Modeling fecal contamination in the Aljezur coastal stream (Portugal)

This study aims at understanding the fecal contamination behavior in a small coastal stream (Aljezur, Portugal), which has significant economic and ecological values. Like in most small coastal systems, circulation and water renewal in the Aljezur stream exhibit a strong variability due to their dependence on tides, waves, intermittent river flows, and a highly variable morphology. Hence, the problem was approached through a combination of field surveys and the development and application of a hard-coupled three-dimensional hydrodynamic and fecal contamination model. Salinity and temperature results have shown that mixing and transport in the stream are very sensitive to the river flow and wind forcing. The model is able to represent the main patterns and trends observed in Escherichia coli and fecal enterococcus concentrations along the stream, for different environmental and contamination conditions, suggesting die-off rates on the order of 0.50–0.55 day⁻¹. Die-off rate and the representation of the sediment-associated processes were identified as the major remaining sources of uncertainty in the model. Results show that, owing to the processes that occur along the stream, fecal bacteria reach the beaches water in numbers that comply with the European Bathing Waters Directive, even during the summer periods when the upstream concentrations are larger. In particular, results suggest a direct relation between the tidal propagation upstream and the reduction of the fecal bacteria concentrations along the stream that can be relevant for the development of a strategy for the management of the system’s water safety.     

Discovery of an ancient tsunami deposit in coastal sequences of southwest Japan: Verification of a large historic tsunami

Abstract A tsunamigenic sand layer is present in coastal sequences of the Masuda Plain, southwest Japan. The radiometric age of the layer has been estimated at 930 ± 80 years BP. It is proposed that the deposit is the product of a large historic tsunami believed to have occurred in the Japan Sea on 16 June 1026 AD.     

SAR TT-OSL dating of the loess deposits in the Horqin dunefield (northeastern China)

Palaeoclimatic change in northeastern China during the late Quaternary remains poorly understood. This is partly because of the scarcity of detailed investigations into archives in the region, but especially because of the lack of an appropriate dating method to obtain age control for the area's loess deposits. In this paper, the single-aliquot regenerative-dose (SAR) OSL and thermally transferred OSL (TT-OSL) method have been used to date two typical loess sections (Kulungou and Pingancun) in northeastern China. The results show that the SAR TT-OSL method is suitable for dating the Horqin aeolian sections and suggest that deposition commenced at least since the middle Pleistocene in the Horqin dunefield. A sand layer deposited at about 262 ± 32 ka implies that the dunefield experienced at least one significant period of aridification during the late Quaternary.     

Optical dating of sediments in Wadi Sabra (SW Jordan)

At Wadi Sabra (SW Jordan) human occupation dates back to the Palaeolithic and Epipalaeolithic. Although there is stratigraphic correlation based on archaeological finds of Ahmarian origin, numerical age estimates are lacking. We applied single-aliquot optical dating of coarse grained quartz of wadi deposits and investigated the luminescence properties in detail to achieve more accurate age information about the time of human occupation. Weak luminescence signals and scattered dose distributions characterise the multi-grain aliquots. The residual doses of the investigated modern wadi sediment are between 0 and 7 Gy. Moreover, comparison of equivalent dose (De) values of 1 mm and 8 mm aliquots shows higher equivalent doses for the large aliquots. Both experiments indicate that the luminescence signal is partially bleached prior to deposition. The dose distributions of all samples are broadly scattered and have overdispersion values between 25 and 43%, some samples are significantly skewed. The shape of the dose distributions points to other sources of scatter, in addition to partial bleaching. Comparison of 1 mm multi-grain and single-grain data demonstrates that the luminescence signal of one multi-grain aliquot most likely is from a single grain. For this reason, variation in the number of photon counts due to the weak luminescence intensity and variations in beta microdosimetry have a bigger impact on the spread of dose distributions. However, we cannot quantify the particular impact of partial bleaching, weak luminescence intensity and beta microdosimetry. To account for the spread of the dose distribution, we use the central age model to calculate equivalent doses. Age calculations yield results in the range of 30–48 ka.     

Floating marine debris in coastal waters of the SE-Pacific (Chile)

Herein we report on the abundance and composition of floating marine debris (FMD) in coastal waters of the SE-Pacific (off the Chilean coast) during the austral summer 2002. The observed FMD consisted mainly of plastic material (86.9%). Densities of FMD were highest between 20 degrees S and 40 degrees S, corresponding to the main concentrations of human population and activities. Low densities of FMD were found in the south between 40 degrees S and 50 degrees S (<1 item km(-2)). Generally, the highest densities were recorded in nearshore waters of major port cities (>20 items km(-2)), but occasionally high concentrations of debris were also found 50 km offshore. Densities of FMD in coastal waters of the SE-Pacific are of similar magnitudes as those found in coastal waters or inland seas of highly populated regions in the northern hemisphere, indicating the need for improved regulation and legislation in the countries of the SE-Pacific.     

The role of an extreme flood disturbance on macrophyte assemblages in a Neotropical floodplain

Aquatic macrophytes produce large amounts of organic matter and have an essential structuring role in floodplains. This process highlights the importance of this community to aquatic biodiversity maintenance. We investigated the role of a flood disturbance on the response of macrophyte assemblages in regional and local structuring in the Upper Paraná River floodplain. Plant species were recorded before (November 2006) and after (March 2007) an uncommon increase in water level caused by the El Niño South Oscillation, which is considered a disturbance. Samples were taken in lakes and backwaters located in the floodplain and connected to three distinct rivers (that differentiate three sub-systems). Species richness and the assemblage structure of macrophyte patches underwent significant changes after the flood disturbance, depending on the specific sub-system (rivers) to which the lakes were connected. In addition, flood disturbance had a strong impact on community organization at the local scale. However, regionalization with respect to sub-systems remained significant after the flood disturbance. Our results emphasize the importance of connection to the river on macrophyte community composition and richness, and suggest that flood events in the Upper Paraná River floodplain disrupt community organization only at fine (local) scales.     

Luminescence dating of Middle Pleistocene (MIS 7) marine shoreline deposits along the eastern coast of Tunisia: A comparison of K-feldspar and Na-feldspar IRSL ages

In the present study, we applied the IRSL_50°C dating method to both K- and Na-feldspar coarse grains from interglacial coastal deposits in north-eastern Tunisia. We used the yellow IRSL_50°C signal of Na-feldspars and the blue IRSL_50°C signal of K-feldspars. The key-sites for this study are at El Hajeb (Sahel area) and Dar Oufa (Cap Bon Peninsula). These deposits belong to the “Douira Unit” which has previously been assigned to marine isotope stage (MIS) 7 on the basis of amino acid ratios and chronostratigraphic evidence.In order to assess the reliability of the IRSL_50°C ages of the “Douira Unit”, we extended the IRSL dating technique to K- and Na-feldspars from two MIS 5 samples, with independent age control, collected within shallow-marine sands in the Sahel area and on the Jerba island (southern Tunisia).Two protocols of age correction for the observed fading in K- and Na-feldspars have been applied: (1) the Huntley and Lamothe (2001) fading correction and (2) the dose rate correction developed by Lamothe et al. (2003). The fading corrected IRSL ages of the “Douira Unit” and both MIS 5 control samples, measured on K- and Na-feldspars, are in good agreement with their expected ages.     

ESR dating of optically bleached quartz grains from Plio-Pleistocene to Holocene coastal dune deposits (Wilderness-Knysna area,South Africa): a comparison with luminescence

Five Plio-Pleistocene to Holocene aeolian quartz samples from the coastal dune deposits of the Wilderness-Knysna area (South Africa) previously dated by OSL were selected for ESR dating. Samples were processed following the Multiple Centre approach and using the Multiple Aliquot Additive dose method. Aluminium (Al) and Titanium (Ti) signals were systematically measured in all samples.Our study shows that ESR results obtained for Middle Pleistocene to Holocene samples may be strongly impacted by (i) the presence of a significant high frequency noise in the ESR spectra acquired for the Ti signals and (ii) the choice of the fitting function employed. In particular, if not taken into account, very noisy spectra can lead to a significant overestimation of the true ESR intensity measured for the Ti–H signal. These sources of uncertainty are however not sufficient to remove the ESR age overestimations. Consequently, our results indicate that the Al and Ti ESR signals of these quartz samples have not been fully reset during their aeolian transport.While this work contributes to improve our understanding of the ESR method applied to quartz grains, and especially of the potential and limitations of the Ti signals, it also provides additional baseline data to illustrate the existing variability among quartz samples of different origins or sedimentary context. Our results are consistent with previous studies by confirming that the Ti–H signal shows the best potential for the evaluation of low dose values (<100 Gy for these samples), whereas it becomes inappropriate for the higher dose range, and the Ti–Li–H (option D sensu Duval and Guilarte, 2015) should be used instead.Beyond the methodological outcome, this ESR dating study also provides a useful addition to the existing chronology of the aeolian deposits in this region. In particular, new (and possibly) finite numerical age results were obtained for the two oldest samples, constraining the aeolianite landward barrier dune and the coversand formations to the MIS 10-8 and Pliocene, respectively.     

The effects of the 2004 tsunami on a coastal aquifer in Sri Lanka

On December 26, 2004, the earthquake off the southern coast of Sumatra in the Indian Ocean generated far-reaching tsunami waves, resulting in severe disruption of the coastal aquifers in many countries of the region. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of the tsunami on groundwater in coastal areas. Field investigations on the east coast of Sri Lanka were carried out along a transect located perpendicular to the coastline on a 2.4 km wide sand stretch bounded by the sea and a lagoon. Measurements of groundwater table elevation and electrical conductivity (EC) of the groundwater were carried out monthly from October 2005 to August 2007. The aquifer system and tsunami saltwater intrusion were modeled using the variable-density flow and solute transport code HST3D to understand the tsunami plume behavior and estimate the aquifer recovery time. EC values reduced as a result of the monsoonal rainfall following the tsunami with a decline in reduction rate during the dry season. The upper part of the saturated zone (down to 2.5 m) returned to freshwater conditions (EC < 1000 μS/cm) 1 to 1.5 years after the tsunami, according to field observations. On the basis of model simulations, it may take more than 15 years for the entire aquifer (down to 28 m) to recover completely, although the top 6 m of the aquifer may become fresh in about 5 years.     

Model simulations of tidal changes in a coastal lagoon,the Ria de Aveiro (Portugal)

Tidal changes in the Ria de Aveiro lagoon, Portugal, show an average increase of 0.245 m in M₂ amplitude and an average 17.4° decrease in M₂ phase, over 16 years (1987–2004). This paper investigates the causes of these changes using: (a) an analytical model and (b) hydrodynamic (vertically integrated) model of the Ria de Aveiro lagoon.     

A medieval settlement caught in the sand: Optical dating of sand-drifting at Pulle (N Belgium)

Close to the village of Pulle (N Belgium), six trenches were opened for archaeological research. This resulted in the discovery of a dense spread of traces of human settlement. Only a relatively small number of artefacts was found, but these allowed attributing the traces to habitation during the Iron Age and Early Middle Ages. In one of the trenches, the level with the archaeological finds was covered by a drift-sand dune. The accumulation of these aeolian sediments presumably put an end to the human occupation. Hence, dating these sediments might provide essential information as to the chronology of the occupational history of the site.Quartz-based optical dating was applied to constrain the timing of sand-drifting at Pulle. All samples showed satisfactory luminescence characteristics and yielded an internally consistent set of optical ages. Within analytical uncertainty, the age results show no increase with depth and do not allow differentiating between distinct phases of sand-drifting. An average age of 1.2 ± 0.1 ka was obtained, which is interpreted as an upper age limit for human occupation at the site. The results also illustrate (the limit on) the time resolution that can be achieved through conventional quartz single-aliquot optical dating techniques; considering these limitations, we conclude that the sand-drifting at Pulle occurred during a single, fairly short event in the Early Middle Ages.     

The use of the marine biotic index AMBI in the assessment of the ecological status of the Obidos lagoon (Portugal)

This study reports the longitudinal distribution of sediment properties, including inorganic and organic contaminants, and the structure of the benthic community in Obidos lagoon, a coastal system permanently connected to the sea and with negligible freshwater sources. Sediments from the upper to central lagoon consist of fine particles (91%) and from the lower lagoon of sands (94%). Chemical composition is strongly correlated to the percentage of fine particles. Contamination is relatively low in those sediments suggesting the effect of diffuse sources. The increase in organic matter content from down- to upstream areas was associated with the dominance of opportunistic species, while sensitive and indifferent species to organic enrichment were mainly associated to the clean sandy downstream area. The marine biotic index (AMBI) was suitable for the discrimination of the biological and environmental gradients in the Obidos lagoon and was highly related with the gradient of organic matter content in this system.     

Evidence of seismites in coastal Quaternary deposits of western Oranie (northwestern Algeria)

Coastal Quaternary deposits of western Oranie show typical soft-sediment deformations including sedimentary dykes, sand volcanoes, sismoslumps, thixotropic bowls, thixotropic wedges, diapir-like structures, and faults grading. Field observations indicate that these deformations exist at several levels of the studied deposits along the west Oranian coast. This study demonstrated that these structures are earthquakes-related, by analysis of potential trigger sources. Several arguments demonstrate the seismic origin: the depositional environment rich in water that located in an active tectonic region, the thixotropic nature of deformations and their large vertical and horizontal diffusion in the Quaternary series consistent with a seismic recurrence. This allows characterizing these Quaternary soft-sediment deformations as seismites that were triggered by earthquakes.     

Luminescence dating of ephemeral stream deposits around the Palaeolithic site of Ifri n'Ammar (Morocco)

The prehistoric site of Ifri n'Ammar is situated in northeastern Morocco, in the northern prolongation of the Middle Atlas Mountains. It is a key location in unravelling the history of anatomically modern humans (AMH) in northern Africa as it reveals Middle and Late Palaeolithic occupation phases since ∼170 ka. Whilst the archaeological sequence within the rock shelter has been well studied, the timing of landscape dynamics around Ifri n'Ammar is still poorly understood. This study therefore aims to establish a detailed chronology of the Wadi Selloum profile at the apron of the shelter, based on optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating of ephemeral stream deposits. Coarse-grain quartz was used for single-grain and multiple-grain dating procedures to investigate the luminescence properties of these deposits and to get more accurate age information concerning the phases of human occupation. Continuous wave OSL (CW-OSL) revealed a dominant fast component for all quartz samples. The dose distribution of the uppermost samples showed overdispersion values >25% and significant positive skewness. We identified partial bleaching as the main source of scatter in the equivalent dose (D_e) distribution. The lowermost sample appeared to be close to signal saturation. The shapes of the dose response curve varied widely between aliquots and coarse quartz grains exhibited therefore very different dose saturation behaviours among aliquots. With fully saturated dose response curves (DRCs), meaningful D₀ values were assumed for D_e estimation.The eight OSL samples yielded stratigraphically consistent ages ranging from 1.3 ± 0.2 ka to 76 ± 5 ka, thus reaching the Middle Palaeolithic period. Moreover, a pottery shard dated to 7.4 ± 0.6 ka (Early Neolithic period) by thermoluminescence (TL), perfectly matched the Holocene OSL samples extracted at the same depth of the profile. In summary, our results point to fluvial aggradation during OIS 5.1, the late glacial period, and the Holocene.     

Field evidence of seismites in Quaternary deposits of the Jijel (Eastern Algeria) coastal region

Jijel has been hit by a strong earthquake in 1856 that triggered a destructive tsunami. Field geological investigations show that the marine terrace deposits (Tyrrhenian or likely Eutyrrhenian) exhibit several types of soft sediment deformation features including sismoslumps, thixotropic bowls, thixotropic wedges, and diapir-like structures. In addition, paleo-liquefaction features represented by neptunian and injection dikes have been observed in the sand dune deposits (Aterian or Würm). Furthermore, typical paleo-earthquake-induced ground failures including lateral spreading, paleo-landslides, and sand volcanoes have been observed in recent, likely, Holocene deposits. Such features, remarkably comparable to present-day earthquake-induced ground failures showing clearly repetitive occurrence of past events may constitute a precious material for future paleo-seismic investigation. The various features have been interpreted herein as seismites associated to strong earthquakes produced likely by the potentially active faults previously identified in the area.     

Weighted estimate of extreme quantile: an application to the estimation of high flood return periods

Parametric models are commonly used in frequency analysis of extreme hydrological events. To estimate extreme quantiles associated to high return periods, these models are not always appropriate. Therefore, estimators based on extreme value theory (EVT) are proposed in the literature. The Weissman estimator is one of the popular EVT-based semi-parametric estimators of extreme quantiles. In the present paper we propose a new family of EVT-based semi-parametric estimators of extreme quantiles. To built this new family of estimators, the basic idea consists in assigning the weights to the k observations being used. Numerical experiments on simulated data are performed and a case study is presented. Results show that the proposed estimators are smooth, stable, less sensitive, and less biased than Weissman estimator.     

Dependence of model-based extreme flood estimation on the calibration period: case study of the Kamp River (Austria)

Abstract

The Kamp River is a particularly interesting case study for testing flood frequency estimation methods, since it experienced a major flood in August 2002. Here, the Kamp catchment is studied in order to quantify the influence of such a remarkable flood event on the calibration of a rainfall–runoff model, in particular when it is used in a stochastic simulation method for flood estimation, by performing numerous rainfall–runoff model calibrations (based on split-sample and bootstrap tests). The results confirmed the usefulness of the multi-period and bootstrap testing schemes for identifying the dependence of model performance and flood estimates on the information contained in the calibration period. The August 2002 event appears to play a dominating role for the Kamp River, since the presence or absence of the event within the calibration sub-periods strongly influences the rainfall–runoff model calibration and the extreme flood estimations that are based on the calibrated model.