Climatic forcing on hydrography of a Mediterranean bay (Alfacs Bay)

Time series of meteorological and hydrographic variables were analyzed using Huang's Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD) to ascertain the relationships among climatic forcings and the hydrographic behavior in an estuarine bay. The EMD method allowed us to separate the different characteristic oscillation patterns (or modes) of a 14 year-long time series of weekly hydrographic (water temperature and salinity) and meteorological (air temperature, pressure, wind and precipitation) data from Alfacs Bay (Ebre delta, NW Mediterranean). In order to explore the relations between couples of oscillation modes from different series, we developed a correlation index based on the phase differences between these modes. Common characteristic modes in the studied series are a seasonal pattern and an inter-annual oscillation. The comparison between series of meteorological and hydrographic variables shows significant correlations of two modes (of 1 year and 2–3 year periods, respectively) of water temperature with the corresponding two modes of air temperature and air pressure. There were also significant positive correlations between wind speed and water temperature. The use of EMD allowed to discover a strong connection between stratification and the use of irrigation channels in the bay; in addition, with the help of this method we can propose a common meteorological forcing mechanism for the observed patterns of variability. Those findings would have been impossible to guess by use of classical Fourier methods, and gives a demonstration of the power of EMD in climatic series analysis.     

Internal structure of the aeolian sand dunes of El Fangar spit, Ebro Delta (Tarragona, Spain)

This paper presents an analysis of the dune field dynamics of El Fangar Spit in the Ebro Delta (Spain), associating it with the internal structure of dunes carried out with ground-penetrating radar and supported by data from topographic DGPS. These analyses are of great importance to ascertain the state of the internal structure of dunes as an important element in their stability and, therefore in their evolution. The internal structure shows accretion and progradation sequences of dunes over beach deposits, which depend on dune morphology (height, crest orientation) and location, as well as the processes acting on them.     

Lithostratigraphical correlation of micromammal sites and biostratigraphy of the Upper Pliocene to Lower Pleistocene in the Northeast Guadix‐Baza Basin (southern Spain)

The Plio‐Pleistocene non‐marine sequence in the northeast Guadix–Baza Basin (southern Spain) comprises alluvial and lacustrine deposits (Baza Formation). The results of a revised lithostratigraphical correlation between sections from the middle and upper members of the Baza Formation in the northeast part of the basin, supported by detailed mapping, is presented. The position of micromammal sites in the lithostratigraphical scheme, together with the results of intensive palaeontological sampling for small mammal remains, has allowed us to develop a high‐resolution biostratigraphical framework for the area. This provides an opportunity to refine the biozonation for the Plio‐Pleistocene micromammal faunas, and to define faunal events from the late Villanyian (late Pliocene) to the early Pleistocene. On the basis of the lithostratigraphical and biostratigraphical approaches we obtain the following sequence of biozones for the late Pliocene to early Pleistocene: Kislangia gusii, Mimomys cf. reidi, M. oswaldoreigi, Allophaiomys pliocaenicus and A. burgondiae. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Morphostructure and evolution of the central and Eastern Bransfield Basins (NW Antarctic Peninsula)

The Bransfield Basin is a narrow and elongated active rift basin located between the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands. The Bransfield Basin is composed of three small basins, and two of them, the Central and Eastern Bransfield Basins, were surveyed during a recent cruise (GEBRA 93). The full swath bathymetry coverage as well as the single-channel seismic reflection and magnetic profiles that have been acquired, help us to better understand the morphostructure and recent evolution of the Bransfield Basin. Six large volcanic edifices aligned with the basin axis stick out of the sedimented seafloor of the Central Bransfield Basin. In contrast, the Eastern Bransfield Basin is characterised by four deep troughs displaying a rhombic-shape, and small, scattered volcanic cones located in the southwestern half basin. Seamount volcanism plays an important role in the formation of new crust in the Bransfield Basin. The larger seamounts of the Central Bransfield Basin are located at the intersection of the two main orthogonal sets of faults (longitudinal ENE-WSW and transversal NNW-SSE). Morphological analysis of the seamounts indicates a multi-staged volcano-tectonic construction. The distribution and shape of these edifices suggests that both volcanism and extension are concentrated at the same preferential areas through time. This might be related to the fracturation style of the continental crust. The Central and Eastern Bransfield Basins are very different in morphostructure, volcanism, and sedimentary cover. The Central Bransfield Basin shows evidence of NW-SE extensional faulting and focused active MORB-volcanism interpreted as result of incipient seafloor spreading. The Eastern Bransfield Basin is still in a rifting stage, mainly dominated by a NW-SE extension and some left-lateral strike-slip component probably related to the South Scotia Ridge.J. Acosta, J. Baraza, P. Bart, A.M. Calafat, J.L. Casamor, M. De Batist, G. Ercilla, G. Francés, E. Ramos, J.L. Sanz, and A. Tassone.     

Evidence for cyanobacterial inputs and heterotrophic alteration of lipids in sinking particles in the Alboran Sea (SW Mediterranean)

The different sources of lipid compounds present in sinking particles collected in a sediment trap mooring deployed in the Alboran Sea (SW Mediterranean) were elucidated using the molecular marker concept. A significant contribution of cyanobacterial lipids was identified based on the occurrence of a series of 3- and 5-methylalkanes and dimethylalkanes. Further evidence of cyanobacterial inputs was obtained by principal component analysis of all data showing diploptene and n-alkanes in the range C₁₄–C₂₂ clustered together with those branched alkanes. The use of methyl and dimethyl alkanes to trace cyanobacterial sources in the water column is proposed with advantage to sterols which are usually masked by phytoplanktonic sterols. The sterol distribution indicates phytoplankton as a major source with a contribution from heterotrophic zooplanktonic. Both fossil and biogenic sources can be contributors to the large unresolved complex mixture (UCM) found in these samples.     

Asymptotic giant branch stars as astroparticle laboratories

We show that the inclusion of axion emission during stellar evolution introduces important changes into the evolutionary behaviour of aymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars. The mass of the resulting C/O white dwarf (WD) is much lower than the equivalent obtained from standard evolution. This implies a deficit in luminous AGB stars and in massive WDs. Moreover, the total mass processed in the nuclear burning shells that is dredged up to the surface (third D _up) increases when axion emission is included, modifying the chemical composition of the photosphere. We conclude that the AGB is a promising phase with which to put constraints on particle physics.     

A newly dated Cretaceous hydrothermal event in the Iberian Ranges (Eastern Spain) and its significance within the Mesozoic thermal history in the Iberian Peninsula

The Iberian Peninsula hosts the world-class Hg mining district of Almadén. Besides pre-Hercynian ore bodies, alpine-cycle Hg-bearing veins are also present in the eastern Iberian Ranges (Espadán deposits). We present both the first absolute ages (84±4 and 85±3 Ma) for a post-Hercynian Hg deposit in Spain, obtained from primary muscovites, and a complete compilation of published Mesozoic radiometric absolute ages of the Iberian Peninsula. We deduce that there are three main thermal episodes that affected the Iberian Peninsula, which have been revealed after the comparison among the magmatic, metamorphic and hydrothermal ages. Moreover, the Espadán hydrothermal system was active when both the Cretaceous alkalic magmatism took place in Southern Portugal and in the Pyrenees, and during the opening of the Bay of Biscay.     

The mass dependence of the overshooting parameter determined from eclipsing binary data

We report the discovery of emission features in the X-ray spectrum of GRO J1655–40 obtained with RXTE during the observation of 1997 February 26. We have fitted the features first by two Gaussian lines which in four spectra analysed have average energies of 5.85±0.08 and 7.32±0.13 keV, strongly suggestive that these are the red- and blueshifted wings of an iron disc line. These energies imply a velocity of ∼0.33 c . The blue wing is less bright than in the calculated profiles of disc lines near a black hole subject to Doppler boosting; however, known Fe absorption lines in GRO J1655–40 at energies between ∼7 and 8 keV can reduce the apparent brightness of the blue wing. Secondly, we have fitted the spectra using the disc line model of Laor based on a full relativistic treatment plus an absorption line, and show that good fits are obtained. This gives a rest-frame energy of the disc line between 6.4 and 6.8 keV, indicating that the line is iron K α emission probably of significantly ionized material. The Laor model shows that the line originates in a region of the accretion disc extending from ∼10 Schwarzschild radii from the black hole outwards. The line is direct evidence for the black hole nature of the compact object, and is the first discovery of a highly red- and blueshifted iron disc line in a Galactic source.     

Pseudo-nitzschia spp. (Bacillariophyceae) and dissolved organic matter (DOM) dynamics in the Ebro Delta (Alfacs Bay, NW Mediterranean Sea)

Samples were collected during one annual cycle (April 2007–March 2008) at Alfacs Bay (NW Mediterranean Sea) central station in order to assess the influence of organic nutrients in the growth of the microalgae assemblage, with special reference to Pseudo-nitzschia spp. This potentially toxic diatom forms natural and recurrent blooms in the study area. To assess further the relationship between Pseudo-nitzschia spp. and nutrients an enrichment experiment with high molecular weight dissolved organic matter (HMWDOM) was performed with field samples obtained during a Pseudo-nitzschia spp. bloom. HMWDOM was extracted from water collected at Alfacs Bay. Five bioassays were prepared: N + P (seawater with addition of nitrate and phosphate), DOM (addition of HMWDOM), (−N + P) + DOM (nitrogen deficient, with addition of phosphate and HMWDOM), (N + P) + DOM (addition of nitrate, phosphate and HMWDOM), seawater control (without added nutrients), and B + DOM (control of bacteria, without microalgae). The experiment was run in batch mode over 4 days. Results from the field study revealed that the concentrations of organic nutrients mostly surpassed the inorganic pool. Pseudo-nitzschia spp. was the most frequent and abundant taxa of the microalgae community. The micro-planktonic assemblage was arranged according to a seasonal factor (ANOSIM and cluster analysis). DON, nitrate and silicate were the most important abiotic parameters contributing to the dissimilarities between seasons (SIMPER analysis) and thereby potentially influencing the seasonal distribution of microalgae in the representative station. In the experimental investigation, Pseudo-nitzschia cells increased by the end of the experiment in the DOM bioassay but no respective increase was observed for chlorophyll a. This could point to an acquisition of nutrients through the DOM fraction that would conjointly reduce the need of chlorophyll a. The data obtained suggest that organic nutrients may exert an important role in the development of microalgae, including Pseudo-nitzschia spp., in the selected location.     

Quantitative evaluation of groundwater recharge and evaporation intensity with stable oxygen and hydrogen isotopes in a semi‐arid region,Northwest China

Yinchuan Basin, a semi‐arid area located in Northwest China, is currently subject to increasing pressure from the altered hydrology due to the anthropogenic activities as well as increasing water demands for regional development. Sustainable water management across the region must be underpinned by a clear understanding of the factors that constrain water supply in this area. We measured the stable isotope of oxygen and hydrogen to determine the likely processes that control the interrelations among precipitation, surface water (Yellow River), and groundwater. The hydrogen and oxygen values demonstrate that 2 primary hydrochemical processes, mixing and evaporation/condensation, occurred in the Basin. Recharge proportions of precipitation and Yellow River were quantitatively evaluated based on the isotope mass balance method. The proportions of the Yellow River and atmospheric precipitation recharge are 87.7% and 12.3%, respectively. The evaporation proportions calculated with ¹⁸O and D by Rayleigh fractional equation are close to each other, which demonstrate that evaporation intensity increases following the flow direction of the Yellow River. The findings obtained in this study are useful for recognizing the significance of Yellow River to Yinchuan Basin, and some optimal allocation schemes can be adopted for a prospective development of this reputed area in Northwest China.