Principal Component Analysis of precipitation and rainfall regionalization in Spain

Summary A T-mode Principal Component Analysis (PCA) based on a network including 68 pluviometric gauges and their 12 mean monthly amounts of rainfall is attempted in order to describe the main patterns governing precipitation in Spain. The procedure is applied to a 12 × 12 intermonth covariance matrix; the unrotated components and two additional solutions deduced after varimax and oblimin rotations are presented and discussed. In all cases component scores are computed and their spatial distribution is discussed. Two regionalizations of Spanish rainfall are then obtained and compared in terms of group homogeneity. There follows a discussion concerning the main pluviometric characteristics of each region deduced from the best division.With 7 Figures     

PCBs and PAHs in surficial sediments from aquatic environments of Mexico City and the coastal states of Sonora,Sinaloa, Oaxaca and Veracruz (Mexico)

Concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were measured in 13 surficial sediment samples collected at three lacustrine locations in the surroundings of Mexico City and four coastal areas of the States of Sinaloa, Sonora, Oaxaca and Veracruz. Total PCB concentrations span the interval 3.18–621 ng g⁻¹. The highest values (63.7–621 ng g⁻¹) were found in Mexico City, which is a highly anthropogenically impacted area, whereas low concentrations (3.18–12.9 ng g⁻¹) were characteristic of seven places, some of them subject to intense hydrodynamics. In these latter cases, values increase by 18–73 times if normalised against the fine fraction (silt plus clay) content in sediment. Two samples from Mexico City exceed the ERM (Effect Range Median) guidelines and are likely to cause adverse effects. Samples contain only lower chlorinated PCBs (mainly 2-, 3- and 4-CB), thus suggesting that the most used PCB commercial mixture was Aroclor 1242. The homologue composition of the sample taken close to the nuclear power plant of Laguna Verde is identical to this commercial mixture. PAHs in the same samples have relatively low concentrations (14.9–287 ng g⁻¹), well below ERL (Effect Range Low) guidelines. The composition of PAH mixtures accounts for the influence of both petrogenic and pyrolitic sources, with these latter prevailing at some places in Mexico City.     

Numerical modelling of surfacewater/groundwater flows for freshwater/saltwater hydrology: the case of the alluvial coastal aquifer of the Low Guadalhorce River, Malaga, Spain

This applied research deals with the numerical modelling and transient simulation of the joint surfacewater/groundwater flows that characterize the freshwater/saltwater hydrology of the coastal alluvial valley of the Low Guadalhorce River, Malaga, Spain. The MELEF model used was mainly adapted and calibrated for a simulation period of two hydrological years 1989/1990–1990/1991, before the current channelling of the river, where floods and low precipitations have been recorded. The model calibration process was performed with the aid of phreatic levels measured in numerous wells and piezometers, as well as recharges from precipitation and irrigation on the alluvial surface, which was also assessed by the hydrologic model SSMA-2. The present numerical approach can predict the forthcoming hydrology of the coastal alluvial of the Guadalhorce River after its final channelling.     

Hierarchical procedure for creating local typologies for riparian zone research and management based on biophysical features

Riparian systems have been included as a key component in ecosystem management because of their role in buffering the impact of land-use activities on fluvial systems. Riparian knowledge can be enhanced with a typology that reflects the multiple relationships occurring throughout the landscape. We propose a hierarchical procedure based on biophysical aspects for building local to regional typologies for guiding research and management, using the Cuitzmala River Basin as a case study. The variables involved were obtained from geospatial databases, water balances, and topographic profiles. The levels and variables are context (altitude, geoform [mountains/hills/plains], and runoff coefficient), structure (stream order, longitudinal slope, hydroperiod, and segment length), and microstructure (lateral slope, bankfull width, and length-to-width ratio). We consider humidity and functional gradient along the basin to identify groups of streams and fluvial networks. Inside each network, we described structural and microstructural features associated with riparian functions, linking them with management decisions. Therefore, the proposed hierarchical procedure can help in making riparian heterogeneity visible, focusing research and management goals, and allowing the recognition of a spatial dimension of the processes being studied.     

End-states of short-period comets and their role in maintaining the zodiacal dust cloud

Physical lifetimes and end-states of short-period comets are analysed in connection with the problem of the maintainance of the zodiacal dust cloud. In particular, the problem of the comet-asteroid relationship is addressed. Recent studies of the physical properties of Apollo-Amor asteroids and short-period comets (e.g., Hartmann et al., 1987) show significant differences between them, suggesting that they are distinct classes of objects. A few percent of the active SP comets might become asteroidal-like bodies in comet-type orbits due to the buildup of dust mantles. The remainder probably disintegrate as they consume their volatile content so their debris can only be observed as fireballs when they meet the Earth. Unobservable faint SP comets — i.e., comets so small (m 10¹⁴ g) that quickly disintegrate before being detected, might be a complementary source of dust material. They might be completely sublimated even at rather large heliocentric distances (r - 3 AU). Yet the released dust grains can reach the vicinity of the Sun by Poynting-Robertson drag. The mass associated with unobservable SP comets with perihelion distances q 3 AU might be comparable to that computed for the sample of observed SP co-mets with q 1.5 AU. It is concluded that SP comets (from the large to the unobservable small ones) may supply an average of several tons/sec of meteoric matter to the zodiacal dust cloud.     

Quantifying the reefscape transformation of a coastal Caribbean coral reef during a phase shift and the associated coastal landscape change

Caribbean coral reefs are under strong natural and human pressures and many have undergone phase shifts as a result of local and global change. However few studies have quantified the extent of these phase shifts and the potential impacts that they have on coral reef communities. A temporal comparative analysis of several coral reefscape and landscape metrics was conducted for data from Mahahual, Quintana Roo, Mexico, between the years 2000 and 2006, when a phase shift occurred. Landscape metrics were calculated from coral reef and coastal cover maps obtained by multispectral satellite image classification using IKONOS satellite imagery. These metrics showed that the coastal landscape and reefscape of Mahahual lost 85 ha of vegetation cover and 43 ha of coral cover over 6 years, respectively. Coastal landscape transformation was induced by the construction of a cruise ship pier and multiple associated tourist developments along the coast, such as hotels and restaurants, meanwhile alteration of the reefscape may be associated with potential stressors such as coastal development, bleaching events and hurricanes.     

Facies,geometry and growth phases of the Valdorria carbonate platform (Pennsylvanian,northern Spain)

The 14 km wide Valdorria outcrop (Pennsylvanian, northern Spain) is one of the few examples of entirely exposed flat‐topped and high‐relief carbonate platforms reported in the fossil rock record. Laterally and vertically traceable stratal patterns expose three phases of growth. Phase I is a 430 m thick platform to slope succession that prograded over 6 km, and is dated as Early Bashkirian (Akavasian–Askynbashian). Phase II aggraded and prograded, exhibiting 180 m thickness of cyclical platform top deposits, dated as Late Bashkirian (Asatauian). Phase III is a mound‐shape structure that developed over the platform top of Phase II as a new phase of platform nucleation. It is 535 m thick and 2 km wide, and dated as Late Bashkirian (Asatauian–Transition interval). The observed changes of growth styles during platform evolution, from a prograding to an aggrading–prograding system, and a rapid aggradational phase, are inferred to be controlled by flexural subsidence in the active Cantabrian foreland basin, at the Variscan orogenic front. The metre‐scale shallowing‐upward cycles of the platform top are most probably due to glacioeustasy, as evidenced by well‐recorded subaerial exposure surfaces superimposed on subtidal deposits, and by a stratal pattern recurrent in a short interval of about 160 kyr. Observations of outcropping Bashkirian cyclothems in an isolated carbonate system, devoid of siliciclastic input, are relevant for a better understanding of the impact of high‐frequency sea‐level fluctuations on the carbonate factory. Moreover, progradation of the platform margin during Phase I reaches a rate of 2500 m/Myr, and 1810 m/Myr during Phase II; rates that are high when compared to other Pennsylvanian examples. The aggradation rate of 447 m/Myr calculated for the Late Bashkirian–Transition interval (Phases II and III; uncorrected for compaction, missing beats and erosion) is uncommonly high in comparison to coeval Pennsylvanian examples. The platform exhibits a self‐nourishing prograding microbial boundstone‐dominated slope. Thus, the slope‐shedding model applies well to Valdorria. However, Phase II recorded eustatic variations able to inhibit the slope microbial boundstone factory during low sea‐level stands; this is marked by common slope red‐stained breccias synchronous to platform top subaerial exposure phases. Contrarily, periods of relative high sea‐level and rapid subsidence in Phase III registered a greater development of cemented microbial boundstone. These observed, partly opposing relationships of sea‐level stands, shedding modes and slope architecture provide an improvement of the currently used slope‐shedding model. The overall architecture of the Valdorria outcrop compares well with that of other contemporaneous platforms, such as Sierra del Cuera and Bolshoi Karatau. Valdorria shares the high‐relief and flat‐topped, steep slopes, cyclothemic patterns and occurrence of karst features with the Pricaspian Basin platforms (Tengiz, Karachaganak and Kashagan), with minor variations in facies distribution of the internal platform. Furthermore, the continuous seismic‐scale outcrop of Valdorria, together with its isolated setting and asymmetrical growth, makes it a very good candidate for potential subsurface analogues of hydrocarbon‐bearing systems.