Dynamical evolution of an unstable gravastar with zero mass

Using the conventional gravastar model, that is, an object constituted by two components where one of them is a massive infinitely thin shell and the other one is a de Sitter interior spacetime, we physically interpret a solution characterized by a zero Schwarzschild mass. No stable gravastar is formed and it collapses without forming an event horizon, originating what we call a massive non-gravitational object. The most surprise here is that the collapse occurs with an exterior de Sitter vacuum spacetime. This creates an object which does not interact gravitationally with an outside test particle and it may evolve to a point-like topological defect.     

Buried Late Weichselian thermokarst landscape discovered in the Czech Republic,central Europe

Pronounced climatic warming associated with the Late Weichselian Pleniglacial‐to‐Lateglacial transition caused considerable environmental changes throughout the former periglacial zones (in Europe ~53°–46°N). During permafrost degradation and subsequent ground subsidence (i.e. thermokarst processes), the landscape changed rapidly. In this study we investigated a flat mid‐altitude area in south Bohemia, Czech Republic, lying close to the southern limit of the Weichselian permafrost. We discovered palaeo‐lake basins with sedimentary infillings up to 11 m in depth. According to radiocarbon and palynostratigraphical dating, these basins were formed at the onset of the Late Pleniglacial‐to‐Lateglacial transition, whereas the smaller depressions were formed later. We suggest that the basins resulted from thermal and fluvio‐thermal erosion of the former permafrost and represent remnants of discontinuous gullies and possibly collapsed frost mounds (pingo/lithalsa scars). The formation of this a fossil thermokarst landscape was climatically driven and multiple phased, with the major phase during the climatic warming and wetting at the onset of GI‐1e (Bølling) and the minor phase during GI‐1c (Allerød). This study enhances knowledge of the palaeogeography of the former European periglacial zone by showing that Late Pleistocene thermokarst activity could have had a significant impact on the evolution of the landscape of at least some regions of central Europe along the southern limit of the continuous permafrost zone. The research also points to a similar history for the physical transformation of the landscape of the former European periglacial zone and current thermokarst landscapes and could be a valuable source of information with respect to the future transformation of the Arctic under conditions of ongoing global warming.     

Sensitivity analysis of a morphodynamic modelling system applied to a coastal lagoon inlet

This work investigates the recent morphological changes at the inlet of a complex coastal system (Ria de Aveiro lagoon, Portugal). This study was carried out using bathymetric data analysis and numerical simulations obtained with the 2DH morphodynamic modelling system MORSYS2D. The present simulations considered only tidal forcing, and a sensitivity analysis was performed by tuning the formula used to compute the sediment transports. A non-uniform sediment grain size distribution for the Ria de Aveiro inlet is considered in the numerical simulations, based on surveys performed in this area. The model results are analysed to assess if they resemble the observed trends of erosion and deposition, as calculated from bathymetric data. A quantitative analysis of the differences between the bathymetric changes obtained through surveys and the numerical results over a period of 3 years considering different sediment transport formulations shows that the formulations of Ackers and White (1973) and Engelund and Hansen (1967) are the ones that best describe the morphodynamic changes driven by tides in the Ria de Aveiro inlet.     

Spatial distribution of intertidal sandy beach polychaeta along an estuarine and morphodynamic gradient in an eutrophic tropical bay

The spatial distribution of polychaeta along pollution gradients often reflects different degrees of disturbance. In order to evaluate polychaeta fauna of an organically polluted tropical bay, 20 sandy beaches distributed in five areas were sampled. The relationship between community structure, slope, beach index, exposure, sediment and water quality parameters were analysed. Multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA) showed differences among areas and beaches. Scolelepis chilensis dominated at mouth of bay beaches whereas Streblospio gynobranchiata and Capitella capitata complex, at inner beaches. Highest polychaete density was recorded at areas 3 and 5 with the dominance of Saccocirrus sp. and the organic indicator species C. capitata complex and Polydora sp. The most important factors obtained from canonical analysis were sorting, slope, mud and organic matter percentage. Marine biotic index (AMBI) showed that areas 3 and 5 were highly affected by anthropogenic factors, given that a poor polychaeta fauna, dominated by opportunistic species, were found. Polychaete assemblages were affected by eutrophication along an estuarine gradient as well as by morphodynamic condition of the beaches.     

Seismic swarms, fault plane solutions, and stress tensors for S?o Miguel Island central region (Azores)

The central region of S?o Miguel Island is one of the most seismically active areas of the Azores archipelago. A revised analysis of the seismicity distribution at this region has, for the first time, shown that the seismicity is clustered in two distinct areas: the area around Fogo Volcano (Fogo) and the area around Congro maar (Congro), with each area having a highly localized swarm activity. From a total of about 15,000 events in the period from 2002 to 2010, 78 best located events were selected to make fault plane solutions using P-wave polarities and amplitude ratios. This set of fault plane solutions, and another six subsets derived from it, were inverted for the best fitting stress tensor. The stress tensor using all the 78 fault plane solutions is characterized by a subhorizontal ??1 striking WNW-ESE and a ??3 striking NNE-SSW, consistent with the regional stress field for this region. A similar result, using only the fault plane solutions located in the Fogo area, was obtained. On the other hand, for the Congro area, a local stress field seems to be superimposed on the regional field: subhorizontal ??3, striking NNE-SSW, and a near-vertical ??1. The same stress regime persists in the first 5?km depth, probably related to the upwelling of thermal fluids. The rising fluids generate horizontal extension at shallow depths, which favour the opening of cracks and the circulation and ascension of hydrothermal fluids. The stress regime deeper than 5?km is more uncertain; however, it is indicative of a compressional regime. Thus, it can be conclude that the smaller Fogo area appears to be dominated by the normal regional stress field while the high active Congro area seems to have a different, highly heterogeneous stress field dominated by local conditions.     

Sources, loads and dispersion of dissolved inorganic nutrients in Paranaguá Bay

The present study focuses on the nutrient sources and gradients in Paranaguá Bay (Southern Brazil), where nutrient inputs are related to losses from fertilizer loading in Paranaguá harbour and the discharge of untreated waste water. The input of dissolved inorganic nutrients to the bay from the harbour and city, as well as from river and atmospheric deposition, amounted to 642?t?year^?1 DIN-N and 92?t?year^?1 PO₄-P. Harbour losses accounted for 6?% of total DIN-N and 39?% of total PO₄-P loads to the bay, whereas sewage inputs from the city were responsible for 21?% and 22?%, respectively. River inputs made up 68?% of DIN-N, mainly in the form of nitrate, and 35?% of PO₄-P loads, while atmospheric wet deposition was estimated to be in the order of 5?% of DIN-N and 4?% of PO₄-P loads. Local maxima in nutrient levels deriving from highly concentrated sewage discharge were observed in front of the harbour and city of Paranaguá, but the plumes are diluted rapidly due to short residence times. DIN concentrations are negatively correlated with salinity, indicating the importance of freshwater input as a main factor controlling nitrogen distribution. Elevated phosphate levels in the stratified middle section of the bay may result both from harbour emissions and phosphate remobilization from sediments. Generally lower DIN and PO₄ concentrations during the warmer rainy season are supposed to be due to intensified assimilation rates especially in the middle section of the bay where dense phytoplankton blooms are observed. The bay as a whole cannot be classified as being seriously eutrophic, albeit eutrophication symptoms prevail in some restricted locations in front of Paranaguá harbour.     

Sources,loads and dispersion of dissolved inorganic nutrients in Paranaguá Bay

The present study focuses on the nutrient sources and gradients in Paranaguá Bay (Southern Brazil), where nutrient inputs are related to losses from fertilizer loading in Paranaguá harbour and the discharge of untreated waste water. The input of dissolved inorganic nutrients to the bay from the harbour and city, as well as from river and atmospheric deposition, amounted to 642 t year⁻¹ DIN-N and 92 t year⁻¹ PO₄-P. Harbour losses accounted for 6 % of total DIN-N and 39 % of total PO₄-P loads to the bay, whereas sewage inputs from the city were responsible for 21 % and 22 %, respectively. River inputs made up 68 % of DIN-N, mainly in the form of nitrate, and 35 % of PO₄-P loads, while atmospheric wet deposition was estimated to be in the order of 5 % of DIN-N and 4 % of PO₄-P loads. Local maxima in nutrient levels deriving from highly concentrated sewage discharge were observed in front of the harbour and city of Paranaguá, but the plumes are diluted rapidly due to short residence times. DIN concentrations are negatively correlated with salinity, indicating the importance of freshwater input as a main factor controlling nitrogen distribution. Elevated phosphate levels in the stratified middle section of the bay may result both from harbour emissions and phosphate remobilization from sediments. Generally lower DIN and PO₄ concentrations during the warmer rainy season are supposed to be due to intensified assimilation rates especially in the middle section of the bay where dense phytoplankton blooms are observed. The bay as a whole cannot be classified as being seriously eutrophic, albeit eutrophication symptoms prevail in some restricted locations in front of Paranaguá harbour.

     

Manmade Vulnerability of the Cancun Beach System: The Case of Hurricane Wilma

Climate change and resultant coastal erosion and flooding have been the focus of many recent analyses. Often these studies overlook the effects of manmade modifications to the coastline which have reduced its resilience to storm events. In this investigation, we integrate previous reports, historical photo analysis, field work, and the application of numerical models to better understand the effects of Wilma, the most destructive hurricane to affect Cancun, Mexico. Huge waves (of significant height, >12 m), long mean wave periods (>12 s), devastating winds (>250 km/h), and powerful currents (>2 m/s) removed >7 million cubic meters of sand from the Cancun beach system, leaving 68% of the sub‐aerial beach as bedrock, and the rest considerably eroded. Numerical simulations show that the modifications to the barrier island imposed by tourist infrastructure have considerably increased the rigidity of the system, increasing the potential erosion of the beach under extreme conditions. If there were no structural barriers, a series of breaches could occur along the beach, allowing exchange of water and alleviating storm surge on other sections of the beach. If the effects caused by anthropogenic changes to Cancun are ignored, the analysis is inaccurate and misleading.     

Dispersive Liquid–Liquid Microextraction for Preconcentration and Determination of Nickel in Water

A method for the determination of nickel in water was developed. The procedure involves preconcentration of nickel by using dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction. The Ni(II) ions were extracted in chloroform in the form of complex with the reagent 2‐(2′‐benzothiazolylazo)‐p‐cresol. Ethanol was used as the disperser solvent. After injection of the extracting mixture in a solution of nickel, a cloudy mixture was observed. A quick centrifugation induces phase separation and thus the settling of rich phase. The nickel content in the rich phase is measured by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Under optimal conditions, the limit of detection and quantification obtained were 1.4 and 4.7 µg L^?1, respectively. Some parameters used to characterize preconcentration systems, such as enrichment factor and consumption index were calculated and resulted in 29 and 0.34 mL, respectively. After optimization of variables and determination of analytical characteristics, the method was used for the analysis of certified reference materials (BCR‐713: wastewater, effluent and BCR‐414: plankton) and real water samples.