Modelling the influence of environmental factors on the physiological status of the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas in an estuarine embayment; The Baie des Veys (France)

It is well known that temporal changes in bivalve body mass are strongly correlated with temporal variations in water temperature and food supply. In order to study the influence of the year-to-year variability of environmental factors on oyster growth, we coupled a biogeochemical sub-model, which simulates trophic resources of oysters (i.e. phytoplankton biomass via chlorophyll a), and an ecophysiological sub-model, which simulates growth and reproduction (i.e. gametogenesis and spawning), using mechanistic bases. The biogeochemical sub-model successfully simulated phytoplankton dynamics using river nutrient inputs and meteorological factors as forcing functions. Adequate simulation of oyster growth dynamics requires a relevant food quantifier compatible with outputs of the biogeochemical sub-model (i.e. chlorophyll a concentration). We decided to use the phytoplankton carbon concentration as quantifier for food, as it is a better estimator of the energy really available to oysters. The transformation of chlorophyll a concentration into carbon concentration using a variable chlorophyll a to carbon ratio enabled us to improve the simulation of oyster growth especially during the starvation period (i.e. autumn and winter). Once validated, the coupled model was a suitable tool to study the influence of the year-to-year variability of phytoplankton dynamics and water temperature on the gonado-somatic growth of the Pacific oyster. Four years with highly contrasted meteorological conditions (river inputs, water temperature and light) 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003, were simulated. The years were split into two groups, wet years (2000 and 2001) and dry years (2002 and 2003). Significant variability of the response of oysters to environmental conditions was highlighted between the four scenarios. In the wet years, an increase in loadings of river nutrients and suspended particulate matter led to a shift in the initiation and the magnitude of the phytoplanktonic spring bloom, and consequently to a shift in oyster growth patterns. In contrast, in the dry years, an increase in water temperature—especially during summer—resulted in early spawning. Thus, the gonado-somatic growth pattern of oysters was shown to be sensitive to variations in river loadings and water temperature. In this context, the physiological status of oysters is discussed using a relevant indicator of energy needs.     

How the solar dynamics can influence the Sun–Earth medium term relationship

We recall how the Sun is introduced in the present climatic models and discuss why the solar standard model (SSM) framework is insufficient to describe the Sun–Earth medium term relationship. We then report on the different sources of variability. The SoHO mission allows a comparison between two successive solar minima and puts new constraints on the internal rotation profile. The coming space missions SDO and PICARD will add crucial information on internal circulations and on the superficial asphericity. The interplay between the solar dynamics and terrestrial atmospheric models is in its infancy, it calls for medium term uninterrupted solar observations which will take benefit of a formation flying concept.     

Coupled penetrometer, MBES and ADCP assessments of tidal variations in surface sediment layer characteristics along active subaqueous dunes, Danish Wadden Sea

In-situ geotechnical measurements of surface sediments were carried out along large subaqueous dunes in the Knudedyb tidal inlet channel in the Danish Wadden Sea using a small free-falling penetrometer. Vertical profiles showed a typical stratification pattern with a resolution of ∼1 cm depicting a thin surface layer of low sediment strength and a stiffer substratum below (quasi-static bearing capacity equivalent: 1–3 kPa in the top layer, 20–140 kPa in the underlying sediment; thickness of the top layer ca. 5–8 cm). Observed variations in the thickness and strength of the surface layer during a tidal cycle were compared to mean current velocities (measured using an acoustic Doppler current profiler, ADCP), high-resolution bathymetry (based on multibeam echo sounding, MBES) and qualitative estimates of suspended sediment distributions in the water column (estimated from ADCP backscatter intensity). The results revealed an ebb dominance in sediment remobilization, and a general accretion of the bed towards low water. A loose top layer occurred throughout the tidal cycle, likely influenced by bedload transport and small events of suspended sediment resettlement (thickness: 6 ± 2 cm). Furthermore, this layer showed a significant increase in thickness (e.g. from 8 cm to 16 cm) related to periods of overall deposition. These findings imply that dynamic penetrometers can conveniently serve to (1) quantify potentially mobile sediments by determining the thickness of a loose sediment surface layer, (2) unravel sediment strength development in potentially mobile sediments and (3) identify sediment accumulation. Such data are an important complement and add a new geotechnical perspective during investigations of sediment remobilization processes in highly dynamic coastal environments.     

On the probability of exceeding a given river flow threshold

ABSTRACT

To obtain estimates of the probability that a river flow will exceed a given threshold at time t + 1, given the flow value at time t, two stochastic models are considered: a filtered Poisson process and a diffusion process with jumps. Estimates derived from linear regression are also considered. The model parameters are assumed to depend on the flow value. An application to the Delaware River is presented.

Editor D. Koutsoyiannis; Associate editor S. Grimaldi     

Geometric Brownian motion as a model for river flows

Let X(t) be the flow of a certain river at time t. A geometric Brownian motion process is used as a model for X(t) and is found to give very good forecasts of future flows. The forecasted values generated by this one‐dimensional model are compared with those provided by a deterministic model that requires the evaluation of 18 entries. Based on two important criteria, the stochastic model is superior, on average, to the deterministic model for forecasts up to 4 days ahead. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A sandwiched denitrifying biocathode in a microbial fuel cell for electricity generation and waste minimization

A denitrifying biocathode in a microbial fuel cell was developed to investigate the replacement of the costly Pt-coated abiotic cathodes for electricity generation. The denitrifying biocathode was sandwiched between the dual-anode systems. The study investigated the performance for simultaneous treatment of wastewater on the anode, biological denitrification on the cathode and the potential recovery of electrical energy. Autotrophic biofilms performed denitrification on the cathode using supplied electrons by the biodegradation of organics on the anode. Graphite granules were used as electrodes for biofilm attachment, and nafion membranes were used as separators between electrodes. The system achieved a volumetric power of 7 ± 0.4 W m^?3 net cathodic compartment (NCC) with the simultaneous removal of 229.5 ± 18 mg L^?1 COD on anode and 88.9 g m^?3 NCC day^?1 nitrogen on cathode, respectively. The columbic efficiency for cathodic and anodic reactions was 98.9 ± 0.57 and 23.54 ± 0.87 %, respectively. This is a combined study for domestic wastewater treatment and biological denitrification in a compact MFC reactor. Further optimization of the system is desired to improve its performance and applicability.     

Wind wave measurements and modelling in a fetch-limited semi-enclosed lagoon

The south-west reef lagoon of New Caledonia is a semi-enclosed basin where, on first approximation, dominating sea state component corresponds to locally generated wind waves. This study aims to evaluate the ability of the wave model WAVEWATCH III to simulate wind wave distribution in this particular fetch-limited context, with a given parameterisation. In order to evaluate the consistency of the simulation results, wave parameters were measured in situ by a wave and tide recorder (WTR9 Aanderaa) and by an acoustic Doppler velocimeter (ADV Sontek). This study underlines specific constrains for the deployment of instruments to assess the characteristic parameters of low amplitude and high frequency wind-waves. Special care was taken in the comparison step as, on one hand the wave model did not simulate the propagation of low-frequency oceanic waves inside the lagoon, and on the other hand the measured spectra bear an intrinsic limitation for high frequencies. The approximation of a sea state dominated by wind waves is verified on the study site. The accuracy of the simulation results is discussed with regards to the wind forcing applied to the model.     

Analysis of the projected regional sea-ice changes in the Southern Ocean during the twenty-first century

Using the set of simulations performed with atmosphere-ocean general circulation models (AOGCMs) for the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC AR4), the projected regional distribution of sea ice for the twenty-first century has been investigated. Averaged over all those model simulations, the current climate is reasonably well reproduced. However, this averaging procedure hides the errors from individual models. Over the twentieth century, the multimodel average simulates a larger sea-ice concentration decrease around the Antarctic Peninsula compared to other regions, which is in qualitative agreement with observations. This is likely related to the positive trend in the Southern Annular Mode (SAM) index over the twentieth century, in both observations and in the multimodel average. Despite the simulated positive future trend in SAM, such a regional feature around the Antarctic Peninsula is absent in the projected sea-ice change for the end of the twenty-first century. The maximum decrease is indeed located over the central Weddell Sea and the Amundsen–Bellingshausen Seas. In most models, changes in the oceanic currents could play a role in the regional distribution of the sea ice, especially in the Ross Sea, where stronger southward currents could be responsible for a smaller sea-ice decrease during the twenty-first century. Finally, changes in the mixed layer depth can be found in some models, inducing locally strong changes in the sea-ice concentration.

9 to 5: 9 approaches to tackle 5 aspects of climate change

Humans are modifying the Earth's climate by increasing the atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide and other radiatively active trace gases. The resulting Climate Change is global, pervasive, complex, unpredictable, and irreversible. Nine different approaches (scientific assessment, structural analysis, decision analysis, procedure analysis, game theory, cost-benefit analysis, option valuation, insurance, and deterrence) are presented to explore how the five aspects of Climate Change affect the design of appropriate responses to its impacts.     

Techniques for mode separation in Rayleigh wave testing

The spectral analysis of surface wave (SASW) developed in the early eighties has opened the way to the use of surface waves for the definition of shear wave velocity profiles in soil deposits or pavement structures without the need of any borings or intrusion. The SASW testing procedure was designed to minimize the contribution of higher modes and thus assumes that the Rayleigh waves which propagate at the surface belong only to the fundamental mode. Several studies have however demonstrated that, in some conditions, higher Rayleigh modes can contribute significantly to the dispersion curve. Different tests configurations exist today to deal with Rayleigh mode problem by the use of an array of receivers. In spite of that, the SASW configuration remains attractive due to the limited number of receivers, as well as, the Rayleigh modes contributing in SASW records configuration can be identified by multiple-filter technique and isolated using time-variable filters. The proposed techniques are first validated by simulated records and then applied to SASW records obtained in the field. The study confirms that higher modes can participate and even dominate in SASW records. An important contribution of higher Rayleigh modes can also exist, even if the shear wave velocity increases regularly with depth. The higher Rayleigh modes can significantly affect the accuracy of the shear wave velocity profile if they are not properly identified and separated. A multi-mode inversion process is shown to be important to have an accurate soil characterization.