Directionality in the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe polarization data

Polarization is the next frontier of cosmic microwave background analysis, but its signal is dominated over much of the sky by foregrounds which must be carefully removed. To determine the efficacy of this cleaning, it is necessary to have sensitive tests for residual foreground contamination in polarization sky maps. The dominant Galactic foregrounds introduce a large-scale anisotropy on to the sky, so it makes sense to use a statistic sensitive to overall directionality for this purpose. Here, we adapt the rapidly computable     statistic of Bunn and Scott to polarization data, and demonstrate its utility as a foreground monitor by applying it to the low-resolution Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe 3-yr sky maps. With a thorough simulation of the maps' noise properties, we find no evidence for contamination in the foreground cleaned sky maps.     

Heavy metal distribution in recent sediments of the Krka River Estuary — an example of sequential extraction analysis

Sediments of the Krka River Estuary on the eastern Adriatic coast have been analysed for trace metals after sediment fractionation by sequential leaching. Trace concentrations of Mn, Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, Co, Cr, V and Ga have been determined by atomic emission spectroscopy. The distribution patterns of the investigated elements follow the expected geochemical partitionings, while minor variations may be caused by early diagenetic effects and variable sediment texture. Taking into account the natural background levels of the investigated elements, the sediments reflect, at present, no significant industrial pollution or anthropogenic input of trace metals into the estuary.     

Responses of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Spartina alterniflora</Emphasis> to Multiple Stressors: Changing Precipitation Patterns,Accelerated Sea Level Rise,and Nutrient Enrichment

Coastal wetlands, well recognized for their ecosystem services, have faced many threats throughout the USA and elsewhere. While managers require good information on the net impact of these combined stressors on wetlands, little such information exists. We conducted a 4-month mesocosm study to analyze the multiple stressor effects of precipitation changes, sea level rise, and eutrophication on the salt marsh plant Spartina alterniflora. Pots containing plants in an organic soil matrix were positioned in tanks and received Narragansett Bay (RI, USA) water. The study simulated three precipitation levels (ambient daily rain, biweekly storm, and drought), three levels of tidal inundations (high (15 cm below mean high water (MHW)), mean (MHW), and low (15 cm above MHW)), and two nutrient enrichment levels (unenriched and nutrient-enriched bay water). Our results demonstrate that storm and drought stressors led to significantly less above- and belowground biomass than those in ambient rain conditions. Plants that were flooded at high inundation had less belowground biomass, fine roots, and shoots. Nutrients had no detectable effect on aboveground biomass, but the enriched pots had higher stem counts and more fine roots than unenriched pots, in addition to greater CO₂ emission rates; however, the unenriched pots had significantly more coarse roots and rhizomes, which help to build peat in organogenic marshes. These results suggest that multiple stressors of altered precipitation, sea level rise, and nutrient enrichment would lead to reduced marsh sustainability.     

Long‐term water budget imbalances and error sources for cold region drainage basins

This study assessed the long‐term (1979–2008) water budget closures for 19 large cold region drainage basins in Canada using recently developed datasets for precipitation (P), land surface evapotranspiration and water surface evaporation, and observed streamflow. Total water storage (TWS) trends from the GRACE satellite observations were also used to assist the assessment. The objectives are to quantify the magnitudes and spatial patterns of the water budget imbalance (ε) and its source of errors for these cold region basins. Results showed that the water budget was closed within 10% of the P on average for all the basins. The ε showed a general pattern of positive values in the south and negative values in the north and mountainous regions over the country. Basins with large ε values were mostly found in the north. Uncertainties in the water budget variables, particularly P, were found to play a major role in the ε. Significant trends in TWS were found over 11 basins, which accounted for 31% of their ε on average. Improvements in the observation network, data quality assurance, and spatial models for P are critical for further improving the water budget closure for the cold region drainage basins. © 2014 Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada. Hydrological Processes. © John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.