Biogeomorphology in the marine landscape: Modelling the feedbacks between patches of the polychaete worm Lanice conchilega and tidal sand waves

Tidal sand waves are dynamic bedforms found in coastal shelf seas. Moreover, these areas are inhabited by numerous benthic species, of which the spatial distribution is linked to the morphological structure of sand waves. In particular, the tube-building worm Lanice conchilegais of interest as this organism forms small mounds on the seabed, which provide shelter to other organisms. We investigate how the interactions between small-scale mounds (height ∼dm) and large-scale sand waves (height ∼m) shape the bed of the marine environment. To this end, we present a two-way coupled process-based model of sand waves and tube-building worm patches in Delft3D. The population density evolves according to a general law of logistic growth, with the bed shear stress controlling the carrying capacity. Worm patches are randomly seeded and the tubes are mimicked by small cylinders that influence flow and turbulence, thereby altering sediment dynamics. Model results relate the patches with the highest worm densities to the sand wave troughs, which qualitatively agrees with field observations. Furthermore, the L. conchilegatubes trigger the formation of sandy mounds on the seabed. Because of the population density distribution, the mounds in the troughs can be several centimetres higher than on the crests. Regarding sand wave morphology, the combination of patches and mounds are found to shorten the time-to-equilibrium. Also, if the initial bed comprised small sinusoidal sand waves, the equilibrium wave height decreased with a few decimetres compared to the situation without worm patches. As the timescale of mound formation (years) is shorter than that of sand wave evolution (decades), the mounds induce (and accelerate) sand wave growth on a similar spatial scale to the mounds. Initially, this leads to shorter sand waves than they would be in an abiotic environment. However, near equilibrium the wavelengths tend towards their abiotic counterparts again. © 2020 The Authors. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd     

Modelling of shallow landslides with machine learning algorithms

This paper introduces three machine learning(ML)algorithms,the‘ensemble'Random Forest(RF),the‘ensemble'Gradient Boosted Regression Tree(GBRT)and the Multi Layer Perceptron neural network(MLP)and applies them to the spatial modelling of shallow landslides near Kvam in Norway.In the development of the ML models,a total of 11 significant landslide controlling factors were selected.The controlling factors relate to the geomorphology,geology,geo-environment and anthropogenic effects:slope angle,aspect,plan curvature,profile curvature,flow accumulation,flow direction,distance to rivers,water content,saturation,rainfall and distance to roads.It is observed that slope angle was the most significant controlling factor in the ML analyses.The performance of the three ML models was evaluated quantitatively based on the Receiver Operating Characteristic(ROC)analysis.The results show that the‘ensemble'GBRT machine learning model yielded the most promising results for the spatial prediction of shallow landslides,with a 95%probability of landslide detection and 87%prediction efficiency.     

Modelling the morphodynamic impact of offshore sandpit geometries

We investigate the hydrodynamic effects and morphodynamic impact of large-scale offshore sand extraction, for a variety of pit designs. We use a process-based idealized model for flow, sediment transport and bed evolution in a tide-dominated environment. Legislation and other practical considerations motivate our assumption that sandpits are both wide (horizontal dimensions of the order of kilometres) and shallow (the ratio of pit depth to water depth being small). This results in a semi-analytical tool that, unlike previous studies, enables a quick and extensive study into the effects of varying the physical characteristics as well as the pit design parameters. These parameters include pit length, width, and orientation with respect to the tide.     

Modelling sand wave migration in shallow shelf seas

Sand waves form a prominent regular pattern in the offshore seabed of sandy shallow seas. The positions of sand-wave crests and troughs slowly change in time. Sand waves are usually assumed to migrate in the direction of the residual current. This paper considers the physical mechanisms that may cause sand waves to migrate and methods to quantify the associated migration rates. We carried out a theoretical study based on the assumption that sand waves evolve as free instabilities of the system. A linear stability analysis was then performed on a 2DV morphological model describing the interaction between the vertically varying water motion and an erodible bed in a shallow sea. Here, we disrupted the basic tidal symmetry by choosing a combination of a steady current (M₀) and a sinusoidal tidal motion (M₂) as the basic flow. We allowed for two different physical mechanisms to generate the steady current: a sea surface wind stress and a pressure gradient. The results show that similar sand waves develop for both flow conditions and that these sand waves migrate slowly in the direction of the residual flow. The rates of migration and wavelengths found in this work agree with theoretical and empirical values reported in the literature.     

Corundum from basaltic terrains: a mineral inclusion approach to the enigma

 This paper investigates the origin of corundum megacrysts that occur in many basaltic terrains, and which are considered to be eroded from basaltic rocks. Geochemical data for over 80 primary mineral inclusions within corundum megacrysts are used to gain a new insight into the petrogenetic history of the corundum megacrysts. A wide spectrum of minerals is present as inclusions in the corundum; the most common are Nb−Ta oxides (such as titaniferous columbite and uranpyrochlore), alkali feldspar, low-Ca plagioclase (albite-oligoclase) and zircon. Rare inclusions include Fe,Cu-sulphide (low in Ni), cobalt-rich spinel, Th,Ce-rich phosphate and uraninite. The similar chemistry of some inclusion minerals from corundum occurring in widely separated areas suggests that the corundum megacrysts in basalts have a similar petrogenesis. Geochemical characteristics of the inclusions indicate a bimodal grouping, which is best explained by a mixing-hybridisation process. This study indicates that the corundum megacrysts are not cogenetic with their basaltic hosts but are crustal fragments accidentally incorporated into the erupting magma. It is suggested that interactions between a silicic component and an intruding carbonatitic or similar Si-poor magma is responsible for Al-oversaturation, resulting in locally distributed lenses of corundum-bearing rock of mixed paragenesis (“hybrid rock hypothesis”). Feldspar exsolution textures provide strong evidence that this hybridisation occurred at mid-crustal levels. Subsequent volcanic eruptions brought the corundum-bearing rocks (later disintegrated in the magma) up to the Earth's surface. This petrogenetic model for corundum megacrysts is experimentally testable. Received: 15 March 1995 / Accepted: 30 June 1995     

Carboniferous and Permian granites of the northern Tasman orogenic belt, Queensland, Australia: insights into petrogenesis and crustal evolution from an in situ zircon study

In situ U–Pb dating and Lu–Hf systematics of zircon in granites of the Hodgkinson Province in the northern Tasman orogenic belt, Queensland, Australia, reveal input of isotopically more evolved crustal magmas and larger ranges in ¹⁷⁶Hf/¹⁷⁷Hf in the Carboniferous I-type granites (0.28219–0.28269; weighted average ~0.28245) than in the Permian S-type granites (0.28249–0.28280; weighted average ~0.28262) and Permian I-type granites (0.28253–0.28274; weighted average ~0.28260). The wide range in the Hf-isotope compositions of zircons in the Carboniferous and Permian granites can be explained by remelting of a heterogeneous Mesoproterozoic crustal source, whereas a narrow range reflects the subsequent dissolution of inherited grains/cores and magma homogenisation before zircon crystallisation. Alternatively, mixing between the most radiogenic and unradiogenic magmas can produce the isotopic variation seen in other Carboniferous granites. Remelting of Neoproterozoic average crust or mafic younger crust can produce the more radiogenic Hf-isotope compositions of zircons in the Permian S-type granites. An overlap between the Hf-isotope signatures of the Carboniferous I-type granites in the southwestern Hodgkinson Province and the northeastern Australian craton (0.28211–0.28254) and evidence for major magmatic events at 1,585–1,545 and 345–300 Ma imply that the southwestern province is underlain by cratonic crust, which wedges out towards the northeast. The more radiogenic Hf-isotope signature of the Permian granites and a lack of evidence for these major magmatic events in the southeastern and central Hodgkinson Province imply that these parts are characterised by different crustal sources and crustal evolution histories.     

Lamprey (Geotria australis; Agnatha) reddening syndrome in Southland rivers,New Zealand 2011–2013: laboratory findings and epidemiology,including the incidental detection of an atypical Aeromonas salmonicida

From 2011, lamprey (Geotria australis) populations in Southland, New Zealand have been affected by reddening along the length of the body and increased mortalities, termed lamprey reddening syndrome (LRS). Molecular testing, bacteriology, histopathology and epidemiology were used to determine if an infectious agent was present and to increase the understanding of this syndrome. An atypical Aeromonas salmonicida was detected from affected lamprey in 2011. This organism has not previously been reported from New Zealand. Investigative molecular testing indicated the organism was an uncharacterised, unculturable, atypical A. salmonicida and a likely incidental finding. Histopathology did not indicate an infectious process was involved, but suggested the reddening may be due to blunt trauma. Epidemiological investigation found the Mokoreta River had a significantly higher prevalence of LRS than others in the Southland region, but there was no clear reason why. To date, no infectious aetiology for this syndrome has been identified.     

Evaluation of Zerovalent Zinc for Treatment of 1,2,3‐Trichloropropane‐Contaminated Groundwater: Laboratory and Field Assessment

The efficacy and feasibility of using zerovalent zinc (ZVZ) to treat 1,2,3‐trichloropropane (TCP)‐contaminated groundwater was assessed in laboratory and field experiments. In the first portion of the study, the reactivity of commercially available granular ZVZ toward TCP was measured in bench‐scale batch‐reactor and column experiments. These results were used to design columns for on‐site pilot‐scale treatment of contaminated groundwater at a site in Southern California. Two of the ZVZ materials tested were found to produce relatively high rates of TCP degradation as well as predictable behavior when scaling from bench‐scale to field testing. In addition, there was little decrease in the rates of TCP degradation over the duration of field testing. Finally, no secondary impacts to water quality were identified. The results suggest that ZVZ may be an effective and feasible material for use in engineered treatment systems, perhaps including permeable reactive barriers.     

Large-scale pesticide monitoring across Great Barrier Reef catchments--Paddock to Reef Integrated Monitoring, Modelling and Reporting Program

The transport and potential toxicity of pesticides in Queensland (QLD) catchments from agricultural areas is a key concern for the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). In 2009, a pesticide monitoring program was established as part of the Australian and QLD Governments' Reef Plan (2009). Samples were collected at eight End of System sites (above the tidal zone) and three sub-catchment sites. At least two pesticides were detected at every site including insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, and the Reef Plan's (2009) five priority photosystem II (PSII) herbicides (diuron, atrazine, hexazinone, tebuthiuron and ametryn). Diuron, atrazine and metolachlor exceeded Australian and New Zealand water quality guideline trigger values (TVs) at eight sites. Accounting for PSII herbicide mixtures increased the estimated toxicity and led to larger exceedances of the TVs at more sites. This study demonstrates the widespread contamination of pesticides, particularly PSII herbicides, across the GBR catchment area which discharges to the GBR.