Three-dimensional structure of mesoscale eddies in the western tropical Pacific as revealed by a high-resolution ocean simulation

The three-dimensional structure of mesoscale eddies in the western tropical Pacific(6°S–20°N, 120°E–150°E)is investigated using a high-resolution ocean model simulation. Eddy detection and eddy tracking algorithms are applied to simulated horizontal velocity vectors, and the anticyclonic and cyclonic eddies identified are composited to obtain their three-dimensional structures. The mean lifetime of all long-lived eddies is about 52 days, and their mean diameter is 147 km. Two typical characteristics of mesoscale eddies are revealed and possible dynamic explanations are analyzed. One typical characteristic is that surface eddies are generally separated from subthermocline eddies along the bifurcation latitude(~13°N) of the North Equatorial Current in the western tropical Pacific, which may be associated with different eddy energy sources and vertical eddy energy fluxes in subtropical and tropical gyres. Surface eddies have maximum swirl velocities of 8–9 cm s~(-1) and can extend to about 1500 m depth. Subthermocline eddies occur below 200 m, with their cores at about 400–600 m depth, and their maximum swirl velocities can reach 10 cm s~(-1). The other typical characteristic is that the meridional velocity component of the eddy is much larger than the zonal component. This characteristic might be due to more zonal eddy pairs(two eddies at the same latitude),which is also supported by the zonal wavelength(about 200 km) in the high-frequency meridional velocity component of the horizontal velocity.     

Deep circulation driven by strong vertical mixing in the Timor Basin

The importance of deep mixing in driving the deep part of the overturning circulation has been a long debated question at the global scale. Our observations provide an illustration of this process at the Timor Basin scale of ～1000 km. Long-term averaged moored velocity data at the Timor western sill suggest that a deep circulation is present in the Timor Basin. An inflow transport of ～0.15 Sv is observed between 1600 m and the bottom at 1890 m. Since the basin is closed on its eastern side below 1250 m depth, a return flow must be generated above 1600 m with a ～0.15 Sv outflow. The vertical turbulent diffusivity is inferred from a heat and transport balance at the basin scale and from Thorpe scale analysis. Basin averaged vertical diffusivity is as large as 1 × 10^?3 m² s^?1. Observations are compared with regional low-resolution numerical simulations, and the deep observed circulation is only recovered when a strong vertical diffusivity resulting from the parameterization of internal tidal mixing is considered. Furthermore, the deep vertical mixing appears to be strongly dependent on the choice of the internal tide mixing parameterization and also on the prescribed value of the mixing efficiency.     

Nutrient fluxes induced by disturbance in Meiliang Bay of Lake Taihu

A wave flume experiment was conducted to study nutrient fluxes at water-sediment interface of Meiliang Bay under different hydrodynamic conditions. The results reveal that hydrodynamics has remarkable effects on nutrient fluxes in this area. With a bottom wave stress of 0.019 N m^?2 (equivalent to disturbance caused by wind SE 5–7 m s^?1 at the sediment sample site of Meiliang Bay), the fluxes of TN, TDN and NH₄ ⁺-N were separately 1.92 × 10^?3, ?1.81 × 10^?4 and 5.28 × 10^?4 mg m^?2 s^?1 (positive for upward and negative for downward), but for TP, TDP and SRP, the fluxes were 5.69 × 10^?4, 1.68 × 10^?4 and ?1.29 × 10^?4 mg m^?2 s^?1. In order to calculate the released amount of nutrients based on these results, statistic analysis on the long-term meteorological data was conducted. The result shows that the maximum lasting time for wind SE 5–7 m s^?1 in this area is about 15 h in summer. Further calculation shows that 111 t TN, 32 t NH₄ ⁺-N, 34 t TP and 10 t TDP can be released into water (the sediment area was 47.45% of the whole surface area), resulting in concentration increase of 0.025, 0.007, 0.007 and 0.002 mg L^?1 separately. With stronger disturbance (bottom wave stress is 0.217 N m^?2 which is equivalent to disturbance caused by wind SE 10–11 m s^?1 at the same site), there has been significant increase of nutrient fluxes (1.16 × 10^?2, 6.76 × 10^?3, 1.14 × 10^?2 and 2.14 × 10^?3 mg m^?2 s^?1 for TN, DTN and NH₄ ⁺-N and TP). The exceptions were TDP with flux having a decrease (measured to be 9.54 × 10^?5 mg m^?2 s^?1) and SRP with flux having a small increase (measured to be 5.42 × 10^?5 mg m^?2 s^?1). The same statistic analysis on meteorological data reveal that the maximum lasting time for wind SE 10–11 m s^?1 is no more than 5 h. Based on the nutrient fluxes and the wind lasting-time, similar calculations were also made suggesting that 232 t TN, 134.9 t TDN, 228 t NH₄ ⁺-N, 42.7 t TP, 2.0 t TDP and 1.1 t SRP will be released from sediment at this hydrodynamic condition resulting in the concentration increases of 0.050, 0.029, 0.049, 0.009, 0.0004 and 0.0002 mg L^?1. Therefore in shallow lakes, surface disturbance can lead to significant increase of nutrient concentrations although some components in water column had negative flux with weak disturbance (e.g. TDN and SRP in this experiment). In this case, sediment looks to be a source of nutrients. These nutrients deposited in sediment can be carried or released into water with sediment resuspension or changes of environmental conditions at water-sediment interface, which can have great effects on aquatic ecosystem and is also the characteristics of shallow lakes.     

MELIMEX,an experimental heavy metal pollution study: Vertical mixing in a large limno-corral

In a limno-corral (diameter 12 m, depth to sediments 10 m), located in Baldeggersee (Switzerland), vertical mixing has been measured during more than one year and compared to the conditions in the open lake (maximum depth 65 m, surface area 5.3 km²). The temperature method by McEwen and Hutchinson yields K_z values between 5×10⁻² cm²s⁻¹ at the upper boundary of the thermocline and 2×10⁻³ cm²s⁻¹ at the bottom, a value near the molecular diffusion of heat at 4°C (1.36×10⁻³ cm²s⁻¹). K_z calculated from profiles of excess radon-222 generally agree with those from the temperature data. Compared to the open lake, the corral has a more shallow epilimnion. However, during calm meteorological conditions, vertical mixing in the upper 10 m is similar outside and inside the corral. Supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation within the framework for its National Research Program on ‘Lake Currents.’     

Modification of the deep salinity-maximum in the Southern Ocean by circulation in the Antarctic Circumpolar Current and the Weddell Gyre

The evolution of the deep salinity-maximum associated with the Lower Circumpolar Deep Water (LCDW) is assessed using a set of 37 hydrographic sections collected over a 20-year period in the Southern Ocean as part of the WOCE/CLIVAR programme. A circumpolar decrease in the value of the salinity-maximum is observed eastwards from the North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW) in the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean through the Indian and Pacific sectors to Drake Passage. Isopycnal mixing processes are limited by circumpolar fronts, and in the Atlantic sector, this acts to limit the direct poleward propagation of the salinity signal. Limited entrainment occurs into the Weddell Gyre, with LCDW entering primarily through the eddy-dominated eastern limb. A vertical mixing coefficient, κ_V of (2.86 ± 1.06) × 10^?4 m² s^?1 and an isopycnal mixing coefficient, κ_I of (8.97 ± 1.67) × 10² m² s^?1 are calculated for the eastern Indian and Pacific sectors of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC). A κ_V of (2.39 ± 2.83) × 10^?5 m² s^?1, an order of magnitude smaller, and a κ_I of (2.47 ± 0.63) × 10² m² s^?1, three times smaller, are calculated for the southern and eastern Weddell Gyre reflecting a more turbulent regime in the ACC and a less turbulent regime in the Weddell Gyre. In agreement with other studies, we conclude that the ACC acts as a barrier to direct meridional transport and mixing in the Atlantic sector evidenced by the eastward propagation of the deep salinity-maximum signal, insulating the Weddell Gyre from short-term changes in NADW characteristics.     

Leakage properties of the multi-aquifer system underlying the Greater Onitsha water scheme borehole field,Anambra State,Nigeria

Abstract

Leakage properties and the potential for land subsidence due to groundwater withdrawal from a multi-aquifer water supply system were investigated by applying leaky type curve and one dimensional consolidation models to drawdown data that were obtained during a pumping test experiment in an aquifer-aquitard system. The producing aquifer has transmissivity and storativity values of 5.3 × 10^?3 m² s^?1 and 9.54 × 10^?4 respectively. It is recharged through leakage at a rate of 5.67 × 10^?8 m s^?1, giving a leakage amount of more than 0.007 m³ s^?1. Drainage of the aquifer-aquitard system could result in aquitard compaction of between 50 and 180 mm year^?1 for pumping periods of 6 and 22 h day^?1, respectively. The observed leakage has important implications for land subsidence problems and waste disposal practices in the area.     

Thermal diffusivity of olivine

The thermal diffusivity of a naturally occurring polycrystalline olivine (Fo₉₁Fa₀₉) was measured by the Flash technique in the temperature range of 450–1500 K. At 450 K the thermal diffusivity was 10.7 × 10^?7 m²/s and decreased as a function of reciprocal temperature to 7.0 × 10^?7 m²/s at 800 K. From that temperature, the values gradually increased to a maximum of 7.8 × 10^?7 m²/s at 1000 K, and then steadily decreased to 5.6 × 10^?7 m²/s at 1500 K. The unusual decrease above 1000 K was caused by a reduction of the previously oxidized samples. The olivine's oxidation state plays a significant role in the value of thermal diffusivity at high temperatures.     

Circulation and mixing in estuary outflows

The outflow of brackish waters from the Tees estuary on an ebb tide forms a plume which is initially spread by the action of gravity. Under quiescent conditions, the rate of vertical mixing of the brackish field is relatively slow and an area of low salinity may form in the surface waters as a result of the superimposition of the outflow plumes from successive tides. A field area of some 70 km² has been observed to be enclosed by the 34.2 × 10^?3 contour.Averaged over a tidal period, the estuary outflow from the Tees forms a broad plume of low-salinity water which extends to seaward of the 20-m contour. The movement of the field thereafter depends on the residual coastal drift which runs either to the northwest or to the southeast with a typical speed of 0.015 m s^?1. The tidally averaged vertical mixing coefficient in this offshore field was estimated to be about 10^?4 m^?2 s^?1, which is similar to that off the Wear estuary and an order of magnitude smaller than that calculated for the waters off the Humber.     

Inertial oscillations in the Irish Sea

An inertial current with a maximum speed of about 0.20 m s¹ was observed in June 1981, by a current meter 17 m below the surface of the thermally stratified waters of the western Irish Sea. The dynamics of the surface waters have been modelled using contemporary wind data recorded at the site to drive a horizontally unbounded surface slab 20 m deep with a velocity decay time of about three inertial periods (1.86 days). From thermistor chain data, inertial frequency potential energy was observed to radiate beneath the thermocline, descending at a rate of about 0.06 cm s¹. The energy available for internal mixing from the observed oscillation may have been as much as 80 J m², compared with 150 J m² from wind-induced surface mixing. The mean surface mixing power in summer is about7.1 × 10⁴W m², while the mean shear-induced mixing power could be as much as2.0 × 10⁴W m². The likely occurrence of strong inertial events has been estimated using the wind record fcr 10 successive summers at Dublin airport. Large oscillations with speeds 0.20m s¹, or mixed layer kinetic energy(MLKE) > 400 J m², have an average duration of about 28 h. They occur about once every 2 months between mid-May and mid-August but seem to be more frequent from then until mid-September. Moderate oscillations (MLKE > 200 J m²) are more evenly distributed, occurring about once every 2 weeks. Small oscillations (MLKE > 40 J m²) occur nearly 50% of the time.     

Modification by lateral mixing of the Warm Deep Water entering the Weddell Sea in the Maud Rise region

Deep water originating in the North Atlantic is transported across the Antarctic Circumpolar Current by eddies and, after circumnavigating of the Antarctic, enters the Weddell Gyre south of Africa. As it does so, it rises up from mid-depth towards the surface. The separate temperature and salinity maxima, the Upper and Lower Circumpolar Deep Waters, converge to form the Warm Deep Water. Cores of this water mass on the southern flank of the eastern Weddell Gyre show a change in characteristic as they flow westward in the Lazarev Sea. Observations have been made along four meridional sections at 3° E, 0°, 3° W and 6° W between 60 and 70° S during the Polarstern Cruise ANTXXIII/2 in 2005/2006. These show that a heterogeneous series of warm and salty cores entering the region from the east both north and south of Maud Rise (65° S, 3° W) gradually merge and become more homogeneous towards the west. The gradual reduction in the variance of potential temperature on isopycnals is indicative of isopycnic mixing processes. A multiple regression technique allows diagnosis of the eddy diffusivities and, thus, the relative importance of isopycnic and diapycnic mixing. The method shows that the isopycnic diffusivity lies in the range 70–140 m² s⁻¹ and the diapycnic diffusivity reaches about 3 × 10⁻⁶ m² s⁻¹. Scale analysis suggests that isopycnic diffusion dominates over diapycnic diffusion in the erosion of the Warm Deep Water cores.     

Persistent weak thermal stratification inhibits mixing in the epilimnion of north-temperate Lake Opeongo,Canada

Persistent weak temperature stratification characterizes the epilimnion of Lake Opeongo, Ontario, Canada, and reduces the magnitude of turbulent mixing. Throughout July and August 2009, the epilimnion was isothermal for only 34 % of the record, while for 28 % of the record there was at least a 2 °C temperature difference across the 5 m deep epilimnion. During these stratified periods, there were increases in gradient Richardson numbers (Ri _g ), and decreases in rates of dissipation of turbulent kinetic energy ( $\varepsilon$ ), the turbulence activity parameter (I = ε/νN ²), an indicator of active mixing, and vertical eddy diffusivity (K _z ) inferred from temperature microstructure profiles. During periods of shear induced mixing, values of ε approached 10^?6 m² s^?3 and decreased during periods of increasing Ri _g . For 0 < Ri _g  < 1, average values of I were ~1,000 and values of K _z were slightly higher than 10^?4 m² s^?1. For Ri _g >1, average values of I were ~300 and K _z was reduced by one to three orders of magnitude. Mixing during cold fronts occurred over time scales of minutes to hours, which worked to erode diurnal thermoclines. However, during periods of persistent secondary thermoclines, mixing was suppressed throughout the epilimnion.     

Excess222Rn and the benthic boundary layer in the western and southern Indian Ocean

We present 9 bottom²²²Rn profiles measured from the western and southern Indian Ocean during the 1977–1978 GEOSECS expedition. These profiles can be grouped into three cypes: one-layer, two-layer, and irregular types. The one-layer profiles with quasi-exponential distributions allow one to estimate the apparent vertical eddy diffusivity,K_v, with a simple model. The two-layer profiles show that there is a benthic boundary layer of the order of 50–100 m in which the excess²²²Rn distribution shows a vertical gradient much smaller than that of the layer immediately above. Within the boundary layer, the STD potential temperature (θ) and density(σ₄) profiles are practically constant, and theK_v values are of the order of 1000 cm²/s. The STD profiles for the water column above the boundary layer show gradients of increasing stability, and theK_v values are of the order of 100 cm²/s. Modeling of the Rn data in the water column above the boundary layer indicates that there is a transition layer which effectively reduces the penetration of excess Rn from the benthic boundary layer into the upper layer.Sarmiento et al. [10] have shown that the buoyancy gradient or stability is inversely correlated with the apparent vertical eddy diffusivity, and the resulting buoyancy flux is fairly uniform, ranging from 1 to 14 × 10^?6 cm²/s³ in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. However, Sarmiento et al. [11] show that a much higher buoyancy flux is associated with an intensified flow of the bottom water through a passage. In the Indian Ocean basins, we have found that the buoyancy flux has a comparable range (3–14 × 10^?6 cm²/s³), except for a couple of stations where both stability and apparent vertical diffusivity are higher, resulting in a much higher buoyancy flux, probably indicative of rapid bottom water flow.     

Evaluation of the fourth-order tesseroid formula and new combination approach to precisely determine gravitational potential

Calculating topographic gravitational potential (GP) is a time-consuming process in terms of efficiency. Prism, mass-point, mass-line, and tesseroid formulas are generally used to calculate the topographic GP effect. In this study, we reformulate the higher-order formula of the tesseroid by Taylor series expansion and then evaluate the fourth-order formula by numerical tests. Different simulation computations show that the fourth-order formula is reliable. Using the conventional approach in numerical calculations, the approximation errors in the areas of the north and south poles are extremely large. Thus, in this study we propose an approach combining the precise numerical formula and tesseroid formulas, which can satisfactorily solve the calculation problem when the computation point is located in the polar areas or areas very near the surface. Furthermore, we suggest a “best matching choice” of new combination approach to calculate the GP precisely by conducting various experiments. Given the computation point at different positions, we may use different strategies. In the low latitude, we use a precise numerical formula, the fourth-order tesseroid formula, the second-order tesseroid formula, and the zero-order formula, in the 1° range (from the computation point), 1° to 15° range, 15° to 40° range, and the range outside 40°, respectively. The accuracy can reach 2 × 10^?5 m² s^?2. For the high latitude, we use the precise numerical formula, fourth-order tesseroid, second-order tesseroid, and zero-order tesseroid formulas in the ranges of 0° to 1°, 1° to 10°, 10° to 30°, and the zones outside 30°, respectively. However, if an accuracy level of 2 × 10^?5 m² s^?2 is required, the zero-order tesseroid formulas should not be used and the second-order tesseroid formula should be used in the region outside 15° for the low latitude and in the region outside 10° for the high latitude.     

Physical and chemical variability of the Baltic Sea: a joint experiment in the Gotland Basin

An area of 25 × 30 nmi with a subarea of 20 × 20 nmi in the Baltic Sea Gotland Basin was surveyed for about one month by vertical CTD and fluorometric chlorophyll a casts, and by towed profiles with a chemical profiler (nutrients, CTD, O₂, pH) and an undulating CTD. Autonomous current meter data were available for the same period.Five CTD surveys with a 5-mile spacing showed the existence of synoptic eddies and several other perturbations. A first mode eddy (with all the isopycnals lifted within the halocline) had reduced salinities in the upper layer and chlorophyll concentrations were reduced by 2 to 3-fold. A second mode eddy (with the isopycnals lifted in the top of the halocline and lowered in the bottom layers) with a diameter of 20 km was under prolonged observation. Anticyclonic currents at 96-m depth were up to 25 cm s^?1. Along the section across the eddy at 80-m depth, the mean nitrate concentration dropped from about 7 to 8 to 5 μmol dm^?3 while other chemical parameters lacked intense variations. An increased activity of the intrusive fine-structure was detected in the eddy center. The Baltic eddies are essentially non-linear, and transport water in their ‘nuclei’. An internal front, separating waters with different T,S composition, was discovered in the upper layers.The observations are discussed with respect to discovering long-term trends while monitoring the Baltic environment.     

Excess bottom222Rn profiles and their implications in the northwestern Pacific Ocean

Vertical profiles of excess bottom²²²Rn and potential temperature were measured at 23 stations in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. The Rn profiles were classified into the following three types: quasi-exponential (type E), benthic boundary layer (type B), and horizontally disturbed (type H). The ratio among types E, B and H was approximately 2 : 3 : 1.An apparent vertical eddy diffusivity (K) was calculated by applying a one-dimensional diffusion model to the Rn profiles of types E and B. Type E had K values ranging from 15 to 180 cm² s^?1 (average: 70 cm² s^?1). As to type B, K values for the benthic boundary layer (4.5–260 cm² s^?1, average: 120 cm² s^?1) were always more than an order of magnitude larger than those for the upper layer (0.2–35 cm² s^?1, average: 7 cm² s^?1), indicating more active vertical mixing in the benthic boundary layer than in the upper layer.Rn profiles were measured in regions where the bottom topography is known. It was verified that the occurrence of type H related closely with local bottom topographic features accompanied by lateral transient supply of Rn-rich or Rn-poor water.A couple of Rn profiles at the same location, measured at time intervals of several years, were compared with each other for three locations. The general characteristics of Rn profiles were shown to remain unaltered with time, while the fine structure of Rn profiles may have short-term variations caused by local bottom topography and fluctuations of bottom current as indicated in type H.     

Geoid anomalies across fracture zones and the thickness of the lithosphere

Recent advances in the measurement and interpretation of geoid height anomalies provide a new way to estimate the thickness of the oceanic lithosphere as a function of crustal age. GEOS-III satellite altimetry measurements show abrupt changes in sea level across fracture zones which separate areas of lithosphere with different ages. These changes have the correct location, amplitude, and wavelength to be caused by the combined gravitational attraction of the relief across the fracture zone and the isostatic support of this relief. Eight profiles of geoid height and bathymetry across the Mendocino fracture zone are inverted to determine the depth of the isostatic compensation, assuming that the compensation occurs in a single layer. These depths are then interpreted with a thermal boundary layer model of lithospheric growth. To explain satisfactorily the geoid measurements, the thermal diffusivity of the upper mantle must be 3.3 × 10^?3 cm² s^?1 and the thickness of the lithosphere, defined as the depth at which the geotherm reaches 95% of its maximum value, must be9.1km m.y.^?1/2 × t^1/2, where t is lithospheric age.     

Near‐bed shear stress,turbulence production and dissipation in a shallow and narrow tidal channel

Near‐bed, highly resolved velocity profiles were measured in the lower 0.03 m of the water column using acoustic Doppler profiling velocimeters in narrow tidal channels in a salt marsh. The bed shear stress was estimated from the velocity profiles using three methods: the log‐law, Reynolds stress, and shear stress derived from the turbulent kinetic energy (TKE). Bed shear stresses were largest during ebbing tide, while near‐bed velocities were larger during flooding tide. The Reynolds stress and TKE method gave similar results, while the log‐law method resulted in smaller bed shear stress values during ebbing tide. Shear stresses and turbulent kinetic energy followed a similar trend with the largest peaks during ebbing tide. The maximum turbulent kinetic energy was on the order of 1 × 10^{? 2} m²/s². The fluid shear stress during flooding tide was approximately 30% of the fluid shear stress during ebbing tide. The maximum TKE‐derived shear stress was 0.7 N/m² and 2.7 N/m² during flooding and ebbing tide, respectively, and occurred around 0.02 m above the bed. Turbulence dissipation was estimated using the frequency spectrum and structure function methods. Turbulence dissipation estimates from both methods were maximum near the bed (~0.01 m). Both the structure function and the frequency spectrum methods resulted in maximum dissipation estimates on the order of 4 × 10^{? 3} m²/s³. Turbulence production exceeded turbulence dissipation at every phase of the tide, suggesting that advection and vertical diffusion are not negligible. However, turbulence production and dissipation were within a factor of 2 for 77% of the estimates. The turbulence production and dissipation decreased quickly away from the bed, suggesting that measurements higher in the water column cannot be translated directly to turbulence production and dissipation estimates near the bed. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of bed topography on soil aggregates transport by rill flow

After its formation, a rill may remain in the field for months, often receiving lower flow rates than the formative discharge. The objective of this work was to evaluate the rill flow transport capacity of soil aggregates at discharges unable to erode the rill, and to analyse the influence of the rill macro‐roughness on this transport process. A non‐erodible rill was built in which roughness was reproduced in detail. In order to assess only the rill macro‐roughness, a flat channel with a similar micro‐roughness to that in the rill replica was built. Rill and channel experiments were carried out at a slope of 8 and at six discharges (8·3 × 10^?5 to 5·2 × 10^?4 m³ s^?1) in the rill, and eight discharges (1·6 × 10^?5 to 5·2 × 10^?4 m³ s^?1) in the channel. Non‐erodible aggregates of three sizes (1–2, 3–5 and 5–10 mm) were released at the inlet of the rill/channel. The number of aggregates received at the outlet was registered. The number and position of the remaining aggregates along the rill/channel were also determined. The rill flow was a major sediment transport mechanism only during the formation of the rill, as during that period the power of the flow was great enough to overcome the influence of the macro‐roughness of the rill bed. At lower discharges the transport capacity in the previously formed rill was significantly less than that in the flat channel under similar slope and discharge. This was determined to be due to local slowing of flow velocities at the exit of rill pools. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Turnover of Eastern Caribbean deep water from 14C measurements

A¹⁴C balance for the Eastern Caribbean deep water indicates the average inflow of Atlantic water into the basin to be 2.3 × 10⁵ m³/sec (±30%), or about 2–4 times the values estimated previously. The balance uses a model representation of the deep-water turnover, and is based on¹⁴C concentrations at a station in the Venezuelan Basin which average Δ¹⁴C= 89‰ below 800 m depth with a total range of only 9‰, as well as on a¹⁴C concentration of the Atlantic inflow of Δ¹⁴C= ?71%. as obtained from measurements outside the Antilles Arch. The turnover time of the basin water below 2500 m depth is 55 years, which corresponds to an average upwelling velocity at this depth of about 35 m/year. With such upwelling, the temperature profile below 1800 m (the depth of the sill determining the inflow of new water) requires a vertical eddy diffusivity of about 5 cm²/sec. The oxygen consumption, and silica and CO₂ regeneration, rates below 2500 m depth are obtained as ?0.18, + 0.08, and + 0.2 μmole kg^?1 yr^?1, respectively. The CO₂ regeneration has but a negligible effect on the¹⁴C balance.     

Vertical heterogeneities of hydraulic aquitard parameters: preliminary results from laboratory and in situ monitoring

Abstract

A borehole is developed in a shallow multi-layered aquifer and used to derive the porosity, specific storage and hydraulic conductivity of the aquitard. Local values of hydrodynamical parameters are estimated from petrophysical analysis of core samples, and the empirical relationship between porosity and permeability. Vertical diffusivity is determined from the response of the aquitard to a loading cyclic signal using pressure records at different depths. Hydraulic conductivities deduced from the petrophysical analysis ranged from 10^?8 to 10^?10 m s^?1 and are comparable with those of facies of marine/lacustrine clay observed in samples. The permeability values calculated based on diffusivity are within the range 10^?9 to 10^?11 m s^?1 with a quasi-systematic bias of one order of magnitude. These values are average for a larger part of the aquitard and correspond to an integrated value. The methodology retained for the aquitard characterization is discussed with emphasis on the implications for the management of a complex aquifer system.

Citation Larroque, F., Cabaret, O., Atteia, O., Dupuy, A., and Franceschi, M., 2013. Vertical heterogeneities of hydraulic aquitard parameters: preliminary results from laboratory and in situ monitoring. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 58 (4), 912–929.