Candacia sp., Euchaeta rimana, Centropages calaninus, Copilia mirabilis and Corycella gibbula. The investigations revealed that changes in zooplankton community structure across water bodies could be associated with differing salinity. During November 1999 (post-monsoon), when salinity in the coastal waters was relatively low (26-28.9 PSU), the zooplankton community consisted of mainly Acrocalanus sp., Salpa, Corycaeus danae, Oikopleura sp., Acartia sp., Evadne tergestina, and Creseis sp. In January 2000 (salinity 32.4-34.1), additionally Corycella gibbula, Labidocera sp., Centropages sp., Microsetella sp., Euterpina acutifrons, Canthocalanus pauper, and Oncaea venusta represented the population discriminating the assemblage from others. In May 2000 (pre-monsoon) when salinity was highest (34.7-35.3), Oithona sp., Paracalanus sp., and Acrocalanus gibber were found important. Chaetognaths formed a distinct group during this period. Results presented during this investigation are considered significant since no previous studies exist for this locale drawing comparisons of the kind made during this study between coastal and oceanic situations.     

Wind- and density-driven circulation in a bay on the Sanriku ria coast,Japan: study of Shizugawa Bay facing the Pacific Ocean

Flow fields in Shizugawa Bay on the Sanriku ria coast, which faces the Pacific Ocean, were investigated using hydrographic observations for the purpose of understanding oceanographic conditions and the process of water exchanges in the bay after the 2011 earthquake off the Pacific coast of Tohoku. In spring to summer, density-driven surface outflow is part of estuarine circulation and is induced by a pressure gradient force under larger longitudinal gradients in density along with lower salinity water in the innermost part of the bay, regardless of wind forcing. In winter to summer, another density-driven current with a thermal structure is induced by a pressure gradient force under the smaller longitudinal density gradients in calm wind conditions. Particularly in winter, Tsugaru Warm Current water can be transported in the surface layer inside the bay. Wind-driven bay-scale circulation with downwind and upwind currents in the surface and deeper layers, respectively, is induced by strong longitudinal wind forcing under the smaller longitudinal density gradients, irrespective of season. Particularly in fall to spring, this circulation can cause the intrusions of oceanic water associated with Oyashio water and Tsugaru Warm Current water in the deeper layer. These results suggest that wind- and density-driven currents can produce the active exchange of water from inside and outside the bay throughout the year.     

倚岸型潮流脊体系中的深槽冲刷——以江苏如东海岸为例

江苏如东海岸的潮流脊体系位于南黄海辐射状沙脊群南部,由沙脊及脊间深槽组成,为"倚岸型"潮流脊体系。本文采用水平一维模型模拟深槽从初始形态冲刷至均衡态的演变过程,用不同的潮差及初始剖面坡度等参数运行该模型,以了解深槽冲刷深度的主要控制因素及其对深槽均衡态的影响。数值实验结果表明:(1)给定初始剖面的坡度、潮差等参数,经历一定时间的冲刷之后剖面达到均衡态,其后剖面形态保持稳定,不随时间改变;(2)若仅给定初始剖面的坡度,则潮差越大,达到均衡态时深槽的冲刷深度越大,而且潮差的变化对冲刷深度有显著影响;(3)若仅给定潮差,则初始剖面的坡度越大,均衡态时深槽的冲刷深度越小且初始剖面坡度的改变对冲刷深度有显著影响。     

城市化过程中海岸带景观异质性变化及其景观生态效应的初步研究--以厦门市马銮湾地区为例

以厦门马銮湾为研究区域,在分析景观异质性的基础上,采用地质统计学的理论和方法并结合GIS强大的空间分析和显示功能,通过一定的数学模型和生态效应分布图的表示方法,对快速城市化过程中区域景观异质性变化和由此导致的景观生态效应程度进行了定性和定量相结合的综合评估,结果表明,城市景观的同化过程是区域景观结构和景观异质性变化的主要表现,景观生态效应空间分布图也表明城市化对应的生态学过程的规模效应在整个规划区内有扩大的趋势.     

Investigation of the generation and propagation of low frequency internal waves: A case study for the east coast of India

SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) images in the northwest Bay of Bengal indicate the existence of internal waves and their occurrence and intensity is topography dependent as indicated by in-situ data and satellite information. To complement and comprehend the observations, a three-dimensional Princeton Ocean Model is applied to study the generation and propagation of internal waves. The model domain is configured with a variable curvilinear grid and the input fields comprise bathymetry, initial temperature and salinity, wind stress, air-sea heat flux and tidal information. The numerical investigation indicated a predominant activity of internal waves in the north, and the rationale is three-fold. The first one could be the stable stratification due to fresh water discharge from head-bay major river system, secondly, the significant magnitude/range of the tides and finally, the bathymetry in the coastal waters off Paradip is about 12% shallower compared to that of Visakhapatnam and further south. The cumulative effect of these causes the predominance of internal waves in the north. The core of the energy is essentially in the low-frequency range and the model is able to simulate semi-diurnal and diurnal components reasonably well up to 6 h frequency (0.162 cph).     

人工岛影响下的海滩修复对策研究——以海口西海岸为例

人工岛建设在缓解滨海人地矛盾的同时带来新的环境问题。本研究聚焦人工岛建设引起的岸滩侵蚀与泥沙分配失衡问题,以海口西海岸为例,建立GENESIS岸线演变模型,探讨人工岛影响下的海滩地貌演化机制,并在此基础上提出“循环养护”的海滩修复对策。主要研究结论为:①海口湾南海明珠人工岛对邻近海滩的影响以“岛后方淤积、两侧侵蚀”为显著特征,且两侧侵蚀热点区的响应幅度存在明显差异。五源河口至新国宾馆岸段侵蚀更为强烈的主导因素为物源匮乏与岸线形态外凸。②通过人工补沙与循环养护相结合的生态修复措施,可实现岸滩泥沙的合理分配与地貌的动态平衡,有效缓解人工岛引起的海岸侵蚀问题。本研究成果可为国内相似类型海岸的岸滩修复提供良好的借鉴意义。     

Reversed responses within a segmented detached breakwater, the Tuscany coast Italy—a case study

A multiple detached breakwater system was designed to protect an extended length of shoreline in front of the presidential villa located in the Gombo region, Tuscany, Italy. The purpose of this empirical field study was to examine the impact of the surface-piercing segmented breakwater on the subaqueous morphology and to follow the effect of the breakwaters on the beach.Shoreline mapping was performed on rectified, stereo-plotted air photos and was also based on topographic field surveying. Bathymetric mapping was based on interpolation of profile lines extending to 10 m water depth.Building the breakwaters in a downstream order caused the trapping of the longshore-driven sediments mainly at the southernmost breakwaters that faced the longshore sediment supply. The longshore down-current direction controlled the hierarchy of the beach response. Two relatively coherent behavioral domains were found to exist: (1) the “permanent tombolo stage” of segments 1–3 and (2) the “no sinuosity” response of the beach opposite the northern segment no. 5. The segment no.4, in-between, did not exhibit a coherent behaviour, indicating a drastic reversal in the sedimentary regime.The three southernmost tombolos facing the longshore current became the main sediment trap, causing a lee-side erosional effect to emerge within the protection scheme of the segmented detached breakwaters. The oblique incident waves enter through the gaps and maintain in the inshore the depleted longshore drift, causing the shoreline configuration in the lee of the northern breakwaters to develop into a prograding log-spiral bay.     

Setting quotas using provisional data: a case study from the South Australian abalone fisheries

Stock assessments of quota or effort managed fisheries in which the duration of the fishing season is 12 months are invariably delivered well into the subsequent fishing season. As a result, quotas are frequently based on year-old data. This delay is often unavoidable because it may take months to collect, collate and analyse data necessary to assess fishery performance. The South Australian fisheries for blacklip (Haliotis rubra Leach, 1814) and greenlip abalone (H. laevigata Donovan, 1808) have addressed this issue by using provisional data on current stock status to inform application of the harvest strategy decision rules that set the quota for the next year. The primary index of relative abundance for these fisheries is catch per unit effort (CPUE). Our study uses 25 years (1988–2012) of CPUE data to quantify the differences between the provisional and complete-season CPUE estimates at the spatial scales used to assess the fisheries. We demonstrate that, in most cases, there was a strong relationship between the provisional and complete-season CPUE estimates for both species, with little evidence of bias. As the provisional CPUE estimates were a reliable and accurate predictor of the complete-season CPUE estimates, this provides a high degree of confidence in using provisional CPUE estimates to set quotas, thereby overcoming the difficulty of basing decisions on aged data. These findings are likely to be applicable to other fisheries, particularly those where much of the annual catch is obtained (or effort expended) in a short time period at the commencement of the fishing season.     

Taxon‐related diversity patterns from the continental shelf to the slope: a case study on nematodes from the Western Indian Ocean

A study was carried out across the continental shelf and slope in the Western Indian Ocean along the Kenyan margin to unravel depth‐related species diversity patterns portrayed by different nematode families. Sediment samples were collected along four bathymetric transects at 20, 50, 200, 500, 1000 and 2000 m. Three nematode families were selected for species analysis, based on their general occurrence with relatively high numbers and diversity from shelf to slope. All three families exhibited a distinctly different shelf and slope nematode species community. However, all three families also had a significant proportion of species that displayed a eurybathic distribution. Coincidentally, Microlaimidae, the least species‐rich family had the most eurybathic species (75%) compared to Comesomatidae (39%) and Chromadoridae (32%). Total number of species per depth zone along the sampled area (gamma diversity) was three to four times the average number of species (alpha) per station. The difference was more pronounced at the slope than at the shelf. The species turnover was also higher at the slope than at the shelf stations. Each of the three families had a different diversity pattern: Comesomatidae showed a peak at mid‐depth, Chromadoridae increased with depth, and Microlaimidae showed no prominent change with depth. When the three families were combined, the shelf maintained a lower diversity compared to the slope (both local and regional). There was no consistency between genus and species diversity patterns with depth, indicating that genus diversity data may not be a proxy for species diversity. At the lowest taxonomic level (species), the slope showed a higher diversity than the shelf, whereas at higher (genus) taxonomic level the diversity was comparable between the slope and the shelf. The number of species encountered increased with the number of samples analysed and did not reach asymptote, meaning that the area was still under‐sampled. This situation points to the possibility of an even higher regional diversity.     

基于高空间分辨率卫星遥感影像的砂质海岸空间整治效果分析——以营口月亮湾为例

采用2005年采集的SPORT5卫星遥感影像和2015年采集的GF-1卫星遥感影像,分别对2006-2014年之间营口月亮湾海岸空间整治项目实施前后的海岸景观格局进行监测,在此基础上构建了沙滩面积系数、适宜游乐水域指数、主体功能度指数、景观多样性系数、景观变化指数等评估指标,评估了营口月亮湾海岸空间整治效果。结果表明:营口月亮湾沙滩养护工程实施后沙滩面积大幅增加,沙滩面积系数为2.44,适宜游泳嬉水娱乐区面积略有增加,适宜游乐区指数为1.10。海岸空间整理工程实施使月亮湾海岸游乐功能分区明显,月亮湖公园、高尔夫休闲区、山海广场区、农业生态旅游度假区和滨海嬉水观光区主体功能度指数分别达到0.89、0.76、0.68、0.65和0.77。海岸景观美化工程整体改变了海岸景观格局,使各功能分区海岸景观多样性提高,海岸景观格局更为优化,总体景观多样性系数达到1.13,景观变化指数达到0.30。     

Tidal rhythmites in offshore shale: A case study from the Palaeoproterozoic Chaibasa shale, eastern India and implications

Tidal rhythmites have been documented from modern continental shelves and distal offshore settings. In significant contrast to their modern counterparts, sedimentological studies of ancient tidal rhythmites formed in distal offshore settings and quantification of tidal rhythms encoded therein are, however, scarce. This paper presents sedimentological analysis of vertically accreted tidal rhythmites from the Palaeoproterozoic Chaibasa shale facies in India, and quantification of their tidal rhythms. The facies characteristics of the Chaibasa Shale coupled with harmonic analysis of the laminae thicknesses of the sandstone inter-layers corroborate a distal shelf palaeogeography for the generation of the vertically accreted tidal rhythmites. The latter are the distal counterparts of laterally accreted, tidal “bundle” deposits, well preserved within the shallow marine Chaibasa sandstones. The number of lunar days in a synodic month (∼23) estimated from the Chaibasa shale facies is, however, considerably lower than that estimated from the Chaibasa sandstone facies (∼32) suggesting that the tidal record encoded from the Chaibasa shale facies is incomplete.     

Distribution of benthic macrofaunal communities in intertidal flat under hydrodynamic influence:a case study of Jiangsu coast,East China

To identify the distribution pattern of macrofaunal assemblages of the Dafeng intertidal flats in response to hydrodynamic and sediment dynamic processes in the northern Jiangsu coast, East China, macrofauna sampling and hydrodynamic observations were carried out simultaneously across the mud flat, mixed mud-sand flat, and silt-sand flat of the intertidal zone in June 2018. Results show that there was a clear zonal distribution pattern of the macrofaunal communities, as is controlled by local hy...     

Quantifying saltmarsh vegetation and its effect on wave height dissipation: Results from a UK East coast saltmarsh

The degree to which incident wind waves are attenuated over intertidal surfaces is critical to the development of coastal wetlands, which are, amongst other processes, affected by the delivery, erosion, and/or resuspension of sediment due to wave action. Knowledge on wave attenuation over saltmarsh surfaces is also essential for accurate assessments of their natural sea-defence value to be made and incorporated into sea defence and management schemes. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the use of a digital photographic method for the quantification of marsh vegetation density and then to investigate the relative roles played by hydrodynamic controls and vegetation density/type in causing the attenuation of incident waves over a macro-tidal saltmarsh.Results show that a significant statistical relationship exists between the density of vegetation measured in side-on photographs and the dry biomass of the photographed vegetation determined through direct harvesting. The potential of the digital photographic method for the spatial and temporal comparison of marsh surface vegetation biomass, density, and canopy structure is highlighted and the method was applied to assess spatial and seasonal differences in vegetation density and their effect on wave attenuation at three locations on a macro-tidal saltmarsh on Dengie Peninsula, Essex, UK. In this environmental setting, vegetation density/type did not have a significant direct effect on wave attenuation but modified the process of wave transformation under different hydrodynamic conditions. At the two locations, characterised by a relatively tall canopy (15–26 cm) with biomass values of 430–500 g m⁻², dominated by Spartina spp. (>70% of total dry biomass), relative incident wave height (wave height/water depth) is identified as a statistically significant dominant positive control on wave attenuation up to a threshold value of 0.55, beyond which wave attenuation showed no significant further increase. At the third location, characterised by only slightly less biomass (398 g m⁻²) but a shorter (6 cm) canopy of the annual Salicornia spp., no significant relationship existed between wave attenuation and relative wave height. Seasonally (between September and December) significant temporal increase/decrease in vegetation density occurred in one of the Spartina canopies and in the Salicornia canopy, respectively, and led to an expected (but not statistically significant) increase/decrease in wave attenuation. The wider implications of these findings in the context of form–process interactions on saltmarshes and their effect on marsh evolution are also discussed.     

基于Sentinel-2A卫星数据面向对象的水边线提取——以如东县为例

使用基于面向对象的方法提取水边线, B分量作为阈值分割条件, Sentinel-2A数据作为提取水边线的影像,通过多尺度分割与光谱差异分割组合的方式。对如东沿海的淤泥质海岸、交通围堤海岸和养殖围堤海岸3种不同类型的海岸水边线进行提取。通过提取的水边线与影像叠加,并对受潮汐影响较小的水边线做精度验证。总体来说,提取的水边线较为准确。水边线的快速准确提取,对监测海岸带动态变化具有重要意义。     

Benthic foraminifera for heavy metal pollution monitoring: A case study from the central Adriatic Sea coast of Italy

Benthic foraminifera are increasingly used as environmental bio-indicators of pollution in coastal and marginal marine settings. Their community structure provides information on the general characteristics of the environment and some species are sensitive to specific environmental parameters. Among various criteria, the occurrence of test abnormalities may represent a useful bioindicator for monitoring environmental impacts in coastal regions. A study of living benthic foraminifera was carried out in 42 sediment samples collected from the central Adriatic coast of Italy. Benthic foraminiferal assemblages from this area are rich, well preserved, and dominated by Ammonia parkinsoniana, and subordinately by Ammonia tepida, Aubignyna perlucida, Eggerella scabra, and Nonionella turgida. Heavy metal concentrations have been analysed which indicate low polluted environmental conditions. Foraminiferal species and heavy metal concentrations were investigated both with bivariate (correlation matrix) and multivariate techniques of principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis. Statistical analysis shows a possible control of these pollutants both on the taxonomic composition of the benthic foraminiferal assemblages and the development of test malformations. Increasing heavy metal contents lead to an increase in relative abundance of A. tepida A. perlucida, N. turgida and E. scabra, and a relative concurrent decrease in relative abundance of A. parkinsoniana and higher percentages of deformed specimens (FAI) and species (FMI). Our results confirm that A. parkinsoniana prefers clean to low polluted environments and show that it is a very sensitive and un-tolerant species to heavy metal pollution being deeply affected by heavy metal content even at low concentrations. Our findings also confirm the capacity of the A. tepida to tolerate increasing heavy metal concentrations, and highlights that A. perlucida, N. turgida and E. scabra can be considered as tolerant species at least in low polluted environments. Following this, A. parkinsoniana and A. tepida can be reciprocally considered good bioindicator of heavy metal pollution over the surveyed area. The development of test abnormalities with a variety of malformations is a noticeable feature over the study area where the living deformed assemblages are largely dominated by a few species. The low percentages of deformed specimens (Foraminiferal Abnormality Index up to 4.7, with 2 on average) match well with the low concentrations of heavy metals that lead to low polluted environmental conditions. This study confirms and supports the suitability of studying benthic foraminifera as a technique for the in situ continuous bio-monitoring of heavy metal pollution of coastal marine sediments.