The trace element geochemistry of marine biogenic particulate matter

Plankton samples have been carefully collected from a variety of marine environments for major and trace-chemical analysis. The samples were collected and handled under the rigorous conditions necessary to prevent contamination of the trace elements. Immediately after collection, the samples were subjected to a series of physical and chemical leaching-decomposition experiments designed to identify the major and trace element composition of the biogenic particulate matter. Emphasis was placed on the determination of the trace element/major element ratios in the various biogenic phases important in biogeochemical cycling.The majority of the trace elements in the samples were directly associated with the non-skeletal organic phases of the plankton. These associations include a very labile fraction which was rapidly released into seawater immediately after collection and a more refractory component which involved specific metal-organic binding. Calcium carbonate and opal were not significant carriers for any of the trace elements studied. A refractory phase containing aluminum and iron in terrigenous ratios was present in all samples, even from remote pelagic environments. This non-biogenic carrier contributed insignificant amounts to the other trace elements studied.The plankton samples were collected from surface waters with a wide range in the dissolved trace element/nutrient ratios, however, the same elemental ratios in the bulk plankton samples were relatively constant in all these environments. The bulk compositions and the rapid release of the metals and nutrient elements (specifically phosphorus) from the plankton after collection were used to examine the systematics of depletions of the dissolved elements from surface waters. These elemental ratios were combined with known fluxes of the major biogenic materials to estimate the significance of the plankton in the vertical flux of the trace elements. In parallel with the major surface ocean cycles of carbon and nitrogen, significant fractions of the trace elements taken up by primary producers must be rapidly regenerated in order to explain the observed elemental compositions and fluxes.     

Limnologic Analysis of Gusev Crater Paleolake, Mars

The survey of the hydrogeologic system formed by Gusev crater and Ma'adim Vallis (Aeolis subquadrangle of Mars) points out evidence for the existence of an ice-covered lake in Gusev crater. A first lake was formed by the drainage of the aquifer in the region surrounding Gusev before the entry of Ma'adim Vallis in the crater. The existence of a former lake in Gusev is deduced from the morphology of the Ma'adim delta. Its comparison with terrestrial Antarctic analogs argues for the presence of an ice-covered lake in Gusev at the time that the southern part of the crater's rampart was breached by Ma'adim first release, and for a subice–lacustrine construction of the valley's delta. Our survey shows that Ma'adim Vallis may have entered Gusev crater as late as Late Hesperian/Early Amazonian as part of a second lake episode. The relationship between the variation of the Gusev lake water-level, the volume of the lake, and the surface of the lake bed is established by our bathymetric model. The elevation of the former lake is deduced from the elevation of the mesa-like structures in the delta of Ma'adim Vallis. Furthermore, the correlation of the crater frequency of Gusev rampart with Mars' stratigraphic age shows that lakes may have occupied Gusev crater over a period of time covering 2 Gyrs., from the formation of the crater to the last episode of water release from Ma'adim Vallis. Though it is most likely that the lake was episodical, the recurrence of abundant water in Gusev crater makes this site a high priority for missions, either for martian resource exploration, or for the search of life.     

Long-term distribution of seabed shear stresses beneath random waves

The long-term distribution of seabed shear stresses under random waves is presented. The approach combines short-term distribution of maximum bottom shear stresses with a joint frequency table of significant wave height and peak period. An example of application is given where the long-term probability of exceeding a given level of the maximum bottom shear stress in the central North Sea is presented. The example includes estimation of the return period of the critical shear stress for sheet flow conditions, as well as the bottom shear stresses associated with the 1, 10 and 100 years return periods.     

Terminus recession,proglacial lake expansion and 21st century calving retreat of Tasman Glacier,New Zealand

The Tasman Glacier is the largest glacier in New Zealand. Although 20th century warming caused down-wastage, it remained at its Little Ice Age terminus until the late 20th century. Since then, rapid calving retreat (U_r) has occurred, allowing a large (5.96 × 10⁶ m²) proglacial lake to form (maximum depth ∼240 m). From sequential satellite image analysis and echo sounding of Tasman Lake, we document (U_r) from 2000 to 2008. U_r varies temporally, with mean U_r of 54 m/a from 2000 to 2006 and a mean U_r of 144 m/a from 2007 to 2008. Consistent with global data sets, calving rate appears closely associated with lake depth at the calving terminus.     

Seasonal variability in Atlantic Water off Spitsbergen

A combination of 2-year-long mooring-based measurements and snapshot conductivity–temperature–depth (CTD) observations at the continental slope off Spitsbergen (81°30′N, 31°00′E) is used to demonstrate a significant hydrographic seasonal signal in Atlantic Water (AW) that propagates along the Eurasian continental slope in the Arctic Ocean. At the mooring position this seasonal signal dominates, contributing up to 50% of the total variance. Annual temperature maximum in the upper ocean (above 215 m) is reached in mid-November, when the ocean in the area is normally covered by ice. Distinct division into ‘summer’ (warmer and saltier) and ‘winter’ (colder and fresher) AW types is revealed there. Estimated temperature difference between the ‘summer’ and ‘winter’ waters is 1.2 °C, which implies that the range of seasonal heat content variations is of the same order of magnitude as the mean local AW heat content, suggesting an important role of seasonal changes in the intensity of the upward heat flux from AW. Although the current meter observations are only 1-year long, they hint at a persistent, highly barotropic current with little or no seasonal signal attached.     

Zircon Hf isotope evidence for an enriched mantle source for the Bushveld Igneous Complex

We use the Hf isotope composition of zircon from the Bushveld Complex to better understand the source of its parent magmas. The data set, which consists of 141 individual LA-ICP-MS analyses from 11 samples encompassing the entire cumulate stratigraphy, shows that the parent magmas had a Hf isotope composition unlike that of the depleted mantle at 2.06 Ga. Specifically, sample average ε_Hf(present) values range from ?55.3 to ?52.5 (ε_{Hf(2.06 Ga)} = ?9.0 to ?6.8) and are surprisingly homogeneous. This homogeneity is difficult to reconcile with direct assimilation of crustal material by Bushveld parent magmas because it would require that each batch of magma had assimilated just the right amount of material to all acquire the same Hf isotopic composition. Also, calculations suggest that simple mixing of regional crust into a primitive, mantle-derived liquid cannot account for both the presumed Hf and major elemental concentrations and the ¹⁷⁶Hf/¹⁷⁷Hf ratio of the Bushveld magmas. Rather, the Hf data are consistent with generation of these magmas by partial melting in a sub-continental mantle lithospheric source with an unradiogenic Hf isotopic composition equal to that of the Bushveld parent magmas. Several possibilities for the development of such a source are explored using the new Hf isotope data.     

Characteristics and OSL minimum ages of relict fluvial deposits near Sossus Vlei,Tsauchab River,Namibia, and a regional climate record for the last 30 ka

The present end‐point of the Tsauchab River is at Sossus Vlei, 30 km into the Namib Sand Sea. Interdune deposits in three depressions west and southwest of the vlei include channel and interdune lithofacies associations but no deposits typical of river end‐points or of groundwater seepage into interdune areas. The two lithofacies associations show that the Tsauchab River extended further into the sand sea in the past. It had a well‐developed channel and a higher flow than today that caused flooding of adjacent interdune areas. OSL 4‐mm aliquot minimum ages indicate that the Tsauchab River reached 2–3 km beyond its present end‐point at ca. 25 ka and ca. 9–7 ka, and that the river was more active from 0.9–0.3 ka. The eastward migration of the river end‐point since ca. 7 ka suggests a reduction in flood magnitude accompanied by the gradual invasion of the Sossus Vlei area by dunes. The regional data indicate an additional wet interval at ca. 15 ka that is so far not recorded in the Sossus area. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Agroclimatological suitability mapping for dryland maize production in Lesotho

The climatic potential of maize under dryland farming in Lesotho, southern Africa, was investigated using five suitability indices comprising probability of accumulating heat units of greater than 1,500 growing degree days, probability of a frost-free growing season, probability of seasonal rainfall of more than 500 mm, probability of drought during the flowering to grain-filling stages and the slope of an area. A geographic information system layer was prepared for each of these parameters and the layers overlaid using different weights for each of the climatic suitability indices to obtain an agroclimatic maize suitability map for Lesotho. This analysis yielded different suitability classes. This variability points to prevalence of climatic constraints that need to be acknowledged when attempting to identify management strategies that can optimize the rain-fed maize production in climatically variable environments.     

Near‐infrared spectroscopy of a hydroecological indicator: new tool for determining sustainable yield for Floridan aquifer system

Pond‐cypress (Taxodium ascendens Brong.) is a dominant canopy species in depressional wetlands of the south‐eastern Coastal Plain. Unsustainable withdrawals from the karst Floridan aquifer system have caused premature decline and death of pond‐cypress trees, presumably owing to altered hydroperiods (which alter the flow of water and nutrients in trees). There has been no scientifically based means to determine sustainable yield from this regional aquifer system or to detect early stages of physical/ecological damage associated with groundwater mining and aquifer storage and recovery (ASR, which also can alter natural hydroperiods). In this study, the relationship between visual symptoms (indicators) of stress or premature decline, and spectral reflectance was evaluated using dried, milled branch tips collected from natural stands of mature pond‐cypress. Depressional systems evaluated represented four of the six aquifer system subregions where subsurface perturbations from groundwater mining: (i) were presumed not to be occurring (reference wetlands); (ii) may be occurring but are not documented; and (iii) have been confirmed. Sampled trees were assigned to one of three stress classes (1, no/minimal; 2, moderate; 3, severe) based on the visual indicators. Partial least squares–linear discriminant analysis of second derivative spectral transformations in the visible/shortwave near‐infrared (NIR) region (400–1100 nm) and the NIR region (1100–2500 nm) was used to evaluate the samples in assigned classes. Class 1 samples were discriminated from combined class 2 and 3 samples in the NIR region with 100% and 97% accuracy for consecutive winter sample periods (before bud‐break). The percentage of correctly classified samples in this spectral region was lower (85%) for summer samples (full leaf‐out). Second‐derivative models for the NIR region developed from the winter data sets predicted assigned classes for alternate winter's samples with an accuracy of 97% and 100%. High correlation between spectral reflectance of dried, milled branch tips collected from mature pond‐cypress in winter and visual indicators of premature decline suggests in situ pond‐cypress are hydroecological indicators of anthropogenic subsurface hydroperiod perturbations. This approach provides objective means for early detection of unsustainable aquifer yield and adverse impacts from ASR activities in the south‐eastern Coastal Plain. Used in conjunction with hydrological monitoring and modelling, the hydroecological indicators should provide the means with which sustainable yield in the south‐eastern Coastal Plain can be achieved and maintained. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.