Foraminifera,testate amoebae and diatoms as sea‐level indicators in UK saltmarshes: a quantitative multiproxy approach

The vertical distribution of foraminifera, testate amoebae and diatoms was investigated in saltmarshes in the Taf estuary (south Wales), the Erme estuary (south Devon) and the Brancaster marshes (north Norfolk), to assess the use of multiproxy indicators in sea‐level reconstructions. A total of 116 samples were subjected to regression analyses, using the program calibrate, with duration of tidal flooding as the dependent variable. We found that the relationship between flooding duration and taxa was strongest for diatoms and testate amoebae and weakest for foraminifera. The vertical range of testate amoebae in saltmarshes is small. Their lower tolerance limit in present‐day saltmarshes occurs where tides cover the marsh less than a combined total of 7 days (1.9%) in a year. However, they are important sea‐level indicators because information for sea‐level reconstruction is best derived from sediments that originate in the highest part of the intertidal zone. Diatoms span the entire sampled range in intertidal and supratidal areas, whereas the upper limit of foraminifera is found very close to the highest astronomical tide level. Local training sets provide reconstructions with higher accuracy and precision than combined training sets, but their use is limited if they do not represent adequate modern analogues for fossil assemblages. Although analyses are time consuming, a regional training set of all three groups of micro‐organisms yields highly accurate (r² = 0.80) and precise (low value of root mean square error) predictions of tidal level. This approach therefore could improve the accuracy and precision of Holocene sea‐level reconstructions. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Integrated chronological control on an archaeologically significant Pleistocene river terrace sequence: the Thames-Medway,eastern Essex,England

Late Middle Pleistocene Thames-Medway deposits in eastern Essex comprise both large expanses of Palaeolithic artefact-bearing river sands/gravels and deep channels infilled with thick sequences of fossiliferous fine-grained estuarine sediments that yield valuable palaeoenvironmental information. Until recently, chronological control on these deposits was limited to terrace stratigraphy and limited amino-acid racemisation (AAR) determinations. Recent developments in both this and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating make them potentially powerful tools for improving the chronological control on such sequences. This paper reports new AAR analyses and initial OSL dating from the deposits in this region. These results will help with ongoing investigation of patterns of early human settlement.Using AAR, the attribution by previous workers of the interglacial channel deposits to both MIS 11 (Tillingham Clay) and MIS 9 (Rochford and Shoeburyness Clays) is reinforced. Where there are direct stratigraphic relationships between AAR and OSL as with the Cudmore Grove and Rochford Clays and associated gravels, they agree well. Where OSL dating is the only technique available, it seems to replicate well, but must be treated with caution since there are relatively few aliquots. It is suggested on the basis of this initial OSL dating that the gravel deposits date from MIS 8 (Rochford and Cudmore Grove Gravels) and potentially also MIS 6 (Dammer Wick and Barling Gravels). However, the archaeological evidence from the Barling Gravel and the suggested correlations between this sequence and upstream Thames terraces conflict with this latter age estimate and suggest that it may need more investigation.     

The dynamic neptunian ring arcs: evidence for a gradual disappearance of Liberté and resonant jump of courage

We present Adaptive Optics observations of Neptune's ring system at 1.6 and 2.2 μm, taken with the 10-m W.M. Keck II telescope in July 2002 and October 2003. We recovered the full Adams and Le Verrier rings for the first time since the Voyager era (1989), and show that the overall appearance of these rings did not change much, except for the ring arcs. Both the location and intensity of all arcs changed drastically relative to trailing arc Fraternité, which has a mean orbital motion of 820.1118 ± 0.0001 deg/day, equal to that of Nicholson et al.'s (1995, Icarus 113, 295-330) solution 2. Our data suggest that all arcs may have decayed over the last decade, while Liberté, in 2003, may be on the verge of disappearing completely. The observed changes in the relative intensities and locations of all arcs further indicate that material is migrating between resonance sites; leading arc Courage, for example, has jumped ∼8°, or, when adopting Namouni and Porco's (2002, Nature 417, 45-47) CER (corotation eccentricity resonance) theory, it advanced by one full corotation potential maximum. Overall, our observations reveal a system that is surprisingly dynamic, and no comprehensive theory exists as of yet that can explain all the observed intricacies.     

Wind environment in the Lee of Kauai Island,Hawaii during trade wind conditions: weather setting for the Helios Mishap

On 26 June 2003 (approximately 1030 local time) the Helios ultralight aircraft broke apart off the west coast of Kauai Island, Hawaii as it was climbing out of the Kauai wind shadow. Following the aircraft mishap, a study was carried out to understand the conditions on the day of the crash and to better characterize the wind in the lee of Kauai. As part of this effort, both aircraft measurements and numerical modelling studies were carried out. Measurements and models showed the trade wind flow was enhanced around the island creating a region of wind shear surrounding the leeside calm zone. This wind shear region was found to be vertically oriented along the south side but tilted northward with height along the northern side of the calm zone. Several other factors on the day of the crash were investigated including water vapour gradients, diurnal Island heating, and gravity waves but their possible influences on the crash could not be confirmed. While the numerical model captured the general features of the Kauai leeside winds, the orientation of the calm zone was north of the observed one.     

Uranium geochemistry and dating of Pacific island apatite

Uranium-series disequilibrium dating of island phosphate deposits is evaluated in terms of known associated coral ages, uranium geochemistry, and stratigraphic sequences as well as the concordance between the geochronometers ²³⁴U/²³⁸U, ²³⁰Th/²³⁴U and ²²⁶Ra/²³⁸U. U(VI) is the predominant oxidation state of uranium in island phosphorites and by analogy to the youngest surficial deposits, most of the uranium initially bound is in the form of U(VI) sorbed by surfaces from seawater. Insular deposits contain more organic matter than even very young ocean floor samples and this leads to a greater probability of reduction of available recoil uranium than occurs in marine deposits. As a consequence, R(VI) ? R(T) ? R(VI), where R represents the ²³⁴U/²³⁸U activity ratio. This situation is completely opposite from that observed for marine-origin phosphorites. We determined that a fraction of U(VI) in ancient insular phosphorites is very labile and lost to alkaline carbonate solutions with a uranium activity ratio even more depleted in ²³⁴U than the bulk R(VI).Most younger samples appear to have no more discordance between ²³⁴U/²³⁸U, ²³⁰Th/²³⁴U and ²²⁶Ra/²³⁸U than marine phosphorites of similar apparent age. Young, surficial atoll-rim apatite cements and unconsolidated phosphorites date in the range of 1500–8000 years B.P., consistent with the concept of partial submergence of low-lying coral islands prior to 2000 years B.P. Sub-surficial samples in the same environment date older at about 20,000 years B.P. Violation of the closed system assumption occurs in at least 6 out of 13 ancient (> 800,000 year) samples. Uranium-series disequilibrium dating of insular apatite shows some promise as a recorder of climatic/sea level events, but the assumptions necessary for valid ages must be carefully evaluated for each occurrence.     

Detection of the Forbidden SO aΔ→XΣ Rovibronic Transition on Io at 1.7 μm

We report the discovery of the forbidden electronic a¹Δ→X³Σ⁻ transition of the SO radical on Io at 1.7 μm with the W. M. Keck II telescope on 24 September 1999 (UT), while the satellite was eclipsed by Jupiter. The shape of the SO emission band suggests a rotational temperature of ∼1000 K; i.e., the gas is extremely hot. We interpret the observed emission rate of ∼2×10²⁷ photons s⁻¹ to be caused by SO molecules in the excited a¹Δ state being directly ejected from the vent at a thermodynamic quenching temperature of ∼1500 K, assuming a SO/SO₂ abundance ratio of ∼0.1 and a total venting rate of ∼10³¹ molecules s⁻¹ (Strobel and Wolven 2001, Astrophys. Space Sci. 277, 1-17). The shape of our complete (1.6-2.5 μm) spectrum suggests that the volcano Loki contains a small (∼2 km²) hot spot at 960±12 K, as well as a larger (∼50 km²) area at 640±5 K.