Structural styles and depositional architecture in the Triassic of the Ninian and Alwyn North fields: Implications for basin development and prospectivity in the Northern North Sea

Interpretation of well-calibrated three-dimensional seismic volumes, sedimentological analysis and electrical well-log correlations from the Ninian and Alwyn North fields challenge the long-held view that Mid-Late Jurassic extensional faults in the East Shetland Basin represent a simple reactivation of older (Triassic) fault systems. Restoration for the effects of the younger, predominantly eastward-dipping, Mid-Late Jurassic structures clearly demonstrates that Triassic precursors had a steep, westerly dip. In contrast to the eastern flank of the Viking Graben (e.g. Troll and Oseberg areas), where the west-dipping Triassic structures are reutilised in the Mid-Late Jurassic, those of the East Shetland Basin have largely been dissected and rotated during the later event. Those west-dipping faults that did see later movement appear to have simply acted as minor antithetic structures to the throughgoing east-dipping ones.The Triassic normal fault patterns actively controlled sediment thicknesses and facies distribution within the Lunde and Teist Formations in the basin. Use of seismic stratigraphic surfaces, calibrated by biostratigraphy and chemostratigraphic markers, provides strong evidence that the Triassic depocentres are spatially offset from their Mid-Late Jurassic counterparts. The combination of structural, stratigraphic and sedimentary effects reveal the existence of an emergent deeper Triassic play opportunity in footwall locations to the Mid-Late Jurassic normal faults, which has the potential to extend the life of what is otherwise mature acreage.     

Long-term morphodynamic evolution of estuaries: An inverse problem

A new technique for predicting long-term variations in estuary morphology is developed using a morphological evolution equation that isolates diffusive and non-diffusive processes in estuaries. The contribution from non-diffusive processes to the morphological changes of the estuary is incorporated in the governing equation by a source function. The source function is derived by solving an inverse problem using historic survey data of the Humber estuary, UK covering a period of 150 years.     

The effect of salinity on growth and weight loss of juvenile plaice (Pleuronectes platessa, L): An experimental test

Previous population estimates of the 0+ plaice (Pleuronectes platessa L.) in the Firth of Forth, east central Scotland, did not take account of the Forth estuary west of the Forth bridges. Previous work found plaice in the estuary grew as fast as, or faster than, the outer firth plaice. It was hypothesised that salinity may affect growth rates of early 0+ plaice. This hypothesis was tested in a laboratory experiment, by exposing juvenile plaice to three different, but naturally — experienced by the juveniles, salinities; 25, 30 and 35. Plaice fed a minimum ration did not grow in length. Mean weight decreased at all three salinities, however, the lowest weight loss was found at the lowest salinity (25) and the highest weight loss was found at the highest salinity (35). The minimum feeding ration was halted and plaice were then fed ad libitum. Consumption rates were not significantly different during the ad libitum feeding, while significant differences in mean weight change were found between the highest and lowest salinities.     

Measurements of transpiration in four tropical rainforest types of north Queensland,Australia

Transpiration of four different rainforest types in north Queensland, Australia, was determined using the heat pulse technique for periods ranging between 391 and 657 days. Despite the complexity of the natural rainforest systems being studied, the relationship between sample tree size and daily water use was found to be strong, thus providing a robust means by which to scale transpiration from individual trees to the entire forest stand. Transpiration was shown to be dependent on solar radiation and atmospheric demand for moisture with little evidence of limitation by soil moisture supply. Total stand transpiration was controlled by forest characteristics such as stem density, size distribution and sapwood area. Annual transpiration for each of the four sites ranged between 353 mm for cloud forest and 591 mm for montane rainforest. In comparison with the international literature, transpiration from Australian rainforests is low; the reasons for this could be related to a combination of differences in forest structure, climatic conditions, canopy wetness duration and tree physiology. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Incorporating variable source area hydrology into a curve-number-based watershed model

Many water quality models use some form of the curve number (CN) equation developed by the Soil Conservation Service (SCS; U.S. Depart of Agriculture) to predict storm runoff from watersheds based on an infiltration-excess response to rainfall. However, in humid, well-vegetated areas with shallow soils, such as in the northeastern USA, the predominant runoff generating mechanism is saturation-excess on variable source areas (VSAs). We reconceptualized the SCS–CN equation for VSAs, and incorporated it into the General Watershed Loading Function (GWLF) model. The new version of GWLF, named the Variable Source Loading Function (VSLF) model, simulates the watershed runoff response to rainfall using the standard SCS–CN equation, but spatially distributes the runoff response according to a soil wetness index. We spatially validated VSLF runoff predictions and compared VSLF to GWLF for a subwatershed of the New York City Water Supply System. The spatial distribution of runoff from VSLF is more physically realistic than the estimates from GWLF. This has important consequences for water quality modeling, and for the use of models to evaluate and guide watershed management, because correctly predicting the coincidence of runoff generation and pollutant sources is critical to simulating non-point source (NPS) pollution transported by runoff. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Analytical scanning and transmission electron microscopy of laboratory impacts on Stardust aluminum foils: Interpreting impact crater morphology and the composition of impact residues

Abstract— The known encounter velocity (6.1 kms^?1) and particle incidence angle (perpendicular) between the Stardust spacecraft and the dust emanating from the nucleus of comet Wild‐2 fall within a range that allows simulation in laboratory light‐gas gun (LGG) experiments designed to validate analytical methods for the interpretation of dust impacts on the aluminum foil components of the Stardust collector. Buckshot of a wide size, shape, and density range of mineral, glass, polymer, and metal grains, have been fired to impact perpendicularly on samples of Stardust Al 1100 foil, tightly wrapped onto aluminum alloy plate as an analogue of foil on the spacecraft collector. We have not yet been able to produce laboratory impacts by projectiles with weak and porous aggregate structure, as may occur in some cometary dust grains. In this report we present information on crater gross morphology and its dependence on particle size and density, the pre‐existing major‐ and trace‐element composition of the foil, geometrical issues for energy dispersive X‐ray analysis of the impact residues in scanning electron microscopes, and the modification of dust chemical composition during creation of impact craters as revealed by analytical transmission electron microscopy. Together, these observations help to underpin the interpretation of size, density, and composition for particles impacted on the Stardust aluminum foils.