A comparison of genetic structure in two low-dispersal crabs from the Wild Coast,South Africa

The Wild Coast in south-eastern South Africa is strongly influenced by the warm, southward-flowing Agulhas Current. This current has a significant impact on dispersal in the coastal biota of the region, and facilitates high levels of connectivity among populations. However, it is not known how the region's high-velocity hydrology affects genetic population structure in endemic estuarine species, populations of which are frequently isolated from the sea. Here, we compared genetic structure in two estuarine crabs of the family Hymenosomatidae. Both are presumed to have low dispersal potential, but they differ in terms of their life histories. Hymenosoma longicrure has abbreviated larval development and can complete its entire life cycle within estuaries, whereas Neorhynchoplax bovis is a direct developer that lacks planktonic larvae. Using DNA sequence data from the mitochondrial COI gene and the intron of the nuclear ANT gene, we found that levels of genetic structure differ considerably between the species. Depending on the genetic marker used, H. longicrure is genetically homogeneous (COI) or displays low levels of genetic structure and minor evidence of recruitment near natal sites (ANT). In contrast, connectivity in N. bovis is much lower, as this species has a unique combination of alleles at each site, indicating that recruitment is mostly local. These results support previous findings suggesting that even a short larval dispersal phase is sufficient to maintain high levels of connectivity and prevent genetic divergence among populations.     

Inland Propagation of Sea Breeze under Opposing Offshore Wind

Summary  According to past experience, the nearly stagnant conditions caused by the presumed equilibrium between the Saronikos Gulf sea breeze and an opposing synoptic flow is identified as the principal mechanism leading to high pollution episodes in Athens during the summer. However, previous experimental work has not examined in detail the interaction of the sea breeze flow with the opposing background flow. In this context, recent experimental work covering the basic key-locations of the Athens Basin focused on the inland propagation of the southerly sea breeze from the coast to the northern part of the basin mainly under moderate northerly background wind. During this campaign, a network of four meteorological stations established along the Athens Basin and a high range acoustic sounder at the centre of Athens operated over a two months time period in the summer of 1993. In addition, tethered balloon flights in the centre of Athens and on a sea vessel about 15 km offshore were employed during an experimental day with moderate opposing background wind. The results from this experimental campaign include the documentation of the sea breeze delay and its intensity as a function of a sea breeze index and features of the vertical structure of the sea breeze over land as well as over sea. Received March 20, 1998 Revised October 12, 1998     

Internal waves revealed by Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery in the vicinity of the eastern Cretan Arc Straits (Eastern Mediterranean)

Internal waves have been detected on ERS-1 SAR images obtained during late summer over the eastern Cretan Straits, an area characterised by complex regional physiography, bottom topography, flow regime and stratification patterns of the upper part of the water column. Analysis of the imaged characteristics of the internal waves has revealed a strong diversity in form, propagation direction and type of sea surface modulation, which indicates various mechanisms of generation. Analysis of the currents recorded over the area shows that, although semi-diurnal tidal currents are present, these are of low magnitude in comparison with the overall flow and, therefore, tidal forcing is unlikely to be a major process in the generation of the imaged internal waves. In addition, a well-defined front has been identified within the Rhodes Strait. This front is considered to be the surficial manifestation of the Asia Minor Current, which is a strong and persistent large-scale circulation feature of the Eastern Mediterranean.     

Identification of uncertainties in the shape of geophysical objects with level sets and the adjoint method

A shape reconstruction method for geophysical objects by temperature measurements is presented which uses adjoint equations and a level set function approach. Temperature is measured on subdomains, e.g., representing boreholes. This information is used to reconstruct the shape of the geophysical layers. For this purpose, shape optimization techniques are applied. The method uses a representation of the layers by a so-called level set function. The evolution of this level set function is then used to determine the optimal shape. The “speed” of the evolution is computed using adjoint equations. Synthetic examples demonstrate the use of the inverse method and its behavior in different configurations.     

Comparing maps to symplectic integrators in a galactic type Hamiltonian

We obtain thex - p _xPoincare phase plane for a two dimensional, resonant, galactic type Hamiltonian using conventional numerical integration, a second order symplectic integrator and a map based on the averaged Hamiltonian. It is found that all three methods give good results, for small values of the perturbation parameter, while the symplectic integrator does a better job than the mapping, for large perturbations. The dynamical spectra are used to distinguish between regular and chaotic motion.     

Motion in a double nucleus galactic dynamical model

We construct a 2D-dynamical model in order to study the motion in a galaxy with a double nucleus. Numerical calculations show that the majority of high energy stars, near the double nuclear region, are on chaotic orbits. On the contrary, low energy stars are on chaotic orbits only near massive nuclei while, for less massive nuclei, the motion is regular. Using a semi-numerical approach we explain the chaotic scattering of orbits near each nucleus. The high values of the velocities near the dense nuclei are also explained. Computation of the LCEs indicates a very high degree of chaos. The results derived from our double nucleus dynamical model are compared with models with single ones. Our outcomes are in satisfactory agreement with observational data for the double nucleus system $\mathit{NGC}6240$.     

Editorial

Editorial Introduction

Editorial     

Dense water formation and cascading in the Gulf of Thermaikos (North Aegean), from observations and modelling

Observations of dense water formation on the shelf of the Gulf of Thermaikos (North Aegean) are presented, based mainly on continuous monitoring of temperature and currents, during the winter of 2001–2002, at an instrumented mooring and a CTD survey carried out in early February 2002. A 2.5-month realistic simulation, corresponding to the period of observation, was performed to investigate the processes of dense water formation and cascading. The simulation is first compared to the main characteristics of the dense water, time variation of bottom temperature and spatial distribution of the dense water on the shelf. Subsequently, the simulation is used (a) to show that the formation of dense water takes place within the semi-enclosed Thessaloniki Bay and (b) to explain the intermittence of cascading out of the bay in relation to wind variations. The pathways of the dense water through the shelf are investigated with an emphasis on the role of the bottom slope and friction in the Ekman layer. The export of dense water towards the open sea occurs primarily along the slope bounding the western coast.     

Evaluation of ground motion characteristics,effects of local geology and liquefaction susceptibility: the case of Itea,Corinth Gulf (Greece)

In the present paper we analyze the effect of local geology on ground motion by means of numerical calculations (numerical models) using total (TS) and effective stress (ES) methods. These numerical calculations have been applied to the site of Itea, Corinth Gulf, which was chosen based on liquefaction susceptibility criteria and field inspection. Data from seismic refraction experiments and cone penetration test N-values as well as selected records of ground motion in nearby areas were used to construct the input file for the numerical model. By means of␣dynamic analysis such characteristics of ground motion as acceleration time histories, response spectra, and amplification function were evaluated. A one-dimensional soil amplification effect was clearly shown. Liquefaction probability at the Itea site was predicted based on the safety factor and the calculation of the induced settlement at the test site. Results of the TS and ES modeling lead us to conclude: (1) the presence of soft soil at Itea caused significant amplification (almost 2.5-fold higher magnitude) of the underlying bedrock motion and, therefore, can contribute to damage; (2) the area of Itea is highly susceptible to liquefaction due to presence of silty sand deposits at depths between 2.48 m (the position of the water table) and 12 m that demonstrate the rapid growth of the excess pore water pressure (EPWP) ratio with an increase in peak ground acceleration values.