Some effects of truncation on topographic instability

Abstract

The topographic stability of forced planetary waves in α β‐channel is investigated using a barotropic model. The equilibrium forced waves are the result of the interaction of a constant mean zonal wind over finite‐amplitude surface orography. Small‐amplitude perturbations of the equilibrium flows are considered that have a wavy part with the same zonal wavenumber as the forcing but an arbitrary meridional structure. The mean zonal part of the perturbations is also taken to be arbitrary. This configuration allows us to (1) isolate those instabilities that depend crucially on topography through form drag and (2) investigate non‐topographic effects on topographic instability that arise from the convergence of Reynolds stresses. A numerical stability analysis is then performed wherein the effects of truncation are emphasized.

This numerical approach casts doubts about the results obtained from some earlier studies involving various ad hoc assumptions. We find, in particular, that unstable long waves (i.e. waves with the zonal wavelength greater than the meridional wavelength) exist under superresonant conditions. This contradicts some previous results that suggest long waves are unstable only when the flow is subresonant. Further, our model reveals the existence of some interesting travelling instabilities. The latter are shown to depend on both form drag and Reynolds stresses in that these two mechanisms alternate in time in supplying the perturbation with the required energy to maintain the exponential growth.     

Use of probiotic bacteria to improve growth and survivability of farmed New Zealand abalone (Haliotis iris)

The effects of two probiotic feeds containing two and three bacterial isolates were evaluated on the growth performance of New Zealand abalone (Haliotis iris). Probiotic bacteria were isolated from the guts of healthy adult abalone. The isolates were screened qualitatively and quantitatively according to their ability to hydrolyse nutrients (i.e. proteins, starch and alginate), produce acid and resist bile salts. Based on the screening results, we developed a multi-strain conglomerate of 2- and 3- probiotic bacterial strains that were supplemented into a commercial abalone feed to use in our experiments. The 2-probiotic conglomerate consisted of Exiguobacterium JHEb1 and Vibrio JH1, and the 3-probiotic conglomerate consisted of Exiguobacterium JHEb1, Vibrio JH1 and Enterococcus JHLDc. The probiotic feeding trial involved abalone juveniles (20–30 mm in maximum shell length). Both probiotic feeds significantly improved abalone growth compared to that of the unsupplemented feed. The 3-probiotic supplemented feed produced a significant shell length increase of 20.9%, a wet weight gain of 19.8% and a five-fold reduction in mortality compared to the controls. The 2-probiotic supplemented feed resulted in significant increases in shell length (15.4%) and reduced mortality (five-fold), but not in weight gain, compared to controls.     

Effect of size grading on the growth performance of shortfin eel (Anguilla australis) during its yellow stage

It is generally believed that size grading in a fish farm improves the total biomass output, because it will minimise the stress imposed by larger individuals over small individuals, resulting in higher feed intake and growth rate. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of size grading on individual growth performance of yellow New Zealand shortfin eel (Anguilla australis). A 109 day trial was conducted in a recirculation aquaculture system (RAS) with 103 eels of similar initial weight (101 ± 12 g). All eels were individually marked by PIT (passive integrated transponder) tags. On day 42, eels were graded to establish the following groups: only small eels (S-graded ≤ 135 g), only large eels (L-graded > 135 g), and small and large eels together (S-ungraded and L-ungraded). The large eels showed better specific growth rate (SGR), feed intake (FI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) than the small eels. Nevertheless, no significant differences were found either between L-graded and L-ungraded or between S-graded and S-ungraded. The age of eels was not significantly different between groups. These findings suggest that the individual growth rate performance of the eels is not primarily a consequence of social interaction among tank-mates.     

Global change: anthropogenic forcing—the moving target

If we are to develop valid models for predicting the future of the global environment, anthropogenic forcing must become the major component of study. The technological developments needed to supply food, water and materials for 10 billion humans will dominate environmental change over thenext decades.     

Fluid transport and shear zones at Scourie,Sutherland: Evidence of overthrusting?

Rocks from some shear zones at Scourie are highly oxidised and enriched in potash relative to adjacent undeformed granulites. Oxidation is considered to result from dissociation of water, and the extent of oxidation is evidence for massive fluid flow through the shear zones. The conditions under which oxidation and reduction occur during fluid flow are discussed and it is thought that progessive oxidation of the shear zones at Scourie indicates that fluid flow took place up a thermal gradient. It is proposed that the inverted thermal gradient resulted from overthrusting, and this is consistent with existing interpretations of the structural evolution of the area.     

Archaean hydrothermal talc evidence for high ocean temperatures

Bedded sedimentary talc is abundant in Archaean greenstone belts in proximity to seafloor hydrothermal vents. Trace-element abundances and oxygen-isotope evidence suggest formation from heated ocean water. It is suggested that talc forms by reaction of silica in the hot discharge with metal bicarbonate species in ocean water thus releasing carbon dioxide. The possible CO₂ flux is similar to the present-day combustion flux and may have maintained a global greenhouse with warm oceans as reflected in the oxygen-isotope systematics of cherts. It seems probable that surface-Earth temperatures may have exceeded the boiling point prior to 4 Ga. If this is possible, then the beginning of the geologic record for the Earth may coincide with the first widespread development of the hydrosphere.     

Eclogites and water pressure

Available data on the stability of amphibolites and the basalt-eclogite transition allow an estimate of the stability field of eclogites in wet systems. It appears that if water and load pressures are comparable, eclogites cannot be stable in the crust; the formation of eclogites in the crust requires moderate total pressures and low water pressures. If the reactions forming eclogites occur in essentially dry rocks, their formation may reflect kinetic as well as equilibrium factors.     

Devonian fluviodeltaic sedimentation in Hong Kong

Twenty-three distinct sedimentary facies have been distinguished in the Devonian Bluff Head Formation exposed around the Tolo Channel area of northeastern Hong Kong. These facies have been combined into five facies associations: channel, aeolian, sheetflood, deltaic and palaeosol, with the bulk of the formation belonging to the channel association. The lower part of the Bluff Head Formation, around Plover Cove, consists of upwards-coarsening cycles, each typically 3 m thick. The basal parts of some cycles contain distinctive marine fossils of Early to Middle Devonian age. Sedimentation occurred on a marine-influenced delta plain, with eustatic sea level rises controlling cycle development. The middle and upper parts of the formation contrast strongly with the lower part and show a distinct change to alluvial plain sedimentation. Upward-fining cycles, each approximately 40 m thick, comprise basal multistorey, braided, conglomerate-filled channel deposits at the base passing upwards into finer-grained sheetflood, aeolian and channel sandstones at the top. Palaeosols in the higher parts of the cycles indicate periods of non-deposition under semi-arid climatic conditions. These cycles represent repeated abandonments of the fluvial system which we suggest were controlled by tectonic pulses.     

Chloritization of the hydrothermally altered bedrock at the Igarapé Bahia gold deposit,Carajás,Brazil

The Igarapé Bahia gold deposit has developed from weathering of a near-vertical hydrothermal Cu (Au) mineralization zone. The unweathered bedrock composed of chlorite schists is mainly metamorphosed basalts, pyroclastic and clastic sedimentary rocks and iron formation. Contents and Fe/(Fe + Mg) ratios of chlorites increase from distal country rock towards the mineralization zone, which can be attributed to different water/rock ratios and locations in a hydrothermal system. In the hydrothermal system high salinity fluids convected through basin-floor rocks, stripping metals from the recharge zones with precipitation in discharge zones. The chlorite with lower Fe/(Fe + Mg) ratios indicates alteration by relatively unreacted Mg-rich fluids, occurring within recharge zones. By contrast, the chlorite with higher Fe/(Fe + Mg) ratios in the mineralization zone formed from solutions rich in Fe, Mn, Au, Cu, H₂S and SiO₂ within a discharge zone. The iron formation could also be formed within the discharge zone or on the basin floor from the Fe-rich fluids. The distal country rock with less chlorite content is a hydrothermal product at low water/rock ratios whereas the proximal country rock and the host rock with more chlorite content formed at high water/rock ratio conditions. The Al(IV) contents of chlorites indicate that the formation temperatures of these rocks range from 204 to 266 °C, with temperatures slightly increasing from distal country rock towards the mineralization zone.