Modélisation morphodynamique cross-shore d'un estran vaseux

Numerical experiments were performed to simulate the profile evolution of an intertidal mudflat with a 1D cross-shore morphodynamical model. First, the hydrodynamical forcing is a cross-shore tidal current due to semi-diurnal variations of the free surface elevation at the open boundary. Further, considering the conservation of the action density of surface gravity waves, a wave height (and resulting bottom shear stress) calculation is added to the morphodynamical model. Results of the numerical experiments show that the shape of the profile reaches equilibrium. The mudflat progrades continually when the forcing is tide only, whereas it can be steady under the simultaneous action of tide and waves. To cite this article: B. Waeles et al., C. R. Geoscience 336 (2004).     

Fine sediment transport and accumulations at the mouth of the Seine estuary (France)

A comprehensive study of fine sediment transport in the macrotidal Seine estuary has been conducted, including observations of suspended particulate matter (SPM), surficial sediment, and bathymetric data, as well as use of a three dimensional mathematical model. Tide, river regime, wind, and wave forcings are accounted. The simulated turbidity maximum (TM) is described in terms of concentration and location according to tidal amplitude and the discharge of the Seine River. The TM is mainly generated by tidal pumping, but can be concentrated or stretched by the salinity front. The computed deposition patterns depend on the TM location and are seasonally dependent. The agreement with observations is reasonable, although resuspension by waves may be overestimated. Although wave resuspension is likely to increase the TM mass, it generally occurs simultaneously with westerly winds that induce a transverse circulation at the mouth of the estuary and then disperse the suspended material. The resulting effect is an output of material related to wind and wave events, more than to high river discharge. The mass of the computed TM remains stable over 6 months and independent of the river regime, depending mainly on the spring tide amplitude. Computed fluxes at different cross-sections of the lower estuary show the shift to the TM according to the river flow and point out the rapidity of the TM adjustment to any change of river discharge. The time for renewing the TM by riverine particles has been estimated to be one year.     

The speciation of dissolved copper,cadmium and zinc in Manila Bay,Philippines

At present, there is a very limited information on the levels and distribution of dissolved metals in Manila Bay. In this study, the horizontal and vertical distribution of operationally defined species (labile, bound and total) of dissolved copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn) were determined using differential pulse anodic and cathodic stripping voltammetry in water samples obtained from 18 stations in November 1998. In addition, the 24-h variability in the concentrations of these species at different depths in the water column was determined. These measurements were complemented by the determination of temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll a, particulate organic carbon and nutrients. Results showed that more than 50% of total dissolved copper and cadmium were labile while 50% of total dissolved zinc was organically bound. Vertical profiles showed that Cu, Cd and Zn concentrations were generally high at the surface. Zinc and cadmium were characterised by the presence of a mid-depth minimum while copper did not show any clear vertical trend.

Dissolved Cu concentrations during the spatial and diurnal samplings ranged from 0.32 to 6.95 nM and 1.52 to 45.65 nM, respectively. For Cd, the concentrations in 18 stations ranged from 0.05 to 2.92 nM, and from 0.03 to 2.42 nM over a 24-h period. Zn concentrations ranged from 2.48 to 147.43 nM and 2.87 to 88.27 nM during the spatial and diurnal samplings, respectively. The large variation in the concentration of Cu, Cd and Zn in the bay was observed to be associated with the presence of a large vertical density gradient in the water column, which appeared to limit the exchange of materials between the surface and bottom waters. Elevated levels of these metals near point sources suggest anthropogenic inputs in the bay.     

Preliminary study of the redistribution and transformation of HgS from cinnabar mine tailings deposited in Honda Bay, Palawan, Philippines

Mining operations in Palawan, Philippines, resulted in cinnabar (HgS) mine tailings being used to build a 600 m long peninsula in Honda Bay. Samples collected from the peninsula as well as sediments from the surrounding waters had elevated mercury levels as high as 570 ppm. Natural processes are transporting mercury as much as 10 km from the peninsula, mainly in a coastwise direction, and preferentially associated with fine-grained, organic-rich sediments. Depth of penetration into sediments exceeds 10 cm near the source. As the HgS is transported away from the peninsula, it is rapidly altered to more bioavailable forms; 50% conversion occurs within a distance of only 10–40 m.     

The Miocene-Pliocene Macusani Volcanics,SE Peru

The Miocene-Pliocene Macusani volcanics, SE Peru, outcrop in three separate tectonic intermontane basins developed on a Paleozoic-Mesozoic volcano-sedimentary sequence. Several ignimbrite sheets are recognized and K-Ar dates record at least semi-continuous volcanic activity from 10 to 4 Ma in the Macusani field. The volcanics in the Macusani basin comprise crystal-rich (45% crystals) ash-flow tuffs and rare obsidians glasses, both with unusual mineralogy, similar to two-mica peraluminous leucogranites. The mineralogical assemblage (quartz, sanidine Or_69–75, plagioclase, biotite, muscovite and andalusite (both coexisting in the entire volcanic field), sillimanite, schörl-rich tourmaline, cordierite-type phases, hercynitic spinel, fluor-apatite, ilmenite, monazite, zircon, niobian-rutile) is essentially constant throughout the entire Macusani field. Two distinct generations of plagioclase are recognized, viz. group I (An_10–20) and group II (An_30–45). Sillimanite forms abundant inclusions in nearly all phases and is earlier than andalusite which occurs as isolated phenocrysts. Biotite (Al-, Ti-, Fe- and F-rich) shows pronounced deficiencies in octahedral cations. Muscovite is also F-rich and displays limited biotitic and celadonitic substitutions. There is no systematic variation in mineral chemistry with stratigraphic position. The mineralogical data provide a basis for distinction between an early magmatic and a main magmatic stage. The early stage corresponds to the magmatic evolution at or near the source region and includes both restites and early phenocrysts. Some biotites (with textures of disequilibrium melting to Fe — Zn spinel), part of the sillimanite, apatite and monazite, possibly some tourmaline and cordierite-type phases are restites. However, the restite content of the magma was low (5 vol. % maximum). The group II plagioclase are interpreted as early phenocrysts. During this stage, temperatures were as high as 800° C, pressure was no more than 5–7.5 kbar, was intermediate between WM and QFM and was low. The biotite melting textures and the coexistence of restites and early phenocrysts imply fast heating rates in the source region. The transition between the early and the main magmatic stage was abrupt (andalusite crystallization in place of sillimanite, group I vs. group II plagioclases) and suggests rapid ascent of the magma from its source region. During the main crystallization stage, temperature was 650° C or lower at a pressure of 1.5–2 kbar. (calculated from equilibrium between muscovite, quartz, sanidine and andalusite) are around 1, suggesting conditions close to H₂O-saturation. f _HF is around 1 bar but the ratios are significantly different between samples. ranges between 138 and 225 bar. This study shows that felsic, strongly peraluminous, leucogranitic magmas having andalusite and muscovite phenocrysts may be generated under H₂O-undersaturated conditions.CRPG Contribution n 769     

Local diurnal upwelling driven by sea breezes in northern Monterey Bay

Sea breezes often have significant impacts on nearshore physical and biological processes. We document the effects of a diurnal sea breeze on the nearshore thermal structure and circulation of northern Monterey Bay, California, using an array of moorings during the summer upwelling season in 2006. Moorings were equipped with thermistors and Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCPs) to measure temperature and currents along the inner shelf in the bay. Temperature and current data were characteristic of traditional regional scale upwelling conditions along the central California coast during the study period. However, large diurnal fluctuations in temperature (up to 5 °C) were observed at all moorings inshore of the 60-m isobath. Examination of tidal, current, temperature, and wind records revealed that the observed temperature fluctuations were the result of local diurnal upwelling, and not a result of nearshore mixing events. Westerly diurnal sea breezes led to offshore Ekman transport of surface waters. Resulting currents in the upper mixed layer were up to 0.10 m s⁻¹ directed offshore during the afternoon upwelling period. Surface water temperatures rapidly decreased in response to offshore advection of surface waters and upwelling of cold, subsurface water, despite occurring in the mid-afternoon during the period of highest solar heat flux. Surface waters then warmed again during the night and early morning as winds relaxed and the upwelling shadow moved back to shore due to an unbalanced onshore pressure gradient. Examination of season-long, moored time series showed that local diurnal upwelling is a common, persistent feature in this location. Local diurnal upwelling may supply nutrients to nearshore kelp beds, and transport larvae to nearshore habitats.     

Hypoxia in Manila Bay, Philippines during the northeast monsoon

Herein we present results from one of the first extensive bay-wide oceanographic surveys of Manila Bay, wherein 31 stations were sampled during the northeast monsoon (cold and dry season). A band of hypoxic bottom water (dissolved oxygen<2.8 mg/L) spanned the midsection of the bay from east to west. Bottom nitrate concentrations (5.7-16.8 μM; avg. 11.1 μM) and total organic carbon values in sediments (1.7-3.1%; avg. 2.4%) were high in the midsection, which coincided with the band of hypoxic bottom water. Physical processes and site-specific accumulation of organic material likely lead to hypoxic conditions in Manila Bay, even during the northeast monsoon period when the water column is relatively well mixed. The results of this study complement the previously reported widespread hypoxia that occurs during the rainy season. Thus, hypoxia may be pervasive in the bay throughout the year, although it varies in intensity and spatial extent.     

Nutrient inputs from submarine groundwater discharge on the Santiago reef flat, Bolinao, Northwestern Philippines

Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) on the reef flat of Bolinao, Pangasinan (Philippines) was mapped using electrical resistivity, 222Rn, and nutrient concentration measurements. Nitrate levels as high as 126 μM, or 1-2 orders of magnitude higher than ambient concentrations, were measured in some areas of the reef flat. Nutrient fluxes were higher during the wet season (May-October) than the dry season (November-April). Dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN=NO3+NO2+NH4) and soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) fluxes during the wet season were 4.4 and 0.2 mmoles m(-2) d(-1), respectively. With the increase population size and anthropogenic activities in Bolinao, an enhancement of SGD-derived nitrogen levels is likely. This could lead to eutrophic conditions in the otherwise oligotrophic waters surrounding the Santiago reef flat.     

A first classification scheme of flow-bed interaction for clay-laden density currents and soft substrates

Many aquatic environments exhibit soft, muddy substrates, but this important property has largely been ignored in process-based models of Earth-surface flow. Novel laboratory experiments were carried out to shed light on the feedback processes that occur when particulate density currents (turbidity currents) move over a soft mud substrate. These experiments revealed multiple types of flow-bed interaction and large variations in bed deformation and bed erosion, which are interpreted to be related to the interplay between the shear forces of the current and the stabilising forces in the bed. Changes in this force balance were simulated by varying the clay concentrations in the flow and in the bed. Five different interaction types are described, and dimensional and non-dimensional phase diagrams for flow-bed interaction are presented.