Induced polarization: Some early non-linear aspects of electrode impedance

An investigation into the early non-linear characteristics of the electrode impedance of natural sulphide minerals can provide information which could identify the processes controlling the induced polarization phenomenon. Chalcocite behaviour which is initially dominated by diffusional processes at the onset of non-linearity, later becomes reaction resistance controlled. The onset of non-linearity in pyrite and chalcopyrite is much delayed. Although both minerals appear diffusion-controlled initially, pyrite is later kinetics-controlled while the large phase angle characteristic of chalcopyrite even at high current densities is indicative of dominant fixed layer effect. The sign of the stable diffusing ion responsible for causing the observed non-symmetric features of the electrodic process has been identified as positive.     

A numerical inversion scheme for geoelectrical soundings

A simple numerical inversion scheme for estimatingn-layer model parameters from observed geoelectrical resistivity data can be used in either the space or wavenumber domain. The technique utilizes Madden's Transmission Line Analogy to compute the resistivity transforms and linear filter theory to accomplish the excursions between the space and wavenumber domains. The inversion is effected by an iterative refinement scheme employing the stochastic inverse which is approximate to the generalized inverse. No singular decomposition analysis is required and the scheme is stable under ill conditions. The inversion scheme not only gives the desired estimates; it exposes redundant parameters and irrelevant data and is easily programmed on a desk-top mini computer. Examples of inverse modeling with hypothetical and field data are discussed.     

Habitat heterogeneity influences cold‐seep macrofaunal communities within and among seeps along the Norwegian margin. Part 1: macrofaunal community structure

Håkon Mosby mud volcano (HMMV) is one of the most active and most studied seep sites in European waters. Many authors have described its thermal activity, dynamic of mud flows, and geochemical and microbial processes. It is characterised by a concentric zonation of successive biogenic habitats related to an activity and geochemical gradient from its centre to its periphery. Around the central area covered by mud flows, white and grey microbial mats occur among areas of bare sediment, whereas siboglinid tubeworm fields of Sclerolinum contortum and/or Oligobrachia haakonmosbiensis colonise the peripheral areas. The meiofaunal community is known to be structured among habitats, but the macrofauna has rarely been investigated and has never been sampled in situ. As part of the European project HERMES, using the ROVs Victor 6000 and Quest 4000, we sampled quantitatively the different habitats of the volcano for macrofauna sensus lato, retained on a 250‐ or 500‐μm sieve. We also sampled a newly discovered pockmark on Storegga slide (cne 5.6) and two pockmarks (G11, G12) in the Nyegga area. Macrofauna was identified and counted from phylum to family level. Our results on HMMV showed a gradient of increasing density and diversity from the volcano centre (1–3 taxa; 260 ind·m^?2) to the peripheral siboglinid fields (8–14 taxa, 93,000 ind·m^?2), with an intermediate situation for microbial mats. For macrofauna ≥500 μm, non‐siboglinid polychaetes dominated the communities of the central mud volcano area, white mats and S. contortum fields (83, 89 and 37% of the total, respectively), whereas gastropods dominated grey mats and O. haakonmosbiensis fields (89 and 44% of the total, respectively). Polychaete families followed the same pattern of diversity according to habitats within HMMV. Of 23 polychaete families identified, only one occurred in the centre, and three in the microbial mats. Capitellidae and Dorvilleidae (typical of organically and sulphide‐enriched areas) occurred at remarkably high densities in white microbial mats and in O. haakonmosbiensis fields. The S. contortum fields were the most diverse habitat with 12 polychaete families. The 250‐μm fraction showed similar taxa dominating the habitats, but taking meiofauna into account, nematodes became the major taxon in white mats and in S. contortum fields, where they were particularly large in size, whereas copepods dominated in other habitats. Meiofauna and macrofauna did not show the same patterns of density according to habitats. Using principal components analysis the habitats at HMMV were clearly distinct, and clustered according to dominant species of siboglinids and type of microbial mats. Pockmarks at Nyegga showed a similar concentric pattern of habitats around fluid sources as on the volcano, which seemed similarly to influence macrofauna composition, but at a much smaller scale. Total taxa and polychaete diversity are high in the S. contortum fields in these pockmarks as well. Regional‐scale comparisons including HMMV and Storegga suggested a higher influence of habitat‐type than seep‐site on the community structure.     

Recent urban policy in Nigeria: Housing rent edict in the Cross River State

The urban areas within the Cross River State of south-eastern Nigeria are characterized by severe housing shortages and overcrowding, a situation due in large part to the marked levels of rural—urban migration and the high rents that have been charged by landlords. This paper examines the character and background to this situation and describes the Cross River State Housing Rent Edict which was introduced in 1977. The limiting influence of the Rent Edict is described and alternative strategies advanced.     

Spatial distribution of diverse cold seep communities living on various diapiric structures of the southern Barbados prism

Three sectors of the south Barbados prism between 1000 and 2000 m depth were explored by the French submersible Nautile. Chemosynthesis-based benthic communities were discovered on several structures affected by diapirism, including mud volcanoes, domes and an anticlinal ridge. The communities are associated with the expulsion of methane-rich fluids which is a wide-spread process in the area. These communities are dominated by large bivalves and vestimentiferans which harbour chemoautotrophic symbiotic bacteria. The symbiotic bivalves include two species of Mytilidae and one of Vesicomyidae, with dominance of a methanotrophic mussel. Cartography of the benthic communities, interpretation of thermal measurements and observation of sedimentary patterns have been used to define the life habits of each of the three species of symbiotic bivalves. Each species has a characteristic preference for different conditions of edaphic and fluid flow: the dominant methanotrophic mussel appears to require high velocity vents and hard substratum. The vesicomyids and the other species of mussel are able to take up sulfide from the sediments, and so are associated with low seepages, but also require soft sediment. The three bivalve species are assumed successively to colonize the top of a diapiric ridge, in a succession related to the temporal evolution of fluid flow and sedimentation. The composition of the bivalve assemblages, their densities and biomasses all differ between the several mud volcanoes and domes studied, and these parameters are thought to be related to the spatial and temporal variations of fluid expulsion through the structures, and the lithification processes linked to fluid expulsion. One very active dome is at present colonized by an exceptionally large and dense population of the methanotrophic mussel. In contrast, communities in another area, on the domes and volcanoes that are currently inactive, were colonized by only a few living vesicomyids and mussels, both associated with sulfur-oxydizing bacteria, and there were numerous empty shells. The densities and biomasses of symbiotic bivalves were far greater in the area studied than in a deeper mud volcano field on the same prism that had been studied previously. This is consistent with a report that methane production is greater in the southern region of this accretionary prism than in the northern. Numerous non-symbiotic organisms were observed in and around the areas of the seeps, some are endemic to the seep communities, including some gastropods and shrimps, others are either colonists or vagrants from the surrounding deep-sea floor. Filter feeders were very abundant, and some of these, like the serpulids and large sponges, may also be dependent on the chemosynthetic production. Faunistic composition of both symbiotic and non-symbiotic taxa, of the assemblages around these cold seeps, is closely related to that reported for communities living on hydrocarbon seeps in the Gulf of Mexico.     

Spatial patterns of urban mental health: Calabar (Cross River State) Nigeria

Spatial patterns of mental health are examined for the City of Calabar. This is based on a number of hypotheses which relate variations in mental health to a number of socio-economic indices (e. g. income, rooms per household, occupancy). Only tentative conclusions can be drawn but these have therapeutic implications.