Astrothrombus rugosus clark,new to New Zealand,with notes on ophioceres huttoni (farquhar), hemilepis norae (benham), and ophiuroglypha irrorata (lyman) (echinodermata: Ophiuroidea)

Astrothrombus rugosus (Clark), hitherto known only from eastern Australia, is recorded here from off Kaikoura. Hemilepis abernethyi (Fell) and Ophioceres marginata (Fell) are here regarded as junior subjective synonyms of Hemilepis norae (Benham) and Ophioceres huttoni (Farquhar) respectively. Some New Zealand specimens of the cosmopolitan species Ophiuroglypha irrorata (Lyman) differ in some respects from the “typical” form; they may prove to represent a new species.     

Systematics of the New Zealand freshwater crayfish Paranephrops (Crustacea: Decapoda: Parastacidae)

The systematics of the endemic New Zealand genus Paranephrops (Family Parastacidae) are re‐examined. Specific characters previously used to separate P. zealandicus and P. setosus are considered to be inadequate, and the two species are merged. The genus, as now proposed, contains only two species: P. planifrons, occupying the Whole of the North Island and northern and western areas of the South Island, and P. zealandicus, occupying eastern and southern parts of the South Island and Stewart Island.     

西沙周缘新生代构造演化与盆地充填响应特征

利用南海西沙周缘地震资料,进行了地震相研究,并结合邻区地质资料,进行了南海西沙周缘新生代沉积相分析,讨论了盆地的充填演化历史。研究认为,南海西沙周缘盆地充填断陷期以陆相和海陆过渡相沉积为主;坳陷期以海陆过渡相和海相沉积为主,自下而上充填了一套冲积相-湖相(始新统)-海陆交替相(渐新统)-滨浅海台地相(中-下中新统)-浅海、半深海相(上新统-第四系)沉积序列,盆地的充填历史反映了南海西沙周缘沉积环境由陆相向海相逐渐过渡的过程。通过对油气地质条件分析,认为始新世-渐新世早期是重要的烃源岩发育期;渐新世晚期-中新世中期是储层发育期;中新世晚期后是区域该层发育时期。     

The Hormuz Strait Dam Macroproject—21st Century Electricity Development Infrastructure Node (EDIN)?

ABSTRACT

Ocean gulfs offer a means of artificially creating a depression, which can be used for a regionally significant hydroelectric macroproject. We examine here the case for a dam at the Strait of Hormuz that blocks a large gulf situated in an arid region. A 35 m evaporation of this concentration basin will reduce its watery surface area by ～53% and allow generation of ～2.050 MW (or possibly ～2.500 MW) of electricity. Our conclusion is that the proposed Electricity Development Infrastructure Node (EDIN) is a feasible and desirable macroproject. If the macroproject starts in the near-term future, it would require a significant change in the logistics of oil and gas transport from this region. Alternatively, it can be considered as an attractive future solution for the energy requirements of the region after exhaustion of its oil and gas reserves.     

Physical and elastic properties of marine sediments off Bombay,India

Abstract

Keeping in view the paucity of information as to the nature of the marine sediments from the continental shelf adjoining the Indian subcontinent, a number of shallow seismic surveys were carried out, nearshore and offshore Bombay between 18°45'N and 21°00'N. Representative core samples preserving their natural state were also retrieved from the region in the water depths ranging from 5 to 70 m for the determination of physical properties in the laboratory. Data on the physical, acoustic, and elastic properties of the sediment cores are reported for the first time. Useful individual least‐squares relations are presented for acoustic impedance, reflection coefficient, and bulk modulus against density; for the dependence of rigidity and bulk moduli on the constrained modulus; for the association between impedance and field sediment velocity against P‐velocity; and for rigidity against Poisson's ratio. Results indicate that the bulk modulus and Young's modulus are higher for silty clay and clayey silt samples than for the clay samples. Similarly, the acoustic impedance, reflection coefficient, and constrained modulus of silty clay and clayey silt are also higher than clay. The results are found to be comparable to the North Atlantic and Bay of Bengal sediments.     

An experimental study of velocities under pressure for ancient oceanic rocks

Abstract

Seismic velocities of Indus suture rock types from Dras‐Sanko‐Kargil, Kashmir Himalaya, as a function of pressure up to 10 kbar were studied. The high‐pressure measurements on the rocks reflect the depthwise increase in velocity, and in general they help in better understanding and better interpretation of the regional rocks in terms of their geological observations. An attempt has been made at correlation with ocean‐dredged samples, and it was found that the ultramafics, gabbros, and dykes are compatible with oceanic rocks and other ophiolite sequences, whereas metavolcanics are incompatible, suggesting the dismembered nature of Indus ophioli‐tes.     

Offshore sand sources for beach replenishment: Potential borrows on the continental shelf of the Eastern Gulf of Mexico

Erosion of sandy beaches is a worldwide problem that elicits innovative geoengineer‐ing techniques to reduce adverse impacts of shoreline retreat. Beach replenishment has emerged as the “soft”; shore‐stabilization technique of choice for mitigating beach erosion. This method of shore protection involves the addition of sand to the littoral sediment budget for sacrificial purposes. Because inland sand sources are often uneconomical or impractical to use, and known nearshore sources are limited, finding adequate quantities of suitable sand on the inner continental shelf is often vital to beach replenishment projects. The technical studies of survey and materials analysis that identify and delineate usable sand sources are sometimes almost as expensive as small‐project dredging, pumping, and placing the sand on the beach as fill. Inadequate quantity or substandard quality of shelf sand, as well as often‐prohibitive overhead expenses, thus compel shoreline managers to seek suitable sand sources offshore.

In the study area off the central‐west coast of Florida, offshore potential borrow areas (PBAs) were identified on the basis of studies conducted in reconnoitory and detailed phases. Sophisticated state‐of‐the‐art equipment used in this investigation provided more detailed subbottom mapping information than is normally obtained with conventional seismic equipment. An example of sand exploration studies was incorporated in a 215‐km² survey of offshore areas by conducting bathymetric surveys and subbottom seismic profiling, collecting jet probes, grab samples, and vibrocores, and analyzing sediment grading in subsamples from vibrocores. These combined analyses indicated that at least 8.8 ×10⁶ m³ of sand is available in potential borrow areas from 7.0 to 12 km offshore in water depths of 8.0 to 11.5 m. In the PBAs, mean grain size of sand falls into the range 0.13–0.53 mm, sorting averages 0.65–1.31ø, and the overall silt content varies from 3.9–8.5%. High silt contents (13–19%) mapped in some areas make these sedimentary deposits unsuitable as fill for artificial beach renourishment.     

Non-Energy Resources,Connecticut Coastal Waters,Year 9 and 10 Activities

The Connecticut effort in year 9 of the Continental Margins Program concentrated on a 13.6-mi2 area south of the Housatonic River. This area was chosen for a side-scan sonar survey because it lies on and adjacent to the bathymetric expressions of two fairly large, subcropping, potential sources of coarse material. Previous seismic work in the area indicated that outcrops or subcrops of these potential source deposits could be delineated using their bathymetric expression. Owing to the limited resolution of the seismic data, a correlation between bottom type and underlying source deposits could not be made with the seismics alone. Results from the November 1993 side-scan survey show that although the source deposits have discernible bathymetric expressions, they are not cropping out as much as expected. As a result, bottom type is not necessarily determined by subcropping deposits in this particular area. Year 10 work was concentrated in Fishers Island Sound, where three areas of potential interest for near-shore gravel resources had previously been identified. These areas were surveyed, during the spring of 1996, using the RoxAnn Seabed Classification System. A small video camera and a Van Veen grab sampler were used to calibrate and verify the RoxAnn data. Although previous sampling had indicated the presence of gravel or gravelly sediment in all of the survey areas, the RoxAnn results showed less gravel than anticipated. Vibrant eelgrass beds and other habitat indicators were detected in all of the survey areas. Given the variable sediment results, and the high habitat potential of the areas surveyed, the likelihood of developing a sand and gravel supply from the near shore of Fishers Island Sound appears quite low.     

Lithospheric Magnetic Anomalies of the Eastern Part of the Arctic Ocean as Images of Tectonic Structures

Izvestiya, Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics - Geomagnetic data measured by the CHAMP satellite have been used to construct the spatial distribution of the lithospheric magnetic anomaly field in the...