Estuaries of the northeastern United States: Habitat and land use signatures

Geographic signatures are physical, chemical, biotic, and human-induced characteristics or processes that help define similar or unique features of estuaries along latitudinal or geographic gradients. Geomorphologically, estuaries of the northeastern U.S., from the Hudson River estuary and northward along the Gulf of Maine shoreline, are highly diverse because of a complex bedrock geology and glacial history. Back-barrier estuaries and lagoons occur within the northeast region, but the domiant type is the drowned-river valley, often with rocky shores. Tidal range and mean depth of northeast estuaries are generally greater when compared to estuaries of the more southern U.S. Atlantic coast and Gulf of Mexico. Because of small estuarine drainage basins, low riverine flows, a bedrock substrate, and dense forest cover, sediment loads in northeast estuaries are generally quite low and water clarity is high. Tidal marshes, seagrass meadows, intertidal mudflats, and rocky shores represent major habitat types that fringe northeast estuaries, supporting commercially-important fauna, forage nekton and benthos, and coastal bird communities, while also serving as links between deeper estuarine waters and habitats through detritus-based pathways. Regarding land use and water quality trends, portions of the northeast have a history of over a century of intense urbanization as reflected in increased total nitrogen and total phosphorus loadings to estuaries, with wastewater treatment facilities and atmospheric deposition being major sources. Agricultural inputs are relatively minor throughout the northeast, with relative importance increasing for coastal plain estuaries. Identifying geographic signatures provides an objective means for comparing the structure, function, and processes of estuaries along latitudinal gradients.     

Linear and non-linear theory of a parametric instability of hydrodynamic warps in Keplerian discs

We consider the stability of warping modes in Keplerian discs. We find them to be parametrically unstable using two lines of attack, one based on three-mode couplings and the other on Floquet theory. We confirm the existence of the instability and investigate its non-linear development in three dimensions, via numerical experiment. The most rapidly growing non-axisymmetric disturbances are the most nearly axisymmetric (low- m ) ones. Finally, we offer a simple, somewhat speculative model for the interaction of the parametric instability with the warp. We apply this model to the masing disc in NGC 4258 and show that, provided the warp is not forced too strongly, parametric instability can fix the amplitude of the warp.     

The 'off' state of GX 339–4

We report BeppoSAX and optical observations of the black hole candidate GX 339–4 during its X-ray 'off' state in 1999. The broad-band (0.8–50 keV) X-ray emission can be fitted by a single power law with spectral index, α ∼1.6. The observed luminosity is 6.6×10³³ erg s⁻¹ in the 0.5–10 keV band, which is at the higher end of the flux distribution of black hole soft X-ray transients in quiescence, comparable to that seen in GS 2023+338 and 4U 1630–47. An optical observation just before the BeppoSAX observation shows the source to be very faint at these wavelengths as well ( B =20.1, V =19.2). By comparing with previously reported 'off' and low states (LS), we conclude that the 'off' state is actually an extension of the LS, i.e. an LS at lower intensities. We propose that accretion models such as the advection-dominated accretion flows are able to explain the observed properties in such a state.     

pp′-DDT adsorption to suspended particulate matter in sea water

A procedure was devised to study pp′-DDT [2,2-bis($\text{p-}\text{chlorophenyl}$)-1,1,1-trichloroethane] adsorption and desorption to suspended particulates in aqueous solutions. DDT adsorption to a marine sediment, sediment fractions, clay and humic acid suspended in sea water was investigated and the humic fraction was found to have a greater adsorbing capacity than the clay or sediment. Removal of the humic fraction from sediment reduced the adsorption capacity to less than 60 per cent of the original sediment sample. It was concluded that suspended humic particulates may be important agents for transporting chlorinated hydrocarbons through the water column and for concentrating them in sediments and in detritus-feeding organisms.     

Cumberland Falls chondritic inclusions: Mineralogy/petrology of a forsterite chondrite suite

As previously found for a chondritic inclusion of unknown affinity, mineralogic and petrologic properties of 9 inclusions in the Cumberland Falls enstatitc achondrite are primitive members of the forsterite (F) chondrite group, hitherto defined by 4 meteorites of similar redox state. The inclusions define a primitive suite with properties indicating 8 as F3 and one of even lower petrologic type. The abundant minerals include: low-Ca pyroxene, olivine, plagioclase, kamacite, taenite, schreibersite, troilite, ferroan alabandite and daubreelite. Diopside, oldhamite and a Ti-rich sulfide are present in one or two inclusions. Petrologic textures and jadeitic pyroxene, hitherto unidentified in meteorites, indicate substantial degree of shock. The inclusions acquired their chemical characteristics during nebular condensation and accretion over a broad redox range (metal-silicate trends in them verify Prior's Rules): their parent body later impacted the enstatite meteorite parent body. During impact, the inclusions were shocked and incorporated with enstatite achondrite host as a breccia that would become Cumberland Falls.     

软流圈熔体地幔交代作用过程中的铂族元素行为

南美洲南部的Pali Aike火山岩区第四纪碱性玄武岩中普遍发育含石榴石的斜方辉石岩包体。这种斜方辉石岩既作为独立的捕掳体存在又以细脉的形式穿插于橄榄岩捕掳体中。斜方辉石岩普遍含富Ti矿物,并且次生斜方辉石含橄榄石和单斜辉石残晶。与含石榴石橄榄岩中的斜方辉石相比,这种次生的斜方辉石以高TiO2、中等含量的Al2O3以及低Mg#为特征,表明它是在一种高度分异演化的富Ti熔体交代作用下通过消耗橄榄石和单斜辉石方式形成的。斜方辉石岩全岩的Co、Ni略低,Cr和铂族元素(PGE)含量与地幔橄榄岩相当,表明这些元素在交代作用过程中相对稳定,而交代介质带入的组分以碱质(K2O+Na2O)、Ti、Si、Al和S为主。交代的斜方辉石在现代活动岛弧和古克拉通的地幔橄榄岩捕掳体中多有报道。与这些环境中地幔样品的斜方辉石相比,PaliAike地区的次生斜方辉石含有相对高的Ti和Al,以及相对低的Mg。高Ti低Mg属性反映了交代介质可能来源于下伏的软流圈地幔并且经历了高度的分异和演化过程。Pali Aike地区所见到的这种交代斜方辉石和斜方辉石岩在其他被上涌软流圈影响的陆下岩石圈地幔中可能普遍存在。这些研究对了解中国华北-东北中生代以来的岩石圈地幔减薄机制有着重要的借鉴意义。     

Natural background and pollution levels of some heavy metals in soils from the area of Dayton,Ohio

In a reconnaissance study, trace amounts of Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn were determined in “A-zone” soil from 22 locations in the Dayton, Ohio, area. Soil samples were collected at high-volume air monitoring sites in urban, suburban, and rural areas. Measurable amounts of the elements were found in all of the samples. Positive correlations occur between each metal and particulate matter, with correlation coefficients of aboutr=0.70, at the 99% confidence level. Natural background values for the elements were measured in soil from rural areas. Theoretical background values, which are very close to those measured, were calculated from the individual regression equations. Natural background levels do not exceed 1.00 ppm Cd, 15 ppm Cu, 25 ppm Pb, and 55 ppm Zn. The heavy metal contents of most soils in the area exceed background by factors of up to 3.0 for Cd, up to 4.5 for Cu, up to 11 for Pb, and up to 4.5 for Zn. Significant positive correlations among the metals suggest a common source (or sources) for at least some, if not most, of the heavy metals. For the most part, the highest metal values are found in soils near coal-burning plants. Fly ash from a local plant contains substantial amounts of the elements. The high lead values are largely due to vehicular exhaust. However, there is evidence that the metals can also come from the normal deterioration of vehicles. It appears that airborne pollution is an important source of heavy metals in Dayton area soils.     

Laboratory and field evaluation of a flushable oxic limestone drain for treatment of net-acidic drainage from a flooded anthracite mine, Pennsylvania, USA

This paper demonstrates the use of dissolution-rate data obtained in the laboratory to indicate the potential quality of effluent from a field-scale oxic limestone drain (OLD) treatment system for neutralization of dilute acidic mine drainage (AMD). Effluent from the Reevesdale Mine South Dip Tunnel, a large source of AMD and base flow to the Wabash Creek and Little Schuylkill River in the Southern Anthracite Coalfield of east-central Pennsylvania, is representative of AMD with low concentrations but high loadings of dissolved Fe, Al and other metals because of a high flow rate. In January 2003, rapid neutralization of the AMD from the Reevesdale Mine was achieved in laboratory tests of its reaction rate with crushed limestone in closed, collapsible containers (Cubitainers). The tests showed that net-alkaline effluent could be achieved with retention times greater than 3 h and that effluent alkalinities and associated dissolution rates were equivalent for Fe(OH)₃-coated and uncoated limestone. On the basis of the laboratory results, a flushable OLD containing 1450 metric tons of high-purity calcitic limestone followed by two 0.7-m deep wetlands were constructed at the Reevesdale Mine. During the first year of operation, monthly data at the inflow, outflow and intermediate points within the treatment system were collected (April 2006–2007). The inflow to the treatment system ranged from 6.8 to 27.4 L/s, with median pH of 4.7, net acidity of 9.1 mg/L CaCO₃, and concentrations of dissolved Al, Fe and Mn of 1.0, 1.9 and 0.89 mg/L, respectively. The corresponding effluent from the OLD had computed void-volume retention times of 4.5–18 h, with median pH of 6.6, net acidity of −93.2 mg/L CaCO₃, and concentrations of dissolved Al, Fe and Mn of <0.1, 0.08 and 0.52 mg/L, respectively. The wetlands below the OLD were effective for retaining metal-rich solids flushed at monthly or more frequent intervals from the OLD, but otherwise had little effect on the effluent quality. During the first year of operation, approximately 43 metric tons of limestone were dissolved and 2 metric tons of Al, Fe and Mn were precipitated within the OLD. However, because of the accumulation of these metals within the OLD and possibly other debris from the mine, the effectiveness of the treatment system declined. Despite the installation of a flush-pipe network at the base of the OLD to remove precipitated solids, the limestone bed clogged near the inflow. Consequently, a large fraction of the AMD bypassed the treatment system. To promote flow through the OLD, the flush pipes were open continuously during the last 4 months of the study; however, this effluent was only partially treated because short-circuiting through the pipes decreased contact between the effluent and limestone. A reconfiguration of the flow path through the limestone bed from horizontal to vertical upward could increase the limestone surface area exposed to the metal-laden influent, increase the cross-sectional area perpendicular to flow, decrease the flow path for solids removal, and, consequently, decrease potential for clogging.