Inherent gravitational instability of thickened continental crust with regionally developed low- to medium-pressure granulite facies metamorphism

Petrological arguments show that regionally developed low- to medium-pressure, high-temperature granulite facies metamorphism may critically enhance the lowering of crustal density with depth. This leads to gravitational instability of homogeneously thickened continental crust, mainly due to changes in mineral assemblages and the thermal expansion of minerals in conjunction with the exponential lowering of the effective viscosity of rocks with increasing temperature. It is argued that crustal processes of gravitational redistribution (crustal diapirism) contributing to the exhumation of granulite facies rocks may be activated in this way.     

Ecosystem responses in the Rhine-Meuse delta during two decades after enclosure and steps toward estuary restoration

Changes in hydrology, and developments in morphology, water quality, and ecology of the Rhine-Meuse estuary after its enclosure in 1970 are analyzed on the basis of existing monitoring data. Annual averages of ammonium, nitrate plus nitrite, total phosphate, total lead, and chlorophyll-a concentrations as well as transparency of the water are presented. Abundances of some water bird species are given for the period 1970–1993, and the relative fish biomass for the period 1971–1988 is discussed. The gradual evolution led toward the dominance of bream. The area has developed toward a system with generally low natural ecological values. Ecological impacts of present sluice management are discussed and include the accumulation of contaminated sediments, disappearance of intertidal areas and nursery grounds for fish, disturbance of fish migration, and less mixing of river and seawater. Recent policy developments have brought the present management of the Haringvliet sluices back in to discussion. A recent policy document has presented several management alternatives, including partial and complete reopening of the sluices to permit saltwater intrusion. Three management options are compared in terms of costs and ecological benefits. It is concluded that a complete reopening, and thus a partial restoration of the estuarine characteristics, is most beneficial for the ecosystems of the area itselt, for the upstream Rhine and Meuse rivers, and for the adjacent North Sea, but costs amount to about 600 million US $.     

Agricultural adaptation to climatic variation

Assumptions underlying impact assessments of climatic change for agriculture are explored conceptually and empirically. Variability in climatic conditions, the relevance of human decision-making, and the role of non-climatic forces are reviewed and captured in a model of agricultural adaptation to climate. An empirical analysis of farmers' decisions in light of variations in climate and other forces is based on a survey of 120 farm operators in southwestern Ontario. Many farmers were affected by variable climatic conditions over a six-year-period, and some undertook strategic adaptations in their farm operations. Frequency of dry years was the key climatic stimulus to farming adaptations. However, only 20 percent of farmers were sufficiently influenced by climatic conditions to respond with conscious changes in their farm operations.     

Identification of data-driven Dutch dietary patterns that benefit the environment and are healthy

More sustainable dietary patterns are needed to mitigate global warming. This study aims to identify data-driven healthy dietary patterns that benefit the environment. In EPIC-NL, diet was assessed using a 178-item FFQ in 36,203 participants aged 20–70 years between 1993 and 1997. The Dutch Healthy Diet index 2015 (DHD15-index) was used to score healthiness of the diet. As proxy for environmental impact, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions were calculated using life cycle analysis. To determine patterns that are both healthy and environmentally friendly, reduced rank regression was applied. A “Plant-based Pattern” characterized by high consumption of fruits, vegetables, and legumes, and low consumption of fries, red meat, and processed meat and a “Dairy-based Pattern” characterized by high consumption of dairy, and nuts and seeds and low consumption of coffee and tea, sugar-containing sodas, low-fiber bread, and savory sauces were derived. At equal energy intake, the diet of adherents (highest quartile) to the “Plant-based Pattern” were significantly healthier (89.8 points on the DHD15-index, p?<?0.0001) and more sustainable (3.96 kg C0₂-eq/day, p?<?0.0001) compared to the average diet (76.2 points, 4.06 kg C0₂-eq/day), whereas the “Dairy-based Pattern” was somewhat healthier (77.9 points, p?<?0.0001), but less sustainable (4.43 kg C0₂-eq/day, p?<?0.0001). When deriving dietary patterns based on health and environmental aspects of the diets, a “Plant-based” and a “Dairy-based” pattern were observed in our study population. Of these, the plant-based diet benefits health as well as the environment.     

The pre-glacial evolution of Wales

The classical explanation of the development of the Welsh landscape by the effects of a pulsed ‘eustatic’ uplift during the Cenozoic times is challenged by new data on the geology and geomorphology of Wales and the adjacent regions. The post-Caledonian surface developed over most of Wales in the upper Westphalian plays a major role in landform development. Since its emergence before mid-Cretaceous times, the Welsh Massif has suffered a long subaerial evolution which favoured a powerful chemical weathering. In Anglesey and St. David's Land, residual hills were formed by a process of differential weathering, and downwearing in saprolites. The Millstone Grit quartzites have been deeply weathered and dolines or flat-bottomed basins have been developed. From Cretaceous to Miocene times, a morphotectonic equilibrium has existed between uplift and denudation, so that, in the major part of Wales, the original planation surface was constantly maintained by lowering on itself and in some places it is possible to prove that no more than a few dozen metres of rock thickness disappeared during that period. Several main escarpments were produced by the warping of the planation surface along sharp flexures, during Neogene times. The Cenozoic vertical movements were controlled by the Caledonian or pre-Caledonian tectonic pattern which has divided the continental crust into major structural units. Welsh tectonic development is related to the opening of the North Atlantic, associated stresses reactivating ancient lines of weakness in the heterogeneous lower crust or upper mantle.     

Regional and Global Tropopause Fold Occurrence and Related Ozone Flux Across the Tropopause

This paper gives a synthesis of three algorithms to detect the presenceof tropopause folds from vertical ozone/radio-sounding profiles and frommeteorological analysis. Also an algorithm to identify injection ofstratospheric air into the lower troposphere fromozone/⁷beryllium time series is presented. Differences in theresults obtained from the algorithms are observed and discussed with respectto the criteria for fold detection and input data used. Spatial gradients inthe obtained folding frequencies are made evident on a global scale from thealgorithm based on meteorological analysis (Q-vector/potential vorticity)and probably also on a regional European scale from algorithms both basedmeteorological analyses and on ozone/PTU soundings. The observed seasonalvariation of folding occurrence is rather flat except during summer whenalso some differences appear between the algorithms. By combining thefolding frequencies with literature estimates of the cross-tropopause ozonetransfer in single folding events, an average stratospheric ozone influxinto the troposphere of 5.7 ± 1.3× 10¹⁰ mol.cm^-2 s^-1 is obtained for the Northern hemisphereand 12± 2.7× 10¹⁰ mol. cm^-2s^-1 for Western Europe. Potential additional contributions dueto other stratosphere-troposphere exchange processes than folds are not yetincluded in these estimates. Finally, the link between statistics fromozone/⁷beryllium data and folding statistics is brieflydiscussed.     

Plastic ingestion by estuarine mullet Mugil cephalus (Mugilidae) in an urban harbour,KwaZulu-Natal,South Africa

Coastal urban environments have high plastic pollution levels, and hence interactions between plastic debris and marine life are frequent. We report on plastic ingestion by mullet Mugil cephalus in Durban Harbour, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Of 70 mullet (13.0–19.5?cm total length), 73% had plastic particles in their guts, with a mean of 3.8 particles per fish (SD 4.7). Plastic ingestion showed no relation to digestive tract content or fish length. White and clear plastic fibres were ingested most commonly. This urban population of M. cephalus had a higher incidence of plastic ingestion than has been reported in studies on fish from other coastal areas or the oceanic environment.     

Asteroseismology of Sun-like stars

Yvonne P Elsworth and Michael J Thompson examine the theory and practice of asteroseismology, the study of the oscillations of Sun-like stars.     

Pliocene sedimentation in a shallow, cool-water, estuarine gulf, Murray Basin, South Australia

The Pliocene Norwest Bend Formation is a well‐preserved succession of terrestrial and shallow‐marine deposits in the Murray Basin, South Australia. Sediments in this unit consist of two discrete terrigenous clastic‐rich, decametre‐scale sequences, or informal members, which record episodes of marine incursion during the Early and Late Pliocene respectively. The base of each sequence is a transgressive lag and/or strandline deposit that is transitional upwards into a highstand, subtidal, terrigenous clastic and cool‐water carbonate sediment accumulation. The top of each sequence is incised by fluvial channels that are filled by river deposits which formed as relative sea‐level fell and terrestrial environments prograded basinward. Sedimentological data suggest that gross stratigraphic architecture was primarily determined by glacioeustasy. Differences in sedimentary style between these two sequences, however, reflect a major climatic change that took place in southern Australia during the mid‐Pliocene. The lower quartzose sand member is formed of siliciclastic sediment derived from prolonged, deep, subaerial weathering and contains a bivalve‐dominated, cool‐temperate, open‐marine mollusc assemblage. These sediments accumulated under an equitable, relatively warm, humid climate. The Murray Basin during this time, because of high fluvial discharge, was a salt‐wedge estuary with typical estuarine circulation. In contrast, the upper, oyster‐rich member is typified by large monospecific oyster buildups that grew in restricted coastal environments. Strandline deposits contain a warm‐temperate skeletal assemblage. Contemporaneous aeolian sediments accumulated under warm, semi‐arid climatic conditions. Well‐developed ferricrete, silcrete and calcrete horizons reflect cyclic conditions of rainwater infiltration and evaporation in the seasonally dry climate that typifies southern Australia today. Highly seasonal rainfall produced an estuary that fluctuated annually from being well to partially mixed. These Pliocene sediments support the notion that mollusc‐rich facies are the signature of cool‐water carbonate accumulations in inboard neritic environments. Unlike bryozoans that dominate the outer parts of Cenozoic cool‐water carbonate shelves, molluscs evolved to exploit an array of coastal ecosystems with wide salinity variations and variable sedimentation rates.