Web 2.0 collaborations address uncertainty in climate reconstructions of the past millennium

Reducing uncertainty in global temperature reconstructions of the past millennium remains the key issue in applying this record to society’s pressing climate change problem. Reconstructions are collaborative, built on the research of hundreds of scientists who apply their diverse scientific expertise and field and laboratory skill to create the individual proxy reconstructions that underlie the multi-proxy, global average temperature time series. Web 2.0 features have enabled collaborative efforts that improve the characterization of uncertainty. Raw data shared via a repository (the World Data Center for Paleoclimatology) enable new reconstructions from the collection of user-generated data. Standards propagated by expert communities facilitate quality control and interoperability. Open access to data and computer code promote transparency and make the science accessible to a broader audience. Blogs, wikis, and listservs share background information and highlight contentious as well as unique aspects of paleo science. A novel approach now underway, titled the Paleoclimate Reconstruction Challenge, and based on the sharing of simulated data (pseudo-proxies) and reconstruction results, seeks to facilitate method development, further reducing uncertainty. Broadly-useful aspects of the Challenge may find application in other fields.     

Megacusps on rip channel bathymetry: Observations and modeling

The formation of beach megacusps along the shoreline of southern Monterey Bay, CA, is investigated using time-averaged video and simulated with XBeach, a recently developed coastal sediment transport model. Investigations focus on the hydrodynamic role played by the bay's ever-present rip channels. A review of four years of video and wave data from Sand City, CA, indicates that megacusps most often form shoreward of rip channels under larger waves (significant wave height (H_s) = 1.5–2.0 m). However, they also occasionally appear shoreward of shoals when waves are smaller (H_s ~ 1 m) and the mean water level is higher on the beach. After calibration to the Sand City site, XBeach is shown to hindcast measured shoreline change moderately well (skill = 0.41) but to overpredict the erosion of the swash region and beach face. Simulations with small to moderate waves (H_s = 0.5–1.2 m) suggest, similar to field data, that megacusps will form shoreward of either rip channels or shoals, depending on mean daily water level and pre-existing beach shape. A frequency-based analysis of sediment transport forcing is performed, decomposing transport processes to the mean, infragravity, and very-low-frequency (VLF) contributions for two highlighted cases. Results indicate that the mean flow plays the dominant role in both types of megacusp formation, but that VLF oscillations in sediment concentration and advective flow are also significant.     

Construction of green fluorescent protein based bacterial biosensor for heavy metal remediation

Environmental contamination by heavy metals is a worldwide problem. Therefore, it is necessary to develop sensitive, effective and inexpensive methods, which can efficiently monitor and determine the level of hazardous metals in the environment. Conventional techniques to analyze metals, suffer from the disadvantages of high cost. Alternatively, development of simple system for monitoring heavy metals pollution is therefore needed. The present approach is based on the use of bacteria that are genetically engineered so that a measurable signal is produced when the bacteria are in contact with the bioavailable metal ions. Reporter genes are widely used as genetic tools for quantification and detection of specific cell population, gene expression and constructing whole cell biosensors as specific and sensitive devices for measuring biologically relevant concentrations of pollutants. An attempt has been made to construct the reporter gene enhanced green fluorescent protein and was expressed under the control of cadR gene, responsible for cadmium resistance. Recombinant strain Escherichia coli cadR30 was used, that carried cadR gene in pET30b expression vector and cloned. Clones confirmed by the expression of enhanced green fluorescent protein was detected under ultraviolet illumination and separated on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The construction of green fluorescent protein based Escherichia coli bacterial biosensor was developed based on green fluorescent protein expression under the control cadR gene of Pseudomonas aeruginosa BC15. The constructed bacterial biosensor is useful and applicable in determining the availability of heavy metals in soil and wastewater.     

Olivine‐rich exposures at Bellicia and Arruntia craters on (4) Vesta from Dawn FC

We present an analysis of olivine‐rich exposures at Bellicia and Arruntia craters using Dawn Framing Camera (FC) color data. Our results confirm the existence of olivine‐rich materials at these localities as described by Ammannito et al. ( 2013a ) using Visual Infrared Spectrometer (VIR) data. Analyzing laboratory spectra of various howardite–eucrite–diogenite meteorites, high‐Ca pyroxenes, olivines, and olivine‐orthopyroxene mixtures, we derive three FC spectral band parameters that are indicators of olivine‐rich materials. Combining the three band parameters allows us, for the first time, to reliably identify sites showing modal olivine contents >40%. The olivine‐rich exposures at Bellicia and Arruntia are mapped using higher spatial resolution FC data. The exposures are located on the slopes of outer/inner crater walls, on the floor of Arruntia, in the ejecta, as well as in nearby fresh small impact craters. The spatial extent of the exposures ranges from a few hundred meters to few kilometers. The olivine‐rich exposures are in accordance with both the magma ocean and the serial magmatism model (e.g., Righter and Drake 1997 ; Yamaguchi et al. 1997 ). However, it remains unsolved why the olivine‐rich materials are mainly concentrated in the northern hemisphere (approximately 36–42°N, 46–74°E) and are almost absent in the Rheasilvia basin.     

辽河三角洲翅碱蓬湿地不同植被覆盖度下的土壤对碳的扣留

为研究辽河三角洲湿地的固碳能力,2010年5月在辽河三角洲双台子河口东侧的两个翅碱蓬湿地区域采取7个柱状样,通过对样品的化学分析测试,并利用210Pb测年法确定的沉积速率研究了土壤对碳的扣留速率,其结果表明:有机碳浓度分别与各营养元素浓度间有显著的正相关关系(p0.01),指示沉积物中的有机物质对营养元素有很强的富集能力,同时营养元素促进植物的生长,从而影响土壤碳的加积速率。研究区总碳浓度范围为10.5~14.6 g/kg,其中约83%为有机碳,其相应的土壤对总碳和有机碳扣留速率分别为98.02~260.37 g/m2/a(均值171.84 g/m2/a)和81.17~229.98 g/m2/a(均值141.29 g/m2/a)。本研究区,土壤对碳的扣留速率主要受土壤的沉积速率控制,并与高程有显著的相关关系(p0.01)。土壤对碳扣留机制的研究有助于加深对全球碳循的理解。     

Precise U–Pb zircon–baddeleyite age of the Jinchuan sulfide ore-bearing ultramafic intrusion, western China

The Jinchuan ultramafic intrusion in western China hosts the third-largest magmatic Ni–Cu deposit in the world. The crystallization age of the intrusion has long been debated. Here, we present a U–Pb ID-TIMS zircon age of 831.8 ± 0.6 Ma obtained on thermally annealed and chemically etched zircons from a lherzolite sample. The coexisting baddeleyite in the sample is indistinguishable from the age of zircon. Our new results confirm that the emplacement of the Jinchuan ultramafic intrusion was temporally related to the breakup of the Rodinia supercontinent.     

Volatile elements in chondrites: metamorphism or nebular fractionation?

Three of the most highly metamorphosed meteorites of their respective classes, Shaw (LL7), Karoonda (C5), and Coolidge (C4), were analyzed by radiochemical neutron activation analysis for Ag, Au, Bi, Br, Cd, Cs, Ge, In, Ir, Ni, Os, Pd, Rb, Re, Sb, Se, Te, Tl, U, and Zn. Comparison with data by Lipschutz and coworkers on artificially heated primitive meteorites shows that the natural metamorphism of meteorites cannot have taken place in a system open to volatiles. Shaw, metamorphosed at 1300°C for >10⁶ yr, is less depleted in In, Bi, Ag, Te, Zn, and Tl than Krymka heated at 1000°C for 1 week. Karoonda, metamorphosed at 600°C for many millennia, is less depleted in Bi and Tl than Allende heated at 600°C for 1 week.Data on primordial noble gases also show that the volatile-element patterns of ordinary and carbonaceous chondrites were established by nebular condensation, and changed little if at all during metamorphism. For enstatite chondrites, the evidence is still incomplete, but seems to favor a nebular origin of the volatile pattern.The general constancy of Tl/Rb, Tl/Cs and Tl/U ratios in terrestrial and lunar rocks suggests that loss of volatile metals such as Tl is rare during normal magmatism or metamorphism. Only impact melts show such loss with any frequency.     

Tree establishment on bars in low‐order gravel‐bed mountain streams

In many large alluvial rivers, trees often recruit and survive along laterally accreted sediments on bars. This produces a gradient of tree ages and composition with distance from the active channel. However, in low‐order, gravel‐bed mountain streams, such as the stream investigated in this study, it is suggested that vertical accretion results in sediment deposition patterns on bars that are often highly patchy. Consequently, tree species and ages are also heterogeneously distributed, rather than having distinct linear or arcuate banding patterns with distance from the channel. In addition, overall age patterns of trees on these bars follow the distribution of floods, with numerous young trees and few older trees. Recruitment is fairly continuous on these bars and is not correlated with high water years, suggesting that even flows close to bankfull levels are capable of transporting fine sediment to the bars on which trees establish. This pattern of sediment deposition/erosion and the resulting tree recruitment and survival seem to be a result of valley confinement and the lack of lateral accretion in these smaller, mountainous channels. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Cadmium,zinc, copper,and barium in foraminifera tests

The concentrations of cadmium, zinc, copper and barium have been determined on 2-mg samples of single-species foraminifera populations. Cleaning techniques were tested using North Atlantic core tops, and followed by a detailed downcore study for the last 30,000 years in South Atlantic core V22-174. Raw foram tests cleaned by crushing followed by ultrasonic removal of fine-grained material, and dissolved in a pH 5.5 acetate buffer, contain appreciable amounts of trace elements associated with ferromanganese and alumino-silicate contaminants. A reductive/complexing cleaning treatment reduces ferromanganese contamination by 1–2 orders of magnitude. Acetate buffers at pH 5.5 complex iron and raise the solubility of ferromanganese oxides; these buffers are unsuitable for separating carbonate lattice-bound trace elements from the fraction associated with ferromanganese phases. Improved mechanical and ultrasonic reductive cleaning combined with a mild dissolution in distilled water under 1 atm.P_CO2 reduces contaminant levels another order of magnitude. The Cd and Zn concentrations (order 10^?8 mole Cd/mole Ca and 10^?5 mole Zn/mole Ca) of species with low surface area show an increase with decreasing isotopic temperatures. This increase is consistent with the increasing concentrations of these metals from low values in surface waters to higher values at depth. The variance of Cd and Zn over the last 30,000 years in the central South Atlantic is consistent with the probable variability of the dissolved trace elements at the calcification levels of the species analyzed. Cu and Ba are irreproducible and probably sensitive to residual contaminant phases. The trace element content of the tests differs from levels observed in a recent coprecipitation study. Foraminifera may be a significant vector in zinc cycling in the ocean.     

The present and future role of coastal wetland vegetation in protecting shorelines: answering recent challenges to the paradigm

For more than a century, coastal wetlands have been recognized for their ability to stabilize shorelines and protect coastal communities. However, this paradigm has recently been called into question by small-scale experimental evidence. Here, we conduct a literature review and a small meta-analysis of wave attenuation data, and we find overwhelming evidence in support of established theory. Our review suggests that mangrove and salt marsh vegetation afford context-dependent protection from erosion, storm surge, and potentially small tsunami waves. In biophysical models, field tests, and natural experiments, the presence of wetlands reduces wave heights, property damage, and human deaths. Meta-analysis of wave attenuation by vegetated and unvegetated wetland sites highlights the critical role of vegetation in attenuating waves. Although we find coastal wetland vegetation to be an effective shoreline buffer, wetlands cannot protect shorelines in all locations or scenarios; indeed large-scale regional erosion, river meandering, and large tsunami waves and storm surges can overwhelm the attenuation effect of vegetation. However, due to a nonlinear relationship between wave attenuation and wetland size, even small wetlands afford substantial protection from waves. Combining man-made structures with wetlands in ways that mimic nature is likely to increase coastal protection. Oyster domes, for example, can be used in combination with natural wetlands to protect shorelines and restore critical fishery habitat. Finally, coastal wetland vegetation modifies shorelines in ways (e.g. peat accretion) that increase shoreline integrity over long timescales and thus provides a lasting coastal adaptation measure that can protect shorelines against accelerated sea level rise and more frequent storm inundation. We conclude that the shoreline protection paradigm still stands, but that gaps remain in our knowledge about the mechanistic and context-dependent aspects of shoreline protection.