Turbulent kinetic energy and sediment resuspension due to wave groups

Wave-induced sediment resuspension in nearshore regions has been observed occurring in an event-like manner and associated with the passage of wave groups. This paper describes field measurements of turbulent velocities obtained simultaneously with suspended sediment concentration and water surface elevation from Floreat Beach, Perth, Western Australia. The data were used to study the relationship between turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) on suspension events caused by wave groups and the intermittent nature of bottom turbulence production and sediment suspension. The field measurements showed the high TKE events occurred under wave crests, and sometimes under wave toughs, when the wave heights were increasing during the passage of a wave group; the TKE decreased after the maximum wave in the wave group had passed over the measurement location. High suspended sediment concentrations (ssc) and the intermittent high TKE events were not related rather the higher ssc events were associated with a secondary peak in the surface elevation, close to the maxima in the offshore velocity, and “burst” events in the Reynolds stress.     

Synergistic effect of calcium and bicarbonate in enhancing arsenate release from ferrihydrite

Many groundwater systems contain anomalously high arsenic concentrations, associated with less than expected retention of As by adsorption to iron (hydr)oxides. Although carbonates are ubiquitous in aquifers, their relationship to arsenate mobilization is not well characterized. This research examines arsenate release from poorly crystalline iron hydroxides in abiotic systems containing calcium and magnesium with bicarbonate under conditions of static and dynamic flow (pH 7.5-8). Aqueous arsenic levels remained low when arsenate-bearing ferrihydrite was equilibrated with artificial groundwater solution containing Ca, Mg, and HCO₃⁻. In batch titrations in which a solution of Ca and HCO₃⁻ was added repeatedly, the ferrihydrite surface became saturated with adsorbed Ca and HCO₃⁻, and aqueous As levels increased by 1-2 orders of magnitude. In columns containing Ca or Mg and HCO₃⁻, As solubility initially mimicked titrations, but then rapidly increased by an additional order of magnitude (reaching 12 μM As). Separately, calcium chloride and other simple salts did not induce As release, although sodium bicarbonate and lactate facilitated minor As release under flow. Results indicate that adsorption of calcium or magnesium with bicarbonate leads to As desorption from ferrihydrite, to a degree greater than expected from competitive effects alone, especially under dynamic flow. This desorption may be an important mechanism of As mobilization in As-impacted, circumneutral aquifers, especially those undergoing rapid mineralization of organic matter, which induces calcite dissolution and the production of dissolved calcium and bicarbonate.     

Keck spectroscopy of the faint dwarf elliptical galaxy population in the Perseus Cluster core: mixed stellar populations and a flat luminosity function

We present the result of a photometric and Keck low-resolution imaging spectrometer (LRIS) spectroscopic study of dwarf galaxies in the core of the Perseus Cluster, down to a magnitude of   M _B =−12.5  . Spectra were obtained for 23 dwarf-galaxy candidates, from which we measure radial velocities and stellar population characteristics from absorption line indices. From radial velocities obtained using these spectra, we confirm 12 systems as cluster members, with the remaining 11 as non-members. Using these newly confirmed cluster members, we are able to extend the confirmed colour–magnitude relation for the Perseus Cluster down to   M _B =−12.5  . We confirm an increase in the scatter about the colour–magnitude relationship below   M _B =−15.5  , but reject the hypothesis that very red dwarfs are cluster members. We measure the faint-end slope of the luminosity function between   M _B =−18  and −12.5, finding  α=−1.26 ± 0.06  , which is similar to that of the field. This implies that an overabundance of dwarf galaxies does not exist in the core of the Perseus Cluster. By comparing metal and Balmer absorption line indices with α-enhanced single stellar population models, we derive ages and metallicities for these newly confirmed cluster members. We find two distinct dwarf elliptical populations: an old, metal-poor population with ages ∼8 Gyr and metallicities  [Fe/H] < −0.33  , and a young, metal-rich population with ages <5 Gyr and metallicities  [Fe/H] > −0.33  . Dwarf galaxies in the Perseus Cluster are therefore not a simple homogeneous population, but rather exhibit a range in age and metallicity.     

Inorganic nitrogen dynamics in intertidal rocky biofilms and sediments of the Douro River estuary (Portugal)

In this study rates of oxygen, ammonium (NH₄ ⁺), nitrate (NO₃ ⁻), nitrite (NO₂ ⁻), and nitrous oxide (N₂O) fluxes, nitrogen (N) fixation, nitrification, and denitrification were compared between two intertidal sites for which there is an abundant global literature, muddy and sandy sediments, and two sites representing the rocky intertidal zone where biogeochemical processes have scarcely been investigated. In almost all sites oxygen production rates greatly exceeded oxygen consumption rates. During daylight, NH₄ ⁺ and NO₃ ⁻ uptake rates together with ammonification could supply the different N requirements of the primary producer communities at all four sites; N assimilation by benthic or epilithic primary producers was the major process of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) removal; N fixation, nitrification, and denitrification were minor processes in the overall light DIN cycle. At night, distinct DIN cycling processes took place in the four environments, denitrification rates ranged from 9 ± 2 to 360 ± 30 μmol N₂ m⁻² h⁻¹, accounting for 10–48% of the water column NO₃ ⁻ uptake; nitrification rates varied from 0 to 1712 ± 666 μmol NH₄ ⁺ m⁻² h⁻¹. A conceptual model of N cycle dynamics showed major differences between intertidal sediment and rocky sites in terms of the mean rates of DIN net fluxes and the processes involved, with rocky biofilm showing generally higher fluxes. Of particular significance, the intertidal rocky biofilms released 10 times the amount of N₂O produced in intertidal sediments (up to 17 ± 6 μmol N₂O m⁻² h⁻¹), representing the highest N₂O release rates ever recorded for marine systems. The biogeochemical contributions of intertidal rocky substrata to estuarine and coastal processes warrant future detailed investigation.     

Tigers, trees and Tharu: An analysis of community forestry in the buffer zone of the Royal Chitwan National Park, Nepal

In the buffer zone of the Royal Chitwan National Park (RCNP), community forests represent a key land use to meet the objectives of the buffer zone concept. This article examines three diverse community forests surrounding the national park and explores how national policy has been mediated by emerging community forestry institutions to create different levels of resource access and benefit distribution both within and between local user groups. Mindful of recent critiques of community-based conservation, the analysis gives considerable attention to the dynamics of power relations and inequality. The extent to which property rights have been transferred to the local level is evaluated and to whom power has been devolved in the process is assessed. The distribution of benefits arising from community forestry is critically examined. It seems that the current system for community forestry creates sufficient incentives for local cooperation due to the potential for increased access to important resources and a high perception of ownership of community forests among the communities. However, emerging institutions vary in the extent to which they reproduce favourable resource access conditions for elites and benefit distribution does seem to be skewed in favour of the wealthy and higher castes, even where management practices on the surface appear fair. National policy creates sufficient but not necessary conditions for achieving downward accountability, transparency and fairness. Greater attention to these issues is needed for buffer zone community forestry to better serve the poor and marginalised populations within user groups.     

Contamination of sediments in the floodplain wetlands of the lower uMngeni River,Kwa-Zulu Natal,South Africa

This study describes the geochemical and physico-chemical characterization of contaminant status of six wetlands of the lower uMngeni River floodplain, KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. At all sites, organic matter content, calcium carbonate and metal concentrations were highest within the fine-sediment dominated surface laminae, decreasing with depth. Exceptions were displayed by arsenic (As), nickel (Ni) and vanadium (V), presumed to be derived from normal geochemical processes. Geochemical indicies indicated high contamination factors for lead (Pb) and V, pointing to moderate anthropogenic metal pollution contribution. Most conspicuous are the contamination high factors for Pb across most sites. Fe and Pb contamination is ubiquitous in all surface laminae, with contamination factors being either border-line, moderate or of high contamination. Enrichment factors for As, Mn and P at site S6 indicate possible anthropogenic sources. The data also shows a possibility of anthropogenic input of P and Zn at site S3. Apart from the enrichment factors established for Ni across all sites, all other metals indicate some degree of enrichment. A range of variable results for the mid to deeper laminae are indicative of natural processes with some human influence. Results of ANOVA confirm the above. Principal component analysis reveals a 46.4% variance from component 1 elements (Al, Ca, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn and Zn) and a 17.8% variance from component 2 (Al, Cu and Fe). Given the rapid rate of development in this region, the protection of these floodplain wetlands must receive high conservation priority from the local municipality.