Salinity changes in the World Ocean since 1950 in relation to changing surface freshwater fluxes

Global hydrographic and air–sea freshwater flux datasets are used to investigate ocean salinity changes over 1950–2010 in relation to surface freshwater flux. On multi-decadal timescales, surface salinity increases (decreases) in evaporation (precipitation) dominated regions, the Atlantic–Pacific salinity contrast increases, and the upper thermocline salinity maximum increases while the salinity minimum of intermediate waters decreases. Potential trends in E–P are examined for 1950–2010 (using two reanalyses) and 1979–2010 (using four reanalyses and two blended products). Large differences in the 1950–2010 E–P trend patterns are evident in several regions, particularly the North Atlantic. For 1979–2010 some coherency in the spatial change patterns is evident but there is still a large spread in trend magnitude and sign between the six E–P products. However, a robust pattern of increased E–P in the southern hemisphere subtropical gyres is seen in all products. There is also some evidence in the tropical Pacific for a link between the spatial change patterns of salinity and E–P associated with ENSO. The water cycle amplification rate over specific regions is subsequently inferred from the observed 3-D salinity change field using a salt conservation equation in variable isopycnal volumes, implicitly accounting for the migration of isopycnal surfaces. Inferred global changes of E–P over 1950–2010 amount to an increase of 1 ± 0.6 % in net evaporation across the subtropics and an increase of 4.2 ± 2 % in net precipitation across subpolar latitudes. Amplification rates are approximately doubled over 1979–2010, consistent with accelerated broad-scale warming but also coincident with much improved salinity sampling over the latter period.     

Cost/benefit analysis of a benthic monitoring programme of organic benthic enrichment using different sampling and analysis methods

To investigate the combined effects of decreasing taxonomic resolution (i.e. species, family, phylum), the use of different mesh-size (1.0 mm and 0.5 mm) and the type of samplers used (van Veen vs. corers taken by divers) on the quality of data obtained, a comparative study was undertaken with the overall aim of identifying cost efficient methods for routinely monitoring the ecological change caused by Mediterranean fish farming. The results clearly showed that information loss was relatively low as data were aggregated at higher taxonomic levels, particularly up to the level of family or even order. It was also found that the extra information gained by sieving samples through a 0.5 mm sieve did not improve the ability to distinguish the potentially impacted sites from the control stations. Finally, it was found that a relatively large proportion of the available information concerning the community structure such as abundance, biomass or diversity is lost when sampling is carried out with corers. A cost/benefit ratio analysis for the two sampling and the two sieving methods showed minimal values for the van Veen samples (for both sieve fractions) at the family level, indicating that analysis at this level gives the best balance between precision of the results and decrease in taxonomic effort. However, if the time needed to sort the samples is included in the analysis, then samples taken with corers using a 0.5 mm sieve and identified to families seems like a good compromise between precision and cost.     

Development of a thresholds approach for real‐time flash flood prediction in complex geomorphological river basins

Flash floods represent one of the deadliest and costliest natural disasters worldwide. The hydrological analysis of a flash flood event contributes in the understanding of the runoff creation process. This study presents the analysis of some flash flood events that took place in a complex geomorphological Mediterranean River basin. The objective of the present work is to develop the thresholds for a real‐time flash flood forecasting model in a complex geomorphological watershed, based on high‐frequency data from strategically located hydrological and meteorological telemetric stations. These stations provide hourly real‐time data which were used to determine hydrological and meteorological parameters. The main characteristics of various hydrographs specified in this study were the runoff coefficients, lag time, time to peak, and the maximum potential retention. The estimation of these hydrometeorological parameters provides the necessary information in order to successfully manage flash floods events. Especially, the time to peak is the most significant hydrological parameter that affects the response time of an oncoming flash flood event. A study of the above parameters is essential for the specification of thresholds which are related to the geomorphological characteristics of the river basin, the rainfall accumulation of an event, the rainfall intensity, the threshold runoff through karstic area, the season during which the rainfall takes place and the time intervals between the rainstorms that affect the soil moisture conditions. All these factors are combined into a real‐time‐threshold flash flood prediction model. Historical flash flood events at the downstream are also used for the validation of the model. An application of the proposed model is presented for the Koiliaris River basin in Crete, Greece. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An empirical analysis of IOPCF oil spill cost data

This paper reports on recent analysis of oil spill cost data assembled by the International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund (IOPCF). Regression analyses of clean-up costs and total costs have been carried out, after taking care to convert to current prices and remove outliers. In the first place, the results of this analysis have been useful in the context of the ongoing discussion within the International Maritime Organization (IMO) on environmental risk evaluation criteria. Furthermore, these results can be useful in estimating the benefit of regulations that deal with the protection of marine environment and oil pollution prevention.     

A focusing approach to ground water detection by means of electrical and EM methods: the case of Paliouri, Northern Greece

In this paper the main results from the implementation and interpretation of a geophysical survey carried out in Chalkidiki (Northern Greece) are presented. The objective of the geophysical survey was to study the general geological conditions of the area (stratigraphy and tectonism) and to focus on the hydrogeological behaviour of the geological formations in the area. The ultimate target was to point out the most promising locations for the successful construction of hydro wells. Since direct hydrogeological information was not available, three different geophysical techniques were applied in order to follow a step by step approach to the exploration of the study area. Firstly, the Very Low Frequency (VLF) electromagnetic method was applied since the majority of the area was dominated by the formation of ophiolites and water flow was possibly expected only in fractured zones at a relatively small depth. Secondly, at the locations of the conductive zones detected by the VLF survey additional Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) sections at different scales were measured to provide more detailed information about the geometrical characteristics of them. Finally, Self-Potential (SP) measurements along the same profiles were conducted in order to provide supplementary information concerning the nature of the conductive zones such as the possible relation with electrokinetic sources. The combined interpretation of the geophysical data proved very efficient for deciding the most promising locations for the construction of hydro wells.     

Modelling the impact of Black Sea water inflow on the North Aegean Sea hydrodynamics

The impact of the Black Sea Water (BSW) inflow on the circulation and the water mass characteristics of the North Aegean Sea is investigated using a high-resolution 3D numerical model. Four climatological numerical experiments are performed exploring the effects of the exchange amplitude at the Dardanelles Straits in terms of the mean annual volume exchanged and the amplitude of its seasonal cycle. Larger inflow of low salinity BSW influences the water characteristics of the whole basin. The largest salinity reduction is encountered in the upper layers of the water column, and the most affected region is the northeastern part of the basin. The winter insulation character of the BSW layer (low-salinity layer) is reduced by the seasonal cycle of the inflow (minimum during winter). The maximum atmospheric cooling coincides with the minimum BSW inflow rate, weakening the vertical density gradients close to the surface and thus facilitating the vertical mixing. The inflow rate of BSW into the North Aegean Sea constitutes an essential factor for the circulation in the basin. Increased inflow rate results into considerably higher kinetic energy, stronger circulation and reinforcement of the mesoscale circulation features. Although the position of the front between BSW and waters of Levantine origin does not vary significantly with the intensity of the BSW inflow rate, the flow along the front becomes stronger and more unstable as the inflow rate increases, forming meanders and rings. The changes in the intensity of BSW inflow rate overpower the wind and thermohaline forcing and largely determine the general circulation of the North Aegean Sea.     

Dissolved organic nitrogen as an indicator of livestock impacts on soil biochemical quality

Soil degradation in the Mediterranean and other arid and semi-arid regions of the world is caused mainly by cultivation and grazing. A consequence of de-vegetation due to overgrazing has been a decrease in organic matter (litter) input to soil and a decrease of aggregate size and stability making soils more susceptible to erosion and to organic matter losses. This study provided evidence linking the Dissolved Organic Nitrogen (DON) export from river basins to livestock grazing intensity and the resulting decrease in vegetation. Koiliaris River Basin in Crete was selected to study the effects of livestock grazing on water quality because it offers a unique morphologic situation due to its karstic hydrogeology draining the upland grazing areas through karstic springs. Mass balance calculations of N loads indicated that organic N is behaving as a conservative substance. It is postulated that the two potential mechanisms of Mineralization–Immobilization-Turnover and Direct Uptake did not operate in the degraded soils of the karst and arguments are presented justifying the hypothesis. De-vegetated soils of the area had lower C and N content, the same bacterial count, but lower microbial activity, lower fungi counts and species richness and lower mineralizable N compared to naturally vegetated soils. DON was the predominant N species in both extracted soluble N pools. De-vegetated soils had lower decomposition potential compared to vegetated soils. Mineralization and plant uptake appeared to be restricted and leaching of soluble low aromaticity organic matter was favored. A linear relationship between DON export and livestock N load was obtained for five Greek basins suggesting a mechanism that operates on regional scales. The de-vegetation of grazing lands in Koiliaris River highland calcaric leptosols was shown to be a primary factor causing the decline of soil biochemical quality and DON can be used as a reliable indicator for livestock grazing impacts to soil biochemical quality.     

Fast-track attribution assessments based on pre-computed estimates of changes in the odds of warm extremes

Climate Dynamics - Regional warming due to anthropogenic influence on the climate is expected to increase the frequency of very warm years and seasons. The growing research area of extreme event...     

The petrology of greek brown coals

Results are given in the petrography of Greek coals collected from most of the major coal-bearing basins in Greece.Rank was determined by measuring reflectances on the maceral varieties eu-ulminite A and eu-ulminite B and on the maceral textinite. Reflectances obtained from these components indicate a coalification stage of brown coal for all samples. Within this group of samples there is, however, a fairly wide scatter of reflectance values indicating for some of them the transition zone from peat to brown coal and for others a coalification stage close to the transition into bituminous coals. Reflectances obtained from eu-ulminite A and eu-ulminite B were found to correlate well with chemical rank parameters such as volatile matter and calorific value.Composition was determined by maceral analysis. The coals are in general characterized by low amounts of macerals of the inertinite group, low to intermediate amounts of macerals of the liptinite group and high amounts of macerals of the huminite group. Within the latter group densinite, attrinite, eu-ulminite and textinite make up the bulk of the samples.Typical macerals observed in the coals are illustrated by two black and white and three colour plates.Cluster analysis based on maceral distribution, mineral matter and reflectance indicates that the samples studied can be divided into three major groups. The first one is dominated by eu-ulminite and densinite with relatively high reflectances. The second is dominated by attrinite, textinite and texto-ulminite with somewhat lower reflectances. The third is represented by a single sample in which textinite and resinite are the most abundant macerals. This sample also has the lowest reflectance.     

Genetic seascape of the threatened Caribbean elkhorn coral,Acropora palmata,on the Puerto Rico Shelf

It has been proposed that the elkhorn coral Acropora palmata is genetically separated into two distinct provinces in the Caribbean, an eastern and a western population admixing in Western Puerto Rico and around the Mona Passage. In this study, the genetic structure of A. palmata sampled at 11 Puerto Rican localities and localities from Curaçao, the Bahamas and Guadeloupe were examined. Analyses using five microsatellite markers showed that 75% of sampled colonies had unique genotypes, the rest being clone mates. Genetic diversity among genets was high (H_E = 0.761) and consistent across localities (0.685–0.844). F_ST ranged from ?0.011 to 0.047, supporting low but significant genetic differentiation between localities within the previously reported eastern and western genetic provinces. Plots of genetic per geographic distances and significant Mantel tests supported isolation‐by‐distance (IBD) within Puerto Rico. Analysis with the software STRUCTURE favored a scenario with weak differentiation between two populations, assigning Eastern Puerto Rican locations (Fajardo and Culebra), Guadeloupe and Curaçao to the Caribbean eastern population and Western Puerto Rican locations (west of Vega Baja and Ponce), Mona and the Bahamas to the Caribbean western population. Vieques and San Juan area harbored admixed profiles. Standardized F_ST per 1000 km unit further supported higher differentiation between localities belonging to different STRUCTURE populations, with IBD being stronger within Puerto Rico than on larger regional scales. This stronger genetic transition seems to separate localities between putative eastern and western provinces in the Eastern Puerto Rican region, but not around the Mona Passage.