Reply to the comment of Talwani et al. (2017) on the Sibuet et al. (2016) paper entitled “Thinned continental crust intruded by volcanics beneath the northern Bay of Bengal”

The northern Bay of Bengal velocity-depth profiles do not follow the velocity-depth curve for the North Atlantic volcanic margins, and only partially the Kerguelen plume velocity-depth curves. Compared with the South China Sea northern margin proxy, we still suggest that the Bay of Bengal crust is thinned continental crust intruded by post-rifting volcanics, as also shown by the interpretation of the numerous high-quality deep multichannel seismic profiles we collected there. What was supposed to be underplating might be sills intruded through the lower thinned continental crust.     

Overpressure preventing quartz cementation? – Comment to Stricker et al. (2016)

There is increasing evidence that quartz cementation can be viewed as a process controlled by temperature and insensitive to effective stress. This view of quartz cementation in sandstones is often referred to as the illite-mica induced dissolution model (IMID), which assumes quartz dissolution to occur along stylolites and clay laminae rather than at quartz-quartz grain contacts. In the present comment it is argued that the exceptional reservoir quality in the Skagerrak Formation of the Heron Cluster, North Sea, is due to grain coatings and rapid Cenozoic burial limiting the exposure to quartz cementation. This line of reasoning implies overpressure has had neglectable porosity preserving effect in the Heron Cluster.     

Physiological response and photoacclimation capacity of Caulerpa prolifera (Forsskål) J.V. Lamouroux and Cymodocea nodosa (Ucria) Ascherson meadows in the Mar Menor lagoon (SE Spain)

The macroalga Caulerpa prolifera colonized the Mar Menor coastal lagoon after the enlargement of the main inlet in 1972, coexisting now with the previous Cymodocea nodosa meadows. The physiological response and the photoacclimation capacity of both species were studied. For this purpose in vivo chlorophyll a fluorescence, photoprotective mechanisms and oxidative stress were measured in both species in summer 2010 and exposure-recovery experiments were conducted to determine the acclimation capacity of both species. The results suggest that C. prolifera behaves as a shade-adapted species with a low photoprotective capacity, light being one of the main factors governing its distribution in the lagoon. The high photosynthetic capacity and lack of photoinhibition found in C. nodosa suggest that this species is highly photoprotected. It also possesses a high concentration of lutein and a high de-epoxidation degree, related to a much higher NPQ_max value.     

EU marine strategy framework directive (MSFD) and marine spatial planning (MSP): Which is the more dominant and practicable contributor to maritime policy in the UK?

This paper is a comparative analysis of the contribution to UK marine governance of two recent EU initiatives: the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) and Marine Spatial Planning (MSP). MSFD imposed a duty on Member States to achieve Good Environmental Status (GES) in four regional seas, while MSP required Member States to replace their fragmented, sector-based system of maritime decision making with an integrated approach. This paper explains MSFD and MSP, examines their relationship, and compares their practicability, concluding that MSP is both the more dominant and the more practicable instrument, reflecting the UK's preference for sustainable development over conservationism in marine policy. A recent proposal by the European Commission to make MSP and integrated coastal management a Directive reinforces the UK position.     

Relating background fractures to diagenesis and rock physical properties in a platform–slope transect. Example of the Maiella Mountain (central Italy)

Fractured reservoirs are of prime interest as fracture networks control most of the fluid flow and/or accumulation. However, characterizing 3D fracture patterns from subsurface data remains challenging. Studying fractures on outcrops is a good substitution to 1D data from subsurface exploration tools. In addition, outcrops allow deciphering the nature, origin and conditions for fracture formation through the geodynamic history. In this paper, we aim at characterizing the true 3D fracture patterns and determining the genetic role of facies, diagenesis and rock physical properties. We targeted a platform–slope transect within a carbonate reservoir analog, the Maiella Mountain in central Italy, where implications for analog hydrocarbon reservoir can be discussed.Fracture patterns are sorted based on geometric and kinematic criteria from field measurements and petrographic analyzes on thin-sections. Sedimentary facies, pore types and rock physical properties have been characterized in order to establish the impact of early diagenesis on rock evolution. Diagenetic sequences have been unraveled and correlated to the fractures. Fracture sequences have been determined considering the cross-cutting relationships and compared with burial–uplift history. In the two studied formations (platform and slope carbonates), we interpret a stage of fracturing perpendicular to bedding, formed at shallow depth and occurring prior to major regional tectonic events. The studied carbonates have undergone early diagenesis during fast and shallow burial, conferring early brittle behavior. The amount of stylolites is not correlated to burial depth but to fracture density, porosity and free air P–wave velocity. It means that fracture development, mechanical and petrophysical properties are acquired during early diagenesis.Both studied formations have undergone the same geodynamic history and their brittle response is different and not related to folding but to burial and early cementation. Deciphering the close relationship between sedimentary facies, diagenetic and geodynamic history has allowed unraveling the controling factors on rock properties and therefore on fracture pattern.     

Isotope parameters (δD, δ<Superscript>18</Superscript>O) and sources of freshwater input to Kara Sea

The isotope characteristics (δD, δ¹⁸О) of Kara Sea water were studied for quantitative estimation of freshwater runoff at stations located along transect from Yamal Peninsula to Blagopoluchiya Bay (Novaya Zemlya). Freshwater samples were studied for glaciers (Rose, Serp i Molot) and for Yenisei and Ob estuaries. As a whole, δD and δ¹⁸O are higher in glaciers than in river waters. isotope composition of estuarial water from Ob River is δD =–131.4 and δ18O =–17.6‰. Estuarial waters of Yenisei River are characterized by compositions close to those of Ob River (–134.4 and–17.7‰), as well as by isotopically “heavier” compositions (–120.7 and–15.8‰). Waters from studied section of Kara Sea can be product of mixing of freshwater (δD =–119.4, δ¹⁸O =–15.5) and seawater (S = 34.9, δD = +1.56, δ¹⁸O = +0.25) with a composition close to that of Barents Sea water. isotope parameters of water vary significantly with salinity in surface layer, and Kara Sea waters are desalinated along entire studied transect due to river runoff. concentration of freshwater is 5–10% in main part of water column, and <5% at a depth of >100 m. maximum contribution of freshwater (>65%) was recorded in surface layer of central part of sea.     

Response of Nereis diversicolor population (Polychaeta,Nereididae) to the pollution impact – Authie and Seine estuaries (France)

A survey within the French National Programme of Ecotoxicology was carried out in 2002, 2003 and 2004 to study the response of Nereis diversicolor populations (Polychaeta, Nereididae) to the impact of pollution in the Authie estuary (non-contaminated site) and in the Seine estuary (contaminated site). In the period studied, the density varied from 672 ind. m⁻² to 3584 ind. m⁻² in the Authie estuary and from 80 ind. m⁻² to 920 ind. m⁻² in the Seine estuary. Biomass varied from 3.94 g m⁻² (dry weight) in February 2004 to 38.0 g m⁻² in August 2003 in the Authie estuary and from 3.4 g m⁻² in February 2002 to 0.6 g m⁻² in February 2004 in the Seine estuary. Density and biomass of the populations of N. diversicolor were consistently lower in the Seine estuary than in the Authie estuary. Size frequency histograms permit the analysis of the cohorts as well as the elaboration of the growth curves. For the individuals from the Authie estuary, the relation between dry weight (DW) and length L3 (prostomium, peristomium and chaetiger 1) was DW = 4.2205 L3^2.9832. For those from the Seine estuary, the relation between dry weight and L3 was DW = 0.4697e^1.7209L3. The individuals of N. diversicolor should belong to eight cohorts in Authie estuary (two cohorts each year) instead of six cohorts for those from the Seine estuary. These differences can be attributed to the effect of pollution on the population of N. diversicolor.     

Discussion of “Experimental investigation of impact generated tsunami; related to a potential rock slide,Western Norway” by G. Sælevik,A. Jensen,G. Pedersen [Coastal Eng. 56 (2009) 897–906]

This paper is a discussion of Sælevik et al. (2009). Their comparison between block and granular model results is described in more detail, along with a discussion of five parameters which may be in general responsible for deviations between block and granular models. New small scale physical model tests have been performed to support some of the statements made. Finally, it is argued that the use of physical model testing based on simplified geometries are justified in practice and normally produce results that are considerably better than an order of magnitude.     

The contribution of marine geology to the knowledge of marine coastal environment off the Campania region (southern Italy): the geological map n. 502 “Agropoli” (southern Campania)

The marine geological map n. 502 “Agropoli”, located offshore the Cilento Promontory, southern Italy, is here described and the regional geology interpreted, particularly referring to water depths between the 30 and 200 m isobaths. The geologic map has been constructed in the frame of a research program financed by the National Geological Survey of Italy (CARG Project), finalized to the construction of up-to-date cartography of the Campania region. Geological and geophysical data on the continental shelf and slope offshore of the Southern Campania region have been collected in the study area, bounded northwards by the Salerno Gulf and southwards by the Policastro Gulf. A high resolution multibeam bathymetry allowed for the construction of a marine digital elevation map; sidescan sonar profiles also have been collected and interpreted. The latter, merged to the bathymetry, have represented the base for the marine geologic cartography. The integrated geologic interpretation of seismic, bathymetric and sidescan sonar data has been calibrated by sea-bottom samples. The morpho-structures and the seismic sequences overlying the outcrops of acoustic basement reported in the cartographic representation have been studied in detail using single-channel seismics. The interpretation of seismic profiles has been a support for the reconstruction of the stratigraphic and structural setting of the Quaternary continental shelf successions and the outcrops of rocky acoustic basement in correspondence to the Licosa Cape morpho-structural high. These areas result from the seaward prolongation of the stratigraphic and structural units, widely cropping out in the surrounding emerged sector of the Cilento Promontory. The cartographic approach is based on the recognition of laterally coeval depositional systems, interpreted in the frame of the system tracts of the Late Quaternary depositional sequence. We present evidence of now subaqueous terraces inferred to be palaeoshorelines representing past sea-level positions and tentatively correlated these to oxygen isotopic stratigraphy.