ELF/VLF signatures of sprite-producing lightning discharges observed during the 2005 EuroSprite campaign

During the summer of 2005, transient luminous events were optically imaged from the French Pyrénées as part of the EuroSprite campaign. Simultaneously, extremely low frequency (ELF: 3–3000 Hz) and broadband very low frequency (VLF: 3–30 kHz) data were recorded continuously at two separate receivers in Israel, located about 3300 km from the area of the parent lightning discharges responsible for the generation of sprites. Additionally, narrowband VLF data were collected in Crete, at about 2300 km away from the region of sprites.The motivation for the present study was to identify the signature of the sprite-producing lightning discharges in the ELF and VLF electromagnetic frequency bands, to qualify and compare their parameters, and to study the influence of the thunderstorm-activated region on its overlaying ionosphere. For the 15 sprites analyzed, their causative positive cloud-to-ground (+CG) discharges had peak current intensities between +8 and +130 kA whereas their charge moment changes (CMC) ranged from 500 to 3500 C km. Furthermore, the peak current reported by the Météorage lightning network are well correlated with the amplitudes of the VLF bursts, while showing poor correlation with the CMCs which were estimated using ELF methods.Additionally, more than one +CG was associated with six of the sprites, implying that lightning discharges that produce sprites can sometimes have multiple ground connections separated in time and space. Finally, for a significant number of events (33%) an ELF transient was not associated with sprite occurrence, suggesting that long continuing current of tens of ms may not always be a necessary condition for sprite production, a finding which influences the estimation of the global sprite rate based on Schumann resonance (SR) measurements.     

Interspecific Competition between Tetrachthamalus oblitteratus and Tetraclita squamosa

Abstract. Direct evidence for interspecific competition between Tetrachthamalus oblitteratus and Tetraclita squamosa is provided. Tetrachthamalus oblitteratus is smothered and eliminated from the main midlittoral zone by encrusting Tetraclita. The disjunct distribution of Tetrachthamalus can be explained by elimination through competitive exclusion.     

Spatial distribution of surface conditions and runoff generation in small arid watersheds, Zin Valley Badlands, Israel

High rill density may be regarded as indicative of frequent and integrated runoff along a drainage network. However, field observations of soil development and rill geometry in small, first-order catchments (0.1 to 1 ha) of the Zin Valley Badlands, northern Negev, Israel, suggest a pattern of partial area contribution and frequent flow discontinuities along hillslopes and channels. Changing soil properties, associated with an increase of slope angle and slope length, appear to be responsible for high infiltration on the slopes, leading to nonuniform runoff generation within small drainage basins. Runoff observation, sprinkling tests, and soil analysis along ridges and sideslopes were carried out to test this hypothesis. The results confirmed that infiltration capacity on the sideslopes is significantly higher than on the ridges. Under current rainfall conditions, only extreme rainfall intensities are sufficient to generate runoff along entire slopes. The discontinuous nature of most runoff events causes erosion on ridges and deposition on slopes, which enhances soil development on the valley sideslopes, creating a positive feedback on infiltration rate and depth. This demonstrates that the links between within-storm rainfall conditions and spatial distribution of soil characteristics have to be incorporated into our understanding of landscape development in badlands.     

The effects of loess erosion on soil nutrients, plant diversity and plant quality in Negev desert wadis

Severe erosion, initiated by climatic changes during the Late Pleistocene-Early Holocene period and resultant declines in dust deposition, causes the formation of waterfalls during the winter floods in many wadi systems in the central Negev desert of Israel. In some areas, erosion of the original loess substrate has been complete, so that the underlying rock has been exposed. We examined the effects of this erosion in four wadis in the central Negev desert on soil nutrients, plant community structure and plant quality. We predicted that erosion has caused reductions in soil nutrients. Reductions in soil nutrients should result in reductions in plant cover. Furthermore, reduced soil nutrient availability should cause reductions in the nutrient status and quality of the plants growing there. In addition to the loss of biodiversity that may result, this erosion may result in economic hardship for the Bedouin peoples whose herds depend on these resources. In this study, there were significant negative effects of erosion on soil organic carbon, nitrate nitrogen and water-holding capacity, but not on soil phosphorus, conductivity or pH. Furthermore, there was a negative effect of soil erosion on an overall measure of soil quality derived from a principal components analysis in three of the four wadis we studied. Erosion resulted in an increase in plant species richness and significantly altered plant community structure in eroded areas of wadis. Increased plant species richness in eroded sites is consistent with the intermediate disturbance hypothesis of plant community structure. Plants growing in eroded areas did not differ in two quality indices (nitrogen content and digestibility), although plants typical of eroded areas had significantly lower levels of common digestion inhibitors (total polyphenols) and toxins (alkaloids) than plants from undisturbed sites. These last-mentioned results are contrary to our prediction and are consistent with the notion that plants growing in disturbed (e.g. eroded) sites maximize growth at the expense of investments in defense.     

Tectonics of the Aegean block: Rotation, side arc collision and crustal extension

A new tectonic model for the Aegean block is outlined in an effort to explain the widespread extension observed in this region. A key element in this model is the concept of “side arc collision” This term is used to describe the interaction of subducted oceanic lithosphere with continental lithosphere in a subduction arc in which oblique subduction occurs. In the Hellenic arc side arc collision is proposed for the northeast corner near Rhodes. The collision involves subducted African lithosphere, moving to the northeast almost parallel to the arc, with the continental mass of southwest Turkey. It affects the motion of the Anatolian-Aegean plate complex, but is not similar to continental collision since it occurs mostly at depth and involves only little, if any, of the shallow and rigid part of the continental lithosphere. The model assumes that Anatolia and the Aegean are part of one plate complex which undergoes counterclockwise rotation; if it were not for the side arc collision near Rhodes, the two blocks would exhibit similar deformation and might, in effect, be indistinguishable. At present, however, free and undisturbed rotation is possible only for the Anatolian block (excluding western Anatolia) where the motion is accommodated by subduction along the Cyprean arc. Further west the side arc collision inhibits this rotation along the subduction front. Still further west, undisturbed subduction along the central and western parts of the Hellenic arc is again possible and is well documented. On the other side of the Anatolian-Aegean plate complex, relatively free motion occurs along the North Anatolian fault zone including in the Aegean Sea. The combination of this motion in the north with the local obstruction of the rotation near Rhodes, must create a torque and a new pattern of rotation for the western part of the plate complex, thus creating a separate Aegean block. Since, however, the two blocks are not separated by a plate boundary, the Aegean block cannot move freely according to the new torque. Effective motion of the Aegean block relative to Europe and Anatolia, particularly in the north, is achieved through extension of the crust (lithosphere?). Thus the greatest amount of deformation (extension) is observed along the suture zone between the two blocks and, in particular, in the northeastern part of the Aegean block where motion relative to Anatolia must be greatest.     

Linking frequency of rainstorms,runoff generation and sediment transport across hyperarid talus-pediment slopes

Documenting hillslope response to hydroclimatic forcing is crucial to our understanding of landscape evolution. The evolution of talus-pediment sequences (talus flatirons) in arid areas was often linked to climatic cycles, although the physical processes that may account for such a link remain obscure. Our approach is to integrate field measurements, remote sensing of rainfall and modeling to link between storm frequency, runoff, erosion and sediment transport. We present a quantitative hydrometeorological analysis of rainstorms, their geomorphic impact and their potential role in the evolution of hyperarid talus-pediment slopes in the Negev desert, Israel. Rainstorm properties were defined based on intensity–duration–frequency curves and using a rainfall simulator, artificial rainstorms were executed in the field. Then, the obtained measured experimental results were up-scaled to the entire slope length using a fully distributed hydrological model. In addition, natural storms and their hydro-geomorphic impacts were monitored using X-band radar and time-lapse cameras. These integrated analyses constrain the rainfall threshold for local runoff generation at rain intensity of 14 to 22 mm h^-1 for a duration of five minutes and provide a high-resolution characterization of small-scale runoff-generating rain cells. The current frequency of such runoff-producing rainstorms is ~1–3 per year. However, extending this local value into the full extent of hillslope runoff indicates that it occurs only under rainstorms with ≥ 100-years return interval, or 1% annual exceedance probability. Sheetwash efficiency rises with downslope distance; beyond a threshold distance of ~100 m, runoff during rainstorms with such annual exceedance probability are capable of transporting surface clasts. The erosion efficiency of these discrete rare events highlights their potential importance in shaping the landscape of arid regions. Our results support the hypothesis that a shift in the properties and frequency of extreme events can trigger significant geomorphic transitions in areas that remained hyperarid during the entire Quaternary. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Optical observations of transient luminous events associated with winter thunderstorms near the coast of Israel

We report the results of two observation campaigns conducted during the Northern Hemisphere winters of 2005–6 and 2006–7 aiming to detect transient luminous events (TLEs) above winter thunderstorms in the vicinity of Israel and the eastern coastline of the Mediterranean Sea. In 10 out of 31 different observation nights we detected 66 events: 56 sprites and 10 Elves. The detection ranges varied from 250 to 450 km. Sprites were found to be produced by active cells with a vertical dimension of 5–9 km and cloud top temperature ~ − 40 °C, embedded in a much larger matrix of stratiform precipitating cloudiness. This configuration closely resembles the conditions for winter sprites in the Hokuriku region of Japan. Synchronized with the optical observations, ELF data were recorded at two observation stations in Israel and Hungary in order to qualify and quantify parameters of the parent lightning discharge associated with the TLEs. These stations are located 500 km and 2100 km respectively from the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, where most TLEs occur. Among the optically observed TLE events, we found that all the ELF signals were produced solely by positive cloud-to-ground flashes (+ CGs), most of which were recorded in Israel (88%) and Hungary (77%). Calculation of the Charge Moment Change showed average values of 1400 ± 600 C km, with some extreme events exceeding 3500 C km. The average time delay between the ELF transient of the parent + CG and the observed sprites was 55 ms, with shorter delays for column sprites (42 ± 34 ms) compared to carrot sprites (68 ± 34). Furthermore, based on the ELF data, there were no early identifiable precursors to TLE occurrence in the regional lightning activity. From the spatial formation of the observed columniform sprites, we propose that columniform sprites are sometimes arranged in a 3-dimensional circular pattern, thus mapping the instantaneous electric field in the mesosphere.     

Impact of gully incision on hillslope hydrology

The Southern U.S. Piedmont ranging from Virginia to Georgia underwent severe gully erosion over a century of farming mainly for cotton (1800s–1930s). Although tree succession blanketed much of this region by the middle 20th century, gully erosion still occurs, especially during wet seasons. While many studies on gully erosion have focused on soil loss, soil carbon exchange, and stormwater response, the impacts on soil moisture, groundwater, and transpiration remain under-studied. Using a newly developed 2D hydrologic model, this study analyzes the impacts of gully erosion on hillslope hydrologic states and fluxes. Results indicate that increases in gully incision lead to reduction in groundwater table, root zone soil moisture, and transpiration. These reductions show seasonal variations, but the season when the reduction is maximum differs among the hydrologic variables. Spatially, the impacts are generally the greatest near the toe of the hillslope and reduce further away from it, although the reductions are sometimes non-monotonic. Overall, the impacts are larger for shallow gully depths and diminish as the incision goes deeper. Lastly, the extent of impacts on a heterogeneous hillslope is found to be very different with respect to a homogeneous surrogate made of dominant soil properties. These results show that through gully erosion, the landscape not only loses soil but also a large amount of water from the subsurface. The magnitude of water loss is, however, dependent on hydrogeologic and topographic configuration of the hillslope. The results will facilitate (a) mapping of relative susceptibility of landscapes to gullying, (b) understanding of the impacts of stream manipulations such as due to dredging on hillslope eco-hydrology, (c) prioritization of mitigation measures to prevent gullying, and (d) design of observation campaigns to assess the impacts of gullying on hydrologic response.     

The Kerguelen Province revisited: Additional constraints on the early development of the Southeast Indian Ocean

The Kerguelen Province, consisting of two oceanic plateaus (Kerguelen, Broken Ridge) and three basins (Enderby, Labuan and Diamantina), covers a large area of ocean floor in the southeast Indian Ocean. As very few magnetic anomalies have been identified in this area and only a few basement ages from the Kerguelen Plateau are known, reconstruction models of the Kerguelen Province are not well constrained. In an effort to gain more understanding about the evolution of this area, we have used satellite gravity to identify additional fracture zones. As they are likely to be associated with high frequency and low amplitude gravity anomalies, we have computed the vertical derivative map instead of the regular satellite gravity map. Using this approach, we have identified a series of fracture zones in the Enderby Basin, which are aligned with the Mesozoic fracture zones in the Perth Basin and converge to the Kerguelen Fracture Zone. In the conjugate Bay of Bengal, we traced an equivalent pattern of fracture zones which, together, better constrain the early evolution of this part of the Indian Ocean. Synthesis of these images and the other available data from the Kerguelen Province, suggests that the spreading of India from both Australia and Antarctica is closely related. Spreading between the three continents appears to have begun about the same time, in the early Cretaceous and thus, the accretion of some parts of the Kerguelen Province must have occurred before the onset of the quiet magnetic period at 118 Ma. At about 96–99 Ma, when the spreading direction in the Indian Ocean had changed into a N-S direction, it also took place throughout the Kerguelen Province. We find that previously proposed slow spreading in the Diamantina Zone and Labuan Basins, between 96–99 Ma and the initiation of the Southeast Indian Ridge at 43 Ma, could not have taken place. Furthermore, we suggest that there is growing evidence that the same is true for spreading in the eastward continuation of the Diamantina Zone and Labuan Basin, between Australia and Antarctica. Initiation of spreading in this area is likely to be contemporaneous with the spreading in the Kerguelen Province and, thus, older than 96–99 Ma. This revised version was published online in November 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.