MEPBAY and SMC: Software tools to support different operational levels of headland-bay beach in coastal engineering projects

This paper presents MEPBAY and SMC software tools that allow comprehending and solving problems in headland-bay beach through a parabolic model. These tools can be employed as coastal engineering design tools (including nourishment designs) and also for academic purposes. They are oriented to different end-users, including coastal technicians, scientists and undergraduates and as coastal engineering design tools, they can be applied to different operational levels (pre-design and design). The aim of the paper is to present design guidelines, the capabilities of the tools, their potential use and applications. Both tools were applied to analyze San Lorenzo Beach and demonstrate their ability at different project levels.     

Uncertainty in the application of the Parabolic Bay Shape Equation: Part 1

This paper aims to quantify the uncertainty in the application of the Parabolic Bay Shape Equation (PBSE) for a bay in static equilibrium. By means of expert elicitation, a database was generated consisting of the position of the control points that determine the Static Equilibrium Planform (SEP). The elicitation consisted of two parts. In Part 1, 22 expert volunteers were asked to place the three control points that determine the SEP on a vertical aerial photograph of Taquaras–Taquarinhas Bay, a morphologically stable bay in the south of Brazil, approximately 1800 m in width and with an indentation of 750 m. The distribution of the location of the SEP along four evenly spaced (200 m) profiles in the southern part of the bay was determined. The overall bias of the location of the SEP calculated over the four profiles was in the order of 41 m (landward) and the average standard deviation was 116 m. These parameters increased when moving alongshore toward the curved section of the bay. This means that the uncertainty in the application of the PBSE is dependent on the particular point of interest along the bay. In Part 2 of the elicitation, 30 volunteers participated. This time the consequence of the placement of the control points (the corresponding SEP) was visible. Comparing the results from Parts 1 and 2, it was observed that when volunteers were directly confronted with the result of the placement of the control points (a plotted SEP) a much smaller variation in the position of the SEP occurred. This implies that when feedback on the result is provided the PBSE is a more robust method.     

Seismic reflection-based evidence of a transfer zone between the Wagner and Consag basins: implications for defining the structural geometry of the northern Gulf of California

This study examines the structural characteristics of the northern Gulf of California by processing and interpreting ca. 415 km of two-dimensional multi-channel seismic reflection lines (data property of Petróleos Mexicanos PEMEX) collected in the vicinity of the border between the Wagner and Consag basins. The two basins appear to be a link between the Delfín Superior Basin to the south, and the Cerro Prieto Basin to the north in the Mexicali-Imperial Valley along the Pacific–North America plate boundary. The seismic data are consistent with existing knowledge of four main structures (master faults) in the region, i.e., the Percebo, Santa María, Consag Sur, and Wagner Sur faults. The Wagner and Consag basins are delimited to the east by the Wagner Sur Fault, and to the west by the Consag Sur Fault. The Percebo Fault borders the western margin of the modern Wagner Basin depocenter, and is oriented N10°W, dipping (on average) ～40° to the northeast. The trace of the Santa María Fault located in the Wagner Basin strikes N19°W, dipping ～40° to the west. The Consag Sur Fault is oriented N14°W, and dips ～42° to the east over a distance of 21 km. To the east of the study area, the Wagner Sur Fault almost parallels the Consag Sur Fault over a distance of ～86 km, and is oriented N10°W with an average dip of 59° to the east. Moreover, the data provide new evidence that the Wagner Fault is discontinuous between the two basins, and that its structure is more complex than previously reported. A structural high separates the northern Consag Basin from the southern Wagner Basin, comprising several secondary faults oriented NE oblique to the main faults of N–S direction. These could represent a zone of accommodation, or transfer zone, where extension could be transferred from the Wagner to the Consag Basin, or vice versa. This area shows no acoustic basement and/or intrusive body, which is consistent with existing gravimetric and magnetic data for the region.     

Stratigraphic evolution from the early Albian to late Campanian of the Potiguar Basin,Northeast Brazil: An approach in seismic scale

Five 3rd-order depositional sequences are interpreted from the early Albian to late Campanian interval in the Potiguar Basin. An integrated analysis of seismic interpretations, well logs, cores and biostratigraphic data provides a stratigraphic framework composed by stratigraphic surfaces, systems tracts and sequences. Depositional Sequence 1 and 2 are, respectively, Albian and early to mid-Cenomanian aged and are composed by the falling stage, low stand, transgressive and high stand systems tracts. Depositional Sequence 3 is late Cenomanian to mid-Turonian aged and is composed by the transgressive and high stand systems tracts. Depositional sequences 4 and 5 are, respectively, late Turonian to mid-Santonian and late Santonian to mid-Campanian aged and are composed only by transgressive and high stand systems tracts. The lack of falling stage and low stand systems tracts in depositional sequences 3, 4 and 5, as well the increasing in transgressive and highstand systems tracts thickness as depositional sequences get younger, are reflection of an overall transgressive trend of a 2nd-order sequence. The interpretation proposed in this paper correlates onshore with offshore deposits within a seismic scale (3rd-order) sequence stratigraphy framework. This approach allows a better understanding of the Açu Formation, the primary oil-bearing formation of the Potiguar Basin. The Açu Formation is part of depositional sequences 1, 2 and 3 and is characterized by lateral and vertical variations of depositional systems instead of being associated to a specific depositional system. This sequence stratigraphy analysis can be used as a low-resolution framework for future high-resolution (4th-order scale) studies.     

Antioxidant response of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica when epiphytized by the invasive macroalgae Lophocladia lallemandii

The aim was to evaluate the antioxidant defences and the occurrence of oxidative damage in Posidonia oceanica under a stress situation due to the epiphytism of the invasive macroalgae Lophocladia lallemandii. P. oceanica leaves were collected in the absence (control station) and in the presence of the epiphytic algae L. lallemandii and the antioxidant enzyme activities, markers of oxidative damage, and hydrogen peroxide production were determined. Antioxidant enzyme - catalase, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase - activities were significantly higher in Posidonia epiphytized by L. lallemandii. Malondialdehyde, protein carbonyl derivates, and glutathione levels were also higher in L. lallemandii epiphytized P. oceanica leaves compared to control samples. The production of hydrogen peroxide was also significantly increased when Posidonia was epiphytized by L. lallemandii. The invasion of P. oceanica meadows by L. lallemandii appeared to induce oxidative stress in the seagrass as evidenced by increased levels of oxidative stress markers and antioxidant defences.     

Artificial contradiction between cosmology and particle physics: the Λ problem

It is shown that the usual choice of units obtained by taking G=c=ℏ=1, giving the Planck’s units of mass, length and time, introduces an artificial contradiction between cosmology and particle physics: the lambda problem that we associate with ℏ. We note that the choice of ℏ=1 does not correspond to the scale of quantum physics. For this scale we prove that the correct value is ℏ≈1/10¹²², while the choice of ℏ=1 corresponds to the cosmological scale. This is due to the scale factor of 10⁶¹ that converts the Planck scale to the cosmological scale. By choosing the ratio G/c ³=constant=1, which includes the choice G=c=1, and the momentum conservation mc=constant, we preserve the derivation of the Einstein field equations from the action principle. Then the product Gm/c ²=r _g , the gravitational radius of m, is constant. For a quantum black hole we prove that ℏ≈r _g ²≈(mc)². We also prove that the product Λℏ is a general constant of order one, for any scale. The cosmological scale implies Λ≈ℏ≈1, while the Planck scale gives Λ≈1/ℏ≈10¹²². This explains the Λ problem. We get two scales: the cosmological quantum black hole (QBH), size ∼10²⁸ cm, and the quantum black hole (qbh) that includes the fundamental particles scale, size ∼10⁻¹³ cm, as well as the Planck’ scale, size ∼10⁻³³ cm.      

Spring thermal resources for grapevine in Kőszeg (Hungary) deduced from a very long pictorial time series (1740–2009)

Since 1740 until now, the Book of Vine Branches encompasses beautiful pictorial representations of shoots and sprouts, collected every year on April 24th in the vineyards of the Hungarian town of K?szeg. A long time series (1740–2009) of sprouts phenological development coded with the BBCH scale is obtained through paintings visual inspection. Consequently, a model relating sprouts development with thermal resources accumulation is developed on the base of Wien daily air temperature series for the 1857–2009 period. Thermal resources is obtained with the Normal Heat Hours approach, a response curve method that takes into account the nonlinear response of phenological development to temperature. The model, calibrated and validated on the 1930–2009 period, shows an overestimation of thermal resources when applied to the 1857–1929, due to the more advanced phenology of that phase. Since this advance can be ascribed to genetics and management instead of more favorable thermal conditions, model outputs previous to 1930 are decreased by a constant factor. Finally, the 1740–2009 time series of grapevine spring thermal resources is obtained applying the model to the complete phenological time series. The analysis of the series highlights a first phase (1740–1780) characterized by high and stable availability of thermal resources during the 1740–1780, a second phase (1781–1820) with the lowest level of resources, a phase of intermediate availability (1821–1929) and a final present phase (1930–2009) with renewed high availability. The adopted method overcomes the lack of correlation for the post 1960 period shown by previous works.     

A New TanSat XCO_2 Global Product towards Climate Studies

The 1st Chinese carbon dioxide(CO2)monitoring satellite mission,TanSat,was launched in 2016.The 1st TanSat global map of CO2 dry-air mixing ratio(XCO2)measurements over land was released as version 1 data product with an accuracy of 2.11 ppmv(parts per million by volume).In this paper,we introduce a new(version 2)TanSat global XCO2 product that is approached by the Institute of Atmospheric Physics Carbon dioxide retrieval Algorithm for Satellite remote sensing(IAPCAS),and the European Space Agency(ESA)Climate Change Initiative plus(CCI+)TanSat XCO2 product by University of Leicester Full Physics(UoL-FP)retrieval algorithm.The correction of the measurement spectrum improves the accuracy(?0.08 ppmv)and precision(1.47 ppmv)of the new retrieval,which provides opportunity for further application in global carbon flux studies in the future.Inter-comparison between the two retrievals indicates a good agreement,with a standard deviation of 1.28 ppmv and a bias of?0.35 ppmv.     

The metamorphic aureole of the Nisa-Alburquerque batholith (SW Iberia): implications for deep structure and emplacement mode

The Nisa-Alburquerque granitic batholith (southern Variscan Belt, Iberian Peninsula) has been studied by petrological, structural and geophysical approaches, obtaining contrasting models for its deep structure and emplacement sequence. In order to test these models and gain knowledge on the thermal increase induced by the intrusion, we have studied its contact aureole, which was developed in similar country rock lithologies (mica schists alternating with metasandstones and feldespatic schists) all along the northern external contact of the batholith. Our results indicate no change in metamorphic grade and some variations in aureole width, which narrows toward the western sectors of the batholith. Cordierite is the only contact metamorphic mineral developed together with a high temperature biotite probably related to the granite thermal input. By considering these new data, together with zircon saturation temperatures within the granite and previous petrological and geophysical studies, we propose a model in which the feeder zones of the granitic magmas were an eastern main one and a western secondary one. We have also made comparisons of the metamorphic grade in the country rocks and the xenoliths within the granite. Most of the xenoliths have the same metamorphic facies as the country rocks (Crd-zone), though some of them contain slightly different assemblages (And + Crd), which could be explained in different ways: (1) differences in the primary schist compositions, (2) increased time-span of xenoliths in contact with the melt and (3) xenolith incorporation at slightly higher depths during final granite ascent.     

Correlation between nitrate concentration in groundwater and parameters affecting aquifer intrinsic vulnerability

This paper is the result of a study which was carried out in order to verify if the traditional methods to evaluate the intrinsic vulnerability or vulnerability related parameters, are able to clarify the problem of nitrate pollution in groundwater. In particular, the aim was to evaluate limitations and problems connected to aquifer vulnerability methods applied to nitrate contamination prevision in groundwater. The investigation was carried out by comparing NO₃ ⁻ concentrations, measured in March and November 2004 in the shallow aquifer, and the vulnerability classes, obtained by using GOD and TOT methods. Moreover, it deals with a comparison between NO₃ ⁻ concentrations and single parameters (depth to water table, land use and nitrogen input). The study area is the plain sector of Piemonte (Northern Italy), where an unconfined aquifer nitrate contamination exists. In this area the anthropogenic presence is remarkable and the input of N-fertilizers and zootechnical effluents to the soil cause a growing amount of nitrates in groundwater. This approach, used in a large area (about 10,000 km²) and in several monitoring wells (about 500), allowed to compare the efficiency of different vulnerability methods and to verify the importance of every parameter on the nitrate concentrations in the aquifer. Furthermore it allowed to obtain interesting correlations in different hydrogeological situations. Correlations between depth to water table, land use and nitrogen input to the soil with nitrate concentrations in groundwater show unclear situations: in fact these comparisons describe the phenomenon trend and highlight the maximum nitrate concentrations for each circumstance but often show wide ranges of possible nitrate concentrations. The same situation could be observed by comparing vulnerability indexes and nitrate concentrations in groundwater. These results suggest that neither single parameters nor vulnerability methods (GOD and TOT) are able to describe individually the complex phenomena affecting nitrate concentrations in soil, subsoil and groundwater. In particular, the traditional methods for vulnerability analysis do not analyze physical processes in aquifers, such as denitrification and nitrate dilution. According to a recent study in the shallow unconfined aquifer of the Piemonte plain, dilution can be considered as the main cause for nitrate attenuation in groundwater.