Leaching of viruses and other microorganisms naturally occurring in pig slurry to tile drains on a well-structured loamy field in Denmark

The amount of animal manure used in modern agriculture is increasing due to the increase in global animal production. Pig slurry is known to contain zoonotic bacteria such as E. coli, Salmonella spp. and Campylobacter spp., and viruses such as hepatitis E virus and group A rotavirus. Coliform bacteria, present in manure, have previously been shown to leach into tile drains. This poses a potential threat to aquatic environments and may also influence the quality of drinking water. As knowledge is especially scarce about the fate of viruses when applied to fields in natural settings, this project sets out to investigate the leaching potential of six different microorganisms: E. coli and Enterococcus spp. (detected by colony assay), somatic coliphages (using plaque assays), and hepatitis E virus, porcine circovirus type 2, and group A rotavirus (by real-time polymerase chain reaction). All six microorganisms leached through the soil entering the tile drains situated at 1-m depth the first day following pig slurry application. The leaching pattern of group A rotavirus differed substantially from the pattern for somatic coliphages, which are otherwise used as indicators for virus contamination. Furthermore, group A rotavirus was detected in monitoring wells at 3.5-m depth up to 2 months after pig slurry application. The detection of viral genomic material in drainage water and shallow groundwater signifies a potential hazard to human health that needs to be investigated further, as water reservoirs used for recreational use and drinking water are potentially contaminated with zoonotic pathogens.     

Flares From the Giant ar 9433 on 24 April 2001

We present H CCD observations of three small-to-medium-size two-ribbon flares observed in the giant AR 9433 on 24 April 2001. Flare observations at other associated wavelengths (e.g., soft X-rays (SXR), hard X-rays (HXR), microwaves (MW)) obtained from archives are also presented and compared. We have tested the Neupert effect for the most energetic third flare. The flare observations are in agreement with the thick-target model. In the case of this flare the HXR emitting electrons appears to be the heating source of SXR and H emissions. The flares are also studied in EUV and UV emissions using TRACE data. We discuss the complexity of the magnetic field using SOHO/MDI magnetograms. The flares are observed to occur in both (f/p) polarity regions in highly sheared magnetic field with emerging flux regions and MMFs.     

Stable hydrogen and oxygen isotope studies of rainfall and streamwaters for two contrasting holm oak areas of Catalonia, northeastern Spain

Results are presented of a study of stable hydrogen and oxygen isotopes in rainfall and streamwaters for the Montseny and Prades areas in northeastern Spain: results cover the full year of 1991. The isotopic pattern for rainfall is similar for both areas: there is a wide range in isotopic contents and the results show a strong, near-linear trend, δ²H = 7.9 × δ¹⁸O + 9.8 (N = 59; r² = 0.952), the ‘local meteoric line’. There is slight curvature to the data which may be related to the sources of water vapour forming the rainfall. Within the streams, the isotopic variability is much less than that of the rainfall although the data lie on, or very near to, the meteoric line. Data for detailed collections during storm events show more scatter than those collected regularly on a fortnightly basis. The event data show a linear feature that conforms to the local meteoric line. These results indicate that: (1) the main supply of water to the stream stormflow comes from water stored in the catchment prior to the event; (2) waters of more than one isotopic composition reside within the catchment and are transferable to the stream during storm events; (3) the main process of water transfer from the catchment back to the atmosphere comes from transpiration by the trees and (possibly) complete evaporation from the near-surface soil horizons and the tree canopy; (4) the isotopic technique cannot be used for quantitative hydrograph separation in this instance — at least two water types can be present within the catchment at any given time.     

Longitudinal variability of methane and ammonia bands on Saturn

A total of 129 spectra of the center of the disk of Saturn were obtained in March 1980 in order to search for possible longitudinal variations in the CH₄ 6190 and NH₃ 6450 bands. The spectra were reduced to reflectivities, and the band equivalent widths were measured using a blind, automated continuum fitting technique. The methane and ammonia equivalent widths are well correlated with each other. There are some latitude regions in which both bands show enhanced absorption and some latitudes in which both bands are weaker than the average. The continuum reflectivity is quite constant with latitude and shows no apparent correlation with molecular band equivalent width. These data were analyzed by adopting the model of J. C. Buriez and C. de Bergh (1981, Astron. Astrophys.94, 382–390) and using a doubling-adding radiative transfer code. The observed variations may be explained by a longitudinal variation in the altitude of the top of the thick cloud of about ±2 km from the mean.     

Low δ18O silicic volcanic rocks at the Calabozos caldera complex,southern Andes

Sr- and Pb-isotope data from the Calabozos center (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr= 0.7043, ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb=18.64–18.66, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb=15.59–15.60, ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb=38.52–38.55) fall within the range of values reported for the southern volcanic zone (33–42° S) of the Andean arc. The range of ¹⁸O (5.0–6.3), however, includes unusually low values compared to volcanic rocks of similar bulk composition in the region. The Calabozos caldera complex lies at 35 °30 S, where the continental crust under the Andes thins southward from >45 to 30 km. Three voluminous late Pleistocene ashflow tuffs, collectively called the Loma Seca Tuff, constitute the bulk of >1,000 km³ of eruptive products at the Calabozos caldera complex and are evidence for a major, longlived andesitic-to-rhyodacitic magma reservoir at shallow crustal levels. The ¹⁸O values of the most evolved volcanic rocks from the Calabozos center are lower than predicted for rhyodacite produced by crystal fractionation from basalt typical of the region. Variation of ¹⁸O independent of bulk composition and inferred magmatic water contents indicates that the ¹⁸O depletion is a late-stage, upper-crustal phenomenon that cannot simply be attributed to magmatic interaction with meteoric water. The data are interpreted to be the result of assimilation of 5–30% of roof and wall rocks previously depleted in ¹⁸O by isotopic exchange in a meteoric hydrothermal system overlying the magma reservoir. Combined assimilation and fractional crystallization calculations applied to Sr isotope data show that the isotopic contrast between the Calabozos magmas and the assimilated rocks is very small. Hydrothermally-altered volcanic and plutonic rocks from the Tertiary Andean arc complex and Mesozoic-to-Cenozoic volcaniclastic sediments typical of the local basement provide a geologically reasonable contaminant compatible with the Sr- and O-isotope data. Pb-isotope data from the Calabozos system lend no significant insight into upper crustal contamination.     

Territoriality of signs: amber in the State’s semiotics in Latvia

Amber-signs in the Latvian nation-state’s semiotics, constructed during the interwar period, are only bits and pieces of a complex system such as the State. However, the resonance that amber semiotics effectuated, despite its actual rarity, was and still is remarkably influential. Amber was extensively deployed as a signifier to the territory and its people, places and things; it signified patria, belonging and the homeland. Such State semiotics, according to Deleuze–Guattarian concepts, is distinguished as a signifying regime of signs characterized by its universal deception and regulated by State-controlled interpretations, facialized centres, and a high degree of deterritorializations. We examine the thresholds of territoriality-deterritorialization relations and expressions of amber signs during the Latvian nation-state’s and the Soviet Union’s semiotic regimes, conceptualized as indexes, symbols and icons. By tracing and mapping of these territorialisation movements we enrich our understanding of how effective the created semiotics are, and in what variety of forms and territorialities, including linguistic, craftsmanship, and varied place makings, they are expressed in a particular regime. Such territorial perspective thus shifts the focus from what and why these signs mean (e.g., national identity, homeland) to where, when and how (e.g., dynamics of various State’s territorialities) they become operational. Among other national products that emit signs, amber proved to be most effective in the functioning of State’s signifying semiotics in Latvia, representing thoroughly the strangleholds and the continuity of such deceptive semiotics.     

Anthropogenic disturbance history influences the temporal coherence of paleoproductivity in two lakes

We investigated how the history of local disturbances in a watershed can influence the regional coherence of ecosystem properties in lakes that have similar morphometry and climatic conditions. We measured sedimentary δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N, C:N and %BSiO₂ in Sooke Lake Reservoir (SOL) and Shawnigan Lake (SHL), which are located within 4 km of each other on Vancouver Island, Canada. SOL is an impounded lake whose watershed has been fully protected over the last century, although the lake level has been raised 3 times via impoundment during this period. SHL has a similar limnological regime, but the surrounding watershed has been developed extensively for residential uses. We investigated how a pulse disturbance regime in SOL (i.e. repeated dam raising) and a press disturbance regime in SHL (i.e. persistent development) influenced the variability of paleoindicators in each system over time. We found that these contrasting disturbance regimes reduced the regional temporal coherence of aquatic productivity between the two lakes (indicated by %BSiO₂), but did not influence the regional coherence of nutrient status or the main carbon sources of the lakes (indicated by %C, %N and δ¹³C). In contrast, an indicator of the sources and cycling of nitrogen (δ¹⁵N) showed increased coherence. Local disturbances also affected the variability of the paleoindicators within each system over time. In SOL, impoundments led to both declines (%N, δ¹⁵N) and increases (δ¹³C) in the variability of paleoindicators. In SHL, persistent watershed development led to lower variability of two paleoindicators (%N, %BSiO₂). Overall, our data suggest that local disturbances can influence the %BSiO₂ and C:N ratio of lake sediments, but are less likely to alter the regional coherence of %C, %N and δ¹³C between lakes. Biplob Das and Anita Narwani contributed equally to this work.     

A habitat-specific fish-based approach to assess the ecological status of Mediterranean coastal lagoons

A habitat approach was promoted in the framework of ecological status assessment of transitional waters, assuming the importance of habitat heterogeneity to the overall system status. The approach was applied to the use of fish-based multimetric indices by adapting them to seagrass and marsh habitats in the Venice lagoon, Italy, through selection of appropriate metrics and reference conditions. While for marsh habitats, no clear patterns resulted, the index response for seagrass was consistent with the habitat degradation and loss recorded in the lagoon between 2002 and 2005 and with the higher habitat disturbance in southern and central lagoon sub-basins. The assessment of individual habitats is presented as a first step in the process of evaluating the overall condition of a Mediterranean lagoon environment, which should also take account of the diversity of habitats and their availability within the system to properly define an overall index of ecological status.     

Can soil piping impact environment and society? Identifying new research gaps

Soil piping is a widespread, although often overlooked land degradation process. So far, subsurface soil erosion studies have been focused on the importance of soil piping in hydrological and geomorphological processes, and factors controlling piping processes. Nowadays, the environmental changes being caused by the Anthropocene have clearly demonstrated that society depends on soil more than ever before, so the traditional studies of soil erosion processes need to be redefined. In that sense, geomorphologists face to overcome new piping-related problems. In this article we identify new possible areas of research: (i) soil pipes and pipe collapses (PCs) as natural hazards, (ii) role of soil piping in carbon cycle, (iii) soil pipes and PCs and their relationships with biodiversity, and (iv) piping-affected areas as geodiversity sites. Only better recognition of natural hazards driven by soil piping, such as land subsidence and degradation, landslides, flooding and off-site sediment effects may result in better prevention and control measures in piping-affected areas. Moreover, in the context of Global Change the role of soil piping in carbon cycle should be raised. Land-use and land-cover changes, as well as climate change may affect piping dynamics in different morphoclimatic regions and soil loss due to piping may lead to carbon loss. Soil pipes and PCs are closely interlinked with biodiversity, both positively and negatively. Piping erosion may directly and indirectly destroy vegetation and animals, although in some cases piping erosion may create new habitats and provide favourable conditions for some species. However, soil piping is not only an environmental and societal problem, but it may also contribute to the world geodiversity, which is clearly observed in badland sites. Piping erosion may have a significant impact on environment and society, thus further research with new questions is essential to provide knowledge for sustainable development.     

The effect of tides and storms on the sediment transport across a Dutch barrier island

Under natural conditions, barrier islands might grow vertically and migrate onshore under the influence of long‐term sea level rise. Sediment is transported onshore during storm‐induced overwash and inundation. However, on many Dutch Wadden Islands, dune openings are closed off by artificial sand‐drift dikes that prevent the influx of sediment during storms. It has been argued that creating openings in the dune row to allow regular flooding on barrier islands can have a positive effect on the sediment budget, but the dominant hydrodynamic processes and their influence on sediment transport during overwash and inundation are unknown. Here, we present an XBeach model study to investigate how sediment transport during overwash and inundation across the beach of a typical mesotidal Wadden Sea barrier island is influenced by wave, tide and storm surge conditions. Firstly, we validated the model XBeach with field data on waves and currents during island inundation. In general, the XBeach model performed well. Secondly, we studied the long‐term sediment transport across the barrier island. We distinguished six representative inundation classes, ranging from frequently occurring, low‐energy events to infrequent, high‐energy events, and simulated the hydrodynamics and sediment transport during these events. An analysis of the model simulations shows that larger storm events cause larger cross‐shore sediment transport, but the net sediment exchange during a storm levels off or even becomes smaller for the largest inundation classes because it is counteracted by larger mean water levels in the Wadden Sea that oppose or even reverse sediment transport during inundation. When taking into account the frequency of occurrence of storms we conclude that the cumulative effect of relatively mild storms on long‐term cross‐shore sediment transport is much larger than that of the large storm events. © 2017 The Authors. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.