Relationships between estuarine geomorphology, wetland extent and fish landings in New South Wales estuaries

Multivariate analyses of estuarine geomorphic variables and fish-catch data support the hypothesis that estuaries in New South Wales can be classified in terms of measurable geomorphic characteristics, and that these geomorphic characteristics exert an influence on estuarine biota. The clearest example of this association is the extent to which the area of seagrass, mangrove and central mud basin relates to geomorphic settings and the extent to which the area of these units in turn predict commercial landings of fish and crustaceans. Infilled estuaries with sand barrier entrances, with higher areas of mangrove and lower areas of seagrass and central mud basin yield a catch of fish different to estuaries which are not infilled, and contain relatively high areas of seagrass and central mud basin, and less mangrove. The species contributing most to these differences in assemblages are those which multiple regression analysis identifies to be consistently associated with seagrass area, and which ecological studies reveal to be dependant upon seagrass in their post-settlement phase.     

Polyester mooring for the Mad Dog spar—design issues and other considerations

The Mad dog project will use a polyester mooring system on the drilling and production truss spar. This will be the first use of a permanent polyester mooring system on a Floating Production System (FPS) outside of Brazil and the first time polyester has been used on a spar. As such, there were many challenges, which include:

• Regulatory approval.

• Designing a mooring system which is dominated by current loadings.

• Largest polyester rope break load ever required.

• Rope design qualification and testing.

• Quality control and assurance.

• Inspection, Maintenance, Repair and Retirement (IMRR) of such a mooring system.

This paper will focus on the design issues, rope design, manufacturing, qualification and testing, and the IMRR plan that was developed to provide the assurance that the polyester mooring system could be safely operated over the 20-year field life.     

Comment on 'Consequences of progressive eclogitization on crustal exhumation, a mechanical study' by H. Raimbourg, L. Jolivet and Y. Leroy

Two simple end-member models of a subduction channel have been proposed in the literature: (i) the 'pressure-imposed' model for which the pressure within the channel is assumed to be lithostatic, the channel walls have negligible strength with respect to lateral pressure gradients, and the channel geometry therefore varies with time and (ii) the 'geometry-imposed' model of constant channel geometry, rigid walls and resultant lateral variation in pressure. Neither of these models is realistic, but they provide lower and upper bounds to potential pressure distributions in natural subduction zones. The critical parameter is the relative strength of the confining plates, reflected in the effective viscosity ratio between the channel fill and the walls. The assertion that the 'geometry-imposed' model is internally inconsistent is incorrect—it merely represents one bound to possible behaviour and a bound that may be approached for realistic values of the effective viscosity for weak channel fill (e.g. unconsolidated ocean-floor sediments) and relatively cold and strong subducting and overriding lithospheric plates.     

The coupling of optimal economic growth and climate dynamics

In this paper, we study optimal economic growth programs coupled with climate change dynamics. The study is based on models derived from MERGE, a well established integrated assessment model (IAM). We discuss first the introduction in MERGE of a set of “tolerable window” constraints which limit both the temperature change and the rate of temperature change. These constraints, obtained from ensemble simulations performed with the Bern 2.5-D climate model, allow us to identity a domain intended to preserve the Atlantic thermohaline circulation. Next, we report on experiments where a two-way coupling is realized between the economic module of MERGE and an intermediate complexity “3-D-” climate model (C-GOLDSTEIN) which computes the changes in climate and mean temperature. The coupling is achieved through the implementation of an advanced “oracle based optimization technique” which permits the integration of information coming from the climate model during the search for the optimal economic growth path. Both cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit analysis modes are explored with this combined “meta-model” which we refer to as GOLDMERGE. Some perspectives on future implementations of these approaches in the context of “collaborative” or “community” integrated assessment modules are derived from the comparison of the different approaches.     

Goethite, calcite, and organic matter from Permian and Triassic soils: carbon isotopes and CO2 concentrations

Pedogenic goethites in each of two Early Permian paleosols appear to record mixing of two isotopically distinct CO₂ components—atmospheric CO₂ and CO₂ from in situ oxidation of organic matter. The δ¹³C values measured for the Fe(CO₃)OH component in solid solution in these Permian goethites are −13.5‰ for the Lower Leonardian (∼283 Ma BP) paleosol (MCGoeth) and −13.9‰ for the Upper Leonardian (∼270 Ma BP) paleosol (SAP). These goethites contain the most ¹³C-rich Fe(CO₃)OH measured to date for pedogenic goethites crystallized in soils exhibiting mixing of the two aforementioned CO₂ components. δ¹³C measured for 43 organic matter samples in the Lower Leonardian (Waggoner Ranch Fm.) has an average value of −20.3 ± 1.1‰ (1s). The average value yields a calculated Early Permian atmospheric Pco₂ value of about 1 × PAL, but the scatter in the measured δ¹³C values of organic matter permits a calculated maximum Pco₂ of 11 × PAL (PAL = present atmospheric level). Measured values of the mole fraction of Fe(CO₃)OH in MCGoeth and SAP correspond to soil CO₂ concentrations in the Early Permian paleosol profiles of 54,000 and 50,000 ppmV, respectively. Such high soil CO₂ concentrations are similar to modern soils in warm, wet environments.The average δ¹³C values of pedogenic calcite from 9 paleosol profiles stratigraphically associated with MCGoeth (Waggoner Ranch Fm.) range from −6.5‰ to −4.4‰, with a mean δ¹³C value for all profiles of −5.4‰. Thus, the value of Δ¹³C between the pedogenic calcite data set and MCGoeth is 8.1 (±0.9)‰, which is in reasonable accord with the value of 7.7‰ expected if atmospheric Pco₂ and organic matter δ¹³C values were the same for both paleosol types. Furthermore, the atmospheric Pco₂ calculated for the Early Permian from the average measured carbon isotopic compositions of the paleosol calcite and organic matter is also analytically indistinguishable from 1 × PAL, with a maximum calculated atmospheric Pco₂ (permitted by one standard deviation of the organic matter δ¹³C value) of ∼5 × PAL.If, however, measured average δ¹³C values of the plant organic matter are more positive than the original soil organic matter as a result of diagenetic loss of ¹³C-depleted, labile organic compounds, calculated Permian atmospheric Pco₂ using these ¹³C-enriched organic values would underestimate the actual atmospheric Pco₂ using either goethite or calcite. This is the first stratigraphically constrained, intrabasinal study to compare ancient atmospheric CO₂ concentrations calculated from pedogenic goethite and calcite. These results demonstrate that the two different proxies record the same information about atmospheric CO₂.The Fe(CO₃)OH component in pedogenic goethite from a Triassic paleosol in Utah is significantly enriched in ¹³C relative to Fe(CO₃)OH in goethites from soils in which there are mixtures of two isotopic CO₂ components. Field-relationships and the δ¹³C value (−1.9‰) of the Triassic goethite indicate that this ancient paleosol profile experienced mixing of three isotopically distinct CO₂ components at the time of goethite crystallization. The three components were probably atmospheric CO₂, CO₂ from in situ oxidation of organic matter and CO₂ from in situ dissolution of preexisting calcite. Although mixing of three isotopically distinct CO₂ components, as recorded by Fe(CO₃)OH in goethite, has been described in modern soil, this is the first example from a documented paleosol. Its preservation affirms the need for careful, case-by-case assessment of ancient paleosols to establish that goethite in any particular soil is likely to be a valid proxy of atmospheric Pco₂.     

Progressive development of s-type flanking folds in simple shear

Flanking structures are deflections of planar or linear fabric elements in a rock alongside a crosscutting element (CE), e.g. a vein or fault. This study provides new results from analogue experiments, which test and extend recent numerical models of flanking structures. A linear viscous matrix material (PDMS) was deformed in a ring shear rig that allows continuous observation to large values of shear strain. Rotational behaviour, offset and deflection of marker lines around a predefined, lubricated CE were monitored for different initial orientations of the fault with respect to the shear zone boundary, and the results were compared with numerical results and natural examples. At high initial angles to the shear zone boundary (>135°), a structure previously described as an ‘s-type flanking fold’ develops. During progressive deformation, an initially straight marker line passing through the centre of the CE is offset in a sense synthetic with the bulk sense of shear and shows a shortening displacement across the CE. Simultaneously, this central marker line is deflected and forms symmetrical folds, which are convex in the direction of shear along the CE (i.e. normal drag). Both offset and deflection of the marker lines decrease towards the tips of the fault. Natural examples of s-type flanking folds, directly comparable with the model results, are more common than is generally appreciated.     

Phylogeny, diet, and habitat of an extinct ground sloth from Cuchillo Curá, Neuquén Province, southwest Argentina

Advancements in ancient DNA analyses now permit comparative molecular and morphological studies of extinct animal dung commonly preserved in caves of semiarid regions. These new techniques are showcased using a unique dung deposit preserved in a late glacial vizcacha (Lagidium sp.) midden from a limestone cave in southwestern Argentina (38.5° S). Phylogenetic analyses of the mitochondrial DNA show that the dung originated from a small ground sloth species not yet represented by skeletal material in the region, and not closely related to any of the four previously sequenced extinct and extant sloth species. Analyses of pollen and plant cuticles, as well as analyses of the chloroplast DNA, show that the Cuchillo Curá ground sloth browsed on many of the same herb, grass, and shrub genera common at the site today, and that its habitat was treeless Patagonian scrub-steppe. We envision a day when molecular analyses are used routinely to supplement morphological identifications and possibly to provide a time-lapse view of molecular diversification.