Rapid subsidence of Kohala Volcano and its effect on coral reef growth

Evidence collected on the Kohala Terrace off northwest Hawaii shows that the volcanic edifice has subsided rapidly. This rapid subsidence, combined with Pleistocene glacio-eustactic sea level changes, twice produced relative sea level changes sufficient to drown coral reefs. Such activity can be an explanation for the paradox of reef drowning, i.e., reefs should be able to grow fast enough to avoid drowning by normal subsidence. This explanation can only accommodate the paradox under restrictive circumstances where rapid island subsidence is combined with rapid sea level changes. Because of these restrictive conditions, the general paradox of reef drowning remains.     

Soft X-ray reflectivity measurements of the mirrors flown on the Ariel-6 satellite

This paper describes the detailed calibration at soft X-ray energies (0.1–2.0 keV; 125 Å-6 Å) of gold coated, paraboloidal X-ray mirrors, four of which were subsequently flow on the Ariel-6 satellite. Uncertainties in the attitude of the satellite together with an apparent reduction in sensitivity of the soft X-ray experiment necessitated observations using the Crab Nebula as a reference. These showed that a dramatic reduction in the reflection efficiencies of all four mirrors had occurred, almost certainly after or during launch. An initial recalibration of the mirrors using the Crab observation is described.     

Impacts of Coastal Land Use and Shoreline Armoring on Estuarine Ecosystems: an Introduction to a Special Issue

The nearshore land-water interface is an important ecological zone that faces anthropogenic pressure from development in coastal regions throughout the world. Coastal waters and estuaries like Chesapeake Bay receive and process land discharges loaded with anthropogenic nutrients and other pollutants that cause eutrophication, hypoxia, and other damage to shallow-water ecosystems. In addition, shorelines are increasingly armored with bulkhead (seawall), riprap, and other structures to protect human infrastructure against the threats of sea-level rise, storm surge, and erosion. Armoring can further influence estuarine and nearshore marine ecosystem functions by degrading water quality, spreading invasive species, and destroying ecologically valuable habitat. These detrimental effects on ecosystem function have ramifications for ecologically and economically important flora and fauna. This special issue of Estuaries and Coasts explores the interacting effects of coastal land use and shoreline armoring on estuarine and coastal marine ecosystems. The majority of papers focus on the Chesapeake Bay region, USA, where 50 major tributaries and an extensive watershed (~ 167,000 km²), provide an ideal model to examine the impacts of human activities at scales ranging from the local shoreline to the entire watershed. The papers consider the influence of watershed land use and natural versus armored shorelines on ecosystem properties and processes as well as on key natural resources.     

Linking social drivers of marine debris with actual marine debris on beaches

The drivers (social) and pressures (physical) of marine debris have typically been examined separately. We redress this by using social and beach surveys at nine Tasmanian beaches, across three coastlines and within three categories of urbanisation, to examine whether people acknowledge that their actions contribute to the issue of marine debris, and whether these social drivers are reflected in the amount of marine debris detected on beaches. A large proportion (75%) of survey participants do not litter at beaches; with age, gender, income and residency influencing littering behaviour. Thus, participants recognise that littering at beaches is a problem. This social trend was reflected in the small amounts of debris that were detected. Furthermore, the amount of debris was not statistically influenced by the degree of beach urbanisation, the coastline sampled, or the proximity to beach access points. By linking social and physical aspects of this issue, management outcomes can be improved.     

Aerial photosieving of exposed gravel bars for the rapid calibration of airborne grain size maps

In recent years, fluvial remote sensing has seen considerable progress in terms of methods capable of system scale characterisation of river catchments. One key development is automated grain size mapping. It has been shown that high resolution aerial photography can be used to automatically produce grain size maps over entire rivers. However, current aerial grain size mapping procedures all require field calibration data. The collection of such data can be costly and problematic in the case of remote areas. This paper presents a method developed to remove the need for field based calibration data. Called ‘aerial photosieving’, this method consists of using the same very high resolution aerial imagery intended for grain size map production to visually measure particle sizes on‐screen in order to provide calibration data. The paper presents a rigorous comparison of field‐based photosieving calibration data and aerial photosieving calibration data. Statistical tests are used to demonstrate that aerial photosieving gives similar results when compared with field‐based data with only a slight systematic overprediction. The new aerial photosieving method therefore simplifies the overall procedure required for the production of grain size maps and thus improves the cost‐effectiveness and potential availability of this new fluvial remote sensing technology. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley &Sons, Ltd.     

Turbulent mixing in fine-scale phytoplankton layers: Observations and inferences of layer dynamics

Turbulence measurements in fine-scale phytoplankton layers (∼1 to ∼10 m) in the Gulf of Aqaba (Red Sea) were used to evaluate mechanisms of layer formation, maintenance, and breakdown. Simultaneous profiles of chlorophyll a (Chl a) fluorescence and temperature microstructure were measured in the upper 40 m of a 430 m water column over a 16-d period, using a Self Contained Autonomous MicroProfiler (SCAMP). Layers of concentrated phytoplankton were identified in 95 of the 456 profiles. The layers were situated in density stratified regions between 15 and 38 m depth and were characterized by intensities of 0.1 to 0.35 μg Chl a L⁻¹ (as much as two times background concentrations) and an average thickness of 10 m. We show that turbulent mixing and isopycnal displacements associated with internal waves modulated the thickness of the layers. Variations in mixing rates within layers were connected to the vertical structure of the stratified turbulence and the stage of layer development. The breakdown of a persistent phytoplankton layer was tied to strong turbulent mixing at the base of the surface mixed layer, which encroached on the layer from above. Hydrographic observations and scaling analysis suggest that the layers most likely formed in horizontal intrusions from the adjacent coastal region. The cross-shore propagation of phytoplankton-rich intrusions may have important implications for the trophic state of offshore planktonic communities.     

Approaches to equilibrium in the distribution of trace elements among the principal minerals in a high-grade metamorphic terrane

X-ray fluorescence, instrumental neutron activation, and particle-induced X-ray emission methods were used to determine the distribution of numerous trace elements among garnet (Grt), Ca-pyroxene (Cpx), hornblende (Hbl), biotite (Bt), plagioclase (Pl) and K-feldspar (Kf) in a high-grade metamorphic terrane within the Grenville Province of the Canadian Shield. Results are presented as distribution formulae, e.g. Sr: Kf 1.1 Pl 16 Hbl 2.2 Cpx 1.0 Bt 1.2 Grt Sc: Hbl 1.1 Cpx 1.0 Grt 7.8 Bt 22 Pl 2.6 Kf V: Hbl 1.15 Bt 2.07 Cpx 6.0 Grt (1.4% CaO)>1 (Pl, Kf) Zn: Bt 1.6 Hbl 1.62 Cpx 2.9 Grt 10 Pl Ga: Bt 1.2 Hbl 1.2 Pl 2.5 Cpx 1.3 Grt where numbers are distribution ratios, e.g. ppm Sr in Hbl/ppm Sr in Cpx=2.2. Examples of inter-element similarities and differences are (a) both Rb and Cs are concentrated in biotite relative to K-feldspar, but for Rb the ratio is 2.3 and for Cs it is 16, (b) the distribution formulae for seven lanthanides are similar except for the position of garnet, e.g. Ce: Hbl 2.7 Cpx 2.8 Pl 1.1 Bt 11 Kf 16 Grt Yb: Grt 2.8 Hbl 2.7 Cpx 9 Pl 1.0 Bt 7 Kf and (c) all of Sr, eight lanthanides, Zr, V and Cr are concentrated in hornblende relative to Ca-pyroxene by a factor that lies in the narrow range of 2.2–3.1. There is a larger variation (departure from the mean) in some distribution ratios than in others. Thus the mean ratios (Hbl/Cpx) for each of six elements and in parentheses the percentage relative standard deviation are Zn 1.62 (8.6), V 2.38 (12), Cr 2.42 (18), Sr 2.7 (28), Ba 2.9 (36) and Ni 1.66 (38). We suggest that variation of this kind is the result of differences from place to place in the magnitude of deformation and recrystallization (which facilitated the rearrangement of atoms), combined with rates of lattice and crystal-boundary diffusion that are unique for the various elements, thus permitting some trace elements to approach equilibrium more closely than others.     

Proximity in a Ghanaian savanna: Human reactions to the African palm civet Nandinia binotata

Understanding human reactions to wildlife, including the differing reactions of different groups to different species, is important given that expanding human population and settlements increasingly result in natural habitat loss or modification and, consequently, wildlife adaptation and encroachment into cleared and created human spaces such as wastelands and farms. This paper examines the importance of gender and age in the responses of rural coastal villagers in Ghana to the presence of African palm civets. Social data gathered from 450 residents in six villages indicated that women and young people were significantly more fearful of civets, seeing them as village marauders, food thieves and livestock predators. Women were also more likely to carry sticks and beat thick vegetation to dispel civets out of concern for the safety of their children and homes. These findings may inform both rural development and conservation debates and policies.     

How processing digital elevation models can affect simulated water budgets

For regional models, the shallow water table surface is often used as a source/sink boundary condition, as model grid scale precludes simulation of the water table aquifer. This approach is appropriate when the water table surface is relatively stationary. Since water table surface maps are not readily available, the elevation of the water table used in model cells is estimated via a two-step process. First, a regression equation is developed using existing land and water table elevations from wells in the area. This equation is then used to predict the water table surface for each model cell using land surface elevation available from digital elevation models (DEM). Two methods of processing DEM for estimating the land surface for each cell are commonly used (value nearest the cell centroid or mean value in the cell). This article demonstrates how these two methods of DEM processing can affect the simulated water budget. For the example presented, approximately 20% more total flow through the aquifer system is simulated if the centroid value rather than the mean value is used. This is due to the one-third greater average ground water gradients associated with the centroid value than the mean value. The results will vary depending on the particular model area topography and cell size. The use of the mean DEM value in each model cell will result in a more conservative water budget and is more appropriate because the model cell water table value should be representative of the entire cell area, not the centroid of the model cell.     

Melting and thermal expansion in the Fe–FeO system at high pressure

Melting in the Fe–FeO system was investigated at pressures up to 93 GPa using synchrotron X-ray diffraction (XRD) and a laser heated diamond anvil cell (DAC). The criteria for melting were the disappearance of reflections associated with one of the end-member phases upon raising the temperature above the eutectic and the reappearance of those reflections on dropping the temperature below the eutectic. The Fe–FeO system is a simple eutectic at 50 GPa and remains eutectic to at least 93 GPa. The eutectic temperature was bound at several pressure points between 19 and 93 GPa, and in some cases the liquidus temperature was also determined. The eutectic temperature rises rapidly with pressure closely following the melting curve of pure Fe. A detailed phase diagram at 50 GPa is presented; the eutectic temperature is 2500 ± 150 K and the eutectic composition is bound between 7.6 ± 1.0 and 9.5 ± 1.0 wt.% O. The coefficient of thermal expansion of FeO is a strong function of volume and decreases with pressure according to a simple power law.