Dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) in icealgae and its possible biological role

During the EPOS I expedition (leg 1, 1988) into the WeddellSea (Antarctica) the dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) contents of various ice-algal assemblages and phytoplankton populations in the open water and in the ice edge zones were investigated. The chlorophyll a content in the ice samples was 25–70 times higher than that of the open water column, and about 100–390 more than in the under-ice water column. The DMSP content in ice-algae was about 20–56 times higher than in the open water, and 107–245 than in the under-ice water. There was no strict (linear ) correlation between pigment content and DMSP concentration, although high chlorophyll values were always accompanied by high DMSP contents. The variability of DMSP data can be explained by variation in species composition. Especially high concentrations were observed in samples where Phaeocystis pouch-etii was present. In ice DMSP may have a twofold biological role: as an osmolyte and/or as a cryoprotectant (antifreeze).     

Water-budget of Upper Lake Constance: An estimation of total supply based on runoff and water level variations

An inflow-outflow model of the Upper Lake Constance has been adapted to fit the discharge data from the outletSeerhein at Constance. In order to perform mass balances the supplies and runoffs of the lake were calculated from 1961 at 1991.Three decades worth of results show no trend in annual supply patterns, aside from annual and seasonal fluctuations. When compared to earlier results, one finds slightly greater annual runoffs into the Seerhein of approximately 5%.     

Sedimentary Trace Elements as Proxies to Depositional Changes Induced by a Holocene Fresh-Brackish Water Transition

A halocline developed in the GotlandDeep, Baltic Sea, at c. 8.0 ¹⁴C ky BP, as theresult of a transition from fresh to brackish water.The sediment-water interface changed from oxic topredominantly anoxic, depositional conditions wereperiodically euxinic and pyrite formation wasextensive. This environmental change led topyritization of the upper part of earlier depositedsediments. This study discusses how the distributionof trace elements (As, Ba, Cd, Cu, Co, Mo, Mn, Ni, Pb,U, Zn and V) were affected by the changing redoxconditions, productivity and salinity. The reducingconditions led to pyritization of Cu, Co, Ni, Cd, Mo,Mn and As. Lead and Zn concentrations are very low inpyrite, in agreement with their coordination tosulfide being tetrahedral. Certain elements areenriched in those sediments deposited under euxinicconditions. This enrichment was caused by scavengingof elements dissolved in the water column and isrestricted to elements that have a comparably longresidence time in the Baltic Sea. Molybdenum appearsto be the most unambigious proxy for euxinicconditions, whereas enrichment of U also requiresbrackish water in the productive zone. In the brackishenvironment, enrichment of Ba and V are linked to thecycling of organic carbon. Manganese and As are theonly elements that have been significantly remobiliseddue to the downward moving pyritization front.     

Comparison of acoustic and elastic full-waveform inversion of 2D towed-streamer data in the presence of salt

Over the last years, full-waveform inversion has become an important tool in the list of processing and imaging technologies available to the industry. For marine towed-streamer data, full-waveform inversion is typically applied using an acoustic approximation because S-waves do not propagate in water and elastic effects in recorded data are generally assumed to be small. We compare acoustic and elastic modelling and full-waveform inversion for a field data set acquired offshore Angola over sediments containing a salt body with significant topology. Forward modelling tests reveal that such geological structures lead to significant mode conversions at interfaces and, consequently, to significant relative amplitude differences when elastically and acoustically modelled traces are compared. Using an acoustic approach for modelling in full-waveform inversion therefore leads to problems matching the synthetic data with the field data, even for recorded pressure data and with trace normalization applied. Full-waveform inversion is unable to find consistent model updates. Applying elastic full-waveform inversion leads to more consistent and reliable model updates with less artefacts, at the expense of additional computation cost. Although two-dimensional marine towed-streamer data are least favourable for the application of full-waveform inversion compared to three-dimensional data or ocean-bottom data, it is recommended to check on the existence of elastic effects before deciding on the final processing and imaging approach.     

Modelling storm impacts on beaches, dunes and barrier islands

A new nearshore numerical model approach to assess the natural coastal response during time-varying storm and hurricane conditions, including dune erosion, overwash and breaching, is validated with a series of analytical, laboratory and field test cases. Innovations include a non-stationary wave driver with directional spreading to account for wave-group generated surf and swash motions and an avalanching mechanism providing a smooth and robust solution for slumping of sand during dune erosion. The model performs well in different situations including dune erosion, overwash and breaching with specific emphasis on swash dynamics, avalanching and 2DH effects; these situations are all modelled using a standard set of parameter settings. The results show the importance of infragravity waves in extending the reach of the resolved processes to the dune front. The simple approach to account for slumping of the dune face by avalanching makes the model easily applicable in two dimensions and applying the same settings good results are obtained both for dune erosion and breaching.     

Two-dimensional time dependent hurricane overwash and erosion modeling at Santa Rosa Island

A 2DH numerical, model which is capable of computing nearshore circulation and morphodynamics, including dune erosion, breaching and overwash, is used to simulate overwash caused by Hurricane Ivan (2004) on a barrier island. The model is forced using parametric wave and surge time series based on field data and large-scale numerical model results. The model predicted beach face and dune erosion reasonably well as well as the development of washover fans. Furthermore, the model demonstrated considerable quantitative skill (upwards of 66% of variance explained, maximum bias − 0.21 m) in hindcasting the post-storm shape and elevation of the subaerial barrier island when a sheet flow sediment transport limiter was applied. The prediction skill ranged between 0.66 and 0.77 in a series of sensitivity tests in which several hydraulic forcing parameters were varied. The sensitivity studies showed that the variations in the incident wave height and wave period affected the entire simulated island morphology while variations in the surge level gradient between the ocean and back barrier bay affected the amount of deposition on the back barrier and in the back barrier bay. The model sensitivity to the sheet flow sediment transport limiter, which served as a proxy for unknown factors controlling the resistance to erosion, was significantly greater than the sensitivity to the hydraulic forcing parameters. If no limiter was applied the simulated morphological response of the barrier island was an order of magnitude greater than the measured morphological response.     

Spatial and temporal distribution of floating kelp in the channels and fjords of southern Chile

Numerous studies suggest that floating macroalgae contribute to population connectivity of the algae themselves as well as of associated organisms. In order to evaluate the importance of floating macroalgae for population connectivity in southern Chile we analysed their spatial and temporal distributions. We estimated the abundance of floating kelp in the Interior Sea of Chiloé and the Los Chonos Archipelago via ship surveys conducted during austral spring (November) and winter (July) of the years 2002–2005. Highest densities of floating kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera and Durvillaea antarctica) were found during spring. Generally, the density of floating kelp was relatively low in areas with high supply of freshwater, and highest abundances were found in large channels opening to the open ocean. We suggest that this pattern is caused by the scarcity of natural kelp beds combined with rapid degradation of floating kelp in the interior fjords and by seaward surface outflow. The maximum densities of floating kelps were found in an area known to be an extensive convergence zone (i.e. estuarine front), which appears to act as a retention zone. In accordance with this distribution pattern, we propose that connectivity between local populations via floating kelp is higher in the outer channels with oceanic influence than in the inner fjords with high freshwater influx.     

A GIS based approach to back trajectory analysis for the source apportionment of aerosol constituents and its first application

A new method has been developed to combine back trajectory statistics with a detailed land cover analysis. It provides numeric proxies for the residence times of sampled air masses above certain land cover classes (marine, natural vegetation, agricultural lands, urban areas, and bare areas), as well as further meteorological parameters (mean trajectory length, solar radiation along trajectory, and local height of the boundary mixing layer). The method has been implemented into a GIS-enabled database system to allow for an efficient processing of large datasets with low computational demands. A principal component analysis was performed on a dataset including the modelled residence times, the modelled meteorological parameters, some measured meteorological parameters (wind speed and temperature), and the concentrations of 10 particle constituents (inorganic ions and organic and elemental carbon) in 5 particle size ranges for 29 winter- and summertime samples at an urban background site in Leipzig, Germany. Six principal components could be extracted which together explained about 80% of the total variance in the dataset. The factors could be attributed to the influence of meteorology to continental background pollution, secondary formation processes in polluted air masses, wood burning, aged sea-salt, local traffic, and long-range transported crustal material. The modelled residence times and the meteorological parameters were generally consistent with the existing knowledge of specific particle sources and thereby facilitated and strengthened the interpretation of the factors. Moreover, they allowed for a clear distinction between continental background pollution and secondary formation processes, which has not been possible in previous source apportionment studies. The results demonstrate that the combined usage of back trajectory, land cover, and meteorological data by the presented method yields valuable additional information on the history of sampled air masses, which can improve the quality of source apportionment of atmospheric aerosol constituents.     

Spatio-temporal distribution of floating objects in the German Bight (North Sea)

Floating objects facilitate the dispersal of marine and terrestrial species but also represent a major environmental hazard in the case of anthropogenic plastic litter. They can be found throughout the world's oceans but information on their abundance and the spatio-temporal dynamics is scarce for many regions of the world. This information, however, is essential to evaluate the ecological role of floating objects. Herein, we report the results from a ship-based visual survey on the abundance and composition of flotsam in the German Bight (North Sea) during the years 2006 to 2008. The aim of this study was to identify potential sources of floating objects and to relate spatio-temporal density variations to environmental conditions. Three major flotsam categories were identified: buoyant seaweed (mainly fucoid brown algae), natural wood and anthropogenic debris. Densities of these floating objects in the German Bight were similar to those reported from other coastal regions of the world. Temporal variations in flotsam densities are probably the result of seasonal growth cycles of seaweeds and fluctuating river runoff (wood). Higher abundances were often found in areas where coastal fronts and eddies develop during calm weather conditions. Accordingly, flotsam densities were often higher in the inner German Bight than in areas farther offshore. Import of floating objects and retention times in the German Bight are influenced by wind force and direction. Our results indicate that a substantial amount of floating objects is of coastal origin or introduced into the German Bight from western source areas such as the British Channel. Rapid transport of floating objects through the German Bight is driven by strong westerly winds and likely facilitates dispersal of associated organisms and gene flow among distant populations.