Stratigraphic sequence, elemental concentrations and heavy metal pollution in Holocene sediments from the Tinto-Odiel Estuary, southwestern Spain

 The Holocene filling of the Tinto-Odiel Estuary comprises seven lithofacies over a Mio-Pliocene substrate. The sequence includes three system tracts: lowstand system (10 000 to 8700 years BP), transgressive system (8700 to 7000 years BP), and regressive system (7000 to Recent). Twenty sediment samples from the 50-m borehole were analyzed for their major components and minor element concentrations. Two multivariate analysis methods, principal component analysis and cluster analysis, were performed in the analytical data set to help visualize the sample clusters and the element associations. Samples corresponding to unpolluted, pre-mining sediments are clearly separated by cluster analysis, mainly as a result of the low content in sulphide-associated heavy metals such as Cu, Zn, As, Ag, and Pb. So, these sediments may be utilized as a background for geochemical analysis (bulk sample) in other adjacent estuaries, both in sandy and silty-clayey sediments. As a consequence of large-scale mining and smelting operations occurred since prehistoric times on the river banks, a rapid rise in the metal pollution was found in the upper 2.5 m of the natural filling, with values exceeding up to ten times the natural background levels. In addition, since the mid-1960s, large amounts of waste and pollutant effluents have been discharged from industries located around the estuary, increasing the heavy metal content in the last 0.3 m of the natural sedimentation. Received: 18 August 1997 · Accepted: 19 January 1998     

The garnets of the eastern area of the Sierra de Guadarrama,Sistema Central,Spain

Electron-probe microanalysis of a series of garnets in metapelitic rocks of the chloritoid staurolite, kyanite and sillimanite metamorphic zones, eastern area of the Sierra de Guadarrama, Sistema Central, Spain, manifest the well-known cryptozonation commonly observed in these minerals, with MgO and FeO increasing and MnO and CaO decreasing from the center to the outer rim of the crystals.The differences in composition of the garnets, from one metamorphic zone to another, is mainly a result of small differences in composition of the host-rock, since: (1) the amounts of MnO in the garnet are controlled by the amounts of SiO₂, Al₂O₃ and FeO present in the host-rock; and (2) the percentages of MnO and MgO of the parent-rock influence in some way the concentration of CaO in the garnet, and those of MnO, Al₂O₃ and CaO influence the concentration of FeO. Nevertheless, the amount of FeO in the garnet is finally controlled, due to the diadochy, by the concentration of MnO + CaO in this mineral.     

Concurrent mapping and localization using sidescan sonar

This paper describes and evaluates a concurrent mapping and localization (CML) algorithm suitable for localizing an autonomous underwater vehicle. The proposed CML algorithm uses a sidescan sonar to sense the environment. The returns from the sonar are used to detect landmarks in the vehicle's vicinity. These landmarks are used, in conjunction with a vehicle model, by the CML algorithm to concurrently build an absolute map of the environment and to localize the vehicle in absolute coordinates. As the vehicle moves forward, the areas covered by a forward-look sonar overlap, whereas little or no overlap occurs when using sidescan sonar. It has been demonstrated that numerous reobservations by a forward-look sonar of the landmarks can be used to perform CML. Multipass missions, such as sets of parallel and regularly spaced linear tracks, allow a few reobservations of each landmark with sidescan sonar. An evaluation of the CML algorithm using sidescan sonar is made on this type of trajectory. The estimated trajectory provided by the CML algorithm shows significant jerks in the positions and heading brought about by the corrections that occur when a landmark is reobserved. Thus, this trajectory is not useful to mosaic the sea bed. This paper proposes the implementation of an optimal smoother on the CML solution. A forward stochastic map is used in conjunction with a backward Rauch-Tung-Striebel filter to provide the smoothed trajectory. This paper presents simulation and real results and shows that the smoothed CML solution helps to produce a more accurate navigation solution and a smooth navigation trajectory. This paper also shows that the qualitative value of the mosaics produced using CML is far superior to those that do not use it.     

General patterns of circulation, sediment fluxes and ecology of the Palamós (La Fonera) submarine canyon, northwestern Mediterranean

Currents, particle fluxes and ecology were studied in the Palamós submarine canyon (also known as the Fonera canyon), located in the northwestern Mediterranean. Seven mooring arrays equipped with current meters and sediment traps were deployed along the main canyon axis, on the canyon walls and on the adjacent slope. Additionally, local and regional hydrographic cruises were carried out. Current data showed that mean near surface and mid-depth currents were oriented along the mean flow direction (NE–SW), although at 400 and 1200 m depth within the canyon current reversals were significant, indicating a more closed circulation inside the canyon. Mean near-bottom currents were constrained by the local bathymetry, especially at the canyon head. The most significant frequency at all levels was the inertial frequency. A second frequency of about three days, attributed to a topographic wave, was observed at all depths, suggesting that this wave was probably not trapped near the bottom. The current field observed during the most complete survey revealed a meandering pattern with cyclonic vorticity just upstream from and within the canyon. The associated vertical velocity ranged between 10 and 20 m/day and was constrained to the upper 300 m. This latter feature, together with other computations, suggests that during this survey the meander was not induced by the canyon but by some kind of instability of the mean flow.In the canyon, suspended sediment concentration, downward particle fluxes, chlorophyll and particulate C and N were significantly higher up-canyon from about 1200 m depth than offshore, defining, along with the different hydrodynamics, two canyon domains: one from the canyon head to about 1200 m depth more affected by the canyon confinement and the other deeper than 1200 m depth more controlled by the mean flow and the shelf-slope front. The higher near-bottom downward total mass fluxes were recorded in the canyon axis at 1200 m depth along with sharp turbidity increases and are related to sediment gravity flows. During the deployment period, the increase in downward particle fluxes occurred by mid-November, when a severe storm took place. On the canyon walls at 1200 m depth, suspended sediment concentrations, downward particle fluxes, chlorophyll and particulate C and N were higher on the southern wall than on the northern wall inversely to the current’s energy. This could be caused by an upward water supply on the southern canyon wall and/or the mean flow interacting with the canyon bathymetry. In the swimmers collected by the sediment traps, the dominant species was an elasipod holothurian, which has not been recorded in other canyons or elsewhere in the Mediterranean, indicating particular speciation.     

Dumpton syndrome reduces the tributyltin (TBT) sterilising effect on Nucella lapillus (L.) by limiting the development of the imposed vas deferens

TBT induces imposex and sterilisation in female Nucella lapillus. Interestingly, there are populations where individuals (both males and imposexed females) may suffer from a genetic aberration [Dumpton Syndrome (DS)] which results in the development of no penis (i.e. aphally). This anomaly confers a so far unexplained protection against TBT. Six populations with contrasting DS frequency were sampled; the imposex stage in females and the mean calibre of every vas deferens (VDC) were assessed. While the sex ratio in the 600 specimens examined was close to 1, aphally was more frequent in females than in males (31 and 7%, respectively). VDC was significantly higher in normal than in aphallic (DS) specimens, independently of sex and/or site. It is concluded that the vas deferens imposed by TBT onto DS females is less prone to develop thick enough so as to interfere with normal egg laying.     

Along-track gravity anomalies from Geostat and Seasat altimetry: GEBCO overlays

To provide easy access to the large number of Seastat and Geosat altimeter observations collected over the last decade, we have plotted these satellite altimeter profiles as overlays to the General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO). Each of the 32 overlays displays along-track gravity anomalies for either ascending (southeast to northwest) or descending (northeast to southwest) altimeter passes. Where Seasat and Geosat profiles coincide, only the more accurate Geosat profiles were plotted. In poorly charted southern ocean areas, satellite altimeter profiles reveal many previously undetected features of the seafloor.     

An Interdisciplinary Methodology for the Characterization and Visualization of the Heritage of Roadway Corridors

Roads, particularly since the advent of motorized traffic, have hugely impacted contemporary landscapes. Although their significance was noted in the 1980s, specific roadway‐heritage studies are scarce. Research in different disciplines has identified certain features of roads, but an integrated approach to roadway heritage or a consensus on what this constitutes are lacking. This article proposes an interdisciplinary methodology to assess roadway heritage. Roadways are interpreted within the framework of semantic openness that currently characterizes heritage studies, territory being the basic element of interpretation. Rather than a fragmented approach to conservation, the research defines integrated heritage configurations where natural, cultural, and historical features combine to produce a cohesive form of heritage. GIS (Geographical information systems) technology is used with an online database to assess the complexity of roadway heritage. ICT (Information and communications technology) strategies to raise public awareness are outlined. The methodology is applied to assess the historical N‐340 Mediterranean roadway corridor in Spain.     

Latent sprawl,divided Mediterranean landscapes: urban growth,swimming pools,and the socio-spatial structure of Athens,Greece

Although Mediterranean cities have inherent differences on a local scale, together they offer a kaleidoscopic overview of distinctive morphologies and patterns of socio-spatial segregation. In this study, we explore the distribution of residential swimming pools as indicators of the use of land and water at the metropolitan scale, in relation to recent changes in the socio-spatial structure of a large Mediterranean city (Athens, Greece). Our results indicate a polarized spatial distribution of swimming pools, still considered a luxury affordable only for a minor segment of the Greek population. The analysis highlights the spatial linkages between concentration of residential pools, class segregation and low-density settlements, indicating that the socio-spatial structure of Athens remains characterized by persistent disparities between rich and poor neighborhoods. Comparison with another Mediterranean city (Barcelona) demonstrates the peculiarity of Athens’ recent development as reflected in the fragmented and polarized urban structure. The study provides an alternative reading of recent Mediterranean urban growth by considering pools as a “landmark” for urban sprawl, producing contested landscapes of localized social segregation.     

Geochemistry, geochronology and mineralisation potential of the granites in the Central Iberian Zone: The Jalama batholith

The Jalama batholith (Spain and Portugal) is one of the numerous granites of the Central Iberian Zone with Sn- and W-associated mineralisation. On the basis of petrographical and geochemical characterisation three types of granite have been distinguished: inhomogeneous granitoids, porphyrytic granites and leucogranites, all of these being peraluminous and subalkaline. All the granites correspond to S-type granites. The field data, the petrography and lack of geochemical affinity relationships of the leucogranites with the remaining granites indicate that their geneses correspond to an independent magma batch and superimposed fractional crystallisation process. The granitic units show subparallel REE patterns. There is a decrease in total REE and an increase in the negative Eu anomaly from the inhomogeneous granitoids to leucogranites. Some leucogranites show relatively low contents of Sn and W almost certainly due to segregation in the magma of a melt rich in water carrying Sn-W. These elements are concentrated in the water phase, which eventually gives rise to Sn-W-associated mineralisation.The ages obtained by means of a whole-rock Rb-Sr isochron for the granites mainly indicate an early intrusion of the inhomogeneous granitoids (319±10 Ma), followed in time by porphyrytic granites (279±9 Ma), which can be associated to the late-post-kinematic granites within the third Variscan deformation phase (D₃).Apart from the average Sn content, the variations of trace elements, principally Sr, Ba, Rb, Th and P, establish that the porphyritic granites and the inhomogeneous granitoids will be barren granites while the leucogranites and the subfacies at the margin of the porphyritic granites correspond to granites with mineralisation potential. It is precisely in these granites of the Jálama batholith that the Sn-W mineralisation is located, for which the criteria utilised has been demonstrated to be effective.