Volcanoes and peat bogs

Peat bogs in the British Isles contain tephra from volcanic eruptions in Iceland; tephra in the Falkland Islands most likely derives from Andean volcanoes. Study of these far-travelled volcanic products is making a significant contribution to our understanding of past environmental changes.     

Structural variations in derivatives of the bacteriochlorophylls of Chlorobiaceae: impact of stratigraphic resolution on depth profiles as revealed by methanolysis

Bacteriochlorophylls c and d, recovered from two sedimentary sequences, were converted to bacteriophaeophorbide methyl esters by methanolysis and analysed by atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation liquid chromatography-multistage mass spectrometry (APCI LC-MSⁿ). The distributions in both settings, a moderately consolidated sediment from Kirisjes Pond, Antarctica, and in a finely laminated microbial mat from Les Salines de la Trinitat, Spain, show significant variations within a narrow depth interval. The overall bacteriophaeophorbide c to d ratios in the two sediments are different, as are the ratios of particular C-3¹ diastereoisomers, indicating distinct differences between the bacterial communities that contributed to each sediment. Furthermore, a shift towards more extensive alkylation in homologues within each sediment is consistent either with changing environmental conditions in the depositional environments, or development-related changes in the structure of the bacterial community, leading to increased competition for light or nutrients.     

In situ estimation of the effective chemical diffusion coefficient of a rock matrix in a fractured aquifer

An in situ method of estimating the effective diffusion coefficient for a chemical constituent that diffuses into the primary porosity of a rock is developed by abruptly changing the concentration of the dissolved constituent in a borehole in contact with the rock matrix and monitoring the time-varying concentration. The experiment was conducted in a borehole completed in mudstone on the campus of the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein, South Africa. Numerous tracer tests were conducted at this site, which left a residual concentration of sodium chloride in boreholes that diffused into the rock matrix over a period of years. Fresh water was introduced into a borehole in contact with the mudstone, and the time-varying increase of chloride was observed by monitoring the electrical conductivity (EC) at various depths in the borehole. Estimates of the effective diffusion coefficient were obtained by interpreting measurements of EC over 34 d. The effective diffusion coefficient at a depth of 36 m was approximately 7.8×10^?6 m²/d, but was sensitive to the assumed matrix porosity. The formation factor and mass flux for the mudstone were also estimated from the experiment.     

Observation of high-frequency sound propagation in shallow waterwith bubbles due to storm and surf

An experiment was performed off the shore of Panama City, FL, to measure the spatial and temporal coherence of high-frequency signals that were transmitted between fixed towers. Transmission was along paths at mid depths in about 10 m of water. During the time of the experiment, there were two stormy days with breaking waves and nearby high surf. It was observed that pulse-to-pulse variations (over seconds) in travel times, over a range of frequencies, increased dramatically from those observed on quiet days. Average travel times also increased by about 3%. Dispersion was also observed. The distance between the source and the receiver towers was approximately 60 m. By assuming that bubbles were either generated by breaking waves and advected down ward and/or generated by surf and advected outward, these results are explained. Estimates of the average bubble density and bubble-density variations are made     

Stone run (block stream) formation in the Falkland Islands over several cold stages,deduced from cosmogenic isotope (10Be and 26Al) surface exposure dating

Cosmogenic isotope (¹⁰Be and ²⁶Al) surface exposure dating has been applied to valley‐axis and hillslope stone runs (relict periglacial block streams) and their source outcrops in the Falkland Islands, South Atlantic. The data indicate that stone runs are considerably older landforms than previously envisaged and afford no evidence that they are a product of the Last Glacial Maximum; the samples range in apparent ¹⁰Be age from 42k to 731k yr BP, but some of these are minima. The results indicate that valley‐axis stone runs may be up to 700–800k yr old, have simple exposure histories and are composite landforms that developed over several cold stages. Analyses of some hillslope and outcrop samples also demonstrate simple exposure histories with ¹⁰Be ages from 42k to 658k yr BP. In contrast, isotopic ratios from other hillslope and outcrop samples reveal they have had a complex exposure history involving periods of burial or shielding; the samples range in ¹⁰Be age from 59k to 569k yr BP and these are regarded as minimum age estimates. Larger stone runs may be older than smaller runs and there is a possibility that stone runs older than 800k yr exist in other parts of the Falklands. The assertion that glaciation in the Falklands was restricted to the highest uplands is supported by the data, and the potential for age determination of other boulder‐strewn and bedrock landforms, using cosmogenic isotope analysis, in order to extend the geochronology of Quaternary events and processes is noted. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The design of low frequency underwater acoustic projectors: presentstatus and future trends

The difficulties that dominate low-frequency projector design problems in sonar and oceanographic applications are discussed. These are related to the size of the projector, the low radiation resistance, the acoustic interaction effects in arrays, and the requirements due to deep submergence. Low-frequency projectors are described and compared, and future trends associated with transducer shapes and dimensions and with the type of active materials used for the driving part are analyzed. The different modeling approaches are discussed, and an insight into the respective advantages and disadvantages of classical equivalent circuit models and numerical models-mainly those using the finite-element method-is provided. Several modeling examples are briefly introduced     

Characterization of the mesospheric sodium layer at La Palma

We present the results of a mesospheric sodium monitoring programme at La Palma carried out through five campaigns of one week each, from 1999 September to 2000 August. The yearly averaged parameters of the layer (the sodium column density and the width) are given. We show that the short time-scale dynamics of the layer are governed by the sporadic layers with an average frequency of one event per night. The influence of the short time-scale dynamics of the layer on an adaptive optics system working on the William Herschel Telescope is quantified. It appears that it is a small effect in terms of defocus error. Finally, we present data obtained during the Perseid meteor shower and show that the dynamics of the sodium layer undergoes a transition with the meteoric activity.     

Measuring the flow resistance of submerged grass

Through laboratory experiments conducted in a grass‐lined flume, the hydraulic resistance of grass is measured and quantified. For the grass examined, it is found that Manning's n value is greater than those recommended in well‐established texts such as Chow (1959. Open Channel Flow. McGraw‐Hill: Singapore), relatively lower than those predicted by n‐UR methods, but corresponds well with the value found from calibration studies of two‐ and three‐dimensional numerical models. The assumption of a uniform Manning's n value with flow depth, which is often made in numerical modelling, may be invalid depending on the relative submergence of the vegetation. Drag coefficients are evaluated for a method applicable to three‐dimensional numerical models. Further detailed experimental investigation and application of these approaches within a numerical modelling framework is now recommended. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A terrestrial record of Last Interglacial climate preserved by voluminous debris avalanche inundation in Taranaki,New Zealand

At Airedale Reef, western North Island, New Zealand, a ca. 4 m thick volcanogenic debris avalanche deposit has facilitated the preservation of an enveloping sequence of peats with interbedded andesitic tephras spanning marine isotope (MIS) 5. The sequence closely overlies a wave‐cut terrace correlated to MIS 5e and, in turn, is overlain by andic beds with tephra interbeds including the Rotoehu and Kawakawa tephras deposited during early MIS 3 and mid‐MIS 2, respectively. Pollen analysis of the organic sequence shows a coherent pattern of fluctuating climate for the Last Interglacial–Last Glacial transition that corresponds with marine isotope stratigraphy and supports the contention that orbital variations were a primary factor in late Quaternary southern mid‐latitude climate change. A five‐stage subdivision of MIS 5 is clearly recognised, with marine isotope substage (MISS) 5b drier than MISS 5d, and the cooling transition from 5a to MIS 4 also may have been comparatively dry and characterised by natural fire, perhaps associated with volcanism. Several other examples of volcanic impact on vegetation and the landscape are evident. The Airedale Reef sequence exhibits strong similarities with fragmentary MIS 5 pollen records preserved elsewhere in New Zealand and enables the proxy record of southern mid‐latitude climatic variability during the Last Interglacial–Glacial cycle to be extended. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.