Linking hurricane landfalls,precipitation variability,fires, and vegetation response over the past millennium from analysis of coastal lagoon sediments,southwestern Dominican Republic

We reconstructed the late-Holocene environmental history of a coastal lagoon in semi-arid southwestern Hispaniola through multiproxy analysis of a sediment core, including pollen, macroscopic and microscopic charcoal, loss-on-ignition analysis (LOI), stable isotope analysis, bulk density, and magnetic susceptibility. Four chronological accelerator mass spectrometry radiocarbon dates indicated that our core represents the past ~1000 years. We interpreted ten hurricanes events over the past millennium from high-resolution geological proxies, LOI data, and ostracod valve stable oxygen isotope data, thus producing the first long record of hurricanes from the Dominican Republic. Geological proxies indicated a high-energy event abruptly changed the ecosystem state of our core site from a shallow mangrove wetland to a lacustrine environment ~330 cal yr BP. We interpret the driver of that event to be the landfall of a strong hurricane that initiated lowland flooding, mangrove mortality, and subsequent peat collapse at the core site. Pollen data indicated that during the relatively moist Medieval Warm Period (MWP), hurricanes led to temporary declines in tropical dry forest taxa that recovered within several decades following disturbance. By comparison, during the relatively arid Little Ice Age (LIA), when precipitation was highly variable in the circum-Caribbean, closely spaced hurricanes seemed to delay forest recovery. Sedimentary charcoal concentrations revealed increased fire activity after inferred hurricane landfalls in the MWP, providing evidence of a link between enhanced biomass and fuel availability during moister periods and burning in recently disturbed dry forests and scrub of our semi-arid study region. Our interpretations of increased aridity and precipitation variability, indicated by alternating thin layers of microbial mats with evaporite layers, along with more frequent hurricanes from ~330 cal yr BP to present, generally agree with other sedimentary records from the circum-Caribbean, and may be linked to a more southerly position of the Intertropical Convergence Zone during the LIA.     

Incorporating Groundwater-Surface Water Interaction into River Management Models

Accurate representation of groundwater-surface water interactions is critical to modeling low river flows in the semi-arid southwestern United States. Although a number of groundwater-surface water models exist, they are seldom integrated with river operation/management models. A link between the object-oriented river and reservoir operations model, RiverWare, and the groundwater model, MODFLOW, was developed to incorporate groundwater-surface water interaction processes, such as river seepage/gains, riparian evapotranspiration, and irrigation return flows, into a rule-based water allocations model. An explicit approach is used in which the two models run in tandem, exchanging data once in each computational time step. Because the MODFLOW grid is typically at a finer resolution than RiverWare objects, the linked model employs spatial interpolation and summation for compatible communication of exchanged variables. The performance of the linked model is illustrated through two applications in the Middle Rio Grande Basin in New Mexico where overappropriation impacts endangered species habitats. In one application, the linked model results are compared with historical data; the other illustrates use of the linked model for determining management strategies needed to attain an in-stream flow target. The flows predicted by the linked model at gauge locations are reasonably accurate except during a few very low flow periods when discrepancies may be attributable to stream gaging uncertainties or inaccurate documentation of diversions. The linked model accounted for complex diversions, releases, groundwater pumpage, irrigation return flows, and seepage between the groundwater system and canals/drains to achieve a schedule of releases that satisfied the in-stream target flow.     

Groundwater Plans in the United States: Regulatory Frameworks and Management Goals

Groundwater management plans are an important tool for preventing and addressing degradation and depletion of the resource. Through plans, water users and regulators set forth goals and identify strategies to address the needs of multiple resource users while considering physical constraints of the groundwater resource. This research examines the status of groundwater management plans in the United States, identifying in which states groundwater management plans are produced and the circumstances that lead to the inclusion of quantifiable goals in those plans. Findings indicate that legal and regulatory requirements for quantifiable goals can lead to the development of more comprehensive groundwater management plans, and, that such goals can be set even when uncertainties exist.     

FITC‐conjugated lectins as a tool for differentiating between toxic and non‐toxic marine dinoflagellates

FITC‐conjugated lectins proved to be effective probes for differentiating between morphologically similar dinoflagellate species isolated from New Zealand coastal waters. In particular the binding (fluorescence) of peanut (PNA) lectin differentiated G. mikimotoi from Gymnodinium sp. (Waimangu) and G. pulchellum and the non‐binding of Helix pomatia (HPA) and wheat germ (WGA) lectins discriminated between G. mikimotoi and the other Gymnodinium species tested. G. breve (Florida) was differentiated from the New Zealand isolates by binding with soy bean (SBA) lectin. Ulex europeus (UEA) distinguished the toxic species Alexandrium minutum from the morphologically similar, but non‐toxic, Cachonina hallii. Two strains of Prorocentrum lima (Spain and Rangaunu) were not differentiated by the lectins, but P. lima was differentiated from P. compressum.     

Saturn meteorology: A diagnostic assessment of thin-layer configurations for the zonal flow

Voyager imaging, infrared, and radio observations for Saturn have been recently interpreted by Smith et al. (1982) as an indication that the jet streams observed at the cloud tops extend to depths greater than the 10⁴-bar level. This analysis assumes a maximum latitudinal temperature contrast of a few percent, a mean atmospheric rotation rate at depth given by Saturn's ratio period, and no variation with latitude of the bottom pressure level for the zonal flow system. These assumptions are not, however, firmly constrained by observation. The diagnostic analysis of plausible alternative configurations for Saturn's atmospheric structure demonstrates that a thin weather layer system (confined at mid to high latitudes to levels above 200 bar) cannot be excluded by any of the available observations. A quantitative estimate of the effects of moisture condensation (including the differentiation of mean molecular weight) suggests that these might provide the buoyancy contrasts necessary to support a thin-layer flow provided that Saturn's outer envelope is enriched approximately 10 times in water abundance relative to a solar composition atmosphere and strongly differentiated with latitude at the condensation level.     

A study on geology,geomorphology, hydrology,groundwater, and physical resources of the desertified Badia environment in Jordan towards sustainable development

This paper summarizes information on geomorphology and physical resources as a part of the Jordan Badia Research and Development Program. The research focused on the issue of the environment in arid lands as an aid to providing practical options for sustainable development, for the benefit not only of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan but of other arid regions of the world. The research is significant in that there is a need to identify usable natural resources and establish a framework for their effective exploitation and management in a marginal, fragile environment, which is sensitive to change. Pressure for development of the Badia stems from the fact that the great majority of the population in Jordan is compressed into less than 10% of the country by environmental constraints. It is hoped that the Jordan Badia Research and Development Program will provide the required framework to ease current environmental pressures, encourage migration to the Badia, a sparsely populated region, and establish economically and ecologically self-supporting communities. This paper discusses the following areas that are related to the sustainable development of the Jordan Badia with special emphasis on the Safawi area in the northern Jordan Badia; geomorphology, including landform, processes, and hazards; geology and physical resources; hydrology; surface water and water engineering; and groundwater.     

Glacial morphology and post-glacial contourites in northern Prince Gustav Channel (NW Weddell Sea,Antarctica)

We present the results of a marine geophysical investigation of the northern Prince Gustav Channel. By comparative analysis of multibeam bathymetric data, single channel seismic reflection profiles, underway chirp sonar data, ADCP current data and sediment coring, we define the main morphological elements of the area. In particular we define the glacial morphogenesis in relation to the excavation of inner shelf basins and troughs along structural discontinuities and lithologic boundaries. We identify streamlined surfaces that testify to the grounding of ice and past ice flow directions. These glacial forms are found only on glacial tills preserved in the deepest part of the basins, while net erosion to bedrock has occurred elsewhere. Since the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), the relict glacial morphology has been draped by hemipelagic and diatomaceous mud, and bottom currents have played a major role in focusing sedimentation within small depocentres, that we define as contouritic drifts. Based on shallow sediment architecture and supported by direct measurements, we propose that the direction of bottom water flow is from the outer shelf into the Prince Gustav channel as a result of a combination of tidal currents and ice shelf-related thermohaline circulation.     

Low frequency sounding technique for predicting progressive failure of rock

SummaryLow Frequency Sounding Technique for Predicting Progressive Failure of Rock The paper outlines the various techniques used for predicting failure of rock in open strip or underground mining operations. Changes occurring in mechanical parameters of rock on increase in stress and at failure are outlined. A new experimental technique is described, which is based upon detection of changes in the response of the rock mass to imposed very low frequency, low amplitude vibrations. The limitations of the existing equipment available for the purpose are outlined and the problems posed by the new technique discussed. The requirements of the system and the method of analysis are discussed. Results obtained on a gelatine model under laboratory conditions are described. These results clearly show that changes in the frequency and amplitude response of the model with developemnt of fractures can give advance indication of imminent failure.

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ZusammenfassungEin Niederfrequenz-Schallverfahren zur Vorausbestimmung des progressiven Gesteinbruches Die vorliegende Arbeit gibt in großen Zügen die verschiedenen Verfahren an, die zur Vorhersage des Versagens von Fels bei Obertage- und Untertagearbeiten Verwendung finden können. Die sich bei Spannungserhöhung sowie beim Zusammenbruch ergebenden Veränderungen der Gesteinsparameter werden im allgemeinen dargestellt. Ein neues, auf dem Nachweis der Veränderungen des Ansprechens von Fels auf induzierte Schwingungen sehr kleiner Frequenz und kleiner Amplitude beruhendes Prüfverfahren wird beschrieben. Die Grenzen der zur Zeit für diesen Zweck verfügbaren Apparatur werden angegeben, und die sich aus dem neuen Verfahren ergebenden Probleme werden besprochen. Die Voraussetzungen des Systems sowie der Analysenmethoden werden erörtert. Die an einem Gelatinemodell unter Laborbedingungen gewonnenen Ergebnisse werden beschrieben. Diese Ergebnisse zeigen deutlich, daß die bei der Bruchentwicklung vorkommenden Veränderungen des Frequenz- und Amplitudenansprechens des Modells einen vorläufigen Hinweis auf einen drohenden Gesteinszusammenbruch liefern können.

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RésuméTechnique sonique à basse fréquence pour la prédiction de la fracture progressive de la roche Cet article expose à grands traits les diverses techniques employées pour prédire des avaries de roche dans les exploitations minières à ciel ouvert ou souterraines. Les changements des paramètres de la roche pendant l'augmentation des contraintes et au moment de l'avarie sont indiqués. Une nouvelle technique expérimentale est décrite, elle est basée sur les changements de la réponse d'une masse rocheuse à la surimposition de vibrations de basse amplitude et de très basse fréquence. Les limitations de l'appareillage disponible pour ce but sont indiquées et les problèmes posés par la nouvelle technique sont discutés. Les exigences du système et la méthode d'analyse sont discutées. Des résultats obtenus au laboratoire avec un modèle en gélatine sont décrits. Ces résultats montrent clairement que les changements de la réponse à la fréquence et à l'amplitude du modèle développant des fractures peuvent donner à l'avance des indications d'une avarie imminente.

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Superplastic flow and changes in crystal chemistry of feldspars

Comparison of observed microstructures and deduced physical parameters of natural deformations with those encountered in superplastic metals permits identification of superplastic behaviour in rocks. From microstructural evidence, superplastic flow of feldspar is inferred to have occurred in the deformation of a granite from Miéville, Aiguilles-Rouges massif, Switzerland. The original igneous orthoclase and oligoclase phenocrysts have both recrystallised to fine-grained albite which has deformed by superplastic flow. This change in crystal chemistry was associated with a large negative change in free energy, enabling recrystallised grains of a very small size to be stable under the prevailing conditions, thereby producing the pre-requisite conditions for superplastic behaviour.