The impact of climate change on tribal communities in the US: displacement, relocation, and human rights

Tribal communities in the United States, particularly in coastal areas, are being forced to relocate due to accelerated rates of sea level rise, land erosion, and/or permafrost thaw brought on by climate change. Forced relocation and inadequate governance mechanisms and budgets to address climate change and support adaptation strategies may cause loss of community and culture, health impacts, and economic decline, further exacerbating tribal impoverishment and injustice. Sovereign tribal communities around the US, however, are using creative strategies to counter these losses. Taking a human rights approach, this article looks at communities’ advocacy efforts and strategies in dealing with climate change, displacement, and relocation. Case studies of Coastal Alaska and Louisiana are included to consider how communities are shaping their own relocation efforts in line with their cultural practices and values. The article concludes with recommendations on steps for moving forward toward community-led and government-supported resettlement programs.     

Community structure and grazing of the nano-microzooplankton on the continental shelf of the Bay of Biscay

In order to investigate the parameters controlling the heterotrophic protists (nano-microzooplankton) on the continental shelf of the southern Bay of Biscay, plankton communities and their physico-chemical environment were studied 4 times in February, April, June and September–October 2004 at three stations in the euphotic zone in the Bay of Biscay. The abundance and carbon biomass of heterotrophic protists (ciliates, heterotrophic dinoflagellates and nanoflagellates) as well as all the others groups of plankton (picoplankton, nanophytoplankton, diatoms, autotrophic dinoflagellates, metazoan microzooplankton and mesozooplankton), the environmental parameters and the primary and bacteria production were evaluated at each sampling period. Microzooplankton grazing experiments were undertaken at the same time. Ciliates and heterotrophic dinoflagellates accounted for the main major component of nano- and microzooplankton communities in term of biomass. The total carbon biomass of heterotrophic protists was highest in spring and lowest at the end of summer. The development of heterotrophic protists started after a winter microphytoplankton bloom (principally large diatoms), the biomass was lower in June and was low in September (through inappropriate prey). The carbon requirement of microzooplankton ranged from 50 to more than 100% of daily primary, bacterial and nanoflagellate production. The heterotrophic protist community was predominantly constrained by bottom-up control in spring and at the end of summer via food availability and quality.     

A cornucopia of presolar and early solar system materials at the micrometer size range in primitive chondrite matrix

Abstract— We have used a variety of complementary microanalytical techniques to constrain the mineralogy, trace‐element distributions, and oxygen‐isotopic compositions in a 50 × 50 μm area of Acfer 094 matrix. The results reveal the exceptional mineralogical and compositional heterogeneity of this material at the sub‐μm level. We observe μm‐scale and sub‐μm grains with elemental associations suggesting feldspar, metal with widely varying Ni contents, and a Cr‐Fe alloy (in addition to forsterite, pyroxene, sulfide, ferrihydrite, and amorphous groundmass previously described). A new class of μm‐scale CAI (μCAI) is also observed, which show sub‐μm compositional zoning, and a range of oxygen isotopic compositions. Unlike the larger CAIs in Acfer 094, which are uniformly ¹⁶O‐enriched, two of the three μCAIs we analyzed are isotopically normal. We also observed a Li‐rich hotspot that detailed analysis by ToF‐SIMS suggests may be a LiCr‐oxide grain. Within the resolution of the NanoSIMS, this grain has isotopically normal Li. Finally, in our 50 × 50 μm area, we positively identified a presolar grain that is the most ¹⁸O‐rich silicate found so far in meteorites. The grain may originate from an asymptotic giant branch (AGB) star, or more likely, a supernova. In line with previous TEM studies (Greshake 1997), we find no evidence for clastic material (e.g., fragmental chondrules) in the matrix of Acfer 094: although the matrix is volatile‐depleted, this depletion does not appear to result from dilution of a primordial starting material with (depleted) chondrule fragments. Assuming that matrix experienced the depletion event, our data on the detailed mineralogy of Acfer 094 are currently equivocal in constraining the nature of that event. We observe carrier phases for several elements consistent with conditions approaching equilibrium condensation; however, the presence of an amorphous groundmass is suggestive of more rapid cooling.     

Phosphorus retention in constructed wetlands enhanced by zeolite- and clinopyroxene-dominated lava sand

Constructed wetlands (CWs) are engineered systems for treating wastewater by sequestering nutrients and contaminants. Our aim was to assess the main phosphorus (P) binding states in operating CWs to assess P saturation and indications on P recycling potential of filter materials, which might be necessary under future peak P scenarios. The investigated vertical flow CWs (operation time up to 16 years) are based on either fluviatile (Fluv) sand or zeolite- (Ze-LS) and clinopyroxene (Cl-LS)-dominated lava sand. Organic and inorganic P accumulated in all CWs independent of filter materials and showed a considerable increase with operation time. Concentrations of P decreased sharply with depth in the Fluv-CWs compared to only a slight decrease in the lava sand CWs, with P concentrations of deeper horizons approximating the relatively P enriched original lava sand substrates. Orthophosphate was the dominant pool in all CWs, while the sum of organic fractions ranged between 11% and 33%. Sequential extraction indicated that P was mainly associated with Fe and Al (hydr)oxides for Fluv-CWs and Ze-LS-CWs, while Ca and Mg bound mineral phosphates dominated in Cl-LS-CWs. Oxalate extractions pointed to a clear dominance of P fractions associated with poorly crystalline Fe- and Al-(oxy)hydroxides. Solution ³¹P NMR analyses revealed that inositol hexakisphosphates were a major pool of organic P in surface layers of CWs, which increased with operation time. With a maximum of 0.5% P content, filter sands do not appear to be a suitable fertilizer for direct application to agricultural fields. The dominance of inorganic, poorly crystalline P species point to potentially high desorption capacity which might be investigated further, to assess recycling potential of P or usage of filter materials as soil amendments with relatively high plant available P. The latter might become feasible and economically attractive under future P scarcity. Simultaneously, P saturation indexes (DPS) did not indicate an imminent P saturation of filters, since P accumulation was not restricted by binding to Al and Fe minerals.     

Evaluation of Statistical Distributions for the Parametrization of Subgrid Boundary-Layer Clouds

In numerical weather prediction and climate models, planetary boundary-layer (PBL) clouds are linked to subgrid-scale processes such as shallow convection. A comprehensive statistical analysis of large-eddy simulations (LES), obtained for warm PBL cloud cases, is carried out in order to characterize the distributions of the horizontal subgrid cloud variability. The production of subgrid clouds is mainly associated with the variability of the total water content. Nevertheless, in the case of PBL clouds, the temperature variability cannot be completely discarded and the saturation deficit, which summarizes both temperature and total water fluctuations, provides a better representation of the cloud variability than the total water content. The probability density functions (PDFs) of LES saturation deficit generally have the shape of a main asymmetric bell-shaped curve with a more or less distinct secondary maximum specific to each type of PBL clouds. Unimodal theoretical PDFs, even those with a flexible skewness, are not sufficient to correctly fit the LES distributions, especially the long tail that appears for cumulus clouds. They do not provide a unified approach for all cloud types. The cloud fraction and the mean cloud water content, diagnosed from these unimodal PDFs, are largely underestimated. The use of a double Gaussian distribution allows correction of these errors on cloud fields and provides a better estimation of the cloud-base and cloud-top heights. Eventually, insights for the design of a subgrid statistical cloud scheme are provided, in particular a new formulation for the weight of the two Gaussian distributions and for the standard deviation of the convective distribution.     

Comprehensive physicochemical study of dioctahedral palygorskite-rich clay from Marrakech High Atlas (Morocco)

This study is devoted to the physicochemical and mineralogical characterizations of palygorskite from Marrakech High Atlas, Morocco. The raw clay and its Na⁺-saturated <2 μm fraction were characterized using chemical, structural, and thermal analytical techniques. Measurements of specific surface area and porous volume are reported. The clay fraction was found to be made up of 95 % of palygorskite and 5 % of sepiolite. An original feature of this palygorskite is its deficiency in zeolitic H₂O. The half-cell structural formula of its dehydrated form was determined on the basis of 21 oxygens to be (Si_7.92Al_0.08)(Mg_2.15Al_1.4Fe_0.4Ti_0.05 $ \square_{1} $ )(Ca_0.03Na_0.08K_0.04)O₂₁, while the hydrated form could be formulated as (Si_7.97Al_0.03)(Mg_2.17Al_1.46Fe_0.40Ti_0.05)(Ca_0.03Na_0.07K_0,03)O_20.18(OH)_1.94(OH₂)_3.88·2.43 H₂O. These formulas show that the (Al³⁺+Fe³⁺)/Mg²⁺ ratio is around 0.84, revealing a pronounced dioctahedral character. Further, inside its octahedral sheet, it was determined that the inner M₁ sites are occupied by vacancies, whereas the M₂ sites are shared between 90 % of trivalent cations (78 % for Al³⁺ and 22 % for Fe³⁺), 7.5 % of Mg²⁺, and 2.5 % of Ti⁴⁺, all of them linked to 1.94 of structural hydroxyls. The two remaining Mg²⁺ by half-cell occupy edge M₃ sites and are coordinated to 3.88 molecules of OH₂. Channels of this palygorskite are deficient in zeolitic H₂O since they contain only 2.43 H₂O molecules. A correlation was found between these results and the observation of very intense and well-resolved FTIR bands arising from dioctahedral domains (mainly Al₂OH, Fe₂OH, and AlFeOH) along with very small responses from a trioctahedral domain (Mg₃OH). Accordingly, a schematic representation of the composition of the octahedral sheet was proposed. The cation exchange capacity, specific surface area, and total pore volume were also assessed to be ca. 21.2 meq/100 g, 116 m²/g, and 0.458 cm³/g, respectively.     

The crystal structure of galgenbergite-(Ce), CaCe2(CO3)4∙H2O

Galgenbergite-(Ce) from the type locality, the railroad tunnel Galgenberg between Leoben and St. Michael, Styria, Austria, was investigated. There it occurs in small fissures of an albite-chlorite schist as very thin tabular crystals building rosette-shaped aggregates associated with siderite, ancylite-(Ce), pyrite and calcite. Electron microprobe analyses gave CaO 9.49, Ce₂O₃ 28.95, La₂O₃ 11.70, Nd₂O₃ 11.86, Pr₂O₃ 3.48, CO₂ 30.00, H₂O 3.07, total 98.55 wt.%. CO₂ and H₂O calculated by stoichiometry. The empirical formula (based on Ca + REE ∑3.0) is $ \mathrm{C}{{\mathrm{a}}_{1.00 }}{{\left( {\mathrm{C}{{\mathrm{e}}_{1.04 }}\mathrm{L}{{\mathrm{a}}_{0.42 }}\mathrm{N}{{\mathrm{d}}_{0.42 }}\mathrm{P}{{\mathrm{r}}_{0.12 }}} \right)}_{2.00 }}{{\left( {\mathrm{C}{{\mathrm{O}}_3}} \right)}_4}\cdot {{\mathrm{H}}_2}\mathrm{O} $ , and the simplified formula is $ \mathrm{CaC}{{\mathrm{e}}_2}{{\left( {\mathrm{C}{{\mathrm{O}}_3}} \right)}_4}\cdot {{\mathrm{H}}_2}\mathrm{O} $ . According to X-ray single crystal diffraction galgenbergite-(Ce) is triclinic, space group $ P\overline{1},a=6.3916(5) $ , b?=?6.4005(4), c?=?12.3898(9) Å, α?=?100.884(4), β?=?96.525(4), γ?=?100.492(4)°, V?=?483.64(6) ų, Z?=?2. The eight strongest lines in the powder X-ray diffraction pattern are [d _calc in Å/(I)/hkl]: 5.052/(100)/011; 3.011/(70)/0-22; 3.006/(66)/004; 5.899/(59)/-101; 3.900/(51)/1-12; 3.125/(46)/-201; 2.526/(42)/022; 4.694/(38)/-102. The infrared absorption spectrum reveals H₂O (OH-stretching mode at 3,489 cm^?1, HOH bending mode at 1,607 cm^?1) and indicates the presence of distinctly non-equivalent CO₃-groups by double and quadruple peaks of their ν1, ν2, ν3 and ν4 modes. The crystal structure of galgenbergite-(Ce) was refined with X-ray single crystal data to R1?=?0.019 for 2,448 unique reflections (I?>?2σ(I)) and 193 parameters. The three cation sites of the structure Ca(1), Ce(2) and Ce(3) have a modest mixed site occupation by Ca and small amount of REE (Ce, La, Pr, Nd) and vice versa. The structure is based on double layers parallel to (001), which are composed of Ca(1)Ce(2)(CO₃)₂ single layers with an ordered chessboard like arrangement of Ca and Ce, and with a roof tile-like stacking of the CO₃ groups. Perpendicular to (001) the double layers are connected to a triclinic framework structure with good cleavage parallel to (001) by a differently organized and more open part of the structure formed by Ce(3)(CO₃)₂(H₂O). Based on the topology of the CaCe(CO₃)₂ single layer in galgenbergite-(Ce), structural relationships to rutherfordine, to aragonite and ancylite type minerals, and to lanthanite are outlined.     

Ecological Impacts of Macroalgal Blooms on Salt Marsh Communities

Despite excessive growth of macroalgae in estuarine systems, little research has been done to examine the impacts of increased algal biomass that drifts into nearby salt marshes and accumulates on intertidal flats. The accumulation of macroalgal mats and subsequent decomposition-related releases of limiting nutrients may potentially alter marsh communities and impact multiple trophic levels. We conducted a 2-year in situ study, as well as laboratory mesocosm experiments, to determine the fate of these nutrients and any bottom-up impacts from the blooms on the dominant salt marsh plant (Spartina alterniflora) and herbivores. Mesocosm results showed that macroalgal decomposition had a positive impact on sediment nitrogen concentrations, as well as S. alterniflora growth rates. In contrast, our in situ results suggested that S. alterniflora growth was hindered by the presence of macroalgal mats. From our results, we suggest that macroalgal accumulation and subsequent release of nitrogen during decomposition may be beneficial in nitrogen limited areas. However, as marshes are becoming increasingly eutrophic, releasing lower marsh plants from nitrogen limitation, this accumulation of macroalgal biomass may hinder S. alterniflora growth through smothering and breakage of culms. As macroalgal blooms are predicted to intensify with rising temperatures and increased eutrophication, the ecological impacts associated with these changes need to be continuously monitored in order to preserve these fragile ecosystems.