Statistical characteristics of currents and seawater temperature near the Florida Strait

Average and extreme values of the current velocity, seawater temperature, and their standard deviations are considered on the basis of measurements carried out at three moorings deployed in the Florida Strait. The contributions of the low-frequency (synoptic) and mesoscale variations of currents and the seawater temperature to their temporal variability are estimated. The kinetic energy values of the averaged current and the synoptic and mesoscale variations are given. Their contributions to the general (total) kinetic energy of currents are determined. It is shown that the pulsations of the north-east trade wind can be one of the reasons for the synoptic variations in the field of currents and seawater temperature.Translated by Mikhail M. Trufanov.     

Generation of a double Kelvin wave resulting from the reflection of the Rossby wave by the jump layer

This paper considers the evolution of a spatially-localized divergent Rossby wave field near the depth jump. If the jump magnitude is comparable to the depth, Rossby waves are fully reflected and a double Kelvin wave is then generated. The Rossby waves and the double Kelvin wave are described by the first- and zero-approximation fields of the asymptotic expansion, respectively. Over the characteristic Rossby wave period, the level elevation produced by the double Kelvin wave spreads over an extensive area, theraby making up for the change in the total fluid mass of the Rossby waves.Translated by Vladimir A. Puchkin.     

Assimilation of altimetry data in the numerical model of the circulation in the Black Sea: The model numerical experiments

The numerical algorithm of the Kalman optimum filtration generalized for the case of three-dimensional fields and a multicomponent vector of the ocean state, with level measurements discrete over space and time being available, is given. The results of model numerical experiments on the assimilation of data on the Black Sea level are given. An attempt to estimate the effect of the time interval of data input on the results of field reconstruction was made.Translated by Mikhail M. Trufanov.     

Harpacticoida taxocen diversity in the silty-sandy littoral zone of Kandalaksha Bay of the White Sea

The fauna composition, ecological groups, and life forms of Harpacticoids of soft littoral grounds from 15 sites off the Karelian coast in Kandalaksha Bay of the White Sea were studied. Six types of harpacticoid taxocens with different sets of dominating species are described. On silty sands with clear signs of desalination, the Stenchelia palustris taxocen is common; medium-grained sands are characterized by the Heterolaophonte minuta, Paraleptastacus kliei — Huntemannia jadensis, and Amphiascoides nanus — Scottopsyllus minor taxocens; while on coarse sands, the Ameira parvula and Ameira scotti — Mesochra lilljeborgi taxocens have developed. The diversity of the taxocens is partly explained by the differences in the grain-size composition and salinity at different sites. In addition, groups of various taxocens dwelling on the same type of the sediments were found in different minor bights of the coastline.     

Chemical leaching and specific surface area measurements of marine sediments in the evaluation of mercury contamination near cinnabar deposits

This paper investigates mercury contamination in recent marine sediment of the Tyrrhenian continental shelf near the mouths of three rivers draining an area with cinnabar deposits (M. Amiata, Italy). By means of chemical leaching, two fractions of the total mercury were distinguished: a ‘non-leachable’ fraction, consisting of mercury held in relatively stable forms and a ‘leachable’ fraction, composed of forms that are more weakly bound to the sediments. The two Hg fractions are correlated to the organic matter content, the distribution of which is strictly dependent on the sediment surface area.In order to eliminate the effects of grain size variations among the samples, the Hg concentrations were normalized to the unit of surface area (ng/m²). Following this procedure, the ‘non-leachable’ Hg was found to be concentrated mostly in a belt along the coast, while the ‘leachable’ Hg fraction was shown to accumulate largely in the zones with high depositional dynamics near the mouths of the rivers.Hypotheses to account for the discrepancy between the low concentrations of ‘leachable’ Hg in the sediment of the outer continental shelf and the high concentrations in the fauna of the same area, reported in previous papers, are presented.     

Seasonal variations of water system distribution and flow patterns in the southern sea area of Hokkaido,Japan

Hydrographic data and composite current velocity data (ADCP and GEK) were used to examine the seasonal variations of upper-ocean flow in the southern sea area of Hokkaido, which includes the “off-Doto” and “Hidaka Bay” areas separated by Cape Erimo. During the heating season (April–September), the outflow of the Tsugaru Warm Current (TWC) from the Tsugaru Strait first extends north-eastward, and then one branch of TWC turns to the west along the shelf slope after it approaches the Hidaka Shelf. The main flow of TWC evolves continuously, extending eastward as far as the area off Cape Erimo. In the late cooling season (January–March), part of the Oyashio enters Hidaka Bay along the shallower part of the shelf slope through the area off Cape Erimo, replacing almost all of the TWC water, and hence the TWC devolves. It is suggested that the bottom-controlled barotropic flow of the Oyashio, which may be caused by the small density difference between the Oyashio and the TWC waters and the southward migration of main front of TWC, permits the Oyashio water to intrude along the Hidaka shelf slope.     

Power from the people: a documentation of non-governmental organizations' experience in community-based coastal resource management in the Philippines

Community-based coastal resource management projects facilitated by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the Philippines have explored approaches to decrease poverty-driven over-exploitation of coastal resources. There has been little reporting and analysis of such activities until recently. Nine case studies have recently been published and this paper presents a brief summary of these, along with an analysis of the trends and themes identified. Though diverse and covering the Philippines from Mindanao to Luzon, the case studies highlight the value of community commitment and participation in decisions regarding, and in the implementation of, resource management in ways that consider not only the bio-physical aspects of resource management but the social, economic and legal implications. Experience in working with local government has been both successful and limited. Successful projects raise hopes for further progress through education and organization of communities to improve livelihoods and protect coastal resources.     

Dynamic response of the leg of a tension leg platform subjected to an axial, suddenly applied load at one end

This paper deals with the solution of the problem of the dynamic response of the leg of a tension leg platform subjected to an axial, suddenly applied load at one end, considering a highly simplified model but taking into account several complicating factors. The problem is solved by means of a non-harmonic Fourier expansion in terms of eigenfunctions obtained from a non-regular Sturm-Liouville system.     

The impact of mesoscale eddies on plankton dynamics in the upper ocean

A coupled QuasiGeostrophic mixed-layer ECOsystem model (QGECO) is used to investigate the impact of the underlying mesoscale eddy field on the spatial and temporal scales of biological production and on overall rates of primary productivity. The model exhibits temporal trends in the biological and physical fields similar to those observed in the North Atlantic; i.e. the mixed layer shallows in spring causing a rapid increase in phytoplankton concentrations and a corresponding decline in nutrient levels. Heterogeneity is produced in the mixed layer through Ekman pumping velocities resulting from the interaction of windstress and surface currents. This variability impacts on biological production in two ways. Firstly, spatial variations in the depth of the mixed layer affect the photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) availability and hence production rates, and secondly, eddy enhanced exchange between the surface water and those at depth bring additional nutrients into the euphotic zone. These processes result in significant spatial and temporal heterogeneity in the ecosystem distributions.Investigation of the spatial heterogeneity of the biological system finds variability to be significantly greater than that of the mixed layer. The relationship between the eddy field and the ecosystem is investigated. The structure and correlation of the biogeochernical fields change with time. The biological fields are found to have a shorter horizontal scale, but whiter spectrum than the underlying eddy field.Overwinter conditions are found to have a profound effect on the variability, size and timing of the following spring bloom event. Variations in the nitrate levels are primarily responsible for the variability in the biological system in the first year. In subsequent years the variation in the overwintering population is found to be dominant.