Major and trace element associations in limestones and dolomites

Selective chemical separations of mineralogical constituents of limestones (Carboniferous limestones from the Isle of Man, and Lincolnshire limestone, Middle Jurassic, Lincolnshire) and dolomites (from Carboniferous limestone, Isle of Man) using dilute acetic acid and hydrogen peroxide have been used and the fractions obtained analysed to evaluate mineralogical associations of trace and major elements. Ca, Mg, Mn and Sr are mainly restricted to the carbonate fraction. Fe is found in carbonates, particularly dolomite, and also in sulphides with Zn, Cu, Ni and Pb, and with V and Cr and other traces in “residual” silicate minerals.It is concluded that mineralogical associations of trace elements are complex, and cannot be easily determined by statistical analysis. Selective chemical-separation methods of analysis offer direct indication of element associations with no loss of data. Calculated average concentrations in various fractions of analysed rocks (58 limestones and 19 dolomites) are tabulated.     

A method for uncertainty constraint of catchment discharge and phosphorus load estimates

River discharge and nutrient measurements are subject to aleatory and epistemic uncertainties. In this study, we present a novel method for estimating these uncertainties in colocated discharge and phosphorus (P) measurements. The “voting point”‐based method constrains the derived stage‐discharge rating curve both on the fit to available gaugings and to the catchment water balance. This helps reduce the uncertainty beyond the range of available gaugings and during out of bank situations. In the example presented here, for the top 5% of flows, uncertainties are shown to be 139% using a traditional power law fit, compared with 40% when using our updated “voting point” method. Furthermore, the method is extended to in situ and lab analysed nutrient concentration data pairings, with lower uncertainties (81%) shown for high concentrations (top 5%) than when a traditional regression is applied (102%). Overall, for both discharge and nutrient data, the method presented goes some way to accounting for epistemic uncertainties associated with nonstationary physical characteristics of the monitoring site.     

Late Holocene vegetational history,human impact and pollen representativity variations in northern Cumbria,England

The comparison of pollen diagrams and their inferred vegetational histories are an important component of palaeoecological research. Radiocarbon-dated pollen profiles from three cores taken from two adjacent mires located in northern Cumbria, Bolton Fell Moss and Walton Moss, have been used to reconstruct the Late Holocene vegetation history between the Bronze Age and the present day. The profiles have been interpreted in the light of available archaeological and historical records and, although the pollen records are broadly similar, there are some notable differences between them, particularly during Iron Age and medieval times. Dissimilarities between the diagrams are explored numerically, and the statistical and palynological results are discussed in relation to pollen representativity. The results suggest that it may be advantageous to construct more than one pollen diagram from a mire, or even adjacent mires, as extra-local pollen may be a more important part of the pollen rain than previously envisaged. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Replicability and variability of the recent macrofossil and proxy-climate record from raised bogs: field stratigraphy and macrofossil data from Bolton Fell Moss and Walton Moss,Cumbria, England

Replication of results is a basic tenet of science, but in palaeoecology this is very time-consuming and the ‘signal’ is subject to ‘noise’. The derivation of proxy-climate signals from ombrotrophic peat was carried out originally using samples from open peat faces where the stratigraphic relationships could be easily observed. Now that such sections are rare and often degraded there is a need to demonstrate that data can be replicated from core profiles. Ten short cores taken from two adjacent bogs have been analysed for macrofossils and show a coherent series of changes, which are also similar to previous profiles from the same sites. It is concluded that variation between profiles is slight and less than observations of present vegetation mosaics might suggest. Recommendations for a standard approach to fieldwork on raised bogs that emphasises the utility of subfossil pool layers are proposed and the need for a secure chronology is stressed. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A spreadsheet-based technique (Lotus 1-2-3) for separating tropical forest storm hydrographs using Hewlett and Hibbert's slope

The inclined line separation technique of Hewlett and Hibbert has been widely adopted to separate delayed flow from the total stream storm runoff. Presented here is the application of the technique to highly responsive storm hydrographs using a personal computer method based on a Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet. Using discharge measurements (in m³ s⁻¹), catchment area (in km²) and time (in Julian days), the separation slope is adjusted on the monitor screen until the precise time at which the end of quickflow as storm runoff gives way to delayed flow may be established. The application of the inclined line method is compared with other separation techniques applied to the same dataset. The annual stream quickflow runoff for the study catchment was calculated by the four different separating lines — (i) best-fit curve, (ii) N-day after peak, (iii) inclined line and (iv) horizontal line — was 250, 312, 368, and 588 mm, amounting to 33, 31, 51 and 78 per cent respectively of the annual total stream runoff. Separation of flow by computer spreadsheet methods may be consistently applied throughout a dataset and therefore have a comparative advantage over more arbitrary techniques. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A systematic model for artificial reef site selection

Although artificial reefs are commonly used throughout the world as tools to mitigate for habitat alteration, their development is rarely subjected to a rigorous site selection process. We developed a simple site selection model using the following seven systematic steps: exclusion mapping, depth and slope verification, surficial substrate assessment, data weighting and the subsequent ranking analysis, visual transect surveys, benthic air‐lift sampling, and larval settlement collector deployment. American lobster (Homarus americanas) was selected as the target species for these investigations owing to the local commercial importance of the species. Results from each step in this process ultimately allowed us to select a site for an artificial reef at a target depth that received little wave action, had no slope, and possessed a surficial substrate type that could support the weight of a reef. The site also had the presence of a natural larval supply and low species diversity before reef installation. Each step in this site selection model was designed for easy adaptation to suit the needs of various artificial reef projects.     

Critical literacy and the geography classroom: Including gender and feminist perspectives

Abstract: Teaching secondary school geography students about different perspectives on the way knowledge is produced can be challenging. The forms of critical thinking that are prompted by interrogating the ways in which knowledge are produced equips students with intellectual tools for independent learning; an attribute which is a key feature of successful learners. This article provides an overview of the ways in which gender/feminist perspectives have been generated over time; how the teaching of these perspectives has been included in one New Zealand school, as well as suggesting useful resources.     

Rapidly installed temporary gauging for hurricane waves and surge,and application to Hurricane Gustav

Hurricanes can produce extreme nearshore waves and surge, but permanent gauging stations are often much sparser than is desired. This paper describes the rationale behind and outline for rapidly installed temporary coastal gauges, and presents results during Hurricane Gustav (2008). Within 48 h prior to landfall, twenty self-recording pressure gauges were deployed in depths of 1.4–23 m over more than 700 km of coastline, using helicopters to cover the large distances. Results showed a complex picture that was strongly dependent on location. East of the Mississippi Delta, open coast waves were large, and surge reached 3.8 m NAVD88 in marshes. West of the delta but near landfall, waves and surge were generally smaller as the river levees blocked flow from East to West. West of landfall, both waves and surge were very small and the most prominent feature was a water level drawdown that reached 1.5 m. Wave spectra varied strongly depending both on location and time from landfall.