Temporal Variability in Ecological Stoichiometry and Material Exchange in a Tidally Dominated Estuary (North Inlet,South Carolina) and the Impact on Community Nutrient Status

Across the coastal zone, rates of carbon and nutrient exchange are defined by the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of individual estuarine systems. Elemental stoichiometry provides a mechanism for simplifying overlapping physical, chemical, and biological drivers into proxies that can be used to compare and monitor estuarine biogeochemistry. To this end, the seasonal and tidal variability of estuarine stoichiometry was examined over an annual cycle in North Inlet (NI), South Carolina. Surface samples for dissolved and particulate carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) were collected every 20 days (August 2014 to August 2015) over a semi-diurnal tidal cycle. Dissolved nutrient flux estimates of an individual tidal creek were also made. Overall, the results demonstrated the dominance of seasonal versus tidal forcing on water column C:N:P stoichiometry. This seasonal behavior mediated the relative exchange of N and P into and out of the tidal creek and influenced the nutrient status index (NSI) of NI plankton communities. These communities were largely N deficient with the magnitude of this deficiency impacted by assumptions of inorganic versus organic plankton P demand and nutrient supply. Persistent N deficiency appeared to help drive the net import of N, while temporary P surplus likely drives its seasonal export. Combined, these results indicate that material delivery must be considered on seasonal time frames, as net annual fluxes do not reflect the short-term deliveries of C and nutrients into nearshore ecosystems.     

Correction to: A novel methodological approach for land subsidence prediction through data assimilation techniques

Computational Geosciences - A Correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10596-021-10079-6     

Modeling Ocean Currents Through Complex Random Fields Indexed in Time

Surface ocean currents are often of interest in environmental monitoring. These vectorial data can be reasonably treated as a finite realization of a complex-valued random field, where the decomposition in modulus (current speed) and direction (current direction) of the current field is natural. Moreover, when observations are also available for different time points (other than at several locations), it is useful to evaluate the evolution of their complex correlation over time (rather than in space) and the corresponding modeling which is required for estimation purposes. This paper illustrates a first approach where the temporal profile of surface ocean currents is considered. After introducing the fundamental aspects of the complex formalism of a random field indexed in time, a new class of models suitable for including the temporal component is proposed and applied to describe the time-varying complex covariance function of current data. The analysis concerns ocean current observations, taken hourly on 30 April 2016 through high frequency radar systems at some stations located in the Northeastern Caribbean Sea. The selected complex covariance model indexed in time is used for estimation purposes and its reliability is confirmed by a numerical analysis.

     

Macrobenthic surf zone communities of temperate sandy beaches: spatial and temporal patterns

The spatial and temporal patterns within the surf zone epibenthic assemblages were studied in a coastal fringe of Argentina to determine whether assemblage compositions, abundance, species richness and diversity vary spatially and temporarily. Sampling was conducted seasonally in two sandy beaches over 2 years with a benthic sledge used to collect the fauna in the upper centimeters of soft bottom sediments and the epifauna on the sediment surface. Physical variables were measured in the same coastal sites where biological sampling was conducted. A total of 58 morphospecies were collected. Peracarid crustaceans were the most abundant group. The mysid Pseudobranchiomysis arenae (new genus–new species) (29.73 ± 17.79 ind. per sample) and the isopod Leptoserolis bonaerensis (51.54 ± 22.35 ind. per sample) were the most abundant and common species and were present regularly throughout the sampling period. Differences in the surf zone community composition were found between the beaches; these differences could be related to variation in physical parameters such as sand grain size and wave climate, indicating the possible influence of the morphodynamic state of the beaches on the epibenthic assemblages. A seasonal abundance trend was detected, reflecting the changes in abundance of the two dominant species; the richness pattern was not easily detectable due to the sporadic appearance of non‐resident species in the surf zone, probably due to different causes, including dispersion by entry of water from surrounding areas, littoral currents and storms. The surf zone studied presents a complex and dynamic epibenthic community that appears to be influenced by the morphodynamic state of the beach and the dynamic of non‐resident species.     

Water masses in the Caribbean Sea and sub-annual variability in the Guajira upwelling region

The study of water masses is important as they transport water properties affecting the biosphere and ocean dynamics. In this study, we revisit water masses in the Caribbean Sea using climatology and 11 months of observations at different depths from 3 moorings placed in the Guajira upwelling region, providing some new findings. The Caribbean Surface Water (CSW) seasonal variability is studied at the mixed layer depth. Salinity differences between CSW and the saltier North Atlantic Subtropical Underwater (SUW) determine static stability spatial and temporal variations, with implications for regional ocean dynamics. Besides, we assess the climatologic distribution of water masses below the salinity maximum using the optimum multiparameter analysis and the Thermodynamic Equation of Seawater 2010, defining their source water indices when entering the Caribbean Sea. The SUW, with its core at ~ 150 m depth, occupies 16% of the Caribbean Sea volume, complemented by 38% of Antarctic Intermediate Water, with its core at ~ 700 m depth and North Atlantic Deep Water, which as bottom water occupies 46% of the volume. Hydrographic observations do not differ from climatology, regardless of their large sub-annual variations decreasing with depth. Daily time series of dominant water fractions at different depths correlate at each mooring, indicating a common forcing. Besides, rotated wind stress, which is an indicator of the Guajira upwelling, correlates regularly with water mass fractions down to 700 m depth. However, during strong wind shifts, upwelling seems to affect them down to 1450 m depth.

     

Landslide susceptibility mapping by remote sensing and geomorphological data: case studies on the Sorrentina Peninsula (Southern Italy)

The Sorrentina Peninsula is a densely populated area with high touristic impact. It is located in a morphologically complex zone of Southern Italy frequently affected by dangerous and calamitous landslides. This work contributes to the prevention of such natural disasters by applying a GIS-based interdisciplinary approach aimed to map the areas more potentially prone to trigger slope instability phenomena. We have developed the Landslide Susceptibility Index (LSI) combining five weighted and ranked susceptibility parameters on a GIS platform. These parameters are recognized in the literature as the main predisposing factors for triggering landslides. This work combines analyses conducted on Remote Sensing, Geo-Lithology and Morphometry data and it is organized in the following logical steps: i) Multi-temporal InSAR technique was applied to Envisat-ASAR (2003–2010) and COSMO-SkyMed (2013–2015) datasets to obtain the ground displacement time series and the relative mean ground velocity maps. InSAR allowed the detection of the areas that are subjected to ground deformation and the main affected municipalities; ii) Such deformation areas were investigated through airborne photo interpretation to identify the presence of geomorphological peculiarities connected to potential slope instability. Subsequently, some of these peculiarities were checked on the field; iii) In these deformation areas the susceptibility parameters were mapped in the entire territory of Amalfi and Conca dei Marini and then investigated with a multivariate analysis to derive the classes and the respective weights used in the LSI calculation. The resulting LSI map classifies the two municipalities with high spatial resolution (2m) according to five classes of instability. The map highlights that the high/very high susceptibility zones cover 6% of the investigated territory and correspond to potential landslide source areas characterized by 25°-70° slope angles. A spatial analysis between the map of the historical landslides and the areas classified according to susceptibility allowed testing of the reliability of the LSI Index, resulting in 85% prediction accuracy.     

Inter‐population differences in feeding ecology under nitrogen‐limited diets: Field growth and the role of cannibalism in limiting/improving reserve accumulation

Growth is determined by an organism's physiology, physical environment, and biological conditions, including food availability and any intra‐ and inter‐specific interactions that can affect feeding activity. To analyse how all these factors interact to produce final growth in the herbivorous/detritivorous crab Neohelice granulata, we performed field and laboratory experiments with juveniles and adults from three populations which differed genetically as well as in their physical environment and the organic matter (OM) content in the soil that serves as food. We evaluated (a) growth in the field: Juveniles of the three populations were cross‐transplanted in exclusion cages; (b) effect of the presence of adults on juvenile feeding: We measured the feeding activity of small juveniles in presence/absence of an adult male as potential predator in the field; and (c) effect of diet on cannibalism: We analysed the cannibalistic behavior of adult males from two of the populations in the laboratory after they had received protein‐rich (24%) and protein‐poor (3%) diets. In experiment (a), final size was similar for the crabs from all three origins but growth differed between sites. Experiment (b) showed that the presence of adults interfered with feeding activity at the two sites with lower weight indicators. In experiment (c), we observed that low protein diet increased the cannibalistic behavior of adult males, and this effect was more intense in crabs from the poorest food site. Our results contribute to understanding the set of factors and interactions involved in the response of individuals to the prevailing conditions in natural environments in order to maintain a growth rate, perhaps at the expense of different reserve accumulation. They also enable discussion of the limitations of approaches used in laboratory experiments.     

Death valley regional ground-water flow model calibration using optimal parameter estimation methods and geoscientific information systems

A regional-scale, steady-state, saturated-zone ground-water flow model was constructed to evaluate potential regional ground-water flow in the vicinity of Yucca Mountain, Nevada. The model was limited to three layers in an effort to evaluate the characteristics governing large-scale subsurface flow. Geoscientific information systems (GSIS) were used to characterize the complex surface and subsurface hydrogeologic conditions of the area, and this characterization was used to construct likely conceptual models of the flow system. Subsurface properties in this system vary dramatically, producing high contrasts and abrupt contacts. This characteristic, combined with the large scale of the model, make zonation the logical choice for representing the hydraulic-conductivity distribution. Different conceptual models were evaluated using sensitivity analysis and were tested by using nonlinear regression to determine parameter values that are optimal, in that they provide the best match between the measured and simulated heads and flows. The different conceptual models were judged based both on the fit achieved to measured heads and spring flows, and the plausibility of the optimal parameter values. One of the conceptual models considered appears to represent the system most realistically. Any apparent model error is probably caused by the coarse vertical and horizontal discretization.     

Mitigating Carbon Emissions while Advancing National DevelopmentPriorities: The Case of Mexico

We analyze and integrate energy andforestry carbon mitigation scenarios for Mexicobetween the year 1994 and 2010. The energy optionsrange from efficient end-use technologies to renewabletechnologies for electricity generation. Forestryoptions include avoiding deforestation through themanagement of native forests, and two afforestationoptions: restoration plantations and agroforestrysystems. The methodology utilized to evaluatedifferent energy and forestry scenarios is based on a`bottom up' model. In the year 2010, total carbonemissions will reach 879 Tg of CO₂, of which 83%comes from energy consumption. The total carbonmitigation potential reaches 348 Tg of CO₂ by2010, 62% of which comes from forestry options.Mitigation costs range from $–45.9/ton CO₂ to$106.4/ton CO₂. Several options, particularlyconcerning energy technologies, are cost effectivefrom a national perspective. In each sector, differentbarriers can hinder the implementation of mitigationalternatives.     

Variability of fluvial sediment supply to the Laptev Sea continental margin during Late Weichselian to Holocene times: implications from clay–mineral records

Three sediment cores from the Laptev Sea continental margin were investigated for their clay mineralogy by X-ray diffraction to study the fluvial sediment supply since the late Weichselian. In the study area, the clay-mineral composition of surface sediments is characterized by distinct regional variations. The source area for smectite in the eastern Eurasian Basin is the Putoran Plateau drained by the Khatanga and Yenisei rivers. Currents caused by river discharge and the inflow of Atlantic water masses along the Eurasian continental margin are responsible for sediment distribution. In the sediment cores, smectite and illite contents show an opposite trend which mainly results from variable smectite supply. During MIS 2 the amount of smectite on the Laptev Sea continental margin never exceeds 10 rel.%. Probably, reduced river discharge and the lowered sea level during MIS 2 caused a decreased sediment supply to the Laptev Sea. Additionally, the Putoran Plateau was covered by an ice sheet during the Late Weichselian preventing the erosion of smectite-rich soils. In contrast, maximum smectite contents (up to 30 rel.%) in Holocene sediments result from increased sediment input by the Khatanga River and from the Kara Sea through the Vilkitsky Strait and via St. Anna Trough into the western Laptev Sea.