Macrofauna along the Sudanese Red Sea coast: potential effect of mangrove clearance on community and trophic structure

Mangroves along the Sudanese Red Sea coast are under constant anthropogenic pressure. To better understand the influence of mangrove clearance on the intertidal benthic community, we investigated the composition, biodiversity and standing stock of the macrofauna communities at high‐, mid‐ and low‐water levels in three contrasting habitats: a bare sand flat, a cleared mangrove and an intact mangrove. In addition, a community‐wide metric approach based on taxon‐specific carbon and nitrogen isotope values was used to compare the trophic structure between the three habitats. The habitats differed significantly in terms of macrofaunal standing stock, community composition and trophic structure. The high‐ and mid‐water levels of the intact mangroves showed a distinct macrofaunal community characterized by elevated densities and biomass, largely governed by higher decapod and gastropod abundances. Diversity was similar for cleared and intact mangroves, but much lower for the bare sand flat. Community‐wide metrics indicated highest trophic diversity and community niche breadth in the intact mangroves. Differences between the cleared and intact mangroves can be partly attributed to differences in sediment characteristics resulting from mangrove clearance. These results suggest a significant impact of mangrove clearance on the macrofaunal community and trophic structure. This study calls for further investigations and management actions to protect and restore these habitats, and ensure the survival of this ecologically valuable coastal ecosystem.     

The Locations of Wal-Mart and Kmart Supercenters: Contrasting Corporate Strategies

Wal-Mart and Kmart, the two largest American discount retailers, have begun to utilize a supercenter retailing format that combines a full-service grocery store with a discount department store. Supercenters are expected to be the major format for future expansion of each of these firms. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the spatial expansion strategies of each firm for the locations of its supercenters. Wal-Mart is quickly expanding its number of supercenters in modest-sized communities clustered around its grocery distribution centers, especially in Southern states. Conversely, most Super Kmart Centers are located inthe suburbs of widely scattered major metropolitan markets, and Kmart has yet to develop a grocery distribution network. Kmart currently has major financial problems that severely restrict the expansion of the Super Kmart Center format.     

Hydrocarbon Reservoir Characterization Using Multi-point Stochastic Inversion Technique: A Case Study of Pennay Field

Natural Resources Research - Various limitations mitigate our understanding of the intrinsic properties of subsurface formations during reservoir characterization. These challenges go beyond data...     

Yield–reliability analysis for rural domestic water supply from combined rainwater harvesting and run-of-river abstraction

Abstract

In many rural areas, reticulated water supply from large water resources schemes does not exist and many households obtain water from groundwater (GW), rainwater harvesting (RWH), run-of-river (ROR) flow, or combinations of these. While comprehensive yield–reliability analysis for large water resource systems is the norm, typical rural water supply analysis unrealistically aggregates data into monthly or annual time steps and does not incorporate reliability. A daily time-step simulation of household supply and frequency analysis of the number of days supplied in each year is used herein to: (a) demonstrate a realistic approach of yield–reliability analysis for RWH, ROR and combined RWH and ROR supply; and (b) show how combined utilization of the two can lead to improved supply. Integration of RWH and ROR supply has been found to improve yield and reliability substantially. The limitations of using the simpler mass curve analysis and the effect of applying a monthly time step are demonstrated.

Citation Ndiritu, J., Odiyo, J. O., Makungo, R., Ntuli, C. & Mwaka, B. (2011) Yield–reliability analysis for rural domestic water supply from combined rainwater harvesting and run-of-river abstraction. Hydrol. Sci. J. 56(2), 238–248.     

Deformations and Manifestations of Degassing in the Sedimentary Cover of the Equatorial Segment of the West Atlantic: Implications for Lithospheric Geodynamics

Manifestations of fluids and deformations in the sedimentary cover, which are both factors of brightening (blanking anomalies) in seismoacoustic records, in the equatorial segment of the Atlantic coincide with the sublatitudinal zones of the activated passive parts of transform faults and with zones of lower gravity anomalies and higher values of remnant magnetization, which form as a result of serpentinization. The cause-and-effect sequence of intraplate phenomena includes: the contrasting geodynamic state → horizontal movements that form macrofractures → water supply to the upper mantle → serpentinization of rocks in the upper mantle → deformations associated with vertical uplift of basement and sedimentary cover blocks, coupled with fluid generation → and fluid accumulation in the sedimentary cover, accompanied by the formation of anomalies in seismoacoustic records. Based on the seismic data, we have identified imbricate-thrust deformations, diapir structures, stamp folds, and positive and negative flower structures, indicating the presence of strike-slip faults in the passive parts of transform faults. The general spatial distribution of deformation structures shows their concentration in cold mantle zones. Correlative comparison of the structural characteristics of deformations shows the direct relationship between the heights of structures and the development of serpentinization processes. As per the age of the basement, deformations range from 27–38 to 43–53 Ma; a quite thick sedimentary cover makes it possible to reveal them based on the characteristic types of seismoacoustic records. The formation of the Antilles arc ca. 10 Ma ago affected the equatorial segment of the Atlantic; it formed kink bands where lithospheric blocks underwent displacements with counterclockwise rotations, deformations related to compression and vertical uplift of crustal fragments, and local extension that favored degassing of endogenous fluids. Sublatitudinally oriented imbricate-thrust deformations with different vergences indicate irregularity and alternating strike-slip directions as blocks between fractures were laterally influenced.     

Some comments on physical processes at and near the tropopause

The major physical processes at and near the tropopause are evaluated; these processes are radiation, convection and turbulence, advection and vertical convergence. Calculations of instantaneous long wave radiative temperature change for observed and postulated moisture distributions show that radiation usually acts to smooth the temperature profile. Observations and the principle of continuity show that convection is infrequent and unimportant in establishing the tropopause. General principles and numerical integration of the heat conduction equation for special cases show that turbulence will act to smooth the temperature profile unless flux has a certain relationship to hydrostatic stability. Observations, calculations and the principle of continuity show that advection and vertical convergence cannot be universal mechanisms of tropopause formation.

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Zusammenfassung Die grundlegenden physikalischen Prozesse an und in der Nähe der Tropopause werden bestimmt; diese Prozesse sind Strahlung, Konvektion und Turbulenz, Advektion und Vertikalakonvergenz. Berechnungen von momentanen Temperaturänderungen durch langwellige Strahlung für beobachtete und vorgegebene Feuchtigkeitsverteilungen lassen erkennen, daß die Strahlung gewöhnlich das Temperaturprofil auszugleichen sucht. Beobachtungen und das Kontinuitätsprinzip zeigen, daß Konvektion selten und für die Bildung der Tropopause unwichtig ist. Allgemeine Prinzipien und numerische Integration der Wärmeleitungsgleichung für spezielle Fälle zeigen, daß die Turbulenz das Temperaturprofil auszugleichen sucht, außer wenn der Wärmestrom in spezieller Beziehung zur hydrostatischen Stabilität steht. Beobachtungen, Berechnungen und das Kontinuitätsprinzip führen zu der Feststellung, daß Advektion und vertikale Konvergenz nicht als allgemeine Mechanismen für die Bildung der Tropopause angesehen werden können.

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Résumé L'auteur évalue les processus physiques fondamentaux de la tropopause et à sa proximité; ces processus sont le rayonnement, la convection et la turbulence, l'advection et la convergence verticale. Le calcul de variations instantanées de la température dûes au rayonnement de grande longueur d'onde, par une distribution observée et supposée de l'humidité, montre qu'en général le rayonnement semble atténuer et égaliser le profil de la température. Les observations et le principe de continuité font admettre que la convection est rare et de peu d'importance pour la formation de la tropopause. Des principes généraux et une intégration numérique de l'équation de transmission de chaleur pour des can spéciaux montrent que la turbulence tend à égaliser le profil de température à moins que le flux de chaleur ne soit en relation spécifique avec la stabilité hydrostatique. Des observations, des calculs et le principe de continuité prouvent que l'advection et la convergence verticale ne peuvent être considérées comme étant des mécanismes généraux pour la formation de la tropopause.

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The research reported here was supported in part by the Geophysical Research Directorate, A. F. Cambridge Research Center.     

The geochronology and origin of mantle sources for late cenozoic intraplate volcanism in the frontal part of the Arabian plate in the Karacadağ neovolcanic area of Turkey. Part 1. The results of isotope-geochronological studies

This paper considers results from isotope-geochronological (K-Ar) studies of the products of Neogene-Quaternary volcanism in the Karacada? area, which is situated within the northern frontal part of the Arabian plate. It was found that magmatic activity has been evolving at this location for at least the last 11–10 Myr and was distinctly discrete in character. Three stages of volcanism have been identified: (I) Early or Miocene, ～11–6.7 Ma; (II) Middle or Pliocene-Early Quaternary, 4–1 Ma; and (III) Late or Late Quaternary, 0.4–0.1 Ma. The most recent manifestations of magmatic activity in the region date back to about 100000 years ago. An analysis of the spatial distribution of volcanic centers of different ages in the Karacada? neovolcanic area shows that the magmatism of that region involved a lateral migration of activity from northwest to southeast along a major regional tectonic fault. The migration was caused by the movement of local tension zones where the lithosphere was thinner and deep-seated mantle magmas were ascending.     

Ultraviolet radiation diagnostics of the flare transient layer

The correlation between the pulsed and smooth components of ultraviolet radiation and hard X-rays from solar flares has been interpreted on the basis of the time behavior of the energy flux penetrating from the magnetic field reconnection region to the boundary of the heated region. It has been shown that the time behavior of the primary flare energy flux is easily reconstructed from the time profile of the intensity of hard X-rays, and the time profile of the intensity of ultraviolet radiation represents the release of the flare energy in the flare transient layer. The smooth or pulsed component of the ultraviolet radiation depends on the form of the primary energy release. Information on the dynamics of the heating process and the formation and equalization of the gas pressure in the flare transient layer has been obtained from the observed temperature dependence of the emission measure. The described scheme explains the set of flare phenomena and the correlation between hard X-rays with pulsed ultraviolet bursts.     

The source of sulfur in sulfide deposits in the Siberian Platform traps (from isotope data)

The source of sulfur in giant Norilsk-type sulfide deposits is discussed. A review of the state of the problem and a critical analysis of existing hypotheses are made. The distribution of δ³⁴S in sulfides of ore occurrences and small and large deposits and in normal sedimentary, metamorphogenic, and hypogene sulfates is considered. A large number of new δ³⁴S data for sulfides and sulfates in various deposits, volcanic and terrigenous rocks, coals, graphites, and metasomatites are presented. The main attention is focused on the objects of the Norilsk and Kureika ore districts. The δ³⁴S value varies from -14 to + 22.5‰ in sulfides of rocks and ores and from 15.3 to 33‰ in anhydrites. In sulfide-sulfate intergrowths and assemblages, δ³⁴S is within 4.2-14.6‰ in sulfides and within 15.3-21.3‰ in anhydrites. The most isotopically heavy sulfur was found in pyrrhotite veins in basalts (δ³⁴S = 21.6‰), in sulfate veins cutting dolomites (δ³⁴S = 33‰), and in subsidence caldera sulfates in basalts (δ³⁴S = 23.2-25.2‰). Sulfide ores of the Tsentral’naya Shilki intrusion have a heavy sulfur isotope composition (δ³⁴S = + 17.7‰ (n = 15)). Thermobarogeochemical studies of anhydrites have revealed inclusions of different types with homogenization temperatures ranging from 685 °C to 80 °C. Metamorphogenic and hypogene anhydrites are associated with a carbonaceous substance, and hypogene anhydrites have inclusions of chloride-containing salt melts. We assume that sulfur in the trap sulfide deposits was introduced with sulfates of sedimentary rocks (δ³⁴S = 22-24‰). No assimilation of sulfates by basaltic melt took place. The sedimentary anhydrites were “steamed” by hydrocarbons, which led to sulfate reduction and δ³⁴S fractionation. As a result, isotopically light sulfur accumulated in sulfides and hydrogen sulfide, isotopically heavy sulfur was removed by aqueous calcium sulfate solution, and “residual” metamorphogenic anhydrite acquired a lighter sulfur isotope composition as compared with the sedimentary one. The wide variations in δ³⁴S in sulfides and sulfates are due to changes in the physicochemical parameters of the ore-forming system (first of all, temperature and P_ch4) during the sulfate reduction. The regional hydrocarbon resources were sufficient for large-scale ore formation.