Internal waves in llyn Tegid

Summary The paper deals with the formation of internal waves of periods of about 12 hours, 24 hours, and in one case 48 hours on Lake Tegid (Bala) in North Wales. It was possible to isolate these waves by means of a numerical filter, applied to the outputs of 30 thermistors place below each other on a chain suspended from a buoy. The wave characteristics are very closely related to those of the wind and a high correlation can be found in most cases with the internal waves lagging behind the corresponding filtered components in the wind stress by about a third of a period.The movement of the waves round the lake was investigated by using two buoys, one of which was moved round the lake perimeter and then after using the filter, obtaining the phase difference between the two for the various components. The results indicated a clockwise movement which is contrary to what one would expect of simple Kelvin waves. The effect can be caused, however, by the interference of several waves of approximately the same frequency but of different mode and wavelength.The filter was also used to examine the vertical profile of the water movement. The profiles indicated, as expected, that there is a mixture of many modes present but some of these can be identified by comparison with the theoretical mode profiles.     

Seasonal formation and movement of the thermocline in lakes

Summary The work described deals with the formation and movement of the thermocline on a lake during the summer season. The formation requires an input of mechanical energy from the wind stress as well as an input of heat from solar radiation or from the air. The depth of the thermocline is shown to be nearly proportional to the ratio of the energy input to the heat input and the thermocline sinks or ascends as one input is greater or less than the other. Formulae are found for the variation of the energyE with the cumulative effect of the wind speed, the temperature difference between the water and air if positive, and the depth of the thermocline. A similar formula is obtained forQ the heat input against the total number of hours of sunshine and the positive water-air temperature difference. From these two formulae it is possible to derive a formula for the thermocline depth entirely in terms of meteorological data and surface temperatures of the water for the season.     

A new ophiolite occurrence in NW Sudan – constraints on Late Proterozoic tectonism

Mafic–ultramafic sequences in the Jebel Rahib fold-and-thrust belt of NW Sudan comprise the metamorphosed equivalents of obducted oceanic lithosphere. Primary features like pillow-structures, quenchtextures, igneous layering and primary minerals like chromian spinels and pyroxenes are partly preserved. Geochemical investigations confirm the field evidence and reveal the occurrence of harzburgites, ophiolitic chromites, gabbros, gabbroic cumulates and basalts of primitive tholeiitic compositions resembling transitional MORBs. The age of low-grade overprint of the basaltic rocks can be limited to 860–740 Myr (K–Ar). The existence of an ophiolite, as well as its close interfingering with highly deformed basin sediments, provides unambiguous evidence for a cycle of extensional and compressional tectonics in NW Sudan during Pan-African times. Consequently, the concept of an older, stable Proterozoic, or even Archaean, ‘African Craton’onto which the juvenile Pan-African Nubian Shield assemblages were accreted, needs revision.     

A further note on the seasonal formation and movement of the thermocline in lakes

Summary Measurements of air temperature, wind speed and the temperature depth profile at Llyn Tegid, North Wales, from April to November 1969, are used to establish equations which are then used for the observed meteorological data to predict the temperature profile of the lake during this period and in particular the conditions under which the thermocline rises or sinks. A fair measure of agreement is found between observed and predicted profiles.     

Groundwater recharge history and hydrogeochemical evolution in the Minqin Basin, North West China

The Minqin Basin is a type area for examining stress on groundwater resources in the Gobi Desert, and has been investigated here using a combination of isotopic, noble gas and chemical indicators. The basin is composed of clastic sediments of widely differing grain size and during the past half century over 10 000 boreholes have been drilled with a groundwater decline of around 1 m a⁻¹. Modern diffuse recharge is unlikely to exceed 3 mm a⁻¹, as determined using unsaturated zone profiles and Cl⁻ mass balance. A small component of modern (<50 a) groundwater is identified in parts of the basin from ³H–³He data, probably from irrigation returns. A clear distinction is found between modern waters with median δ¹⁸O values of 6.5 ± 0.5‰ and most groundwaters in the basin with more depleted isotopic signatures. Radiocarbon values as pmc range from 0.6% to 85% modern, but it is difficult to assign absolute ages to these, although a value of 20% modern C probably represents the late Pleistocene to Holocene transition. The δ¹³C compositions remain near-constant throughout the basin (median value of −8.1‰ δ¹³C) and indicate that carbonate reactions are unimportant and also that little reaction takes place. There is a smooth decrease in ¹⁴C activity accompanied by a parallel increase in ⁴He accumulations from S–N across the basin, which define the occurrence of a regional flow system. Noble gas temperatures indicate recharge temperatures of about 5.6 °C for late Pleistocene samples, which is some 2–3 °C cooler than the modern mean annual air temperature and the recharge temperature obtained from several Holocene samples. Groundwaters in the Minqin Basin have salinities generally below 1 g/L and are aerobic, containing low Fe but elevated concentrations of U, Cr and Se (mean values of 27.5, 5.8 and 5.3 μg L⁻¹, respectively). Nitrate is present at baseline concentrations of around 2 mg L⁻¹ but there is little evidence of impact of high NO₃ from irrigation returns. Strontium isotope and major ion ratios suggest that silicate reactions predominate in the aquifer. The results have important implications for groundwater management in the Minqin and other water-stressed basins in NW China – a region so far destined for rapid development. The large proportion of the water being used at present is in effect being mined and significant changes are urgently needed in water use strategy.     

Sea waves in coastal waters of the British isles

Ocean Dynamics - Wave records obtained from the Smith's Knoll and Morecambe Bay light vessels are used to obtain relationships between wind speed and wave height and period in shallow water...