Review: The distribution,flow, and quality of Grand Canyon Springs,Arizona (USA)

An understanding of the hydrogeology of Grand Canyon National Park (GRCA) in northern Arizona, USA, is critical for future resource protection. The ~750 springs in GRCA provide both perennial and seasonal flow to numerous desert streams, drinking water to wildlife and visitors in an otherwise arid environment, and habitat for rare, endemic and threatened species. Spring behavior and flow patterns represent local and regional patterns in aquifer recharge, reflect the geologic structure and stratigraphy, and are indicators of the overall biotic health of the canyon. These springs, however, are subject to pressures from water supply development, changes in recharge from forest fires and other land management activities, and potential contamination. Roaring Springs is the sole water supply for residents and visitors (>6 million/year), and all springs support valuable riparian habitats with very high species diversity. Most springs flow from the karstic Redwall-Muav aquifer and show seasonal patterns in flow and water chemistry indicative of variable aquifer porosities, including conduit flow. They have Ca/Mg-HCO₃ dominated chemistry and trace elements consistent with nearby deep wells drilled into the Redwall-Muav aquifer. Tracer techniques and water-age dating indicate a wide range of residence times for many springs, supporting the concept of multiple porosities. A perched aquifer produces small springs which issue from the contacts between sandstone and shale units, with variable groundwater residence times. Stable isotope data suggest both an elevational and seasonal difference in recharge between North and South Rim springs. This review highlights the complex nature of the groundwater system.     

Spatial distribution of dust deposition within a small drainage basin: Implications for loess deposits in the Negev Desert

Loessial colluvial sediments and aeolian aprons are common deposits in the Negev Desert Highlands. In an attempt to monitor the amounts and distributional pattern of loess, monthly dust measurements were carried out during 2004 to 2006 in 10 cm diameter traps located at 18 stations along four slopes, north‐facing, south‐facing, east‐facing and west‐facing in a second‐order drainage basin near Sede Boqer, Negev Desert Highlands, Israel. Annual total dust depositions ranged between 110 g and 178 g m^?2 with an average of 151·1 g m^?2. The average annual dust deposition in the catchment was 23·5% higher than the average amount recorded at the hilltops (122·4 g m^?2) and may be a consequence of sheltering opportunities in the hilly topography. When analysed according to season and aspect, significantly higher monthly amounts were received during the wet rainy season of December to March (17·0 g m^?2), in comparison with the rest of the year (8·1 g m^?2). As for the aspect, while no significant differences characterized north‐facing and south‐facing slopes, east‐facing slopes received significantly higher amounts (by 43·3%) than west‐facing slopes, pointing to preferential dust deposition at the leeward slope. Concurring with the classical model that anticipates higher dust deposition at the leeside slope, but in disagreement with some reports published in the literature, the findings of this study were also supported by a field survey that showed preferential loess accumulation at the eastern and north‐eastern aspects. These findings may shed light on distributional patterns of colluvial sediments and aeolian aprons in the Negev, on soil‐forming processes and on past cycles of dust deposition.     

Tuna schools/aggregations in surface longline data 1993–98

Exploratory data analysis of a high‐resolution (hook‐by‐hook), 6‐year time series (1993–98) of observed longline catch data for tunas was used to investigate fine‐scale spatial patterns along individual sets that may be indicative of social behaviour (i.e., schooling) and/or the response of individual fish to favourable extrinsic conditions (i.e., aggregation). Methods of spatial data analysis (i.e., nearest neighbour analysis) that have previously been applied in various other sciences (e.g., forestry and astronomy) were used. Results indicate strong clustering of individual tunas at characteristic scales within the set. Mean Nearest Neighbour Distances (NNDs) were between 100 and 200 m, compared with NNDs of 200–700 m predicted by a heterogeneous Poisson process on the same spatial domain. The results suggest that these adult tunas were either schooling or aggregating at the time of capture; this may therefore be related either to social behaviour or to sub‐mesoscale oceanographic features. An aggregation index was derived from the NNDs, giving a classification method that may be used for similar data and the development of empirical models attempting to relate patterns in fish catch distributions to environmental variables. The success of such models will ultimately depend on elucidating the ecological processes reflected in oceanographic features at biologically meaningful spatial scales.     

Radioastronomical observations of comets IRAS-Araki-Alcock (1983d) and Sugano-Saigusa-Fujikawa (1983e)

Detections and upper limits to the continuum emission (1 ≤ λ ≤6 cm) and spectral line emission (OH, CO, CS, HCN, HCO⁺, CN, CH₃CN, CH₃C₂H, NH₃, H₂O, HC₃N, CH₃CH₂CN) are reported from radio observations of Comets 1983d and 1983e. Comparison is made with observations of CN at optical wavelengths. These results may be useful in planning future cometary observations.     

Direct measurement of the meridional circulation in the stratosphere during the IGY

Summary In this study the horizontal component of the meridional circulation at the 100, 50 and 30 mb levels in the stratosphere is computed for the IGY period July 1957 through June 1958. Radiosonde data from approximately 240 stations, well distributed over the northern hemisphere, are used in the analysis of the north-south component of the wind. Values of the mean meridional circulation for the four seasons are presented at every 5° latitude from the equator to 80°N.In the annual average at 100 mb an apparent three cell pattern is obseered, consisting of a region of strong poleward motion north of 55°N, equatorward motion from 15° to 55°N and weak poleward motion from 0° to 15°N. In the annual averages at 50 and 30 mb poleward motions appear only at high latitudes and diminsih in strength with height. Equatorward motions dominate at 30 mb. A maximum value of the mean meridional circulation of +60 cm sec^–1 is found at 100 mb at 70°N.

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Zusammenfassung In dieser Untersuchung ist für die 100-, 50- und 30 mb-Niveaus die horizontale Komponente der meridionalen Zirkulation in der Stratosphäre im internationalen geophysikalischen Jahr (Juli 1957 bis Juni 1958) berechnet worden. Es werden dabei Radiosonden-Daten von etwa 240 Stationen, die über die nördliche Hemisphäre gut verteilt sind, für die Analyse der Nord-Süd-Windkomponente verwendet. Für jeden fünften Breitengrad vom Äquator bis 80°N werden Werte der durchschnittlichen Meridionalkomponente der Zirkulation für die vier Jahreszeiten mitgeteilt.Im Jahresdurchschnitt zeigt sich im 100 mb-Niveau eine Verteilung der Meridionalkomponente, die anscheinend einem aus drei Zellen bestehenden Zirkulationssystem entspricht, wobei nördlich von 55°N eine starke polwärts gerichtete Bewegung, zwischen 15° und 55°N eine Strömung gegen den Äquator und zwischen 0° und 15°N wieder eine schwache polwärts gerichtete Strömung besteht. In den Jahresdurchschnittswerten aus den Niveaus der 50- und 30 mb-Flächen sind polwärts gerichtete Strömungskomponenten nur in hohen geographischen Breiten festzustellen, die mit zunehmender Höhe an Stärke abnehmen. Im Niveau von 30 mb herrscht eine zum Äquator hin gerichtete Meridionalkomponente der Strömung vor. Ein Maximalwert der durchschnittlichen meridionalen Zirkulation von +60 cm sec^–1 wurde in der 100 mb-Höhenlage bei 70°N festgestellt.

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Résumé Dans cette étude, la composante horizontale de la circulation méridionale dans la stratosphère aux niveaux de 100, 50 et 30mb est calculée pour la période de Juillet 1957au Juin 1958 pour l'Année Géophysique Internationale. Les données de radiosondage d'environ 240 stations bien réparties sur l'hémisphère du nord sont employées dans l'analyse de la composante nord-sud du vent. Les valeurs de la circulation moyenne méridionale des quatre saisons sont présententées pour tous les 5° de latitude de l'équateur jusqu'à 80°N.En moyenne d'un an, on peut apparemment observer, à 100mb, une distribution en trois cellules consistant d'une région de mouvement fort vers le pôle au nord de 55°N, d'un mouvement vers l'équateur de 15° à 55°N et d'un mouvement faible vers le pôle de 0° à 15° N. A 50 et 30 mb en moyenne d'un an des mouvements vers le pôle apparaissent seulement dans les hautes altitudes et ils diminuent en force suivant la hauteur. Dans le niveau de 30 mb, c'est un mouvement vers l'équateur qui domine. Use valeur maxima de la circulation méridionale moyenne de +60 cm·sec^–1 a été constatée à 100 mb à 70°N.

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With 6 Figures

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The research reported in this paper has been made possible through the support of the Atomic Energy Commission and of the Geophysics Research Directorate of the U.S. Air Force under contracts No. At (30-2) 2241 and 19(604)-5223.     

Lateglacial and Holocene palaeoenvironments at Sierra La Madera,northwestern Mexico: Sharp signals of Younger Dryas and North American monsoon

During the last glacial termination, the climate system experienced intense global variations whose causes and impacts are not fully defined, particularly for low latitudes. The northwestern Mexico Sky Islands present a climate-sensitive ideal setting to record palaeoecological and palaeoclimatic changes due to their physiographic complexity and location in the ecotone between temperate and tropical ecosystems. High-resolution pollen analysis and a detailed sedimentological study were conducted at the Ciénega Tonibabi tropical thorn scrub site. The 15 540–0 cal a bp nearly continuous record shows that the North Atlantic Ocean did have a cold and humid climatic influence during the glacial stages of the end of the Pleistocene, including a sharp pulse during the Younger Dryas. However, a shift to the Pacific Ocean influence occurred during the Holocene, which led to the development of the El Niño conditions prevailing today. Colder and warmer phases follow one another with higher or lower winter precipitation, including a sharp Bølling–Allerød and development and intensification of the North American monsoon. They are reflected in hydrological changes as well as in the advances, retreats and intermingling of coniferous forests and tropical thorn scrub.